Small dairy farms face tough times, says official
RIYADH – Owing to cut-throat competition, the next five years will be crucial for the survival of small dairy companies in Saudi Arabia, according to a high-ranking official of a leading dairy company here.
Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Sarhan, chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Safi-Danone Company Ltd., said that small dairy farms would not be able to stand up to the competitive business environment and as a result the country within the next five-year period would witness a number of mergers and acquisitions (M&As).
Al-Sarhan was speaking at a press conference in Riyadh, Saturday to mark the 30-year anniversary of Al-Safi’s establishment in Al-Kharj, some 70 km from Riyadh.
Ali O. Al-Rakban, Executive General Manager of Al-Safi-Danone, was also present.
Al-Sarhan said it was a memorable occasion for Al-Safi that has successfully completed 30 years of commercial production. The company had witnessed some difficult times in the very beginning of its establishment, he said. “We have also assessed and evaluated some of the failures that we faced in the beginning,” he said.
However, with the wise leadership and determination of Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal, head of the Board of Directors of Al-Faisaliah Group of which Al-Safi Danone is a subsidiary, the company successfully overcame its difficult times, Al-Sarhan said.
He said it would be very difficult for small and fragmented dairy companies to stand up to the cut-throat competition today. However, large dairy companies could survive and continue to meet the increasing demand for fresh milk, he said.
There has been an annual increase of five percent in the demand for fresh milk in Saudi Arabia, he added. “Today, we are meeting the local demand and in fact exporting some dairy products to neighboring Gulf countries,” he said.
There are around 18 to 20 dairy companies with some of them being very small and fragmented farms located across the Kingdom, he added.
With 250,000 tons of fresh milk produced per year, Al-Safi-Danone has 25 percent of the market share of the SR6 billion Saudi dairy market, he said.
Al-Safi was listed in the Guinness Book as the world’s largest integrated dairy farm. Al-Sarhan said that record still remains because no other dairy company in the world has so far claimed that position.
He said the Saudi dairy market represents about 14 percent of the country’s agriculture sector which contributes over one percent to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP growth.
Al-Rakban said Al-Safi started to import cows in 1979 and had 6,000 by 1982. However, later cows were bred at the farm and today there are 40,000, he said. “The last cow that Al-Safi imported was in the year 1982,” he added. – SG
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010041369234
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Salt-loving plants are the way forward
Published: 00:00 April 13, 2010
Dubai: A number of farmlands have been abandoned after crops failed due to a lack of fresh water in the underlying aquifers, however, it has been discovered at the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai, that many plants thrive in saline environments.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, and Dr Ahmad Mohammad Ali, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank, signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday for the Ministry of Environment and Water to manage the centre.
In 2002, after years of minimal rain, which left catchment dams empty, farmers from Fujairah to Al Ain resorted to boring their own wells to tap into underground aquifers, and other ground-water deposits to meet their irrigation needs. Unfortunately this only boosted the salinity levels of underground water and depleted limited water resources.
Landscaping
Today, research at ICBA has found that grasses such as Paspalum — that thrive on saline water — can be used for golf courses and in landscaping projects, cutting irrigation cost by half. Other salt-loving grasses such as Sporobolus virginicus and Distichlis spicata have been proved to be excellent animal feed.
Under the MOU the centre will retain its international status and will continue to work to improve agricultural productivity, especially in plants tolerant to salinity, helping to develop sustainable farming opportunities in countries that suffer from water scarcity. Supported by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, the centre will receive an annual budget of $5 million (Dh18.3 million) and an additional $2 million from the Islamic Development Bank for the next five years.
ICBA was established as a centre of excellence for agricultural research and the development of soil, salt water and brackish water to help meet the challenges of water and food security.
The centre has already started applying its second strategy, which focuses mainly on developing efficient water use to increase crop production.
Training programmes will continue to be organised to educated farmers and researchers on modern farming techniques and not wasting water during cultivation.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/salt-loving-plants-are-the-way-forward-1.611590
Published: 00:00 April 13, 2010
Dubai: A number of farmlands have been abandoned after crops failed due to a lack of fresh water in the underlying aquifers, however, it has been discovered at the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai, that many plants thrive in saline environments.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, and Dr Ahmad Mohammad Ali, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank, signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday for the Ministry of Environment and Water to manage the centre.
In 2002, after years of minimal rain, which left catchment dams empty, farmers from Fujairah to Al Ain resorted to boring their own wells to tap into underground aquifers, and other ground-water deposits to meet their irrigation needs. Unfortunately this only boosted the salinity levels of underground water and depleted limited water resources.
Landscaping
Today, research at ICBA has found that grasses such as Paspalum — that thrive on saline water — can be used for golf courses and in landscaping projects, cutting irrigation cost by half. Other salt-loving grasses such as Sporobolus virginicus and Distichlis spicata have been proved to be excellent animal feed.
Under the MOU the centre will retain its international status and will continue to work to improve agricultural productivity, especially in plants tolerant to salinity, helping to develop sustainable farming opportunities in countries that suffer from water scarcity. Supported by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, the centre will receive an annual budget of $5 million (Dh18.3 million) and an additional $2 million from the Islamic Development Bank for the next five years.
ICBA was established as a centre of excellence for agricultural research and the development of soil, salt water and brackish water to help meet the challenges of water and food security.
The centre has already started applying its second strategy, which focuses mainly on developing efficient water use to increase crop production.
Training programmes will continue to be organised to educated farmers and researchers on modern farming techniques and not wasting water during cultivation.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/salt-loving-plants-are-the-way-forward-1.611590
Agroinvest plans to raise SR2 billion
Updated: Apr 13, 2010 00:54
RIYADH: Saudi-based agricultural investment firm Agroinvest is close to obtaining approval from the regulator to raise about SR2 billion ($533 million) for foreign and local farm investments, its chairman said.
Agroinvest, or the International Agriculture and Food Investment Co., is the biggest of many private firms involved in foreign farm investment that were set up in the Kingdom since import-reliant Gulf Arab countries started buying or leasing land in developing nations to ensure food supplies.
But farmland acquisitions by foreign investors have sparked some opposition in developing nations and the United Nations last year voiced concern that farmers' rights in developing nations could be compromised.
Usamah Al-Kurdi, who chairs Agroinvest's founding committee, said his firm would not want to tarnish Saudi Arabia's image by buying farmlands abroad.
"Everybody is getting philosophical about this issue," he told Reuters in a telephone interview. "Agroinvest is not a real estate firm. We are in agriculture and we want to do this with firms and farmers unions in these countries."
The ideal scenario for Agroinvest, Al-Kurdi said, would be to "forge partnerships with local firms or farmers unions who have a project ready. If leasing the land is an option, then we will do it with our partners."
Seeking approval from the Capital Market Authority (CMA) for the private placement "was not a legal requirement," he said.
"We have taken the initiative to seek the CMA's approval to show how serious we are," said Al-Kurdi. "We hope to raise about SR2 billion from private and institutional investors to add to the capital raised by the founders," he said.
He declined to say how much capital had so far been raised from Agroinvest's founders. Al-Kurdi said in April that 25 percent of the capital will come from founding shareholders and the remainder from institutional investors and a public offering.
Several Saudi firms have already started farm investments in countries stretching from Indonesia to Ethiopia after a sharp rise in global food prices in 2008 and after authorities prioritized safeguarding water over self-sufficiency in some crops such as wheat.
In addition to investments abroad that would include rice, grains, oilseeds and soybeans, Agroinvest plans to invest in grain silos and in funds with exposure to farm investments.
Al-Kurdi declined to go into detail and said only that several propositions were being examined for investments in Australia, Romania, Senegal, Turkmenistan and Vietnam.
"Foreign investments will take 60 percent of our total investments and 40 percent will be invested locally," Al-Kurdi said. "We plan investment in logistics through funds and Djibouti is being considered as a potential location."
The company will start announcing its foreign investments after it obtains regulatory approvals to start operations "within eight to 10 weeks," he added.
Agroinvest's most advanced plans are in Saudi Arabia where it plans to invest in shrimp farms, poultry and greenhouses, he said.
http://arabnews.com/economy/article42475.ece
Updated: Apr 13, 2010 00:54
RIYADH: Saudi-based agricultural investment firm Agroinvest is close to obtaining approval from the regulator to raise about SR2 billion ($533 million) for foreign and local farm investments, its chairman said.
Agroinvest, or the International Agriculture and Food Investment Co., is the biggest of many private firms involved in foreign farm investment that were set up in the Kingdom since import-reliant Gulf Arab countries started buying or leasing land in developing nations to ensure food supplies.
But farmland acquisitions by foreign investors have sparked some opposition in developing nations and the United Nations last year voiced concern that farmers' rights in developing nations could be compromised.
Usamah Al-Kurdi, who chairs Agroinvest's founding committee, said his firm would not want to tarnish Saudi Arabia's image by buying farmlands abroad.
"Everybody is getting philosophical about this issue," he told Reuters in a telephone interview. "Agroinvest is not a real estate firm. We are in agriculture and we want to do this with firms and farmers unions in these countries."
The ideal scenario for Agroinvest, Al-Kurdi said, would be to "forge partnerships with local firms or farmers unions who have a project ready. If leasing the land is an option, then we will do it with our partners."
Seeking approval from the Capital Market Authority (CMA) for the private placement "was not a legal requirement," he said.
"We have taken the initiative to seek the CMA's approval to show how serious we are," said Al-Kurdi. "We hope to raise about SR2 billion from private and institutional investors to add to the capital raised by the founders," he said.
He declined to say how much capital had so far been raised from Agroinvest's founders. Al-Kurdi said in April that 25 percent of the capital will come from founding shareholders and the remainder from institutional investors and a public offering.
Several Saudi firms have already started farm investments in countries stretching from Indonesia to Ethiopia after a sharp rise in global food prices in 2008 and after authorities prioritized safeguarding water over self-sufficiency in some crops such as wheat.
In addition to investments abroad that would include rice, grains, oilseeds and soybeans, Agroinvest plans to invest in grain silos and in funds with exposure to farm investments.
Al-Kurdi declined to go into detail and said only that several propositions were being examined for investments in Australia, Romania, Senegal, Turkmenistan and Vietnam.
"Foreign investments will take 60 percent of our total investments and 40 percent will be invested locally," Al-Kurdi said. "We plan investment in logistics through funds and Djibouti is being considered as a potential location."
The company will start announcing its foreign investments after it obtains regulatory approvals to start operations "within eight to 10 weeks," he added.
Agroinvest's most advanced plans are in Saudi Arabia where it plans to invest in shrimp farms, poultry and greenhouses, he said.
http://arabnews.com/economy/article42475.ece
Monday, April 12, 2010
Private Sector Interested in Wheat Deals
12 April 2010
Deputy commerce minister said Saturday in fiscal 2010-11 for the first time the private sector will buy 70 percent of excess wheat produced in the country.
"The Commerce Ministry has signed deals with 350 private companies wanting to buy the wheat. In the past the private sector bought a lesser volume of the wheat. However, their share has increased this year in line with implementation of Article 44 of the Constitution," Hamid Alikhani.
For almost three decades the private sector was little interested in buying locally-produced wheat, he said. "The private companies that now have contracts with the ministry are its trade partners in the Society of Flour Factories, which have sufficient competence for the task," IRIB quoted him as saying.
He recalled that the ministry's infrastructure, the banking system and warehouses will be made available to private companies.
"This year the guaranteed (by the state) price of each kg of wheat is 3,300 rials and will not change.
But it needs recalling that the agreement reached between the private sector and wheat farmers (regarding prices) is also important," he said without elaboration.
Harvesting in a few provinces has started since April 4 and so far about 2,500 tons of the crop has been bought from farmers.
"Based on estimates of the Agricultural Jihad Ministry this year it is forecast that 9-12 million tons of wheat will be harvested of which 9.5 million tons will be purchased in a guaranteed manner. The peak of purchases from farmers will start by the end of April. At present, over five million tons of wheat is stored in silos and we should be able to export wheat this year," he said.
Restricting Imports
Alikhani said wheat will not be imported in fiscal 2010-2011, Mehr News Agency reported.
The Commerce Ministry has permission to import six to seven million tons of wheat in 2008-09 and 2009-2010 and a major volume of it has already been imported.
He said negotiations are underway with neighboring countries to export wheat.
If the talks produce results, after three years Iran will once again start exporting the strategic food item. Iran for the first exported 40,000 tons of wheat to Oman in 2007-08.
Alikhani emphasized that the government has authorized export of two million tons of wheat this year.
"The global price of each kg of wheat is 2,000 to 2,400 rials. The government has made arrangements so that the private sector can export wheat at competitive prices".
Silos have been built nationwide with a capacity of six million tons.
"This year, it is expected that 1.5 million tons will be added to this capacity. Every year about 10 million tons of wheat are put in the silos and our aim is to increase this capacity," he noted.
Regarding bread prices in the new fiscal year (started March 21), he said that "will depend on the implementation of the subsidy reform plan" over which there have been differences between the government and Parliament and its fate is still unclear.
© Iran Daily 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100412045029/Iran%27s%20Private%20Sector%20Interested%20in%20Wheat%20Deals/
12 April 2010
Deputy commerce minister said Saturday in fiscal 2010-11 for the first time the private sector will buy 70 percent of excess wheat produced in the country.
"The Commerce Ministry has signed deals with 350 private companies wanting to buy the wheat. In the past the private sector bought a lesser volume of the wheat. However, their share has increased this year in line with implementation of Article 44 of the Constitution," Hamid Alikhani.
For almost three decades the private sector was little interested in buying locally-produced wheat, he said. "The private companies that now have contracts with the ministry are its trade partners in the Society of Flour Factories, which have sufficient competence for the task," IRIB quoted him as saying.
He recalled that the ministry's infrastructure, the banking system and warehouses will be made available to private companies.
"This year the guaranteed (by the state) price of each kg of wheat is 3,300 rials and will not change.
But it needs recalling that the agreement reached between the private sector and wheat farmers (regarding prices) is also important," he said without elaboration.
Harvesting in a few provinces has started since April 4 and so far about 2,500 tons of the crop has been bought from farmers.
"Based on estimates of the Agricultural Jihad Ministry this year it is forecast that 9-12 million tons of wheat will be harvested of which 9.5 million tons will be purchased in a guaranteed manner. The peak of purchases from farmers will start by the end of April. At present, over five million tons of wheat is stored in silos and we should be able to export wheat this year," he said.
Restricting Imports
Alikhani said wheat will not be imported in fiscal 2010-2011, Mehr News Agency reported.
The Commerce Ministry has permission to import six to seven million tons of wheat in 2008-09 and 2009-2010 and a major volume of it has already been imported.
He said negotiations are underway with neighboring countries to export wheat.
If the talks produce results, after three years Iran will once again start exporting the strategic food item. Iran for the first exported 40,000 tons of wheat to Oman in 2007-08.
Alikhani emphasized that the government has authorized export of two million tons of wheat this year.
"The global price of each kg of wheat is 2,000 to 2,400 rials. The government has made arrangements so that the private sector can export wheat at competitive prices".
Silos have been built nationwide with a capacity of six million tons.
"This year, it is expected that 1.5 million tons will be added to this capacity. Every year about 10 million tons of wheat are put in the silos and our aim is to increase this capacity," he noted.
Regarding bread prices in the new fiscal year (started March 21), he said that "will depend on the implementation of the subsidy reform plan" over which there have been differences between the government and Parliament and its fate is still unclear.
© Iran Daily 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100412045029/Iran%27s%20Private%20Sector%20Interested%20in%20Wheat%20Deals/
Rials 150b Allocated For Tea Farmers
12 April 2010
Head of the North Tea Organization (NTO) said Sunday 150 billion rials in low-cost bank credits were allocated for improving and renovating tea farms at the end of March 2009-2010.
