Guinness Ghana Ltd. and Accra Breweries Ltd. will soon start establishing processing plants in rural areas which have farms with huge production of cassava. Efforts to engage breweries and organize cassava farmers are part of the government’s overall initiative to significantly reduce high rates of postharvest losses in Ghana. http://www.citifmonline.com/index.php?id=1.1497933
746.07 Lakh Tonne Storage Capacity for Implementation of Food Security Bill
Indian Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution stated that a combination of Food Corporation of India and state agency storage facilities equates to 746 lakh tonnes of storage capacity, enough to cover the estimated Food Security Act annual requirement of 614 lakh tonnes of grain. The Minister also discussed implementation of the Private […]
India Prepares to Guarantee Right to Food for 800 Million People
The National Food Security Act is heavily criticized by policymakers and academics who disagree with the decision to expand a grain program already riddled with fraud and waste. In India, it is widely known that about 40% of grain in the supply chain doesn’t reach its intended end, instead rotting in storage, eaten by rodents, […]
Two Millers Under Scanner for ‘Missing’ Paddy Worth Rs. 3 cr
Two rice millers in Punjab, India allegedly misappropriated government paddy worth more than Rs 30 million. Cases of fraud have been filed against the owners of two mills, and are under investigation by special police. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Bathinda/Two-millers-under-scanner-for-missing-paddy-worth-Rs-3-cr/SP-Article1-1108222.aspx
TNAU Scientists Inspect FCI Godown in Coimbatore
Scientists from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University responded to pest problems at a Food Corporation of India site in Peelamedu. While not cause of direct harm to human beings, the pests feed and multiply on stored grains and cause damage to harvests. The scientists recommended storage methods to keep the insect population from increasing. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/tnau-scientists-inspect-fci-godown-in-coimbatore/article5002854.ece
Food Security, Postharvest Loss, and Henry Kissinger
by Steve Sonka The issue of global food security has recently reemerged as an important societal concern. Factors such as the prospect of needing to feed an additional two billion people in the next two or three decades, the presence today of nearly 870 million people who are chronically hungry, and the recent social unrest […]
Forum to Focus on Food Loss and Security Issues
A three-day seminar on postharvest loss issues will take place as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Taipei, Taiwan, in August. Organizers says the forum is a part of efforts to achieve a sustainable environment. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2013/07/30/385048/Forum-to.htm
Asia Works on Regional Rice Stragey to Address Changing Conditions
Rice exports from Asia continue to increase in line with demand from markets in Africa and the Middle East. The FAO, in collaboration with the World Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank, will develop a regional strategy that addresses production efficiency, postharvest losses, trade patterns, nutrition, and eating habits, among other topics. The report […]
Technology and Innovation Aim at Greater Food Security
Kansas State University is home of the new Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sorghum & Millet. In partnership with USAID, the lab will focus on finding new technologies and techniques for smallholder farmers to maintain and increase productivity in times of climate change. http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/07/technology-and-innovation-aim-at-greater-food-security/
Food Security Strategies Need to Focus on Demand
Public debate over the future of food security has spiked as comments made by Tesco CEO Philip Clarke and UK Global Food Security programme Professor Tim Benton raise concerns over availability and affordability of food in coming decades. This post echoes the message of Benton and others that food waste and food loss must be […]