Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Customers warned against antibiotics in meat, milk
"Drug resistance in body can lead to health problems."

By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
Published: 00:00 April 1, 2010


The food authorities in the UAE have sophisticated lab equipment to trace antibiotics.
Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News


Abu Dhabi: "While purchasing meat and milk, if you detect the smell of a medicine or chemical in them, you should report the matter to authorities as that could be [from] antibiotics", an expert in veterinary science told Gulf News yesterday.

"Consuming meat and milk containing antibiotics can cause ‘antibiotic resistance' in humans which can lead to serious health problems", Dr Rashid Daif Allah, General Manager, Emirates Modern Poultry Company in Dubai, said.

Foolproof

Although UAE's food safety authorities have a fool-proof mechanism to check the antibiotic content in meat and milk that enters the market, customers' awareness will help the authorities, he said.

Daif Allah spoke to Gulf News on the sidelines of a workshop, titled The use of antibiotics in animal production farms, organised by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) yesterday.

Daif Allah, a speaker at the workshop, said that smell is the only indicator through which customers may be able to detect antibiotics in meat and milk, otherwise traced in the blood of animals.

"The food authorities in the UAE have sophisticated lab equipment to trace antibiotics", he said.

The ability of bacteria and other microorganisms to withstand an antibiotic to which they were once sensitive to is called antibiotic or drug resistance. According to the World Health Organisation, its consequences are severe.

Infections caused by resistant microbes, that fail to respond to treatment, result in prolonged illnesses and a greater risk of death.

Daif Allah said that the UAE food authorities ensure that animal farms follow the stipulated ‘withdrawal period' — the time antibiotics take to disappear from animals' bodies — before slaughtering or milking. "The withdrawal period is prescribed by drug manufacturers and varies from drug to drug. It is minimum three days to 10 days before slaughtering and milking, he said.

Ahmad Al Tunaiji, director of animal and plant health division, ADFCA, said that animals farms in Abu Dhabi were free from the excessive use of antibiotics.

Dr Elniema A Mustafa, head of animal health unit, ADFCA said that his unit collects samples from farms to ensure that they do not use antibiotics in excess and follow the withdrawal period before slaughtering or milking.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/health/customers-warned-against-antibiotics-in-meat-milk-1.606142
Food and water scarce by 2020

31 March 2010
The Gulf will face serious shortages of water, energy and food in the next ten years, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said yesterday. The EIU said that GCC governments need to start working now to meet forecast surges in demand caused by a population increase of 30 per cent to 50 million people by 2020 and a soaring gross domestic product. Water is already a scarce resource in the Gulf and it is a problem that is likely to get worse. "The next ten years will see rising water dem-and, as the GCC's expanding middle class adopts an increasingly water-intensive lifestyle, featuring private swimming pools, gardens requiring big sprinkler systems, and even a growing interest in golf," the EIU said.

"Regionally, a combination of rising temperatures and expanding populations suggests that water will become increasingly scarce in the Middle East, and raises concerns about the long-term possibility of conflicts over water." The unit said that water conservation has to be promoted to the public and more investment into water projects is needed. Rami Ghandour, executive director of Metito, which supplies water and wastewater treatment systems, told the EIU there was an urgent need to speed up investments in water projects, which have not been seen as "glamorous" compared to high-profile mega-projects. Meanwhile, spikes in global food prices also have a big impact in the Gulf and food imports are projected to grow to $53.1 billion by 2020, according to the EIU. GCC governments and private investors are looking at securing supplies of food, particularly by investing in agriculture abroad.

However, there are critics of this kind of investment that say purchasing large areas of land in places such as Africa can have an adverse impact on local people. "If there appears to be large tracts of unused land, the first step is to ask if it is really unused or if it is being used by pastoralists or by farmers with traditional claims on the land rather than full title," said Ruth Meinzen-Dick, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute. Conservation of energy resources has not been high on the agenda as the GCC holds 40 per cent of the world's oil reserves and 23 per cent of natural gas reserves. But electricity supply is already outstripping demand, the EIU said.

Najib Saab, secretary-general of the Arab Fund for Environmental Development, said GCC nationals could save about 40 per cent on energy bills by adopting energy-efficient models. "Regulations are needed because producers won't change by themselves. Car firms still export models to the Gulf that were discontinued everywhere else years ago," he said. However, the GCC has started to make some changes, including increasing energy efficiency in buildings and starting significant investment in solar and nuclear technology.

The gulf's vital stats Population:
53.5 million by 2020 Energy:
Electricity demand forecast to grow 42.1 per cent by 2020 Water:
Demand forecast to grow 36 per cent in Dubai and 34 per cent in Saudi Arabia by 2020 Food:
Food imports projected to grow to $53.1 billion by 2020

© 7Days 2010

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100331034357/Food%20And%20Water%20Scarce%20In%20GCC%20By%202020/
Saudi firms seek US, Canada animal feed imports

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia's plan to phase out production of water intensive crops including animal fodder has opened the doors for multimillion dollar deals with firms in the United States and Canada, traders said on Monday.

Al-Khumasia Company plans to launch its $40 million crushing and packaging feed mill in July, said Meshaal Al-Wetaid, its assistant general manager, said on the sidelines of an industry event in Dubai.

"We will need to import 500,000 tons of animal feed and we are looking at getting this from Europe, US and Canada since we can no longer grow the fodder in Saudi because of water shortages," he said, adding that his firm is willing to spend up to $200 million to secure fodder supplies this year.

Saudi Arabia has stepped up conservation in agriculture.

"It's much cheaper for Saudi Arabia to import all water-intensive crops rather than growing them locally," Wetaid said.

Green Prairie, a Canada-based wholesale supplier of fodder is looking to finalize a 150,000 tons fodder deal with Saudi Arabia's Al-Kholi Group over the coming few days, said Peter Ball, vice president of marketing at Green Prairie.

"The demand for fodder is growing at a very fast pace in the Gulf and this is where most of our big contacts are," he said. The fodder is used to feed the huge and growing dairy herds including camels, horses, sheep and goats.

Shipment takes between 30 and 45 days to arrive by container ship from the US West Coast but remains usable as animal feed for about a year, traders said, adding that the cost of shipping is in the range of $250-$320 per ton.

The United Arab Emirates is also importing large amounts of animal feed, and last year Abu Dhabi launched a tender for 800,000 tons of fodder, traders said.

"We expect that a second tender will be launched with an even larger amount in June," said Gregory Braun, president of US-based Border Valley Trading.

Abu Dhabi is the biggest single customer with 26 distribution centers where the emirate's small livestock farmers receive heavily subsidized supplies, he added.

"Fodder from the US is currently cheaper and of better quality and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait are all looking at placing orders," said Marwan Barakat, general manager of UAE's Middle East Group of Companies.

However this could change over the coming years as Gulf investors look to acquiring stakes in farmland in developing nations, he said.

"The UAE and other Gulf countries are investing in agricultural land in countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to grow fodder and they will begin to challenge the US companies," Barakat said.

http://arabnews.com/economy/article36559.ece
Thailand inks food security pact with GCC

By MAHMOOD RAFIQUE | ARAB NEWS


MANAMA: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who arrived on an official two-day visit to Bahrain on Tuesday, said his country wants normal and cordial ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Thailand is keen on improving ties with all GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, including Saudi Arabia, as the Thai government would take all possible steps to bring the relations back on the right track,” the premier added.

Vejjajiva, who is accompanied by a high-powered private sector delegation, also announced the signing of an agreement for establishing food security stockpiles for the GCC region located in Bahrain.

The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of Thailand Food Security Stockpile and Distribution Center and Industry with the Board of Trade of Thailand. The agreement is seen a major step forward in cementing ties between Thailand and the GCC.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring the food supply chain to the entire GCC region by using Bahrain as a gateway to reach other countries.

According to reports the GCC import bill for agricultural commodities stood at around $10 billion in 2007. At $4.9 billion, Saudi Arabia's net imports accounted for half of the GCC's total farm imports by value in 2007 and were nearly 68 percent higher than the average import bill during 2000–2004.

Vejjajiva told a press conference that his talks with the leadership covered wide range of issues and was a great opportunity to review the existing relations and how to improve them in the light of rapidly changing socio-economic scenario in the region.

His visit to Bahrain is also seen as catalyst to improving economic and political ties with the Islamic world, as Thailand is facing serious challenges in handling separatist insurgency in its largely Muslim southern provinces.

