May 2022 Issue 04 Gene hacked Mosquitoes 4 Malnutrition in Africa 7 Build your own Recycled greenhouse 13 9 FREE DOE PRODUCTION HISTORY CARD TEMPLATE 15 AGRI COURSE COMPETITION WINNERS Contents 4 8 5 6 10 9 3 Editors Note 4 Gene Hacked Mosquitos 5 Irvine’s Botswana 6 Decadence of livestock 7 Malnutrition in Africa 8 Influence of the Moon 9 Free Doe Production Card 10 Plants in Desert Climates 12 Donkeys as Guard Animals 13 Recycled Greenhouse 14 Agricultural Courses 15 Competition Winners 16 Home Automation 17 Magazine Art Cover Contest 18 Brain Twisters 19 A paperless Office 20 Magazine Special Offer “Together we can share knowledge, and feed our Nation” TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 3 Dear Readers , My heart is very passionate about our planet, animals and inspiring others who do good, to excel Our well - being solely depends on this planet which gives food and water to all living things, so it is our responsibility to take care of it I believe that a clean environment is essential for healthy living, and enhancing our relationship with nature It is our duty to protect our earth, because caring for our earth means maintaining the existence of living beings and our future generations I trust that every reader shall thoroughly enjoy our fourth issue of this magazine under the Temo Thuo Farmers Directory EDITORS NOTE Jerileigh du Preez Temo Thuo Farmers Directory Founder It’s time to bring into being a new future, feeding the world, caring for the earth In this edition of the Temo Thuo Farmers Magazine, we will be shining a light on using recycled bottles for horticulture, Malnutrition in Africa , and announcing the winners of our Agricultural course giveaways through a competition There are also a tricky riddles for great minds to try and solve I certainly hope this issue highlights some agricultural news, and inspiring young farmers for our future We are in search of creative solutions as well as inspiration for readers to set goals, and become the new era of entrepreneurs Jerileigh du Preez (+267) 754 84 559 info@farmersdirectory.co.bw Issue 4 – May 2022 “Feeding our nation together” GENE HACKED MOSQUITOES Bill Gates’ involvement complicates the already much - criticized initiative This experiment is said to be an extraordinary way to control disease, potentially thousands of lives per year However, many critics say it could potentially fail, backfire, or even open up the doors to many more troubling applications of the technology The idea that one of the world’s wealthiest people can help push through gene - editing experiments that are unleashed on the open ecosystem is, to say the least, a very touchy subject Researchers all around the world are looking at ways to genetically alter mosquitos to reduce their populations In 2019 , hundreds were released in Florida as part of a study TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 4 SOIL IS DYING The so called “Friendly technology” works by using a proprietary system the company developed to hold the eggs of non - biting male mosquitoes that are genetically modified to be self - limiting When they are placed in a small box of water, the capsule releases the males, which then disperse to mate with wild - type females Because the males contain a self - limiting gene, the offspring they produce do not live to maturity, thus naturally suppressing the population While Mosquitoes can seem pointless and purely irritating to us humans, mosquitoes actually do play a substantial role in the ecosystem Mosquitoes form an important source of biomass in the food chain — serving as food for fish as larvae, birds, bats and frogs as adult flies — and some species are important pollinators Male mosquitoes also eat nectar and, in the process, pollinate all manner of plants Mosquitoes help filter waste, which aids plant life, and also purge decaying insect carcasses by eating them Mosquitoes make nutrients such as nitrogen that plants feed on to survive Both male and female mosquitoes depend on nectar for energy, so w ithout mosquitoes, thousands of plant species would lose a group of pollinators The Uganda project is still in its infancy Scientists plan a study with a limited release of mosquitoes in 2026 , and a larger one in 2030 The study is being criticized by environmentalists who want it banned Frank Muramuzi of the National Association of Professional Environmentalists claims the program hasn't been properly discussed and he's urging scientists not to proceed. "They shouldn't tamper with biodiversity," says Muramuzi What are your thoughts on this? Please share your opinion with us by commenting on this editions’ Facebook post Issue 4 – May 2022 Most researchers thought the first domesticated cattle in Africa arrived from the Near East, perhaps as early as 7800 years ago In the 1980 s, a few archaeologists began to argue that inhabitants of north - eastern Africa already had domesticated cattle independently some 10 , 000 years ago African cattle genomes were quite similar to those of cattle first domesticated in the Middle East about 10 , 000 years ago, the researchers discovered, concluding that those cattle were either brought to Africa when farmers migrated south, or traded, before