How to start goat raising

Do you want to start a commercial goat raising project? You say you have a lot of money so you think you can start a huge project right away. Not necessarily so, according to Ben Rara who was the main speaker at the Agri-Kapihan at the AANI at St. Vincent Seminary in Quezon City last Saturday.

Ben is a goat and sheep raiser in Pandi, Bulacan and also has a farm in Bukidnon. He is the president of the Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers Associations of the Philippines, Inc. (FGASPAPI).

After hearing about the big demand for goat meat not only in the Philippines but also abroad, one at-tendee stood up and wanted to find out if there is a complete book or technoguide that can provide every-thing as his reference in his venture. The fellow appeared to have the financial resources to launch a big goat project.

Ben cautioned the attendees that having a huge financial resource is not enough. The first requirement, Ben said, is the genuine interest of the fellow to go into goat raising. He should ask his own self if he will be able to sustain his interest in the business.

Ben also advised the attendees that before spending a big amount on the new project, one should get acquainted first with the basics of goat production. He should familiarize himself with the different breeds of goat and what each is good for. He should study different housing styles, nutrition and feeding, forage crops, breeding cycles, artificial insemination, upgrading and the like. He could acquire these information by reading, attending seminars and trade shows, trainings by private and government institutions. He could become a member of the goat association nearest to his place.

There is no complete book that will give everything that is applicable to every situation. That’s because there are a lot of differences as to the resources of each proponent. The places of production differ in many ways because of distance to the market, weather conditions, peace and order situation, availability of labor and other inputs, etc.

Of course, Ben did not mean that the investor should be an expert in everything about goats. But the fellow should keep on studying the developments in the industry.

After assuring himself of his commitment to the business and having studied the basics in goat farming, the fellow will have enough confidence and he will be able to come up the needed financing, Ben said. If he does not have his own capital, he would be confident enough to borrow from the lending agencies, including relatives and friends.

Meanwhile, Ben invited the Agri- Kapihan attendees and others interested in goats and sheep to attend the 5th National Goat and Sheep Congress which will be held on March 22-24 at Stotsenberg Hotel in Clark, Pampanga.

Aside from the seminars on timely topics, there will be a showcase of island-born goats to show to the visitors the result of the upgrading of the native stocks. The result of triple crossing could be one of those to be showcased. One study with excellent result is the mating of the native goat with a purebred Anglo Nubian. The female offspring is next mated to a Boer buck to produce goats that are heavier.

There will also be a competition for island-born goats and sheep to come up with the Best Buck in the show, Best Ram, Best Doe and Best Ewe. Body conformation will receive a heavy weight.

The Manila Bulletin 

Newspaper Online

Pakistan’s first biological treatment plant

Majeed Keerio is a small village in the outskirts of Nawabshah, where local residents for the last 700 years have mainly worked as farmers or livestock herders.


A few years ago, through the prime minister’s programme, a drainage system was constructed in the village. Suddenly the village’s narrow streets were lined with open drains that were meant to take away dirty waste water from homes into proper waste water treatment plants. This never happened. Due to mismanagement and corruption, these open drains soon became clogged with plastic bags, over flowing every time it rained and pooling up outside homes.


Fed-up of these pools of stagnant water, a site for countless diseases and dangers, a local NGO decided to take action. Ameen Keryo, is the CEO of Sindhica Reforms Society, and with help from UN Habitat and WWF-Pakistan he set up Pakistan’s first biological waste water treatment plant. A low energy, completely natural water treatment plant, which is in wide use in Australia and Europe, has finally been introduced in Pakistan.


Although, hoping to do good with this treatment plant, Keryo and his teams still face the ire of villagers who complain that drains still get blocked and overflow into their homes. Keryo’s response is that it is not his NGO’s responsibility to clean up the drainage system rather the local government must step in.


Although water is being treated, there is a need for communication with local government and villagers to fix a drainage system that was constructed and left to decay in Majeed Keerio.


In the meantime, Keryo and his team, continue to treat as much waste water as they can from the village into clean water enough to water two acres of farming fields. They have also set the groundwork for 14 more biological treatment plants across Pakistan and hope to have them competed by 2013.


In this video, Keryo explains how the entire system works. – Sara Faruqi

Dawn.com 

Setting up organic kitchen gardens in Pune

IT professional Animesh Topno with his daughter at the kitchen garden on his terrace. The garden is a fine balance of flowers and seasonal veggies

The terrace at Animesh Topno’s house used to serve as a place to dry clothes, until he came across a presentation on organic kitchen gardening. The area is now home to spinach, broccoli, methi (fenugreek leaves), tomato, basil, beetroot, cucumber, carrot, radish, onion and other veggies. Topno, a project manager in an IT firm, is the latest convert to the current trend of organic kitchen gardening, in the city. With reports of existence of pesticides in fruits, vegetables and food items becoming a regular feature in newspapers and magazines, many, like Topno, are turning to get their hands dirty and are setting up their own organic kitchen garden.

A kitchen garden is not a new concept for Punekars, with many of them growing up in big houses with a tree of chikoo, custard apple, guava, and harvesting seasonal veggies and herbs.

However, what’s new is the drive to go organic. Simply put, organic produce translates into no harm to the plant, soil or the environment. The followers of the organic sect do not use any chemical fertiliser or pesticide. Armed with neem oil pesticide, gobar khaad (cow dung manure), and vermicompost the environment-friendly brigade, which includes CEOs of companies and housewives alike, is growing stronger in the city.

