Ascension Cafe

United Nations humanitarian agencies and partners of the Inter Agency StandingCommittee (IASC) has launched a new humanitarian early warning service Web site, HEWSweb. The Web site displays the latest forecasts, reports and alerts on drought, floods, tropical storms, locust infestation, El Nino, earthquakes and volcanic activity. It has dedicated pages for each of these natural … Read more

Companies and researchers engaged in biopharming – genetically modifying crops to produce drugs and industrial chemicals – need to take a step back if the process is to safely move forward, according to a report.The technology could lead to cheap and abundant production of much-needed vaccines and medical treatments, as well as valuable plastics and … Read more

Batswana have been urged to utilize government assistance programmes and venture into food production for the country to be self-sufficient by 2016. Principal Agricultural Engineer, Dirilwe Matoto said despite government efforts to empower Batswana economically, little effort is being done to produce enough food to feed the country. Officiating at a BAGAKGAKGWE horticultural association open … Read more

The average paddy yields in Sri Lanka were higher than in most countries in Asia except Japan and Indonesia, said Dr Nimal H.E. Sandaratne. “However the costs of products in Sri Lanka were much higher than in the large rice producing countries Like Burma, Thailand and Vietnam,” he said.“Most significantly, average rice yields in the … Read more

The Ministry of Agriculture has allocated $20 million for the development of the organic agriculture industry over the next three years. The allocation, the ministry said, is to allow the local industry to tap into the international organic market, which is estimated to value US$25 billion. Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, who made the announcement at … Read more

Human compost boosts harvests in Mozambique The more than 2,500 residents of Mozambique’s impoverished village of Matimangwe have harnessed the power of their poo to fertilize their crops, and the village is now on the road to sustainable food production and development. Thanks to a human-waste compost latrine system called EcoSan, villagers have seen a … Read more

Did you know that even in land scarce Singapore, there are more than 50 vegetable farms producing mainly leafy vegetables. And more than 80% of the leafy vegetables produced are derived from soil cultivation under protective netting which protects the vegetables underneath. There are 6 agro-technology parks in Singapore, located in Lim Chu Kang, Murai, … Read more

Yuan Longping wants to share technology with other countriesIt’s not often that one person can be said to be responsible for feeding 60 million people. But then Yuan Longping has never been an ordinary person. Yuan, 74, a Chinese agricultural scientist, is widely acknowledged as having discovered the genetic basis of heterosis in rice – … Read more

Twenty-three African countries face food emergencies despite normal or above-average food production in others during 2004, says the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).In its latest report, the UN agency said food security in sub-Saharan Africa has been hit by several factors, including drought, invasions by crop-devouring locusts and civil conflicts. According to the … Read more

A gift of dependency? American GM corn is unloaded in hungry Malawai, leading to concern about the future.From disease to civil strife, Sub-Saharan Africa has a host of troubles. But in the last five years, the problem of hunger also has come to the top of the list of woes. Developed countries have responded both … Read more