Government Initiatives
In the Union Budget 2010-11, the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee has made the following announcements for the agriculture sector:
* Provision of US$ 86.9 million to extend the green revolution to the eastern region of the country comprising Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa
* Provision of US$ 65.2 million to organise 60,000 pulses and oil-seed villages in rain-fed areas in 2010-11 and to provide an integrated intervention for water harvesting, watershed management and soil health to improve productivity of the dry land farming areas
* Provision of US$ 43.4 million for sustaining the gains already made in the green revolution areas through conservation farming, which involves concurrent attention to soil health, water conservation and preservation of biodiversity
* Banks have been consistently meeting the targets set for agricultural credit flow in the past few years. For the year 2010-11, the agricultural credit flow target has been set at US$ 81.5 billion
* Under the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme (2008), time frame for the repayment of the loan has been extended till June 30, 2010 from six months up to December 31, 2009 in the previous year
* In addition to the 10 mega food park projects already being set up, the government has decided to set up five more such parks
* External commercial borrowings are to be available for cold storage or cold room facility, including for farm level pre-cooling, for preservation or storage of agricultural and allied products, marine products and meat
A number of other initiatives are already in place for the agriculture sector, which include
* The National Food Security Mission was launched in 2007-08, with an outlay of US$ 1.24 billion during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007–2012). It aims at enhancing the production of rice, wheat and pulses by 10 million tonnes (MT), 8 MT and 2 MT respectively, by the year 2011-12
* The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) was operationalised with effect from August 2007 with an outlay of US$ 5.3 billion during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12). The RKVY scheme aims at incentivising states to increase outlays for agriculture and allied sectors in order to achieve 4 per cent growth in the sector in the current five-year plan. RKVY has encouraged states to step up allocations to this sector. Allocation to agriculture and allied sectors was 5.11 per cent of total State Plan Expenditure in 2006-07 and this has gone up to 5.84 per cent in 2008-09, according to the Annual Report 2009-10 of the Ministry of Agriculture
* The government has allocated US$ 1.43 billion this fiscal to the states under RKVY, 87 per cent more than in 2009-10 at US$ 763.3 million
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Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Agricultural Development Afghanistan
USAID is seeking experienced professionals in the agriculture sciences to work with us to support the people of Afghanistan.
This announcement is being used to consider internal Merit Promotion and external candidates. You will be considered under all categories for which you are eligible.
DUTIES:(The duties described reflect the full performance level of this position)
The full performance level of this position is at the FS-02 level.
Agricultural Development Officers (ADOs) will be based in Afghanistan and assigned to one of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), District Support Teams (DSTs), Regional Command Centers, and in some cases Kabul itself (See General Background section). ADOs will live and work with other members of the PRT, often in rustic and challenging conditions (See physical requirements section in this announcement). ADOs will support agriculture and rural development assistance programs in various locations in Afghanistan by developing strategies, analytical models, and methodologies; analyzing data; and providing assistance and advice on agriculture and rural development issues.
Strategic Planning: For country, regional, or provincial programming, performs strategic analysis of trends, and future areas of opportunity and problems, as input to Agency strategic planning. Develops or contributes to strategic planning documents, country assistance strategies, sector strategies, and similar planning exercises. Employs analytical tools and insight to provide guidance to managers for decisions about allocation of resources to agriculture and rural development programs, and as input to cross-cutting issues such as environment or gender.
Program Analysis: Serves as a technical resource and advisor, providing analyses of agriculture and rural development sector trends in Afghanistan to inform management and program managers of relevant factors that may affect the U.S. assistance program. Participates on technical evaluation committees for agriculture and rural development project proposals, and oversees contracted technical assistance and commodity interventions to agricultural programs. Ensures statistical soundness of data used to track program performance, and proposes statistical indicators of program success. Communicates results of analysis both verbally and in writing to specialist and non-specialist audiences. Develops criteria for project and program evaluation statements of work and briefs evaluation teams regarding agricultural background and conditions within which USAID programs operate.
Agriculture Policy Guidance: Analyzes agriculture policies currently in effect in Afghanistan and briefs and advises senior USAID, military, and other USG management regarding agriculture policy issues relevant to successful achievement of USG assistance objectives. Develops professional contacts with agriculture and other officials in the Afghan government, resident missions of the international financial institutions, bilateral donors, embassies, as well as within the local academic and business communities. Ensures coordination with all USG activities in the agriculture sector.
This announcement is being used to consider internal Merit Promotion and external candidates. You will be considered under all categories for which you are eligible.
