Border areas of Balochistan: Iran agrees to raise power supply
March 07, 2015
Iran has agreed to increase electricity supply from 74MW to 100MW
for border areas of Balochistan by 2016. The tariff of the electricity varies
from Rs 7-10 cents, depending on international fuel prices. Well-informed
sources told Business Recorder that tariff deadline of 74MW of
electricity being imported from Iran had expired. However, after threadbare negotiations
Iran has extended the prevalent applicable tariff for 2015. Pakistan requested
for extension of two years in current applicable tariff, but Iran has refused
to honour the request, saying that they have one-year agreements with all
electricity importing countries. The sources said that Pakistan in order to get
electricity supply enhanced from Iran will have to improve its transmission
system, including replacement of current transformers with more capacity
transformers.
According to sources, supply of 100MW from Iran to Gwadar also
came under discussion and payment of $100 million against electricity imported
in recent years. Pakistan is unable to pay the due amount owing to
non-availability of banking facility. Pakistan has proposed that whatever
outstanding payments are due from Pakistan should be converted into loan.
Iranian side assured that they will take up the matter with the Central Bank of
Iran and, as such, Pakistan was hopeful of getting the issue resolved. And if
the amount was converted into loan, payment issue will be settled, the sources
added. Pakistan has also
expressed willingness to export rice to Iran against $100m outstanding
electricity charges.
Pakistan''s ambassador to Iran has been actively pursuing Iranian
authorities for a deal on 30,000 tons of rice in lieu of outstanding
electricity payment. "If a deal is struck on supply of 30,000 tons rice to
Iran, Pakistan will certainly get a relief on payment issue," the sources
added. Iran and Pakistan have also shown keen interest in finalising Power
Purchase Agreement (PPA) for buying 1000MW electricity from Iran. Pakistan and
Iran will discuss the PPA next month, the sources said, adding that as per
memorandum of understanding (MoU) tariff would be 8 to 11 cent KwH which could
be revised minus/plus at the time of finalisation of the agreement. The sources said Pakistan expressed
its intention to increase electricity import from proposed 1000MW to 3000MW.
Pakistan will import 1000MW electricity from Iran in the first phase.
Import of remaining 2000MW electricity will be considered in the
second phase for which feasibility study will be carried out in the next four to
five months. Iranian company Tavnir and NTDC had approved the feasibility study
report prepared jointly by Nespak and Moshanir (Iran) consultants on 1000MW
electricity supply from Iran to Pakistan. A DVDC transmission system will be
set up along with converter station at either end for transmitting power to the
national grid at Quetta. The cost
of HVDC transmission inter-connection project, including two HVDC
converter/inverter sub-stations, one for each side as well as HVDC(+)(-) 500 KV
line is estimated to be around $700m, excluding the cost of 1300MW power plant,
required to be constructed on Iranian side.
Iran will construct power plant through its own resources. Tavanir has consented to finance HVDC
inter-connection project cost in its own territory (approximately $265m). Both
sides have agreed that the power purchase contract of February 7, 2007 for
supply of 100MW to Gwadar will be used as a base document in preparation for
the contract for supply of 1000MW electricity. In 2012, former minister for
water and power, Ahmad Mukhtar, had fired the then managing director of NTDC,
Rasul Khan Mehsud, who inked MoU with Iran for import of 1000MW, soon after he
returned from Iran.
http://www.brecorder.com/fuel-a-energy/193/1158696/
Uganda is a
potential market for Pakistani exports: LCCI
LAHORE: Uganda and Pakistan can build their
mutual trade and economic relations on new lines. Both countries are enjoying
cordial friendly relations which should be transformed into strong trade &
economic ties. Pakistan is the best country to collaborate
with and Uganda can take many advantages from this resource enriched country,
said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Uganda
Dr. Asuman Kiyingi while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce &
Industry (LCCI) here on Friday.The LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz, Ambassador of
Uganda Dr. Mohammad Ahmed Kissule and LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Nauman
Kabir also spoke on the occasion while Executive Committee Members Maqsood
Butt, Shahzad Ahmed and Rizwan Shamsi were present on the occasion.
