Agriculture key to improvement

SITEMBILE SIWAWA, Lusaka
TO MIRIAM Chunga, a small holder farmer of Shamundende village in Sichanzu ward, central Zambia, farming has not only enabled her raise finances but has greatly improved the health of her family.
Before venturing into farming three years ago, the Chunga household had been faced with malnutrition due to lack of sufficient food.
For the past three years, Mr Chunga has religiously been growing crops such beans, spinach, okra, tomatoes, onions and various vegetables on a 50sq meter piece of land. The fact that she has a well which never runs dry at her farm has also been a plus for her.
“The dietary needs of my family have greatly improved since I ventured into farming. We are now able to eat nutritious meals every day. Apart from improving our diet, I am also able to buy other foods to supplement our nutritious diet as well as send my children to school by selling the surplus farm produce,” Chunga narrated.
About 300 metres away from Ms Chunga is another small holder farmer, Mervis Chibeleki who specialises in animal farming. Ms Chibeleki’s family diet has also improved because of her involvement in farming.
Ms Chibeleki who started animal farming in 2012 owns goats and chickens but also has a garden like the rest of the farmers in the village.
Like Ms Chunga, Ms Chibeleki’s interest in animal farming was in a bid to escape poverty and malnutrition.
“When I started, I had one goat and one chicken. Now, I am a proud owner of seven goats and 20 chickens. Animal farming has proven to be a good source of proteins recommended for health living,” Ms Chibeleki said.
Evidently agriculture does not only play a role in food security but also contributes to the good health of citizens particularly children.
Child malnutrition has proved to be a challenge in most developing countries. In Zambia, 45 per cent of children under five years old have stunted; a situation which has been attributed to poor diet and health.
It is against this background that Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition (RAIN) project was initiated in Mumbwa district to help small holder farmers improve the nutrition of households.
Mumbwa district with an estimated population of 218,328 has child stunting levels at 43 per cent.
RAIN, a project implemented by Concern Worldwide with support from Irish Aid and Kerry Group, is a five year one programme which aims at eradicating malnutrition among families in Mumbwa.
Small holder farmers under the RAIN project mainly focuses on food production and diversification of household consumption. Framers also focus on cultivating and processing a variety of crops.
The crops grown which are chosen based on their nutritional value include legumes (cowpeas, groundnuts, biofortified beans, orange fleshed sweet potatoes), vegetables (amaranthus, rape, tomatoes, carrots, spinach, pumpkins, green beans) and fruits (banana suckers, granadillas, watermelons).
Additionally, the farmers boast of a ‘goat pass on scheme’ which aims at ensuring they all have animal source products that provides the much-needed proteins and minerals.
RAIN project district programme coordinator Concern Worldwide Richard Mwape said about 45, 000 households have so far been empowered with the know how to improve their nutrition.
Mr Mwape said agriculture has potential to improve food security and reduce hunger levels currently being experienced by many families.
“The use of agriculture to fight child stunted growth in Mumbwa district couldn’t have come at a better time especially that majority of households (87 per cent) have access to land,” he said.
Another organisation which places emphasis on ending hunger and malnutrition in Africa is NEPAD’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), a continental framework for transforming agriculture in Africa.
The framework aims at improving national status by elimination child under-nutrition in Africa with a view of bringing down stunted growth to 10 per cent and underweight to five per cent by 2015.
And Mumbwa District administrative officer Charles Hamphande has recommended for more projects that will reduce hunger and increase food security as well as provide nutrition.
Mr Hamphande however said there is need for guidance on the type of crops small holder farmers can diversify in to reduce hunger.
Irish ambassador to Zambia, Finbar O’Brien said addressing under-nutrition and hidden hunger through nutrition needed the integrational approach as malnutrition across sectors.
Mr O’Brien said there have been some levels of success especially with the reduction in under-five mortality rates but Zambia can do much more.
“However, nutrition for growth commitments to reduce under nutrition by 50 per cent and increase nutrition funding by 20 per cent year are a bold statement of commitment,” Mr O’Brien.
And Deputy Minister-Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Greyford Monde said the government is cognizant that combating under-nutrition will result in improved social welfare and eventual reduction in poverty levels in the country.
Mr Monde said hunger affects human health and development.
“It is for this reason that Government is developing operational guidelines for the promotion of diverse locally available and processed foods,” he said.

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Agriculture sector can employ thousands of young professionals

Agriculture has plenty of potential to employ and absorb thousands of young professionals in the emerging businesses starting right from farm gate to the dining table of the consumers in making tangible interventions in supply and value chain management of the sector. Said Syed Babar Ali, Pro Chancellor Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) during a special session on agribusiness opportunities in Pakistan and a round table session here at University on Saturday afternoon.

Former Secretary Agriculture Captain Arif Nadeem (Retd), Dr Kauser Abdullah Malik, Dr Zahoor Hassan, UAF VC Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Fazal Jawad, Asif Ali Shah, Dr Aziz Mithani, Faisal Farid, Mirza Nadeem and others were the speakers of the session.

