REPOST: The benefits of brown rice protein

This article shares why adding brown rice protein to your diet can be beneficial to your fitness and health.

Brown rice protein powder is fast becoming a popular way of adding protein to one’s diet. Here’s what you need to know. ~ | Image Source: health24.com

Protein is one of the cornerstones of a balanced diet and can be obtained from a number of food sources such as eggs, chicken, fish, dairy, soy and beef.

But if you’re vegan or follow some kind of restricted diet, you might be struggling to meet your daily protein needs. The answer could be as simple as adding brown rice protein to your diet.

Brown rice protein is a superb plant source of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) that provides a good protein alternative for people who are lactose intolerant. It’s furthermore hypoallergenic (i.e. it tends to cause fewer allergic reactions than many other protein sources) and it’s easily digested.

Note, however, that although brown rice protein is fast becoming increasingly popular – especially among athletes and bodybuilders – the jury is still out on all its health benefits.

Of benefit to bodybuilders

When it comes to strength training in bodybuilders and athletes, brown rice protein does seem to have a lot going for it.

In a study by the University of Tampa in the USA, which observed experienced bodybuilders on different diets over the course of eight weeks, researchers focused on four key metrics: recovery and soreness, muscle growth, change in body composition and strength improvement.

They found exactly the same results across all four metrics in study participants who used plant-based rice protein as in those who used animal-based whey protein from milk.

In addition to no remarkable differences in soreness or recovery time, both groups showed greater improvement in power, muscle mass and body composition, as well as a decrease in body fat, showing that rice protein was indeed of great benefit to the bodybuilders.

Read: Brain protein new culprit behind Alzheimer's?

“Previous studies showed that animal-derived protein had a different effect on muscle growth than plant-based protein such as soy. This has changed,” lead author Prof Ralf Jäger said in a Growing Naturals interview.

Other benefits

Research also shows that brown rice protein provides an excellent alternative to whey protein for people who are lactose intolerant, live a vegan lifestyle or who just prefer plant-based protein sources.

Despite the fact that protein-rich plant foods often lack some of the essential amino acids needed for growth and muscle repair (which means they have to be paired with other protein-rich plant foods), these foods are generally healthier than protein-rich animal products.

Plant proteins contain less fat, less atherogenic fat (atherogenic = causing clogged arteries/heart disease), no cholesterol, and plenty of dietary fibre and protective nutrients such as bioflavonoids.

Lacto-ovo vegetarians and people who live in rural communities, who haven’t changed to western eating habits, generally follow an incredibly healthy diet. By eating predominantly plant foods combined with milk, dairy products and eggs, these people ensure that they’re getting sufficient total protein and sufficient “complete” protein with all the added benefits bestowed by a diet rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Protein also plays an important role in terms of weight loss. Protein reduces the glycaemic index (GI) of a meal, which keeps you satisfied for longer. A low-GI diet also protects against type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

How to use brown rice protein

Shop for brown rice protein powder online or in a health shop near you, and add it to smoothies, muffins, low-fat puddings and cereals. Consult your doctor or dietician before you make any dramatic changes to your diet.

And keep an eye on your protein intake – remember that you only need about 1 to 2.2g of protein per kilogram body weight per day. Any excess protein will be broken down and either stored as fat or used later as a source of energy.

Follow this Ourmilla Sharma Twitter account for more discussions on agriculture innovation.

Sustainable farming: Two practices that should be employed

Image Source: themindunleashed.org

Sustainable farming is not just about the bottom line. It involves using non-renewable resources efficiently, natural resources wisely, avoiding irreversible damage to the environment, and growing nutrient-rich crops while satisfying food needs and improving the quality life of both farmers and consumers.

The following are two examples of sustainable farming practices that should be employed by eco-conscious farmers and farm operators:

Crop diversification

Diversifying crops ensures greater genetic diversity, which stabilizes ecosystems. Planting different varieties of the same crop together ensures that, in the event of a pest attack, not all crops will be affected. In addition, diverse plants lead to more diverse populations of natural pest-fighting organisms.

