Cassava News 80

New centres raise cassava’s outlook in Sierra Leone

Cassavanews to follow up afrol News, 17 December - Cassava’s profile as a food security and poverty-reducing crop has received a boost with the commissioning of five new processing centres in Sierra Leone. This follows support from the Common Fund for Commodities, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute and other partners.

The processing centres, which are located in five different communities including Waterloo, Bo District, Njala Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Makeni City/Teko, and Hamdalai in Sierra Leone, are part of a $1.6 million Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) funded project involving Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Benin Republic. The project is seeking value addition to cassava and to consequently boost production and generate wealth.

“It will also improve livelihood, incomes of farmers and stakeholders in the cassava enterprise,” said Prof Lateef Sanni, Project Coordinator, for the Common Fund for Commodities Funded project. “More importantly, this will create market and drive the production of cassava.”

Since 1990, cassava production in Sierra Leone has been on the upbeat climbing from 178,200 metric tons in 1990 to 1,236,852 mt in 2007.

Dr Alfred Dixon, Director General, Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute said the utilisation of cassava and creation of products such as gari - a Nigerian-introduced staple - has actually created demand for the crop. Consequently, cassava is now second to rice as a staple with people eating both the leaves and tubers of the crop.

The establishment of the processing centres has also spurred interest in cassava production in local communities. Dorris Kargbo, a farmer and beneficiary of the cassava centre in Hamdalai Village said, in her community alone, about 40 farmer-groups have been formed for cassava production.

Each of the groups comprises about 30 farmers each. The groups will ensure the steady supply of cassava tubers to the processing centre which will process the tubers into gari, foofoo, cassava cake and cassava doughnut among others. “This will create jobs to our people, generate wealth and reduce poverty. It is our own strategy of contributing to poverty reduction in Sierra Leone,” Ms Kargbo said.

Traditionally, cassava tubers in Sierra Leone are harvested, boiled and eaten. The limited utilisation of cassava often times results to glut during periods of bumper harvest.

Ms Kargbo, while expressing gratitude to the funders of the project said the processing centres have created a market that will mop up cassava in the future. “This will reduce postharvest losses and make cassava production profitable,” she added.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Cassava News 79

Food prices up again

CASSAVANEWS to follow up FAO. ROME, Italy, Dec 9 - Global food prices are on the ascent again with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Food Price Index – a food basket composed of cereals, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar – registering four straight monthly rises.

However market conditions are different from those that triggered the food price crisis that started two years ago, FAO said in its December Food Outlook report published on Wednesday.

The index averaged 168 points in November, the highest since September 2008. That was still 21 percent below its peak in June 2008. Prior to the price spike of 2007/08, the index never exceeded 120 points and, for most of the time, was below 100 points.

“At the onset of the price surge in 2007, FAO identified a number of possible causes contributing to the price rise: low levels of world cereal stocks; crop failures in major exporting countries; rapidly growing demand for agricultural commodities for biofuels and rising oil prices,” the FAO report said.

“As the price strengthening accelerated, several other factors emerged to reinforce the upheaval; most importantly, government export restrictions, a weakening United States dollar and a growing appetite by speculators and index funds for wider commodity portfolio investments on the back of enormous global excess liquidity. What made the 2007/08 price spike exceptional was the concurrence of so many factors culminating in an unprecedented price rally and the fuelling of volatility.”

Cereal stocks healthy
Today, world cereal stocks are at more comfortable levels, although some markets are facing tight conditions. In general supplies held by exporters are more adequate to respond to rising demand than they were during the price surge period. For example, the wheat stocks-to-use ratio in major exporting countries has risen from 12 percent to 20 percent this season. Biofuels are still a leading driver but the sector has slowed in terms of year-on-year growth.

Macro-economic factors, such as exchange rates, volatile oil prices and low interest rates are also causing investors to put their cash in commodity markets. “Although supply and demand fundamentals will continue to shape commodity markets, the now entrenched susceptibility of the global food system to external non-food economy events requires continuous vigilance,” FAO said.

Production rising

“A healthy stock situation and good production prospects reduce the risk of a major price surge over the next six months, but FAO will be keeping a very close eye on developments,” said Hafez Ghanem, FAO Assistant Director-General for Social and Economic Development.

Although the preliminary outlook for cereals points to a decline in world output compared to 2008, mostly on account of lower price expectations which depressed plantings, production in 2009 is still expected to be about four percent higher than in 2007.

Global cassava production is expected to reach new highs in 2009, largely due to initiatives to sustain food security and demand from the ethanol sector where cassava has emerged as a key feedstock. However prices of internationally traded cassava are still less than they were two years ago but should remain firm in 2010.

In the oil seeds market, a weakening in prices for meals and cakes is possible later in the season because of expected large South America crop but the market is expected to be tighter in oils and fats. World sugar prices are likely to remain firm but at lower levels than the current highs.

Meat down, dairy and fish up

According to the FAO meat price index, world meat prices were an average 8 percent lower in the first ten months of 2009 than the same period last year. Lower global imports are expected to depress world trade in all various meat categories in 2009 but a modest recovery is expected in 2010.

Dairy prices are on the rise again, gaining by 80 percent since reaching a low in February 2009, with traded milk powders the fastest rising product. Future prices will depend on whether the European Union offloads its large stocks of butter and skimmed milk onto the international market.

2009 was a challenging year for fish and fishery products because of the global downturn that hit demand. There have been moderate price increases for several months now.

Read more: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Kenyabusiness/Food-prices-up-again-3502.html#ixzz0ZKJYJR1L
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives

Cassava News 78

CASSAVANEWS to follow up Bharatbook.com added a new report on "Future of starches in China" which gives Competitiveness of Chinese starch and fermentation products in domestic and export markets, and impact of raw material supply on starch industry.

Future of starches in China

China’s output of starch, including native and modified starch, is the second largest in the world. Major varieties of native starch include corn starch, potato starch, cassava starch and wheat starch, while that of modified starch include corn modified starch, potato modified starch and cassava modified starch. China’s starch output has kept growing rapidly with CAGR of about 17.00% since 2001, which reached 17.10 million tonnes in 2008. It is predicted that China’s starch output will increase stably to 25.47 million tonnes in 2020. What is the position of Chinese starch industry in the world? Why do Chinese starch industry develop so fast? Which products will witness promising prospect in the future? ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=127263&rt=Future-of-starches-in-China.html )

China is the second largest native starch consumption country in the world, with total consumption value of USD6.10 billion in 2008, of which USD700.00 million was contributed by modified starch consumption. With various characteristics and functions, modified starch is widely applied in industries such as papermaking, food processing and textile in China. As for price, China’s starch price is mainly influenced by raw material price, supply & demand situation and technology innovation. How are such factors affecting China’s starch industry? You will find answers in the report. Raw material cost constitutes the major proportion in starch manufacturing cost. In China, production cost of cassava starch is lower than that of corn starch, with USD333.16/t and respectively. However, native cassava starch only accounts for 3.13% share in domestic native starch market. In the USD340.34/t for corn starch, the cost of corn was USD308.01/t, accounting for 90.56% of the total cost, what cause this situation?

In recent two years, Chinese starch supply has surpassed domestic demand. As for international trade, export of native starch is increasing, while import is decreasing. But the situation is different for modified starches. Which kinds of native starch and modified starch have sufficient supply and which kinds are in demand? Starch production technology mainly includes dry method and wet method, and wet method is widely adopted in recent years. However, it causes serious pollution like large volume of waste water. Has any technology innovation achieved in recent years?

What’s covered in this report

- An overview for current market of corn starch, cassava starch, potato starch and wheat starch, as well as starch derivatives in China, with focus on statistics of capacity, output, import & export, supply & demand, major manufactures, future trend, etc.
- Outlook for starch raw material supply & demand
- Balance in starch industry, from raw materials to end use markets/products
- Competitiveness of Chinese starch and fermentation products in domestic and export markets, and impact of raw material supply on starch industry
- Foreign investment in China’s starch industry
- Future development trend of China’s starch industry

To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=127263&rt=Future-of-starches-in-China.html
Or

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Cassava News 77

Danforth Center gets $2.5M for cassava research

CASSAVANEWS. The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center was recently awarded a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development to develop a virus-resistant cassava.

