Is the cow hide (Ponmo) safe to eat?

Ponmo – cow hide meat – is a popular food in parts of Nigeria and across West Africa. But nutritionists and scientists in the region warn about the safety and nutritional value of this local delicacy. 

 In this episode of Africa Science Focus, our reporter Royal Uche speaks with Abiodun Wahab, program operations officer at the One Health and Development Initiative, about the toxic bacteria found in the meat even after cooking. Sherifah Wakil, associate professor of microbiology at the University of Ibadan, shares findings from her latest research on the contamination of the meat. 

 Obaisi Alaanuloluwa, environmental and social development consultant for the World Bank, explains how ponmo affects the environment. 

Source....SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk

 The Ponmo story. read

 

 more ponmo news: Ponmo and leather industry.

 All you need to know about Ponmo.

Halal meat: how to start producing Halal meat

 Halal meat

To start producing Halal meat, you need to embrace these four steps: 1) The premises must be for halal slaughtering alone and all necessary permits regarding abattoir, slaughter lines and waste management must be collected.

LEARN MORE : HALAL FACTS.

Halal management: the ethics / tenets of  the halal slaughtering and halal management principles must be followed strictly.

Standard operating protocols: the slaughtering techniques, animal specification clearly spelled out by the Halal protocol must be clearly written out, pasted on walls and practiced.

Halal certification and standardization: the facility and production lines  must be inspected, processes audited to ensure compliance and then certification is provided.

   To tap into this trillion dollar industry, start a niche business: start an halal meat shop.

1)Start an abattoir that is for Halal slaughtering alone. Get the facility registered and certified and create continuous income by providing your facility for Halal slaughtering at a fee and also providing a base for meat export.

2) Decide the type of animal you want to slaughter: cattle, sheep or goat.

3) Slaughter only healthy animals.

4) Process and package beef with the Halal certification seal and start making money.

The Muslim community is growing and many more countries are adopting the Halal method with certification to tap into the trillion dollar industry.

The Muslim population reached 1.8 billion in 2015 and it is expected to be the world’s fastest growing religious group, increasing by 70% to almost 3 billion people by 2060, according to the forecast made by Pew Research Center. 

Very good news for the halal meat industry, seeing that the main driver for this market is set by the Muslim expenditure on halal meat and related products. 

 In the recent years, lots of European countries have decided to support the cause, considering the high profits coming from Muslim markets, as well as the choice in the internal market of many non-Muslims to eat halal meat for ethical reasons. 

                                   DID YOU KNOW? 

The biggest importer of halal-certified food from the OIC countries is Saudi Arabia, followed on the second spot by Malaysia, while UAE, Indonesia and Egypt occupy the third, the fourth and the fifth position respectively in the top 5 leading halal food importers. Meanwhile, the top 10 biggest exporters of halal meat to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries account for a total trade value of $14.04 billion. 

 Brazil is the largest exporter of halal meat to these countries with a trade value worth $5.19 billion, followed by Australia with $2.36 billion and India with $2.28 billion on the second and third spots respectively. 

Other big exporters are as follows: France ($0.8 billion), China ($0.7 billion), Sudan and South Sudan ($0.63 billion), the Netherlands ($0.59 billion), Spain ($0.56 billion), Somalia ($0.47 billion) and Turkey ($0.46 billion).

       

BLOCK CHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN AGRIBUSINESS.

  

BLOCKCHAIN IN AGRICULTURE – IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES.“Ensuring Efficiency, Trust and Transparency from Farms to Groceries”.

Exploring new techniques to ensure food safety, traceability and transparency in the agribusiness space to promote profitability.

 Even though blockchain technology gained traction because of its role in the financial sector, it has a vast range of applications beyond cryptocurrencies. 

The technology is set to drastically transform many industries, including healthcare, law, real estate, banking, etc. 

 However, one little-explored industry that blockchain has the potential to revolutionize completely is agriculture. More importantly, it has a growing number of issues that we urgently need to solve. Blockchain technology can help the agriculture sector in numerous ways. 

 The Use Cases of Blockchain technology in Agriculture and Benefits of Blockchain in Agriculture.

 Uses Cases of Blockchain technology in Agriculture. 1)Crop and Food Production. 2)Food Supply Chain. 3)Controlling Weather Crisis. 4) Managing Agricultural Finance. 