Syed Babar Ali urged the girl students to remain with the profession even after graduation and marriage and also sell their brains to explore new business and entrepreneurial ideas to pay back the investment made by their family and society at large. He underscored the need to promote faculty and student exchange program with other agricultural universities so as to affect 50,000 students of the country. He asked the University management to encourage the younger faulty for higher studies abroad and also set up a debriefing bureau to get share the foreign and local exposure that they had during their foreign visit. He asked the students to keep thinking about various steps of agricultural supply and value chain and identify the issues to be taken care of, to become entrepreneurial in that respect.

Syed Babar Ali urged the University management to arrange interaction of meritorious and promising farmers with the faculty and students at campus to get them inspired, he added. The business tycoon urged the experts to evolve a demand driven strategy to meet the challenges in their respective domain.

VC said that UAF scientists had gathered 500 indigenous mango germ plasmas and data analysis and further characterisation they introduced 10 verities of enormous yield potential and longer shelf life. He said UAF team was closing working with LUMS people to examine the genes expressions so as to identify and slow down those genes responsible for fast respiration to enhance its self life. He said two major interventions were coming in the university one is of USAID CAS with 30 million $ and other is Chinese Confucius Language Centre with plenty of scholarship opportunities. He said UAF was sending its students to India enable them to inspect explore new business ideas. He said that young researchers need to work on potato, fodder and citrus. He said there was enormous potential of new agribusiness if the students keep thinking and asking questions about the sector.

Captain Arif Nadeem (Retd) Former Secretary Agriculture and CEO Pakistan Agricultural Collation said that he can bring number of farmers and entrepreneurs who proved their metal in production, marketing and supply and value change improvement. He said new BBA Agribusiness degree program is a step towards equipping the youth with necessary information relevant to market.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2014

Donors pledge big money to transform agriculture sector

Donors engaged in drafting the ambitious Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) have pledged to make large investments in Nepal’s farm sector and also asked the government to endorse the draft at the earliest so that they can plan accordingly.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday unveiled a scheme, as part of its commitment, to support Nepal jointly with other donors with an outlay of Rs 20 billion next year for the agricultural transformation process.

The proposed draft has recommended spending Rs 502 billion in 10 years, or around Rs 50 billion annually, including the contribution from the private sector and donors.

The strategic document that has envisioned an ambitious growth pattern in output and land and labour productivity for the next 20 years has been prepared with technical support from the ADB and 12 other development partners.

The ADS is expected to supersede the Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) by 2015. On July 1, 2013, the ADS formulating team submitted a draft to the government. The document cost Rs 200 million and took 26 months to complete.

Amid concerns that Nepal’s farm sector would suffer from under-investment like in the past, the donor agencies who had pledged to bridge the investment gap in agriculture had been asked to appear before a parliamentary Agriculture and Water Resources Committee to clearly explain their commitment.

“We would like to see the draft finalized as soon as possible so that the development partners will be able to prepare their respective strategies for the implementation of the project under the common draft,” Kenichi Yokoyama, the ADB’s Country Director for Nepal, told lawmakers at Thursday’s consultation.

He said that the APP had not been implemented as per the objective. The APP, which was also prepared by the ADB, has been described as one of the best strategic documents, but it failed to attract investment due to a decline in donor support to the agricultural sector from the mid-1990s in the name of economic liberalization. The government followed suit by cutting farm spending.

“Experiencing the past, the new plan should be implemented in an effective manner so that it can address the disadvantaged and poor communities too,” he said. “A government-oriented approach will not be adequate to address Nepal’s farm sector as the issue is really the implementation part. Hence, there is a need for a collective approach to ensure that there is no resource gap while implementing the projects.”

Similarly, Beth Dunford, USAID Nepal’s mission director, said that USAID would be aligning its existing and new projects on agriculture with the ADS framework. “USAID is also ready to provide additional support for Nepal’s farm sector,” she told lawmakers. FAO representative Binod Shah said that the FAO would be aligning its five-year programmes with the ADS while International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) representative Basu Aryal told lawmakers that its future programmes would be part of ADS.  

Likewise, the European Union (EU) representative suggested that the government form a steering committee to effectively implement the ADS and added that the private sector’s role needed to be defined clearly in the draft.

A sub-committee under the Agriculture and Water Resources Committee formed to look into ADS affairs will be submitting the final recommendation to the main committee by the end of November.

The chairman of the parliamentary committee Gagan Thapa told the donor agencies that the draft ADS would be submitted to the government by the first week of December, and that it was likely to be endorsed by the Cabinet by mid-December.

“The parliament’s role is to be a watchdog. Hence, we have asked the government for the document to study it further and make the government feel that the issue should not be taken for granted and that the ADS should not be kept as a piece of paper,” Thapa said. “Once the draft is okayed by the parliamentary committee, it will be easy for any government to take its ownership as past experience has shown that policy documents are often put on ice.”

The ADS has targeted boosting the average annual growth rate to 5 percent from the present 3 percent for the agricultural sector, and increase land productivity to $5,000 per hectare from the current $1,600. It also aims to increase labour productivity to $2,000 from $800 per worker.