Vejjajiva met with King Hamad and Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and discussed the ways and means to strengthen ties in economic, trade and investment sectors.

Elaborating on the MoU on Stockpiles of Food Security, Vejjajiva said Thailand was in a good position to ensure the food security of the GCC countries.

“We have a huge agriculture base and would be in position to ensure enough food stockpiles for the entire GCC. the oil-rich nations of the region can reciprocate by helping Thailand to meet its growing energy needs,” he said.

During the meetings with the private sector, the prime minister said the Thai construction sector would be key area where Bahrain can benefit.

“We are also keen in exploring avenues of co-operation in health, education and finance. Thailand is also seeking Bahrain’s expertise on Islamic bonds or sukuks,” he added.

Thailand and Bahrain also signed an agreement between the private sectors of two sides paving the way for the establishment of Joint Business Council.

http://arabnews.com/economy/article37158.ece
Almarai, Mead Johnson set up baby food JV


Almarai Chairman Prince Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Kabeer.

By SHAHEEN NAZAR | ARAB NEWS


JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia's Almarai Co., the Gulf's largest dairy firm by market value, and Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., one of the world's leading baby food manufacturers, on Tuesday launched a joint venture to produce, market and distribute infant nutrition products in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The joint venture, which will be held 50 percent by the Saudi company, will benefit from Almarai's in-depth knowledge of the region and Mead Johnson's capabilities and experience as the world leader in the infant nutrition category, says a posting on the Saudi Stock Exchange.

The joint venture will lease the new manufacturing facility currently under construction by Almarai and scheduled for commissioning in 2011.

A management team, drawn from both parent companies, will run the business on a day-to-day basis and will report to the board of the joint venture, which will be composed of representatives of both companies.

"This venture offers us a great entry point into the (Gulf), a market we had prioritized because of its size and attractive demographics -- with strong birth rates, above-average income levels and excellent potential for growth," said Steve Golsby, president and CEO of Mead Johnson, on the company website.

“From their leading position in key infant nutrition markets across the globe to their excellence in supply chain to their position as the leading innovator in the category, we consider Mead Johnson to be the perfect partner for Almarai,” said Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, CEO of Almarai.

Almarai, which has been diversifying its sources of revenue through acquisitions, recently acquired two companies in the Middle East and is looking at more opportunities in Egypt, after spending $115 million last year to buy an Egyptian dairy firm.

Almarai is also involved in joint ventures with Greece-based Vivartia, in the bakery business, and Pepsico, for dairy and fruit juice products.

Almarai's shares closed up 1.9 percent earlier on Tuesday, outperforming the bourse index which gained 0.7 percent.

http://arabnews.com/economy/article37152.ece

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Dubai water demand to rise 58 per cent


The GCC already account s for 40% of the world's dissalination capacity

Research reports says improving economic standards with fuel of precious resource.

Dubai: W
ater demand in Dubai will follow the trend in te Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and increase by 58 per cent over the next 10 years to reach more than 155 billion imperial gallons, forcing the emirate and the water-scarce region to invest larger amounts in desalination initiatives, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has forecast.

The challenge posed by increasing water scarcity will, however, drive the region towards the adoption of more effective desalination as well as agricultural technologies. The GCC already accounts for 40 per cent of the world's desalination capacity.

"After a temporary respite in 2009-10, the risk of water shortages is likely to rise again. The next 10 years will see rising water demand, as the GCC's expanding middle class adopts an increasingly water-intensive lifestyle, featuring private swimming pools, gardens requiring big sprinkler systems, and even a growing interest in golf. Over the next decade, these countries will be among the world's highest per-capita users of water," the EIU wrote in a report released yesterday.

One of the examples of inefficient water use cited by the research firm is its deployment in agriculture, a sector that provides less than 5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). "Artificially cheap water has enabled the development of water-intensive crops in a region that has no natural advantage in producing these, but where governments provide generous subsidies to ensure future food supplies," it said.

Regionally, a combination of rising temperatures and expanding populations suggests that water will become increasingly scarce in the Middle East. Some of the less wealthy countries in the region are already looking more seriously at strategies to manage water demand, particularly in agriculture, with the use of drip irrigation.

In the longer term, there are concerns that the increasing salinity of Gulf water will make desalination more difficult and more expensive.

http://gulfnews.com/business/general/dubai-water-demand-to-rise-58-per-cent-1.605763

Egypt's Orascom to buy Dutch farming, building firms
AFP


THE HAGUE, Mar 30, 2010 (AFP) - Egyptian group Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) is to buy two Dutch companies for 310 million euros (418 million dollars) to expand its fertilizer business, Orascom said on Tuesday.

"The acquisition of DSM Agro and DSM Melamine fits perfectly in our strategy to become among the global leaders in fertilizer production and distribution," OCI chief executive Nassef Sawiris said in a statement.

The two firms, DSM Agro and DSM Melamine, employ a total of 779 people.

DSM Agro is a producer of ammonia and high-nitrogen fertilizers for grasslands and agricultural crops and the market leader in the Netherlands.

DSM Melamine is the world's largest producer of melamine, which is used mainly in wood-based panels and laminates used for furniture and flooring.

mlm/dt/bmm

© Copyright AFP 2010.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidANA20100330T133930ZLIJ55/Egypt%27s%20Orascom%20To%20Buy%20Dutch%20Farming%2C%20Building%20Firms/
Makkah to use rainwater harvesting technology

By ANWAR AL-SAYED | ARAB NEWS



Published: Mar 30, 2010 00:11 Updated: Mar 30, 2010 00:11

MAKKAH: The Geological Survey Commission in Makkah is currently studying the introduction of a new international technology known as the rainwater harvesting (RWH) under which the rainwater is collected from plains and roofs of buildings, purified and then injected in the ground to increase the level of underground water and at the same time reduce the quantities of rainwater drained through conventional drainage system, an official source at the commission announced Monday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the program will be implemented in the Jabal Omar project which is expected to be completed in two years time. “This is the first time that the world environmental system of RWH is being applied on one of the mega projects in the Kingdom,” he added.

Meanwhile, director general of Jabal Omar Company for Development, Mamdouh Tashqandi said the new technology will increase the level of underground water in the holy city. He said rainwater on Jabal Ali project will also be drained through two drainage networks.

At present, a total of 30 projects for rainwater drainage are being implemented in Makkah at the cost of about SR412 million. The rainwater will be collected in concrete canals on the main roads and then pumped into the main drainage system. The bottoms of the valleys will also be cleaned up so that water can easily pass through them.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article36665.ece
In high demand, Tunisian blue fish stocks soar
Tunisia Online News

30 March 2010
With an overall production of 100, 000 tons totaling 350 million dinars, Tunisia's fisheries sector contributes up to 10% in the value of the Tunisian agricultural production and 1, 1% in the country's GNP.

According to 2008 figures released by the Tunisian Agriculture and Fisheries Union (UTAP), the fisheries sectorrepresents 17% of the value of exports and food, and ranks 2nd after the olive oil with a value of 250 million dinars.

The average Tunisian consumes an average of 11 kilos of fish per year, much less than the average Japanese but slightly more than the average consumption rate around the Mediterranean.

In addition to white fish, crustaceans and mollusks, blue fish, including sardines, anchovies, tuna, and mackerel, the product remains the most popular fish in Tunisia. In 2009, stocks were estimated at 119, 000 tons including 28% of sardine and 10% of mackerel fish.

Chaired by the Minister Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries and in the presence of Mr. Mabrouk El Bahri, the chairman of the Tunisian Agriculture and Fisheries Union (UTAP), a working session was held on Monday, in Tunis, on "the assessment of blue fish stock, production, export and distribution channels".

The meeting revealed that exports of canned sardines and anchovies, increased from 650 tons in 2003 to 5, 000 tons in 2009, in addition to the development of the total processing capacity from 70 to 110 tons between 2004 and 2009.

© Tunisia Online News 2010

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100330122442/In%20high%20demand%2C%20Tunisian%20blue%20fish%20stocks%20soar%20/
Kuwait pesticide registration law put in place
KUNA (Kuwait News Agency)

30 March 2010
KUWAIT -- Kuwait's Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) said on Tuesday the law on pesticide registration and circulation was now being in effect.

As per the law, no-one can import or manufacture pesticides unless prior permission is required, Deputy Director General of the PAAAFR for Floral Resources and Head of the Pesticide Registration Committee Faisal al-Sedeqi said in a press release.