interbreeding with African wild cattle, aurochs The genetic history of 134 cattle breeds from around the world has been completed by a group of researchers In the process of completing this history, they found that ancient domesticated African cattle originated in the 'Fertile Crescent,' a region that covered modern day Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Israel Recent reports indicate that the first sheep may have arrived in South Africa several centuries earlier than previously thought Bones identified as domesticated sheep, which were excavated from the Blydefontein shelter in the upper Karoo, have been dated to 2700 years ago The Karakul may be the oldest breed of domesticated sheep Archaeological evidence indicates the existence of the Persian lambskin as early as 1400 B C and carvings of a distinct Karakul type have been found on ancient Babylonian temples The Southern African indigenous goat population is comprised of a mixture of large (e g , Nguni, Tswana, Matebele ) and smaller East African (e g , Landim , Mashona , Malawian ) The most recent genetic analysis confirms the archaeological evidence that the wild bezoar ibex of the Zagros Mountains is the likely original ancestor of probably all domestic goats today Apparently, goats from the southwest region of the Fertile Crescent migrated to north - eastern Africa through the Isthmus of Suez 6000 – 7000 years ago, then , they rapidly spread west and south, reaching the Sahara and Ethiopia 5000 years ago and sub - Saharan regions about 2000 years ago TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 5 DECENDENCE OF LIVESTOCK Issue 4 – May 2022 MULNUTRITION IN AFRICA TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 6 What is the malnutrition rate in Africa ? Six million children are affected by life - threatening severe acute malnutrition in West and Central Africa One in five people — 21 % of the population — were facing hunger in Africa in 2020 282 million people are undernourished in Africa That's 46 million more people compared with 2019 major causes of malnutrition in Sub - Saharan Africa include poverty, rising cost of living, and globalisation, which have led to overdependence on staples such as grains and tubers at the expense of nutrient - rich foods including fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs and dairy That’s why (in the short term) donating to existing organizations that fight Africa’s hunger on a local level is so important These organizations help people who are hungry right now Though Botswana is not technically a poor nation, substantial clusters of poverty remain in its rural areas In some rural areas, the poverty rate is as high as 46 percent and unemployment for the country is at 20 percent The negative effects of poverty, such as low human capital, low investment, low productivity and poor health, retard economic growth These characteristics if not reversed draw economies to low economic growth and deep impoverishment Economic growth is necessary, but not sufficient to achieve poverty reduction Feed A Child Botswana is a non - governmental organization founded in August 2012 The organization was formed to address basic nutritional needs of the community focusing on the government’s poverty eradication programs , specifically orphans and vulnerable children and the elderly with ailing health The organization takes an integrated, sustainable and people driven approach to empower people through proper nutrition Feed a Child Botswana’s mission is “to uplift the community through creation of necessary resources to help them make progress in every area that will contribute to an improved standard of life ” The organization’s vision is “to see a community where hindered development (physical, mental and social) and mortality of children due to malnutrition does not exist ” Please support them by donations and spreading the awareness of malnutrition within Botswana, so we could become a better country by helping the children of our future, and those who are in need C : (+ 267 ) 72 304 855 E : feedachildbotswana@gmail com FB : @ Feedachildbots PUTTING ACTION INTO YOUR WILLINGNESS TO HELP Issue 4 – May 2022 The moon's gravity pulls at the Earth, causing predictable rises and falls in sea levels known as tides To a much smaller extent, tides also occur in lakes, the atmosphere and within Earth's crust High tides refer to water bulging up from Earth's surface, and low tides when water levels drop Studies has shown that a humans heart rate and blood pressure were both lower during full and new moons Plus, their heart rates returned to normal levels more quickly during full and new moons In this study, researchers concluded that humans were more physically efficient during full and new moons However, I often wonder if the moon prefers coffee or gravi - tea? TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 7 INFLUENCE OF THE MOON What is the effect of moonlight on plants? The movement of plant leaves may be partially governed by the gravitational pull of the moon, just like ocean tides Some plants' leaves rise and fall during the day - night cycle, mostly in reaction to light in their environment What is the effect of moonlight on plants? The