Qatar, gate way to the Middle East

Our journey in Qatar and specifically Doha draw to a close with us saying farewell to Brenda and a quick journey to Ukraine.

The Qatar experience continues to blow our minds in terms of the countries ability to produce food, survive dust storms and the expression of such warmth in greeting us into their homes.



Over the past two days a fascinating visit through an local abattoir, feedlot and butcher has clearly shown me what Meat Livestock Australia (MLA) have been actively doing on the animal welfare front in this country. As a levy payer I was really pleased to see so much engagement with the local MLA staff and the positive impact the organisation is having in this country, congratulations a great 'good news' story.



Nick nack (Shane Fitzgerald) our Irish scholar brought with him 'murphys law'.
It has not rained in Qatar for over 365 days and today we were booked into the watch the first race of the camel cup. Luck would have it rained so hard the races were called off and many punters needed a tow to get out of the bog. Great day tho visiting a camel trainer and having avert strong tee with the family.





We will never forget Qatar for its friendly welcome smiles and hospitality, fine foods, amazing buildings and brilliant experiences. Thank you.

Location:Perimeter Rd,Doha,Qatar

India to Qatar

The contrasts between these two countries is enormous, but the common principle of feeding the less privileged brings these two countries close together.



From India to Qatar in 12 hours




Great day with our hosts Annabel and Blythe from MLA, quick introduction to Hassad Foods, their production systems, investment strategies, position on foreign investment, water security and global food supply challenges.



Before water



After water.
10 centre pivots, watering a range of forage crops for the domestic feed industry. These circles are using treated Doha water, producing 9-10 harvest per annum, yielding about 5000 kg/dm per ha per harvest. Very impressive operation turning waste water into fodder.

Plans to further expand fodder growing capacity around Doha as the city expands.

Location:Al Shamal Rd,Doha,Qatar

Incredible India, the journey concludes

After a quick ten day introduction to the way this amazing country works we leave today for Qatar. India has exposed us to a raft of feelings and emotions: hunger, heat, noise, worry, excitement, despair, relief, frustration, boredom,beauty, passion, tranquility and above all awe.

Some basic stats on the country;

80% famers own less than 1.7ha
India is 2.4% of the global land mass, but has 16% of the world population
Literacy is rated at 74% of the population, globally 84% of the pop.
300 million people (28%) of the pop. live below the poverty line and eat less than 1800 calories/day.
FYI: reading Lance Armstrong bio, he burns 1000 calories and hour when training for a road race.



The potential of the country is so difficult to determine, once foreign investment policy is better understood and western businesses realise the opportunity of this country, India will explode and the feeding the globe will be so much easier.

The welcome smile and affection of our hosts will be one of the strongest memories that will last with me for ever. We have been welcomed into dirt floored, single roomed houses, slum cottages with no bathroom or running water or privacy and then into modern two storied dwellings very similar to Australia.



Viticulture is stagnant with low government policy interest and low foreign and state monetary investment, however this may well change with a rising middle case who have an growing appetite for anything western. Austrade consider value chain logistics, infrastructure and technological knowledge transfer to be key opportunities for us to consider.



For Australians following the blog, in the words of Molly Meldrum 'do your self a favour' experience India!
To our hosts thank you and I only hope we can show you the same hospitality and wonders if you visit Australia.

Location:Delhi

Arrive Armitsar

A day that will be remembered by all at the Golden Temple.
400 years old, 2 million sheiks per day visit to pray and to touch the holy water.

Location:NH 3,Amritsar,India

Clothing,sugar and coffee, what a combination

This country continues to amaze everyone on this GFP in many ways. We visited an apparel manufacturer exporting to the USA, even tried on the new New York Police uniform. Then our kind host Ramesh gave us the opportunity to partake in the traditional Indian lunch, chicken, goat, roti, rice, green tea all served on a banana leaf.







Even CI management principals were evident in these workplaces.



Ewan McAsh, oyster farmer from NSW, and myself have taken on the role of chia tea testers, big range in textures, tannins and sweetness across the districts visited, all very tasty, best example to date: state check point after descending 3000meters, in our mini bus, through 27 hair pin turns, in the dark and a tropical storm. A good tea required!

Location:Salem

Colour and hard work

The extremes in colour across this country is very difficult to explain, hopefully these photos due justice to the effort and contrasts we have seen.

Mysore Temple


Village school





Local ladies off to a party



Labourer



Ladies wiring up rio for a bridge


The extreme work practices are a real challenge for the group and the relationships between man and wife are driving some interesting conversations between ourselves and our hosts.

Making sugar cubes


Forming a mulch windrow



Apparel Park





Coffee Club

Location:Chamarajanagara, India

Farm commodities across south India

Marc Jackson, Ramesh and kiwi Shane Whittaker have introduced us to a heap of farmers, cultural practices, and farming techniques, wine unfortunately has not been on the list, but still an awesome introduction and probably a glimpse of Australian practices in the early 40's and 50's.

Sugar cane delivery



Silk worm hatchery



Kiwi coconut


Bananas for cooking


Blossom


Bio gas plant for home cooking and power generation


Brick farm


Herder

Location:Southern Provence

Words can not do justice to this amazing country

Having just spent the last 12 hours in a bus, bouncing over probably the worst roads you could imagine, I cannot think of words that can really describe today's visits.

Highlights have been, chia tea at a border check post, meeting school children that have only seen europeans on the TV, having 15 Indian farmers following us around for 3 hours just looking at us?? eating paddock cooked rice, tasting paw paw and fresh coconut milk, being scared witless by the amount of on coming traffic whilst descending a 7000 feet mountain with 42 hair pin turns. A truly awesome 18 hours.

Some picture to capture the days events.

Location:Mysore

Welcome to India

Have spent the last 24 hours soaking up the Indian culture, smells, noise and customs, boy what a country of contracting visions and expectations.

Population expected to overtake China in next 5 years, 1.4 billion currently running around and a very subsistence farming objective, great efficiency opportunities but very little money.





The poverty and rubbish is very confronting, but in contrast every one is smiling and appears happy in the life.







This leg of the GFP will be such an education on the worlds challenge of feeding an awful lot of mouths.

Location:Bangalore