PLANT, SELL AND GET RICH-PLANTAIN, BANANA PLANTATION

HOW TO EARN7.2 MILLION YEAR FROM PLANTAIN, BANANA PLATATION

The food crisis in Africa and Nigeria in particular is not unconnected with our inability to tap the abundantly available resources at our disposal to solve our food problems. Plantain and banana are food crops which can be grown profitably in Nigeria. These crops have been abandoned for ages, but they are now very precious in the market. The botany of plantains and bananas do not differ except that storage of carbohydrate in plantain fruits is in form of starch while it is sugar in banana fruits.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT MARKET POTENTIALS
Establishment of plantain and banana plantation can be justified as follows;
- Establishment of such project will increase food production in the country. This will help in combating hunger, underfeeding and malnutrition.
- It will help in rural development by providing job opportunities for rural dwellers.
- The market is no doubt guaranteed as banana and plantain are consumed by Nigeria. A bunch of plantation that used to sell for N500.00 in those days now sells for over N400.00. This can be attributed to population increase (more mouth s to feed) and the decline in production level.
. The crop has export potentials
. They are also industrial materials for example; plantain can be processed into flour and chips.
. Establishment of the project will on the aggregate improve Nigeria’s economy. It will have the multiplier effect on economy by providing job opportunities for labour market and serve as raw materials to industries.

PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
To embark on this project, there is the need for a suitable land that has the following characteristic;
- Humid low land
- Optimum temperature of 27C0
- Well distributed rainfall of about 2000mm per annum.
It must be noted that site for project should be visited by experts to ascertain their suitability or otherwise. After land procurement, we do the land preparation either mechanically or by slashing. This is followed by purchase of suckers (the planting materials). Planting is done by digging holds of about 45cm wide and deep after which the suckers are placed in the holes. The spacing between crops should be about 3meters. After planting, herbicide can be applied to control weed growth. Cultural practices involve fertilizer application at 6months interval, regular weeding, removal of unwanted develops well and produce desirable bunches. It takes about 18 months for the crop to mature.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT
To establish the plantation 10 hectare land can be used for a start. All projections are base on 10 hectare.


REVENUE PROJECTION
Under good management one sucker planted initially will produce one bunch of plantain /banana per annum. This gives a total of 18,000 bunches per annum. A bunch of plantain will sell for a minimum of N400. Thus gives us total revenue of N7.2 million per annum. Cost of maintenance per annum is estimated at N500, 000. Promoters will no doubt have over N6, 000,000 as profit every year. Plantain plantation can last for a very long time it well maintained. This is surely a good means of livelihood for Nigerian. The project is recommended

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE / OPERATING EXPENSES
1. Land N 500,000.00
2. Land preparation N 250,000.00
3. Suckers (18,000)@50each N 90,000.00
4. Planting N 100,000.00
5. Herbicides N 125,000.00
6. Employment of farm hands N 240,000.00
7. Procurement of fertilizer N 50,000.00
8. Miscellaneous expenses
Transportation, farm tools,
Wheelbarrow etc N 50,000.00
9. Pre-Investment expenses N 50,000.00
Total N1, 455,000.00

As complied by
ISAIAH UBONG

GOING UP! TO LIFT A BAD MOOD

7 POINTERS TO LIFT A BAD MOOD

No one can live a long and healthy life without the ill to go on; sometimes mood swings can make us feel that life is too much for us.
A bad mood not only gives you a gloomy outlook, it also lowers your immune function, leading the way to illness. Here are some suggestions to lift your mood, your spirit, and your health.
1. A Laughing Matter
"Laugh Therapy," pioneered by Norman Cousins, has turned out to have real substance. Research has discovered that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help defend the body from illness and cancer.
Laughter also increases the release of endorphins - compounds that give you a sense of well-being - in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people liver longer and healthier lives. So read your favorite comics, watch your favorite comedies, and laugh it up!
2. Amino Acid for Restored Mindset
When an imbalance or deficiency is creating a bad mood, the Europeans use supplements of a natural compound found in human cells to regulate mood and restore a healthy mindset. SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) is produced from methionine, an amino acid that plays a role in the production of uplifting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
One study indicated that SAMe worked on patients who had unsuccessful results with conventional antidepressants. To get a boost from SAMe, take a supplement combining it with vitamins B6 and B12.
3. Hands-On Healing
Human touch increases the production of endorphins, growth hormone, and DHEA, all of which lengthen your life span and lower the negative impact of stress. Studies have found that patients who are regularly touched recover faster than those who are not touched. So give someone a hug and feel both of your moods improve.
4. Boost Your "Youth Hormones"
You don't need pills to flood your body with a rejuvenating flood of growth hormones. Research has found that doing squats and leg presses will greatly increase your natural production of the "youth hormone". Increased growth hormone translates to an elevated mood, among other physical benefits. Keep it up with weight training, knee bends, push-ups, and rowing.
5. Take a Bracing Breath
Breathing correctly is important for dispelling the toxins and wastes from your body; in fact, it is estimated that we expel only about 30 percent of toxins in our bodies through the bowels and bladder-the rest is all respiratory. Breathing is also a great way to clear your mind, boost your energy, and improve your mood. Practice deep, slow, rhythmic, breathing daily with mind-body disciplines such as tai chi, yoga, qigong, and meditation.
6. Smell the Joy
Research has shown that smell has a definite impact on our bodies and minds. When you stimulate the olfactory nerves inside your nose, you activate the limbic system of your brain, which is associated with moods and memory. This concept is instrumental to aromatherapy, a natural health tradition that makes use of the healing powers of plants with strong scents.
Aromatherapy recommends treating depression with jasmine, eucalyptus for exhilaration, and grapefruit to increase alertness and joy. Just put a dab of the essential oils from these plants on your temples, back of your neck, or acupressure points. Another option? Boil the herb in water and inhale the steam through your nose.
7. Feel Fine with Flowers
There is a reason that flowers are the traditional get-well gesture. Colorful flowers have a powerful influence on moods; they can uplift a patient's mood and even combat stress. One study found that during a five-minute typing assignment, people sitting next to a flowering bouquet were more relaxed than those who sat near foliage-only plants.
I hope these tips help the good feelings flow! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

Isaiah UBONG

ANIMAL THEMED LOGO DESIGN

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ANIMAL LOGO
We have been seeing lots of logo design using animal as its element and different animal has different symbolic meaning. I am to write a series blog about the animal themed logo design in the following weeks, with some examples I collected and the some symbolic meaning of animal used. So let’s begin our today’s topic: logo with birds element inside.
There are lots of birds we can see in our daily life, such as pigeon, swan, woodpecker..etc., why the company choose them? what is the meaning behind those animals? Here are some examples:
SWALLOW – love and loyalty;
SWAN - perfection, beauty, and grace;
PHOENIX – Immortality Resurrection, Healing, and Peace;
CHICKEN – fertility. And in China, the chicken is symbolic of pride or the new start;
OWL – Wisdom, Mystery, Transition, Messages, Intelligence, Mysticism, Protection, Secrets
EAGLES AND HAWKS – swiftness, soaring ability, and fierceness, and also related with life-giving and life-sustaining powers
PIGEONS – love and marital bliss as well as happiness
WOODPECKER – Balance, Progress, Signaling, Returning, Protection, Initiation, Attention, Prophesy, Listening, , Opportunity, Discernment, Communication, Determination
BAT – death and rebirth. Sometimes, they are known as the “Guardian of the Night.” It is also a symbol of communication. Bat is also associated with medicine.
DUCK- resourceful person