Sierra Leone: Agriculture & Poverty Alleviation in Sierra Leone (1)

 PA BAIMBA SESAY Formation of policies is paramount to the success of a given government's programme. In a 2006 "Agriculture Sector Review" conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh, there was this crucial aspect of poverty alleviation through agricultural development, which they said was "the fundamental goal we seek to realize through efficient and equitable service delivery to the farmers. To be specific, we are interested in that aspect of governance that deals with the formulation of policies relating to various services to the farmers and their successful implementation at the local level." (Read: Volume IV of "Agriculture...

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Monsoon situation: growers advised to take precautionary measures

The Met Office on Monday advised the growers to take timely necessary measures to protect their crops and livestock while keeping in view the continued monsoon situation in the country. The office in its 10-advisory also urged the farmers of Cotton Belt to irrigate their crop as per requirement as rainy weather is likely to prevail on the belt after September 5. Farmers are advised to stop irrigation of maize crop in the upper half areas, including the agricultural plains of Punjab and Khyber Pakhunkhwa as rain has been forecast. It said that during the hot and humid weather, farmers of the Cotton Belt are asked to take precautionary measures...

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Agricultural event attempts to tackle most dangerous industry in UK

A series of safety demonstrations are due to be staged at this years Livestock 2012 which opens today. This new initiative comes following statistics showing that on average one farmer dies through injuries sustained at work each week in the UK. Fatal accidents are 12 times more likely in agriculture than other industries, this figure remains consistent. Livestock 2012 is a leading agricultural event, running on the 4th and 5th September this year attracting 16,000 people. One farmer who knows the importance of safety is James Chapman, he lost his arm in 2005 when he was working on a friend's farming machinery. Farmer James Chapman lost...

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Palm oil edges up on exports, Bernanke remarks

 Malaysian crude palm oil futures rose on Monday, following strong exports last month and after US Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke kept the door open for further stimulus that could prop up global growth and support commodity demand. Palm oil exports posted a gain of 18 percent in August from a month ago to the highest level this year, cargo surveyor Intertek Testing Services said on Friday, in part boosted by the edible oil's huge discount to competing soyoil. "Exports were very good, the market is going for a temporary upward trend," said a trader with a foreign commodities brokerage in Malaysia. "Bear in mind that soyoil is still...

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Russian grain export prices to rise further

 Russia's grain export prices are expected to rise further this week after Egypt, the world's biggest wheat importer, bought 240,000 tonnes of Russian wheat this weekend. Egypt's General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) agreed to buy Russian wheat from Venus, Glencore and Soyuz during its fourth international wheat purchase since the July 1 start of the 2012/13 fiscal year. "Last Saturday' GASC tender confirmed the fact that Russian wheat remains the most competitive... (Russian) grain prices may strengthen slightly this week," Dmitry Rylko, the head of the Institute for Agricultural...

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Qld agricultural colleges to remain open

TWO Queensland agricultural colleges will remain open despite their serious financial troubles, the state government says. Agriculture Minister John McVeigh announced on Tuesday the Emerald Agricultural College and the Longreach Pastoral College will remain open. The state government-owned Australian Agricultural College Corporation operates both colleges, a sustainable agricultural centre in Mareeba, a crop and grain training centre in Dalby and a cane growers training site in Mackay. A spokeswoman for Mr McVeigh told AAP the government could not rule out closing some of the corporation's operations but so far decisions have only been...

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PTI leader opposes mega project on agriculture lands

NOWSHERA: A local leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday said that some influential government representatives from Mardan were in bid to grab the fertile lands from the residents of several villages in the Nowshera district on throw-away prices to resell it for the so-called mega city project. Speaking at a meeting of the villagers belonging to the Misri Banda, Maira Misri Banda, Nandrako and Pir Sabaq village, PTI leader Siraj Muhammad Khan said the mega city project in Mughalkai area was unacceptable to the residents. He said the livelihood of the villagers depended on agriculture, and they would not let the public representative and his father to grab their source of livelihood.He flayed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government after accusing it of massive corruption...

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Americans help Pak scientists, farmers combat cotton disease

ISLAMABAD - Five American scientists traveled to Pakistan to help Pakistani scientists and farmers combat cotton disease, which has infected cotton throughout Pakistan’s cotton belt and can substantially reduce yields and farmers incomes. American and Pakistani scientists, in coordination with Pakistan’s Ministry of Textile and Industry and the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), organized a workshop on “Enhancing Cotton Germplasm, improving Resistance to Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) Disease supporting Cotton (BMPs) for small farmers and Capacity Building of Pakistani Cotton Reserachers” at National...

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Koreans ready for joint ventures in agriculture

ISLAMABAD - South Korean investors on Monday showed interest for joint ventures in agriculture sector, as Pakistani mangoes have great demand in South Korean markets.A delegation of South Korean investors, led by Lee Jae Ho, visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) for B2B meetings with Pakistani entrepreneurs having common interest in various fields. Speaking on the occasion, Lee Jae Ho identified a number of areas for mutual co-operation and said that there is a need for enhanced trade ties between Pakistan and South Korea as current volume of trade stood around $1.5 billion which is not up to the mark.Korean investors...

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NBP leads in agriculture credit financing

ISLAMABAD: The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) is leading in agriculture credit financing to other banks and financial institutions in the country by lending Rs 45,789.5 million (106 percent of achievement) among nearly 241,296 farmers as of June 30, 2012, against a target of Rs 43,200 million. According to the spokesman of the bank, Syed Ibne Hassan, NBP’s total outstanding of Rs 41,527.657 million (108 percent of achievement) during one year exceeded by Rs 3027.657 million as of June 30,2012, rising against a target of Rs 38,500 million. He added this becomes possible due to dynamic leadership of NBP President Qamar Hussain and Chief Operating...

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Ensuring better crop per water drop

Estimated to cost Rs36 billion over six years (2011-17), according to official documents, the project would benefit around 132,000 acres, with different streams, which include drip and sprinkle irrigation), laser leveling of soil, rehabilitating and  improving water courses. The project is designed to cut huge water losses in the irrigation system that result in lower water productivity. As per project document, 40 per cent of canal water is lost between mogha (outlet) to field due to poor tertiary conveyance system. Around 20 to 25 per cent water is lost during application in un-even fields. The crop water requirements are not met...

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Bulgaria Agriculture Ministry 'Sells' Mountain Plots For Free - Expert

Bulgaria's Agriculture Ministry has started to sell some 2000 acres of highlandpastures from the State Land Fund for a ridiculous price, Toma Belev, anenvironmentalist from the Zeleni Balkani ("Green Balkans") NGO has announced. The pasture plots in question are located near Mount Midzhur in the western part of the Stara Planina ("Balkan") Mountain, and are being sold by the BulgarianAgriculture Ministry at a BGN 0.1 per square meter, Belev alarmed. His statement comes in the wake of an announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food that they will put up for...

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