amount of moonlight at different times also influences the growth of plants As the moonlight increases (new moon and second quarter), this stimulates leaf growth After the full moon, the moonlight decreases, putting energy into the plant roots At this time, the above - ground leaf growth slows down The new moon is a fantastic time for planting because moisture levels are high, and moonlight is beginning to increase with each day This helps seeds germinate, and it promotes healthy, balanced growth through the leaves and roots of plants Why is the moon important to farmers? Since the moon - rise of the Harvest Moon follows shortly after sunset, there is period of time with an abundance of moonlight shining bright at the start of the evening This extra light acts as an extension of daylight, allowing farmers and their crews to continue harvesting their summer crops well into the night What do animals use the moon for? throughout the animal world, the presence or absence of moonlight, and the predictable changes in its brightness across the lunar cycle, can shape a range of important activities Among them are reproduction, foraging and communication Issue 4 – May 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 8 Get your FREE printable doe production history card! Available to download from our website or our Facebook page Issue 4 – May 2022 The amount needed of each of these is based on what types of non - drought tolerant desert plants you will want to be growing Vegetables need quite a lot, whereas fruits and annual flowers need a medium amount and deciduous shrubs, herbs, and perennials require even less nutrients Since manure has a high amount of soluble salt, it is not recommended due to the higher amounts already present in desert irrigation Choose an amendment that does not particularly include manure A s arid soils also tend to be very alkaline, it may be vital to lower the pH of your soil to facilitate the growth of healthy plants in the desert This can be accomplished by the addition of sulphur Warm season vegetables that are most optimal for growing in desert climates may include : Beans, Cucumber, Eggplant, Melon, Pepper, Pumpkin, Squash, Corn, Sweet potato and Tomato If you’re in a desert climate, you may fall into the habit of watering your garden constantly, so they never get thirsty While this seems like a good way to stave off thirst, it may actually cause more harm than good Sure, you need to water seedlings and tiny sprouts constantly until their root systems are secured You should water established plants, however, less frequently but more thoroughly Signs of under watering include dry soil, yellow leaves, slow growth and brown dry lower leaves Allow your plants to develop some heat tolerance by not over - watering them Signs of over watering include wet soil, brown leaves, yellow falling leaves, new growth falling off, floppy plants and slimy or foul - smelling roots (root rot) Inconsistent watering causes seeds and seedlings to dry out and die, and it stresses established plants which invites pests and diseases “Life on the farm is a school of patience and dedication” PLANTS IN DESERT CLIMATES CAN YOU GROW EDIBLE PLANTS IN A DESERT? TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 9 Absolutely Despite the extreme temperatures and minimal rainfall, there are numerous edible plants that can be coaxed into fruition in a desert climate There are a number of factors to consider before growing plants in a desert climate Primarily , one will want to be aware of the nutrient levels in your soil Although a good quality organic/compost will usually meet your soil’s needs, the best way to determine levels suitable for desert vegetables is to have the soil tested However, there are generally three primary nutrient requirements to be aware of 1. Nitrogen 2. Phosphorus 3. Potassium Issue 4 – May 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 10 specially trained dogs, llamas and donkeys Donkeys are gaining in popularity due to their relatively low cost, minor maintenance requirements, longevity and their compatibility with other predator control methods Donkeys also offer the additional advantage in that they can be fed in much the same manner as sheep In many instances, poor management practices and unrealistic expectations (too many sheep, scattered sheep or pastures) are as much or more to blame for many failures as any shortcoming of the donkey(s ) Ideally, the jenny (female donkey) and her foal should be raised with the sheep, to increase the likelihood of the donkeys bonding with the flock A number of livestock owners have discovered that they can be very effective in deterring predators from approaching The most suitable donkeys are usually jennies (females ) F armers have struggled for many years with the loss of livestock on their farms due to predators and have been known to use both lethal and non - lethal methods to control these predators on their properties Livestock guard animals live with the flock, protecting the sheep from predation, without harming or interfering with the flock Guard animals currently being used with sheep include Not all donkeys make good livestock guard animals, as there are significant behavioural