DUTIES:(The duties described reflect the full performance level of this position)
The full performance level of this position is at the FS-02 level.
Agricultural Development Officers (ADOs) will be based in Afghanistan and assigned to one of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), District Support Teams (DSTs), Regional Command Centers, and in some cases Kabul itself (See General Background section). ADOs will live and work with other members of the PRT, often in rustic and challenging conditions (See physical requirements section in this announcement). ADOs will support agriculture and rural development assistance programs in various locations in Afghanistan by developing strategies, analytical models, and methodologies; analyzing data; and providing assistance and advice on agriculture and rural development issues.
Strategic Planning: For country, regional, or provincial programming, performs strategic analysis of trends, and future areas of opportunity and problems, as input to Agency strategic planning. Develops or contributes to strategic planning documents, country assistance strategies, sector strategies, and similar planning exercises. Employs analytical tools and insight to provide guidance to managers for decisions about allocation of resources to agriculture and rural development programs, and as input to cross-cutting issues such as environment or gender.
Program Analysis: Serves as a technical resource and advisor, providing analyses of agriculture and rural development sector trends in Afghanistan to inform management and program managers of relevant factors that may affect the U.S. assistance program. Participates on technical evaluation committees for agriculture and rural development project proposals, and oversees contracted technical assistance and commodity interventions to agricultural programs. Ensures statistical soundness of data used to track program performance, and proposes statistical indicators of program success. Communicates results of analysis both verbally and in writing to specialist and non-specialist audiences. Develops criteria for project and program evaluation statements of work and briefs evaluation teams regarding agricultural background and conditions within which USAID programs operate.
Agriculture Policy Guidance: Analyzes agriculture policies currently in effect in Afghanistan and briefs and advises senior USAID, military, and other USG management regarding agriculture policy issues relevant to successful achievement of USG assistance objectives. Develops professional contacts with agriculture and other officials in the Afghan government, resident missions of the international financial institutions, bilateral donors, embassies, as well as within the local academic and business communities. Ensures coordination with all USG activities in the agriculture sector.
Newyork agri
Stonyfield Farms' environmental mission is the core of the company's activities, and continues to be a key differentiator among its competitors. The company was among the first to go "carbon-neutral" in the mid-1990s, produces 100% organic products, and gives 10% of its company profits to organizations that "help protect and restore the environment."
The latest of these projects is Climate Counts, an initiative aimed at empowering consumers to achieve no less a task than saving the world. With Climate Counts, Stonyfield President and "CE-Yo" Gary Hirshberg has gone beyond the corporate arena, using his experience and knowledge to launch a new non-profit that directly addresses the environmental concern he considers the most-pressing issue of our time. Add that to continued operational successes at the facility level, and you've got a company that is looking, and moving, forward into manufacturing's green future.
addressing energy efficiency:
Hirshberg: Efficiency gains at our facility and CO2 reductions have come from many initiatives, including designing processes to incorporate heat recovery, installing energy efficient motors and lighting, implementing energy efficient building practices, refrigeration system changes and fuel switching.
From 1995 to 2005 Stonyfield Farm reduced facility energy use and the associated CO2 emissions per pound of product by one third, saving over $1.7 million and 46 million kWh -- enough energy to power 4,500 homes for a year -- and prevented over 14,000 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
evaluated renewable purchase or production:
Hirshberg: In 2005, Stonyfield Farm installed a 50 kW solar photovoltaic array on its yogurt making facility in Londonderry, New Hampshire, the largest array in New Hampshire and the fifth largest in New England.
Stonyfield Farm also designed and constructed an anaerobic pre-treatment system that generates energy from its yogurt processing wastes. This treatment system uses 80% less energy and generates 90% less waste than conventional dairy treatment systems.
The latest of these projects is Climate Counts, an initiative aimed at empowering consumers to achieve no less a task than saving the world. With Climate Counts, Stonyfield President and "CE-Yo" Gary Hirshberg has gone beyond the corporate arena, using his experience and knowledge to launch a new non-profit that directly addresses the environmental concern he considers the most-pressing issue of our time. Add that to continued operational successes at the facility level, and you've got a company that is looking, and moving, forward into manufacturing's green future.
addressing energy efficiency:
Hirshberg: Efficiency gains at our facility and CO2 reductions have come from many initiatives, including designing processes to incorporate heat recovery, installing energy efficient motors and lighting, implementing energy efficient building practices, refrigeration system changes and fuel switching.