Growing alternative crops also secures more profitability while lessening environmental impact. Two studies have found that farms with greater crop diversity can operate year-round, providing continuous employment for farm workers.

Other advantages to crop diversification include exploring and marketing to niche markets and helping the local economy by growing crops that would otherwise have been imported from other areas.

Image Source: uky.edu

Alternative energy use

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agriculture is responsible for approximately nine percent of total human-related greenhouse gas emissions.

To lessen carbon footprint without compromising the profitability of a farm operation or the quality of its crops, and to offset the environmental damage caused by crop production, field burning, livestock manure management, and rice cultivation, farm operators should consider using alternative energy sources.

Biodiesel, created through a chemical reaction between vegetable oils or animal fats and alcohol, can be burned as fuel or mixed with a petroleum-based diesel while reducing carbon monoxide emissions by up to 12 percent. It can be used to power heavy farm machinery.

Other alternative energy sources to consider are hydro-power, which harvests energy from moving water, and solar power, which can be used to pump water, charge electric fences, and power lighting.

Image Source: greenprophet.com

Ourmilla Sharma aims to support Guyana's agriculture industry by producing high-quality rice varieties for local consumers and for export. To learn about other sustainable farming best practices, subscribe to this blog,

REPOST: A Miracle Rice Could Save Millions Of Lives

 This article by Lauren F Friedman of Business Insider discusses the proposed Golden Rice, which is said to be healthier and richer in vitamins as compared to traditional white rice.

"Golden Rice" (R) and ordinary rice, in the hands of a scientist at the International Rice Research Institute in The Philippines. | Image Source: businessinsider.com

One of the world's great humanitarian crises has a simple cause and, some researchers argue, a simple solution. But that's where the story gets complicated.

Around the world, 250 million children are vitamin A-deficient, including about a third of the world's preschool-age population. This simple deficiency kills or blinds millions of women and children each year. In places like the United States, where vegetables like carrots are neither expensive nor scarce, it's difficult to grasp just how pervasive, dire, and deadly a simple vitamin deficiency can be.

Children whose diets are chronically low or lacking in vitamin A are at high risk for xerophthalmia, the most common cause of preventable childhood blindness, and insufficient vitamin A can make children more likely to catch an infection and more likely to die from one when they do.

In 1992, a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins calculated that increasing consumption of vitamin A, without any other interventions or nutritional improvements, could prevent 1.3 to 2.5 million deaths among infants and preschoolers every year. That's more than the number of children killed each year by measles, whooping cough, and tetanus combined.

Programs that aim for widespread distribution of vitamin supplements certainly exist, though they are expensive, complicated, and difficult to sustain. Such programs also sometimes fail to reach the most vulnerable populations in remote rural regions.

But if a food that people are already eating could be transformed into a nutritional powerhouse, it could help save the eyesight and the lives of millions of children and mothers around the world. Each time farmers harvested the crop, they would have a simple food with the impact of a life-saving medication.

In fact, such a miracle crop already exists. It's called "Golden Rice."

So why has it been met with so much opposition?

What Is Golden Rice?

International Rice Research Institute | Image Source: businessinsider.com

From the beginning, Golden Rice was conceived as a project that could significantly improve global health, even though it seemed terribly futuristic when it was first proposed.

"Identified in the infancy of genetic engineering as having the potential for the biggest impact for the world’s poor, beta-carotene-producing rice was initially funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and the European Union," writes Amy Harmon of The New York Times. Beta-carotene, the pigment that makes carrots and squash orange, turns into vitamin A in the human body.

"In a decade of work culminating in 1999," Harmon writes, "two academic scientists, Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer, finally switched on the production of beta carotene by adding daffodil and bacteria DNA to the rice’s genome." Scientists later swapped out the daffodil DNA for corn DNA, vastly increasing the amount of beta-carotene in the special rice, whose resulting yellowish color resembled the flesh of a ripe mango.

"From the outset, it seemed totally crazy," Potrykus said, in an interview with New Scientist, explaining what a longshot the technology was when they first tried it. "It was a surprise that it worked."