differences between individuals Some donkeys can be overly aggressive with the sheep This aggressiveness can range from chasing sheep, nipping at ears or wool, preventing access to feed or water, to the extreme of hurting or even killing lambs or sheep A donkey may be able to guard up to 200 ewes if the terrain is flat and the sheep are grazing in one pasture Watch out for over protective behaviour from your donkey, which must be removed during a high risk period of predation, particularly when lambing on pasture, and during mating season PREDATOR SAFE USING DONKEYS LIVESTOCK Issue 4 – May 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 11 Scavengers, like bald eagles, are not immune to rodenticide exposure as a result of secondary poisoning The side effects to secondary poisoning can be reduced reproductive success, birth defects, developmental issues, persistent internal bleeding, and death The number of wildlife deaths associated with secondary poisoning is not well known Mass mortalities of predators and scavengers have been documented However, for some species, the loss of even a few individuals can impact the entire population Please help us reduce secondary poisoning to conserve wildlife ! Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB) aims to preserve the nation’s cheetah population through scientific research , outreach with farmers, community development and conservatio n education, working with rural communities to promote coexistence with Botswana’s rich diversity of carnivore species Most farmers use poison to eradicate predators, but this could have a serious ripple effect The direct effects of toxins typically reduce organism abundance by increasing mortality or reducing fecundity Such direct effects, therefore, alter both bottom - up food availability and top - down predatory ability It’s not just predators that we should be concerned about The compounds can also cycle through food webs when scavenging animals — from crustaceans and insects to mammals and birds — either directly consume rodenticides or consume poisoned corpses While not all rodenticides are toxic enough to create these ripple effects in food webs, second - generation anticoagulants are Unfortunately, they are also the most commonly used chemicals to control rat populations www cheetahconservationbot swana org Cape Vultures Environmental Association is the only organization in Southeast District that carries out monitoring of the Cape Vulture at Mannyelanong Game Reserve Results of which are forwarded to BirdLife Botswana, which is the only organization in the country carrying out research and monitoring of the birds www birdlifebotswana org bw C onserving Wildlife Issue 4 – May 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 12 “Being someone frustrated with the plastic epidemic we have on our hands, I have decided to do something about it! I upcycled 1000 plastic bottles to create a greenhouse!” For those of you with the time and patience to collect enough empty plastic bottles, here is a step - by - step guide for building a plastic - bottle greenhouse Making this type of greenhouse is relatively cheap and easy, but it is also a bit of an undertaking in terms of labour and time, especially if you've never done anything like it before It does make a great project for a large group, community or a school project, but you can do this on your own, too It's cheap to construct You will need approximately 1400 empty 2 - litre ( 40 - oz) plastic bottles to build a greenhouse that is 8 ' x 6 ' If you don't have enough bottles saved up, you can collect them from neighbours, friends, hotels, bars, and restaurants in your area It holds heat and keeps seedlings warm The temperature inside this greenhouse will be about 10 ° C higher than the weather outside That is a huge difference , and it should certainly lengthen the growing season for many plants, no matter what climate you live in It is self - watering Because there are gaps between the bottles, heavy rain can certainly “Helping you to be the change you wish to see in the world !” THERE ARE ALWAYS BETTER TECHNIQUES HOW TO BUILD A USING PLASTIC BOTTLES GREENHOUSE @ Jacks Patch penetrate into the structure This is a huge time - saver for greenhouse growers Also, rainwater is always better for your plants than tap water It saves yet more plastic waste from the landfill It goes without saying that if everyone saved those PET bottles for constructions like greenhouses, there would be less plastic cluttering up landfill sites It is cheap and easy to repair You can simply replace any plastic bottle that has broken or been damaged All the bottles are hooked onto either wire or a cane or sticks, so all you need to do is unhook the line, slide out the bottle, and replace it with a newer one It is sturdy and can withstand strong winds Plastic bottles can't get blown away when they are pinned into place The strength of your structure will depend entirely on how well the lines of bottles are anchored Check out this channel for steps on building your own recycled plastic bottled green house! Issue 4 – May 2022 Temo Thuo farmers Directory is in collaboration with Agricolleges international which is a modern, cloud - based