Yearly harvests of the starchy shrub in East Africa have been hurt by infections spread by whiteflies and by cuttings, how cassava is commonly propagated by farmers.

The crop is the primary source of calories for more than 250 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa because it can grow in low-nutrient soils and withstand droughts that kill other plants.

Each year, cassava farmers lose at least 30 percent of their crop to cassava mosaic disease alone, and the cassava brown streak disease can be responsible for a complete loss of the harvest. In the Lake Victoria area, more than 7 million people are at risk of famine because of plant disease threats, according to the Danforth Center.

Danforth researchers have teamed up with partners in Kenya and Uganda on a project called Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa, or VIRCA.

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a nonprofit research institute in Creve Coeur that focuses on human health and agricultural production.

Source: Bizjournals.com to follow St. Louis Business Journal

Cassava: the number one industrial crop

Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Sunday | August 16, 2009

Errol G. Lindo, Contributor

IN READING your article on cassava I am forced to provide a few pointers on the direction in which the country should go. I will state here categorically that cassava must be the number one crop for agro industry in the areas of energy, industry, human and livestock consumption.

Cassava

Cassava could become our number one industrial crop because there are established industrial products, and as reports indicate, we are developing a number of additional products. Because of the productive potential of cassava we should not have a problem of producing beyond the sample stage. Cassava leaves are high in protein and are used as a green vegetable in some cultures. Experiments on the use of fresh cut cassava leaves and/or pellet for animal feed should be expanded. Ethanol production for transportation must come from cassava.

Wheat

This cereal can be grown in Jamaica. Research work done in the 1970s and 1980s has shown it to be viable. The crop was not given its rightful place because bread made from the locally grown varieties does not rise as much as with the imported grain.

Please let us be real here, this flour will make good dumpling and roti, and in view of the fact that imported wheat is been stretched by use of other ingredients, locally grown wheat can compete.

The lands required to be successful are sugar cane lands. Let us make the difficult decisions. If Israel can grow wheat in the desert using pressurised irrigation, then we should explore the possibility of using soaker hose technology in our production systems.

Soybean

Research has shown that this crop can be grown in Jamaica. The reason why it is not being grown is because the oil content of suitable varieties is lower than imported seeds. In view of the fact that soy milk and other soy products have over the years become increasingly important in our diet, soybean needs to be revisited so as to meet our demands.

Rice

Many attempts have been made with this crop which has seen success and failure. The country of Japan for a very long time would not allow the importation of cheaper rice so as to protect their local industry and protect the nation as a whole from starvation if its number one food staple is not available.

Jamaica, in its attempt to produce rice, has limited itself to production on marginal flood plane lands. It is high time that sugar cane lands be utilised in rice production. The present effort as reported is excellent in moving yields from five ton/hectare to seven ton/hectare. Ratooning is a brilliant idea. A rotation of rice (main crop and two ratoons) and a cool season planting of soybean should be explored.

Corn/Sorghum

These crops need to be moved from marginal lands and subsistence production to high-quality lands and pressurised irrigation.

Yam

For export produce, smaller tubers would lend themselves to longer shelf life because of less cutting. Producing smaller tubers may involve a combination of smaller head pieces, spacing and the use of irrigation to deliver split application of nutrients. Uniformity in tuber size and shape may also be managed by use of the European method of producing radish in a confined space.

Vegetables

Pressurised irrigation, namely, drip and or micro-sprinklers, are a must even in the hills. Varietal selection of callaloo (amaranths sp) from the different regions of the world, such as Nepal, must be carried out to determine which are most, suitable for planting at different times of the year. Non-traditional vegetable species, such as collard, kale, turnip greens, etc., are to be explored.

Fruits

Mangoes for export should be for the exotic market in mind. Therefore, grow orchards of Julie, Bombay, East Indian, and may be some common for the diaspora. Mango nectar and powder should become part of the value-added objective. Consider fruiting twice per year, which may involve stressing the trees to get the second crop. Use of container farming with brackish water is a possible area of expansion. Information on this technology, if not already residing in the country, can be had from the Volcani Center in Israel.

Pineapples

There is nothing like a good sugar loaf. Produce, produce, produce.

Pear/Peaches/American apple

If we have to have them, then produce your own. Again, get information from Volcani Center in Israel. Nitrogen gas in a cooling system may be use to provide required chilling temperatures.

Livestock

Apart from the problem of foot-and-mouth disease and two-legged rats, the major impediment to production is sufficient high-quality feed. Some of the crops outlined above, such as cassava, corn, sorghum and soybean, must be produced over and above that which is required for human and industrial use. There should never be competition between the different sectors and uses.

Spanish needle is a high-protein forage native to the country. Research should be implemented regarding pressurised irrigation, cutting regiment, split fertiliser application (liquid fertiliser) and varietal selection.

Fisheries

It is imperative that a fish preserving industry, namely, canning and salted dried, be developed. Fish strains such as salmon, crappie, brim, and carp should be investigated. I know some may be saying these are temperate species, to which my reply is, we are blowing off tons of nitrogen at the dry ice factory at Ferry. This nitrogen should be used as a cooling agent for the waters in which these new species would be grown in.

Fertiliser

As mentioned before, we are blowing off tons of nitrogen gas because there is no market for it. Put our chemist and engineers to work on producing ammoniac nitrogen, nitrogen oxides, and urea from this wasted product for use in fertilisers.

These are a few thoughts that I believe will put Jamaica on a firm footing to recovery. Many are not original but are worth repeating. Nor are these thoughts exhaustive, as there are much that can be said regarding ackee, breadfruit, fruit juices, developing farm machinery with low to zero soil compaction, and settlement of young farmersin Guyana to produce some of the inputs for our new valued agri-industry.

Errol G. Lindo is a former agriculturalist with the Ministry of Agriculture. Email: eglban@hotmail.com

Cassava to be used for food security in Africa

Pokuase, July, 20, GNA - Cassava, a common staple food in Africa, has been identified as the foodstuff to provide food security for Africa, given the agricultural assets and opportunities prevailing on the continent.

This could be achieved by expanding and sustaining on-farm productivity and the profitability of cassava through a USAID funded project, dubbed, "Unleashing the Power of Cassava in response to the food price crisis (UPoCA).

Speaking to the Ghana News agency at the close of a five-day training of trainers programme, Mrs Angela Osei-Safoh, National Project Coordinator, said the country should not be a 'victim' of the food crisis but rather a provider of solutions to it.

The training, which is part of the Project being implemented in seven sub-Saharan African countries, is aimed at maximizing the use of cassava to address food price crises.

Thirty-one Post Harvest Officers, Agric extension Officers, Women in Agricultural Development, District Development Officers, processors and staff of Food Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research from 13 implementing districts in Ashanti and Central regions participated in the training.

Participants were taken through cassava planning, harvesting, processing and packaging.

The two-year project is being implemented in Ghana, Nigeria, DR Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Tanzania with technical support from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Mrs Osei-Sarfoh explained that cassava was chosen because in Africa, it provided a basic daily source of dietary energy. The roots are processed into a wide variety of products such as starch, chips, gari and high quality flour among other consumables, or consumed freshly boiled or raw.

In most cassava-growing countries in Africa, the leaves are also consumed as a green vegetable, which provides protein and vitamins A and B.

"It is envisioned that through the project's interventions and activities, diverse stakeholder groups would take up the technologies for improved cassava production, crop management, product development and trade", she said.

She said the project sought to further increase cassava production in farmers' fields of 12 tonnes per hectare by 30 per cent and reach out to 75,500 beneficiaries across the country with more being women.

This, she said, could be achieved through the distribution of elite varieties and related inputs, dissemination of appropriate integrated crop management techniques to ensure at least 30 per cent increase in root yields and the promotion of entrepreneurship in cassava planting material supply.

Some of the benefits she outlined included rapid mass propagation of improved varieties, mop up seasonal surpluses and added value to the crop, promotion of farm gate processing to increase the shelf life of cassava and building the capacity of farmers in improved cassava production and farm gate processing techniques.

The National Project Coordinator noted that the project would help ensure adequate supply of cassava products at economically-affordable prices to participating districts by making readily available improved cassava varieties, production processes and farm gate processing.

She stressed that through the training and experimental learning, participating communities would increase their knowledge and skills whilst producer groups, and agro-processors especially women and youth be empowered to increase their livelihoods.

