Thailand Rice Subsidy Scheme: What It Is And
How It Toppled Thai Leader Yingluck Shinawatra
on January 23 2015 10:27 AM
AM
The rice program introduced in 2011 sought to buy rice from local
farmers at above-market prices, stockpile them to drive up global prices, and
then sell them for increased revenue. Thailand was the world’s largest exporter
of rice at the time and had the clout to affect prices of the staple. The
program was earlier promoted by Yingluck’s brother Thaksin, who was the former
prime minister and is now exiled from the country.
The program was one of the main
campaign messages that Yingluck’s Pheu Thai party ran on, winning her party a
landslide election in 2011. "It helped those with lower incomes earn
more," she said at herimpeachment hearing on Thursday, according to Reuters.
"Farmers are the backbone of the country." Farmers account for 23
percent of Thailand’s 67 million people.The subsidy was popular with farmers
initially as they expanded their production in Thailand’s rural north. "I
wanted to get more money," farmer Jaroen Namhap told the Wall
Street Journal.
"Many other farmers in this
district decided to do the same thing by expanding the amount of land used to
grow rice. The government was offering such a good price. It was much better
than selling to rice mills."However, the program went south when India returned to the rice export market after a long
absence, and prices dropped worldwide. Yingluck’s government began to run out
of money to support the subsidy, and many farmers are still waiting for payment
from the government for the rice they turned in.
Rice farmers had threatened to park 100 tractors at the Thailand airport in protest.Yingluck’s
rice subsidy program supposedly cost the government some 500 billion Thai baht
($15.3) in losses. Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission found
Yingluck guilty of corruption last May for ignoring flaws in her program to
advance her populist political agenda. "The rice subsidy is fraught with
weaknesses and risks at every level, leading to corruption and impacting the
state budget, farmers and the country's fiscal position," Commissioner
Vicha Mahakun said at a news conference announcing the panel's verdict,
according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Thai Constitutional Court
removed Yingluck from office in May, sparking protests from the pro-Yingluck
faction known as the Red Shirts. Opposition to Yingluck’s government,
comprising many of the country’s traditional elite, planned their own rallies,
too. A military junta, the National Council for Peace and Order, was
established at the ousting of Yingluck and has imposed martial law since May.Thailand’s
current National Legislative Assembly is mostly comprised of military officers
put in place by the junta government, known for its strict censorship laws and nationalist policies. Prime
Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha had said he did not order the NLA to vote to indict
Yingluck, according to Reuters.
Yingluck also faces criminal
charges for the rice subsidy program that could see her jailed for up to 10
years."Thai democracy has died along with the rule of law," Yingluck
said in a statement posted on her Facebook page, reported by Reuters.
"I will fight until the end to prove my innocence, no matter what the
outcome will be. And most importantly, I want to stand alongside the Thai
people. Together we must bring Thailand prosperity, bring back democracy
and truly build justice in Thai society."
Efficient rice farming to curb emissions
25/01/2015
VietNamNet Bridge – New water- and
cost-efficient farming techniques will allow Viet Nam to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in wet rice production by 15 to 20 per cent by 2020, said Mai Van
Trinh, director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's
Institute for Agricultural Environment.
The sector will also apply Good
Agricultural Practices (GAP) in cultivation, which means using techniques that
consume less fertilisers and water, employing better land preparation
techniques and reducing methane emissions.Another technology mentioned at the
conference was Alternative Wetting Drying (AWD)."Actually, to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions in rice growing, the institute has tried AWD while
implementing a project on reducing CH4 emissions in wet rice cultivation,"
Trinh said, adding that AWD is no longer strange to rice growers in Viet Nam,
as it has already been incorporated in several other programmes, including SRI.Vu
Duong Quynh, the project coordinator, said a major challenge with SRI is water
management.
Most problems are caused by the unfavourable
terrain in many areas, fragmented rice fields and a lack of co-operation
between irrigation staff and farmers. This is especially troublesome
considering the fact that efficient irrigation is the best way to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, Quynh said.To overcome these difficulties, Quynh said
that in its first phase, from October 2014 to June 2016, the project intends to
collect lessons learnt from efficient irrigation models and to gather data on
land and infrastructure in each province, to make a water-efficient irrigation
map."When looking at this map, one can read out which province can apply
AWD, as not all types of land are suitable for this technology," Quynh
said.
