World Bank plan irks Tibet lobby
Among the ravines and abysses of the nearly barren mountains of Eastern Qinghai, China, live 57,775 impoverished farmers who have the development lottery. From an estimated 60-80m other poor Chinese
News
-
-
Doctors' group calls for moratorium on planting
The British Medical Association will call for an open-ended moratorium on the commercial planting of genetically-modified crops until a scientific consensus emerges on their safety. "As we cannot yet
-
Experts raise rice yield, save water
Scientists report success with new rice planting methods, some based on ancient practices, that use much less fresh water-- a rapidly dwindling resource in regions where rice is a critical commodity.
-
Scientists to focus on light energy for boosting crop yield
Chinese scientists have started a major research program to help better utilize light energy in raising crop yields, in an effort to meet the food needs of the country's vast population 30 years from
-
Pakistan to fight against US patent for basmati rice
Pakistan has decided to join hands with Indai in fighting against the patent given to basmati rice by the United States patent office, a senior Pakistani official has said. "We have decided to fight
-
Cotton crop fall compounds farmers' woes in Punjab
Repeated fall in Punjab's cotton production since 1991-92, which has dealt a severe blow to the state's economy, is adding to the plight of farmers, experts have cautioned.
-
GM scare cuts British soya use
Consumer fears over genetically modified products have triggered a sharp fall in the proportion of products in British supermarkets containing soya, according to a leading experts. With suppliers
-
EU decides to continue milk quotas until 2008
The European Union plans to keep its controversial milk quota regime until at least 2008 a move that will dismay its trading partners. However, member countries have agreed to a 2003 review of the
-
Weather plays havoc with apple crop
Vagaries of the weather have played havoc with the apple crop this season. The state, which recorded the highest-ever production of the fruit last year, may have the lowest ever output this year. As
-
Thai farmers kill pigs as pork demand crashes
Fifty-three pigs were slaughtered at Tumpat by farmers on Tuesday who found it impossible to keep the animals after the demand for pork crashed over the past several months. The eight Thai farmers
-
Violence stalls coffee harvest in East Timor
Security problems in violence-wracked East Timor are jeopardising plans to harvest a bumper coffee crop worth an estimated $US30 million, an industry expert said today. Coffee is East Timor's main
-
Rubber Board plantation project in Assam
The Rubber Board wil implement a block rubber plantation project in Karbi Anglong district in Assam in collaboratin with the Karbi Anglong District Council (KADC), Diphy, for the benefit of the
-
Glut hassles choke wheat boom
The record procurement of wheat has turned out to be a double-edged sword-- while scything merrily through whatever fears may have existed about the crop, it is also bleeding dry, through
-
Green sun screens
Scientists have shown that plants can be genetically modified to tolerate high-temperature streets. In a recent issue of Plant Journal, N Murata and colleagues at the National Institute of Basic
-
Pakistan to join hands with India
Pakistan has decided to join hands with India in fighting the patent given to basmati rice by the United States patent office, the Pakistan Commerce Secretary, Mr. Mansoor Elahi, has said.Islamabad
-
Genetic food giants lodge Australia applications
Two major international groups have applied for approval for the sale in Australia and New Zealand of 10 genetically engineered crops. The applications, by U.S.-based Monsanto Co and Swiss-based
-
Food shortage due to distribution problems
The food shortage problem being faced in certain parts of the world was more because of distribution problems rather than due to a shortfall in food production, according to Dr. Jacques Diouf,
-
Badgers to be killed in effort to protect cattle
The UK government is to launch a cull of wild badgers in south-west England in an attempt to prevent the spread of tuberculosis from badgers to cattle. Badgers in trial areas in south-west England
-
Food industry backtracks on use of modified ingredients
Britain's leading supermarkets have reacted to a groundswell of public concern about genetically modified foods by saying they will stop using them in own-label products. Unilever and Nestle UK, the
-
Dry spell to severely affect apple harvest
Apple farmers in this region are now fearing that the prolonged dry spell may irreperably affect the apple harvest this year. This could prove back-breaking for the already beleaguered apple economy