Saturday, April 24, 2010

捐菜,不亦乐乎!













农音鲜蔬有限公司属下部分农友参与新古毛派菜善举,让公众吃到好的蔬菜,

心中之喜悦,是说不出来的。

我们相信:“自救者,能救人;自成者,能成人。”


提倡健康不殺生飲食文化熱心人派菜結善緣

(雪蘭莪新古毛)每週五上午9時許,當你經過新古毛拿督巴萊路,看到某個店鋪前站滿了人,別訝異,他們正在等著一群熱心人士派菜。

每週五風雨無阻進行

這個於5年前從一兩個人開始號召,至今有十多人參與的派菜活動,每週五風雨無阻進行,吸引約200多人到來拿菜,每次在半小時至一小時里就派完。

這個沒有政治背景的善心人士,不管你是富有或貧困人士,不管你是甚麼族群與宗教,只要作私人用途,願意守秩序排隊等待,就有機會拿到免費的蔬菜。

不願透露姓名的發起人說,他們這個活動主旨是通過派發蔬菜,提倡健康及不殺生的飲食文化,並借此活動廣結善緣。

更多: http://mykampung.sinchew.com.my/node/99553

Friday, April 23, 2010

和谐拯救地球

农音鲜蔬有限公司 董事主席 陈来安 2010423日写


亚洲大旱造成粮食短缺之后,中国藏地玉树镇被地震摧毁,接着欧洲被冰岛火山灰干扰航班,震动全球的环保警钟。

地球向人类报复的行动是一天比一天惨烈,足以破坏整个市镇,或对整个区域造成危害。人能胜天的绮梦,已经变成恶梦。

自人类从事最简单的农业活动开始,“和谐”一直是农作物生长的规则,可是这个历经千年的规则,却在最近一百年来被化学农药打破,甚至要人类面对天灾和食物含毒的危机。

生物圈一直是“和谐”共存的,作为最聪明的生物,人类却将“和谐”的规则捣毁,换来天灾和惨重的人命灾难。

专家经研究肯定,有机农业可以化解天灾,为人类的永续生存作出贡献。因此〈农音鲜蔬〉希望以微小的力量,落实有机蔬菜生产,帮助人类抵抗天灾。我们虽然还做得不够好,但希望在“和谐”的氛围中,看到希望和愿景,让未来的人类,生活得更加美好。

未来的世界,就在你我手中,让我们一起制造“和谐”,恢复生物圈的原始活力,让有机农业的花朵盛开。

如果每人都能够贡献一点力量,夺命天灾将会减少。

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Organic farming may counter climate change: report says

By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor

Thursday, 26 November 2009

Organic farming can play an important role in countering climate change, a new report suggests today.

Use of organic methods means that the soil takes up much more carbon, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide to boost global warming, according to the report from the Soil Association, the organic food and farming charity.

Soil is a major store of carbon, the report says, containing three times as much as the atmosphere and five times as much as forests. About 60 per cent of this is in the form of organic matter in the soil. On average, organic farming produces 28 per cent higher levels of soil carbon compared to non-organic farming in northern Europe, according to the report, and 20 per cent higher for all countries studied (in Europe, North America and Australasia).

The report suggests that widespread adoption of organic farming practices would offset 23 per cent of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture through soil carbon sequestration alone, more than doubling the Government's target of a 6-11 per cent reduction by 2020.

If all UK farmland were converted to organic, the report says, at least 3.2 million tonnes of carbon would be taken up by the soil each year – the equivalent of taking nearly 1 million cars off the road.

佛教的環保觀

By Stephanie Kaza Sunday, December 20, 2009
本文作者斯蒂芬妮卡扎(Stephanie Kaza)是佛蒙特州 (Vermont)州立大學環境學教授.