Many environmental groups voiced immediate concerns about Golden Rice and genetically modified food in general. (The scientific consensus on GM foods is that they are just as safe as any other food.) Neth Daño, an agricultural policy researcher and advocate in the Philippines, told NPR that some see Golden Rice as a public relations campaign for genetically modified foods and biotechnology, rather than the most pragmatic solution.

Still, The Gates Foundation and other major donors see Golden Rice as an important potential tool in fighting vitamin A deficiency, and so — in spite of protests and plenty of red tape — the project has moved forward.

Even after scientists created the proof-of-concept Golden Rice, much tweaking and additional research was needed. The beta-carotene-rich rice needed to be traditionally bred to work with favored local rice varieties, a process that is time-consuming and complicated. And Golden Rice backers needed to prove that in spite of what was, for many, unfamiliar technology, the resulting product would be as reliable as supplements for curbing deficiencies.

Finally, in a 2009 study, scientists showed that Golden Rice was an effective source of vitamin A, and in a follow-up study, they found that it was as good as pure beta-carotene and better than spinach at providing vitamin A to children.

Professional tasters have even said that the high-tech rice tastes just like the original.

Today, five field trials are wrapping up in the Philippines, primarily testing whether the crop will behave in a way that makes it appealing to local farmers. Researchers will also do additional safety and efficacy testing before Golden Rice goes up for approval, which could happen as soon as 2016.

Why Rice?

Rice is a staple food for half of the world's population, and in countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh, it provides two-thirds of all calories consumed. Worldwide, about a fifth of humanity's calories come from rice.

In many countries where rice is an important staple, vitamin A deficiency and its associated hazards are endemic.

Plain white rice is a relatively robust source of energy, but has few nutrients. The seeds of white rice contain no vitamin A, but just one bowl of golden rice would fulfill 60% of a child's daily vitamin A needs. | Image Source: businessinsider.com

"When children are weaned, they're often weaned on a rice gruel," Gary Toenniessen, a Rockefeller Foundation microbiologist, explained to NPR. "And if they don't get any beta-carotene or vitamin A during that period, they can be harmed for the rest of their lives."

While supplemental nutrition programs are both helpful and necessary, they are not enough, and funding irregularities and logistical challenges can make them an inconsistent source of vitamin A.

Golden Rice, once it is widely released, will be much more cost-effective, as agricultural economist Alexander Stein has shown. Despite common misconceptions, no one stands to get rich when poor farmers start growing Golden Rice. Instead, it will represent a fundamentally different approach, an embodiment of the old "teach a man to fish" adage.

Dr. Antonio Alfonso harvests Golden Rice during a field trial in The Philippines. |  Image Source: businessinsider.com

"It can be planted by the farmers using seeds from their own harvest and that would provide sustained supply of betacarotene," Antonio A. Alfonso, Ph.D., the Golden Rice project leader at the Philippine Rice Research Institute told Business Insider. "The bottom line is that [vitamin A deficiency] affects millions of children and women, making them prone to blindness and susceptible to common infections. Golden Rice, if given the chance, could help."

Patrick Moore, Ph.D., an early member of Greenpeace and an outspoken, sometimes controversial, advocate of Golden Rice, is even more emphatic. "At a certain point, you need to be willing to make a leap of faith," he said, in a phone interview. "The risk of not moving forward with this is the continuation of 2 million children dying every year."

"If Golden Rice were a medicine that could cure a disease like malaria," he added, "it would have been approved ages ago."


Learn about the latest in agriculture technology by following this Ourmilla Sharma Facebook page.

REPOST: Budget 2014 sows the seeds of growth in agriculture

This report from Business Today sheds some light on the current standing of India's agricultural sector.

Rajat Wahi, Partner and Head of Consumer Markets, KPMG India | Image Source: businesstoday.intoday.in

Over the last few years, the agriculture and food sector has been performing below par. A weak monsoon means the future too will be challenging. So the expectations from the Union Budget were high. The measures announced were broadly centered around three key growth drivers - boosting agriculture production, improving agri infrastructure and enhancing credit support to farmers with an ultimate of aim of ushering in a second Green Revolution accompanied by a 'protein revolution'.

