When I think of rooftop gardens I think of a community gathering space on top of an urban building, with a few potted plants. This is a valid thought, but also a misconception. Rooftop gardens have come a long way from being a novelty space to living green areas in cities all over the world.

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/07/20/rooftop-gardens-more-advanced-than-previously-thought/

The diagnostic and therapeutic treatments of animals involve the use of drugs to cure diseases along with the services, such as computed tomography or CT scan, MRI scan, cervical smear, angiography, radiotherapy, x-ray imaging, ultrasound etc. that are used to focus on the animal’s total health and wellness. The procedure aims to visualize a part of the intestinal, respiratory or urinary system in order to assist the overall diagnostic process. The veterinary diagnostic instruments take in diagnostic test kits, surgical devices, ophthalmoscopy, ENT equipment, PCR testers etc. Modern veterinary diagnostic kits come up with several devices to track diseases by testing & analyzing the blood, urine and tissue samples. Once the diseases is detected, the veterinarian prescribes therapeutic drugs and vaccines accordingly.

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/06/24/animal-therapeutics-and-diagnostics/

If you own a small farm or even a large ranch, safety and security are very important. People may trespass on your property by accident or on purpose. Either way, it’s important that you know when people are about and what they’re doing. In this article, I present important tips to help keep you safe and secure on your farm. Read on to learn more on farm security best practices.

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/07/03/13-standards-of-good-farm-security/

Many potential fish farmers ask questions on factors to consider when starting a fish farm and how profitable is fish farming? Several extension officers and consultants in fish farming give an outline on factors and things needed to develop a profitable fish farm.

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/07/08/are-you-ready-for-fish-farming/

So what is Conservation Agriculture?

It is a good agricultural practice that has the intended purpose of increasing crop yields over a long period of time, maintaining soil fertility and water and environment conservation. It is anchored in three related principles which must be practiced together for optimum results and include minimum soil disturbance, permanent organic soil cover and crop rotation and mixing.

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/06/28/how-conservation-agriculture-could-solve-food-insecurity-in-arid-and-semi-arid-lands/

Whilst this topic may seem like one that does not need any explanation or guidance, I can assure you that people often get this wrong and then wonder why what they plant in them either does not grow or dies.

So, what is there to know about planting in pots?

When we are talking edibles like vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, regardless of whether they are plastic, concrete, or terracotta, they all need a good scrub and wash. Pots can harbour diseases, viruses and pathogens that can be harmful to plants you grow in them, so this is a particularly important step.

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/planting-in-pots/

To start off with, what is a herbicide? A herbicide is a chemical that can manage and control unwanted plant vegetation. The most common types of herbicides are synthetic, but there are also organic options. These chemicals are typically used to effectively eliminate weeds in order to maximize the growth of more desirable plants. Herbicides can be utilized anywhere from your favourite golf course to a neighbour’s garden, and everywhere in-between! It’s important to understand the different ways these chemicals are applied as well as how they physiologically affect plants.

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/07/04/an-introduction-to-herbicides/

Composting is one of the easiest things we can do to divert food waste from landfill and care for our soils.

There are a wide range of options when it comes to composting. These include composting bins, compost towers, worm farms and Bokashi. Depending on your composting needs (i.e. the size of your home or family) there is a composting option that will work for you.

Once you have decided on the composting method that best suits you, how do you get started?

The first step is to start collecting your food scraps. You will need a container with a secure lid. This stops insects getting in and smells getting out. The container can be left on the bench or in a cupboard, however if more than a few days go by before you empty it, the contents can start to get a bit gross. If this happens to you, simply put the container in the fridge or even the freezer to stop the food going bad before you empty it into your compost…

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/07/02/how-to-compost-your-food-waste/

Kenneth Kaunda always attached a lot of importance to agricultural development and he gave assistance with every aspect of food production and livestock throughout his 27 years tenure as president. He supported this through the country's nine provinces.

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/06/21/zambias-first-president-kenneth-david-kaunda-and-agriculture/

"The Privatization Story”

Before its independence from British colonial rule in 1964, Zambia had a booming private sector that was mostly foreign owned. The mines were for instance owned by 2 mining corporations - Anglo-American Corporation and Roan Trust. Post-independence, private sector growth flourished due to government investment in infrastructure and social services and businesses moving to Zambia from Zimbabwe in 1965 following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in that country in 1965.

This podcast is also available as a blog post here: https://zaszambia.wordpress.com/2021/07/01/looking-back-on-privatisation-in-zambia-and-how-it-started/