Latest news with #AgricultureMinistry
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Australia relaxes curbs on US beef that angered Trump
SYDNEY/CANBERRA, July 24 (Reuters) - Australia will ease restrictions on beef imports from the United States, the country's agriculture ministry said on Thursday, potentially smoothing trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who had attacked its rules. Still, the decision is unlikely to significantly boost U.S. shipments because beef prices are much lower in Australia, analysts said. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said in a statement a "rigorous science and risk-based assessment" had concluded that U.S. measures to monitor and control the movement of cattle meant biosecurity risks were being effectively managed. The government "will never compromise on biosecurity," she said, adding: "Australia stands for open and fair trade – our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this." Canberra has restricted U.S. beef imports since 2003 due to concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. Meat from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S. has been allowed into Australia since 2019. But few suppliers were able to prove their animals had been only in the U.S., because cattle frequently moved between the U.S., Canada and Mexico without being adequately tracked. The U.S. has been improving its ability to monitor animals' movements to limit the spread of avian influenza and the New World screwworm, a parasite that eats cattle alive. Recognising those improvements, Australia will now also accept beef sourced from cattle born in Canada or Mexico and legally imported and slaughtered in the U.S., the agriculture ministry said. Australian firms will be able to apply for import permits from July 28, it added. News of Australia changing its policy was first reported by the Australian Financial Review. The report said Australia will use the easing of rules to argue its case for the United States to wind back 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium and Trump's threat to impose a 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals. Trump in April singled out the beef trade disparity with Australia after Australia's beef exports to the United States surged last year, reaching A$4 billion ($2.64 billion) amid a slump in U.S. beef production. Australia's biosecurity regimen aims to keep its cattle disease-free and help it preserve access to lucrative markets such as Japan and South Korea. U.S. beef shipments to Australia restarted last year after a hiatus. But exports remained tiny. Last year's shipment of 269 tons of beef to Australia was the most for any year, beating out the 263 tons sent in 1995, Australian customs data show. Australia has shipped between around 150,000 tons and 400,000 tons of beef every year to the U.S. since 1990, with U.S. fast-food chains prizing Australian product for its lower fat content and competitive prices. Cattle prices in the United States are almost always higher than in Australia and are currently double Australian levels, said Matt Dalgleish, a meat and livestock analyst at consultants Episode 3. "This is not going to displace Australian beef in the Australian market," he said.
Barnama
a day ago
- Climate
- Barnama
Thailand Braces For Tropical Storm Wipha, School Closures Expected
By Kenny Teng BANGKOK, July 23 (Bernama) -- Thailand is preparing for Tropical Storm Wipha, which is forecast to track along the monsoon trough stretching across northern Thailand in the coming days. Deputy Spokesperson for the Thai Prime Minister's Office, Anukool Pruksanusak said the public has been urged to brace for potential disruptions due to the severe weather. This includes the potential immediate closure of schools located in the storm's projected path. bootstrap slideshow "The government would like to emphasise the safety of the public. Please be prepared to handle the situation, pay attention to warnings, and follow the guidance of government agencies to minimise the impact and prevent potential losses," he said in a statement published on the Royal Thai Government's website on Wednesday. He said the Agriculture Ministry has been instructed to minimise the impact on the agricultural sector. Anukool added that the Meteorological Department has issued a warning for Tropical Storm Wipha, which is expected to weaken into a tropical depression and later into a low-pressure system. He stressed that the storm would bring heavy rainfall to many parts of Thailand, particularly the north, upper northeast, western areas of the central region, and the east, with rain forecast to continue until July 24. "The government urges people in the affected areas to be cautious of the risks posed by heavy to very heavy rainfall and the accumulation of rain, which may result in flash floods and forest runoff, particularly in foothill regions, areas near waterways, and low-lying zones," he said. As of Tuesday, it was reported that Tropical Storm Wipha had caused torrential rain and flooding in the Philippines, resulting in five fatalities and the displacement of thousands.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Egg subsidy cuts save govt RM135mil
THE government has saved RM135mil over the past three months following the gradual reduction of chicken egg subsidies, with no major disruptions to supply or price hikes ahead of the full removal of subsidies on Aug 1. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu gave an assurance that the move to end subsidies had not negatively impacted the market, noting that egg production remains robust at around 1.75 billion eggs per month. This is well above the domestic demand of 1.06 billion eggs. The surplus of 690 million eggs is expected to partly support exports. 'Egg supply is stable and prices are reasonable. The removal of subsidies will not affect stability because the industry has responded well. We're also seeing a drop in chicken feed costs, which helps,' he told Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan), who had voiced concerns about the impact of subsidy removal on B40 households. Mohamad also noted that lower-grade eggs remain affordable despite the subsidy changes. 'Grade C and D eggs are widely available. In some areas, a tray of 30 can be bought for less than RM10. This ensures that B40 families are not burdened by rising prices. 'There are even areas where sellers have had to offer eggs at lower prices due to abundant supply, especially for grades C and D,' he said. 'Grades A and B are slightly more expensive, but C and D are in the market, and that's what many consumers are opting for,' he added. Based on the government's previous announcement, the subsidy was reduced from 10sen to 5sen per chicken egg from May 1. It will be removed entirely on Aug 1. To prevent profiteering and ensure continued affordability, both the Agriculture Ministry and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry are monitoring prices and supply nationwide. 'We're working with all parties – breeders, wholesalers and others. So far, the situation is stable and well-managed,' said Mohamad.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Spotlight On Manikrao Kokate: Crop Insurance Chaos To Rummy Video
