UAF moot on pesticide management organised

Excessive use of pesticides is not only increasing the resistance among insects but also affects human health because pesticide residues contamination reaching at alarming level. The country imports 12,000 metric tons of active ingredients of pesticides in a year.

It was revealed by the speakers at an International Conference on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Fruits and Vegetable arranged by the Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The session was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while Dr Oscar E Liburd from the University of Florida, USA was guest of honour

Professor Dr Oscar E Liburd said that it was need of the hour to adopt and promote the IPM techniques. Pesticides can be used as the last resort, he added. He said that over reliance on pesticides can have negative consequences including worker's safety issue, contamination of ground water, and negative effect on beneficial arthropods including honey bee and others.

He was of the view that the world population will touch to 9 billion by 2050. Keeping the situation in view, it is must to ensure the food security and safety to feed the growing population. Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan stressed the need to adopt the Integrated Pest Management in order to lowering down the impact of the pesticides. He said that IPM is an approach of pest management which considers the whole agro-ecosystem.

He said that Pakistan is cultivating fruits and vegetables on 4 percent of land. He said fruits production was standing at 0.70 million tonnes whereas vegetables share is 0.72 million tones. He said Pakistan's share in global market of fruits and vegetables is fetching $625 million. He said with the use of IPM, not only the production can be increased manifold but also a move to minimise hazardous affect on human health.

Plant Breeding and Genetic Chairman Professor Dr Abdus Salam Khan called for stepping up efforts to ensure the food security. He said that residues from the misuse of pesticides are major concern in many countries including Pakistan. He said that 28.5percent of fruits and 37percent of vegetables exceeded the maximum residual limits (MRL). Department of Entomology Chairman Professor Dr Jalal Arif said that it is a matter of grave concerns that Pakistan's annual losses to fruits and vegetables are standing as many as $200 million because of the attack of fruit flies. Almost 1/3rd of the total harvest is destroyed by the potential pest. He said that the use of pesticide in Pakistan has increased manifold in the last 20 years. The trend must be curtailed and replace with IPM.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2013

Toxic Effects of Excessive and Unbalanced Application of Pesticides on Plant Growth and Development

Different control practices including pesticides must be adopted in proper and balance order to achieve the optimal plant growth. If unbalance pesticides are used, insect pests are resistant afterward and thus reduced thecrop growth and yield. Ina research trial in California, pesticides affectedthe fertility, birth rate, reproductive function and development and normal growth plants. Many pesticides are known to defect endocrine functions. Methylparathion effect the stomatal conductance and photosynthesis of Lettuce.Excessive and unbalance use of pesticides cancause structural change in chromosome and chromotids also create sterility and lethality. Over-spraying of pesticides may create mutation in somatic and generative cells.Excessive and unbalanceuse of pesticides can affect any part of a plant like stems, blossoms, foliage and fruit. This reaction may vary with the plant age, with the plant species and with the weather at the time of exposure.Excessive pesticides reduced the nitrogen fixation and thus results in reduced the crop yields. Excessive spraying affects photosynthesis by disrupting gas exchange or resulting damage to plants. New growth of the plant also stops in extreme conditions.

Original Article Here

New Study: Common Pesticides Kill Frogs on Contact

To me, there are few more comforting sights on a farm or in a garden than a frog hopping about amid the crops. Frogs and other amphibians don't just look and sound cool—they also feast upon the insects that feast upon the plants we eat. These bug-scarfing creatures are a free source of what is known as biological pest control.

But modern industrial agriculture doesn't have much use for them. It leans on chemistry, not biology, to control pests—and in doing so, it's probably contributing to the catastrophic global decline of amphibians, a natural ally to farmers for millennia. The irony is stark: in industrial agriculture's zeal to wipe out pests, it is helping to wipe out those pests' natural predators. The latest evidence: a new study showing that exposure to common pesticides at levels used in farm fields can kill frogs rapidly.

For a decade or so, it has become increasingly clear that widely used herbicides like Syngenta's atrazine, in tiny amounts found in streams after running off from farm fields, do crazy things to the sexual development of frogs. Such "endocrine-disrupting chemicals" have what scientists call chronic, not acute, effects on amphibians—that is, they don't kill them outright, but they alter them profoundly—even change their gender. (See Dashka Slater'sprofile of a scientist who documented atrazine's impact on frogs, earning a backlash from Syngenta.) Monsanto's blockbuster herbicide Roundup also exerts subtle but important harm on amphibians, research suggests.

Again, this research focuses on what happens to amphibians when they encounter agricultural poisons at low levels in ponds and streams. But what happens when they are actually sprayed with chemicals in farm fields? That's where the new study, a recent peer-reviewed paper by a group of German and Swiss scientists, comes in. They write that the phenomenon of frogs experiencing direct contact with pesticides has been little-studied, even though the scenario is quite common on the ground—farmland has become one of the "the largest terrestrial biomes on Earth, occupying more than 40% of the land surface," and thus represents an "essential habitat for amphibians."

In other words, frogs and related species have little choice but to hang out on farms. What happens when they're in the wrong place at the wrong time—i.e., on a field when the crop duster shows up?

For one of the pesticides in the study, all of the frogs died within an hour of exposure.

To find out, the researchers subjected groups of frogs to varying levels of a variety of pesticides (a category that includes insect killers, weed killers, and fungus killers) commonly used in Germany and Switzerland. The exposure came at three different levels: one-tenth of the concentration recommended by the manufacturer, at the recommended level, and ten times the recommended level (because farmers don't always follow the instructions on the bag). And rather than use only the "active" ingredient of each pesticide, as many researchers do, this team used the actual formulation available to farmers. That's because pesticides are a mixture of active poisons and chemical solvents designed to ensure that the poisons work as intended. And these solvents, too, can have toxic properties.

The results are startling. In the chart below, the red lines represent the percentage of frogs that died within seven days of exposure at the recommended rate. As you can see, for two different fungicides—one called Headline and and another called Captan Omya—frogs had 100 percent mortality rate at the recommended concentration level. For Headline, we learn elsewhere in the study, all of the frogs died within an hour of exposure. All seven pesticides in the study delivered mortality rates at the recommended level well above those of the frogs in the control group, which were sprayed with water.

From "Terrestrial pesticide exposure of amphibians: An underestimated cause of global decline?," published inScience Reports.

Note the two fungicides at the left end of the chart, Headline and BASF 500 18 F, both by made by the German chemical giant BASF. The two fungicides share the same active ingredient, a chemical called pyraclostrobin; but they had widely different mortality rates at the recommended concentration level, 100 percent vs. a bit more than 20 percent. What gives? Turns out that the deadlier one, Headline, is a mixture of pyraclostrobin and a petroleum-based solvent called naphtha, with naphtha making up 67 percent of the mix. The less-deadly one contains less than 25 percent naphtha. This result led the researchers to conjecture that that "other chemicals in the formulation may play a major role in the effect size of pesticides." It should be noted that solvents and other inactive ingredients used in Monsanto's Roundup herbicide (not included in this study) have also shown toxic effects in published research.

BASF's pyraclostrobin-based herbicides are widely used in the US. BASF Crop Protection USA promotes Headline as a kind of wonder-substance. On its web site, the company declares:

Not only does Headline provide excellent disease control, it actually promotes improved Plant Health. The unique chemistry of its active ingredient, F500® [pyraclostrobin], enables more efficient nitrogen uptake, more robust plant growth and better stress tolerance to heat, hail, wind and drought. Ultimately, this means healthier plants and higher yield potential.

