tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75647388056295771902024-03-06T19:34:08.852-08:00AgriHuntA dream to rehsape agricultural landscape of worldRamzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.comBlogger2671125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-19981388109870550862016-02-29T12:08:00.002-08:002016-02-29T12:08:35.614-08:00Online agricultural market” support our project <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Online Agricultural market for Pakistani farmers</strong></div>
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My name is Muhammad Ramzan Rafique, 36, and I am a graduate of University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Pakistan, with horticulture as my major. I belong to an agricultural family, born and raised in a village, studied agriculture, and now working in agriculture sector. I have worked for public as well as private sector. I am currently managing<a href="http://www.agrihunt.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ae5218; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s; word-break: break-word;">www.agrihunt.com</a>, (agricultural information sharing) <a href="http://www.lsij.org/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ae5218; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s; word-break: break-word;">www.lsij.org</a>, (scientific journal) and working for the development of <a href="http://www.sublimeseeds.org/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ae5218; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s; word-break: break-word;">www.sublimeseeds.org</a> (online seed store). I also run my personal blog on various social issues at <a href="http://tehreer-say-taqreer-tak.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ae5218; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s; word-break: break-word;">Urdu blog</a>, and for agriculture <a href="http://agrihunt.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ae5218; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s; word-break: break-word;">Agrihunt blog</a>. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/agrihunt/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ae5218; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s; word-break: break-word;">Team Agrihunt</a> consist of many volunteers and we have successfully launched many social projects like <a href="http://www.dawn.com/news/1192623/how-many-of-pakistans-15-million-facebook-users-will-plant-a-tree" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ae5218; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s; word-break: break-word;">Fruit for life</a>, and publishing of agricultural books.</div>
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It is my dream to re-shape the agricultural landscape of Pakistan. My project is to set up e-Agricultural market, where farmers can buy and sell products, without the intervention of middlemen, because that results in increased costs for consumers and low profits for the farmers. I have bought a domain name <a href="http://www.emandi.pk/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ae5218; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s; word-break: break-word;">www.emandi.pk</a> (local word for agricultural market) for this purpose. Now we have to do efforts along with web and application development. We want to establish text messaging channel for establishing link with less educated farmers, where farmers can easily know the market rates of crops and other agricultural products.</div>
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In Pakistan 60-70% population is directly or indirectly related to agriculture. 95% of the farmers are small farmers and they buy agricultural inputs from middlemen, they also sell their produce via middlemen. So in both ways, they are paying to middlemen for same commodity. If we can minimize this gap by increasing mobile technology, we can make a huge difference among farming community in Pakistan.</div>
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<img alt="DSC_0248" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5188" src="https://gcardblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/dsc_0248.jpg?w=748" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-right: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em; max-width: 100%;" />I have worked with giants of agricultural input providers in Pakistan. If we provide quality products to farmers at reasonable prices and at their door step, along with guiding and introducing them to direct buyers or industry, then the existing buying and selling landscape in agricultural industry can be reshaped.</div>
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We are already working with offline agricultural stakeholders’ directory in Pakistan, so our first step would be make a database of agricultural input providers, producers or growers, and related industry for developing a web portal, smartphone application as well as text message based alert system for farmers and other stakeholders.</div>
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We wish to launch vegetable seeds distribution system by <a href="http://www.sublimeseeds.org/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ae5218; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s; word-break: break-word;">http://www.sublimeseeds.org</a>. We will launch a pilot project in Sahiwal area of Punjab, where farmers would be able to order selected vegetable seeds at competitive prices at their door steps, and they can pay cash on delivery.</div>
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For selling their vegetables, we can recommend direct buyers rather than them selling produce to middlemen, who always procure at lowers prices from farmers. Additionally, our website will provide a place to people for advertising their products themselves and interact directly with buyers and sellers.</div>
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We can make a difference in one local market in one season, as we have capability to get good products and we wish to provide them at discounted price as middlemen commission will no longer be there, so I hope we can attract many farmers.</div>
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to support my project , please open this link and go for comments <a href="http://blog.gfar.net/2016/02/26/yap-proposal-43-online-agricultural-market-muhammad-ramzan-rafique-pakistan/" target="_blank">http://blog.gfar.net/2016/02/26/yap-proposal-43-online-agricultural-market-muhammad-ramzan-rafique-pakistan/</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-35071739054968407312015-08-30T09:05:00.001-07:002015-08-30T09:05:52.697-07:00From pillar to post: Nightmare admission process for University of Agriculture hopefuls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://agrihunt.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/945398-UniverisityofAgriculture-1440629048-846-640x480.jpg" style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img alt="945398-UniverisityofAgriculture-1440629048-846-640x480" class="size-medium wp-image-6364 aligncenter tie-appear" height="225" src="http://agrihunt.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/945398-UniverisityofAgriculture-1440629048-846-640x480-300x225.jpg" style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>Sheer mismanagement and disorganisation have caused a massive headache for potential students of University of Agriculture in the city as they go from pillar to post trying to submit admission forms.</div>
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Students submitting admission forms complained that simple tasks take hours as they visit various offices.</div>
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Speaking to <em style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The Express Tribune</em>, Latifur Rehman said he came from Mardan and found there was no guidance for new students.</div>
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“I knocked on the doors of all offices and still failed to submit my admission form,” Rehman said. He requested the university administration to facilitate new students and guide them through<br style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />the process.</div>
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After the FA/FSc results are out, admissions are opened at different universities and colleges for the BSc programme.</div>
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At some varsities, students establish guidance tents for new students.</div>
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After the October 22, 2014 clash in which a pupil died, the AU administration banned all student federations’ activities hence this year they were unable to establish guidance camps.</div>
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Imamia Student Organisation’s AU Secretary Qamar Bangash criticised the institute administration for the lack of facilities for new students, saying they have to suffer in the blazing heat.</div>
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“Simple tasks take the entire day as there is nobody to guide the students,” Bangash said. “Officials on duty are unaware of the semester fee structure, while students have to stand in queues for hours.”</div>
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He pressed the vice chancellor of AU to take notice of this mismanagement and facilitate students.</div>
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When contacted, AU Director Teaching Professor Munir Khattak said the institute carefully selected people to handle the admission process and their offices are open from 9am to 5pm. He added the offices remain open even during prayer and lunch time. He claimed not a single student hoping to gain admission had complained so far. “Anyone facing problems can visit my office directly,” Khattak added.</div>
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He admitted the university administration banned all student federations, but insisted officials are willing to provide all kinds of guidance and facilities.</div>
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<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/945398/from-pillar-to-post-nightmare-admission-process-for-university-of-agriculture-hopefuls/" style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Source</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-18145938631017288602015-05-12T16:00:00.000-07:002015-05-12T16:00:30.329-07:00QTL- ANALYSIS: AN INTRODUCTION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Biotechnology is a technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. One of its chief applications nowadays is QTL analysis which deals with quantitative trait loci mapping.</div>
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First of all, we should have some knowledge about the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) which are stretches of DNA containing or linked to the genes that underlie a quantitative trait. Quantitative traits refer to phenotypes (characteristics) that vary in degree and can be attributed to polygenic effects, i.e., product of two or more genes, and their environment. An example of a polygenic trait is human skin colour variation. Moreover, a single phenotypic trait is usually determined by many genes. Consequently, many QTLs are associated with a single trait. These QTLs are often found on different chromosomes. Knowing the number of QTLs that explains variation in the phenotypic trait tells us about the genetic architecture of a trait. It may tell us that plant height is controlled by many genes of small effect, or by a few genes of large effect.</div>
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QTL analysis is a statistical method that links two types of information — phenotypic data (trait measurements) and genotypic data (usually molecular markers) — in an attempt to explain the genetic basis of variation in complex traits. QTL analysis allows researchers in fields as diverse, as agriculture, evolution, and medicine to link certain complex phenotypes to specific regions of chromosomes. The goal of this process is to identify the action, interaction, number, and precise location of these regions. </div>
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In order to begin a QTL analysis, scientists require two things. First, they need two or more strains of organisms that differ genetically with regard to the trait of interest. For example, they might select lines fixed for different alleles influencing egg size (one large and one small). Second, researchers also require genetic markers that distinguish between these parental lines. Molecular markers are preferred for genotyping, because these markers are unlikely to affect the trait of interest. Several types of markers are used, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), simple sequence repeats (SSRs, or microsatellites), restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), and transposable element positions. Then, to carry out the QTL analysis, the parental strains are crossed, resulting in heterozygous (F1) individuals, and these individuals are then crossed using one of a number of different schemes. Finally, the phenotypes and genotypes of the derived (F2) population are scored. Markers that are genetically linked to a QTL influencing the trait of interest will segregate more frequently with trait values (large or small egg size in our example), whereas unlinked markers will not show significant association with phenotype.</div>
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The principal goal of QTL analysis has been to answer the question of whether phenotypic differences are primarily due to a few loci with fairly large effects, or to many loci, each with minute effects, thus working for the improvement of crop qualities and developing disease treatments. It appears that a substantial proportion of the phenotypic variation in many quantitative traits can be explained with few loci of large effect, with the remainder due to numerous loci of small effect. Once QTL have been identified, molecular techniques can be employed to narrow the QTL down to candidate genes. One important emerging trend in these analyses is the prominent role of regulatory genes, or genes that code for transcription factors and other signaling proteins. For instance, in rice, three flowering time QTL have been identified at the molecular level, and all of these loci encode regulatory proteins known from studies of Arabidopsis thaliana.</div>
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The prospect of QTL analysis is dazzling in no doubt. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are becoming increasingly popular in genetic research, and they are an excellent complement to QTL mapping. Whereas QTL contains many linked genes, which are then challenging to separate, GWAS produce many unlinked individual genes or even nucleotides, but these studies are riddled with large expected numbers of false positives. Though GWAS remain limited to organisms with genomic resources, combining the two techniques can make the most of both approaches and help provide the ultimate deliverable: individual genes or even nucleotides that contribute to the phenotype of interest.</div>
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Indeed, combining different QTL techniques and technologies has great promise. For example, some biotechnologists used data on gene expression in fat and kidney tissue from two previously generated, recombinant rat strains to study hypertension. Alternatively, samples adapted to different environments may be compared, or other populations of interest might be selected for expression analysis. This approach permits measurement of hundreds or even thousands of traits simultaneously. Differences in expression may be co-localized with phenotypic QTL that have been previously determined to create manageable lists of positional candidate genes. Other interesting questions concerning gene regulation can be addressed by combining expression or eQTL and QTL, such as the relative contributions of cis-regulatory elements versus trans-regulatory elements. These integrated approaches will become more common, and they promise a deeper understanding of the genetic basis of complex traits, including diseases. Integrating phenotypic QTL with protein QTL can also give investigators a more direct link between genotype and phenotype via co-localization of candidate protein abundance with a phenotypic QTL. Still more kinds of data can be integrated with QTL mapping for a “total information” genomics approach (e.g., eQTL, proteomics, and SNPs).</div>