In the second phase, the project
will incorporate other technologies.
Image: Farmers check the rice plants at
the Vu Lac Cooperative in Thai Binh Province. New farming techniques will allow
Viet Nam to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in wet rice production by 15 to 20
per cent by 2020, says an official.
Source: VNS
Tags:Farming techniques,reduce,greenhouse gas emissions,
Afghanistan, Pakistan to
improve trade ties
Published: January 25, 2015
KARACHI: As Afghanistan and Pakistan work towards a common goal,
Afghan Ambassador Janan Mosazai has said that both the countries must work to
deal with common issues like terrorism, illiteracy, poverty, water shortages,
energy crisis and infrastructure development.
“We are dependent on each other and cannot
live in isolation. We need to effectively utilise the available resources in
order build deeper relations between the two countries and stay focused on
translating our words into action,” he said this during his visit to the
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).“We will have to stop bloodshed
and work jointly against terrorism in order to ensure a better future for our
generations to come,” he added.
The Afghan Ambassador, while
assuring support to KCCI by the embassy of Afghanistan, said that the doors of
his country were wide-open for Pakistani business community to invest and
enhance trade with their counterparts in Afghanistan.He also asked the KCCI to
organise a delegation’s visit to Afghanistan with a view to explore trade and
investment opportunities. In this regard, the business community of Karachi can
play a leading role in the economic progress and prosperity of the region as
Karachi, being the financial and economic hub of Pakistan, can contribute
significantly to improve trade ties.He also invited the business community of
Karachi to invest in free economic zones in Afghanistan to boost economic and
trade ties between the two neighbors. Pakistani investors can set up their
units in these tax-free zones where they will get cheaper and reliable
electricity along with security.
Setting up of Pakistani
industrial units in Afghan free economic zones would not only help them
effectively penetrate into the Afghan market but also gain access to Central
Asian Republics, he added.“We are ready to offer additional facilities
particularly to Pakistani investors which should give them more confidence as
it shows the level of commitment and desire to have strong relations,” he
added.Identifying various sectors for undertaking joint ventures, he pointed
out that business communities of the two countries can undertake joint ventures
in agriculture, education, construction, mining, precious stones, natural
resources and other important sectors of the economy.
He pointed out the huge potential
in Afghanistan for Pakistani rice exporters that cannot only export rice to
Afghanistan but also to the Central Asian Republics via Afghanistan.He also
underscored the need to develop highways, railways and air-links between two
countries. Various agreements have already been signed in this regard, now it
was high time to implement all these projects, he added.
Published in The Express
Tribune, January 25th, 2015.
Image:Afghan Ambassador pointed out the huge
potential in Afghanistan for Pakistani rice exporters who can also export rice
to the Central Asian Republics. PHOTO: AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
Ghanaian scientists edge up GM rice
CSIR GM Rice
Researchers in Ghana say they are recording
favourable outcomes in the trials of genetically modified (GM) rice in the
country.The confined field trials started in April 2013 at Nobewam in the
Ashanti region, after receiving approval from the National Biosafety Committee
(NBC).The fourth successive experiment of the Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE)
rice is being conducted by the Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).Principal Investigator, Dr.
Maxwell Asante, says the project has already identified a lead event which will
give at least a 15 percent yield advantage over non-GM version of the planted
rice.
“If the lead event is confirmed, we will
request for permission from the NBC to allow it to be grown by farmers in Ghana
after testing. The genes that make the GM rice nitrogen-use efficient will then
be transferred to other varieties in Ghana through conventional breeding
methods,” he stated.There is strong opposition to the introduction of GM crops
in Ghana’s food production chain.Biosafety advocate, Albert Aubyn, however says
there is no cause for worry with the current trials, noting that field
activities are strictly in conformity with regulative measures.
“Not until the experiment has proved that it is
safe for humans to use, what we do is that we make sure that in this case of
rice, pollen doesn’t flow out to pollinate other related crops,” he said.