BASF pushes Headline particularly hard on corn growers. For other crops, including berries, carrots, grapes, onions, stone fruit, strawberries, tree nuts, hops, and pistachios, the company promotes a pyraclostrobin-based fungicide called Pristine. It's not clear how much naphtha Pristine contains—according to its label, it contains 62 percent unnamed "other ingredients." (Pristine wasn't included in this study.)

I asked BASF to respond to the study, and in an emailed statement, the company responded via email that it "takes these findings very seriously and will study them further." But it also disputed their significance:

The study design neither reflects conditions of realistic agricultural use in practice nor the natural behavior of the animals. Amphibians are not exposed to such pesticide concentrations in practice and under normal agricultural conditions. For instance, Pyraclostrobin is not applied to the bare ground but to the crop, and the plants in the field will certainly reduce the exposure to the amphibians. In addition, amphibians tend to hide (under leaves or in the soil) during times of application. Accordingly, BASF considers the risk to amphibians resulting from Pyraclostrobin to be low in practice and under normal agricultural conditions.

But the paper addresses that criticism. "Although interception by crops may reduce exposure, repeated pesticide applications in a growing season might result in multiple contacts with a variety of products," the study states. If all it takes to kill a frog is a single spray, you're using a problematic pesticide, full stop.

Original Article Here

Pesticide

Minister of Agriculture asks to tighten food security control

On December 24, over a month before the Lunar New Year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development met to discuss the measures to control the quality of agricultural products and foodstuffs. 

According to the Department of Plant Protection, it collected 400 samples of fresh fruits and vegetables for testing. Sixteen samples were detected with pesticide residue exceeding the permitted level, accounting for 4 percent. The test of nearly 700 samples of pesticides revealed 11 imported samples of poor quality.

The Department’s chief Nguyen Xuan Hong said the percentage of vegetable contaminated with pesticide residue in Vietnam is relatively high compared with other countries. "From now to the lunar New Year, the Department will collect many more samples from wholesale markets for testing, will increase checks and tighten quarantine," Hong said.

According to the Department of Animal Husbandry, the widespread use of banned substances in animal husbandry, aquaculture production makes consumers confused. 

Currently, this situation has been closely tightened but the time before the lunar New Year is the sensitive time that the use of banned substances in animal husbandry, aquaculture production may increase. In addition, this is also the time that livestock epidemics can break out due to weather changes and the increase of slaughter and transport of livestock and poultry. 

Compiled by Le Ha

Original article Here

Agriculture input prices witness 80 to 100 percent increase

The prices of different agricultural inputs have registered an increase of 70 percent to 100 percent during the last five years as compared to 40 percent to 45 percent increase in agriculture produce prices, said Hasan Ali Chaniho, director of Farmers Associates Pakistan and former agriculture minister of Sindh, while speaking at a function arranged by the Agricultural Journalists Association at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“There is an urgent need to bring down agriculture input costs as high prices discourage the use of fertilisers, pesticides and quality seeds in required quantities, thus negatively impacting per acre yield,” he said.

“Bringing down prices would help increase per acre yield, which would lead towards strengthening the national economy and enhancing GDP, increasing growers’ incomes and poverty eradication from the rural areas.”

Chaniho discussed the various factors impeding agricultural growth in Pakistan, including the mushroom growth of seed companies leading to provision of impure and poor quality of different seeds. Farmers could get the same crop’s seed from Rs100 per kg to 1,000 per kg, while there is no guarantee of quality. He called for regulating the seed sector.

“BT cotton has replaced rice and sugarcane in Thatta, Badin and Tando Muhammad Adam. However, issues of various pest attacks, including armyworm last year and pink bollworm this year are still being faced,” he said.

“Such attacks pose a grave threat to crops that could be avoided by ensuring the availability of certified BT cotton seed.” The most important input in the agriculture sector was water, he added, but in Pakistan the provinces situated at the tail of the water network were raising the issue of shortage, while those in the upper riparian zone were complaining about water wastage into the sea, he added. However, he said, there was a dire need for judicious use of water. A significant amount of water could be saved from canals to farm gates and in fields. About 50 percent of river water actually reaches the farm gate through the network of canals and we lose 10 percent to 15 percent water in the field due to seepage and obsolete irrigation practices, he observed.

Original Article Here

Illegal pesticides threaten agriculture and fragile ecosystem

The spread of counterfeit pesticides and fertilizers that contain dangerous toxic substances is one of the biggest dangers threatening agriculture in the country, and its delicate ecosystem.

While the Agriculture Committee in the Shura Council, the lower house of Parliament, has warned of weak government supervision of the pesticides market and the expansion of its illegal outlets, banned pesticides are still used in large quantities.

“The government has no control or supervision on the import or distribution of pesticides and fertilizers. We are obliged to deal with small pesticide and fertilizer outlets because the Agriculture Ministry doesn’t help us by any means,” says Reda Nassif, a farmer from Monufiya Governorate.

Nassif says many factories produce counterfeit pesticides and fertilizers, carrying the name of famous companies with the same packaging design, to deceive naive farmers. But after analyzing their components, farmers realized they contain dangerous toxic chemicals that paralyze plants and increase the salinity of the soil.

“The owners of these factories make huge profits because they use very cheap materials to produce these pesticides and fertilizers, and then sell them at expensive prices, and that’s how the business goes,” Nassif says. “All types of potassium fertilizers that exist in the Egyptian market, for example, are fake.”

Latest Agriculture Ministry reports put the total amount of pesticides imported last year at about 7 billion tons, with a total value of LE1 billion. This consumption exceeds that of the rest of the region.

Nassif explains that major farming companies import pesticides and fertilizers in large quantities, then distribute them to small shops spread throughout villages nationwide.

No restrictions are imposed on these imports, and because Egyptian farmers tend to be more attracted to imported products than local ones, they flock to buy any new product that enters the market, even without knowing its source.

“We heard recently about some Israeli pesticides that entered the Egyptian market, but because, in general, farmers fail to differentiate between pesticides coming from different sources and countries, they could never discover whether they used them without being aware [of it],” Nassif says.

He says he thinks it’s a foreign scheme aiming to spread disease or destroy crops and plants to force Egyptians to import their crops, “because who doesn’t own his food doesn’t own his dignity,” Nassif bitterly adds.

Osama al-Tayeb, microbiology and immunology professor at 6th of October University, sees another dangerous aspect of the situation. Farmers started to replace the original, natural pest resistors with more advanced and modified products that are hazardous to crops and human health.

Tayeb says over the past decades, farmers have used a natural poison — Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt — produced by bacteria to get rid of pests that attack their crops. It used to be produced by the National Research Centre and was distributed by Kafr El Zayat Pesticides and Chemicals Company, at very cheap prices.

This natural pesticide was safe and could decompose in less than a week without leaving any toxic residues in soil or plants. But now, farmers have started to import genetically engineered seeds that can produce toxic materials by themselves in large quantities. These can cause environmental problems and health dangers, because they can change some genes inside the human body and be harmful to health, Tayeb says.

He says that after the temic type of pesticide — which kills worms in soil — proved to be a very toxic substance causing birth defects and cancer, and after its import was banned, farmers started smuggling it in illegally because they had got so used to it.

Although some farmers do not realise they are using genetically engineered products, Tayeb says he thinks the lack of awareness isn’t the only reason behind the distribution of these products. Another is the strong desire to make higher profits. When farmers hear about products that can save their crops, they insist on buying them without asking whether they are legal.

Facing this situation, which some experts call a “pseudo black market” and in which most traders don’t know their products are illegal, the Agricultural Pesticide Committee, under the supervision of the Agriculture Ministry, launched an awareness campaign a few months ago to teach farmers which pesticides and fertilizers to use and which to avoid.

