June 15, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
The Paleo Diet or Paleolithic Diet is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. This controversial diet regimen advocates eating only foods that would have been available before the advent of agriculture, some 10,000 years ago or so.
While many agree that there is some valid science behind the claims made by the advocates of the Paleo Diet, a variety of current issues such as economics, culturally traditional diets, available food sources, population growth, and environmental impact seem to be ignored.
Proponents of the Paleo Diet claim that a variety of civilization diseases would be eliminated through the reversion to a pre-agricultural diet. These include, among others, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Voices in opposition to the claims made for the diet often cite short life spans as evidence refuting claims for the positive aspects of the diet. Both groups base their arguments on carefully selected and opposing work by archaeologists.
Current medical and social science indicates that a wide variety of factors have impact on these diseases. Obesity and Type 2 diabetes, as well as many of the other health issues, result from the limited choices available to families with low incomes in industrialized countries, notably the United States.
With fast food the most affordable and most accessible source of calories, eating habits centered around unhealthy foods are understandable. The socio-economic impact of poverty is not apparent in the discussion by Paleo Diet proponents regarding civilization diseases.
The ability of the planet to sustain a ready and affordable supply of healthy meat and fish to the worlds population is extremely unlikely. The conversion of plant matter to beef is generally agreed to be 100 lbs. (about 45.4 kg) of plant mass for every 10 lbs. (about 4.5 kg) of beef.
When the population of the planet was measured in the hundreds of thousands or even a few millions, widespread consumption of meat might have been reasonable. As we wend our way toward the nine billion mark, a diet consisting of 50% animal protein is not going to work.
For those who choose a diet including a large percentage of meat, it might be important to consider the methods of raising the animals. For those that can afford the cost, range-fed animals can be a great source of protein.
The reliance on factory-farm animals and poultry which often are injected or fed various antibiotics, hormones, and unnatural foods makes including these as a large part of ones diet something of a risk. Sadly, even fish and shellfish are occasionally a risk as they can absorb mercury and other toxics caused by industrial pollution.
The claims of the Paleo Diet advocates that a post agricultural diet is unhealthy choose to ignore such traditional cuisines as might be found in Japan, India, Greece, and Italy. Their claims ignore the excellent health and longevity of cultures that have adapted a diet of legumes and grains as staples. Statistics that seem to support the Paleo Diet may be derived from Western culture where the preponderance of processed food and fast food precludes a healthy diet.
A broad view of diet is important for healthy and enjoyable eating. Concerns in addition to eating might include affordability, environmental impact, and quality.
To many, the Paleo Diet may seem an elitist diet accessible only to those wealthy enough to buy quantities of range-fed, organic meat.
To others, current science appears to demonstrate that a diet heavily dependent on grains and legumes is both healthy and affordable.
Whatever your choice, it is important to enjoy good food and eat a balanced diet of wholesome food.
June 14, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
tv.eletsonline.com
Please be a part of Financial Inclusion & Payment System FIPS
Elets – A platform for disseminating creative ideas on ICT
Elets Technomedia is a technology media and research company that focuses on ICT in government, education, healthcare, agriculture and rural development sectors. Our mandate is to provide effective information on latest development in different ICT tools, techniques and their applications across our verticals through premier print publications, online portals and premier events, seminars, conferences and summits. Elets has created a name for itself as a technology media and research vendor of choice.
Strategies
To strengthen and facilitate knowledge sharing platforms engaging with partners across the globe through International conferences to provide cross-cultural grounding to stakeholders and participants To provide stakeholders with a platform to share models of best practice, knowledge and experience on a range of issues in the domain of ICT in Governance, Education, Health, security, Urban and Rural Development To mobilise the communities towards creating a digitally informed knowledge society based on shared understanding
Elets Focus Areas
Elets provides an unmatched versatility for working with multiple partners and consultants to mutually share knowledge. With a vision to provide effective information on latest development in different ICT tools, techniques and their applications across various verticals with focused reference to governance, education and health, we
a) bring niche monthly publications;
b) provide knowledge exchange fora and
c) conduct research projects, primarily through Events & Conferences
June 14, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
NAIROBI, KENYA – In Africa, demand for the cassava plant has grown significantly over the years. The continent produces 60 percent of the crop in the world. But the crop is drastically declining in East and Central Africa due to diseases that reduce production.
