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First Post
01-08-2025
- Business
- First Post
Explained: How China's pork obsession is hurting global badminton
China is a badminton superpower, but its obsession with pork might just be crippling the sport it once dominated as it is leading to an unexpected rise in the prices of shuttlecocks. read more There are very few sporting disciplines that China has failed to master. Cricket is one. There are many that they have outclassed most other countries at. Badminton is one. Lin Dan, Chen Long dominated the men's singles. Zhang Ning the women. Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng the doubles. They've had a rich tradition to uphold. But it seems like their pork obsession could strike the sport itself. How? A classic case of supply and demand. Let's break this down. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China loves its meat. The country consumes 27% of the world's meat production. In 2021, they consumed almost 100 million tonnes of meat. And the most popular meat is pork. China loves its pork, which is why it accounts for 60% of meat consumption. China's pork obsession in graphics. Significantly higher consumption rate compared to other meats. And China's population also means it's the largest consumer of pork in the world. China's love for pork hurting sport of badminton What's the connection, you ask? It's a classic case of supply and demand. The declining pork prices mean there's more demand. Which puts other poultry out in the cold, like duck and goose. So fewer farmers in China are willing to raise ducks and geese. And why are these two crucial for badminton? The feathers that make up the shuttle cork. One cork needs 16 feathers from at least 4 geese. And any top-level tournament changes shuttlecocks every 1–2 minutes. So net outcome is? An increase in the cost. France concerned over rising shuttlecock prices One country that was hit by this in February is voicing its concerns. France has witnessed a massive boom in badminton. The Paris Olympics last year were a big factor, too. But the rising prices of shuttlecocks are proving to be a roadblock here. 'The clubs talk to me about it every day. We are taking teh full brunt of it, but we don't have the control over the prices,' Frank Laurent, the President of Badminton Association, said. Over the last 10 years, the cost hike has been nearly 100%. But why is China alone being held responsible? The answer is simple — according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, 90% of the world's duck and goose production is concentrated in Asia, primarily China. So they hold the key to this problem. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Climate change has also played its part here. The heat wave in South Korea last year had a devastating impact on the poultry farms. The irony here? The interest in badminton in China got a fresh surge after Paris last year. So, unless China tries to change its diet plan or attempts to find another solution, this problem is only bound to multiply significantly.
TimesLIVE
17-06-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Hunger crisis deepens in global hotspots as famine risk rises: UN
Extreme hunger is intensifying in 13 global hot spots, with Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali at immediate risk of famine without urgent humanitarian intervention, a joint UN report warned on Monday. The 'Hunger Hotspots' report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) blames conflict, economic shocks and climate-related hazards for conditions in the worst-hit areas. The report predicts food crises in the next five months. It called for investment and help to ensure aid delivery, which it said was being undermined by insecurity and funding gaps. 'This report is a red alert. We know where hunger is rising and we know who is at risk,' said WFP executive director Cindy McCain. 'Without funding and access, we cannot save lives.' For famine to be declared, at least 20% of the population in an area must be suffering extreme food shortages, with 30% of children acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or malnutrition and disease. In Sudan, where famine was confirmed in 2024, the crisis is expected to persist due to conflict and displacement, with almost 25-million people at risk.