Like his predecessors, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley too reiterated the need to reduce dependence on monsoon. He allocated Rs 1 billion towards an initial study for the much-anticipated national river grid project that has the potential to revolutionalise Indian farming. To improve productivity, there is a dire need to check imbalanced use of nutrients. The government's plan to implement soil health cards on 'mission mode' and set up mobile testing labs could promote sustainable practices. The formulation of a new urea policy indicates a potential modification of the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) regime to ensure optimised use of fertilizers.

The work performed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) has now been linked to agriculture-related activities. This is a positive move and could check the continuous migration of workers to non-agri sectors while creating productive agricultural assets. To complement this measure, Rs 300 billion have been set aside towards the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and Rs 50 billion towards scientific warehousing to minimise post-harvest losses.

Improving market infrastructure could go a long way towards improving price discovery and realisation, leading to improved farmer remuneration and the much-needed disintermediation in the sector. Setting up an Rs 5 billion-worth price stabilisation fund, the budget introduced several schemes to improve market infrastructure in a bid to create a 'national market'. However, a lot still needs to be done at the grassroots level to improve last mile connectivity for product and information flow. This may require significant contribution from the states.

Finally, credit to farmers has been a major pain for the sector over the past years. Setting a credit target of Rs 8 trillion for banks, the budget also introduced several measures to improve credit availability to landless farmers and farmer-producer organisations. While renewed focus on long-term loans for asset creation is a welcome move, close monitoring of grant applications may be required. Overall, the focus on asset creation and productivity enhancement indicates a positive thrust to address the critical bottlenecks faced by the sector while creating an enabling environment for sustained growth.

Get the latest news on agriculture by following this Ourmilla Sharma Facebook Page.

Rice varieties and their health benefits

Image Source: telegraph.co.uk

Rice is the staple food of over half of the world's population. Although there are more than 40,000 varieties of rice, white rice is the most commonly consumed in North America. However, more and more people are discovering other, healthier types of rice and incorporating them into their meals. .

Bhutanese or Himalayan red rice is deep red in color and has a nutty flavor and chewy texture when cooked. It's rich in B vitamins, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, and anthocyanins, which have been shown to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. It also contains four grams of fiber which improves bowel functions and slows down digestion, possibly aiding in weight loss. It has also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and lower blood cholesterol levels.

Image Source: npr.org

Brown rice is white rice that hasn’t been processed or refined. As it's a whole grain, it's good for heart health, as it reduces the risk of arterial plaque buildup and lowers cholesterol. It's also low on the glycemic index, which makes it a good alternative to white rice for diabetics.

North American wild rice is high in protein and is a good source of B vitamins, folate, fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, and niacin. It's also very high in antioxidants that fight free radicals. A study in China found that wild rice help in lowering cholesterol.

Image Source: ripe-cuisine.com

Chinese black rice, also called Forbidden Rice, is rich in antioxidants –that a spoonful of Chinese black rice contains the same amount of anthocyanin as a spoonful of fresh blueberries. Chinese black rice is also a good source of iron, manganese, selenium, phosphorous, molybdenum, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.

Unprocessed brown Basmati rice shares similar nutrient profile of other types of rice, but it has 20 percent more fiber than other brown rice varieties.

For more discussions on produce and crops, like this Ourmilla Sharma Facebook page.

REPOST: 'Possibility of Drought, But Government Fully Prepared': Agriculture Minister to NDTV

The government of New Delhi remains positive despite the possibility of drought in some parts of the country due to sub-normal monsoon. Read more in this NDTV.com article.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh told NDTV that a contingency plan has been prepared for 500 districts all over the country. | Image Source: ndtv.com

New Delhi: A sub-normal monsoon has given rise to the possibility of drought in parts of the country, but the government is ready to tackle it, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said ahead of a meeting called by the Prime Minister to review the impact of poor rainfall.

