News | Oilseed Crops posted by Youmanitas.NL

Record handling of oilseed in country’s history of Pakistan

2012-01-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first fully automated dry bulk cargo terminal Fauji Akbar Portia Marine Terminals Limited (FAP) at PQA, has created a record by discharging 16,500 metric tons of canola oilseeds in a day, comfortably beating the previous 1-day record of about 9,500 metric tonnes achieved at Karachi Port Trust (KPT).

MV Panagiotis D carrying about 55,000 tons of canola docked at the 11.5 meters draft dedicated and purposed built jetty at the FAP, and the cargo of oilseed was the largest ever in one vessel to dock at any port in Pakistan. The FAP terminal has the ability to dock vessels with 14 meters of draft but the current draft is restricted to 11.5 meters of draft by Port Qasim Authority.

This feat was made possible due to the Terminal being built on a 9-hectare facility, which is capable of catering to Panamax size vessels up to 80,000 DWT. The terminal can handle over 4 million metric tonnes of dry cargo and provides handling of import and export cargo complemented by bagging stations and storage facilities to exporters and importers at the port. staff report

CJP Releases Promising Various Biodiesel Crop Cultivation Technology Source: Centre for Jatropha Promotion & Biodiesel (CJP)

2011-12-31T01:37:00.000-08:00

The CJP’s Scientists after several year researches have developed low-cost nonfood Biodiesel Crop Cultivation & Crop Care Technology Jaipur, December 9, 2011 -- The Centre for Jatropha Promotion & Biodiesel (CJP) is a bioenergy crop research and development company that is meeting global demand for sustainable plant oil by working towards scientific commercialization of nonfood biodiesel trees/crops that will lend credibility; reliability and scalability. With a fully integrated platform featuring a world-class leadership and science team, the most advanced multi-feedstocks research into all aspects of nonfood energy farming crop improvement program in the industry and addressing the complete value chain, CJP is bringing the opportunities of nonfood oil to reality. The CJP intensified its collaborative research approach with regards to perennial oil seeds bearing tree like Pongamia Pinnata, Moringa oliferia, Jojoba, simarouba, etc. in combination with annual nonfood oil crops like castor, flax, safflower, camelina, etc to have more oil yield per ha and to improve their product. The CJP’s mission is to perform cutting-edge plant science research in genetics, breeding and horticulture, and further develop technologies to allow for the economic commercialization and sustainability of energy farms globally. In essence, CJP scientists are continuously working on enhanced genetics, agronomics and horticulture sciences to drive new varieties, more knowledge around the plant’s nutritional requirements and more science-based processes for the care and custody of the plant and have achieved reliable and scalable results in jatropha energy farming. CJP’s new Biodiesel crops like castor, flax, moringa, pongamia, jojoba, simarouba are poised for commercialization as the newest, greatest biodiesel feedstock as these crops can produce the greatest amount of feedstock for the lowest input and cost. There are many promising crops on the horizon, but they need to be properly vetted scientifically. Good scientific research done by CJP’s scientists has shown that how oilseed crops grow best across different soil conditions and climates, and how they fit into existing production systems determining what consequences might result from growing these crops in terms of sustainability CJP carefully manages Biodiesel crops/Plant cultivation, with advanced crop practices suitable to local soil, weather, pest, and disease conditions to ensure the high amount of oil as we have developed enhanced technology with regards to:- Planting materials & other inputs Crop Management Irrigation Management Fertilizer Management Pest & Diseases management. Harvesting Management Post harvest management And finally grading for further process After years of continuous research, experiments and trials; CJP’s Researchers have developed standardized techniques for growing Biodiesel crops/Plant on large scale. CJP ensures sustainable Biodiesel plantation right from the land preparation, crop management to production of end product. Accordingly, the enhanced variety of Biodiesel crops with regards to seed yield and oil yield, the enhanced Biodiesel Crop Cultivation techniques and intelligent business planning shall ensure proper and profitable production of the OIL CROP providing early fruition and flowering. Even a superior genotype variety planted in inadequate soil and improperly cared for, will be unable to reach its potential and will create dissatisfied stakeholders. If the development focus is properly balanced, the species will go through a series of improvements to continually enhance the characteristics. Improvement in yield, reduction in inputs or resistance to pests and diseases is an ongoing process which needs time. CJP to provide the right steps to start the successful business ensuring that this crop is planted in the right way and with due cares to what’s possible in terms of sustainable farming techniques. Based on its proprietary knowledge plant science expertise enhanced technology and extensive experience and by integrating technical and managerial issues CJP has developed following New Oil Crop” Cultivation Technology” Jojoba Cultivation Technology, Castor Cultivation Technology, Moringa Cultivation Technology, Mahua Cultivation Technology, Pongamia Cultivation Technology, Simarouba Cultivation Technology, Flax Cultivation Technology, Kenaf Cultivation Technology, Calophyllum Cultivation Technology, Citrullus colocynthis Cultivation Technology,Camelina Cultivation Technology, Jatropha Cultivation Technology, and Algae Harvesting Technology CJP is happy to release of above Oil Crop” Cultivation Technology” at an affordable Price The interested companies/parties/persons may submit their request Director (BD) Centre for Jatropha Promotion & Biodiesel www.jatrophabiodiesel.org

Russian Farmers Reap Record Oilseeds Crops, Ministry Says

2011-12-27T13:41:00.001-08:00

Russian farmers reaped record crops of oilseeds this year, theAgriculture Ministry said.

They gathered all-time high harvests of 1.5 million metric tons of soybeans, 1.1 million tons of rapeseeds and 8 million tons of sunflower seeds after drying and cleaning, the ministry said today in a statement on its website, without providing a total for all oilseeds.

Last year’s oilseed crop reached almost 7.5 million tons, according to the Federal State Statistics Service. Farmers reaped 1.2 million tons of soybeans in 2010, about 670,080 tons of rapeseeds and 5.3 million tons of sunflower seeds, according to the service.

The country’s harvest of grains and pulses was 92 million tons, or 51 percent more than last year, the ministry said, sufficient to meet domestic needs and export 25 million tons in 2011-12.Russia’s worst drought in a half century parched fields in 2010, prompting the government to impose a temporary ban on exports.

The sugar beet harvest reached a record 45 million tons, the ministry said. The corn crop reached 6 million tons.

Winter grain sowing exceeded 16 million hectares (39.5 million acres), according to the ministry. Farmers have 6 million tons of seeds, enough for the spring sowing campaign, the ministry said.

Australian Oilseeds Federation reports record canola harvest

2011-12-27T13:39:00.001-08:00

By Erin Voegele | December 23, 2011

The Australian Oilseeds Federation recently announced that the country has recorded its largest canola harvest to date, with prices for the oilseed crop remaining strong. In its December Crop Report, the AOF stated that 2.946 million metric tons of canola has been harvested this year. The previous record, set in 1999, was 500,000 tons less. The organization also reported that prices have remained stable at $450 to $490 per ton, indicating that the year is also poised to set records in terms of value.

“We have seen a significant and unexpected lift in yields across the country, which has led us to revise our estimates upwards by around 300,000 [metric tons],” said AOF spokesman Nick Goddard. “The cooler conditions experienced through much of the growing districts following flowering, together with a good moisture profile, set up ideal conditions for oil development in the seed in the lead up to harvest.”

According to the AOF, the near ideal conditions have also seen very good oil levels being recorded, with 44 percent being reported as a fair average across the country. This is 2 percent greater than the traditional average of 42 percent. In a number of cases in both east and west of the country, oil levels of 49 percent and even higher have been reported.

The AOF also stated that current expectations are for next year to be another strong one for canola, as seed companies are reporting strong sales. “The expected La Niña weather pattern could deliver a good moisture profile for planting in April, and expected oilseed prices still delivering growers a good gross margin, albeit possibly not as high as this year’s,” said the AOF in a statement.

While canola production in Australia increased last year, data published by the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service shows that canola production in the U.S. actually decreased in the past year. While NASS reports that more than 1.4 million acres of the crop were harvested in 2010, less than 1.1 acres of canola were harvested in 2011.

Canola production in Canada, however, increased this year. In early December, Statistics Canada reported production within the country hit an all time high in 2011, with 14 million metric tons of the crop harvested, a 10.7 percent increase over 2010 production levels. Average yields also increased by 1.5 percent in 2011 when compared to the prior year.

