Food inflation in Indonesia has quieted expectations of a price relief during Ramadan until at least Eid al-Fitr. A lengthy dry season in 2023 cut local production and overshadowed a time when the country’s 231 million Muslims fast. Indonesia’s news site, Kompas, reported on March 18 rising prices of kitchen staples such as garlic, pepper, sugar and vegetable oil....
Botswana’s trailblazing Selebi-Phikwe Citrus Project with its 811,000 fruit trees is preparing for the country’s first ever citrus export on March 21. The South African nation expects to sell 70% of the harvest abroad and has already met international market protocols. Out of some cultivated 1200 hectares sitting on a 1500-hectare piece of land, citrus trees occupy 800...
Argentina’s red shrimp sector looks forward to finally gaining the coveted Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification after a 10-year chase. Ever since the country’s Patagonian toothfish won the certificate in March 2023, hope has been bubbling in the equally important shrimp industry. MSC certification with its “ecolabel” on harvested fish is increasingly becoming an essential proof of responsible fishing...
Botanists in Australia have developed a technology for screening disease-causing genes that stunt the growth of plants, especially wheat. In its March 2024 publication, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) cited an intention to develop disease-free crops. According to Peter Dodds, who co-heads the CSIRO project, the success could save world’s agriculture. Incidentally, farmers around the world lose $1 billion each year from crops that...
The 2023-24 yearly license to sell wild ginseng in Wisconsin between September 1 and March 31 is about to end. Focus now shifts to some other of Wisconsin’s specialty crops, which will be in bloom this spring. While the harvest of wild ginseng lasts two months between September 1 and November 1, the legal sale period extends for 6...
Agricultural land in Ukraine is fading back in the picture amid the war courtesy of a landmine removal scheme. According to a March 14 ministerial report, Kyiv had cleared 330,000 hectares of landmine-compromised agricultural land by end 2023. So far, 200,000 acres of safe land have gone back to local farmers and will ensure timely sowing of...
Vietnam’s durian export momentum is past the point of no return after China increased export permits to 876 durian-growing areas. This comes barely a month after Beijing also allowed its southeastern neighbor, the Philippines, similar durian export allowances. Though Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia have had existing permits, not all growing regions are permissible for exports. China sets strict requirements including...
Agricultural markets are expectant on the forthcoming March 29 planting report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Last week, USDA’s World Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report lowered Brazil’s 2024 soy crop output to 1 million tonnes. The report also sustained its previous corn/wheat 2023-24 stock estimates. WASDE is strategic at offering monthly estimates on coarse...
Papua New Guinea is committing K3.5 million ($903,350) to various mills to procure oil palm seedlings and phase out ageing trees. The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) tree, not only echoes the Pacific island’s own name but remains the country’s main national export. In 2022, the oil palm industry contributed K2.8 billion ($722.7 million) to the national GDP of...
Colombia‘s fabled sugar mango has entered its second straight export year into the U.S. since its maiden shipment in May 2023. One major exporter is Florida-based Seasons Farm Fresh, now shipping the exotic fruit to North America for the second season. At a critical mango-pricing timing, Selina Wamucii learned a few market expectations from Nicholas...