More than 160 million people in east, central and southern Africa depend on cassava as a stable food and a source of income.
Production of the crop has significantly dropped due to the cassava mosaic and cassava brown streak diseases.
According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], the brown streak disease is worse since it affects the root of the crop. These two diseases are creating havoc in Africas agricultural lands.
Improvements necessary
The acting head of the FAO in eastern and central Africa, Luca Alinovi, said the agency has invested to improve the situation in the African fields, but it is not getting better.
Doing right or wrong on cassava has a huge impact on the food security of the people in this region, has such a relevance in our daily lives that we tend to forget it because it appeared in a kind of technical discussion. And I want to bring to your attention that, although it is a technical issue it requires knowledge and requires research, said Alinovi.
The head of the European Union Rural Development and Agriculture program in Kenya, Dominique Davoux, said that over the years the cassava diseases have evolved, and there is need to invest in research to fight the diseases.
We supported the cassava initially, there has been [a] stop in the support, the research slugged [lagged] behind, and the disease reinvented itself [and] propagated again. We have to re-address the issue, said Davoux.
The FAO says a minimum of $100 million is needed to support clean farm production, disease surveillance and research, and market and micro-finance development across the cassava production chain.
Experts warn failure to do so means the cassava disease likely will reach Nigeria, the biggest producer of cassava in Africa.
June 14, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Cambodia is, at present, listed as one of the 50 most underdeveloped countries. In recent years, unique attention has been given to emigrants sending money to Cambodia. In less than a decade, sending currency overseas to Cambodia has more than tripled. In 2007, The World Bank estimated $322 million in payments.
Because of the rapid growth of such payments, remittances now account for more than 4.1 % of national gross domestic product (GDP). As it stands, the top ten destinations to transfer money to include: Canada and the United States, as well as France, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany, Japan and Lao PDR. Other popular destinations include neighboring Asian countries: Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea.
Though a tremendous amount of money is being transferred, interestingly, most of the money is sent to rural destinations. Economically speaking, the unemployment rate is low compared to other developing countries, at 2.5% of similar ilk. However, the poverty level in 2004 published reports was estimated at 66%, before dropping to 35% in 2007.
A contributing factor to this economic change may indirectly have to do with increased funds and money transfer. Though the decrease is apparent, the poverty level still remains somewhat staggering with over 75% of the labor workforce doing traditionally low paying jobs like agriculture and farming.
The unemployment rate in Cambodia is 2.5%. This is relatively low compared to most developing countries. Even with a high employment rate, the poverty level dropped from 66% in 2004 to 35% in 2007. This may be due to most of the nation working in the agricultural industry which traditionally pays very low wages. The main sources of income are tourism and manufacturing. Cambodia’s garment industry has risen 10% last year.
The money is sent mostly to rural areas for daily living expenses it seems, averaging at approximately $200-$300 per month. Most families are struggling just to get by, and only a minimal amount is used towards luxuries like education and investment.
It is supposed now that with lower transfer costs and increased formal transfer service usage the total payments could considerably increase. Traditionally, in the past, international bank transfer has been the foremost used method. The expenditure(s) are estimated at around 10-30% of the money transfer desired. The surge of web-based online remittance services have competitively driven down the cost of sending money to Cambodia, in fact.
To facilitate online transfers, the sender can easily sign up via any transfer companys website. The online rechargeable ATM/debit card is sent to the receivers home via FedEx, in most cases. There are brand new ATM locations set up every day through which people can transfer money to Cambodia on a regular and continual basis. The town of Phnom Penh alone has over 160 machines.