Colza como alternativa del cultivo de trigo

2009-04-30T23:42:00.001-07:00

La Colza, es una oleaginosa muy difundida en el mundo, que produce aceite comestible de excelente calidad, cuyo principal productor es la Unión Europea con 10,5 millones de toneladas. En Argentina el área de mayor difusión es la provincia de Buenos Aires con 14 mil hectáreas.
Las limitaciones en su difusión han sido principalmente su competencia con el trigo ya que ambos tienen períodos de ocupación similar. El otro motivo que redujo su difusión en áreas muy aptas para este cultivo, es la no existencia de herbicidas selectivos que permitan diferenciarlo de la maleza de nombre común nabo (Brassica campestris o Brassica napus).
Son esencialmente las mismas plantas con la diferencia que estas últimas contienen ácido Erúsico, tóxico para el consumo humano y motivo de reducciones de precio en la comercialización. Esta última circunstancia ha sido la causa principal por lo que fracasó su difusión en la región este - sudeste de la provincia de Entre Ríos donde el cultivo de trigo presenta altos riesgos a enfermedades fúngicas, especialmente Fusarium y mancha amarilla, y la colza podría ser una alternativa válida.
En la región triguera argentina, la colza constituye una alternativa de diversificación para enriquecer el esquema de rotación, fundamentalmente en el centro sur, sudeste y sudoeste de Buenos Aires y este de La Pampa, zonas en las que durante el invierno, sólo se cultivan trigo y cebada. Por su mayor rusticidad, la colza puede rendir bien en suelos menos aptos para estos cereales, y en siembras tempranas o intermedias, permite la realización de cultivos de segunda e introduce una variante a la rotación actual, limitada a trigo-girasol.
Paralelamente, en la región pampeana, su cultivo está estrechamente vinculado a la actividad apícola, dado que la colza es un buen aliado de las abejas. Actualmente hay apicultores que están proyectando sembrar este cultivo, debido a que a causa del proceso de agriculturización y más recientemente de sojización, se produjo una fuerte retracción de la superficie destinada a la ganadería, cuyas especies forrajeras constituyeron la principal fuente para la producción de miel, por lo que los apiarios se fueron paulatinamente quedando sin las fuentes nectíferas. De esta forma se reemplazarían las clásicas rotaciones trigo-soja y trigo-girasol por colza-soja o inclusive colza-girasol Sin embargo, a pesar de lo señalado precedentemente y de contar con condiciones agroclimáticas favorables, el cultivo de esta oleaginosa no se ha difundido en Argentina, siendo sus principales factores limitantes: falta de información sobre manejo, comportamiento y fertilización de cultivares, dificultades del manipuleo de la semilla en la cosecha y postcosecha, escaso asesoramiento en el acopio y posterior comercialización, baja productividad física por hectárea y precios poco alentadores en relación con el trigo, su competidor en la rotación.
Es por las razones expuestas, que luego de alcanzar en la campaña agrícola 1991/92 sus valores pico de área sembrada y de producción, se produjo en forma errática y paulatina un marcado descenso de los mismos. Actualmente se ha renovado el interés de las empresas procesadoras y exportadoras por este cultivo, y se están realizando contratos de siembra con precio y recepción asegurados, factores anteriormente limitantes.
El aceite comestible obtenido de su molturación, es uno de los mas apreciados y demandado por su excelente calidad, y junto con el de oliva, es considerado como uno de los mejores para la alimentación humana, por su contribución a la baja formación de colesterol en la sangre. El mejoramiento genético, principalmente canadiense, de los últimos 40 años, ha permitido bajar, a niveles compatibles con una excelente calidad, el contenido de ácido erúcico y de glucosinolatos.
Esos compuestos son los responsables del sabor y olor característicos de estas plantas y producen problemas nutricionales en la alimentación de humanos y animales. Esto llevó a llamar canola o "colza doble-cero" a las variedades que poseen estas características para identificar mas fácilmente a este producto diferenciado.
La harina de extracción, comparable con la de soja, posee alto valor nutricional, utilizándose como suplemento proteico, en las raciones balanceadas para la alimentación animal.
A partir de la década del 1970, el cultivo de colza tuvo a nivel mundial un gran auge, convirtiéndose en una de las principales oleaginosas en algunos países como Canadá, Francia, China, Australia, India, entre otros. En la producción mundial de granos, la colza ocupa el segundo lugar en el mundo, después de la soja, como proveedora de aceite. China, en el quinquenio 1999/03 se erigió como el primer productor al aportar el 28,5% al tonelaje mundial, seguido en orden de importancia por Canadá (16,6%), India (12,6%), Francia (9,3%), Australia (4,3%) y el Reino Unido (3,8%).
En cuanto a los principales exportadores de aceite, si bien en el mercado mundial la oferta se encuentra muy atomizada, Canadá al concentrar para el período 1999/02 el 20,1% de la misma, encabeza el ranking de exportadores, ubicándose a continuación Francia (7,9%), Estados Unidos (3,7%) y el Reino Unido (3,5%).

Investigadores de la ULPGC desarrollan un sistema de cultivo hidropónico

2009-04-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

Canarias7.es
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
El Centro de Biotecnología Marina de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, en colaboración con la Fundación AGRAMAR (biotecnologías sostenibles y agronomía marina) ha desarrollado un sistema de cultivo hidropónico (método que permite el cultivo usando soluciones minerales), que posibilita cultivar plantas con agua de mar.

Las plantas que se están cultivando pertenecen a un grupo denominadas halófilas, que crecen de forma natural en marismas y lagos salinos e hipersalinos. Tras numerosas expediciones y tras varios años de estudio y selección, se han obtenido variedades que completan su ciclo biológico (germinación, crecimiento, maduración, floración) en un sistema de cultivo que se riega únicamente con agua de mar.

El sistema de cultivo consiste en tubos de plástico rígido rellenos con picón, a través del cual, aprovechando la gravedad, fluye agua de mar, y en el que crece un tapiz de microalgas que aumenta la vitalidad de las plantas. Los tubos del sistema de cultivo pueden apilarse en forma piramidal, lo que posibilita una gran productividad de la hidroponía marina. Sólo son necesarios entre 5 y 7 riegos diarios, de 15 minutos cada uno. Para el regadío pueden utilizarse aguas residuales de piscifactorías marinas, lo cual, además de eliminar la necesidad de añadir nutrientes a las plantas, permite reducir significativamente los vertidos contaminantes de amonio y fosfato que generan estas factorías.

La Fundación AGRAMAR, en colaboración con la ULPGC, pretende estudiar incluso la utilización de las aguas de rechazo de las plantas de desalación de agua de mar para el cultivo de plantas halófilas y, asimismo, evaluar la reducción de las toxicidades de estas emisiones mediante la biofiltración - biodepuración que ejerce el propio sistema de cultivo. Algunas variedades selectas puede crecer hasta con 47 gramos de sales por litro (el agua de mar contiene 36 gramos/litro)
Las aplicaciones actuales y potenciales de estas nuevas plantas, y de esta nueva agronomía marina, son numerosas abarcando desde el consumo humano al consumo animal, así como la producción de semillas oleaginosas, la biofiltración, la jardinería marina y los biocombustibles.

El sistema permitirá el regadío con aguas residuales de piscifactorías y agua de mar

Las producciones por unidad de superficie que se han obtenido en los prototipos a escala de planta piloto superan con creces las producciones de los cultivos terrestres más productivos.

Actualmente, se está negociando con diversas empresas de Holanda, Francia, España, Libia y Marruecos la adaptación y el desarrollo del sistema de hidroponía marina.

Teóricamente, Canarias sería un lugar idóneo para desarrollar esta biotecnología marina por múltiples factores: no consume agua dulce, no posee suelo fértil, no genera contaminación, no consume energía, no compite por agromercados establecidos y permite utilizar aguas de rechazo, agua de mar y aguas salobres.