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QTL studies have a rich history and have played an important role in gene cloning and characterization; however, there is still a great deal of work to be done. The existing data on model organisms needs to be expanded to the point at which meta-analysis is feasible in order to document robust trends regarding genetic architecture. Data generated by lab-based QTL studies can also be used to direct and inform other efforts, such as population genomics, wherein a large number of molecular markers are scored in the attempt to identify targets of selection and thus genes underlying ecologically important traits. Furthermore, QTL studies can inform functional genomics, in which the goal is to characterize allelic variation and how it influences the fitness and function of whole organisms. Thus, although the map between genotype and phenotype remains difficult to read, QTL analysis and a variety of associated innovations will likely to continue providing key landmarks.</div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-70714994775266076742015-05-12T15:11:00.000-07:002015-05-12T15:11:40.709-07:00PROFITABILITY OF INTERCROPPING IN AUTUMN PLANTED SUGARCANE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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By: Muhammad Mahran Aslam - Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad</div>
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Sugarcane is a profitable cash crop in Pakistan and plays an important role not only in agriculture but also in industrial economy of country, Pakistan ranks 5th in the world in terms of area under sugarcane, 11th by production and 60th in yield. It provides employment to nearly 1.5 million people. Its share in GDP and value addition is 0.7 per cent, 3.2 per cent respectively, while per capita sugar consumption is 25-30 kg/year. Its production was reported 62.5 million tons for the year of 2012-13.</div>
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Average size of land holdings of Pakistan farmers is decreasing day by day due to constant increase in human population. Therefore, in order to meet the ever-increasing food demand such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, sugar is of major importance. This is long duration crop which occupies the land for more than 12 months from sowing to harvesting; in this situation medium and small farmers cannot afford to wait for such a longer period due to the poor economic conditions as well as higher pressure for food to feed their families. Consequently, they tend to reduce the cultivation of sugarcane and increase per unit area for other corps.</div>
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Since increment in the area under these crops is not feasible due to limited availability of agricultural land, the only option is to increase the crop productivity on the existing land. In this modern era of quick and substantial technological change in the production systems of both in irrigated as well as in rainfed areas of Pakistan.</div>
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Moreover, the evinced intercropping has one of the most efficient and profitable production systems throughout the sugarcane growing areas and particularly for medium and small land holders with minimum land disturbance and inputs resources.</div>
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Intercropping has been recognized as a potential system for the augments of productivity over space and time in subsistence farming situations. There is generally a trend toward high yield under intercropping. The productivity of land could be improved significantly by growing intercrops in the space left between sugarcane rows. There will be a greater opportunity to grow successful intercropping during the early growth stages of cane. Because sugarcane crop remains in the field for more than12 months and the space between sugarcane rows range from 50 to 90 cm providing sufficient possibility for plentiful weed growth which draws huge amount of nutrients and moisture from the soil. Hence, more space and availability of sunlight for a longer period in the early phase of sugarcane crop provides an opportunity to grow successfully intercrops without any negative impact on sugarcane which not only suppress the weeds capturing the incoming sunlight more effectively so minimum sunlight radiation will be available for germination of weeds.</div>
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September sown sugarcane plantation occupies more area as well as more duration compared to February sown so farmers have no chance to grow any other crop both of the rabi and kharif seasons. Autumn-planted sugarcane is very appropriate for intercropping because of its slow growth rate during the winter due to occurrence of low temperature. This period can safely be utilized for growing appropriate rabi intercrops which can mature at the end of April without causing damage to the main sugarcane crop.</div>
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Food legumes (pulses) are the big source of vegetable protein in Pakistan. While per capita consumption of legume in Pakistan is found 15.7 kg per annum. Major food legumes of Pakistan are chickpea, lentil, mash bean and mung bean. Currently Pakistan is importing 0.336 to 0.52 million tons of food legumes worth of Rs. 12.7 to 15 billion per annum. There is a continuous increase in the import of food legumes.</div>
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Lentil ranks second as food legume in winter after chickpea in Pakistan. Mostly grown in all provinces but major contributing province is Punjab. The production as well as area under production has been decreased which is about 40 per cent mainly due to shifting of farmers from main lentil areas to other crops. The area under cultivation of lentil during 2012-13 was 19.6 hectares while the yield was 9.7 tons. Total area under major food legumes in the country is about 1.5 million ha. The lentil cultivated on 5 per cent of the total area under food legumes and contributes 5 per cent to the total pulses production.</div>
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Lentil could be a best option for intercropping in autumn planted sugarcane. The total area under sugarcane is approximately 1 million hectares out of which one/fourth is autumn planted. This autumn planted sugarcane has great potential for intercropping of lentil. So, lentil crop as intercrop in autumn planted sugarcane can not only increase the output per unit area a, but also can provide mid-season income which eased the burden on the already depleted income of the farmers and can provide them with an option for better input management for remaining sugarcane growing season.</div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-64102353757805800212015-05-12T14:23:00.000-07:002015-05-12T14:23:46.691-07:00Present country Explosion on Plant Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture in Pakistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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By: Muhammad Mahran Aslam- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad<br />
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The conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources is key to improving agricultural productivity, thereby contributing to national development, food security and the relief from poverty. Recognizing the importance of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA), an international process on the preparation of Country Report was initiated in 1992 under the auspices of FAO. FAO’s first report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources, prepared in 1996 from more than 150 country reports, identified a number of serious gaps and inefficiencies in the conservation and utilization of these resources. Based upon the country reports, FAO developed the Global Plan of Action on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources which was intended as a frame work, guide and catalyst for actions at community, national, regional and international levels.</div>
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The present Country Report reviews the current status of Plant Genetic Resources in Pakistan, focusing on (I) State of diversity, (ii) In situ management, (iii) Ex-situ management, (iv) State of use, (v) National programs, trainings and legislation, (vi) Regional and International collaboration, (vii) Access to genetic resources, sharing of benefits arising out of their use and farmers’ rights, and (viii) Contribution of Plant Genetic Resources management to food security and sustainable development. Pakistan is endowed with rich resource base of plant genetic resources due to wide variations in soil and climate, its location in proximity to three of the major centres of diversity described by Vavilov(China, Indian subcontinent and Central Asia) and centre of diversity itself of many crop species. The country possesses many species of wild relatives of domestic crops, particularly of cereals and chickpea. There has been a catastrophic loss in agricultural biodiversity during the last three decades due to introduction of improved varieties in major crops like wheat, rice, cotton, chickpea and maize. Due to little varietal improvement work in minor or underutilized crops, there still exists a lot of diversity in mung bean (Vignaradiata), mash (Vignamungo), brassicas complex, sorghum, millet and horticultural crops. The awareness created by various public and private organizations about the importance of Plant genetic resources has attracted the attention of researchers, planners and NGOs for insitu and ex-situ conservation and sustainable utilization of these resources.</div>
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For ex-situ conservation, the national program on collection, conservation and evaluation are underway but more needs to be done to fill in the gaps in collection from various areas of the country particularly for the wild relatives of crop plants. An important step in exsitu conservation of plant genetic resources is the establishment of National Program on Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad which has been able to conserve more than 23000 accessions of various crops including major, minor and medicinal plants. The national program on PGR has a Genebank along with six laboratories for (i) exploration and collection, (ii) seed conservation, (iii) in-vitro conservation, (iv) Germplasm evaluation & characterization, (v) plant introduction and seed health and (vi) data management. The PGRP has the national mandate on conservation, evaluation and distribution of germplasm. This national program is supported by six Crop Advisory Committees which help to identify the priority areas of collection and germplasm needs for specific purposes. Another step recently taken is the establishment of botanical gardens at Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar. But unfortunately little has been done so far on on-farm management of plant genetic resources. </div>
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Regarding the utilization of these resources, a number of new varieties of wheat, rice, cotton, maize, sorghum, millet and horticultural crops have been developed which have contributed significantly in food security and sustainable development. Besides high yields, the introduction of these varieties has considerably supported the sustainable management of diseases like the rust in wheat, Ascochyta blight in chickpea, cotton leaf curl virus in cotton and mungbean yellow mosaic virus in mung and mash, as well as better quality in basmati rice. Approximately 2000 to 3000 accessions are distributed annually from the collections of the national Plant Genetic Resources Program to scientific community. The information collected from stakeholders during the implementation of the National Information Sharing Mechanism has revealed that the breeders need the germplasm mainly to address a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. In particular, tolerance to drought and salinity are the most demanded characters.</div>
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Various universities have included courses on Biodiversity Conservation in their syllabus for graduate and post graduate students. Regarding legislation on access to genetic resources, benefit sharing, farmers’ rights, much has to be done yet as few national workshops have been held during the last 4-5 years. A draft on access and benefit sharing has been developed and is being considered at the appropriate fora.</div>
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The National Information Sharing Mechanism on Plant Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture has been developed and available on PARC website (www.parc.gov.pk). For international collaborations, Pakistan has signed a memorandum of understanding on germplasm exchange with many countries. We extend full appreciation to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN for its consistent support, both in the form of technical and financial entities, that enabled us to assemble all the information from national programs after organizing several workshops on the subject to enable the stakeholders in contributing to the contents of the report. </div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-56978738856549700862015-05-12T14:07:00.000-07:002015-05-12T14:23:57.807-07:00Possible jeopardies related with using transgenic crops in agriculture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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By: Muhammad Mahran Aslam- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad<br />
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Some consumers and environmentalists feel that inadequate effort has been made to understand the dangers in the use of transgenic crops, including their potential long-term impacts. Some consumer-advocate and environmental groups have demanded the abandonment of genetic engineering research and development. Many individuals, when confronted with conflicting and confusing statements about the effect of genetic engineering on our environment and food supply, experience a “dread fear” that inspires great anxiety. This fear can be aroused by only a minimal amount of information or, in some cases, misinformation. With people thus concerned for their health and the well-being of our planetary ecology, the issues related to their concerns need to be addressed. These issues and fears can be divided into three groups: health, environmental, and social.</div>
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Health-related issues</div>
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Allergens and toxins</div>
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People with food allergies have an unusual immune reaction when they are exposed to specific proteins, called allergens, in food. About 2 percent of people across all age groups have a food allergy of some sort. The majority of foods do not cause any allergy in the majority of people. Food-allergic people usually react only to one or a few allergens in one or two specific foods. A major safety concern raised with regard to genetic engineering technology is the risk of introducing allergens and toxins into otherwise safe foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) checks to ensure that the levels of naturally occurring allergens in foods made from transgenic organisms have not significantly increased above the natural range found in conventional foods. Transgenic technology is also being used to remove the allergens from peanuts, one of most serious causes of food allergy.</div>
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Antibiotic resistance</div>
