Cassava important crop in the tropics

Cassava important crop in the tropics
Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 1:40:35 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
Cassava is one of those plants with as many names as there are different communities eating it.

It is known as manioc, manihot, yucca, mandioca, sweet potato tree and tapioca plant.

It is an important food crop in the tropics, where it is grown for its starchy, tuberous roots. This plant is sometimes referred to as the potato of the tropics, and it is a staple for many people around the world.

Cassava has been grown in Florida for many years and, as the Caribbean population increased, so did its cultivation in backyard gardens. Around the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was grown to such an extent that a few small starch factories were started to process the crop.

While not as important a commercial crop as it once was, about 800 acres were grown in Miami-Dade County for the fresh market in 1984. Only a relatively few gardeners now include it in their home gardens, but it is such an easy plant to care for and establish, I would encourage everyone to give it a try.

Cassava is a shrubby perennial that grows to a maximum of 6 to 8 feet. It has smooth, erect stems and resembles the cannabis plant. The large, compound, dark-green, reddish-veined leaves are divided into about seven leaflets. The stems contain a soft white center and have nodes from which new plants are obtained.

The roots, the most valuable part of the plant, grow in clusters of four to eight at the stem base. Roots are from 1 to 4 inches in diameter and from 8 to 15 inches long, although roots up to 3 feet long are found.

The winner of this year's largest vegetable at the South Florida Fair was a cassava.

The pure-white interior of the roots is firmer than potatoes and has very high starch content. The roots are covered with a thin, reddish-brown, fibrous bark that is removed by peeling. The bark is reported to contain toxic hydrocyanic acid, which must be removed by washing, scraping and heating. Eat the flesh, not the bark.

Two types of cassava recognized are "bitter" and "sweet." The sweet-type roots contain only a small amount of the acid and are boiled and used as a vegetable, along with the young leaves, which are used a greens.

Leaves are not eaten raw because of the poisonous substances. Boil them like other greens, such a turnips.

The roots also are used for animal feed, and the starch is used for glue, laundry starch and tapioca pudding.

Cassava needs eight to 11 frost-free months to produce usable roots. It requires about the same soil and fertilizer as sweet potatoes.

Cassava is propagated by planting 10-inch sections of the stem 2 to 4 inches deep at 4-foot intervals on 4-foot wide rows. The roots are dug or pulled and used soon after harvest, since they deteriorate rapidly.

Large plants will be very tough, so most grow this plant for a single season. The plant, however, can grow for many years, producing roots that weigh many pounds.

Stick with small roots, and you will be surprised at just how many recipes exist for this plant.

Tired of potatoes? Grow cassava.


Choose a good wine
Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 1:39:06 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
The term of Wine has been known since thousand years ago. Approximately 6000 BC wine was already been made for an offering to a their beloved god. Greece is one of many country that had long history with wine, and has been consumed in a cultural festival back then. Wine is also included into a holy bible, telling that Christ transmuted the water in a jar become wine so the villagers can continue the festival. I think there is also other culture concern about wine, because its delight, rich and luxury taste. For now Wine Pairing is become popular among the Wine lover, they visit many winery and try to mix up a little bit to create a new taste of wine.

Wine is perfect when it comes to a proper dinner in restaurant, and also create a romantic scheme in romantic dinner. You can search about Wine Reviews to broaden your knowledge, this may come handy in time. So you can pick the right wine in the right time. Everyone is unique and so the wine, every brand has its own specialty and tasting it require a decent and trained sense.

Finding a best find is sometime not easy as it looks, friends of mine once told me that expensive wine is not always the best wine. Some people dedicated their life to become a wine tester. They travel around the world to taste a new product or giving the Wine Grades. Though it looks very simple but to become a formidable wine tester you must be certificated and passed through many test, this is important because your decision will affect the future of wine’s brand or the winery itself.


Sugar planters shift to cassava
Saturday, February 28, 2009, 7:51:00 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
ORMOC CITY — A group of sugar planters here is willing to convert 100 hectares of sugarcane plantations into cassava farms.

Climaco Evangelista, chairman of the board of the Occidental Leyte Farmers Cooperative Association and president of the Ormoc Chamber of Commerce, said he will convince each member to try planting cassava.

"This might be better than sugarcane once this goes full blast," he said. A hectare could yield up to 60 tons of cassava, or up to P100,000 worth of cassava.

Early Seven Marketing, which is based in Ormoc, has been buying sliced or semi-processed cassava for P2 per kilo.

It has committed to purchase the group’s harvest and has linked up with the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Metro Ormoc Credit Cooperative (OCCCI) to provide micro-financing facilities to the farmers. The Visayas State University in Baybay will provide technical assistance.


Friday, February 27, 2009, 9:57:08 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
Feb. 23--Fernando Martinez, Eastern Petroleum chairman, said that the company is now on its second year of propagating the crop, which would be used as a feedstock for biofuel.

