OLAM Nigeria Ltd, has distributed one million hybrid cocoa seedlings to farmers at the beginning of the planting season to enable them expand their production. Olam, he said, believes that a well developed agricultural sector will create employment opportunities, alleviate poverty and guarantee a stable means of livelihood to farmers. Olam distributes 1 million cocoa seedlings to farmers, trains them. Vanguard - Business : Olam distributes 1 million cocoa seedlings to farmers, trains them....

Daniel Lewis Regional Reporter . May 9, 2007 LOW rainfall, low allocations of irrigation water and frost have slashed 2006-07 wine grape production by a third compared with the previous vintage. The bureau's report noted: "With increasing total wine grape production in recent years, stocks have been increasing and prices for wine grapes declining. If seasonal conditions remain drier than average this year and water allocations are reduced further, the bureau predicts production in 2007-08...

Hnahlan village, near the Indo-Myanmar border, noted for its extensive grape cultivation, is now striving to become the largest grape producing village in India. Unlike all other commercial crops in Mizoram, grape cultivation in Hnahlan was not initiated by the state government, but by a certain farmer with a vision. Unlike all other commercial crops in Mizoram, grape cultivation in Hnahlan was not initiated by the state government, but by a certain farmer with a vision. Hnahlan to become...

The workshop, which was under the theme "Sensitising the education of cocoa farmers to help improve the economy", was aimed at helping the farmers to change the old ways of farming, which does not yield enough to the detriment of the economy. Cocoa farmers go to school. Mr Bubuama said cocoa is a socio-economic asset of Ghana and therefore, more resources must be channelled into the cocoa industry to enable the country to increase its exports. He said they should embrace modern...

Although some farmers use their own children to help raise cocoa, many other farmers use children that they hire for very low pay, or who work as slaves in the field. However, Ghana has been delayed in monitoring up to 50 percent of its cocoa farms to certify that cocoa is not produced by unfair child labor practices. And the Ivory Coast, which is torn by war, is also having problems trying to monitor cocoa farms, which are often only one to four acres. And despite recent efforts to stop...

But many children on cocoa farms don't get to school, some exchange their childhood for work, a roof over their head and a meal a day. Eight years since reports of child labour and slavery in Ivory Coast - the world's largest cocoa producer - first emerged, progress in eradicating child labour has been slow. In the time that has passed, war, cultural differences and the importance of cocoa revenues to West African economies have all served to obscure the debate. Now chocolate firms are...

But even if prices are rising, most farmers in Ivory Coast are unable to cash in on the bull market. Adjust font size: NEW YORK (Reuters) -- An unusually harsh harmattan -- a seasonal cold, dry wind that carries clouds of dust from the Sahara -- was the first sign of trouble for West African cocoa farmers. Stiff competition between buyers for scarce beans as the October-March main crop limped to a close pushed farm gate prices in some areas over 500 CFA francs ($1. Cocoa prices have risen...

Cling peaches are processed four ways: sliced, halved, diced or added to fruit cocktail and mixed fruit. California's peach growers produce a wide variety, including yellow- and white-flesh fruit. The difference is simply the ease with which the fruit pulls away from the pit. They also have carotenoids that help keep eyes healthy and flavonoids shown to protect against cancer and heart disease. Freestone peaches are commonly eaten fresh and sold at grocery stores and farmers markets. They...

Blueberry crops in the state's Coastal Plains region also appear to have significant losses and peach production in the Sandhills area will have lower yields this summer due to freeze damage. Muscadine grape vines exposed to the freeze are expected to re-flower, but some young pecan trees could end up taking a loss as damage figures are compiled. Among the estimates of damage are $98 million to the states fruit and nut industry. Mountain apple production, valued at $19. North Carolina...