Mrs Busie Maziya-Dixon, Crop Utilization Specialists of IITA said as cassava was a carbohydrate, it could be fortified with soyabean, or cowpea to give the desired accompanying protein to serve the nutritional needs of the people.

She said the whole project could also create employment and encourage rural people to stay in the countryside instead of leaving for the cities in search of greener pastures.

"Feasibility studies show that under various economic conditions, profits could be made from producing livestock feed from cassava, as well as starch and ethanol made from cassava chips", she added.

Mr Brobbey Mensah, Ashanti Regional Development Officer of the Project sharing his experience with the GNA said cassava apart from gari and fufu, had over 40 benefits including its medicinal values that needed to be exploited.

He commended IITA for the initiative and urged Ghanaians not to waste cassava but turn it into good use.

GNA

Cassava disease hits Kibaale

Kibaale production staff inspect an infected cassava garden in Kagadi

CASSAVANEWS. to follow Ismael Kasooha on New Vision - Kampala,Uganda Sunday, 28th June, 2009 OVER 100 acres of cassava have been destroyed by disease in more than five sub-counties in Kibaale district.

Peter Sentayi, the officer in charge of disease control, said he suspected the disease to be brown streak disease, for which he had no immediate remedy.

When it occurs in a garden, it can damage over 95% of the crops, Sentayi explained.

“The disease covers the leaves of the plants and cuts off light so photosynthesis cannot take place. This leads to the drying of the cassava,” Sentayi added.

Inspecting affected gardens in Kibanga I Cell in Kagadi town council last week, Sentayi said the outbreak was the first of its kind in Kibaale district and was spreading fast.
Omuhereza Amulinda of Kibanga in Kagadi town council lost his entire five-acre cassava garden.

Amulinda said the disease had been spreading for five months but farmers had not recognised it, thinking that a change in weather had caused the blackening of the cassava leaves and stems.

Amulinda told The New Vision that when a cassava plant is attacked, the tubers cannot develop and eventually the entire crop dries up from the bottom upwards.

“The disease has left us in tears. Hunger is definitely looming because we had thought of having adequate food with the cassava we planted.”

Sentayi said the disease was spread by tiny white flies which move in large numbers and multiply rapidly.
He asked affected farmers not to weed their gardens to avoid spreading the disease further. He urged them to be patient as his office consults the National Agriculture Research Organisation for a remedy.

He asked farmers planning to plant cassava next season to search for disease-resistant species.

He said some improved cassava varieties had not been attacked by the disease. He called for the adoption of modern planting materials in order to ensure food security.

Sentayi appealed to farmers in areas where the disease has not been sited to be vigilant and report any signs to his office immediately.

The disease has affected Muhorro, Bwikara, Kyanaisoke, Mpeefu and Kagadi sub-counties, as well as Kagadi town council in Kibaale district.

Govt has to use up P280 million to hike cassava yield

GMaNews.TV 06/17/2009

MANILA, Philippines - The government needs to spend between P130 million and P280 million for its five-year program to increase cassava production and self-sufficiency by 2014.

This will help feed millers during tight corn supply and avoid emergency importations of corn and feed wheat, Agriculture assistant secretary Dennis B. Araullo said in a statement.

Hiking production of cassava by 440.21 percent to 10.48 million metric tons (MMT) in 2014 from 1.94 MMT in 2008 will need P26 million and P70 million every year until 2014 for its five-year program, which also calls for increasing areas planted to 500,000 hectares from the 230,000-hectare target this year.

The industry requires 10.48 million MMT by 2014 as cassava can replace as much as 20 percent of corn in feeds that is also used for bioethanol production and human consumption.

The hog and poultry sectors corner more than three-fourths of total domestic cassava consumption.

“The government has to address a slew of challenges that threatens this goal of cassava self-sufficiency, such as low productivity, limited supply of planting materials of new and high yielding varieties and limited supply of cassava dryers and other postharvest equipment," Araullo said.

The plan also involves the establishment of post-harvest equipment to increase the quality of produce in major cassava-producing regions like northern Mindanao, Bicol, Central Visayas, and Caraga.

The department has distributed high-yielding cassava varieties like NSIC Cv22 (KU-50), Lakan I and Golden Yellow in 53 hectares during the last crop year.

“Hence, this five-year cassava self-sufficiency plan that aims to raise the national yield average of nine MMT per hectare to 21 MMT per hectare by 2014," he added.

Local demand for cassava will likely increase to some 10 MMT in 2014 from 8.820 MMT in 2013; 7.448 MMT in 2012; 6.132 MMT in 2011; and 5.016 MMT next year, given a steady hike of demand for feeds to 8.294 MMT in 2014 from four MMT next year.

During the first quarter, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) said cassava was the biggest gainer in the crops subsector as it increased 5.08 percent to 405,000 MT followed by banana at 5.04 percent to 2.02 MMT.

In 2008, cassava production rose 3.64 percent to 1.941 MMT last year from 1.871 MMT in 2007 while areas planted inched up to 211,633 hectares last year from 209,633 hectares in 2007. - R.A.M.Rubio, GMANews.TV

Katine farmers harvest first cassava crop

guardian.co.uk by Richard M Kavuma. Jemorun is among the first of the 18 livelihood groups in Katine, Uganda, to harvest the new high-yielding, disease-resistant variety of cassava



A woman carrying cassava in Katine. Photograph: Dan Chung

In the midday heat, a dozen women, members of Ojemorun farmers group in Katine, sit peeling a heap of cassava tubers as men gather stems from the garden.

The tubers of this new variety are longer and bigger than those of the Nigeria strain, the most common type of cassava grown in Katine, but which is vulnerable to diseases like cassava brown streak.

Farmer groups in Katine have been harvesting this new high-yielding, disease-resistant variety of cassava, planted a year ago, given to them by the African Medical and Research Foundation (Amref), which is implementing a three-year development project in the sub-county, funded by the Guardian and Barclays. It is receiving technical assistance on farming from Farm-Africa.

Ojemorun is among the first of Amref's 18 livelihood groups to harvest its cassava. After training in May last year, each group was given stem cuttings of the improved Akena and, later, 2961 varieties. Ojemorun was one of four pilot groups to test the enthusiasm for the new strain among farmers. Each group set up a demonstration garden to put into practice what they had learned in training, but also to share the cassava crop. Last month, it was time for the farmers to reap the rewards of their labour.

"Some members wanted us to sell the cassava and buy other things like goats for rearing, but the majority decided that we share the cassava and use it in our homes," explained Julius Opejo, 38, vice-chairman of the group. "There is famine here; people don't have food. A basin of cassava now costs UShs 10,000 [around $4.60], whereas earlier it cost between UShs 3,000 and 5,000."



The new disease-resistant strain of cassava. Photograph: Dan Chung

The group has already ploughed a fresh 0.4 hectare (1 acre) garden where they want to plant the stem cuttings from this harvest. Group chairman Julius Otim says if the new crop does well, then tubers can be given to other farmers who are not part of the 30-member group.

"That is how our neighbours in the village will also benefit," Otim said. "Now the planting material [tubers] would not be enough to give to other people. That is why we have to plant a new garden so as to multiply them."

Although Uganda's research scientists often come up with new varieties of crops to defeat emerging diseases and pests, the challenge lies in getting this information to farmers. The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), which seeks to inform farmers about new varieties and ideas, does not get enough money to reach everyone. Like the Katine project's livelihoods component, NAADS works through farmer groups, with one set of farmers having to wait for another before getting any new variety.

Replanting crops in Katine is a slow way to get the improved variety out to other farmers, but, according to David Ogwang, Amref's project assistant for livelihoods, there are no easy short cuts.

One farmers group, Ojwinyi, has decided to distribute the cuttings among themselves right away, instead of re-planting. "The disadvantage with this option is that each farmer only gets a few cuttings that can only be planted in a small area. But in the end we shall see the results and tell which method will have worked better."

So what lessons have the Ojemorun farmers learned from the demonstration exercise? For Anna Grace Anyeno, a mother of five, Akena is a good variety that she did not know about until Amref introduced it. She says it gives bigger tubers and, after only one year, it can be cooked and eaten from the garden.