Why they switch

For most it’s the pesticides that are found in vegetables in the market, for others it’s the ever rising prices of vegetables and fruits, which leads them to become organic kitchen gardeners. Topno, however, wanted to use the space on his terrace. “I have a bungalow. While on the ground floor garden I have planted flowers, I wanted to use the terrace for gardening too,” says the NIBM resident who started with common herbs like coriander which ‘one usually runs out of’.

Owner of a big outdoor space (2,000 sq ft), Shrikant Pittie, wanted to utilise the slope area of his house on the river bank in Koregaon Park. “It’s hard to get good quality produce at the market. Whatever is available is laced with pesticides and chemicals. Thus the move to go organic,” says Pittie, CEO and president of Solar Energie Technik Ltd.

For Anupama Patil, a Kothrud resident, it was her daughter who got the kitchen garden installed on their terrace. “My daughter is very environmentally conscious. She keeps updating herself with new ways to be eco-friendly. While researching once, she came to know about organic produce and its benefits,” says Patil, who believes if one wants to eat organic, one might as well grow one’s own. Today, her 1,500 sq ft garden features vegetables like spinach, okra, potato, coriander and more. Happy with the results, Patil now intends to turn her farmhouse in Peacock Bay into an organic farming area.

Anil Sohoni, a building contractor, has a long association with home-grown produce. The sexagenarian has been gardening and harvesting brinjals, coconut, mango, gourds, beans, chikoo and other fruits and veggies since 1980. “The body that the plant/tree receives from organic farming is tremendous. And that translates into the taste of the produce,” says Sohoni, who also makes his own manure through a vermicompost unit.

The benefits of organic farming

Apart from the obvious reason that organic produce means no pesticides or chemicals, what draws some to organic gardening is that the produce is richer in nutrients. Vaibhav Dugar, co-founder of Ek Titli, an organisation which helps farmers and city residents set up organic kitchen gardens in their houses or farms, says, “It has been proven that the nutrient and mineral content in organic produce is up to 400% higher. Another major reason to go organic is the fatality of pesticides. Of all the pesticide that is sprayed, only 1% reaches the target pest, the rest goes into the food chain. That’s reason enough to go organic.” He also adds that the pesticides harm not only the pest but also humans and the ecosystem (birds and bees) at large.

Many studies support the concept of organic produce being more nutritious, richer in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids than non-organic foods. More nutrition would mean better health and immunity. But what stands out is the taste. “There is a remarkable difference in the taste of organic vegetables vis-a-vis non-organic ones,” says Patil adding “Also you are sure of what is going inside your system.” On a lighter note she says, “It has also attracted a lot of visitors. Many of my daughters’ friends come home to see and water the garden.”

Topno recounts the first time he harvested spinach from his kitchen garden, “I can’t forget that fragrance. It was so fresh and different. And naturally so, the taste too was very rich,” says Topno who finds the process of sowing-nurturing-harvesting an 

extremely rewarding and satisfying.

Rajanish Joshi, an IT professional, vouches for organic vegetables. “It is easy to grow, it promotes a healthier environment and the taste is way better than commercial veggies,” says Joshi who has turned his 20X8 ft balcony into a small garden. He, however, has no complaints, “Space is a constraint, but I am extremely content with what I am doing.”

5 facts about fish farming

Here are five facts about the glory and challenges of fish farming. Fish farming and aquaculture has really stepped up due to the demand for the world’s fish consumption, but maybe not in the most sustainable manner like Linda Thornton.

1.) It’s polluting our water

It seems as though large fish farm like to cram fish to live in very tight spaces. A large amount of fish would lead to a large amount of waste produced by the fish. Also, the unfavorable conditions often lead to disease. Fish farmers tend to treat the disease and infection with harmful antibiotics which further harm the surrounding waterways.

2.) It brings untested chemicals to your dinner plate

It seems as though many of the antibiotics used to treat diseases on foreign fish farms are commonly made of chemical banned in the US. Since there is no regulation often these harmful chemicals make their way to your dinner table.

3.) It’s tearing apart mangroves

Shrimp farmers are tearing apart the mangroves to make way for their new crop of this popular crustacean. However, this destroys a delicate nursery ground for many local fish species. In turn this depletion in resources severely affects local economies. What makes matters worse is that often these shrimp farms are abandoned in order to find better producing areas.

4.) It’s often counter-productive

Fish farms can be tough to maintain, especially for salmon and other carnivorous species. They tend to eat more food than they actually produce! This is turn leads to a lot of waste that can disturb the balance of the surrounding waterways.

5.) It does good things!

Some fish farms raise species that are actually clear out pollutants from the water. Bivalves (oysters, mussels, etc.) are filter feeders and cleanse their aquatic habitat! Also, tilapia are herbivores and do not require as much input as the carnivorous farmed fish need.

The post is originally publised here.

Green papaya, an excellent vegetable

MANILA, Philippines -- It is a fruit, it is a vegetable, it’s everywhere at all seasons. The papaya, which Filipinos consider ordinary and common, is hard to match in versatility, availability, nutrition, affordability and universal appeal.

When ripe, it is delicious and convenient whether eaten plain or mixed with others in a salad. With natural sweetness, ripe papaya requires no additional sugar and could be served straight from the tree. Its creamy texture makes the ripe fruit a perfect ingredient for smoothies, sorbets, and shakes. Sliced in half with the pulp scooped out, the shell becomes a natural “boat” or serving bowl for fruits and dips.