"From the said figure some 130 billion rials were given to Gilan province and the remaining to Mazandaran province. Since the start of the banking facilities in March, 7,000 tea farmers have received 50.5 billion rials.
Those who conducted improved operations in small tea estates can go to the related offices in their districts and request the loans," Ali Moharrer said, IRIB reported.
He said the period of repayment of the loans is four years and a fee of four percent has been considered for the lending. This year his organization will handle the guaranteed purchase of green tea leaves, Mehr News Agency reported.
"In March 2010-2011, based on a government approval, the task of guaranteed purchase of green tea leaves and dry tea from farmers has been assigned to the NTO. We will buy high quality tea leaves from farmers.
The organization was involved in the guaranteed purchase of tea for almost 10 years," he noted.
Moharrer emphasized that improving tea quality is a time-consuming process and plans are currently being made to this end.
"The trend of purchasing tea leaves should move toward quality tea. Therefore, this issue has been put on agenda of the organization in collaboration of tea experts," he noted.
Based on the available data, until the end of March 2009-2010 the level of guaranteed purchase of tea leaves reached 170,542 tons -- 23,327 tons of which was top quality and 147,215 tons second quality.
© Iran Daily 2010
www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100412045233/Rials 150b Allocated For Tea Farmers in Iran/
12 April 2010
Head of the North Tea Organization (NTO) said Sunday 150 billion rials in low-cost bank credits were allocated for improving and renovating tea farms at the end of March 2009-2010.
"From the said figure some 130 billion rials were given to Gilan province and the remaining to Mazandaran province. Since the start of the banking facilities in March, 7,000 tea farmers have received 50.5 billion rials.
Those who conducted improved operations in small tea estates can go to the related offices in their districts and request the loans," Ali Moharrer said, IRIB reported.
He said the period of repayment of the loans is four years and a fee of four percent has been considered for the lending. This year his organization will handle the guaranteed purchase of green tea leaves, Mehr News Agency reported.
"In March 2010-2011, based on a government approval, the task of guaranteed purchase of green tea leaves and dry tea from farmers has been assigned to the NTO. We will buy high quality tea leaves from farmers.
The organization was involved in the guaranteed purchase of tea for almost 10 years," he noted.
Moharrer emphasized that improving tea quality is a time-consuming process and plans are currently being made to this end.
"The trend of purchasing tea leaves should move toward quality tea. Therefore, this issue has been put on agenda of the organization in collaboration of tea experts," he noted.
Based on the available data, until the end of March 2009-2010 the level of guaranteed purchase of tea leaves reached 170,542 tons -- 23,327 tons of which was top quality and 147,215 tons second quality.
© Iran Daily 2010
www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100412045233/Rials 150b Allocated For Tea Farmers in Iran/
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Dubai WoodShow 2010' to kick off in two days
Dawood Al Shezawi.
11 April 2010
Worldwide exhibitors from over 40 countries confirms presence at the premier wood-focused exhibition in the Middle East
The biggest ever 'Dubai WoodShow 2010', the Middle East's wood-focused exhibition is set to kick off on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at the Dubai Airport Expo, with the highest international exhibitor count in its five-year history. Over 150 exhibitors from around the globe and representing more than 40 countries have confirmed their presence at the event, including first-time participants such as the Foresty Holding Altailes (Russia), JHamouch Lumber (France), IPEMA S.L. (Spain), Weicon Middle East (Germany), Green Resources SL (Spain), and Gutchess Lumber (USA) amongst others.
The show's steady yearly growth and success parallel to the regional surge in wood products demand, thus engaging Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions - the event's organizer - to rethink its structure and offer a more compelling programme. In 2010, the show's new direction aims at multiplying business opportunities for traders, enhancing international woodworkers' skills and capabilities, and raising the profile of the industry and awareness within the sector. In line with this strategy, the 'Dubai WoodShow 2010' will feature the first annual 'Dubai WoodShow Forum', the event's first conference offering a series of exclusive keynote sessions & case studies delivered by high profile experts, academics and top executives from the entire wood industry spectrum.
"Given the impressive numbers of committed exhibitors and visitors at this year's show, we will be expecting a sizeable value of closed deals on the spot, which will make a significant impact on the growth of the regional and global wood sector," said Dawood Al Shezawi, Managing Director, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions. "The extent and scope of this year's show, especially the introduction of educational and business-savvy features that address specific needs of attendees, accentuate our determination to create the ultimate business experience for wood industry professionals in the region and across the globe."
In addition to the 'Dubai WoodShow Forum', the 'Dubai WoodShow 2010' will also feature the 'Dubai WoodShow Roundtable', a dedicated platform for exclusive one-on-one business meetings among exhibitors, potential clients and future partners. The 2010 event will also introduce the 'Dubai WoodShow Workshops', daily two-hour interactive presentations designed to provide attendees (small groups of 20-30 registered delegates) with a practical learning experience on American timber grading, sustainability & certification for the timber Industry and sanding & finishing technologies.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100411091726/%27Dubai%20WoodShow%202010%27%20to%20kick%20off%20in%20two%20days/
Dawood Al Shezawi.
11 April 2010
Worldwide exhibitors from over 40 countries confirms presence at the premier wood-focused exhibition in the Middle East
The biggest ever 'Dubai WoodShow 2010', the Middle East's wood-focused exhibition is set to kick off on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at the Dubai Airport Expo, with the highest international exhibitor count in its five-year history. Over 150 exhibitors from around the globe and representing more than 40 countries have confirmed their presence at the event, including first-time participants such as the Foresty Holding Altailes (Russia), JHamouch Lumber (France), IPEMA S.L. (Spain), Weicon Middle East (Germany), Green Resources SL (Spain), and Gutchess Lumber (USA) amongst others.
The show's steady yearly growth and success parallel to the regional surge in wood products demand, thus engaging Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions - the event's organizer - to rethink its structure and offer a more compelling programme. In 2010, the show's new direction aims at multiplying business opportunities for traders, enhancing international woodworkers' skills and capabilities, and raising the profile of the industry and awareness within the sector. In line with this strategy, the 'Dubai WoodShow 2010' will feature the first annual 'Dubai WoodShow Forum', the event's first conference offering a series of exclusive keynote sessions & case studies delivered by high profile experts, academics and top executives from the entire wood industry spectrum.
"Given the impressive numbers of committed exhibitors and visitors at this year's show, we will be expecting a sizeable value of closed deals on the spot, which will make a significant impact on the growth of the regional and global wood sector," said Dawood Al Shezawi, Managing Director, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions. "The extent and scope of this year's show, especially the introduction of educational and business-savvy features that address specific needs of attendees, accentuate our determination to create the ultimate business experience for wood industry professionals in the region and across the globe."
In addition to the 'Dubai WoodShow Forum', the 'Dubai WoodShow 2010' will also feature the 'Dubai WoodShow Roundtable', a dedicated platform for exclusive one-on-one business meetings among exhibitors, potential clients and future partners. The 2010 event will also introduce the 'Dubai WoodShow Workshops', daily two-hour interactive presentations designed to provide attendees (small groups of 20-30 registered delegates) with a practical learning experience on American timber grading, sustainability & certification for the timber Industry and sanding & finishing technologies.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100411091726/%27Dubai%20WoodShow%202010%27%20to%20kick%20off%20in%20two%20days/
Farm show focuses on reforms in Al Gharbia
Exhibition aims at balancing causes of productivity and environmental conservation
Staff Report
Published: 00:00 April 11, 2010
Visitors at the Liwa Agricultural Exhibition. Many leading agricultural experts addressed seminars at the three-day event, offering the region's farmers a better understanding of the global status of agriculture.
Liwa, Al Gharbia: The three-day Liwa Agricultural Exhibition that concluded yesterday saw a variety of initiatives and agreements focusing on agricultural reforms in Al Gharbia (formerly the Western Region).
The agreements aimed at balancing agricultural productivity and environmental conservation.
Rashed Al Shariqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), said the successful conclusion of the exhibition testified to the agricultural vision of the government of Abu Dhabi, which wanted to turn this crucial sector of national development into a social and economic powerhouse.
"We are very glad that the farmers and farm owners of the western region welcomed our initiatives and in particular the exhibition with such enthusiasm. We are grateful to Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, and to Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, for all their support and cooperation," he concluded.
Apart from approximately 6,000 visitors drawn from the farming community in the region, who went around and inspected the different tools and agricultural produce at the exhibition, the event also was venue for a number of seminars and presentations dealing with various aspects of agriculture.
Many leading agricultural experts addressed these seminars, giving the region's farmers a better understanding of globally recognised state of agriculture.
The penultimate day of the event saw the signing of two important agreements for constructing several thousand square metres of green house — having the potential to trigger a qualitative change in the agrarian practices in the region. As part of the first deal, "So Fresh", a green house manufacturer will build 110 green houses for a local company ‘Dharwat Liwa' at a cost of Dh3.47 million.
The second deal assigned ‘So Fresh' to build eight green houses for Huraif Al Murar, a local farmer, at a cost of Dh2.9 million.
The parties to the agreement said the deal would set an example for successful water-efficient hydroponic method in agriculture. "The produce from the farms will be marketed by the recently opened Farmers' Service Centre, an initiative of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority," they stressed.
Al Shariqi said that a number of farm owners had expressed their interest in becoming members of the Farmers' Service Centre, which Shaikh Hamdan inaugurated on the first day of the exhibition.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/farm-show-focuses-on-reforms-in-al-gharbia-1.610630
Exhibition aims at balancing causes of productivity and environmental conservation
Staff Report
Published: 00:00 April 11, 2010
Visitors at the Liwa Agricultural Exhibition. Many leading agricultural experts addressed seminars at the three-day event, offering the region's farmers a better understanding of the global status of agriculture.
Liwa, Al Gharbia: The three-day Liwa Agricultural Exhibition that concluded yesterday saw a variety of initiatives and agreements focusing on agricultural reforms in Al Gharbia (formerly the Western Region).
The agreements aimed at balancing agricultural productivity and environmental conservation.
Rashed Al Shariqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), said the successful conclusion of the exhibition testified to the agricultural vision of the government of Abu Dhabi, which wanted to turn this crucial sector of national development into a social and economic powerhouse.
"We are very glad that the farmers and farm owners of the western region welcomed our initiatives and in particular the exhibition with such enthusiasm. We are grateful to Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, and to Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, for all their support and cooperation," he concluded.
Apart from approximately 6,000 visitors drawn from the farming community in the region, who went around and inspected the different tools and agricultural produce at the exhibition, the event also was venue for a number of seminars and presentations dealing with various aspects of agriculture.
Many leading agricultural experts addressed these seminars, giving the region's farmers a better understanding of globally recognised state of agriculture.
The penultimate day of the event saw the signing of two important agreements for constructing several thousand square metres of green house — having the potential to trigger a qualitative change in the agrarian practices in the region. As part of the first deal, "So Fresh", a green house manufacturer will build 110 green houses for a local company ‘Dharwat Liwa' at a cost of Dh3.47 million.
The second deal assigned ‘So Fresh' to build eight green houses for Huraif Al Murar, a local farmer, at a cost of Dh2.9 million.
The parties to the agreement said the deal would set an example for successful water-efficient hydroponic method in agriculture. "The produce from the farms will be marketed by the recently opened Farmers' Service Centre, an initiative of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority," they stressed.
Al Shariqi said that a number of farm owners had expressed their interest in becoming members of the Farmers' Service Centre, which Shaikh Hamdan inaugurated on the first day of the exhibition.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/farm-show-focuses-on-reforms-in-al-gharbia-1.610630
Iran to resume wheat exports
11 April 2010
TEHRAN - Iran will resume exports of wheat after three years in the current calendar year as the nation is expected to harvest 9-12 million tons of the product, the deputy commerce minister stated.
The Mehr News Agency quoted Hamid Alikhani as saying forecasts showed that there would practically be no import of wheat this year.
The calendar year began on March 21, 2010.
The commerce ministry had obtained permits from the administration to import 6-7 million tons of wheat in the past two years, he added.
Alikhani went on saying that speculations of a wheat surplus this year has led to preliminary negotiations regarding the export of wheat from Iran to neighboring countries.
Iran exported its first wheat consignment weighing 40 thousand tons to Oman in 2007.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S., Canada, European Union, Australia, Russia and Argentina were the major wheat exporters for market years 2008-2009
© Tehran Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100411045521/Iran%20to%20resume%20wheat%20exports/
11 April 2010
TEHRAN - Iran will resume exports of wheat after three years in the current calendar year as the nation is expected to harvest 9-12 million tons of the product, the deputy commerce minister stated.
The Mehr News Agency quoted Hamid Alikhani as saying forecasts showed that there would practically be no import of wheat this year.
The calendar year began on March 21, 2010.
The commerce ministry had obtained permits from the administration to import 6-7 million tons of wheat in the past two years, he added.
Alikhani went on saying that speculations of a wheat surplus this year has led to preliminary negotiations regarding the export of wheat from Iran to neighboring countries.
Iran exported its first wheat consignment weighing 40 thousand tons to Oman in 2007.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S., Canada, European Union, Australia, Russia and Argentina were the major wheat exporters for market years 2008-2009
© Tehran Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100411045521/Iran%20to%20resume%20wheat%20exports/
Farmers' Service Centre set up in Al Gharbia
10 April 2010
LIWA -- The Farmers' Service Centre was inaugurated on Thursday alongside the Liwa Agricultural Exhibition by Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the
Western Region.
The centre has been set up with the aim of attaining better food security and self-reliance through increasing the market share of UAE-grown food to 25 per cent, said Rashed Al Shariqi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. Although the Service Centre is presently operational only in the Western region, it will eventually cover all areas of the emirate over a period of five years. Apart from providing pre- and post-production services in terms of financial assistance, technology, methodology and professional advice, the centre will also firm up a proper system for the marketing of local agricultural produce, said Al Shariqi.
The primary objective behind the centre is to bring more efficient and productive agricultural output to the 7,500 farms in the Western Region. "We are not approaching the agricultural sector from a mere social and community perspective. The idea is to view this dynamic sector of the emirate's social and economic life as a part and parcel of the overall development process. The economic potential of the sector coupled with the environmental and social dimensions should be linked to the future goals of complete food security and self-reliance," he added.
With the inauguration of the Farmers' Service Centre in Al Gharbia (western region), the farmers in the region have a single-point support centre for all their dealings with the government of Abu Dhabi. The centre is targeting to improve the availability and quality of UAE-grown food from the current 12.5 per cent share of the market up to 25 per cent, while improving water
use efficiency.
About 80 per cent of the high-quality production from Al Gharbia will be marketed through a chain managed as per international standards.
By Staff Reporter
© Khaleej Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100410060049/Farmers%27%20Service%20Centre%20set%20up%20in%20Al%20Gharbia%20/
10 April 2010
LIWA -- The Farmers' Service Centre was inaugurated on Thursday alongside the Liwa Agricultural Exhibition by Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the
Western Region.
The centre has been set up with the aim of attaining better food security and self-reliance through increasing the market share of UAE-grown food to 25 per cent, said Rashed Al Shariqi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. Although the Service Centre is presently operational only in the Western region, it will eventually cover all areas of the emirate over a period of five years. Apart from providing pre- and post-production services in terms of financial assistance, technology, methodology and professional advice, the centre will also firm up a proper system for the marketing of local agricultural produce, said Al Shariqi.
The primary objective behind the centre is to bring more efficient and productive agricultural output to the 7,500 farms in the Western Region. "We are not approaching the agricultural sector from a mere social and community perspective. The idea is to view this dynamic sector of the emirate's social and economic life as a part and parcel of the overall development process. The economic potential of the sector coupled with the environmental and social dimensions should be linked to the future goals of complete food security and self-reliance," he added.
With the inauguration of the Farmers' Service Centre in Al Gharbia (western region), the farmers in the region have a single-point support centre for all their dealings with the government of Abu Dhabi. The centre is targeting to improve the availability and quality of UAE-grown food from the current 12.5 per cent share of the market up to 25 per cent, while improving water
use efficiency.