Mr Singh told NDTV that a contingency plan has been prepared for 500 districts all over the country. "We have prepared a Cabinet note to help farmers with compensations such as subsidised diesel and cheaper loans."

"We have adequate buffer stocks and will do everything to control prices," he promised.

The minister said an advisory was being sent to state governments on the need for drought preparedness. The states expected to be most affected are Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Mr Singh said the Centre has also called a two-day meeting of state officials next week to discuss this.

The meeting called by the Prime Minister today will be attended by the Union Agriculture Minister as well as other senior ministers. The impact of a weak monsoon on price rise, especially on essential commodities, will be discussed in detail at the meeting, sources said.

India is expected to receive below-average rainfall this year, potentially damaging crops in about half of the country's farmland that depends on monsoon rains.

The Agriculture Ministry has already started preparing a contingency plan to cushion the farmers from the adverse impact of a weak monsoon.


For more articles related in agriculture, visit this Ourmilla Sharma Facebook page.

Building Business in Guyana

Ourmilla Sharma is on a mission to help her fellow citizens in Guyana. And so far, results are indicating that she is on fire and more than meeting her goals and dreams.

Ourmilla Sharma and her husband, Satyanand Sharma, are the founders and operators of AA Agri Industries, a business organization that is dedicated to helping increase rice production in Guyana, both for domestic consumption as well as for export as an affordable commodity to other countries. With more than 500 hectares of rice-producing land under the management of AA Agri Industries, this firm is using the fertile lands of Guyana’s coastal regions to employ local residents and produce an important basic food source.

Image Source: istockphoto.com

 In 2013, Guyana saw a huge increase in rice production, leaping to more than 525,000 tonnes as compared to approximately 420,000 tonnes in 2012. There is little doubt that the contributions of Ourmilla Sharma and AA Agri Industries have been instrumental in such an impressive growth in rice output. Part of their contribution has been to bring back to Guyana a larger and better variety of seeds as well as providing new farming techniques that have improved overall production.

A native of Guyana, Ourmilla Sharma made her own success when she came to the United States. She received a BA in Economics at the University of New York and then worked successfully as both an international foreign exchange trader as well as a market analyst in Wall Street for 14 years. Much of her career was with Dresdner Bank and Dresdner Capital Management, where she managed a multimillion dollar investment portfolio.

With her extensive management and financial expertise from her years on Wall Street, combined the experience her husband has in the agricultural industry, their transition to establish and run their own companies was a logical evolution. In this way, both of these natives of Guyana have discovered a way to bring their success and business practices back to Guyana to benefit their friends and family.

This move has been a benefit both to their home country as well as for the many natives who are learning how to create value from their natural resources and joint efforts.

For more about Ourmilla Sharma, visit this blog site. 

REPOST: US vows continued support to agriculture

US continuous to resolve problems in the agricultural sector. Read more in this Tribune.com article.

Image Source: tribune.com.pk

ISLAMABAD: United States Ambassador Richard Olson has stressed that America has been a partner of Pakistan in the agricultural sector and will continue its cooperation to ensure food security in the country.

Speaking at a reception hosted in honour of renowned agricultural scientist and Nobel laureate Dr Norman E Borlaug late Wednesday evening, Olson said the US government had done a lot in the agricultural sector for the entire Pakistan to alleviate poverty.

“Norman did a lot and took pains to improve the agricultural sector. He is recognised and was awarded Nobel Prize for his services,” he said.

Borlaug reminded the audience that Pakistan and the US had a 50-year-long history of cooperation in the agricultural sector and the best scientists had worked to ensure food security in Pakistan.

“Malnutrition problems in under-developed countries have eased but we have to go a long way and there should be no complacency. Equitable food distribution is more important than mere efforts to enhance food production,” Borlaug said.

The US worked for food security in Pakistan and did a lot to resolve problems in the agricultural sector, but still much needed to be addressed, he said.

He also suggested this required ideas and the governments in this region needed to be involved more physically in agricultural projects. Highlighting that Pakistan was at number three after China and India in production of wheat and other cereals in the region, Borlaug stressed Islamabad could substantially enhance wheat output with application of modern technology to all important areas like soil, water and fertiliser.

