Following comparative studies on social and economic condition of transgenic agricultural products in Iran and the world, the research arm of Iran?s legislature regretted that GM crops or foodstuffs containing them still find their way into the country. Expressing concern over adverse health impacts of consumption of GM foods, the center urged it is a must to ratify laws to regulate and draw up strategies to control (import) of transgenic products. The center further hailed successes...

Although sales are good, farmers are concerned about price fluctuations in the domestic market. Farmers in Binh Minh District, where sweet potato is the primary crop grown, have traditionally sold their produce domestically. Each year, after harvesting his rice crop, he sows two varieties of sweet potato in a bid to reap the rewards of an early harvest - the timing of which depends on climate and market price. Average productivity is about six to seven tonnes per cong, according to Phuc,...

However, there is still considerable scope for increasing the productivity because the yields actually being achieved for many crops are much below the realisable potential even of existing varieties if best cultivation practices are used. Although the potential yield gap is large, it is important to recognise that realising these yields requires co-ordinated effort and additional cost. We need to strengthen our national agricultural research effort to achieve this objective. These yield...

He led farmers in rejecting the NIB (which used to market their produce) and forcibly taking over the rice farms. The incumbent, Mr Alfred Nderitu, has capitalised on the woes afflicting rice farmers to represent the area for two consecutive terms. Following their withdrawal from NIB, the farmers have suffered under the hands of middlemen, while the quality of rice has gone down. The MP promised farmers better prices for rice and said he would ensure that their payments were not delayed....

The campaign would also prepare short courses on increasing rice production under the auspicious of the Agriculture Department, he said. Furthermore, local rice farmers also face shortage of ploughing machinery during the planting season, and those using the traditional methods would often resort to pesticides as the easiest means on ridding padi pests, he said. Edris said the Agriculture Department had taken positive measures against the golden snails by encouraging farmers to rear ducks...

Major rice producing countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, have been affected by natural disaster and they are unlikely to be ableto meet their export targets,Mr. There is a good opportunity for Thailand, a key rice producer, to increase its exports to between 8. Thailand now hasover five million tonnes of rice on hand, with a production of29 million tonnes of paddy rice, or 18. BANGKOK, May 12 (TNA) - Natural calamities affecting several major rice producing...