As a vegetable, green and unripe, papaya is often under-utilized in many Filipino kitchens, where its use is limited to only two dishes: achara (sweet-sour pickle) and tinola (gingered chicken soup). Ask for a third recipe and many will be hard put to add any more to the very short list, thereby missing out on a very inexpensive way to add nutrients to the family’s diet.

More Protein In Green -- The mature green fruit has higher nutritional properties than the ripe fruit. The green fruit has only 1/3 of the calories of the ripe fruit but has approximately twice as much of highly digestible protein. The green fruit has only 2/3 of the carbohydrates of the sweet ripe fruit. Mature green papaya contains more vitamin A than carrots, more vitamin C than oranges, abundant fiber, vitamin B factors and vitamin E.

Rich In Folate – Folate, also known as folic acid, is a chemically complex vitamin found naturally in foods. It aids fetal development in pregnancy, helps produce red blood cells, prevents anemia, helps skin cells grow, aids nervous system function, prevents bone fractures, and lowers the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A cup of papaya provides 28 percent of one’s daily requirement of folate, almost equal to the amounts in cooked beets and split peas.

Suwam Na Tulya – A Pinoy standard using bivalves: tulya (freshwater green clams), lukan (mangrove giant clams), halaan (sea clams) or tahong (mussels). Broth or water is added to sauted garlic, onion and ginger; sliced green papaya is simmered until almost tender. Clams are added last and served when the clams open. Ground black pepper, boullion cube and leafy vegetables (malunggay, pechay, chili pepper leaves) are sometimes added for extra flavor and nutrients.

Kilawen – This is a cooked kilawen, not to be confused with the raw fish kilawen. The green papaya is cut into thin slices or sticks, sautéed with plenty of garlic, onion and ginger, seasoned with bay leaf, vinegar, salt and coarsely-ground black pepper. Protein is added in the form of small fresh water shrimps called Tagunton. Leftover boiled pork may also be incorporated. Instead of salt, some cooks use raw Bagoong Alamang. In some households, atsuete is added for color. Long green hot peppers add zing.

Ginataang Papaya – Saute smashed garlic, sliced onion and crushed ginger, then add sliced papaya and whole green chili peppers and mix thoroughly until heated. Stir in pure coconut milk, bagoong alamang, small fresh water shrimp, crabs, some leftover boiled pork or salted fish. Lower heat, cover and simmer until papaya is almost tender.

Turn heat on high to reduce and thicken gravy, uncover and stir to prevent scorching. At this point, some add malunggay leaves, chili pepper leaves or shredded pechay. Simmer a few more minutes before serving.

Dinengdeng – Hugas-bigas (rice rinse water) is boiled, seasoned with sliced or mashed ripe tomatoes, onions, and ginger. Sliced green papaya is simmered in the broth for 5 minutes, then joined by green leaves of either saluyot, kalabasa or sitaw. Fish bagoong is used instead of salt. Serve as soon as the leaves are wilted by the boiling broth. If there is any leftover fried or broiled fish in the house, these should be added with the leaves and served atop the vegetables.

Tinolang Daing – A Lenten staple when meat is banned and fresh fish is expensive. Salted dried fish is rinsed to reduce saltiness, then patted dry and fried lightly. Garlic, onion and ginger are sautéed with sliced green papaya until transluscent. Broth is added with the cooked fish, seasoned with ground black pepper, covered and simmered. Green leafy vegetables may be added at the last minute of cooking.

In some parts of the country, the onions and ginger are not sautéed but merely simmered in broth with the papaya and dried fish.

Empanadang Ilocos – A few empanada street vendors in Ilocos Norte use grated green papaya as filling instead of, or in addition to, bare-sprouted mongo. The grated papaya is partially cooked, never used raw.

Papaya-Potato Curry – In some parts of India, green papaya is mixed with potatoes when preparing vegetable or meat curries.

Healthy Thickener – Finely grated green papaya can be added to thicken soups and gravies without adding any unwelcome flavoring. We have used it to give body to Paksiw na Lechon, Menudo, Mechado, and Kare-Kare. On one occasion, we even used papaya to thicken beef stew when we ran out of flour and corn starch.

Gravy too salty? – Green papaya is handy when making soups and gravies, especially when the cook finds out he or she has added too much salt. A few slices of papaya into the pot will absorb a lot of saltiness. Remove the papaya before serving and no one will ever know about the mishap.

For feedback and comments, email to: solvanzi2000@yahoo.com.

Original Post Here

Flood Readiness Actions for Livestock & Cattle

Floods: Preparedness Actions 

• Stockpile and replenish emergency building materials such as sandbags, plastic sheeting, and lumber.
• Keep your car, truck, or other vehicles fueled. If electric power is disrupted, gas station pumps may be out of operation for several days.
• Check your horse or livestock trailers to make sure they are in useable condition.
• Make family and animal evacuation plans.
• If you are in a flash flood area, plan several alternate routes to ensure rapid evacuation.
• If you have a large number of cattle or horses, anticipate the course floodwaters might take.
• Start moving animals in advance of any danger. Even if the evacuation turns out to have been unnecessary, at least you have practiced for the time when it might be necessary.
• Identify ways to keep animals safely confined while they are evacuated and living in a temporary setting.
• Ensure that animals are properly identified—keep a collar and identification tag on pets at all times so that if they get lost during a flood, you have a better chance of getting them back. Ideally tags should also list an out-of-state contact.
• Maintain your animal’s vaccinations against rabies and tetanus.

