NA body asks minister to resolve PARC chairman issue with PM

Published on November 30, 2010 by admin   ·   No Comments  
By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: Like its previous three meetings regarding seeking the status of PARC incumbent chairman Dr Zafar Altaf, whose tenure expired on August 11 this year — the NA committee on Food and Agriculture has once again asked the Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture to take up the said issue with the Prime Minister (PM).>>>> More

Canada to support Pakistan in agriculture sector

ISLAMABAD Oct 16 (APP):  The Canadian Government on Saturday announced further support in agriculture sector for those affected by the recent floods in Pakistan.Minister of International Cooperation Canada Beverley J. Oda, in a news release issued here said the contribution responds to agricultural recovery needs by providing seeds, fertilizers, and tools and by supporting the rehabilitation of the land and livestock sector in Pakistan.

Areas of Immediate Attention to save Pakistan

Dear all,

with reference to some on going activities on food security I have following things in mind which I think are the key factors to be addressed immediately to sustain agriculture & Pakistan.

1. Land degradation: Pakistan is loosing every day 80-100 acres of its fertile land to salinity & water logging, what would you like to do on this massive disaster? or you would make it mandatory/complusary to have a drainage system at each farm and then that water goes to main drainage system into sea? or soil reclaimation by utilizing all other means like reforestation, chemical amendments, crop selection, change in irrigation system or zero till operations (in orchards sod culture with selective grasses) etc. Example: In California (USA), one Mexican scientist has developed a tomato variety which is said to be salt tolerant and he also mentioned the figure of land degradation in Pakistan.

2. Irrigation water shortage: (ofcourse this yr is an exception we have super floods)  Perhaps Pakistan is only country on the face of this earth which uses 100% flood irrigation to do farming, per capita water availability "dreadful figure". How you'll respond to that mega issue? from flood to drip irrigation system, just utilization of irrigation water, elimination of corruption from irrigation department, serious R&D to implement modern & efficient irrigation systems (according to crop needs at various critical stages of plant growth & development), crop zoning or drought tolerant cultivars through biotech etc.

3. Genetic Contamination: Our indigenous genetic pool has been systematically eroded how you would like to respond? nothing is left original, all we have been growing & demanding "Exotic" varieties.  (high yielding, better quality, high nutrient demanding & maximum returns for sure short terms). Do you have gene bank of indigenous genetical material protected, i know one is one NARC but it is not upto standards, one that I  saw in Belgium. (Where are our resource conservaionist, plant breeders & Biotech specialist?)

4. First, we have been the victim of Green Revolution then Biotechnology, both leads to monoculture farming, current studies shows that farm biodiversity is the ultimate & sustainable solution, how would you respond to that to implement this here in Pakistan.

5. Farm energy efficiency: with increase in fuel prices & virtually unavailble electricity farming has become very difficult what would be ur future strategy to resolve this issue? like inroduction of solar, wind, biogas etc. or going back to bullocks.

6. Human Capital Utilization: Mostly peoples that are associated directly or indirectly with agriculture are unskilled & uneducated, big multinational companies & corporate farming culture is missing, farming here is being done conventionally so no introduction of improved technologies in the farms, under such cases how we would better make use of those peoples in our farms so that they get better & reasonable life going. (How would u respond to such issues, no technical man power in the fields.

7. There is fierce competition in world agriculture markets especially in fruits & vegetables, i simply would quote mangoes as an example, we produced 17,00,000 tons & our export is merely 1,00,000 tons with worth of 42 million US dollars, lowest price/kg (0.39 $). Quality is our main issues nothing is wrong with  our varieties (Sindhri from Sindh & White Chaunsa & SB Chaunsa from Punjab) both  considered as premium quality mangoes but we never been able to capitalize on it. What a pity! Govt or other agencies spending so much money on other petty activities but not on mangoes to setup a modern packhouse fully equipped with all facilities. Or trying to establish a suitable/modern/feasible Mango Models (Organically grown & conentional grown mangoes). Both have  high demands in  international high end value markets.

8. Farmers mind set: (centuries old system would again take centuries to turn around), this is our case, they are not willing to change, they never earn with their efforts any land simply they inherit the land and this is going on. They are not giving back to land what they are getting. Not only agricultural land but all other resources are at risk. How would you respond to that?

9. R&D: 167 impact factor Research papers are being published in Europe & USA per million peoples, In India, 7 research papers/million peoples whereas, in Pakistan only 3/million. When & how this will be improved. In agriculture, every season  we are encountering so many new problems of insects, diseases, nutritional disorder/deficiencies on almost all crops. Are we prepared to cope such disasterous including changing climatic conditions?

There are so many things can be done to improve our agriculture & perserve our nature resources  but abovementioned are just the tip of iceberg.

Furthermore, I would like to suggest, u must watch following video documentaries on the subject, hope that every body in Pakistan will understand how important these topics.

1. Climate change - State of the science 2009

2. aaf-dirt.the.movie.dvdrip.xvid

3. HOME (English with subtitles)

4. An Inconvenient Truth (2006) (DVD Rip)

5. Botany of desire

Thanks

  hadi bux laghari
 Technical Manager
Asim Agriculture Farm Tando Allahyar Sindh-Pakistan
Tele: +92 22 3898222
Fax: +92 22 3898111
Cell: +92 300 8371442

Commodity News Snapshot-Pakistan

THE RUPEE: divergent trend

KARACHI (September 20, 2010): The rupee moved both ways on currency market during the week ended on September 17, 2010. On the interbank market, the rupee showed no major change against dollar for buying and selling at 85.72 and 85.75 despite higher demand for the US currency.

