News (Page 256)

The dry weather is driving the prices of watermelon up by at least 40%.   What used to cost about RM1.10 (USD 0.34) per kg for a grade A (the highest grade) watermelon, now costs between RM1.30 (USD 0.40) and RM1.40 (USD 0.44).   Despite the increase in the price,Continue Reading

Ecuadorian scientist Diego Quito Ávila has identified a new virus in papaya plantations that had not yet been reported internationally, through the process of plant virology. As part of the Prometheus Project (Proyecto Prometeo in Spanish), a government initiative, he has been working closely with commercial growers to determine howContinue Reading

Heaps of the last of ripe Formosa pineapples—the rejects of the season—sat waiting for buyers on farmer Winnie Palero’s yard at the Gawad Kalinga community as it rained gently in this provincial capital for the first time this month.   Like a picturesque depiction of growing up on a farm,Continue Reading

Discovery of fruit fly infested mangoes in one of the shipment from Pakistan in the United Kingdom (UK) has threatened import of Pakistani mangoes to the European Union this year. Concerned authorities in Pakistan had made bold claims that all the necessary measures have been taken to ensure quality controlContinue Reading

Mango trees in the Ord Valley in the Western Australian Kimberley, are beginning to flower and farmers in the region are hopeful of a good season.   Last year was the worst season on record for some growers, but it’s expected this year will make up for those poor yields.Continue Reading

Mango experts, farmers, academia and researchers showed a great concern over the fast decreasing mango orchards in Sindh.   Speaking at a two-day “Conceptual Workshop on Pre- and Post-Harvest Management Interventions”, growers said they are facing field problems, like lack of orchard management practices, water shortage and attack of fruitContinue Reading

The climate change is compelling the growers of banana in Sindh to switch to other crops, observed researchers.   “We are facing extreme weather, like the severity of the previous winter, which destroyed banana gardens and growers were replacing the crop in many areas,” Prof Qazi Suleman Memon, who isContinue Reading

Mr. Yukol Limlaemthong, acting Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister has laid down plans to deal with the surplus of lychee as about 60,000 tons of the produce is expected to flood the market.   The minister said that this year Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao and NanContinue Reading

The amount of land used to grow longans has doubled in the past two years, but a lack of supply-chain infrastructure is hampering farmers’ ability to get top dollar for their product, the fruit’s body says.   Sreng Sreang, deputy director of the Pailin Longan Farmers’ Community (PLFC), said theContinue Reading

In order to supplement farmers’ incomes and generate revenue during crises such as floods or drought, experts suggested the planting of jackfruit trees and rainwater harvesting at the two-day international symposium titled ‘Jackfruit and Breadfruit in the Tropics: Genetic Diversity, Marketing, Value Addition and Marketing’.   The meet, which commencedContinue Reading