But many experts think these campaigns won’t achieve their goals because the committee doesn’t know how to communicate at the farmers’ levels.

Natasha Arthur, marine biologist and environmental expert, says it’s important for governments to work closely with agricultural organizations to make sure the public is not exposed to high levels of pesticides that result in adverse health effects.

“Pesticides have the capacity to persist in the soil and water for decades, affecting plant life and animal life, which in turn can affect humans and cause health problems like cancers, nerve damage and birth defects,” Arthur says.

Although it rarely rains in Cairo, she says, pesticides can end up in lakes and rivers through the air, wind and birds, poisoning them.

“Communities that rely on rivers for food are at risk of consuming the toxic active and inactive components of pesticides, as the bio-accumulate in big fish,” Arthur says. Bio-accumulation is the accumulation of chemicals in the tissue of organisms.

Fertilizers can also pollute the marine system and cause environmental disasters, particularly in a country like Egypt where farmers don’t have drainage pipes to get rid of extra irrigation water and dump it in lakes and rivers.

This can lead to a toxic bloom. When farmers use fertilizers for crops, or even areas such as golf courses, then rain, wind or the rest of the irrigation water carries fertilizer rich in nitrates and phosphates to the lakes and oceans. This provides an over supply of nutrients for the growth of algae, and the algae grow very quickly — resulting in the death of fish and plant life in lakes.

A similar occurrence happens in the ocean. Plants and animals die because of the quick overgrowth of algae and other plants, preventing sunlight from penetrating lakes and oceans and decreasing oxygen levels.

Corals also die because they need sunlight and clean water to thrive, and because corals provide a habitat for most sea life, fertilizers in the ocean can kill many species along the food chain.

Ahmed Droubi, biologist at Greenpeace — an international environmental protection association that recently started working in Egypt — says there is a monopoly in the pesticide and fertilizer market in Egypt.

“About seven big farming organizations dominate the whole market as they are the only importers who can manipulate prices as they like and create market need whenever they want,” Droubi says. “Therefore, small farmers resort to smuggling illegal pesticides and manufacturing fake fertilizers as they can buy them at cheaper prices.”

Droubi says the association plans to cooperate with government agriculture authorities to impose laws and regulations to protect farmers’ and consumers’ rights. It also plans to find solutions for problems related to pesticide misuse and the use of wastewater for irrigation, as well as other issues, such as corruption.

“We have some agricultural lands that exist a few meters away from the Nile, but irrigation water doesn’t reach them,” Droubi says. “At the same time, fresh water can reach some golf courses and resorts that contain artificial lakes in deserts, and this is obviously unfair.”

While many experts say farmers don’t trust the government and prefer not to buy from its outlets, Nassif says farmers would buy from them.

“We are sure the government will bring us good types of fertilizers and pesticides. That’s why we beg the Agriculture Ministry and farming associations to start distributing pesticides and fertilizers through specific known outlets at reasonable prices, under government supervision,” says Nassif. “We resort to the black market because we have no other alternative.”

Some steps could be taken to overcome the problem, he says, such as setting up strict restrictions on imports and making an office in every village responsible for inspecting shops.

“Unfortunately, the farmers union still exists as an entity but its role has always been marginalized, and poor farmers have no voice. They need someone to speak on their behalf and express their requests and complaints,” Nassif says. “We need to remember that Egypt is an agricultural country in the first place.”

Original Article Here

Ag officials confirm new fruit pest in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed a new fruit pest, the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), in Minnesota. SWD is an invasive pest of Asian origin that was first detected in the continental United States in California in 2008 and has since spread to several western and eastern states.

The first two detections of this pest in Minnesota were made by members of the public who reported the flies to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). First, a homeowner from Hennepin County contacted MDA about flies found in a trap placed near a raspberry patch. Days later, MDA was contacted about an abundance of maggots in wild raspberries picked in Ramsey County. MDA followed up on both reports to confirm the identity of this new pest.

“It is impressive that people noticed such a small pest, realized it could be a new invader, and knew to contact us regarding the finds,” MDA entomologist Bob Koch said. “It goes to show how much people care about protecting our resources.”

SWD looks similar to small fruit flies found on overripe bananas. However, unlike these other flies, which typically feed on overripe or deteriorating fruits, SWD feeds on healthy, intact, ripening fruits. In particular, SWD will feed on thin-skinned, soft fruits such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, plums and cherries. Sometimes the symptoms won’t show until after the fruits are harvested and sometimes not until the fruits are in possession of the consumers. In addition to the damage caused directly by the larvae, the feeding makes the fruits susceptible to infestation by other insects and rot fungi and bacteria. The larvae will then leave the fruits to pupate and later emerge as adults.

The SWD is a small fly, only 2-3 mm long, with yellowish brown coloration and prominent red eyes. Male SWD have dark spots on the wing tips. SWD larvae are white with a cylindrical body that tapers on both ends.

The adult flies are difficult to distinguish from other small flies; however, if you find an abundance of small, white maggots in what were apparently healthy fruits at the time of harvest, contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 1-888-545-6684 (voicemail) or Arrest.the.Pest@state.mn.us.

 Original Article Here

A Growing Problem: Notes from the ‘Superweed’ Summit

Superweeds—the “weeds that man can no longer kill!”—have been in the news for several years. All across the Midwest and Southeast farmers have been photographed and filmed standing in fields surrounded by the giant plants. They bemoan the cost of pesticides and point to industrial rows of crops that don’t have a chance when up against feisty weeds that grow up to three inches a day.

Superweeds have been especially likely to appear alongside genetically engineered (GE) crops, which are engineered to withstand large amounts of pesticide and herbicide use. And these weeds show no sign of going away any time soon.

That’s why scientists and researchers from land-grant universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and representatives from several industry and trade groups met at last week’s summit to strategize about the problem.

A few speakers boasted about the efficiency of modern-day farming and the fact that today’s agriculture requires fewer farmers on more acres. But missing from their analysis was the long list of consequences: from degradation of the environment, to health risks from increased chemical use and, ironically, superweeds themselves.

Those who did address the weeds tended not to see them as a result of that impressive modern agriculture. Take Michael Owen, an agronomist from Iowa State University, for instance. In his talk, he contended that superweeds are neither an herbicide problem nor a GE crop problem, per se, but a behavioral problem. This analysis puts the blame on farmers for overusing herbicides. Yet the resistance situation first arose when biotechnology companies pushed herbicides like glyphosate (or Roundup) on farmers as the silver bullet to weed management without educating them on the ramifications of their ubiquitous use. And the practice of using just one herbicide year after year would not have occurred if it weren’t for the aggressive promotion of the Roundup Ready line of GE crops (engineered to tolerate Roundup).

There was some talk of non-chemical solutions by Michael Walsh from the University of Western Australia, who spoke about that country’s serious problem with a weed that has developed resistance to several herbicides. Australian researchers designed a few different weed seed control methods that destroy the seed reserves, eliminating upwards of 95 percent of the seed before it is able to germinate. But it was made very clear by the U.S. farmers attending the summit that going back to traditional methods, like cultivation, would be tough. There was little mention of organic weed management techniques such as crop rotation or the use of cover crops.

But exhausting chemical tool after chemical tool in an arms race against herbicide resistant weeds is not only not sustainable, it’s not working. And despite the fact that chemical solutions are the cause of cross-resistance and multiple resistance in weeds, the need for more chemical solutions was still at the forefront of the discussion.

