[Ghana]: Cashew is the future of Adaklu – DCE

June 25, 2019 

Mr Phanuel Donkor Kadey, the District Chief Executive of Adaklu said the Assembly is strategizing to use cashew cultivation to eliminate poverty in the farming area.

Ghana cashew - images by IT

“Adaklu land supports cashew cultivation so we are investing in large scale cultivation to make the District a hub for cashew by 2023,” he said at a short ceremony, where the Assembly presented 60,000 cashew seedlings to the District Department of Agriculture for distribution to farmers for free.

The distribution of the cashew seedlings is under the government’s Planting for Export and Rural Development in line with the Planting of Food and Jobs initiative.

The DCE advised farmers, especially the youth, to venture into cashew farming to enhance their lot, saying, “there is money in cashew. In four years, you will start smiling with improved living status.”

He said the Department of Agriculture is ready to offer technical support to farmers and also urged schools to consider “school level agriculture” and plant cashew.

Mr Kadey said apart from the economic benefits, the plantations would improve the vegetation and tourist potential of Adaklu.

Mama Dzankuia II, Queenmother of Adaklu Waya, warned against bush burning and the use of cashew plants as wood fuel and urged women to take advantage of the intervention.

She appealed to chiefs and the people of the area to release land to women to cultivate cashew to support the family.

GNA

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Source: Ghana Business News

[India]: Kuttanad Development Authority is my immediate priority, says Kodikunnil

June 25, 2019

The stand taken by the UDF was found to be genuine by the believers and the NSS also personally intervened for the victory of our candidates.

Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh. | (File | EPS)

His immediate priority is the formation of the Kuttanad Development Authority, Kodikunnil Suresh who got reelected from the Mavelikkara reserved constituency told Express Special Correspondent Arun Lakshman. Excerpts...

Q: You have been reelected from the Mavelikkara constituency. What is your top priority?

My immediate priority is the formation of the Kuttanad Development Authority, Once the authority is formed, several issues plaguing Kuttanad can be resolved once and for all. There is a major lack of coordination between various departments and to take Kuttanad forward, I think the development authority with a chairman and MD and other directors will lead to better coordination.

Q: What are the other major development projects you have initiated?

I have represented this constituency several times and hence know what is lacking here. With my experience in parliament, I know clearly as to how to work for the development projects here. We are into the development of national highways and the Kodaikkanal-Alapppuzha highway. We  also have two other highways which will help promote hill tourism in the backward parts of the constituency including Punalur, Anchalammoodu and Bharanikkavu. Other than these, several trains have now started plying through this constituency to major destinations.

Q:A large number of cashew factories are in your constituency as well as Kollam. Are you focusing on a revival of the industry?

Yes, of course. Cashew is an industry which has generated huge foreign exchange for the country. The industry is facing problems owing to an increase of 5 per cent in import tax which has resulted in a heavy burden on the industrialists who are importing raw cashew from Africa. Besides, second-quality nuts are being imported as cattle feed resulting in the plummeting of prices. This has led to the shutting down of several cashew factories affecting the lives of thousands of ordinary workers. I have taken this matter up in parliament and will meet the ministers and officials concerned for reworking the policy.

Q: What were the major factors which contributed to the resounding victory of UDF in the state in the recent general elections?

There were several factors and the major one was the Sabarimala issue. The stand taken by the UDF was found to be genuine by the believers and the NSS also personally intervened for the victory of our candidates. For instance, my lead in Changanassery was around 23,000 votes.

Q: The BJP has 303 members in the Lok Sabha while the Congress has only 52. Do you feel that this huge majority is being used by the BJP to shout you down?

Yes. In parliament, the BJP behaves as if they are omnipotent. For instance, when we raised the issue of the unfortunate deaths of children in Bihar during Zero Hour, both Cabinet Minister for Health Harsh Vardhan and his deputy Ashwini Kumar Choubey did not respond at all. Usually, the Speaker will ask the ministers to speak when the Opposition raises an issue in Zero Hour.

Q: You are the Chief Whip of the Congress. Do you feel that you could have been the leader of the Congress Legislature Party?

No. I am the first Dalit Chief Whip of the Congress and this shows that the party is considering Dalits, other backward communities and minorities without any prejudice.

By Arun Lakshman

Source: The New Indian Express

[Ghana]: Take advantage of Kpong left bank irrigation project – North Tongu youth advised

June 25, 2019

The youth of the North District of the Volta Region, have been advised to take advantage of the ongoing Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Project (KLBIP) at Torgorme and go into agriculture to improve their standard of living.