Likewise, exports of farm items have been targeted to increase to $1.6 billion from $250 million through the implementation of the ADS.

The document has envisaged increasing round-the-year irrigation coverage areas to 80 percent from the current 18 percent. One of its ambitious targets is to halve poverty in less than 10 years through an agriculture-led economy.

The National Planning Commission has said that the ADS would help the government’s goal to graduate from the current status of a least developed country to a developing country by 2022, and so the document needs to be implemented wisely.

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India, Australia to further collaborate in agriculture and science

India and Australia are set to further their co-operation in a host of areas pertaining to the agriculture sector as well as on science and technology, including in the field of fortification of bananas.

"Prime Minister showed interest in [three projects] and these relate to agriculture. The first of these was about fortification of bananas. The Queensland University of Technology and organizations in India are working on a project in this regard," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, while briefing the media about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the university.

"In the agricultural aspect the second part was of the 'AgBot' or the 'Agro Robot'. This machine is used in Australia [due to] the shortage that they have in terms of manpower. The third was about bio fuels and this was how agricultural waste is being used to produce chemicals which in turn can be used as fuel," he added.

Akbaruddin further said that another reason for Prime Minister Modi to visit the university was because there were many projects that the Australian side wanted to demonstrate.

"The Queensland University were very keen to showcase to the Prime Minister [several projects]. There was the cube which is a technology demonstrator in terms of how science is made easy for children. The Prime Minister is a keen proponent of digital technology and this was use of digital technology for promoting science," he said.

"In addition they also indicated that since Australia is an arid country how they are using biotechnology to improve yields in chickpeas and moong. This was an additional part that they demonstrated to Prime Minister," he added.

Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Brisbane to attend the G-20 Summit, met European Union (EU) President Herman Van Rompuy, along with the Prime Ministers of the UK and Japan.

After attending the G-20 Summit in Brisbane, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to Sydney, where he will attend a community reception and address the Indian Diaspora.

The Prime Minister will then travel to Canberra and address the special joint sitting of the Australian Parliament on November 18. He will also address a community event in Melbourne before travelling to Fiji.

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Georgian Agriculture Ministry interested in cooperation with Belarus

The Agriculture Ministry of Georgia is interested in cooperating with the Belarusian colleagues, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Georgia Gocha Tsopurashvili said at the opening ceremony of the 20th international fair Prodexpo 2014 in Minsk on 11 November, BelTA has learned.

The deputy minister said that over the last 20 years the cooperation between the ministries of agriculture of the two states has been almost zero. Meanwhile, agriculture is one of the main economic sectors both in Belarus and Georgia. “I want Georgia to develop a different approach to the cooperation with Belarus. We should start thinking about the projects that we can implement,” Gocha Tsopurashvili said. He believes that pig breeding, fish farming, and potato production are promising cooperation areas.

“Georgia is a county open for business. There are many areas that we can discuss with Belarus and cooperate in,” Gocha Tsopurashvili noted.

The 20th international fair Prodexpo 2014 opened in Minsk on 11 November. The event showcases baking, confectionery, dairy products, meat and meat products, sausages, alcohol and soft drinks, cereal products, pasta, spices, foods, children's and dietary meals, tea, coffee. It also demonstrates manufacturing and commercial equipment for the food industry, refrigerating and freezer equipment, uniforms and much more.

The exhibition has been organized by the BelExpo national exhibition center with the assistance of the Trade Ministry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus, and Belgospishcheprom Concern.

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Agriculture industry must kick dangerous antibiotic habit

As the saying goes, bad habits are incredibly hard to break. Usually an unpleasant revelation is needed to wake people up to the need for change. In health care, where antibiotics have been improperly seen as the first line of defence against infectious disease rather than the last resort, that moment came in 2011 when researchers discovered a strain of gonorrhea capable of resisting all known recommended antibiotics. Public health officials had no choice but to accept the error of their ways and change strategy. Today, in order to save antimicrobials for the future, they have beenrelegated to be the last resort. And now, it seems, it’s agriculture’s turn.

For decades, the use of antibiotics for purposes other than prevention, control and treatment of animal-based infections has raised concerns over the development of antimicrobial-resistant strains that could end up in the human population. However, there had been little to no evidence to suggest this actually happens. But in the past few months that changed, thanks to a bacterium known as Staphylococcus aureus Clonal Complex 398 (CC398).

The bacterium was first identified a decade ago in both pigs and pig farmers, and over the years was associated with clinical infection in humans working on farms. But, while this back-and-forth contamination and spread was to be expected, there was little indication CC398 would pose a concern in any other environment.

In 2009, that theory was quashed as the bacterium was found in individuals residing in the non-farming community of Manhattan. By 2010,surveillance suggested the bacterium could be found in the general human population. Although disconcerting, the overall risk to health care where it could do the most damage, was considered minimal at best.

That, too, has now changed. In September of this year, a British team of researchers explored the history of CC398 at the genetic level. After looking at dozens of isolates from both human and livestock origin, they found two significant outcomes. The first was the presence of the bacterium not only in the blood of individuals in hospitals but also in the environment. The second was the realization all the isolates had a common livestock origin.

