Thursday, September 03, 2015

2nd September (Wednesday), 2015 Daily Global RiceE-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Pak- Lanka important partners in enhancing regional economic integration: High Commissioner Shakeel Hussain


Wed, 2015-09-02 08:20 — editor
Colombo, 02 September, (Asiantribune.com):
  The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Maj. Gen. (R) Syed Shakeel Hussain said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka are important partners not only in promoting bilateral trade and economic interactions but also enhancing regional economic integration through SAARC and SAFTA.Shakeel Hussain addressing the Forum.High Commissioner Shakeel Hussain said this while addressing the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum organized by the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka in collaboration with Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Council of Karachi, in Colombo last evening.The High Commissioner highlighted that the Government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attaches great importance to regional economic integration through revitalization of SAARC which epitomizes the hopes and aspirations of the peoples of our region, for peace, progress and prosperity.The panelWhile explaining the strategic location of Pakistan at the confluence of South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia, he said that Pakistan is a natural economic corridor for the region. He highlighted that the Government of Pakistan is actively pursuing the initiative of the Economic Corridor which has the potential to integrate South Asia, China, and Central Asia which are three engines of growth in Asia. He added that building TAPI gas pipeline and CASA.1000 electricity transmission line are the two most significant projects under Pakistan’s initiative to promote regional connectivity.On Pakistan Sri Lankan bilateral trade, Shakeel Hussain elaborated that despite availability of tariff concessions on more than 4000 tariff lines on both sides, bilateral trade is still taking place on a very narrow band of products with very little diversification. He urged the private sectors of the two countries to forge deeper links by becoming part of bilateral supply chains. He also invited Sri Lankan companies to invest in Pakistan’s energy, construction and resort development sectors.
He underscored that during visit of Maithripala Sirisena to Pakistan in April 2015, the leadership of Pakistan and Sri Lanka decided to enhance the bilateral trade to US $ 1 billion. He added that Sri Lanka-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum is an important milestone in achieving this goal in the shortest possible time.
The Sri Lanka-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum were also addressed by Mr. Upul Jayasuriya, Chairman Board of Investment Sri Lanka, Ms. Sonali Wijeratne, Director General Commerce, Mr. Rohitha Thilakaratne, Presidents of Sri Lanka-Pakistan Business Council Colombo and Mr. Imran Khalil from Karachi chapters amongst other. The inaugural session was followed by a question and answer session during which the participants asked questions about the investment regulations in Sri Lanka.High Commissioner Shakeel Hussain speaking on the occassion.j
A 20-member business delegation from Pakistan led by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry is currently visiting Sri Lanka to participate in Sri Lanka-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum and to meet Lankan business community with the aim to enhance bilateral trade and investment relations between the two brotherly countries.
The delegation includes representatives from different sectors like textiles, basmati rice, engineering goods, fruits, food stuff, mineral products, debt and equity, machinery equipment, cotton yarn, woven fabric iron, steel, pharmaceutical products, rags, carpets industry, shoes, leather products, denim fabric and garments, leather garments, electronics and surgical items, petroleum, sugar, cement and automobile industry.In a separate development, the business delegation visited the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo for an interactive session.
– WWW.ASIANTRIBUNE.COM

 

China's polluted farmland threatens rice production


Photo: The Straits Times
BANGKOK - Rising demand and constraints on production capacity caused by pollution and industrialization are likely to push up rice prices in China, with knock-on effects on the global market, expert observers and Southeast Asian rice traders are predicting.The London-based International Grains Council, which closely monitors the global rice market, estimates that Chinese production will increase by 0.7 per cent to 145.6 million metric tons in 2016, from 144.6 million tons in 2015, continuing the upward trend of recent years.
But consumption is growing faster as China's population continues to rise, forcing Beijing to import supplies to meet demand. The IGC forecasts that imports will reach 4 million metric tons in 2015, compared to just 0.5 million metric tons in 2007. Some observers say that up to 5 million metric tons of rice a year is also being smuggled across China's borders, sometimes with the connivance of state officials.China is trying to boost rice-growing productivity by introducing hybrid brands that provide higher yields and better quality. But many experts say the farm sector may be unable to keep pace with demand in the face of the rapid conversion of farmland to industrial use, along with soil pollution and shortages of water.
"As China urbanizes, and its economy shifts from agriculture to industry-based development, it faces great challenges in managing its natural resource base," the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, known as Unescap, said in an August report.



The journey of Vietnamese rice
The Mekong Delta had experienced a hard process since the 19th century to turn a salt-marsh and wild region into the rice granary of Vietnam with over 3.8 million hectares of agricultural land and annual rice output exceeding 20 million tons now.After spontaneous emigrations and wars, Lord Nguyen Phuc Anh unified the country and found the Nguyen Dynast in 1802 when the region began to stabilize and develop. A year later, the court promulgated the law heavily punishing those who left their land fallow.Rice harvest in a large-scale paddy field in the Mekong Delta (Photo: SGGP)
Nguyen kings continued carrying out lords’ policy in 1807 to encourage reclamation, establish villages and provide villagers with rice and financial assistance to produce and settle. Settlers and good rice growers were exempt from serving in the army, lags with good labor performance received remission.Irrigation began to develop in combination with traffic and national defense in 1699 when Le Thanh Hau Nguyen Huu Canh, general of Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, commanded troops to conquest mutineers in Chenla, who usurped the throne and trespassed on Dai Viet’s land to loot, and help Chenla king back to the throne.
The troops built canals to take corvettes from Tien River to Hau River such as Ong Chuong canal in An Giang province and Vam Nao canal.Till the time of Kings Gia Long and Minh Mang, other historic irrigation works were constructed like Thoai Ha and Vinh Te canals in An Giang.After invading Vietnam, the French colonialists continued broadening the irrigation system and developed agricultural production with science and technology advances and mechanization.
In 1880-1890, they used machines to dig 2.1 million cubic meter of land to build canals and increased farming land by 169,000 hectares compared to that under the Nguyen Dynasty.
Thence, they continued digging million of cubic meters of irrigation land a year, taking the total number to 200 million cubic meters in 1880-1930. Besides, they forced local people to manually build many other irrigation works.These have basically formed the main canal system for the region as present and expanded production land to over 2.4 million hectares, which was only 319,000 hectares in the entire southern region in 1879. Average rice export output jumped from 360,000 tons per year to 1,454,000 tons in 1925-1929. Rice export tax sometimes reached XPF4 million (US$38,000) in 1875-1884.
After the country was unified in 1975, agricultural production was always far behind targets because of policy problems. Sometimes, farmers in the Mekong Delta must eat rice mixed with cassava and sorghum although they were living in the country’s rice granary.
Breakthrough
The 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1986 put forward two programs to implement the country’s overall reforms including ‘food program’ and ‘export program,’ making great contributions to the Mekong Delta’s rice production industry.From an underfed nation, Vietnam was able to ensure domestic food security and began attending in the world rice export market three years after renovation.According to the Cultivation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Mekong Delta has increased the area of winter spring rice crop by eight times and summer autumn rice by 4.3 times for the last two decades.
The region has gradually lifted the number of crops to two then three a year from only one in 1976 to meet food security and contribute to exports.Rice cultivation area has been stable for the last five years with 3.85 million hectares, creating jobs and high income for 1.46 million households, who accounts for 73.5 percent of total farming households in the Mekong Delta.Cultivating or not cultivating the third crop annually--summer winter--has been a controversial topic of scientists and managers because diseases usually outbreak at that time. However the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has decided to take it into three main crops every year.
Rice productivity in the Mekong Delta has increased 4.4 percent and output hiked 9.3 percent a year since 1980.  Irrigation investment and farmers’ creativeness raised average productivity from 3.30 tons per hectare in 1990 to 5.38 tons in 2009 with yearly average output of over 20 million tons, making Vietnam among the world’s top rice exporters.Technology advances and mechanization have been applied to create new rice varieties with better resistance ability against diseases and climate change, farming methods, harvest, preservation and processing.Large-scale paddy field modal, part of the Government’s agricultural restructuring program, has brought initial successes creating stable consumption sources and improving farmers’ income.
Renovation and development achievements have affirmed the value and strength of rice, a national mainstay product, in the Mekong Delta.
By Tran Minh Truong – Translated by Hai Mien