He said
that President of the Republic of Uganda H.E. Yoweri Museveni would visit
Pakistan this year. Dr. Asuman Kiyingi said that both countries should make
joint efforts for the promotion of trade economic cooperation between the two
countries as existing trade volume does not reflect the available potential.He
said that Uganda and Pakistan were agricultural countries and could share
experience and expertise in this particular sector for mutual benefit.The
Minister of State said that Uganda offers best investment opportunities with
easy access to big market of 200 million people of East African Community and
Pakistani investors should initiate joint ventures with their counterparts in
Uganda the areas of energy, food processing, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas and
extraction of iron ore etc. He said that Pakistan could import high quality tea
and coffee from Uganda.
Speaking
on the occasion, the LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that Pakistan and
Uganda have strong relations which need to be developed further. He said that
Uganda is a potential market for Pakistani exports but unfortunately the
presence of Pakistani products in the Ugandan market is quire nominal.LCCI
president said that governments of both the countries need to take active
interest in developing of these relations. He said that the commercial sections
of the embassies of both the countries need to arrange delegations and trade
fairs on a regular basis so that the products of both the countries could be
aggressively marketed and a common platform for the businessmen of both the
countries could be provided.
He said
that the bottlenecks between the smooth flows of trade between Pakistan and
Uganda should be seriously dealt with.Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that Pakistan can
supply rice, textile, pharmaceutical, surgical, sports goods, leather goods,
meat and ready to cook food, home appliances including pedestal fans, water
pumps, washing machines, refrigerators etc to Uganda and East African
countries. He said that both the countries can also collaborate in agriculture
and agricultural products and machinery.
He said
that there should be ease of visas for the businessmen on both sides. Tourism
should be enhanced. Single country exhibitions should be held and students,
researchers and medical experts should be exchanged on a more regular basis to
increase people to people interaction.LCCI president said that there is immense
potential for increasing trade between both the countries which is not being
fully exploited. He said that joint ventures in the fields of engineering and
building up of infrastructure in Uganda can be a prospective opportunity for
Pakistan as well.
http://customstoday.com.pk/uganda-is-a-potential-market-for-pakistani-exports-lcci/
Talks On Agri And Rice Farming Institute
Positive
March 07,2015
09:542015
by Ranoba Baoa, SUVA
Talks on establishing Grace Road
Food Company Limited’s first training institute ended on a positive note in
Navua this week.Minister of Agriculture Inia Seruiratu, and Grace Road Food
managing director Daniel Kim, established focused on Agriculture Training
Institute and the Rice Research Institute took place.Grace Road plans to open
the institute come October.The purpose of constructing the educational
institutions, according to Grace Road, is understood to not be limited to
transferring the farming techniques with the basis of hands-on field
experience.
However the company’s vision is to have these institutions grow to
be a place of intellectual convention to anyone who want to understand and
on-site practices for farming.Mr Kim said: “We sincerely appreciate Mr Inia
Seruiratu’s supporting our project from the beginning.“We want to rebuild the
Rice Industrial Area in Navua, Nausori, and Tailevu.“With this intimate
cooperation with the Government and the generation of talentthrough the
Agricultural Institution and the establishment of Rice Research Center, we will
invigorate the Rice Industry.”Through this revitalisation, Mr Kim said, Grace
Road will achieve its 2020 Fiji Rice Self-Sufficiency Scheme.”
Optimistic
Mr Seruiratu responded with great optimism to the company’s
vision, and promised full support for the rapid actualisation of the plan.“The
education of the agriculture institute should not be limited to the technical
aspects of farming, but create entrepreneurship simultaneously.”
http://fijisun.com.fj/2015/03/07/talks-on-agri-and-rice-farming-institute-positive/
Three held for duping people with ‘rice puller’
MAPUSA: Anjuna police have arrested three persons
for fraud. The trio—Epheeq Ahmad and Keshav Murthi, both residents of
Bengaluru, and Ajay Kumar Mahato of Ghaziabad, UP—allegedly duped people, especially
in Maharashtra, into buying a device they claimed attracted rice.They were
arrested from a house they were renting in Kumarwado, Anjuna, after a tip-off
to the police.
