Things to know about stick welding equipment in Kenya

The use of welding equipment in Kenya has been increasing each passing year with a number of people embracing the whole process of welding as a way of making out a living.

Even as more and more people continue to embrace the technology, it's important that they learn the various types of welding machines that are available on the market and how they are used.

This very important, especially in ensuring that a specific welding machine is used for the correct purpose it was designed for.

This helps a lot in ensuring that the machines functions properly and is able to serve the owner for a very long time at the same time producing quality welds.

welding equipment in Kenya

Tips on how to use stick welding equipment in Kenya

Stick welding is mainly used in the shipbuilding and construction industries, and it is also one of the most flexible welding processes for multiple locations.

The advantage about using stick welding equipment is that, one can weld metals of various thicknesses and in all positions; that is in vertical, horizontal, flat and even overhead. One however, needs to adhere to basic tips in order to get the best results.

Practice feeding the TIG Wire  

              

Before one starts welding he needs to learn how to feed the filler wire through his fingers with a TIG glove on. One needs to get a clear idea of how fast or slow he can be able to move the wire into the weld puddle before working on a metal piece.

The other thing one needs to do is to practice moving his foot on the TIG welders peddle to learn how to change the amperage of the welder while feeding wire. This will ensure that you get a good feel for the wire which in turn helps in keeping a good steady rate of filler metal into the weld and thus giving you an opportunity to focus on your technique.

TIG welding settings

It’s always good for a welder to try various settings on the welder so as to discover how the welder works or performs under a variety of conditions and positions. Try lengthening and shortening the arc and shaping the electrode so that its tapered or rounded and see the results.

You also need to understand the kind of electrode you are using, the power settings for example (AC or DC), and the metal you are working on. As you do all the above be keen to take note of particular settings that prove most useful.

Practice TIG welding techniques

It’s always good, especially if you are learning how to weld that you try various welding techniques so as to understand more how the welding machine works and in what technique does the machine produce good welds. As you do this try out different rod sizes in each position. This helps one to easily select the best combination for your next project.

Keep welding beads

Since TIG welding uses a lot of metal, it’s advisable that beginners in TIG welding should stick to just making a series of beads, stacking them up one after the other. This is likely to help one practice and gain the required skills to get better welds.

It’s also very important that one understands the fact that stacking beads makes the metal very hot and as such it is advisable that one gives the metal some time to cool off.

Well, if you are a beginner and you really want to learn welding using TIG welding equipment in Kenya, it will better that you follow the above tips.

The best farming practices to use in Kenya

As agricultural sector continues to grow, there are various agricultural techniques being used but what we need to ask ourselves is what the best farming practices to use in Kenya are.

Sustainable agriculture provides high yields without undermining the natural systems and resources that productivity depends on. It is therefore very important to note that farmers who take a sustainable approach work efficiently with natural processes rather than ignoring or struggling against them.

Best farming practices to use in Kenya

Those farmers who use the best of current knowledge and technology are able to avoid the unintended consequences of industrial, chemical-based agriculture.

One of the most important results is that farmers are able to minimize their use of pesticides and fertilizers, thereby saving money and protecting future productivity, as well as the environment.

Below are some of the most common sustainable agricultural techniques employed by farmers today to achieve the key goals of weed control, pest control, disease control, erosion control and high soil quality. The techniques can also benefit Kenya as a nation if we embrace them.

The best farming practices to use in Kenya

Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is the art of growing different crops in succession in the same field. It is one of the most powerful techniques of sustainable agriculture and helps avoid the unintended consequences of putting the same plants in the same soil year after year.

 It is a key element of the permanent and effective solution to pest problems because many pests have preference for specific crops and continuous growth of the same crop guarantees them a steady supply of food which helps them increase in their population.

In crop rotations, farmers can also plant crops, like soy beans and other legumes, which replenish plant nutrients, thereby reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Cover crops

Growing cover crops is also another effective farming technique which can be used effectively in the country. Many farmers have been taking advantage of the benefits of having plants growing in the soil at all times, rather than leaving the ground bare between cropping periods, which produces united problems.

Planting of these cover crops such as clover and oats helps farmers achieve the basic goals of;

·         Preventing soil erosion

·         Enhancing soil quality

·         Suppressing weeds

Adopting crop rotation and using appropriate cover crops is worth the extra efforts because it reduces the need for chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers.

Soil enrichment

Having rich and fertile soil is the key to better yields. Good soils can improve yields and produce robust crops less vulnerable to pests. Remember that abused soils often require heavy fertilizer application to produce high yields. Soil quality can be maintained and enhanced in many ways, including leaving crop residues in the field after harvest, plowing under cover crops, or adding composted plant material or animal manure.

Healthy soil teems with life, including many beneficial microbes and insects, but these are often killed off by the use of pesticides.

Natural pest predators

Understanding a farm as an ecosystem rather than a factory offers exciting opportunities for effective pest control. Examples of natural predators of agricultural pests include; birds, insects and spiders. Managing farms so that they harbour populations of pest’s predators is an effective pest control technique. Intensive use of chemical pesticides leads to the indiscriminate killing of birds, bats, and other pest predators.

Bio intensive Integrated Pest Management

This is one of the most promising technologies in the control of pests through integrated pest management (IPM). The approach relies on the greatest possible extend on biological rather than chemical measures and it emphasizes the prevention of pest problems with crop rotation; the reintroduction of natural disease-fighting microbes into plants/soil, and the release of beneficial organisms that prey on the pests.

