ABIDJAN: A decade after rubber was heavily promoted as a goldmine for Ivory Coast’s cocoa-dependent economy, planters are under pressure to address criticism that they are damaging the environment and weakening the country’s ability to feed itself.
This year, good agricultural practices (GAP) have become more accessible as a number of NGOs have created training, research, financing and even off-taking initiatives for cacao, coffee and rubber farmers.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday after Russia’s energy minister, Alexander Novak, said cooperation with OPEC on supporting the market would continue and as analysts forecast a second weekly decline in U.S. crude inventories.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares and U.S. stock futures darted in and out of losses on Tuesday, as the holiday lull offset optimism that a U.S.-China trade deal will boost exports and corporate earnings.
U.S. economic growth nudged up in the third quarter, the government confirmed on Friday, and there are signs the economy more or less maintained the moderate pace of expansion as the year ended, supported by a strong labor market.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian markets idled near 18-month highs on Monday as volumes weakened ahead of the Christmas holiday break and investors squared off their positions, taking home hefty gains made earlier this month.