About 80 per cent of the high-quality production from Al Gharbia will be marketed through a chain managed as per international standards.
By Staff Reporter
© Khaleej Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100410060049/Farmers%27%20Service%20Centre%20set%20up%20in%20Al%20Gharbia%20/
Lahore residents take a liking to organic products
Health-consciousness prompts change as people are turning to more naturally grown items
Published: 00:00 April 10, 2010
Lahore: Shoppers in Lahore have changed habits. Instead of coming home with over-sized, bright red tomatoes or plump vegetables bursting out of their skins, they are going for far more shrivelled specimens.
But there is a reason. "Organically grown vegetables are so much healthier and tastier, even though they don't look so good. I try to buy only those grown without the use of fertilisers or chemical pesticides," said Farzana Hasan.
Over the past two or three years, several outlets in Lahore have begun selling organically grown produce. The demand for the items has gone up as people realise the health benefits.
Studies conducted by government bodies have in the past noted that the soil in and around Lahore contains high levels of pesticide residue and industrial effluent. There have also been reports about deformities in children caused by excessive toxins in soil.
As a result, people are turning to more naturally grown items. Alongside vegetables, free-range, grain-fed poultry is also now more easily available — as opposed to chicken raised in coops.
Of course, there is a catch. As is the case worldwide, the prices of organic produce are high.
"I would love to buy organic stuff for my kids, but the fact is that as a single, working mother, I simply cannot afford it," said Asma Ahmad, who says she struggles to pay school fees and buy basic necessities.
Farmers, however, point out that growing wheat without fertiliser or pesticide requires more intensive effort and gives smaller yields, making high prices inevitable.
As consciousness grows about the risks of food laced with chemicals, people have found their own solutions. "I was increasingly concerned about the risks of vegetables sprayed with pesticide, so I worked with my wife on a kitchen garden," said Altaf Ali.
This is despite the fact that Altaf and his family live in an apartment.
"Our garden grows on the large balcony outside our bedroom. We have tomatoes growing on a vine, peppers in pots and lettuce in a container apart from herbs and other items."
http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/lahore-residents-take-a-liking-to-organic-products-1.610214
Health-consciousness prompts change as people are turning to more naturally grown items
Published: 00:00 April 10, 2010
Lahore: Shoppers in Lahore have changed habits. Instead of coming home with over-sized, bright red tomatoes or plump vegetables bursting out of their skins, they are going for far more shrivelled specimens.
But there is a reason. "Organically grown vegetables are so much healthier and tastier, even though they don't look so good. I try to buy only those grown without the use of fertilisers or chemical pesticides," said Farzana Hasan.
Over the past two or three years, several outlets in Lahore have begun selling organically grown produce. The demand for the items has gone up as people realise the health benefits.
Studies conducted by government bodies have in the past noted that the soil in and around Lahore contains high levels of pesticide residue and industrial effluent. There have also been reports about deformities in children caused by excessive toxins in soil.
As a result, people are turning to more naturally grown items. Alongside vegetables, free-range, grain-fed poultry is also now more easily available — as opposed to chicken raised in coops.
Of course, there is a catch. As is the case worldwide, the prices of organic produce are high.
"I would love to buy organic stuff for my kids, but the fact is that as a single, working mother, I simply cannot afford it," said Asma Ahmad, who says she struggles to pay school fees and buy basic necessities.
Farmers, however, point out that growing wheat without fertiliser or pesticide requires more intensive effort and gives smaller yields, making high prices inevitable.
As consciousness grows about the risks of food laced with chemicals, people have found their own solutions. "I was increasingly concerned about the risks of vegetables sprayed with pesticide, so I worked with my wife on a kitchen garden," said Altaf Ali.
This is despite the fact that Altaf and his family live in an apartment.
"Our garden grows on the large balcony outside our bedroom. We have tomatoes growing on a vine, peppers in pots and lettuce in a container apart from herbs and other items."
http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/lahore-residents-take-a-liking-to-organic-products-1.610214
Friday, April 09, 2010
Aditya Solar to Build Solar Plant in UAE
Friday, April 09, 2010
UAE - Aditya Solar Power Industries based in Bangalore, India is to develop a 200MW solar thermal project in the UAE.
Mulk Renewable Energy, a subsidiary of UAE-based Mulk Holding, will supply and install solar thermal power plants for Aditya Solar in a deal valued at 2 billion dirhams ($545 million), according to a report in the Economic Times. of India.
According to the agreement, Mulk Renewable Energy will create a joint venture with Aditya Solar to develop the project.
The first phase of teh project - a 40MW plant will be completed by 2012 and the whole project will be completed by 2013.
TheBioenergySite News Desk
http://www.thebioenergysite.com/news/5938/aditya-solar-to-build-solar-plant-in-uae
Farmers benefit as scheme converts waste to compost
Friday, Apr 09, 2010
Liwa: Kitchen waste is converted into 500 tonnes of organic fertilizer every month, thanks to an initiative by the Al Ain Municipality.
The organic fertilizer has minimized the use of chemical fertilizers in Al Ain, paving the way for eco-friendly agricultural practices, said an executive of a private company, which has been assigned by the Municipality to treat the city's garbage.
"Out of 800 to 1,200 tonnes of garbage collected daily from the city, more than half comes from kitchen waste and remnants of plants and trees collected by a landscaping company. They never include sludge or human waste," said Wail Saod Deebah, sales manager of Emirates Environmental Technology Company in Al Ain.
He spoke to Gulf News at Liwa Agricultural Exhibition organized by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority.
"They are treated to make compost," he said.
Compost cost
The executive said, although the compost costs Dh250 per tonne in the market, the Municipality gives it to local farmers at a subsided price of Dh125 per tonne which encourages them to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers.
Explaining the treatment of garbage to make compost, Deebah said it begins with the segregation of garbage into recyclable waste and organic waste.
Recyclable materials, like plastics and metals, are packed and sold to companies which recycle them, he said.
Meanwhile, organic waste is filtered again through a 10 millimeter net to take out small solids.
"Although the organic waste contains kitchen waste and remnants of plants, leaves, branches of trees [collected by landscaping companies], it will have small pieces of plastics and metals," he said.
The remaining organic waste is put under the sun for seventy days until it becomes pure organic fertilizer, the executive added.
Use of organic fertilizer
Farmers using compost will also use chemical fertilizers because of a lack of nutrients in the soil, Deebah said.
Date palms are the main crop in Al Ain with each plant needing 50 to 100 kilograms of compost during the season.
Vegetable and fruit are the other prominent crops.
"About 20 to 50 kilograms of compost is used for a fruit plant," Deebah added.
450-500
tonnes of organic fertilizer per month produced from garbage
800-1200
tonnes of garbage per day collected from Al Ain city
Dh250
per tonne is the price of organic fertilizer
Box
Numbers
450- 500 tonnes of organic fertilizer per month produced from garbage
800-1200 tonnes of garbage per day collected from Al Ain city.
Dh 250 per tonne is the price of organic fertilizer
Dh 125 per tonne, price subsidized by the municipality for local farmers
By Binsal Abdul Kader
© Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidGN_09042010_100411/Farmers%20benefit%20as%20scheme%20converts%20waste%20to%20compost/
Friday, Apr 09, 2010
Liwa: Kitchen waste is converted into 500 tonnes of organic fertilizer every month, thanks to an initiative by the Al Ain Municipality.
The organic fertilizer has minimized the use of chemical fertilizers in Al Ain, paving the way for eco-friendly agricultural practices, said an executive of a private company, which has been assigned by the Municipality to treat the city's garbage.
"Out of 800 to 1,200 tonnes of garbage collected daily from the city, more than half comes from kitchen waste and remnants of plants and trees collected by a landscaping company. They never include sludge or human waste," said Wail Saod Deebah, sales manager of Emirates Environmental Technology Company in Al Ain.
He spoke to Gulf News at Liwa Agricultural Exhibition organized by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority.
"They are treated to make compost," he said.
Compost cost
The executive said, although the compost costs Dh250 per tonne in the market, the Municipality gives it to local farmers at a subsided price of Dh125 per tonne which encourages them to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers.
Explaining the treatment of garbage to make compost, Deebah said it begins with the segregation of garbage into recyclable waste and organic waste.
Recyclable materials, like plastics and metals, are packed and sold to companies which recycle them, he said.
Meanwhile, organic waste is filtered again through a 10 millimeter net to take out small solids.
"Although the organic waste contains kitchen waste and remnants of plants, leaves, branches of trees [collected by landscaping companies], it will have small pieces of plastics and metals," he said.
The remaining organic waste is put under the sun for seventy days until it becomes pure organic fertilizer, the executive added.
Use of organic fertilizer
Farmers using compost will also use chemical fertilizers because of a lack of nutrients in the soil, Deebah said.
Date palms are the main crop in Al Ain with each plant needing 50 to 100 kilograms of compost during the season.
Vegetable and fruit are the other prominent crops.
"About 20 to 50 kilograms of compost is used for a fruit plant," Deebah added.
450-500
tonnes of organic fertilizer per month produced from garbage
800-1200
tonnes of garbage per day collected from Al Ain city
Dh250
per tonne is the price of organic fertilizer
Box
Numbers
450- 500 tonnes of organic fertilizer per month produced from garbage
800-1200 tonnes of garbage per day collected from Al Ain city.
Dh 250 per tonne is the price of organic fertilizer
Dh 125 per tonne, price subsidized by the municipality for local farmers
By Binsal Abdul Kader
© Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidGN_09042010_100411/Farmers%20benefit%20as%20scheme%20converts%20waste%20to%20compost/
UAE-Kenyan joint commission wraps up inaugural meeting.
NAIROUBI, Apr. 9th, 2010: The inaugural session of the UAE-Kenyan Joint Commission, which started on April 6th, has been concluded Thursday in the Nigerian capital.
H.H Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, UAE Foreign Affairs Minister and his Kenyan counterpart Moses Wetangula, co-chaired the commission and signed the minutes of the meeting which saw a decision to hold the next meeting in Abu Dhabi.In a speech at the closing ceremony, Sheikh Abdullah emphasized "the need for continuing and following up on the commission's work and implementing its recommendations as soon as possible.""Relations with Kenya are based on solid foundations of mutual respect and cooperation and are constantly growing thanks to the support rendered by the prudent leaderships of the two countries President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and H.E President Mwai Kibaki," Sheikh Abdullah said."Over the recent decades, our economic, trade, investment and technical relations have seen growth. The inaugural meeting of the joint commission lays a solid foundation to expand bilateral cooperation. This meeting provides a valuable chance to explore more opportunities and venues for investments which would add to the advantages of both economies for more growth as well as develop relations and move forward to realize our aspirations with an emphasis on the role of private sectors."Trade between the UAE and Kenya reached around AED 2 billion in 2008, he noted.Speaking on the agenda of the meeting, he said the first round of negotiations discussed a double-taxation agreement, a mechanism for exchanging data on investments, commercial regulations for trade between the UAE and Kenya as well as cooperation on animal production, agricultural investments, civil aviation and marketing UAE petrochemical products on the Kenyan markets.Over two days, the joint committee discussed political, economic and trade cooperation as well as prospects in areas such as tourism, humanitarian operations, investments, higher education, banking, finance, transport, animal resources, environmental protection and agricultural production.
© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidWAM20100409093059187/UAE-Kenyan%20joint%20commission%20wraps%20up%20inaugural%20meeting./
NAIROUBI, Apr. 9th, 2010: The inaugural session of the UAE-Kenyan Joint Commission, which started on April 6th, has been concluded Thursday in the Nigerian capital.
H.H Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, UAE Foreign Affairs Minister and his Kenyan counterpart Moses Wetangula, co-chaired the commission and signed the minutes of the meeting which saw a decision to hold the next meeting in Abu Dhabi.In a speech at the closing ceremony, Sheikh Abdullah emphasized "the need for continuing and following up on the commission's work and implementing its recommendations as soon as possible.""Relations with Kenya are based on solid foundations of mutual respect and cooperation and are constantly growing thanks to the support rendered by the prudent leaderships of the two countries President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and H.E President Mwai Kibaki," Sheikh Abdullah said."Over the recent decades, our economic, trade, investment and technical relations have seen growth. The inaugural meeting of the joint commission lays a solid foundation to expand bilateral cooperation. This meeting provides a valuable chance to explore more opportunities and venues for investments which would add to the advantages of both economies for more growth as well as develop relations and move forward to realize our aspirations with an emphasis on the role of private sectors."Trade between the UAE and Kenya reached around AED 2 billion in 2008, he noted.Speaking on the agenda of the meeting, he said the first round of negotiations discussed a double-taxation agreement, a mechanism for exchanging data on investments, commercial regulations for trade between the UAE and Kenya as well as cooperation on animal production, agricultural investments, civil aviation and marketing UAE petrochemical products on the Kenyan markets.Over two days, the joint committee discussed political, economic and trade cooperation as well as prospects in areas such as tourism, humanitarian operations, investments, higher education, banking, finance, transport, animal resources, environmental protection and agricultural production.
© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidWAM20100409093059187/UAE-Kenyan%20joint%20commission%20wraps%20up%20inaugural%20meeting./
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Saudi Arabia,Tunisia tie upon farming
08 April 2010
JEDDAH - Saudi Arabia and Tunisia agreed to implement a program of cooperation in the farming sector.
A schedule and follow-up mechanisms were adopted during a working session held as part of the five-day visit of Abdessalem Mansour, Minister of Farming, Water Resources and Fishing which ended on Tuesday.
Mansour agreed with Saudi Agriculture Minister Fahd Belghim to take advantage of the two countries' experiences in terms of water desalination and utilization of treated water for irrigation. The aim is to establish co-operation and twinning operations between both countries' centers of research in the sectors of palm tree planting, date packaging, fishing and fish farming.
The two ministers also decided to organize Tunisian-Saudi partnership seminars in Tunisia during which the investment opportunities provided in the sectors of farming, food industries, fish farming and fishing in addition to the exchange of expertise in olive oil production, cereal growing and fodder, will be presented.
© The Saudi Gazette 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100408044607/Saudi%20Arabia%2CTunisia%20tie%20upon%20farming%20/
08 April 2010
JEDDAH - Saudi Arabia and Tunisia agreed to implement a program of cooperation in the farming sector.
A schedule and follow-up mechanisms were adopted during a working session held as part of the five-day visit of Abdessalem Mansour, Minister of Farming, Water Resources and Fishing which ended on Tuesday.
Mansour agreed with Saudi Agriculture Minister Fahd Belghim to take advantage of the two countries' experiences in terms of water desalination and utilization of treated water for irrigation. The aim is to establish co-operation and twinning operations between both countries' centers of research in the sectors of palm tree planting, date packaging, fishing and fish farming.
The two ministers also decided to organize Tunisian-Saudi partnership seminars in Tunisia during which the investment opportunities provided in the sectors of farming, food industries, fish farming and fishing in addition to the exchange of expertise in olive oil production, cereal growing and fodder, will be presented.
© The Saudi Gazette 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100408044607/Saudi%20Arabia%2CTunisia%20tie%20upon%20farming%20/
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Seafood seized by municipal inspectors
Published: Apr 8, 2010 01:59 Updated: Apr 8, 2010 02:23
JEDDAH: Jeddah municipality's Abattoirs and Fish Markets Administration seized on Tuesday seafood from the fish market deemed unsuitable for human consumption.
“Our administration seized 2,380 kilograms of fish that was inedible, however 101 kilograms is being given to charities after it was confirmed that it was suitable for human consumption.” said Nasser Al-Jarallah, director of the administration.
Last month the municipality made an inspection sweep inside the downtown fish market where 102 fish displays, four storage units, two ice vendors were found to be in health code violation.