Agricultural cooperation between the US and Pakistan has continued over the years.

In 1999, the US Department of Agriculture donated $23 million to set up a research endowment fund at the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (Parc) aimed at promoting and supporting research and development activities.

In 2002, it provided $25.35 million to alleviate poverty, reduce vulnerability and improve food security through sustainable development. It gave another $6.6 million to improve agriculture in Pakistan.

Parc Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad said the government was moving forward in the area of agriculture with US cooperation in an effort to remove hurdles and alleviate poverty.

Learn more about Ourmilla Sharma and her work at AA Agri Industries by following this Twitter page.

REPOST: Getting into the groove of meditation

What are the benefits of meditation? Find out in this Baltimoresun.com article.

Meditation seems to be everywhere lately — on talk shows, in yoga studios, even on our smartphones. A recent Time magazine cover story announced that we're in the midst of "The Mindful Revolution." Celebrities including hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and Ellen DeGeneres promote the benefits of meditation, and how-to classes abound.

The ancient practice is gaining traction in the mainstream and in medicine. Studies show that regular meditators boast the ability to tune out distractions and even lower blood pressure and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

"A lot of people say their lives are really busy, and they need to take a moment to be with themselves and sit still for a period of quiet," says Chris Kreeger, director of the Baltimore Shambhala Meditation Center. "Some people talk about wanting to reduce stress. Others might feel that because of the pressures of everyday life, they're just going through the motions … [but] missing something important in their lives. I would say that all of those issues are related."

Baltimore resident Ruth Crystal has tried meditating periodically her entire adult life but began focusing more on meditation and yoga when she retired several years ago. Crystal swears by the guided meditations of Tara Brach, founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, D.C. After attending a workshop, Crystal downloaded Brach's audio meditations, which she listens to when she's feeling stressed or can't sleep. "They help me turn off the background chatter that keeps me from being present," says Crystal.

But there can be confusion about what meditation is meant to be, and how to do it. To a lot of people, meditation looks like sitting around doing nothing. Practitioners say otherwise.

"It's a systematic process of increasing your awareness," says Dr. Madhav Goyal, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and leader of a recent meditation study published by JAMA Internal Medicine. "It's not daydreaming. It's not just relaxing. It's an active process of going deeper into your mind and body and becoming aware of it."

Goyal and his colleagues reviewed 47 clinical trials from the past 50 years and found that "mindfulness meditation" — often used as a catchall term for Buddhist-based techniques — appeared to provide as much relief from some anxiety and depression symptoms as antidepressants. Meditation also showed promise in alleviating some pain symptoms as well as stress.

Goyal notes, however, that in Eastern traditions, meditation is not meant to be a treatment for any health condition.

Some experts also say it's a misconception that you're supposed to erase or block all thoughts from your mind.

"Your thoughts don't have to be the enemy," says Susan Weis-Bohlen, owner of Hampden's Breathe Bookstore Cafe and longtime meditation teacher. "Meditation offers you tools to help you let go of the thoughts that cause stress and anxiety. It teaches you how to be in control of your mind rather than your mind being in control of you."

While books, apps and CDs can help new meditators, devotees believe it's important to learn from an experienced teacher, and note that "sangha" or practicing within a community, is one of the central tenets of Buddhist meditation. "Many people who come to our center are looking for a community of people who are on the same journey," says Kreeger.

Before you head off to your closest meditation class, here are a few pointers:

•Wear a comfortable outfit, but leave the workout clothes and yoga mat at home.

•You will probably be asked to remove your shoes. Depending on the class and your comfort, you might sit on a cushion on the floor or on a folding chair.

•Don't expect to dive into the deep breathing right away. Learning to meditate is harder than it seems. The instructor might start by discussing his or her particular brand of meditation — there are many.

•Don't get discouraged if meditation doesn't rock your world right off the bat. You may have to try a few different types before you find a fit, and like any new pursuit, you develop your skills over time.