The committee's members have already held a meeting to promote its tasks and role, and to discuss conditions and procedures for pesticide registration and re-registration, he said.

The fresh law is primarily intended to ban the use of unregistered pesticides with a view to protecting and preserving public health and environment in the country, he added.

© KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) 2010

/www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100330120620/Kuwait pesticide registration law put in place/

Monday, March 29, 2010

Beltone and Kenana establish a new agriculture fund (MAHASEEL)

With the aim of deploying up to US$ 1 billion

Khartoum, 29 March, 2010: Beltone Private Equity and Kenana Sugar Company have signed an agreement to create a private equity fund (MAHASEEL Agriculture Investment Fund) with the aim of deploying up to US$ 1 billion in large-scale agriculture projects in Sudan and Egypt. The fund will be managed by Beltone Agriculture, a joint venture between Beltone and Kenana

Mr. Hazem Barakat, CEO of Beltone Private Equity, said that Beltone would provide investment management, corporate finance and strategy capabilities for the fund, which will focus on investments in agriculture; the production and processing of crops and livestock in Sudan, as well as opportunities in food processing and agro-related businesses in Egypt.

Mr. Mohamed El Mardi, Managing Director of Kenana, said that, "Kenana"will support the venture through its extensive technical know-how and operational expertise in the agricultural sector and deep agricultural experience in Sudan", He also added that 'agriculture plays a vital role in the development of Sudan and Egypt and is a major source of income for both economies'.

Mr. Aladdin Saba CEO of Beltone Financial Holding stressed that the abundance of fertile land and water availability all point to the agricultural potential of Sudan.

Saba added that MAHASEEL will provide direct exposure to the agriculture and agribusiness sector by offering a compelling investment mandate that addresses the region's food concerns and covers attractive green-field projects and private equity opportunities in the agriculture sector, agribusiness and agro-related industries and services in Sudan and Egypt.


http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100329101950/Beltone%20and%20Kenana%20establish%20a%20new%20agriculture%20fund/
Olive oil production increases by 48% in 2009
Jordan Times

29 March 2010
AMMAN (JT) -- Olive oil production from the 2009 harvest season increased by 48 per cent to 16,760 tonnes from 11,292 tonnes in 2008, according to figures issued by the Department of Statistics (DoS) on Sunday.

The DoS report also showed that the Kingdom's total olive production increased by 30 per cent last year, reaching 135,000 tonnes compared with 94,000 tonnes in 2008. Of which 69 per cent, or 92,000 tonnes, was used for extraction of oil.

Despite a 16 per cent drop in production, the northern Governorate of Irbid registered the highest production of olive oil last year with 3,429 tonnes, followed by Jerash and Ajloun with 2,656 and 2,576 tonnes respectively, the figures indicated.

The southern governorates of Aqaba, Tafileh and Karak registered the lowest olive oil production levels in the country in 2009, although their production increased significantly over the previous year, the figures showed, indicating that Aqaba produced 78 tonnes compared with only 20 tonnes in 2008, Tafileh 105 tonnes compared with 21 tonnes and Karak 544 tonnes compared with 217 tonnes.

Before last year's harvest season started, the Ministry of Agriculture expected olive oil production to be around 28,000 tonnes and estimated olive production to reach 179,000 tonnes.

According to official figures, the Kingdom's total olive oil consumption stands around 24,000 tonnes annually, while the average annual per capita olive oil consumption is four kilogrammes, which is below the recommended level of around 10 kilogrammes.

There are around 17 million olive trees in Jordan, generating a yearly income of JD100 million, with an average export worth JD20 million per year, according to Agriculture Ministry figures.

The DoS report stated that a total of 103 oil presses were operating in the Kingdom last year, 101 of which are using advanced technologies.

© Jordan Times 2010

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100329033028/Jordan%27s%20Olive%20oil%20production%20increases%20by%2048%25%20in%202009/

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Local wool exported to Iran via Basra port
Aswat Aliraq

28 March 2010
BASRA: Local wool has been exported to Iran through the Abu Falous Port in Basra province, the public relations and media director at the State Company for Iraqi Ports said on Sunday.

"The Iranian ship Rahmat has landed at Abu Falous Port to transport Iraqi wool to Iran," Anmar al-Safit told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

The Shiite province of Basra, 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, has five commercial ports and two oil ports: al-Maaqal, established in 1916 by the British forces and handed over to Iraqi authorities in 1937; and Faw, a small port on the al-Faw Peninsula near the Shatt al-Arab and the Persian Gulf.

In the early 1970s, Umm al-Qasr port was built, and in 1974, Khour al-Zubeir and Abu Falous ports were established on the Shatt al-Arab.

Basra is the cradle of the first civilization of Sumer. It has the seven main Iraqi ports. The first built in Islam 14 A.H. (After Hegira), the city played an important role in early Islamic history.

The area surrounding Basra has substantial petroleum resources and many oil wells. The city's oil refinery has a production capacity of about 140,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Basra is in a fertile agricultural region, with major products including rice, maize corn, barley, pearl millet, wheat and dates as well as livestock.

A network of canals flowed through the city, giving it the nickname "The Venice of the Middle East" at least at high tide.

© Aswat Aliraq 2010

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100328121729/Local%20wool%20exported%20to%20Iran%20via%20Basra%20port/
Riyadh Exhibitions Company appoints J.P.Wright to promote Saudi Agriculture, Saudi Agro-Food, Saudi Build & Saudi Stone in USA


28 March 2010 Saudi imports USD 721 million worth
of agricultural, fish and forest products from USA in 2009



Riyadh Exhibitions Company has announced that it has recently signed an agency agreement appointing J.P.Wright to represent RECin the United States and promote various trade exhibitions and conferences organised by REC. The US has been a leading trading partner of Saudi Arabia as according to official industry figures, the total agricultural, fish and forest product exports from the United States to Saudi Arabia in 2009 reached USD 721 million, while the retail packed or consumer-oriented food products reached a record USD 248 million, representing 34 per cent of the total US exports to Saudi Arabia.

The agreement was signed by H.R.H. Prince Saud Bin Abdallah Al Faisal, Chairman of REC, and John Parke Wright IV, Chairman of J.P.Wright. The events covered by the agreement are Saudi Build & Saudi Stone 2010, Saudi Agriculture 2010 and Saudi Agro-Food 2010. The agreement is in line with REC's increasing marketing efforts in the US, taking advantage of the growing interest of US investors, service providers and product distributors in the Saudi market.

Mohammed Al Hussaini, Deputy General Manager, REC, said: "The various exhibitions and conferences RECis organising provide a mutually beneficial networking platform for both US and Saudi market players. It is therefore very important for us to create greater awareness about the strategic and practical advantages of the industry events that RECis offering. The new partnership with J.P.Wright is part of our ongoing efforts to boost our presence in the US market and effectively reach out to different target audiences."

John Parke Wright IV said: "Riyadh Exhibitions Company is widely recognised for its premium-quality industry events. We believe that we can build on REC's impressive track record to develop an awareness campaign about the emerging investment and business opportunities in Saudi Arabia and how REC's exhibitions and conferences serve as a gateway to these lucrative prospects."

Saudi Agro-Food 2010 - The 17th International Trade Show for Food Products and Saudi Agriculture 2010 - The 29th International Agriculture, Water and Agro-Industry Exhibition will be held concurrently with Saudi Food Packaging 2010 - The international Exhibition for Food Processing and Packaging from October 04 to 07 / Shawwal 25 to 28, 1431 (H) at the newly completed Riyadh International Exhibition Centre. Saudi Build & Saudi Stone 2010 is scheduled for October 18 to 21 / Dhu al Qa'dah 10 to 13, 1431 (H) also at the Riyadh International Exhibition Centre. Further details about the events are available at www.recexpo.com.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100328075819/Riyadh%20Exhibitions%20Company%20appoints%20J.P.Wright
%20to%20promote%20Saudi%20Agriculture%2C%20Saudi%20Agro-Food%2C%20Saudi%20Build%20%26%20Saudi%20Stone%20in%20USA/
Safar rejects agricultural amendments

28 March 2010
KUWAIT: The Deputy Head of the Municipal Council recently criticized the Minister of Public Works and Municipality Affairs, Dr Fadhel Safar, for rejecting a decision passed by the Council on amending certain Articles of the regulations that govern agriculture.