"We started with around 300 hectares harvested. Now we are planting 1,000 hectares. The rate of multiplication is three to five times. We need 10,000 hectares to process it for ethanol," he said.

Ethanol is a high-octane, water-free alcohol that can be used as a gasoline substitute. The alternative fuel is produced from sugar cane and other crops such as corn, cassava, sweet sorghum.

Eastern Petroleum, which is primarily into the retail petroleum business, has a number of cassava plantations nationwide including Zambales in Luzon and General Santos City and Saranggani province in Mindanao.

The oil firm's entry into feedstock development was brought about by the passage of the Biofuels Act of 2006, which mandated all engine fuels to have a minimum blend of biofuels to be derived from indigenous crops.

Because of this, energy consultancy firm Merritt Partners reported last year that domestic demand for ethanol would reach more than 300 million liters this year. This is expected to rise to 664 million liters by 2011 and 713 million liters by 2013.

At present, however, only two ethanol plants using sugarcane as feedstock with a capacity of less than 50 million liters per year have been put up by the private sector to feed oil firms' demand, forcing most of them to import their supply.

The Eastern Petroleum official said that once the oil firm's target is reached, it would be able to produce enough ethanol to supply local biofuel requirements.

"We need 10,000 hectares to process it for ethanol . . . not only for Eastern, it is more than enough for us. That's good for 30 million liters," he said.

Martinez added that the company has already completed studies for its plan to put up ethanol plants that will process cassava into the alternative fuel.

Initially, Eastern Petroleum is eying to put up a facility with a 100,000-liter capacity, which is projected to cost about $25 million.

Martinez said that the company is open to possible partnerships with other investors for its proposed ethanol processing plant.

"We are open to other parties. We have done complete studies and we are now in the feasibility preparation stage for the ethanol plant itself," he said.

Source: The Manilla Times
trackingBy Euan Paulo C. Anonuevo, The Manila Times, Philippines


Cassava to the new menu as a staple foodassava to the new menu as a staple food
Friday, February 27, 2009, 9:49:10 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
In a bid to help prevent a food crisis, state logistics firm Perum Bulog is trying to diversify cassava to become a viable substitute staple food, officials said Thursday.

Bulog president director Mustafa Abubakar said Bulog's interest in promoting cassava as an alternative staple had already drawn the attention of the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

"Cassava is a strategic alternative commodity that is taken seriously by the private sector and people in general," he told a press conference in Jakarta.

"Likewise, cassava has drawn our attention, and, apparently, that of IFAD president Kanayo [Nwanze], too."

IFAD is a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.

Mustafa said he had expressed Bulog's vision on cassava to the international agency during the 32nd IFAD governing council meeting in Rome from Feb. 18-19.

During the meeting, Bulog proposed the need for IFAD's assistance in developing cassava as it sought to support the country's goal in food diversification, Mustafa said.

"IFAD has programs [to develop cassava] in Africa and has a number of experts whom we hope will come [to Indonesia] soon," he said.

"By that time, [Bulog] will have learned the possibilities of engaging in cooperation [with IFAD]."

He added cassava could serve as an emergency non-rice food commodity and thus was suitable for ready-to-serve food in disaster-prone or food-scarce areas.

"[Processed] cassava can inflate to four times larger than instant noodle when submerged in water," he said.

Cassava can be processed to yield modified cassava flour (mocaf), noodles, bread, donuts, snacks and crackers, he said.

"Therefore, we likely need research on cassava more than anything else."

Bulog research and development head Suharno said the state institution had been involved for more than a year in research into the tuber, together with several cassava-processing companies, including PT Tiga Pilar in Solo, West Java.

"At present, Bulog only facilitates companies in developing the cassava market, connecting producers to consumers," he said.

One company in Central Java has already planned to export modified cassava flour to the Philippines.

"That's because snack consumption is quite big in that country," Suharno pointed out.

He also said China had placed special orders for cassava from a company in Kalimantan.

The cassava market, he went on, was promising, with domestic consumption of tapioca reaching more than half of the 15 million tons of annual cassava production.

Indonesia's main cassava-growing area is in Lampung.

"Actually, there are also a million hectares of idle peatlands that can be planted with cassava," Suharno said.

However, he admitted that national cassava productivity only reached about 15 tons per hectare, while it was possible to attain yields of up to 50 tons or even 100 tons per hectare.

The development of cassava in the country is expected to involve the Agriculture Ministry as well.


Small and nice cafe
Saturday, February 14, 2009, 12:26:11 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
I Have an opportunity helping my friend open his new cafe, small cafe nice place to hang around, the location it self close with central district area, which has many different customer, first I started to arranged the lobby which has a small sofa in it place at the corner I just put there wine pot racks - enclume pot racks and it’s consist 12 botle of wine

Since he asked me to arranged with the home atmosphere, then I have an idea to put also free standing tier cookware stand – enclume pot rack – and it’s consist 5 cook ware just to give warm ambiance , and the result is when we entering this room the atmosphere like almost a warm living room

Well the café also open for lunch time and still one room that need to touch up and he suggest to put an enclume bakers cart – enclume potrack to give a small decoration an we can put several bread and honey surrounding, well it seems the decoration thing not so difficult when we talked about small cafe, I hope you love it to join and become my loyal customer


Bioplastics need laws and funding
Friday, February 13, 2009, 8:07:27 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
Thailand has the potential to compete and become a leader in bioplastic production but legislation and funding are needed to boost the scale of production.

