California, which accounts for a quarter of the world’s tomato output, is facing its worst crisis. Lack of adequate rainfall is forcing farmers to brace for a water crisis that’s undermining the crop cultivation.

As a result, the low production is having an impact on the prices of tomato-based products.

According to Bloomeberg, gains in tomato sauce and ketchup are overtaking the rise in US food inflation, which is at its highest in 43 years.

With weather agencies predicting hotter and drier conditions in the upcoming months, the outlook for farmers remains uncertain.

“We desperately need rain. We are getting to a point where we don’t have inventory left to keep fulfilling the market demand,” Mike Montna, head of the California Tomato Growers Association, was quoted as saying.

Moreover, the authorities have limited groundwater usage, and rising labour costs, fuel and fertilizer are making it difficult for producers to grow tomatoes.

“It’s real tough to grow a tomato crop right now,” Montna said.&nbsp;“On one side you have the drought impacting costs because you don’t have enough water to grow all your acres, and then you have the farm inflation side of it with fuel and fertilizer costs shooting up.”&nbsp;

Rick Blankenship, vice president of farming operations, Woolf Farming, said it now takes $4,800 an acre to grow and harvest a tomato crop compared with $2,800 a decade ago. Much of the rise has been witnessed in the last two years.

Data by the US Department of Agriculture indicated that the crop has been&nbsp;below the recent production peak of 14.4 million tons in 2015 for the past six years, and 2022 is continuing with the trend.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/study-predicts-super-rare-megflood-striking-california-in-coming-decades-506510" hreflang="en">Study predicts super rare megflood striking California in coming decades</a>

“Despite low supply and a substantial increase in price, contracted production has dropped significantly compared to the beginning of 2022,” it said in its May report, while noting that water availability is the main issue facing producers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-stories-limit-purchase-as-people-empty-shelves-of-bottled-water-amid-drought-506423" hreflang="en">UK stores limit purchase of bottled water as people empty shelves amid drought</a>

The industry expects this year’s harvest to fall below the USDA’s&nbsp;11.7 million tons estimate.

(With inputs from agencies)

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California, which accounts for a quarter of the world’s tomato output, is facing its worst crisis. Lack of adequate rainfall is forcing farmers to brace for a water crisis that’s undermining the crop cultivation.

California, which accounts for a quarter of the world’s tomato output, is facing its worst crisis. Lack of adequate rainfall is forcing farmers to brace for a water crisis that’s undermining the crop cultivation. As a result, the low production is having an impact on the prices of tomato-based products. According to Bloomeberg, gains in tomato sauce and ketchup are overtaking the rise in US food inflation, which is at its highest in 43 years. With weather agencies predicting hotter and drier conditions in the upcoming months, the outlook for farmers remains uncertain. “We desperately need rain. We are getting to a point where we don’t have inventory left to keep fulfilling the market demand,” Mike Montna, head of the California Tomato Growers Association, was quoted as saying. Moreover, the authorities have limited groundwater usage, and rising labour costs, fuel and fertilizer are making it difficult for producers to grow tomatoes. “It’s real tough to grow a tomato crop right now,” Montna said. “On one side you have the drought impacting costs because you don’t have enough water to grow all your acres, and then you have the farm inflation side of it with fuel and fertilizer costs shooting up.” Rick Blankenship, vice president of farming operations, Woolf Farming, said it now takes $4,800 an acre to grow and harvest a tomato crop compared with $2,800 a decade ago. Much of the rise has been witnessed in the last two years. Data by the US Department of Agriculture indicated that the crop has been below the recent production peak of 14.4 million tons in 2015 for the past six years, and 2022 is continuing with the trend. Also read | Study predicts super rare megflood striking California in coming decades “Despite low supply and a substantial increase in price, contracted production has dropped significantly compared to the beginning of 2022,” it said in its May report, while noting that water availability is the main issue facing producers. Also read | UK stores limit purchase of bottled water as people empty shelves amid drought The industry expects this year’s harvest to fall below the USDA’s 11.7 million tons estimate. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Tomato crisis looms large in California as drought intensifies  

Humans may have begun cultivation of plants over 10,000 years ago, a new research claims.

According to scientists, the Amazon basin witnessed cultivation of squash and cassava over 10,000 years ago.

