The revised draft Seeds Bill 2019, which the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare placed in the public domain recently for suggestions and comments, seems to be a watered down version of a draft prepared about nine years ago by the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Among other things, …
The Crop Research Institute under the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) has introduced three new improved varieties of cassava seeds this year for farmers to support planting for food and jobs programme . The new improved plants are purposely meant for production of highly industrial starch and for consumption …
An Enabling the Business of Agriculture (EBA) study conducted by the World Bank has ranked Zimbabwe's seed sector as number 15 out of the 62 countries measured. The report measures and monitors key elements of countries' regulatory framework that affect agribusiness value chains. It also identifies and analyses legal barriers …
Ancient Egyptians grew crops including wheat, barley, and vegetables The Oxford encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt The beginning of agriculture changed human history and has fascinated scholars for centuries. Yet it’s hard to study because it happened 10,000 or so years ago. As a result, a number of important issues remain …
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) said that it has discovered sorghum seed that brings bumper crop to farmers residing in the most drought affected areas. A crew of journalists made Sunday a field trip to west Hararghe Zone aiming at evaluating the status of a new Melkam sorghum seed …
Head of Maruku Research Centre, Mr Innocent Ndyetabula, made the remarks to journalists and other government officials who visited the facility in Bukoba District, Kagera Region. He described the Tanzania 130 cassava seeds as drought tolerant and resistant to the cassava brown streak virus; both the disease and changing weather …
The Royal Dutch Embassy has partnered with Uganda to create opportunities for increased income and food security through market linkages and access to quality seed for rural households in Uganda. The integrated Seed Sector Development Plus(ISSD Plus) project and the resilient Efficient Agribusiness Chains(REACH Uganda) project under the international fertilizer …
Judgement of the High Court of Delhi in the matter of Monsanto Technology LLC & Others Vs Nuziveedu Seeds Limited & Others dated 28/03/2017 regarding Nuziveedu Seeds Limited continuing to “market and sell” Genetically Modified Hybrid Cotton Planting Seeds inspite of termination of the sub-license agreements and use of trademarks …
Lignin, one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth, derives from the plant phenolic metabolism. It appeared upon terrestrialization and is thought critical for plant colonization of land. Early diverging land plants do not form lignin, but already have elements of its biosynthetic machinery. Here we delete in a moss …
The Ugandan government on Tuesday warned that its population was slipping into the food insecure phase due to the prolonged dry spell that has led to crop failure. In a new report launched here dubbed National Food Security Assessment, an estimated 69 percent of the country’s population is minimally food …
Rwanda should be able to fully provide own seeds for farming by 2020, according to the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB). To accomplish this, RAB will need to intensively replicate already developed improved seeds and speed up research to develop new varieties. The goal is to end the practice of importing …
Joyce Matheka’s one acre farm located in Makueni County in lower-eastern Kenya was a spectacle to behold on Friday thanks to a lush green foliage that announced a bumper harvest in the near future. The middle-aged mother of eight defied cynical voices to experiment with a new and improved maize …
The study by Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy shows that for every one acre of maize that is planted by small scale farmers, only 0.72 per cent of the seeds used are hybrid. Tegemeo noted that despite the acreage under maize going up yearly, this has not helped in increasing …
Zimbabwean smallholder farmers consider seed security to be an issue of national security. For them, access to the right seeds at the right time, and for the right price, is critical to being able to produce enough food to eat in the face of growing climate disruption. Farmer seed systems …
Deals would put the majority of seeds, chemicals and GM traits in the hands of three companies, deepening poverty for small-scale farmers When an Indian farmer plants his cotton crop, there’s at least a 75% chance the seeds have been been bought from a company owned by Monsanto. If a …
China's first national gene bank, China National Genebank, will open in the southern city of Shenzhen on Sept 22, with the goal of protecting, researching and utilizing genetic resources, Nanfang Daily reported. The gene bank hopes to boost the genetics industry and safeguard China's genetic information. The new gene bank …
German chemicals giant Bayer has confirmed its record-breaking $66bn takeover of GM seeds business Monsanto - a deal that would create the world's biggest seeds and pesticides company. The offer, a record cash takeover, values Monsanto shares at $128 and will create a company worth $66bn (£50bn). As well as …
The seeds will cost less than other hybrids but give higher yields India is expected to unveil in November two sets of cotton varieties that will cost less than other hybrids but give higher yields, as well as resist whitefly, pink bollworm and leaf curl virus that often damage the …
NEW DELHI – Monsanto has pulled an application seeking Indian approval for its next generation of genetically modified, pest-resistant cotton seeds, it said Thursday, sharply escalating an ongoing row with the Indian government. The U.S. agribusiness giant said it withdrew plans to introduce the seeds in July over regulatory “uncertainty,” …
Scientists creating backup of Madagascar’s flora at Kew’s seed bank as deforestation threatens African island’s biodiversity Scientists are racing against time to create a backup of Madagascar’s famously rich and varied flora in a British seed bank before it is lost forever. The Indian ocean country is known as a …
Arusha — East Africa is still struggling to eradicate the maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND), which has ravaged the crop in the northern regions of Tanzania and other East African countries since 2013. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Florens Turuka, said although intensive …