       

How the agricultural industry can harvest benefits of blockchain technology.

              Blockchain Technology in Agriculture.

 Blockchain, coupled with IoT, is remodeling the food production industry. It is set to make farming a sustainable practice by using a simplified approach to optimize farming resources like: 1)water. 2)labor. 3)fertilizers. continue.

#Blockchain #Blockchain technology in agriculture #tracing #transparency

A GUIDE ON HOW TO START A LUCRATIVE GARRI BUSINESS WITH 25,000 NAIRA.

  Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava and 70% of cassava produced is processed into garri.  There is a common slogan that no matter the amount of garri you produce, there is always a market with customers ready to pay.

 Garri business is not limited to local markets as in Nigeria, but there is an opportunity in the international market for properly packaged garri.

Flow chart of garri marketing from farm to store/export.( Ojuri,H.B 2021)

 How do you start this lucrative business? the level you want to participate depends on your target market. The fastest entry level to tap into this business is to selling of the garri, not starting from the processing.

How to start the lucrative garri business with just 25,000 naira. 

1) Source the garri from local markets where the processors sell to  other merchants /traders and middle men that bring to the city.

2) Buy the desired quantity if you cant afford a bag.

3) Bring the garri back to the city and sell in markets or stalls.

 The price of the 50 kg bag of  the white garri in clusters/ local markets...........13,000 naira

The price of the paint bucket is.....................650 naira.

There are 20 paint buckets in a 50 kg bag. If the merchant goes with a private car, transportation cost is negligible as compared to public transport where the merchants will pay the fare for the journey and also pay for the garri.

 The current price of garri now is 17,000 naira per 50 kg bag and the paint is 850 naira.

 Profit analysis: 

 A bag from the farm is 13000 naira.

lets assume the transport is public and the cost is 2,500 naira from market to merchants destination.

Cost of the garri ==13000 + 2500=15,500 naira.

Profit on a bag=17,000 - 15500=  1,500 naira.

 This is the first level of profit. The  merchant can profit on another level depending on how sales are made.

Customers can buy in cups, mudus or paint rubber, the merchants profits at this level.

 One mudus =8 cups

A paint rubber contains 3 mudus.

A cup is 100 naira meaning one mudus= 800 naira.

This means by selling in mudus the merchants will make 800*3= 2,400 naira for paint instead of  850 naira. This gives credence to the slogan " retail business is big business".

 The new gold= garri business. This is just an insight, see what garri can become.

Garri business is lucrative, see more

Garri Chocolate Bread .

Garri chocolate dough

Garri chocolate bread set 

 

Garri chocolate bread.
   
Benefits.
1) Nutritious.
2) Super- light.
3) Rich in fiber.
4) Bromate-free.
5)No saccharine.
6) No Additive.
7) No preservatives.

E-Livestock Global Launch Mastercard Blockchain-Based Solution to Bring Visibility to the Cattle Industry in Zimbabwe.

 

E-Livestock Global today launched a first-of-its kind solution powered by Mastercard’s blockchain-based Provenance solution, empowering Zimbabwean farmers to prove the origin and health records of their cattle, while reducing risks to buyers. 

 A first in the Middle East and Africa, the solution brings new hope to the country’s agricultural sector after an outbreak of tick-borne disease in 2018 led to the death of 50,000 cattle. 

The lack of a traceability system has seen Zimbabwe unable to export beef to lucrative markets in Europe and the Middle East in recent years, reducing export earnings from beef, which are important to the country’s economy. 

 The E-Livestock Global solution brings end-to-end visibility to the cattle supply chain. Commercial farmers and dipping officers tag each head of cattle with a unique, ultra-high frequency RFID tag – as mandated by the Ministry of Agriculture – and register it and its owner onto the solution. Each time the animal gets dipped, vaccinated or receives medical treatment, the tag records the event onto the traceability system.

Namibia now a net importer of controlled meat products

Namibia now a net importer of controlled meat products.Due to decreasing beef production during 2021 as well as an increase in pork imports, Namibia became a net importer of controlled meat and meat products in 2021. 

A net importer means the country imports more than it exports. Commenting on the monthly trade statistics for the third quarter of 2021, the Meat Board of Namibia pinned it on ongoing re-stocking activity as a result of the drought aftermath that created this unusual trade position.