They also
had on them fake ID cards showing they were 'scientists' of the Defence
Research and Development Organization (DRDO).PSI Mahesh Kerkar, who was tipped
off and who led the arrest, explained that the trio's modus operandi was to
scour the net for customers with claims of an object that had fallen to earth
during lightning, and which could pull things towards it. The object was priced
5-10 lakh.Once a customer showed interest, the object would be shown and the
money taken.The customer would then be told that a scientist from DRDO would
arrive the next day to test the 'rice puller', and that the customer, after
witnessing the test, could take the device home.The following day one from the
three, with his fake DRDO ID card in tow, would arrive at the pre-decided spot
and meet the customer.
The other two would not turn up with the 'rice puller' and
after a wait of about an hour the 'scientist' would say he is busy, can not
wait anymore, and would leave, leaving the customer without a device and lakhs
of rupees short."The trio were not able to dupe people in Goa as they were
arrested immediately after they came to Goa. But they have duped people in
Pandharpur, Kolhapur, and other places in Maharashtra," Kerkar told
TOI.Police have also seized the 'rice puller' and other machinery from the
accused. They have been booked under Sections 419, 420, and 511 of IPC.
ONOPRA airs concern versus
biotech threat
The
Organic na Negros! Producers and Retailers Association (ONOPRA) yesterday aired
deep concern about the country now counted among the world’s “biotech
mega-countries.”ONOPRA sees this development as a threat to the fast growing
organic industry not only in Negros Occidental but in the country, Ramon Uy
Jr., its president, said In 2007, ONOPRA
lobbied with the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan to ban the entry of
GMOs to benefit the efforts of the thousands of organic farmers from its more
than 80 organizations of small farmers, NGOs, peoples’ organizations,
cooperatives, federations, private companies, government line agencies, chefs,
restaurateurs and organic advocates to remake the province as an organic food
bowl.
GMOs
are incompatible with international organic standards, he said.Negros
Occidental has aggressively promoted rice production - including organic
rice-to attain self-sufficiency that the province now produces 97.43 percent of
its rice needs, he said.“Since mainstreaming the organic program in the
province and banning of GMO's, We have experienced a significant increase in
our rice production. This only proves that we don't need this GMO technology to
be able to become rice sufficient,” Uy said.It has also been noted that organic
rice farmers in the province now produce there own inputs, from organic
fertilizer, pest control and seeds. Increasing the income and are now
empowered, he said.With GMO technology we will be giving back the power to
multinational companies, who farmers will again depend there livelihood from.
That
is why farmers from all over the country has remained poor, he added. Organic
Rice yield now according to organic rice
farmers is already on an average of 4.6 tons per hectare, that is all using
organic and natural farming methods without chemicals, pesticides, and not even
GMO's, Uy said.Another positive development for Negros is the niche market for
GMO free products for soy and corn, he said.“We got several inquiries from big
buyers of GMO free corn and soybeans.
It
is to our advantage because GMO is banned in the province and with increasing
awareness from consumers worldwide about the dangers of GMO food that is why a
lot of buyers especially exporters are looking for GMO-free products,” Uy
added.They see no benefits from golden
rice that could contaminate organic rice production in the province. Last year,
even the International Rice Research Institute pushed back the
commercialization of golden rice due to its very low yield performance.
Moreover, there are no studies on allergenicity and toxicity of this
frankencrop, he added.*
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/March/06/businessnews2.htm
Bioethanol from nipa sap to
aid farm mechanization
Distillation plant set up in Quezon to convert sap from nipa palm
into fuel farm hand tractors, pump boats and generators
By Gilbert P. Felongco,
CorrespondentPublished: 14:52 March 8, 2015Gulf News
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Manila:
The Philippine government is banking on biofuel from nipa sap to power its
drive towards farm mechanisation in far-flung coastal areas of the
country.According to the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice), the government has established a distillation
facility in the village of Binonoan in Infanta, Quezon that could convert sap
taken from the nipa palm into fuel that runs piston engines such as those used
by agricultural hand tractors, pump boats and electricity generators.Nipa
(scientific name: Nypa Fruiticans), grows abundantly in the costal areas of the
Philippines where its dried fronds are used as roofing materials for huts.
