FREE TRADE Agreement (FTA) negotiations with South Korea are currently stalled because Seoul has not budged on key items sought by the Philippine side, particularly on opening up the market for bananas, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told reporters Thursday.   “Basically, the items that we want and the kindContinue Reading

As the main pollinators of the stinky but popular durian fruit, bats make a significant contribution to the local economy of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, a new study shows.   The activities of the nocturnal mammals determine whether fruit production will be successful or unsuccessful, demonstrating the vital needContinue Reading

The Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry (MOA) hopes that durian entrepreneurs and planters can escalate durian-based agro-tourism activities before the 2020 Visit Malaysia Year (VMY2020).   MOA deputy minister Sim Tze Tzin said Malaysian durians had received various recognition worldwide and it should be used as a form of tourist attraction.Continue Reading

Cambodian mangoes could soon be consumed in Japan with the Cambodian government recently requesting Japanese authorities to accelerate the process of greenlighting imports of the fruit.   If Japanese authorities accept Cambodia’s request, Japan would become one of the few East Asian countries importing Cambodian mangoes. South Korea will receiveContinue Reading

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched an emergency project under its Technical Cooperation Programme to help countries in Latin America and the Caribbean fight the spread of Fusarium wilt, a fungal plant disease that can wipe out the banana crops upon which the livelihoodsContinue Reading

The newly sequenced pineapple genome has offered researchers fresh insights into the plant domestication process.   Pineapple varieties are grown for a variety of purposes: for fiber, as an ornamental and, most famously, as a delicious fruit. Scientists at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the UniversityContinue Reading

Traders, farmers and other stakeholders from 14 counties have formed an association to promote commercial farming of mangoes and bargain for better prices for their members.   Association of Kenya Mango Traders (AKMT) founding chief executive Linah Mukami said mainstreaming of the mangoes as a key cash crop will strengthenContinue Reading