Floods: Mitigation Measures

• Determine if you are in the floodplain, and if so, purchase flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a Federal program enabling property owners to purchase flood insurance.
• If you graze livestock or horses in floodplains, be prepared to move them to higher ground before low-lying evacuation routes become flooded.
• Consult with your State natural resources department if you plan to alter landscape on your property in such a way that it may affect the flow of water in a flood.
• Consult with your State departments of environmental management or natural resources on how to prevent overflow of manure pits or lagoons into local streams and rivers.
• Construct buildings for the storage of fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, and fuels so that these have minimal chance of contaminating the environment.
• Install check valves in building sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up in sewer drains.

Floods: Response Actions

• Response actions to flooding vary depending on whether the flood is a flash flood or slower rising flood. With a flash flood, seconds may make the difference between life and death. If you hear a flash flood warning on the radio or television, or hear the roar of approaching waters, act immediately.

For a flash flood:

• Head for the nearest high ground without hesitation, bringing with you animals in danger.
• Even if you are not sure where to take your animals, do not leave them behind unless it would compromise your safety.

For a slower rising flood:

• If you must leave an animal behind, ensure that it always has an easy escape route. Never tie an animal up if floods are pending.
• Secure all outdoor items or store them inside on upper levels.
• Move all valuable household possessions to upper levels above rising water.
• Move cars, machinery, and all livestock to higher ground.
• Check emergency food and water supplies and move them to a high-and-dry place.
• Listen to radio announcements from emergency officials. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately. Use only those routes recommended by local authorities. Any other route could be blocked or otherwise made impassable by flooding.
• At the earliest sign of danger, start moving your animals to a safe location.
• If there is time before evacuation, turn off all utilities at the main switch. Do not touch any electrical equipment unless it is in a dry area. Always wear well-insulated rubber footwear and gloves.
• Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road; you can become stranded or trapped. If your car stalls while in flowing water, abandon it immediately, taking with you any animals (unless it would compromise your safety). Cars may only serve as traps in the face of a raging flood.
• Do not attempt to cross flowing water that is above your knees.
• If you are evacuating horses, do not ride them through swift moving, deep water.

Floods: Recovery Tips

• Before horses or livestock are returned to property that has flooded, be sure that all perimeter fences are intact and any debris has been removed.
• Before entering a building or barn:
• Check for structural damage.
• Check for any wildlife that may have gotten trapped inside.
• Open the building and let it air out for several minutes to remove foul odors or escaped gas. Do not use a match or lantern as a source of light because of the possibility of gas buildup. A battery-powered flashlight is recommended.
• Once inside a building:
• Check for electrical shorts and live wires. Make sure the power is turned off and do not use any electricity until an electrician has checked your system. Report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities.
• Open all doors and windows to help dry the building.
• Shovel out mud while it is still moist to give walls and floors an opportunity to dry.
• Consult with your veterinarian, department of agriculture, county extension educator, or State chemist to determine the safety of the feed for animals and products for human consumption. The release of hazardous materials during floods can lead to poisonings in animals that ingest or come into contact with the hazardous materials.
• Do not use food or bedding that has come in contact with floodwaters. Contamination of animal feed can be toxic to animals and humans who consume the meat or milk of cattle that ingest these fungal toxins.
• Do not give animals tap water until it has been boiled or determined safe. Wells should be flushed out and the water tested before drinking.
• In a barn, empty any water containers that contain floodwater, and be sure to clean them with diluted chlorine bleach or some other type of disinfectant before they are used again.

Channeling Halal food potential

Analysis - Halal industry is a fast emerging business in the world, attracting both Muslims and non Muslims, especially non Muslims due to realising the importance of halal food. As expert have opined that they are safer, hygienic, nutritious, having high quality and reliability. Halal food is consumed not only by 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, but also by at least 500 million non-Muslims, which shows that there is a big scope to enter in the halal food industry, to tap the world market. It is estimated that the annual halal food and non food products market is about $2.1 trillion of which about $80 billion is being exploited, which is 5 per cent of total trade of agri-food products. However, halal food trade may have a share of 20 per cent of world trade in food products in near future. While the market for about 1.4 billion Muslims already exists, the demand for halal products is now on the rise across the globe.

Due to lack of awareness about halal products in Pakistan, we hardly have any share in the global market of $600 billion. The Thai consul general in Pakistan said over 1,800 factories are producing 57,000 different halal food products for exports after acquiring Halal Certification from authorities with advanced research facilities. There is great scope of setting joint venture in halal food sector between Pakistan and Thailand. He assured all possible help in setting up joint ventures with Pakistani companies.

Chile a hub for Halal Food

Chile's ambassador in Malaysia said the number of halal certified Chilean companies had grown from 25 to 45 within the first quarter of this year. It was claimed that the country can compete with any country as its halal products are of high quality. Chile had exported many of its halal meat products to other Islamic countries including the Middle East and Muslim African countries. 

Halal units in China

In Ningxia, China, Muslims account for around 38 per cent of the province’s 6.3 million residents. The province recently announced that it had developed a halal industry to accommodate not just the needs of Chinese Muslims but also Muslims in other countries.