10. NEEM:A POTENTIAL BIOPESTICIDE AND SOIL CONDITIONER

2009-04-01T09:47:00.001-07:00

by Mr. Prajapati

The Neem

Azadirachta indica A.Juss. (Syn. Melia azadirachta L . ) ; Eng- Margosa tree, Neem tree; Hindi- Neem (Meliaceaae). A common roadside tree bearing small, white and sweet scented flowers. Blossoms in early April in North Indian conditions. Tree is considered a good purifier of air, due to its large leaf area. Native of Burma but grown all over India. Oilcake, obtained from seeds, is used as a fertilizer and manure. Green twigs are used as tooth brushes for cleaning teeth, and as a prophylactic for mouth and teeth complaints. Parts of the plant are used medicinally and the leaves are placed in suit cases to repel insects and to preserve woollens. An extract of leaves is used in tooth pastes and soaps Seeds yield famous margosa oil of disagreeable garlic like flavour. Oil is said to be effective in treatment of leprosy and skin diseases. Also used as a cure for manage in dogs. Leaves in poultice are used for healing of wounds. Ripe fruits are edible. Due to its bitter taste and disagreeable odour, not removed by conventional methods, neem oil has not been utilised on an industrial scale. However, a process has recently been developed to extract the bitter constituents from neem oil. Oil thus obtained has been found to be suitable for soap making and for hydrogenation. Seed oil is also used as antiseptic and for burning purposes. Stones from fruits are used as beads in rosaries and necklaces. Azadirachtin, a substance isolated from the tree, has been found to have insect repellent and insecticidal properties. Bark yields tannin. Gum exudate from the bark is used in medicines as a stimulant, and for dyeing silk. Bark is useful in fever, nausea, vomitting and skin disease. Bitter principles of neem oil are reported to have been obtained by extraction with alcohol. The main component of the oil is nimbidin which is very bitter. Nimbidin is used for making several pharmaceutical preparations including emulsions, liquors, ointments, medicinal cosmetics such as lotions, shampoos, creams, hair tonics and gargles. Timber is used for agricultural implements and furniture.

Besides above Neem products ? Neem EC and Neem UCA have also been produced as plant growth promoter and soil conditioning agent.

NEEM EC
NEEM EC is the general- purpose botanical pesticide of choice for organic agriculture . NEEM EC is widely used in several countries around the world today either singly in Integrated Pest Management or in conjunction with synthetic pesticides. Amongst the other known botanical pesticides such as Rotenone and Pyrethrins, NEEM EC is superior due to reasons cited below. Research has shown that neem extracts can influence nearly 200 spices of insects. It is significant that some of these pests are resistant to pesticides, or are inherently difficult to control with conventional pesticides (floral thrips, diamond back moth and several leaf miners).NEEM EC belongs to the category of medium to broad spectrum pesticides. NEEM EC works by intervening at several stages of the life of an insect. It does not kill the pests instantaneously but incapacitates it in several other ways.

Mode of Action : Neem acts as a biopesticide at different levels and ways. This is very important since the farmer is used to the knock out effect of chemical pesticides. Neem does not exhibit this type of effect on pests but affects them in several other ways.

Mainly: Oviposition Deterrent Insect Growth Regulation: It is a very interesting property of neem products and unique in nature, since it works on juvenile hormone. The insect larva feeds when it grows, it sheds the old skin and again starts growing. This particular shedding of old skin is the phenomenon of ecdysis or moulting is governed by an enzyme ecdysone. When the neem components, especially Azadirachtin enter into the body of larvae, the activity of ecdysone is suppressed and the larva fails to moult, remains in the larval stage and ultimately dies. If the concentration of Azadirachtin is not sufficient, the larva manages to enter the pupal stage but dies at this stage and if the concentration is still less the adult emerging from the pupa is 100 % malformed, absolutely sterile without any capacity for reproduction.

Feeding Deterrent: The most important property of neem is feeding deterrence. When an insect larva sits on the leaf, the larva is hungry and it wants to feed on the leaf. This particular trigger of feeding is given through the maxillary glands give a trigger, peristalsis in the alimentary canal is speeded up, the larva feels hungry and its starts feeding on the surface of the leaf. When the leaf is treated with neem product, because of the presence of azadirachtin, salanin and melandriol there is an anti ? peristalitic wave in the alimentary canal and this produces something similar to vomiting sensation in the insect. Because of this sensation the insect does not feed on the neem treated surface. Its ability to swallow is also blocked.

Oviposition Deterrent: Another way in which neem reduces pests is not by allowing the female to deposits eggs. This property is known as Oviposition deterrence, and comes in very handy when the seeds in storage are coated with neem Kernel powder and neem oil. The seeds or grains obtained from the market are already infested with some insects. Even these grains could be treated with neem seed kernel extract or neem oil; after this treatment the insects will not feed on them. There will be no further damage to the already damaged grains and at the same time when the female comes to the egg laying period of its life cycle, egg laying is prevented.

Other pesticidal activity includes of need include (1) The formation of chitin (exoskeleton) is also inhibited. (2) Mating as well as sexual communication is disrupted.(3) Larvae and adults of insects are repelled. (4) Adults are sterilised. (5) larvae and adults are poisoned.

Use of neem products does not give immediate results like chemical insecticides. Some patience is required after application of neem products.

Chemistry of Ingredients of Neem
Neem plants, as do all other plants, contain several thousands of chemical constituents.Of special interest are the terpenoids are known from different parts of the neem plant. Of its biological constituents the most active and well studied compound is Azadirachtin. However, in most traditional preparations of neem as pesticide or medicine a mixture of neem chemicals are present and provide the active principles. Several different kinds of azadirachtins (A to K) have been isolated, the most abundant of which is Azadirachtin ? A. The neem terpenoids are present in all parts of the plant, in the living tissues. Recently, the site of synthesis and accumulation of the neem chemicals has been identified as secretory cells. Secretory cells are most abundant in the seed kernels. The secretory cells can be seen with iodine solution. Besides the terpenoids, neem also contains more than 20 sulphurous compounds responsible for the characteristic smell of crushed seeds and neem oil.

Toxicity: In toxicological studies carried out in the USA and Germany, different neem product were neither mutagenous nor cancerogenic, and they did not produce any skin irritations or organic alternations to mice and rates even at high concentrations. In another Canadian study, Neem was found to be harmless to Aquatic invertebrates and other non-target species.

Benefits: Neem Biopesticide (Emulsifiable Concentrate) is well suited for an ? Integrated Pest Management? (IPM) Program because of the following salient features:(1) Neem Pesticide is a natural product, absolutely non toxic, 100% biodegradable and environment mentally friend. (2) It is suited for mixing with other synthetic pesticide and in fact enhances their action. (3) None or lesser quantity of synthetic pesticides need to be used, thereby reducing the environmental load. (4) Several synthetic pesticides being single chemical compounds cause easy development of resistant species of pests. Neem consists of several compounds hence development of resistance is impossible. (5) Neem does not destroy natural predators and parasites of pests thereby allowing these natural enemies to keep a check on the pest population. (6) Neem also has systemic action and seedlings can absorb and accumulate the neem compounds to make the whole plant pest resistant. (7) Neem has a broad spectrum of action active on more than 200 spices of pests. (8) Neem is harmless to non target and beneficial organisms like pollinators, honey bees, mammals and other vertebrates.

Following are the target insects of neem:

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME

American boll worm Heliothis armigera
Oriental armyworm Mythimna separate
Angoumis grain moth Sitorega cerealella
Pink Cotton boll worm Petinophora gossypiella
Bark eating caterpillar Indarbela quadrinotata
Pod fly Melanogromyza obtusa
Beet leaf bug Piesma quqdratum
Pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis
Brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens
Pulse bruchid Callosbruchus maculates
Cabbage butterfly Pieris brassicae
Red boll worm Rabila frontalis
Chafer beetle Apogonia blancharid
Red hairy caterpillar Amsacta albistriga
Citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella
Reniform nematode Rotylenchulus reinform
Confused flour beetle Tribolium confusum
Rhinoceros beetle Oryctes rhinoceros
Corn aphid Rhopaloispum maidis
Rice moth Corcyra cephalonica
Cotton aphid Aphis gossypii
Rice skipper Pelopidas mathias
Dessert locust Schistocera gregaria
Root knot nematode Melodidogyne incognita
Diamond black moth Plutella xylostella
Root knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica
Diamond moth Plutella maculipennis
Root lesion nematode Pratylenchus genus
Gall midge Orseolis oryzae
Rust red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum
Grain borer Rhizopertha dominica
Saw toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis
Gram / pod borer caterpillar Heloithis armigera
Scale insect Saissetia nigra
Green leafhopper Nephotettix appicalis
Serpentine leafminer Liriomyza trifolli
Green peach aphid Myzus persicae
Shoot/ fruit borer Earias vittela
Groundnut leafminer Stomopteryx nertaria
Seleron persicae Spotted boll worm
(cotton boll worm ) Erias fabia, E. insulana E. vitella
Groundnut leafminer Stomopteryx netaria
Stem borer Scirpophaga incertulas
Gypsy moth Lymantria dispar
Stem fly Melanagromyza phaseoli
Hairy caterpillar Amsacta moorei
Stunt nematode Tylenchorhynchus brassicae
Khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium
Sugarcane aphid Melanaphis sacchaari
Leaf folder / roller Cnaphalocrocis medicella
Surface grasshopper Chrotogonus trachypterus
Leafminer Aproaerema modicella
Termite Microtermes species
Leafhopper Nephotettix virescenes
Tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura
Lesser grain borer Rhizzopertha dominica
White backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera
Mexican bean beetle Epilachna variverstis
White fly Bemisia tabaci
Migratory locust Locusta migratoria
Mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi
Mustard saw fly Athalia lugens proxima
Mustard webworm Crocidomia binotalis

