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  • Weather, rise in international agricultural commodity prices pose upside risks to food inflation, warns RBI in MPC Minutes

    Weather, rise in international agricultural commodity prices pose upside risks to food inflation, warns RBI in MPC Minutes

    Synopsis

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained its repo rate at 6.50% while acknowledging softening food inflation. However, the MPC minutes cautioned about upside risks from weather and global commodity prices. The RBI emphasized its commitment to controlling inflation amidst global economic stability but with persistent geopolitical uncertainties.

    Despite expecting relief, the Reserve Bank of India on Friday through its MPC minutes warned that adverse weather events and rise in international agricultural commodity prices pose upside risks to food inflation.
    “Going forward, food inflation is likely to soften in Q4 with seasonal easing of vegetables prices and kharif harvest arrivals; and good soil moisture conditions along with comfortable reservoir levels auguring well for rabi production. Adverse weather events and rise in international agricultural commodity prices, however, pose upside risks to food inflation,” said the MPC Minutes.
    The RBI in its outlook further said that the global economy remains stable with growth holding up amidst waning inflation, albeit at a slow pace. Geopolitical risks and policy uncertainty, especially with respect to trade policies, have imparted heightened volatility to global financial markets.
    Earlier, the central bank on December 6 announced its latest monetary policy decisions with repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 6.50 per cent. This followed a three-day meeting that began on December 4. The rate setting panel also decided to continue with the neutral monetary policy stance and to remain unambiguously focused on a durable alignment of inflation with the target, while supporting growth.
    The recent spike in inflation highlights the continuing risks of multiple and overlapping shocks to the inflation outlook and expectations. Heightened geo-political uncertainties and financial market volatility add further upside risks to inflation, added the RBI in its MPC minutes.

    Further, RBI warned that high inflation reduces the purchasing power of both rural and urban consumers and may adversely impact private consumption. Saugata Bhattacharya, Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra and former governor Shaktikanta Das voted to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.50 per cent. Dr. Nagesh Kumar and Professor Ram Singh voted to reduce the policy repo rate by 25 basis points.
    “The policy priority at this critical juncture has to be on restoring the inflation growth balance. The fundamental requirement now is to bring down inflation and align it with the target,” Das said as per the minutes of the December 4-6 MPC meeting released by the RBI on Friday.

    It was the last meeting of the MPC under Das, who demitted office earlier this month after completing an extended six-year tenure.

  • WFP calls for The Tafe Passage of Life-Saving Aid, as Opening of Critical Adre Border is Extended

    WFP calls for The Tafe Passage of Life-Saving Aid, as Opening of Critical Adre Border is Extended

    PORT SUDAN/NAIROBI – Three UN World Food Programme convoys carrying essential food and nutrition assistance are on their way to Sudan’s Zamzam camp in North Darfur and Kadugli in South Kordofan for the first time in months. WFP is calling for the safe passage of these vital humanitarian aid convoys to areas that have been largely cut off from aid since the start of the conflict – especially to Zamzam where famine was confirmed in August.

    “All of these convoys must reach their destinations quickly and safely. They are carrying assistance for hungry families who are struggling to survive and should never be a target,” said Eddie Rowe, WFP Representative and Country Director in Sudan.

    “The safe delivery of this vital assistance will be a critical first step to expanding access, ramping up assistance, and preventing famine from spreading,” he said.

    WFP aid trucks will travel up to 1,500 kilometres across conflict frontlines, dozens of checkpoints, and rough terrain before reaching their final destinations.

    The first convoy crossed the critical Adre border from Chad into Darfur on Saturday 9 November headed for Zamzam IDP Camp, carrying assistance for 12,500 people. The Government of Sudan announced on Wednesday 13 November that the critical Adre corridor would remain open for another three months for the transport of humanitarian assistance.

    “We welcome the decision to keep the Adre corridor open. It is a vital lifeline to get urgent assistance to desperate families in the Darfur region and allows us to scale up assistance to millions at risk of famine,” said Rowe.

