November 24, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
With the current buzz regarding sustainability, here’s the big query: Sustainable agriculture — Is it in your future?
These are tumultuous times. World warming and environmental degradation are serious threats to the long run of our world. This economic state of affairs is somewhat bleak and recovery is slow. Worry of the future is ever gift in several minds. The matter is that whether or not we have a tendency to acknowledge the environmental seriousness, the monetary concerns and therefore the reservation we have a tendency to feel hold us back from creating significant movement toward positive change. On the other hand, to try and do nothing spells bound disaster in our future.
Sustainability has many definitions depending upon who is defining it! I outline it as agricultural practices which consider, address, and improve the environmental, social, and economic aspects of the operation. It’s like a 3 legged stool. There should be three legs of the identical length and in some cheap configuration in order to possess balance and stability. To neglect one leg or to place it in the wrong place means the business is possible to collapse.
Keeping that balance has several benefits. If anyone ought to be an environmentalist, it should be the farmer. If farmers use the land and water without regard to the results of management, it means that that those resources can doubtless become degraded and/or depleted. It’s like using a car to induce to figure, however never checking the tires, changing the oil nor putting gas in it. It will not be long before you’re looking at alternative transportation. On the other hand, being proactive, considering the consequences, monitoring, and planning ahead can get you there more quickly and with reliability!
Here are ten basic steps to include sustainability into your farm operation:
1. Assess your current scenario
2. Outline specifically what it is that you’re managing
3. Confirm what resources you have offered
4. Write down what you wish to achieve — obtaining to your core principles
5. Arrange your strategy to deal with the setting, finances, and social aspects
6. Check your choices and actions
7. Monitor your progress — think about that you could are wrong
8. Retreat to not off course if you’re off course
9. Completely re-plan when necessary
10. Revisit your goal and your set up
The clock is ticking, however there is still time to form a difference. Each epic journey starts with one small step,and then another. Agriculture is the foundation of civilizations. If agriculture fails, thus does everything else. What are some steps you can take to move toward additional sustainable agriculture? Is it in your future?
November 22, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
The Algarve meaning ‘the west’ is the sunny, warm coastal region along the south of Portugal. In the years since the 1960’s tourism has overtaken agriculture and fishing as the main industry and a lot of the Algarve’s charm has gone with the bleak apartment blocks and sprawling villa complexes. Even so, with a little knowledge there are certain areas that remain wild, untouched and oozing with culture and history.
Most tourists are shuttled off to the central Algarve leaving the most beautiful and unspoiled areas in the east and the west for independent tourists. In the back country only miles from the tourist destinations many villages and towns remain untouched with little known rural walks in the spring flowers and shady woods.
Most notable in the eastern Algarve is the historic city of Tavira with it’s multitude of churches and a central castle. This area is close to the Ria Formosa natural park offering miles of lagoons and barrier islands where flamingos and numerous aquatic birds live and bread. The beach at the ilha de Tavira can be reached in summer using a ferry from the centre of town or alternatively take the 20m minute walk out of town towards the island and hop on a boat that will take you across to the island. This stretch of sand is very popular with the Portuguese but continues for miles allowing for solitude even in the busy summer season.
In the west the city of Lagos is a popular destination and with good reason. The city has an important history as it is was from here that the Portuguese began their expeditions along the coast of Africa in the age of discovery. Lagos now has a completely pedestrianised centre within the old town that is surrounded by the castle walls. There are many shops, excellent restaurants serving fish and in the night Lagos is notorious for its bar scene. Don’t miss the market on Saturday mornings where you can purchase regional specialities and freshly harvested fruit and vegetables before heading down to the fish market for the days catch. Walk along the cliffs out to the Ponta da Piedade (Mercy Point) with it’s lighthouse or go swimming on the little known nudist beach at Praia do Carnavial.
The mountains of Monchique are easily reached by car from anywhere in the western Algarve. The Caldes de Monchique are therapeutic thermal baths and the area is ideal for a stroll in the wooded hills or down by the bubbleing stream. Drive out to the village of Marmallate or climb to the top of the mountain where you can take in views of the whole of the Algarve coastline and enjoy the refreshing cool mountain air. Many local shops offer locally produced hams and varieties of ‘Medronho’ (a brandy made from the Arbutus fruit that symbolises frienship) as well as hand made craft items. Restaurants either side of the main road offer up freshly grilled chicken, Piri Piri style.