Shayea Al-Shayea explained that the Minister had instructed the Council's members to take complete freedom while proposing amendments, as he also sent Municipality officials to attend workshops that were held at the council.

However, after the amendments were made by the members and approved by municipality officials, the minister rejected them. Furthermore, Al-Shayea explained that the amendments proposed were made for the best benefit of citizens, accusing the minister of acting against popular sentiments by rejecting the amendments.

He urged the minister to propose his own set of amendments if those presented by the council were found insufficient. He reiterated that Safar usually ignored regulations passed by the council.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Council member Muhalhal Al-Khalid also accused that the minister of making false promises, and rejecting the amendments after breaking immature promises.

He further indicated that they will escalate the issue by sending it to the Cabinet, reported Al-Qabas. The proposed amendments mainly concern those regulations that organize the plantation processes in residential areas, as more facilitated regulations were proposed for residents' benefit.

© Kuwait Times 2010

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100328045631/Safar%20rejects%20agricultural%20amendments/
Sale of small fish spawns trouble for marine stocks
Ministry conducts inspections at Deira market

By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
Published: 00:00 March 28, 2010


According to Ministerial Decree 16 for 2010, catching of fish under a certain size is prohibited as they represent juvenile fish that have not been given a chance to reproduce.


Dubai: Fishermen in the Deira fish market are reported to be bringing in too many small fish in violation of a ministerial decree that prohibits the sale of fish under a certain size.

Catching and selling such fish causes a decline in stocks.

Inspectors from the Ministry of Environment and Water took a tour of the fish market last week to monitor the size of the fish on sale.

According to Ministerial Decree 16 for 2010, catching of fish under a certain size is prohibited as they represent young or juvenile fish that have not been given a chance to reproduce.

During the inspection, Saif Mohammad Al Shara, Executive Director of Water Resources and Conservation at the ministry, emphasised that fisheries are among the country's most important renewable natural resources.

"It's an important resource for a number of factors. Fish is an important source of food, rich in protein and is a source of income and livelihood for fishermen, especially those who fish using traditional methods," Al Shara said.

He cautioned that it should not be taken for granted that fish stocks will renew year after year.

In a study conducted in 2002 it was found that fish stocks had dropped by 14 per cent since 1971 in the Arabian Gulf and three per cent in the Oman sea due to overfishing.

Ghost fishing, the term given to forgotten fish traps or nets which continue to trap fish on a daily basis, is also responsible for killing off scores of species for no purpose.

A proposal of new fish sizes allowed to be caught, based on their length, has been sent to the Standing Committee of Fisheries to the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council.

Overfishing was at the top of the agenda at the recent conference on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) held in Doha this month, however few of the species proposed for protection were granted it.

Among them was bluefin tuna which supporters had hoped would be listed in Cites Appendix I, which prohibits its international trade for commercial use as it is now critically endangered.

Also on the agenda was to list eight shark species on Appendix II, which lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled.

Parties failed to accept proposals to list the threatened hammerhead, oceanic whitetip, and spiny dogfish sharks. Only the porbeagle was approved.

The Cites unit at the ministry said shark fishing laws prohibit catching sharks during their reproductive period. The ministry said it is following up on the trade in shark fins.

Tom Strickland, the US Assistant Interior Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said regional fishery bodies have done nothing to regulate the trade in the endangered scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead as well as the threatened smooth hammerhead, and their numbers have dropped by as much as 85 per cent, AP reported.

"The greatest threat to the hammerhead is from harvest for the international fin trade," Strickland said. Shark fin soup is a prized delicacy in China.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/sale-of-small-fish-spawns-trouble-for-marine-stocks-1.603877
Mawashi to raise livestock locally

28 March 2010
DOHA: The Qatar Meat and Livestock Company (Mawashi), hopes to raise livestock locally so meat could be sold at affordable prices in the country.

A senior Mawashi official obliquely hinted that since meat prices are on the rise globally it is important to cut imports and develop local supply sources.

Omer Al Hajri, head of human resource and finance at MawashiMawashiLoading... told Al Sharq that a plot of land had already been allotted to the company for the purpose of breeding livestock.

"We are presently busy seeking the necessary approvals," the official said.

His response came when Al Sharq referred the findings of an online survey to MawashiMawashiLoading... on meat prices in which 90 percent of the interviewees said they didn't approve of rising meat rates.

Only three percent respondents said they did not find meat expensive while the remaining seven percent said they were undecided and had no comments to offer.

Al Hajri outlined a number of reasons for skyrocketing mutton prices in the local market. One of the main reasons, he said, was that there were livestock shortages worldwide.

In Australia, for example, which is a large and quality livestock producer, the production of fodder is suffering due to bad weather conditions. Rainfall has been scanty there.

Due to this, fodder prices have gone up in the country. This is in turn pushing livestock prices up. "On top of it, local consumption of meat has been increasing in Australia which is affecting exports," said Al Hajri.

Qatar is not the only country in the GCC where people are complaining of rising meat prices. The trend is in witness in every country in the region, he added.

Then, due to increasing oil prices transport (shipment) costs had also been spiraling and of late, there had been an increase in insurance premiums too, said Al Hajri.

Finally, since MawashiMawashiLoading... is a profit-making company and has its own operating costs, it charges small margins to manage its affairs.

And although Australian meat is subsidised by the Qatari government, the price rise in the global livestock market is adversely impacting the local meat rates.

According to Al Hajri, the only way to ensure that mutton prices remain stable is for Qatar to have some local livestock resources. "For this reason the company hopes to embark on the breeding project," explained Al Hajri.

© The Peninsula 2010

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100328034011/Mawashi%20to%20raise%20livestock%20locally/

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Tunisia to set new mechanisms to promote farming sector



TUNISIAONLINENEWS- Mr. Abdessalem Mansour, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, conferred on Friday with a World Bank delegation who is currently on a working visit to Tunisia as part of conducting a survey on new mechanisms to promote the farming sector adapted to technological and qualitative changes in Tunisia.


The minister voiced satisfaction at the achievement of this survey, stressing its importance as a modern mechanism quoted in the 20th item of the 2009-2014 presidential program which aims at making the sector more competitive.

The members of the delegation expressed satisfaction for the workshops they had in Tunisia with the departments concerned, pointing out the commitment of all intervening parties to provide the necessary support to carry out this survey.

http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/?p=35931
Abu Dhabi Keen to Ensure Better Hygiene in Sale of Meat Products

Anwar Ahmad

27 March 2010
ABU DHABI - Meat shops are soon to be equipped with mechanism to carry out opinion poll to measure public satisfaction with meat products and the establishments dealing in them.

This was disclosed by Dr Abdul Latif Al Thao, head of Food Inspection Section at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA). “ADFCA intends to further tighten the noose on its
preservation and transportation mechanism so that its safety could be sustained,” he explained.

Meat is a favourite dish in the UAE across nationalities. The consumption of Australian meat is very high in Abu Dhabi as compared to other kinds available. The ADFCA revealed details of meat preservation methods at the two-day Third Annual Meat Inspection and Food Safety Seminar early this month.

Nearly 50 experts in food safety took part in the annual meat inspection seminar jointly organised by ADFCA and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

According to ADFCA records, in 2009 from January to November, over 2,542,176 kg of carcases were brought to the Abu Dhabi Slaughter House from Australia, 2,096,388 kg of caracases from India, 1,559,790 kg from Somalia, 436,380 kg from Sudan, 47,430 kg from Ethiopia, 637,830 kg from Pakistan.

Ahmed Kulaib, executive manager at the food safety and animal health section of the ADFCA, said, the ADFCA intended to exchange expertise and
views on the preservation and transportation of meat with the international establishments.

Al Thao said the maximum
period for the storage of meat, which passed validity and accuracy tests of the ADFCA, is 20 weeks when vaccuumed and three months in excellent
storage mechanisms.

Al Thao pointed out that cooperation with the Meat and Livestock Australia was also to train students in Australia and familiarise them with the latest laboratory techniques.

anwar@khaleejtimes.com

http://khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2010/march/theuae_march744.xml
Camels: A Key Part of UAE's Rich Heritage

Animals provided transport, food and milk in olden days

* The camel market in Al Ain. The camels with the strips of lace around their bodies are used for dairy farming as they are a superior breed. The camel population in the UAE in 2003 was more than 178,000.
* Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Dubai: The UAE is historically known for its attachment to camels which are of social and economic value in the region.

The animal is famously known as the ship of the desert because of its walk, which is much like the motion of a ship at sea. Patience is one of its most observable features and camels are generally useful animal.