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Antibiotic resistance genes are used to identify and trace a trait of interest that has been introduced into plant cells. This technique ensures that a gene transfer during the course of genetic modification was successful. Use of these markers has raised concerns that new antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria will emerge. The rise of diseases that are resistant to treatment with common antibiotics is a serious medical concern of some opponents of genetic engineering technology. The potential risk of transfer from plants to bacteria is substantially less than the risk of normal transfer between bacteria, or between us and the bacteria that naturally occur within our alimentary tracts. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, FDA has advised food developers to avoid using marker genes that encode resistance to clinically important antibiotics</div>
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Environmental and ecological issues</div>
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Potential gene escape and super weeds</div>
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There is a belief among some opponents of genetic engineering technology that transgenic crops might cross-pollinate with related weeds, possibly resulting in “super weeds” that become more difficult to control. One concern is that pollen transfer from glyphosate-resistant crops to related weeds can confer resistance to glyphosate. While the chance of this happening, although extremely small, is not inconceivable, resistance to a specific herbicide does not mean that the plant is resistant to other herbicides, so affected weeds could still be controlled with other products.</div>
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Some people are worried that genetic engineering could conceivably improve a plant’s ability to “escape” into the wild and produce ecological imbalances or disasters. Most crop plants have significant limitations in their growth and seed dispersal habits that prevent them from surviving long without constant nurture by humans, and they are thus unlikely to thrive in the wild as weeds. Impacts on “nontarget” species some environmentalists maintain that once transgenic crops have been released into the environment, they could have unforeseen and undesirable effects. Although transgenic crops are rigorously tested before being made commercially available, not every potential impact can be foreseen. Bt-corn, for instance, produces a very specific pesticide intended to kill only pests that feed on the corn. In 1999, however, researchers at Cornell University found that pollen from Bt-corn could kill caterpillars of the harmless Monarch butterfly. When they fed Monarch caterpillar’s milkweed dusted with Bt-corn pollen in the laboratory, half of the larvae died. But follow-up field studies showed that under real-life conditions Monarch butterfly caterpillars are highly unlikely to come into contact with pollen from Bt corn that has drifted onto milkweed leaves—or to eat enough of it to harm them.</div>
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Insecticide resistance</div>
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Another concern related to the potential impact of agricultural biotechnology on the environment involves the question of whether insect pests could develop resistance to crop-protection features of transgenic crops. There is fear that large-scale adoption of Bt-crops will result in rapid build-up of resistance in pest populations. Insects possess a remarkable capacity to adapt to selective pressures, but to date, despite widespread planting of Bt-crops, no Bt-tolerance in targeted insect pests has been detected.</div>
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Social issues</div>
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Labeling</div>
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Some consumer groups argue that foods derived from genetically engineered crops should carry a special label. In the USA, these foods currently must be labeled only if they are nutritionally different from a conventional food.</div>
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“Terminator” technology</div>
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Most farmers in the USA and elsewhere buy fresh seeds each season, particularly of such crops as corn, green peppers, and tomatoes. Anyone growing hybrid varieties must buy new seeds annually, because seeds from last year’s hybrids grown on the farm will not produce plants identical to the parent. For this same reason—to avoid random genetic diversity due to open pollination—farmers do not plant mango, avocado, or macadamia from seed; instead, they clone individual plants of known quality through techniques such as grafting. In developing countries, many farmers who are not growing hybrids save harvested seeds for replanting the next year’s crop. A technology has been developed that might be used to prevent purchasers of transgenic crop seeds from saving and replanting them. Such “terminator” seeds are genetically engineered, along with other improvements more acceptable to farmers, to produce plants with seeds that have poor germination. This forces farmers who otherwise save seed to purchase it if they wish to use these improved commercial varieties. And, in the USA, the crops engineered with various characters are sold alongside nontransgenic alternatives for which growers also typically purchase seeds annually.</div>
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Despite these mitigating circumstances, this is serious issue among organic growers and in developing countries, where the practice of saving seeds is the norm for farmers who are not growing hybrid crops. Inclusion of “terminator” genes means that these farmers cannot take advantage of improvements brought about by genetic engineering without being brought into the economic cycle that profits the seed companies. Without profit incentive, however, these companies are unlikely to invest in improving crops. This issue is analogous to that faced by pharmaceutical companies developing new medications against human diseases. Clearly, it is a difficult and divisive social issue.</div>
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Safety and regulations</div>
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Transgenic crops and their resulting foods in the United States are extensively researched and reviewed by three federal government agencies: the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Each agency is responsible for a different part of the review process. USDA has primary responsibility for determining if a new product is safe to grow, while EPA reviews the product for potential impact on the environment. FDA is concerned with protecting the consumer and has final authority to declare if a product is safe to eat.</div>
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Considerations about food from genetically engineered crops have raised a host of questions about effects on the environment, economic impacts, and eth5 BIO- 3 Use of Biotechnology in Agriculture—Benefits and Risks CTAHR — May 2003 ics. However, perhaps the most fundamental question about such food is whether it is safe and wholesome to eat. Before field testing any new transgenic crop, companies and research institutions must register with USDA for field testing permission. Researchers must ensure that pollen and plant parts of the tested plants are not released into the environment during this period.</div>
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Transgenic crops must also pass scrutiny of the EPA, which has the authority to regulate all new pesticides and genetically engineered crops. EPA is concerned with potential impacts on nontarget species and endangered or threatened species. Finally, any foods derived from transgenic crops must pass FDA inspection. Current law requires that foods from transgenic organisms must be labeled as such if their nutritional content or composition differs significantly from their conventional counterparts or if they pose any health risks. Both the National Academy of Sciences and the FDA have determined that, in general, foods derived so far from genetically engineered organisms are as safe as or safer than conventional counterparts. The main concern is remaining vigilant for potential allergens.</div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-68079374186359365792015-05-12T13:49:00.000-07:002015-05-12T14:24:08.425-07:00Natural Resistance against Yellow Dwarf Virus In Wheat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify;">By: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10px;">Muhammad Mahran Aslam- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify;">Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is placed at the number one position among the staple foods of the world and it is the main source of calories, protein, certain vitamins and minerals. Pakistan has been divided into number of production zones and being staple diet of inhabitants, wheat occupies a central position in the agricultural of great agro-ecological areas where wheat is grown. The zoning is mainly based on cropping pattern, disease prevalence and climatological factors. Wheat cultivation encompasses a major production area of 8.33 million hectares engaging 33 per cent of the cultivated area of the country each year and exhibits production around 21 million tons. The same is not sufficient to meet with the country’s ever-increasing population growth rate of 2.6 per cent annually. Wheat occupies 70 per cent of Rabi season (winter season) and 33 per cent of total cropped area of Pakistan. Wheat is subjected to number of diseases caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses. Among viral diseases, the major problem becoming aggravated by day in Pakistan is Barley Yellow Dwarf Disease (BYDD) caused by Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV). BYDV has serious impact on grain production and considered to be an important limiting factor for yield wherever cereals are grown and average yield losses due to natural BYDV infection can range between 11 and 33 per cent. BYDV is neither mechanically transmissible, nor through the seed, but are transmitted by insect vector (aphids) in a persistent, circulative but non-propagative manner. Environmental factors play several important roles in the BYDD cycle. High light intensity and relatively cool temperatures ranging 15-18(C generally favor expression of symptoms development, such as leaf discoloration, which may attract aphid to virus-infected plantsDominant gene, Bdv1and Bdv2confers tolerance to BYDV in some wheat varieties that induces slow yellowing. In Pakistan, total nucleic acid (TNA) of growing wheat varieties should be evaluated through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using Bdv1andBdv2gene sense and antisense primers to check the presence or absence of resistance against BYDV. The 1% increase in BYDD incidence reduced the yield from 20 to 50 kg/ha in wheat crop and BYDV can be controlled mainly by the use of plant lines that are tolerant or resistant to certain BYDV isolates. The resistance or tolerant wheat varieties and insect vector management will enhance the yield of wheat crop in Pakistan and. High yield will improve the farmer’s income and it can play a significant role in the GDP of the country.</span></div>
Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-34132032776161809912015-05-12T13:13:00.000-07:002015-05-12T14:24:21.058-07:00GOLDEN RICE: A BIO-FORTIFIED FOOD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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By: Muhammad Mahran Aslam- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad<br />
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BIOFORTIFICATION IS the idea of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value. This can be done either through conventional selective breeding, or through genetic engineering. It differs from ordinary fortification because it focuses on making plant foods more nutritious as the plants are growing, rather than having nutrients added to the foods when they are being processed. This is an improvement on ordinary fortification when it comes to providing nutrients for the rural poor, who rarely have access to commercially fortified foods. It has also overcome many health problems of human beings including vitamin deficiency as insufficiencies of different vitamins affect over one-half of the world’s population, children and pregnant women being at the highest risk. Shortage of dietary vitamin A is a major public health problem in the developing world affecting 190 million children under five particularly in Africa and South East Asia with India contributing to 85 per cent of cases in South East Asia. An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 vitamin A-deficient children become blind every year, half of them dying within 12 months of losing their sight. Pregnant women with insufficient levels of vitamin D are considered at increased risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and having infant’s small for their gestational age.</div>
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Scientific evidence shows that this technique is technically feasible without compromising agronomic productivity. Predictive cost-benefit analyses also supports biofortification as being important in the armamentarium for controlling micronutrient deficiencies. As such, bio fortification is seen as an upcoming strategy for dealing with deficiencies of micronutrients in the developing world. The challenge is to get producers and consumers to accept biofortified crops and increase their intake of the target nutrients. With the advent of good seed systems, the development of markets and products, and demand creation, this can be achieved.</div>
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Golden rice is a variety of rice (Oryza sativa L.) produced through biofortification to biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible parts of rice. It differs from its parental strain by the addition of three beta-carotene biosynthesis genes. The scientific details of the rice were first worked out in 2000. At that time, it was considered a significant breakthrough in biotechnology, as the researchers had engineered an entire biosynthetic pathway. It was created by transforming rice with only two beta-carotene biosynthesis genes:</div>
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1. psy (phytoene synthase) from daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)</div>
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2. crtI (carotene desaturase) from the soil bacterium Erwiniauredovora</div>
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The insertion of a lyc (lycopene cyclase) gene was thought to be needed, but further research showed it is already being produced in wild-type rice endosperm. The psy and crtI genes were transformed into the rice nuclear genome and placed under the control of an endosperm-specific promoter, so they are only expressed in the endosperm. The exogenous lyc gene has a transit peptide sequence attached so it is targeted to the plastid, where geranylgeranyldiphosphate formation occurs. The bacterial crtI gene was an important inclusion to complete the pathway, since it can catalyze multiple steps in the synthesis of carotenoids up to lycopene, while these steps require more than one enzyme in plants. The end product of the engineered pathway is lycopene, but if the plant accumulated lycopene, the rice would be red. Recent analysis has shown that the plant’s endogenous enzymes process the lycopene to beta-carotene in the endosperm, giving the rice the distinctive yellow color for which it is named.</div>
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The original golden rice was called SGR1, and under greenhouse conditions it produced 1.6 µg/g of carotenoids. Field testing provides a more accurate measurement of nutritional value and enables feeding tests to be performed. The first field trial of these golden rice cultivars was conducted by Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in 2004. Preliminary results from the field tests have shown field-grown golden rice produces 4 to 5 times more beta-carotene than golden rice grown under greenhouse conditions.</div>
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In 2005, a team of researchers at biotechnology company, Syngenta, produced a variety of golden rice called “Golden Rice 2”. They combined the phytoene synthase gene from maize with crt1 from the original golden rice. Golden rice 2 produces 23 times more carotenoids than golden rice (up to 37 µg/g), and preferentially accumulates beta-carotene (up to 31 µg/g of the 37 µg/g of carotenoids). In 2005, researchers were promoted to further improve golden rice by increasing the levels of or the bioavailability of pro-vitamin A, vitamin E, iron, and zinc, and to improve protein quality through genetic modification.</div>