The process is simple when wanting to enroll: Call either the companys toll-free telephone number or via the internet, both of which are accessible 24 hours a day. The rechargeable debit card is also sent via rapid mail service and can be refilled as needed. In addition to this, all transactions viewed online, just like a bank account allows.
Online renewable debit cards have driven down the amount it costs to send money to Cambodia. Convenience, security makes them the preferred choice for people transferring funds to Cambodia.
June 10, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Developing a path for sustainable agriculture in India: JAY BIOTECH
This is regarding the TV programme telecasted on June 24, 2012 Satyamev Jayate.
First of all I would like to thank Mr. Amir Khan for taking such an initiative for sustainable agriculture.
Jay Biotech and Bafna farm, Pune is working on similar lines for the development of sustainable agriculture for different crops especially grapes. During the programme, one of the grape grower mentioned about the heavy uses of chemicals for commercial grapes and separate, non-chemical grape plot for own consumption. This is alarming. However, only 3-5% of the grapes produced in India are exported, while >95% grape production is used for local market. The uses of chemicals is restricted if the production is for export purpose to avoid pesticide residue problem. Still, every year around 7% of the samples could not be exported due to the pesticide residue problem.
But, the situation is different for grapes production for local purpose. As rightly mentioned in the program, there is no pesticide analysis of grapes (or other produce) which is being sold locally. Due to this, the farmer who produces the grapes for local market does not bother about pesticide(s) residues and uses exceeding doses even to that of the recommended by chemical pesticide company. Also, there was an alarming point during the discussions that chemical pesticide companies give incentives to distributor/dealer to sale their products in huge quantum with more benefits. This has created a mess for today’s situation of Kerala/Punjab. Cancer Train and endosulphan in mother’s milk are the threatening example for a human being.
However, now a day, there are so many farmers adopting the techniques of sustainable agriculture. One of the best examples is of Bafna Farm, Rahu, Pune, Maharashtra.
There are few highlighting points of Jay Biotech and Bafna farm, Pune
1.Uses of Bio / Organic products since 10 years for grape management
2.Application of Bio / Organic products increased while reduced uses of chemicals by 60%
3.Produced 2 crops of grapes in a year
4.Produced pesticide free grapes
5.Uses of reverse osmosis water for spraying in grapes to avoid human pathogens like Salmonella typhii and Escherichia coli
6.Trials of bio/organic products since 10 years for with the recommendations of National or International laboratories
7.Successful trials for mealy bug control are in progress in collaboration with National Chemical Laboratory, Pune using only biological products.
8.Visit of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) taskforce (Bio-agents for agriculture) Chairman, Advisor and members to Jay Biotech and Bafna farm to see bio-control of mealy bug of grapes since 3 years
9.Visit of ASDA (UK, Supermarket) team to discuss the method for production pesticide free grapes
During the show Mr. Amir Khan rightly told that the said situation cannot be changed in a day. One has to reduce the uses of chemical(s) by increasing the uses of bio/organic products for sustainable agriculture. As mentioned by Shree Hukumchandji (farmer from Rajasthan), for the first year farmer may have to bear the loss for the yield, but it cannot go beyond 10%. At Bafna farm similar practice were adopted with slow and steady increase of bio/organic products since 10 years. Due to the uses of bio/organic products the fertility of soil increased, pest(s) and pathogen(s) problem was reduced, able to produce 2 crops of grapes in year with zero pesticides. If ZERO pesticide is possible for such a sensitive grapes, then it can be possible for any agricultural crops.
Integrated pest management can be a best practice to resolve this issue. Slowly and steadily it can take to complete organic agriculture. Please follow the models of Organic Sikkim and Organic Bihar. Every farmer has to take the lesson from this show and should be a part of sustainable agriculture to develop sustainable agriculture all over India.
JAY BIOTECH
32, Gultekdi Market Yard
Pune, India
Pin: 411 037
Tel:0091 20 41015678
E-mail: