Watermelon, with its juicy and refreshing nature, is more than just a delicious summer treat. Packed with essential nutrients, this fruit offers a variety of health benefits that can keep you feeling good and happy. Here are 20 key Health Benefits of Watermelon: 1. Hydration Hero: With its high water content, watermelon helps keep you hydrated, especially on hot days. Staying hydrated is essential for many bodily functions, from regulating body temperature to supporting digestion. Each juicy bite also provides you with important nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin A. In fact, every 100 grams ..read more

HYDERABAD: The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA), a collective representing farmers, issued a demand on Sunday for a minimum of Rs450 per maund for sugarcane crops. This call takes into account the continuously rising costs of inputs and crop cultivation. The SCA rejected the price of Rs425 per 40 kilograms that sugar mills had established for the crop. They noted that the expenses associated with seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, and machinery had substantially escalated. While acknowledging that the government hadn’t raised gas prices for fertilizer production, the farmers voiced their ..read more

The vast and rich grasslands of South American Pampas are dealing with a major problem. In the past half-century, this region has experienced severe floods that destroyed many crops, caused damage to roads and structures, and forced people to leave. Scientists looked into this and discovered that farming is making the floods worse. As farmers expand their fields to grow more crops, the floods are also getting larger. In the last 40 years, the flooded areas have doubled in size. Javier Houspanossian, who looked into this, explained that floods happened sometimes before. But when new floods came ..read more

In today’s agricultural landscape, with a booming global population and increasing concerns about environmental degradation, the focus on sustainable farming practices has become paramount. Central to this conversation is the utilization and understanding of fertilizer additives. Their role in promoting agricultural sustainability is multifaceted, touching on environmental, economic, and soil health perspectives. What Are Fertilizer Additives? First and foremost, a clear understanding of fertilizer additives is vital. At their core, fertilizer additives are substances or compounds mixed with f ..read more

Canada and Manitoba governments aim to create opportunities for Indigenous people in agriculture and agri-food sectors. They plan to utilize the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) to fund initiatives that address barriers and enhance opportunities for Indigenous participation. The announcement was made on July 31st by federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson. MacAulay emphasizes the importance of equipping Indigenous communities with agricultural knowledge, skills, and technology to enhance their participation ..read more

The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), and the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (IPPCAAS), have agreed to establish a joint laboratory for crop pest management in Pakistan and China. Both parties will initiate the joint laboratory’s operations and conduct tests, demonstrations, and collaborative research on integrated disease control technologies for crop pests and diseases of mutual interest. The initiative will also involve technical personnel training and exchange programs. Prof. Muhammad Jalal Arif, Chairman of the Department of Entomology at ..read more

Pakistan has achieved a significant milestone in agricultural climate services by collaborating with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) to create the Agricultural Production and Climate Dashboard. This integrated platform offers valuable data on agricultural production, climate, and weather conditions, supporting evidence-based decision-making and planning in response to climate challenges. The dashboard provides real-time weather updates and four-month weather outlooks, aiding drought mitigation and agro-advisory services at national ..read more

Provincial Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo stated the importance of expanding oilseed cultivation to decrease the country’s import bill. During a consultative meeting at Agriculture House, he highlighted that Pakistan spends around 4 billion dollars annually on importing edible oil, which burdens the economy. He emphasized that increasing oilseed crops’ cultivation not only meets domestic needs but also presents an opportunity for foreign exchange earnings through potential exports. Agriculture (Extension) Punjab DG Dr. Anjum Ali, Crop Reporting Punjab DG Dr. Abdul Qayyum, along with ..read more

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has achieved a 63 percent self-sufficiency rate in the value-added agriculture sector, thanks to the state-run Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program (Reef) aimed at enhancing food security in the Kingdom. Launched in 2019, the program has successfully increased and diversified agricultural production while supporting 63,000 agricultural projects. Moreover, it has played a vital role in managing local markets and mitigating the effects of global food price fluctuations. According to a recently released Reef infographic, the coffee industry in Saudi Arabia ac ..read more

PHDEC organized a webinar titled ‘Good Agricultural Practices of Tomato’ in Karachi. The webinar aimed to empower farmers with knowledge on tomato nursery propagation, transplantation of nursery plants, tomato plant population, nutrition, water management, tomato crop diseases, and their remedies. In Pakistan, tomato production for 2022-23 is projected to reach 565 thousand tons from 46,000 hectares, with Sindh leading in tomato production, followed by Balochistan and Punjab. Due to varying climatic conditions, tomatoes are sown at different times in Pakistan. For early crops, nurseries are so ..read more