Historically, camels in the UAE were a dependable source of not only transport but also food and milk.

Arabs were proud of the number of camels they possessed.

The camels were given as a bride's dowry among the Bedouin tribes. Not to mention its use as payment of Zakat — the annual portion of a Muslim's personal fortune that is given as charity to people in need — as which was at times paid in camels instead of money.

The population of camels in the UAE in 2003 was estimated at over 178,000, according to the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage.

Types of camels

There are two types of camels. The dromedary, an Arabian camel, is a large even-toed ungulate with has one hump while the bactrian, also known as Asian camel, has two humps.

The dromedary camel is one of the best known types. Other similar animals are the Llama and the Alpaca in South America.

In Arabic culture, a camel is assigned a different name every year. For example, a one-year-old camel is called ‘Hewar' while a two-year-old camel is called ‘Fateem'. The name keeps changing and the camel is known as ‘Haj' at three years of age.

The other names for the subsequent ages are ‘Liggi' (four years old), ‘Yethea' (five years old) and ‘Thani' (six years old).

A male camel that is six years old can also be called ‘Baeer' while a female camel of the same age can also be known as ‘Nagah'.

The best-known breeds of Arabian camels found in the UAE are the ‘Misk', ‘Dhabian' and ‘Shtoota' breeds.

In earlier times, camels were used in caravans and were loaded with various supplies such as food and dates, wood and plants.

During that time, camels roamed the deserts of the country. In summer they were used to transport families from the humid coast to cooler oases.

However, the camel still has an important role in UAE society, with many Bedouin families still owning a few animals that provide milk and are sacrificed during festivals.

Camel skin is used locally to make shoes, bags and water containers. Its wool, which is commonly considered of high quality, was commonly used in the Arab world for tent and rug-making, besides being fashioned into clothes.

Nowadays the camel is essentially used for racing that is held annually during the winter months and based on the selected breed of non-dairy camel.

Popular

Camel racing is considered to be a very popular activity among UAE community members.

The heritage of camel racing was regularly promoted by Shaikh Zayed and is still enjoys the patronage of the current rulers of the country.

The Al Ain Camel Market is one place that best shows how much the UAE cares for the animals.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/camels-a-key-part-of-uae-s-rich-heritage-1.603548

Friday, March 26, 2010

Yemen attempts to increase agricultural cooperation with China

25 March 2010
Yemeni-Chinese talks were held on Tuesday in China's capital of Beijing,
co-chaired by Hadramout governor Salam al-Khambashi and officials from the International Cooperation of the Chinese Agriculture Ministry,
whereat agricultural cooperation between the two countries was discussed.

The governor highlighted the strong levels of mutual cooperation and strong relationship between Yemen and China.

Al-Khambashi discussed how the Yemeni delegation's visit to China was enabled by a program enacted by the World Bank and an invitation extended by the Chinese agriculture Ministry in order for the Chinese to display various successful experiments in several agricultural fields.

By Observer Staff

© Yemen Observer 2010
Qatar: Changed timing for fish market worries traders

25 March 2010
DOHA: Vendors at the central fish market say that they have been hit hard by a change in the timing of the market introduced by the Doha Municipality about a week ago.

The Municipality has banned the sale of fish in the market after 1pm and warned the traders of hefty fines if they fail to abide by the rule. The new regulation comes as part of a plan to reorganise the functioning of the market and improve the quality of fish, a senior official of the Municipality was quoted as saying by a local Arabic daily yesterday.

The official said the market, which had been functioning only during the day hours, will now be open in two shifts -- from 7am to 1pm and from 7pm to 12mn. The traders, however, say the evening shift had not yet been implemented and they had no information about the plan.

"The new timing will help organise the market in a better way, with enough time for the traders to sell the fish. It is not good to continue sales until late in the afternoon, especially during summer, because it can affect the quality of fish," the paper quoted Hamoud Al Shafi, head of markets at the Doha Municipality as saying.

The traders say that with the current timing, they get hardly four hours to sell the fish, affecting their business.

"The actual sales start at about 8am, after the morning auctions are completed. Many customers prefer to come in the afternoon, after their office hours. We are losing these customers due to the new timings. The cleaning will start at around 12 noon and by 1pm all customers would have left the market," a trader said.

/www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100325045723/Qatar%3A Changed timing for fish market worries traders/

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Ajman Takes Steps to Control Meat Prices
Afkar Abdullah

24 March 2010
AJMAN — The Ministry of Economy (MoE) office in Ajman has granted retail outlets in Ajman a week’s time to reduce the selling price of meat which was found to be higher than at the Al Hameedeya meat and poultry market .

This was done following a number of complaints lodged at the MoE office in Ajman following the exorbitant price of meat at the hypermarkets compared to the Al Hameedeya market.

Tariq Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director of the MoE Office in Ajman said on late Saturday the hypermarkets operating in Ajman were notified about the time granted to them to reduce the selling price of meat.

“We have warned them from having unjustifiable price increases. Any violating outlet will be penalised for price hikes followed by shop closure in case the violation is committed again. A recent inspection proved that selling price of meat and chicken remained stable at Al Hameedeya Central Souq.”

Al Suwaidi said, “Any kind of commercial fraud aiming at exploiting customers is totally unacceptable and the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy mainly aims at ensuring that traders are adhering to the stipulated prices without introducing any further hike. Any violating outlet insisting on introducing a price hike must know that they will be heavily penalised once the violation is detected,” Al Suwaidi warned.

Al Suwaidi said,” I couldn’t believe that the difference in prices at the Al Hameedeya market and other markets was Dh10 per kg, ” he said.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2010/march/theuae_march660.xml
Bird flu surfaces in Banke

Last Updated : 2010-03-24 12:15 AM


Damodar Bhandari

BANKE: Avian influenza has surfaced at four different places in the district. According to the District Livestock Office Banke, the flu has been verified after tests of dead chickens and ducks in the area.

Janakram Bhandari, a veterinary doctor, said bird flu has been detected in Chacharpharka, of Binauna VDC-8, Chappargoudi of Khoalpur-4, Chhatakpur of Phhatepur and Phultekra area of Nepalgunj Municipality-7. Some samples were sent to Kathmandu for laboratory tests on March 8 after a large number of birds died in the area. More than 50 chickens and birds have died in the area till now. The samples were sent to the central laboratory in Kathmandu on March 8. Locals in the area fear transmission of the

flu in humans. Banke Chief District Officer Birendra

Bahadur Baniya said culling of birds in the area will

start tomorrow.

A Rapid Response Team and a monitoring team have been formed for the purpose. He added, “We are very serious about the outbreak in the area and will take necessary action immediately.”

Preventive measures have also been stepped up in Bardiya, the adjoining district of Banke, to stop the spread of the flu.

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Bird+flu+surfaces++in+Banke&NewsID=234899
One shark species wins UN protection; others fail



The Deira fish market in Dubai which supplies Asian markets with fins, some from endangered sharks, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Japan led the opposition at the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, arguing that better enforcement, not trade restrictions was the answer. (AP)


By REUTERS

Published: Mar 24, 2010 07:46 Updated: Mar 24, 2010 07:46

DOHA: A UN wildlife conference placed one shark species on a protective list on Tuesday but blocked efforts to do the same for other types hunted to meet mounting Asian demand for shark fin soup.

Conservationists welcomed the new protection for porbeagle sharks, which are about 2.5 meters (8 ft) long and hit by overfishing in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

But they criticized delegates at the 175-nation Convention on International trade in Endangered Species (CITES) for failing to restrict trade in several other sharks.

"Politics and economics trumped science, especially on marine conservation issues," said Matt Rand, director of global shark conservation at Pew Environment Group.

The global shark product trade was worth $310 million in 2005, according to Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring group. Shark populations are dwindling as a result of overfishing.

The conference rejected greater trade protection for the oceanic whitetip, scalloped hammerhead, great, smooth and dusky hammerhead, sandbar and spiny dogfish sharks.

The March 13-25 conference in Doha, Qatar, previously denied bluefin tuna and red and pink coral more protective listings. A protective listing requires a two-thirds majority.

"Once again CITES has failed to listen to the scientists. The decision not to list these sharks today is a conservation catastrophe for these species," said Glenn Sant, global marine program coordinator for Traffic.