Strikingly missing from the conversation that day was any talk of the next round of GE crops now in the pipeline, like Dow’s 2,4-D corn and Monsanto’s dicamba soybean, which have both been designed to be resistant to more than one herbicide at once. A full 13 out of 20 crops in the queue awaiting USDA’s approval have what are called “stacked herbicide resistance traits.”

These crops, once approved, will likely result in the use of many more gallons of herbicides and the evolution of even more powerful superweeds that will be resistant to many different herbicides—making them harder and harder to manage. Formulating new varieties of crops to withstand applications of harsher chemicals may be business as usual for these scientists and the companies they work for, but it’s an approach that ignores the underlying issue.

The final speaker at the summit was Iowa State University President Steven Leath, who said he believed that using a “land-grant approach” involving public-private partnerships will help solve this complex problem. This approach is not surprising coming from Leath; Iowa State is known for its relationships with corporations (especially Monsanto), and its agronomy department received around half of its funding from private-sector donors from 2006 to 2010. Iowa State’s campus is even home to a Monsanto Student Services Wing in the main agriculture building.

The superweed problem is one that should be attacked with preventative strategies based in weed biology and independent, interdisciplinary creativity. But partnering with biotechnology companies will likely only result in biotech solutions.

We have the opportunity to see superweeds as a wake-up call and a strong argument for pulling agriculture off the chemical treadmill to which it is bound. But to do that, public research—free of private sector influence—must be funded in order to give farmers better alternatives and to shift the focus away from the current chemical arms race against weeds.

Originally published on Grist

US wants to control Pakistan agriculture: Mughal

Chairman Agriforum Pakistan Ibrahim Mughal has clamed that the US agrichemical Company Monsanto has planning to get its control over Pakistan’s agriculture for setting up its monopoly.

While talking to media on Friday Ibrahim Mughal said that for the free economy it was necessary that Monsanto should not be allowed in Pakistan.

He said that Monsanto was also working in neighboring India but it has brought no improvement in their agriculture sector then how it can increase our country’s cotton production. He explain that production increase in India has not been usage of BT cotton but other factors like increase in irrigated areas and reforms in agriculture sector have contributed to enhance production. He added that use of BT cotton varieties will not cause increase in production.

Sources said that some high level bureaucrats in Punjab Province were meanvouring for giving US agrichemical Company exclusive right of marketing BT cotton but Punjab government has so far rejected this the plan of US Company which were demand to pay penalty if any other variety is cultivated.

“Punjab farming sector would be completely dependent on multinational US Company Monsanto if its demands were met,” said the sources.

According to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research currently 770 seed companies are operating in Pakistan providing around 25 to30 per cent seeds to the farmers. The total requirement of cotton seeds is 40,000 metric tons and farmers provide 75 to 80 per cent seeds to their fellow farmers.
According to the Cotton commissioner Ministry of Textile Industry Dr Khalid Abdullah BT cotton causes less usage of pesticides and a number of pesticide sprays in Pakistan and even India have not bee reduced after sowing BT cotton varieties,” cotton commissioner Ministry of Textile Industry Dr Khalid Abdullah said.
It is relevant to mention here that The ministry of Food and Agriculture and livestock had signed a Letter of Intent with Monsanto On May 13, 2008 to expand cotton production by using its ‘Bollgard’ variety whereas signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)for introducing ‘Bollgard-II’ technology On April 10, 2010.

Original Article Here

Africa: Biovision President, Hans Herren, Gets to the Roots of Sustainable Agriculture At Rio+20

BY SEYYADA A BURNEY,

Nourishing the Planet is traveling to Rio de Janeiro to emphasize agricultural solutions as key to sustainable development at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. Each day over the next few weeks, we will feature a blog highlighting special events or topics of discussion at the conference.

The world's food and agricultural system is fraught with problems such as toxic pesticide use and poor resource management that jeopardize its ability to support a population of 9 billion in 2050. World Food Prize Laureate and President of the Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development, Hans Herren will address some of the root causes of food insecurity and poverty in two panel discussions on sustainable food and agriculture at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference for Sustainable Development.

On June 17th, 'From Production to Consumption - Towards a Sustainable Food System' will address how achieving food security and nutrition for all requires development and implementation of more sustainable practices at all stages of the food system - production, distribution, and consumption. The event will involve a screening of Jan van den Berg's film, "No Fight No Victory", about inequitable access to food and a recent initiative in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to legalize the right to food.

On 18th June, Herren will bring his expertise in sustainable agriculture in Africa to a discussion highlighting the importance of sustainable soil management. Soils ensure food, water, and energy for current and future generations, but mismanagement and land degradation have led to extensive soil loss in many regions. Soil is also a non-renewable resource and it can take up to 500 years for one inch of topsoil to form, a rate that is far exceeded by the current pace of soil erosion.

'Fertile Soil for our Future: Nourish our People - Nurture our Planet' will draw attention to the crucial role soils play in water management, climate change, agriculture, and resource extraction around the world. It will also spotlight how a focus on soil management in Biovision's BioFarm project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has contributed to a sustainable economic, ecological, and social development in the region.

"The main focus in Rio must be on implementing sustainable farming methods and linking science and policy more closely," demands Herren. "This is the only way for the economy to become truly green as well as socially sustainable."

Seyyada Burney is a research intern with Nourishing the Planet.

Original Article Here

Garden wisdom earned, and shared

Jerry Apps, author of several books on gardening, at The Morton Arboretum… (Nuccio DiNuzzo, Tribune…)

A well-seasoned gardener spills the beans on growing vegetables and, OK, even a few flowers

By Nina Koziol, Special to Tribune Newspapers

When you've been gardening for six decades, you're apt to discover a few things in between all the planting, weeding and watering — like the enchanting sound of bird song on a cool summer morning, a hawk gliding overhead in search of a midday meal, or the scent of freshly turned soil, which Jerry Apps describes as a pungent, powerful smell full of history and promise.

A professor emeritus in the department of agriculture and life sciences at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, storyteller, rural historian and author of dozens of books, his newest book is "Garden Wisdom: Lessons Learned From 60 Years of Gardening" (Wisconsin Historical Society Press), and it covers the joys of growing vegetables.

The book contains hard-earned advice along with insights on how tending a garden can lead to a deeper understanding of nature. The project was a family affair, with recipes supplied by Ruth, his wife of 51 years, and photos taken by son Steve Apps at Roshara, the family farm and garden in northwest Waushara County, Wis., 100 miles north of Madison.

We met up with Apps at a recent lecture and book signing at The Morton Arboretum, to unearth his secrets to successful gardening.

Q: You began gardening during the Depression. How do you keep the fourth generation of Apps interested?

A: Gardening is the easiest way to introduce children to nature and to the soil and to help them understand where food comes from. Kids have a terrible time understanding that carrots come out of the ground. And carrots don't grow all the same size — you don't know what you're going to find when you harvest them. That's the mystery and mystique of gardening.

Q: You grow your vegetables in rows. Have you tried other methods?

A: I have a lot of room so I plant in rows, but there are all kinds of ways to do a garden. Square foot gardening (planting in blocks) is a wonderful idea, as is gardening in raised beds.

Q: Do you have a favorite tool?

A: My hoe. I have three hoes and my favorite is one with a 2-inch wide rectangular blade. Hoeing is an integral part of gardening. (He devotes an entire chapter to the art of hoeing.)

Q: Are you surprised at the resurgence in vegetable gardening?

A: In the '60s, the students on the Madison campus decided to grow gardens as part of the back-to-the-land movement. They had no idea of what a hoe was or how to use it. What they didn't understand was that the vegetables grow but so do the weeds, so it wasn't such a romantic idea, but it's come back as a roaring movement.

Q: What's your favorite vegetable?