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/National/2015/9/115171/

Rice exporters demand bailout package
September 02, 2015

 LAHORE

Around 0.5 million ton stock of rice is lying only with Punjab and the government will have to announce bailout package for the export of this huge stock otherwise country may lose export market of more than $2 billion to neighboring country. The price of super basmati which was Rs2600 per 40kg in 2013-14 has dropped to Rs1300 per 40kg in 2014-15 and it is projected to go further down. Many farmers have refused to sow rice in the next season due to low price, putting future of industry and agriculture at stake. 
Pakistan (mainly Punjab) produces basmati rice of around 2.3 million tons annually, out of which 0.6-0.7 million ton is exported and 1 million tons is used in domestic market. Rest of 0.3-0.4 million tons of basmati rice is piling up every year and for the last many years. The TCP has announced that it is not in the position to buy this stock of extra rice. The only solution to dispose of this stock is to announce a bailout package including $200 per ton rebate for rice export and Rs1800 per 40kg support price for rice growers for next crop.These views were expressed by the Basmati Rice Growers Association Chairman Hamid Malhi while talking to The Nation.
He said that Pakistan exports over $2 billion of rice, the second largest exports after textiles, but it is losing export markets since last two years putting one thousand rice mills into serious problems. He said that Pakistan is fourth largest exporter of rice and millions of jobs are linked to that critical sector which merits full attention of the policy makers. Rice sector experts said that situation is turning against Pakistan and in favour of India which has introduced its own brand lacking aroma but increased in length. Indian rice is cheaper due to hidden subsidies which has resulting in lost Iranian and Middle Eastern markets, he informed. They said that some 3,000 rice mills are facing problems while those 1,000 are on the brink that have failed to sell rice in last two years. 
President of Pakistan Rice Mills Association Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch said that mills facing closure are located in Jhang, Chiniot and layya while 3.5 lakh bags are lying in only one district since two years. These mills are unable to pay loans resulting in increased interest. He said that government agencies should buy rice from millers to export them, their mark-up should be waived off and it should be declared sick industry otherwise this important sector would crumble.He said that the Pakistan Rice Mills Association has also held protest nationwide to draw attention of the authorities to the plight of collapsing sector linked to thousands of jobs and $2 billion of annual export but of no use.
He said that authorities have turned a deaf ear to the plight of this sector as they are focused on welfare of exporters only putting interests of planters and growers on the back burner. He said that exporters are not cooperating with millers to cope with the problem while government is ignoring the critical issue.“The mills are unable to sell their rice. Several of them had purchased the rice using loans from banks at high mark-up rates.
They now face financial ruin,” he said.“The future of thousands of rice mills workers and their families is also at stake as owners have no money to pay their wages,” he said.He suggested the government to purchase the rice on its own or through PASSCO. “If this is not possible, the government should provide us substantial subsidy to save us from going bankrupt,” he said. “The government should also waive off bank interest on loans obtained by rice mill owners. Otherwise, we will not be able to buy rice at the next harvest,” he said.
http://nation.com.pk/business/02-Sep-2015/rice-exporters-demand-bailout-package

Iran to lift ban on rice import from Pakistan

Jawwad Rizvi
Wednesday, September 02, 2015 
From Print Edition
 LAHORE: Iran has agreed to lift ban on rice import from Pakistan against the backdrop of gradual removal of international sanctions and the rice export will restart from October 2015.
 The decision was taken in a high level meeting with Iranian government department including General Trading Corporation of Iran, ministry of agriculture, livestock department, minister for industries Iran, minister of economic affairs and finance with a Pakistani delegation.Pakistani delegation is currently in Iran to finalise the modalities of the revival of rice export from Pakistan to Iran. The delegation is visiting on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while Punjab Board of Investment and Trade in consultation with the Iranian Consulate in Lahore coordinated this three-day visit.

Pakistani delegation is led by provincial Food Minister Bilal Yasin along with Farrukh Javed, minister for agriculture, Muhammad Anjum, director general Agriculture Extension, Abdul Basit, chairman PBIT, Nasim Sadiq, secretary livestock and industries confirmed that the rice export will start from October.Purpose of the delegation’s visit is to plan for the upcoming chief minister’s visit to Iran. After rice, it has also agreed with the General Trading Corporation of Iran that other goods should be imported from Pakistan. This has also decided that trade route should be developed from which both the countries would benefit and the illegal trade of goods should be eliminated.

Earlier, in November 2014 a 19-member Iranian Rice Importers Association delegation visited Lahore in which they visited different rice mills, farms and laboratories in perspective of Pak-Iran mutual rice trade business.Iran is the one of the largest rice importer of the world, as it imports around 11 percent of the world rice worth $2.5 billion.According to the International Trade Centre, the demand for rice in Iran has doubled during 2012-13 and in the last five years, import of rice grew more than 35 percent. Hence, there exists a huge opportunity for the exporters of Pakistani rice.Pakistan is the fourth largest exporter of rice in the world with exports of more than $2 billion. Before imposition of sanctions on Iran, Pakistan was the largest exporter of rice to Iran which it has lost to India.

Currently, almost 90 percent of rice is from India although import from Pakistan is more economical.India has captured this market as no sanctions were imposed on it by the US under the head of food versus oil programme. Under the programme, India can export food grains and medical supplies to Iran in exchange of oil purchase. However, Pakistan’s trade was routing through Bank of New York, which was suspended by the US. Hence, Pakistan was deprived of its niche rice market of Iran which resulted in crashing of local rice price and paddy growers incurred huge losses in their crops.
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) former chairman Sami Ch welcomed Iranian government decision of lifting import ban from Pakistan’s rice.However, he believed that the decision will remain ineffective until proper currency transfer arrangement with Bank of New York will not restore. “Only effective, efficient and reliable formal banking channel of currency transfer is vital,” he added. He said the visiting delegation should consult with stakeholders before going to Iran on revival of rice export from Pakistan. “Outcome of the meeting could be more effective and could be smoother if the stakeholders were consulted,” he observed.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-337786-Iran-to-lift-ban-on-rice-import-from-Pakistan

Rice farmer grows crop with 60% less water, awarded


Adarsh Jain,TNN | Sep 2, 2015, 09.29 AM IST
COIMBATORE: The Indian Rice Research Institute, Hyderabad, has awarded a farmer from Dharapuram for adopting drip irrigation system in rice cultivation, thereby reducing water consumption by 60%. Parthasarathy M, 69, received the Innovative Rice Farmer Award on August 29. In all, 30 farmers from sixteen states were nominated for this award.Parthasarathy bagged the award for largescale adoption of drip irrigation for rice cultivation in Amaravathy sub-basin in Tamil Nadu. The award was presented to his son during the Innovative Rice Farmers meet 2015 on August 29 at Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, by the Union minister for labour and employment, Bandara Dattatreya. 
Parthsarathy has been cultivating rice for 50 years. "In 2013, I was in Coimbatore for an agri fair in Codissia Complex. There I was introduced to the drip irrigation technology. I immediately went to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and was given a demo. I first adopted it for vegetables and then for growing maize. And, in 2014, I used the technology for rice," he said. The farmer, who draws water from the Amaravathi Dam, had installed drip irrigation to water trees in his farm in the 1980s. "But, I came to know about the use of this technology in rice only in 2014," he said. 
Parthasarathy said that he not only saved 60% water, but he also saw an increase in yield. "On an average, the yield was five tonnes per acre after I adopted drip irrigation, which was a 20% increase from the yield in 2013," said Parthasarathy.
 