Short supply, globally rising prices cause panic buying shooting spot rate to Rs 6,950, in ready business to Rs 7,250

KARACHI (September 20, 2010): Nearly panic lifting in cotton was marked on the very opening day of the market after Eid holidays for India's change in perception to hold back cotton exports up to October 1, 2010 - which pushed spot rate by Rs 550 higher by the close of the week on September 18-2010. The prices in ready business touched the peak of Rs 7,250.

Cotton market fast approaching saturation point

KARACHI (September 20, 2010): The Pakistan Cotton Ginners' Association (PCGA) have released their fortnightly cotton arrival and disposal report which placed seed cotton arrivals equivalent to 1,447,596 bales, total unsold bales at 202,676 bales (14.0% of total arrivals) and fortnightly flow at 452,405 bales (Per day Average 30,160 bales).

FAO official says: floods devastated crops, irrigation system, livestock

MULTAN (September 20, 2010): FAO Country Head Mauji Damianie has said that the recent flood damages assessment report shows that in all the four provinces of Pakistan and Azad Jamu Kashmir (AJK), an area of 1,313,756 hectares of field crops was reportedly destroyed.

Gold hits new high of Rs 40,600 per tola

KARACHI (September 19, 2010): Global gold value surge continues pushing gold prices to a new peak of Rs 40,600 per tola on the local market on Saturday, a trader said. Gold trading began today after one day of markets closure, (because the city mourned the assassination of an MQM leader - Dr Imran Farooq in London) with Rs 40,550 per tola and Rs 34,757 per 10-gram on the local market.

 

International News

Thai white sugar premiums hold near record levels

SINGAPORE (September 19, 2010): Premiums for Thai white sugar held near record levels on steady purchases from Southeast Asia, but consumers turned their back on raws as futures prices surged to a 7-month high, dealers said on Friday. There were no offers for the widely-traded high polarisation, or Hi-pol Thai raws, for prompt shipment. Trading of raw sugar for the Japanese market, or J-spec, slowed to a trickle after some cargoes were traded at record premiums last week.

Gold strikes record high close to $1,300

LONDON (September 19, 2010): Gold prices struck record highs close to 1,300 dollars last week as investors sought alternatives to the dollar amid heightened fears about the fragile state of the US economic recovery. Gold prices hit an all-time peak of 1,282.97 dollars an ounce on Friday as the dollar waned on mounting expectations that the Federal Reserve will pump more money into the flagging US economy.

 

Philippine rice output seen 3.2 million tonnes

MANILA (September 19, 2010): The Philippines' unmilled rice output will be about 3.2 million tonnes below target in 2010, but stockpiles are ample and imports for 2011 will be lower than this year's record levels, the head of the national grains agency said. "There will be an expected shortfall in production of palay (unmilled rice) of about 3.2 million tonnes and the harvest is delayed," Angelito Banayo, the head of the National Food Authority (NFA) told Reuters in an interview at his office in Quezon City.

Commodity News Snapshot-Pakistan

Government decides to waive 25 percent regulatory duty on raw sugar import

ISLAMABAD (September 17, 2010): The federal government has decided in principle to waive the 25 percent Regulatory Duty (RD) on import of raw sugar to plug in the expected shortage next year. However, the quantity of raw sugar import is yet to be finalised, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

SGA urges federal government to allow tax free import of raw sugar

LAHORE (September 17, 2010): Sugarcane Growers Association (SGA) Convenor Javed Malik has urged the federal government to act swiftly in the interest of consumers (common men) and allow tax free import of raw sugar to meet any possible shortage of sugarcane and stabilise the sugar prices in the open market.

Gold prices touch new peak

KARACHI (September 17, 2010): Gold prices continued to reach new peak of Rs 40, 550 per tola on the local market following a global market surge to $1273 an ounce on Thursday, traders said. Gold price crossed the last high of Rs 40, 275 per tola as market closed on new historic high with increase of Rs 275. Price of gold per 10 grams also hit a fresh high of Rs 34, 757 up from Rs 34,521 in a single day trading, traders said.

Sub-committee formed to finalise details of raw sugar import

ISLAMABAD: Ministerial Committee set up by economic coordination committee (ECC) on sugar Thursday formed a sub-committee to decide within a week the details of the quantity, timing and modus operandi of import of raw sugar for the season 2010-11.

Lint prices sustain upward rally

KARACHI: Lint prices continued to rise on higher demand by leading buyers while trading activities remained range bound with strong physical price at Karachi Cotton Association (KCA), traders said Thursday.

International News

Liffe sugar higher

LONDON (September 17, 2010): Liffe December white sugar ended $15.00 higher at $608.20 per tonne on Thursday, supported by worries over the impact of drought on Brazilian yields. Liffe December cocoa ended 31 pounds higher at 1,884 pounds a tonne. Market rebounding after falling to lowest level in more than one year earlier in the week but favourable outlook for crops in West Africa should keep a lid on prices.

New York sugar retreats

NEW YORK (September 17, 2010): Sugar futures retreated on profit-taking Thursday from a 6-1/2 month top in the face of a resurgent dollar after Japan weakened its currency for the first time in six years. The rest of the complex consolidated, with cocoa futures pressured by favourable prospects for crops in West Africa, the world's premier cocoa-growing region.

UK July wheat exports rise above 50 percent

LONDON (September 17, 2010): UK wheat exports during July, the first month of the 2010/11 marketing year, were 251,733 tonnes, up 52 percent from 165,636 tonnes in the same month last year, customs data showed on Wednesday. The total included an unusual sale of 58,314 tonnes to Vietnam. The only sale of UK wheat to a customer in Asia during the 2009/10 season was 49,500 tonnes to the Philippines.