From 1995 to 2005 Stonyfield Farm reduced facility energy use and the associated CO2 emissions per pound of product by one third, saving over $1.7 million and 46 million kWh -- enough energy to power 4,500 homes for a year -- and prevented over 14,000 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
evaluated renewable purchase or production:
Hirshberg: In 2005, Stonyfield Farm installed a 50 kW solar photovoltaic array on its yogurt making facility in Londonderry, New Hampshire, the largest array in New Hampshire and the fifth largest in New England.
Stonyfield Farm also designed and constructed an anaerobic pre-treatment system that generates energy from its yogurt processing wastes. This treatment system uses 80% less energy and generates 90% less waste than conventional dairy treatment systems.
Journal of Tropical Agriculture
The Journal of Tropical Agriculture is a peer-reviewed international journal that publishes scientific articles concerned with all aspects of crop science, agroecosystem management and conservation, and in particular the application of biological, engineering, ecological, and social knowledge to the management of agricultural crops in the tropics including plantation and horticultural crops. The journal has been published since 1961—initially as the “Agricultural Research Journal of Kerala,” and renamed in 1993 to reflect the changing needs and relevance of the contents.
Journal of Tropical Agriculture is indexed and/or abstracted in CAB Abstracts International, Cababstractsplus, EMBiology, SCOPUS, DOAJ, pkp.sfu.ca/harvester2, Google.scholar, Open J-Gate, CeRA, Animal Science Database, AgBiotechNet, TropHort.com, EBSCO, SCIRUS, Indian Science Abstracts, Chinese Electronic Periodical Services, and Zoological Record.
Welcome to JTROPAG.IN, the online submission and editorial system of the Journal of Tropical Agriculture. This Online Manuscript Submission, Review, Tracking, and Retrieval System uses the “Open Journal Systems” and is supported by a grant from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi under the “Technology Information Facilitation Programme (TIF).”
To submit an article go to Online submissions.
Journal of Tropical Agriculture is indexed and/or abstracted in CAB Abstracts International, Cababstractsplus, EMBiology, SCOPUS, DOAJ, pkp.sfu.ca/harvester2, Google.scholar, Open J-Gate, CeRA, Animal Science Database, AgBiotechNet, TropHort.com, EBSCO, SCIRUS, Indian Science Abstracts, Chinese Electronic Periodical Services, and Zoological Record.
Welcome to JTROPAG.IN, the online submission and editorial system of the Journal of Tropical Agriculture. This Online Manuscript Submission, Review, Tracking, and Retrieval System uses the “Open Journal Systems” and is supported by a grant from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi under the “Technology Information Facilitation Programme (TIF).”
To submit an article go to Online submissions.
Sharing agricultural knowledge
Over the course of 100 years, UC Davis has helped to transform entire industries and economies by providing agriculture education and innovation to students, farmers, scientists and policymakers worldwide.
From the early days, UC Davis agricultural engineers invented or improved devices that increased farm efficiency such as grain dryers, pest-spraying equipment, seed-planting machines and harvest mechanization for crops.
During the first half of the 20th century, UC Davis researchers developed improved irrigation and crop-nutrition techniques that extended the world’s ability to cultivate arid fields and improve yield. Later, UC Davis research informed the design of the 444-mile-long California Aqueduct that today serves 23 million Californians and 755,000 acres of farmland. Not only have these innovations helped increase and stabilize food supplies, they also have increased scientific rigor in agricultural research.
By sharing its vast accumulation of agricultural knowledge and innovation with the world, UC Davis has helped to do such things as modernize Chile’s agricultural industry, revitalize Afghanistan’s agricultural system and improve maternal nutrition in Africa.
Photo illustration of agricultural workers and food
Additional impacts
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable farming may be trendy now, but give much of the credit to decades of research and education by UC Davis-based programs such as Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems and the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. From fertilizer use and pest control to water conservation and living conditions for farmworkers, UC Davis shares information that preserves our natural resources for future generations, while helping farms and farmers thrive.
Viticulture and enology
California enjoys recognition as one of the world’s premier wine regions, thanks in large part to UC Davis contributions. Early research identified the grape varieties best suited to the state’s microclimates and, later, genetic advances enabled scientists to develop wine grapevines and rootstocks resistant to vineyard pests and diseases. UC Davis research has also identified potential health benefits of drinking wine.
Food safety
From the early days, UC Davis agricultural engineers invented or improved devices that increased farm efficiency such as grain dryers, pest-spraying equipment, seed-planting machines and harvest mechanization for crops.