The new findings from Bolivia claim that plants were grown in south-west Amazonia.

Earlier data tells us that the Middle East, China, Southwest Mexico and Northwest South America served as cultivation hotpots after the last ice age.

“[Previous work] identified south-west Amazonia as a potential centre of domestication because in this area they found a lot of wild relatives of domesticated plants,” said Dr Umberto Lombardo of the University of Bern, one of the authors of the research.

<h6><img alt="pp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ec3bd585-4c20-4b59-9b9d-ded96f6e788c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-8.jpg" /> 
Handout picture released by SETEC (Science and Technology Secretary of Amapa State) showing the biggest Dinizia excelsa tree, known in Brazil as Angelim vermelho, found in the Paru State Forest which is shared by the northern Brazilian states of Amapa and Para in the Amazon basin, on August 20, 2019 | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The authors shared their findings in the journal Nature, where they claimed to have used a variety of sources, including Google Earth to investigate over 6,600 forest islands.

Out of the 82 soil samples, 60 showed signs of human inhabitance. They found charcoal, shells, and bone fragments in the areas.

They further investigated the area and found that 4,700 forest islands were inhabited by human beings, where they got rid of their waste.

“They are places where people just threw their rubbish after eating or whatever they did,” said Lombardo.

This process must have gone on for over a thousand years.

Humans may have begun cultivation of plants over 10,000 years ago, a new research claims. According to scientists, the Amazon basin witnessed cultivation of squash and cassava over 10,000 years ago.

Humans may have begun cultivation of plants over 10,000 years ago, a new research claims. According to scientists, the Amazon basin witnessed cultivation of squash and cassava over 10,000 years ago. The new findings from Bolivia claim that plants were grown in south-west Amazonia. Earlier data tells us that the Middle East, China, Southwest Mexico and Northwest South America served as cultivation hotpots after the last ice age. “[Previous work] identified south-west Amazonia as a potential centre of domestication because in this area they found a lot of wild relatives of domesticated plants,” said Dr Umberto Lombardo of the University of Bern, one of the authors of the research. Handout picture released by SETEC (Science and Technology Secretary of Amapa State) showing the biggest Dinizia excelsa tree, known in Brazil as Angelim vermelho, found in the Paru State Forest which is shared by the northern Brazilian states of Amapa and Para in the Amazon basin, on August 20, 2019 | AFP The authors shared their findings in the journal Nature, where they claimed to have used a variety of sources, including Google Earth to investigate over 6,600 forest islands. Out of the 82 soil samples, 60 showed signs of human inhabitance. They found charcoal, shells, and bone fragments in the areas. They further investigated the area and found that 4,700 forest islands were inhabited by human beings, where they got rid of their waste. “They are places where people just threw their rubbish after eating or whatever they did,” said Lombardo. This process must have gone on for over a thousand years.

Inhabitants of the Amazon basin may have cultivated plants 10,000 years ago

The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39 per cent&nbsp;of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, data from a research firm based in Indonesia shows.

The data comes as forest clearance <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-forest-fires-surge-stoking-global-warming-fears-249212">fires in Borneo and parts of Indonesia</a> spread smog across Southeast Asia, causing air quality to drop to unhealthy levels in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.

Some palm oil farmers have been accused of using slash-and-burn methods to clear land for planting.

The palm oil industry has long been blamed for encroaching on rain forests in Borneo, endangering wildlife such as orangutans and pygmy elephants.

Borneo, shared by Brunei and top palm oil producers Indonesia and Malaysia, lost 6.3 million hectares (15 million acres) of forest cover between 2000 and 2018, the data from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), shows.

"This is a conservative number," David Gaveau, a climate scientist at CIFOR, told Reuters of the data, published this month via the centre's Borneo Atlas tool. "It does not include all forest areas impacted by plantation development."

Palm oil companies accounted for about 2.4 million hectares (6 million acres) of the loss while pulpwood firms accounted for 461,319 hectares (1.1 million acres).

Palm oil was responsible for 35 per cent of forest loss in the Indonesian part of Borneo, and 46 per cent on the Malaysian side.

Indonesia and Malaysia produce about 85 per cent of the world's palm oil, which is used in everything from soaps, lipstick to pizza and biodiesel.