"With an investment of 70 billion baht across the bioplastic production chain, we would see a yearly return of 200 billion baht," said Dr Wantanee Chongkum, director of the innovation department of the National Innovation Agency (NIA).

"Compared to other applications, making bioplastic from agricultural goods is the most profitable. Cassava can be made into bioplastic with a return of more than 20 baht per kilogramme, compared to 25 satang for cassava oil. We should be exporting finished products, not raw materials."

Domestically, building the production facilities requires a large amount of investment while the demand for bioplastics in Thailand is still small.

"We are in a research phase. Economic analysis needs to be conducted properly in order to determine the costs of switching from normal plastic to bioplastic," said Dr Wantanee.

In order to spur the growth of the bioplastics industry, suitable policies must be developed.

"We need to implement a policy that is suitable for Thai consumers' behaviour," she said.

For example, many Thais already separate their food waste into plastic bags before discarding it with the trash.

"If these bags were biodegradable, then we could use them for fertiliser production like they do in Japan," she elaborated.

Rising public concern over the effects of global climate change has been an important catalyst for business operators to start using bioplastic, whether to enhance their image or out of genuine concern.

The growing demand could improve the economies of scale for production with the implication that the industry would become more commercially viable.

In fact, large companies such as Nokia, Sony and Mitsubishi are already manufacturing products with bioplastic components as a marketing gimmick.

"Luxury items such as phones, radios and cars can absorb the higher prices of bioplastic, whereas plastic bags cannot," said Somsak Borrisuttanakul, president of the Thai Bioplastic Industry Association. He sees the future of bioplastics shifting away from packaging, where it is now largely concentrated.

Mr Somsak urges the government to invest further in the development of bioplastic, and come up with adequate green policies to diversify and increase the usage of bioplastics in Thailand.

"In Europe, the growth of demand for bioplastics is around 20% per year," said Assoc Prof Dr Songsri Kulpreecha of the Faculty of Science of Chulalongkorn University at a recent seminar on developing the local bioplastics industry.

The university invested 15 million last year and will be investing more than 30 million baht this year in machinery to test bioplastics.

"Ninety-five to 98% of bioplastic packaging produced in Thailand is for direct export. Even within Thailand, sales are mainly to clients who export to companies requiring biodegradable packaging," said Teerawat Teeraphatpornchai, business development manager of Advance Packaging Co Ltd.

Nonetheless, the company, predicting the profitability of the market within five years, has invested five million baht in trial raw materials.

It is considering investing another five million in developing bioplastics with the aim of seeing whether their properties are suitable for the Thai packaging market, such as moisture-resistant and breathable plastics.

While consumers' knowledge centres mainly on packaging and convenience, supermarket customer Darai Thirawat said, "Convenience is important - but if there were two retailers offering the same products in the same mall, but one used biodegradable bags and the other did not, then I would choose the one that offered the biodegradable option.

"It may be a small trend now, but young people will get involved, and eventually, it will become a movement, as in western countries," she added.


USAID Spends $5.3 Million on African Cassava Output
Friday, February 13, 2009, 7:13:18 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
Feb. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, is funding a $5.3 million cassava project in sub-Saharan Africa to raise output of the root crop in seven countries

The project aims to increase output by 30 percent and promote the use of cassava, a potato-like vegetable, to counter high food prices in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture said in an e- mailed statement today.

USAID will provide high-yielding cassava varieties to 395,000 farmers, according to the Ibadan, Nigeria-based agency.

Cassava provides a basic daily source of dietary energy to millions of people in Africa. The roots are processed into a wide variety of products such as chips and flour, or are consumed boiled or raw. In most cassava-growing countries in Africa, the leaves are also consumed as a green vegetable, which provides protein and vitamins A and B.


Imo Poly develops highyield cassava stems
Monday, January 26, 2009, 2:56:30 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
The management of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State, yesterday said that the institution has developed about 43 varieties of high yielding cassava stems for use by farmers in the state.

The institution’s Rector, Dr. Anderson Amadioha, who stated in an interview with newsmen, also said that this development was part of the school administration’s commitment to the attainment of food sufficiency and food security in the state.

“We have developed about 43 varieties of high yielding cassava stems for use by farmers. This is part of our commitment to the attainment of food sufficiency and security, creation of wealth for farmers, as well as improving the revenue base of the state”, Amadioha said.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the Rector said that the varieties include those specially developed for pelleting with the aim of exporting them and another for starch production.