NEEM UCA

Urea is the major source of nitrogenous fertiliser used in Agriculture. It is estimated that out of the total quantity of urea applied to crops, about 50- 70% is lost in various forms, thereby reducing the availability of nitrogen to crops. There is an age old practice in India of blending neem cake with urea. Based on this principle is our Urea coating agent NEEM UCA, a concentrated easy to use formulation. When NEEM UCA IS coated on urea, it forms a fine coating and protects the loss of Nitrogen by denitrification ensuring regulated continuous availability of nitrogen for a longer period, as per the requirement of crops.

Mode of Action: When uncoated urea is applied to the soil, the urea (Amide) nitrogen is rapidly converted to ammoniacal nitrogen and subsequently to nitrite and nitrate forms. Nitrogen in these forms, besides being absorbed by plants, is also rapidly lost from the soil due to leaching, run off, volatilization and denitrification. When NEEM UCA coated urea is applied to soil, the neem triterpenes inhibit the activity of nitrifying bacteria resulting in delayed transformation of ammoniacal nitrogen into nitrite nitrogen. This ensures slow and continuous availability of nitrogen matching the requirements of crop plant during their life cycle.

Benefits: (1) Ready to use, economical and easy to apply. (2) Ensures slow and continuous availability of nitrogen to crops. (3) Reduces nitrogen loss from urea due to leaching and denitrification. (4) Protects crops from soil borne pests.

Method of Application: (1) Spread 50 Kg urea in the shade on a clean surface. (2) Mix evenly 250 gm NEEM UCA ensuring proper spreading on urea. (3) Rub urea NEEM UCA thoroughly by hand to get a uniform coating. For larger quantities of urea, suitable mixers can be used. (4) Allow coated urea to dry till it is free flowing and ready to use.

UN SUCEDANEO DEL PETROLEO El tártago

2009-03-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

El tártago es una planta que puede sustituir en parte al petróleo, porque sus semillas contienen una buena proporción de aceite que puede ser utilizado en numerosísimas aplicaciones industriales. Es una planta que crece fácilmente en nuestro país y representa una opción de diversificación para el agricultor.

Son muy variadas las aplicaciones industriales que tiene el ricino o tártago. En la farmacéutica se lo utiliza para la preparación de purgantes, bálsamos, jaleas y otros.
En la industria textil el tártago se utiliza como ensimaje de lana, desgrase de tejidos, humectante de telas y para la fabricación de telas impermeables. También se lo usa para la fabricación de jabones trasparentes, champúes y otros; en las curtiembres se lo usa como suavizante y en la papelería, como humectante.
En la industria siderúrgica se utiliza como aceite de corte. El tártago se usa también en la composición de pinturas y barnices.
En la industria de perfumes se lo utiliza para hacer síntesis, lápices labiales, cremas de belleza y brillantinas, entre otras cosas. Las semillas de esta planta sirven como materia prima en la fabricación del rilsán, una materia plástica de alta calidad y fibras textiles.
Se la aprovecha también en la fabricación de aceites lubricantes para motores de competición, motores diesel y reactores. En las industrias diversas las citadas semillas se usan para la elaboración de aislantes, celuloides, polvos, papel carbónico, tintas, humectantes para insecticidas, ácidos grasos y enzimas, entre otros.
Se usa igualmente para preparar líquidos de frenos, fluidos de gatos hidráulicos. En forma casera se usa el tártago como purgante, para suavizar el cabello, para engrase de vehículos y cueros, así como para fabricar masillas para calafatear embarcaciones.

ORIGEN

El tártago es una planta originaria de la antigua Abisinia (hoy Etiopía), Africa, es anual, bianual o perenne, según la especie (Ricinus communis, Ricinus persicus y Ricinus zanzibarensis). Es de zona tropical o mediterránea y sensible al frío.

CULTIVO

El tártago es considerado como planta anual cuando se lo encara comercialmente. La preparación del suelo es muy importante, sobre todo en suelos arcillosos.
Es indispensable una preparación de suelo con incorporación de materias orgánicas.
Se siembran entre tres y cuatro semillas en hoyos, con distancias de 0,75 por 1 metro en el caso de las variedades enanas anuales y con cosecha mecanizada; 1,5 x 1,5 metro para el Ricinus persicus; entre seis y ocho kilogramos de semillas por hectárea; 2 x 2 metros para el Ricinus zanzibarensis. El mantenimiento se reduce a una o dos limpiezas al inicio del ciclo asociadas con la entresaca cuando la planta tenga 25 centímetros de altura.

FERTILIZACION

La fertilización debe ser fuertemente fosfatada, a ser hecha al momento o antes de la siembra, en una dosis de 80 unidades por hectárea.
El ciclo varía de 150 a 250 días. Los rendimientos en cultivo puro varían de 600 a 1.800 kilogramos de semillas por hectárea; sin embargo, con un cultivo adecuado y bajo riego se puede sobrepasar un rendimiento de 4.500 kilogramos por hectárea.

Pakistan: Agriculture Scientist start products on Bio-Fuel Plants

2009-03-16T00:05:00.001-07:00

⋅ Monday, March 16th, 2009 ⋅

ISLAMABAD (SANA): The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) has formally initiate work on projects aimed at to produce bio-fuel products. Enabling the country to save huge precious foreign exchange spent on fuel imports.

The PARC has been working on three projects in Balochistan area to plant three types of saplings that have potential to produce bulk quantity of bio-fuel, Chairman PARC, Doctor Altaf said in his interview. We have identified three salt tolerant plants including Jartopha, Salicornia and Castor oil plant, which could grow in salt marches on sea beaches and could even sustain for five years without water, he remarked.

He said that research work for Jatropha plantation has already been completed and the council would soon ardor for importing seeds of the plant to be cultivated in coastal areas of Balochistan province.

He was of the view that Jartopha plant has capacity to produce 1100 liter oil per hector where as Salicornia could produce 1600 liters per hector and Castor as many as 1800 liter per hector.

He said that the Satcornia plant would not only produce bio-fuel while its remains, which contain 41 percent, could be utilized for feeding animals in the Balochistan province.
It may be recalled that Jartopha contain up to 40 percent oil while castor plant contain 40-60 percent oil.

With plantation of these plants in costal areas, the bio-fuel production would incenses in the country and thereby lead to cut in imports resulting in saving of sizeable amount utilized for oil import, he remarked.

The PARC Chairman was of the view that instead of short term policies, the country was in need of developing ling-term plans to help develop sustainable economy in the country.

He said that Pakistan has great potential to become self-sufficient in many fields and ensure sufficiency in argil-yield, however added that there was need for continuity in the places to the economy on sustainable track.

To a question, the PARC chairman said that there was no cut in the council’s budget form the federal government, instead, he added the council was getting budget more than its demand.

The PARC Chairman also highlighted the need for switching towards organic farming to produce healthy agrl-products besides saving billions of rupees which the country has been utilizing on import of fertilizers.

“The year, the government provided Rs. 27 billions subsidy on fertilizers and we cansave the amount utilized in fertilizer purchase by using organic fertilizer’’ he added. He said that sugarcane remains were the best option to be utilized for fertilizing the agriculture lands.