“We were able to inspect 288 refrigerators, and 929 large, medium and small trucks to which 37 violations were given and 17 financial fines were imposed on others,” said Al-Jarallah.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article40368.ece
Published: Apr 8, 2010 01:59 Updated: Apr 8, 2010 02:23
JEDDAH: Jeddah municipality's Abattoirs and Fish Markets Administration seized on Tuesday seafood from the fish market deemed unsuitable for human consumption.
“Our administration seized 2,380 kilograms of fish that was inedible, however 101 kilograms is being given to charities after it was confirmed that it was suitable for human consumption.” said Nasser Al-Jarallah, director of the administration.
Last month the municipality made an inspection sweep inside the downtown fish market where 102 fish displays, four storage units, two ice vendors were found to be in health code violation.
“We were able to inspect 288 refrigerators, and 929 large, medium and small trucks to which 37 violations were given and 17 financial fines were imposed on others,” said Al-Jarallah.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article40368.ece
World's first cloned camel Injaz turns one
The scientists who produced the world's first cloned camel plan to use the same technique to preserve endangered species across the Arabian Gulf
Published: 00:00 April 8, 2010
Gulf News
Injaz, whose name means achievement, was born on April 8 last year
Injaz, whose name means achievement, was born on April 8 last year from the ovarian cell of a camel that was slaughtered for its meat.
Dubai: The world's first cloned camel celebrates its first birthday Thursday as the scientists who produced her plan to use the same technique to preserve endangered species across the Arabian Gulf.
Injaz, meaning achievement, was born on April 8 last year from the ovarian cell of a camel that was slaughtered for its meat.
Earlier this week, the Camel Reproduction Centre (CRC) revealed the birth of the world's second cloned camel, Bin Soughan, who was produced from cells harvested from the skin of an elite bull.
Dr Nisar Ahmad Wani, Head of the Reproductive Biology Laboratory at the CRC, now hopes to clone other animals in the region that are facing extinction.
He said: "My dream is to use this technique to preserve other endangered species. I have started work on a project whereby we can use this technique for preservation. There are many animals on the verge of extinction in the Arabian Gulf. For example, there are only a few Arabian tahr left in the wild so I hope we can use this technique in the future to preserve these animals.
"We also hope to clone some good milk-producing camels. But of course we will first have to test the milk to see if it is fit for human consumption as has been the case in cattle.
"Meat and milk from cloned animals are now being utilised and there should be no problem here in the UAE but we first have to carry out the necessary tests."
In December, Gulf News reported that Injaz was exhibiting "pretty normal behaviour" since her birth.
Dr Wani added: "... In the year since her birth we have been able to utilise other cell types, in particular skin cells. Our embryo production has also increased and we have improved our techniques.
"Injaz is female and Bin Soughan is male so the behavioural differences are what you would expect, Bin Soughan is quite naughty while Injaz shows a lot of affection!"
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/world-s-first-cloned-camel-injaz-turns-one-1.609310
The scientists who produced the world's first cloned camel plan to use the same technique to preserve endangered species across the Arabian Gulf
Published: 00:00 April 8, 2010
Gulf News
Injaz, whose name means achievement, was born on April 8 last year
Injaz, whose name means achievement, was born on April 8 last year from the ovarian cell of a camel that was slaughtered for its meat.
Dubai: The world's first cloned camel celebrates its first birthday Thursday as the scientists who produced her plan to use the same technique to preserve endangered species across the Arabian Gulf.
Injaz, meaning achievement, was born on April 8 last year from the ovarian cell of a camel that was slaughtered for its meat.
Earlier this week, the Camel Reproduction Centre (CRC) revealed the birth of the world's second cloned camel, Bin Soughan, who was produced from cells harvested from the skin of an elite bull.
Dr Nisar Ahmad Wani, Head of the Reproductive Biology Laboratory at the CRC, now hopes to clone other animals in the region that are facing extinction.
He said: "My dream is to use this technique to preserve other endangered species. I have started work on a project whereby we can use this technique for preservation. There are many animals on the verge of extinction in the Arabian Gulf. For example, there are only a few Arabian tahr left in the wild so I hope we can use this technique in the future to preserve these animals.
"We also hope to clone some good milk-producing camels. But of course we will first have to test the milk to see if it is fit for human consumption as has been the case in cattle.
"Meat and milk from cloned animals are now being utilised and there should be no problem here in the UAE but we first have to carry out the necessary tests."
In December, Gulf News reported that Injaz was exhibiting "pretty normal behaviour" since her birth.
Dr Wani added: "... In the year since her birth we have been able to utilise other cell types, in particular skin cells. Our embryo production has also increased and we have improved our techniques.
"Injaz is female and Bin Soughan is male so the behavioural differences are what you would expect, Bin Soughan is quite naughty while Injaz shows a lot of affection!"
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/world-s-first-cloned-camel-injaz-turns-one-1.609310
Farming:Tunisia to increase irrigation perimeters
TUNISIAONLINENEWS- During the next five years, Tunisia will aim at increasing its farming irrigated areas by 50%.
Irrigated areas, which consume 80% of water resources, cover an area of approximately 405, 000 hectares and represent 8% of crop areas, including 220,000 hectares of public farming areas and 185, 000 hectares from private farms.
According to the 2009-2014 Presidential Program to promote the use of new water-saving techniques in irrigated perimeters, Tunisia will endeavor to extend the area equipped with these techniques to reach at least 200,000 hectares, compared to 120,000 hectares currently.
irrigation
The results registered between 1995 and 2009, reported about 346, 000 hectares equipped with economic irrigation, representing nearly 85% of the overall acreage of irrigated perimeters, 98, 000 hectares of surface irrigation, 112, 000 hectares with multi-jet irrigation and 135 thousand hectares of irrigation at the local level.
Regarding investment, incentives and grants provided by government to farmers, they reached 414 million dinars. Since 1995, total investments destined for the acquisition of economic irrigation equipment are estimated at 846 million dinars.
http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/?p=36627
TUNISIAONLINENEWS- During the next five years, Tunisia will aim at increasing its farming irrigated areas by 50%.
Irrigated areas, which consume 80% of water resources, cover an area of approximately 405, 000 hectares and represent 8% of crop areas, including 220,000 hectares of public farming areas and 185, 000 hectares from private farms.
According to the 2009-2014 Presidential Program to promote the use of new water-saving techniques in irrigated perimeters, Tunisia will endeavor to extend the area equipped with these techniques to reach at least 200,000 hectares, compared to 120,000 hectares currently.
irrigation
The results registered between 1995 and 2009, reported about 346, 000 hectares equipped with economic irrigation, representing nearly 85% of the overall acreage of irrigated perimeters, 98, 000 hectares of surface irrigation, 112, 000 hectares with multi-jet irrigation and 135 thousand hectares of irrigation at the local level.
Regarding investment, incentives and grants provided by government to farmers, they reached 414 million dinars. Since 1995, total investments destined for the acquisition of economic irrigation equipment are estimated at 846 million dinars.
http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/?p=36627
Erbil hosts agriculture conference
Participants listen to a presentation on
the agriculture situation in Iraqi Kurdistan.
PRESS PHOTO
Government sees aid organizations as essential to saving the agricultural sector.
USAID Inma Program helps farmers improve quality, increase quantity, and reduce costs of production.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Inma Agribusiness Program, in cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, organized a conference in the Kurdistan Regional Capital City of Erbil about the current situation of the agriculture sector in Kurdistan and increasing the local agricultural production volume so that it can supply the regional and part of the national markets' demands.
The conference was organized at the Hawler Theatre Hall in the Erbil International Hotel (EIH) on Tuesday, March 30, with the participation of the director of the Inma Project Mr. Ross Wherry, KRG Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Mr. Jamil Sulaiman Haidar, a number of local and international experts in the field of agriculture, and farmers and representatives from the private sector.
The conference started with an opening speech by Wherry, in which he explained the objective of the one-day conference to send a message to the farmers in Kurdistan Region: "Where are your agricultural products? What is your plan for food safety and what are you future plans for the improvement of the agriculture sector and increasing the production?"
The director of the USAID-funded Inma Project said that their aim is to tell the farmers of northern Iraq how to minimize their production costs and earn money in return for the money they spend.
"We believe in the farmers of northern Iraq in terms of producing vegetables and fruits," said Wherry, addressing the conference participants. "And we support the farmers not in terms of giving them money, but in terms of providing them with technology and information about how to improve quality and reduce costs."
KRG Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources also addressed the conference and stated that his ministry's policy is to support the farmers and the private sector companies working in the agriculture industry.
Minister Jamil also hoped that the ministry, using the ideas brought about in this conference, would design its strategic agricultural plan in a way that improves and develops the Kurdistan Region's agriculture industry and increases domestic production in a way that can supply the Iraqi markets as well.
Experts participating in the conference stated that the conference was very important for this stage of the agricultural development in the region, particularly in terms of transferring new science and technology into the Kurdistan Region's agriculture sector. This is in addition to making use of the academic research being conducted by university students about agriculture.
Representatives of Kurdistan Region farmers at the conference reiterated that KRG's efforts to support the agriculture sector has been significantly successful and has had considerable positive impact among the farmers and helped them a lot, but it still needs further steps forward.
Inma Project has been supporting farmers throughout Iraq to improve their quality and increase their production so that the country depends on its domestic production rather than imports.
The objective of Inma is to increase the competitiveness of Iraqi agriculture and agribusiness, helping reverse the negative effects of decades of central planning. It supports the development and expansion of commercial agribusiness enterprises producing and marketing high-value horticultural and animal products that enjoy immediate acceptance in the Iraqi consumer market.
Iraq, and especially Kurdistan Region, has a big agricultural potential, but it has not been utilized in a modern way with use of new technologies due to wrong policies of the respective regimes in the country that neglected this vital source of Iraq's economic development.
Currently a large portion of Iraq's agricultural lands are not cultivated or even abandoned by farmers who immigrated to the city centers in search of higher income and improved living standards.
Thus, experts think that government and aid organizations' support is essential for the agriculture sector of the country to boom again and save the country from the threat imported food is currently posing on Iraqis' health and food safety
http://www.kurdishglobe.net/displayArticle.jsp?id=011D8D37C3E42ABB8CAF6EFFFE45F393
Participants listen to a presentation on
the agriculture situation in Iraqi Kurdistan.
PRESS PHOTO
Government sees aid organizations as essential to saving the agricultural sector.
USAID Inma Program helps farmers improve quality, increase quantity, and reduce costs of production.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Inma Agribusiness Program, in cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, organized a conference in the Kurdistan Regional Capital City of Erbil about the current situation of the agriculture sector in Kurdistan and increasing the local agricultural production volume so that it can supply the regional and part of the national markets' demands.
The conference was organized at the Hawler Theatre Hall in the Erbil International Hotel (EIH) on Tuesday, March 30, with the participation of the director of the Inma Project Mr. Ross Wherry, KRG Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Mr. Jamil Sulaiman Haidar, a number of local and international experts in the field of agriculture, and farmers and representatives from the private sector.
The conference started with an opening speech by Wherry, in which he explained the objective of the one-day conference to send a message to the farmers in Kurdistan Region: "Where are your agricultural products? What is your plan for food safety and what are you future plans for the improvement of the agriculture sector and increasing the production?"
The director of the USAID-funded Inma Project said that their aim is to tell the farmers of northern Iraq how to minimize their production costs and earn money in return for the money they spend.
"We believe in the farmers of northern Iraq in terms of producing vegetables and fruits," said Wherry, addressing the conference participants. "And we support the farmers not in terms of giving them money, but in terms of providing them with technology and information about how to improve quality and reduce costs."
KRG Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources also addressed the conference and stated that his ministry's policy is to support the farmers and the private sector companies working in the agriculture industry.
Minister Jamil also hoped that the ministry, using the ideas brought about in this conference, would design its strategic agricultural plan in a way that improves and develops the Kurdistan Region's agriculture industry and increases domestic production in a way that can supply the Iraqi markets as well.
Experts participating in the conference stated that the conference was very important for this stage of the agricultural development in the region, particularly in terms of transferring new science and technology into the Kurdistan Region's agriculture sector. This is in addition to making use of the academic research being conducted by university students about agriculture.
Representatives of Kurdistan Region farmers at the conference reiterated that KRG's efforts to support the agriculture sector has been significantly successful and has had considerable positive impact among the farmers and helped them a lot, but it still needs further steps forward.
Inma Project has been supporting farmers throughout Iraq to improve their quality and increase their production so that the country depends on its domestic production rather than imports.
The objective of Inma is to increase the competitiveness of Iraqi agriculture and agribusiness, helping reverse the negative effects of decades of central planning. It supports the development and expansion of commercial agribusiness enterprises producing and marketing high-value horticultural and animal products that enjoy immediate acceptance in the Iraqi consumer market.
Iraq, and especially Kurdistan Region, has a big agricultural potential, but it has not been utilized in a modern way with use of new technologies due to wrong policies of the respective regimes in the country that neglected this vital source of Iraq's economic development.
Currently a large portion of Iraq's agricultural lands are not cultivated or even abandoned by farmers who immigrated to the city centers in search of higher income and improved living standards.
Thus, experts think that government and aid organizations' support is essential for the agriculture sector of the country to boom again and save the country from the threat imported food is currently posing on Iraqis' health and food safety
http://www.kurdishglobe.net/displayArticle.jsp?id=011D8D37C3E42ABB8CAF6EFFFE45F393
Al Nassma in talks with Egypt partners
Martin van Almsick, General Manager of Al Nassma, at the launch of the first Al Nassma Camel Milk Chocolate at Mina Al Salam.
"As camel milk chocolate is seen as an authentic souvenir from the Arab World, Egypt is even more interesting for us due to its large tourism sector," van Almsick added.
Dubai/Cairo Dubai-based camel milk chocolate producer Al Nassma is currently holding talks with distributors in Egypt to expand its business footprint within the Middle East.
"The Egypt market is of considerable size for us and chocolate plays an outstanding role at many festivities, for example weddings," Martin van Almsick, Al Nassma's general manager, told Gulf News on the phone from the Salon du Chocolat, a four-day chocolate themed exhibition in Cairo, which has been held for the first time in the Middle East.
"As camel milk chocolate is seen as an authentic souvenir from the Arab World, Egypt is even more interesting for us due to its large tourism sector," van Almsick added.
Hatem Salem, organiser of the Salon du Chocolat, said that "thousands of visitors to the exhibition clearly reveal the relevance of chocolate for Egyptians, which gives hints for manufacturers on the slumbering economic potential of the Egyptian market."
Al Nassma, based in Umm Nahad on the outskirts of Dubai, is running a farm of 3,000 camels, together with a chocolate factory and a dairy and uses the animals' milk to produce a range of premium chocolate products, "a five-star chocolate", as van Almsick puts it.
In the UAE, Al Nassma has partnerships with Jumeirah Hotel Group, Kempinski, JW Marriott, Grand Hyatt, Dubai Duty Free and Etihad Airways.
The chocolate is exported to regional markets, of which Saudi Arabia is one of the most important, with an expected export share of 20 per cent during this summer's Ramadan. The chocolate is also shipped to the US, Europe and Japan.
Al Nassma is a joint venture of the Dubai Government and HM Chocolate Holding, based in Vienna and founded by entrepreneurial confectioner Hans Georg Hochleitner from Salzburg, Austria.
Austrian chocolate manufacturer Manner, a century-old family company in Vienna, holds 45 per cent of HM Chocolate's stake and is assisting Al Nassma in the production process.
Have you ever tried products made from camel's milk? Would you make the switch from cow's milk to camel's milk?
http://gulfnews.com/business/general/al-nassma-in-talks-with-egypt-partners-1.608867
Martin van Almsick, General Manager of Al Nassma, at the launch of the first Al Nassma Camel Milk Chocolate at Mina Al Salam.
"As camel milk chocolate is seen as an authentic souvenir from the Arab World, Egypt is even more interesting for us due to its large tourism sector," van Almsick added.
