FAQ added to the web

An extensive FAQ has been added to the website for your convenience. This is a collection of the most commonly asked questions about the TerraStar technology and equipment.  If you have questions that our FAQ hasn’t addressed, please contact us.

TerraStar and Zebedayo Women Self Help Group

A group of Kenyan entrepreneurs and a group of farmers in western Kenya formed their own cooperative named the ZEBEDAYO WOMEN SELF HELP GROUP. These enterprising women farmers are using agricultural business as a means to help support their families and local communities.

Their investment in the TerraStar units shown in the picture will allow the group members to produce more crops with less money and reduce their risk of crop loss due to unpredictable rainfall.

TerraManus Technology LLC Kenyan Director, Charles Makona recently facilitate a number of farmer field days in both the Busia area in western Kenya and the village of Thika north of Nairobi. Members of the ZEBEDAYO WOMEN SELF HELP GROUP were present at the Thika Farmer Field Day event sponsored by TerraMnaus Technology with support from Regina Wanjeri, Regional Extension Officer from the Kenyan Department of Agriculture.

Kenyan Director of Terramanus operations, Charles Makona says,”The advantages of the low cost TerraStar technology makes farming a viable choice for poverty eradication among farmers having only hand tools to farm their land. The proven combination of increased yields and reduced input cost means the farmers have real disposable income for the first time.

Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture Extension Officer Regina Wanyeri says, “The Terrastar’s ability to stop erosion while sequestering water in the soil takes much of the risk out of rains coming late or not coming at all”.

Stephen Carr, CEO

Sengegal opportunities

The U.S. Commercial Service, through their Gold Key Program has played an essential role in opening up avenues to the Republic of Senegal in western Africa. Stephen Carr recently spent time in the French-speaking land doing demonstrations of the TerraStar product and developing joint venture opportunities.

Stephen met with several business contacts to discuss rights to promote the manufacture, sale, and distribution of the TerraStar product.  They included:

• NABI Groupe Holding
• TSE – commercial agricultural equipment supplier
• SISSMAR – manual and horse-powered agricultural equipment supplier

Stephen will be returning back to Senegal in November and December to provide more demonstrations  just in time for their January planting season and working through TerraStar orders with the joint venture businesses.

Kenya trip cultivates much TerraStar interest

Stephen Carr recently returned from international travels to demonstrate the TerraStar product and develop business contacts.  The Kenya Embassy staff helped make networking arrangements and one of the highlights was a formal invitation to the the installation of the new Senior Commercial Director at the embassy, Camille Richardson.  The reception introduced Stephen to the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, Michael E. Ranneberger with whom they spent time exchanging dialog about the TerraStar technology. Stephen also met Commercial Specialist, Mary Masyuko who assisted in arranging meeting with several prospective commercial enterprises to partner with.  Additionally, Stephen met with USDA Agriculture Marketing Specialist, Carol Kamau.  She will be helping promote TerraStar to the commercial growers as a tool to help improve their market position within the greater East African cropping region.

Commercial Enterprises with whom Stephen Carr met with included:

• Caneland Ltd – John Deere Licensee
• Feil Farm Engineering Industries Ldt – agricultural manufacturer and dealer of Claas, Great Plains, Stehr
• Cheikh Ngane – Entrepreneur and retired U.S. Commercial Service, Nairobi Embassy
• Agricultural Development Trust – AgMark-KENYA, financial institution

US State Dept invitation

Stephen Carr and Gregg Whittaker have been invited by a Senior group from the US State Department to discuss the TerraManus technology as a tool in support of the President’s International poverty reduction initiative. The meeting is set for October 28th.  This recognition validates the potential of the TerraManus technology.

‘Smart money’ investor interest in sustainable ag technologies

TerraManus is a product that is in the right place at the right time

Demand for food is rising

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts that global food demand will increase 70 percent by 2050.  This is influenced by global population rising from today’s 7 billion to over 9 billion in 50 years, with majority in urban areas.

Food production farm land shrinking, yields hit ceiling

Factors includes the expanding urban area, land diverted to increased biofuels,  depleted water sources, polluted soil from over use of chemicals and poor farming practices, effects of climate changes, and the public’s desire for reforestation.

Land management technology opportunities

Some of the key technologies helping food producers produce in a more sustainable manner are:

• Crop yield enhancing techniques
• Smart irrigation – reduce agricultural water usage
• Environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemicals

Investment appeal

Any technology that uses resources in a more efficient manner and is less damaging to the environment is likely to be welcomed by investors. Established agriculture firms are looking to internalize sustainable technologies by investing in innovative companies with promising, sustainable solutions.

Soil imprint advantages

The idea is simple… a wheel that makes an ‘imprint’ pattern in the soil.   Yet this simple application to the soil conditioning of a field, garden or vineyard will net tremendous multi-faceted results.

What are the multi-faceted results with the TerraManus technology?

Each imprint has 30% more surface area than flat ground resulting in:

• reservoirs that prevents excess water run-off
• ‘ponds’ of water that soaks freely into the ground
• conservation of water
• prevention of top-soil loss and errosion
• more surface increases the sun’s effectiveness

Testing proved higher crop yields:

• Soil and water retention improves the plant health
• 35% increase in soybean yields after 14 weeks of drought as compared to conventional tillage
• Corn yields increased 12% with broader, longer leafs
• Tomatoes – 42% increase with no staking due to enhanced plant structure
• Potatoes – 21% increase
• Reduces nitrate levels in watershed by about 50%

Universal soil conditioning options:

• can be powered by mechanized or manual
• sized with a few wheels or matched with large farming equipment
• applicable to many types of crops; organic gardens, commercial garden fields, grain crops, vineyards

Cleantech Insights post about TerraManus

Read what Stephen Marcus, author for Cleantech Insights, contributed about us in his September 27th post entitled “TerraManus – reinventing the agricultural wheel“.

TerraStar observations

Learn what a TerraStar manufacturer, MayWes, is hearing from their clients about the demo unit and benefits.

Vegetable testing begins in China

Dr. Roy Stephen is working in conjunction with the government of China testing the TerraStar product in comparison to their conventional farming.  Planting is set to begin October 6th.  Four test beds are being prepared for the controlled tests and the TerraStar tests.  The plantings are to be done with a tractor.  The test crops will be; carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and potatoes.

China is financing this testing because of their demand for increased food production and  soil and water conservation.  TerraStar provides a practical solution to help meet their growing population’s needs for food consumption and feeding livestock.  Terrastar is versatile and can be used with tractor power, animal or manual.

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