CIFOR determined the amount of deforestation caused by companies by calculating the area of forest cleared and converted to industrial plantations within the same year.

The data does not include plantations farmed by smallholders, who account for 40 per cent of palm oil production globally, industry estimates show.

Gaveau said the conversion from forest area to plantations has slowed since 2012, because of lower prices for palm oil and Indonesia's bans on new plantations.

The forest loss from the expansion of palm oil plantations fell to 22 per cent last year, from 28.5 per cent the previous year, the data showed.

A spokeswoman for Malaysia's ministry in charge of palm oil said the government had adopted policies to cap oil palm cultivation area at 6.5 million hectares (16 million acres).

The country's total area planted with oil palm amounted to about 5.8 million hectares (14 million acres) by 2018.

The government also plans to end conversion of forest reserves to palm oil plantations, the spokeswoman said.

A spokesman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), said palm plantations were developed in areas outside forests but pointed to differences in the areas provinces set aside for development and those reserved for forest.

"Uncertainty of spatial planning at the province level is a source of legal uncertainty in palm plantation business," said Tofan Mahdi, the spokesman.

Officials of Indonesia's agriculture ministry declined to comment, while forestry officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39 per cent of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, data from a research firm based in Indonesia shows.

The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39 per cent of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, data from a research firm based in Indonesia shows. The data comes as forest clearance fires in Borneo and parts of Indonesia spread smog across Southeast Asia, causing air quality to drop to unhealthy levels in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia. Some palm oil farmers have been accused of using slash-and-burn methods to clear land for planting. The palm oil industry has long been blamed for encroaching on rain forests in Borneo, endangering wildlife such as orangutans and pygmy elephants. Borneo, shared by Brunei and top palm oil producers Indonesia and Malaysia, lost 6.3 million hectares (15 million acres) of forest cover between 2000 and 2018, the data from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), shows. "This is a conservative number," David Gaveau, a climate scientist at CIFOR, told Reuters of the data, published this month via the centre's Borneo Atlas tool. "It does not include all forest areas impacted by plantation development." Palm oil companies accounted for about 2.4 million hectares (6 million acres) of the loss while pulpwood firms accounted for 461,319 hectares (1.1 million acres). Palm oil was responsible for 35 per cent of forest loss in the Indonesian part of Borneo, and 46 per cent on the Malaysian side. Indonesia and Malaysia produce about 85 per cent of the world's palm oil, which is used in everything from soaps, lipstick to pizza and biodiesel. CIFOR determined the amount of deforestation caused by companies by calculating the area of forest cleared and converted to industrial plantations within the same year. The data does not include plantations farmed by smallholders, who account for 40 per cent of palm oil production globally, industry estimates show. Gaveau said the conversion from forest area to plantations has slowed since 2012, because of lower prices for palm oil and Indonesia's bans on new plantations. The forest loss from the expansion of palm oil plantations fell to 22 per cent last year, from 28.5 per cent the previous year, the data showed. A spokeswoman for Malaysia's ministry in charge of palm oil said the government had adopted policies to cap oil palm cultivation area at 6.5 million hectares (16 million acres). The country's total area planted with oil palm amounted to about 5.8 million hectares (14 million acres) by 2018. The government also plans to end conversion of forest reserves to palm oil plantations, the spokeswoman said. A spokesman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), said palm plantations were developed in areas outside forests but pointed to differences in the areas provinces set aside for development and those reserved for forest. "Uncertainty of spatial planning at the province level is a source of legal uncertainty in palm plantation business," said Tofan Mahdi, the spokesman. Officials of Indonesia's agriculture ministry declined to comment, while forestry officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Palm oil to blame for 39 per cent of forest loss in Borneo since 2000: Study

Afghan opium producers have had a bumper year with output soaring 87 per cent as the area under poppy cultivation hit a record high, the latest annual survey said&nbsp;Wednesday.&nbsp;

The price of opium as it left farms in war-torn Afghanistan this year soared by 55 per cent to almost $1.4 billion, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said, helping to fuel the bloody insurgency.

Rising insecurity, lack of government control and corruption were among the key drivers along with unemployment and lack of education, according to the Afghanistan Opium Survey, jointly compiled by the UNODC and Afghanistan&#39;s counter-narcotics ministry.