A: Potatoes, followed by tomatoes. That's because I grew up eating potatoes three times a day during the Depression: fried, baked and in soup. They're nutritious. I went to a one-room country school and in October we had a two-week potato vacation because all the kids picked potatoes. I also grow a Three Sisters Garden: corn in the center, pole beans in a circle around the corn and squash around the outside of the beans. The Indians believed that corn, squash and beans were inseparable sisters that grew and thrived together.

Q: How do you deal with bugs?

A: I avoid all pesticide use. When potato bugs come out, I pick them off and throw them in a bucket of water. Keep an eye out for insects; you'll take care of 70 percent like that.

Q: Your growing season is just 100 days. What's key to harvesting the most vegetables?

A: I plant in stages. To keep track of everything, I use a planting list on a pad of legal paper. I start tomatoes in March indoors for planting outdoors in May. One of the earliest things we do is plant potatoes outdoors. Each potato is cut into sections so it has an "eye" (bud). Buy them from a garden center — don't use supermarket potatoes because they've been treated and the eyes won't grow. Next, radishes and carrots are planted together (outdoors). The radishes come up first and I harvest them, which makes room for the carrots. We love onions and we grow them from sets (dried bulbs). Peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, squash and pumpkins go in next.

Q: What's new in your garden this year?

A: Every year we plant something a little exotic. I like broom corn because the seed heads make great bird seeds. One of the reasons for gardening is the aesthetics of just doing it. Sometimes you plant something just so you can look at it. For example, gourds are really fun. There are little bitty ones and big ones that can be used as birdhouses.

Q: And flowers?

A: I'm really a vegetable gardener, but sunflowers — oh, my gosh — what is more beautiful than to go out in your garden on a sunny day and be welcomed by a sunflower?

Q: What's the most important lesson you've learned?

A: Gardening is a way to connect to nature and the land in one of the most meaningful ways. We're not making any more soil. Through gardening, we learn to be a part of — not apart from — nature. It's also taught me patience. Be surprised and enjoy it. You have to realize that there's more to gardening than putting seeds in the ground and pulling weeds.

sunday@tribune.com

Original Article Here

Farmer's Notebook - Reducing input costs becomes imperative

M. J. PRABU

Biogas is one of the components of low input sustainable practice. Photo: Special Arrangement

About 35 per cent of external input cost seems to have been reduced

The main objective of technology-based agriculture must be to reduce input cost while increasing the yield, particularly for small and marginal farmers.

Agriculture scientists would like farmers to realise that reduction of chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides can benefit both man and earth over the long run. Farmers in particular would stand to gain as a major portion of their money is spent on buying these chemicals.

The focus, they believe, must shift to educating farmers on the value of waste matter being generated in both their fields and homes, and availability of technologies to convert waste into wealth. Their farm economics will definitely improve if they realise and adopt this.

It is precisely on these lines that scientists at the Myrada Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Gobichettipalayam, in Erode, Tamil Nadu have beenworking for the past several years in implementing a project called IFD (Integrated farm development model). Also called as LESA (LowExternal Input Sustainable Agriculture), the project is at present operational in about 32 villages in Erode district.

Designed well

According to P. Alagesan, Programme Coordinator, IFD is an innovative model especially designed for small-scale farmers for improving farm productivity in a sustainable manner by recycling farm and home wastes.

“The main concept of IFD is to integrate the animal and human wastes into useful and productive components for the manufacture of vermicompost, pest repellents and biogas, thereby reducing input cost for farmers,” he says.

For example, in villages, the urine and dung from cattle are usually washed into a drain or the dung is collected, dried and used as cooking fuel.

“But our IFD farmers collect the urine and dung in a collection tank and use it for generating biogas and manufacturing bio growth promoters such as Panchagavya and Amirtha karaisal, and to make bio pest-repellants,” explains Mr. Alagesan.

Breeding earthworms

The spent slurry from the biogas plant is used for making high quality manure by adding other farm wastes to it, and can also be used for breeding earthworms.

“To ensure food and fodder security, our research team has been conducting several programmes to emphasise the importance of kitchengardens.

The size of the kitchen garden depends on the family size and income (usually 2-5 cents). A limited supply of water channelled through a low cost micro-irrigation system ensures a good harvest,” he elaborates. High yielding green fodder varieties are also grown in these gardens to provide fodder for animals. By growing these fodder varieties,the cost of buying feed has come down by nearly 12 per cent, according to Mr. Alagesan.

Technology must be farmer friendly, and IFD farmers have been trained in scientific storage of harvested produce. The farmers store theirharvested grains in special grain structures called ‘pucca koti' (in Hindi) and metal bins.

These storage structures have been able to minimise grain loss by nearly 20 per cent, and also protect the harvested produce from pestand pathogenic infestations.

Finally, the waste generated from the farmer's family is also not wasted. An eco-san toilet has been designedto collect the faeces and urine separately.

The faeces is covered with wood ash after collection and it falls into a soil pit and decomposes into a rich nutrient which can be safelyused as manure.

The urine is separately channelled to the kitchen garden where it seeps into the earth to nourish the plants.Studies conducted in these villages have shown that about 35 per cent of external input cost has been reduced by effective utilisation offarm and home wastes.

Forest regeneration

Use of biogas (2 cubic metre capacity has the potential to save about 210 kg of fuel wood per month) has also brought down firewood consumption. In a village called M.P. Doddi, about nine tonnes of fuel wood in a month has been saved, having a direct impact on regeneration of forest area around the region.

Respiratory problems commonly encountered by the rural women in smoky kitchens have largely been minimised.UNICEF has identified this as an innovative model and has planned to replicate it in other parts of the country.

For more information readers can contact: Mr. P.Alagesan, Programme Coordinator, Myrada Krishi Vigyan Kendra, No: 57 - Bharathi Street,Gobichettipalayam - 638 452, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, e-mail: myradakvk@dataone.in, website: www.myradakvk.org, mobile: 09443897654, Phone : 04285 226694 and 226695.

Original Article Here

contamination of safe food ?

Did you take your poison today?

So what type of poison is there in our food...............

There are three major sources of concern relating to food safety
in Pakistan:

1. Chemical contamination. This includes pesticides and
antibiotics that are used by farmers to help them reduce
crop losses. Some of these chemicals remain in the food
when it reaches the consumer. (including the heavy metals from synthetic fertilizers.

2. Biological contamination. This includes bacteria (e.g.
Salmonella), mould and other micro-organisms. These
things start to grow on food when it is processed under
unhygienic conditions, or it is not stored properly.

3. Illegal preservatives and additives. This includes borax,
formalin, and toxic food colouring. These are added by
wholesalers and retailers to improve the appearance of
the food.

Pesticides only affect farmers, right?