Dubai/Cairo Dubai-based camel milk chocolate producer Al Nassma is currently holding talks with distributors in Egypt to expand its business footprint within the Middle East.
"The Egypt market is of considerable size for us and chocolate plays an outstanding role at many festivities, for example weddings," Martin van Almsick, Al Nassma's general manager, told Gulf News on the phone from the Salon du Chocolat, a four-day chocolate themed exhibition in Cairo, which has been held for the first time in the Middle East.
"As camel milk chocolate is seen as an authentic souvenir from the Arab World, Egypt is even more interesting for us due to its large tourism sector," van Almsick added.
Hatem Salem, organiser of the Salon du Chocolat, said that "thousands of visitors to the exhibition clearly reveal the relevance of chocolate for Egyptians, which gives hints for manufacturers on the slumbering economic potential of the Egyptian market."
Al Nassma, based in Umm Nahad on the outskirts of Dubai, is running a farm of 3,000 camels, together with a chocolate factory and a dairy and uses the animals' milk to produce a range of premium chocolate products, "a five-star chocolate", as van Almsick puts it.
In the UAE, Al Nassma has partnerships with Jumeirah Hotel Group, Kempinski, JW Marriott, Grand Hyatt, Dubai Duty Free and Etihad Airways.
The chocolate is exported to regional markets, of which Saudi Arabia is one of the most important, with an expected export share of 20 per cent during this summer's Ramadan. The chocolate is also shipped to the US, Europe and Japan.
Al Nassma is a joint venture of the Dubai Government and HM Chocolate Holding, based in Vienna and founded by entrepreneurial confectioner Hans Georg Hochleitner from Salzburg, Austria.
Austrian chocolate manufacturer Manner, a century-old family company in Vienna, holds 45 per cent of HM Chocolate's stake and is assisting Al Nassma in the production process.
Have you ever tried products made from camel's milk? Would you make the switch from cow's milk to camel's milk?
http://gulfnews.com/business/general/al-nassma-in-talks-with-egypt-partners-1.608867
Agro growth gets a push
April 07, 2010
RIYADH: Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghunaim said on Tuesday that his ministry is busy giving final touches to a national strategic plan to develop the Kingdom’s agriculture sector.
Inaugurating a workshop on greenhouses organized by the Ministry of Agriculture under the title of “Towards Food and Water Security,” the minister said the plan is soon to be implemented and will address issues in the agricultural sector. He added that it would also help farmers boost cultivation.
Balghunaim indicated that the workshop was within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to achieve food security. The workshop, he said, was being held as a follow-up to the establishment of a sustainable research center in cooperation with the King Saud University on the initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
He added that people should value his ministry’s efforts in light of the Kingdom’s climate, soil and water resources. “This is a country with little rain and no natural rivers,” he said, adding that there is a strong need to balance between the availability of water resources and food security.
He noted that the ministry has been encouraging the use of modern irrigation methods in preference to traditional irrigation. He added that the ministry encourages agricultural activities that depend on less water in areas such as poultry, fisheries and greenhouses.
He also said that the ministry will establish an Agricultural Information Center to inform farmers about fertile lands, availability of water, the nature of soil and anticipated yields. He also noted that the Agricultural Development Fund headed by the minister has allocated SR1 billion for 280 projects in greenhouses in the Kingdom. He also said that greenhouses save nearly 90 percent of water spent on conventional methods of cultivation.
Balghunaim later opened an exhibition organized on the sidelines of the workshop. Several agricultural establishments and companies participated in the exhibition.
Abdullah Al-Obaid, undersecretary for research and agricultural development at the Ministry of Agriculture, underlined the problems facing the agricultural sector, adding that they include scarcity of water resources, high cost of production and lack of marketing strategies.
The area of vegetable cultivation has increased from 191 to 200 hectares increasing production from 130,000 to 740,000 tons. The Kingdom recently launched seven new initiatives for sustainable development in the agricultural sector.
They included 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, dates marketing, a company for breeding livestock, and the establishment of an entity for marketing fish and shrimps both in and out of the Kingdom.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article40008.ece
April 07, 2010
RIYADH: Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghunaim said on Tuesday that his ministry is busy giving final touches to a national strategic plan to develop the Kingdom’s agriculture sector.
Inaugurating a workshop on greenhouses organized by the Ministry of Agriculture under the title of “Towards Food and Water Security,” the minister said the plan is soon to be implemented and will address issues in the agricultural sector. He added that it would also help farmers boost cultivation.
Balghunaim indicated that the workshop was within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to achieve food security. The workshop, he said, was being held as a follow-up to the establishment of a sustainable research center in cooperation with the King Saud University on the initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
He added that people should value his ministry’s efforts in light of the Kingdom’s climate, soil and water resources. “This is a country with little rain and no natural rivers,” he said, adding that there is a strong need to balance between the availability of water resources and food security.
He noted that the ministry has been encouraging the use of modern irrigation methods in preference to traditional irrigation. He added that the ministry encourages agricultural activities that depend on less water in areas such as poultry, fisheries and greenhouses.
He also said that the ministry will establish an Agricultural Information Center to inform farmers about fertile lands, availability of water, the nature of soil and anticipated yields. He also noted that the Agricultural Development Fund headed by the minister has allocated SR1 billion for 280 projects in greenhouses in the Kingdom. He also said that greenhouses save nearly 90 percent of water spent on conventional methods of cultivation.
Balghunaim later opened an exhibition organized on the sidelines of the workshop. Several agricultural establishments and companies participated in the exhibition.
Abdullah Al-Obaid, undersecretary for research and agricultural development at the Ministry of Agriculture, underlined the problems facing the agricultural sector, adding that they include scarcity of water resources, high cost of production and lack of marketing strategies.
The area of vegetable cultivation has increased from 191 to 200 hectares increasing production from 130,000 to 740,000 tons. The Kingdom recently launched seven new initiatives for sustainable development in the agricultural sector.
They included 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, dates marketing, a company for breeding livestock, and the establishment of an entity for marketing fish and shrimps both in and out of the Kingdom.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article40008.ece
New Method To Detect Melamine In Milk
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
US - University of Miami assistant professor in the College of Engineering, Na Li and her collaborators have developed a fast, economical and easy method to detect melamine in milk.
Melamine is the compound found in contaminated pet food and in tainted dairy products from China in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The laced dairy products were responsible for sickening thousands of people, especially children. The situation caused recalls of Chinese dairy products all over the world.
Monitoring melamine-tainted products continues to be a worldwide concern. Melamine is an industrial substance commonly used in plastics and fertilizers. Since Melamine is high in nitrogen, when added to foods it can make the products appear higher in protein value during standard testing. However, when ingested, the chemical can cause serious health problems and in some cases death.
The new method is described in the study titled "Rapid Detection of Melamine in Whole Milk Mediated by Unmodified Gold Nanoparticles," published online this week by the journal Applied Physics Letters and available at: http://link.aip.org/link/?APL/96/133702.
This study develops a facile and accurate approach towards detection of melamine utilising gold nanoparticles and a dual color and precipitation test. The complete detection methodology is completed in less than 15 minutes.
"Current methods of melamine detection in milk are costly and time consuming," says Na Li, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, at the University of Miami and senior corresponding author of this study. "Our work represents a significant step towards the rapid detection of melamine, which addresses a critical global issue."
The researchers first step is to separate the casein-based milk component, which can interfere with melamine detection. Next, they add gold nanoparticles to the solution. The interaction between the gold nanoparticles and melamine causes a dramatic color change indicating the presence of melamine. When melamine is present, the color of the solution changes from red to blue within seconds and can be measured both by visual inspection and spectrophotometry. Cyanuric acid, which has a specific reaction with melamine, is introduced sequentially to increase specificity. If melamine is present, a precipitant is formed, which can also be assessed both visually and by spectrophotometry.
"This method provides a unique opportunity to use the highly sensitive detection properties of nanoparticles to prevent people from being harmed by melamine ingestion," says Dean Ho, assistant professor in the Departments of Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering, and at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University and co-corresponding author of this study "It's important to utilize nanoparticles that can be manufactured in high yield, which makes it possible to have a method that can be widely used."
In the future, the researchers hope to develop a commercial simple kit that can be used by the layperson, at home or in the field, to detect melamine contaminant in food.
"Our method provides not only an alternative method to the current lab based detection, but also a way for early screening of milk, especially for field work and for developing countries," says Fang Wei, staff research associate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, at the University of California, Los Angeles and first author of this study.
TheCattleSite News Desk
http://www.thecattlesite.com/news/30390/new-method-to-detect-melamine-in-milk
Viral Life Cycle Of Malignant Catarrhal Fever Explained
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
US - The mysterious life cycle of a sheep virus that causes malignant catarrhal fever (MCF)in bison and cattle has been discovered by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their university collaborators, which will help in developing a vaccine against the disease.
Microbiologist Hong Li and veterinary medical officer Naomi Taus at the ARS Animal Diseases Research Unit in Pullman, Washington, collaborated on the research with Lindsay Oaks at Washington State University and Donal O'Toole at the University of Wyoming.
MCF, a viral infection that is a leading cause of disease in American bison, is usually transmitted from sheep to bison and cattle. Vaccine development has been stymied because the virus won't grow in cell culture.
The ARS scientists and their university colleagues have shown that the virus undergoes several changes inside the animal's body, targeting specific cell types at different stages of its own life cycle. This process is called "cell tropism switching."
The viral replication in sheep can be divided into three stages: entry, maintenance, and shedding. The virus enters the sheep through its nasal passages and reaches the lungs, where it replicates. Replication in the sheep lung is required for the virus to change its cell tropism for the next stage: the infection of lymphocytes, a type of immune cell.
During this maintenance stage, the virus stays in the lymphocytes that circulate through the whole body, with little replication. This type of infection is referred to as a "latent infection." During the shedding stage, the virus reactivates from the infected lymphocytes and targets specific cells in the nasal area to complete its replication. The virus is then shed through the sheep's nasal secretions.
Now that they understand these viral changes, scientists can begin to find the right cell types to grow the virus in cell culture, according to Mr Li.
TheCattleSite News Desk
http://www.thebeefsite.com/news/30403/viral-life-cycle-of-malignant-catarrhal-fever-explained
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
US - The mysterious life cycle of a sheep virus that causes malignant catarrhal fever (MCF)in bison and cattle has been discovered by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their university collaborators, which will help in developing a vaccine against the disease.
Microbiologist Hong Li and veterinary medical officer Naomi Taus at the ARS Animal Diseases Research Unit in Pullman, Washington, collaborated on the research with Lindsay Oaks at Washington State University and Donal O'Toole at the University of Wyoming.
MCF, a viral infection that is a leading cause of disease in American bison, is usually transmitted from sheep to bison and cattle. Vaccine development has been stymied because the virus won't grow in cell culture.
The ARS scientists and their university colleagues have shown that the virus undergoes several changes inside the animal's body, targeting specific cell types at different stages of its own life cycle. This process is called "cell tropism switching."
The viral replication in sheep can be divided into three stages: entry, maintenance, and shedding. The virus enters the sheep through its nasal passages and reaches the lungs, where it replicates. Replication in the sheep lung is required for the virus to change its cell tropism for the next stage: the infection of lymphocytes, a type of immune cell.
During this maintenance stage, the virus stays in the lymphocytes that circulate through the whole body, with little replication. This type of infection is referred to as a "latent infection." During the shedding stage, the virus reactivates from the infected lymphocytes and targets specific cells in the nasal area to complete its replication. The virus is then shed through the sheep's nasal secretions.
Now that they understand these viral changes, scientists can begin to find the right cell types to grow the virus in cell culture, according to Mr Li.
TheCattleSite News Desk
http://www.thebeefsite.com/news/30403/viral-life-cycle-of-malignant-catarrhal-fever-explained
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Wafra Portfolio Company to Build Sudan's First Large-Scale Commercial Rice Farm
06 April 2010
A fully-owned subsidiary of Wafra, Citadel Capital's Sudanese agriculture platform, inks 30-year lease for 60,000 feddans of land in White Nile State
El-Nahda for Integrated Solutions has signed an agreement with the White Nile Governorate for a 30-year lease on 60,000 feddans of land in Ed Dueim (150 kilometers south of Khartoum) on which it will build that nation's first large-scale commercial rice farm.
El-Nahda for Integrated Solutions is fully-owned Portfolio Company of Wafra, Citadel Capital's Platform Company in the Sudanese agriculture industry. The farm will produce rice primarily for domestic consumption in Sudan, a net importer of rice, allowing any excess to be exported to other nations in Africa and the Middle East.
"El-Nahda is just our latest venture in the Sudanese agriculture sector," said Hisham El-Khazindar, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Citadel Capital, the leading private equity firm in the Middle East and Africa with US$ 8.3 billion in investments under control in 15 industries spanning 14 countries. "As the third Portfolio Company under Wafra, El-Nahda builds on our experience at SEAC and Sabina. Sabina is on track to have 3,000 feddans under cultivation by next June, while SEAC will be ready to seed 20,000 feddans by the onset of the rainy season in mid-2011."
The Sudanese farm will grow high-quality long-grain rice, which El-Nahda will process at a new rice mill to be constructed on the site. The lease area is flooded for up to eight months per year by water held back by the Jebel Al-Awliaa Dam. Earthworks for the farm will include the construction in stages of a major levee bank to exclude the water, then regulate it back onto the property to grow the rice.
Wafra has hired industry expert Peter Draper, an Australian national, to serve as managing director of El-Nahda for Integrated Solutions. In addition to direct industry experience ― his farms in Australia received high yields awards ― Mr. Draper has worked extensively with the Australian Rice Growers' Association and served for six years as the director for the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production. He is also a past recipient of the Australian Nuffield Farming Scholarship, which he used to study cool season pulse crops suitable for rotation with rice.
- Ends -
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100406105654/Wafra%20Portfolio%20Company%20to%20Build%20Sudan%27s%20First%20Large-Scale%20Commercial%20Rice%20Farm/
06 April 2010
A fully-owned subsidiary of Wafra, Citadel Capital's Sudanese agriculture platform, inks 30-year lease for 60,000 feddans of land in White Nile State
El-Nahda for Integrated Solutions has signed an agreement with the White Nile Governorate for a 30-year lease on 60,000 feddans of land in Ed Dueim (150 kilometers south of Khartoum) on which it will build that nation's first large-scale commercial rice farm.
El-Nahda for Integrated Solutions is fully-owned Portfolio Company of Wafra, Citadel Capital's Platform Company in the Sudanese agriculture industry. The farm will produce rice primarily for domestic consumption in Sudan, a net importer of rice, allowing any excess to be exported to other nations in Africa and the Middle East.
"El-Nahda is just our latest venture in the Sudanese agriculture sector," said Hisham El-Khazindar, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Citadel Capital, the leading private equity firm in the Middle East and Africa with US$ 8.3 billion in investments under control in 15 industries spanning 14 countries. "As the third Portfolio Company under Wafra, El-Nahda builds on our experience at SEAC and Sabina. Sabina is on track to have 3,000 feddans under cultivation by next June, while SEAC will be ready to seed 20,000 feddans by the onset of the rainy season in mid-2011."
The Sudanese farm will grow high-quality long-grain rice, which El-Nahda will process at a new rice mill to be constructed on the site. The lease area is flooded for up to eight months per year by water held back by the Jebel Al-Awliaa Dam. Earthworks for the farm will include the construction in stages of a major levee bank to exclude the water, then regulate it back onto the property to grow the rice.
Wafra has hired industry expert Peter Draper, an Australian national, to serve as managing director of El-Nahda for Integrated Solutions. In addition to direct industry experience ― his farms in Australia received high yields awards ― Mr. Draper has worked extensively with the Australian Rice Growers' Association and served for six years as the director for the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production. He is also a past recipient of the Australian Nuffield Farming Scholarship, which he used to study cool season pulse crops suitable for rotation with rice.