我對加州環境問題的認知,是經由徒步旅行而熟悉全州地貌、花草與樹木。
作為一位環境教育工作者,我的工作是試圖幫助人們深刻了解,所有生命都是相互關聯的。

當我發現佛教的核心教理是諸法因緣生時,真的深深契合我心。
以佛教哲理看待世界,這系統不過是諸多原因與條件組成的。
藉此教理將讓我們看明白全球環境危機的複雜性~從歷史、文化、政治決策和經濟壓力上,它們如何產生。

佛教奉行並強調對他人慈(與樂)(拔苦),主張保護所有生命。在一些佛教支流或宗派,關心人類和動物也被視為最重要的事,例如日本禪宗教育,要榮耀山河大地,視之為生命力創造的表現。

佛教戒律或道德準則,最重要的在於強調不傷害生命。佛教領會生命充滿許多痛苦,是由疾病,老化,亡失和心緒不滿所造成。
「不傷害」意味不增加日子已經不好過的生命困難度。

因此依佛教對環境倫理的立場,人應選擇傷害他人生命最少的路徑。隨著森林大面積被砍筏和海洋充斥塑膠廢料,人們現已不存在減少傷害環境的機會了!

若能洞察相互依賴性的自然天性,自然會喚起慈悲的誓言,要積極主動地保護地球上生命。

即便如此,可惜佛教徒並不都認為,有必要對環境問題採取強迫行動。有時候他們被指責過於被動或超然,不願從事偏激的政治戰鬥。
雖然佛教哲學明確指示該支持環保的世界觀,但佛教徒往往只專注於個人成長和更直接的家庭問題。

佛教環境保護論在不同信仰主動倡議下和寺院實踐的背景中風行。與其他團體,共同關注所有食物,能源,土地和水資源保護,就可大大加強社會力量。

從佛教的觀點,留心所吃的,關注食物健康和可靠的食物來源,是很好環保實踐起點,借禪思指導,幫助人們認識到吃,品嚐,咀嚼,吞嚥的實際經驗。

如果我們慎重考慮食物來源的複雜路徑,它有助於擴大我們了解全球農業生態系統。讚賞滿足我們感官的利益,我們可以立足於欣賞美食的水準。

特別是假日準備食品時,可以成為認知行動和提供和平。當我們為一頓飯剁或攪拌時,我們可以許願,願所有吃食者皆獲滿足和營養。烹煮食物時,我們可以嘗試讓頭腦平靜,使我們自己得安寧,也傳遞給他人。

這可是一種深奧靈性做法,以幫助平息家庭聚會常生的紛爭不睦。我們也可以祝愿此自然世界幸福,願所有生命興盛,且生活在和平中。

從佛教的觀點來看,我們和衛生環境健康是完全交織在一起,相互依存是主要原因,我們必須以智慧、慈悲對已被嚴重威脅的環境作出反應。

〈斯蒂芬妮卡扎博士在佛蒙特大學教導宗教, 生態,生態女權運動,去除消費主義弊病,和其他倫理相關的課程 。她的著作包括『留心:與樹對話』,『法雨:來自佛教環保主義(與 Kenneth Kraft共同編輯 )』『佛學著作關於貪婪,慾望與消費的慾望』。她的最新著作是留心綠色:個人和靈性全球思考指導。〉

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

山东济南济阳:发展都市农业促进农民增收

http://www.aweb.com.cn 2010040508:39 经济日报


济南为拓展发展空间,实施北跨战略,首次将济阳纳入城区发展框架。济阳提出融入济南,承接辐射,打造优势,建设三区的发展思路。济阳建设的三区即新兴工业区、都市农业区和特色新城区。

  作为一个传统农业大县,都市农业区建设对济阳县意义重大。在建设都市农业区过程中,济阳县充分发挥比较优势,依托特色农产品基地建设,创建农产品品牌,发展农业旅游,有力促进了农村发展和农民增收。

  济阳作为农业大县,有着悠久的粮棉种植历史,也长期面临着增产不增收的窘境。

  1990年,济阳县划归济南后,济阳县委、县政府审时度势:面向省城市场,打造省城“菜篮子”。一套“优化结构、瓜菜突破、服务城市、致富农民”的发展思路,促使济阳农业由单一的“粮棉型”转向优质高效的“都市型”。


An Urban Farm Sprouts in the Heart of Shenzhen

Thursday, 21 January 2010

China as part of the Shenzhen & Hong Kong Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture. The installation, called Landgrab City, is a square plot of land that represents a map of the city and visualizes how much food is required to sustain it.