The way to go! Invest in Agriculture and create jobs

2009-03-15T23:58:00.000-07:00

El esfuerzo redoblado en la labor relacionada con la agricultura, el campo y el campesinado

Hemos intensificado sin cesar la política de refuerzo a la agricultura y beneficio al campesinado. Continúa reforzada la protección de las tierras de cultivo. Se han estudiado y formulado 10 medidas para conceder mayor apoyo a la agricultura y la producción de cereales, y se ha preparado y confeccionado el Programa 2009-2020 de Aumento de la Capacidad de Producción Cerealera Nacional en 50.000 Millones de Kilos. Hemos trabajado con mayor intensidad en lo tocante a los precios de adquisición de granos, a los subsidios relacionados con la agricultura y a la compra y almacenamiento de productos agrícolas principales. Los precios mínimos de adquisición de cereales se han elevado de forma considerable en tres ocasiones, con un incremento superior al 20%, y los fondos asignados por la hacienda central para los subsidios directos al cultivo de cereales, los integrales a la adquisición de medios de producción agrícola y los otorgados por el uso de semillas mejoradas y la compra de máquinas y aperos agrícolas han ascendido a 103.000 millones de yuanes, el doble que el año precedente. Se ha aplicado la política de adquisición y almacenamiento provisional de los principales productos agrícolas, comprando en total 11.780.000 toneladas de arroz, 8.520.000 de maíz, 1.310.000 de algodón y 670.000 de oleaginosas.

Sigue en aumento la inversión financiera en apoyo del mundo rural. La hacienda central ha gastado en todo el año en concepto de agricultura, campo y campesinado un total de 595.550 millones de yuanes, un 37,9% más. Se ha apretado el paso en la construcción de núcleos de producción de cereales, cultivos oleaginosos y azucareros y algodón, así como de centros demostrativos de agricultura de secano, y han progresado sin contratiempos en su instauración el sistema de prevención y control de epidemias en animales y plantas, las áreas de cría de escala normalizada, los centros de reproducción de variedades mejoradas para cultivo o cría, el sistema de inspección y verificación de calidad y seguridad de los productos agrícolas, los mercados mayoristas de los mismos y las instalaciones de almacenamiento de cereales y aceites y de logística moderna.

Los principales productos agrícolas y de ocupaciones secundarias se han incrementado en gran margen. La cosecha de cereales ha sido buena por quinto año consecutivo, con una producción total de 528.500.000 toneladas, un 5,4% más, marcando nuevos récords históricos tanto en el rendimiento global como en el unitario. La producción de algodón ha sido de 7.500.000 toneladas, mientras la de cultivos oleaginosos y la de azucareros han alcanzado por separado 29.500.000 y 130.000.000 de toneladas, subiendo respectivamente un 14,8% y un 6,7%. La cría de cerdos se ha restaurado con rapidez, y la producción de carnes totaliza 72.690.000 toneladas, con un aumento del 5,9%. La producción láctea ha venido recuperándose al subir un 3,6% en todo el año, en tanto que la acuícola ha sumado 48.950.000 toneladas, un 3,1% más. La agricultura de buena calidad, alto rendimiento y elevada eficiencia ha cobrado nuevos avances, a la vez que los productos agrícolas libres de contaminación y los alimentos verdes y orgánicos, así como la producción agrícola normalizada, se han desarrollado de manera acelerada. Las variedades de calidad han llegado a representar el 68% en el cultivo de trigo y el 74% en el de arroz, aumentando en 6,3 y 1,9 puntos, respectivamente, sobre el año precedente.

Las condiciones de vida y producción en las zonas rurales han mejorado en mayor medida. Se han realizado de forma acelerada las obras de rehabilitación de los embalses defectuosos o en situación crítica y las de continuación, complementación o transformación para ahorro de agua en las grandes áreas de regadío; se ha cumplido con anticipación el programa de renovación y reconversión de las grandes estaciones de bombeo de drenaje en las regiones centrales, y ha empezado a construirse un número de obras hidráulicas clave. Continúa reforzada la edificación rural en materia de agua, electricidad, gas y vías, lo que ha dado como resultado 48.240.000 campesinos beneficiarios del programa de seguridad en el agua potable, 5 millones de nuevos usuarios de gas metano y 391.000 kilómetros de carreteras nuevas y reconstruidas en el campo. El proyecto de creación de 250.000 tiendas rurales y el de desarrollo de 100 mercados mayoristas y 100 distribuidoras de productos agrícolas han avanzado sin contratiempos.

Mickey Claus sprays a Neem oil solution on a fruit tree

2009-03-12T01:54:00.000-07:00

Mickey Claus/Dayton Courier

Mickey Claus sprays a Neem oil solution on a fruit tree to get the upper hand on aphids before they hatch in huge numbers. Aphids diminish the harvest and threaten the health of the trees.

Spring is on its way, and with the warming of the earth, comes bugs.

I happened to see a few flying bugs the other day, and it reminded me I needed to purchase some more Neem oil to spray on my fruit trees.

I have a big aphid problem in my yard, and I'd prefer to keep my fruit trees and deciduous trees healthy.

There are several different kinds of products on the market to kill bugs, and several ways to apply it. I use a systemic type of insect killer on my roses, and sprays like Neem on my fruit trees to treat the problem of aphids and undesirable bugs.

Aphids suck the sap out of the new leaves and blooms on my fruit trees which means I don't get to harvest as many apples, peaches or apricots as I would like if I let them get an upper hand.

Aphids leave behind egg sacks on the bark of the trees in the fall -- then come spring, the egg sacks hatch into several thousand little leaf suckers, and these little buggers multiply and end up hurting our trees. Left alone, they can quickly kill a tree, because without leaves to nourish the tree, the tree dies.

Since I don't like to use chemical pesticides, I use Neem oil which is not a pesticide. It is an oil produced by squeezing the seed of the Neem tree. The process kind of reminds me of olives and their oil.

When I'm out watering the yard, I like to pick a piece of fruit and eat it while still warmed from the sun. So, for me, chemicals are really out of the question.

Soapy water works okay, but you must repeat the process every couple of days, and in the meantime, the aphids are spreading. Not to mention, for the soapy water to work, I have to wait for the aphids to hatch, and by then its too late. They breed quickly.

Ladybugs eat aphids, and for a natural method of semi-control, these little ladies do alright. But even these pretty red beetles can only eat so much.

So, you can see my dilemma. Spray soap after the aphids appear, buy lady bugs by the gross, or use Neem oil on the bark and baby leaves before the little buggers hatch. Spraying the bark and new leaves is much easier than trying to keep the lady bugs on my trees.
Most bad bugs would rather die than eat from a plant sprayed by Neem oil. That includes grasshoppers. It is safe to use around pets and will not hurt birds, ladybugs, bees or any beneficial critters.

The kids that come to visit also are a big reason I don't use chemicals.

Neem can be used as a diluted solution to spray on any of your plants including your vegetable garden. Just mix about four teaspoons of pure Neem oil, one teaspoon of liquid dish soap to one gallon of water. Pour into a tree sprayer and generously apply to the tree and its leaves. Spray only in the early morning or late afternoon. A cloudy day works best, and oils can burn the baby leaves if sprayed during the heat of the day. You reapply this mix every two to four weeks as needed.

With Neem, the kids and pets are safe and I get to pick my sun-warmed fruit and eat it straight from the tree.

Next week we'll talk about weeds.

Mickey Claus works at Community Roots Nursery, Landscaping and Maintenance. The Dayton-based business donates one-third of its profits to programs for area youth.

Entre Ríos, puntualmente en Chajarí, en la década del 30 había tres aceiteras que prensaban ricino o tartago

2009-02-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

En el marco del programa Bio Entre Ríos, que busca favorecer el desarrollo de tecnologías limpias como la de los biocombustibles en la provincia, el gobernador Sergio Urribarri entregó un aporte de 250 mil pesos a la Municipalidad de Chajarí que será destinado a la adquisición de infraestructura y maquinarias para el prensado de oleaginosas que permitan obtener biodidesel • El intendente Juan Javier García, quien recibió el aporte, agradeció el apoyo del Gobierno entrerriano para el desarrollo de Biochajarí • “Esta ayuda económica fue una promesa formulada al inicio de la gestión que hoy se está concretando”, resaltó.

“En los próximos días convocaremos a los productores para comenzar a trabajar con ellos en todo lo que son producciones alternativas mediante el prensado de semillas. Estos les servirá a los productores para mejorar sus ingresos y al Municipio para potenciar la planta”, expresó el intendente de Chajarí, Juan Javier García luego de recibir el aporte de manos del gobernador.

En tanto, el secretario de Medio Ambiente explicó que “el desafío de la provincia es impulsar una regulación sobre este tema y apoyar todo este tipo de emprendimientos a pequeña escala”. Y mencionó el proyecto Biocolón que desarrolla la Asociación del Departamento Colón de Ayuda al Discapacitado (Adcadis) y que consiste en el reciclado de aceites vegetales para la fabricación de biocombustibles.

“Biocolón y Biochajrí son dos unidades demostrativas en escalas diferentes experiencias que pretendemos sean replicadas rápidamente en otras localidades entrerianas, ya sea por parte de organismos estatales como privados, teniendo como criterio guía, la implementación de tecnologías adecuadas a las realidades locales y regionales”, indicó Raffo.

Este aporte se entregó en el marco de acuerdo suscripto meses atrás entre la Municipalidad y el Gobierno entrerriano mediante el cual la Provincia se compromete a otorgar financiamiento para el desarrollo de Biochajarí y la comuna a invertir dichos fondos en la construcción de la infraestructura necesaria en terrenos propios y a la adquisición de maquinaria para el prensado de oleaginosas para complementar a los distintos equipos del proyecto ya en marcha.

• Fundamentos y objetivos

En este nuevo siglo, se está viviendo una crisis energética a escala mundial, ya que las reservas de petróleo están disminuyendo a pasos agigantados, (estimándose que en algunas décadas estas se agotaran), y el consumo de combustibles crece en forma exponencial, con lo que la humanidad se encontrará muy pronto en un punto de inflexión de su historia.

Actualmente el motor de la economía mundial, gira gracias a los combustibles fósiles derivados del petróleo, que si bien tienen un elevado rendimiento, sus emanaciones son contaminantes para el ambiente, siendo estas últimas las mayores responsables del efecto invernadero. Una de las soluciones a esta problemática es el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías energéticas, que utilicen recursos renovables y sean amigables para el ambiente. En muchos países del mundo se ha producido la incentivación de estas fuentes de energías varias de las cuales responden a viejas ideas que han sido mejoradas con las tecnologías disponibles hoy en día.

En Entre Ríos, puntualmente en Chajarí, en la década del 30 había tres aceiteras que prensaban ricino o tartago, como se lo conoce vulgarmente. Adempas, en la década de los 80 se utilizó en la provincia el bioetanol o alconafta que se producía a base de la remolacha azucarera. Más cercano en el tiempo se comenzaron varios intentos para la producción de biodiesel en base de aceites vegetales pero lamentablemente ninguno de estos proyectos tuvo continuidad en el tiempo y actualmente no existe una producción continua de biocombustibles, existiendo pocas experiencias para replicar.

En este marco, esta gestión se propuso desarrollar el proyecto Bio Entre Ríos con el objetivo de favorecer el desarrollo de tecnologías limpias como la de los biocombustibles en la provincia. Además se busca concientizar a la población, mediante acciones tendientes a la preservación del ambiente, reciclar el aceite usado en los comedores y hogares, con el fin de colaborar con la protección ambiental, y rescatar el cultivo de oleaginosas como el ricino o la colza, para diversificar la producción agrícola local. (APF.Digital)

Actualmente el municipio está produciendo biodiesel con el aceite usado de los comedores y restaurants de la ciudad y esta ayuda económica del gobierno provincial permitirá invertir en la infraestructura necesaria para obtener el biodiesel mediante el prensado de oleaginosas no tradicionales, como el ricino o la colza.

Aceite de ricino contra las legañas persistentes

2009-02-24T11:30:00.000-08:00

Nuestras expertas de belleza ya os han comentado las magníficas propiedades del aceite de ricino para fortalecer las pestañas e incentivar su crecimiento. Hoy voy a desvelaros otro de los beneficios de este aceite: su eficacia contra las legañas.

Hay mucha gente, sobre todo niños, que sufren un incómodo problema. Tienen legañas muy secas, muy difíciles de quitar, y que hacen que las pestañas se debiliten y se quiebren. En algunos casos, las legañas son tan molestas que incluso los ojos pueden quedar pegados por la mañana al despertarse.

El aceite de ricino va muy bien para estos casos. Lo podéis comprar en la farmacia, sin receta médica, y aplicarlo por la noche, antes de dormir, con un bastoncillo de los oídos. No es necesario aplicar una excesiva cantidad, con que se humedezcan las pestañas es suficiente.

Si sois constantes y lo aplicáis cada noche, veréis como en cuestión de un mes, vuestras incordiosas legañas han desaparecido y lucís unas pestañas más fuertes.

El aceite de ricino es uno de los primeros cosméticos utilizados. Ya en tiempos de los egipcios se usaba para abrillantar el pelo y como fijador. Actualmente, está presente en multitud de cosméticos como barras de labios y aceites corporales para después del baño. En Arrebatadora, ya habéis podido leer los beneficios de este aceite en el tratamiento de callos y verrugas.

El Chaco, ya es el mayor productor de tártago en el país

2009-02-23T23:57:00.001-08:00

Lunes, 23 de Febrero de 2009 - Publicado en la Edición Impresa

Se sembraron 4.500 hectáreas. En algunas ya se está cosechando. La siembra y la zafra se hacen en forma manual y la mayoría de los lotes pertenece a pequeños productores. Una alternativa económica que permite la siembra mixta y una rentabilidad asegurada para el pequeño productor.

SAENZ PEÑA (Agencia) —“La provincia del Chaco se constituye en la mayor productora de tártago en el país, e involucra a 470 familias en este cultivo alternativo”, dijo a NORTE el gobernador Jorge Capitanich, en la recorrida que efectuó en un lote ubicado al sur de la ruta nacional 16, perteneciente a un integrante de una cooperativa de pequeños productores.
Acompañado por el subsecretario de Agricultura Miguel Brunswig y por Avi Krengel, director ejecutivo de Gar Argentina SA, la empresa privada que produce tártago para el mercado de biodiésel en la región NEA, Capitanich recorrió el lote de este cultivo, donde los técnicos de esta empresa dieron explicaciones acerca del ciclo biológico del cultivo.
El tártago se siembra a más tardar en septiembre y tiene la primera cosecha entre 120 y 150 días, depende del clima, lluvia, tierra, productor).
La cosecha continúa cada 21 días hasta la primera helada, que para la producción. Si no llega la helada sigue produciendo. Alrededor de agosto se poda la planta y comienza el segundo año de producción. El ciclo de cada planta es de tres años. Una hectárea rinde entre tres a cuatro toneladas de fruta, depende de las condiciones climáticas.
Es posible intercalar con el tártago maíz, zapallo, sandía, algodón, pino, algarrobo y otros cultivos. De esta manera, el productor se puede beneficiar mejor y obtener más producción de cada hectárea.
El tártago —dicen los técnicos— favorece a la tierra, crea un microclima que favorece también a los cultivos intercalados, aleja a las hormigas del lote y enriquece la tierra.

Nueva cadena
productiva
Sostuvo Capitanich que su gobierno promociona el cultivo del tártago para generar una nueva cadena productiva, con la participación directa de más de 700 familias de agricultores chaqueños. Las hectáreas sembradas en la provincia configuran más de la mitad de la superficie de las plantaciones que se distribuyen en el país como parte de este proyecto. En lo inmediato, la producción se traducirá en el movimiento de 600 contenedores para la exportación de las semillas a través del sistema de transporte multimodal, que incluye el puerto de Barranqueras.
Capitanich señaló que “en el ámbito de la agricultura es necesario tener una estrategia para la preservación de la capacidad de uso del suelo. Esto implica reconocer las limitantes existentes para la producción agrícola y también mecanismos para establecer un protocolo respecto de cada uno de los cultivos”.
Esta metodología de trabajo comprende desde la prevención de los daños que puede ocasionar el picudo del algodonero hasta los incentivos para la siembra directa y el uso de tecnología; el manejo de los agroquímicos y la implementación de sistemas de financiamiento para la compra de maquinaria que permita la producción de biodiésel y reduzca los costos de producción.

Características
y aplicaciones
El tártago es la materia prima de la cual se extrae el aceite de ricino; pero también puede emplearse para la producción de biodiésel. Ofrece una multiplicidad de aplicaciones en la industria de combustibles —como sustituto en la fabricación de lubricantes y anticongelantes— y de plásticos biodegradables, además de usos medicinales y cosméticos. Tiene mercado ganado en el mundo, por lo que el interés del gobierno en promocionar el cultivo, apoyar la inversión, asistir a los agricultores para asegurar la competitividad de esta producción y planificar la etapa de industrialización del tártago está sobradamente justificado.

