BANGKOK: Temperature records are being toppled across Asia, authorities said on Friday (Sep 1), in fresh evidence of the impact of climate change. The sweltering temperatures match long-standing warnings from climate scientists and come as countries from Greece to Canada battle record heat and deadly wildfires. In India, the world’sContinue Reading
India, which accounts for 40 per cent of global rice exports, has curbed shipments, lifting prices to 15-year highs. Australia’s wheat output estimates are being revised lower by analysts for the first time in four years as key growing areas have had insufficient rain in August. “Wheat production is goingContinue Reading
The central government will also require emission tests to be part of the process of obtaining a vehicle registration licence in the capital city. It did not say when the measures would be introduced or how they would be enforced. “We will start in Jakarta and when it gets better,Continue Reading
Urea is manufactured by combining ammonia and carbon dioxide in a chamber at about 200 degrees Celsius.
The compound is later evaporated, and the crystals melted to produce urea as prills or granules.
Pupuk Kalimantan Timur’s complex in Bontang city in East Kalimantan province is Indonesia’s largest fertiliser manufacturing facility, with 13 factories spanning over 400 hectares producing non-organic fertilisers such as urea.
Farmers apply fertilisers to their land by first loosening the soil with an aerator, which encourages the flow of air, water and vital nutrients.
They are now trying to reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers and, instead, produce their own organic fertilisers from animal manure.
Farmer Waryana from the town of Indramayu in West Java told CNA there are many benefits to using organic fertilisers.
President Joko Widodo last month warned of a long summer dry season in Indonesia that could stoke dangerous weather conditions and even wildfires across the archipelago nation, blaming it on the El Nino global weather phenomenon. He said on Monday that the pollution spikes could be managed by building betterContinue Reading
The produce the firm purchases from farmers is processed at its facilities in West Java, after which it is sold to clients within the country, as well as exported to Singapore, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The company has multiple greenhouses and several research farms.
Research and development (R&D) is crucial in determining agriculture productivity and affects food prices.
Muhammad Ifdhol Syawkoni, the hydroponic R&D manager at Beleaf Farms, told CNA that even details such as how many holes there are in each hydroponic system, have to be carefully researched.
“It can’t be, ‘Oh, there are a lot of holes on this, let’s use all’, because the standard is that this is the medium where the roots grow. If the medium is too small, it will be washed away by water in the production area. If it’s too big, we’ll incur too much cost,” he explained.
Beleaf Farms has secured nearly 40 partner farmers so far, but getting them on board in the first place is not always easy.
BEIJING: A Chinese river basin where 110 million people live has been hit by the worst floods since 1963 despite massive mitigation efforts, particularly during the rule of Mao Zedong, overwhelmed by the impact of global warming and outdated infrastructure. Typhoon Doksuri, the most powerful storm in China this year,Continue Reading
BEIJING: Thirty-three people have been confirmed dead and 18 are still missing after Beijing’s heaviest rains on record, officials said Wednesday (Aug 9). China’s capital has been hit by record downpours in recent weeks, damaging infrastructure and deluging swathes of the city’s suburbs and surrounding areas. Officials said Wednesday thatContinue Reading
Two of the animals died, they said. The annual three-day event, which features more than 400 participants dressed as medieval samurai warriors fighting on horseback over flags that are shot overhead by fireworks, attracted more than 120,000 people, reports said. Yoshichika Hirata, a member of the festival’s executive committee, toldContinue Reading
Dengue fever is a disease closely associated with the environment. Rainfall, temperature and airflow all play a part in assisting transmission.
Ongoing research shows the direct connection between climate change and the spread of dengue fever at higher rates and to previously unaffected communities.
In temperate zones with warmer temperatures, mosquitoes may expand their habitats and are able to live in places they could not previously.
“The primary factor influencing this situation is temperature, as even a one-degree increase can result in a 10 per cent higher chance of dengue fever occurrences, according to the research we have conducted,” said Kanchana Nakhapakorn, an associate professor with expertise on dengue fever and climate change at Mahidol University.
Nakhapakorn explained that mosquitoes tend to stay inactive and rest when the temperature is lower – below 24 degrees Celsius. But when the temperature rises, they become more active and are able to fly around in search of food.
“If the temperature rises, the developmental process from eggs to larvae and adulthood of mosquitoes accelerates, the chances of them reproducing and spreading increase significantly. This also makes it easier for disease transmission,” she said.
With increasing urbanisation, common throughout Thailand and the Southeast Asia region, reduced airflow in cities means mosquitoes have better conditions to breed.
The onset of the atmospheric phenomenon known as El Nino is also expected to bring elevated temperatures and the likelihood of extreme weather that could exacerbate dengue spread.
Record heat has already been recorded across many parts of Asia this year and changes to rainfall patterns could prove problematic when trying to contain the disease.
“Since dengue fever occurs due to mosquito bites, improper environmental management could lead to its continuous occurrence. If there is an abnormal amount of rainfall, we surely have reasons to be worried and concerned,” Wisit said.
“When there is frequent rainfall, even small puddles can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever,” he added.