The discovery may not be surprising to those pushing for an end to antibiotic use in agriculture. In a world where zoonotic transmission of infections make up some 60 per cent of all human infections, the chance for spread of resistant microorganisms from animals to humans would be expected. But for the industry as well as the regulators, this may be seen as the wake-up call needed to turn away from widespread antibiotic use.

In Canada, where CC398 has been found but not yet in humans, the move to restrict the use of antimicrobials in agriculture is well on its way. In April of this year, Health Canada sent out a notice revealing its intent to tighten regulations. Based on the document, the most medically important antimicrobials will be restricted for use only to prevent, control and treat infections. Moreover, the use of these drugs will be done with the oversight of a veterinarian.

The regulations are planned to go into effect by 2017 – which may appear to be a long time from now but, in the context of the needs of agricultural producers, is relatively short. In order to comply with the regulations, producers have to find novel ways to maintain animal health and economic sustainability while losing one of their greatest chemical helpers. The process will not be simple and will require a combination of efforts. From an animal-health perspective, this will mean exploring alternatives to antibiotics to improve immune function as well as various options to reduce stress levels.

In the human arena, education initiatives need to be implemented to help the industry acclimatize to the fact they will not have their go-to option for much longer. The stakeholders need to be made aware a balance is needed between profits and the well-being of the Canadian public. But most important, those who wish to continue using antibiotics need to realize we are approaching – if not already in – the postantibiotic era; without prudence in use, these once-heralded weapons against disease are destined for extinction.

The CC398 findings offer a clear reminder of the problems faced without prudence and/or abstinence in antibiotic use in agriculture. But will they be enough?

Based on history, the answer may not be positive. Come 2017, there may be a relaxation of the regulations and possibly even an extension.

But there is a way the public can help: Support antibiotic prudence and/or abstinence wherever possible. A number of farmers, producers and even fast-food restaurants have already chosen to provide food from animals raised either without medically important antibiotics or any

whatsoever. These early adopters have provided a publicly available opportunity to speak out on the issue using not words but our wallets. Each purchase made to support reduction of antibiotic use in agriculture can help make a difference by promoting change in both policy and practice.

Let’s face it: In Canada, money talks. By voicing your economic choice, industry and government will hear you loud and clear. With any luck, in combination with CC398, the pressure will persuade agriculture to finally kick this dangerous habit.

Health Advisor contributors share their knowledge in fields ranging from fitness to psychology, pediatrics to aging. Jason Tetro is a Toronto-based microbiologist with over 25 years experience in research. He is a self-described germs relationship therapist and strives to improve humanity’s bond with the unseen world. He writes for national and international media outlets and is often found on social media where he shares his unique views on microbial health. His science bestseller, The Germ Code is out now. You can follow him on Twitter at @JATetro

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Strategies for the promotion of organic agriculture in developing countries

Written by Azeem Tariq

Organic agriculture provides developing countries a broad variety of economic, cultural, social and environmental benefits. The scientific studies in Asia, Africa and Latin America specify that organic farmers usually have more earning as compare to conventional counterparts. New developments in the organic technologies have the possibilities of sustaining the yield for long period of time, although improving the biodiversity, soil fertility and other ecosystem services. Exceptionally, organic agriculture is well suited to the smallholder farmers because it makes poor farmers less dependent of expensive external inputs and provides them the higher and stable income, which improves the food security. Furthermore, organic agriculture in developing countries keeps alive the farmers traditional practices and crop varieties.  

Less use of chemical substances in organic agriculture prevent the risk of ground and surface water contamination by nutrient leaching for instant, 57% of nitrate leaching lower by organic agriculture compared to the conventional practices. Organic farming also have the potential to reduce the climate change effects, scientific findings have prove that organic farming use 20 to 56 % less energy in per unit dry matter production of crop as compare to conventional agriculture. Furthermore, organic farms can sequester 3 to 8 tons more carbon per hectare that illustrates the potential of organic agriculture to meet the Kyoto target of countries to reduce the CO₂ emission. These findings clearly stated that organic farming favorable trade for sustainable development, poverty reduction and healthy environment in the developing countries.

For successful execution of organic farming in developing countries there is the need of intrusion in the strategies related to; promotion of organic research; development of systems of standard; provide support for development of local, regional, national and international market for organic products; the dependence and sustainable use of natural resources; enhance the knowledge and skills of poor farmers through education and training workshops; improvement in value addition by developing post harvest handling technologies, storage and preservation techniques; and participation of the special interest groups such as women, youth and vulnerable. 

Thus, to promote the organic agriculture in developing countries there is need to set policies and incentives for smallholder farmers to keep on farming depending on natural resource utilization and lower the dependence on external inputs. 

Punjab utilised Rs 290 billion of Rs 336 billion agriculture credit in fiscal year 2013

Punjab utilised Rs 290.3 billion agricultural credit of the total allocation of Rs 336.2 billion by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for FY13. The major share of agri credit amounting to Rs 290.3 billion was disbursed in Punjab during 2012-13 against the target of Rs 246 billion and its share in total disbursement stood at 86.3 percent.