Ghana
spends over $500million annually in rice importation, in addition to huge
foreign exchange in the importation of other food items. “Biotechnology is
cutting-edge technology that can help us in our quest to improve food
security,” said Dr. Stella Ennin, Director of the CSIR-CRI. “Fertilizer is very
necessary for our plants, yet the cost is so high and our farmers cannot afford
it; so we are going around the system to find varieties that can produce a good
crop of rice with minimum nitrogen fertilizer applied and we are using the
science of GMO.
”The next set of experiment will involve the
evaluation of the triple-stack gene rice plants to identify lead events in
nitrogen-use efficiency, water-use efficiency and salt tolerant genetically
modified rice – dubbed “NEWEST Rice”.This will especially help farmers deal
with the effects of climate change and expand rice cultivation to areas
previously not supported.Ghana’s GM or NEWEST Rice is projected to go
commercial within the next three to five years.Three confined field trials of
rice, cowpea and cotton are currently being evaluated in Ghana in compliance
with the Biosafety Act 2011, Act 831, which regulates GMOs.
Ban of rice importation is detrimental to the state -Importers
Jan 24, 2015
Mr Murtala said the country must
also improve the quality and quantity of rice production.The Minister was
reacting to a call by SSRIDA-GH to Ministry of Trade and Industry to ensure an
outright ban of rice importation.It said the ban on inland rice importation is
not only having negative impact on the traders but also discriminatory and in
favour of the major players in the industry.A statement issued by Yaw Korang,
National Coordinator of SSRIDA-GH said given monopoly of large scale
importation of the commodity to foreigners is unfair, and so if government
finds it untenable for small-scale rice dealers to be in business then an
outright ban would be necessary .“The ban as it stands now is pushing poor
Ghanaians out of business and helping foreign traders to thrive,” the
statement.The statement said the ministry on October 14, 2013 served a notice
of ban on inland importation of rice stating that with effect from November 1,
2013, all imports of rice shall be done through only the Kotoka International
Airport, Tema and Takoradi Ports.“This directive gave SSRIDA-GH only two weeks
ultimatum to fold up our trading business through the border. As petty traders,
our capital base would not allow us to do our business through the air or by
the sea. The directive also came at a time when we had made orders with loans
for goods for the Christmas festivity.“We humbly wish to state that our
business is only a threat to the monopoly being practiced by foreign rice
importers, whose activities are a threat to the nation`s economy because they
do the importation under the cover of warehousing and sell their products for
high prices in dollar equivalence before paying their revenue and sometimes
run-off without paying.“We do our business in the CFA-FRANC and pay our duty
into the consolidated fund at the borders before we are allowed to bring our
goods into the country to sell.The statement asked Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, the
sector Minister to review the ban on inland importation of rice or prohibit the
trade in Ghana.However another statement by the SSRIDA-Ghana says the 500
million dollars spent annually to import rice is a drain to the national
economy and could be used to step up the productivity of the crop.It said great
rice producing nations like Thailand dreamt big and were nationalistic enough
to go great length to achieve the feat.The statement said: “Nigeria was able to
do it and now local rice is in high demand in the West African nation.”It said
for the Ministry to say that total ban of rice importation is not feasible is
“too simplistic, unpatriotic and uninspiring. It can be done if we embrace the
challenge”, the statement said.
GNA
Unending Controversy
About Nigeria’s Rice Policy
Written by Joke Falaju, Abuja
•Stakeholders Seek Investigation Of Quota
Regime
But President Goodluck Jonathan, during the AgriFest 2015
Celebration of Nigeria’s Agriculture, held at Eagles Square, Abuja on Friday,
read the riot act, insisting that “all those owing Nigeria on rice import
duties must pay.” “Nigeria, our dear country, will not be held hostage by
rice importers. There will be no sacred cows under my watch. All those owing
Nigeria on rice import duties must pay,” said Mr. President. According to
him, “high quality Nigerian rice is now competing favourably with imported rice
in the markets. Our rice millers have taken advantage of these new
opportunities, and the number of integrated rice mills has expanded from 1
(one) at the beginning of this administration, to 24 today. And they are all
here today. I celebrate you all.