After Lagos the Algarve coastline continues west towards Sages and the region once called “the end of the world” as little was known of what lay beyond the waves. Resort towns such as Praia da Luz with it’s arced bay and black rock headland give way to the natural park of Costa Vincentina where many more secret beaches can be discovered especially along dirt tracks west of Vila do Bispo. Atlantic rollers meet a wild landscape of immense natural beauty. Popular with surfers the beaches at low tide have waves that collapse on themselves again and again and sitting on the beach on a sunny afternoon undisturbed by the modern world listening to the roar in the background while looking out into the abyss one can see how sailors were captivated to venture forth to discover what lay beyond.
November 21, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
Paleo kids recipes or Caveman kids recipes. Paleo kids recipes for snack, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Paleo Diet Kid Recipes that Cavemen would envy. In the Paleolithic Period fire and agriculture had not be developed Cavemen were hunters and gatherers moving in small groups always looking for shelter and food. All of the food that Cavemen ate was raw. Wheat grain, potatoes and bean contain toxins if eaten raw and were excluded from the Paleo Diet. Animal had not been domesticated therefore; Cavemen did not drink cows milk. Cavemen living near waterways had a high consumption of fish. Cavemen living inland had a high consumption of wild animals. Of course, the Caveman had to hunt and capture these animals. Capturing wild animal was a life threatening. Cavemen only have wooden and stone man-made spears. The Paleolithic Period ended approximately 10,000 years ago and is a part of mans evolution. An invaluable gift given is the Paleo Diet a Back to Mother Nature. Establish healthy and nutritious eating habits for your toddler and the whole family for optimal health.
FREE Paleo Kids Recipes
Paleo Trail Mix
Back to Mother Nature Paleo Trail Mix no preservative or food additives.
Ingredients
– 1 cup roasted almonds
– 1 cup pumpkin seeds
– 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
– 1/2 cup dried slices bananas
– 1 cup dried cranberries
– 1/2 cup raisins
– 1/2 cup dried apricots
Mix ingredients well and store in airtight container in cool location
Pumpkin Seeds not only taste good but good for the Paleo Kids:
Contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids good fats found in fish.
Contains Iron which carries oxygen in the blood. 1 oz of pumpkin seeds provides 4mg of iron and the daily recommendation is 18 mg
Zinc a trace mineral helps build and maintain the body’s immune system
Pumpkin seeds are great Paleo Kids Snacks. In air tight bag put approximately 1/2 cup of dried pumpkin seeds and pack with school lunch. Healthy and nutritious alternative to pre-packaged commercial snacks
Paleo Fresh Fruit Salad Recipe
Paleo Kids Recipes
This fruit salad combines chopped peaches, strawberries, bananas, blueberries or blackberries, red and green grapes, dressed with a simple fresh lime and pineapple juice dressing. Fruits are seasonal in winter months may substitute peaches and strawberries with grapefruits, cantaloupe, kiwi or oranges. Paleo Raw Food Recipe for Kids. Substitute to taste.
Ingredients:
6 peaches, peeled, pitted and chopped
1 pound strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced
1/2 pound seedless green grapes
1/2 pound seedless red grapes
3 bananas, peeled and sliced
1/2 pound blackberries or blueberries (to taste)
small amount of honey (topping to taste)
Dressing:
Juice of one lime
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
Preparation:
Combine chopped and sliced fruits in a large serving bowl small amount of honey to taste. Whisk together remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour dressing mixture over fruit and toss gently to combine. Cover and chill the fruit salad thoroughly before serving.
This fruit salad recipe makes enough to serve about 10 to 12 people.
Paleo Mint, Tomato and Mango Salsa Recipe
Paleo Kids Recipes
Top your favorite food with this zingy Paleo Salsa Recipe. Serve as side dish, or over scrambled eggs or favorite meat recipe.
Ingredients:
1 mango, peeled, seeded, and diced
1/2 cup peeled red onion
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup fresh diced mint
1 tablespoon pureed chipotle
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp sea salt to taste
1 tsp black pepper or cayenne pepper to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
Prepare
Mix ingredients in bowl.
Season to taste.
Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes
Healthy and nutritious Paleo Kids Recipes – Caveman Kids Recipes for the Whole Family!
November 21, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
The agriculture sector in UK is pressurizing with increasing demands and needs an also the injuries and accidents with the manure machineries and other stuff. There are safety measures taken and also vehicles recommended like ATVs and the detailed guide-book provides health and safety measures and also legal framework of agricultural jobs UK and the comprehensive farm insurance and general awareness about animal feed and the agricultural auxiliary industries.