Images by IT

Mr. Richard Collins Arku, District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area who gave the advice, said upon completion, KLBIP shall become the country’s largest irrigation facility, ensure all year round farming, increase crop yield and turn the area into a major agriculture hub and enhance economic activity.

Mr Arku, addressing a Public Accountability Forum by the Assembly to give accounts on its stewardship at Juapong, said agriculture will remain the area’s mainstay for a long time and the Government is keen at developing it.

He, therefore, cautioned the youth to not to focus their minds only on white collar jobs and pursue agriculture, which according to him, is now the world’s key source of jobs and employment, even in the developed economies, saying the sector is no longer for only the unschooled.

Mr. Arku said the $25.5 million Government project, shall irrigate over 2,000 hectares of land, directly benefit about 20 communities and employ about 12,000 people on completion, with rice, maize, soya beans, okra, cowpea, watermelon, cabbage, pepper and butter nut squash the main crops to be grown.

Mr. Arku also announced the take off of another project, a major Fish Farming Project by a Chinese group wooed in by the Assembly at Nyatikpo, to do Tilapi farming and is building its own hatchery for fingerlings to feed the farm, to become the country’s largest.

He said the company has engaged a 1,000 acre plot of land and will be employing 200 youths directly and several more indirectly in the interim, adding the project shall also sell out fingerlings to other farms.

Mr. Peter Heh, District Director of Agriculture said Government’s initiatives to improve incomes and lives, including Planting for Food and Jobs (SIFJ), Special Initiative on Rice (SIR), Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) and Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ) are being implemented in the District.

He said under SIR, high yielding rice seedlings that will produce about 30 bags of produce per acre, is available at a reduced price aid rice production in the area.

Mr. Heh said there is also a subsidized fertilizer at GH¢80 instead of GH¢200 per bag to cover an acre of rice farm.

According to him, Volta Region is now the country’s leading rice producer, with the North Tongu also doing well in the crop, and advised the people to take advantage of the initiatives in view of the good prospects it bring.

He said in the PERD scheme, cocoa, oil palm, cashew nut and coconut plantations are the options and the North Tongu was selected for oil palm, cashew and coconut areas.

Mr. Heh said the Directorate had nursed 600 oil Pam and 2,000 cashew nut seedlings for free distribution to farmers under the initiative.

He said the “RFJ”, involves animal rearing, in which hybrid animals would be supplied to beneficiaries to promote animal husbandry and enhance lives.

The Volta Region, he said has been allotted the pig and chicken option, while others were for goats, guinea fowls, sheep and others.

Mr. Heh said high yielding maize seedlings are available at GH¢3.00 per kilogram instead of GH¢10.00, aside tomatoes, cabbage and pepper seedlings and fertilizers also at subsidized rates for pick.

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Source: Ghana Business News

[IVC]: Women and agribusiness at the heart of the Kroubi cultural and economic week (Reportage)

June 24, 2019

One of the major themes marking the "Kroubi" cultural and economic week, held from 19 to 21 June in Bondoukou (North-East), is women's entrepreneurship through panels, workshops and conferences led by experts. Ivorians and foreigners. This week, whose theme is "Agribusiness and social cohesion: factors of territorial development", allowed to discover the know-how of some women entrepreneurs who reveal their path and their expectations at the end of this cultural event. 

Bondoukou - Ivory Coast. Images by IT 

It is a development tool aimed at creating the right conditions for a good business environment to boost local and national development. This year, the focus was particularly on women and agribusiness through themes, exhibitions of products in the various stands installed for this purpose. 

The initiator of the Kroubi Week, Issoufou Ouattara, said that he decided this year to work much more with women in the Gontougo and Bounkani regions in order to empower them. He noted that this edition has highlighted projects of cooperatives and other women's initiatives. The goal is to create a more inclusive and participative society. 

Difficult but encouraging beginnings 

It is this objective that some of them want to set themselves at Kroubi, in particular, Kra Marina director of establishments of the same name. It offers the public natural juice from cashew apples and organic liquor cashew without yeast or sugar and syrup and jam. 

Miss Kra said that the adventure began four years ago on own funds with the rudimentary manufacture of cashew liqueur in association with the fruit house of Bondoukou. 

She admitted that she started her business anonymously because the people of Bondoukou are still unaware of the products that can be made from the cashew nut often abandoned in the plantations in favor of the nut. of cashew. 

This opinion is also shared by Kouadio Sonia Esther, director of the company YE-HAARI, specialist in the production of clay pots, honey, shea butter, soumara, fonio and purple rice. 

It recognized the many difficulties encountered in the implementation of its business, including the lack of access to credit.She stressed, however, that this is a dream she wanted to achieve since childhood. 

"I've always wanted to tell the world about home-grown foods made in Africa with unmixed natural products and chemicals," she said. 

For Ama Tano Odette, a member of the Côte d'Ivoire National Transformers Network (RET-PACI), a specialist in the processing of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruit and tuber spices, the company was set up thanks to Mrs. Coulibaly Alimata, current president who initially introduced the porridge with corn flour before its structure spreads throughout the national territory. 

Findings noted in the management of agricultural activities 

The conduct of women's agricultural associations is not easy and presents flaws that we know Mrs. Callé Aude Viviane, agroeconomist engineer, coordinator of the project for support to agricultural coordination and marketing (PROPACOM).She hosted a conference with the theme "Woman in agriculture" where she noted the different findings in the presence of women in agriculture. 

For the speaker, there is a low visibility of women in relation to their sector of activity who prefer to evolve in the informal sector. This situation, according to statistics, does not highlight the real contribution of women in their activities. 

She lamented the lack of funding to increase the activities of women who often live in precarious conditions despite the large financial flow circulating in the food sector. Ms. Callé also pointed out that women often do not have land to safely engage in farming activities. 

For the speaker, women-led agricultural activities often suffer from immaturity, lack of transparency in fund management and lack of financial balance, and too much leadership that builds trust within the organization. group. 

"It is impossible to seek funding when we can not take stock of past activities," she said, pointing out that the farmer is a profession recognized by the State of Côte d'Ivoire. 

Women invited to invest in agricultural income generating activities 

All women in Kroubi recognized that farming, production, processing and sales generate income that can contribute to women's empowerment. 

They invited women to be courageous and to take an interest in agriculture, where there are promising projects. They indicated that the implementation of an activity can be done with low financial means, one of the conditions to have access to credits. 

They asked the women to get together to be even more effective and credible with the donors 

Mr. Ouattara encouraged women and girls entrepreneurs to move out of the informal economy to become successful economic actors. 

At the end of the Kroubi week, we can remember that women have a leading role to play in the agricultural sector, particularly in the production, processing and sale of their product. It must realize its strengths and its performance that can contribute to the development of its region. As long as it has the tools it needs to achieve its goals. 

Zagadou Alain 

Head of Regional Office Bondoukou 

ASK

Source: Abidjan.Net

[World]: These monkeys are 3,000 years into their own 'Stone Age'

June 24, 2019

Capuchins - images by IT

While capuchins won't use tools like us any time soon, the species now “has its own individual archaeological record,” scientists report.

For capuchin monkeys at Brazil’s Serra da Capivara National Park, tool use is a tradition going back millennia: A new study finds that these primates have used stone tools to process their food for the past 3,000 years, making it the oldest non-human site of its kind outside of Africa.

The site, described today in Nature Ecology & Evolution, contains layers of rounded stone cobbles that capuchins in the area produced over time to crack open seeds and nuts. Other non-human tool sites have been documented in and out of Africa; the oldest one known, a chimpanzee site in Côte d'Ivoire, is more than 4,000 years old. But Serra da Capivara’s tools alone show long-term variation, a milestone for archaeology outside the human lineage. There, the stone tools vary in size over time, suggesting that the area’s capuchins may have been adapting their tool use to eat foods of varying hardnesses.

MONKEYS USE STONES TO CRACK NUTS

In the Brazilian Cerrado, a National Geographic Explorer is studying how bearded capuchin monkeys learned to expertly use stone tools to crack open palm nuts.

“What is really interesting about the ability to conduct archaeological excavations on primate tool-use sites is that we as a species are not unique in having a really fine-grained and detailed archaeological record,” says study coauthor Tomos Proffitt, a postdoctoral fellow at University College London. “This capuchin excavation shows that this species of primate in Brazil has its own individual archaeological record; they have their own antiquity to their tool use.”

Understanding capuchin tool use could help reveal the origins of the practice in other primate groups, including the earliest members of the human lineage. The oldest known stone tools—deliberately flaked blades—date back 3.3 million years and are attributed to either Australopithecus afarensis or Kenyanthropus platyops, two ancient species of human relatives.

The capuchin archaeological site lies within Serra da Capivara, a national park in Brazil where monkeys today use stones to crack open cashew nuts.

But before early hominins intentionally flaked off pieces of stone to use as tools, it’s thought they used unmodified stone cobbles to process foods, much like the Serra da Capivara capuchins do today. By studying the capuchins’ tool use, researchers now have a better sense of what to look for at other, older sites.

