Crop Rotation With Nematode-Resistant Wheat Protects Tomatoes In a study published online in Crop Science, scientists describe a nematode-resistant wheat. But while the wheat carries the resistance to the pest, the benefits are actually seen in the crop that is grown after it. Root-knot nematodes cause crop losses around the world, and they can be […]
Plant Protein Discoveries Ease Global Food, Fuel Demands New discoveries of the way plants transport important substances across their biological membranes to resist toxic metals and pests, increase salt and drought tolerance, control water loss and store sugar can have profound implications for increasing the supply of food and energy for our rapidly growing global […]
Plants Use Underground Networks to Warn of Enemy Attack Scientists from Rothamsted Research in collaboration with other UK scientists have discovered that plants use underground fungal networks to warn their neighbours of aphid attack. It is the first study to reveal plants’ ability to communicate underground in this way. The study appears at Ecology Letters […]
Unkempt Land Could Benefit Farmers Parts of the farm landscape that are overgrown are more important in supporting wildlife than they first appear, according to new research published today in Ecology Letters. The findings stem from an intensive study of an organic farm in Somerset by a team of scientists focussing on the complex ways […]
Historical Water Use Reflects Changes in Global Socio-Economic Development Understanding how socio-economic forces have shaped water use in the past can help inform sustainable water management in the future. In this study, the researchers used a high-resolution water-use model to assess the effects of global change on how freshwater has been used in the domestic, […]
Encouraging Signs for Bee Biodiversity Declines in the biodiversity of pollinating insects and wild plants have slowed in recent years, according to a new study. Researchers led by the University of Leeds and the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre in the Netherlands found evidence of dramatic reductions in the diversity of species in Britain, Belgium and the […]
Assessing Risk Level of Leaf Spot Diseases in Wheat Leaf spot diseases can decrease wheat yield by up to 20 per cent or more, as well as diminish kernel weight, and in some cases reduce grade. When disease risk levels are moderate to high, protection of the upper two leaves of a developing wheat plant […]
Improving ‘Crop Per Drop’ Could Boost Global Food Security, Water Sustainability Improvements in crop water productivity — the amount of food produced per unit of water consumed — have the potential to improve both food security and water sustainability in many parts of the world, according to a study published online in Environmental Research Letters […]
WHAT IS INGA ALLEY CROPPING? Alley cropping is the growing of crops between rows of trees. Inga alley cropping consists of growing crops between rows of Inga trees. This has been found to increase yields. It is sustainable as it enables the same plot to be cultivated over and over, thus eliminating the need for […]
Agriculture Statistics Introduction Agriculture constitutes the largest sector of our economy. Majority of the population, directly or indirectly, dependent on this sector. It contributes about 24 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for half of employed labour force and is the largest source of foreign exchange earnings.
Precision agriculture issues Precision agriculture aims to optimize field-level management with regard to: crop science: by matching farming practices more closely to crop needs (e.g. fertilizer inputs); environmental protection: by reducing environmental risks and footprint of farming (e.g. limiting leaching of nitrogen); economics: by boosting competitiveness through more efficient practices (e.g. improved management of fertilizer […]
Agribusiness is synonymous with corporate farming. It combines the words agriculture and business and it involves a range of activities and methods used involving modern food production. This involves farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution of products, processing, marketing, and retail sales. They do not necessarily take into consideration environmental and social […]
MINGORA – Flood water in SwatRiver on Thursday washed away part of Kanjo Ayub bridge. The water level in SwatRiver is rising with the rise in temperature and the river is in medium flood. Local sources said that flow of water was increasing gradually and it was feared that the remaining part of Kanju Ayub bridge […]
AGRIBUSINESS, FOOD & WATER A surging global population demands long-term accessibility to affordable food. FMO finances sustainable agribusiness companies throughout the value chain, including farming, processing and distribution operations. OUR VISION Achieving long term sustainability in global agribusiness production requires large investments targeted at improving farming practices, increasing yields and reducing waste. Food security and […]