Agriculture offers a brighter future than crude oil

2009-02-18T00:35:00.001-08:00

By Ayo Akinfe
With global oil prices falling to below $40 a barrel, Nigeria is suddenly in a panic, with economic diversification now the most used phrase in our national vocabulary.
It has taken the inevitable spectre of significantly reduced revenue to make us all realise that we have to look beyond the Niger Delta for our daily bread and once more activities such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing are trendy.
Given that about 95 per cent of Nigeria’s export earnings come from oil, this is no surprise as one cannot dispute the fact that if you were earning $60 billion from exports and this suddenly falls to $30 billion, you are in trouble.
To make matters worse, oil actually contributes very little to our local economy in terms of numbers employed, the growth of ancillary industries, out-sourcing to secondary producers and the spurring of a local supply sector.
Oil rigs are manufactured and assembled in Europe and North America and shipped to Nigeria, lock, stock and barrel. Other than those directly employed by the oil companies and the powers-that-be who revel off the proceeds of oil sales, very few Nigerians actually enjoy any benefits of the Niger Delta’s black gold.
Despite this, oil still accounted for the bulk of the foreign direct investment (FDI) coming into Nigeria. Only this week, Russian gas giant Gazprom said it would invest at least $2.5 billion in the development and production of Nigeria’s natural gas reserves. One of Gazprom’s officials even declared that the company has begun serious talks with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on joint venture projects.
Similarly, Ivory Coast’s national oil company Petroci is planning to acquire two Nigerian offshore oil blocks. Like everyone else, these investors see oil as a guaranteed return on their investments as the turnaround times are short, the oil is certain to flow and the sector is not labour-intensive.
There is the small matter of Niger Delta unrest but that can be taken care of with measures such as beefing up security, locating facilities way out at sea and drilling pipelines so deep that they are inaccessible.
No one can doubt the fact that those interested in investing in Nigeria have done their homework well and are only prepared to put their cash where they are certain of successful returns.
I just wonder what the size of our economy would be if successive Nigerian governments ever thought this way.
When seeking to woo investors and attract FDI, do our leaders ever think of what will generate the most jobs, what kind of investments are sustainable over long periods of time, what creates ancillary businesses and what kind of industries will have a domino effect on the rest of the economy?
Hopefully, the current collapse in oil prices will get us putting our thinking caps on. Attracting more investment into the oil and gas industry does nothing to diversify the Nigerian economy, is short-termist by its very nature and will have minimum effect on economic expansion in other areas.
Fortunately, a few of our governors are beginning to see the light and if they live up to the rhetoric, very soon, we might begin to see agriculture making a respectable contribution to our foreign export earnings.
In Katsina state for instance, neem or dogonyaro cultivation is currently being stepped up to serve the twin purposes of being a foreign exchange earner and a vital tool in the battle against desertification.
Neem is used as a raw material in the production of fertiliser, soap, waxes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, insecticides and lubricants, among others. If its cultivation is widespread and is backed up with the establishment of processing facilities, this would create employment for vast rural communities.
Dr EM Okonkwo, a director in the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology Zaria, recently revealed that in the 1980s, India received almost $2 billion from the sale of neem oil alone annually.
In nearby Yobe state, the government has recently embarked on the large scale production of castor oil seeds as part of a project to engage about 100,000 farmers to cultivate more than 10,000 hectares of land. Castor oil can be used for pharmaceuticals and aviation fuel, among other things.
Due to the ability of the crop to stunt the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the European Union is crediting the Yobe state government with a carbon credit of N2bn as part of its global warming initiative.
Kano state is also trying to get in on the act, assuring its farmers of a 40 per cent subsidy towards the purchase of all agricultural appliances.
Alhaji Musa Suleiman Shanono, the state commissioner for agriculture, said the government is doing this as part of a drive to put more effort towards revamping the agricultural sector.
We already know what Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is doing in Delta state and how he is determined to make agriculture the mainstay of the economy despite the fact that Delta is a major oil-producing part of Nigeria.
As I have mentioned on these pages recently, Governor Uduaghan’s programmes have received the stamp of approval from the highest levels, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) acknowledging his sound economic policies.
Last month, Delta state was adjudged by the CBN to be the number one state in Nigeria when it comes to using micro-credit financing to fight poverty due to the way it is empowering farmers.
While on the subject of governors who appreciate the importance of agriculture, I must make a brief mention of Kwara state’s Bukola Saraki.
His initiative in introducing commercial farming into the country by bringing Zimbabwe’s growers to his neck of the woods must be commended.
Adamawa state’s governor, the retired naval chief, Governor Murtala Nyako is a commercial farmer himself. In terms of size, scope and sophistication, Governor Nyako’s farm is probably only second to that of his one-time commander-in-chief’s one at Otta. I for one expect to see this expertise brought to bear across the length and breath of Adamawa state.
Looking across Nigeria, a neutral observer would be surprised at how little agricultural produce we grow, export and earn from.
Cash crops are major revenue earners for countries like Canada, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, China, USA, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Mexico, just to mention a few. There is simply no reason why Nigeria cannot join their ranks.
In Nigeria, cash crops we can grow in commercial quantities and export in large volumes include cocoa, palm oil, guar gum, soyabeans, ginger, neem, castor oil, groundnuts, cotton, rubber, cassava, patchouli oil, coffee, coconuts, cashew, shea nuts, sesame seed, nutmeg, fenugreek, pistachios, macadamia nuts, cloves, fishmeal, cinnamon, eucalyptus, cardamom, and garlic just to mention a few.
If Malaysia can generate $10 billion a year in palm oil exports alone, there is no reason why Nigeria cannot earn $15 billion from the sale of the same crop, given that we have 10 times more land suited to the crop than them. We are currently generating about $60 billion from the sale of crude oil exports a year but this is blinding us to the fact that we could be generating $100 billion from the sale of agricultural produce.
In Nigeria as across the rest of Africa, we have developed the mindset that farming is for those “from the bush” and those who did not do well at school. This misguided manner of thinking is largely responsible for our neglect of one of our most valuable resources.
Expanding agriculture would boost the establishment of processing facilities, as guaranteed supply is a magnet for investors in the sector.
It would also create thousands of jobs, enhance the development of ancillary industries and above all reduce our dependency on the finite resources of the Niger Delta.
As we look for a way out of the perilous situation we are currently in as a result of falling oil prices, we need look no further than our soil. It is time agriculture took its rightful place in the Nigerian economy.
Ayo Akinfe
aakinfe@aol.com
Source: nigeriavillagesquare.com

No need to modify engines for coco-diesel, study finds

2009-02-12T13:09:00.000-08:00

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Vehicle owners can use coco-diesel fuel without modifying or changing their diesel engines, according to the Nihon University of Japan.

A study conducted by Dr. Koji Yoshida of Nihon University in partnership with the Integrated Research and Training Center of Technological University of the Philippines, showed that power and performance of unmodified engines are not affected by the use of a 10-20 percent coco-diesel blend.

This means that any diesel-powered vehicles such as jeepneys, buses and trucks can immediately shift to coco-diesel as an alternative fuel, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said yesterday.

Estimates show that the use of 1 percent blend coco-diesel increases the mileage of a car by 10 percent. Theoretically, a car that runs 500 km on regular diesel fuel can run an extra 50 km using coco-diesel.

Yoshida’s study also shows that using coco-diesel or coco-methyl ester blends from 1 percent up to 20 percent can reduce harmful emissions from diesel engines.

A test conducted at the Nihon University, using a single cylinder diesel engine, showed that coco-diesel is effective in reducing air pollution and smoke concentration brought about by hydrocarbon and other vehicle emissions.

A separate test conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Research Institute in Japan using 10 percent and 20 percent coco-diesel blend on two truck engines (1992 Model and 2003 Model), showed emission reductions are more dramatic with the old truck (1992 model) than with the newer truck (2003 Model), which was already equipped with an exhaust gas emission reduction system.

Old trucks can reduce hydrocarbon emission by 16 percent after using the 10 percent coco-diesel blend; and by 22 percent in a 20 percent coco-diesel blend, the study said.

At 20 percent coco-diesel blend used on newer trucks, hydrocarbon and particulate matter emissions are reduced by 8 percent and 19 percent, respectively.

Also at 20 percent blend, smoke concentration of diesel engines is also reduced by as much as 23 percent at an engine speed of 1,260 revolution per minute

Results of these studies were presented at the seminar on Road Vehicles International Standardization Activities sponsored by the Japan Society of Automotive Engineers and the Department of Trade and Industry Bureau of Product Standards.