- Ends -
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100406105654/Wafra%20Portfolio%20Company%20to%20Build%20Sudan%27s%20First%20Large-Scale%20Commercial%20Rice%20Farm/
Bangladesh still at stake of bird flu outbreak
April 06, 2010
The avian flu situation in Bangladesh has remained stable with significantly less outbreaks reported during 2009 and 2010, the World Bank said Sunday.
But, the bank said, "Bangladesh still faces the risks of further outbreak as it is probable that the virus exists in dormancy in the country, as 50 percent of its national poultry flock is backyard poultry."
The South Asian country has a large duck population (about 39 million) and is visited annually by about 21 species of migratory birds that can carry the virus, it said, adding "these coupled with the fact that Bangladesh has a high population density, contributes to building up the threat of future avian influenza outbreaks."
The World Bank expressed its concern in a statement dispatched to Xinhua on Sunday, which comes after Bangladesh's authorities last month divulged that they have culled about 154,245 chickens so far this year following fresh outbreak of bird flu.
Of the total, according to the government's disease-control office, some 117,000 chickens of a commercial farm in the country' s northwestern Thakurgaon district were culled in the first week of March after detection of bird flu.
According to the WB, the Bangladeshi government has initiated the "Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Project (AIPRP)", co-financed by the bank and Avian and Human Influenza Trust Fund, since October 2007 to address the threat posed by the virus to humans.
The project is aligned with the government's National Avian and Pandemic Influence Preparedness and Response Plan, which identifies priorities and reflects what needs to be done to contain and control the disease, it said.
While the AIPRP is focusing on animal health-related activities, the ongoing World Bank-supported "Health, Nutrition and Population Support Program" under the Ministry of Health is financing avian influenza activities related to human health.
The first human infection of bird flu in Bangladesh was detected on May 21, 2008. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, diagnosed a 16-month-old Bangladesh child as being infected with H5N1 strain of flu virus. The girl recovered later.
To ensure the achievement of the project outcomes, however, the statement said the WB has urged the Bangladeshi government to accelerate its project implementation pace.
It has been suggested that a contract be signed with the FAO or Food and Agriculture Organization to have technical and other supports for brining pace in implementation.
According to the WB, uninterrupted continuation of the ongoing surveillance activities in 260 sub-districts, and carrying out a co-ordinated training program for various stakeholders also remains top priorities at this phase of the project implementation to contain the outbreak of the virus.
The virus H5N1 was first detected in Bangladesh in a poultry farm near capital Dhaka in March 2007. The situation deteriorated later as the virus spread fast across the country with cases reported in 47 districts between December 2007 and March 2008.
About 50 percent of the country's 150,000 poultry farms were closed and more than 1.5 million chickens, ducks and pigeons were culled as of the end of March 2008 in which the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association estimated a loss of about 75 billion taka ( about 1.07 billion U.S. dollars).
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/90880/6940750.html
April 06, 2010
The avian flu situation in Bangladesh has remained stable with significantly less outbreaks reported during 2009 and 2010, the World Bank said Sunday.
But, the bank said, "Bangladesh still faces the risks of further outbreak as it is probable that the virus exists in dormancy in the country, as 50 percent of its national poultry flock is backyard poultry."
The South Asian country has a large duck population (about 39 million) and is visited annually by about 21 species of migratory birds that can carry the virus, it said, adding "these coupled with the fact that Bangladesh has a high population density, contributes to building up the threat of future avian influenza outbreaks."
The World Bank expressed its concern in a statement dispatched to Xinhua on Sunday, which comes after Bangladesh's authorities last month divulged that they have culled about 154,245 chickens so far this year following fresh outbreak of bird flu.
Of the total, according to the government's disease-control office, some 117,000 chickens of a commercial farm in the country' s northwestern Thakurgaon district were culled in the first week of March after detection of bird flu.
According to the WB, the Bangladeshi government has initiated the "Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Project (AIPRP)", co-financed by the bank and Avian and Human Influenza Trust Fund, since October 2007 to address the threat posed by the virus to humans.
The project is aligned with the government's National Avian and Pandemic Influence Preparedness and Response Plan, which identifies priorities and reflects what needs to be done to contain and control the disease, it said.
While the AIPRP is focusing on animal health-related activities, the ongoing World Bank-supported "Health, Nutrition and Population Support Program" under the Ministry of Health is financing avian influenza activities related to human health.
The first human infection of bird flu in Bangladesh was detected on May 21, 2008. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, diagnosed a 16-month-old Bangladesh child as being infected with H5N1 strain of flu virus. The girl recovered later.
To ensure the achievement of the project outcomes, however, the statement said the WB has urged the Bangladeshi government to accelerate its project implementation pace.
It has been suggested that a contract be signed with the FAO or Food and Agriculture Organization to have technical and other supports for brining pace in implementation.
According to the WB, uninterrupted continuation of the ongoing surveillance activities in 260 sub-districts, and carrying out a co-ordinated training program for various stakeholders also remains top priorities at this phase of the project implementation to contain the outbreak of the virus.
The virus H5N1 was first detected in Bangladesh in a poultry farm near capital Dhaka in March 2007. The situation deteriorated later as the virus spread fast across the country with cases reported in 47 districts between December 2007 and March 2008.
About 50 percent of the country's 150,000 poultry farms were closed and more than 1.5 million chickens, ducks and pigeons were culled as of the end of March 2008 in which the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association estimated a loss of about 75 billion taka ( about 1.07 billion U.S. dollars).
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/90880/6940750.html
India's basmati rice exports likely to rise by 30% in FY' 10
April 06, 2010
NEW DELHI, -- India's basmati rice exports are likely to have increased by 30 per cent to two million tonnes in fiscal 2009-10 as compared to previous year, Asia Pulse news service reported.
This is mainly due to higher demand for the PUSA 1121 variety which was included in the basmati category in October 2008.
Basmati rice exports may have totalled to two million tonnes in the 2009-10 fiscal," a senior official with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said.
The country had shipped 1.5 million tonnes of basmati rice in the previous year mainly to the UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Europe and the US, he said.
APEDA noted that the total of basmati rice exports was arrived at after taking into account the registration orders as the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) has not yet compiled the entire data.
The DGCIS has maintained basmati rice exports data for April-November period of the 2009-10 fiscal, which stands at 1.2 million tonnes, it said.
The country is estimated to have produced 3.5 million tonnes of basmati rice in FY'10, against three million tonnes in the previous year, according to APEDA.
WAM/TF
http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1267001104027&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews
April 06, 2010
NEW DELHI, -- India's basmati rice exports are likely to have increased by 30 per cent to two million tonnes in fiscal 2009-10 as compared to previous year, Asia Pulse news service reported.
This is mainly due to higher demand for the PUSA 1121 variety which was included in the basmati category in October 2008.
Basmati rice exports may have totalled to two million tonnes in the 2009-10 fiscal," a senior official with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said.
The country had shipped 1.5 million tonnes of basmati rice in the previous year mainly to the UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Europe and the US, he said.
APEDA noted that the total of basmati rice exports was arrived at after taking into account the registration orders as the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) has not yet compiled the entire data.
The DGCIS has maintained basmati rice exports data for April-November period of the 2009-10 fiscal, which stands at 1.2 million tonnes, it said.
The country is estimated to have produced 3.5 million tonnes of basmati rice in FY'10, against three million tonnes in the previous year, according to APEDA.
WAM/TF
http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1267001104027&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews
Monday, April 05, 2010
Food Processing Set For Major Boost
Iran Daily
06 April 2010Iran Daily
Managing director of Agricultural Jihad Ministry's Office for Processing and Complementary Industries on Sunday said 25 million tons of agro products would be processed during the Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2010-2015).
"In the fifth plan it is estimated that every year 4.5 million to 5 million tons of agricultural products will be processed. The main focus will be on palm products, fruits and vegetables. No raw material will enter the processing cycle," added Alireza Pourbasir, IRNA reported.
Investments made in processing and complementary industries by the private sector do not comply with the needs of the agro sector, he complained.
"This is why the fifth plan calls for a more modern and effective approach for processing,' he noted.
On expansion of cold storages and warehouses and increasing storage capacity of agro products in the fifth plan he said, "In the plan it is estimated that the capacity for storing agro products should increase to an estimated 20 million tons."
The present standard storage capacity of agro products is about seven million tons and the capacity of traditional warehousing units is twice as much as that of standard units.
Pourbasir emphasized that among the priorities of the Agricultural Jihad Ministry is to rebuild and renovate the existing units in the processing and complementary industries.
In the fifth plan rebuilding 1,300 units for processing and complementary industries has been stipulated.
© Iran Daily 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100406051112/Food%20Processing%20Set%20For%20Major%20Boost%20in%20Iran/
Implementation of Tunisian-Saudi programme of co-operation in matters of farming
05 April 2010
TUNIS - Tunisia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to implement their programme of co-operation in the field of farming and adopted a schedule and a follow-up mechanisms for that during a working session held as part of the visit Minister of Farming, Water Resources and Fishing Abdessalem Mansour is paying in Saudi Arabia April 2-6.
The latter agreed notably with Saudi Agriculture Minister Fahd Belghim to take advantage of the two countries' experiences in matters of water desalination and utilisation of treated water for irrigation.
The point is also to establish co-operation and even twinning between centres of research in the fields of palm tree planting, date packaging, fishing and fish-breeding.
The two ministers decided as well to organise partnership seminars in Tunisia during which will be presented the investment opportunities provided in the sectors of farming, food industries, fish farming and fishing in addition to the exchange of expertise in matters of olive oil production, cereal growing and fodder.
© Agence Tunis Afrique Presse 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100406053726/Implementation%20of%20Tunisian-Saudi%20programme%20of%20co-operation%20in%20matters%20of%20farming%20/
05 April 2010
TUNIS - Tunisia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to implement their programme of co-operation in the field of farming and adopted a schedule and a follow-up mechanisms for that during a working session held as part of the visit Minister of Farming, Water Resources and Fishing Abdessalem Mansour is paying in Saudi Arabia April 2-6.
The latter agreed notably with Saudi Agriculture Minister Fahd Belghim to take advantage of the two countries' experiences in matters of water desalination and utilisation of treated water for irrigation.
The point is also to establish co-operation and even twinning between centres of research in the fields of palm tree planting, date packaging, fishing and fish-breeding.
The two ministers decided as well to organise partnership seminars in Tunisia during which will be presented the investment opportunities provided in the sectors of farming, food industries, fish farming and fishing in addition to the exchange of expertise in matters of olive oil production, cereal growing and fodder.
© Agence Tunis Afrique Presse 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100406053726/Implementation%20of%20Tunisian-Saudi%20programme%20of%20co-operation%20in%20matters%20of%20farming%20/
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Experts in Gulf discuss strategy to combat red tide
Oman has been hit hard by red tide in recent years.
Image Credit: Supplied
Staff Report
Published: 11:23 April 5, 2010
Marine experts try to find ways to deal with periodic outbreaks of toxic algal blooms or red tide in Oman
Muscat: Marine experts from Oman and the Gulf region on Monday began three days of deliberations aimed at hammering out a strategy to deal with periodic outbreaks of toxic algal blooms or red tide in Oman's coast.
The forum, under way at Sultan Qaboos University, has been organised by Oman's Ministry of Fisheries in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs.
Scientists and researchers from Iran and the Regional Organisation for Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) are also taking part in the seminar.
Although red tide outbreaks are a natural occurrence along the Arabian coast, Oman has been hit particularly hard by the phenomenon in recent years.
An occurrence of toxic algal blooms that first broke out in November 2008 dragged on for several months, menacing much of Oman's northern and eastern coastline during the early part of last year.
The blooms, triggered by a phytoplankton called Cochlodinium polykrikoide were responsible for incidents of fish mortality and a pervasive foul odour that drove ways swimmers and strollers from several beachfront hotspots along the coast.
All you need to know about red tide
Many popular beaches, particularly in Muscat, were temporarily fouled by copious volumes of a frothy deposit blamed on the blooms.
The phenomenon also menaced many shore-based installations that depend on seawater intake for their operations.
Following the deadly outbreak last year, authorities decided to adopt remote sensing technology to detect and monitor new occurrences along the sultanate’s lengthy coastline.
With the aid of this system, marine scientists hope to be able to forewarn shore-based installations, such as water desalination plants, refineries, LNG projects and other petrochemical industries, of an impending outbreak, thus enabling them to take preventive action.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/experts-in-gulf-discuss-strategy-to-combat-red-tide-1.608121
Oman has been hit hard by red tide in recent years.
Image Credit: Supplied
Staff Report
Published: 11:23 April 5, 2010
Marine experts try to find ways to deal with periodic outbreaks of toxic algal blooms or red tide in Oman
Muscat: Marine experts from Oman and the Gulf region on Monday began three days of deliberations aimed at hammering out a strategy to deal with periodic outbreaks of toxic algal blooms or red tide in Oman's coast.
The forum, under way at Sultan Qaboos University, has been organised by Oman's Ministry of Fisheries in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs.
Scientists and researchers from Iran and the Regional Organisation for Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) are also taking part in the seminar.
Although red tide outbreaks are a natural occurrence along the Arabian coast, Oman has been hit particularly hard by the phenomenon in recent years.
An occurrence of toxic algal blooms that first broke out in November 2008 dragged on for several months, menacing much of Oman's northern and eastern coastline during the early part of last year.
The blooms, triggered by a phytoplankton called Cochlodinium polykrikoide were responsible for incidents of fish mortality and a pervasive foul odour that drove ways swimmers and strollers from several beachfront hotspots along the coast.
All you need to know about red tide
Many popular beaches, particularly in Muscat, were temporarily fouled by copious volumes of a frothy deposit blamed on the blooms.
The phenomenon also menaced many shore-based installations that depend on seawater intake for their operations.
Following the deadly outbreak last year, authorities decided to adopt remote sensing technology to detect and monitor new occurrences along the sultanate’s lengthy coastline.
With the aid of this system, marine scientists hope to be able to forewarn shore-based installations, such as water desalination plants, refineries, LNG projects and other petrochemical industries, of an impending outbreak, thus enabling them to take preventive action.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/experts-in-gulf-discuss-strategy-to-combat-red-tide-1.608121
Cloned camels could cure diseases
05 April 2010
A second camel has been successfully cloned in Dubai as part of research that could pave the way for the revolutionary treatment of chronic human diseases.
Scientists at the Camel Reproduction Centre announced the birth of Bin-Soughan - a male calf, bred from the skin cells of a multi-million-dirham bull.
The calf is the centre's second successful clone after female camel Injaz, who was created using cells from a female camel's womb.
Injaz celebrated her first birthday on Thursday.
The head of the centre's reproductive biology lab, Dr Nisar Wani, said creating Bin-Soughan was easier this time around.
"The ability of skin cells to reprogramme and develop into an embryo has made cloning camels easier, as skin cells are easy to obtain in contrast to reproductive tissue," he said. "It'll help us preserve and protect genetically valuable animals such as high-milk producers, racing champions and males of high genetic merit."
In the future, Wani hopes the centre's genetic research will help pioneer treatments for human diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Experts say modifications of camel genes could help identify the code for a human protein, which could be injected into camel milk and used to curb conditions such as stomach ulcers and arthritis.
Wani said: "It is possible that if you suffer from diabetes, one day you may be able to drink a glass of camel milk instead of having an insulin injection."
© 7Days 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100405032350/Cloned%20camels%20could%20cure%20diseases/
05 April 2010
A second camel has been successfully cloned in Dubai as part of research that could pave the way for the revolutionary treatment of chronic human diseases.
Scientists at the Camel Reproduction Centre announced the birth of Bin-Soughan - a male calf, bred from the skin cells of a multi-million-dirham bull.
The calf is the centre's second successful clone after female camel Injaz, who was created using cells from a female camel's womb.
Injaz celebrated her first birthday on Thursday.
The head of the centre's reproductive biology lab, Dr Nisar Wani, said creating Bin-Soughan was easier this time around.