The
water palm can also be found in other countries located in the Pacific and
Indian Oceans.The sap from the nipa can also be fermented into
vinegar.According to Engr. Alexis T. Belonio, the government intends to put up
more distillation plants to process nipa into biofuel.The distillation facility
in Infanta was among three the government planned to put up in three
years.“This facility built basically produces hydrous bioethanol (95 per cent
alcohol) fuel to be used for small farm machines,” Belonio, lead inventor of the
technology, said.Hydrous bioethanol, he said which can be produced from the
farm like nipa sap, sugar molasses, and sweet sorghum, is a good alternative
for fuelling pumps, threshes, dryers and small rice mills.
The
biofuel project dovetails with government plans to increase farm mechanisation
in the country. “We need to increase rice production. One way to do this is to
improve [farm practices from land preparation to post-harvest], and by [doing
this], we need mechanisation. In mechanisation, we need fuel, so what is
mechanisation without the gasoline? [With this facility], we have an option [on
what energy type to use],” said Belonio, the first Filipino to win the Rolex
Award for Enterprise in 2008 for his breakthrough creation of a simple rice hull-powered
stove.Former PhilRice Executive Director Eufemio Rasco junior for his part,
said the government is aware of the pressing need for alternative fuel to run
farm engines.
“We
want to manufacture machines for farming that do not depend on fossil fuel,”
said. “With our depleting fossil fuel supply, the bioethanol technology is a
cost-efficient system because we can now produce and use clean energy at the
least cost,” Belonio said.Aside from biofuel derived from nipa sap, the
government is also looking at other possible sources of feedstock, such as
coconuts and water lilies, the latter which is highly abundant in the country
and is often regarded as a nuisance to river systems as they clog the waterways
and often cause flooding.The project is jointly implemented by the Mariano
Marcos State University, PhilRice, the University of the Philippines Los Baños,
and the local government unit of Infanta.
Rare 'green' power plant opens
SAN JOSE CITY–The country’s first power
plant that runs on commercial rice hulls or rice husks (“ipa”) was activated
here on Friday.The facility was put up by 21 rice millers here in a joint
venture with the Union Energy Corp. owned by businessmen Lucio Co, and called
the San Jose City ìiî Power Corp. (SJC iPower).“Our plant is 100 percent
[fueled] by rice husks,” said Edgardo Alfonso, chief executive officer of the
SJC iPower.“It is generating a gross capacity of 12 megawatts and is feeding
10.8 MW to the Luzon grid (of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines).”The
remaining 1.2 MW are kept in reserve.The generating plant operates on a
7-hectare lot in Barangay Tulat here.
It employs 100 personnel.“We use
330 metric tons of rice husks every day to power the plant,” Alfonso said.“The
plant is clean as it is equipped with a facility that limits harmful emissions
way below the limit set by the government,” he said.He said rice millers buy
and mill palay not only from parts of Nueva Ecija but also from Isabela,
Pangasinan and the Ilocos provinces. This leaves enough supply of husks for the
plant.
“That’s why we are putting up
another plant with the same output of 12-MW electric power,” Alfonso said.Husks
are agricultural wastes, which the corporation now buys from member-rice
millers at P1 a kilogram.In a project brief, SJC iPower said the power project
was inspired by the study, “Enhancing the Energy Self Sufficiency of Rice Mills
in the Philippines,” commissioned by the European Community-Association of
Southeast Asian Nations Energy Facility and undertaken by the Philippine Rice
Research Institute and Full Advantage Phils. International Inc.Co contributed
P1 billion for the project. He was elected chair of the board while Leonardo
Dayao serves as president.The plant was completed in October 2014. It underwent
four months of testing and fine-tuning.Energy officials said the rice
hull-powered plant here is the first biomass power project in the country to be
launched after the feed in-tariff rates were approved on July 27, 2012. Anselmo Roque, Inquirer Central Luzon
Rice milling industry in dire straits
Many units
being closed down due to increased cost of production
Karimnagar district has earned
the distinction of having the highest number of rice mills in the State and has
done a roaring business for many years. But all is not well now. Many rice
mills are being closed down due to increased cost of production.The rice
milling industry has been facing severe hardships since several years due to
CMR (custom milled rice) paddy. The millers have been getting Rs. 15 per
quintal of raw rice and Rs. 25 per quintal of boiled rice, the price that was
fixed 20 years ago. The rates are now totally uneconomical due to which the
millers are facing financial crisis, said Annamaneni Sudhakar Rao, director,
Karimnagar district Rice Millers’ Association.Stating that the rice millers
were incurring a loss of Rs. 140 per quintal of paddy for raw rice, he urged
the government to increase the price to Rs. 170 per quintal for boiled rice and
Rs. 80 for raw rice so as to make the industry viable and provide employment to
rural masses.