    Another two WFP convoys left Port Sudan early Tuesday, one en route to Zamzam Camp in North Darfur carrying assistance for 27,400 people including nutrition supplements for malnourished children. Nutrition supplies in Zamzam camp – where child deaths from malnutrition are being recorded – ran out last month. The other convoy is traveling to Kadugli in South Kordofan carrying assistance for 10,000 people.

    “We are working around the clock to get a constant flow of aid to reach communities across Sudan in the face of one of the most dangerous and restrictive operating environments in the world today. All parties and armed groups must abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and guarantee the safe delivery of this assistance,” said Rowe.

    Sudan’s war could trigger a hunger catastrophe of historic magnitude if the fighting continues to escalate and humanitarian access remains so restricted. So far this year, WFP has provided urgent support to seven million people, but much more is needed to address record levels of need in one of the largest hunger crises worldwide.

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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  • Eco-Friendly Practices Replace Antimicrobials in Apiaries Across Ghana

    Eco-Friendly Practices Replace Antimicrobials in Apiaries Across Ghana

    Beekeepers battle against Antimicrobial Resistance, hive by hive

    Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms persist or grow despite the use of drugs designed to inhibit or kill them. This can lead to treatments failing, with increased illness and mortality in humans, plants, animals and even bees. ©FAO /Sara Giuliani

    18 November : Martha Adjorlolo’s beehives, set amid the rural landscape of Donkorkrom, in Ghana’s eastern region are her livelihood and her passion. Though she only started beekeeping a year ago, she has quickly become committed to sustainable beekeeping practices. She already uses local methods—like the top bar hive, a type of beehive that allows bees to build their comb on horizontal bars made from natural materials, as well as natural repellents such as lemongrass oil and wood ash— to manage pests.

    But recently, her awareness of the importance of reducing chemicals and antimicrobial use has only grown sharper, especially after a hands-on training by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD). The workshop, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), “was an eye-opener; it highlighted the urgent need for change in handling antimicrobials, not just for bee health, but for food safety and our environment,” says Martha.

    Martha Adjorlolo is committed to sustainable beekeeping practices, particularly after a workshop by FAO on reducing the use of antimicrobials in agriculture. © Photos courtesy of Martha Adjorlolo

    Beekeepers sometimes use antibiotics in hives to manage bacterial infections or as a measure to support the health of their bee colonies. That’s why the workshop focused on raising awareness and preventing the problems posed by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). This occurs when microorganisms persist or grow despite the use of drugs known as antimicrobials designed to inhibit or kill them. These drugs are used to treat infectious diseases caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoan parasites.

    When microorganisms become resistant to antimicrobials, standard treatments are often ineffective. In some cases, no drugs can provide effective therapy and treatments fail, leading to increased illness and mortality in humans, animals and plants.

    The same goes for bees. “We learned at the FAO training that we use antibiotics without fully understanding the consequences,” Martha says. “Every choice we make ripples through our ecosystem,” she adds.

    Another critical factor is that some beekeepers combine beekeeping with crop and animal farming, using antibiotics to control diseases in crops and livestock. While bees may not be the target, this approach has inadvertently introduced AMR to their bee colonies.

    This matters all the more because honey production in Ghana is not just a livelihood; it’s a pillar for rural communities and a source of economic stability. In 2019, the University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana conducted a study in the Northern Region of the country and discovered antibiotic residues in both imported and locally produced honey, underlining the contamination risks that could diminish consumer trust and potentially impact honey sales negatively.

    Adopting sustainable practices that cut down on the use of antimicrobials does more than just improve honey quality. It bolsters local economies, protects public health and enhances the resilience and biodiversity of ecosystems.

    By improving hygiene and management practices, Martha is determined to protect her bees and produce honey that’s safer for everyone. She has also integrated AMR education into local training sessions she runs for a beekeeping non-profit, helping other beekeepers understand the risks of indiscriminate antibiotic use. Her commitment is echoed by the other 62 workshop participants, who dove into practical lessons on bee disease management, AMR risks and sustainable practices.

    For local beekeepers like Martha, FAO is helping to spread the message that adopting these practices does more than just improve honey quality; it bolsters their local economy, protects public health and enhances the resilience and biodiversity of their ecosystems.