Mint
17-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Mint Primer: The thorny side of India's newly won rice crown
India has toppled China to become the world's largest rice producer. While this is a milestone, the surge in rice production has come at the cost of pulses and oilseeds—crops where India is heavily dependent on imports. Mint explains what's at stake. Also read: Meat-eating dilemmas and the one-pot approach How much rice is India producing now? India's rice output surged to 149 million tonnes (mt) in 2024-25—a 25% rise compared to 2019-20, as per the third advance estimates released by the agriculture ministry on 30 May. According to global cereal estimates from the US Department of Agriculture, China's production is pegged at 145mt in 2024-25. However, rice productivity in China, at 7.1 tonnes per hectare, is significantly higher than India's 4.3 tonnes, shows data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. India is currently the largest exporter with a 40% share in global rice trade. In FY25, India exported 20mt of rice worth ₹1.05 trillion, a 23% rise over FY24. Is growing more rice a problem? Yes, for two reasons. First, farmers are planting more rice because of assured government purchases at a minimum support price (MSP). Besides, rice is a safer crop to grow than, say, soybean or arhar, which are prone to weather risks. When farmers get irrigation access, they shift from pulses and oilseeds where MSP-based purchase is low. Second, rice needs 4-5 times more water to grow than pulses and oilseeds- which means India is virtually exporting water despite declining availability. In rice growing states like Haryana and Punjab, 62-76% of blocks are over-exploited for groundwater, making the practice unsustainable. Also read: Govt to hold talks with exporters as Iran-Israel conflict stalls shipments, drives up costs What is the import bill of pulses and cooking oils? In FY25, India imported pulses worth ₹46,428 crore, a 49% increase year-on-year. Its edible oil imports were about ₹1.5 trillion during the year. Put together, the ₹1.9 trillion spent on import of pulses and cooking oils comprise 65% of India's total spending on import of farm commodities. This is nearly double of what India earns from rice exports. What is the impact on nutrition? India's reliance on cheap, calorie-rich cereals has helped combat hunger, yet it's led to a poor quality diet. Cereals account for 50-70% of the average Indian's energy needs, far outweighing pulses and proteins, which contribute a mere 6-9% against a recommended 14%. The National Institute of Nutrition norms emphasize diversifying intake from eight food groups, including fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts, meats, eggs, and dairy. But consumption of refined cereals and processed foods is fuelling a rise in diseases like diabetes. Also read: India explores MSP reset to boost pulse output What can be done to fix the cereal-bias? Experts suggest the Centre must buy more pulses and oilseeds at support prices to move farmers away from water-guzzling cereals like rice. Plus, farmers will need trade duty protection to compete with cheap, imported oils (palm and soybean). Farmers can be pushed to grow more pulses- which need less of water and subsidized fertilisers- by paying them extra for ecological services. On the consumption side, activists are seeking front-of-the-pack warning labels for ultra-processed food to alert consumers.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Researchers reveal major losses in Ukraine's agricultural sector caused by full-scale war
As of early 2025, Ukraine's agricultural sector has suffered an estimated US$11.2 billion worth of direct losses caused by the full-scale war and temporary occupation of territories. Source: estimates by researchers at Ukraine's Institute of Agrarian Economics Details: The total amount comprises losses from: destruction and damage to agricultural machinery – US$6.5 billion (58%); destruction and disruption of grain storage facilities – US$1.9 billion (17%); theft and loss of production resources and finished products – US$1.9 billion (17%); other damage – US$0.9 billion (8%). The researchers say the largest losses by type of agricultural machinery are: tractors – around 30,000; combine harvesters – 2,500; seeders – 11,000; ploughs – 8,700. Background: In early May, it was reported that the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation will allocate US$150 million to support rural communities in Ukraine affected by the war. The funding is part of a two-year Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan (EERRP). Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
The Star
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Philippines eyes India, Thailand rice to cut Vietnam reliance
A man rests on sacks of rice along a street in Manila on May 9, 2024. Vietnam supplies 90 per cent of the Philippines' rice imports - AFP MANILA: The Philippines, the world's top rice importer, plans to look beyond its dominant supplier, Vietnam, to ensure steady supplies and competitive prices at home. The agriculture department is in talks with private importers on purchases from producers like India, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said in an interview on Friday (May 30). There may also be a "deal' with Indonesia and Thailand, he added. "We are trying to diversify sources to keep a level playing field,' Laurel said. Vietnam is "the most reliable' supplier, but the fact that its shipments account for 90 per cent of the Philippines' rice imports could be a "problem' in case of supply shocks, he said. The price of all rice varieties sold by Vietnam rose to a three-month high in April because of an "uptick in buying interest from domestic and offshore traders,' according to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Affordable prices of the staple grain are central to the agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who also helmed the agriculture department before appointing Laurel in November 2023. His government slashed import tariffs from 35 per cent to 15 per cent last year and declared a food security emergency in February to tame runaway prices. That's helped slow overall inflation to its lowest level since 2019, giving the central bank room to further cut interest rates. Laurel expects this year's rice imports will be lower than in 2024 and won't exceed 4.5 million tonnes. His outlook compares with a forecast from the US Department of Agriculture that sees the Southeast Asian nation importing 5.4 million tonnes in 2025. Domestically, the country is on track to produce a record of 20.46 million tonnes in rough rice output this year, the secretary said. Meanwhile, the Philippines is facing a 17 per cent duty on its goods to the US, the lowest rate in South-East Asia - after Singapore - under President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff agenda. Laurel said this presents an opportunity as it could make Filipino shipments to the US, particularly seafood products like tilapia and shrimp, more competitive than those of its neighbors. "If our competitors are slapped with higher tariffs than us, it's fine,' he said. - Bloomberg