I eat Nigerian rice and can tell you it is better than imported
rice.” In his opening speech, Minister of Agriculture, Dr.
Akinwumi Adesina, said: “We have here today over 20,000 farmers and
agribusinesses from the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT. Today, they are here
to celebrate the achievements of your Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
The agricultural transformation agenda has turned around the lives and destinies
of millions of farmers. ‘Farmers from across the country
daily besiege my office asking to have an opportunity to thank the President
who has done so much for them. If I were to request for appointments for the
delegations that daily want to meet you, your calendar for two years cannot
accommodate them,” Adesina said.
Co-chairman of the rice
investor Group, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, took sides with government, stating that the
view being expressed by some stakeholders are unfair to government officials,
who have worked hard to midwife the policy.Indeed, the government had come up
with the new rice policy as part of its efforts to ensure self-sufficiency in
production, and to protect local investors, to the point they can reasonably
stand on their feet. The policy was developed based on what is produced
presently against the obvious shortfalls. Supposedly, the policy should
encourage local investors against those whose core interest was importing and
selling locally without the mind of contributing to the national dream of
self-sufficiency; but some stakeholders allege that ‘portfolio investors”
without clear investments on ground are truncating the policy by reselling
their quotas.
The Nigeria Rice Investor Group had explained that the quota allocation
given to both existing rice miller and investors in equity was based on the
supply gap of import grade rice of 1.5million metric tonnes, “existing millers
and others with expressed interest submitted Domestic Rice Production Plan
(DPP) and based on the submissions, a total of 1.3million metric tones of rice
import quota was issued to 25 qualifying millers at the preferential levy of 20
percent and duty of 10 percent. The remaining 0.2 million metric tonnes of rice
imports was given at a higher levy and duty of 10 percent. To the
group, government should be commended for its transparency, “This is the first
time that the government is so transparent in allocation of quota in this
industry, because they ensure that nobody is shut out, farmers, millers,
traders and outgrowers (smallholder farmers) have all being considered”.
Owoeye said that the
government had contacted them as an association to provide a list of their
investments in the rice value chain. “We contacted all our members to send
details of their investment to the government, which they all complied with;
and, based on this list, allocations were given. If government had wanted to
sweep the allocation of quota under the carpet they wouldn’t have contacted the
association.” He, however, agreed that some quota beneficiaries are
trading their slots to interested buyers at 60 to 80 percent levy having got
the same at 20 percent. He said it implied that 60 percent levy is lower than
what is charged as penalty, otherwise why would anyone pay above that to buy
from those who got the waiver. “It may not be the best policy, but we
moved from a static position to a position where investors were encouraged, and
government came up with the criteria for assessing and qualification to be part
of the investment concession. Government had looked at four areas in assessing
investment in local rice value chain.
They looked at Domestic Rice Production Plan, Paddy Purchase
Outlook –from paddy Application Center, Paddy Purchase from out-grower scheme
and farmers purchase and ownership of milling facility. Owoeye submitted
that it was not possible for any investor without veritable production plan to
benefit from quota allocation, as the ministry has a team that goes to verify
this fact, in terms of production, rice farming, milling capacity and
outgrowers scheme. Chairman Mikap Rice and former Attorney General
of the Federation, Michael Andoaka, said before the administration of President
Jonathan came on board, the issue of quota was not made public, as nobody knew
how it was being distributed. “But this government changed; and now, local rice
millers are getting the quota. So people who monopolised it feel that something
is wrong.
” He alleged that it was the cabal (the big-time rice importers)
that are faulting government’s action. He said he was not going to speak
as if he is taking sides with the government on the new rice policy, but
maintained that no government in recent times have given attention to
agriculture like the current administration is doing, “because I am a direct
beneficiary of the transformation in that sector, I started a small mill and in
less than five years I have expanded to 8.5 tonnes because of the support have
received from the government. On the Rice Quota, he said he never
knew what it was all about. “I was surprised when I got a call from the
Ministry of Agriculture that, based on what the Minister saw in my factory and
Ashi Rice owned by the Governor of Benue State, we should come over and get the
rice quota. I never lobbied for it, even when I was in government, it never
happened. I am the Secretary of the Rice Millers Association, many of our
members have confirmed to have gotten the quota. We simply went to the registry
and were given the quota.