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To receive the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), it is estimated that 144 g of the most high-yielding strain would have to be eaten. Bioavailability of the carotene from golden rice has been confirmed and found to be an effective source of Vitamin A for humans. The research that led to golden rice was conducted with the goal of helping children who suffer from vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Vitamin A is supplemented orally and by injection in areas where the diet is deficient in vitamin A. As of 1999, there were 43 countries that had vitamin A supplementation programmes for children under 5; in 10 of these countries, two high dose supplements are available per year, which, according to UNICEF, could effectively eliminate VAD. However, UNICEF and a number of NGOs involved in supplementation note more frequent low-dose supplementation should be a goal where feasible.</div>
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As many children in countries where there is a dietary deficiency in vitamin A rely on rice as a staple food, the genetic modification to make rice produce the vitamin A precursor beta-carotene is seen as a simple and less expensive alternative to vitamin supplements or an increase in the consumption of green vegetables or animal products. Initial analyses of the potential nutritional benefits of golden rice suggested consumption of golden rice would not eliminate the problems of vitamin A deficiency, but should be seen as a complement to other methods of vitamin A supplementation. Since then, improved strains of golden rice have been developed containing sufficient provitamin A to provide the entire dietary requirement of this nutrient to people who eat about 75g of golden rice per day. In particular, since carotenes are hydrophobic, there needs to be a sufficient amount of fat present in the diet for golden rice (or most other vitamin A supplements) to be able to alleviate vitamin A deficiency. In that respect, it is significant that vitamin A deficiency is rarely an isolated phenomenon, but usually coupled to a general lack of a balanced diet. The RDA levels accepted in developed countries are far in excess of the amounts needed to prevent blindness. Moreover, this claim referred to an early cultivar of golden rice; one bowl of the latest version provides 60% of RDA for healthy children.</div>
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So, Golden rice is actually a revolution brought about by biotechnology/biofortification. It can seriously check the vitamin A deficiency, thus decreasing the death rate and improving the health of the people especially in developing countries.</div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-45300481274046231422015-05-12T12:55:00.001-07:002015-05-12T14:24:32.110-07:00Intellectual PropertyRights (IPR) and seed industry of Pakistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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By : Muhammad Mahran Aslam and Asif Saeed<br />
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Agriculture,being an important sector of Pakistan, isconsidered the backbone of our economy. It contributes about 21.4% to GDP of the country and provides the employment for about 45% of the total labour force and also help for the development of some other economic sectors (Economic survey of Pakistan 2012-13). It is a fact that quality seed is essential for the sustainable agriculture. In Pakistan seed of high yielding varieties, as a result of Green revolution, reached in 1960s. Pakistani farmers share and exchange their seed for the crops grown on their field. For example in case of “Wheat” 90% of the seed grown on the farmers’ fields is their own seed. Formal sector including both public and private sector provides only 10% of the seed grown. Some Private Companies and Multinational Companies are dominating the Pakistani seed industry so they want the farmer totally dependent on them for seed. For this hybrid seed technology was introduced in seed production. It grows well but cannot reproduce so farmer cannot re-sow the seed next year. He has to buy new seed every year. Seed for the most of the horticultural crops, fodders, forages, vegetables and oilseed crops are imported from other countries. Traditional verities are evaporating and farmers have to rely on the newly developed varieties for better production. These companies are trying to produce hybrid seed of the crops like Rice, wheat and Cotton. Farmer would be bound to purchase quality seed every year because some Multinational Seed Companies like “Monsanto” has developed some techniques like terminator and traitor seeds.</div>
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Pakistan is the signatory to WTO (World Trade Organization) and under the TRIPs agreement of WTO it is necessary to provide protection to plant varieties. For this purpose plant breeder’s right (PBR) act is present. This PBR damage the farmer’s systems like seed saving for the next sowing year, seed sharing and exchange system by providing monopoly to the seed producers.</div>
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During 1947-61 there was no system for seed production and distribution in Pakistan. In1961 first time West Pakistan Agricultural Development Corporation (WPADC) was established for the production and distribution of seeds in the country. In 1972 WPADC was terminated and government initiated the 1976 Seed Act. Under this act an infrastructure was developed under the authority of “Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock” (MINFAL) Islamabad; National Seed and Provincial Seed Council were developed. Federal Seed Certification Agency (FSCA) and National Seed Registration Agency (NSRA) are also the part of the seed system of Pakistan.</div>
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The International agreements, for the regulation of seed use and its distribution worldwide and the farmers all over the world, are TRIPS and UPOV acts.</div>
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Basic Facts about the TRIPS Agreement;Enforced from 1 January 1995 and obligatory for all WTO member states. Involves obligations for seven areas of intellectual property rights available for all fields of technology, Provides first worldwide system of IPR on biological diversity, especially on plant varieties, Needs application of either patents or an “effective sui generis”(Latin word meaning unique or of its own kind) system, to protect (i.e. gain monopoly rights over) plant varieties at national level, Must be put into practice in developing countries by the year 2000, Must be implemented in least-developing countries by the year 2005.The TRIPS agreement has allowed monopolistic control of life-form, spread of uniformity and destruction of diversity.</div>
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Since Pakistan is a member of WTO, so it has to develop a Plant Patent Rights law or a Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) Act. The Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department (FSC&RD) is responsible for the development of a sui generis system for formulation and implementation of PBR laws. Pakistan finds Plant Breeder’s Rights more appropriate for protection. Pakistan became a member of GATT in 1948. Pakistan has developed PBR act in 1999 which will stimulate foreign investment and transfer of technology in seed industry. The Department keeping in view the traditional background of our farming community, where on the whole 80% of the farmers use their own farm saved seed or through farmer to farmer seed exchange in cereals, pulses and oilseeds. Article 27.3 (b) stated that “Members states shall provide protection of plant varieties by Patents or by an effective sui generis system or by any combination of these”.</div>
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Pakistan is a member of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since 1994 together with more than 171 other countries.Plant Quarantine work is done by Plant Quarantine Division in the Department of Plant Protection, which has the legal authority and management responsibility. The organizational arrangements are as per Article IV of the International Plant Protection Convention, 1997. The Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act 1976 and Rules 1967 enforced through which the country is protected from the entry and spread of exotic insect pests and disease and trade of plants and plant products is facilitated. Pakistan is signatory of WIPO and on October 6, 1976, submitted its instrument of accession to the WIPO. Pakistan established IPO-Pakistan and Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) simultaneously and activated Pakistan Customs against IPR violations. The main aim of the establishment of IPO-Pakistan particularly was to address the institutional lacks that were obstruction to the effectiveness of intellectual property.</div>
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It is concluded that seed is considered to be a comparatively low price input, because farmers usually sow their own saved seed and purchase seed once in three to five years. A large number of countries are signatories to different agreements like UPOV and TRIPS, having conflicting intentions. Pakistan is also signatory to TRIPs. The PBR will give domination to the breeders of national and multinational companies. The Third World Network and African countries are in opposition to the patenting of seed, whereas the SANFEC is asking for the abolition of PBR on the whole, from TRIMS. Pakistan should join hands with these organizations at International forum to prevent its future from the governance of the North.</div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-21776879826312799882015-05-12T11:47:00.001-07:002015-05-12T11:47:04.134-07:00Agro-Ecological Regions of Pakistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in 1980 based upon a survey and, review of the available literature on physiographic, climate, soil, and other factors affecting agriculture, divided Pakistan in 10 agro-ecological regions and are described briefly as follows:</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – I (Indus Delta) comprises of areas from the districts of Thatta, Badin and Hyderabad. Soils of this region are clayey and silty. The climate is arid tropical marine with moderately hot summer and mild winter. The clayey soils are under irrigated cultivation to grow rice, sugarcane, pulses, banana and some other fruits plants. During winter, Trifloium, Lens culinaris and Lathyrus sativa are cultivated.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – II (Southern Irrigated Plain) comprises of areas from the districts of Hyderabad, Badin, Tharparker, Sangher, Dadu, Khairpur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Jacobabad, Sukkar, Rahim Yar Khan, Sibi and Shikarpur. The main soils are calcareous, silt loam and silty clays with weak structure and good porosity. The climate is arid subtropical continental with hot summer and mild winters. Canal irrigated agriculture is the predominant land use of the region. Cotton, wheat, mustard, sugarcane and clover are the main crops in the left bank of the Indus. Rice, wheat, chickpea and clover are grown on the right bank. In areas with little water, sorghum is grown.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – III (A) Sandy Desertsregion includes the areas from Tharparker, Khairpur, Nawabshah, Sanghar, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and BahawalNagar, Thar and Cholistan desert is a part of the great Indus Desert. The climate is arid (desert) sub-tropical with very hot summer and mild winter. Main land use of the region is grazing but guar, millet and castor are grown. In south-eastern part of the region, where rainfall is about 300mm, wheat is also an important crop on loamy soils and castor on sandy loam soils.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – III (B) Sandy Deserts comprises the sandy deserts from the districts of Muzaffarabad, Mianwali and Sargodha. The climate is arid to semi-arid subtropical continental. The northern part of the region, with a rainfall of 300 to 350 mm is mainly used for chickpea cultivation. Some area is under canal irrigation to grow cotton, sugarcane, guar, millet and wheat. </div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – IV (A) Northern Irrigated Plain most of the area in the province of Punjab is located in this region. The districts of Peshawar and Mardan in theNorth West Frontier Province (NWFP) are also included. This region has semi-aridsubtropical continental type of climate. This is the major agricultural production area with anumber of crops like wheat, maize, rice, sugarcane, barley, cotton and many minor crops. The orchards of citrus and mango are important while in NWFP areas, pear, plums, tobaccoand groundnut are also grown.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – IV (B): The half saucer shaped alluvial valley of Peshawar is drained by Kabul, Swat and Kalapani rivers. This area has semi-arid (Steppe) sub-tropical continental type of climate, with little rain both in winter and summer. The main crops are sugarcane, maize, tobacco, wheat and clover. Sugar beet is recent introduction in the area. Considerable area is under fruit orchards of pears and plums. Some areas in the northern part are dry where wheat, millet, chickpea and groundnut are grown.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – V (Barani Areas):This region comprises of areas from the districts of D.I. Khan, Bannu, Mianwali, Attock, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujrat, Gujranwala and Sialkot. The region comprises of salt range, Pothwar Plateau and the Himalayan Piedmont plains. A small narrow belt lying along the foot of the mountains is nearly humid, with hot summer and cold winters while the southern part of the zone is semi-arid and hot. A large proportion of the area comprises gullied land. The main crops of the region are wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, oilseeds pulses and fodder.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – VI (Wet Mountains): This region comprises of areas from Rawalpindi, Murree, Hazara and Mansehra. The region comprises high maintains and plateaus and therefore, the climate is undifferentiated. Approximately 25% of the area is under rainfed cultivation, the main crops being maize, wheat and rice. Fruit orchards of apple, plum, peach, apricots are abundant in this area.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – VII (Northern Dry Mountains): The region comprises of</div>
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Gilgit, Baltistan, Chitral, Dir and areas of Swat valley, Karakorum Mountains and spurs of</div>
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Hindukush border the syntaxical bend. Enclosed by high mountains, the valleys are characterized by extreme aridity. The summer is mild and winter is cold. Maize, wheat, rice, finger millet, barley, buckwheat, and a number of temperate fruits and nuts are characteristic of this area. This area is rich in crop, fruit and nut genetic resources.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – VIII (Western dry Mountains): This area lies to the south of SafedKoh and to the west of Indus including districts of Kohat, Bannu, Tribal Areas, Zhob, Loralai, Kalat, Sibi, Quetta and Kacchi. The greater part of the area can be described as semi-arid, high land, with mild summer and cold winter. Wheat, maize, alfalfa and temperate fruits are the major agricultural crops.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – IX (Dry Western Plateau): The region comprises mountainous areas with inter-mountain basins and plateau from the districts of Karachi, Dadu, Makran, Kharan, Chagai and Lasbella. The region has arid (desert) tropical type of climate with constantly dry season. The soils of the plain areas are deep, strongly calcareous silt loams.</div>
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The lower parts of the hills and higher parts of the plains have gravelly soils. Fruits, vegetables and wheat are grown wherever water is available from springs or kareezs. The other crops are sorghum, millet, castor bean, etc.</div>
