Web AgroPLUS 34 January

AVAILABLE
EDITIONS
34
-JANUARY-
EDITION

PROBLEM
CONTENTS
LAYOUT
Growing
Garlic
at home
Growing Garlic at Home
01
The path of rain water through our local ecosystem and
how it gets into our homes
01
05
08
History
History of Cinnamon
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Bl.; English—Cinnamon;
Hindi—Dalchini, qalmi-dar-chini, Bengali—Dalchini;
Punjabi—Dar-chini, kirfa; Mumbai—Taj, dalchini,
tikhi; Marathi— Darachini, dalchini; Tamil—Karruwa,
lavangap-pattai; Telugu—Sanalinga, lavanga-pa ta;
Malayalam—Lavanga-pa ta; Kannada—Lavanga-pa ta,
dalachini; Sanskrit—Gudatvak; Persian—Tali khahe,
dar-chini; Family—Lauraceae.
08
Zambian Honey on Demand
of Cinnamon
The History of Cinnamon
12
05 16
Granny’s Magic Wand
19
22
SIX
REASONS
WHY YOU
CAN
NEVER
BE A
BILLIONAIRE
(IN US DOLLARS) IN
ZAMBIA
(PART 1).
Foot &
Mouth
Disease Symptoms
1.) GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
The Gro s Domestic Product is the measure of a l goods and services produces in a country.As of December 2018,
Zambia’s GDP hovers around US$22 BILLION. Having only 1Bi lion dollars means you own about 4.5 percent(4.5%)
of the whole Zambian economy.Cu rently,no one owns more than 4% of their economy they are
domiciled. 22
19
Foot & Mouth Disease
You Cant be a Billionaire

Garlic
Growing
at home
01

HOW TO GROW GARLIC AT HOME, BE SURE YOU
HAVE FRESHEST, ENDLESS SUPPLy
Whenever I’m cooking, I love the part when I add garlic.
It just fills my kitchen with such a lovely aroma, and
makes my mouth water like crazy. And I have a secret
for getting only the best-tasting garlic: I grow it at home!
WHY GROW GARLIC?
The thing about garlic is that it’s good in so many different
ways. Not only does it add mouth-watering flavor to
your favorite dishes (so versatile!), it’s also useful for a
wide variety of natural health remedies. You don’t have
to decide what you’ll be using your homegrown garlic
for; trust me, it will always come in handy
1. Immune System
Garlic is a tried and true immune-boosting superfood.
Research shows that people taking a daily garlic supplement
can reduce their likelihood of catching colds and
flus by a whopping 63%. Additionally, garlic is useful in
treating stubborn Staph and strep infections. Many people
also make their own garlic oil to help speed up the
treatment of ear infections.
2. Cardiovascular Health
When you eat garlic with other foods, it helps your body
deal with cholesterol better, and prevent it from being
stored up. This will significantly lower your risk of heart
disease and stroke. Garlic is also great for individuals
suffering with high blood pressure. Eating garlic daily
can lower hypertension by up to 8%.
3. Cancer Prevention
Researchers have discovered that the more garlic a person
eats as a regular part of their diet, the more they can
reduce their risk of stomach cancer, colorectal cancer,
and liver cancer.
See the full health benefits of garlic here.
02

HOW TO GROW GARLIC AT HOME
Thankfully, garlic is not at all difficult to garden
at home. Whether you have space for
just a few plants, or have an outdoor garden
that will accommodate your yearly supply,
you’ll do well to add this wonderful herb to
your green thumb repertoire.
Remember, you should only plant organic garlic
cloves. Not only is this much better for your
health, but non-organic garlic from supermarkets
is often chemically treated to stop it from
sprouting well when planted (eww). That being
said, here’s a step-by-step guide for gleaning your
very own garlic at home!
Plant your garlic before the ground freezes, usually
sometime in October in the Northern hemisphere.
(If you’re gardening indoors, of course this
won’t matter!)
Use the right soil: loose and fertile. Top your soil with
2-3 inches of organic matter. Make shallow furrows 6
inches apart.
Break apart a large head of garlic. Set aside only the
biggest cloves for planting, and use the smaller ones for
your cooking or natural medicine.
Plant cloves 2 inches deep, and 4 inches apart in the furrows.
Make sure the pointier end of the clove is facing up.
Fill in the holes with dirt, then water well. You can add
some dead leaves or compost as well. Then you wait.
In spring (or whenever your plants start popping
up), fertilize your garlic plants. Water them
when the soil feels dry an inch below
the surface (they won’t need
much)
03

