Use of wood to cure tobacco is causing an environmental crisis in tobacco growing areas of Migori, Kuria, Uriri and Rongo districts even as a new law pushes afforestation programmes to farmers. Under the Forestry Act set to come in force in May, farmers are required to put a tenth of their farms under trees but the requirement may not be enforceable as farm sizes become increasingly smaller due to subdivision. ... read more >>
Archive for the ‘Agricultural’ Category
Planned greening law threatens to uproot tobacco growers
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Bayer starts clinical Phase I study with personalized vaccine from tobacco plants
Friday, January 29th, 2010
The transfer into clinical development of a patient-specific vaccine represents a milestone for Bayer Innovation GmbH. Following approval of the Phase I study by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) in the United States, the vaccine is now being tested in human subjects. This is the first time that proteins obtained from tobacco plants using magnICON® technology undergo clinical testing. The patient-specific vaccines produced in the pilot plant operated by the Bayer-subsidiary Icon Genetics in Halle, Germany, are intended for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a type of cancer affecting lymphocytes. The objective of the therapy is to activate the patient’s immune system, enabling the malignant cells to be targeted and destroyed by the body’s own defense system. ... read more >>
The transfer into clinical development of a patient-specific vaccine represents a milestone for Bayer Innovation GmbH. Following approval of the Phase I study by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) in the United States, the vaccine is now being tested in human subjects. This is the first time that proteins obtained from tobacco plants using magnICON® technology undergo clinical testing. The patient-specific vaccines produced in the pilot plant operated by the Bayer-subsidiary Icon Genetics in Halle, Germany, are intended for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a type of cancer affecting lymphocytes. The objective of the therapy is to activate the patient’s immune system, enabling the malignant cells to be targeted and destroyed by the body’s own defense system. ... read more >>
Dry Spell Forces Tobacco Growers to Reap Early
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
The dry spell being experienced in many parts of the country has forced some tobacco farmers to reap their crop before it fully matures, accepting the largely poor yields rather than writing off the crop. Induced maturity in dry land tobacco has become widespread in Manicaland and Mashonaland East. The crop prematurely turns golden because of the hot weather. ... read more >>
The dry spell being experienced in many parts of the country has forced some tobacco farmers to reap their crop before it fully matures, accepting the largely poor yields rather than writing off the crop. Induced maturity in dry land tobacco has become widespread in Manicaland and Mashonaland East. The crop prematurely turns golden because of the hot weather. ... read more >>
Tobacco: helpful or harmful?
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
The least said about tobacco, the better. In the Northern part of the country, that is Tamale, there are communities that take pride in planting, harvesting, processing, and trading in it. To them, tobacco has no health risks but rather health and other benefits. First of all, tobacco is planted all year round. When the farmer has harvested enough leaves, it’s ready for the next stage, which is processing. The leaves are pounded in a special mortar till they smooth. They are then stored in a pot for two days after which they are dried in the sun. The pounded leaves go back into the mortar to be re-pounded until they become compact. ... read more >>
The least said about tobacco, the better. In the Northern part of the country, that is Tamale, there are communities that take pride in planting, harvesting, processing, and trading in it. To them, tobacco has no health risks but rather health and other benefits. First of all, tobacco is planted all year round. When the farmer has harvested enough leaves, it’s ready for the next stage, which is processing. The leaves are pounded in a special mortar till they smooth. They are then stored in a pot for two days after which they are dried in the sun. The pounded leaves go back into the mortar to be re-pounded until they become compact. ... read more >>
US researchers increase tobacco’s oil production for biofuel use
Monday, January 4th, 2010
A team of researchers from the Thomas Jefferson University’s Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories (BFL) in the United States have managed to increase the amount of oil produced by tobacco leaves. Tobacco oil can be very efficiently converted to biofuel, but most oil is located in the seeds, which the plant does not produce many of. ... read more >>
A team of researchers from the Thomas Jefferson University’s Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories (BFL) in the United States have managed to increase the amount of oil produced by tobacco leaves. Tobacco oil can be very efficiently converted to biofuel, but most oil is located in the seeds, which the plant does not produce many of. ... read more >>
Tobacco producers hold protest (ROUNDUP)