“The variety for starch production is aimed at meeting the federal government directive that 10 percent of flour for bread production should come from cassava starch. We also have a variety for garri production”, the Rector explained.

Dr. Amadioha also said that the school is taking time to properly educate farmers on the varieties, pointing out that Imo State Polytechnic has witnessed tremendous transformation since he came on board in 2005.

“Prior to my assumption of office, none of the courses run in the school was accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). All our science based courses have been cleared and about April, NBTE will come for the accreditation of the Business courses”, Amadioha said.

He assured that the school management has put everything in place in readiness for the next visit of the NBTE accreditation team, with a view to ensure that everything is successful.


Cassava Ready for Field Trials
Thursday, January 15, 2009, 1:47:57 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
LABORATORY experiments for the genetically modified (GM) cassava have been completed and the National Crops Resource Research Institute (NCRRI) Namulonge has sought permission from the National biosafety committee to transfer the genetically modified cassava from the green house to the field.

"We are through with the laboratory work. If our application gets a favorable consideration by committee, we shall have the first genetically modified cassava in the field. We have all the tools that can be used to genetically improve the type of cassava we have today in the country,"Dr. Yona Baguma, a researcher said.

One of the roles of the national biosafety committee is to ensure safe conduct and safety of the biotech products to human beings and the environment. The cassava plants shall be subjected to various tests. Recently, the research institute came up with crop materials that combine resistance to both cassava mosaic and cassava brown stem disease.

Researchers have used the technology to impart genes of resistance to cassava mosaic, which is caused by a double stranded virus and cassava brown stem that is caused by the single stranded virus.

"We developed 12 cassava resistant and high yielding varieties. Unfortunately the ten have been attacked by cassava mosaic and brown stem diseases. The two remaining varieties have stood the test and we want to put them into the field to test their performance," Baguma said.

He said to come up with best cassava varieties Ugandans have to use of biotechnology best approaches. According to him, if the field trial succceds, the products that would be generated will be disseminated to the local farmers.

Baguma said famine maybe felt in some areas of the country due the extinction of most staple foods caused by the pest and diseases.

He said that cassava has been invaded by the mosaic and brown stem while black sigatoka and banana weevils are a threat to East African highland bananas.

According to the scientists, cassava mosaic and cassava brown streak disease are the most important constraints affecting cassava production in Uganda and most parts of Africa.

The research aims at improving CMD resistance genes while retaining the superior storage root traits. Baguma was speaking during a workshop on biosafety and biotechnology held at Imperial Royale Hotel on Thursday.


Stop your bad habits
Friday, January 09, 2009, 12:23:21 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
Lately I just thinking to stop smoking, I have been smoking for about 12 years and I fell that this kind of activity will cost a bad health, but who can stop it, althought I have been tryng to stop smoking but....it seems that this is not an easy way to do.

I belive that with a big eager I can just quit smoking, rather then just thinking about it then I decided to stop smoking right away,..I try not smoke for 1 hours and first it was success and again I try another hours and it works, then I feel terrible ,just only after 3 hours..oh God I can not do it.

Already try hard and try to forget, everything that conected to my mind that can pointed to my habits I try to dump far away,but still a good result is away from the reality. Frustated of tryng to stop smoking then I discuss with my friend that already succes with his program to stop smoking, he said it is as simple as you want, as long as you follow the instructur. He said that just visit the instructur website of NLP the instructur is Paul Mc Kenna the greatest mynd training and he is one of the moderator at NLP Training what he suggested is very useful and it works, and very effesien easy to understand.

Well I said in my mynd nothing to lose to give it a try, then I visit NLP and I find that the insctructur was really help full, and I find the the information that I got is really usefull and just only several weeks, I can handle my problem to stop smoking, the bad habits that not so easy to stop,hopefully you will having the same experience, just need to follow carefully all the instruction.


Traditional Market
Saturday, December 27, 2008, 12:12:33 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
When we talked about traditional market in my country we will imagine that so many people surrounding us, crowded almost difficult to breath. I have an experience when I buy a hand mixer wow it takes 2 hours and it takes my energy. Yes that the situation we accept or not but this is the fact, and we need it.

To fulfill my needs for my business I do often shopping and searching goods to run my shop, for instant like wooden spoon or spatulas for my cassava product and sometimes I could not find easily, struggling from narrow to narrow and facing so many people with the different proposed. Sometime I can enjoy this but sometime I feel boring with this kind of situation, what can I say I need that stuff, so just do it.

By chance I have a closed friend informed to me that he no longer facing the same situation like me, he show me the solution and it really simple and easy to do we only need to used our finger and pick up the goods from their links and I rather called it super mall and I guarantee that you will have more efficient time and less of effort.


Disease-Resistant Cassava Cloned at Namulonge
Saturday, December 27, 2008, 12:05:48 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
SCIENTISTS at the National Crop Resources Research Institute in Namulonge, Wakiso district have developed cassava clones resistant to cassava brown streak disease.