"I really encourage people to go out and try it and see what works for them. And don't give up after one or two classes," says Weis-Bolen. But no matter what type of meditation you choose, the goal is the same, she says: "to be fully present and aware in the now — because the now is all we have. Meditation teaches you skills for engaging in life, not drifting through on autopilot."

Ourmilla Sharma is heavily involved in Radha Krishna Foundation, a charity which the
main purpose is to help the youth around the world to gain a sense of responsibility and to help them adhere to positive life principles. The foundation also offer classes on music, meditation,creative arts, and more. Follow this Twitter page for more updates.

The role of positive youth development initiatives in building a better world

Guiding young people toward a good path in life is not always an easy task for adults. There are many pressures in the world that could cause young people to go astray, and the adults in their lives may not always be available to provide guidance and support.

Image Source: westernhealthadvantage.wordpress.com

The role of positive interactions in the lives of youth is vital to ensure that they can withstand the pressures and lures of alcoholism, drugs, and negative influences. For this, they can be encouraged to join communities with a wide range of activities that allow them to turn their focus to things apart from themselves. These activities can be anything from volunteering to participating in sports or the arts.

Image Source: cbslocal.com

By motivating their sons and daughters to engage in these productive activities, parents can make a significant impact in the development of their child’s life. Studies have shown that young people who were involved in activities that promote healthy lifestyles were less likely to get over-interested in alcohol and drugs. Meanwhile, young people who participated in youth development activities were also found to be doing better in their studies.

Image Source: sap.info

The adults in the lives of youth play a crucial role in their development. While they may sometimes be busy, it is important for parents to also show their willingness to communicate and sometimes compromise in order to understand what their children are going through. In many times, all that a young person needs is the knowledge that he or she has someone who is willing to listen without judgment and someone who will help in finding the motivation to do better in his or her endeavors.


Ourmilla Sharma is the treasurer of the Radha Krishna Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that seeks to instill a sense of responsibility in young people through community activities. For more information, visit this Facebook page.

Rice – More Than Just a Meal to Billions around the Globe

When you think of rice, you may immediately imagine a flavorful starch that makes an excellent accompaniment to any meal: Take, for instance, dirty rice with fried chicken or rice pilaf with pork chops.  If you enjoy an occasional beer with your dinner, then you are consuming rice as well, as about 10 percent of rice consumed in the United States is used in beer production.  However, while rice often is seen as a delectable addition to a meal in America, it is viewed as a source of utter survival in many other parts of the world.

That is why AA Agri Industries, led by individuals such as Vice President OurmillaSharma, focuses so heavily on the rice industry; it owns and cultivates a whopping 500 acres of rice farms in Guyana.  This South American country features lands that are ripe for growing rice in an effort to meet world demand for this vital crop.  After all, about three billion rely on rice each year for survival – which equates to about half of the world’s population. 

The demand for rice has actually skyrocketed within the past few years because rice production has dropped across the globe.  Thus, Guyana is striving to expand its exporting ability, having already taken advantage of contracts with Venezuela and European nations.  North America and Europe are especially in need of rice because they cannot produce much of the crop, compared with other nations.

The leaders of AA Agri Industries indeed have the experience required to tap into Guyana’s resources and to manage a successful enterprise in the world’s critical rice industry.  If rice production does not increase by 30 percent by the year 2025, many people will simply starve.  The work of Ourmilla Sharma and AA Agri Industries, however, is providing hope to billions by enabling this fast-growing crop to reach many mouths around the globe – mouths of those who will literally depend on it for their survival in the coming years.

Ourmilla Sharma and the Radha Krishna Foundation

Image Source: intelligenthq.com

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is important in any type of organization. Company leaders have to be socially responsible not only in terms of policies and ethical norms, but also of what they truly believe as individuals.

For Ourmilla Sharma, her success in business goes beyond her company’s CSR. As the vice president of AA Agri Industries—the leading rice producer and exporter in Guyana and the Caribbean—Sharma has been a part of a foundation that aids people worldwide.