What's unique about Parthasarathy's achievement is that he used drip irrigation and crop rotation together. He cultivated onion, maize and rice in rotation. "This has helped improve his yield and save water consumption," said director of water technology department, B J Pandian. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University started research on the possibility of using drip irrigation for the cultivation of rice in 2010. "In 2012, we succeeded in cultivating rice through this technology. The state government also provides subsidy to farmers using drip irrigation," he added. Parthsarathy said that he spent 40,000/acre after receiving subsidy from the government. He received 73,000 per hectare as subsidy for installing drip irrigation. 
FAS Tour with Foreign Agricultural Attachés Visit Arkansas and Louisiana 
Dow Brantley
Dow Brantley (third from right) speaks to attachés about rice production in Arkansas
ROGERS, ARKANSAS- Foreign agricultural attachés arrived here on Sunday as part of a tour organized by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The group is visiting Arkansas and Louisiana this week, and will depart from New Orleans on Saturday.  FAS worked with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to develop the agenda.  The twenty-eight attachés participating in the tour represent the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania.   The goal of the tour is to provide a firsthand look at U.S. agriculture in Arkansas and Louisiana, and an opportunity to learn more about topics such as production, marketing, international trade, rice, poultry, soybeans, specialty crops, sugar, forestry products, cooperatives, agricultural research, agricultural development, port operations, and cold storage. 
The tour is making stops at many important spots including: Riceland Foods, Producers Rice Mill, Dow Brantley's farm, and the Dale Bumpers Rice Research Station in Arkansas; and in Louisiana the Angelina Ag Company, a 65,000 acre plantation that produces rice, corn, soybeans, cotton, grain sorghum, popcorn and oats, and the LSU Ag Center.Since 1986, FAS has organized an annual orientation tour for the foreign agricultural attachés based in Washington.  The tours are an effective goodwill building tool to help advance U.S. agricultural goals and interests.
 Contact: Jim Guinn (703) 236-1474
Rice Foundation Accepting Applications for 2016 Leadership Development Program  Leadership Class

Look for this photo on the website and you'll find the application! 
STUTTGART, AR - The Rice Foundation is accepting applications for the 2016 Rice Leadership Development Program.  Rice producers or industry-related professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 are eligible to apply for the program. The application deadline is October 3. The Rice Leadership Development Program provides a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills.  During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions designed to strengthen leadership skills through studies of all aspects of the rice industry.
 The class is comprised of five rice producers and two industry-related professionals chosen by a committee of agribusiness leaders.  The committee evaluates the applications of all candidates, reviews letters of recommendation and conducts personal interviews with the finalists.  nterviews will be conducted at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in December.
 The program is sponsored by John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company through The Rice Foundation and managed by USA Rice.   For additional information on the program or for an application form, visit usarice.com and click the "Read More" button on the sliding panel featuring the Leadership Program Applications.
 Contact:  Chuck Wilson (870) 673-7541
CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices 
WASHINGTON, DC ---The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporationtoday announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2015 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Rough rice prices decreased $0.07 per cwt for long grain and $0.08 per cwt for medium/short grain.

World Price
MLG/LDP Rate

Milled Value ($/cwt)
Rough ($/cwt)
Rough ($/cwt)
Long Grain
14.45
9.12   
0.00
Medium/Short Grain
13.95
9.36   
0.00
Brokens
  8.72   
----
----

This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:



U.S. Milling Yields
Whole/Broken
(lbs/cwt)
Loan Rate
($/cwt)
Long Grain
55.01/13.46
6.50
Medium/Short Grain
61.81/8.43
6.50

The next program announcement is scheduled for September 9, 2015.    



CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for September 2 
Month
Price
Net Change

September 2015
$11.690
 + $0.095
November 2015
$11.955
+ $0.090
January 2016
$12.245
+ $0.085
March 2016
$12.495
+ $0.075
May 2016
$12.730
+ $0.065
July 2016
$12.900
+ $0.050
September 2016
$11.995
+ $0.060

 

Bill Gates is betting on a genetically modified strain of rice that can survive floods


Sep. 2, 2015, 9:37 AM

In
 a blog post on Tuesday, Bill Gates detailed how the world's poorest farmers are going to be the hardest hit by climate change. "Rising temperatures in the decades ahead will lead to major disruptions in agriculture, particularly in tropical zones," he says in the post. "Crops won't grow because of too little rain or too much rain. Pests will thrive in the warmer climate and destroy crops."It's a crucial time, too; Gates reports that by 2050, the global demand for food will increase by 60%. But some very clever innovations are already helping farmers in poor countries adapt to these changes, like using satellite mapping to pinpoint the most fertile places to plant in or high-impact nonprofit groups like One Acre Fund
Then there's the good that some clever genetic modification can do. The Gates Foundation has aided in the distribution of "scuba rice," which can withstand floods that would otherwise destroy crops."The rice farmers I met in Bihar, for instance, are now growing a new variety of flood-tolerant rice—nicknamed 'scuba' rice—that can survive two weeks underwater," Gates says. "If shifts in the weather pattern bring more flooding to their region, they are already prepared for it."Today, the scuba rice is grown in over 600,000 hectares worldwide, in countries including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Laos, the Philippines, and Indonesia.Gates Foundation deputy director Sara Boettiger explained to Tech Insider what makes it so effective.

 "When normal rice varieties are completely submerged by a flood, their stems grow quickly to try to get some leaves out of the water," she said in an email. "If flood-waters are deep and remain so for a couple of weeks, this kind of growth can exhaust the plants' energy reserves, killing it. 'Scuba' rice differs from normal rice in that it doesn’t elongate, growing tall and spindly and wasting energy when submerged, but rather it goes dormant under the water, waiting out the flood for as long as two weeks or more."The resilient variety came into the world thanks to researchers at the University of California, Davis, the University of California, Riverside, and the International Rice Research Institute, headquartered in the Phillipines.

They found three genes were responsible for the "elongation" process that caused the rice to exhaust its energy under flood waters."During the time it's under water, ethylene naturally builds up in the plant tissues and that kicks off (through these genes) the plant’s response to try to grow taller and more quickly to get out of the water," Boettiger said. "In the rice varieties identified as flood-tolerant, though, one of these genes didn’t work. Without that one gene, the plant couldn’t respond to the ethylene build up, and it stayed dormant, waiting out the flood."

Amazing, right?
Boettiger says that with funding from the Gates Foundation, the International Rice Research Institute has helped transfer the "scuba" trait into rice varities grown in flood-prone places across Asia and Africa. Watch Gates explain how climate change affects the poorest farmers below.

Helping Rice And Tomato Plants Take The Heat
The receptor-like kinase ERECTA could help improve the heat resistance of key commercial crops such as rice and tomatoes. Asian Scientist Newsroom | September 3, 2015 | In the Lab AsianScientist (Sep. 3, 2015) - Scientists have identified a region of the genome that allows plants to resist temperatures as high as 40°C. This quantitative trait locus (QTL)—called qHat2-1—also confers disease resistance to pathogens. The study documenting these findings has been published in Nature Biotechnology. Global warming has greatly affected our environment, and temperature increases significantly affect plant growth and seriously threaten crop production. For example, the heat wave of the 2013 summer in Eastern China had a devastating impact on crops.
Despite the urgent need for thermotolerant plants, genetic engineering to enhance plant tolerance to high temperature conditions has been rarely reported. Therefore, discovery and application of more thermotolerance genes are critical to heat resistance in crops. Dr. He Zhuhua and colleagues from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have found a QTL gene that encodes for the receptor-like kinase ERECTA (ER), which confers temperature tolerant properties to crops. In particular, they observed that the loss-of-function ER mutants exhibit hypersensitivity to heat, whereas ER overexpression confers high thermotolerance in the model plant Arabidopsis. They further established that ER could prevent heat-induced cell damage likely through activating a cell protection pathway. Field tests at multiple locations and seasons gave evidence that ER overexpression could enhance heat tolerance of transgenic tomato and rice during the summer. Moreover, they found that loss-of-function mutation of a rice ER homolog or low-expressed tomato ER alleles decreased thermotolerance, whereas highly-expressed tomato ER alleles increased thermotolerance.
Importantly, ER-overexpressing transgenic plants display increased biomass, enhanced water use efficiency and drought tolerance, favoring agronomy. This study thus reveals a promising tool for breeding crops with high thermotolerance without sacrificing crop yield. The article can be found at: Shen et al. (2015) Overexpression of Receptor-Like Kinase ERECTA Improves Thermotolerance in Rice and Tomato. ——— Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences; Photo: olly301/Flickr/CC. Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff. Tags: China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Genetics, Plants, Rice, Tomatoes Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine at: http://www.asianscientist.com/2015/09/in-the-lab/cas-erecta-qtl-rice-tomato/