Wrong. Everybody should be concerned about pesticides.
Although farmers have more contact with these chemicals,
and suffer more problems, other people come also into
contact with pesticides. This is how:

♦ Food that is sold and eaten often contains pesticide
residues. The amounts are usually small, but if we eat
these residues every day they can make us sick.
♦ Pesticides from farms can get into the air, soil and
water, creating a risk for everybody.
♦ Factories that make pesticides, and shops that sell
them, are sometimes located close to residential
areas; this increases the possibility that these
chemicals will contaminate the environment in which
people are living.
♦ Pesticides are also used in homes, offices, schools and
factories to control cockroaches, mosquitoes, termites
and other pests

One may ask following questions:

1. Did you take your poison today?
2. So what type of poison is there in our food?
3. What are pesticides?
4. Why should we be worried?
5. Pesticides only affect farmers, right?
6. What types of pesticide are used in Pakistan?
7. Where do these chemicals come from?
8. Are those factories safe?
9. So why are farmers using these chemicals?
10. How dangerous are these chemicals to humans?
11. How does a person know if they have been poisoned?
12. Do these pesticides stay in the body?
13. Are there any long-term effects from pesticides?
14. Can these chemicals actually kill somebody?
15. How many people are poisoned by pesticides in Pakistan?
16. Under what kind of circumstances can somebody get killed?
17. Never mind the farmers, what about my food?
18. What do you mean by “acceptable level”?
19. Who is testing our food for residues?
20. What can consumers do to avoid pesticide residues?
21. Is it realistic to expect housewives to take action on this issue?
22. What does ‘organic’ mean?
23. How is ‘organic’ food different from ‘safe’ food?
24. What about all these other labels?
25. I’m confused. Are labelled foods safer than other foods?
26. If I want healthy food, can the markets provide it?
27. Are my children at risk?
28. What can I do to protect my children?
29. What can schools do to protect children from pesticides?
30. What about restaurants; are they using safe food or not?
31. Why doesn’t the Government just ban these chemicals?
32. Are any Pakistani farmers growing crops without pesticides?
33 What is Integrated Crop & Pest Management?
34. Is anybody helping organic farmers in Pakistan?
35. Are pesticides doing any harm to the environment?
36. Do we have laws to deal with this problem?
37. Who in the Government is responsible for food safety?
38. What is the Ministry of Public Health actually doing?
39. What about the Ministry of Agriculture?
40. Are the Royal Projects involved in solving this problem?
41. When will all our food be safe?
42. Where can I get more information about pesticides and food safety?

post by Hadi Laghari 

Various Food Industries in Pakistan

• Snacks / Cereals / Biscuits
• Tripple EM (Pvt) Limited Lahore
• Fauji Cereals
• Coronet Foods (Pvt.) Limited
• Flour Mills
• Supreme Flour Mills
• Sunny Flour Mills
• Fruits and Vegetable Processing / Confectionery
• Shezan
• Mitchell's fruit Farm Limited
• Gujranwala Food Industries (GFI) Pvt Ltd
• Poultry Processing
• K & N's Foods Pvt. Ltd Raiwind
• Dairy
• Haleeb Foods limited (HFL)
• Nirala Dairy Pvt Ltd
• Engro Foods Limited (EFL)
• Bread and Bakery
• Bunny's Food industries
• VITA
• Ramna Food Products PVT. LTD
• Beverages
• Coca-Cola Rahim Yar Khan
• HAIDRI BEVERAGES (PVT) Ltd
• Miscellaneous
• Rafhan Maize Products Co. Ltd
• Unilever best Foods
• Pizza Hut Pakistan

Tripple EM (Pvt) Limited Lahore

Tripple Em (Pvt) Limited Lahore, a leading snack food manufacturing company of Pakistan was established in 1982. First product launched was potato chips with the brand name of “Super Crisp” in 1986 with different flavours. In 1989, the Nimko range was added in the process, which included fried and salted products like peanuts, Almond etc. Owing to the advancement in technology and development in consumer acceptance Company launched extrusion plant in 1995. The extruded product made from this atomized American plant are Gol motol, Wheelo pops, Dino munches, Giggly waves, Catty chins etc. The company is ISO 9002 certified. Company is following quality standards of Snack Food Association of America in manufacturing all of its products to best satisfy the consumers. A strict quality control and quality assurance is followed in inspection and selection of raw material and finished products.

Fauji Cereals

Started its production in 1954 with 68% Fauji shares in collaboration with Quacker Oats England. Started corn flakes production in 1957. Pearl barley introduced in 1960 &porridge in 1964. Only producer of breakfast cereals in Pak. Unique distinction of running for 50 years. Received American Quality Award, international food award, & international leading company award. Export of products has started to England, Afghanistan, Kenya & Newzealand.

Coronet Foods (Pvt.) Limited

EBM (English biscuit manufacture) Limited Karachi is one of the largest biscuit manufacturing organization in Pakistan, that sales biscuit products not only within a country but also in foreign markets therefore it earns valuable foreign exchange for our country. Due to popularity and quality standards, its biscuits demand is increasing day by day and to fulfill these increasing demands, the need of another plant arises and for this purpose “Coronet Foods (Pvt.) Limited” came in to being. It is the subsidiary unit of EBM. It is under the license of English biscuit manufacture Limited Karachi. it is situated in Industrial Estate Hattar, District Haripur. The total area of the factory is about 2 acres. There are about 250 workers and almost 40 staff members. Its first production was started in April 1995.

There are two Plants working in Coronet Foods that are designed by an Italian company IMAFORNI, In the beginning there is only one plant but in 2001, the second plant was installed, which is the most advanced and latest plant in South Asia. The plants are automatic and thus reduce the manual work.

Supreme Flour Mills

Establishment in 1992, located near Molhanwal 22Km, Multan Road, Lahore. This is basically a project of “National Flour and General Mills, Sheikhupura” certified for ISO 9002 . product ranges includes Wheat flour (Maida), Fine, Atta and Bran (Chokar).

Sunny Flour Mills

Sunny Flour Mill is one of the well-reputed flourmills. It is one of the largest milling groups of Pakistan having a capacity of 480 tons per day. It was established in 1964 in 40-N Industrial area Gulberg-2 Lahore. The machinery of this mill has been imported from world leading flour milling machinery manufacturers “BUHLLER”, Switzerland. Sunny Flour Mill is an ISO 9002 Certified flourmill. It indicates that it produces high quality wheat flour that is also exported to various countries like Australia and Hong Kong.Well-reputed multi-national hotels like Pizza Hut, UNO Pizzario Chicago Grill, PC, Avari, KFC, McDonalds prefer to use high quality flour from Sunny Flour Mill. Maida from Sunny Flour mill is used by well reputed bread industries & bakeries like Bunny bread, BP bread, Marry Gold, Dawn bread, Vita bread, Shezan Bakers, Government bakers, International bakers, Cakes & bakes etc. due to its excellent quality. The company was incorporated in a public limited company on October10, 1988 and was listed on the Lahore and Karachi Stock Exchanges during July 1989.

Shezan

The company was incorporated on May30, 1964 as a private limited concern and initially conceived as a joint venture with Alliance Industrial Development Corporation of U.S.A for processing citrus and other fruits as well as bottling of juices. In 1971 the Shahnawaz Group purchased all the shares of Alliance Industrial Development Corporation with the permission to Pakistan Government and from a joint venture company it became a fully Pakistani owned company. The company has since shown sustained growth in both the domestic and export fields. The company has been steadily expanding its production capacity over the years. In 1980-81 a separate unit was installed in Karachi, which now caters for Karachi, Sind and export demand. A new bottle filling plant was set up in 1983 in the Lahore unit, increasing the capacity five folds. An independent Tetra Brick plant was commissioned in 1987 making the unit leading manufactures with comprehensive range of production in the fruit processing field in Pakistan. The company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of juices, beverages, pickles, preserves and flavorings based upon or derived from fresh fruits and vegetables. The company was incorporated in a public limited company on October10, 1988 and was listed on the Lahore and Karachi Stock Exchanges during July 1989.

