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PHL in the News
March 9, 2012 Update
The following items have appeared recently in newspapers, blogs, on websites and other media regarding PHL and might be of interest to affiliates of the ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss.
Africa
- Rwandan maize farmers are benefiting from a system called warrantage, which allows them to earn double the normal price offered by traders at harvest. Farmers deposit their maize in a group storage shed and can receive 60% of the crop's value as a low-interest loan. A local bank has partnered with the group and helps to sell the grain when the prices are high.
- Under a two-year European Commission-funded project, the Gambia Emergency Agricultural Production Project (GEAPP) will create 23 village seed stores across the country. The GEAPP concluded Feb, 29, 2012, but did succeed in project goals by providing farmers with resources and tools, including power tillers, multi-crop threshers, milling machines, seeds, fertilizers, and much-needed seed stores.
- The government of Japan will fund UNIDO-based projects in Africa in order to provide training and equipment to various groups in different countries. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, US $1.3 million will be used to help improve the local agro-processing sector, expecting to benefit 4,000 people. In Kenya, US $1 million will be used to aid in soy bean processing technology distribution.
Middle East
India
- The agriculture ministry plans to reduce and restructure the 53-odd welfare schemes in the country. Of programs to stay is the "Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana" (RKVY)- which is an assistance scheme to motivate states to take more steps toward improving agriculture. States are allotted grants, disbursed by the state's chief secretary. A priority is to form a Food Security Mission, particularly for wheat, millet, pulses, and rice, as well as Missions on Oilseeds, Farm Mechanization, and Sustainable Agriculture. These programs are part of attempts to extend the benefits of the green revolution to eastern India.
- India is investing in African agriculture through the creation of a food-processing cluster of countries. The investment will amount to about Rs 117 crore and allow for the development of infrastructure for "cold storage, food testing labs, incubation centers, standard designed factories, pre-cooling chambers and other modern technologies used by the industry." Currently a bid is being held to appoint a project management agency to help with the implementation of the project. The African Union will be responsible for the selection of the location and will provide land cost-free.
North America
- The U.S. grain bin business has been promoted through "monster harvests, strong crop prices, and favorable tax policy." Farmers are investing more into giant grain bins, machinery, and buildings. As farmers make additional money, they spend it on infrastructure that helps them to diminish the waiting time at grain elevators and also enables them to store quickly and efficiently, allowing them to acquire the best prices, as well as store for many years.
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