The urban farm was commissioned by the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Biennale and was created by Joseph Grima, Jeffrey Johnson, and José Esparza to help the city’s residents visualize where their food comes from. The plot, which is subdivided into different crops, is surrounded by a map of one of the city’s dense downtown areas. The plot of land is the same scale as the map and represents the area needed to support 4.5 million people, which is the population of the surrounding area. The cultivated area is subdivided to represent the amount of food consumed from each food group – vegetables, cereals, fruit, pasture for livestock, and more.

The creators are trying to educate the residents about the origin of their food and explain that the area’s food production is not clustered together as it is in the installation. In reality, food production is scattered throughout the country and even beyond its borders. The creators make the point that food scarcity and volatile prices on the international market are pressing concerns, and because of this, vast swathes of land are being “grabbed” for agricultural purposes, hence the name Landgrab City. Agricultural land, they explain, could play larger roles in future international policy and diplomacy than previously recognized.

http://www.guangzhouexpert.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=486:an-urban-farm-sprouts-in-the-heart-of-shenzhen&catid=82:shenzhen&Itemid=459

What is urban agriculture?

http://www.ruaf.org/node/512

Urban agriculture can be defined shortly as the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities.

The most striking feature of urban agriculture, which distinguishes it from rural agriculture, is that it is integrated into the urban economic and ecological system: urban agriculture is embedded in -and interacting with- the urban ecosystem. Such linkages include the use of urban residents as labourers, use of typical urban resources (like organic waste as compost and urban wastewater for irrigation), direct links with urban consumers, direct impacts on urban ecology (positive and negative), being part of the urban food system, competing for land with other urban functions, being influenced by urban policies and plans, etc.

Urban Agriculture And Sustainable Cities

http://www.cityfarmer.org/alexandraUA.html

The conditions of city life are such that many urbanites are never aware of the complex relationships between humans and the Earth. Days spent in glass towers, crawling traffic and crowded supermarkets do not facilitate an understanding of the extent to which city dwellers depend on a hidden, external agricultural system…….

…….Today's cities operate on a throughput model, in which resources are imported and wastes are exported. Urban agriculture can help to close the loop between inputs and outputs by converting what are traditionally viewed as waste products into food and fuel, thus lowering the size of the city's ecological footprint. For example, sewage sludge from treatment plants can be added to other organic byproducts such as leaf litter, garden trimmings, and food scraps. When composted, this mixture yields a rich mulch which can be used as fertilizer to nurture the growth of quality organic edibles in urban gardens (Laurence, 1996, p. 5)……..

台湾现代农业发展对天津市东丽区农业发展的启示

2010-4-1 19:42:57 (永嘉农网)

200912月中旬,天津农业局组织各区县赴台湾现代农业考察团一行15人,对台湾农业进行了实地考察学习。考察期间参观了四所涉农大学、台中农田水利联合会、台北市水果蔬菜运销公司以及台湾花卉、果蔬、畜牧等多处休闲观光农场。通过10余天参观考察,对台湾农业有了初步的了解,感受颇深,很受启发。