06

05

By
CGTN Africa
Perry Mapani, Director-General of the
Zambia Development Agency (ZDA),
said the number of Chinese importers
looking for honey from Zambia is on
the rise.
In a statement released by the
investment agency, the official said that
the increased demand has forced the
agency, working with the
Ministry of Commerce, Trade and
Industry and the International Trade
Center to embark on programs aimed
at growing the sector and creating
efficiency in the production and supply
of honey.
“As an agency, we are working in line
with the Seventh National
Development Plan to diversify the
economy. The honey sub-sector is
among the other priority areas which
have been pointed out by government
to drive the diversification agenda,” he
said.
The agency, he said, was also working
with other sector players such as the
financing institutions to provide
finance for the entrepreneurs in the
honey sector in order to boost their
capacity both for the local and
international market.
According to him, the opportunities
for bee-keeping and agriculture in
general in Zambia are immense due to
the favorable climatic conditions.
Last October, Zambia officially
launched the export of honey to China.
The export of organic honey followed
the signing of an export protocol by
Zambia and China on the sidelines of
the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation Beijing Summit.
Currently, Zambia’s annual honey
production is about 2, 500 tonnes and
the southern African nation exports
1,000 tonnes to the European and
African markets, leaving a surplus of
1,500 tonnes.
The demand for Zambian
honey in foreign markets such
as China is on the rise, the
country’s investment agency
said on Friday.
06

23

History
of Cinnamon
History of Cinnamon
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Bl.; English—Cinnamon;
Hindi—Dalchini, qalmi-dar-chini, Bengali—Dalchini;
Punjabi—Dar-chini, kirfa; Mumbai—Taj, dalchini,
tikhi; Marathi— Darachini, dalchini; Tamil—Karruwa,
lavangap-pattai; Telugu—Sanalinga, lavanga-patta;
Malayalam—Lavanga-patta; Kannada—Lavanga-patta,
dalachini; Sanskrit—Gudatvak; Persian—Tali khahe,
dar-chini; Family—Lauraceae.
08

1. Cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices
The true cinnamon, also called as Ceylon Cinnamon is
the dried bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Bl.
It is native of Sri Lanka. In India, it is grown in the Nilgiris,
South Kanara, Malabar, Assam and Kumaon. It is
an evergreen tree. The tree attains a height of 8 to 12
metres, but in cultivation it is coppiced or cut back to a
height of about 2 metres.
Its highly aromatic leaves are 12 to 17 cm. long, dark
glossy green above and lighter beneath. The flowers are
small, yellow and inconspicuous developing into dark
purple ovoid and one seeded berries, about 1.5 to 2.5
cm. long.
2. Soil and Climate Required for Growing
Cinnamon
It is a hardy plant which can very well grow in almost all
types of soils under a wide variety of tropical conditions.
The quality of the bark is highly influenced by the soil
and ecological factors. In Sri Lanka which is the major
cinnamon growing country in the world the plants are
cultivated on white sandy soil.
Sandy or siliceous soils with an admixture of humus are
considered to be ideal for cinnamon cultivation. Sheltered
situations upto an altitude of 800 to 1000 metres
receiving an annual rainfall of 200 to 250 cm. are considered
to be good for the crop.
3. Propagation of Cinnamon
The easiest and most widely adopted method of cinnamon
propagation is by seed. It can also be propagated by
planting, cutting and layers.
Cinnamon fruits ripen in July-August. The fruits fall
down when fully ripe. The fleshy berries are left in heaps
in shade to soften and rot. The mass is then trempled.
The pulp free seeds are washed and dried in shade. They
are sown without much delay as they have a short period
of viability. The nursery is raised in a suitable spot in
soil, rich in organic matter.
The place is dug well twice or thrice. The soil is broken to
powder and made loose, making it altogether free from
stones, root bits, etc. The seed beds are made 1 metre
wide and of suitable length with adequate provision for
drainage. The seeds are sown in lines 12 cm. apart and
are covered with a layer of soil to a thickness of about
2.5 cm.
Germination of seed occurs in about 20 days. The beds
have to be provided with artificial shade and watered
regularly. The shade should continue until the plants
are about 12 cm. in height and then removed gradually.
Transplanting is best done when the plants are about 10
to 12 month old.
4. Planting of Cinnamon
Seedlings are transplanted when they are about 12
months old at a distance of about 2 metres between
plants and rows. The planting is done in ideal weather
conditions, preferably in June-July.
5. Harvesting and Curing with Cinnamon
There are two regular cutting seasons in South India,
which more or less synchronize with two monsoons.
The appropriate time for cutting the shoots for peeling
is determined with reference to the circulation of sap
between the wood and the corky layer.
The sap flow and the time for peeling are judged by the
peelers by making a test cut on the stem with a sharp
knife. If the bark separates readily, the cutting is commenced
immediately.
The shoots should be of at least two years growth with
the bark having a uniform brown colour and should
have attained a length of 1 to 1.25 m. and a thickness of
not less than 1.25 cm. Shoots satisfying these requirements
are cut and bundled after the leaves and the terminal
shoots have been removed.
Cutting is followed by scraping and peeling operations.
The peeling is a specialized operation peculiar to this industry
which requires some skill and considerable experience.
It is done by using a specially made knife which
has a small and round pointed end with a projection on
one side to facilitate ripping of the bark.
The peeler takes the cut shoots one by one and after
scraping outer skin, first makes a longitudinal slit from
one end to the other. Then working the knife between
the bark is ripped quickly. The twigs cut in the morning
are peeled on the same day. The peeled slips are gathered
and kept overnight under shade for what is called
“fermentation’.
However, while no real fermentation process develops
during the course of a night, a little softening of the bark
does occur with the result that peels become more easy
and pliable for ensuring piping operation. The bark as it
dries contracts and assumes the shape of a pipe otherwise
known as quill.
The smaller quills or pipes are inserted into larger ones
to form compound quills. They are then arranged systematically
end to end in length of about 90 cm.
The quills are rolled by hand when they are soft and fresh
and after rolling they are dried on mats in shade. The
drying lasts for 2-5 days, depending upon the weather
conditions and the type of bark. When the drying is
complete the bark is collected and packed in bundles of
different grades for trade.
6. Yield of Cinnamon
The yield from 1 hectare of cinnamon plantation after
attaining the proper yielding stage is 200 to 350 kg. of
bark and 2-3 kg. of leaf oil per year on an average.
09

Uses of Cinnamon
Cinnamon is generally used as a spice or ingredients of curry powder. It is used as a spice or
condiment in curries and similar preparations. It is also used in medicine as a cordial
stimulant. It is also used in bowel complaints such as dyspepsia, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Powder cinnamon is a reputed remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery. The bark also yields oil
of which the chief constituent is Cinnamic aldehyde.
14 10