In Sindh banks disbursed Rs 36.3 billion or 82.6 percent against the target of Rs 44 billion during the 2012-13, according to an official document made available to Business Recorder. According to the document, the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa received Rs 8.4 billion or 47.3 percent of the target allocation for agricultural lending. Out of the total agri credit allocated by SBP, Balochistan received 6.6 percent; Azad Jammu Kashmir 37.1 percent and Gilgit Baltistan 29.4 percent.

The SBP fixed Rs 315 billion agricultural credit disbursement to banks for the year 2012-13. The target was 10.5 percent higher than the target of Rs 285 billion and 7.2 percent higher than the actual disbursement of Rs 293.8 billion during 2011-12. During the year 2012-13 banks surpassed agri credit disbursement target and disbursed Rs 336.2 billion against the target of Rs 315 billion, which is Rs 21 billion in excess of the target for the fiscal year 2012-13 and 14.4 percent higher than last year''''s disbursement of Rs 293.8 billion.

Five commercial banks collectively disbursed agri loans of Rs 172.8 billion or 112.6 percent of their annual target, higher by 18.0 percent from Rs 146.3 billion disbursed during the corresponding period last year. Under specialised banks category, ZTBL disbursed Rs 67.1 billion or 93.1 percent of its annual target of Rs 72 billion while Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank Limited (PPCBL) disbursed Rs 8.3 billion by achieving 92.3 percent of its target of Rs 9.0 billion during financial year 2012-13.

As many as 14 domestic private banks as a group achieved 103.6 percent of the target. While the group of five microfinance banks surpassed their annual targets of Rs 13.8 billion by disbursing agri loan of Rs 18.7 billion during FY13. Out of total disbursement of Rs 336.2 billion during 2012-13, Rs 199.6 billion or 59 percent were disbursed to farm sector and Rs 136.6 billion or 40.6 percent to non-farm sector. However, during corresponding period last year, a total of Rs 293.8 billion was disbursed of which Rs 196.2 billion or 66.8 percent was disbursed to farm-sector while non-farm sector received Rs 97.6 billion or 33.2 percent of the total disbursement by banks.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2013

Agriculture helpline to remain closed for four days

Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) announced that the agriculture helpline will remain closed from November 14 to 17, 2013, due to Muharram ul Haraam holidays. However, the helpline will start functioning again from November 18, 2013, from 8:00am to 8:00pm, said a spokesman of the department here on Wednesday.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2013

Locusts Reach Lebanon and Agriculture Ministry Confirms: Environment Doesn't Favor Multiplication

Locust sightings were made across Lebanon on Saturday and the agriculture ministry vowed to combat them to prevent an outbreak.

"Lebanon does not have an environment that is favorable for locust multiplication,” the ministry assured, noting that they arrived in limited numbers.

It elaborated: “The arrival of locust was expected because of the current Pentecostal wind but they will not settle in the country”.

The ministry advised municipalities to refrain from spraying any pesticides as “they are not needed and would damage plants”.

“If the problem worsens, the ministry and the army helicopters will intervene with special pesticides that we have made available”.

Earlier on Saturday, several complaints were made to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3), which contacted the director-general of the ministry, Louis Lahoud, who said the ministry had the available means to combat them in case of an outbreak.

The National News Agency quoted farmers in the northern district of Akkaras as hoping that rain and lower temperatures in the next few days would stand in the way of a potential onslaught.

Although environmentalist Wilson Riz told the radio station that the type of locusts sighted in Lebanon has the tendency to multiply, the chairman of the board of directors of the Agricultural Scientific Research Authority, Michel Efram, played down fears of their spread, saying cold winds and rains in the coming days will drive them away.

Locusts can have a devastating effect on agriculture by quickly stripping crops.

Locusts are known to move with the wind, and the swarm was swept eastwards from Egypt to Israel and then to Lebanon.

Reports about a swarm of locusts in the northern city of Tripoli were not true, the National News Agency said.

Similar sightings were made in Dbayeh, Zouk and Beit al-Shaar, north of Beirut.

NNA said locusts were also found in the area of al-Qasmiyeh, north of the southern city of Tyre that lies near the border with Israel.

Original Article Here

Haiti - Agriculture : $358.000 for the irrigation of the plain of Gonaïves

The Embassy of Japan and representatives of three organizations departments of Artibonite and of Centre : the "Fédération des Planteurs Irrigants de la Plaine de Gonaïves" (FEPIPGO), the "Association des irrigants de la Zone 4" (AIZ4), and the Technical School of Agriculture of Sainte-Thérèse de Papaye, have signed this week three grant agreements totaling just over $358.000.

This assistance from Japan, fall within the framework of the "Assistance in the form of donations to local microprojects" (APL) and will allow : the rehabilitation of the irrigation system Bongris (Gonaïves) [$123,126] ; the reconstruction of the water catchment of Sainte-Cécile (Gonaïves) [$122.973] and the installation of an irrigation system on the farm of the Technical School of Agriculture of Sainte-Thérèse de Papaye (Hinche) [$112,125]

These 3 projects, once completed, will allow the irrigation of 603 hectares of agricultural land in the plain of Gonaïves.