  一、台湾农业基本概况及特点

  台湾位于祖国东南沿海的大陆架上,全岛有三分之二地区属于高山林地,南北长394公里,东西宽144公里,土地总面积近3.6万平方公里,气候 温暖,年均降雨量1594—2340毫米,年均气温21.7—23.8。现有人口2300余万,其中农业人口400多万,人口密度为世界第二。现有耕地 1290万亩,粮食作物以水稻为主,种植面积540万亩。经济作物以甘蔗和茶叶为主,盛产的阿里山高山茶享誉海内外。园艺作物包括水果、蔬菜、花卉等,水 果种植面积345万亩,主要品种有香蕉、菠萝、柑桔、葡萄、芒果、柚子、橙、莲雾、释迦、槟榔等;蔬菜种植面积255万亩,品种超过90种;花卉业近年来 发展迅猛,已成为台湾农业的重要产业,享有蝴蝶兰王国美名。畜牧业中生猪饲养量超过1700万头,牛饲养量16万头,其中以乳牛居多,占75%;鸡饲 养量1亿多万羽,鸭1000多万只。渔业发达,年产量130多万吨,其中养殖渔业占22%,近海渔业占19%,远洋渔业占55%。发达的台湾农业体现了十 分突出的特点。

  (一)注重对农业保护扶持。台湾农业失去比较优势后,台湾当局开始实行农业生产和贸易保护扶持政策:一是加大基础设施投入。台湾农田基础设施齐 全,排灌沟渠配套,交通四通八达,全部由台湾当局投入,田内部分由土地所有人承担。二是提高农业生产投入补助。在取消农业税和对农产品实行按地直补政策的 同时,还补助农业燃料和动力,提供低息贷款,降低农业生产成本。三是增加农民福利。自1995年起对60岁以上农民每户每月发放福利津贴,规定每五年调整 一次,目前福利标准达6000元,受益农民约71万户。四是设置农产品进口损害救济基金。主要用于农业结构调整、病虫害防治、检测和进口损害救助。五是每 年安排一定的预算资金用于各级农会组织建设。

更多......

http://www.022net.com/2010/4-1/525574112555564.html

http://yj.wznw.gov.cn/fxyc/fxycin.jsp?fxycid=8336

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Vegetables and Health

Health Benefits of Vegetables

  • Isothiocyanates are highly effective in suppressing the growth of human prostate cells at concentrations achievable through the dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and watercress. A Japanese study observed that cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and Chinese cabbage decreased the risk of stomach and colorectal cancer.
  • A vegetarian diet was found to significantly reduce the risk of uric acid kidney stone formation. Fruit and vegetables provide an alkaline residue which reduces the risk of uric acid crystallization in the urine.
  • In a Japanese study, the daily intake of green-yellow vegetables was associated with a significant 26% reduction in the risk of death from total stroke in men and women compared with an intake of once or less per week. Daily fruit intake was associated with a significant 35% reduction in risk of total stroke in men and a 25% reduction in women.
  • Lutein intake, in the Iowa Women's Study, was associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer. Lutein is the carotenoid pigment found in broccoli, spinach and other green vegetables.
  • New research data provide support for the notion that a high intake of broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
  • Dietary antioxidants play a role in preventing age-related cataracts by preventing the oxidation of proteins and lipids within the lens. Spinach, kale, broccoli, and other leafy vegetables rich in the carotenoid lutein, reduce the risk of developing cataracts. In the Nurses' Health Study, women who ate spinach and other greens at least twice a week had an 18 percent lower risk of cataract surgery than women who consumed them less than once a month. In the Health Professionals' Study, men who ate broccoli more than twice a week had a 23 percent lower risk of cataract surgery than men who consumed broccoli less than once a month.
  • The beta-carotene in carrots and spinach is absorbed three times better from the cooked vegetable than from the raw vegetable.

Author: Winston Craig, MPH, PhD, RD.

http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/bytes/vegetables.php

Kerajaan Selesaikan Keluhan Peserta TKPM Hulu Yam

HULU SELANGOR, 14 April (Bernama) -- Rintihan peserta Taman Kekal Pengeluaran Makanan (TKPM) Hulu Yam di sini berhubung kedaifan prasarana di ladang itu mendapat perhatian Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani yang memberi peruntukan RM1.28 juta bagi menaik taraf infrastruktur di situ.

Pengerusi Persatuan Pekebun Sayur Ulu Yam Nordin Hashim, 59, berkata sejak ditubuhkan empat tahun lalu, TKPM Hulu Yam yang berada di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri, belum mempunyai kemudahan asas seperti bekalan elektrik, air dan jalan raya yang sempurna.

