An ag engineer from the University of Nairobi urges the member states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to adopt a strategy for postharvest management as a means to mitigate risks of loss involved with surplus production. He points to Brazil’s postharvest strategy as a model, citing it as the foundation […]
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RSS feed for this sectionTonnes of Maize Rotting in Northern Region
Improved farming methods in Ghana have led to an increase in productivity of maize, which should be cause for celebration. Instead farmers and warehouse operators are witnessing both physical and economic losses. Farmers face low prices with the lack of a market price support system, and warehouses are unable to maintain a sufficient rate of […]
India School Tragedy Raises Questions for Gandhi’s Food Plan
At least 23 children died in India after eating contaminated food served under the free school lunch program. The tragedy raises concern over whether quality and safety standards can be sufficiently monitored and maintained when the new Food Security Ordinance rolls out, which more than doubles the reach of government food subsidies. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/18/us-india-food-idUSBRE96H0HL20130718
Govt to Offer Surplus Wheat in Punjab, Haryana for Sale
The Union Government will sell 8.5 million tonnes of wheat through its Open Market Sales scheme from stocks in Punjab and Haryana to alleviate overcrowded storage. http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/govt-to-offer-surplus-wheat-in-punjab-haryana-for-sale-113071700699_1.html
Agriculture Department Working on 3 PPP Projects
The Grains Central Project underway in the Philippines seeks to rehabilitate, expand, and enhance existing corn trading and processing centers nationwide. There are 11 corn Postharvest Processing and Trading Centers proposed to be included in the project. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2013/07/15/agriculture-department-working-3-ppp-projects-292605
Maize Dependency and Agricultural Subsidies in Zambia
Current maize production is more than sufficient to meet domestic needs in Zambia, and yet there are volatile maize prices, and a majority of Zambians still living in rural poverty. Experts identify poor crop marketing as one of two major causes for the lack of food security, with inadequate government storage leading to estimated postharvest […]
Four Rice Millers to Face Theft Charges
555 tonnes of what is believed to be stolen state grain was found in poor, contaminated condition in private mills. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/358807/four-rice-millers-to-face-theft-charges
Upper House Warned Losses Risk Worsening
In a testimony to the Senate committee investigating the massive losses recently discovered in the Thailand rice scheme, a finance official admitted to corruption in every step of the rice pledging process. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/358014/supa-says-rice-purchases-riddled-with-graft
Thailand Has 17M Tons of Rice in Stockpile
In a testimony to the Senate committee investigating the massive losses recently discovered in the Thailand rice scheme, a finance official admitted to corruption in every step of the rice pledging process. http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/business/market/35269-thailand-has-17m-tons-of-rice-in-stockpile
Kenya: 2.5 Million Bags of Maize Rotting in NCPB Silos
The National Cereals and Produce Board under the Strategic Grain Reserves is paralyzed by a debt dispute and is unable to perform any operations, including fumigating maize in storage. Officials hope the issue can be resolved in the courts before the maize is lost to rotting. http://allafrica.com/stories/201307031041.html