Ascension Cafe

Renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan called for empowering farmers with knowledge and skill to make India hunger free. “We need to cover the entire country with the right infrastructure and empower the farmer community,” said Swaminathan, chairman of the National Commission on Famrers (NCF). He cited the recent project launched by the prime minister making … Read more

Developed countries fear giving up the security of basic food production, while transitioning and developing countries are motivated at becoming self-sufficient and even exporters.Global rice, wheat and coarse grains stocks as a percent of consumption have fallen to dangerously low levels that have not been experienced in several decades, with the global marketplace seemly paying … Read more

A production system that requires no electricity, generator or running water has been created for food applications in the developing world. The innovative system has been developed by small Canadian-based non-profit organization, Malnutrition Matters, which focuses on food technology applications in developing countries. The charity believes that the VitaGoat system demonstrates how simple innovations in … Read more

Christian Aid is concerned about the possible effects of genetically modified (GM) crops on developing countries and on the poor in those countries – so many of whom depend on agriculture for their livelihoods and an adequate and reliable food supply.Our first contribution to the GM debate, Selling Suicide: Farming, False Promises and Genetic Engineering … Read more

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