07

05 12

13

17

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17

Cross Word
Puzzle
For answers Look out in the next edition
18

Foot &
Mouth
Disease Symptoms
19

20

Foot and Mouth disease breaks out in Chisamba,
11,000 cattle inoculated
January 27, 2019
Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) has broken out in Chisamba district in Central Province affecting about
150 animals so far.
Central Province Veterinary Officer (PVO), Allan
Lianzambi, confirmed the outbreak of the disease
at the Zambia Ranching and Cropping (ZRC)
commercial farm.
Dr. Lianzambi said about 150 cattle have been infected
with the disease and no death has been recorded
at the farm so far.
ZANIS reports that Dr. Lianzambi said the commercial
farm has since been cordoned and ring
vaccination was ongoing.
He said more than 11,000 cattle have already been
vaccinated to prevent more animals from being
infected.
Dr. Lianzambi has since imposed restriction on
the movement of animals to and from ZRC to prevent
the disease from spreading to other farms in
the district and the province at large.
A delegation comprising Central Province Minister
Sydney Mushanga, Provincial Permanent Secretary,
Bernard Chomba and Chisamba District
Commissioner, Martin Chowa, who wanted to
visit the farm, could not be allowed entry.
Mr. Mushanga thanked the Provincial Veterinary
Officer and his team for their quick action to prevent
loss of animals and spread of the disease to
other areas.
He has since promised Dr. Lianzambi and the
District Commissioner that he was going to immediately
get in touch with his counterpart in the
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Kampamba
Chewe to quickly move in and curb the situation.
Last year, Foot and Mouth disease
infected and killed many animals
in Central Province.
A task force was formed to enhance quick treatment
and prevent further spread of the disease.
21

SIX
REASONS
WHY YOU
CAN
NEVER
BE A
BILLIONAIRE
(IN US DOLLARS) IN
ZAMBIA
(PART 1).
1.) GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
PROBLEM
The Gross Domestic Product is the measure of all goods and services produces in a country.As of December 2018,
Zambia’s GDP hovers around US$22 BILLION. Having only 1Billion dollars means you own about 4.5 percent(4.5%)
of the whole Zambian economy.Currently,no one owns more than 4% of their economy they are
domiciled. 22

Not even Jeff Bezos the richest man in the whole world
who is worth more than 5 times the Zambian Economy.
SOLUTION
People who became the richest did something very new
and often smart.Bill gates made it possible for computer
hardware to run very good software thereby getting
paid for every windows computer ever made.Thats a lot
of computers.
Jeff Bezos’ Amazon as of January
2019 believe it or not
owns 40% market share of
the world’s E-Commerce.
That is a large number.
There are many examples
most of whom are tech
based.
It is very difficult to get
massively wealthy using
Aliko Dangote,Amencio
Ortega,Carlos Slim
or Bernard Arn
o l d
you can come up with machines that are the most intelligent
in the world,chances are that a company such
as Soft Bank will buy your business for billions hence
becoming a billionaire in Zambia and most likely the
world.
2.)POPULATION
PROBLEM
The Zambian population stood at 13.1 million people
in 2010 according to the 2010 Census.We can safely assume
that the population is currently around 15 to 17
million people. Business thrives in areas where there are
large populations especially of high net worth individuals.The
Zambian population is not large enough for an
individual to harvest US $US1 billion in profits over a
healthy period of time. In India or China, a simple business
can earn make a lot of money even in the face of
stiff competition.This is one reason why as of 2018 most
world Economies have grown by less than 5% but China
grew by 6.6% in 2018.
The question that comes to everyone is wait!The Nordic
countries(Denmark,Norway,Sweeden,Finland,Iceland)
have smaller populations than Zambia but have very
rich people and large companies.
Well the answer is lies in the European Union and Europe
as a whole.The European Union is the biggest
Economic trading block in the world meaning it
is a collection of countries that work together to
achieve economic prosperity.The Nordic nations
enjoy the vast business activity of the EU. Norway
has specialised trade deals worth billion of
dollars with the EU. Zambia on the other hand is
only sorrounded by poor countries which share
the same problems such as corruption,low net
worth individuals,poor institutions and so on.
t o
mention
a few models
of selling non durables
because of the competition.
As a Zambian you need to come up with an idea that
can change the world especially tech based. Currently
the hottest upcoming tech is Artificial Intelligence.If
SOLUTION
Increase the market for your goods and services to
a wider population than Zambia.This is only possible
by selling your goods and services to other countries
preference neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe,Namibia,DRC
Congo ,Tanzania and so on.The
catch is the boarders in Africa are partially closed. By
partially closed we mean there are barriers to your business.
One reason is the fact that all countries sorrounding
Zambia use different currencies from Zambia and from
each other making it difficult to do business. This is
because you are exposed to currency risk. Take for instance
if you have a branch in DRC Congo.The currency
swings in their currency may affect your
business badly.This and many
23 20