Beliau berkata pihaknya pernah membawa perkara itu ke pengetahuan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Pemodenan Pertanian, Pengurusan Sumber Alam dan Pembangunan Usahawan negeri Yaakob Sapari tetapi tiada sebarang perkembangan sehingga hari ini.

"Kami pernah ceritakan segala masalah petani di sini, termasuk isu status tanah ladang ini, malangnya perbincangan hanya tinggal perbincangan. Ia berakhir di situ sahaja," katanya kepada Bernama ketika ditemui pada sesi dialog peserta ladang itu dengan Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani Datuk Seri Noh Omar pada Selasa.

Beliau berkata janji kerajaan negeri untuk membantu mereka bukan perkara baru, malah sejak gabungan Parti Keadilan Rakyat, DAP dan PAS mengambil alih tampuk pemerintahan Selangor pada Mac 2008, tiada seorangpun wakil kerajaan negeri datang ke ladang itu.

"Sudahlah mereka tak datang jenguk, kami dengar sekarang ini mereka ingin menjual pula tanah ini. Lagi la susah hati," kata Nordin.

TKPM yang dikenali sebagai "Selangor Veggie Park" diusahakan oleh 37 peserta dari seluruh Selangor di tanah seluas 220 hektar milik Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad.

TKPM adalah sebuah ladang tanaman sayuran berdaun dan perikanan akuakultur. Setiap peserta mengusahakan antara dua dan 10 hektar tanah yang disewakan kepada mereka dan dipantau oleh Jabatan Pertanian dan Jabatan Perikanan Negeri Selangor.

Sejak penubuhannya TKPM Hulu Yam telah mengeluarkan 65,352 tan metrik sayuran bernilai RM48 juta, dan 33 peserta yanga terlibat, memperoleh pendapatan bersih lebih RM3,000 sebulan.

Dengan purata pengeluaran 80 metrik tan sehari, Selangor Veggie Park muncul sebagai pusat pengeluaran terbesar bagi sayur berdaun di Malaysia bagi menampung permintaan di Lembah Klang yang berjumlah 50 tan metrik sehari.

Nordin berharap prasarana di TKPM Hulu Yam itu dapat dipertingkatkan memandangkan ladang itu turut dikunjungi pelancong dan pelajar termasuk dari luar negara.

"Ramai pelancong datang, contohnya dari Taiwan dan Hong Kong. Mereka datang untuk belajar bagaimana kita tanam sayur dan majukan kawasan ini," katanya.

Noh pula berkata kerajaan negeri sepatutnya memikirkan kaedah untuk memajukan kawasan tersebut dan bekerjasama dengan kerajaan persekutuan membangunkannya demi kepentingan penduduk, bukannya mengambil jalan pintas dengan menjualnya.

"Saya tengok kawasan ini sesuai untuk dijadikan tempat agrotourism kerana ia dikelilingi bukit, gunung, tasik dan mempunyai pelbagai jenis tanaman sayuran. Kalau betul-betul dibangunkan, saya yakin ia mampu menarik kehadiran pelancong," katanya.

Kerajaan negeri sebelum ini dilaporkan menawarkan untuk menjual tanah itu kepada kepada Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani pada harga RM35 juta.

Noh berkata sekiranya kerajaan negeri tidak berminat memajukan kawasan itu, ia boleh menyerahkannya kepada kerajaan persekutuan untuk menguruskannya.

Pada majlis itu, beliau menyerahkan peruntukan RM1.28 juta kepada TKPM serta RM400,000 kepada enam persatuan penanam sayur sekitar kawasan Parlimen Hulu Selangor di bawah peruntukan insentif amalan teknologi pertanian.

Ditanya sama ada pemberian itu berkaitan dengan pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Hulu Selangor 25 April ini, Nordin berkata, sebagai pengerusi beliau hanya inginkan yang terbaik buat peserta dan sebagai peladang mereka tidak terlalu memikirkan mengenai politik.