Image Source: rkfglobal.org

The Radha Krishna Foundation isa privately funded, nonprofit organization established with the mission to serve humanity in the name of Shri Radha Krishna, the supreme being in Hinduism who represents both the feminine and masculine aspects of God. The primary goal of the organization is “to mobilize young people globally in an effort to revamp the purposefulness of Dharma by instilling a sense of responsibility, adherence and principles in each child while at the same time providing and creating pathways for personal development, enhance social structure, and improved socio-economic conditions.”

Among the activities that the Radha Krishna Foundation undertake in pursuit of is mission include granting scholarships to students in need, running community centers, and organizing programs that recognizes and awards excellent students.

Image Source: facebook.com/RadhaKrishnaFoundation

Visit this Facebook page to learn more about Ourmilla Sharma and her work in the global community.

Evoking Passion in Others for a Greater Cause

The ability to take proactive steps intended to make waves on a global scale is no longer a myth, considering a digital era in which progressive change can be attained from just about anywhere.  Humanitarian efforts once stalled by communication barriers are now opening up for entrepreneurs and philanthropists the world over.  If national policy change needs to be addressed, or the legitimacy and effectiveness of certain measures are in question, then information can be shared to establish and increase social awareness and foster relationships that improve upon ineffective initiatives, and/or examine alternative solutions yet to be explored.

Oftentimes we are consumed with injustices happening on a political, cultural, and social scale, whether it derives from social, print, television, radio, or web-based media outlets.  Regardless, we are continually updated and informed on world events that carry either fortunate reverberations or unfortunate repercussions.  Whichever the case may be, a number of pressing issues are taking shape in oft overlooked global conversations, including an underlying predicament that could have a lasting effect on the successful cultivation and exportation of rice.

Ourmilla Sharma, like many others who have taken it upon themselves to address and actively pursue organizational change, is working to raise awareness of a rice shortage that is inadvertently affecting nations outside of her home base, in Guyana.  By focusing on the rising shortage of rice on a worldwide scale, and the availability of a skilled labor force in Guyana, Mrs. Sharma and her team at AA Agri Industries have embarked on a mission to meet the increased need for a food source that sustains an estimated 3 billion people worldwide.

To say the efforts of Mrs. Sharma and her team are working on balancing the proportional scale of survival is about as precise as one can get.  To learn more about Ourmilla Sharma and the humanitarian goals her and her team wish to achieve in rice cultivation and agricultural change, visit their homepage for insight on how efforts underway may unknowingly be affecting you too. 

Fertilizing Progress for the Future

Fertilizing Progress for the Future

The rapid growth in population and ongoing expansion of metropolitan areas continues to climb and spread as our numbers increase on a daily basis.  As cities, towns, and villages become bigger and more populous, needs rise for adequate living conditions, safe drinking water, and a sustainable supply of food.  In order to ensure that people have the necessities they require, public initiatives must be put in place that address these issues and put proactive measures into action so that population growth does not overwhelm us.

The United Nations’ World Prospects Population report estimates that approximately 74 million people are added to the global population each year.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau and International Data Base, if population growth rates remain the same, the projected global population in 2040 could reach upwards of 9 to even 11 billion.  As of October 31, 2011, we just passed the 7 billion mark.  For some city dwellers, it can already feel like we have arrived at the 2040 mark.  Congestion, trash, bad living conditions, and rising crime can further magnify these sentiments, which is why proactive action should be implemented now to ensure that we anticipate the future smartly and prepare this world for others who will take the reins, and soon. 

Sustainable energy alternatives, environmentally-friendly consumer products, and high yielding crop rotation are some of the crucial steps that need to be made if we are to keep our planet healthy for the incoming populations.  There are already a number of different organizations and institutions working hand in hand to try and solve some of the projected issues we may face.  Luckily, there are a select few who have taken the time to start their own initiatives and to support the sustainability of our planet in more globally and socially-conscious ways.

To learn about one of the proactive initiatives currently underway, visit the homepage of OurmillaSharma, an advocate for faster and more sustainable rice cultivation whose organization is focused on achieving sustainable rice production in the country