The clones were developed from 20,000 cassava seeds, which were imported from Tanzania early this year. "So far out of the 116 clones, 15 may be tolerant to the disease," said Dr. Titus Alicai, a cassava scientist at Namulonge.

"Farmers should not start demanding these clones, they need to give us time to study them before we start multiplying them," he said.

The disease initially reported in two districts in 2004 has spread to over 25 districts, including Arua, Gulu, Apac, Mubende, Hoima, Kasese, Kumi, Busia, Pallisa, Mukono, Wakiso and Luweero.

Dr Alicai warned farmers and some NGOs against transporting planting materials from the affected districts. He, however, regretted that transportation of planting materials of vegetatively propagated crops like cassava, bananas and sweet potato vines could not be easy to regulate as in the case of livestock.

"In the crop sector, nothing is done that is why the disease initially reported in two districts has rapidly spread in over 25 districts," he lamented.

The workshop which was organised by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was aimed at enhancing cassava production.

The FAO country representative Percy Misika called for team work to save a food crop that ranks second to bananas in terms of production.

Why cassava?
• It is drought-resistant.
• It can do well in acidic and poor soils
• Farmers can esaily harvest it whenever there is a need.
• It is vegetatively propagated thus making it easy to maintain and multiply it. It requires low levels of production inputs.

USES OF CASSAVA
• Cassava tubers can be eaten as food.
• Tubers can be milled into flour.
• Cassava leaves are eaten as vegetables, especially in times of food scarcity.
• Manufacture of starch for use in brewing, textiles, paper industries and making of livestock feeds.


Useful equipments
Thursday, December 25, 2008, 2:42:47 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
After doing the trial for several day, I am still could not find cooking supplies that can help me to finished my project faster. I am not really perfectionist person, but sometime my deadline is really short period.

I remember my father always told me that you will need a professional cookware if you want to develop a professional restaurant, one of my favorite menu is cheese cassava, actually it’s really simple menu just a combination, cassava and cheese but to cook this menu little bit difficult if we can not find cooking supplies that really fit.

Several month since I open my restaurant, and it’s just the beginning to continue my journey to open another and I believe that if we have an eager and we also have the right tools nothing is impossible.


Business Oportunity
Thursday, December 25, 2008, 1:46:41 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
It's common practice for now days, that business need to develop our branded just to build image or knowing by people and the good think is we need less effort if you can chose franchises usually the top branded Company will offering a chance for us to develop together with them by using their branded.

For several year running the business is not something that really difficult, for instant many franchise opportunity that we just simply can grab it. Although this is not less of effort but capital is a must to joint with their program, for sure it doesn’t mean that we can not effort it. They already has an agenda that easy to understand.

Franchise opportunities has been offering by many of top branded Company, we just need to follow their regulation, system and so on, although for new comer they feel that the system and regulation very easy but please make sure that before we decide to use one of their program we must understand exactly how the regulation just to make sure that at the end we’re not disappointed. Please be sure that the program that they offering is the simple program that we can understand and also please make sure that we can effort it.


Lampung builds special school to support bioenergy program
Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 8:05:31 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
The Lampung provincial administration is building an integrated biofuel school in Central Lampung regency as part of its plan to become a national bioenergy center.

Construction of the special school in Sulusuban village, Central Lampung, is expected to cost Rp 216 billion (US$19.6 million), funded by the central government (50 percent), province (30 percent) and regency (20 percent).

Construction work commenced in the middle of the year and is scheduled for completion in 2017.

Head of the Lampung office Development Planning Board, Suryono S.W., said the school would be located within the compound of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) in Sulusuban village in Seputihagung district.

"The budgeted Rp 216 billion will be used to build the school, from elementary to university levels. A vocational school will be built in the initial phase, followed by a polytechnic," Suryono said recently.

"Both schools will focus on the field of bioenergy. The integrated school will also be associated with BPPT's large-scale projects."

According to Suryono, the Lampung provincial administration is serious about turning the province into a center for renewable energy. It is also actively seeking to attract investors in building cassava- and jatropha-based biofuel plants, as well as supporting and empowering farmers to cultivate the crops.

"A number of investors from South Korea and China have currently signed memorandums of understanding with the Lampung administration to build bioenergy plants. BPPT in Sulusuban has also spearheaded bioethanol development in Indonesia," Suryono said.

"So it's very timely that the administration is working with the BPPT in setting up and developing the special school."

He said the potential for bioenergy in Lampung was very promising because of the area's vast cassava plantations and a number of bioethanol plants in Central and North Lampung regencies.

"They should be supported by skilled workers in the field of bioenergy. That's why we have built the integrated bioenergy school," he added.

The cooperation with BPPT, said Suryono, took the form of land use and provision of teaching staff.

"BPPT has provided 317 hectares for the school, and construction commenced this year," he said.

A number of investors have been building bioethanol factories in Lampung since 2006. PT Medco, for instance, has invested $40 million in North Lampung in developing renewable bioethanol at an output capacity of 60 million liters annually.