Kenji Kuratomi, Chargé d'affaires ai of the Embassy of Japan, invited the beneficiaries to ensure the proper management of these funds, and expressed hope that the structures rehabilitated and installed, are maintained regularly.

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Agriculture backbone of Pakistan’s economy: PM

Agriculture is the backbone of national economy and the government has taken a series of measures to promote the agriculture sector in the country said Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Monday. At a meeting with President Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) Ehsan Ul Haq and Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf he said pro-agriculture policies of his government have yielded positive results and today Pakistan was exporting wheat. He said the provision of tractors to farmers on subsidised prices and increasing the support prices of the agricultural commodities and the recent approval by the Cabinet for flat electricity rates for tube-wells have improved the life and standard of poor farmers. The ZTBL president briefed the Prime Minister on issues pertaining to the bank. app

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Photo exhibition on agriculture kicks off

A three-day photo exhibition on Agriculture, organized by the Lahore Photo Journalists Association in collaboration with the National Fertilizers Corporation (NFC), started at Alhamra Art Gallery in the city on Friday.
NFC Chairman Rizwan Mumtaz Ali inaugurated the exhibition and took a round with Photo Journalists Association President Iqbal Chaudhry, Islamia Collegefor Women Cooper Road principal, large number of students and photo journalists.
NFC chairman, while talking to media, appreciated the efforts of the Photo Journalists Association for organizing the exhibition on Agriculture. He said every photo on display in the exhibition spoke its own language. He said after successfully holding the photo exhibition in Lahore, he would ask the organizers to arrange similar photo exhibitions on Agriculture in South Punjab as well as in entire Pakistan. He said he was journalist realized the difficulties the journalists were facing in performing their professional duties.

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Agriculture has slipped from D.C.'s radar screen

Trying to sell Ram trucks, Chrysler made a splash in the Super Bowl this month with a two-minute television spot celebrating the American farmer — a montage of handsome still photos and a vintage Paul Harvey speech all ending with the pitch: “For the farmer in all of us.”

Nine days later, the picture was very different as President Barack Obama skipped over farmers entirely in his State of the Union address, never mentioning the yearlong farm bill stalemate in Congress nor even including “agriculture” among the thousands of words spoken that night.

“It’s obviously not on their radar screen,” said Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. “The president and his people I don’t think even get it.”

The White House declined to speak on the record, referring questions to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. A spokesperson for the secretary told POLITICO that he remains convinced Obama truly wants a farm bill notwithstanding his silence. Ag trade groups smoothed over the slight by focusing on the president’s remarks regarding potential markets in Europe.

But the juxtaposition of the Super Bowl ad and State of the Union silence reflects a real disconnect in American politics over farm policy. And one that goes well beyond the president.

Chrysler’s marketers made a business decision to invest millions of dollars to identify with farmers, just as the automaker also aired a second two-minute spot for Jeep — this time celebrating U.S. troops coming home from wars overseas.

“We have used the largest television viewing audience to highlight the pride, the resilience and the determination that form an integral part of the American character,” said Sergio Marchionne, CEO for both Chrysler Group LLC and its principal owner, Fiat S.p.A. An accompanying news release speaks of the troops and farmers as “two groups whose work ethic, dedication and service have sustained the very fabric of this nation.”

Contrast that with Washington where in the middle of the worst drought in a generation, no farm bill was even brought to the floor of the House — an unprecedented delay for which Republicans paid little at the ballot box. Indeed, the year ended with Obama washing his hands of the whole matter and allowing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to pen a nine-month extension that infuriated many dairy farmers and left the two Ag committees out in the cold.

What is it that Chrysler sees that Washington doesn’t? Are these just modern Mad Men selling pickups to suburban men with farm fantasies?

Or is something bigger happening here in power politics? And is there a lesson that farmers themselves must learn from if they are to better market their importance to American consumers — and voters?

“It was a prideful moment out here in Ag country,” said Keith Alverson, a 32-year-old farmer in Lake County, S.D. “But we’re a small percentage of the population, and it’s clear we’re not connecting the way we used to. We have to find new ways.”

“No one is thinking about the promotion of agriculture in a big and bold way,” said one Republican aide who tracks farm issues. “There are numerous newsletters, coalitions, websites but they’re all serving the same audience. They’re essentially all singing to the choir, but no one is bringing any new folks to the church service.”

Politics is certainly part of it.

When Iowa was in play in the presidential election, Obama talked a good game on the farm bill last summer. But more than past administrations, this White House has taken a remarkably hands-off approach to farm issues — the chief exception being the first lady’s vegetable garden.

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Education sector gets the most after agriculture

Jagadish Shettar allocates Rs. 18,666 crore

The highest allocation in this Budget, after agriculture, goes to the Education Department — Rs. 18,666 crore of which Rs. 15,599 crore is for primary and secondary educationand Rs. 3,067 crore for higher education.

