A UC Riverside professor was awarded $100,000 in Grand Challenges Explorations grant money from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to research methods of identifying diseased corn in Third World countries. The professor plans to create a “biotic stress sensor printed on maize leaves.” The research team will be looking at low-cost methods of placing […]
Post-harvest Losses and Food Sustainability Challenges of Rural Farmers in Developing Countries
An abstract for a paper on “Post-harvest Losses and Food Sustainability Challenges of Rural Farmers in Developing Countries” (PDF) for the upcoming “Resilience of agricultural systems against crisis” conference in Goettingen, Germany, was published. The paper focuses on maize. http://www.tropentag.de/2012/abstracts/links/Imhomoh_y4n6kNoD.pdf
India’s Farm Minister for FDI Agriculture
IndoAsiancommodities.com organized a discussion in which they advocated for adopting modern technology, particularly biotechnology, to address the problems of coming years with grains, oilseeds, corn, and other crops. Genetically modified technology and seeds were suggested as a viable solution to achieve sustainable development. Additionally, implementing grading standards in the market to help consumers understand the […]
Projects to Combat Mycotoxin Contamination in Tanzania Launched
Two projects were launched at an April meeting of IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Feed the Future Initiative has funded projects to understand the depth and spread of mycotoxin contaminants in maize and cassava in the country. Another project funded by […]
DU Scientist Invents New Grains Storage Technology
The Centre for Advanced Research Sciences of Dhaka University has developed a new grain storage technology by using ultra superheated steam (USST). Rice, wheat, broken maize, mixed animal feed and chickpea can now be stored 11 months to two years by using the new technology. http://www1.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=243357&date=2012-04-21
Updated Texas Agricultural Drought Losses Total $7.62 Billion
The recent Texas drought was the most expensive in history, with losses valued at $7.62 billion. Corn losses nearly doubled at $736 million, wheat lost $314 million, and sorghum nearly lost six times as much as usual at $385 million. Since August 2011, the USDA decreased the amount of Texas wheat acres for harvest by […]
Post Harvest Losses of Foodgrains Decline
In the results of two published surveys, India has announced that its PHL of foodgrains has declined. The data comparison on storage losses from a 2004 Millennium Survey with a 2010 ICAR study shows that wheat PHL has been reduced from 8% to 6%, rice has gone from 11% to 5.2%, and maize from 7.5% […]
Storage Insect Pests of Maize and Methodologies for Mininmizing Postharvest Losses
Slides on the topic of “Storage Insect Pests of Maize and Methodologies for Minimizing Postharvest Losses” (PDF) by Stephen Mugo at a recent conference have been published online. http://conferences.cimmyt.org/downloads/crp2012/03-CRP-Wednesday-Jan-18/Session-M3(Caza%20A)/09-Mugo-SI6-Storage-insect-pests-of-maize.pdf
Group Storage to Earn More from Maize
Rwandan maize farmers are benefiting from a system called warrantage, which allows them to earn double the normal price offered by traders at harvest. Farmers deposit their maize in a group storage shed and can receive 60% of the crop’s value as a low-interest loan. A local bank has partnered with the group and helps to […]
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