 “An expected rebound in the cattle sector and better prospects in the sheep sector in the absence of quantitative restrictions is likely to reverse the current scenario,” reads the report. 

 “Exports of beef products increased substantially during the third quarter of 2021 on account of a doubling of the quarterly performance by export abattoirs in comparison to the year 2020.

UNIDO Trains 42, 000 Nigerian Entrepreneurs In Six Years.

 

The United Nations Indus trial Organisation (UNIDO), says it has trained 42,000 Nigerian entrepreneurs from 2016 till date. 

 The National Project Coordinator UNIDO HP LIFE, Mr Francis Ukoh, disclosed to newsmen at a five-day training programme for SMEDAN officials in Uyo, recently. 

 Ukoh said the organisation had so far empowered about 418 trainers and 10 master trainers in Nigeria to support the training for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country. 

 According to him, the core function of UNIDO is mainly to strengthen and empower institutions of government. 

 To this end, he said that UNIDO had supported various institutions including universities and SMEs across the country. #Agribusiness #foodsecurity #entrepreneurs. #SMEDAN

Food safety: Global call to reduce antimicrobial use in healthy animals.

World leaders have called for an urgent reduction in the amount of antimicrobial drugs, including antibiotics, used in food systems.

The Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance said countries must stop the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs to promote growth in healthy animals.

  Antimicrobial drugs are also given to animals for veterinary purposes to treat and prevent disease.

Mitigation measures
A top priority is to reduce the use of drugs that are of the greatest importance to treat diseases in humans, animals and plants.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria can make foodborne infections such as Campylobacter and Salmonella harder to treat. Experts said climate change may also be contributing to an increase in AMR.

Consumers can also play a key role by choosing food from producers that use antimicrobial drugs responsibly, according to experts Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization director-general, said the consequences of antimicrobial resistance could dwarf those of COVID-19.

“We need urgent action to win the race against AMR. The longer the world delays, the greater the costs will be, in terms of costs to health systems, costs to food systems, costs to economies, and costs in lives and livelihoods,” he said.

“We need to invest in human health, animal health, plant, food and environmental eco-systems to properly respond to the growing threat of AMR. Many countries have national action plans on AMR but too few are funded for implementation.

FOOD SAFETY: FAO highlights ‘often neglected’ foodborne parasites.

 Officials have published a document highlighting ways to avoid the risks from foodborne parasites transmitted by pork, freshwater fish and crustaceans.

Foodborne parasitic diseases are often neglected in food safety control systems even though they can cause severe human health problems, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

One challenge is that affected animals might not show signs of disease, making it difficult for farmers and authorities to detect a problem. Also, if there are no production or financial losses associated with the parasite in animals, there is no incentive to control them.

The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific publication reports different types of parasitic diseases can be transmitted to humans from pork, fish, freshwater crustaceans, vegetables, eggs of tapeworms, and protozoa.

Preventing human exposure to foodborne parasites can be the responsibility of a veterinary or food safety authority in some countries, while in others, there are no controls for parasites.

    Parasites from plants and meat

Fascioliasis is caused by two species of flatworms called Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. It is acquired by eating raw plants such as watercress and other freshwater cultivated or wild plants, or by drinking contaminated water. It is mainly an animal disease but does occasionally affect people.

Young parasites can cause abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea. Once they reach the lungs, symptoms can include a chronic productive cough, chest pain, and sometimes fever. Signs can be similar to those of tuberculosis or lung cancer. Humans can be treated for adult flukes with triclabendazole.

Eating raw aquatic vegetable harvested from or near grazing lands should be avoided. Rinsing them is not enough and freezing is not recommended, according to the FAO. The parasite can be killed by cooking vegetables at 60 degrees C (140 degrees F) for several minutes. continue

Agribusiness post Covid-19.

 Covid-19 meals on wheels project.

#

covid19, agribusiness , agriculture , food security.

 

Covid 19 and impact on food and agriculture

The impact of COVID -19 on agribusiness in Nigeria.

The Red Meat Value Chain In Lagos.

Its so amazing what you can accomplish by power of a vision. About 6 years ago i talked about the power of a vision and how it can change your world,
   

                          

 Change is the only constant thing and that change has come to the red meat value chain , with the A.T. M. strategy. A great vision birth by wisdom. 

THE  A.T.M STRATEGY.

SPECIAL OFFER!