"Kita sebagai pekebun tidak terlalu memikirkan tentang politik. Soal pilihan raya letak tepi dulu. Yang penting masalah kami selesai. Siapa yang bantu kami kekalkan produktiviti, insyaAllah orang itu akan kami sokong,"katanya.

Pendapat sama disokong rakannya yang juga pengusaha ladang, Choo Kok Haing, 57, yang menyifatkan peruntukan itu adalah berlandaskan tanggungjawab dan tidak boleh dipandang dari sudut politik semata-mata.

"Semua pihak perlu menunaikan tanggungjawab, tidak kira sama ada kerajaan negeri ataupun kerajaan pusat," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/bm/news_lite.php?id=490439

Friday, April 9, 2010

让作物活得自然

我們應該以照顧自己孩子的態度來看待我們的作物,它們以根、莖、葉、花、果實、種子的生長情形來作為與人們溝通的方式,當您以愛心去觀察它時,就如同對它噓寒問暖。

http://www.lapislazuli.org/TradCh/magazine/199511/19951106.html

http://www.lapislazuli.org/TradCh/magazine/199602/19960207.html

山东寿光一百吨蔬菜运抵昆明支援灾区

中新网昆明4月6日电(记者 刘云)满载着山东寿光人民深情的4辆大贷车,运载着100吨新鲜蔬菜日夜兼程两天三夜抵达云南昆明支援旱区。

山 东寿光是全国粮食、蔬菜、果品、棉花、水产、畜牧综合商品基地城市,在农产品生产、销售等方面创造了许多经验。云南百年不遇的干旱,造成灾区人民群众生 产、生活困难,影响到城镇生活必须品的正常供应。在商务部的关心下,全国城市农贸中心联合会、山东省寿光市政府、市政协,山东寿光农产品物流园有限公司向 昆明伸出援助之手,积极组织调运蔬菜100吨,日夜兼程送抵昆明。

昆明市副市长阮凤斌说:“天灾挡不住爱心,一方有难,八方支援。在各方面的关心支持下,我们一定把减灾保供应保民生作为当务之急,打赢抗旱救灾这场硬仗”。

昆明市商务局局长洪莺说:“这些蔬菜我们准备今天下午就分别送往东川和禄劝贫困山区援灾”。

关于水危机的省思

戴维安德森认为,水危机除了引发疾病和死亡外,还引发国家、地区间的摩擦与战争。他同时指出,气候变化将直接影响水的数量和质量造成水危机发生,因此对人类的挑战将更加艰巨和不确定。

更多讯息:

http://www.chinanews.com.cn/cj/cj-ylgd/news/2009/11-09/1953111.shtml

http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gj/gj-zwgc/news/2010/03-29/2195158.shtml

Thursday, April 8, 2010

TALK FOR WATER

(7 April 2010)The member countries of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and China met at Easter to discuss the dramatic consequences of the drought wave in South East Asia for the Mekong River. The mighty 4.400 km long Mekong River, which originates in the Tibetan heights and flows through the mountainous Yuhan Province, has reached its lowest level for 50 years, making irrigation and navigation in large parts practically impossible.

The southern riparian countries make four upstream hydro-power plants that China has completed in 2008 responsible for the low water level. China refutes these allegations and puts the blame on the exceptionally low precipitations in the region linked to climate change.

Read more

http://rhein.blogactiv.eu/2010/04/07/the-mekong-drought-a-warning-on-the-wall-for-china/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/01/990106075344.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/23/opinion/23iht-edwatkins.2570814.html

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/ANN/2010-04/09/content_9705168.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/02/world/asia/02drought.html

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Toxic vegetables uncovered in south China

By Huang Zhaohua and Wang Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-31 07:18

NANNING - A total of 9,610 kg of toxic vegetables were found in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the Nanning health bureau announced on Monday.

Two batches of vegetables were detected with excessive pesticide residues at a local vegetable wholesale market, according to a statement published on the Nanning government's official website.