In Bengal, a rice economy rots away on food habits, subsidy

 

Mill closures swell bank NPAs

Namrata Acharya  |  Kolkata September 1, 2015 Last Updated at 22:35 IST

The closure of 500 of 1,200 rice mills in West Bengal over two years is weighing heavy on the non-performing loans of banks. Changing food habits, rising food subsidy and falling exports have brought the rice economy in Bengal, the highest rice producing state in the country, to the verge of a crisis.With the size of loans of rice mills between Rs 4 crore and Rs 15 crore, and around 200-250 accounts turning into NPAs in the past few months, the amount of NPA addition could be between Rs 800 crore and Rs 3,000 crore, according to DN Mondol, president of the Bengal Rice Mills Association.“The market for rice in West Bengal is shrinking, and there is no upgradation in technology. The parboiled rice produced in Bengal was in high demand in eastern India, Bangladesh and Africa.

 However, Bangladesh has attained self-sufficiency in rice, leading to a shrinkage of exports. Due to lifestyle changes, the consumption of rice is also going down. The mills have also complained about delays in payment for levy rice,” said the manager of apublic sector bank in Burdwan district.West Bengal produces 15 million tonnes of rice every year, mostly rice that has been partially boiled in the husk. Of this, the state government procures 2.2 million tonnes through the levy mechanism.Ever since the Trinamool Congress government came to power, the procurement has more than doubled from around one million tonnes. Much of this owes to the state government’s scheme for providing 35 kg of rice per month at Rs 2 a kg in the Naxal-affected blocks of the state.

Under the levy mechanism, mills last year procured paddy at around Rs 1,310 a quintal, while the government bought rice from the mills at Rs 2,060 a quintal. The effective cost for mills for buying a quintal of rice works out to Rs 2,046 because a quintal of paddy yields 64 kg of rice.However, the profit of Rs 14 per quintal turns into a loss of over Rs 50, when the cost of milling and transport is added. According to mill owners, against the Rs 80 per quintal cost of milling, the government provides only Rs 25 per quintal.The market price of paddy, on the other hand, is lower than the government procurement price. At present the market price of rice is Rs 1,700-1,800 per quintal. Moreover, earlier, around three million tonnes of rice from West Bengal was exported annually to Bangladesh.

This has come down to nearly 700,000 tonnes.The demand for parboiled rice has also declined substantially as rising income has led the demand shift to better quality rice. In the rural market, the key market for parboiled rice, demand for non-PDS rice has shrunk because of government subsidy schemes.Data from the NSSO survey on household consumption suggests between 2004-05 and 2011-12, the monthly per capita consumption of rice in urban areas declined from 6.77 kg to 6.24 kg. The monthly per capita consumption of PDS rice in rural areas increased from 0.61 kg in 2004-05 to 0.95 kg in 2011-12. But the monthly per capita demand for rice from non-PDS sources in rural areas decreased from 9.08 kg to 8.97 kg.

The trend is not restricted to West Bengal, as per capita monthly rice consumption in rural India declined to 5.98 kg in 2011-12 from 6.38 kg in 2004-05. In urban India, the fall in rice consumption was 0.2 kg per person per month. Per capita consumption of PDS rice has, however, doubled in rural India and risen by 66 per cent in urban India since 2004-05, implying the share of PDS purchases in rice consumption has risen substantially, according to the NSSO.

BUSINESS STANDARD

Restaurant Spy visits the Radcliffe Arms, Hitchin

By Hertfordshire Mercury  |  Posted: September 02, 2015

Lobster bisque
VIEW LLERY
 I expected trouble. And I was right.The delightful Radcliffe Arms, in Hitchin, does not have a solitary burger of any description on its dinner menu.Not that I would have expected one. This is a wonderful gastropub, with a small, but perfectly formed, menu which had me salivating from the first glance.But, my dining companion, as we have learned, is a burger freak.Never one to step outside her comfort zone, she hones in on a menu looking for anything that comes sandwiched between two pieces of bread.But the Radcliffe Arms had nothing even vaguely resembling a burger. She even called for the bar menu to see if one was hidden away from the fine diners. But nothing.Fearing I was going to have a toddler-type tantrum on my hands, I went through the menu with her, trying to highlight the things she might be tempted to try.There was lamb and duck and steak . . . I even pointed out that a steak was like having a burger but without the bread. But she was having none of it.I decided to adopt the policy that works for parents dealing with the terrible twos and simply ignore her.

I had already made my choice – although I admit it wasn't easy. This is a gastropub that caters for all my needs and food loves.I would happily have had any combination of dishes, but in the end I went for a lobster bisque for starters.Apparently, the Radcliffe had had a lobster event the previous night and had used the extra lobsters to add to the specials board.My only previous experience with lobster had involved racing them across a deck in a Long Island yard before plunging them, screaming, into hot water. It had been an emotional time.But as I hadn't had the opportunity of bonding with my lobster this time, I was able to sit back and enjoy it.Meanwhile, my dinner guest had made a decision. Duck – with chips!

The confit of duck leg and a spring roll of braised duck was supposed to be accompanied by sweet potato mash, but chips go with everything, right?

And after all her moaning and foot-stamping, not only did she enjoy it, but she kept talking about it for days afterwards, to anyone who would listen.I'd decided on the fillet of sea bass steamed en papillote. It was the first time I had eaten anything cooked in paper and I wasn't sure what the correct dining etiquette was. Are you supposed to remove the paper? I decided to just unwrap the fish and tip in my braised basmati rice, peas, shrimps and baby carrots – which I guess was a posh version of eating fish from a newspaper.The Radcliffe is very popular and it isn't difficult to see why. Relaxing before dessert, I realised that it felt like I was sitting in someone's living room. The decor – the flamingo wallpaper is amazing – is very similar to what you'd see in someone's house and the dining room felt very laid-back.

There's also a conservatory area and I'm guessing that is even more relaxed.When it came to dessert, I'd left the best until last – and that was saying something as every mouthful I'd had had been divine.Strawberry and balsamic crème brulee with a black pepper tuile ticked all the boxes, especially when it came to that satisfying crunch of caramel on the top.There was no stopping my dining companion now as she enjoyed a peach and apricot cheesecake.I think it's fair to say the Radcliffe had been forgiven!

September marks 25th annual Arkansas Rice Month


Sep 1, 2015The Arkansas Rice Federation | Delta Farm Press
September marks the twenty-fifth annual Rice Month in Arkansas. The Arkansas Rice Council will hold events throughout the month to help promote the top rice-producing state and support local agriculture. The rice industry will also donate over 100,000 pounds of rice to the Arkansas Rice Depot to help feed hungry Arkansans.Thanks to a new partnership with the Department of Education to raise awareness in the top rice-producing state. Students enrolled in Future Farmers of America or Family and Consumer Sciences classes are eligible to win $500 towards their national convention by participating in the "30 tweets for #ArkansasRiceMonth" contest. Contest details as well as a list of tweets are available by visiting arkansasricemonth.com.

The Rice Council has also partnered with Charlie Southern, a Southern apparel brand based in Fayetteville, Ark., to create a rice t-shirt and promote local agriculture among a younger crowd.
"Young people are vital to the rice industry," says Steve Orlicek, Arkansas Rice Council President. "They are our future growers and consumers with the capacity to communicate and advocate for rice in a way that cannot be overlooked."All Arkansans can participate in the Twitter contest for a chance to win $500.The Arkansas Rice Council recently partnered with Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service to crown Lynnsey Bowler of McCrory as 2015 Miss Arkansas Rice. Each year, counties select a Miss Rice to promote rice in their county and to compete for the state title.

