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UN Water Mandate Receives Key Endorsement

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Olam International, a leading global processor of food ingredients with agricultural projects in Africa, has publicly endorsed the c-e-o water mandate of the u-n global compact. The mandate is a public-private initiative that helps companies develop and implement sustainable water policies and practices. The announcement came as the world observed World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.

Olam International said the supply, quality and reliability of water resources are under pressure and the need to adapt to the impact of climate change is increasing.

The signing of the mandate underscores the companys commitment to vigorously and publicly address global water issues regarding agriculture and food supply.

If you reflect that water when you look at it as a hundred per cent value, 97-percent of water would be regarded as salty ocean water, two per cent is actually frozen, so were left with a one per cent marker of water basically for consumption and use in agriculture, explained Chris Brett, Olams head of sustainability, who added, and we split that one per cent, we get to point seven per cent for agriculture, just point three per cent is fresh water for basically human consumption.

Given this he stressed that water is a key issue for them when they see the way people are going to compete for water in the future. As a result the company made a public commitment to use water in more resourceful ways.

Making that commitment is not just a driver for change internally, or a driver for respect in use of water, as a resource, but it is also to communicate to all of our partners how serious we take water on the agenda, said Brett.

He gave an example of success that they were having with irrigation going into their vegetable supply chains in California. The method of irrigation that decreases the use of water is called more crop per drop. It proved to be such a success that it was applied to other Olam operations.

For example we are now undertaking irrigation of rice, and irrigation of coffee plantations in places like Tanzania and Zambia. As a global company we are transferring learning, noted Brett.

The sustainability expert said over the last two years Olam has been measuring its water footprint and communicating that measurement to the public.

He added as a leader in addressing the challenges of water supply, they hope others will follow them in the pursuit of water rationalization and use in agriculture.

Emulsifying Agents And Types Of Emulsifiers

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Emulsifying agents are soluble in fat and water to allow uniform dispersion of fat in water. Emulsifying agents are also called emulsifiers and present in the food like butter, mayonnaise and salad dressing. These have one hydrophilic and one lipophilic part. These agents surrounds the oil droplets in water and reduces the tension between the two liquids thus impart stability.

Classification of Emulsifiers
These can be classified on the basis of chemical structure and mechanism of action. Under chemical structure category are synthetic, natural, auxiliary agents and finely dispersed solids. In the category of mechanism of action comes the monomolecular, multimolecular and solid particle films.

Natural emulsifying agents are derived from plant and animal tissues and mostly in the form of hydrated lypophilic colloids. These emulsifiers make the protective sheath around the droplets, give droplets a charge so that they repel each other and swell to step-up the viscosity of the liquid.

Natural ones are derived from vegetables, animals, semi synthetic and synthetic agents. Although natural agents are inexpensive, safe and non toxic but these are slow in action. So large quantity of emulsifier is required for proper action. Also the natural emulsifiers need preservatives as these are subjected to microbial growth.

The animal derivatives are stronger than the plant ones. The best example of this is lecithin and cholesterol. Some people are allergic to these so must be consumed after knowing the derivatives.

Both semi-synthetic and synthetic emulsifying agents are strong and require no preservative as these are not prone to microbial growth.

Applications of Emulsifying Agents
Emulsifiers are used in many types of food for stability and to reduce tension. Like vinaigrette if prepared only with oil and vinegar leads to unstable emulsion. To stabilize mayonnaise egg yolk lecithin is used as emulsifiers. Both natural as well as synthetic emulsifiers are used in food industry. Egg, soybean, rapeseed oil and palm oil are the common natural agents. Dairy products like cheese and ice creams use the emulsifying agents to improve the texture. Also the crystallization of candies is improved by them. Jarred peanut-butter and sauces are given more life with the use of correct emulsifier.

It is extensively used in pharmaceutical industry to make medicines more good to taste and easy to take. In pharmaceutical oil and water emulsions are basically used. These are also used in other industries like agriculture, paints and inks. Fertilizers and pesticides are given more stability with these.

Harmful Effects
Although the one used in food are completely safe and more over natural ones are safer than synthetic. But in some cosmetics certain harmful emulsifiers like polyethylene glycol (PEG) compounds, have been found that are carcinogenic. Also the emulsifying agents in body care products causes mild or severe allergies of skin.

