Latest news with #MinistryofAgriculture
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Health
- Zawya
Oman reviews food security gains at UN summit
Muscat – Oman presented its progress in food and nutrition security during a ministerial session of the 2nd UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4), which concluded on Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital. Speaking at the session, H E Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, said Oman has recorded notable improvements in several food and nutrition indicators since the 2021 summit. He cited a suite of current and planned strategies aimed at boosting domestic production, diversifying supply chains, ensuring sustainable use of natural resources and tackling malnutrition. These include a national food security strategy, nutrition strategy and frameworks for climate change adaptation, environmental sustainability and preservation of genetic diversity in local animal species. Oman was ranked third in the Arab world and 35th globally in the 2022 Global Food Security Index and 54th in the 2024 Environmental Performance Index. According to the minister, these rankings reflect the country's commitment to sustainability, environmental protection and efficient natural resource management. H E Habsi added that Oman is one of only nine countries globally – and the second Arab state – to receive World Health Organization certification for eliminating artificial trans fats from food products. The measure is part of a broader government push to promote public health and preventive care. He also noted that water sustainability continues to be a national priority, with policies in place to protect available resources from external threats and manage consumption across all sectors while safeguarding environmental requirements. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The Mainichi
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan ministry surveys find no rice distribution bottleneck as cause for high prices
TOKYO -- A series of six surveys conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to examine the causes of the surge in rice prices have found no evidence of a "bottleneck in distribution" that the government had previously cited as a primary factor. With branded rice prices remaining high, the ministry is investigating the possibility that demand for the staple exceeded expectations, disrupting the supply-demand balance. The six surveys included an investigation of rice shipments, sales and inventory volumes of approximately 70,000 businesses across Japan registered with the government; interviews with retailers, food service businesses, ready-to-eat meal providers and food processors about distribution conditions; and a survey on milling yield rates. On the morning of July 30, the ministry reported the findings to its food subcommittee including experts. The inventory survey, which targeted all businesses, was the first of its kind since the current rice distribution system began in 2004. It found that as of the end of June this year, inventory levels at Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) and other collectors, retailers, and ready-to-eat and other food service businesses were all "about the same as the previous year." Wholesalers had 100,000 metric tons more inventory than 2024, partly due to the addition of government reserve rice, which was released into the Japanese market in large quantities through discretionary contracts. The discounted government rice began appearing in stores at the end of May, and its release may have contributed to the reduction of excess inventory. However, branded rice remains expensive, with store prices still in the 4,000-yen range (about $27) for 5 kilograms. Initially, the ministry believed there was a distribution bottleneck caused by wholesalers holding onto inventory, but the causal relationship between this and price surges appears weak. The Japanese government decided in January to release reserve rice through open competitive bidding to resolve what it saw as a distribution bottleneck. However, officials are now investigating the possibility that the surge in prices may not be due to distribution getting "stuck," as former farm minister Taku Eto suggested, but rather due to rice demand growing significantly beyond government expectations coupled with high temperatures affecting brown rice quality, resulting in reduced supply after milling. The agriculture ministry has deemed it necessary to revise the supply-demand outlook for rice. It has accordingly postponed the release of the demand forecast for staple rice for the coming year, which it normally puts out in late July. As a reference figure, the demand for the year ending this June was reported to be 7.11 million metric tons. As of the end of June, private sector inventory levels (including reserve rice) stood at 1.57 million tons, indicating rice stock is hovering at a significantly lower level than the 1.8-million- to 2-million-ton industry standard under which no shortages are perceived.