“I am always excited when new evidence of the complexity of animal behavior comes to light,” says Erin Marie Williams-Hatala, an evolutionary anthropologist at Chatham University who studies the biomechanics of early stone tool use. “I think that we were distracted for years—for decades—by creating these false narratives about what distinguishes us from other primates.”

Percussive blows

For a long time, tool use was considered a quintessentially human activity, but decades of research has exposed that as simply untrue. Several bird species wield sticks and twigs as tools; chimpanzees can craft “spears” to hunt mammals. Orangutans have hit on an ingenious solution for hydration: They chew up plant matter and use it as a sponge, soaking up hard-to-reach water and then squeezing it into their mouths. (Find out more about non-human animal tool use.)

So, too, with the capuchins of Serra da Capivara, which still today smash open the tough husks of cashews with rounded quartzite cobbles, which range in size from about an inch wide to roughly the size of a human fist. As they pound the cashews with rocks—either against the roots of cashew trees or on stone “anvils”—they leave behind telltale pockmarks, stained brown from the cashew husks, that are evidence of their percussive blows.

For centuries, locals and visitors to Brazil had told stories of tool-using capuchins, and for decades, scientists had known that capuchins could wield tools in captivity and in laboratory tests. But they didn’t formally document the behavior in the wild until 2004.

“Local people already knew for a long time,” says lead study author Tiago Falótico, a primatologist at the University of São Paulo.

About a decade ago, the research team behind the new study set out to excavate sites in Serra da Capivara, in an attempt to see how far back the tool use went. In 2016, the researchers revealed that at one site, there’s unambiguous evidence for capuchin stone tools dating to about 700 years ago. But there was no reason there couldn’t be older materials, so the team kept digging.

Change in diet?

After four phases of excavation, the team had dug down through about 3,000 years of sediments, based on the radiocarbon dating of charcoal in the soil layers—and they were still finding telltale capuchin stone tools. Intriguingly, Falótico and Proffitt’s team also noticed changes in the tool use. Until sometime about 560 years ago, the site’s capuchins were wielding relatively tiny cobbles that sustained high impact damage—a sign that they were often missing their targets. The researchers think that, at the time, capuchins were eating smaller foods.

Ever since, the Serra da Capivara capuchins have wielded far larger stones, implying that they were going after harder foods. And for the last 300 years or so, Falótico’s excavations showed, capuchins have settled into their now-familiar tool size, consistent with their current strategy of bashing off cashews’ tough husks.

Why did the area’s capuchins change what they were eating? Proffitt and Falótico can’t say for sure. Perhaps different groups of capuchins, each with their own distinct tastes, lived in this patch of Serra da Capivara over the millennia. It’s also possible that the changes simply reflect shifts in the site’s community of plants.

Williams-Hatala, who wasn’t involved with the paper, points out that we still don’t yet know for sure what the ancient capuchins were eating. The older tools lack the telltale cashew residue, which might mean that those capuchins weren’t eating cashews, or that the cashew residue simply broke down over time. She also adds that the capuchins’ overall tool strategy—percussion—doesn’t change markedly over time, so she cautions against reading too much into the site’s variation.

“The object that’s being percussed changes over time, but whether that constitutes a change in tool function, or behavioral variation, I would say it does not,” she says.

Proffitt and Falótico have more studies planned, including a broader look at how to distinguish between different types of non-human stone tools. That way, researchers can more readily ascribe stone tools at different sites to their wielders—and understand the evolutionary underpinnings of tool use across primates. After all, not all groups of capuchins use stone tools—so why do the ones at Serra da Capivara and at sites in Panama?

“What is it about the evolutionary history, the ecology, the social systems of these populations of capuchins that are removed 38 million years [from sharing common ancestry with humans]?” says Brendan Barrett, a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. “It’s likely an independent evolution of this.”

Above all, the researchers stress the sheer variety in primate tool use—and the non-inevitability of capuchins advancing as humans’ ancestors did. For instance, capuchins sometimes break off stone flakes by accident as they wallop cashews, but they’ve never been observed in the wild using those flakes as cutting tools, a key step in human evolution.

“If you define ‘Stone Age’ as a time period when individuals are using stones as tools, capuchins have their own Stone Age, that’s not a problem,” Proffitt says. “Whether that Stone Age will develop into something far more complex, I have absolutely no idea.”/.

BY MICHAEL GRESHKO

Source: National Geographic

[India]: Govt, Oppn clash over alleged irregularities in cashew import

June 21, 2019

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition and the state government on Thursday locked horns over the import of inferior quality raw cashew nuts from foreign countries by various state-run agencies. 