"The ability of skin cells to reprogramme and develop into an embryo has made cloning camels easier, as skin cells are easy to obtain in contrast to reproductive tissue," he said. "It'll help us preserve and protect genetically valuable animals such as high-milk producers, racing champions and males of high genetic merit."
In the future, Wani hopes the centre's genetic research will help pioneer treatments for human diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Experts say modifications of camel genes could help identify the code for a human protein, which could be injected into camel milk and used to curb conditions such as stomach ulcers and arthritis.
Wani said: "It is possible that if you suffer from diabetes, one day you may be able to drink a glass of camel milk instead of having an insulin injection."
© 7Days 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100405032350/Cloned%20camels%20could%20cure%20diseases/
Princess Haya inaugurates DIHAD 2010
Press Release
Dubai - United Arab Emirates, April 4th 2010: Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) 2010 was inaugurated today by UN Messenger of Peace and Chairperson of the International Humanitarian City HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Princess Haya, who was accompanied by HE Ibrahim Bumelha, Cultural and Humanitarian Advisor of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Est. and Chairman of the Higher Committee DIHAD, President of DISAB, and HE Ahmed Humaid Al Mazroui, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority and a number of local and international figures, toured the exhibition area, where She was introduced to over 275 local, regional and international humanitarian and charity associations, relief agencies, NGOs, donors and procurers.
As part of the tour, Princess Haya visited the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the UAE Red Crescent Society, the Tkiyet Umm Ali and World Food Programme (WFP) stands. Also on the tour, Princess Haya inaugurated a photo exhibition for the WFP and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The exhibition featured 30 photographs highlighting WFP and UNICEF's work with children around the world especially in the Middle East region.
This year's theme, "Global Health Challenges of Tomorrow: Impact & Response", highlights the major health risks that stem from humanitarian challenges, more specifically the recent earthquake in Haiti, the ongoing food crisis and global warming. Princess Haya spoke at the opening ceremony, which was attended by international organizations and associations as well as several key international leaders in the industry.
"The traditional solution to hunger is simply to produce more food - more wheat, maize or rice. It is not that simple. We need the right foods for the right people at the right times in their lives. To deal with hunger effectively, we need to target our interventions better," said Princess Haya. "Ultimately, we need to modify behaviors and encourage healthy lifestyles in order to reduce the soaring burden."
Also speaking was HE Ahmed Humaid Al Mazroui, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority, who said, "DIHAD is a reality of the UAE's vision towards humanitarian trends, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and is the biggest event in the region that caters to the most dynamic and fastest growing industry at present time. DIHAD is being held at a time where humanitarian and relief efforts are much needed. The conference will discuss vital issues concerning the challenges of the future of health, while highlighting the silent killers that affect poor nations."
In his speech, HE Ibrahim Bumelha, stated that "DIHAD opens the door for humanitarian agencies around the world to discuss and follow the latest in developments and programs to further heighten global and regional relief operations and humanitarian aid. The scientific committee, DISAB, decided this year to tackle the health problems that arise during crises, humanitarian challenges, and war. DIHAD attracts global attention towards disasters and crises afflicting the world today, such as the earthquake in Haiti and the startling health problems that ensued as a result of the limited health standards and food, as well as global warming and its effects."
DIHAD will hold six major sessions during its three days, tackling major issues such as health trends, killer diseases, scientific innovations and new technologies, guidelines on capitalizing the low cost health interventions, health priorities in disasters, the necessity of collaborating efforts of the public and private sectors, to name a few. In addition, DIHAD 2010 will host top UN leaders and other humanitarian and relief organizations to share their expertise and experiences. The pre-conference workshop, presented by UNOCHA, focuses on the challenges met while delivering humanitarian aid. Other workshops will focus on logistics in the provision of health services, water and sanitation and its impact on health, community empowerment tools for health development, and more specialized topics.
Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of DIHAD Conference and Exhibition and President of Index Holding, said that "DIHAD now in its 7th year works to gather major local, regional and international humanitarian associations together to meet, learn and work hand in hand to support communities and poor nations. DIHAD is proving to be the largest humanitarian event in the Middle East, attended by key decision makers, procurement and logistics officials from leading international, regional & local NGOs, UN Agencies, Governmental Departments and international associations, specialists in the humanitarian industry and researchers from all parts of the world to benefit from the conference and the interactive sessions."
Al Madani also declared that the participation in the exhibition reached more than 275 exhibitors from Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Qatar, Italy, Slovenia, Sudan, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, UK and USA. DIHAD is organised by Index Conferences and Exhibitions, member of Index Holding and in cooperation with Mohammed Bin Rashid AL Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the United Nations, the UAE Red Crescent Society, Dubai Cares, Organization of Islamic Conference and the International Humanitarian City as platinum sponsor and other international and regional organisations.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100404120026/Princess%20Haya%20inaugurates%20DIHAD%202010
Press Release
Dubai - United Arab Emirates, April 4th 2010: Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) 2010 was inaugurated today by UN Messenger of Peace and Chairperson of the International Humanitarian City HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Princess Haya, who was accompanied by HE Ibrahim Bumelha, Cultural and Humanitarian Advisor of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Est. and Chairman of the Higher Committee DIHAD, President of DISAB, and HE Ahmed Humaid Al Mazroui, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority and a number of local and international figures, toured the exhibition area, where She was introduced to over 275 local, regional and international humanitarian and charity associations, relief agencies, NGOs, donors and procurers.
As part of the tour, Princess Haya visited the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the UAE Red Crescent Society, the Tkiyet Umm Ali and World Food Programme (WFP) stands. Also on the tour, Princess Haya inaugurated a photo exhibition for the WFP and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The exhibition featured 30 photographs highlighting WFP and UNICEF's work with children around the world especially in the Middle East region.
This year's theme, "Global Health Challenges of Tomorrow: Impact & Response", highlights the major health risks that stem from humanitarian challenges, more specifically the recent earthquake in Haiti, the ongoing food crisis and global warming. Princess Haya spoke at the opening ceremony, which was attended by international organizations and associations as well as several key international leaders in the industry.
"The traditional solution to hunger is simply to produce more food - more wheat, maize or rice. It is not that simple. We need the right foods for the right people at the right times in their lives. To deal with hunger effectively, we need to target our interventions better," said Princess Haya. "Ultimately, we need to modify behaviors and encourage healthy lifestyles in order to reduce the soaring burden."
Also speaking was HE Ahmed Humaid Al Mazroui, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority, who said, "DIHAD is a reality of the UAE's vision towards humanitarian trends, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and is the biggest event in the region that caters to the most dynamic and fastest growing industry at present time. DIHAD is being held at a time where humanitarian and relief efforts are much needed. The conference will discuss vital issues concerning the challenges of the future of health, while highlighting the silent killers that affect poor nations."
In his speech, HE Ibrahim Bumelha, stated that "DIHAD opens the door for humanitarian agencies around the world to discuss and follow the latest in developments and programs to further heighten global and regional relief operations and humanitarian aid. The scientific committee, DISAB, decided this year to tackle the health problems that arise during crises, humanitarian challenges, and war. DIHAD attracts global attention towards disasters and crises afflicting the world today, such as the earthquake in Haiti and the startling health problems that ensued as a result of the limited health standards and food, as well as global warming and its effects."
DIHAD will hold six major sessions during its three days, tackling major issues such as health trends, killer diseases, scientific innovations and new technologies, guidelines on capitalizing the low cost health interventions, health priorities in disasters, the necessity of collaborating efforts of the public and private sectors, to name a few. In addition, DIHAD 2010 will host top UN leaders and other humanitarian and relief organizations to share their expertise and experiences. The pre-conference workshop, presented by UNOCHA, focuses on the challenges met while delivering humanitarian aid. Other workshops will focus on logistics in the provision of health services, water and sanitation and its impact on health, community empowerment tools for health development, and more specialized topics.
Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of DIHAD Conference and Exhibition and President of Index Holding, said that "DIHAD now in its 7th year works to gather major local, regional and international humanitarian associations together to meet, learn and work hand in hand to support communities and poor nations. DIHAD is proving to be the largest humanitarian event in the Middle East, attended by key decision makers, procurement and logistics officials from leading international, regional & local NGOs, UN Agencies, Governmental Departments and international associations, specialists in the humanitarian industry and researchers from all parts of the world to benefit from the conference and the interactive sessions."
Al Madani also declared that the participation in the exhibition reached more than 275 exhibitors from Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Qatar, Italy, Slovenia, Sudan, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, UK and USA. DIHAD is organised by Index Conferences and Exhibitions, member of Index Holding and in cooperation with Mohammed Bin Rashid AL Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the United Nations, the UAE Red Crescent Society, Dubai Cares, Organization of Islamic Conference and the International Humanitarian City as platinum sponsor and other international and regional organisations.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100404120026/Princess%20Haya%20inaugurates%20DIHAD%202010
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Fishing fest to begin on Thursday
By ARAB NEWS
Published: Apr 3, 2010 01:44 Updated: Apr 3, 2010 01:44
JAZAN: The annual fishing festival in the Farsan Island will begin on Thursday. The island is located 40 km to the southeast off Jazan city in the Red Sea.
The islanders have been marking the arrival of Parrotfish in the shallow waters in huge numbers over many centuries. The participation of the provincial governor has added more color to the festival since 2003.
The festival, which attracts large number of tourists, is also accompanied by folk dance and songs related to the festival.
Large swarms of fish appear in the form of dark clouds in the nearby Al-Hasis Gulf in the early morning hours and specially trained fishermen place special nets called Daur to drive the fish toward the shore.
When the fishermen drag the net the fishes come close to the shallow shore where people, waiting with their small nets, can haul in their catch. The fishermen make big hauls as the fish do not resist or harm the netters in the shallow.
However, the fishermen can start catching the fish only after the start of the fishing festival, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The fish that grows up to 40 cms comes to the island only during this season of the year and lives mostly in coral reefs.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article38470.ece
By ARAB NEWS
Published: Apr 3, 2010 01:44 Updated: Apr 3, 2010 01:44
JAZAN: The annual fishing festival in the Farsan Island will begin on Thursday. The island is located 40 km to the southeast off Jazan city in the Red Sea.
The islanders have been marking the arrival of Parrotfish in the shallow waters in huge numbers over many centuries. The participation of the provincial governor has added more color to the festival since 2003.
The festival, which attracts large number of tourists, is also accompanied by folk dance and songs related to the festival.
Large swarms of fish appear in the form of dark clouds in the nearby Al-Hasis Gulf in the early morning hours and specially trained fishermen place special nets called Daur to drive the fish toward the shore.
When the fishermen drag the net the fishes come close to the shallow shore where people, waiting with their small nets, can haul in their catch. The fishermen make big hauls as the fish do not resist or harm the netters in the shallow.
However, the fishermen can start catching the fish only after the start of the fishing festival, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The fish that grows up to 40 cms comes to the island only during this season of the year and lives mostly in coral reefs.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article38470.ece
Access to water in Middle East & North Africa world's lowest
03 April 2010
ALEXANDRIA/ABU DHABI - People in the Arab world need fuller and freer information about shrinking water supplies but their governments are withholding it for fear of fuelling unrest, a United Nations expert said on Thursday.
Arable land makes up just 4.2 percent of the Middle East and North Africa and is expected to shrink due to climate change - a potential source of political instability, analysts say, in a region where economic privation has sometimes sparked conflict.
"Arab countries do not disclose enough information on their water out of concern that transparency could fuel unnecessary public concern and unrest," said Hosny Khordagui, regional program director of the UN Development Program (UNDP) Water Governance Program for Arab States.
Disclosing figures on water scarcity might be perceived as reflecting bad management on the part of Arab states and so is generally avoided, he told a UNDP round-table on Arab environmental issues.
"If we have public participation, we would have better management, participation and more justice," Khordagui said, adding that ministers were accountable to those who appointed them and not to the public.
"Don't expect accountability without real democracy and free elections," he said.
People in the Middle East and North Africa have access to an an average of just 1,000 cubic meters of water a year, seven times lower than the worldwide rate, according to the UNDP's Arab Human Development Report.
As climate change takes its toll and the region's populations grow at nearly twice the global average, that figure is projected to shrink to just 460 cubic meters by 2025.
Coordinated water policy will be a challenge in a region where water politics is often seen as a zero-sum game and can be used as a lever in larger political feuds.
"If we lose one more drop of water and our capacity to give Arab citizens their right to food, this is a political issue par excellence," said Ismail Serageldin, a former World Bank environmental expert.
In one example, a temperature rise of 1-1.5 degrees in one area of Sudan in 2030-2060 would slash maize production by 70 percent, the UNDP report said. Such scenarios could be repeated elsewhere in the region.
Agriculture consumes more than 85 percent of water in the region, home to the Fertile Crescent in which the first civilizations of the Middle East emerged. Less water could make it impossible for already poor farmers to earn a livelihood, pushing them to move to overcrowded cities.
Droughts in Syria have already displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A September U.N report found that climate-related natural disasters displaced 20 million people in 2009, nearly four times more than conflicts.
"More people in Yemen will leave their villages because of water and environmental reasons," said Ali Atroos, manager of the planning department in Yemen's Ministry of Water.
Yemen is one of the region's most water-stressed countries, with per capita access to water seven times below the average in Europe. Some villages are pumped water only once a month, Atroos said.
Experts urged immediate action to confront the dire issue.
"Water is a security factor. If people do not have water to drink and to use for food production, that would be a direct threat to national security," said Hassan Janabi, Iraq's permanent ambassador to UN agencies in Rome.
At the MEED's 2010 Arabian Power and Water Summit that started on March 29 in Abu Dhabi, MEED said new power capacity requirement to 2015 is 7,500MW and new desalination requirement to 2015 is 310 million gallons per day, which calls for substantial investment.
The summit raised issues that will need to be dealt with going forward, such as how governments can create commercial and economic frameworks that will ensure that the most economic investment decisions are made. Governments still need to determine what the ideal portfolio for GCC future power generation is and how to integrate alternative fuel sources into existing structures.
Edmund O'Sullivan, MEED Events chairman, said "the purpose of the Arabian Power and Water Summit is to provide a platform for the industry leaders to come together and discuss the best way to meet the key strategic and technical challenges that lie ahead. The success of the power and water industry is vital to the region's growth so it is imperative that the industry's decision makers are fully informed of the different solutions available to fulfill power & water demand." For the first time anywhere in the Middle East, the summit also featured a presentation regarding the challenges Iraq is facing as part of their reconstruction effort.
John Dempsey, generation adviser, Iraq Transition and Assistance Office (ITAO) and Jeff Larkin, country manager - Iraq, Parsons Brinckerhoff, outlined the plans to raise the $26 billion that the country's Minister of Electricity has estimated is needed to refurbish and increase the electrical sector capacity in the country.
"It is of critical importance that companies and individuals have their fingers firmly on the pulse of industry developments and the opportunities within it. The involvement of so many of the region's governmental organizations is testament to the high regard that our annual summit is held within the region's power and water sectors, and the value that it offers delegates," O'Sullivan pointed out.
© The Saudi Gazette 2010
/www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100403051435/Access to water in Middle East %26 North Africa world's lowest
03 April 2010
ALEXANDRIA/ABU DHABI - People in the Arab world need fuller and freer information about shrinking water supplies but their governments are withholding it for fear of fuelling unrest, a United Nations expert said on Thursday.
Arable land makes up just 4.2 percent of the Middle East and North Africa and is expected to shrink due to climate change - a potential source of political instability, analysts say, in a region where economic privation has sometimes sparked conflict.
"Arab countries do not disclose enough information on their water out of concern that transparency could fuel unnecessary public concern and unrest," said Hosny Khordagui, regional program director of the UN Development Program (UNDP) Water Governance Program for Arab States.
Disclosing figures on water scarcity might be perceived as reflecting bad management on the part of Arab states and so is generally avoided, he told a UNDP round-table on Arab environmental issues.