News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
PM Kisan 20th Installment Date: PM Modi To Release Next Tranche On August 2
Last Updated: PM Kisan 20th Installment Date: PM Narendra Modi will release the next tranche of Rs 2,000 to each eligible farmer on August 2, 2025, at an event in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. PM Kisan 20th Installment Date: The wait is finally over for over 9.7 crore eligible farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to release the PM Kisan 20th installment of Rs 2,000 to each eligible farmer on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at an event in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, according to an official communication. 'No more waiting now! The 20th installment of PM Kisan will reach your account directly from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on August 2, 2025. When you hear the message tone, know that the Kisan Samman amount has arrived in your account," the official PM Kisan Samman Nidhi account posted on X. अब और इंतजार नहीं!PM-Kisan की 20वीं किश्त 2 अगस्त, 2025 को वाराणसी, उत्तर प्रदेश से सीधे आपके खाते में पहुंचेगी।मैसेज टोन बजे तो समझिए आपके खाते में किसान सम्मान की धनराशि पहुंच गई है #AgriGoI #Agriculture #PMKisan #PMKisan20thInstallment @AgriGoI @ChouhanShivraj @mygovindia — PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (@pmkisanofficial) July 29, 2025 The 19th installment of the scheme was disbursed in February 2025. Farmers are advised to ensure they have completed their e-KYC and other required verifications to avoid missing the upcoming installment. Seperately, in a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture said, 'Land seeding was made mandatory along with Aadhaar-based payment and e-KYC. The benefits of the farmers, who did not complete these mandatory criteria, were stopped. As and when these farmers complete their mandatory requirements, they receive the benefits of the scheme along with their due installments, if any." PM Kisan: How To Complete e-KYC? As the installment is expected to come soon, eligible farmers are required to complete before that to avoid payment failure. e-KYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) is mandatory for all PM Kisan beneficiaries. Without it, your name may be dropped from the beneficiary list. As per the scheme's official website, 'eKYC is MANDATORY for PMKISAN Registered Farmers." You can complete e-KYC in three simple ways: OTP-based e-KYC, biometric e-KYC, facial authentication. How To Check Your Beneficiary Status What Is The PM Kisan Scheme? Launched in 2019 after being announced in the Interim Budget by then Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, the PM Kisan scheme has become the world's largest DBT scheme. Under it, eligible farmers receive Rs 2,000 every four months totaling Rs 6,000 annually in the following cycles — April-July, August-November, and December-March. The money is deposited directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. Who Is Eligible for PM Kisan? To qualify for the PM Kisan's 20th installment, one must: How To Apply For PM Kisan Samman Nidhi? top videos View all Go to Click on 'New Farmer Registration' Enter your Aadhaar number and captcha Fill in the details, click 'Yes' Complete the form, submit it, and take a printout For any queries, you can call the PM-KISAN helpline numbers — 155261 and 011-24300606. Stay updated with all the latest business news, including market trends, stock updates, tax, IPO, banking finance, real estate, savings and investments. Get in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and real-time updates—only on News18. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : PM Kisan instalment PM Kisan Samman Nidhi PM Kisan Scheme view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 30, 2025, 06:25 IST News business » economy PM Kisan 20th Installment Date: PM Modi To Release Next Tranche On August 2 | Check Beneficiary Status Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Indian Express
Matcha-ing the demand: Why supplies of the popular Japanese green tea can't keep up
Matcha was once unknown outside Japan, where the powdered green tea was traditionally prepared by whisking it with hot water, as part of meticulously done tea ceremonies. However, over the last few years, and especially in recent months on social media, it has snowballed into a full-blown lifestyle trend at a global scale. As matcha makes its way into cafes and restaurants, brewed into lattes and baked into cakes and cookies, the demand for the core ingredient has surged. What has driven the hype to the point that the Japanese tea industry and farmers are now struggling to keep up? And why can't more matcha be produced quickly? We explain. Matcha's popularity has been driven by multiple phenomena, including wellness influencers who swear by its health benefits, and the rising interest in Japanese culture thanks to anime shows and manga comics. It's also been compared to other recent trendy items, such as Labubu dolls and Dubai chocolate, which suddenly blew up for no particular reason, involved somewhat costly products, and are seen as part of a social media-driven wave. However, matcha also has detractors who are put off by its earthy taste, often criticised as 'grassy'. Still, data from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) shows that exports of Japanese green tea (including matcha) grew by 40 per cent in terms of quantity between 2020 and 2024. It also led to a 55 per cent rise in value, from 16.2 billion yen ($109 million) in 2020 to 36.4 billion yen ($245 million) in 