During the first half of the 20th century, UC Davis researchers developed improved irrigation and crop-nutrition techniques that extended the world’s ability to cultivate arid fields and improve yield. Later, UC Davis research informed the design of the 444-mile-long California Aqueduct that today serves 23 million Californians and 755,000 acres of farmland. Not only have these innovations helped increase and stabilize food supplies, they also have increased scientific rigor in agricultural research.
By sharing its vast accumulation of agricultural knowledge and innovation with the world, UC Davis has helped to do such things as modernize Chile’s agricultural industry, revitalize Afghanistan’s agricultural system and improve maternal nutrition in Africa.
Photo illustration of agricultural workers and food
Additional impacts
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable farming may be trendy now, but give much of the credit to decades of research and education by UC Davis-based programs such as Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems and the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. From fertilizer use and pest control to water conservation and living conditions for farmworkers, UC Davis shares information that preserves our natural resources for future generations, while helping farms and farmers thrive.
Viticulture and enology
California enjoys recognition as one of the world’s premier wine regions, thanks in large part to UC Davis contributions. Early research identified the grape varieties best suited to the state’s microclimates and, later, genetic advances enabled scientists to develop wine grapevines and rootstocks resistant to vineyard pests and diseases. UC Davis research has also identified potential health benefits of drinking wine.
Food safety
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Biofuels
Biofuel is fuel produced from renewable resources, especially plant biomass, vegetable oils, or treated municipal and industrial wastes. Biofuels are considered neutral with respect to the emission of carbon dioxide because the carbon dioxide given off by burning them is balanced by the carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants that are grown to produce them. The use of biofuels as an additive to petroleum-based fuels can also result in cleaner burning with less emission of carbon monoxide and particulates.
Biotechnology is one of the most effective and innovative tools available to attain European targets for biofuel use, while reducing adverse environmental impacts of transport, and limiting the impact of the increased cultivated land area.
The BioFuels Taskforce
The task force represents biotechnology-based biofuels and related companies at the European level. Its mission is to advocate coherently favorable policies, strategies, regulations and their implementation for research, finance, and market access of biofuels. The two key topics on the agenda are innovation and policy. The task force is also represented in the Steering Committee of the European Biofuels Technology Platform.
Fact sheets - English
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Advanced biofuels
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Environmental sustainability criteria for biofuels
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Biotechnology: Making biofuels sustainable
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Biofuels and land use
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Biofuels and food
Biotechnology is one of the most effective and innovative tools available to attain European targets for biofuel use, while reducing adverse environmental impacts of transport, and limiting the impact of the increased cultivated land area.
The BioFuels Taskforce
The task force represents biotechnology-based biofuels and related companies at the European level. Its mission is to advocate coherently favorable policies, strategies, regulations and their implementation for research, finance, and market access of biofuels. The two key topics on the agenda are innovation and policy. The task force is also represented in the Steering Committee of the European Biofuels Technology Platform.
Fact sheets - English
*
Advanced biofuels
*
Environmental sustainability criteria for biofuels
*
Biotechnology: Making biofuels sustainable
*
Biofuels and land use
*
Biofuels and food
ISAP Activities
ISAP conducts FACs in Rajasthan
Under project SHARE, Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) has carried out 335 Farmers� Awareness Camps / kisan Goshtis in last six months. These awareness camps and goshtis were held at Amravati (Maharashtra), Adilabad (Andhra Pradesh), Bundi and Bhilwara (Rajasthan). A team of senior officials from Monsanto and ISAP also participated in two such awareness campaigns held at Bundi and Bhilwara region on April 7-8, 2010. This team of senior officials includes Ms Jyotsna Bhatnagar (Lead CSR, Monsanto) and Dr Jatinder Manan (Manager, TED, Monsanto), Dr Satish Chandra (Director Technical, ISAP) and Mr Ved Prakash Sharma (Sr. Project Manager, ISAP). First awareness camp, this team attended, was organized at Gothda village in Bundi district, where Scientists & Staff from KVK, State level Agriculture Research Centre and Department of Agriculture, govt of Rajasthan shared their knowledge, views and experiences with a modest gathering of 200 farmers from the surrounding villages. It proved to be a highly interactive event. Similar event was held on April 08th, 2010 at Jahazpur (Bhilwara District). Besides scientists, 2 AAOs and some farmers from Banswara shared their experiences and observations of their exposure visit which was held for the last rabi makka crop with hybrid varieties in Banswara district in March. Ms Jyotsna Bhatnagar also spoke elaborately about the project objectives to the farmers and appealed especially to the women farmers to join this project. Dr Satish Chandra, Dr Swalka (Head, KVK Bundi) and Dr Jatinder Manan provided technical guidance to the farmers.
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