Ningxia’s halal food commission said that the province had more than 10,000 factories and restaurants that were certified halal products. The region’s halal industry, which is supported by a high tech laboratory, 15 experts and 300 staffers, was currently worth up to 50 million RMB.

India's Most Favorite Milkman : Verghese Kurien

AHMEDABAD: Way back in 1949, a US-trained metallurgical engineer -- a nephew of the then finance minister John Mathai --decided to quit government job to join a nascent dairy cooperative at a third of salary. Milk procurement of the cooperative has grown from a few hundred litre a day in early 1950s to over 90 lakh litre a day now under one of India's most popular brands 'Amul'. 

Today, the turnover of Amul-led cooperatives stands at Rs 10,000 crore as against less than Rs 1,000 crore in early 1990s. The Amul group now consists of 15 district unions with 30 lakh farmer members in close to 16,000 villages of Gujarat producing over 90 lakh litre milk a day. A majority of its farmer members are women. 

These dairy cooperatives produce and process a range of products such as liquid milk, cheese, curd, milk powder, milk drink, sweets, ice cream, chocolates and butter among others. 

Verghese Kurien, Amul founder and the father of White Revolution, turned 90 on Saturday. For the first time after 2006, the Kurien family witnessed a huge turnout of people at their residence 'Kurien Enclave' as named by the civic body of Anand. 

In 2006, Kurien was compelled to resign by his board members from the chairman's post of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the apex milk marketing cooperative body of the group. 

"In early 1970s, the concept for selfsustenance in animal husbandry was believed could only be achieved by large ranches with hundreds of cattle. At that time, I used to tell people at FAO that we have this man (Kurien) who is getting marginal farmers with only one or two cattle together to make India largest milk producer. Kurien went against the tide and made Amul a very successful model," former Planning Commission member and union minister YK Alagh told ET. 

He finds the Amul model even more relevant in present situation. 

Now, the Amul model has been replicated in several states where brands like Verka, Nandini, Sudha, Mahananda and Saras are dominating the market. The World Bank has identified the Amul model as one of the key tools to fight poverty. GCMMF receives frequent requests from African countries to assist them in replicating the model. Kurien introduced some of the best international technology and practices in Amul that even rivals tried to copy. 

"Kurien got the industry moving and put the Indian dairy industry on world map. During Kurien's stint in the sector, India developed best technology and practices during Operation Flood. However, there is a huge vacuum in the dairy sector since Dr Kurien left some five years ago," said Devendra Shah of Parag Milk Foods that markets Govardhan Ghee and Go Cheese among other premium dairy products.

New agriculturists seek a rich reward

New farmers like Meg Moore at Dirthugger Farm employ techniquesthat look to capture and sustain energy, not deplete it

New farmers aren't old farmers, and "old-school" farmers, figuratively speaking, are a dying breed. I don't necessarily mean aging ones. The average commercial grower now tops 50 years of age, but more concerning than the geriatric demographics of agriculture are "old" farming methods, the commercial system of mass production that flourished in the post-war period of 20th-century industrialization. Because if you look at what they do, those people really aren't farming at all.

Of course, new farmers aren't really farmers either. I call them "New Agriculturists," mostly because they tend to be generalists rather than specialists, but mainly due to the difficulty in calling anyone, in any place, a "farmer" when the basic community that farming depended on — the seed stores, small implement dealers, and small-town epicenters — has been decimated by suburbanization and big-box commercialism. Perhaps one can just conclude that farmers, the really old-school ones, the kind sung about in Old MacDonald and that inspired bucolic landscapes on milk and egg cartons, only exist as lost remnants of a glorified and idealized past.

Meg Moore is a new farmer. She began with little experience and came into it naïve, optimistic, and determined. I don't know the details of her past, but after spending six months sitting next to her in Clemson University's New and Beginning Farmer program, I know what she aims to become. It's not what most people might even consider "farming." Her Dirthugger Farm is only an acre. She is debt free. Conventional farmers, with thousands of acres under the plow, heavily leveraged with the bank, might call it a garden, and besides the standard crops that she sells through a small Community Supported Agriculture operation (in which individuals can pre-buy shares of the upcoming season's crop), she's experimenting with hops, ginger, and turmeric. She gathers her CSA customers for after-parties, which mean beer, music, impromptu dancing, and maybe a bit of helpful weeding after picking up the week's allocation of veggies.

Ask her about the future, and she says, "I see lots of opportunities for bringing the community together with the farm through educational opportunities, agritours, small events, and possibly having therapists come out with the children they are working with to learn in a natural environment."

India: Beyond Bt cotton

There is little to be gained by the industry pointing a finger at the Government for the structural rigidities it has created in the macro economy.

It is ten years now since Bt cotton was first grown commercially on Indian farms. In hindsight, it couldn't have come at a better time, as production of kapas (seed-cotton) was floundering below 14 million bales and the crop, being prone to repeated bollworm pest attacks, had clearly lost its lustre among farmers. Since 2002, the country's output has gone up two-and-half times to over 35 million bales this year, which has been brought about by higher acreages (from under 8 million to nearly 12 million hectares) and also a jump in yields (from an average 300 kg of lint to about 500 kg per hectare). Given the way the textile industry has grown over this period, the role that increased domestic cotton production has played in meeting the sheer demand for the natural fibre should be obvious to anyone. So should be the fact of it having largely to do with Bt cotton, which today covers well over 90 per cent of the total area under the crop (from zero till 2001). No technology other than the mobile phone has arguably spread this fast, and to believe this would have happened without it delivering value is to insult the Indian farmer's intelligence.