Images by IT

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the Cashew Board, the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation limited and the Kerala State Cashew Workers Apex Industrial Co-operative Society (CAPEX) had become a symbol of inefficiency and corruption in the state. 

He said that any purchase worth over `5 crore required e-tender, however, the cabinet had decided to directly purchase the raw cashew from Africa to salvage the industry. “But the officials purchased raw cashew kept in godowns for long from Mozambique during off season and import was again delayed by around two months. 

The state had imported raw cashew nuts from Tanzania at the rate of 1,815 dollars per ton in the beginning, which then progressively reduced to the current 1044 dollars per ton.

Reporters

By Express News Service

Source: NYOOOZ

[India] ‘Unnecessary’ controversies mar Kerala cashew sector: CPM leader

June 24, 2019

KOLLAM: CPM leader and state president of Cashew Centre (CITU) K Rajagopal has said that “unnecessary” controversies are being triggered in the cashew sector only to wreck the industry. 

Images by IT

In a statement issued here, he said the controversies would further worsen the situation and would only help private cashew company owners to continue “exploiting workers”.

He claimed that when the LDF government came to power, the cashew sector was facing an unprecedented crisis. PSUs like KSCDC and CAPEX were remaining locked and workers of the 600 private cashew factories were also jobless. 

He pointed out that the LDF government could provide job to the cashew workers besides resuming the payment of gratuity to retired workers. During the entire five-year tenure of the UDF, it did not pay any gratuity at all. 

He said the LDF government could settle the gratuity arrears of two years. He claimed that procuring cashew through Cashew Board, KSCDC and CAPEX would enable the factories to run continuously. He said five thousand new employees were given jobs under KSCDC and Capex. 

He termed the Youth Congress workers’ demand for the resignation of minister for cashew J Mercykuttyamma as an irony as the previous UDF government’s minister in charge of the cashew portfolio didn’t resigned even after arriving at a situation which warranted a CBI probe and consequent expulsion of the KSCDC chairman. 

He alleged that the UDF was raising fake charges of corruption against cashew Board and CAPEX. 

He claimed that since the LDF came to power, the government could reopen 300 cashew factories. In case of more private companies deciding to reopen the factories, they would be granted interest free loans. 

He also warned that if the UDF continued to launch “unnecessary” strikes, the CITU would deal with it politically. 

Reporters

Source: The Times of India

[Nigeria]: Kwara: Hope Rises For Industrialisation

June 23, 2019

In this report, Abdullahi Olesin writes on the issues that tend towards the commitment of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to industrialising Kwara State.

In the 70s Kwara State was host to a number of thriving industries. Those industries included the Nigeria Sugar Company ( NISUCO) Bacita, the Jebba Paper Mill, Tate and Lyle Sugar Company, Ilorin, MATCO, matches manufacturing company, Ilorin. But they have all folded up.

During their hay days, the now moribund companies provided job opportunities for thousands of the people and ensured economic buoyance in the state.

Since the ‘death’ of the once thriving industries, the people of the state , especially young graduates and even unskilled youths have had to rely on white collar jobs to eke a living. But, since there are limited vacancies in the state’s civil service, the problem of youth joblessness has become a serious issue.

However, with the coming of the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, there is hope of a renewed commitment to the industrialisation of the state.

Two events that happened in two different parts of the state last week, gave a pointer to the commitment of the new administration to pursue industrialisation in order to bring about economic buoyancy for all and sundry.

The events are the unscheduled visit of governor AbdulRazaq to Olam cashew processing factory in Ogbondoroko, Asa local government area (Kwara central) and the economic summit organised by Offa community (Kwara south) which was attended by the deputy governor, Kayode Alabi.

At the two events, the two leaders reiterated the commitment of the new administration to implementing investors friendly polices to encourage industrialists to invest in the state and thereby providing job opportunities for residents and creating wealth.

During his visit to the cashew processing factory in Ogbondoroko, governor Abdulrazaq reiterated the commitment of his administration towards creating enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.

While lauding the economic impact the factory offers the people of the state and Nigerians at large, especially in the area of job opportunity for a minimum of 1,500 people.

Reacting to the complaints of the Association of Cashew Farmers and dealers, he promised to invite them for an interface at an appropriate time towards addressing their problems.

Earlier, the Plant Manager, Olam Cashew Processing factory, Mr Sajjad Hussein, had stated that there are five stages involved in cashew processing and would take up to eight days before the end product is realised.