more reasons will hamper the market for your goods
and services.
The best solution thus far is to follow the European
Union model of completely opening up the boarders
and having good,servicesl and people move freely. This
could also entail having a common currency.Like the
COMESA dollar for example. Even though this has a
wide range of problems from security to inequality in
terms of national economic gain, it can benefit most
companies in Zambia greatly hence helping you have an
opportunity to become a billionaire.
In summary open boarders open your goods and services
to a larger population. In addition,a regional organisation
such as COMESA can help nations remove
all hindrances to trade such as customs and risk related
to having different currencies.
[08:08, 1/29/2019] Michael Nkhosi: Morning am in love
with the efficiency
[08:08, 1/29/2019] Editor KUMBU, AgroPLUS: SAV-
INGS
Save save save is a song sang in Zambia everywhere.But
what they do not sing is the last verse in the song, which
is inflation.
Inflation is a situation where your cash looses purchasing
power or value to buy goods and services over time.
Let’s take an example.Lets say you get paid K100 per
month at work ,your total revenue or money coming in
every month is K100.
So you decide to use the K100 coming from your salary
to pay for your food cost specifically buying mealie
meal(Ubunga).If for the month of January a bag of 25
kg is K100, it means at that initial time,your K100 salary
can buy K100 worth of goods which is mealie meal in
our case.
Then in February a bag of 25 kg goes to K120.Then it
means you have to use K120 from your K100 January
month end salary.But your K100 salary cannot buy a
bag of mealie meal.You will need an extra K20.
Let’s say you Kongola(get a loan) a K20 with no interest
to pay back at the month end of Febuary.Then it means
your salary at the month end is going to be K100 minus
K20 which gives you K80.If your salary remains
constant at K100 then you have to borrow a K20 every
month so that you can buy a bag of mealie meal.
When you think about it,your K100 is not really a K100
but an K80.It may look like a K100 physically but it is
essentially an K80. This is because it can no longer buy
goods worth K100 as before.You need extra money from
elsewhere to help it purchase an item that was K100.
It means your money has lost 20 percent(20%) of its value
or power to buy the item you want.This is considering
the fact that k20 is 20% of K100.
THAT IS INFLATION.
So your Mother,pastor,girlfriend,boyfriend or whoever
means well for your money advises you to save so that
you can buy a Chigayo (Maize Grinder) in Febuary.
As of 24th October 2018,First National Bank offers 3%
interest per month on savings amounts between K100
to K249.
So you approach a bank to open a Savings Account.If
you decide to open a savings account with First National
Bank that gives you 3% interest per month starting 1st
January, it means at the end of the month you would get
K103 on your K100 investment.
If you think about it again,your K100 becomes K103.
It grows by K3.But remember that your K100 is worth
K80 due to inflation. Therefore your money is worth
K83. By calculation it means the K3 gained from saving
plus what your K100 is worth.
21 24

PUBLISHER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Daniel Mwanza
ADVERTISING
Email: salesagroplus@gmail.com
Cell: +260 965 272 796
LAYOUT & GRAPHICS BY
ChayDESIGNS
Email: michaelnkhosi@yahoo.in|mich.nkhosi@gmail.com
Cell: +260 977 699 779