Archive | September, 2011

Functioning of MoFPI Comes under Scanner with Report Presented to the LS

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is under scrutiny for the past two decades of work as the Committee on Agriculture recently published a document in which it detailed the shortcomings of the food processing industry. This included a lack of information and data which has been the particular jurisdiction of the MoFPI, as […]

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Experts Outline Options for Ending Horn of Africa’s Food Vulnerability

Experts at a conference hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), and the CGIAR Consortium unanimously called for more agricultural research, market infrastructure development, and robust policies and partnerships. Practical applications included: diversification of crops better suited for drylands, better storage, partnerships to scale up […]

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U.S. Federal Reserve Beige Book: Richmond District

Hurricane Irene took 56% of available corn crop for harvesting from South Carolina, while North Carolina reported wide-scale damage to storage facilities, field crops, and agricultural businesses. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-07/u-s-federal-reserve-beige-book-richmond-district-text-.html

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Tackling the Burgeoning Agrarian Crisis in India

India’s agrarian crisis has led to the suicides of over 250,000 farmers since 1995. Current programs and ‘new’ organizations are not aiding the root issue – farmers still lack access to credit, have high transaction costs, are exposed to exploitative middlemen, and poor quality technologies and contracts that are difficult to acquire. The author suggests […]

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Private Players to Help Government Stem Rot in Godowns Soon

10% of total grain production was lost in the postharvest system due to lack of proper storage facilities – India has only about 17% of the needed storage facilities available currently, which is decreasing as the government continues to push for increased grain acquisition. The government is pushing for the design and implementation of such […]

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Agriculture Offers Recipe for Nigeria’s Economic Challenges

Nigeria is advised to treat agriculture as a potential solution for job creation, economic growth, and public health. Youth involvement should be developed, as well as a supportive financial system, recommended Dr. Peter Hartmann of the National Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER). http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/agriculture-offers-recipe-for-nigeria%E2%80%99s-economic-challenges/

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