online learning institution We provide students with affordable, accessible and industry - relevant education and training in the fields of agriculture and related agri - industries ACI’s unique offering provides access to information in an online, blended and shared learning environment, available from anywhere at any time ACI offers various short courses in Agribusiness, Plant and Animal Production, as well accredited one - year NQF Level 4 National Certificate courses Contact us today for more information education@farmersdirectory co bw (+ 267 ) 76 25 22 44 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 13 INTRODUCTORY COURSES; ⇝ Introduction to Agribusiness. ⇝ Introduction to Animal production. ⇝ Introduction to Plant Production. FUNDAMENTALS COURSES; ⇝ Fundamentals of Agribusiness. ⇝ Fundamentals of Avocado production. ⇝ Fundamentals of Good Agricultural Practices. ⇝ Fundamentals of Macadamia Production. ⇝ Fundamentals of Maize production. CITRUS COURSES; ⇝ Citrus Harvesting. ⇝ Citrus Packaging. ⇝ Citrus Planting Management. ⇝ Citrus Propagation, Plant Structures & Functions. ⇝ Citrus Pruning. ⇝ Integrated Pest management for Citrus. NATIONAL CERTIFICATES; ⇝ National Certificate in general Agriculture. ⇝ National Certificate in Plant Production. ⇝ National Certificate in Animal Production AVAILABLE COURSES Issue 4 – May 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 14 Never has agriculture been so important as these times, for our National Food Security This is why we collaborated with Agricolleges International in hosting a competition and gave away 3 agricultural courses in Botswana, via a social media competition Agricolleges International provides online courses to assist farmers of all ages in leading people to the highest success rates in the farming industry, because knowledge is power We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Agricolleges International for sponsoring these courses, and adding value to a few lives within Botswana CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF OUR AGRI COURSE COMPETITION A big congratulations to our winners who have entered into our social media competition ! The winner of Agri Business goes to Catherine Seeta who is a wife and a mother of 2 children The winner of Plant P roduction goes to Seloilwe Keotshepile Seloilwe w ho is an environmentalist from Maun The winner of Animal P roduction goes to Aimie Mogwatse who has a passion for cattle and envisions exporting quality beef OUR WINNERS Issue 4 – May 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 18 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 16 Issue 4 – May 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 17 Issue 4 – May 2022 B RAIN - T WISTER These long riddles will wrack your brain 1. A wealthy family lived in a big circular house. They had a house keeper, a butler, and a gardener. The parents were going to a party, so they tucked the younger kids into bed and kissed them goodnight and said goodbye, and kissed the older kids goodnight. When the parents came home, all the kids were gone — they had been kidnapped. The authorities ask the butler, housekeeper, and gardener what they were doing at the time of the kidnapping. The butler says he was organizing the library, the housekeeper says she was dusting the corners, and the gardener says he was watering the plants. Who’s lying and actually kidnapped the kids ? 2. You walk into a room and see a bed. On the bed, there are two dogs, five cats, a giraffe, six cows, and a goose. There are also three doves flying above the bed. How many legs are on the floor ? 3. In a one - story house at the corner of the road, the bedrooms were yellow, the kitchen was orange, the living room was red, the garage was blue, the entry hall was green and the sitting room was purple. What colour were the stairs ? 4. I am a five - letter word and people eat me. If you remove the first letter I become an energy form. If you remove the first two letters, I am needed to live. Scramble the last three letters and I am a drink. What word am I ? 5. There’s a girl who has a large family. She has an equal amount of brothers and sisters, but each brother only has half as many brothers and sisters. What’s the correct amount of brothers and sisters? TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 18 ANSWERS 1. Answer : The Housekeeper — she said she was dusting the corners, but the family lives in a circular house, so there are no corners 2. Answer : Six — the bed’s four legs, plus your two legs 3. Answer : There’s no colour because there are no stairs — it’s a one - story house 4. Answer : Wheat 5. Answer : Four sisters and three brothers. DO YOU HAVE ANY TRICKY FARMING RIDDLES , ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING FARMING FOR OUR NEXT Q&A PAGE, OR ARE YOU A CREATOR OF COMIC STRIPS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN OUR MAGAZINE ? Give us a call, send us an email, or a WhatsApp for more info. Issue 4 – May 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 19 Cell: (+267) 754 84 559 Email: royalgroup.Botswana@gmail.com Web: www.paramount - creations.tech Issue 4 – May 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 20 Issue 4 – May 2022