The plant also produces biogas to feed boilers, 33,000 metric tons of liquid carbon dioxide, 13,000 metric tons of organic fertilizer and 118,000 liters of fusel oil.

In Central Lampung, PT Medco has built a biodiesel plant based on crude palm oil at a cost of around $6 million, deriving raw materials from palm oil farmers.

For raw materials, PT Medco has developed a partnership program encompassing six districts in Central Lampung over a total of 7,901 hectares: Pubiam (1,773 ha), Padang Ratu (1,939 ha), Selagai Lingga (1,178 ha), Sendang Agung (972 ha), Anak Tuha (1,662 ha) and Anak Ratu Aji (377 ha).

PT Madu Lampung Indah has also set up a bioethanol plant with an output capacity of 50 million liters annually. It is currently using about 1,600 hectares of cassava farms and expects to be able to manage 4,000 hectares of cassava farms in partnership programs with farmers in East and South Lampung regencies.

The Lampung BPPT office has been developing bioenergy fuel since the 1980s, with the arrival of equipment bought with the assistance of the Japanese government. Researchers at BPPT have conducted further studies on other raw materials for bioethanol, such as sugarcane, corn and other crops.

Earlier, Lampung BPPT researchers developed raw material for bioethanol from molasses at a 20.5 percent sugar content. However, sugarcane supplies were limited at the time because of the demand from the food industry.

One BPPT researcher, Arief Yudiarto, said that, according to Lampung BPPT's estimates, Indonesia would have to set up 50 new bioethanol-processing plants by 2010 if the entire petroleum demand in Indonesia were replaced by gasohol, which has an ethanol content of 10 percent (Gasohol BE-10).

"That is if Indonesia wants to be serious about developing renewable energies," Arief said.


Cassava earns global awards
Saturday, December 13, 2008, 2:23:00 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
A major break though in cassava processing has earned global awards for a Nigerian institution. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture won two awards for in-depth researches into cassava and cocoa that helped in fighting hunger and poverty in Africa.

A statement to the Ghana Office of AfricaNews from Godwin Atser, Corporate Communications Officer (West Africa) of IITA said the awards included “Outstanding Agricultural Technology in sub-Saharan Africa and Outstanding Communications.” The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research instituted the award.

Dr Lateef Sanni Oladimeji of the University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Nigeria, who is also IITA’s Postharvest Specialist received the 2008 CGIAR Regional Award for Outstanding Agricultural Technology in sub-Saharan Africa, the statement said.

The CGIAR is a strategic alliance of members, partners and international agricultural centers that mobilizes science to benefit the poor. According to CGIAR at its annual conference in Maputo, Sanni’s expertise in drying technologies has contributed to considerable income and employment gains for numerous small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria and several other West African countries.

The statement added: “Sanni initially designed a rotary dryer that increased production of cassava flour to 300 kilograms (kg) every 8 hours. It was then disseminated to cassava processing facilities in southwest and southeast Nigeria. More recently, within IITA’s Integrated Cassava Project, he assembled a team of engineers that has designed a “flash” dryer capable of drying 250 kg of cassava flour per hour.”

“His work has helped to increase the use of locally-manufactured flash dryers in Nigeria from two units before 2003, to over 60 units today. Sanni was presented the award after a short video showcasing his excellent work,” the statement said.

Communication category

On the other hand, Dr. Soniia David, IITA’s Technology Transfer Specialist, and her team at the Sustainable Tree Crops Program received the 2008 CGIAR Science Awards - Outstanding Communications Category for training farmers in West African countries to use digital video cameras as a way to share knowledge of sustainable cocoa production. By setting up Video Viewing Clubs (VVC), the team got together groups of farmers to watch and learn from the videos.

To date, 450 farmers in Ghana have participated in VVCs. Farmers who adopted the crop and pest management practices promoted by the YouTube videos are likely to increase yields by 20-40 per cent and decrease pesticide use by 10-20 per cent.
Dr Paula Bramel, IITA’s Deputy Director-General Research, received the award on behalf of David.

IITA's work on banana in Uganda was also extensively featured in the winning entry for the broadcast journalism category of the CGIAR-FARA 2008 Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science Journalism in Africa.

Patricia Oyella, editor and reporter at WBS TV in Uganda, received the award for her broadcast feature, “Saving the Cooking Banana,” shown on WBS TV and on Business Africa, a program broadcast on a network of more than 45 African and five European partner channels. The feature demonstrated the importance of this food crop in Africa, the problems faced by banana farmers, and the solutions offered by researchers.


Barbecue cassava chips
Friday, December 12, 2008, 2:23:01 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
For those who love the crunch of a good chip, JP Tropical Foods Division, the new face of Jamaica Producers food brands, has added cassava chips to its range of snacks.

Available in original and barbecue flavours, the tuber, which has been getting a lot of attention in recent months, has joined banana, breadfruit and plantain as raw material for the company's chips.


