Good Day Everyone
Its been awhile.
Mill ash???
A team of inspired Agriculture Officers are now looking into the trialing of mill ash as a probable manure usage in the future. These trial in partnership with FSC Labasa, will be looking at ways in which both, the farmers and the mill can benefit from. Acknowledging the staff of FRIEND a local NGO in Fiji, whom their qualified agriculture officers will be the ones carrying out this trial, is adamant in getting results out of this trial.Its Director, Ms Sashi Kiran is vying that if is this trial is successful, FRIEND will on behalf of the farmers; try to negotiate with FSC on the availability of these to the farmers with the sole purpose of improving the soil in the Northern division.
Over the years, FSC mills all over in Fiji had been dumping their effluents into rivers, non-usable areas and this has somehow deteriorate the nutrients of the land nearby, kill the fish in the rivers and thus bring about health risks to the tenants living near the dumping areas. For these, according to Mr S.M.H Cox's research paper (Sugar Milling Research Institute) detailed that normally a mill can be producing three different water borne effluents, which contained OM, sugar and small amounts of other substances. Also, as per discussed with the Labasa mill general manager, Mr K Christopher, past research was carried out but nothing solid had come out thus leaving the mill unaware and with little information, the mill have little choice but to dump its effluents wherever possible.
The trial so far, will be to cane farmers and cash crop. Assessment criteria will look into plant height for one, coloring from stem to leaves and width of growth and also of course yield-weight of plant after harvest.
For the field, it will feature border cropping, trial 1, border cropping and so on.
So far for mill mud if you dont know...it is one of the best manure ever if decomposed for more than 6 months. With maize planting so far, what we have found is that, the plants just thrive compare to normal growth in contrast to the control trial.
Very soon we are going to look at Agroforestry, so keep in touch later on this page. cha cha
Its been awhile.
Mill ash???
A team of inspired Agriculture Officers are now looking into the trialing of mill ash as a probable manure usage in the future. These trial in partnership with FSC Labasa, will be looking at ways in which both, the farmers and the mill can benefit from. Acknowledging the staff of FRIEND a local NGO in Fiji, whom their qualified agriculture officers will be the ones carrying out this trial, is adamant in getting results out of this trial.Its Director, Ms Sashi Kiran is vying that if is this trial is successful, FRIEND will on behalf of the farmers; try to negotiate with FSC on the availability of these to the farmers with the sole purpose of improving the soil in the Northern division.
Over the years, FSC mills all over in Fiji had been dumping their effluents into rivers, non-usable areas and this has somehow deteriorate the nutrients of the land nearby, kill the fish in the rivers and thus bring about health risks to the tenants living near the dumping areas. For these, according to Mr S.M.H Cox's research paper (Sugar Milling Research Institute) detailed that normally a mill can be producing three different water borne effluents, which contained OM, sugar and small amounts of other substances. Also, as per discussed with the Labasa mill general manager, Mr K Christopher, past research was carried out but nothing solid had come out thus leaving the mill unaware and with little information, the mill have little choice but to dump its effluents wherever possible.
The trial so far, will be to cane farmers and cash crop. Assessment criteria will look into plant height for one, coloring from stem to leaves and width of growth and also of course yield-weight of plant after harvest.
For the field, it will feature border cropping, trial 1, border cropping and so on.
So far for mill mud if you dont know...it is one of the best manure ever if decomposed for more than 6 months. With maize planting so far, what we have found is that, the plants just thrive compare to normal growth in contrast to the control trial.
Very soon we are going to look at Agroforestry, so keep in touch later on this page. cha cha
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| Maize at just 2 weeks old |
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| Cowpea at just 2 weeks |