Anybody who doubts this
level of transparency has other things in mind,” he noted.
Meanwhile, another rice investor commended the backward integration policy, but
faulted the manner in which the policy was being implemented. He noted that
government applied the backward integration policy in an effort to stop cement
importation and today, Nigeria has not only attained self-sufficiency in cement
production but will soon become a net exporter.”
He said: “During the
period, government did not allow investors to import finished goods; it had to
be the unfinished ones, so that it is brought to their factory and processed,
and gradually importation of cement was reduced. That was the same advice we
gave to the minister to discourage importation of finished rice and then
encourage importation of brown rice so that it is milled and packaged in the
country. However, the reverse is the case.”
He expressed the fear that, with the way government
is going about the implementation of the policy, local rice millers may be
forced out of business, because they may not be able to compete favourably with
the foreign rice, thereby discouraging many of the farmers from growing paddy,
which would in turn affect plans to attain self sufficiency in rice production.
It would be noted that presently there is glut in the rice market, as it is
flooded with foreign rice. Distributors would rather buy cheaper foreign rice
at N6500, as against the local rice which gets to the market at the price of
N8,700.The rice investor disclosed that due to late release of the quota
allocation, and the removal of the embargo placed on rice importation, many of
the investors went ahead to import rice at 30 percent duty, having seen that
they qualify for quota allocation, thereby flooding the market with over
1.2million mt of rice.
He lamented that because of the present glut in the rice market,
many local millers have stopped production, because there is no market for
their produce. On the way out of the crisis, the investor said the
Federal Government should do all it can to end smuggling, as foreign rice still
makes its way into the Nigerian market through the Cotonou/Seme borders. He
also called for proper management of the import regime and the quota
allocation. The source urged government to provide mechanisation
and irrigation facilities, as well as planting materials for rice farmers
across the country. He said with the glut in paddy rice in the north, there is
still less production in the Southeast, as rice farming is still being done
with hoe and cutlass; and, since there are no irrigation facilities, rice farming
is done once a year. Chairman of Stine rice, Akai Egwuomwu,
noted that the policy was a good one that could ensure self sufficiency
in rice production.
However, government need to look into the manner in which it was
being implemented, especially in the area of granting waivers. He said waivers
should not be given randomly, rather government should anchor it on the milling
capacity of the so-called investors. He lamented that
government was giving preferential treatment to investor, who had planned
investment against some others that have been in the business for the past four
years. He said: “A miller spend not less that N2billion in establishing a
mill, and after spending so much money, it would be unfair if government do not
give them consideration.”
He also advised that waiver should be given for brown
rice as this would further strengthen the capacity of the local millers.
A representative of one of the rice farms, told The Guardian that there is no
truth in the claim that they are owing the Federal Government, as the minister
cannot retroactively impose a quota in December 2014 and request payment of
excess duties for importations made when quota was not in place and then want
to impose penalty on them.He said: “There are about 10-11 of them who imported
beyond the allotted quota and their names were not mentioned. The importation
we did was based on our level of investment in the rice value chain. We have an
existing investment of $100million.”
He said though the
government mean very well, the way quotas are being given to people without
established mills, as against those with established mills, needs to be
checked. He further observed that there is an existing production
gap of 3million metric tonnes, with government only giving concession of
1.3million mt. He wondered what would happen to the remaining gap of 1.7million
metric tonnes. On the way out of the crisis, he said there is the
need for the Ministry of Agriculture, Finance, Trade and Investment, National
Planning to do a thorough investigation of the quota regime and also streamline
the method in which it is being granted, and ensure that it is not done
randomly. He, however, frowned at the granting of waiver to
import brown rice, saying it would affect paddy production.