“Results of this study come as a big support to efforts to bring cleaner and cheaper alternative fuels to the mainstream market,” Lotilla said.

In light of rising world oil prices, government is pursuing the increased development and utilization of alternative transport fuels to reduce dependence on imported fuel, earn foreign exchange savings from fuel displacement and create livelihood opportunities for the local people.

Independent oil player Flying V is offering 1 percent preblend coco-diesel at selected stations in Metro Manila and Baguio City. The DoE also reported that oil companies have agreed to make coco-diesel available at their service stations nationwide.

producción de tártago para producir aceite de ricino para biodiesel

2009-02-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

* La experiencia se hace en Yacuy (Argentina), lo que favorecerá a la comunidad aborigen tartago biodiesel

Determinar cuál es la especie de semilla de tártago que mejor se adapta a las condiciones ambientales locales y que pueda obtener los mayores rindes para la producción de aceite de ricino, es el objetivo que persiguen varios grupos de técnicos que en forma simultánea llevan adelante una red de ensayo en Tartagal y las provincias de Misiones, Chaco y Formosa en Argentina.

Coincidente con el inicio del período de lluvias dio comienzo la siembra a baja escala de distintas especies del tártago, una planta que ha demostrado sus ventajas ecológicas para la obtención del aceite de ricino, indicado como óptimo para la producción de los biodiesel.

En abril del año pasado, el Congreso de la Nación sancionó la ley de biocombustibles que establece que en el 2010 los combustibles fósiles que provienen del gas y petróleo deben estar compuestos en un 5 por ciento de combustibles ecológicos. De ahí se desprende el interés en lograr la producción de este derivado de la semilla de tártago

Evaluar los genotipos, condiciones de cultivo, fecha de siembra, desbrotado, manejo de plagas y enfermedades y eficientizar el uso de los recursos disponibles son algunos de los temas que se determinarán en esta primera etapa de la red de ensayos que se realiza en la comunidad aborigen Yacuy.

Se trata de 30 hectáreas pertenecientes a la comunidad guaranítica donde las experiencias se llevan adelante utilizando maquinaria, herramientas y mano de obra de la propia comunidad. Los insumos necesarios son aportados por el municipio, que además realiza la capacitación y monitoreo de todo el proyecto.

Yacuy, como muchas comunidades de pequeños labradores, posee grandes extensiones de tierra la mayoría ambientalmente degradadas. “Yacuy tiene 300 hectáreas disponibles, la mitad dedicada a la producción de choclo, zapallo, mandiocas y las 150 restantes notoriamente degradadas. La idea es hacer la experiencia con el tártago en esas tierras marginales, porque sabemos que el tártago es un recuperador natural del suelo”, explicó el licenciado Julio Vargas.

Las características

El proyecto cuenta con tres actores: las pequeñas comunidades dedicadas al trabajo de la tierra, un inversor privado que aporta recursos para el pago de los capacitadores y potencial comprador de la semilla de aceite de ricino y el municipio como articulador del proyecto.

La experiencia se inició en el mes de marzo y dentro de un año -en marzo de 2008- se conocerán las potencialidades productivas de la semilla introducida.
Es que por el contexto actual y por la importancia que están adquiriendo los combustibles “verdes”, la producción de aceite de tártago para ser utilizada como materia prima resulta más que interesante.

Unos 50 pequeños productores de la zona que se dedican al trabajo en huertas, producción de maíz, maní, mandioca, zapallo, sandías, para el autoconsumo o la venta en baja escala, se han registrado como futuros productores de tártago, con lo cual unas 1.000 hectáreas podrían estar disponibles.

El tártago tiene la ventaja de ser uno de los mejores recuperadores del suelo -a diferencia de la soja- por lo que la alternancia con los cultivos tradicionales dejaría la tierra en mejores condiciones para seguir trabajándola el resto del año.

Otro ventaja del tártago es que su semilla será utilizada únicamente para producir aceite de ricino y destinarlo a fines energéticos (biocombustible) y oleoquímico (en la industria petroquímica).

Neem tree offers shade, medicine, and insect control

2009-02-08T07:06:00.000-08:00

Reese Halter, Calgary Herald
Published: Sunday, February 08, 2009

Of the more than 80,000 tree species on our planet, the Indian neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is magnificent and known by millions of people as "the village pharmacy."

Imagine one kind of tree that offers medicine, cosmetics, rope, tea, glue, wood, fertilizer, pesticides and insecticides, lubricant, lighting and heating oil, veterinary medicine and shade. Welcome to the neem tree.

Neem is native to India and Myanmar. It grows from the southern Indian tip of Karalla to the Himalayan hills. It spans both tropical and subtropical latitudes, from wet tropical to semi-arid regions and from sea level to 700 metres elevation. It does not tolerate cold temperatures or saturated soils.

These evergreen beauties can easily reach 30 metres in height with impressive regal crowns and 2.5-metre girths. They are very fast-growing and are able to recolonize denuded and infertile soils.

Their profuse white mellifluous flowers bear fruit that at first glance resembles an olive.

The fruits have a sweet pulp that is an important source of food for birds, bats and baboons. A hard shell encases seeds known as a kernel --sometimes there are as many as three kernels in each fruit. Young saplings produce fruit by the age of four and a 10-year-old tree can yield up to 50 kilograms of fruit.

The neem tree can easily live for more than two centuries. And there are over 20 million neem trees in India alone.

Neem has been introduced to over 30 countries around the globe including the United States, in Arizona, California, Florida and Hawaii.

Neem is particularly important in the developing world. It provides shade throughout the year and only in extreme droughts does it shed its leaves. Neem plantations provide employment and help generate income in rural communities.

Ground-up kernels provide oil for lighting and heat for cooking. The oil is also used as a lubricant for greasing cart wheels. The solid material left after making oil--known as cake -- is spread over the fields, adding essential organic matter and enriching the soil. In addition, the cake acts very effectively at repelling crop-destroying root and stem sucking nematodes.

Moreover, the developing world is using the tremendous ability of neems to successfully combat encroaching desertification, deforestation and rising greenhouse gases.

For three thousand years the Indian Ayurveda shamans have known of neems' potent insecticide, pesticide and medicinal properties.

The neem tree's remarkable defence belongs to a class of compounds called triterpenes, more specifically limonoids. At least nine of these limonoids block insect growth.

Azadirachtin is neem's main defence. It blocks and disrupts growth and reproduction of insects. Both meliantriol and salannin are efficacious insect feeding inhibitors.

Extracts of neem are effective against at least 200 different insect species including locust, mosquitoes carrying malaria and voracious Australian blowflies.

Neem residue can be sprinkled on the soil, taken up by plant roots and used by crops as a plant defence mechanism, for up to 10 weeks against insect infestations. There is no trace of neem residue in crops. Furthermore, neither pollinators such as bees, moths and bats nor beneficial insects such as spiders, ladybugs and dragonflies are harmed by neem extracts.

All known warm-blooded animals and birds are also safe from harm.

Azatin, Align and Margosan-O are all neem-based products that protect crops.

Neem extract is an excellent general antiseptic, successful against a variety of skin disease, septic sores and infected burns. The leaves--applied in a paste--are used to treat boils, ulcers and eczema.

Neem is very effective at fighting Trichophyton fungus or athlete's foot.

As an antibacterial, neem extract is nature's weapon against Staphylococcus aureus.

Neem extract provides millions of impoverished people with low-cost pain relief as an analgesic and as an antipyretic or fever-reducer.

Interestingly, neem extract is being used to immunize insects carrying the parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi) causing Chagas' Disease, which has crippled more than 20 million people in Latin America.

Each day in India, millions of people break off a neem twig and use it as a toothbrush. Compounds in the neem bark have strong antiseptic properties and prevent tooth decay as well as preventing and healing inflammation in gums. A number of companies now offer neem toothpaste and mouthwashes.

Veterinarians use crushed neem leaves applied to open wounds on cattle to eliminate maggots. They regularly use neem oil to repel blowflies, and azqadirachtin to prevent biting and horn flies.

The list of beneficial products from the neem tree is astonishing. They include wonderful facial and body creams, soaps, nail polishes, furniture, cricket bats, cabinetry, flooring, waxes, dyes, prized honey and soon-to-be food additives.

Neem is truly one of Mother Nature's most remarkable trees.

Dr. reese halTer is a naturalist and founder of the international

conservation institute global forest science. he can be contacted

through www.Drreese.com.