Once a particular pest is identified, responses include the use of sterile males, bio-control agents like ladybugs. Chemical pesticides are only used as a last resort. 

 

If we embrace the best farming practices to use in Kenya then we will be able to change the state of our farming and increase our agricultural produce. 

How to import flowers from Kenya

There are various rules and regulations or procedures that one must follow if he/she wants to import flowers from Kenya. All countries are subject to rules and regulations governing importation and exportation of products. In Kenya these regulations are aimed at protecting the agricultural sector which is the backbone of Kenya’s economy.

Import Flowers from Kenya

The first step in the process of importing flowers is identifying the product that you want to import. It is important to get quality products from the right company. The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) offers inspectorate service ensuring that the flowers to be exported meet the current phytosanitary requirements of the importing country.

The importation process mostly affects the exporter as they have to ensure that the goods they export are of good quality in order to please the importer. Kenya therefore ensures that the exporters of flowers meet these requirements by all means.

Regulations that govern how to import of flowers from Kenya

The companies exporting these flowers are subject to quite a number of regulations to ensure that the importing countries receive quality products. These regulations include

·         Ascertaining the relevant phytosanitary requirements of the importing country.

      Verifying through inspection that the consignment meets these requirements.

      The companies should have a phytosanitary certificate. This certificate is issued by KEPHIS and to get this certificate, companies must meet the phytosanitary requirement of from the importing country.

·         All flowers for export must meet the gazetted minimum and be accompanied by the relevant certificates.

Trade requirements of Kenya

The exporter must also meet the trade requirements of Kenya which include;

·         The exporter must look for booking space in a vessel or aircraft to carry the cargo. This can be four to six weeks before the vessel arrives at the port of Mombasa.

·         The exporter will also book for a container if the flowers are to be transported by sea way in advance.

·         Once the flowers are ready to be packed into the container, the exporter should have prepared the packing list and the commercial invoice.

·         The exporter then ensures that the export goods are verified by the customs office who also takes a photograph of the good while they are in the warehouse.

·         Once the container is picked the exporter through the clearing agent proceeds to lodge the documents into the samba system for customs to process and release the goods for export.

·         The exporter then collects the bill of lading from the shipping agent once the clearing agent delivers the goods to the shipping line and they are accepted.

·         The exporter will then take all the export documents and send them to the bank.

There are forms known as Euro 1 and GSP forms that are used to determine the origin of goods and to prove that the importing country has a bilateral agreement that allows duty free entry into the receiving country.

For international companies that are limited in their scope and abilities, they use of importing agents who facilitate the process of importing from Kenya.

The importer applies for the Importer Declaration Form (IDF) from their respective countries. This state out the valuation of the goods .The most important requirement for a country to import flowers from Kenya is the right documentation including the permit. This documents show the requirements of the agreement between this countries and the terms of trade.

For any country or individual who wishes to venture into the flower trade and export or import flowers from Kenya, the above are some of the processes that they will have to undertake for them to achieve their goals.

Marketing strategies for universities in Kenya

With the improvement of the education sector in the country, there are various marketing strategies universities in Kenya have been using to reach out to their prospective students.

Ever since the education system improved many universities were established and its due to this reason that many of them are fighting very hard to ensure that they get the students they want.

Universities in Kenya

Some of the strategies these institutions of higher learning have been using are stated below.

Marketing strategies universities in Kenya use

Native advertising

Prospective students have overwhelming access to advertising especially through the internet. Native advertisements are a form of advertising that embeds integrated content into various online platforms mimicking the form and function of the medium in which the ad is placed.  For example, when a prospective student logs onto Twitter, they would much rather click and engage with tweet that is sponsored by a brand, than click on the side banner which is obvious advertising.

By leveraging a few key principles, many colleges marketing team can take advantage of native advertisings many benefits; deeper brand awareness, stronger affinity with prospective students and social lift.

Optimize university marketing initiatives with Google analytics

Google analytics is a powerful website service that provides detailed statistics about website traffic and traffic sources, and it is by far one of the most effective online resources available to digital marketers today. When used correctly, the insights and features offered by this dynamic platform will be sure to boost the overall success of your institutions marketing initiatives.

Google analytics will help universities and colleges maximize their understanding of a wide array of elements, such as their audience, visitor traffic, bounce rates, average visit durations and more. It even offers valuable information about behavioural patterns of visitors, demographics and key performance indicators.

Go digital

The digital revolution has taken over everything and even colleges and universities are no exception. Now more than ever, institutions and educators are relying on online and mobile tools to provide media rich sources of information.

The introduction of e-books, online courses and mobile apps provided options and solutions to dissatisfied students. There is no surprise that these factors were fuelling a transformation of our education system. Going digital therefore is a smart move not only for students but also for colleges and universities to tie neatly to the new public demand of education.

Big data meets higher education

Big data has proven to be a useful tool in improving the learning outcomes for each student in colleges and universities. For example by providing valuable information to educators, big data allows them to understand their students better, identify learning deficits and create curriculums which best suit their students.

It is also the best tool in the admissions processes, budgeting, better distribution of resources and more. In the case of virtual college tours, big data is useful in targeting prospective students for each college and university. This is because the information allows sources to know if a student is interested in the university or if they are routinely coming back to the pages, and even what their specific interests are in a school.

Another issue is that most students do not actually read newspapers and so it would be better if universities adopted the use of the internet to reach out to them.

Most of the universities in Kenya who have adopted the above strategies boast of the growth and the success of their institutions.