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
Tobacco producers have blocked the Trakya motorway for about half an hour. Over 100 cars and heavy-freight trucks have been blocked in both directions on Trakiya motorway over the protest of tobacco producers by the village Trud. Blockade of Trakia motorway has been lifted after Minister of Agriculture and Foods Miroslav Naidenov asked protestors to remove from the motorway to a place ensured by the police and to hold normal talks. ... read more >>
Tobacco producers have blocked the Trakya motorway for about half an hour. Over 100 cars and heavy-freight trucks have been blocked in both directions on Trakiya motorway over the protest of tobacco producers by the village Trud. Blockade of Trakia motorway has been lifted after Minister of Agriculture and Foods Miroslav Naidenov asked protestors to remove from the motorway to a place ensured by the police and to hold normal talks. ... read more >>
Elders Tobacco Project has elders talking about tobacco
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Attention Native smokers: before going out for your next smoke break, be advised that you are likely to be approached by a Native elder who has made a commitment to educate Native smokers in the Twin Cities about the deadly health affects and overuse of non-commercial tobacco. ... read more >>
Attention Native smokers: before going out for your next smoke break, be advised that you are likely to be approached by a Native elder who has made a commitment to educate Native smokers in the Twin Cities about the deadly health affects and overuse of non-commercial tobacco. ... read more >>
Tobacco growers to go on indefinite strike from Dec 21
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
The tobacco growers who have grown the crop without authorization from the Tobacco Board have accused the authorities of discrimination and will go on an indefinite strike from December 21. They accused the board chairman, J Suresh Babu, of going back on his promise to procure the produce this season. The unauthorized growers are upset that the crop is not purchased from them though the procurement season started four months ago. They will stage a demonstration at the board’s regional manager office in Vijaynagar. ... read more >>
The tobacco growers who have grown the crop without authorization from the Tobacco Board have accused the authorities of discrimination and will go on an indefinite strike from December 21. They accused the board chairman, J Suresh Babu, of going back on his promise to procure the produce this season. The unauthorized growers are upset that the crop is not purchased from them though the procurement season started four months ago. They will stage a demonstration at the board’s regional manager office in Vijaynagar. ... read more >>
Surprising hike
Monday, December 14th, 2009
Hoping increase in smoking rate proves to be ‘aberration’. For the first time in almost 15 years, the rate of smoking among American adults has increased. That’s a number that we find both surprising and distressing. Surprising because while smoking is just as deadly today as it was in 1994, increases in federal and state taxes have made the smoking habit far more expensive today than 15 years ago. ... read more >>
Hoping increase in smoking rate proves to be ‘aberration’. For the first time in almost 15 years, the rate of smoking among American adults has increased. That’s a number that we find both surprising and distressing. Surprising because while smoking is just as deadly today as it was in 1994, increases in federal and state taxes have made the smoking habit far more expensive today than 15 years ago. ... read more >>
Sabeto farmers turn to tobacco farming
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Farmers have slowly switched from sugarcane to tobacco farming in most parts of Nadi. In Sabeto, large areas that used to be sugarcane fields are now tobacco farms. Akuila Nacegutuilagi is one of the many tobacco farmers at Balenakula in Sabeto. The 33-year-old farms his land during his leisure. ... read more >>
Farmers have slowly switched from sugarcane to tobacco farming in most parts of Nadi. In Sabeto, large areas that used to be sugarcane fields are now tobacco farms. Akuila Nacegutuilagi is one of the many tobacco farmers at Balenakula in Sabeto. The 33-year-old farms his land during his leisure. ... read more >>
Tobacco farming increases again for maximum profits in greater Rangpur
Monday, December 7th, 2009
Farming of harmful tobacco has been increasing rapidly in recent years in greater Rangpur posing a threat to human and soil health when hectic efforts are on to discourage use of all tobacco products. Many of the farmers are being attracted towards tobacco farming following more profits and lucrative incentives being given by the multinational and local tobacco companies in the area in recent years, the farmers told the national news agency. ... read more >>
Farming of harmful tobacco has been increasing rapidly in recent years in greater Rangpur posing a threat to human and soil health when hectic efforts are on to discourage use of all tobacco products. Many of the farmers are being attracted towards tobacco farming following more profits and lucrative incentives being given by the multinational and local tobacco companies in the area in recent years, the farmers told the national news agency. ... read more >>
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