A dry season, a milling revolution, upshot international coffee prices and a timely harvest have gifted Kenya’s premium coffee a temporary break. Farmers have from November 2024 been enjoying high rates from roasters, spot on the country’s strategic October-December harvest. Weekly prices at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange on December 4, 2024 shows grade AA cost between $292 and 380 (37,5950-48,925 shillings) per 50 kg....
Rice production in Russia caps at 1.2 million tonnes
Official reports indicate that rice production in Russia in 2024 has surpassed 1.2 million tonnes, 17% more than in 2023. According to a preliminary update by the Agriculture Ministry, the rise in production matched planted area expansion at 207,000 hectares. Leading sources include the southern province of Krasnodar, which reaped some 829,000 tonnes or three-quarters of the total. Other leading production...
Cacao emerges top performing commodity of 2024
The trading world is dominated by metals, oil and other commodities but rarely does an organic commodity excel above these. In 2024, cacao beans which emanate mainly from Ivory Coast and elsewhere did just that thanks to steep pricing. According to experts in Chicago, cocoa tailed off 2024 as the top market performer after experiencing 172% yearly gains. A major reason for this massive...
“12 grapes” tradition ushers New Year in Spain amid olive oil recovery
Grapes and olives define New Year’s Eve in Spain and in 2025 people celebrated with the 12 grapes eating tradition. From towns in Alicante province in southeastern Spain to Murcia and Madrid, residents on December 31, 2024 scrambled to eat all twelve fruits. Consuming the fruits between the 12 strokes of the midnight bells apparently brings good luck in the twelve months ahead. Conflicting...
Worldwide sugar prices under pressure from bigger 2025 prospects
With production outlook brighter for 2025, worldwide sugar prices continued a downward trend late December 2024. Leading futures markets highlighted this trend, with sugar #1 losing by -0.93% in New York on December 30. Likewise, March deliveries for sugar #5 (white sugar) in London futures lost by a similar 0.92% margin, day-on-day. The New York slide in late December was...
GM corn dispute resolution between U.S. and Mexico exemplary
A regional panel has in late December 2024 overruled Mexico’s intention to ban GM corn imports from the U.S., setting a dispute settlement example. The panel from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ruled in favor of the U.S., terming Mexico’s claims as unscientific. With the settlement, the United States’ farmers who export their genetically modified corn to Mexico have backed the resolution....
“The Valencian citrus sector has always guaranteed a sufficient supply of citrus fruits” asserts AVA-ASAJA
Associació Valenciana D’Agricultors (AVA-ASAJA) is pretty optimistic about the Valencian citrus sector after the floods of late October 2024. The floods stem from weather event “DANA,” which carries isolated storms across southeast Spain, the regional home of Valencia oranges. While betting on Valencia’s historical production guarantee for recovery from DANA, AVA-ASAJA calls for governmental support on farmers. To learn more, Selina...
China attains record harvests with little fertilizer
2024 ends on a sustainable note for China after reaping a record 706.5 billion tonnes of grains despite fertilizer use reduction. According to the South China Morning Post on December 20, 2024, farmers made it without much fertilizer via new tech. Some of this tech is from educational institutions and scientific bodies. The agencies convert nutrients in electrochemical water into natural fertilizer...
Jamaica implements agricultural measures against expected drought
The government of Jamaica has put systems in place in readiness for drought expectations in the wake of heavy precipitation. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green on December 17, 2024 confirmed of purchasing irrigation kits worth 120 million Jamaican dollars ($763,200). Farmers who farm diverse produce will receive the irrigation equipment in the dryness timeline between January and March...
The Michoacán avocado sector to certify 100 new growers
The Michoacán avocado certification office has in mid-December 2024 welcomed 100 growers who want to register their orchards before 2025. This is happening four months after the Western Mexico state launched origin certification stamps in August 2024. According to a news story by Meganoticias (MN), the hundred who sought the certification have already begun the legalization process. With this substantial number of producers...