Slides from a recent presentation by USDA representative Floyd Dowell on “Storage Solutions to Improve Food Security for Small Farmers” were recently published online. The presentation focused on PHL and ways to mitigate the causes of loss. http://india2012.icc.or.at/webfm_send/33
Grain Storage for Gulf Region Planned
The Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAID) is planning a storage system for three to six months of Gulf region grain reserves. The location will most likely be in the UAE because it is close to the port of Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman. This project comes in conjunction with the start of […]
U.S. Cash Grains-Bids Steady, Slow Farmer Sales
Both the United States and Canada have experienced unsatisfying harvests due to weather and transportation issues, and have, as a result, one of the smallest and lowest-grade crops on record. In the US, warmer weather limited access to on-farm storage bins and slowed down crop delivery. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/22/markets-grain-cash-idAFL2E8DM4UD20120222
Millennium Challenge Account Compact
Although benefiting greatly from the Millennium Challenge Account Compact (MCA), a large amount of loan money was returned unused to the lending bank, and many farmer loans were not repaid in time. Major inhibitors to the success of the program targeting Ghanaian farmers were “willful negligence,” bad weather conditions, pest infestation, and lack of value chain […]
Russia Seeks ‘Foothold’ in Asian Wheat Market to Rival U.S.
Russia is planning to create a “Far East grain corridor” to compete with US and Australian grain production as part of its goal to become the world’s third largest wheat shipper. The Russian Grain Union is hosting a conference to “attract interest to the agro-industrial sector of Siberia and Far East, modernization of storage, processing […]
Growing Opportunities: Research Collaboration with Australian Plant Biosecurity Center Set to Secure Food Supplies, Increase Academic Exchanges
Kansas State University is partnering with the Australian Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre to “study emerging plant diseases and insect pests that threaten American and Australian agricultural systems and develop new strategies and technologies to defend against them.” Grain storage solutions will also be a focus for the collaboration’s research. http://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement.php?id=2390&category=news&referredBy=todayRSSFeed
CWB Books $6B in Revenues for 2010-11
Both the United States and Canada have experienced unsatisfying harvests due to weather and transportation issues, and have, as a result, one of the smallest and lowest-grade crops on record. In the US, warmer weather limited access to on-farm storage bins and slowed down crop delivery. http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/news/cwb-books-6b-in-revenues-for-2010-11/1000922585/
IRRI’s Adding Value Work
IRRI has added a new section to its website, including information on how to add value to rice production through targeting PHL. Reports and projects targeting PHL are highlighted as well. http://irri.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=566&Itemid=100227&lang=en
Hermetic Bags Save African Crop, but Not How Experts Once Thought
Hermetic bags from the Purdue Integrated Cowpea Study (PICS) are found to save crops in unexpected ways, as they are useful in preventing the growth and feeding habits of weevils in cowpea storage, particularly through depleting the levels of oxygen in the bags. The program is expected to be adopted by 3.4 million households in West and […]
MCA Pumps $208.8m into Agric
The President of Ghana inaugurated the Tetteh Quashie Interchange-Mallam Junction Motorway extension to enhance transportation in and around the Accra Metropolis. This development was made with assistance from the US Ambassador to Ghana, and marks the last of US support under the Millennium Challenge Account, which is an initiative to tackle poverty in developing countries. The road […]