"If we have public participation, we would have better management, participation and more justice," Khordagui said, adding that ministers were accountable to those who appointed them and not to the public.
"Don't expect accountability without real democracy and free elections," he said.
People in the Middle East and North Africa have access to an an average of just 1,000 cubic meters of water a year, seven times lower than the worldwide rate, according to the UNDP's Arab Human Development Report.
As climate change takes its toll and the region's populations grow at nearly twice the global average, that figure is projected to shrink to just 460 cubic meters by 2025.
Coordinated water policy will be a challenge in a region where water politics is often seen as a zero-sum game and can be used as a lever in larger political feuds.
"If we lose one more drop of water and our capacity to give Arab citizens their right to food, this is a political issue par excellence," said Ismail Serageldin, a former World Bank environmental expert.
In one example, a temperature rise of 1-1.5 degrees in one area of Sudan in 2030-2060 would slash maize production by 70 percent, the UNDP report said. Such scenarios could be repeated elsewhere in the region.
Agriculture consumes more than 85 percent of water in the region, home to the Fertile Crescent in which the first civilizations of the Middle East emerged. Less water could make it impossible for already poor farmers to earn a livelihood, pushing them to move to overcrowded cities.
Droughts in Syria have already displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A September U.N report found that climate-related natural disasters displaced 20 million people in 2009, nearly four times more than conflicts.
"More people in Yemen will leave their villages because of water and environmental reasons," said Ali Atroos, manager of the planning department in Yemen's Ministry of Water.
Yemen is one of the region's most water-stressed countries, with per capita access to water seven times below the average in Europe. Some villages are pumped water only once a month, Atroos said.
Experts urged immediate action to confront the dire issue.
"Water is a security factor. If people do not have water to drink and to use for food production, that would be a direct threat to national security," said Hassan Janabi, Iraq's permanent ambassador to UN agencies in Rome.
At the MEED's 2010 Arabian Power and Water Summit that started on March 29 in Abu Dhabi, MEED said new power capacity requirement to 2015 is 7,500MW and new desalination requirement to 2015 is 310 million gallons per day, which calls for substantial investment.
The summit raised issues that will need to be dealt with going forward, such as how governments can create commercial and economic frameworks that will ensure that the most economic investment decisions are made. Governments still need to determine what the ideal portfolio for GCC future power generation is and how to integrate alternative fuel sources into existing structures.
Edmund O'Sullivan, MEED Events chairman, said "the purpose of the Arabian Power and Water Summit is to provide a platform for the industry leaders to come together and discuss the best way to meet the key strategic and technical challenges that lie ahead. The success of the power and water industry is vital to the region's growth so it is imperative that the industry's decision makers are fully informed of the different solutions available to fulfill power & water demand." For the first time anywhere in the Middle East, the summit also featured a presentation regarding the challenges Iraq is facing as part of their reconstruction effort.
John Dempsey, generation adviser, Iraq Transition and Assistance Office (ITAO) and Jeff Larkin, country manager - Iraq, Parsons Brinckerhoff, outlined the plans to raise the $26 billion that the country's Minister of Electricity has estimated is needed to refurbish and increase the electrical sector capacity in the country.
"It is of critical importance that companies and individuals have their fingers firmly on the pulse of industry developments and the opportunities within it. The involvement of so many of the region's governmental organizations is testament to the high regard that our annual summit is held within the region's power and water sectors, and the value that it offers delegates," O'Sullivan pointed out.
© The Saudi Gazette 2010
/www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100403051435/Access to water in Middle East %26 North Africa world's lowest
Gabes: exports of geothermal farming soar
Tunisia Online News
02 April 2010
As part of the 2009-2014 presidential program which is planning to increase by 50% the areas devoted to geothermal farming to reach 310 hectares by 2014, the governorate of Gabes is currently witnessing a remarkable increase of activity in the area.
During the current season, the areas devoted to geothermal farming in the governorate of Gabes reached 110 hectares including 82, 5% reserved for tomato crops the rest being divided among pumpkins, zucchinis, peppers, melons and strawberries.
Until February 2010, the quantities of vegetables exported reached 4,633 tons against 2, 823 in 2009.
France is the largest importer of these products.
Geothermal water which measures between 40 and 70 degrees Celsius is also used in greenhouses for both irrigation and heating. The region of El Hamma , (near Gabes )which is famous for its hot water springs , has attracted a large number of Tunisian and foreign investors.
© Tunisia Online News 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100403074806/Gabes%3A%20exports%20of%20geothermal%20farming%20soar/
Tunisia Online News
02 April 2010
As part of the 2009-2014 presidential program which is planning to increase by 50% the areas devoted to geothermal farming to reach 310 hectares by 2014, the governorate of Gabes is currently witnessing a remarkable increase of activity in the area.
During the current season, the areas devoted to geothermal farming in the governorate of Gabes reached 110 hectares including 82, 5% reserved for tomato crops the rest being divided among pumpkins, zucchinis, peppers, melons and strawberries.
Until February 2010, the quantities of vegetables exported reached 4,633 tons against 2, 823 in 2009.
France is the largest importer of these products.
Geothermal water which measures between 40 and 70 degrees Celsius is also used in greenhouses for both irrigation and heating. The region of El Hamma , (near Gabes )which is famous for its hot water springs , has attracted a large number of Tunisian and foreign investors.
© Tunisia Online News 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100403074806/Gabes%3A%20exports%20of%20geothermal%20farming%20soar/
Milk produced in Abu Dhabi free of antibiotics residue
Khaleej Times
02 April 2010
Abu Dhabi -- Raw milk produced in the dairy farms in Abu Dhabi is free from residues of antibiotics, said Ahmed Kulaib Al Taneiji, manager at the animal and plant health department at the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority.
The authority carried out labouratory tests and field inspections on locally produced raw milk to ascertain their authenticity, as per a report prepared by Taneiji.
Speaking at a workshop on 'Use of Antibiotics in Animal Farms' at ADFCAADFCALoading..., Taneiji said, veterinarians precisely play an important role in preserving and protecting the livestock in the emirate and guarantee their safety from pandemic, food-borne diseases and antibiotic residues.
Dr Hamid Rajab Hamed, head inspector at the department of animal and plant health at the ADFCAADFCALoading..., said the most important recommendations of the workshop is to submit a proposal to prepare a list of antibiotics which is needed by each country so as to legalise the import of antibiotics, which is limited to what the country needs only.
In addition, there is a need to form an organised system or find alternatives so that the use of antibiotics could be reduced, Hamed said stressing the non-usage of antibiotics in the treatment where the authority sought samples from farms and markets in order to ensure that they are free from residues of antibiotics.
By Anwar Ahmad
© Khaleej Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100403053222/Milk%20produced%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20free%20of%20antibiotics%20residue/
Khaleej Times
02 April 2010
Abu Dhabi -- Raw milk produced in the dairy farms in Abu Dhabi is free from residues of antibiotics, said Ahmed Kulaib Al Taneiji, manager at the animal and plant health department at the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority.
The authority carried out labouratory tests and field inspections on locally produced raw milk to ascertain their authenticity, as per a report prepared by Taneiji.
Speaking at a workshop on 'Use of Antibiotics in Animal Farms' at ADFCAADFCALoading..., Taneiji said, veterinarians precisely play an important role in preserving and protecting the livestock in the emirate and guarantee their safety from pandemic, food-borne diseases and antibiotic residues.
Dr Hamid Rajab Hamed, head inspector at the department of animal and plant health at the ADFCAADFCALoading..., said the most important recommendations of the workshop is to submit a proposal to prepare a list of antibiotics which is needed by each country so as to legalise the import of antibiotics, which is limited to what the country needs only.
In addition, there is a need to form an organised system or find alternatives so that the use of antibiotics could be reduced, Hamed said stressing the non-usage of antibiotics in the treatment where the authority sought samples from farms and markets in order to ensure that they are free from residues of antibiotics.
By Anwar Ahmad
© Khaleej Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100403053222/Milk%20produced%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20free%20of%20antibiotics%20residue/
Friday, April 02, 2010
Mars radar could help stave off drought in Middle East: NASA
ALEXANDRIA, Apr 01, 2010 (AFP) - Technology used to discover underground ice on Mars could also be used in the search for water on Earth and help ward off conflict in the arid Middle East, a NASA scientist said Thursday.
A probe launched by the US space agency NASA discovered in 2007 that the desert which covers Mars sat on enough frozen water to submerge the Red Planet.
The same radar technology should be used in the vast deserts of the Middle East and North Africa, scientist Essam Heggy told a UN-sponsored water conference in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria.
"We (in the region) are best placed to use this technology," Heggy told participants at the United Nations Development Programme-sponsored conference.
The equipment, dubbed Marsis, consists of a radar sounder with a 40 metre (131 foot) antenna fitted to an orbiter that is able to bounce radio waves 3.7 kilometres (2.3 miles) beneath the surface of Mars.
Heggy said the technology could detect water up to one kilometre (0.6 mile) beneath the dense deserts that cover much of the Middle East and North Africa and which experts say threaten to consume more land in the next century.
Scans taken by NASA showed an especially arid region of Darfur in Sudan sat on top of 6,000-year-old valleys and lakes.
The "water that was at the surface is now on the subsurface level," said Heggy, a planetary scientist with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
"If we don't have these images we're shooting in the dark."
Middle East countries, which include the world's largest oil exporters, spend more on oil discovery than any other region in the world but devote the least amount of funds to water exploration, Heggy said.
"Water has no substitute. But still, we're not looking for it," he said, adding that its scarcity could trigger potential water-related conflicts in the region.
"Water is a resource, like any other resource. And we have seen conflicts over resources," he said.
se/bpz
© Copyright AFP 2010.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidANA20100401T113403ZLQF28/Mars%20radar%20could%20help%20stave%20off%20drought%20in%20Middle%20East%3A%20NASA/
ALEXANDRIA, Apr 01, 2010 (AFP) - Technology used to discover underground ice on Mars could also be used in the search for water on Earth and help ward off conflict in the arid Middle East, a NASA scientist said Thursday.
A probe launched by the US space agency NASA discovered in 2007 that the desert which covers Mars sat on enough frozen water to submerge the Red Planet.
The same radar technology should be used in the vast deserts of the Middle East and North Africa, scientist Essam Heggy told a UN-sponsored water conference in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria.
"We (in the region) are best placed to use this technology," Heggy told participants at the United Nations Development Programme-sponsored conference.
The equipment, dubbed Marsis, consists of a radar sounder with a 40 metre (131 foot) antenna fitted to an orbiter that is able to bounce radio waves 3.7 kilometres (2.3 miles) beneath the surface of Mars.
Heggy said the technology could detect water up to one kilometre (0.6 mile) beneath the dense deserts that cover much of the Middle East and North Africa and which experts say threaten to consume more land in the next century.
Scans taken by NASA showed an especially arid region of Darfur in Sudan sat on top of 6,000-year-old valleys and lakes.
The "water that was at the surface is now on the subsurface level," said Heggy, a planetary scientist with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
"If we don't have these images we're shooting in the dark."
Middle East countries, which include the world's largest oil exporters, spend more on oil discovery than any other region in the world but devote the least amount of funds to water exploration, Heggy said.
"Water has no substitute. But still, we're not looking for it," he said, adding that its scarcity could trigger potential water-related conflicts in the region.
"Water is a resource, like any other resource. And we have seen conflicts over resources," he said.
se/bpz
© Copyright AFP 2010.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidANA20100401T113403ZLQF28/Mars%20radar%20could%20help%20stave%20off%20drought%20in%20Middle%20East%3A%20NASA/
Jordan to receive final $45m for Gulf War environmental damage
01 April 2010
AMMAN - Jordan will receive $45 million plus interest this month from the UN Compensation Committee (UNCC) for damage incurred during the first Gulf War, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
The funds represent the third and final instalment of compensation for damage the Kingdom's water, environment, wildlife, marine life and agriculture sustained in the aftermath of the first Gulf War.
"The funds will be transferred to the Kingdom in accordance with the Jordan Environmental Compensation Programme's plan," Minister of Environment Hazem Malhas said yesterday.
"The funds are currently deposited in an account especially for Jordan at the United Nations," he said in a statement released by the ministry.
Malhas and head of the Jordan Environmental Compensations Programme Abdul Nabi Fardous discussed the compensation with representatives of the UNCC in Geneva during a visit scheduled to conclude today.
In 2005, the UNCC decided to grant Jordan $160 million in compensation for damage to its ecosystems during or after the war, in addition to $1.4 million to tackle the salinity of the country's underground water basins.
The Kingdom has so far received $115 million of the total amount awarded by the UN, while the remaining funds are expected to be transferred once approved by the UNCC Governing Council later this month, Ministry of Environment Spokesperson Isa Shboul told The Jordan Times yesterday.
The funds will be used to implement several development projects to revive the country's Eastern Badia, which witnessed severe environmental degradation following the 1991 Gulf War.
One of the projects seeks to enhance living conditions in the badia, which is home to 6 per cent of the country's population, by offering veterinary services and fodder to area residents.
Malhas said the project's economic feasibility study and environmental impact assessment will start within a month, and will later be presented to the UNCC Governing Council for approval.
Once approved, implementation of the project will start before the end of this year, according to the statement.
The venture, among other initiatives, aims to offset degradation caused mainly by shepherds from neighbouring countries who entered Jordan following the Gulf War with millions of head of cattle that consumed pastures and scarce water resources.
The projects ultimately focus on returning the badia's ecosystem to its status before 1990 and tackling the negative consequences of random grazing and wildlife deterioration, according to Environment Ministry officials.
By Hana Namrouqa
© Jordan Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100401033336/Jordan%20to%20receive%20final%20%2445m%20for%20Gulf%20War%20environmental%20damage/
01 April 2010
AMMAN - Jordan will receive $45 million plus interest this month from the UN Compensation Committee (UNCC) for damage incurred during the first Gulf War, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
The funds represent the third and final instalment of compensation for damage the Kingdom's water, environment, wildlife, marine life and agriculture sustained in the aftermath of the first Gulf War.
"The funds will be transferred to the Kingdom in accordance with the Jordan Environmental Compensation Programme's plan," Minister of Environment Hazem Malhas said yesterday.
"The funds are currently deposited in an account especially for Jordan at the United Nations," he said in a statement released by the ministry.
Malhas and head of the Jordan Environmental Compensations Programme Abdul Nabi Fardous discussed the compensation with representatives of the UNCC in Geneva during a visit scheduled to conclude today.
In 2005, the UNCC decided to grant Jordan $160 million in compensation for damage to its ecosystems during or after the war, in addition to $1.4 million to tackle the salinity of the country's underground water basins.
The Kingdom has so far received $115 million of the total amount awarded by the UN, while the remaining funds are expected to be transferred once approved by the UNCC Governing Council later this month, Ministry of Environment Spokesperson Isa Shboul told The Jordan Times yesterday.
The funds will be used to implement several development projects to revive the country's Eastern Badia, which witnessed severe environmental degradation following the 1991 Gulf War.
One of the projects seeks to enhance living conditions in the badia, which is home to 6 per cent of the country's population, by offering veterinary services and fodder to area residents.
Malhas said the project's economic feasibility study and environmental impact assessment will start within a month, and will later be presented to the UNCC Governing Council for approval.
Once approved, implementation of the project will start before the end of this year, according to the statement.
The venture, among other initiatives, aims to offset degradation caused mainly by shepherds from neighbouring countries who entered Jordan following the Gulf War with millions of head of cattle that consumed pastures and scarce water resources.
The projects ultimately focus on returning the badia's ecosystem to its status before 1990 and tackling the negative consequences of random grazing and wildlife deterioration, according to Environment Ministry officials.
By Hana Namrouqa
© Jordan Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100401033336/Jordan%20to%20receive%20final%20%2445m%20for%20Gulf%20War%20environmental%20damage/
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