"But this variety needs a lot of work," Anyeno says. "It needs a well-ploughed garden and you must plant it in spaced rows, whereas for Nigeria, we just plant in any field anyhow."

While she sees this as a disadvantage, in future she hopes to plant both Nigeria and Akena. Nigeria can be harvested, sun-dried and sold or milled into flour after eight months, while the new type will be popular with buyers who want to boil it for food or to make cassava chips.

Agricultural products exported to China enjoy free of charge for C/O

Nhan Dan – The import-export management department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade offered free certificate of origin (C/O) to agricultural products exported to China through Lao Cai border gate.
This move aims to create favourable conditions to Vietnamese enterprises to export their agricultural products to China.

So far, the Lao Cai import-export management department has issued 174 sets of C/O form E to enterprises exporting products to China through Lao Cai international border gate with the total volume of around 30,700 tonnes. The list of agricultural products offered form E is mainly fresh cassava, dried cassava, rice, cashew nuts, water-melon and fresh lichee.

Ethanol orders unchanged despite price fall

Written by Nguon Sovan
Phnom Penh Post - Phnom Penh,Phnom Penh,Cambodia
Tuesday, 02 June 2009

Cambodia’s first bio-ethanol factory in Kandal province says it has not benefitted from low costs as sales remain flat

THE recent decline in ethanol prices has not resulted in an increase in orders placed with Cambodia's first bio-ethanol plant, which opened in November, the head of the Korean company that operates the facility told the Post Monday.

Lee Dong Jun, Cambodia director of MH Bio-Energy Group, said ethanol prices had dropped from US$700 per tonne in November to $600 per tonne in May, but that the plant's export volume had not been affected.

"So far we have exported 20,000 tonnes of bio-ethanol fuel to European markets, and we expect to export an additional 20,000 tonnes by the end of the year," he said.

Ith Praing, secretary of state at the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, said Monday that the decline in ethanol prices could be attributed to the decline in the price of oil on international markets, which fell markedly after reaching record highs last summer before falling steadily ahead of a recent rally - oil prices increased by nearly 30 percent last month.

Ith Praing argued that the fall in oil prices had hit other fuels.

"Bio-ethanol is a kind of renewable energy, an environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline, so bio-ethanol and oils are linked," he said. "So when the oil price goes up, the price of bio-ethanol also goes up, and when oil prices go down, bio-ethanol also goes down in price."

Sar Peov, head of the administration unit at the factory, which is located in Kandal province, said the price of cassava had begun to recover slightly with the concurrent increase in the price of oil, though he could not provide figures supporting this claim.

Lee Dong Jun said the decline in the price of ethanol since November had also coincided with the decline in the price of dry cassava chips, a raw material used in ethanol production, meaning that the company had not experienced much change in revenue.

Cassava prices had also become depressed due to a Thai blockade on Cambodian exports designed to protect prices across the border. Sources in Pailin have recently told the Post that cassava is now getting through to Thailand.

"Now it is roughly $110 or $112 for a tonne of dry chips of cassava, which is down from between $130 to $180 per tonne last year," he said.

He added that the plant requires 100,000 tonnes of dry cassava chips per year, which it receives mainly from Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Kampong Cham provinces.

Lee Dong Jun expressed optimism regarding the plant's prospects, saying he expected international demand for ethanol to increase, which would lead to an increase in the amount of cassava the plant would need to operate.

"We will need more when we increase our production volume," he said.

Cambodia plans launch of export-import bank

Written by George McLeod
Phnom Penhnh Post - Phnom Penh,Phnom Penh,Cambodia, Wednesday, 27 May 2009

CASSAVANEWS. "There really is a capital shortage for farmers, for products such as cassava," said Sorasak Pan, secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce. ..."

New bank would help finance small-business development as well as expansion of Cambodia’s narrow export base, say government officials

An export-import bank would help finance economic development, particularly export industries such as commercial agriculture, officials said Tuesday at an SME finance conference in Phnom Penh. BLOOMBERG CAMBODIA may launch its first export-import bank to stimulate trade and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), officials said at a Tuesday conference on small-business financing in Phnom Penh.

Details of the bank have not been worked out, but officials said it would provide financing and other support to SMEs, particularly in the agriculture sector.

Farmers have had difficulty accessing inexpensive credit to upgrade technology and build processing facilities, even from micro-credit institutions, which often charge more than 12 percent interest.

"There really is a capital shortage for farmers, for products such as cassava," said Sorasak Pan, secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce.

"Though Cambodian small businesses provide jobs, generate income and contribute to the country's economic development, SMEs lack formal financial support they need to expand their businesses," said a joint statement by conference organisers.

The project is backed by the Ministry of Commerce, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank of Cambodia, as well as a number of international agencies including the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

The government plans to conduct a feasibility study this year, and a budget for the bank could be ready by 2010 for possible launch in the same year, Ministry of Commerce officials said.

The feasibility study would be financed by the UNDP at an estimated cost of US$60,000 to $80,000. Officials have not determined the budget for the export-import bank.

Siphana Sok, secretary of state for the Ministry of Commerce, said the bank would focus on agriculture businesses struggling for capital.

"This is a first step towards getting trade finance... The bank will play a role in trade finance and will help to diversify the country's trade," he said.

The government is focusing on agriculture as a potential growth sector for Cambodia, and has identified 19 products for export promotion.

It says that boosting agriculture would have a strong impact on poverty reduction because 85 percent of the workforce is employed in the sector and it contributes 65 percent of GDP.

But a spokesman from the Pailin Agribusiness Association said that the government should focus on opening up markets and reducing transport costs.

"We are paying $20 per tonne to export cassava, which is too expensive.... The government also needs to put pressure on the Thai government to open its borders to Cambodian products," he said.

China raises quality barrier, farm produce exporters nervous

CASSAVA NEWS. Follow up Thanh Nien Daily - Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam. Vietnamese agricultural exports are beginning to be affected after China erected new technical rubber company, who wished to be unnamed, said the volume of latex exported to China over the border has fallen since China started tightening control. The Information Center for Agriculture and Rural Development said latex exports to China could fall by 2 percent this year because of this. Vietnamese cassava exported to China too faces more stringent safety conditions.

From July 1 fresh fruits like watermelon, longan, lychee, banana and dragon fruit can only be exported to China if they are harvested and packed by registered orchards and packaging factories.

China is the biggest market for Vietnam’s agricultural exports, last year importing produce worth US$1.9 billion, mainly latex, cashew, cassava, coffee, fruits and vegetables.

Exporters feared the toughening of standards would hurt them since they are still dependent on the neighboring market. Prices of many products would drop and stockpiles would grow if China reduced imports, they said.

Nguyen Duc Thanh, acting president of the Vietnam Cashew Association, said China buys around 22 percent of the cashew Vietnam exports, but warned exporters not to depend too much on this market since its policies are constantly changing.

Instead, cashew exporters need to increase their shipments to other markets like the Middle East, the EU and Russia, he suggested.

Vo Mai, a vegetable exporter, said it is important for exporters to scout for new markets, but at the same time farmers should learn more about market demand before they start planting.

For instance, they need to know that their Chinese counterparts can grow watermelon easily now, leading to lower demand for imports, she said, pointing out that thousands of tons of the fruit rotted at the border last March.

Trade between Vietnam and China topped $20 billion last year and the figure is expected to grow to $25 billion in 2010, Vietnam News Agency reported, citing the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Source: SGTT

Uganda: Scientific Intervention is the Future of Agriculture

Joshua Kato
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA

Kampala — BIOTECHNOLOGY is a system where bioscience is used on research to identify better yielding crops that resist certain diseases and separate other diseases that attack crops.

"The use of biotechnology eases the process of solving problems that would have taken years to solve," says Dr. Andrew Kiggundu, the head of the biotechnology centre at Kawanda. Experts in bioscience are located at key research centres in Uganda, including Kawanda and Namulonge.

Being a new system in Uganda, however, it is still dogged by beliefs that, experts say, are misconceived.

"All the misconceptions about biotechnology are not true. I have been in this field for many years. I have eaten foods that have been generated this way, but I do not have trees growing over my head," Dr. Arinaitwe, who is in charge of adding vital nutrients to matooke, says.