Mitchell’s fruit Farm Limited

Mitchell’s was incorporated as a Joint stock Company in 1933 by introducing fruit squashes under the brand name of Mitchell’s" Kissan".In 1947, as a result of emergence of Pakistan, Mitchell’s lost three fourth of its market to India, however the company readjust and carved to a substantial niche in the new country. The Mitchell’s family sold majority of its shares to the Pakistani investor’s in1957. Since then many new chapters have been added to this story. Sophisticated food processing machinery was installed and additional products were added to a growing range of preserves, fruit, drinks, juices, canned fruits, sauces and vinegar. In 1980 came the sweetest chapter of all with diversification on confectionery industry. Soon Mitchell’s confectionery products comprising toffee, Eclairs, hard candy and fruit Bon Bons favor with nationwide. In 1983 Mitchell’s golden jubilee was celebrated with a fan fare and a chocolate bar, appropriately named as "Jubilee" was launched to commemorate the event.In the year of 1994 it was ISO certified. In 2001, Mitchell’s launched moulded chocolate and launched products like gift box of pralines, golden hearts and top milk was accepted by consumer.

Gujranwala Food Industries (GFI) Pvt Ltd

It is an ISO- 9002 certified Company. It was established in 1984 with the installation of bubble gum unit. GFI follows the firm quality standards push ahead in the local and global market with the introduction of innovative products, chew, toffee, sweet balls, jelly and snacks. GFI is always paying attention to exploit the latest technology. Currently GFI is using the American, German and Chinese technology for the manufacture of snacks, bubbles and jellies. The research is focused on product quality, healthfulness, nutritional standards and technological innovation in processing, plant analysis raw material and strict quality control of the finished products are constantly carried out by means of the most sophisticated instruments installed in GFI quality control laboratory. GFI imports its raw material from USA, Brazil, China, and Italy. They import machinery and mechanical instrument from USA, Germany, England, Japan and China. GFI exports its products mainly to Australia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan

GFI is a medium sized industry, chiefly deals in confectionary, snacks. Confectionary comprises of sugar based products. Confections come in a diversity of forms including hard candies, caramels, toffees, jellies, gummies, fudge, nougats, marshmallows, fondants, marzipan and other nut pastes and butters, pressed tablets, chocolates and compounds. Sometimes special components are blended into one item, such as the chocolate bar filled with caramel and nougat, cream-filled licorice or the chocolate or nut piece coated with a sugar-based candy shell.

K & N’s FOODS Pvt. Ltd

It is a marvelous food industry located at Raiwind. It deals with poultry processing. K & N´s Poultry processing is integrated business containing essential components like breeder farms, hatchery, broiler growing farms, feed mill and poultry processing plant. K & N’s is main supplier of eggs in Pakistan and is the biggest poultry industry in Pakistan.Formerly K &N’s foods was M.ARTAL Poultry Int’l Pvt.Ltd. M.ARTAL was Belgium base. It was registered in Holland. M.ARTAL Poultry processing plant started work on August, 03, 1998. M.ARTAL launched their business projects in south Asia by the name ofARTAL GRANAASIA. Business projects of M.ARTAL in Pakistan were Harry’s bread, Aiwa mineral water, KFC restaurants and poultry processing. Poultry processing was integrated business. But unfortunately their projects in Pakistan were failed. So first they sold Harry’s bread, then KFC, then Aiwa mineral water to Nestle and at last poultry processing project to K & N’s foods on January 2002. Now K &N’s foods poultry processing business is flourishing day by day.

Haleeb Foods limited (HFL)

It was incorporated in 1984 as a Public Limited Company with name Chaudhary Dairy limited (CDL). The head office of HFL is situated at 135 Ferozepur Road, Lahore while the plant is situated at 62 km Lahore-Multan Road, Bhai Pharu. Commercial production started in 1986 & the company reached its breakeven in the year 1992. In the 1993 dry milk powder was introduced in the market in the bulk form. In order to improve its process and the system more visible and to identify the short comings, Haleeb decided to implement the concept of TQM. As an initial step the management opted to acquire ISO 9000 certification. Haleeb became the Pakistan’s 1st dairy company to achieve the ISO 9002 certification in 1997 and achieved Transition to ISO 9001-2000 in April 2003 and also honored as 8th Food Company to achieve HACCP Certification from SGS Pakistan. Company has launched its bottling milk in April, 1999, while TetraFino Packing is started in November, 2000.

Company changed its name in November, 2000 from Chaudhary Dairies Limited to Haleeb Foods Limited. Owing to the diversification into the non dairy food products the name of the company was changed from CDL Foods Limited to Haleeb Foods Limited to clearly define the scope of the company. Company is committed to strict quality standard in all its operations from the collection of milk to the provision of hygienically processed nutritious products to its customers. Company has succeeded in this by continuously improving the quality of its products and by satisfying the needs of its customers.

Nirala Dairy Pvt Ltd

A few years ago Nirala was sweets manufacturer company. Due to public requirements and a unique quality of sweets Nirala group have their operation not over all the country but also out side the country. This is a very big achievement for any company when his business may be exceeding from a country up to other Countries. Because for preparation of sweets there is a too much use of milk, that is why Nirala Group decided to expand their business up to dairy plant. Nirala Group purchase the “Milk Ways” plant premise and renovated it and started their operation with the name of Nirala Dairy.

Engro Foods Limited (EFL)

Engro Foods Limited is subsidiary of Engro Chemical Pvt. Ltd. which is one of the most reputed enterprises in Pakistan with more than 40 years of diversified business operations in the areas of fertilizer and chemicals. It has recently diversified into the foods business and with the successful launch of Olper’s Milk, Olper’s cream and Olwell. Engro Foods Limited has established itself as a major player in the foods business. They believe that the successful first year will take us to our goal: To be one of the biggest players in the food business. Their aim is to dominate the food business, and they said to achieve this we will settle for nothing less than the cream.

EFL has been established in 2005 as part of a diversification process at the Engro Group. The plant located at Sukkur on 23 acre land, has the raw milk reception capability of 300,000 liters per day and UHT milk capacity of 200,000 liters per day. The plant has been established at a cost of Rs. 1 billion which provides direct employment to 750 people. Engro Foods has entered the Food business through milk processing and sale with the company’s vision to pursue growth opportunities based on country fundamentals and own strength. It also positions the company to leverage its corporate social responsibility initiatives and work closely with rural communities to promote integrated farming and livestock development. This effort is expected to play a pivotal role in poverty alleviation and improving livelihoods of the poor in the milk collection areas. Engro Foods will work with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund and its three partner organizations to help implement sustainable business models that increase farmer’s profitability and develop a positive social and business climate for growth and expansion of live stock and other forms of value added agriculture.

Bunny’s Food industries

It was established in 1984, and is situated in the kotlakh pat industrial area 85-86s. it is a member of AIB (American institute of baking), a well-known training and research center in the world. It also has snack food association membership. From both these institutes it gets latest technical information and guidance to improve its product. Bunny’s is first bakery and snack Food Company to achieve ISO-9002 certification in 2000 from Moddy International. it ensures that our product is manufactured according to the customer requirement and acceptations. It endeavors to maintain the high quality of the product at all stages of production and delivery from the beginning until the end. Ever since 1984, it has been presenting wholesome nutrition and quality products to its customer. These products are manufactured on modern equipment by highly qualified staff, according to the international standard under strict hygienic condition. It uses high-grade ingredients and advance processing techniques to ensure quality.

It has a well-equipped laboratory and independent quality control department, that is why it say, “ quality is our major ingredient” all the raw and packing material are tested and on prescribed subscription and substandard material are rejected. This department is playing a vital role on maintaining quality and development of new product. Snack food division was established in 1994 with the installation of imported machinery from Japan and America and in this section, company is producing a large range of the products of quality of international standard.