He pointed out that the rice millers were
forced to shut down their units as they were unable to clear power bills of Rs.
1 lakh per month. Gopal Rao, a rice miller, said that he had invested Rs. 4
crore for setting up of parboiled rice mill a few years ago. “But now, I am
ready to sell my mill for Rs. 2 crore as I have to clear bank loan and avoid
incurring further loss due to crisis in the sector,” he said. The millers also
complained that the yield from paddy was less because of the high moisture
content and other factors.Naveen Rao of Rangineni Rice Industry said the
industry would survive only if the government creates an open market and allows
them to purchase paddy from farmers directly. Mr. Rao said that the millers in
the State were forced to purchase paddy at Rs. 1,400 per quintal whereas it was
Rs. 1,200 per quintal in the neighbouring States.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Arsenic in rice is a big risk
Consumer Reports” Food Safety and
Sustainability Center tested 128 samples of basmati, jasmine and sushi rice.
The data was analyzed with the 2012 Consumer Reports’ tests and FDA data; this
provided 697 samples of rice. Results indicated that different levels of
arsenic were found depending on where the rice was grown.
White basmati rice from
California, India and Pakistan as well as sushi rice from the United states had
approximately half of the inorganic arsenic found in other types of rice, while
all types of rice from Arkansas, Louisiana,Texas, as well as rice labelled
simply as “grown in the U.S.” had the highest levels.Brown rice, while more
nutritious, has 80 percent more arsenic on average than white rice of the same
type from the same location. This is because arsenic tends to accumulate in the
outer layer of bran, which is removed in the manufacture of white rice.Based on
these findings, if an individual is consuming rice with the lowest amount of
arsenic and this is the only rice product one consumes, Consumer Reports
recommended weekly maximum consumption are 4 1/2 servings (approximately 1 1/8
cup uncooked rice) for adults and 2 3/4 servings (approximately 2/3 cup
uncooked rice) for children.
Other types of grains also can
contain arsenic but in lower levels than rice. Consumer Reports studied 114
other types of grains and found that bulgur, barley and faro have very little
arsenic. Gluten-free grains like buckwheat, millet and amaranth, as well as
corn-based grains such as polenta and grits, had negligible amounts of arsenic,
which makes them better alternatives than rice-based products for the
gluten-sensitive population. Quinoa, had varying levels of arsenic, on average
comparable to the other grains; however some samples showed quite a bit more
arsenic, although the higher samples were still lower than rice.Preparation and
cooking of rice also can help minimize the arsenic content.
Research shows that it can remove
approximately 30 percent of rice’s inorganic arsenic content. Make sure to wash
rice before cooking, filling a bowl with water and rice or scrubbing the rice
in a colander while running water through the rice. Cook rice in plenty of
water — 1 cup of rice to 6 cups of water — and strain the rice like you would
pasta, when the rice is cooked.Rice is a perfect example of how the world of
food has changed. Not only have we contaminated the Earth but we also rely on
far too many processed foods that seem to be healthy. However, when we change a
whole food by processing it, there can be unintended consequences. Then we allow
big food companies that manufacture these products to educate us about
nutrition through their marketing schemes.