"Growing up in rice country, I take pride supporting a locally grown product." Bowler said. "In order to continue feeding a growing population, we have to recognize this industry and the farmers that produce our food supply." A McCrory native, Bowler is the first Woodruff County Queen to win the state title.Governor Hutchinson will formally proclaim September as Rice Month at the State Capitol on September 21. The proclamation states that "Rice production, processing, merchandizing and related industries are vital to economic activity in Arkansas."

http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/september-marks-25th-annual-arkansas-rice-month?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+September+2%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

India's monsoon rains seen falling short of previous forecast


NEW DELHI |  MAYANK BHARDWAJ
Commuters use an umbrella to protect themselves from a heavy rain shower as they travel in a cycle rickshaw in Chandigarh, India, July 20, 2015.
REUTERS/AJAY VERMA
India's monsoon rains are likely to be below the prior forecast of 88 percent of the long-term average, the weather office chief said, which could make it the driest year since 2009 and worsen rural distress by cutting farm output. The July-September rains irrigate nearly half of India's farmlands, bringing relief to millions of poor farmers who till small plots of land to sustain their families.

This would be the second straight year of drought- or drought-like conditions for only the fourth time in 115 years, which is another setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi struggling to win over political opposition to pass reforms and unshackle Asia's third-largest economy."Overall monsoon rains will fall a notch or two below the 88 percent forecast that came out in June," India Meteorological Department's Laxman Singh Rathore told Reuters on Wednesday.The World Meteorological Organization said on Tuesday that the current El Nino weather phenomenon, which leads to dry weather in some parts of the world and causes floods in other, was expected to peak between October and January and could turn into one of the strongest on record.Rathore said the monsoon will start withdrawing from the western state of Rajasthan this weekend and farmers could be left with too little soil moisture to sow winter crops.

For rice grower Buddha Singh, whose crop is just starting to develop grains, patchy rains over the past two weeks are threatening to damage his cultivation."We need showers at short intervals, but that's not happening for the past 15-20 days," said Singh, a farmer in Delhi's neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh. "We'll lose a lot of money."Though rainfall was scanty last year too, a late surge delayed the retreat by about 15 days and left enough moisture for farmers to start planting wheat and rapeseed from October.The monsoon was 88 percent of the average in 2014 and cut grains output by 4.7 percent in the crop year to June 2015. Output could fall about 3 percent this year, said D.H. Pai Panandiker, president of non-profit organization RPG Foundation.In 2009 which saw the worst drought in nearly three decades, rains were 22 percent below the average of 50 years since 1951. It had forced India to import large quantities of sugar.
Weak rains this year could lead to imports of cooking oil, though India has sufficient stocks of wheat, rice and sugar.(Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Greg Mahlich and Louise Heavens)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/02/us-india-monsoon-idUSKCN0R214020150902

Inflation drops in August as rice prices fall


Staff Correspondent,  bdnews24.com
After rising for two months, the overall inflation rate in Bangladesh declined in August, thanks to a drop in rice prices, the planning minister has said. Both food and non-food inflation have also dropped in the second month of the 2015-16 fiscal, according to the national statistical agency.Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal disclosed the latest figures at a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday.
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, the overall inflation was down to 6.17 percent in August from 6.36 percent in July.On a point-to-point basis, food inflation dropped to 6.06 percent from the previous month’s 6.07 percent. Non-food inflation also went down to 6.35 percent from 6.80 percent in July.In rural areas, the overall inflation decreased in August to 5.76 percent from 5.88 percent in July. In urban areas, the rate was 6.94 percent in August and 7.28 percent in July.The inflation rate had stood at 6.25 percent in June during the last financial year and 6.19 percent in May.

Wet weekend predicted for South; rain deficit grows in North

VINSON KURIAN

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPTEMBER 2:  
South India can look to some organised rainfall during this weekend even as the deficit over North-West and Central India has started climbing further.
The all-important monsoon trough, the backbone of the weather system, lay in a shambles along the foothills of the Himalayas.
Trough breaks up
It has broken up into two, which speaks of the severity of the situation with rising surface temperature in Northwest India.The parent trough lies nestled along the foothills while the breakaway half is left stranded in the East of the country, its southern end dipping into East-central Bay of Bengal.Now, the tip of a trough dipping into the warm waters of the Bay is always a potential area of ‘cyclogenesis’ (formation of low-pressure area) and will be watched with interest.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts initially saw possibility of a ‘low’ developing under the benign influence of a building typhoon racing in from the Pacific.

Poor confidence
But it is less confident of the scenario where it would need to be wary of a ‘minefield’ developing to the east of the Philippines with explosive activity.The European Centre saw a virtual line of fire evolving here with at least two fresh typhoons developing even as the predecessor speeds away back towards the West-central Pacific.This east-northeast direction of the typhoon away from Asia could snuff out hopes of the ‘low’ in the Bay evolving to any significant strength.

In the absence of south-easterly winds from such a ‘low,’ the way would get cleared up further for the dry air to fill and penetrate towards Central and adjoining East India.
Meanwhile, the India Met Department has refrained from announcing the withdrawal of the monsoon from Northwest India, which is getting increasingly dry by the day.

Southern comfort
A western disturbance with its comparatively cooler air is seen delaying the process, though it will not take much longer for the announcement to come.In the south, a fresh rain-driving trough has materialised along the East Coast from Rayalaseema to Gulf of Mannar (off Sri Lanka) across Tamil Nadu.Moisture-laden winds are blowing into the trough from around Sri Lanka into the trough which is already bringing rainfall into parts of the peninsula.Most parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, south interior Karnataka and Kerala are forecast to receive rainfall during the weekend.The US Climate Prediction Centre says above normal rainfall would be the theme here during the period right until the middle of September.
(This article was published on September 2, 2015)

Rice farmer grows crop with 60% less water, awarded


  
COIMBATORE: The Indian Rice Research Institute, Hyderabad, has awarded a farmer from Dharapuram for adopting drip irrigation system in rice cultivation, thereby reducing water consumption by 60%. Parthasarathy M, 69, received the Innovative Rice Farmer Award on August 29. In all, 30 farmers from sixteen states were nominated for this award.Parthasarathy bagged the award for largescale adoption of drip irrigation for rice cultivation in Amaravathy sub-basin in Tamil Nadu. The award was presented to his son during the Innovative Rice Farmers meet 2015 on August 29 at Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, by the Union minister for labour and employment, Bandara Dattatreya. 
Parthsarathy has been cultivating rice for 50 years. "In 2013, I was in Coimbatore for an agri fair in Codissia Complex. There I was introduced to the drip irrigation technology. I immediately went to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and was given a demo. I first adopted it for vegetables and then for growing maize. And, in 2014, I used the technology for rice," he said. 
The farmer, who draws water from the Amaravathi Dam, had installed drip irrigation to water trees in his farm in the 1980s. "But, I came to know about the use of this technology in rice only in 2014," he said. Parthasarathy said that he not only saved 60% water, but he also saw an increase in yield. "On an average, the yield was five tonnes per acre after I adopted drip irrigation, which was a 20% increase from the yield in 2013," said Parthasarathy. What's unique about Parthasarathy's achievement is that he used drip irrigation and crop rotation together. He cultivated onion, maize and rice in rotation.
"This has helped improve his yield and save water consumption," said director of water technology department, B J Pandian. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University started research on the possibility of using drip irrigation for the cultivation of rice in 2010. "In 2012, we succeeded in cultivating rice through this technology. The state government also provides subsidy to farmers using drip irrigation," he added. Parthsarathy said that he spent 40,000/acre after receiving subsidy from the government. He received 73,000 per hectare as subsidy for installing drip irrigation. 