COSTLY SOUP One of the world's most expensive food products, a bowl of shark fin soup can cost $100, with a single fin worth more than $1,300. Up to 10 million kg of shark fin is exported annually to Hong Kong by nearly 87 countries, according to Oceana, a marine conservation group.

Demand for the soup has exploded in Asia, where an expanding middle class can now more easily afford a delicacy once reserved for the wealthy. Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and China are big shark fin consumers.

The porbeagle proposal was made by the European Union and Palau. Voting was by secret ballot but South American, European and North American nations are believed to have been in favor with many Asian nations against.

Nations exporting porbeagle meat and fins will have to ensure trade is legal and sustainable.

"Some of the biggest players are supporting a protective listing because in the end, it's not advantageous for them to oppose measures that will help preserve the species," said Anne Schroeer, economist at Oceana.

Some of the votes, including for scalloped hammerhead sharks, came close to mustering the two-thirds majority needed for protection. Supporters of a ban might try to have a repeat vote on the conference's final day, allowed under CITES rules.

Up to 73 million sharks are killed each year, primarily for their fins, according to environmental organization Greenpeace. Sharks are especially vulnerable to over-fishing because they are late to mature, long-lived and produce few young.

arabnews.com/lifestyle/food_health/article34038.ece

Efforts to raise awareness about environment weak’

By WALAA HAWARI | ARAB NEWS

Published: Mar 24, 2010 03:48 Updated: Mar 24, 2010 03:48

RIYADH: Is the Kingdom doing enough to save the environment? Is one hour of darkness capable of drawing people’s attention to the environment dilemma? Saudi Arabia is signing treaties and agreements to lesser the impact of humans on the environment, but are we really aware as individuals of our role?

Husain Al-Qahtani, spokesman for the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), said efforts to build people’s awareness are weak. “Participating in Earth Day is a symbolic gesture by the Kingdom, no one is committed to apply it,” said Al-Qahtani, adding that people are generally not keen to recycle waste, such as cardboard and plastic. Ignorance is not the issue, said Al-Qahtani, as people know that many things can be recycled, but there is carelessness and a lack of commitment to do so.

Facilitating recycling by providing recycling containers is another reason why people are reluctant to help protect the environment, said Al-Qahtani.

“In other countries, like Japan for example, people have in their homes different colored containers to recycle items,” said Al-Qahtani, adding that in the Kingdom people simply put their rubbish unsorted in plastic bags which are then thrown away.

Prince Turki bin Naser, president of PME, is aiming to make partnerships with the private sector, said Al-Qahtani, adding that there are many private companies that are recycling their waste.

It is turning into an industry as companies and businessmen are benefiting financially from recycling. “We should not look at the financial side or who benefits from what, but it’s wiser to mull over the general benefit the private sector is providing to society and that is ridding it of waste,” said Al-Qahtani.

Speaking about raising environmental awareness in schools, Al-Qahtani said a new program has been introduced into the new curriculum called “Environment Science.”

According to the principal of a girls’ private schools, who asked her name not be published, schools are teaching a small section about the environment in the program and awareness is raised individually.

Environment awareness programs in the media are also rare and insufficient, said Al-Qahtani, adding that the presidency cannot work on its own and that the private and public sectors should join together to raise awareness.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article33937.ece
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Cutting Meat, Milk Intake Will Not Lower GHGs

US - Reducing meat consumption will not impact climate change, according to a paper published recently by researchers from the University of California.

Citing a report from Agence France-Presse, the American Meat Institute (AMI) reports a leading air quality expert saying that consuming less meat will not reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) production.

Frank Mitloehner, a professor at the University of California-Davis, delivered his remarks during a conference of the American Chemical Society in California.

He is the author of the published study, 'Cleaning the Air: Livestock's Contribution to Climate Change', which asserts that despite often-repeated claims, it is simply not scientifically accurate to blame livestock for climate change. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Advances in Agronomy.

Proessor Mitloehner traces much of the public confusion over meat and milk's role in climate change to a 2006 United Nations report, entitled 'Livestock's Long Shadow', which he says overstates the role livestock play in greenhouse gas emissions.

These statements are inaccurate, yet their wide distribution through news media have put us on the wrong path toward solutions, Professor Mitloehner said.

He added: "We certainly can reduce our greenhouse-gas production, but not by consuming less meat and milk… but by increasing efficient meat production in developing countries, where growing populations need more nutritious food."
Reference

Pitesky M.E., K.R. Stackhouse and F.M. Mitloehner. 2009. Clearing the Air: Livestock's Contribution to Climate Change. Advances in Agronomy, 103: 1-40. doi:10.1016/S0065-2113(09)03001-6

www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/19786/cutting-meat-milk-intake-will-not-lower-ghgs

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Dubai Cotton Centre expands international presence through sale of Indian organic cotton to Far East

• Delivers 750 metric tonnes of Indian organic cotton to Malaysia.
• Facilitates re-export of 45,700
metric tonnes of raw cotton fibre valued at US$70 million since inception.
• Promotes trade flow of organic cotton.



Dubai, March 23, 2010: Dubai Cotton Centre (DCC), the cotton trade facilitation arm and a fully owned subsidiary of DMCC, announced its expansion into the global cotton trade by completing the sale of 750 metric tonnes Indian organic cotton to Malaysia between December 2009 and February 2010 in a move aimed at adding value to the supply chain in this niche market.

The consignment is the first initiative by DCC to facilitate the trade in Indian cotton, which is a highly competitive and booming export product. The development also marks a new chapter in DCC's successful efforts to increase its value and presence in the international cotton industry by expanding the sourcing origins according to client requirements. These initiatives have focused on the supply of US, Brazilian and West African cotton apart from Indian cotton with Jebel Ali in Dubai emerging as a pivotal international cotton hub.

"Dubai's growing prominence as a trading hub in the global cotton trade has reached new heights with the sale of Indian organic cotton to the Far East," said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC "Our unique mix of services and physical location is helping to facilitate increased quantity in cotton trade flows with beneficial impacts felt across the entire value chain encompassing producing countries as well as the ultimate buyers across the globe."

During four months of operations in 2009, DCC facilitated a re-export volume of 17,600 metric tonnes of raw cotton fibre valued of US$25 million. In the first quarter of 2010, DCC facilitated re-export by a further 28,100 metric tonnes valued at US$45 million. Since inception, the Centre has facilitated re-export of 45,700 metric tonnes of raw cotton fibre with a total value of US$70 million.

Worldwide, the production of organic cotton is increasing, with the incorporation of organic fibre into product lines becoming the norm, rather than the exception. In 2009, the market for organic textiles exceeded US$5 billion according to figures from Organic Exchange, a charitable organization committed to expanding organic agriculture, with a specific focus on increasing the production and use of organically grown fibers such as cotton.

The organic cotton market has experienced exponential growth for a number of reasons. The foremost reasons are innovative thinking on the part of brands and manufacturers about the social and environmental impact of their products and improved consumer awareness of sustainability issues. The adoption of organic fibre by many large-scale brands has also brought a tremendous breadth of organic products to the marketplace.

- Ends -

Dubai Cotton Centre (DCC)
The Dubai Cotton Centre (DCC) is the cotton re-export facilitation arm, which operates within the Commodities Division at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, a strategic initiative of the Government of Dubai. It capitalises on Dubai's well established trade hub status with the objective of assisting the Cotton trading community globally. DCC provides smooth access to CIS origin cotton by hosting on-line, daily spot cotton prices to various destinations in Asia and arranging timely deliveries. It aims to consolidate Dubai's position as a key link in the global cotton supply chain between Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan and the cotton consuming economies in the wider Asian market.

© Press Release 2010

www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100323092545/Dubai Cotton Centre expands international presence through sale of Indian organic cotton to Far East/

Dubai says no ban on alcohol in food
Mar 23, 2010

A leading Dubai official confirmed on Tuesday there was no ban on the use of alcohol in the preparation of food, marking a u-turn over rules issued in a circular to the emirate's hotels.

Khalid Mohammed Sharif al Awadhi, the director of the food control department, told Arabian Business: "It's a misunderstanding, it's not a ban. Alcohol should be segregated and it should be clear on the menu the food that has been prepared with alcohol. This was the confusion."

He said that food containing alcohol could still be served, provided it was clearly mark in Arabic and English on menus.

He said that some establishments had not been "following the code of practice" with regard to alcohol use, and that was why the circular was sent out last week as a warning, but that chefs had misinterpreted its meaning.