At the Offa Economic Summit,the Deputy governor of Kwara state, Mr Kayode Alabi, in his remarks, said the goverment would henceforth extend invitation to groups, organisations and individuals in its budget review exercise.The governor used the occasion to commission water project provided by the firm for Ogbondoroko community, as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

Alabi, said that current administration in the state believes in participatory budgeting.

According to him, a conducive environment will be provided through a policy framework that will be congenial to the economic and infrastructural development of Kwara communities.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Mr Tayo Oyelowo, the deputy governor hailed the community for organising the summit.

“This is the first of its kind in the history of the state. This step is worthy of emulation. It is a laudable idea for the entirety of the nation,” he said.

As early as 8 am on Friday, June 14, the first day of the summit, the ODU Hall, venue of the Summit billed for 10 am, was already jam-packed as the indegenes and participants including invited dignataries from far and near had defied the early rainfall to storm the summit venue in thier hundreds.

Dr Sarah Alade, a retired deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had in a key note address identified digital infrastructure as a critical key toward developing the nation’s economy.

She spoke on: ‘‘The Nexus Between Industrial and Infrastrutural Facilities in Offa.’’

She said such digital infrastructure, when provided, would not only develop the economy but also stimulate industrial growth.

According to her, the future is here and technology is the way to go if we must build competitive economy.

‘‘There is need for the provision of digital infrastructure.

‘‘We can increase efficiency of services and transform the economy as new businesses spring up around the digital technology.

‘‘Today innovative technology is being used across Africa to improve living standard and also create new jobs.

‘‘Smart phones are used to provide advice to farmers on pest control.

‘‘In Rwanda drones deliver medical supply to hospitals in rural areas where the road network is poor.

‘‘In Nigeria and elsewhere mobile money provides access to financial services to previously excluded individuals.

‘‘It is therefore important as we have to deliberate on transforming Offa to an emerging city by taking steps to industrialise.”

‘‘We need to go beyond the traditional physical infrastructure of roads, rails, etc. which are keys and also invest in digital infrastructure,’’ she said.

She, however, mentioned the major challenges at the moment as insecurity, inadequate landmass, and indequate infrastructure – roads, power, and potable water supply.The former CBN boss said Offa has great industrial prospects if there is focus on natural resources, labour supply, strategic location of the town and presence of railway.

Reporters

Source: Leadership Nigeria

[India]: Govt, Oppn clash over alleged irregularities in cashew import

June 21, 2019

The Opposition and the state government on Thursday locked horns over the import of inferior quality raw cashew nuts from foreign countries by various state-run agencies.


Images by IT

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition and the state government on Thursday locked horns over the import of inferior quality raw cashew nuts from foreign countries by various state-run agencies. The assembly witnessed heated debate as Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan moved an adjournment motion seeking a discussion on around `20 crore loss the state incurred after the import of low-quality raw cashew nuts from Mozambique, a south-east African country. 

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the Cashew Board, the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation limited and the Kerala State Cashew Workers Apex Industrial Co-operative Society (CAPEX) had become a symbol of inefficiency and corruption in the state.   He said, even after the CAPEX managing director recorded his dissent note over the purchase of the low-quality cashew, the Board had gone ahead with the purchase resulting in a total loss of around Rs 20 crore. The opposition alleged the purchase benefitted middlemen and others associated with the board.

The Board had been formed as a special purpose vehicle to save the sector, but it has become a tool for some to bleed public money, Chennithala said. He said that any purchase worth over `5 crore required e-tender, however, the cabinet had decided to directly purchase the raw cashew from Africa to salvage the industry. 

“But the officials purchased raw cashew kept in godowns for long from Mozambique during off season and import was again delayed by around two months. Is this the way the state government was salvaging the sector from its crisis,” asked Ramesh. The Chief Minister should launch a comprehensive vigilance investigation into the whole episode, he said. Chennithala said that despite the Chief Minister holding around six meetings to save the sector such a thing was happening. 

Minister for Fisheries and Cashew Industries, J Mercykutty Amma, refuted the allegations and said the government had purchased cashew nut as per the norms and guidelines. The state government could successfully intervene in the sector as part of reviving the sector.

 The state had imported raw cashew nuts from Tanzania at the rate of 1,815 dollars per ton in the beginning, which then progressively reduced to the current 1044 dollars per ton.   Minister said that the Tanzanian government had approached the state government and informed they had a stock of over 2 lakh MT raw cashew nuts and an official level dialogue was underway.

 Further, when the UDF government was in power the total loss of the sector was `121 crore which was significantly brought down by the Left government, she said. However, the Opposition members created uproar over seeking direct reply to the allegation of importing low quality raw nuts from Mozambique and staged a walkout.