VITA

Vita group is owned by the Manji’s, an Ismaili Muslim family, who firmly believe that honest struggle will lead to success. Mr. Muhammad Aly Manji (1927-1995) founded Standard Finis Oil Company at Lahore makers of famous FINIS household insecticides with an equity of Rs. 0.075 million and a workforce of three. He had 50 years experience of business, under his able guidance the second generation of Manji’s entered into the family business after completion of education. In 1978 with a view of diversifying their field of business, Manji’s decided to adopt food as their core business and founded the Vita Group. The group first ventured in the bread business in Pakistan under the brand name of VITA. Beginning with one unit operation, Vita is now one of the leaders in bread industry of Pakistan.

From one unit in 1978 the VITA group now owns thirteen production units and five commercial operations. These are :

1. Bread & Allied Baking units in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Raim Yar Khan and Karachi.
2. Extruded & Salted Snack Food Unit at Lahore
3. Flexible packaging and printing unit at Lahore
4. Fruit juice drink making and packaging unit at Lahore
5. Biscuit and Wafers units at Karachi & Rahim Yar Khan
6. Milk & Dairy product producing facilities at Lahore
7. Baking Industry support/raw material such as Fruit preserves, bread improvers etc production unit at Lahore

Ramna Food Products PVT. LTD

It was established in 1980. It is a general baking unit. In 1984, it was purchased by the present management who continue to own this factory. Ramna Food product is a private Food company. It is situated in 334-small industrial estates Kotlakh pat Lahore. It is managed by a MD and supported by the Board of directors. The company is organized in four sections that are Sales, Production, Commercial and administration.

Coca-Cola Rahim Yar Khan

Coca-Cola Rahim Yar khan plant is located on KLP-Khanpur bye pass road in the west of Rahim Yar Khan. The plant has has four units for the production. It has sufficient area for the storage of empty bottles, which is covered. There are 46 vehicles and 12 forklifts for the transportation of empty and filled bottles.Coca-cola Company RahimYar Khan is the biggest carbonated soft drink “Coke ” plant in Pakistan. It supplies its products to Balauchistan and part of Sindh and Punjab Provinces.There is a Waste Water Treatment Plant inside the factory which has capacity of 60 cubic meter / hour of plant effluents for treatment.

HAIDRI BEVERAGES (PVT) Ltd

It is located at Kahuta Road Islamabad. The plant was engaged with PCI (Pepsi Cola International) in 1975 and owing an area of about 8 cares. In Haidri Beverages almost daily average production is 75,000 crates. There are usually three production shifts, (8 Hours of each) per 24 hours. Haidri Beverages was awarded with ISO 9002 award for its quality production. Haidri Beverages fulfill the requirements of Rawalpindi,Islamabad,Attock,Murree & Northern areas of Pakistan.

Rafhan Maize Products Co. Ltd

It is situated at Rakh Canal East Road Faisalabad. It started its operations in 1953 as a pioneer corn refining industry in Pakistan. From the relatively modest start, the operations of Rafhan Maize have grown into one of the largest agro-based industries over the last 56 years. Rafhan Maize, the No.1 producer of corn refining products, is an affiliate of Corn Products Inc: USA. Who is one of the world’s largest corn refiners. It produces high quality food ingredients and industrial products derived from the wet milling of corn. Corn products and Rafhan Maize have long and successful history in Pakistan. The journey of strong partnership that started in 1962 reached new heights with the acquisition of 70% equity partnership of Corn Products USA in 1999. During the last 41 years Pakistan continued to remain the focal point for the growth of business in the region and corn products has made investment of billions of rupees to increase the capacity of Rafhan’s plant from 50 tons in 1953 to 750 tons per day.

Rafhan Maize produces high quality food ingredients and industrial products. All these products have leading market position and are being used in more than 50 different types of industries as essential raw material from local resources. Major consuming industries include textile, paper, corrugarion, confectionery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, baking, beverage, ice cream, processed food, tobacco, foundry, syrups, squashes, tanning, poultry, cattle feeds, fish feeds and so many other foods and non food industries. Rafhan Maize holds one of the sophisticated laboratories in Pakistan. The center is responsible to develop new products and to modify the existing range to cope with the changing requirements of customers and to over come the functional problems connected with applications of products in diffident industries. Total Quality Excellence is the core of Rafhan’s Business strategy. Certification of ISO-9002 from one of the World’s most reputable and strict bodies is a milestone in its journey towards Total Quality Excellence. Since 1953 Rafhan has been supplying its customer’s constantly high quality products that are produced under the technology provided by Corn Products International having long experience in corn refining business since 1906.With ISO-9002 certification, Rafhan Maize is now in a better position to meet the growing needs of its valuable customers with respect to quality and quantity.

Distinctions :

Ranked one of the top 25 companies listed on Karachi Stock Exchange

1997   Corporate Excellence award from Management Association of Pakistan

1998   Ranked one of the top 25 companies listed on Karachi Stock Exchange

1999   FPCCI Merit Export Trophy

2000   Ranked one of the top 10 Organizations for best practice in Occupational , Safety , Health and Environment by Employer’s Federation of Pakistan

2000   FPCCI Merit Export Trophy

2001   Pak-EPA Award for participation in SMAR- T Programme

Unilever Best Foods

Muno Brothers (Rafi, Hanif and Nisar) established corn-processing unit in Faisalabad. It was founded in share with CPC international. This plant produces industrial goods only. Earlier, both the industrial and consumers goods were manufactured at the same plant in Faisalabad while through out the world industrial goods and consumer goods producing plants were separate from one another. The plant was separated as CPC Rafhan and CPI Rafhan. The farmer as corn products company and the later as corn products international in 1997. Bestfoods upgraded CPC Rafhan in 1998 as Rafhan Best Foods and the plant was transferred to the present place (Pernawan) in the same year. The plant has now been purchased by Unilever international by the end of year 2000. The name of Rafhan Best Foods have been modified to Unilever Best Foods now.

Pizza Hut Pakistan

Pizza hut Pakistan started its operations in 1994. Presently it has a total of more than eight outlets in the country. Pizza Hut, a fully foreign full-service franchise, has plans to open a total of 25 branches in Pakistan by year 2004. During the past year of operations Pizza Hut, sales have grown at around a rate of 22-25 percent per annum. Though Pizza Hut is a full service foreign Franchise, it does not face much competition from other foreign franchises. The entrance of Pizza Hut in Pakistan has changed the trend in food service industry in many ways. As a result of which the four and five-star hotels are worried about their restaurant business as Pizza Hut offers a choice for the people to try out quality food in full service restaurant with an ambiance. It also made many local fast food chains to completely renovate their premises to improve their eating atmosphere, he added.

Pizza Hut is fully owned by Yum Brands, which has franchise rights for the whole of Pakistan and employs over 500 people at all levels. Dining-in-contributes 60 percent to Pizza Hut’s revenues while take-away and deliveries make up 27 percent and 13 percent of the revenue respectively. All Pizza Hut outlets deliver and serve both lunch and dinner between 12 noon to 12 midnights. Pizza hut is satisfied with return on its investment.

While Pizza Hut also serves varieties of Italian food it is primarily identified with a single dish, as its name suggests—Pizza. Strictly complying to the strict hygienic and quality standards of its Principal Yum Brands, the governing body of its organizer which has the final say in the approval of every single ingredient and toppings, Pizza Hut has added local ingredients to maintain the local taste. Apart from regular toppings Pizza Hut has added many local toppings such as Chicken Tikka in addition to local vegetables such as locally grown mushroom in summer—imported canned mushrooms are used when local substitute is out of season. The majority of ingredients including the basic flour, mozzarella cheese, and tomato concentrated, beef and beef pepperoni are all imported to maintain the strict quality standards set by the Yum Brands.

By : Shahid Hafeez Khan

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