Agriculture

A drive to restructure Turkey’s agricultural sector that includes ambitious plans to expand fruit and vegetable production is set to open the door for foreign investors looking to meet growing demand back home. Plans to drill new geothermal wells this year to help boost greenhouse production should further increase exports. However, the expansion is also prompting concerns that the introduction of new technology could lead to job losses.

Efforts to raise the profile of farmers and their produce in Abu Dhabi are gathering strength as the emirate steps up its bid to generate greater food production. Addressing the challenges stemming from the UAE’s arid climate and limited water supply forms a key component of the emirate’s agriculture drive and is expected to facilitate Abu Dhabi’s plans to to roll out extensive development projects in the coming years.

Predictions of rosy export figures in 2013 for Indonesia’s palm oil sector offer the country a chance to answer claims that it is not living up to its agricultural potential. However, critics say more innovation and private sector development are needed if self-sufficiency and agribusiness goals are to complement each other.

A medida que México prosigue su marcha hacia la prosperidad económica y la inclusión social, uno de los mayores retos que deberá afrontar es la mejora de la sostenibilidad y el crecimiento del sector rural. La industria agrícola, esencial para el incremento de la calidad de vida de las comunidades, enfrenta numerosos desafíos pese a haber presentado cifras positivas de crecimiento durante 2012.

Mongolia is bracing itself for a colder-than-average winter following a harvest that, while strong, failed to meet agricultural targets. Severe weather conditions are raising fears of a dzud, otherwise known as a summer drought and severe winter, which in previous years decimated Mongolia’s herds and sent agricultural output spiralling.

Efforts to broaden the role played by agriculture in Sabah’s economy are gathering strength as the state drives forward a raft of ambitious programmes ranging from encouraging agro-tourism to addressing food security concerns.