Nigerians
Impoverished By Over-dependence On Oil – Jonathan
— Jan 24, 2015
President Jonathan told the huge number of farmers who attended
the event that they could rely on him as their Farmers’ President and be rest
assured of his support at all times to further boost your efforts to produce
more food for the nation.He announced the release of N26 billion towards the
2015 Dry Season Farming Programme, saying with the support of the farmers, he
hoped to be with them next year as president to do even more for them.Lamenting
the plight of Nigerians, he said, “Our nation is blessed with abundant
agricultural resources, but for too long we have depended on crude oil and
neglected agriculture. This situation created poverty and suffering in our
rural communities.
“Agriculture is now the lifeline for Nigeria. As crude oil
prices decline, we must create new wealth from the richness of our soils, the
vastness of our rivers and the abundance of our cheap labour. We will produce
more, and we will industrialise the agricultural sector.Noting that the rice
revolution is taking place across the country, the president said, while high
quality Nigerian rice was now competing favourably with imported rice in the
markets, rice importers cannot hold the country hostage.He said, “Nigeria our
dear country will not be held hostage by rice importers.
There will be no sacred cows under my watch. All those owing
Nigeria on rice import duties must pay.“Rice farmers across the country have a
new lease of life, due to the transformation taking place in the sector. Over
six million rice farmers have received improved rice seed varieties, boosting
domestic rice production by an additional seven million metric tons. “Our rice millers have taken advantage of these new
opportunities, and the number of integrated rice mills has expanded from one at
the beginning of this administration, to 24 today. And they are all here today.
I celebrate you all. I eat Nigerian rice and can tell you it is better than
imported rice.
”On his part, the minister of agriculture and rural development,
Dr Adesina.Akinwumi said the sector will in no distant time topple the nation’s
oil sector with policies that are geared toward ushering in farm sector-led
economic growth.Akinwumi observed that as crude oil plummets, he was convinced
that the new currency for Nigeria will be agriculture, not just oil and gas.
Jonathan’s rice policy nets over $1.6bn investment
– The Backward Integration Programme (BIP ) policy in the rice
sector put in place by the President Jonathan to boost local rice production
with the approval of an inbuilt tariff/levy differential deliberately skewed in
favour of investors has been commended by stakeholders.The policy, which is
said to have attracted more than $1.6 billion of private sector investments,
allows investors to temporarily import brown or finished rice to bridge the
present gap in supply and demand.
Supply and demand
Those who have keyed into the policy are allowed to enjoy 10% tariff and 20% levy on imported rice, while on the other hand mere rice traders are allowed to import at 10% tariff and 60% levy.Curiously, this apparent federal government’s magnanimity aimed at massive rice value chain in the country did not go down well with an aggrieved group which members have millers and farmers and therefore thought that the Government’s largesse was meant to bring in “intruders” or “outsiders” into the rice business.Again, there was the spurious claim that the waivers and import quotas would exacerbate the rate and level of smuggling of the commodity into Nigeria from neighbouring countries especially Republic of Benin.
But the President of the Nigeria Rice Investors Group, Tunji
Owoeye, said the policy has not only discouraged smuggling but has also led to
a quantum leap in investment into Backward Integration Programme, adding that
the policy was geared towards self-sufficiency in rice production in the
country.According to the group, this was the first time; import quota was being
allocated to the right people with verifiable investments in rice production in
the country.Owoeye noted that there had been significant improvement since the
review of the policy, adding that the rice policy of the present administration
is visible for all to see.
“If you travel through Zamfara, Niger, Benue, Sokoto and many
other states in the country, you will see vast plantation of rice in the last
two year.“We have also seen some of our members who were pure traders making
huge investment in local rice production. We have seen serious increase in
employment and value creation in the rice sector,” he said.Owoeye, who is also
the Managing Director of Elephant Group, said that the federal government had
provided rice investors with improved seedling which has led his members to
having better rice production.
The Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the
Federation, Michael Aondoakaa and Secretary Rice Processors Association of
Nigeria (RIPAN) commended the present administration for matching his words
with actions, by not allowing the business to be as usual in rice production.“The
truth is that many have wished the old system where some highly connected
people influence rice quota allocation, but this administration made sure it
went to rice farmers with visible investments,” he said.On his part, the
President of Rice Millers, Importers and Distributors’ Association of Nigeria,
Abubakar Mohammed noted that five years ago there was only one processing mill
in the whole of Nigeria, but with the commitment of the government, it had
increased to 24.