The circular, which has been seen by Arabian Business and HotelierMiddleEast.com, clearly stated that the display and sale of food containing alcohol was “strictly prohibited”.

Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Ali, head of food inspection at the Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality, told Arabian Business earlier on Monday that there was a total ban on the use of alcohol in food, but said he did not think it would harm hotels.

Chefs told Arabian Business on Sunday they were expecting to receive a revised circular on Tuesday, but Al Ali ruled this out.

Al Ali said the reason for the clampdown of an existing law issued in 2003 was following a number of complaints from Muslims about alcohol in food.

www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/7843-dubai-says-no-ban-on-alcohol-in-food/
Meeting Discusses Cloud-seeding

23 March 2010
ABU DHABI - Receding groundwater levels and growing dependency on expensive desalinated water are major concerns for the UAE, said Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandoos, Executive Director of the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, on Monday.

The impact of droughts, typhoons, sand and dust storms could be reduced if accurate weather and climate forecasts were available, he said in a statement.

His statement was read out at the opening of a three-day meeting on 'Weather modifications in the UAE'. The meeting discussed the method of cloud-seeding to increase the annual rainfall.

Leading scientists from Europe, Russia, Japan, China, Africa, Australia
and North America are attending the meeting, which is also deliberating on methods to increase groundwater levels. Abdul Mohsin Mahmoud, a consultant at the NCMS, said the UAE had two cloud-seeding aircraft with four crew.

There are 59 automatic weather observing systems (AWOS) in the UAE, five weather radars, which are used for cloud-seeding and one upper air station at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Al Mandoos said, "There is growing concern about the sustainability of its fresh groundwater resources as levels have declined substantially over this period."

The search for new groundwater resources has met with marginal success as the majority of freshwater for municipal and industrial demand in the UAE is derived from desalinisation of seawater. Globally, nearly 70 countries perform various kinds of weather modification activities such as rainfall enhancement, fog dispersal and hail suppression experiments.

Establishment of five additional seismic measurement stations making it a total of 11 stations in the country.

New seismic stations to be added in northern and eastern parts of the country. Setting up five new automatic weather observing systems (AWOS) for measurement of temperature and humidity.

Installing a new upper air station for measurement of temperature and humidity above 30km in upper layer of sky. One is installed at Abu Dhabi International Increasing rain enhancing activities

By Anwar Ahmad

© Khaleej Times 2010

www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100323045545/UAE%3A Meeting Discusses Cloud-seeding /

Monday, March 22, 2010

Hotels have a month to stop using alcohol in food



By Elsa Baxter
Mar 22, 2010

Hotels in Dubai have one month to stop using alcohol in food preparation or face stiff fines, a top official told Arabian Business on Monday.

Fines will range from AED2000 to AED20,000, even rising to as much as AED500,000 for serious repeat offenders.

Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Ali, head of food inspection at the Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality, confirmed there was a total ban on the use of alcohol in food, but said he did not think it would harm hotels.

“I don’t think it will affect businesses or tourism. There are a lot of different meals from around the world catered for in Dubai’s restaurants, so the choice will still be there. Also, some dishes can change alcohol for a different flavour to get the same taste,” he said.

He said the AED500,000 fine, was a last resort, adding: “But we don’t want to go to that level. We don’t want businesses to go under.”

“We are not looking for the fines at the moment. The inspectors will decide whether they get a notice period of one month.”

Some restaurants have already enforced the ban, while others were waiting for further clarification from officials. Chefs told Arabian Business on Sunday they were expecting to receive a revised circular on Tuesday, but Al Ali ruled this out.

Luca Gagliardi, general manager of Verre by Gordon Ramsey, said: “This law will affect our restaurant very much because we do use alcohol in some of our signature dishes, like the terrine of foie gras marinated in Sauternes and the Madeira veloute that we serve with our pithivier of quail.”

Al Ali said the reason for the clampdown of an existing law issued in 2003 was following a number of complaints from Muslims about alcohol in food.

The municipality issued a circular stating that the use of alcohol in the preparation and cooking of food, and the sale of food containing alcohol was “strictly prohibited”.

“We found a lot of violations. Some local Muslims, and foreign Muslims visiting Dubai, were surprised that the food they ordered had alcohol. In some cases they did not realise that what they had ordered contained alcohol because of the way it was written on the menu.”

http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/7832-hotels-have-a-month-to-stop-using-alcohol-in-food/

Sheep prices rise 30% ahead

of Eid

Traders expect sheep prices to rise by 40% as Eid Al Adha approaches. (EB FILE)

The prices of sheep have increased by 20 to 30 per cent over the last few days at Zayed Port Market in Abu Dhabi ahead of Eid Al Adha celebrations.

Sheep are the preferred sacrifice in the Eid Al Adha celebrations and traders in the market expect prices to rise further as Eid closes in. They expect prices to rise up to 40 per cent, which, they say, would still be lower than last year's, when prices rose more than 50 per cent due to a shortage of supply and increased demand.

Prices of Australian sheep have already risen from Dh550 to Dh700 and Najdi and Yemeni sheep from Dh1,100 to Dh1,300. Small Somali sheep have gone from Dh280 to Dh350 and Al Jaziri sheep from Dh650 to Dh850. Last year Somali sheep reached Dh1,300 before Eid Al Adha, while Al Jaziri sheep were sold for Dh1,500 on the first day of Eid. The traders called on the Ministry of Economy (MoE) to reduce charges imposed on the purchase of sheep from importers in Ras Al Khaimah. The traders said they raise prices before Eid as there is a big demand for the sacrifices coupled with several expenses related to the shipment and storage of increased numbers of sheep.

The MoE's Consumer Protection Department, meanwhile, asked the traders to reduce prices by 20 per cent to help consumers. During an inspection visit to the market, Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, Department's Director, said: "Traders should reduce prices of sacrificial sheep in Abu Dhabi by 20 to 30 per cent so that they are equal to the prices in the Ras Al Khaimah market, which provides 80 per cent of the total sacrificial sheep available in the country."

He said selling sheep outside the market was prohibited and the MoE would not allow the increase in prices of livestock during the sacrifice season. It seeks to achieve a balance in the markets and find a level that achieves profits for traders even while allowing freedom of choice for consumers.

In a joint inspection visit yesterday, implemented in co-operation with the Department of Economic Development and the Municipal Affairs Department, Al Nuaimi said the local market has ample opportunity for making high profits even if it sells at suitable prices.

The volume of consumption during Eid Al Adha in Abu Dhabi reaches 100,000 sheep and cattle, including 15,000 in Abu Dhabi City.

Al Nuaimi said the MoE will conduct daily campaigns at different markets in the country this week and agreements have been done with local departments. In the same period, the MoE will carry out inspection campaigns at vegetable and fruit markets throughout the country. Monitors will be sent to the markets during Eid Al Adha to prevent monopolistic trade, exploitation and non-display of prices.

Abdullah Saleh Shujaa, a sheep trader who has contracted to buy 6,000 sheep, said more stock would arrive in the market over the next few days. Other traders said they raise prices to compensate for the charges paid to the municipality and other bodies. There are many expenses related to the shipment of sheep from Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi as well as storage in the municipality's corrals whose rents have risen, too. They said the demand for sheep usually falls after the end of Eid, exposing the market to losses.

www.business24-7.ae/sheep-prices-rise-30-ahead-of-eid-2010-03-22-1.21035
Governments have two options for food security

22 March 2010
Ensuring that there is an ample supply of food in the country is the most important factor policymakers must consider when looking at food availability.

There are two key sourcing options available to governments to provide enough supply of food to their populations: domestic production and imports.

Along with these two options, there is a third, small but emerging alternative, called contract or offshore farming, which involves growing strategic reserves in another country and then importing the output.

Domestic food production
Policymakers have three ways to maximise their domestic food production - increase cultivated land area; enhance land productivity and yields; and introduce biotechnological advancements.

The amount of food that any country can produce domestically is directly related to the amount of cultivated land it has available, provided that crop yield remains constant. Countries cannot simply increase the amount of arable land without taking into consideration other important factors, including the availability of water.

For example, efforts to enlarge rice-growing areas in regions that have limited water will eventually fail, due to the unavailability of water or the extremely high cost of water desalination.

Governments can use incentive policies to increase the cultivation of strategic crops or provide cheap land for reclamation.

Increasing the yield or production per unit of area of a strategic commodity will directly increase the quantity of domestic production. This can be achieved through the introduction of higher-yielding strains, that require significant investment in research and development.