Mumbai: Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate finds himself at the centre of a controversy as a video surfaced that shows him apparently playing rummy on his phone while seated in the state assembly. The clip, posted by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, is being widely circulated and has sparked outrage. Mr Kokate has denied the allegation, claiming he was only skipping a YouTube advertisement. But the explanation has found few takers, given his political track record and reputation. A History of Blunders and Controversies The senior leader from Nashik's Sinnar, who took charge of the Agriculture Ministry in December, has faced consistent criticism from the Opposition over his remarks and handling of the department. One such flashpoint was Mr Kokate's comment during a public event in Amravati. The event included discussion on the now-defunct Re 1 Crop Insurance Scheme. Launched under then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the scheme aimed to ease farmers' burden by asking them to pay just Re 1 as premium, with the state bearing the rest of the cost. The scheme drew massive participation, but there were thousands of fake applicants as well. Government records show over 5.82 lakh bogus claims were registered in 2024-25 alone. The scheme was eventually scrapped, but Mr Kokate's remark stirred further debate. "Even a beggar doesn't take Re 1 as alms, but here we are giving crop insurance for Re 1. Even then there are people who misuse it. People from other states are applying too," he said at the event. The Unkept Promise of Loan Waivers The BJP, in its election manifesto titled Sankalp Patra -- released in Mumbai in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah -- had promised loan waivers for distressed farmers. The move was widely seen as a key factor behind the BJP-led alliance's electoral success. However, the promise was conspicuously missing from the first budget presented by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. "Did I give the assurance of loan waiver ahead of the elections?" Ajit Pawar asked when questioned about the matter. The statement triggered widespread criticism and revealed deep cracks in the Mahayuti alliance. Making matters worse, Mr Kokate made a controversial remark while addressing rain-hit farmers in his constituency. "You take loans and then wait for waivers. What about those who repay loans? What do you do with the waiver money? You spend it on lavish weddings and engagements of your children," he said. A Pattern Among Ministers Mr Kokate is not the only minister in the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet facing criticism. Several of his colleagues in the new cabinet have faced public outrage and opposition heat in the eight months since the government took charge. Senior NCP leader Dhananjay Munde was forced to resign following uproar over the Santosh Deshmukh murder case, in which one of Munde's close aides was allegedly involved. Sanjay Shirsath, a Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) minister, is under scrutiny in connection with the VITS Hotel corruption case. Earlier this month, a video allegedly showing him with a bag full of cash went viral after being released by Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut. Allegations have also surfaced against Yogesh Kadam, another Mahayuti minister, involving alleged links with a dance bar and illegal mining in Mumbai and Ratnagiri respectively.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Feature: Delayed rains, costly diesel squeeze Yemen's farmers amid conflict
by Mohamed Al-Azaki and Mohammed Mohammed SANAA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The rainy season that arrived three months late has left farmers in Luluwah, west of the Houthi-held Yemeni capital Sanaa, desperately tending to their crops with expensive diesel and unreliable solar pumps, underscoring how climate shocks are compounding wartime hardship in one of the world's most food insecure countries. This year the rain simply didn't come, said farmer Mohammed Saleh al-Jamal, who has abandoned his diesel tractor and returned to a donkey-drawn plow to prepare his fields. "Without rain, we lose money in purchasing expensive diesel to operate water pumps for irrigation. And when there's cloud and fog, our solar-powered pumps don't work for long hours to cover large swathes of our farms." Fuel shortages and price spikes are pushing growers to revive labor-intensive methods. Younger men are back on family plots, al-Jamal said, forming what he called "a new generation of resilient farmers shaped by war." Getting crops to market is another battle. Fragmented supply chains, fuel costs, insecurity on roads, and weak cold storage wipe out profits. "Authorities should help distribute our products to markets in Sanaa and other provinces, based on supply and demand," al-Jamal said. He urged private investors to build small processing lines, such as tomato paste, beans, packaged potatoes, and cold stores that would let farmers sell gradually instead of dumping crops at harvest lows. Cooperation between the authorities, private companies, and farmers is essential to help stabilize Yemen's food supply, Mabrouk Hamoud, another farmer, told Xinhua. Samir al-Hanani, undersecretary for production at the Houthi-run Agriculture Ministry, said a national marketing plan is under way on two tracks. The first involves building specialized markets capable of managing the marketing process for farmers, which should be developed with private partners. The second is marketing through a contract between growers and specialized marketing companies to guarantee purchase and reduce waste, the official told Xinhua. "Cold storage is the most important process for serving the crop's marketing," he added. Al-Hanani also outlined a two-phase agro-processing program: The first will prioritize plants for cotton, sesame, dairy, tomatoes, juices, and multi-crop dryers; the second will expand to additional commodities as investment and capacity grow. "This is part of the program to localize local processing industries in partnership with the private sector," he said. Meanwhile, farmers and officials alike said climate variability now collides with war-damaged infrastructure, volatile fuel supply, water scarcity, and the recurrent threat of disease outbreaks such as cholera. According to a June report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Yemen remains locked in a prolonged political and humanitarian crisis, with millions in both the north and south suffering from acute food insecurity. More than a decade of war between government forces and the Houthis has devastated infrastructure, and left much of the population dependent on aid. Despite the headwinds, farmers in Luluwah have not completely lost hope for the future. "The government and private companies need to take climate change seriously," Hamoud said. "A national strategy for local marketing would help stabilize our economy, reduce imports, and move us towards food self-sufficiency." "We're waiting for things to improve. We still have hope," he added.