That said, it is time one looked beyond Bt. This was something that even the scientists, who gathered in Mumbai at the Fifth World Cotton Research Conference mid of November 11, seemed to suggest. This is more so, considering that the last three or four years have seen yields stagnate, if not fall from the peak 550 kg reached in 2007. Cotton farmers are now grappling with new pests such as pink bollworm and jassids. The leaf curl virus, imported from Pakistan, has reportedly developed into a new form that scientists fear could pose more problems in the years to come. Further, there is the need to develop drought tolerant hybrids/varieties especially for the rainfed areas, besides those amenable to mechanical picking in view of rising labour costs. Of equal concern is the loss of indigenously cultivated varieties like Bengal Desi, which have almost completely given way to Bt hybrid monocultures. Their valuable germplasm needs to be preserved for future exigencies.

The other issue calling for some attention is of the textile industry engaging with growers and breeders in co-creating value in cotton cultivation. The industry has been, rightly perhaps, accused of complaining a lot and doing little in terms of working with either farmers or scientists to come out with better agronomics, resulting in lower cost or better quality fibre. There is little to be gained by the industry pointing a finger at the Government for the structural rigidities it has created in the macro economy. They are here to stay, at least, for the medium term. What must, however change, is a situation where, despite the availability of cheaper cotton, the Indian textile industry should lag a mile behind China, with even the likes of Bangladesh and Vietnam surging ahead!

The Hindu

Corn gene may improve biofuel production

(Autos.ca) Berkeley, California – Researchers in California, including those from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute, have produced a genetically-engineered plant that could improve biofuel production.

The researchers introduced a corn gene into switchgrass, a non-food plant highly touted as a potential feedstock for advanced biofuels. The gene more than doubles the amount of starch in the plant’s cell walls and makes it much easier to extract polysaccharides and convert them into fermentable sugars that can be synthesized into fuel. The gene keeps the switchgrass in its juvenile phase of development, preventing it from advancing to the adult phase, when it becomes more difficult to extract the polysaccharides.

The modified plant has lower levels of lignin, a tough woody material that locks in the polysaccharides as the plant ages, and higher levels of glucose and other sugars when compared to wild switchgrass.

Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant organic material on earth and studies have consistently shown that biofuels derived from it could be produced in the U.S. in a sustainable fashion and replace current gasoline, diesel and jet fuels on a gallon-for-gallon basis. Unlike ethanol made from grains, the fuels would be carbon-neutral and not exacerbate global climate change.

Switchgrass is a perennial grass that is salt- and drought-tolerant, can flourish on marginal cropland, does not compete with food crops, and requires little fertilization. A key to its use in biofuels is making it more digestible to fermentation microbes. The researchers believe that keeping the plants in their juvenile stage should make it easier to break them down into fermentable sugars, and since they don’t make seed, more starch should be available for making biofuels. The corn gene also prevented the switchgrass from flowering even after more than two years of growth, which the researchers said limits the risk of the genetically-modified switchgrass from spreading genes into the wild switchgrass population.

Biotech innovation keeps Taiwan’s aquarium fish sector bubbling

By  Meg Chang

While seldom in the spotlight except when the annual Taiwan International Ornamental Fish Exposition is held in the capital city of Taipei, Taiwan’s aquarium fish sector is in fact a perfect example of the country’s agricultural leadership and biotechnological innovation, and accordingly was targeted for strategic development by the ROC government in 2009.

The successful creation of blood parrots in 1986 established Taiwan as the kingdom of cichlids. (Courtesy of Chu Tah-wei)

“Given its relatively modest input cost, lower resource consumption and high output value, the sector is an ideal candidate for high-end agriculture, one of Taiwan’s six designated emerging industries,” said Chu Tah-wei, chairman of the Department and Graduate Institute of Aquaculture at National Kaohsiung Marine University, during an interview with Taiwan Today Nov. 7.

According to Council of Agriculture statistics, Chu said, Taiwan’s aquarium fish sector has been growing at an annual rate of 10 percent since 2001, with output amounting to NT$316 million (US$10.5 million) in 2010. Exports of fish stock reached NT$113 million in the same year, or roughly 1 percent of the global share estimated at US$317 million.

There are over 220 aquaculture farms in the nation dedicated to breeding such fish, with most of them located in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City and Pingtung County. African cichlids are the leading breed, accounting for 33 percent of total production, followed by blood parrot cichlids at 25 percent and other South American cichlids at 20 percent.

“Despite its limited global share, Taiwan is recognized as a top-notch supplier of premium fish in the world,” Chu pointed out. While most stocks raised in Taiwan are foreign species, the country is able to cultivate more than 400 different kinds of fish on a regular basis, thanks to the advanced breeding skills of local farmers. Taiwan’s agreeable climate is also a natural advantage, the expert said. “Fish raised in Taiwan easily stand out among their peers from Southeast Asian nations or even their homelands.”

Orders for aquarium fish often come with a diverse mix in low volume, and as a result, the ability to supply an assortment of species and make prompt delivery is a crucial requirement in the business, Chu said. “In this regard, Taiwan is widely considered one of the best one-stop-shopping locations,” he noted, adding that local exporters’ advanced packaging technologies also ensure that the damage rate is kept under 5 percent during transportation.