A wide range of advances in seed technology, from conventional plant breeding to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), has been able to reduce production costs and waste, mainly by increasing pest and drought resistance.

Although GMOs are still controversial, research and legislation over the next decade will likely dictate their long-term viability. Governments now, though, can consider amendments to laws regulating their use within their country.

If produce is exported, it is also important to ensure that major export markets accept GMO produce or produce grown next to GMO fields.

Food imports
Imports help meet consumption needs when gaps exist between domestic demand and supply, or when domestic production of a strategic commodity is not possible.

A reliance on imports will require governments to consider a logistical set-up with adequate offloading capabilities at ports and sufficient storage capacity.

Public and private sector food suppliers typically import strategic commodities mainly through long-standing agreements.

Long-standing partnerships are strategic in nature; they do not necessarily produce the most cost-effective solution, but are effective in providing governments with a reliable supply of food.

In times of supply shortages or other crises, policymakers can call on a supplier that has been a steady provider of food. - Information from Booz & Company

Investing Abroad
Saudi Arabia has created a company to support private sector investments in agriculture abroad. Saudi private firms have pledged to invest $1.3 billion (Dh4.7bn) in a variety of agricultural projects in Indonesia to secure access to rice. Saudi companies are also considering contract-farming investments in Ukraine, Sudan and Kazakhstan.

Qatar reportedly is seeking to lease 40,000 hectares of land in Kenya for crop production and has been in talks with Cambodia to invest $200 million in agriculture projects. Sudan and Qatar also announced the formation of a joint holding company to develop wheat, corn and oil seeds in Sudan.

By Shuchita Kapur

© Emirates Business 24/7 2010
/www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100322044505/Governments have two options for food security/

Sunday, March 21, 2010


EAD and China's State Forestry Administration Sign Agreement to Conserve Houbara

21 March 2010
An agreement was signed today (Sunday, March 21, 2010) between the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD)and the State Forestry Administration of the People's Republic of China to enhance cooperation between the two parties regarding the protection, breeding, and release of Houbara Bustard.

The agreement was signed by H.E Mohammad Ahmad Al Bowardi, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi Emirate, Managing Director of EAD and Deputy Chairman of the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) , as well as H.E. Jia Zhibang, Minister, State Forestry Administration of China. EAD has authorized the IFHC, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE to take full charge of the implementation of this agreement.

The Houbara bustard is declining throughout its range and so both parties agreed that this can only be further prevented by strengthening joint efforts in its breeding sites and wintering sites.

Both parties will cooperate in conserving the Houbara's habitat and will further develop action plans in this regard. For the initial phase of the agreement, both parties will investigate, monitor and assess the Houbara bustard wild population and its habitats.

It was agreed that EAD will provide support in way of funding, equipment and technology, for the implementation of the agreement, while the State Forestry Administration will provide administrative support, counterpart funds and equipment. Details of the agreement will be finalized by both sides based on the actual requirements and work progress. Both parties also agreed to support the establishment of the Houbara Bustard Breeding Center in Xinjiang, China and cooperate in the breeding and release of the Houbara Bustard.

The Forestry Department of Xinjiang, China will be submitting a plan for this proposed center that is in accordance with Chinese law and regulations. EAD will be providing the support including funding, equipment and technology for the construction and daily operation of this center. The Chinese side will provide the relevant administrative support and/or land, counterpart funds and equipment.

Both parties will designate science and research institutes respectively to provide technical guidance and support to the agreement. It will include, but is not limited to, a periodic review and analysis of the project development, organizing of joint workshops, study tours, on-the-job training, etc.

Upon the agreement of both sides and the authorized institutes and as required, the two sides may designate relevant agencies to sign documents as an attachment to the agreement to implement the cooperation as defined in the agreement.

The State Forestry Administration of China, founded in 1949, is an administration of the People's Republic of China, in charge of the national forestry affairs.

During his visit to the UAE, H.E. Jia Zhibang, Minister, State Forestry Administration of China attended a traditional falcon training camp which showcases the UAE's heritage of falconry. The Minister also visited the National Avian Research Center in Sweihan and was accompanied by H.E. Mohamed Al Bowardi who briefed the Minister on the UAE's efforts to conserve the Houbara from extinction through captive breeding, research, international partnerships, habitat conservation and cooperation with falconers. The Minister was also briefed about past efforts between EAD and the Chinese Government, who have been collaborating since 2005 on research in Houbara bustards.


About the Houbara Bustard:

The Houbara bustard is the favorite prey in the art of falconry,
due to its superior ability to maneuver,disguise itself and fly.They fly thousands of miles during their annual migration across theArabian Peninsula.

They visit the UAE between the end of January and the beginning of April.

They are shy birds that hide behind plants or sneak away when approached by predators or humans



/www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100321115635/EAD and China's State Forestry Administration Sign Agreement to Conserve Houbara Bustard
Kingdom launches farm initiatives


Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghunaim, left, Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf, center, and Abdullah Rubaiian, chairman of the Agriculture Development Fund at the launch of seven initiatives in Riyadh on Saturday. (AN photo by Misfer Al-Dossary)

By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Mar 21, 2010 01:05 Updated: Mar 21, 2010 01:05

RIYADH: The Kingdom launched on Saturday seven new initiatives for sustainable development in the agricultural sector in the presence of Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf and Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghunaim in Riyadh.

The initiatives include the establishment of a national information center for agriculture, rationalization of water use in irrigation, establishment of one or more bodies for handling and marketing vegetables and fruits, cooperative insurance for the animal sector, marketing of dates, establishment of a breeding livestock company, and establishment of an entity for marketing fish and shrimps both in and out of the Kingdom.

The aim of the initiatives is to transform the current challenges in the agriculture sector into investment opportunities and promote development to ensure permanent income for farmers and help stabilize food security in the Kingdom. The initiatives are geared at producing safe and quality agricultural products and making them available at reasonable prices to benefit both farmers and consumers.

In his brief speech, Al-Assaf said the initiatives cover all aspects of the agriculture sector, including livestock, poultry and fish. In addition, he explained that the new system would supply production and marketing information on agricultural products for both consumers and producers.

Abdullah Rubaiian, chairman of the Agriculture Development Fund, said that the new program of initiatives are designed for the rational use of water in cultivation and to help large and small farms to improve their yield using modern methods. He pointed out that wheat forms only 10 percent of total agricultural production, whereas wheat consumes two thirds of the total water used for agricultural plantation in the Kingdom. "The new initiatives, will not only help small farmers but will also assist them to work in cooperation with the related government organizations."

He also said that the new program will emphasize on the need for deployment of nationals in the agricultural sector. He said the interest of local farmers is imperative for the project's successful implementation.

http://arabnews.com/economy/article32585.ece
Saudi Arabia launches farm initiatives
Arab News

21 March 2010
RIYADH: The Kingdom launched on Saturday seven new initiatives for sustainable development in the agricultural sector in the presence of Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf and Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghunaim in Riyadh.

The initiatives include the establishment of a national information center for agriculture, rationalization of water use in irrigation, establishment of one or more bodies for handling and marketing vegetables and fruits, cooperative insurance for the animal sector, marketing of dates, establishment of a breeding livestock company, and establishment of an entity for marketing fish and shrimps both in and out of the Kingdom.

The aim of the initiatives is to transform the current challenges in the agriculture sector into investment opportunities and promote development to ensure permanent income for farmers and help stabilize food security in the Kingdom. The initiatives are geared at producing safe and quality agricultural products and making them available at reasonable prices to benefit both farmers and consumers.

In his brief speech, Al-Assaf said the initiatives cover all aspects of the agriculture sector, including livestock, poultry and fish. In addition, he explained that the new system would supply production and marketing information on agricultural products for both consumers and producers.

Abdullah Rubaiian, chairman of the Agriculture Development Fund, said that the new program of initiatives are designed for the rational use of water in cultivation and to help large and small farms to improve their yield using modern methods. He pointed out that wheat forms only 10 percent of total agricultural production, whereas wheat consumes two thirds of the total water used for agricultural plantation in the Kingdom. "The new initiatives, will not only help small farmers but will also assist them to work in cooperation with the related government organizations."

He also said that the new program will emphasize on the need for deployment of nationals in the agricultural sector. He said the interest of local farmers is imperative for the project's successful implementation.
Advertisement
The specialist in trading and investment.

By Md Rasooldeen

© Arab News 2010
www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100321030916