Unexpected Facts That You Need To Know As An Agriculture Supplier Or Exporter

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We are in the time period characterized by social media and each promoting channel gets the chance of pushing their association through on the web. Unlike different nations, agriculture suppliers or exporters in Middle East Countries incorporating Saudi Arabia, UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain are encountering a moderate ascent as far as Internet users. Provided that you are promoting associations in these areas, there is a prospering future simply sitting tight for you to take advantage of. Create a propelling association portfolio with USP to show your potential business customers how distinctive you are from the rest. Every living soul is running an advanced race. Think how well as an agriculture supplier or exporter in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait or Bahrain you are set to depict your agriculture products. Include your agriculture supplier or exporter profile in Qatar B2B online business directory.

1.Engage your clients with alluring content

In the event that you suppose you are bad in composing an urging substance, no stresses! Contract an expert to concoct captivating substance to show your agriculture supplier portfolio. Like your agriculture supplier company, there are various agriculture exporters in Saudi Arabia or Qatar who are putting forth the same administrations. Experience their sites and study what they have specified in their websites. This will give you a clear viewpoint on how you could be not the same as them.

2.Be a distinctive agriculture supplier or exporter from the rest

Keep all the crucial components of your agriculture supplier company while including any informative data about the association. By being inventive, you are attempting to addition more notoriety in the B2B online business directory. Therefore, this will assist when you are vigilant for new promoting customers, making it simple to work together.

3.Your clients testimonials add value to your business

The reason for including your association in an online professional reference is to gain new assembly of business customers. The point when the prospective customers need to observe your association, it should get their consideration in a flash. Make an intuitive report, customer’s input or testimonials and intriguing remarks that you gained from business customers all works ponders in your business. In the event that you haven’t contemplated this, then you may as well incorporate these things in an online B2B marketplace.

To change your customers to potential customers, you need to hold fast to the conventional business, which is call to activity. Give your clients the best bargains or offers to support a lifelong relationship.

Horticulture Expert The Growth Driver Of Indian Agriculture Sector

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The horticulture sector, with a wide array of crops ranging from fruits and vegetables to orchids and nuts, mushrooms and honey – has been a driving force in the stimulating a healthy growth trend in Indian agriculture. India is currently producing 257.2 million tonnes of horticulture produce from an area of 23 million ha. What is significant is that over the last decade, the area under horticulture grew by about 3.8%per annum but production rose by 7.4% per annum. Given the increasing pressure on land, the focus of growth strategy is on raising productivity by supporting high density plantations, protected cultivation, micro irrigation, quality planting material, rejuvenation of senile orchards and focus on post harvest management to ensure that farmers do not lose their produce in transit from farm gate to the consumers plate.

Fruits:

With a production of 76.4 million tonnes, fruits accounts for about 30 per cent of the total production of horticulture crops. The area under fruit crops during 2011-12 was 6.6 million ha, which is almost 29 per cent of area under horticulture in India. The area under fruit crops has increased from 4.0 million ha in 201-02 to 6.7 million ha in 2011-12 with corresponding increase in production from 43.0 to 76.4 million tonnes. A large variety of fruits are grown in India. Of these, banana, mango, citrus, papaya, guava, grape, sapota, pomegranate, pineapple, aonla, litchi, pear, plum, walnut, etc are important. India accounts for 13 percent of the total world production of fruits and leads the world in the production of mango, banana, papaya, sapota, pomegranate, acid lime and aonla.

The leading fruit growing states are Maharashtra which accounts for 16.0 per cent of production followed by Andhra Pradesh (13.0%), Gujarat (10.0%), Karnataka (9.0%), Uttar Pradesh (8.0%), Tamil Nadu (7.0%) and Bihar (5.0%) altogether contributes for about 68.0 percent of the total fruit production in the country. Banana is the major fruit accounting for 35 per cent of total production followed by mango (4.0%), citrus (11.0%), papaya (6.0%), others (17.7%) in the country. It may also be mentioned that in the Himalayan states of Himachal and J&K the GDP from apples, plums, pears and stone fruits exceeds that of GDP from cereal crops.

Vegetables:

Vegetables are also an important constituent in horticulture sector which are mostly low gestation and high income generating crops. Many vegetables are now grown under protected cultivation like green houses and shade nut houses with a scope for off season production, which fetches remunerative prices.
Vegetables occupied an area of 8.9 million ha during 2011-12 with a total production of 155.9 million tonnes having average productivity of 17.4 tonnes/ha.

Vegetable production registered a quantum jump of 77 per cent between 2001-02 and 2011-12.

