US Congressman Ami Bera advocates for collaboration between the US and India on postharvest loss issues. Bera worked towards a MOU when recently in Delhi, focused on bringing US expertise to India on how to better manage, store, and move food to market. http://ht.ly/oqaQN
Archive | by Stage of Supply Chain
RSS feed for this sectionAuthorities Target Rice Millers Over Paddy Grading, Prices
Farmers in Venezuela dispute with a milling company over pricing, saying millers paid farmers well under and below market prices. Venezuelan rice market regulations require millers to pay farmers in appropriate time frames, but now face the challenge of curbing unfair grading and pricing practices. http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2013/08/23/authorities-target-rice-millers-over-paddy-grading-prices/
Smallholder Farmers’ Highway to Food Markets
A July 2013 FAO report, “Smallholder Integration in Changing Markets”, emphasizes the heterogeneity of subsistence farmers, concluding there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It also emphasizes the reluctance of farmers to increase production when proper postharvest facilities and infrastructure are non-existent. http://www.rural21.com//nc/english/news/detail/article/smallholder-farmers-highway-to-food-markets-0000806/
‘Big Data’ Will Change the Way You Farm
Big data, or the large amounts of information being generated around the world at faster-than-ever rates, is said to already have significant impacts on the farming industry in ways that will only increase. The high levels of farm efficiency needed to feed 9 billion people by midcentury will require data-driven mechanization and technological adaptations. http://southeastfarmpress.com/management/big-data-will-change-way-you-farm?page=1
CSIR, MoFA Initiate New Technology to Produce Bakery Products
The Ministry of Agriculture of Ghana has initiated a project meant to develop technology to make composite flour out of various crops including cassava, sweet potato, maize, sorghum, millet, and others. The project aims to reduce dependence on imports of wheat flour, improve food security, and cut postharvest losses. http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2013/09/04/csir-mofa-initiate-new-technology-to-produce-bakery-products/
Running a Farm Business From Your Phone?
A Kenyan company has created an app that tracks deliveries from farm to market. The app, Agrimanagr, monitors inventory, supports mobile payments, and weighs out products with information on the cloud. http://www.bloomberg.com/video/running-a-farm-business-from-your-phone-6gEsyI5YS6u8rYZeomaPtQ.html
Course on Food Security & Grain Storage, Israel
Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation and partnering organizations invite professionals to participate in a training course, ‘Food Security & Grain Storage – Technologies and Management’. The course takes place from December 2-17, and is designed for professionals from academic and extension services. http://www.mladiinfo.com/2013/08/26/course-on-food-security-grain-storage-israel/
Agriculture Needs Technological Solutions
A former Kenyan government official remarks on Rwanda’s progress in leveraging technology to improve agricultural productivity. The introduction of the East African Commodities Exchange (EAX) allows farmers access to trade and financing through use of electronic warehousing receipts. Farmers have greater access to markets, and postharvest losses are reported to have decreased by 5%. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Opinion+and+Analysis/Agriculture+needs+technological+solutions/-/539548/1971484/-/a7ohef/-/index.html
India Approves Food Bill to Subsidize Grain for Poor
The bill will become law if approved by the upper house of the Indian national assembly, the Rajya Sabha. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/27/india-food-bill-grain-poor
17,000 Tonnes of Grain Wasted in 3 Years
A Times of India report states that at least 17,546 tonnes of foodgrains were damaged between 2009-10 and July 2012 in Food Corporation of India godowns. The total food loss of foodgrains, fruits, and vegetables equates to nearly $7 billion per year, estimated to be able to feed 70 million Indians. http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-08-26/news/41455227_1_storage-capacity-foodgrain-tonnes