Dr. Arinaitwe says bananas are the most consumed food in Uganda, although they lack vital elements like Vitamin A and iron. In using biotechnology, bananas can be fortified with these major growth elements.

Dr. Titus Alicai maintains that, had it not been for biotechnology, the fight against a range of viruses ravaging crops across the country would have been much slower.

In the last 30 years, viruses have attacked coffee, cassava, bananas and other crops. Between 1993 and 1999, cassava was almost wiped out of the country by the cassava mosaic virus.

"But this process (biotechnology) helps scientists split and identify the exact viruses that are disturbing crops," he says.

The process may involve picking plant cells from one crop species and mixing it with cells from another crop species to create a better product.

Under the banana fortification project, cells from crops rich in vitamins and iron are mixed with banana cells to create a banana that is rich in vitamins and iron.

The public must be sensitised about the advantages of agricultural biotechnology for the programmes to succeed.

A brighter outlook

Thanh Nien Daily - Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam

Overall, exports of rice, gemstones, cassava and certain other primary goods increased in the last four months. Vietnam posted a trade surplus for the first four months of the year, swinging from a deficit in the same period a year earlier.The country recorded a surplus of $801 million through April, compared with a shortfall of more than $11 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Going by the economic figures for the last four months, released last week by the General Statistics Office, we might say Vietnam’s economy has bottomed and will begin to strengthen in the second quarter of 2009.


Agriculture, forestry and fisheries continued to grow, countering unemployment, inflation and fears of deflation, and assisting the export industry.

Although the industrial output growth rate was far less than the same period last year, optimistic signs can be seen.

Manufacturing growth in April reached 5.4 percent while the rate in the first quarter was only 2.6 percent.

Vietnam attracted some US$6.4 billion in foreign direct investment in the first four months of this year.

Additional investments in existing projects totaled $3.9 billion, or $1.4 billion more than newly registered investments in the period.

This fact shows investors have continued to see good results and great potential in Vietnam. Such trust is the most important thing in this time of recession.

Exports in April were down from March but some key items went up, notably electronics, footwear and garments.

Overall, exports of rice, gemstones, cassava and certain other primary goods increased in the last four months.

Vietnam posted a trade surplus for the first four months of the year, swinging from a deficit in the same period a year earlier.

The country recorded a surplus of $801 million through April, compared with a shortfall of more than $11 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Exports declined a bare 0.1 percent to $18.64 billion, while imports plunged 41 percent to $17.84 billion.

Gold re-export contributed the bulk of the surplus. Re-exporting gold was a necessary move to draw out private gold hoards, improve the trade balance, boost foreign currency reserves, and maintain the dong’s value.

The consumer price index fell for the first time in last year’s fourth quarter but rose slightly in the last four months, allaying fears of both inflation and deflation.

By Ngoc Minh

Vietnam earns US$18.63 billion from exports in four months

VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi,Vietnam
23:33' 25/04/2009 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has earned US$18.63 billion from exports in the first four months of the year, down 0.1% against the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

In April alone, the country’s export turnover has been reported at US$4.5 billion, down 15.28% compared to the previous month.

Those goods that have enjoyed export growth include cassava and cassava products, up 155.8%; rice, up 43.9%; tea, up 14.8%; pepper, up 1.9%; garments and textiles, up 1.8%.

Particularly, exports of precious metals and gemstones saw sudden high increase, up 40 times compared to the same period last year, earning US$2.54 billion.

Exports of other goods all declined, most notably rubber (down 45.5%), crude oil (down 44.7%) and electric wires and cable (down 43.3%).

In April, Vietnam’s import turnover was reported at US$5.2 billion, up 3% against the previous month. In January-April period, the country imported US$17.83 billion worth of goods, down 41% against the same period last year.

In the first four months of this year, Vietnam saw a trade surplus of US$800 million. However, export turnover (excluding precious metals and gemstones) is tending to decrease.

VietNamNet/ND

Country profile: Thailand

Facts and statistics on Thailand including history, population, politics, geography, economy, religion and climate
The Guardian, Saturday 25 April 2009 Article history

Map of Thailand. Source: Graphic

Potted history of the country: The basis of modern Thailand began in 1351 with the unified kingdom of Siam. It became the only south-east Asian nation not to be occupied by a European power. A 1932 bloodless revolution created a constitutional monarchy, and Siam became Thailand in 1939. Eighteen military coups since reflect political instability. The last in 2006 deposed the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

At a glance
Location: South-east Asia
Neighbours: Burma, Laos, Cambodia
Size: 198,117 square miles
Population: 63,038,247 (20th)
Density: 318.2 people per square mile
Capital city: Bangkok (population 6,320,174)
Head of state: King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX)
Head of government: Prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
Currency: Baht
Time zone: Thailand standard time (+7 hours)
International dialling code: +66
Website: thaigov.go.th
Data correct on Saturday 25 April 2009

Political pressure points: Society is highly divided between the Thaksin-supporting rural poor and a wealthy Bangkok elite. Thaksin's successors won power when the army stepped aside. But constitutional courts sacked two premiers before the army-backed prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva engineered a ruling coalition headed by his minority Democrat party. Thaksin supporters remain furious.

Population mix: Thai including Lao 75%, Chinese 14%, other minorities including: Malay, Cambodian, hill peoples (Meo, Lahu, Yao, Lisu, Lawa, Lolo and Karen) 1%

Religious makeup: Buddhist 94%, Muslim 5%

Main languages: Thai (official) Chinese, Malay and indigenous languages

Living national icons: Seni Saowaphong (author), Chart Korbjitti (author), Apichatpong Weerasethakul (film director) Somjit Jongjohor (boxer)

Landscape and climate: Tropical Thailand is flanked by the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. There are four distinct regions: the central plain; the north-east plateau, which rises 300 metres above the central plain; the mountainous north; and the rainforested southern peninsula. Its major river systems drain either into the Mekong or the Chao Phraya near Bangkok.

Highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,565 metres

Area covered by water: 861 square miles

Healthcare and disease: The number of Thais living with HIV/Aids is around 550,000. The incidence lowers life expectancy to 73 years, and increases infant mortality. Malaria, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis are prevalent, particularly in jungle areas bordering Burma and Laos.

Average life expectancy (m/f): 69/75

Average number of children per mother: 1.8

Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births: 110

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 8

8HIV/Aids rate: 1.4%

Doctors per 1,000 head of population: 0.4

Adult literacy rate: 94.1% (m 95.9%/f 92.6%)

Economic outlook: Exports - accounting for 60% of GDP - have slumped dramatically. The electronics, electrical goods and automotive sectors have all suffered sharp drops. Last year's 4.5% GDP growth is projected to reverse to 1% this year.

Main industries: Services including tourism, manufacturing including computers, vehicles and parts, electronics, textiles, rubber.

Key crops/livestock: Rice, sugar cane, cassava (tapioca), oil palm fruit, maize, natural rubber, fruit, cattle, buffaloes, pigs, poultry.

Key exports: Machinery, manufactured goods, rice

GDP: £105,374m (33rd)

GDP per head: £1,661

Unemployment rate: 1.2%

Proportion of global carbon emissions: 0.84%

Most popular tourist attractions: Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Phi Phi. Chiang Mai for Thai cooking classes and hill trekking

Local recommendation: Tarutao is one of the most unspoiled national parks in Thailand.

National dish: Pad thai (stir-fried noodles with egg, vegetables, spices, chicken, shrimp, tofu)

Foreign tourist visitors per year: 13,821,802

Media freedom index (ranked out of 173): 124

Did you know ... Most Thais refer to the capital as Krung Thep, the shortened name of a title that actually consists of 32 words.

National anthem:
The Thai people are peace-loving
But they are no cowards at war
They shall allow no one to rob them of their independence
Nor shall they suffer tyranny

· Information correct on date of first publication, Saturday 25 April 2009.

Scientific Alliance newsletter 24th April 2009

Cambridge Network - Cambridge,UK

Making the most of agricultural technology

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, set up to use the couple's personal wealth for the benefit of the world's poor, takes a hard-headed, business-oriented approach to screening projects put forward for funding. Unlike the majority of development charities, the Gates Foundation is not afraid to include cutting edge technologies to address pressing problems. This is not to say that there is not a place for small-scale improvements to current farming practices. Better cultivation techniques and improved irrigation have a role to play, but so does a search for more radical solutions to malnourishment and the lack of food security.