More than 40 kinds of vegetables belonging to different groups are grown in India in tropical, sub tropical and temperate regions. Important vegetable crops grown in the country are potato, tomato, onion, brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, peas, okra, chilies, beans, melons, etc. The leading vegetables growing states are West Bengal which accounts for 15% of production followed by Uttar Pradesh (12%), Bihar (10.0%), Andhra Pradesh (8.0%), Madhya Pradesh (6.5%), Gujarat (6.4%), Tamil Nadu (5.8%), Maharashtra (5.7%), Karnataka (5.0%) and Haryana (3.0%) altogether contributes about 83.4% of the total vegetable production in the country. Among vegetables, potato is the major vegetable accounting for 27.0% followed by tomato (12%), onion (11.0%), brinjal (8.0%), cabbage (5.4%), cauliflower (4.7%), okra (4.0%), peas (2.5%) and others (25.4%) in the country. India is the second largest producer of vegetables after China and is a leader in production of vegetables like peas and okra. Besides, India occupies the second position in production of brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower and onion and third in potato and tomato in the world. Vegetables such as potato, tomato, okra and cucurbits are produced abundantly in the country.

Spices:

India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices and spice products in the world. Over 100 plant species are known to yield spices and spice products among which around 50 are grown in India. India is known as the home of spices producing a wide variety of spices like black pepper, chilies, ginger, turmeric, garlic, cardamom and variety of tree and seed spices. Major spice producing states are Andhra Pradesh (19.0%), Gujarat (15.0%), Rajasthan (14.7%), Karnataka (8.0%), Madhya Pradesh (7.7%) and Tamil Nadu (7.0%). The spice production in India is currently estimated at 5.95 million tonnes from an area of about 3.21milion ha.

The production of spices in the country has registered a substantial increase over the last ten years with average annual growth of 5.8%. Chili is the major spice crop occupying about 25% of area under cultivation and contributing 22% of total spice production in the country. Garlic accounts for 8.0% of area with 21.0% share in production, while turmeric accounts for 6.8% of area with 19.6% share in production.

Flowers:

India has made noticeable advance in the production of flowers, particularly cut flowers, which have a good potential for exports. During 2011-12, floriculture covered an area of 0.32 million ha with a production of 2.6 million tonnes of loose flowers and 75066 million numbers of cut flowers. This sector is generating higher income and employment opportunities especially for women.

While India has been known for growing traditional flowers such as jasmine, marigold, chrysanthemum, tuberose and aster, the commercial cultivation of cut flowers like roses, orchids, gladiolus, carnation, gerbera, anthurium and lilium has become popular in recent times. The important flower growing states are West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, North East, etc. Major area is devoted to production of marigold, jasmine, roses, chrysanthemum, tuberose, etc. The area under cut flowers having stems has increased manifold. Orchids, anthurium, lilium, gerbera and seasonal bulbous flowers are increasingly being grown both for domestic and export markets.
Growth in Exports:

Not only have these impressive production figures ensured a steady supply for the domestic market, they have also made Indian horticulture exports globally competitive. Over the last decade, there has been a significant improvement in export earnings in horticulture.
The horticulture division is working closely with APEDA and state governments to ensure that infrastructure and institutional support for export is available to ensure that farmers can leverage export markets for higher incomes.

Importance of agriculture

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There is certainly no doubt about the fact that civilization not only in the United Kingdom but in fact all around the world started with agriculture. After our ancestors started focusing on agriculture for their livelihood and earning, human society as a whole was changed afterwards forever without any measure of speculations for sure.

As a result of agriculture, villages as well as towns developed along with an overall better understanding of art, science as well as knowledge which continued to improve since then with every passing day.

Even, now, the 21st century with all the technological developments and advancements all around the globe cannot deny the importance of agriculture. Given below are few important points which will help you better understand the importance of agriculture and farming:

a. In the current hi-tech age of globalization and developments in all fields of life, people still rely on agricultural products in a variety of ways such as nutrition, source of energy, fiber and so on.

b. Another highly significant point as far as the importance of agriculture is concerned is that it is a major economic driver. It is equally important for individual livelihood, poverty eradication as well as overall growth of the state. According to a survey, it contributes between 40 to 80% of the gross development product of majority of the countries located in the continent of Africa.

c. Moreover, one cannot also deny the fact that agriculture also contributes a great deal towards a healthy biosphere.

d. Real food security can only be ensured with the help of agriculture even in today’s modern world without any question.

The above mentioned points are few of the many factors that clearly indicate the importance of agriculture even in the current age of developments and advancements. In case, you still need to know more regarding the importance of agriculture, then UK Business Directory is surely one such platform where you can get awareness regarding any issue and can further broaden up your horizon for sure.