Source: The New Indian Express

[Mozambique]: OPIC signs letter of interests to invest in cashew company in Mozambique

June 20, 2019

Project Promises to Enable Exports and Bring Developmental Impact

MAPUTO, Mozambique – The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, announced at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit that the agency will explore a new project with Sunshine Nut Co., which specializes in cashew processing operations in Mozambique.

Cashew factory in Mozambique - images by IT

OPIC Managing Director for Africa Worku Gachou signed a letter of interest to finance the project at an event marking the launch of Prosper Africa, a new U.S. Government initiative to increase two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and Africa. OPIC support for the project is subject to OPIC’s comprehensive project review process before it is finalized. Gachou was joined by Sunshine Nut Co. founder Don Larson and Interim Coordinator for Prosper Africa Matthew Rees.

“By connecting the country’s cashew growers with markets, Sunshine Nut is creating opportunities that empower farmers and help their communities prosper,” said Gachou. “We’re pleased to begin exploring a new project with the company that will drive economic growth and support communities across Mozambique.”

By strengthening the agriculture value chain, the project supports the mission of OPIC’s Connect Africa initiative to invest $1 billion in enhanced connectivity on the continent.

The 2019 Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) U.S.-Africa Business Summit takes place June 18-21. The summit serves as a forum for the U.S. and African private and public sector to connect, collaborate, and shape trade and investment policy.

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The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is a self-sustaining U.S. Government agency that helps American businesses invest in emerging markets. Established in 1971, OPIC provides businesses with the tools to manage the risks associated with foreign direct investment, fosters economic development in emerging market countries, and advances U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities. OPIC helps American businesses gain footholds in new markets, catalyzes new revenues and contributes to jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC fulfills its mission by providing businesses with financing, political risk insurance, advocacy and by partnering with private equity fund managers.

OPIC services are available to new and expanding businesses planning to invest in more than 160 countries worldwide. Because OPIC charges market-based fees for its products, it operates on a self-sustaining basis at no net cost to taxpayers. All OPIC projects must adhere to best international practices and cannot cause job loss in the United States.

Source: OPIC

[India]: All-India Cashew Growers’ Association Formed

June 21, 2019

Cashew farmers in India have formed All-India Cashew Growers’ Association, a national-level platform that will highlight their problems and issues, at a meeting held at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.

Images by IT

According to a press release, a cashew farmer from Dakshina Kannada district, Nanya Achyuta Moodattaya has been unanimously selected as President of the new association. In addition, Shankaranarayana Bhat Khandige, a cashew grower who hails from Kasaragod district of Kerala, has been chosen as Vice-President of the alliance.

Deviprasad Kallaje from Dakshina Kannada district is the Secretary, Vilas Anantarao Thakur of Maharashtra is the Joint-Secretary and Subhas Rai Kadamajalu from Dakshina Kannada district is the Treasurer of the association.

Moreover, 8 members from Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have been elected as trustees of the organisation.

Cashew nut is a native of Brazil and was introduced in India during the second half of the 16th century for the purpose of afforestation & soil conservation. From its meek beginning as a crop intended to check soil erosion, cashew has emerged as a key foreign exchange earner next to tea and coffee.

Images by IT

Cashew cultivation is taken up in 8 states of India – Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

Recently, Director of the Kochi-based Directorate of Cashew nut and Cocoa Development (DCCD), Venkatesh N Hubballi informed that the cashew cultivation has now being extended to non-traditional States of Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan.  During the Foundation Day celebrations of the Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR) in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, Hubballi said that cashew will be planted in about 2,000 hectares in Madhya Pradesh in 2019-20. He told cashew cultivation will also be introduced in Rajasthan this year. Though the survey is yet to be done, plans are there to cover around 150 hectares there.

By: Abha Toppo

Source: Krishijagran 

[World] What are the best cheese sauce alternatives for vegans?

June 21, 2019

Missing lasagne, mac & cheese or pasta carbonara? Charlotte Willis demonstrates how easy it is to replace cheese sauce in your cooking, whether you’re cooking from scratch or in a hurry…

Cashew Cheese Sauce

Difficulty: ****

What Is It? A popular choice amongst plant-based eaters, the humble cashew nut transforms into a cheesy-flavoured base for sauces, cream cheeses and cheesecakes after being soaked overnight and blitzed in combination with a plant milk and other flavour-enhancing ingredients. Blended cashew nuts create a smooth cheese sauce, which is thick, creamy and filling.

