State’s farmers to grow pulses, maize in Ethiopia

Patiala, February 15
Known for their innovative techniques in the agricultural sector, a group of farmers from Punjab, who are members of the Confederation of Potato Seed Farmers (Poscon), will grow crops, including pulses, maize, sugarcane and oilseeds, in Ethiopia, the second most populous nation in Africa.
While confirming this, secretary-general, Poscon, Jang Bahadur Singh Sangha, stated that the process to take land for farming on lease in Ethiopia was underway and hopefully, the farmers from Punjab would start farming in Ethiopia by the end of this year.
While stating that Ethiopia was a good option for Punjab farmers due to its good climate, Sangha told The Tribune, “In order to identify the land, which is best suited for cultivation, a delegation of Poscon had visited various regions of Ethiopia last year. Another delegation of Poscon visited Ethiopia in January this year and we have identified sites, which are best suited for cultivation.” He further said that mainly they were identifying the land, which received a good amount of rainfall and the ground-water quality was good.
Sangha further sated that they were getting the land on lease for a period ranging between 25 to 45 years at a nominal rate, varying between Rs 500 to Rs 750 per acre per annum. “Initially, in the first year, we plan to start farming on 1,000 to 5,000 hectare land. Before the start of monsoons in Ethiopia, another delegation of Poscon will visit Ethiopia in April-end and will complete the necessary formalities for taking land on lease from the Ethiopian government,” he said. Sangha also said that at present they had offered the proposal only to the members of Poscon, who were interested in taking up farming in Ethiopia.

 

Sukhbir Badal: Punjab farmers ready to develop agriculture sector in Brazil

     

Friday, 10 September 2010

BRASILIA: Sukhbir Singh Badal Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Friday offered the services of Punjab farmers to develop agriculture sector in Brazil in response to the invitation of Gustavo Ahrends, CEO of ‘Vision Brazil’.

The Brazil delegation had earlier invited Punjab farmers to avail the opportunity of converting low cost non productive scrub lands available in Brazil into highly productive farm lands.

Badal who is visiting Brazil these days as part of a delegation led by harad Pawar, Union Agriculture Minister to explore possibilities of mutual cooperation. Badal said that the farmers of Punjab were ready to come to Brazil to contribute further in development of agriculture provided suitable and enabling environment, in terms of availability of land on long term lease, was created by the Brazilians.  

The Deputy Chief Minister said that enterprising Punjab farmers have made India self sufficient on the front of food security by making Green Revolution is success story. They had scripted a new history by converting marshy barren land of Tarai region in India into productive lands. They have replicated these success stories in Australia, Canada, USA and other parts of the World by there sheer hard work and ‘never say die’ attitude. 

Badal emphasized that the farmers of Punjab who are known around the globe for their hard work were ready to accept the challenge to work in association with Brazil. Earlier through a detailed presentation Badal explained how farmers from Punjab were contributing to the food security of India. Sukhbir Singh Badal also appreciated the work done by Brazil in the field of agriculture.

 

Through a presentation ‘Vision Brazil’ the CEO of Vision Brazil Gustavo Ahrends intimated that Brazil is gifted with huge agricultural lands, adequate rainfall, water resources and stable temperature and weather conditions. He underlined that there is an opportunity to convert low cost non productive scrub lands available in Brazil into highly productive farm lands. 

He invited the farmers of India and particularly from Punjab to come and invest in these lands so as to create food security in the world. He complimented the hard working farmers of India and Punjab who work in adverse conditions to make India a food surplus state and extended a hand to them to avail the opportunities available in Brazil. 

 

Earliar in another presentation made by the CEO of UNICA (Brazilian Sugar Cane industry association) before the Indian delegation the CEO explained how Brazil has become number one country in production and export of Sugar, He also explained how the Brazilian sugar industry is utilizing sugar to produce ethanol to discount the fuel cost in Brazil. He explained that in Brazil every automobile fuel available has 25% ethanol in it. 

He also highlighted the fact about introduction of flexi-fuel (100% ethanol) in the market to which the car manufacturers have responded with production of flexi-fuel cars. This according to UNICA, has become possible by achieving a high yield in sugarcane through introduction of high yielding sugarcane varieties and highly mechanized farming. 

 

While addressing the meeting awar outlined that there is a scope for cooperation between the two countries in the field of production of sugarcane and soya, improvement of cattle breeds and poultry products. This high level delegation had a series of meetings with the delegations from the Ministry of Agriculture, Brazil and leading entrepreneurs in field of agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry. 

Various organizations of Brazil made presentations to the Indian delegation on the present status of agriculture in Brazil and on the opportunities in technology and investment in Brazil agri-buisness.