Consumers like product

"When we tested the concept of St Mary's Cassava Chips with consumers, they told us they liked it, because not only do they taste great, but consumers are impressed with the fact that compared to potato chips, they are loaded with vitamin C
, have fewer calories, 20 per cent less fat and more than twice the fibre," said Rolf Simmonds, commercial director of Jamaica Producers Group Limited at the product launch last Wednesday.

The cassava chips are joining a family of already successful products with St Mary's Banana Chips being the most popular.

"Over a million packs of banana chips are consumed in any given week here in Jamaica," said Simmonds.

He also announced that the banana chips will also be available in barbecue flavour.

With a good track record for making chips, the company is taking a chance with cassava chips, which, according to Simmonds, reinforces its commitment to Jamaica's agricultural sector.

Minister of Agriculture Christopher Tufton, who was the special guest at the launch at the Annotto Bay farm, reinforced Jamaica's need to produce more with its own resources to ensure food security. He applauded Jamaica Producers' move to improve their company and products.

"I want to place on record and certainly articulate explicitly how much I believe that this is a positive move and a move that will certainly act as a catalyst for others to follow," said the minister.

"Everybody calls me 'the cassava man' so today I feel vindicated that cassava is now not only in the fields but you can get it in original and barbecue," he quipped.


Collecting Hobbies Item
Saturday, November 29, 2008, 1:48:27 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
Talking about favorite sport that I always wanted become expert is baseball, when I was a kid my father always asked me to accompany him to watch his favorite game, for the first time I feel that this sport was not interesting me, but because I always watch when there is a game so, slowly but sure then I fall in love with this game.

In the first session of league, in my city the hometown club always become a champion and all young people already love that team, and try to collect souvenir, that have the logos of the club, also my self I am starting to collect souvenir of my favorite club, such as t-shirt, shoe, hat and also Baseball Gloves which is very rare at that time, you need to indent and pay in advance to get this stuff, it is unique actually when it comes in our mind that collecting our hobbies stuff is the great activity that really enjoyable, we try to find out the stuffs that need to collect and sometime we never thinking about the energy or cost that we have been thru, because in our mind only thinking about the goods that we after.


Increasing Farmers Profit
Saturday, November 29, 2008, 1:45:37 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
CASSAVA farmers and processors are set to earn bigger profits and get better-quality product through a new cost-effective and efficient flash dryer that produces 300 per cent more flour while using 40 per cent less fuel.

Developed by scientists working at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and National Partners in Nigeria, the improved flash dryer is capable of processing eight tons of raw cassava tubers into two tons of high-quality flour per day compared to the less-than one-ton daily production of existing models.

Aside from higher production capacity, the new flash dryer also consumes less fuel, using only 12 litres of diesel per hour to produce 250 kg of flour. Comparatively, current models burn about 20 litres of fuel per hour to produce only 80 kg of flour.

According to the Corporate Communications Officer of IITA, Mr. Godwin Atser, the new flash dryer is also cheaper. "Most models being used by cassava millers in Nigeria are imported, usually from Brazil, and cost about US$ 68 500 per unit. The new dryer is locally manufactured and costs about $22 800 each, or only about a third of the price of imported ones," he added.

"The improved flash dryer not only doubles the capacity of present ones in the market, but it also produces much finer quality of flour," says Dr. Gbassay Tarawali, Project Manager of IITA's Cassava Enterprise Development Project (CEDP).

He says the dryer also addresses the perennial problem of short-period perishability of cassava after harvest.

"The development and introduction of this improved flash dryer represents a win-win situation for the millions of cassava farmers and processors not only in Nigeria but also in other cassava-producing countries of West Africa," says Prof. Ayo Kuye of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, who led a team of engineers in developing the new dryer in consultation with IITA.

"This new flash dryer will not only save the country millions of dollars in import payments but will also generate millions more in production increases and cost savings once it is widely distributed and used. This dryer is a success story for the cassava industry in general," he added.

National partners in the development of this improved flash dryer include the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi; the Roots and Tuber Expansion Programme of the International Fund for Agricultural Development; and Godilogo Farms in Obudu, Cross Rivers State.

Under the Presidential Initiative on Cassava, Nigeria mandated millers to integrate 10 per cent cassava flour to wheat flour in making bread, a move aimed at increasing the utilization of the tuber crop.

However, supply of cassava flour has not been able to keep up with demand. IITA and partners say that this situation will be improved with the introduction of the improved flash dryer, benefiting the farmers downstream with better market opportunities and prices for their crops.


Commercial television for my product
Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 11:47:00 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
When it comes with decision to make a commercial television for my product, I always confuse to made a decision, in order to have a good commercial television and video shooting, in my mind always a thought a complicated process that make you headache.

I’ve been trying to find a production house who specialty in process of video production but sometimes, I need in a limited time with a best shot and script. It’s always difficult for me to find an Idea for angel of shooting, story line, not to mention the story board, and also one that really complicated to find the talent that can suitable for my product, well this not an easy process.