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Agro-Ecological Region – X (Sulaiman Piedmont): It comprises the piedmont plains of the Sulaiman Range, sloping towards the Indus River. The climate of the region is arid, hot and subtropical continent. Torrent – watered cultivation is the main land use, under which wheat, sorghum, millets and chickpeas are grown. Rice is grown in a narrow strip forming the junction of piedmont and river plains. </div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-74614012014316883872015-04-12T10:00:00.001-07:002015-04-12T10:00:49.266-07:00Global agencies call for urgent action to avoid irreversible groundwater depletion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A Senegalese farmer transfers well water into a holding container.</div>
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<strong style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">10 April 2015, Daegu/Rome/Washington, D.C. - </strong><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">FAO, UNESCO, the World Bank, GEF and the International Association of Hydrogeologists have today called for action by the global community to manage the increasingly urgent depletion and degradation of limited groundwater resources.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">Ahead of the 7</span><span style="line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;"> </span><a href="http://eng.worldwaterforum7.org/main/" style="color: #0d6cac; line-height: 18.2112007141113px; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">World Water Forum</a><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;"> in South Korea (12-17 April), the five organizations have proposed a set of principles governments can use for better groundwater management. </span><em style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">The</em><a href="http://www.groundwatergovernance.org/" style="color: #0d6cac; line-height: 18.2112007141113px; outline: none !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>2030 Vision and Global Framework for Action</em></a><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;"> represent a bold call for collective, responsible action by governments and the global community to ensure sustainable use of groundwater.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">For too long, groundwater governance has been an area of policy neglect, resulting in the degradation and depletion of this critical resource. Global groundwater withdrawals have tripled over the past half century -- more than a fourth of current withdrawals are non-sustainable. Widespread groundwater pollution is threatening humans and the environment. Most urban aquifers suffer from sanitation issues while coastal aquifers are exposed to saline water intrusion. Industrial pollution, pesticides and fertilizers also find their way into reservoirs.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">The amount of renewable groundwater is unevenly distributed across regions. Some areas, especially those with low rainfall, are at risk more than others. Withdrawal intensity is highest in large parts of China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, the United States, Mexico and Europe. This could result in lost freshwater reserves at a time when groundwater storage is critical for sustaining water security and adapting to climate variability.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">"Since time immemorial humans have sought water from the soil. But we have moved from a village being based around a well to whole cities and industries being built around groundwater," said </span><strong style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">Junaid Ahmad</strong><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">, </span><strong style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">Senior Director of the World Bank Group Water Global Practice.</strong><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;"> "We have learned how to dig ever deeper, pump ever harder, and how to turn deserts into breadbaskets. But we have not also increased the rate at which our groundwater is recharged, and so we should not be surprised when our wells run dry. Much as we have invested in pumps and crops, so now we must invest in groundwater governance." </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">Groundwater is indispensable to poverty reduction and shared prosperity. It accounts for more than a third of municipal and industrial supply and services some 40 percent of the planet's irrigated agriculture. Groundwater has the potential to provide an improved source of drinking water for millions of urban and rural poor people. Many poor farmers and their families depend on it to irrigate their crops and sustain their livelihoods.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">The </span><em style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">2030 Vision and Framework for Action</em><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;"> provides an enabling framework and guiding principles for coordinated action among governments and organizations.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">"Sustainable management of groundwater is key to maintaining ecosystems and adapting to climate change," said</span><strong style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)</strong><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">. "We can no longer take this invisible but vital source for granted; urgent action is needed to ensure its long term availability. We look forward to joining hands with partner agencies and countries to ensure water for drinking, food, cities, energy and industrial uses is available for generations to come."</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">In response to the urgency of the situation and a product of four years of consultations with stakeholders from more than 100 countries, these principles focus on legal and institutional frameworks, policies, and plans as well as information and incentive structures for sound and effective groundwater management. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">This process signals strengthened collaboration across the international community to understand the barriers to better groundwater governance and address key regional challenges. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">"Collective and coordinated action is urgently needed to protect and prolong the integrity of our aquifers," </span><strong style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">said Moujahed Achouri, Director of the Land and Water Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)</strong><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">. "The cost of inaction can be enormous. This vision and framework is an urgent call to decision-makers to act now with the right political decisions to help reach globally shared goals of social and economic development".</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">"To make groundwater governance a reality, it is necessary to foster cooperation among countries, especially on transboundary aquifers,” said</span><strong style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;"> UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. </strong><span style="line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">"Water directly influences our future, we must work together to manage this precious resource more sustainably.</span><span style="font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 18.2112007141113px;">" <a href="http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/283080/icode/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social+media&utm_campaign=fao+facebook">Original Article</a>.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230702268720063317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-73025719207505679952015-04-12T09:38:00.001-07:002015-04-12T09:43:16.113-07:00Bundle Of Joyful Microbes: Mom's DNA Alters Baby's Gut Bacteria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Right after birth, trillions of microbes rush into a baby's gut and start to grow. Most of these critters come from the mom's skin, birth canal and gut.</div>
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But exactly which types of bacteria take up residence in an infant's gut can depend on the mother's DNA, scientists reported Thursday.</div>
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The study, <a href="http://www.microbiomejournal.com/content/3/1/13/abstract" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4774cc; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">published</a> in the journal <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Microbiome,</em> focuses on a microbe called<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacterium</em> that potentially benefits babies<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</em></div>
<div class="bucketwrap image medium" id="res398542209" previewtitle="Bifidobacteria are among the first microbes to show up in a baby's intestinal tract after birth. Some studies suggest a particular type of Bifidobacteria can prevent infections and help establish the newborn's immune system." style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: right; float: right; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 40px 15px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 15px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 332.078125px;">
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<img alt="Bifidobacteria are among the first microbes to show up in a baby's intestinal tract after birth. Some studies suggest a particular type of Bifidobacteria can prevent infections and help establish the newborn's immune system." class="img" src="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/04/09/baby-gut-1_custom-d29b9e3a47021544e0a38c1b4930b560c1599262-s400-c85.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 302.078125px;" title="Bifidobacteria are among the first microbes to show up in a baby's intestinal tract after birth. Some studies suggest a particular type of Bifidobacteria can prevent infections and help establish the newborn's immune system." /><a class="enlargebtn" href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/04/10/398386277/bundle-of-joyful-microbes-moms-dna-alters-babys-gut-bacteria?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150410#" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://media.npr.org/chrome/icon_enlarge.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 27px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 27px;" title="Enlarge">i</a><span class="credit" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #aaaaaa; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.sciencesource.com/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6d8ac4; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Dr. Gary Gaugler/Science Source</a></span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacteria</em> are among the first microbes to show up in a baby's intestinal tract after birth. Some studies suggest a particular type of <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacteria</em> can prevent infections and help establish the newborn's immune system.</div>
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"It plays a role in preventing infections," says <a href="http://mills.ucdavis.edu/zach-lewis" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4774cc; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Zachery Lewis</a>, a graduate student in microbiology at the University of California, Davis, who contributed to the study. "<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacteria </em>sort of push other bacteria out. They lower the gut's pH, which a lot of pathogens don't like."</div>
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After birth, <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacterium </em>is one of the first microbes to arrive in a baby's gut. But not all infants get the microbe at the same time — or in the same amounts.</div>
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Now Lewis and his colleagues have figured out why: A single gene in the mom controls the behavior of<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacterium</em>, and that gene works through breast milk.</div>
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Women have a whole suite of genes that control the precise recipes of their breast milk, Lewis says. One gene, called <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">FUT2,</em> manufactures a special sugar that<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacterium </em>loves to eat. But about 20 percent of women have a mutation in this gene<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. S</em>o those women make much less of the special sugar.</div>
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Lewis and his colleagues thought perhaps this mutation might affect how much<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacteria </em>live in a baby's gut. And they were right.</div>
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The study was small — only 44 women. Twelve had the mutation in the special sugar-making gene and 32 didn't. But the findings were clear.</div>
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Babies whose moms carry the mutation had about 10 times fewer <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacteria </em>in their guts, on average, than the babies whose moms had a working version of the gene. The former also tended to pick up the bacteria later.</div>
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"I think it's exciting how just a single gene is enough to change the baby's microbiome," Lewis says. "It shows that establishing the microbiome is an intricate process, orchestrated by the breast milk."</div>
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But the finding comes with many caveats. The team didn't analyze whether the boost in <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bifidobacteria </em>had any health effects on the baby. And a whole slew of other factors influence which critters live in a baby's gut. In particular, babies pick up the microbes around them.</div>
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"If you're living in an unhygienic home, the baby will have a completely different microbiome than one in a home that gets Cloroxed every day," Lewis says. "Our findings are for babies living in Davis, California. The gene could have totally different effects in other parts of the world."</div>
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Lewis says <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">FUT2 </em>is only one of many genes that likely help establish an infant's<a href="http://www.npr.org/series/218987212/microbiome" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4774cc; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">microbiome</a>.</div>
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"We definitely don't want any mothers to think that their breast milk is any less healthy or valuable [if they have the mutation]," he says.</div>
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And it's not always possible to breast-feed, while some women choose not to. That's one reason why some scientists are studying how breast milk works, Lewis says: to help make better formula.<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/04/10/398386277/bundle-of-joyful-microbes-moms-dna-alters-babys-gut-bacteria?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150410">Original article</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230702268720063317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-68244535651705200042015-04-12T09:24:00.001-07:002015-04-12T09:24:07.437-07:00Commercialisation of agriculture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/2015/mar/55235b71ad1e0.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; max-width: 100%;" />Crop prices are falling, as opposed to the rising cost of farm inputs. This is eroding farmers’ earnings and savings and is bound to impact the pace of investment required to modernise agriculture and improve productivity, and will make it more difficult for primary commodities to become globally competitive.</div>
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It will also result in the cash-strapped government being forced to continue to subsidise the export of surplus wheat and sugar etc, while domestic prices remain higher than the international rates.</div>