Muse traders flout rice exports ban


By Khin Su Wai,Htin Lynn Aung   |   Wednesday, 02 September 2015
Despite a ban on rice exports as Myanmar struggles to recover from a nationwide flooding disaster, traders are continuing business at the Muse border with China.
Traders handle rice at Muse border point between Myanmar and China. Furtive business has continued despite a temporary ban on rice exports. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing / The Myanmar Times

In early August, the Myanmar Rice Federation announced a ban on exports for six weeks as more than 500,000 acres of paddy flooded nationwide and more than 300,000 acres were destroyed, sending the price of rice soaring.However, trading has continued furtively across the Muse border in northern Shan State, according to insiders, who say some are transporting rice in small light trucks or even in cars, and others are tricking authorities by disguising the rice as other commodities. Sugar exporters claim they are able to export rice in big trucks by masking it as sugar, because the packaging is similar.

Rice exporter U Sai Kyaw confirmed that rice continues to be sold to China.“I am staying within the guidelines, but if the suspension is extended, we will oppose it,” he said.Since the export ban was announced, the price of every variety of rice in Muse has risen by around K1500 compared with the Mandalay market, said traders.Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) officials told media earlier this month that those contravening the ban on exports will face action, possibly supported by the government.U Soe Tun, vice chair of the Myanmar Rice Federation, told The Myanmar Times that the embargo will be lifted as planned on September 15. As a result of the ban, Myanmar has already missed out on 200,000 tonnes of exports, he said.

A combination of the 45-day ban and damage caused by flooding means that Myanmar will miss its 2-million- tonne rice export target for this financial year, said U Soe Tun, adding that the export target has been lowered to between 1 and 1.5 million tonnes.Although the floodwaters have largely receded, in many areas it is too late to re-cultivate fields, said U Aung Than Oo, vice president of the MRF to media on August 28.“Even if farmers are pushed to grow more rice, we still won’t be able to export as much as last year,” he said. Some regions usually produce an early batch of rice by the end of September. This year however, most farmers in flood-hit areas were unable to start cultivating until the end of August.

He added that varieties of beans, which are winter products, should be cultivated early to benefit farmers.In financial year 2015, which finished at the end of March, Myanmar rice exports reached a record 1.8 million tonnes, and the MRF signed a memorandum of understanding with China to export more this year, as well as negotiating more exports to European markets and to the Philippines.“We agreed to increase export volumes, but this included exemptions in case of natural disaster, so there won’t be a problem,” said U Aung Than Oo.China buys more than half of Myanmar’s rice, though much of the business is conducted on an informal cross-border basis. Sales at the Muse border have fallen this year after a number of raids by custom officials on Chinese importers.

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/16269-muse-traders-flout-rice-exports-ban.html

Paddy no more favoured crop in MP

9/2/2015 
Hindustan Times
Bhopal, Sept. 2 -- Crash in prices of Basmati rice and scanty rainfall in certain pockets of the state have led to a sharp decline in paddy cultivation in Madhya Pradesh since last year, a top official said on Tuesday. This could severely dent the state's agriculture success story.Paddy cultivation, especially the Basmati variety in Bhopal, Raisen, Sehore, Hoshangabad and Harda districts had contributed to the state recording the highest agricultural growth rates in the country in the last three years.The state had registered an agricultural growth rate of 24.99% in 2013- 14.

However, data for 2014- 15 are yet to be officially released.Statistics by the agriculture department showed that as on August 20, the net area under paddy cultivation has gone down from 21.53 lakh hectares in the 2014 kharif season to 19.22 lakh hectares in 2015, translating to nearly 11% less paddy sowing area."The crash in Basmati paddy prices from nearly ' 4,000 per quintal in 2013 to ' 1,800 in 2014 and the lack of rains in eastern MP has contributed to the decline in paddy sowing, with farmers replacing it with other crops," said Rajesh Rajora, principal secretary in the agriculture department.Fall in Basmati prices has been blamed on change in rules in other competing countries that are also exporters of the paddy variety.Officials said that since Basmati is a largely export-oriented product, prices depend on "how much competitive Indian basmati is in terms of prices in international market".
Top exporters of Basmati rice have a presence in Madhya Pradesh from where they buy paddy produced in the state. The paddy is milled and the rice is exported to various countries.The demand for expor t pushed up prices of Basmati paddy resulting in a large number of farmers shifting to Basmati paddy cultivation from regular kharif crops in the Narmada belt in the last three years.

"Basmati paddy requires high levels of investment in the form of labour, fertilizers and pesticides. With input prices increasing and prices of Basmati declining, farmers were left with no choice but to reduce area under paddy," said Pervez Khan, a farmer in Bari in Raisen district.
The total area under cultivation in the ongoing kharif season has, however, increased from 122.77 lakh hectares in 2014 to 123.69 lakh hectares in 2015.

Published by HT Syndication with permission from HT Indore. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor athtsyndication@hindustantimes.com

http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2436315016

Single rice brand stirs the pot

Wed, 2 September 2015
Cheng Sokhorng
 The Agriculture Ministry and the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) are at odds over the branding of Cambodia’s premium jasmine rice that would help differentiate it from similar varieties sold by Thailand.The CRF is working on a new brand name that it hopes will help distinguish Cambodian rice in the international market.The national rice body wants to bring all varieties of jasmine rice under an umbrella brand name that it plans to announce at the Cambodia Rice Forum in November.

“We have set up the market promotion executive committee for naming the quality rice as the trademark, because so far our rice is just known as fragrant rice, because we do not have a specific name,” the CRF’s acting secretary-general Moul Sarith said.Sarith said that inconsistent labelling of Cambodian rice among exporters was diminishing the collective strength of the rice sector.Cambodia’s jasmine rice can be grown from multiple varieties of seeds, including Phka Romdeng, Phka Romeat, and the Kingdom’s distinguished variety, Phka Rumduol – a long-grain, aromatic type of rice and named after Cambodia’s national flower.Phka Rumduol rice variety has been awarded the world’s best rice at the last three annual World Rice Conferences.But the Ministry of Agriculture has already zeroed in on “Cambodia Jasmine Phka Rumduol” as the sole brand name for Cambodian rice.

 “I would like to urge all rice exporters to use this name from now on,” said Hean Vanhorn, deputy director general at the General Department for Agriculture at the ministry.“I know some rice exporters do not dare to use this name, but we need to change that.”However, selecting a brand name based only on one variety of fragrant rice would confuse buyers, said Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice and CRF member.He added that when buyers would test the rice they would expect it to be Phka Rumduol, but in actuality it could be either of the other varieties used in Cambodian farming.“We should find another name that can cover all the three kinds of rice seeds” he explained.“If we use this name, it could be confusing and complicate things with the buyer,” Saran said. “We need to explain the source of the rice to the buyer.

”While he wasn’t averse to the ministry’s support of branding, he said the private sector should be consulted in the process to formulate an exact specification of the kinds of rice that will come under this overarching brand.The CRF’s Sarith backed the notion that the ministry’s suggestion was too narrow in its representation of all varieties of rice and confirmed the national body would not use “Cambodia Jasmine Phka Rumduol”.Regardless of the name chosen, a new label was just the beginning, said Commerce Ministry spokesman Ken Ratha.Unique branding for Cambodian rice will need an effective marketing drive in order to educate international buyers, he said.“Because so far, the buyer knows it as Cambodia Jasmine rice,” he said.“If we create a new name, we need to discuss the marketing and advertising strategy in order to avoid confusing the buyer.”
Image: A young woman pours harvested rice on to a collection pile at a paddy in Battambang province earlier this year. Heng Chivoan

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/single-rice-brand-stirs-pot

 

Why Bill Gates is so excited about 'scuba rice'


  SEPTEMBER 1, 2015, 1:00 PM EDT
New robust seeds will help farmers in India and Africa adapt to the world’s growing extreme weather.The world’s poorest farmers in rural areas of India and Africa will suffer the most from the changing climate, including extreme floods and droughts. That’s why entrepreneurs and philanthropists like Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates are starting to focus on technologies that can help farmers in susceptible areas grow more food, using more resilient seeds, and on smaller plots of land.On Tuesday Gates published a post on his site Gates Notes entitled: “Who Will Suffer the Most From Climate Change (Hint: Not You).