Incentives promised for students have been upgraded. Compared to the computers promised for three SSLC toppers from government high schools (in each block) in the last budget, Akash tablets will be given to students scoring 60 per cent and above marks in the first year of engineering and science courses in government colleges. Cash incentives of Rs. 93.94 crore have been promised for 1.47 lakh Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes students scoring 60 per cent and above marks.

Emphasis has been laid on providing Internet connectivity in government high schools and pre-university colleges. A sum of Rs. 22 crore has been set aside for establishing KSWAN (Karnataka State Wide Area Network) connectivity and broadband connectivity in all government and polytechnic colleges over the next three years.

Despite the allocation being high, there is nothing mentioned specifically on the Right to Education Act. “There is nothing about the effective implementation of RTE Act in the forthcoming academic (2013-14) year. Moreover, many heads listed in the current budget also receive funds from the Union government as part of financial sharing under RTE Act,” said Niranjan Aradhya from the National Law School of India University. The recently divided Bangalore University also finds a mention in the budget, under which there is a proposal to start 10 first grade colleges. A sum of Rs. 10 crore each has been allotted for the development of Rani Chennamma University and the Women’s University in Bijapur.

A sum of Rs. 1,266 crore has been allotted to the Medical Education Department. Proposals have been made to increase seat intake for MBBS from 150 to 250 in VIMS, Bellary, KIMS, Hubli and MMC, Mysore.

In the new medical colleges in Hassan, Mandya, Bidar, Shimoga, Raichur and Belgaum, intake will be increased from 100 to 150. Proposals have been made to upgrade the Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and KIMS, Hubli. Funds worth Rs. 300 crore have been promised for basic facilities in 4,000 hostels of the Social Welfare, Backward Classes and Minority departments.

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Agriculture Canada launches review of XL Foods beef recall

OTTAWA -- The federal government has launched a review of the E. coli outbreak last fall that sickened 18 people and led to the largest beef recall in Canadian history.

The review is to focus on what contributed to the outbreak of the potentially deadly bacteria at the XL Foods Inc. plant in Brooks, Alta.

It will also look at how well the Canadian Food Inspection Agency performed, including why tainted meat was distributed to retailers and sold to consumers.

Agriculture Canada said the review will be conducted by an independent panel of experts who are to hand in a report with recommendations to improve food safety.

"We take the safety of Canada's food supply very seriously and we remain committed to the continuous improvement of Canada's strong food safety systems," Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a news release Friday evening.

At the time of the E. coli outbreak the XL Foods plant was the largest Canadian-owned beef slaughter facility in the country.

It is now owned and operated by JBS Food Canada, a subsidiary of JBS South America.

The federal government said the review panel includes recognized scientific, public health and meat industry experts.

They include Ronald Lewis, former chief veterinary officer for British Columbia; Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief public health officer for the Northwest Territories; and Ronald Usborne, a former executive with Caravelle Foods.

The review is to look at the design, implementation and oversight of food safety controls at the plant, including CFIA inspection policies, and how well testing information was shared by the company, inspectors and U.S. regulators.

The panel is to review the effectiveness of E. coli prevention protocols, including the ability to detect problems, recall beef products and how well the agency conducted followup investigations.

Federal documents have shown that CFIA inspectors issues six warnings to XL Foods about conditions in the plant between January 2012 and when the plant was temporarily shut down in September.

Some of the problems noted included improper sanitization of equipment, condensation dripping onto beef carcasses and containers overflowing with unsanitary water.

The agency said all of the problems cited were dealt with before the first cases of E. coli were found in beef produced at the plant.

The recall involved millions of tonnes of beef packaged in more than 2,000 different products across Canada and in many U.S. states.

The CFIA restored the plant's operating licence on Oct. 23 and it was allowed to resume exports of beef products to the United States in December.

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Narendra Modi is anti-poor & anti-women, can't spell agriculture: Congress

NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of EU Ambassadors engaging with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Congress today dubbed him as "anti-poor and anti-women" and one "who does not know how to spell agriculture". 

The party also sought to project BJP as a divided house saying as to why it should waste time to know who is BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate when there were seven contenders in the opposition party. 

At the AICC briefing, party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary sidestepped questions on the "clean chit" given to Modi by the European Union and instead asked whether the controversial Chief Minister has got visa from the US. 

"He has no respect for his own wife or someone else's wife.... He is anti-poor, anti-rural development, anti-women. He lives in urban fantasies... and he does not know how to spell agriculture," Chowdhary said. 

Asked about the reported statements of JD-U chief Sharad Yadav implying that the corporates were backing Modi, Chowdhary said that the JD-U leader was intelligent and was not given to making accusation without substantive evidence. 

The Congress attack came at a time when there has been growing chorus in sections of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar to make Modi as PM candidate of the party and reports of envoys of EU countries having a lunch with Modi as part of efforts to engage with him. 

Yesterday, the AICC had sought to project Modi as a state leader and dismissed suggestion that he had hijacked Rahul Gandhi's agenda of connecting with youth. 

Two days back, the Gujarat Chief Minister used a college platform here to project himself nationally saying his focus was on development politics and not that of vote-bank, which he said has "ruined" the nation.

