China’s wholesale prices index was up 0.2 points on July 12, 2024 above that of a day earlier. This is even as food prices increased by 0.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) in June against expectations of 0.4% to fight looming deflation. The data came up on the government’s publication of the “200 Wholesale Price Index of Agricultural Products.” According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural...
Italy could double fennel production amid shrinking acreage
As yields rise year-on-year, Italy could double fennel production and balance decreasing acreage of the aromatic vegetable. According to Colture Protette magazine on June 12, 2024, Italy’s fennel production increased by 19% between 2000 and 2023. This is despite an acreage decrement of 14% over the same period. The magazine quotes a study by Ismea, which shows the sector’s production is up even as...
The Florida lobster mini-season earns a preliminary day July 14
Anglers in the Sunshine State began their spiny lobster mini-season on July 14, 10 days before the July 24 official start. This followed an extra day gift for the upcoming Florida lobster mini-season by governor Ron DeSantis. The extra day happened following Executive Order 24-13, which the governor invoked specially for Florida residents only. DeSantis said that Floridians enjoy the best fisheries...
India’s Kharif crop area increases 14% y-o-y
Ample food supplies and manageable prices are just a season away as India’s kharif crop area surges by 14%, the agriculture ministry says. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development confirmed that the pulse acreage alone has risen by 50% from 2023’s. He was speaking during a review of kharif (autumn) crops near the capital...
World’s cocoa prices rise again as inventories fall, grindings increase
After a June reprieve due to production prospects in Ghana, the world’s cocoa prices are up again July 12 to a 2-week high. A sharp rally came on July 11 after reports that quarter 2 grindings in Europe were up by 4.1%, year-on-year . This stoked trade fears that the grindings, which were at 357,502 tonnes by June 2024, could reduce inventories. Likewise,...
Consumers in the Netherlands favor meat over legumes
A survey shows that two-thirds of consumers in the Netherlands overlook legumes as meat substitutes, Nieuweoogst reported on July 11, 2024. The 2023 survey by vegetable and legume processor, HAK, paints a poor attitude by the Dutch towards plant-based protein foods. Nicole Freid, HAK’s MD, said during the survey reading that 67% of consumers still carry an “old-fashioned image” of pulses. She attributed the above mentality to...
The UK agriculture sector receives PM Starmer’s backing amid environmental uncertainty
Britain’s new Labour government of PM Keir Starmer has vowed to back the UK agriculture sector. The affirmation comes amid uncertainty on how his government will handle remaining post-Brexit agricultural and fishing problems. The party’s win in the July 4 general election claimed significant farming counties in Conservative zones such as North Somerset and Suffolk Coastal. Oddly enough, Labour’s successful election campaign missed...
Cowpea farming in East Africa is 2,300 years old, archaeologists discover
A new find on the Kenya-Uganda border indicates cowpea farming in East Africa could have began 2,300 years ago. The discovery could help fill missing gaps such as the earliest plants in a region famous as the “cradle of mankind.” A Royal Society Publishing organization publication on July 10, 2024 revealed that the Kakapel Rockshelter near Mt. Elgon in Western Kenya first planted cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata...
Norway institutes wild salmon fishing ban on 33 rivers
A wild salmon fishing ban has begun on Norway’s 33 select rivers, in a bid to revamp a downturn in Atlantic salmon numbers. This a few days after details of late June and early July price decline of Norwegian salmon emerged. The decision follows a June 22, 2024 initial temporary closure on the 33 rivers, pending the latest review on July 5. This most recent resolution...
World’s food prices level off in June as cereals shed 3%
The world’s food prices stabilized in June 2024 following a decline by 3% in cereal prices, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reported July 5. FAO’s Food Price Index (FFPI), a measure that weighs monthly trade volumes against prices worldwide, stood at 120.6 points for June. May’s FPPI was originally 120.4 points before revision to 120.6 points, an increase of over 1.1 points above April’s index. Accordingly, global...