At 5R-Eco Farm shop, our products are based on Effective Microorganisms technology. We supply effective microorganism (also known as EM) products. Effective microorganism are mixed cultures of naturally occurring beneficial organisms that are applied as inoculants to increase the microbial diversity of the animal feed, animal drinking water, soil, water for watering plants, cleaning or spraying as well as bad smell removal medium. EM Technology has a broad application, its natural, and had no adverse effect on and is beneficial to plants, animals and human. EM Consists of 80 different kinds of effective, disease-suppressing micro-organisms and has 5 families of beneficial microbes. Our mission is to promote the use of microbial products in Kenya to enhance production, save cost, have cleaner environment and reduce waste that we produce. Although there are times when the use of chemical cannot be avoided, we can work with both natural and chemical based systems. Our natural effective microbes helps to enhance rather than negatively impact the environment, farms, our foods and livestock.

 

The Effective Microorganism or EM culture consist billions of beneficial bacteria mainly of photosynthesizing bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, actinomycetes, and fermenting fungi. These microorganisms are physiologically compatible with one another and can exist in liquid culture. EM or Effective microorganism inoculation to the animal feed, animal drinking water, cleaning medium, soil, organic compost and bad smell removal medium improves the quality hence the benefit.

 

Although the EM (as a natural product) is widely used around the World, especially in Europe, America and Asia it is not widely used in Africa due to it’s scarcity and lack of awareness of its benefits. Now that we have it available we hope that our clients will benefit hugely. Our EM can be added to animal feeds, animal drinking water (as probiotic), soil conditioner and can also be used as alternative choice instead of using expensive chemicals, chemical pesticides and treatments for crops, animals as well as cleaning and removing bad smell around the homestead.

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Why is EM so successful? 

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EM is not harmful, pathogenic, or genetically-engineered, It’s natural, environmentally friendly and cost effective. There are five major groups of beneficial microbe in the EM culture.

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Lactic acid bacteria –these bacteria have powerful sterizing properties, they suppress harmful microorganisms and encourage breakdown of organic substances.
Yeast – produces antimicrobial and useful substances that enhance plants  growth
Actinomycetes – suppress harmful fungi and bacteria.
Photosynthetic bacteria – these bacteria contributes to a better photosynthesis by using sun light and heat from the soil as the source of energy.
Fungi –brings about fermentation, and breaks down organic matter quickly and suppress odor [bad smell]

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Uses of Effective Micro-organism

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The possibilities for using EM Technology are numerable and include the following:

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1. Adding in livestock poultry drinking water

2. Agriculture: spray on crops [reduces the dependency on fertilizers, chemicals and pesticides]

3. Livestock house: Spray on the floor to stop bad smell and neutralize acid manure and kill germs. The beneficial microbes in the EM works anaerobically and that’s how they stop bad smell

4. Spray on animals: To kill germs, maintain clean hair and get rid of any smell [it’s like a special bath for animals]

5. Homestead: Spray on floors, carpets and surfaces to eliminate smell and kill pathogens, 

6. Spray on compost: To speed up the process and suppress odor. 

In fish ponds: To aid decomposition of matters and stop bad smell in water. Decaying matter reduces dissolved oxygen in the pond. EM will improve water quality and oxygen level.

6. Spray in the garden, lawn golf fields, football fields etc to improve soil structure, improve productivity, increase resistant to drought and supress disease.
7. Soil conditioner: When EM is used as a soil conditioner, it creates healthy soil to allow the plants and vegetables grow to their maximum potential.

At the beginning (The Origin of Effective Microorganism)

 

Dr Teruo Higa is the pioneer of Effective Microorganisms. Since the beginning of Dr. Teruo Higa’s life agriculture and science have always been major influence in his life choices and he always believed there is an alternative to chemical used in agriculture and livestock farming. After many trials and errors, Dr. Higa discovered an optimal mix in 1980 that promoted healthy plant growth. This is when he had a break through which led to the discovery of EM Technology.

 

Dr. Teruo Higa graduated from the agricultural Department of Ryukus university (Japan) where he also completed his doctorate in Agriculture Research. In 1970 he was invited to be became an instructor in at Ryukyus university and 10 years after that he became professor of the university. Dr. Teruo Higa is best known for his discovery for EM Technology, however this incredible discovery occurred by accident. In 1960’s microorganisms were constantly being studied, all across the globe, for many different applications.

 

One day Dr. Teruo Higa was working in the lab and accidentally spilled microorganisms near some shrubs. A few days later, he noticed that those shrubs had grow extremely well. Dr. Higa grew up up farming and knew that farmers often only had the choice of expensive chemical pesticides and treatments for their crops. He decided to find a natural method through the use of beneficial microorganisms that would help relieve the farmers of their chemical dependencies. Based off of this accidental discovery, Dr. Higa experimented through the years to discover the optimal combination of microorganisms and finally create the first use of EM Technology. The first creation is known as EM1.

 

Modern Days

 

Today EM Technology is widely used globally instead of chemicals, anti-bacterial cleaning chemicals, chemical fertilizers, chemical, pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones. EM Technology has not only helped agriculture, but it has also assisted in the field of livestock, the environment, cleaning, industry, health and removal of bad smell. The use of EM Technology means that we can have healthier livestock, healthier chicken, healthier eggs, healthier broilers, no smell, no flies, clean environment, happy livestock and no more neighbor complaints about bad smell! (Sustainable agri-business and clean, chemical free environment).