Potential opium production from this year&#39;s harvest is estimated at 9,000 tons, up 87 per cent from the 4,800 tons produced last year, boosted by increased cultivation and better yields.

Over the same period the area under poppy cultivation expanded by 63 per cent to a record 328,000 hectares (810,500 acres) -- topping the previous record of 224,000 hectares in 2014 -- with the number of poppy-growing provinces jumping to 24.

Only 10 Afghan provinces are now considered poppy-free.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;The significant levels of opium poppy cultivation and illicit trafficking of opiates will probably further fuel instability, insurgency and increase funding to terrorist groups in Afghanistan,&quot; the report warned.&nbsp;

&quot;More high quality, low-cost heroin will reach consumer markets across the world, with increased consumption and related harms as a likely consequence.&quot;

Strong increases in cultivation were recorded in almost all major poppy-producing provinces, with restive Helmand in the south seeing the biggest rise of 79 per cent.&nbsp;

Around 60 per cent of the opium poppy cultivation took place in the southern provinces where the Taliban has a strong presence and virtually no eradication took place.&nbsp;

Helmand remained the top poppy-cultivating province, accounting for 44 per cent of the total, followed by Kandahar, Badghis, Faryab, Uruzgan, and Nangarhar -- all hotbeds for Taliban or Islamic State activity.&nbsp;

Poppy eradication nearly doubled to 750 hectares in 14 provinces, compared with 355 hectares in seven provinces the previous year.&nbsp;

Yet those efforts were dwarfed by the sheer increase in cultivation.

International donors have spent billions of dollars on counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan over the past decade, including efforts to encourage farmers to switch to other cash crops such as saffron. But those efforts have shown little results.

Addiction levels have also risen sharply -- from almost nothing under the 1996-2001 Taliban regime -- giving rise to a new generation of addicts since the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

The price of opium as it left farms in war-torn Afghanistan this year soared by 55% to almost $1.4 billion', said the UN Office on Drugs and Crime

Afghan opium producers have had a bumper year with output soaring 87 per cent as the area under poppy cultivation hit a record high, the latest annual survey said Wednesday. The price of opium as it left farms in war-torn Afghanistan this year soared by 55 per cent to almost $1.4 billion, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said, helping to fuel the bloody insurgency. Rising insecurity, lack of government control and corruption were among the key drivers along with unemployment and lack of education, according to the Afghanistan Opium Survey, jointly compiled by the UNODC and Afghanistan's counter-narcotics ministry. Potential opium production from this year's harvest is estimated at 9,000 tons, up 87 per cent from the 4,800 tons produced last year, boosted by increased cultivation and better yields. Over the same period the area under poppy cultivation expanded by 63 per cent to a record 328,000 hectares (810,500 acres) -- topping the previous record of 224,000 hectares in 2014 -- with the number of poppy-growing provinces jumping to 24. Only 10 Afghan provinces are now considered poppy-free. "The significant levels of opium poppy cultivation and illicit trafficking of opiates will probably further fuel instability, insurgency and increase funding to terrorist groups in Afghanistan," the report warned. "More high quality, low-cost heroin will reach consumer markets across the world, with increased consumption and related harms as a likely consequence." Strong increases in cultivation were recorded in almost all major poppy-producing provinces, with restive Helmand in the south seeing the biggest rise of 79 per cent. Around 60 per cent of the opium poppy cultivation took place in the southern provinces where the Taliban has a strong presence and virtually no eradication took place. Helmand remained the top poppy-cultivating province, accounting for 44 per cent of the total, followed by Kandahar, Badghis, Faryab, Uruzgan, and Nangarhar -- all hotbeds for Taliban or Islamic State activity. Poppy eradication nearly doubled to 750 hectares in 14 provinces, compared with 355 hectares in seven provinces the previous year. Yet those efforts were dwarfed by the sheer increase in cultivation. International donors have spent billions of dollars on counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan over the past decade, including efforts to encourage farmers to switch to other cash crops such as saffron. But those efforts have shown little results. Addiction levels have also risen sharply -- from almost nothing under the 1996-2001 Taliban regime -- giving rise to a new generation of addicts since the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Afghan opium output soars as cultivation hits record high

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