Feedback: How to boost shelf-life of arrowroots

A farmer displays arrowroots harvested from her farm. Prolonged delay in harvesting the crop might cause the rhizomes to become fibrous which is an undesirable trait in arrowroots. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Not much research has yet been done on storage of arrowroots.
  • As for the calves, upon birth ensure you provide adequate and warm conditions, besides preventing exposure of the animal to harsh environmental conditions.
  • Even without electricity, backup and coping strategies have been developed in the chick supply chain, from traditional use of blankets and basins to hatching using kerosene powered incubators.
  • From different research works that have been published about the micronutrient composition of indigenous leafy vegetables, it is difficult to establish the specific level of the nutrients in the plants.

MAKING ARROWROOT STAY LONGER

I produce arrowroots in western Kenya and sell most of them in the coastal town of Mombasa. How can l improve their longevity, so that they stay fresh and firm?
Patrick Matunga

Not much research has been done on storage of arrowroots.

Normally, storage is usually achieved by delaying harvesting. This means that you only harvest just a day to transportation and when you are sure of the market.

However, prolonged delay in harvesting might cause the rhizomes to become fibrous, an undesirable trait in arrowroots.

You also need to make sure that your arrowroots are not damaged/bruised during harvesting and transportation, a factor that leads to faster deterioration of the crop.

Also, if you can manage to transport them in a controlled environment, say in a refrigerated facility, then your arrowroots can stay fresh and firm for a longer period.

Francis Gichuho,
Department of Dairy, Food Science and Technology,
Egerton University.

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MY COW HAS LOW CALF SURVIVAL RATE

I have a cow whose calves never survive, and now it’s about to calve down. Is there anything I can do so that the calf survives?
Mathew

The possible reason for the poor survival rate could be low immunity status arising either from environmental or nutritional factors.

To correct this, I recommend increased feed quantity and quality to the cow prior to calving (steaming up) to provide more nutrients to the cow and calf to boost the immunity of the calves thereby increasing their survival rates.

As for the calves, upon birth ensure you provide adequate and warm conditions, besides preventing exposure of the animal to harsh environmental conditions.
Fredrick Agutu,
Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University.

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TEACH ME HOW TO USE KEROSENE INCUBATOR

I would like to know how a kerosene lamp works to hatch chicks.
Emmy

Even without electricity, backup and coping strategies have been developed in the chick supply chain, from traditional use of blankets and basins to hatching using kerosene powered incubators.

Among the apparatus in kerosene powered incubators are lamps to provide heat to set eggs. As any other incubator, the hatchability success rate of using kerosene incubators demands that egg factors are observed, as well as adherence to incubator conditions.

A farmer showcases his kerosene lamp-powered incubator. Hatchability success rate of using kerosene incubators demand that egg factors are observed, as well as adherence to incubator conditions. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Use clean eggs free of defects to get best results. Pour kerosene into the fuel chamber and allow sometime for the wick to soak, then light as you adjust the flame to remove smoke.

This will generate heat, but you still need a thermometer to accurately monitor and maintain the required temperature.

Place inside the water plate and wait for the inside temperatures to rise and stabilise to about 37°C. Load eggs with the broad end facing up for better air circulation.

Once it begins operating, check the incubator repeatedly to regulate temperature, humidity and adjust the flame as necessary.

If inner temperature is too warm, reduce the flame light and place water inside when humidity is too low and vice versa.

Check the wick too to ensure it gives quality flame. Remember to place the incubator in a well-ventilated room.

Felix Akatch Opinya,
Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University.

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POULTRY HANDOUT

Kindly let me know how I can get a basic poultry handout with information on house plans, vaccination, feeding and feed formulation and the various breeds, including the disease resistant ones.
Abisai Aramburu

Poultry business is profit making when one undertakes the right management practices.

For basic handout with all the required information, I advise you to visit INCIP-Egerton or KALRO or National Farmers Information Service websites.
Fredrick Agutu,
Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University.

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KEY NUTRIENTS IN TRADITIONAL VEGES
This goes to Godfrey Were Juma and Martin Mukanda following their article on super foods two weeks ago. What is the mineral and vitamin composition of:
-Spider Plant (sageti)
-Black Nightshade (managu)

Farmers in their amaranth garden. There is a wide variety of nutrient content in these traditional vegetables. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP


-Amaranth (terere)
-Jute Mallow (mrenda)
-Cowpea (kunde)

David Okello 
Kisumu

From different research works that have been published about the micronutrient composition of indigenous leafy vegetables, it is difficult to establish the specific level of the nutrients in the plants.

There is a very wide variation of nutrient contents of the same species of the vegetables.

This is because the vegetables are grown in different soils having different mineral composition, have different harvesting and growing seasons, stages of harvest and that the methods of preparation are not standard; some boil, ferment, or fry.

All these have different impact on the micronutrients in the final product consumed. Micronutrients of importance in these indigenous vegetables are zinc, iron, vitamin E and A.

These are grouped together as antioxidants which scavenge free radicals in the body making the vegetables quality foods.

On the other hand, iron which is used as a remedy for anaemia reduction and beta-carotene is a precursor for vitamin A, that reduces night blindness, are also important components in the veges.

However, research has shown that the mineral and vitamin contents of these vegetables are: iron (13.65-113.33), zinc (3.38-9.13), beta carotene (2.06-10.17), alpha-tocopherol (5.81-17.17.31) and vitamin C (0.60-2.45) mg/100g.

Godfrey Were Juma,
Department of Dairy, Food Science and Technology,
Egerton University.