As consumers we must be aware of
all processed foods and minimize their use. We must also educate ourselves and
understand that we cannot rely on the government or the media to protect our
best interests. As the consumers, we have to use the power of our spending
dollars to affect change. Whether it be purchasing specific types rice, buying
whole foods for your family, choosing organics or supporting companies opposed
to GMOs, this is how we are going to change the face of food in America.Grosse
Ile resident Theresa Edmunds is a certified health counselor who works with
individuals to create health through natural living principles. Contact her at theresaedmunds@hotmail.com. Information in this
column should not be considered medical advice.
Download/View
On-Line the above News in pdf format,just click the following link
9thMarch ,2015 Daily Global Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/how-he-built-a-biryani-empire/article6971787.ece
How he built a biryani empire
The Hindu
Y. Aasife Ahmed, managing director of Aasife Biryani. Photo: M. VedhanFrom a pushcart to a chain of plush restaurants…the author gets a whiff of Y. Aasife Ahmed’s success
Y. Aasife Ahmed was not much for bookish learning. “I knew what I was passionate about, and I set about pursuing my dream,” he says. And so at 18, he apprenticed with a biryani cook and later started his own wedding catering business.
Even then, he had his eye set on something much bigger, something he hardly dared to dream of, but he set about working towards it anyway.
What started with five kg of biryani on a thallu vandi (pushcart) on Butt Road in St. Thomas Mount 15 years ago has now grown to 500 kg of biryani per day, served out of four Aasife Biryani Centre outlets all around the city, the latest one being on Anna Salai.
“From the pushcart we moved to a hole-in-the-wall. We still serve take away from that shop. We then expanded across the road,” says Aasife, seated in the well-appointed lobby of the Alandur branch one evening.
I tell him I have fond memories of cycling down the road on my pink Ladybird to pick up biryani and kothu barotta for lunch.
His face lights up as he says, “You must have seen me there then; I was always behind the counter! It is good to meet old customers. In fact, there is one person who has been a regular from the beginning, and he still dines at our outlet frequently. It is the most satisfying feeling.”
While the shop was established as Aasife and Brothers, they have now parted ways. “My two brothers have diversified into other businesses. They do not share the same love for biryani or the potential I see here,” he shrugs, gesturing to the restaurant filled with chattering diners and customers waiting for their take-away orders.
He has hired the same architect and design firm to work on all his upcoming restaurants. They open in Kilpauk this month and in Nungambakkam the next.
But his pet project is the one on OMR. The 39-year-old’s soft-spoken and calm demeanour is replaced by a palpable excitement when he talks about it: “We have five floors, each with a different concept. The kitchen will take up an entire floor, and another will have a floating restaurant. There will also be a large play area for children. I want it to be the biggest restaurant in the country when we launch in May or June this year.”
Aasife’s mantra for both his cooking and his business is quality. “The ingredients should be of the best quality; even if one ingredient is not good, it will ruin the taste. Also, diners want to see a well-maintained restaurant. They care about the ambience, and so my staff are trained to ensure that every nook and corner is cleaned throughout the day. I am lucky to have such a great team of managers who know exactly what my expectations are and carry it out to perfection,” he says.
It is a good thing his favourite food is biryani, mutton in particular, and although he does not cook as much as he used to when he started the business, he does several taste tests a day.
“I go to the gym for an hour every morning. After that I visit the centralised kitchen in Guindy, and each of the outlets. I ask for whatever negative feedback has been received, and we set about rectifying them as quickly as possible,” he says.
Walking around the Anna Salai branch just before opening time on a weekday afternoon, Aasife draws my attention to the wall.
“Our speciality is that we use wood fire to make our biryani. As a tribute to that, we cut up our firewood logs and incorporated that into our decor,” he says proudly, running a hand over the now varnished wood.
“Although this is the newest branch, I feel like I have arrived on the scene with this restaurant. It is just the beginning for me.”
Apart from biryani, Aasife’s other love is cars. “Right now, I drive an Elantra. I would love to get some of the best and fastest cars available,” he says with a grin. But those can wait: right now, his plan is to take over the Chennai biryani market by 2016.
He does, of course, talk of his three children — a girl and two boys — with a lot of tenderness.
“I hope that one day they will take over what I have started here. I want this to be my legacy to them. Although it is my passion, I am doing this for their future as well.”
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/how-he-built-a-biryani-empire/article6971787.ece
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