The fields of agriculture jobs UK provide good career opportunities and also there are many courses supporting this kind of education with degrees and titles like Agriculture Development Officer or Agriculture Research Scientist who basically help in finding out ways to increase agricultural output level by increasing the quantity of soil nutrients, making plants resistant to diseases and pests and much more. There are also other responsibilities like quality check and sale of animal feed and labeling, farm management, packaging, land appraisal and so on. Other opportunities are as ranchers raising livestock for production of eggs, meat and dairy products and farmers for crop production, fishers for fishery industry and foresters for reforestation, agricultural managers to supervise daily activities and the laborers for farming, lumbering and various other tasks.
The real job description of some other job titles like a farmer mainly does plantation, growth and harvesting and ranching includes raising animals to produce milk and wool or as animal trainers, shearing/milking assistants, breeding technicians or animal veterinarians. Fishers can work as fishing boat captain, fish cleaners and trap setters and forestry includes planting, caring and cutting of trees and serving as forest industry manager, log movers, log graders, choke-setters and fallers. The agricultural science and inspection department includes research of new methodologies and technologies to reduce plant diseases, pet problems and ways to improve the fertility of the soil.
This booming industry of agricultural jobs UK is the backbone of many countries economies and hence, to enhance its growth and development, there are always career development opportunities in the field whether it be a farm manager, hatchery or greenhouse manager, or animal specialist, some scientist or inspector or forest industry manager. Everybody is allotted the basic work and there are also many coaching correspondence courses for a career in the agriculture industry. With the advent of technology, even the fields like agriculture employs new technology like the GPS- global positioning system which enhance the farmers ability to take the optimum decision and also the field of biotechnology which helps in different innovative solutions.
November 21, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
The vast Indo-Gangetic Plain, extending from Punjab to Assam, is most intensively farmed zone of the world. Since independence contribution of agriculture to GDP has seen a decline, even after the green revolution. Our economic security concerns still depend upon agriculture as still 58% of the population is dependent on Agriculture compared to 75% at the time of independence. Around 51% of Indias geographical area is already under cultivation as compared to 11% of the world average. India leads the world in production of a few agriculture commodities. It is the largest producer in the world of milk, cashew nuts, coconut, tea, ginger, turmeric and black pepper. It is the second largest producer of wheat, rice, sugar, groundnut and inland fish. It is the third largest producer of tobacco. India accounts for 10 per cent of the world’s fruit production, ranking first in production of banana and sapota. The total food production in India is likely to double in the next ten years and there is an opportunity for large investments in food processing technologies, skills and equipment, especially in areas of Canning, Dairy and Food Processing, Specialty Processing, Packaging, Frozen Food/Refrigeration and Thermo Processing, Fruits & Vegetables, Fisheries, Milk & Milk Products, Meat & Poultry, Packaged/Convenience Foods, vegetable production, organic farming ,agriculture waste management,vermi-compost,production of Alcoholic Beverages & Soft Drinks and Grains are important sub-sectors of the food processing industry.
The potential that the country has is yet to be exploited for best output . If we look at it as livelihood activity we find 50 percent of the population contributing only 17% of the GDP. The agriculture growth is less than the growth of the economy. In spite of having good percentage of fertile soil, average yield in India is about 30% to 50% than that of world. So what are the factors that Govt. agencies and NGOs need to look at before implementing agro based livelihood projects?
UN establishes that India needs to do resource mobilization, improve project management and implementation in rural areas. Like providing advanced farming skills to farmers, irrigation facilities to overcome water shortage, proper storage facilities, better market linkages and high value for the produce, improve availability of high-yield varieties of seeds and advanced research and development should be done to improve per-hectare yield of crops in India. The govt. and research institutes are working on stem cell research, nanotechnology to improve the yield but our nation is much dependent on the monsoon and major areas of the country are facing severe droughts.
Despite various schemes like Gramin Bhandaran Yojna, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, National Horticulture Mission etc. and increased grant allocation from Rs 5560.00 crore in 2007-08 to Rs. 20208.00 crore in 2012-13 still everyday there are news of farmer suicides and why not when farmers earn merely Rs 1500 per month. Efforts should be made by Government, Donors, CSR organizations, NGOs to increase their income by enhancing their skills in modern agricultural techniques and practices which would increase the yield, contract farming, group farming, cooperatives, multi cropping techniques, production of cash crops, credit facilities etc. should be promoted so that the risks can be mitigated and their standard of living can be improved. Packaging and marketing of the produce should be the priority. One Block One Product is an efficient way to promote produces at national and international level. The ambitious project of connecting the major rivers should be implemented before its too late. With all these efforts we hope that the present situation gets better and the Agriculture sector gets revamped.