This approach starts from the principle that healthy, well-fed people are able to move on from subsistence farming and lift themselves out of poverty. Regular crop surpluses and the scope to grow cash crops not only makes the lives of whole families better, but enable children to go to school, which greatly improves their prospects as adults.

With this as an overall objective, nothing is then ruled out. There is no philosophical reliance on indigenous knowledge and keeping small farmers on the land for generations to come. If a more radical solution has the potential to improve people's lives, then there is no reason not to explore it. The net result would not necessarily be good for everyone in the short term. There would be losers as well as winners as the pattern of farming changed and young people moved to the cities.

But these are the sort of social upheavals which European countries have gone through in the past. From the comfort of our lives in today's advanced societies, how many of us would really argue that populations would be better off working the land for the basic necessities of life? Then we have to consider why the development sector effectively wants to condemn the world's current population of poor farmers to a similar future.

This attitude is encapsulated in the report of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development, published in 2008. Set up as an authoritative, multi-stakeholder study, it became dominated by the received wisdom of NGOs and development agencies, and effectively dismissed the tools available to developed country farmers as inappropriate to the needs of the developing world. No wonder that the representatives of the private sector agricultural supply industry withdrew from participation before the report was published.

But published it was, and the dismissal of agricultural biotechnology as a development tool is now regularly trotted out as the authoritative consensus view of 400 scientists and development experts. Not only is it difficult to see how this can be a balanced view if the owners of the technology have effectively been excluded, but it is also a pity that no-one seems to have asked poor farmers in Africa, Asia or Latin America whether they would like to see the best available technologies used to improve crops which will help them produce bigger and more valuable harvests.

Fortunately, the Gates Foundation is not so blinkered. It has, for example, very publicly funded a project whose aim is to breed a "super cassava" using genetic modification technology (Biocassava plus). Cassava is the fall-back staple food of many in sub-Saharan Africa, but has a low nutritional value and requires considerable preparation to make it safe to eat, as it contains significant levels of cyanide. The goal is to increase the protein, vitamin and mineral content, reduce or eliminate cyanide and increase disease resistance. Field trials of a variety with high levels of beta-carotene have been approved in Nigeria.

But genetic modification is only one of the tools used, where it is appropriate. More recently, the Foundation has made grants of $48 million to two bodies – the World Cocoa Foundation and the German development organisation GTZ – to improve the incomes of cocoa and cashew farmers in Africa. These are integrated, multi-faceted programmes which aim to improve farmer knowledge, crop yields and quality and access to market.

Will such initiatives work? Doubtless some will be more successful than others, but full marks are due to the Gates Foundation and their partners for making genuine efforts to improve the lot of the poor through its agriculture initiative and for being open-minded to the possibilities offered by modern technology.

A worthy winner, for the wrong reasons

The FT has recently announced the winner of its Climate Change Challenge, which "sought to find and publicise the most innovative and scalable solution to the effects of climate change." A solar-powered cardboard cooker called the Kyoto Box has won the $75,000 prize.

This is a simple, cheap and ingenious device which can be used to boil water by harnessing heat from the sun. This Sun's rays enter an inner box through an acrylic panel, and heat is trapped via a combination of insulation, black paint and foil, sufficient to boil 10 litres of water in two hours when placed on top of the panel. And all for a likely cost of $5. The judging panel included the Financial Times, Sir Richard Branson and Dr Rajendra Pachauri.

John Bohmer, the cooker's inventor, thinks that its use will reduce a family's carbon dioxide emissions by about two tonnes a year, by eliminating the use of firewood. The other suggested benefit is disease reduction because water can be boiled before drinking. Strangely, the report fails to mention the most significant benefit of all: a likely big improvement in health because of reduced use of indoor wood stoves. The smoke from these fires is a major cause of respiratory disease, particularly among women and children.

If the Kyoto Box could be used for the majority of cooking, respiratory disease would be reduced and the daily search for firewood could be eliminated. These are two big gains, and make the prize winner a worthy one. But to see it as making a significant contribution to reduction of carbon emissions is misleading. While the rural poor might use less firewood, their countries' governments will be investing in centralised power generation, the additional emissions from which will dwarf any savings.

An effective electricity grid – supplemented by local generation sources in many cases – is a prerequisite for a decent life for city dwellers and the development of viable industries. Whatever is done to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated with rural living, this will become increasingly irrelevant as the economy develops. Productive agriculture is only the first stage of development, and we should not be aiming to stop the process when subsistence farmers have enough to eat every year. Poor farmers already have a tiny carbon footprint compared to rich Europeans. But they also have much poorer health, and if the Kyoto Box can improve this, then it certainly deserves a prize.

The Scientific Alliance
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News: Nigeria planning to export $200 million in yams and cassava ...

FoodBizDaily.com (press release) - Westport,CT,USA
Lagos April 13 2009 (FoodBizDaily) - Nigeria has gone a long way in producing new and improved varieties of root and tuber crops, and the country’s success story in this field may, in all probability, be soon extended to it being elevated to the position of being the number one producer of yams, cocoyams, and cassava in the world through its export of these crops.

At present, the production volume of yams is 32 metric tonnes in a year. Preparations are on in full swing, already, to get on with the exportation of the tuber crop to the European Union (EU). This is expected to fetch foreign exchange earnings to the tune of $200 million.

Dr Kenneth Nwosu, by the Executive Director of the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, made the announcement to this effect on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 2009 annual research review and planning workshop of the institute.

The NRCRI would collaborate with the Nasarawa State government and a United Kingdom-based company to make possible and execute the export of yam tubers to the European Union countries, he informed.
“This programme may turn out to be the saving grace in insulating Nigeria from the global economic melt down as close to $200 million trade could be created,” Nwosu stated.

Evaluating the highlights of the accomplishments of the institute, the NRCRI boss said that the institute has “substantially contributed to the national food security and food sufficiency through its agricultural research and extension activities on root and tuber crops.” He stated that the institute has been exceptional in its achievements, as it is highly commendable to note that Nigeria still retains its position as the world’s number one producer of yam, cocoyam, and cassava with an overall annual output of 32, 5 and 45 million metric tons, respectively.

“Technologies developed at the institute have contributed immensely in placing Nigeria at this global level,” Nwosu pointed out; he also added that “with the recent government positive intervention in funding agricultural research, production of these crops are expected to double by the year 2020.”

Mrs. Fidelia Akuabata Njeze, the Minister of State for Agriculture, said in her address that the ministry was “highly pleased” at the country’s position as the number one producer in the world of yam, cassava, and cocoyam, “which is largely due to the aggressive research and extension efforts of this institute.”

It was the deputy director in the ministry, Dr Parry Nyandati, who read out Njeze’s address. In the address, he conveyed his particular interest in the advancement achieved by NRCRI in developing yam and cassava varieties which give high yields and which are resistant to diseases.

Njeze said, “It is a known fact that many of our farmers do not get adequate reward for their efforts because of low yielding disease prone traditional varieties which they are using. Your effort to replace the traditional varieties with high yielding disease resistant ones is therefore commendable.”

FoodBizDaily.com - Staff writer

Bioplastics expected to grow over 125 per cent in South East Asia

plastemart.com - Mumbai,Maharashtra,India

The bioplastics market in Southeast Asia is in its nascent stage and in the preliminary development phase. The large population in this region provides an impetus to producers to explore opportunities here. Producers are encouraged by the huge market potential of the region, which primarily stems from the market's novelty and current low penetration in target applications. The market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 129.8% in the next 5-7 years until 2015 as per a report by Frost & Sullivan.

Increasing prices of conventional resins leading to increased polymer prices is likely to pave the way for the greater usage of bioplastics globally. Lack of local production as well as the low levels of consumption and public awareness are the major barriers to the greater usage of bioplastics in SE Asia. This is likely to change as more companies set up manufacturing plants in the region. Bioplastics will gain further attraction if market participants can educate consumers of its benefits. At present, bioplastics is perceived as a niche market, beset by cost and performance issues in Southeast Asia. These concerns have to be addressed before market participants progress. Bioplastic companies will have to be aware that consumers here are more cost conscious than their western counterparts, and therefore, may not be willing to pay a premium for the product. However, growing sensitivity to climate changes and a rise in oil prices have worked together to encourage the public, governments and private companies to evoke greater interest in bioplastics. The bioplastics market in this region is likely to find the going good with favorable local government support and initiatives, increasing competitiveness of bioplastics due to increase in oil price and the market recognition of bioplastics as a green product. Although the replacement rates of traditional plastics such as polyethylene (PE) or polystyrene (PS) with bioplastics are likely to be minimal, it will be a huge leap for the novel bioplastics market, and will count as high growth.

Moreover, the efforts of governments, especially those in Thailand, to derive 5% of their plastics from bio-based sources in 2012 have given a huge boost to the market. The governments are also looking to attract domestic and international businesses by introducing an incentive program that includes research funding and favorable tax policies.

With the country's abundant agricultural sector and large lactic acid (LA) manufacturing base, the Thai government is taking steps towards making Thailand a regional bioplastic hub. Although Thailand is currently the Asia Pacific's third largest bioplastic producer, ranked behind Japan and China, a combination of the country's natural resources, infrastructure and government support are expected to push the country's bioplastic industry forward to become a regional hub for bioplastics manufacturing and export. With an annual production of 20 mln tons, Thailand is the world's top exporter of cassava. Thailand has a large manufacturing base for lactic acid, derived from cassava and sugarcane starch which it broken down with enzymes into glucose and fermented to make Lactic acid, and later polymerized and converted into polylactic acid (PLA) resin. The Thai government launched the implementation of a 15-year three-phase strategy in 2006 to encourage the bioplastics sector to become a regional leader in the bioplastic industry by 2021.

The first phase is feasibility, during which imports of bioplastic material are entitled to favourable tariff relief. The second is the development of a local bioplastic industry using imports. Eventually, bioplastics imports should be replaced with locally produced materials from Thailand 's abundant crops of cassava and sugar. This is the third phase of the strategy, aimed at building a competitive global market for Thai bioplastics. Currently, Thai bioplastics have already started to be exported to markets such as the US, European Union and Japan.

Letter of the day: Queries about cassava study

Jamaica Gleaner - Kingston, Jamaica
Published: Tuesday | April 14, 2009

The Editor, Sir:

I would like to express my appreciation for any research that can potentially contribute to the health and well being of our citizens. In particular, our tertiary institutions are duty bound to provide information that is sound, balanced and can stand up to academic scrutiny.

However, I have some general concerns with the conclusions of cassava study as reported by The Gleaner on April 13. The article states that 'samples' taken from four parishes were found to have high levels of cyanide. How were the samples selected? Was it a random process? Were the bammies and undried cassava flour sourced from industrial facilities or directly from individual households/farms (or both)? Were the research findings subject to the peer review process typically required for publication in an academic journal?

In fairness, these questions could possibly be answered by seeing the actual report or publication. However, the article as presented, runs the risk of providing partial information that could lead to a knee-jerk reaction by the public or related government officials.

It is, indeed, important to highlight the risks associated with under-prepared cassava flour. However, overconsumption and underpreparation of a wide variety of foods also have potential health risks. For example, most Jamaicans are all aware of the dangers of eating under-prepared ackee. Others might also be aware that excessive consumption of sorrel drinks can lead to kidney and other problems due to the high oxalic acid content of the plant. Similarly, overconsumption of alcohol, sweet drinks and fatty foods also have a host of associated negative health effects.

Proper food preparation

My main point is, it would have been good if the article had also emphasised the need for proper food preparation and improved monitoring by the Bureau of Standards or some other public health agency. I would also hope that the recommendations as provided by the researchers contained no overt bias, given Northern Caribbean University's involvement in promoting the breadfruit as an alternative source of carbohydrate. Research is important, but in my opinion, 'balanced' research is even more important.

History, the Bible and life in general teach us that moderation in all things is a goal that we should all strive for. Rather than throwing out cassava as an option for the nation's struggle for food security, I would hope that the broader message from such a study would be the promotion of moderate consumption and more emphasis on proper food preparation and production.

I am etc.

DR PETER E.T. EDWARDS

pedwards@udel.edu


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Arico - Cassava Chips

Posted by AnAppleADay on March 30, 2009

Arico’s Cassava Chips are very tasty. Cassava has twice the fiber of the common potato. Being gluten, casein and trans fat free, these chips could be enjoyed guilt-less. I really liked all the flavors, but my favorite would be Sea Salt. It was light and crispy. Just what I needed after that SPICY seaweed soup my sister cooked for me.

I think it’s hard to find these in stores though. I’ve searched through Whole Foods located near my house, but I couldn’t find them. Let me know if any of you guys find Arico’s food in any of the stores.

Govt plans to unload 8 millions tonnes of cassava

The Nation Business, April 3, 2009

The government will be selling more than 8 million tonnes of cassava under its government-to-government contract with China as well as to PTT for the production of ethanol.

The government's cassava policy committee expects PTT to purchase 2.8 million tonnes of tapioca starch to produce 700,000 tonnes of ethanol. Under the government-to-government contract, China is expected to buy more than 1 million tonnes of cassava. The cassava will be sold at current market prices, which would incur about Bt6 billion in losses for the government.


Cashing in on slump

Adecco Group, the leader in human resource solutions, sees a great opportunity amid the current economic recession.

The company launched a proactive strategy to expand its Japanese customer base offerin Japanese expatriates after several organisations decided to downsize and reduce expatriate staff.

Tidarat Kanchanawat, country manager for Adecco Group, revealed that many Japanese firms have started cutting budgets and downsizing their organisations to cope with the economic slowdown.

New travel package

Oishi, leading manufacturer of green tea, has joined up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 21 boutique resorts to offer an attractive package at a one-off price of Bt2,000.

The campaign called "Setthakij Sodsai Chuan Gun Pai Thiew" or Business Brightened through Travel, focuses on Pran Buri and Khao Sam Roi Yod in the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Consumers can use their Bt2,000 government cheque to pay for a two-night package at any of the 21 resorts. The actual off-the-rack room rates run between Bt3,500 and Bt100,000 per night.


The campaign runs from May 1 to October 31.
- The Nation

Sumatec unit to build Thai bio-ethanol plant

Business Times - Malaysia - Malaysia, 3 April 2009

SUMATEC Resources Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary, Sumatec Corporation Sdn Bhd and its partner company in Thailand, EC Chemical Bio Co Ltd have been awarded a RM254.16 million contract to construct a bio-ethanol plant in Thailand.

The consortium will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the 500,000-litre per day capacity bio-ethanol plant complete with biogas plant, organic fertilizer plant and chip making unit at Prachinburi.

The plant is expected to be completed in 20 months, the company said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur today.

It said the plant will be using cassava chips as feed stock.

The contract is expected to contribute positively to the overall earnings and shareholders value of Sumatec for the financial years ending December 31, 2009 and 2010. - Bernama

Expand research in value addition

New Vision - Kampala,Uganda
Wednesday, 1st April, 2009

In Uganda, 70% of the cassava produced is for fresh consumption yet the shelf life for fresh cassava rarely exceeds two days. Yet cassava, just like potatoes, could be processed and preserved either for human consumption. Its by-products like starch could be for industrial use in textile, paper and pharmaceutical industries.

The Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID) has already paid off. Makerere University’s Dr. Florence Muranga who headed a research project on the preservation of banana on Monday handed a special report on the progress of her work to President Yoweri Museveni.

However, the highlight of the ceremony at State House, Nakasero, was not the report, but rather a pack of Tooke biscuits made from our own bananas. The success of the research demonstrates the potential of Ugandan scientists given the necessary resources.

While banana is widely grown and is a staple food in many parts of Uganda, the technology for its preservation has been lacking leading to high post harvest losses. With the research breakthrough, Uganda will not only be in a position to preserve this highly perishable crop, but other industries to consume banana by-products shall sprout up, thereby creating jobs.

Through processing, it shall not only be possible to prolong the shelf life of bananas, but the flour can be used for the production of nutritious baby food, enriching dairy products and the production of banana juice and banana alcohol.

However, as we celebrate this success, the Presidential initiative should be expanded from banana to include other food crops widely grown in Uganda but are difficult to preserve. These include crops like sweet potatoes and cassava.

In Uganda, 70% of the cassava produced is for fresh consumption yet the shelf life for fresh cassava rarely exceeds two days. Yet cassava, just like potatoes, could be processed and preserved either for human consumption. Its by-products like starch could be for industrial use in textile, paper and pharmaceutical industries.

Research is an important component in the development process of any country and research organisations in Uganda should try to justify their existence by engaging in practical research to solve local problems. That is why PIBID’s scope should be expanded beyond just bananas.

China considered as export market for unsold cassava

Written by Kay Kimsong
Phnom Penh Post - Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Thai protectionism is protectionism is leading to oversupply of Cambodian cassava, forcing farmers to push for exports to China CAMBODIA is looking to the Chinese market for its cassava product, as Thai subsidies have undercut Cambodian exporters in Thailand, a foreign trade official said Monday. The Commerce Ministry will soon send a group of trade officials to China to study prospects for breaking into the potentially lucrative Chinese market.

"We don't worry about rice exports, but our cassava product is a problem," admitted Thon Virak, deputy director general at the Foreign Trade Department.

He said Cambodia produced over 2 million tonnes of cassava in 2008 and was expected to produce the same in 2009.

When Thailand started subsidising cassava farms in January, demand for Cambodian cassava fell dramatically.
The result could be hundreds of thousands of tonnes of unsold product, farmers said.

Cambodia has two processing factories that turn dry cassava into flour, which can be used for anything from fertilisers to skin creams.

The two factories - one outside of Phnom Penh and one in Kampong Cham - can produce a million tonnes of dry cassava a year.

The rest of the crop needs to be exported.

Cambodian factories are incapable of processing raw cassava. Previously, farmers would sell their wet cassava to Thailand, but the price has fallen so low that only processed cassava is economically viable.


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We don't worry about rice exports, but our cassava product is a problem.

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Since January, the news has not been all bad for Cambodian cassava farmers. Thon Virak said the price of dry cassava increased from US$75 per tonne in January to $125 per tonne in late March.

At the same time, Cambodia is hoping to use Chinese technology to set up a new, higher-capacity processing factory, hopefully increasing domestic demand for the product.

Kasie Noeu, an agriculture researcher and chairman of the board of directors at the Peace and Development Institute, said cassava growers need to be patient and should not give up on growing the crop.

He said that farmers should create a cassava growers association to increase bargaining leverage and market their product as a collective.

Riding out the storm
Kasie Noeu pointed to corn and cashew crops five years ago as a lesson. In 2004 farmers abandoned their crops due to low prices, only to see prices jump in 2007.

"I see the price of cassava increasing in the next few years," he said.
"This [price decrease] is a trick the market plays."

But that's little solace for farmers struggling right now. Agriculture tycoon Te Haing, who grows 1,000 hectares of cassava in Banteay Meanchey province, said he expects 900,000 tonnes of unprocessed cassava to go unsold this year.

"We all sit around and wait for a market for our product, but we can't sell it because of the low price of wet cassava in Thailand," said Te Haing

Te Haing called for the government to take quick action to help farmers. Otherwise, some of them would abandon their cassava crops, he said, adding that a drying factory for wet cassava needed to be built in Banteay Meanchey province.
This, he said, would keep the cassava sector in Cambodia afloat.

"If we can sell wet cassava for just $50 a tonne, we will survive," he said.
"Farmers are suffering without the Thai market," he added: "We need help."

Vedan at it again

Thanh Nien Daily, 31 March 2099, Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam

MSG and starch maker Vedan has admitted to polluting a north-central river just six months after authorities caught the company spewing waste into a southland river.
A Vedan Vietnam cassava starch processing plant in the north-central province of Ha Tinh has been discharging untreated wastewater into the Rao Tro River, the factory’s director admitted over the weekend.

The Taiwanese-invested company, based in the southern province of Dong Nai, began test running the new facility on February 11, with plans to bring it to full operation by November.Upon opening the test run, nearby residents immediately began complaining of pollution in the river and terrible odors coming from the factory.

Tuoi Tre spoke with the plant’s director, Truong Vinh Chu, last weekend.

Initially, Chu denied allegations that the facility was responsible for pollution in the river.

It wasn’t until Tuoi Tre escorted the director to the site of a wastewater drain running directly from the factory to the Rao Tro River that Chu admitted his company’s culpability in the matter.

“I apologize and promise to repair this immediately,” he said at the canal connecting the plant to the river.

He said the canals had been designed to drain rainwater and that it was a “mistake” that wastewater was flowing into the river.

“We’ll repair it before starting our [full] operations,” he said.

What’s that smell?

Chu said he was aware of residents’ complaints about air pollution just after the factory began its test run.

“I am not confirming or denying it [foul odors caused by the factory in residential areas],” he said. “Processing cassava emits certain smells that our experts tell us are not at all harmful to local residents.”

A resident from Ky Son Commune was very unhappy about the stench.

“I thought it was a dead rat in my house but I couldn’t find it.”

Another resident said he thought the smell was pig’s dung.

Local residents said the odor was worse on hotter, sunnier days. They dubbed it the “Vedan Ha Tinh Smell.”

“It’s a really terrible smell that has tortured us around the clock for more than a month,” said a resident from Ky Son Commune.

Residents in nearby Ky Lam Commune, on the opposite bank of the Rao Tro River from the Vedan plant, were also frustrated.

“The stink has invaded the area,” a local said. “Our air used to be so clean and pure because we’re located next to the forest.”

Downstream in Ky Lac Commune, locals complained their formerly fresh air and water were turning rancid.

“The river is dirty and we’re worried because fish have begun dying since the factory opened,” a resident said.

At one section of the river near the factory, a three-centimeter layer of foamy, muddy substance covers the shoreline. A local resident removed some of the substance to show Tuoi Tre the cassava waste underneath.

Inspections

Environmental authorities in Ha Tinh Province said on Sunday their inspectors had already investigated Vedan’s local facility.

The inspectors found two wastewater storage pools dug into the ground at the cassava starch factory, both of which were connected to the canals leading to the river. Inspectors said these could also have been the cause of the foul stench.

Nguyen Doan Sang, director of the province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, reported the information to the media alongside Hoang Viet Thanh, the environmental police chief of the police department.

The officials said that in addition to the wastewater pools, the foul odors may have been caused by improper cassava drying facilities.

The inspectors have reported their findings to the Ha Tinh People’s Committee.

Tran Minh Ky, the committee’s deputy chairman, said last Saturday that the body would make a decision on the matter this week.

He also said the company should follow the environmental commitments it made when it was licensed for the facility.

Such commitments included providing proper treatment systems for waste and wastewater as well as preventing air pollution.

“If the factory has broken the commitments we will suspend its operations, even during the test run period,” he said.

The Rao Tro River, also known as the Nay River, originates in the Cam Ky Forest along the Lao border.

One of its two main distributaries flows into the Ke Go Lake in Ha Tinh Province while the other flows into the Gianh River in nearby Quang Binh Province.

Source: Tuoi Tre

ERA condemns alleged IITA’s plan to enrich cassava

Written by Daniel Gumm
Vanguard - Apapa,Lagos,Nigeria Tuesday, 31 March 2009

THE Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has criticised plans by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to carry out an alleged enrichment of Nigerian cassava, saying the exercise, if not halted by the Federal Government, is the culmination of a script written by the biotech industry to jeopardise Nigeria’s food sovereignty forever. A release from the USAID which was widely reported in the national dailies last week had stated that scientists at the IITA are working on cassava-based recipes that will be used in improving the nutrition and health of vulnerable groups such as women, children under five, and expectant mothers.

The research, christened, “Unleash the Power of Cassava in Africa (UPoCA),” is getting a $5.3 million funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and is a two-year project to introduce and test cassava-based complementary food for acceptability in Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.

UPoCA is coming on the heels of the Nigerian government’s alleged approval for the Danforth Centre in U.S to carry out contained field trials on a so-called super cassava in Nigeria with National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike in Imo State as a cover.

But in a statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN frowned at the silence of the government on the planned trials, warning that the flurry of “back-door” approvals and researches to flood Nigeria with genetically modified crops in the guise of crop improvement is a grand ploy to colonise Nigeria’s food future. ERA/FoEN is worried that this experiment is seeking to use children, women and pregnant women as Guinea pigs for doubtful ends.