Abubakar said that that before the present administration, rice
paddy produced from Nigeria was one of the worst in the world, but added that,
currently, it is one of the best in the world.”We process 800,000 tonnes of
paddy rice annually and the government is putting measures in place to produce
additional 360,000 tonnes.
”All these happened by the help of President Goodluck Jonathan and the minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina,” said Abubakar.
”All these happened by the help of President Goodluck Jonathan and the minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina,” said Abubakar.
Obama's lunch menu: Gujarati
Kadhi, Bhuna Gosht Boti
Modi and Obama, who is the chief guest at India's
66th Republic Day parade, held bilateral summit level talks at Hyderabad House
here.
The non-vegetarian menu also included "Murgh Neza Kebab" - escallops of chicken marinated with gram flour, cream and cooked in tandoor - "Shrimp Karavalli", stir fried tiger shrimps flavoured with tellicherry clack pepper and star anise, and "Mahi Sarson", fish cooked with mustard.
Modi and Obama, who is the chief guest at India's 66th Republic Day parade, held bilateral summit level talks at Hyderabad House here. Other food items on the lavish menu included "Shatwar ka Shorba", asparagus flavoured cream soup served with asparagus tip; "Nadru Ke Goolar" - kebab made of lotus stem, stuffed with figs and spices; "Ananas Aur Paneer Ka Soola" - chargrilled cottage cheese spiked with pineapple; and "Paneer Lababdar" - fresh cottage cheese chunks in onion and tomato masala. "Kela Methi Nu Shaak" - unripe banana and fenugreek cooked together and tempered with cumin; "Mixed Vegetable Kalonji" - seasonal vegetables seasoned with onion seeds; "Matar Pulao" - aromatic basmati rice garnished with green peas along with an assortment of Indian breads were also on the menu.
For dessert, Obama was served "Gajar Ka Halwa", a rich, sweet preparation of grated carrots, topped with pistachio; "Gulab Jamun" - small cheese dumplings, deep fried and soaked in sugar syrup, and fresh fruits. On the menu, South Indian Coffee and Herbal Tea were also available.
The Times of India
Gujarati Kadhi', 'Bhuna Gosht Boti' for Obama
IndiaToday.in
New Delhi, January 25, 2015 | UPDATED 15:54 IST
US President Barack Obama was served a
sumptuous array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, including
"Gujarati Kadhi" - tangy curry made from buttermilk and gram flour,
and "Bhuna Gosht Boti" - tender pieces of lamb cooked in tomato and
onion masala, at the lunch hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.The
non-vegetarian menu also included "Murgh Neza Kebab" - escallops of
chicken marinated with gram flour, cream and cooked in tandoor - "Shrimp
Karavalli", stir fried tiger shrimps flavoured with tellicherry clack
pepper and star anise, and "Mahi Sarson", fish cooked with mustard.Modi
and Obama, who is the chief guest at India's 66th Republic Day parade, held
bilateral summit level talks at Hyderabad House here.
Other food items on the lavish menu included
"Shatwar ka Shorba", asparagus flavoured cream soup served with
asparagus tip; "Nadru Ke Goolar" - kebab made of lotus stem, stuffed
with figs and spices; "Ananas Aur Paneer Ka Soola" - chargrilled
cottage cheese spiked with pineapple; and "Paneer Lababdar" - fresh
cottage cheese chunks in onion and tomato masala."Kela Methi Nu
Shaak" - unripe banana and fenugreek cooked together and tempered with
cumin; "Mixed Vegetable Kalonji" - seasonal vegetables seasoned with
onion seeds; "Matar Pulao" - aromatic basmati rice garnished with
green peas along with an assortment of Indian breads were also on the menu.
For dessert, Obama was served "Gajar Ka
Halwa", a rich, sweet preparation of grated carrots, topped with
pistachio; "Gulab Jamun" - small cheese dumplings, deep fried and
soaked in sugar syrup, and fresh fruits.On the menu, South Indian Coffee and
Herbal Tea were also available.
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