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In the absence of adequate storage facilities and modern supply chains, a significant quantity of grains stored in open grounds would also be lost. The government has failed to come up with a policy to stimulate the private sector or farmers to invest in logistics.</div>
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No doubt, the increase in support prices of wheat — a staple food serving as a benchmark for the pricing of other crops — along with rising bank credit and micro-financing, have raised growers’ incomes. But it has also provided an opportunity to the manufacturers and dealers of fertiliser, seeds, tractors etc to manipulate the rural market at the cost of the farmers.</div>
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This has resulted in a significant transfer of resources from agriculture to industry and trade, and provided an impetus to agri-business, as indicated by the number of agri-business companies being registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). Yet, the commercialisation of agriculture is slower than is required to put the farm economy at an even keel.</div>
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Tough the inefficient mode of crop-sharing between the landed gentry and the peasant-tenant is gradually getting out of fashion, its replacement by cash contracts needs to be speeded up to increase farm productivity through mechanisation. The provincial governments do provide subsidy on tractors, but a whole range of farm implements are required to modernise agriculture.</div>
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The rural market cannot be opened up much for private sector/farmers’ investment without the creation of a market for the sale and purchase of agricultural lands for corporate farming. The computerisation of land records can help move in this direction and encourage banks to lend money. But the provincial revenue departments are taking things easy on this front.</div>
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However, corporate farming should not come at the cost of small farmers. Sometime back, there was a move to encourage small farmers to join corporate farming, with their equity commensurate to their share in the corporate landholding. But nothing is being heard about it. The proposal should be revived to ensure an inclusive agricultural economy.</div>
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Somehow the government’s pro-farmer policies get to benefit big growers much more than the smaller ones. No doubt, some specific schemes have been introduced recently by the State Bank/government for financing small cultivators. But this is not enough. There is a strong need to establish clusters of common facilities in the private sector to provide modern farm implements on rent to small farmers who cannot afford to buy them.</div>
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In the realm of marketing, a major barrier to boosting investment and productivity in agriculture is the conflict of interest between farmers, trade and industry — with each trying to benefit at the cost of the other, rather than cooperating mutually to boost ‘agricultural manufacturing’. Forgotten is the message of the IT era: sharing in the value-chain is a win-win for all.</div>
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The industry is dependent on agriculture for raw materials and rural markets for the sale of its products. This serves as the basis for cooperation between rural folks and urban dwellers. Currently, agriculture’s share in national income is in the range of 21-22pc, and about 44pc of the country’s population depends on farming and livestock for its livelihood. This indicates the level of rural poverty and the low purchasing power of the rural dwellers.</div>
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The prosperity that the industry radiates owes much to agriculture. One of the ways in which the underutilised domestic manufacturing capacity can be utilised is by turning the rural market — which has already become an attractive one for motorcycles and home appliances — more prosperous.</div>
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To sum up, the overarching goal should be to establish a modern, prosperous, inclusive, globally efficient and competitive ‘agriculture manufacturing’ economy. Agriculture should be at the centre of the development strategy. The survival and growth of the country’s traditional industries like textiles, sugar and leather goods can be traced to agricultural raw materials.</div>
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And now, food processing is coming up fast because of both domestic demand and export potential. In a way, agriculture is serving as the foundation of the industrial economy.</div>
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Published in <a href="http://www.dawn.com/news/1174119/commercialisation-of-agriculture" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s linear; color: #6e8012; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s linear;">Dawn</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-89994617811630837282015-04-12T09:23:00.004-07:002015-04-12T09:23:51.220-07:00Need stressed to develop agriculture, cattle farming<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="" border="0" height="128" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/55246cf5f04ad.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; max-width: 100%;" width="213" />Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch has said that the government will now focus on developing agriculture, livestock and fishery sectors to make the province self-sufficient in these sectors and to end backwardness and poverty in the area.</div>
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Addressing a meeting of growers and landlords here on Tuesday, Dr Malik declared 2015 the year of growers, cattle farmers and fishermen and said that a convention of experts of these sectors would soon be held in the provincial capital to create awareness about the issue and to invite experts’ opinions and suggestions for rapid development of these sectors in the province.</div>
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He said that all landlords and farmers of the province would be invited to the convention.</div>
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He said the province was facing the serious issue of depleting groundwater and farmers needed modern education, techniques and training to grow such their crops and fruits by using less water.</div>
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He said that a large portion of population of the province depended on livestock, farm sectors and its allied sectors and the government would take every step to promote agriculture and other sectors and provide guidelines in this connection.</div>
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“By acquiring modern training and techniques, we will become self-sufficient in farm production, cattle breeding and meat production and this will help the province and the country to earn foreign exchange by exporting farm products,” the chief minister said.</div>
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Malik Baloch meets growers and landlords</h4>
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He said that a lot of opportunities for investment in these sectors existed in the province and invited the private sector to come to forward and investment in the province to exploit these opportunities.</div>
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He said that with the cooperation of Australia, two projects of wool cutting and its qualitative processing and packaging would be started soon in the province.</div>
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Dr Malik said the government was doing its best to revive natural pastures and thanked the federal government for offering every help and cooperation for promotion of these sectors in the province.</div>
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“Proposals of farmers, cattle breeders and fishermen will be sought to promote agriculture and its related sectors in the province and growers and farmers showing good performance will be given awards,” the chief minister said.</div>
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Provincial ministers Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, Sarfaraz Bugti and provincial assembly member Sardar Dur Muhammad Nasir attended the gathering.</div>
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Published in Dawn</div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-63711662608198238742015-04-12T09:23:00.002-07:002015-04-12T09:23:28.192-07:00How Genes and Environment Conspire to Trigger Diabetes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="227" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/2015/mar/diabetes-diet-150120.jpg" style="height: 102px; width: 182px;" width="342" />Diabetes appears to be a disease written deeply in human genes, a feature millions of years old, which can emerge yet also retreat through the influence of environmental forces such as diet, a new study suggests.<br />
Researchers looked at how obesity, in particular, can trigger the onset of Type 2 diabetes in both mice and humans by manipulating how genes are expressed.<br />
They found that obesity, in effect, can change the chemical tags associated with DNA, called the epigenome. These epigenetic changes modify how genes behave and can alter the production of proteins necessary for proper metabolism and secretion of insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels.<br />The good news is that diseases brought on by such epigenetic changes can be reversed, the scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore said in their study, published Jan. 6 in the journal Cell Metabolism.<br />
The study may help explain why Type 2 diabetes, a disease that was hardly seen a few generations ago, now affects more than 300 million adults worldwide, with some populations far more affected than others — a conspiracy of both genetic and epigenetic factors. [8 Reasons Our Waistlines Are Expanding]<br />
In people with Type 2 diabetes, the body has lost either the ability to produce enough insulin, or the ability to respond to the insulin that is produced. Insulin is the hormone that triggers the body's cells to take up sugar from the bloodstream, so in people with Type 2 diabetes, the level of sugar in the blood rises too high.<br />
It is well established that people who are obese are at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, so the Hopkins scientists first studied obese mice to understand how obesity is related to the disease. The mice in the study were clones — all had identical genetics. The researchers found that the mice placed on a high-fat diet grew obese and diabetic; mice on a regular diet stayed lean and healthy. This much was expected.<br />
Yet although the mice started life with identical genes, it was clear that the lean and obese mice had radically different gene expression as adults. An analysis of DNA isolated from their fat cells revealed changes in the epigenome: at certain sites along their DNA, chemical tags called methyl groups were present in the lean mice but missing in the obese mice; at other sites, vice versa. These methyl groups prevent genes from making proteins.<br />
The scientists then looked at a dataset of obese people who underwent gastric bypass surgery, and, to their surprise, found nearly the exact same pattern of epigenetic changes at key sites in DNA isolated from their fat cells.<br />
"Mice and humans are separated by 50 million years of evolution, so it's interesting that obesity causes similar epigenetic changes to similar genes in both species," said Dr. Andrew Feinberg, director of the university's Center for Epigenetics, who led the study.<br />
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The findings mesh nicely with other recent discoveries about the role of diet in the development of diabetes.<br />
A study published in April 2012 in The New England Journal of Medicine found that 75 percent of people with diabetes who underwent gastric-bypass surgery saw a reversal of their disease. The Hopkins study supports this by revealing how the epigenome in obese patients becomes more like the epigenome in lean people after this weight-loss surgery.<br />
A study published in August 2014 in Cell Metabolism found that grizzly bears essentially become diabetic during hibernation, and then "recover" when they awaken. The bears' diabetes is induced by the accumulation of fat in the months preceding their winter sleep. Once in a diabetic state, insulin stops working, and, in the absence of more food while hibernating, the insulin resistance allows the bears to effectively break down their fat stores for energy.<br />
This finding points to the idea that diabetes is a feature encoded in our DNA that can have evolutionary advantages in a feast-or-famine world, the researchers said.<br />
"It's likely that when food supplies are highly variable, these epigenetic changes help our bodies adapt to temporary surges in calories," Feinberg said. "But if the high-calorie diet continues over the long term, the same epigenetic pattern raises the risk for disease."<br />
Feinberg stressed, however, that the new findings highlight the "complementary nature of genetics and epigenetics in disease." Diet is still the main contributor to type 2 diabetes, he said.<br />
Some of the epigenetic changes that the scientists discovered were associated with genes already known to raise diabetes risk. Many more were tied to genes not linked conclusively to the disease but rather metabolism in general.<br />
Together, they offer "new potential targets for treating Type 2 diabetes," said G. William Wong, an associate professor of physiology at Johns Hopkins and a co-author on the paper. The study also suggests that researchers could develop an epigenetic test to identify people on the path to diabetes much earlier than can now be done.<br />
Follow Christopher Wanjek @wanjek for daily tweets on health and science with a humorous edge. Wanjek is the author of "Food at Work" and "Bad Medicine." His column, Bad Medicine, appears regularly on Live Science</div>
Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-65468553176458159942015-04-12T09:23:00.000-07:002015-04-12T09:23:03.212-07:00SAVE PLANET: AVOID DEFORESTATION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1428853908026_2253"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/deforestation-2.jpg" style="float: left;" />Deforestation, clearance or clearing is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest .The term deforestation can be misused when applied to describe a tree harvesting way in which all trees in an area are removed. Moreover, biodiversity after regeneration harvest often mimics that found after natural disturbance, as well as biodiversity loss after naturally happening rainforest destruction.</span></div>
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Deforestation happens for many reasons: trees are cut down to be used or sold as timber or fuel while clean land is used as plantations of commodities, settlements and meadow for livestock. The deletion of trees without necessary reforestation has caused in damage to biodiversity, loss aridity and habitat. It has adverse effects on bio sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. In war deforestation has also been used to deprive the enemy of cover for its forces and also vital means. Current cases of this were the use of Agent Orange by the British military in Malaya in the Malayan Emergency and the United States military in Vietnam in the Vietnam War. Disregard of ascribed value, lax forest management and deficient environmental laws are some of the factors that allow deforestation to occur on a large scale. In numerous countries, deforestation, both human induced and naturally occurring is a current matter. Deforestation causes extinction, desertification, changes to climatic conditions and displacement of populations as observed through current environments and in the past through the fossil record. More than half of all land animal and plant species in the world live in tropical forests.</div>
