Climate change will drastically cut Indonesia’s rice, coffee production: study
Continued carbon emissions would significantly reduce rice and coffee production in Indonesia — one of the world’s top producers of both crops — according to a groundbreaking study that will be published by a team of scientists led by a co-chair of the UN’s climate science panel. The study, titled “Impact of Climate Change in Indonesian Agriculture”, found that continued climate change would cut Indonesia’s rice production by millions of tons a year, cutting exports by a third and leading to price increases of more than 50 percent. Lower emissions would still lead to reduced rice yields and price rises — but to a lesser extent. Indonesia is the world’s fourth-largest rice producer, and these cuts to yields could be expected to have a disastrous effect on the world’s poorest people.
Fears over oil producers’ influence with UAE
Fears are growing among climate experts and campaigners over the influence of fossil fuel producers on global climate talks, as a key Gulf petro-state gears up to take control of the negotiations. The United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s biggest oil exporters, will hold the presidency of Cop28, the next round of UN climate talks that will begin in late November next year. Decisions taken at the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt, which finished on Sunday, showed the clear imprint of fossil fuel influence, according to people inside the negotiations. They said Saudi Arabia – an ally of Egypt outside the talks – played a key role in preventing a strong commitment to limiting temperature increases to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Argentina sees further decline in wheat crop
With projections for Argentina’s wheat production in the 2022-23 marketing season continuing to decline, its forecast wheat export total is forecast to fall to less than 50 percent of last year’s total, Reuters reported, citing the Rosario Grain Exchange. Argentina is expected to export 7 million tonnes of wheat this year, compared to 14.5 million tonnes in 2021-22, according to the Reuters report. An extreme drought has lowered the Rosario Grains Exchange forecast for this year’s wheat crop to 11.8 million tonnes, down from 23 million tonnes the previous year. If realized, it would be the smallest wheat crop and lowest export total since 2014-15.
Minister sees no change in gas prices in December
Natural gas prices will not be changed in December, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said, adding there will be no supply problems this winter. Global natural gas prices have been on the rise, increasing from $120/cubic meter to above $3,000/cubic meter in August, he told in an interview with private broadcaster NTV. “Prices have eased slightly but they are still not where they were in the past. Thanks to supplies secured from a number of countries, there will be no problems this winter. Prices will not be increased in December,” the minister added. Natural gas prices for households were increased by 20 percent and by around 50 percent for industrial users in September.
Darjeeling tea growers see lower production
The Darjeeling tea industry is facing a double whammy this year, with both the production of the world-famous aromatic tea and the price realisation from lucrative world markets being significantly lower than the year-ago levels. Trade circles estimate the production in 2022 to be about 10 percent lower than last year’s 7.01 million kg, as sunlight and temperature levels haven’t been conducive for good leaf growth. The average price realisation in export markets is “flat to 10 percent down” compared to last year, they say. In fact, Darjeeling’s tea industry has been witnessing a gradual fall in production over the last more than a decade. “In 2011, tea production was 9.14 million kg, while it was 8.13 million kg in 2016. It came down to 7.01 million kg in 2021,” said J Kalyansundaram, secretary, Calcutta Tea Traders Association.
Coal production hits 448 million tonnes in October
The Ministry of coal on Thursday informed that the total coal production in the country as of October, 2022 stood at 448 million tonnes registering an 18 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase. Coal production growth from Coal India is also 17 percent more this year. The ministry stated that it plans to build a stock of nearly 30 million tonnes at domestic coal-based plants by November end and will keep building it till 31 March 2023 so that it goes up to 45 million tonnes. On the transportation of coal, the ministry said that during the first seven months of this year, there has been a 9 percent growth in average rakes per day availability. It added that the growth is aiding the transportation of higher quantities of coal and building up stocks at power plants. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Power, Railways and Coal are also working together to promote the transportation of coal through sea routes.
Govt to increase local production of edible oil to save $7 billion annually
The Government has decided to incentivize and substantially increase the local cultivation of sunflower and canola in response to the inflating import bill for edible oil. This increase in local production is expected to save the country over $7 billion annually. The import bill for edible oil is expected to reach $11 billion by 2030, and it has been decided to introduce short, medium, and long-term plans to curb edible oil imports and increase local production to meet the demand. Under the proposed plan, the cultivation of sunflower and canola will be increased from 150,000 to 600,000 acres, which will help the country to meet 60 percent of its local demand and reduce the import bill. For the ongoing FY23, sunflower and canola will be cultivated on 600,000 acres, and according to the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, incentives will be provided to farmers in this regard.