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Agriculture, energy fuel strong growth in Great Plains cities

While city governments in certain regions of the country muddle through the fallout from the Great Recession, many cities in the Great Plains are pondering what to buy instead of what to cut.

Buoyed by strong agriculture and energy sectors, combined with unemployment well below the national average, cities in the Great Plains region from the Dakotas to Texas are dreaming big on ambitious projects that leaders hope will add to quality of life and help sustain population growth.

In contrast, cities in other regions continue to struggle with high unemployment, housing prices that haven't recovered and depressed tax bases, says Gregory Minchak, spokesman for the National League of Cities.

They've had to make layoffs and cuts to public safety, social services and other areas.

"There are definitely differences regionally," Minchak said. "The Great Plains areas are doing really well."

So well, says Joel Kotkin, a fellow at Chapman University, that smaller and midsize cities in the Great Plains are luring young families from "megacities" on the coasts because commutes are shorter and the cost of living is lower.

The appeal for young families, he says, is: "I can move to this place and I can live much better than I can live in those places."

Kotkin wrote a 118-page report entitled "The Rise of the Great Plains: Regional Opportunity in the 21st Century."

After decades of outward migration from the Great Plains, many areas in the region are now growing, thanks to energy, agriculture, manufacturing and the Internet. The small and midsize cities seeing that growth have money to spend.

"I tend to think historically: First, you have to have the money, then you have the culture," Kotkin said. "That goes back all the way to Athens. This is what cities do when they have money."

In Sioux Falls, S.D., where the population has grown from about 125,000 to 160,000 since 2000, construction started late last year on a $115 million arena to replace a 50-year-old facility.

Mayor Mike Huether says the project was possible because of a diversified economy, confidence in residents and a frugal political culture that prioritizes its needs.

"That's really a big deal here," he said. "It seems like there are parts of the country that don't get that."

The city of Lincoln, Neb., and the University of Nebraska have partnered to refurbish the city's Haymarket district.

The project's centerpiece is a $168 million arena that will serve as the home arena for the University of Nebraska's men's and women's basketball teams.

Neighboring Omaha opened a $128 million baseball stadium, home to the College World Series, two years ago.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is building a downtown convention center complex and refurbishing an existing arena with $32 million in city funds, combined with $50 million in federal and state grants.

The city is also spending $41.4 million to renovate a hotel at the site, and $15 million for parking.

"It's a pretty big bite for our community," Mayor Ron Corbett said. "To say we don't have our neck out on this wouldn't be true. We do."

But, Corbett adds, the city's agriculture-based economy, which processes 1.1 million bushels of corn a day and includes a Quaker Oats processing facility, is on a sound footing.

In Bismarck, N.D., where the city commission recently approved the specifications and design plans to expand the city's exhibit hall — a potential $25 million project — agriculture is one bright spot in the city's economy.

The city also has manufacturing, health care and energy to lean on. Unemployment is below 3%.

"All of those are factors in our success story," said Gloria David, Bismarck's public information officer.

Energy manufacturing is driving redevelopment efforts in downtown Tulsa, where museums have been expanded and new parks have opened, said Lloyd Wright, the spokesman for Mayor Dewey Bartlett.

The city has added 14,000 jobs since 2009, and its efforts to redevelop downtown have resulted in $709 million in building projects.

"You can go down a residential street, go to the end of the street, and there's a little manufacturing outfit making widgets that manufacturers in Saudi Arabia can't do without," Wright said.

Ellis also reports for the Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D.

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Pryor to chair Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2013 - Senator Mark Pryor, D-Ark., announced Wednesday that he will chair the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

As Chairman, Pryor will be responsible for funding federal programs that benefit farmers, producers, and rural communities. In addition to funding the USDA, Pryor’s subcommittee will also be responsible for funding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Whether it’s rice, cotton, or poultry, there’s no question that agriculture is critical to our state’s economy,” Pryor said. “As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations, I’ll fight to ensure that Arkansas receives its fair share of federal dollars so we can keep our agricultural sector strong.”

According to the University of Arkansas, agriculture is Arkansas’s largest industry, contributing an estimated $17 billion to the state’s economy each year. The agricultural sector also supports over 275,000 jobs, $10.7 billion in labor income, and more than $3 billion in exports annually.

“We are pleased to see Senator Pryor receive this appointment, and given agriculture's significance to the Arkansas economy, we feel this is very appropriate,” said Randy Veach, President of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. “Having Senator Pryor to lead the agricultural appropriation subcommittee will further strengthen Arkansas agriculture, and we congratulate him on this important appointment.”

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Wash. Department of Agriculture offers grants

By Tri-City Herald Staff

KENNEWICK, WA — The Washington State Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant.

Approximately $3 million in federal money will be available to enhance the state’s fruit, vegetable and nursery industry. Requests can be made for grants between $25,000 and $250,000 to fund projects on pest and disease control, food safety, international trade, sustainability and more.

Pre-proposals are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 25 at specialtycrop@agr.wa.gov. Invitations for full proposals will be sent in early April.

For more information and forms, visit agr.wa.gov/Grants/SCBGP.

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