November 23, 2012

23 November, 2012 Could an alliance between big agribusiness and small-scale farmers produce enough food to feed the continent and beyond? African smallholder farmers are some of the most impoverished people in the world (43% are women) and they account for 80% of food production in sub-Saharan Africa (pdf). Some people argue their future will be driven by the private sector – the UK's Department for International Development has been working to link up businesses with smallholder…

Friday, November 23, 2012 By Teresa Ellera This was revealed by the Bureau of Agricultural Products and Fisheries Standards (BAPFS) in a survey conducted among all the provinces in the Philippines. Salvador Salacup, Assistant Secretary and BAPFS Director, said Negros is the most active in the country in terms of the organic farming movement, specifically in terms of the hectarage of lands that are converted into organic farms as well as stakeholders. Salacup represented…

RIZWAN BHATTI November 23, 2012 Pakistan Agri Forum has rejected new wheat support price of Rs 1,200 per 40-kilogram, announced by Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) on Thursday and demanded support price of Rs 1,300 as overhead costs for farmers have increased substantially during last one year. Talking to BR, Ibrahim Mughal, Chairman Pakistan Agri Forum said despite repeated requests announcement of wheat support price was made after the sowing period. The delay in…

November 23, 2012 The sugar mills of Peshawar valley has started the crushing season of the crop 2012-13 as Khazana Sugar Mills (KSM) and Premier Sugar Mills (PSM) Mardan have warmed up their boilers on November 12 and 15, respectively. Talking to Business Recorder, Sugarcane Commissioner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Anwar Khan said that during the meeting of Sugar Control Board, comprising of the representatives of growers and sugar millers, both were agreed on the starting of sugarcane crushing…

Using mobile technology to improve farming skills in Thailand 19 November 2012 Food of thought for Pakistanis If Thailand can implement this system (described below ) successfully why not we? Agriculture is our back bone and we can educate our farmers through this type of service. I need your suggestion / comments Can this system be implemented in Pakistan? If not what are the reasons? Thai farmers can access useful information on agricultural…

November 23, 2012 With the arrival of new potato and tomato crops, their prices have dipped in local markets substantially. Retail prices of potato has registered a sharp decline and is being sold at Rs 30 to 35 per kg depending on its size. Old stock of potato is available in the market at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kg. The retailers said that potato and tomato are available in the wholesale market is huge quantity whereas it demand is low as compared to supply which has pushed the…

November 23, 2012 YASIR BABBAR The controversial culling of thousands of Australian sheep before Eidul Azha seems to have strained bilateral relations between Australia and Pakistan, BR has learnt. Responding to the demand of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has sought the enquiry report from Sindh government over the highly controversial matter of 21,000 Australian sheep. The Australian government on November 6 formally asked Pakistan to…

November 23, 2012 Thursday's Rotterdam vegetable oil prices at 1700 GMT. SOYOIL EU degummed: euro tonne fob ex-mill December 2012 880.00 +0.00 January 2013 880.00 +0.00 February 2013/April 2013 885.00 +0.00 May 2013/July 2013 890.00 +0.00. RAPEOIL Dutch/EU: euro tonne fob ex-mill February 2013/April 2013 925.00 -1.00 May 2013/July 2013 925.00 -1.00 August 2013/October 2013 915.00 +0.00. SUNOIL EU: dollars tonne ex-tank six ports option January 2013/March 2013 1245.00…

November 23, 2012 Tokyo rubber futures rose 2 percent to a 3-week high on Thursday on the back of a weaker yen that encouraged players to take speculative buying positions, but profit-taking limited gains, dealers said. The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange for April delivery rose 5.0 yen to settle at 261.7 yen ($3.18) per kg. It rose 5.4 yen, or 2 percent, to an intra-day high of 262.1 yen, the highest since October 29. The most-active rubber contract…