Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Sustainability in 3rd world agriculture
"Michael Saunby" wrote in message ... "James Curts" wrote in message news:RUWRa.79200$GL4.20189@rwcrnsc53... "Michael Saunby" wrote in message ... "Jim Webster" wrote in message ... "Oz" wrote in message ... Oz writes The sad thing is not just that it is completely denigrating of women - they sit there for hours stringing tiny beads onto fishing line and just about go crazy, and then they will just loose their money- but that it has consequences for whole families and communities. People here only take loans from within their family or maybe from neighbours. What happens when the money goes missing and people can't pay their family members back? What happens when people start to blame their friends and neighbours who told them how wonderful the scheme was? This scheme is not just thievery but a community destroyer creating anger and destroying trust. didn't something very similar happen in Albania not long after that overthrew the communists? and wasn't there something that took off in the SW of England over some sort of culture in milk? And of course those weird American folk had that Enron thing. Michael Saunby Yes, Michael, I noticed. No conversation is really complete without knocking the yanks irregardless they are always there when needed. And some are oh, so sensistive! I don't always mock Americans, honestly. Sometimes I take the **** out of white folks, men, or even Protestants!!! But in truth many of my best friends are white male protestants - for all their faults :-) Enron was an eye opener for many. I feel government is remiss in allowing such immense wealth to be miss used in such cavalier manner. But as in the case of your own government the greed entices then entraps those who could stop the wrong doings. But it's just like the bead thing. It might seem amazing to us that poor folks will try and cheat each other, but it seems equally absurd that people with almost unimaginable wealth will risk prison (or even death) to cheat less wealthy people. What this ought to tell us is that such behavoiur is entirely natural for many people. Helping people as those in some of the 3rd world countries is often almost impossible or very difficult. Due a fragile or inept infrastructure there is often no workable line of communications to a centralized organization. Often these people have less than the basic tribal structure. Dealing with individuals is fruitless of course due to being a different looking intruder with every move being suspect. Perhaps, though as African friends have told me there is also the "wise white man effect" where apparently wealthy whites are trusted to run businesses in Africa simply because they're white. It come as quite a revelation to many that there are actually many really stupid whites. Dealing in food products and especially when offering to establish efficient hydroponics systems in arid areas we find that many governments, such as they are, toss up every imaginable roadblock to prevent the project from being started or, if started, followed through to completion. Part of your problem may be that hydroponics aren't particularly highly regarded in the west either. I reckon that roughly 0% of my food is produced in this way. One instance in a South American involved nothing more than a rather simple chemical compound they refused to be imported into their country for some. After much scurrying around they "discover" a source from within their own country. So we smiled broadly and bought the product at 300% of our supplier's price and all were happy. The containers were from our original suppliers. But that is life when dealing with these folks. They are 3rd world countries for reasons which are very difficult to combat at times. We have actually failed in a few instances because of local situations ranging from the above example to direct refusal to accept help for an area or community. So, regardless how pious or righteous your intentions, reality can slap it all down with a word. That does not mean we must ease the pressure on these groups but we certainly have much home work to have well in hand before making the commitment. James Curts If it was easy it everyone would be doing it. Michael Saunby Actually the hydroponics growing systems are quite popular in the West and produce a much larger portion of the fresh and perishables each year. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, all moving rapidly into hydroponics growing systems. Holland, a leading grower of roses, does so hydroponically. A gentleman in England during the 70's raised hopes for agriculture types with his "glasshouse" experiments. The US Military has produced or encouraged significant amounts of hydroponically produced food products since the 40's. NASA devotes a considerable effort to devising hydroponic systems for sustaining life in space. Quite a significant portion of US home and hobby gardeners utilize hydroponics for their family greens and vegetables. Hydroponics supply houses are common in even rather small towns and provide a variety of quick start systems. If you import BC produce from Canada it will undoubtedly be hydroponically grown. (Much better shipping and shelf life) England is at a disadvantage in utilizing some of the "glasshouse" growing methods because of the cost of utilities and compounded by the environment which requires more heat and light supplemented to "glasshouse" crops. Initial start up cost is the largest factor keeping extensive hydroponics projects from becoming much more the norm. While rather technical in nature to establish and maintain, labor is somewhat minimal. Many universities worldwide are deeply involved in the development of hydroponic practices and growing technique. I may be repeating myself but EuroFresh in Arizona has 120-160 acres under glass roof in one connected lay out and grows only hydroponic tomatoes. That is a lot of tomatoes and especially when considering that several times the volume is produced per year from a given area. It is only one of many growers who take advantage of the high sunlight areas. BC hothouse of Canada raises a variety of vegetables while many of the Australian growers concentrate on lettuce and greens. US growers are diversifying more as the other Western growers become very competitive. World wide, flowers and ornamentals are becoming more widely grown hydrological each year. The largest rose growing organization in this area does so hydroponically. Orchids and many other difficult and pricey plants respond well to hydroponics culture. We use hydroponic systems in the disadvantaged areas because they are simple to set up, use relatively little water, produce much quicker and several times more volume than dirt farming. Also orientation is surprisingly simplified because there are no machines to operate and service and very few people are required to maintain a system keeping the training process to a minimum. I give hydroponics high marks for being in the forefront of the food producing industry as we move more rapidly into a world in which food is a cost and availability issue for everyone. Hydroponics will be the life saver of many in 3rd world nations as help becomes more available and accepted. Thank you James Curts |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Sustainability Scam | United Kingdom | |||
Xmas present for 3rd world ? | United Kingdom | |||
Do you have an interest in sustainability? | alt.forestry | |||
Students of Sustainability Conference 2003 | Permaculture | |||
Interested in sustainability? | alt.forestry |