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By most accounts, deforestation in tropical rainforests adds more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than the sum total of cars and trucks on the world’s roads. According to the World Carfree Network (WCN), trucks and cars account for about 14 percent of worldwide carbon releases, whereas most experts point upwards of 15 percent to deforestation.</div>
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The cause that logging is so bad for the climate is that when trees are cut down they release the carbon they are storing into the air, where it mingles with greenhouse gases from further sources and adds to global warming therefore. The upshot is that we should be doing as much to prevent deforestation as we are to reduce automobile usage and increase fuel efficiency</div>
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According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), 32 million acres of tropical rainforest were cut down every year among 2000 and 2009—and the pace of deforestation is simply increasing. “Unless we change the current system that results forest destruction, forest clearing will put additional 200 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere in upcoming eras.</div>
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C0<sub>2</sub> and ethane contribute to the greenhouse result. According to World Rainforest Movement, twenty-five percent of our drugs comes from the forestry. Trees take up water from their roots and then expel it into the air as moisture.This moisture then gets changed into clouds that will bring rain. If we have less trees, the atmosphere will be drier. With less trees, our soil does not have as far support and much silt is released into the waters, causing in more flooding and loss of soil. And, what happens to the wildlife that make a home in our forest? Where do they go?</div>
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To keep our woodlands and forests, the wild life that live in them, the waters ,the soil, , the air that we all breathe, and for all humanity’s health and well-being, we need to use paper products sparingly and sensibly ; and without doubt we must make sure to recycle paper products.</div>
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Try to visualize the earth without our trees, not just because of the things above, however also for the beauty of environment. Practically all of us have walked down a road with the sun beating ruthlessly down on us and desired silently that there were some trees beside that road. There are so numerous things related with trees that affect our senses as well, like the sounds of the wind blowing over the leaves, the sound of the branches swaying in the wind and the ever so sweet chirping of the sparrows at dawn and dusk. Really can we visualize a world without our trees? No, absolutely not. So we must all join hands to stop deforestation, each in our little way. The world did happen before the making of paper. A lot of things like paper facial tissues, kitchen towels, can be avoided if only we are not so obsessed with the word disposable. So go for that which is recyclable and reusable instead. Our trees are our legacy given to us by our ancestors, it’s the legacy we must leave our own.</div>
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<li class="createdby">Written by Naveed Mushtaq, **Zoraiz Tanveer and *** Nasir Ahmed Khan, *, ** Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics (PBG), *** Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad</li>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-39736974109032925542015-04-12T09:22:00.001-07:002015-04-12T09:22:21.451-07:00Do People Expect Too Much From DNA Data?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sequencing is definitely becoming cheaper and more accessible. One can sequence a couple of full genomes today for less than US$50,000. In 1985, human DNA sequencing cost was thought to be around US$3 billion. I hope that by 2020, drug stores can do genome sequencing for a few hundred dollars.</div>
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But, one must be careful – whole genome sequencing is not at all accurate for medical diagnosis. I got my own genome sequenced, but they missed the local rearrangements in my genome – it was not well-curated.</div>
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Also, it is common belief that once we can sequence the genome, we can edit it to have babies with higher IQ for example. This is a myth, because it is very rare that one gene corresponds to one property.</div>
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What do you think about the prospects of personalised medicine?</div>
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I support the cause of personalised medicine. I believe that it has two underlying themes – each one of us has different metabolism and each one of us has a different manifestation of the same disease. My cancer is not the same as your cancer, so the only way one can categorise ultimately is to have a limited number of subtypes and then develop drugs against those subtypes.</div>
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But as you can see, big pharma companies of course do not want people to believe in personalised medicine. Otherwise how would they sell their generic drugs? I don’t understand why they don’t realise that clinical trials get easier and much cheaper with subtyping – they do not play this market game well.</div>
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What are your views on “big data”?</div>
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Big data promises to collect large sets of data and find associations between genes and diseases. There’s definitely something useful in the data collected, but the danger is that we have no clue how to interpret it. Also, you must remember that all statistically significant things are not biologically significant. So, it is definitely not a panacea.</div>
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There was a recent controversy about patenting genes. What did you make of that?</div>
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I agree with the US Supreme Court decision that one cannot patent anything that exists naturally. Since a gene is a part of the genome, I don’t think one should be allowed to patent it. But companies are allowed to patent some genetic tests that identify risks for certain diseases based on one’s genes.</div>
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What problems does science face today?</div>
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We are spending money on problems that can have immediate outcomes. Then we are forced to use only our current level of understanding. There is a lot that what we don’t know. Imagine that if we had asked Benjamin Franklin to justify the importance of the “spark” he had found, would we have had electricity today?</div>
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Another major problem is the explosion in scientific manpower that has not necessarily led to the betterment of science, especially in biology. In fact, bad material that gets published has increased. In biology, the top journals – Cell, Science and Nature – have created a mess. They tell the authors “give me the headline, not the data”. And then we see retractions and shattered careers and dreams.</div>
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What advice would you like to give to young scientists?</div>
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Do not blindly believe whatever you read. I often used to give my students papers that said opposite things and then tell them to explain to me how they were consistent, if at all. Also, do not continue science if it does not excite you. Science cannot be a nine-to-five job.</div>
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Walter Gilbert does not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has no relevant affiliations</div>
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<a href="http://www.livescience.com/47964-do-people-expect-too-much-from-dna-data.html" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s linear; color: #6e8012; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s linear;">Source</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-66200919975644057972015-04-12T05:44:00.000-07:002015-04-12T05:44:07.626-07:00Poultry industry calls for review of FTAs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">KARACHI: The Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) on Saturday urged Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir to review the free trade agreements (FTAs) that are hurting more than helping the country.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">Khalil Sattar, Chairman Tariff and Taxation Committee PPA, in a letter stated that under the FTA with Malaysia, poultry products are allowed to be imported free of duty and sales tax.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">Similarly, poultry items from India are allowed at 5 per cent import duty and from China at 10pc and 16pc, both free of sales tax.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">Including poultry products in the above agreements, “the PPA was not taken on board despite repeated requests,” the letter stated.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">Pakistan has opened up its market but the trading partners have not yet reciprocated. They use non-tariff barriers to discourage imports from Pakistan, hence “not a single ounce of chicken product has been exported to Malaysia or China”.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">India has placed all poultry products under its ‘Sensitive list’ (headings 0207, 1601 and 1602), thus exports to the country was also not possible.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">“To produce value-added products, falling under heading 1601 and 1602, raw material at 15-30pc import duty and 17pc sales tax has to be imported,” Sattar said.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">The cost of production has gone up because of the duties and on the other hand zero rating has been withdrawn, he lamented, adding: “The FTA countries provide zero rating to their producers and also give export incentives.”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">Moreover, since the signing of FTAs, multinationals who were buying poultry products from Pakistan have suspended their purchases.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">He claimed that the products being imported did not meet the quality control authority’s standards of Halal chicken. The import policy does not lay down details required in the Halal certification, he added.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.65;">He asked the government to allow duty free import of raw materials required for production of value-added chicken products. Poultry processing should be exempted from electricity and gas load-shedding.</span></div>
</span><span style="line-height: 1.65;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 1.65;">He added that the import duty on products falling under headings 0207, 1601 and 1602 should be increased to 50pc, quoting the example of India, which has increased the duty to 100pc.<a href="http://www.dawn.com/news/1175354/poultry-industry-calls-for-review-of-ftas">orgional link</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230702268720063317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-434629160507045502015-04-07T16:55:00.001-07:002015-04-07T16:55:25.573-07:00http://news.ku.dk/all_news/2014/12/fungus-growing-ants-selectively-cultivate-their-crops/<a href="http://news.ku.dk/all_news/2014/12/fungus-growing-ants-selectively-cultivate-their-crops/">http://news.ku.dk/all_news/2014/12/fungus-growing-ants-selectively-cultivate-their-crops/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230702268720063317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-84876524221694323842015-03-31T18:24:00.001-07:002015-03-31T18:24:46.098-07:00Onion Harvest Time: Learn How And When To Harvest Onions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<img alt="" border="0" height="162" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/2015/mar/harvested-onions1-400x266.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; max-width: 100%;" width="243" />The use of onions for food goes back over 4,000 years. Onions are popular cool season vegetables that can becultivated from seed, sets or transplants. Onions are an easy-to-grow and manage crop that, when properly harvested, can provide a kitchen staple through the fall and winter.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Success in Harvesting Onions</span></div>
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Your success in harvesting onions will depend onproper planting and care throughout the growing season. Plant onions as soon as the garden can be worked. Rich soil, consistent moisture and cool temperatures help bulb development. It is best to create hills for onions that are to be used for green onions but do not hill those to be used for bulbs.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">When to Harvest Onions</span></div>
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In addition to good planting, you need to know when to harvest onions for the best flavor. Harvest tops for green onions as soon as they reach 6 inches in height. The longer you wait to harvest the green tops, the stronger they become.</div>
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Any bulbs that have bolted, or formed flower stalks, should be pulled and used right away; they are not good for storage.</div>
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Bulb onion harvest time can begin with onion tops naturally fall over and brown. This is usually 100 to 120 days after planting, depending on the cultivar. Onion harvest time should be early in the morning when temperatures are not too hot.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">How to Harvest Onions</span></div>
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Knowing how to harvest onions is also important, as you do not want to damage the plants or onion bulbs. Carefully pull or dig onions up from the ground with the tops intact. Gently shake the soil from around the bulbs.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Drying and Storing Onion Bulbs</span></div>
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Once harvested, storing onion bulbs becomes necessary. Onions must first be dried before they can be stored. To dry onions, spread them out on a clean and dry surface in a well-ventilated location, such as a garage or a shed.</div>
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Onions should be cured for at least two to three weeks or until the tops necks are completely dry, and the outer skin on the onion becomes slightly crisp. Cut tops off to within one inch after drying is complete.</div>
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Store dried onions in a wire basket, crate or nylon bag in a place where the temperature is between 32 to 40 degrees F. Humidity levels should be between 65 and 70 percent for best results. If the location is too damp, rotting may occur. Most onions can keep for up to three months if dried and stored properly.</div>
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<a href="http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/onion/harvesting-onions.htm" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s linear; color: #6e8012; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s linear;">Source</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-45812380736089972562015-03-31T18:23:00.001-07:002015-03-31T18:23:23.240-07:00Growing Primrose – Primrose Plants In Your Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="" border="0" height="142" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/2015/mar/primrose1-400x265.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; max-width: 100%;" width="214" />Primrose flowers (Primula polyantha) bloom in early spring, offering a variety of form, size, and color. They are suitable for use in garden beds and borders as well as in containers or for naturalizing areas of the lawn. In fact, when given the proper growing conditions, these vigorous plants will multiply each year, adding stunning colors to the landscape.</div>