Just one step a head, facing this problem as a challenge luckily my best friend recommended one of largest Video production who can help with my entire problem, I don’t need to think about the script, story line, story board and all complicated process that need to touch up. My best friend suggested to open Video Production Service it will solved my entire problem in order to produce my commercial television for my product that need to launch in a short period of time. My problem was fixed and no need to worry with the result, they all really professional.


New cassava illness strikes in Mara
Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 9:55:29 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) is spreading at an alarming rate in almost all districts of Mara Region, thus threatening the major food crop that is widely grown in the lake zone, researchers have warned.

Researchers from Ukiruguru Institute have now recommended alternative food crops such as millet and lentils to be grown in all districts of the region without delay, warning that there will be no cassava plants in the area after a year from now.

The new cassava disease that spots rotten cassava roots, threatens food security in the region with over 1.6 million population, according to the Regional Agricultural Advisor, Mr Samweli Sasi. “Earlier, CBSD was reported in the neighbouring Ukerewe District of Mwanza Region but it has spread very fast in Rorya, Musoma and Bunda districts.

Ukiruguru has conducted the study now in all districts of Mara region and the problem is big because they have not yet come up with alternative cassava seeds to meet the demand of wananchi," Mr Sasi said in his latest report to regional business council meeting here on Wednesday.

The report shocked the meeting with the Mara Regional Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture Mr Lazaro Magira calling for a quick permanent solution in preventing further spread of the diseases among other things. "This is a threat and that is why researchers have suggested alternative food crops but this is not a permanent solution and I am worried if wananchi are aware of the researchers findings," the TCCIA leader said.

Mara Regional Commissioner (RC) Mr Issa Machibya banned transporting cassava seeds in a bid to contain the disease in the area. The RC also informed the meeting that sufficient millet seeds have been distributed across the region to rescue the situation. “At least every home should plant not less than two hectares of millet and seeds have been distributed everywhere," the regional chief said.

Bunda District Commissioner Mr Chiku Gallawa said all kind of cassava seeds available in the region are in danger of being affected by the disease. “All seeds are likely to be affected and researchers have hinted that by next year there will be no cassava. The focus should be having one voice and going for alternative food crops to address the challenge we face ahead, " Ms Gallwa told the meeting.


Luxury utility vehicle
Friday, November 21, 2008, 12:05:48 AM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
I am just wondering when I can have my own car, classy, exclusive, elegant we need to go back to the year 1973 when I have my own first car, it was not so difficult to drive Mercedes 200, what we called it mini Mercedes and some folks say “200” this is the first 2000cc Mercedes with four cylinder. I really proud to have this car and until now I am still keep it and the condition is in the good condition ready to drive.

Time is moving and this Mercedes develop their technology, safety and the entire instrument is there. Mercedes-Benz Cars is made in Germany and its worldwide famous brand name of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks owned by Daimler AG, previously Daimler-Benz (1926–1998). Mercedes-Benz Cars automobiles have introduced both in the past and present the technological and safety features common in modern vehicle.

Mercedes has many variant if you need more compact vehicle for work, a new Mercedes M-class may be just what you need convenience vehicle that's fun to drive. With class-leading safety ratings, four high-performance engines to choose from the quality you will have no doubt, and more standard features than ever before. You may visit here New Mercedes DC to find out more details information about your dream machine


Yams Delicious !
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 1:23:01 PM | noreply@blogger.com (art's2007)
There are many staple foods in the Solomon Islands many however prefer yam, or uvi, as it is known in Guadalcanal.

Yams are a primary agricultural commodity in the Solomon Islands, and have been used extensively prior to the colonization of the Islands. This essentially means that they were brought to the Solomon Islands by our early ancestors. A simple Google search show that yams were first cultivated in Africa and Asia about 8000 B.C.

The yam is highly regarded in Solomon Islands not only for survival but also for ceremonial reasons. It is used for important ceremonial events such as reconciliation, weddings or feasts to show ones status.

In the Solomon Islands, where refrigerators are not yet a common household item, yams are very important since they can be stored for up to six months without refrigeration. "We usually cook them very early in the morning, we store some for later in the day and some for the kids to take to school," said Lilly Vale, a mother of two young kids who resides near the Poha area in West Guadalcanal. "We cook them over hot stones...we keep the stones hot throughout the day just to keep the yam hot." Lilly says that leftovers are often wrapped in banana leaves and stored in the kitchen, normally a leaf hut separate from the main house.

Lilly says that her family will continue to consume yam even though many in the village seem to prefer rice nowadays. "I just think that it is healthier, I have noticed many of the villagers getting sick when they switch to rice and tinned food...our grandparents lived healthy lives until they were very old, most depended only on yam and sea food."

Dietitians would agree with Lilly since Yams are high in Vitamin C and Vitamin B6. This means that yams are high in potassium and low in sodium which is likely to produce a good potassium-sodium balance in the human body, and so protect against osteoporosis and heart diseases.


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