Basic Recipe 1 cup of cashew nuts (soaked overnight in cool water), 2-3 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 clove of crushed garlic, seasoning, 5-7 tbsp water or unsweetened soya milk and 1 tbsp lemon juice are combined together in a high-speed blender or food processor until a smooth liquid has been achieved. This can be warmed by slowly heating on a stovetop.

Nutritional Info Cashew nuts are a great source of minerals such as iron, magnesium, zinc and copper. They also contain a great source of healthy dietary fats which help balance cholesterol levels and aid the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D and A.

Vegan Cheese & Béchamel Sauce

Difficulty: ***

What Is It? A traditional vegan béchamel sauce gets a complete flavour-overhaul with the addition of your favourite vegan cheese! Crumble in a mild cheddar, a punchy blue cheese or a combination of three (or more) of your top cheese picks for the supreme cheese sauce alternative!

Basic Recipe 3 tbsp of soya or non-flavoured, oil-based vegan butter (such as Naturli Vegan Baking Block) is melted in a pan over a medium heat. Whisk in 2 tbsp of flour (you can use a gluten-free alternative such as buckwheat flour here) and heat whilst continually stirring for approximately 2-3 minutes. Pour in 2 cups of unsweetened soya milk (or oat milk would work well) and whisk well until the sauce is thickened. Remove from the heat and add in your cheese, then stir through until melted. Season to taste.

Nutritional Info Due to the high fat content of this sauce, I would only opt to use a béchamel alternative every now and again.

White Bean Cheese

Difficulty: **

What Is It? Using white beans as a base of a sauce might sound completely bizarre to some. However, this wholesome recipe is a great alternative for anyone looking to increase their fibre content, or reduce their dependence upon pre-made, highly-processed foods.

Basic Recipe 1 cup of cooked white beans (such as cannellini beans) are blended together with ½ cup of unsweetened plant-based milk, 5 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes, ¼ tsp garlic powder, a pinch of turmeric and seasoning in a high-speed food processor or blender. This can be warmed on a gentle heat in a pan, or kept and frozen for times of cheesereflated needs!

Nutritional Info White beans are a fantastic source of protein, fibre and B vitamins, adding to the nutritious nature of this wholesome vegan cheese sauce. Nutritional yeast is also a rich source of plant-based protein, and the lack of fats in this recipe make it suitable for those trying to shift a few pounds without skimping on flavour.

Vegetable- Based Cheese Sauce

Difficulty: ***

What Is It? If you’re after a thick, creamy and dip-able vegan cheese sauce, this recipe is the one for you! The base of this wonderful veg-based sauce is a combination of potatoes and carrots, which are boiled or steamed until soft, before being blended with cheese sauce flavours. A revolutionary sauce which is pretty simple to make!

Basic Recipe You’ll need to peel and steam/boil 2 cups of potatoes and 1 cup of carrots until soft. Once cooked, transfer to a high speed blender and add in 1/3 cup olive oil, ½ cup of water, ½ cup nutritional yeast, ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp onion powder, 1 tsp lemon juice and seasoning. Blitz until smooth and heat on a low temperature in a stove top pan to warm.

Nutritional Info This cheese sauce is rich in vitamin B12 due to the addition of the nutritional yeast flakes, whilst the vegetable base of the sauce help to increase your 7-a-day intake.

Store Bought Alternatives

Difficulty: *

What Is It? If cooking isn’t your forte, or perhaps you’re strapped for time one evening, there are many fantastic alternatives to purchase straight from the shelves of your nearest supermarket. These sauces can be easily incorporated with a simple array of grilled or pan-fried veggies and pasta for a quick 15 minute meal!

Basic Recipe Some of the sauces may require you to add a serving of plant-based milk to create the desired consistency, or simply add to your dish straight from the carton! What could be easier?

Brands Waitrose sell a delicious vegan cheese sauce, which can be used directly from the carton and added into your recipe. Free & Easy also make a vegan cheese flavour sauce mix powder, which only requires the addition of cold water, creating a stunning vegan cheese sauce from a staple ingredient powder which can be kept in the cupboard. The ultimate vegan hack!

Nutritional Info The nutritional info for each of the pre-made products will vary based on the sauce used. Be sure to check the packet for information.

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Charlotte Willis

Charlotte is a freelance journalist and health writer who has worked with the Vegan Society and other online vegan publications. Her fields of expertise and interest include vegan nutrition, holistic healthcare, mindfulness and fitness. She is currently researching and studying the various links between food and psychological health while pursuing a doctorate degree in counselling.

Source: Vegan Food