Given its long history in aquaculture, Taiwan has developed a well-established supply chain second to none in the world. “The efficient intra-sector division of labor and the ability to quickly adapt to market developments have combined to make Taiwan a respected contender in this increasingly popular industry,” he said.

There have been several major breakthroughs in the sector’s development over the years, the scholar said. The year 1986 represents a milestone with the successful breeding of blood parrot cichlids, a cross-species hybrid of Amphilophus citrinellus and Cichlasoma synspilum. “This creature not only established Taiwan as a leader in breeding technology, it also inspired fish growers in other nations to engage in similar efforts,” Chu explained.

Another achievement came in 2001 when New Taipei City-based Taikong Group successfully produced the world’s first genetically modified fluorescent fish. The glowing animal was selected by Time magazine as one of the 40 coolest inventions of 2003, further strengthening Taiwan’s leadership when it comes to breeding innovative ornamental fish.

The sector has also been greatly boosted by Taiwan breeders’ outstanding performance in international fish competitions, according to Chang Ya-shan, who won this year’s Taiwan International Ornamental Fish Competition with his champion discus.

“Taiwan was the overall winner of the first International Discus Championship held in 1996 in Duisburg, Germany, the most important event of its kind in the world, and continued to dominate the biennial competition in 2004, 2006 and 2008,” he said. Chang himself was a winner of the 2008 event.

“These titles not only represent personal achievements, they also help reinforce the impression that Taiwan is a production center of ornamental fish of the highest quality in the world,” the champion breeder said.

This champion discus raised by Chang Ya-shan is the winner of the 2011 Taiwan International Ornamental Fish Competition. (Courtesy of Chang Ya-shan)

“Fish grown in Taiwan usually sell for twice the global average prices given their overall superior quality,” said Wang Sen-chung, secretary-general of the Taiwan Ornamental Fish Association. “Anyone with a little experience can appreciate the brighter colors and much more beautiful body shapes of Taiwan’s aquarium fish,” he said. “It is fair to compare the local breed to designer clothing in the fashion industry.”

According to Wang, Taiwan is also a top producer of various peripherals such as aquarium tanks, aquatic plants, fish feed, health supplements and life support systems. “The country’s output of these items is even higher than that of fish stock, and local suppliers are often the spotlight at international fish shows,” he said.

“The problem is that most local firms operate as contract manufacturers for foreign brands and can only secure a small share of the profit margins,” Wang pointed out. “It is not easy to create a brand name, but this is definitely the path local firms should choose for long-term development.”

Despite these obvious advantages, a number of hurdles are hampering the sector’s expansion, according to the three experts. “The lack of additional freight capacity to transport fish stock is one of the major culprits,” Wang pointed out. While Taiwan is ideally located closer than its Southeast Asian rivals to major markets such as Japan, mainland China and the U.S., fish exporters often find it difficult to secure enough freight services during the holiday seasons.

The problem is even more serious for shipments to Europe, Wang added. Unlike the situation in Singapore, the exporting hub for shipments from Southeast Asian nations, only a few airline companies offer direct flight services between major European cities and Taiwan, and this constraint has put Taiwan at a great disadvantage in efforts to promote business in Europe.

Farming ornamental fish requires a lot more know-how than growing other agricultural products, and the higher technological barriers are keeping newcomers from joining the race, according to Chu. “Many aquarium operators have been unable to expand their business because there is simply no additional land available to build more farms,” he added. Higher production costs are also undermining Taiwan’s competitiveness in the lower-end market, Chang said.

Other than organizing major trade shows and helping promote overseas markets, the government can do more to assist the local sector, Chu said. “For example, the COA should help fish farms and exporters conform to international standards and pass the required quality assurance standards.”

Chu also sees further regulatory easing on introducing new species to the country as an important part of the sector’s development strategy. “This will allow farmers to create more species that can really showcase Taiwan’s pedigree in breeding ornamental fish,” he said. “This will help differentiate Taiwan from its rivals and help ensure the country’s leadership in the long run.” (HZW)

Taiwan Today

Chicken Jerky Treats Linked to Illnesses in Dogs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about chicken jerky for dogs, saying some products imported from China may be associated with 70 reports of dogs who became ill or died.  That number is up from 54 reports last year, the agency indicated.

The FDA has not determined that the jerky definitely caused any of the illnesses and hasn’t identified a specific cause, despite testing a number of different products for potential contamination.  The agency has no plans to issue any recalls and is continuing to test different types of treats, and testing is ongoing.  The FDA could provide no brand names of products that are being tested.

Dog owners who feed their pets these types of treats should monitor them for signs of serious illness, including decreased appetite, a lower level of activity, vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), increased water intake or increased urination.

Chicken jerky products, sold as chicken tenders, strips or treats originally came to the FDA’s attention in late 2007 after 156 dogs became ill, and they issued a preliminary warning in 2008.  The number of reported illnesses dropped off in 2009 and 2010 but increased over the past year, prompting the latest warning.

Officials said the upswing in cases is probably due to increased publicity after Canada issued a similar warning earlier this year since dog owners and veterinarians are more likely to report illnesses after information becomes public.