Of the 9,610 kg of toxic vegetables, Nanning food safety authorities seized 3,540 kg, while 4,451.5 kg were sold to vegetable dealers outside Nanning and 1,618.5 kg had entered the city's local market, the government said.

Since Monday, more than 100 vegetable safety inspectors in Nanning have been urged to conduct emergency checks in the city's markets to look for tainted vegetables, said Tang Bowen, director of Nanning agriculture bureau.

So far, there have been no reported cases of food poisoning.

"The toxic vegetables were imported from outside of the autonomous region. We've contacted the related dealers for the 4,451.5 kg sold and made the information public, so the vegetables should be under control," Tang said.

Three types of pesticides were detected in the vegetables, including methyl parathion, cyhalothrin and flucythrinate.

According to Tang, the three pesticides are poisonous, though their use is permitted on farm products.

The current drought in the country's southeast area has contributed to the incident, Tang said.

"As a result of the dry weather, pesticides on fruits and vegetables have not been diluted, leading to the higher residues," he explained.

"The three types of pesticides detected are widely used in farming and do have effects on the human body. However, with adequate dilution, the farm products should be safe to eat," he said.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-03/31/content_9664802.htm

Guizhou strives to survive as drought worsens

By Liang Chao (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-04-02 17:09

PANXIAN, Guizhou – Facing the worst drought in 80 to 100 years, residents in Southwest China's Guizhou are striving for survival through the prolonged water shortage, which has threatened their livelihood worse than ever before……

Hundreds of farmers are busy planting fast-growing vegetables such as peppers and cabbage with the water from the reservoir to recoup the harvest they lost on their hillside land. "The vegetables we are planting can be harvested in about 60 days from now and sold on the market for money," Guo Jingzhi, head of the village, said, taking care of operating pumps set along a narrow ditch linked with paddy fields……

Read More……

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-04/02/content_9682984.htm

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/37001

Friday, April 2, 2010

Organic farming raises soil carbon levels

THIRD WORLD NETWORK INFORMATION SERVICE ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE


Recent research from the Soil Association in the UK (contained in the report, Soil Carbon and Organic Farming) underlines the importance of organic farming for carbon sequestration, hence mitigating agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The research reviewed 39 comparative studies of organic farming covering over 100 individual comparisons. The research’s key findings are:

* The widespread adoption of organic farming practices in the UK would offset 23% of UK agricultural emissions through soil carbon sequestration alone.

* A worldwide switch to organic farming could offset 11% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Raising soil carbon levels would also make farming worldwide more resilient to extremes of climate like droughts and floods, leading to greater food security.

* On average organic farming produces 28% higher levels of soil carbon compared to non-organic farming in Northern Europe, and 20% higher for all countries studied (in Europe, North America and Australasia).

* In the UK, grasslands and mixed farming systems also have a vital role to play, and soil carbon may go a long way to offsetting the methane emissions from grass-fed cattle and sheep.

The evidence presented suggests that action to raise soil carbon levels - through more widespread adoption of organic farming practices and grass-based and mixed farming systems – can make a significant and immediate contribution to greenhouse gas mitigation.

For example, the Rodale Institute in the United States has run side-by-side comparisons of organic and conventional farming systems. Their studies of organic systems have shown an increase of almost 30 percent in-soil carbon over 27 years. The petroleum-based system showed no significant increase in soil carbon in the same time period and some studies have shown that these systems, in fact, may lose carbon.

Raising soil carbon levels can also contribute to climate adaptation, by improving soil structure and quality, hence reducing the impacts of flooding, droughts, water shortages and desertification.

The Soil Association’s full report and a summary is available at http://www.soilassociation.org/Whyorganic/Climatefriendlyfoodandfarming/Soilcarbon/tabid/574/Default.aspx

Another report by the Rodale Institute, Regenerative Organic Farming:

A Solution to Global Warming, which reinforces the conclusions, is available at www.rodaleinstitute.org/files/Rodale_Research_Paper-07_30_08.pdf