” In the piece, Gates talks about the need for new types of seeds that can be grown in areas of flooding, drought, poor soil or salt contamination.One type of rice seed that is starting to be used in Bihar, India can be submerged for up to two weeks. Normally, rice seeds drown soon after flooding, but so-called “Scuba Rice” has been tweaked to withstand inundations.In addition to better seeds, Gates is also excited about satellite technology that can provide soil maps for rural farmers, enabling farmers to plant crops that are better suited to different soil types.

 Many of the new tools for these rural farmers are technologies that farmers in developed regions have been using for years. Gates writes: “It’s quite common to see these farmers double or triple their harvests and their incomes when they have access to the advances farmers in the rich world take for granted.”Beyond just identifying new tech solutions, it’s a more difficult challenge to get these technologies into the hands of the farmers. Gates gives a shout out to a non-profit group called One Acre Fund, which works directly with farmers to increase crop yields in various new ways, including education.
Forbes

 

Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

A comprehensive daily commodity market report for Arkansas agricultural commodities with cash markets, futures and insightful analysis and commentary from Arkansas Farm Bureau commodity analysts.
Noteworthy benchmark price levels of interest to farmers and ranchers, as well as long-term commodity market trends which are developing. Daily fundamental market influences and technical factors are noted and discussed.
Soybeans
High
Low
Cash Bids
893
818
New Crop
906
813


Riceland Foods


Cash Bids
Stuttgart: - - -
Pendleton: - - -
New Crop
Stuttgart: - - -
Pendleton: - - -


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Sep '15
888.50
874.25
883.75
-1.00
Nov '15
880.25
865.00
874.00
0.00
Jan '16
884.75
869.50
878.00
-0.75
Mar '16
887.00
871.25
879.00
-2.00
May '16
889.75
873.75
880.75
-3.25
Jul '16
893.75
877.50
884.25
-3.25
Aug '16
892.25
877.50
883.75
-3.25
Sep '16
879.75
877.00
872.50
-2.75
Nov '16
875.50
860.25
867.25
-3.00

Soybean Comment

Soybeans closed lower again today. Losses were limited as declines in China were limited today. Looming large supplies in both the U.S. and South America will continue to keep pressure on prices. New crop soybeans remain under pressure from slow exports and with no fresh demand news today prices failed to find anything to support higher prices.


Wheat
High
Low
Cash Bids
360
350
New Crop
491
389


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Sep '15
485.75
469.25
473.00
-11.00
Dec '15
490.00
476.50
479.00
-7.25
Mar '16
493.50
483.75
486.50
-4.50
May '16
497.50
489.00
491.50
-3.50
Jul '16
500.25
494.00
496.25
-1.75
Sep '16
508.50
503.00
505.00
-1.75
Dec '16
519.50
515.75
517.75
-1.00
Mar '17
528.00
0.00
May '17
531.25
0.00

Wheat Comment

Wheat prices closed lower today. Losses remain limited as prices continue to try and establish lows. While there remains technical support for prices, wheat needs some fundamental help before prices can see any meaningful gains.


Grain Sorghum
High
Low
Cash Bids
364
326
New Crop
364
294



Corn
High
Low
Cash Bids
358
326
New Crop
380
331


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Sep '15
358.00
351.25
354.00
-2.00
Dec '15
371.50
364.25
367.50
-1.50
Mar '16
382.25
375.50
378.75
-1.50
May '16
388.50
382.00
385.50
-1.50
Jul '16
393.00
387.25
390.25
-1.25
Sep '16
386.50
382.00
384.50
-1.50
Dec '16
395.00
389.25
391.75
-1.50
Mar '17
403.00
400.00
402.50
-1.00
May '17
410.00
410.00
408.75
-1.00

Corn Comment

Corn prices closed lower again today. Prices remain near the bottom of its recent trading range and remains in danger of retesting contract lows. Slowing ethanol demand combined with large supplies is adding to the bearish pressure on prices. If supplies remain robust, we could see corn prices weaken significantly over the next couple of months.


Cotton
Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Oct '15
63
62.78
63.18
-0.4
Dec '15
62.8
62.11
62.49
-0.21
Mar '16
62.34
61.67
62.26
0.13

Cotton Comment

Cotton futures were lower as bearish economic news continues to come out of China. Concerns about the Chinese economy continue to overshadow the smaller U.S. crop for now. December futures are heading for a retest of support at 62 cents. A close below that level would bring the contract low of 61.20 back into play.


Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Sep '15
1165.0
1159.5
1169.0
+9.5
Nov '15
1200.0
1181.0
1195.5
+9.0
Jan '16
1229.0
1210.5
1224.5
+8.5
Mar '16
1249.5
+7.5
May '16
1273.0
+6.5
Jul '16
1290.0
+5.0
Sep '16
1195.0
1195.0
1199.5
+6.0

Rice Comment

Rice futures traded in a narrow range before closing a bit higher. The market was unable to overcome weakness from outside markets as negative economic data continues to come out of China. Harvest pressure will certainly pick up as well. USDA says that 26% of the crop had been harvested as of Sunday, August 29. November found resistance at $12.25 early in the week, and support is the recent low of $11.43 1/2.

http://www.arfb.com/ag-markets-statistics/report/

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Sept 02


Nagpur, Sept 2 Gram prices reported down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing
Committee (APMC) here on lack of demand from local millers amid release of stock from stockists.
Fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and weak trend on NCDEX also pushed down prices,
according to sources. 
 
               *            *              *              *
 
    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
    GRAM
   * Desi gram raw recovered in open market here on renewed festival season demand from 
     local traders amid tight supply from producing belts.
 
     TUAR
   * Tuar black showed weak tendency in open market here in absence of buyers amid 
     increased supply from millers.   
 
   * Moong dal chilka recovered strongly in open market on good seasonal demand from 
     local traders amid thin supply from producing regions.
                                                                                    
   * In Akola, Tuar - 9,700-10,100, Tuar dal - 13,800-14,100, Udid at 9,100-9,300, 
     Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,900-11,400, Moong - 7,600-7,800, Moong Mogar 
    (clean) 9,200-9,800, Gram - 4,600-4,900, Gram Super best bold - 6,100-6,300 
     for 100 kg.
 
   * Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in thin trading 
     activity, according to sources.
       
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
 
     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close   
     Gram Auction                   4,000-4,850         4,100-4,960
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                n.a.                8,000-9,200
     Moong Auction                n.a.                6,000-6,400
     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500
     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800
     Gram Super Best Bold            6,500-6,800        6,500-6,800
     Gram Super Best            n.a.                
     Gram Medium Best            5,900-6,100        5,900-6,100
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Mill Quality            5,800-5,900        5,800-5,900
     Desi gram Raw                5,050-5,150         5,000-5,100
     Gram Filter new            6,200-6,400        6,200-6,400
     Gram Kabuli                6,400-7,500        6,400-7,500
     Gram Pink                6,800-7,000        6,800-7,000
     Tuar Fataka Best             14,000-14,500        14,000-14,500
     Tuar Fataka Medium             13,500-13,800        13,500-13,800
     Tuar Dal Best Phod            12,500-13,000        12,500-13,000
     Tuar Dal Medium phod            12,000-12,300        12,000-12,300
     Tuar Gavarani New             10,100-10,300        10,100-10,300
     Tuar Karnataka             10,300-10,600        10,300-10,600
     Tuar Black                 12,100-12,400           12,200-12,500 
     Masoor dal best            8,200-8,700        8,200-8,700
     Masoor dal medium            7,900-8,300        7,900-8,300
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold               9,600-9,900         9,600-9,900
     Moong Mogar Medium best        8,200-8,800        8,200-8,800
     Moong dal Chilka            8,700-8,900        8,600-8,800
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            8,400-9,200        8,400-9,200
     Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)    11,200-11,800       11,200-11,800
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    10,400-10,800        10,400-10,800
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        9,100-9,600        9,100-9,600
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        5,200-5,600        5,200-5,600
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)           4,000-4,200         4,000-4,200
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)        3,250-3,500        3,250-3,500
     Watana White (100 INR/KG)        3,100-3,300         3,100-3,300
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,200-3,600        3,200-3,600
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,400-1,500        1,400-1,500
     Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG)    1,600-1,700        1,600-1,700
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)        1,350-1,550           1,350-1,550
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,250-2,400        2,250-2,400
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)    1,950-2,100        1,950-2,100
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,400-3,700        3,400-3,700
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,750-2,900        2,750-2,900        
     Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG)        2,800-3,000        2,800-3,000
     Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)               2,900-3,100        2,900-3,100
     Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)        1,700-1,900        1,700-1,900
     Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)      2,300-2,450        2,300-2,450
     Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG)      2,700-2,800        2,700-2,800
     Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG)        3,400-3,800        3,400-3,800
     Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)               3,900-4,300        3,900-4,300
     Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,500        4,200-4,500
     Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG)    4,600-5,100        4,600-5,100     
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    8,000-10,000        8,000-10,000
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    7,000-7,500        7,000-7,500
     Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)    4,500-4,900        4,500-4,900
     Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)        5,400-5,700        5,400-5,700
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,100-2,350        2,100-2,350
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)        2,400-2,500        2,400-2,500
 