How to create wealth. Text vet to 35818 to get links to promos and special deals. Speaking  your way into  riches.

FOOD SAFETY :Raw pet food blamed for human E. coli outbreak.

FOOD SAFETY :Raw pet food blamed for human E. coli outbreak. 

   Public health officials continue to investigate an E. coli outbreak linked to raw pet food sold under the Carnivora brand. Of four sick people identified so far, all had the same strain of E. coli O157 infection and all had been exposed to the raw pet food for dogs who had been fed it, according to an outbreak notice posted by Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

 Riveriene Farm Ltd. operating as Carnivora Pet Foods of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, recalled six varieties of the Carnivora brand raw food. All were manufactured in Canada and widely distributed, possibly nationwide, according to a recall notice posted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

ECHBEE FOODS.

ECHBEE FOODS; Agribusiness. Echbee foods, a subsidiary of Echbee vet ventures dealers of hygienically packaged beef, mutton,lamb,,eggs and farm fresh vegetables.

The vegetables are fresh and clean ,look The animals are carefully selected and slaughtered in an hygienic environment to ensure food safety.

Order today.

FOOD SAFETY : Survey finds hygiene focus when eating out after COVID-19 lockdown.

FOOD SAFETY : Survey finds hygiene focus when eating out after COVID-19 lockdown. Three quarters of respondents to a survey in the United Kingdom say good hygiene will be more of a factor in choosing a restaurant than before the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Results from the second COVID-19 British Foodservice Sentiment Study by The NPD Group show trust will be an important issue as food service operators re-open for business.

Almost six out of 10 respondents said restaurants and bars are the riskiest places to be infected with COVID-19, and nearly two thirds said they will only go to restaurants, bars, cafes and other establishments that they trust.

AGRIBUSINESS:Global food production to be transformed using new technology..

AGRIBUSINESS:Global food production to be transformed using new technology.The world's growing population will necessitate a 30-70% increase in food production over the next 3 decades. If we are to succeed, it will require a complete overhaul of the way we produce food. Researchers have now created an overview of solutions that include a number of new technologies that can collectively address this global challenge.Together with an array of leading researchers from the 'Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization' and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, Svend Christensen has identified a number of new and upcoming technologies that together, and each with their own approach, will be able to solve this global challenge for society. Most of these technologies are fully developed, while others are just a few steps away.

COVID-19 AND FOOD SAFETY.

COVID-19 AND FOOD SAFETY. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has called for stringent measures to ensure personal safety and food safety.

The measures proposed to ensure safety are:   1) improving personal hygiene, by regular washing of hands with soap and running water or the use of alcohol based sanitizer.

 2) Physical distancing is also a key factor to ensure safety.

 3) Self isolation in cases of sickness. These measures are also important for food safety at this period.



Butchers and food processors are hereby enjoined to maintain a high level of personal hygiene by regular washing of hands and tools.


 Butchers and food processors are to be fully kitted using gloves, overall, head cover and face masks from abattoir to markets.
 Butchers are to discourage customers from touching meat or meat products, rather customers are to point at what they want and butchers with gloved hands sell the meat.

 The era of several customers touching meat or meat products on display is over, as the Lagos meat reforms is poised to ensure only wholesome meat is sold to populace and also promote food safety. 


Food safety begins with you and me: stay safe and healthy. #Lagosmeatreforms. #MaskupLagos

Food Security and COVID-19.

Food Security and COVID-19.Alarmed by a potential rise in food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and organizations are mounting special efforts to keep agriculture safely running as an essential business, markets well supplied in affordable and nutritious food, and consumers still able to access and purchase food despite movement restrictions and income losses. 


However, as the coronavirus crisis unfolds, disruptions in domestic food supply chains and other shocks affecting food production, and loss of incomes and remittances are creating strong tensions and food security risks in many countries.

Did you know: reducing food waste can help the planet?.

Did you know: reducing food waste can help the planet? Did you know that approximately one third of all food produced in the world for human consumption is wasted? This has significant impacts on both the environment and food security.

 Climate change is exacerbating this problem — particularly for highly perishable products such as fruits and vegetables. Higher temperatures and new and worsening pests combine to make it very difficult for farmers to reduce their post-harvest losses. COVID-19 makes food waste an even more critical problem to solve.

TechnoServe is advising farmers on better practices to reduce food waste in Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania.