February 2016

The European Union is implementing a project in line with the Taita Taveta government’s County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), which involves a Sh100 million (USD 9 747.91) grant to set up a banana processing plant. According to officials, the facility will improve agricultural production in the county and surrounding regions, creatingContinue Reading

by Matthew Jones, Fruitnet   An Australian biosecurity expert believes Tasmania could be at risk of losing its fruit fly-free status as a result of climate change.   Anthony Clarke form the Australian Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre told ABC Rural that even a minimal rise in average annual temperatures could result inContinue Reading

by Denise Attaway, NewsStand   South Carolina watermelon producers now have information they need to make their 2016 crops more profitable with the release of the updated Watermelon Spray Guide for 2016.   Released by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, the guide provides growers with a look at some major diseases ofContinue Reading

by Times of India   Inkel Limited has started farming yellow, seedless hybrid of watermelons developed by Kerala Agriculture University (KAU).   These melons are being cultivated on a five-and-a-half acre plot at Piravom as part of Inkel Agro Farm project.   “There will be a huge demand for yellow,Continue Reading

In the framework of the China Plan, launched by Prodeca, an export promoting company under the Department of Agriculture, the Catalan Councillor Meritxell Serret met on Tuesday afternoon with representatives of major distribution platforms for Chinese agricultural companies.   The meeting this year has served to consolidate the promotion ofContinue Reading

by Kate O’Neill, Northern Star   THE luscious, juicy mango is the king of the tropical fruits, synonymous with summer in Australia.   Much of Australia’s mango supply tends to come from the Northern Territory and Queensland – they ripen from October onwards – and these are the varieties you’ll beContinue Reading

by Manish Kumar, Orissa Post   Cultivation of high quality banana in the state has got a boost with the a growth stimulating spray developed by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, leading to overwhelming results in Khurda district of the state.   The micronutrient enhancing product, named “Banana Special”Continue Reading

by Matthew Jones, Fruitnet   New Zealand cherry exports have hit a record 3,390 tonnes for the 2015/16 season, with domestic sales also up, newshub.co.nz has reported.   The performance significantly betters the 2,700 tonnes of cherries shipped overseas in 2014/15, according to the news report.   “There could be anotherContinue Reading

Campaigners have called on the Gates Foundation to withdraw its support for a ‘biopirated’ GM banana program in Africa, and suspend its feeding trial on US students, stating the banana threatens both the health of the students and the future of African agriculture.   On Monday 15 February, Iowa StateContinue Reading

by Heather Goulooze, Fresh Plaza   Poland is the 6th largest country, in terms of population, in the European Union. The country’s young capital economy, of 26 years, has encouraged foreign investments following government’s open door policy. Today, the Polish retail market is dominated by well known global chains, operating inContinue Reading

  In 2015, the export of Hass and Fuerte avocados from associations of small producers of Huaccana and Ongoy Huaccana, districts with huge potential for the development of this productive chain, generated around $ 2.5 million. The business, supported by Sierra Exportadora in partnership with their local authorities, is becomingContinue Reading