Anyone who wants to report a potential jerky-related illness can go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Pakistan Develops Another High Yield Rice Variety

Agriculture scientist claims to have developed world’s highest rice yield variety

By Muhammad Sadaqat

A Hazara-based agriculture scientist claims to have developed the world’s highest rice yield variety. This specific rice plant’s leaves would remain green even after the maturity of grains due to prolonged photosynthetic activity and therefore they could also be used as fodder.

Dr Fida Muhammad Abbasi, a professor of Genetics at Hazara University, told The Express Tribune on Thursday, that the existing varieties do not produce more than five tons per hectare, however the new variety would yield 12 tons per hectare. These would also mature 20 days earlier than the existing local species. Talking about benefits of early maturity, he said it would enable farmers to cultivate potatoes soon after the rice harvest.

Abbasi said that agriculture scientists from across the globe including China and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have been striving to genetically engineer a productive variety- Green Super Rice. He said existing panicles produce about 250 to 300 grains while the remaining grains are empty.

He started work on the project about nine years ago and carried out breeding experiments on the existing local rice plants including wild rice Oryza longistminata, JP-5, Basmati 385 and KS-282. After making all possible crosses and selection,

he claims that the rice plant has been successfully developed.

Describing the traits of the newly developed variety, he said that the its leaves would remain green due to continuous photosynthetic activity and increase the number of grains per panicle from 600-700. The length of the panicle has also been increased up to 40-47cm, which is a world record.

Abbasi called the new variety environment friendly due to its prolonged photosynthetic activities and resistance to bacterial blight. If grown on 10 acres of land, the newly discovered variety would fulfil the need of rice growers of the entire Hazara District, he added.

The new variety would be ready for sowing and marketing by next year. Regarding government support for the project the professor said that the Directorate of Science and Technology Pakistan approved a grant of Rs 400,000 for the project, after repeated requests, which he had still not received.

Abbasi said, “I bore all the expenses of the research myself and my hard work has finally borne fruit.” He said that the IRRI had invited him to Taiwan for discussing the new development.

The Express Tribune

The Water Bomb

For those of us who feel that the piling up of nuclear arsenal in itself threatens the future of South Asia, are blatantly mistaken. The policy makers, the intermediaries and the stakeholders are all convinced that peace will be sustainable only when the Kashmir issue between Pakistan and India is addressed, however the problem has now escalated beyond merely the Kashmir dispute. According to a World Bank report, water scarcity in South Asia, is expected to reach unprecedented levels in the coming years. It explained that as demand rises, with the 1.5 billion strong population growing almost by 1.7 per cent each year, it is almost like dropping the entire population of North Korea on the region every year. 

Add this to the long list of woes of Pakistan that is combating terrorism, radicalisation, political uncertainty, economic crisis, power shortage, fiscal mismanagement, and any other predicament humanly imaginable. As the economies of South Asia, grow every year the growth comes at the cost of feeding the rising demand of food. Industries, require water, agriculture requires water, food requires water, and power generation requires water. 

Pakistan’s storage capacity of water presently stands at approximately 9 per cent of average annual flows, compared with the average world capacity of 40 per cent. Add this to the fact that by 2030, Pakistan will be the 5th largest populous country of the world and you find yourself in dire straits. To top it off, India’s construction of Baglihar dam that Pakistan alleges is being built with gated spillways in violation of the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty, will give the neighbouring regional rival greater control over Pakistani waters. 

Former water expert of the World Bank, John Briscoe who advises Pakistan on water issues said, “The Baglihar decision allowed a reservoir on a river coming into Pakistan, and now a precedent is set.” The water bomb in Pakistan is ticking with every passing second, as the water reserves are fast depleting. According to estimates, water availability is expected to decrease to 800 cubic meters by 2020, from 5000 cubic meters in 1947. 

Intriguingly the per MW cost of electricity produced from the Baglihar project is much higher than the average per MW cost elsewhere in India. Moreover, studies estimate that for the Baglihar dam to produce 900 MW of electricity, it would require 860 cumecs of water, however flows of Chenab reduce considerably in winters, so much so that flow in winters reduces to up to 50 cumecs. Reports indicate that India has built 14 hydropower plants on Chenab and is in the process of building more projects that will eventually enable it to completely block water of the Chenab river for almost a month. 

According to a report published by the US Senate in February this year, the cumulative effect of the 33 plus projects of India, at various stages of completion on the rivers that affect this region, ‘could give India the ability to store enough water to limit the supply to Pakistan at crucial moments in the growing season.’

The latest row between the two countries is over the Kishanganga hydropower project, where the complicated design entails India diverting waters of Neelum, some 22 km down a mountain tunnel to turbines, clearly in violation of the IWT. There are almost 5000 dams in India, whereas Pakistan boasts of a figure that barely exceeds 20 dams. As far as India is concerned, in the case of controversial dams, it seems that the arch rival will get away happy in the end, as the international arbitration that took place in Hague permitted Indian design, despite ordering suspension of its construction for certain assessments. Regardless, India will most probably finish the dam before Pakistan constructs the Neelum project downstream. 

While many drone about the need for cultural exchange to promote harmony between the neighbouring countries, such harmony cannot be fostered in the presence of an existential threat to the survival of the people of the region. Pakistan’s concerns over water are habitually dismissed in the International media, claiming that these are merely excuses to pick a fight with India, but the water bomb of region has the potential to set the spark for a localised conflict with far reaching repercussions. 

By:Ali Rizvi

The writer is News Editor, Profit. He can be reached at ali.rizvi7957@gmail.com