2024. Specifically, matcha production also grew threefold between 2010 and 2023 amid increasing demand. Around half of the matcha produced in Japan is exported, according to The Japan Times. Matcha is derived from Camellia Sinensis, a plant native to East Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of the Indian subcontinent, used to produce a variety of caffeine teas. However, matcha is distinct in how it is cultivated, harvested and processed. The tea leaves are grown partly in shade, resulting in increased production of chlorophyll. It lends a green pigment to leaves and is the reason why matcha has a brighter, greener appearance. The leaves are then plucked, steamed and dried, called tencha at this stage. When tencha is ground into powder, it becomes matcha. The grinding process was earlier done by hand at home, but now involves specialised mills. What explains the shortage? Japan has been unable to keep up with the demands of the global matcha market, expected to grow to about $5 billion by 2028. The industry has reported delays in meeting orders, leaving warehouses and vendors with empty shelves. Leading matcha sellers like Ippodo and Marukyu Koyamaen have also flagged shortages. In July, Ippodo stated, 'To get our matchas to as many customers as possible, we've temporarily limited both the varieties and quantities available.' Similarly, Marukyu Koyamaen's website states that due to the 'unexpected high volume of orders', matcha products will be available in limited quantities. Essentially, matcha was never meant for mass production. It is the result of a seasonal, slow-moving and labour-intensive process that cannot keep up with the speed of global consumption. A part of the current crisis is due to the decline in farming households in Japan. A recent MAFF report flagged the decline in cultivation area. Between 2008 and 2023, the cultivation area reduced from 48,000 hectares to 36,000, and the number of farming households decreased from 46,000 to just 20,000. The report attributes this decline to the 'lack of successors to producers', which can be linked to Japan's declining fertility rates in recent decades, and also notes 'labour shortage' during peak seasons. Low domestic demand for green tea has also resulted in farmers diversifying their crops in the past. Add to this the sweltering summers that Japan has been experiencing for the past two years, with last year marking the hottest summer on record. The heat destroyed crops, resulting in lower tencha yields this April-May harvest season. However, an increase in production would not solve the crisis immediately. Ippodo, which has been in the green tea business since 1717, explained that tea plants take over five years to mature before they can be harvested. Moreover, tencha leaves are also hand-picked, after which they require a resting period for quality preservation — a process that's both time-consuming and labour-intensive. Even the grinding of tencha into matcha is a gradual process. According to The Japan Times, a machine can only grind about 40 grams of matcha per hour. What happens now? The Japanese government has stepped in to help its local tea growers meet the demand and encouraged other farmers to switch over to tea production. The government also intends to lease agricultural machinery to save labour and reduce costs, as per the MAFF report. Suppliers, meanwhile, are looking to procure matcha from other countries like China and South Korea, which also grow the plant, but do not meet Japan's quality standards. Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take. ... Read More
Daily News Egypt
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Government discusses amendments to Agricultural Cooperatives Law
Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk has met with Minister of Parliamentary, Legal, and Political Communication Affairs Mahmoud Fawzi to discuss proposed amendments to the Agricultural Cooperatives Law. The meeting was part of the government's ongoing efforts to support and develop the agricultural sector, enhance food security, and empower cooperatives as a cornerstone of sustainable development. The two ministers reviewed key provisions in the draft law, which aims to update the legislative framework governing cooperatives to better address current challenges. The proposed legislation is expected to boost farmers' productivity and strengthen the role of agricultural associations in delivering tangible services on the ground. The discussions also focused on ways to enhance the role of cooperatives within the national economy and address longstanding obstacles in the sector. Farouk emphasized the crucial role that cooperatives play in supporting smallholder farmers and in integrating production and marketing chains. He highlighted the urgency of finalizing the law to align with farmers' aspirations and the importance of revitalizing agricultural associations as a key resource for farmers, providing inputs, advisory services, and financing for small- and medium-sized projects. For his part, Fawzi underscored his ministry's commitment to collaborating closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to develop a consensus-based law that addresses the needs of all stakeholders and revitalizes Egypt's agricultural sector. He described the bill as essential for regulating and modernizing the sector in line with the country's national development goals. Further joint meetings between the two ministries are scheduled to finalize the proposed amendments, with the draft set to be reviewed by the Cabinet before being submitted to Parliament.