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Blooming often lasts throughout summer and in some areas, they will continue to delight the fall season with their outstanding colors. Most primrose flowers seen in gardens are Polyanthus hybrids, which range in color from white, cream and yellow to orange, red and pink. There are also purple and blue primrose flowers. These perennial plants prefer damp, woodland-like conditions.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Growing Primrose Plants</span></div>
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Growing primrose is easy, as these plants are quite hardy and adaptable. You can find primrose perennials at most garden centers and nurseries. Look for primroses that are healthy in appearance, preferably with unopened buds.</div>
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Primroses can also be grown from seeds with an equal mixture of soil, sand and peat moss. This can be done indoors or out depending on the time of year and the climate in your area. Generally, seeds are sown indoors (outdoors in cold frame) during winter. Once seedlings have obtained their second or third leaves, they can be transplanted into the garden.</div>
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Cuttings can also be taken from some varieties during summer.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Primrose Care</span></div>
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Primrose perennials should be planted in lightly shaded areas with well-drained soil, preferably amended with organic matter. Set primrose plants about 6 to 12 inches apart and 4 to 6 inches deep. Water thoroughly after planting. Add a layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture. Continue to give your primroses thorough watering throughout the summer months, about once a week or more during periods of drought, but let off once fall approaches.</div>
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The primrose flower also appreciates light applications of organic fertilizer throughout the growing season. Keep primrose plants looking their best with regular pruning of dead leaves and spent blooms. If you want to collect the seeds of your primroses, wait until late summer or early fall before taking them. Store them in a cool, dry place until the following planting season or sow them in a cold frame.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Problems with Primrose Perennials</span></div>
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Slugs and snails are common pests affecting primrose plants. These can be controlled with nontoxic slug bait placed around the garden. Spider mites and aphids may also attack primroses but can be sprayed with soapy water.</div>
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If primrose plants are not getting enough drainage, they may also be prone to crown rot and root rot. This can be easily fixed by amending the soil with compost or relocating the plants to a well-drained site.</div>
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Too much moisture can also make the primrose flower susceptible to fungal infections. This can often be prevented by using good watering habits and adequate spacing between plants.</div>
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Growing primroses is easy when given the proper growing conditions and following primrose care guidelines.</div>
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<a href="http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/primrose/growing-primrose-primrose-plants-in-your-garden.htm" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s linear; color: #6e8012; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s linear;">Source</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-84587989454112834922015-03-31T18:22:00.002-07:002015-03-31T18:22:19.706-07:00Care Of Watercress: Growing Watercress Plants In Gardens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<img alt="" border="0" height="171" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/2015/mar/watercress-400x266.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; max-width: 100%;" width="256" />If you are a salad lover, as I am, it is more than likely that you are familiar with watercress. Because watercress thrives in clear, slow moving water, many gardeners refrain from planting it. The fact is that the plant is very adaptable and watercress cultivation can be attained in a number of different ways at home. So, how to grow watercress in the home garden? Read on to learn more.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Watercress Cultivation</span></div>
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Watercress is a perennial cultivated for its clean, slightly peppery tasting leaves and stems. Seen wild, it grows partially submerged in running water and flooded areas in moderately cool climates. If you have awater feature in your landscape, this is a great place to cultivate watercress, but don’t despair if not.</div>
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Watercress can also be grown in consistently wet soil with a pH of 6.5-7.5 in full sun, or you can mimic natural conditions by growing watercress plants in a bucket or other container. In the garden proper, you can dig out a 6-inch furrow, line it with 4-6 mil polyethylene and then fill with 2 inches of composted soil or peat moss. Of course, if you have a running stream on your property, watercress cultivation is about as simple as it gets.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Growing Watercress Plants</span></div>
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Watercress can be grown from seed, transplants or cuttings. Watercress varieties abound, but the most common home grown variety is Nasturtium officinale. Prior to planting, choose a sunny location and amend the garden soil with 4-6 inches of composted organic matter down to a depth of 6-8 inches.</div>
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Seeds are tiny, so they need to be lightly broadcast over the prepared sight. Sow three weeks before the frost free date for your area. This plant germinates best in cool conditions (50-60 degrees F. or 10-15 C.) but not frigid. Keep the planting area moist but not covered with water. Container grown plants can be placed in a saucer filled with water to retain moisture.</div>
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Seedlings will appear in about five days. If you are transplanting, space the plants 8 inches apart once all chance of frost has passed.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Care of Watercress</span></div>
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Consistent moisture is the number one concern in the care of watercress; after all, water is its milieu. Container grown plants can be placed in a bucket filled with 2-3 inches of water so the roots stay submerged.</div>
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Although the plant does not have high nutrient requirements, cultivated cress may show signs ofpotassium, iron or phosphorus deficiencies. A complete soluble fertilizer applied at the recommended rate should mitigate any of these issues.</div>
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In the garden, keep the area around the plants free from weeds and mulch to aid in water retention. Snailslove watercress and should be removed by hand or trapped. Whiteflies also like the plant and can be controlled with soapy water or insecticidal soap. Spider mites cause leaf discoloration and general deterioration of the plant. Natural predators such as lady beetles, predatory mites or thrips can eradicate these pests.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Watercress Harvestin</span></div>
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The flavor of watercress is best during the cool months of the year. Once the plant blossoms, the flavor is compromised. Watercress harvesting can commence about 3 weeks after emergence. Cutting or pruning the plants will encourage them to be thicker and lush. Cut the plants to a height of about 4 inches. Wash the cuttings thoroughly and store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for as long as week.</div>
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Harvesting can continue year round, adding a boost of vitamins A and C, along with niacin, ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin and iron to your ho-hum salad or an added zing to compound butters or sauces.</div>
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<a href="http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/watercress/growing-watercress-in-gardens.htm" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s linear; color: #6e8012; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s linear;">Source</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-82801456117767434742015-03-31T18:21:00.002-07:002015-03-31T18:21:46.278-07:00Onion Bulb Formation: Why Onions Do Not Form Bulbs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<img alt="" border="0" height="193" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/2015/mar/onion-no-bulb-400x600.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; max-width: 100%;" width="129" />Many onion varieties are available to the home gardener and most are relatively easy to grow. That said, onions do have their fare share of issues with onion bulb formation; either the onions do not form bulbs, or they may be small and/or misshapen.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">Reasons for No Onion Bulbs</span></div>
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One possible reason for a lack of onion bulb formation is the selection of the wrong type of onion for your area. In their natural environment, onions are biennials that have a two year life cycle. The first year, the plant bulbs and the second year it flowers. Cultivators of onions grow them as an annual and harvest at the end of the first growing season.</div>
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Onions are categorized as “long day” or “short day” varieties, with some intermediate varieties available as well. The terms are in reference to the length of daylight during the growing season in a particular area.</div>
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<li style="line-height: 2; list-style-position: outside;">A “long day” onion variety quits forming leaves and begins to bulb when the length of daylight is 14-16 hours.</li>
<li style="line-height: 2; list-style-position: outside;">“Short day” cultivars make bulbs much earlier in the season when daylight is only 10-12 hours long.</li>
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“Long day” onions should be planted north of the 40th parallel (San Francisco on the west coast and Washington D.C. on the east) while “short day” onions do best south of the 28th parallel (New Orleans, Miami).</div>
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The newest kids on the block are the day neutral varieties of onion which can be planted without regard to latitude. A big boon to gardeners between the 28th and 40th parallel.</div>
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Bulb size is in direct correlation to the number and size of leaves (tops) of the onion at the time of bulb maturity. Each leaf corresponds to a ring of the onion and the larger the leaf, the larger the ring.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 600;">How to Get Onions to Form a Bulb</span></div>
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Choosing an appropriate onion variety for your region and following the correct planting time is an important factor in getting healthy onion bulbs to form. “Long day” varieties are planted in the early spring. Either start seeds indoors and transplant or plant onion sets directly outdoors. “Short day” cultivars should be planted mid fall either directly sown or with onion sets.</div>
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Grow onions in raised beds about 4 inches high and 20 inches across. Dig a four inch trench in the bed and distribute a phosphorus rich fertilizer (10-20-10) 2 or 3 inches below the transplants, cover with a couple of inches of soil and plant the onion sets.</div>
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Maintain some space between the plants, one inch deep and four inches apart. For direct sown onion, thinning is the key to bulb size. Obviously, if there is not room for it to grow, you will get onions that do not form adequate bulbs.</div>
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Lastly, while this may not be directly related to a lack of bulbing, temperature will most certainly affect the size and quality of the onion. Cooler temps below 70 degrees F. (21 C.) may retard bulbing in some varieties. In late spring, fluctuation between warm days alternating with cool days may cause the plant to bolt, or flower.Flowering in onions results in a lighter weight bulb with an increased risk of decay and a lower storage life.</div>
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<a href="http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/onion/onion-bulb-formation.htm" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s linear; color: #6e8012; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s linear;">Source</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-45854575608099759312015-02-25T17:44:00.002-08:002015-02-25T17:44:15.099-08:00Facts about Manuka Honey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="" border="0" height="132" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/2015/feb/8640ae52-5b0f-4819-9392-845cdd1111a2-620x276.jpeg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="296" />The claim: A medical-grade version of this honey is used in sterile wrappings. As with most honeys it has hydrogen peroxide, which gives it its antibiotic qualities. It also has methylglyoxal, an antibacterial component, in much higher quantities than found in other honeys. Studies have suggested that manuka honey might help to ease symptoms of infections such as coughs, but it’s not clear whether the honey is having an antimicrobial effect or whether it is just soothing like all syrups.</div>
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Mellor’s verdict: Any of the claims for eating manuka honey, all of which have been rejected by regulators, are vague. Any health benefits must be balanced against the very high quantities of sugar compared with the very small amounts of these proposed active compounds.</div>
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<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/15/truth-about-miracle-foods-chia-seeds-coconut-oil" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s linear; color: #6e8012; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s linear;">Source</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7564738805629577190.post-69591832346586699342015-02-25T17:43:00.001-08:002015-02-25T17:43:29.877-08:00Facts about Apple Cider Vinegar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.4545440673828px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://agrihunt.com/images/2015/feb/d890a5d1-816c-4989-b4f9-c4a4d1b0cbfd-620x372.jpeg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; max-width: 100%;" />The claim: Doubtless a tasty condiment, but has been anecdotally linked with an eye-wateringly long list of potential health benefits in areas including: digestive disorders, sore throats, high cholesterol, indigestion, preventing cancer, dandruff, acne, energy boosting, cramps, and helping with blood sugar control. The EFSA, however, hasn’t approved any of these claims. Many of the studies have been on animals or in laboratories using human cells.</div>
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Mellor’s verdict: Vinegar is probably best kept as a condiment. Use it on salads instead of high calorie oils and mayonnaise and to add flavour to sauces to help reduce salt intake – it might help, not because of anything it contains, but because it would be replacing less-healthy foods.</div>
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<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/15/truth-about-miracle-foods-chia-seeds-coconut-oil" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s linear; color: #6e8012; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s linear;">Source</a></div>
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Ramzan Rafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08665208340084147364noreply@blogger.com0