WEATHER (NAGPUR)  
Maximum temp. 33.5 degree Celsius (93.2 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
23.2 degree Celsius (73.7 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 35 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.
 
Note: n.a.--not available
 
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/09/02/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL4N1182ZW20150902
APEDA Commodity India News

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 02-09-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Garlic
1
Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2100
2
Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2000
3
Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1800
Ginger
1
Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4600
2
Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
5100
3
Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3000
Guar Gum Powder
1
Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
4080
2
Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
1500
3
Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
2600
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 02-09-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Vadodara (Gujarat)
Other
2650
3300
2
Dhekiajuli (Assam)
Other
2200
2800
3
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
2200
2400
Wheat
1
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
1450
1600
2
Bayad (Gujarat)
Other
1500
1650
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Other
1475
1500
Pine Apple
1
Sirhind (Punjab)
Other
2000
2400
2
Shillong (Meghalaya)
Other
2000
2400
3
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
1000
3600
Cabbage
1
Anchal (Kerala)
Other
1600
2000
2
Bolangir (Orissa)
Other
2800
3000
3
Shillong (Meghalaya)
Other
1000
1300
Source:agra-net
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 31-08-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
305
2
Nagapur
270
3
Hyderabad
295
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 02-09-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 40 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Georgia
Yellow
27
30
2
Baltimore
Peru
Yellow
28
28
3
Detroit
Texas
Yellow
27
28.50
Carrots
Package: 20 1-lb film bags
1
Atlanta
California
Baby Peeled
19
20.75
2
Dallas
Arizona
Baby Peeled
16.75
17
3
Miami
California
Baby Peeled
17
17.50
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Washington
Red Delicious
23
24
2
Dallas
Washington 
Red Delicious
22
22
3
Detroit
Washington
Red Delicious
26
26.50
Source:USDA


International Benchmark Price
Price on: 01-09-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Rice
1
CZCE Early Rice Futures (USD/t)
391
2
Pakistani 100%, FOB Karachi (USD/t)
318
3
Pakistani 25% Broken (USD/t)
383
Honey
1
Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3190
2
Argentine 50mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3410
3
Australian extra light/light amber, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4785
Guar Gum Powder
1
Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
4080
2
Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
1500
3
Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
2600
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 01-09-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Jowar(Sorgham)
1
Amreli (Gujarat)
Other
1200
2460
2
Sangli (Maharashtra)
Other
1570
2000
3
Theni (Tamil Nadu)
Other
1400
1480
Maize
1
Dhing (Assam)
Other
1325
1400
2
Bayad (Gujarat)
Other
1400
1500
3
Koraput (Orissa)
Other
1340
1350
Mousambi
1
Sirhind (Punjab)
Other
2000
3000
2
Sirsa (Haryana)
Other
1500
2800
3
Haldwani (Uttrakhand)
Other
2000
2500
Carrot
1
Muktsar (Punjab)
Other
3000
3500
2
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
1000
2000
3
Rahata (Maharashtra)
Other
2000
2000
Source:agra-net
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 31-08-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
305
2
Nagapur
270
3
Hyderabad
295
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 01-09-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Yellow
22.50
23.50
2
Baltimore
California
Yellow
19
20
3
Detroit
Mexico
Yellow
25
26
Cucumbers
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
Canada
Long Seedless
9
10
2
Dallas
California
Long Seedless
12
14
3
Miami
Honduras
Long Seedless
10
10
Grapefruit
Package: 7/10 bushel cartons
1
Atlanta
California
Red
26
27
2
Dallas
California 
Red
24
24
3
Chicago
California
Red
25
25
Source:USDA

Golden rice: the 'GM superfood' that fell to Earth


Golden rice was once hailed as the wonder crop that 'could save a million kids year', writes Glenn Stone. But in the 15 years since that bold prediction, the carotene enhanced GMO has been held back by persistent 'yield drag' and inconclusive nutrition outcomes. It now appears unlikely ever to fulfill its early promise.

Glenn Stone
2nd September 2015

To date, the human feeding trials have only been conducted with well-nourished individuals. In one heavily cited study, children were fed balanced meals with 20% energy from fat, demonstrating only that Golden Rice worked in children who did not need it.
Few GM crops are discussed as much - and misunderstood as much - as 'Golden Rice'.Golden Rice is modified to produce beta carotene in the endosperm, rather than only in the bran as in most rice.Beta carotene is a vitamin A precursor, and the hope was that this invention would mitigate Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD), which in extreme cases can cause blindness or death in malnourished children.After appearing on the cover as Time in 2000 as a rice that "could save a million kids a year", Golden Rice has been a nearly ubiquitous talking point in GMO arguments. As a high-flying GM superfood, it is without peer.But the battles over Golden Rice have been particularly heated even by the usual standards of GMO bombast.

Critics see it as an unproven, expensive, and misguided bandaid -a Trojan Horse to open the floodgates of GM crops into the global south (Brooks 2010:76-83; RAFI 2000).Industry spokesmen, impassioned molecular biologists, and partisan journalists charge that children are being left blind by GMO critics having slowed the rice; hired activist Patrick Moore tirelessly (and cartoonishly) blames Greenpeace - which he claims to have founded - for "murdering" children(AllowGoldenRiceNow.org 2015).Confusingly, other biotechnologists claim that Golden Rice is already in use and that it has"helped save many, many lives and improved the quality of life of those who eat it" (Krock 2009; also see Thomson 2002:1). These claims cause considerable discomfort to the scientists who are actually doing the Golden Rice breeding (Dubock 2014:73).

Who is this rice for, exactly? 
All the shouting tends to cover up a crucial issue with Golden Rice: who is it for, exactly?  Proponents usually discuss it as a vitamin tablet headed for generic underfed children in"poor countries" (Beachy 2003), or "developing countries" (Enserink 2008), or occasionally"Asia" (Dawe and Unnevehr 2007).But here's the problem.  Golden Rice is not just a vitamin tablet headed for malnourished kids wherever they may be.  It's not a tablet at all; it's rice, the most widely consumed and arguably the most culturally freighted crop in the world (e.g., Ohnuki-Tierney 1993).
And it is headed specifically for the Philippines.  Golden Rice got its start in the Philippines(Enserink 2008), and it's being bred and tested in a research institution in the Philippines, to be approved by the Philippine Bureau of Plant Industry, to be sold in Philippine markets to Philippine growers and potentially fed to Filipino children. (Breeders and researchers in Vietnam, India, and Bangladesh are also working with Golden Rice, but release is not on the horizon in any of these countries.)
Most discussions of Golden Rice ignore this Philippine context. Even economic analyses purporting to calculate "The Cost of Delaying Approval of Golden Rice" (Wesseler, et al. 2014) make no mention of the Philippines.The neglect of this Philippine context is remarkable because the Philippines is hardly just a country with vitamin A-deficient children (in fact, such children are relatively scarce there). The country is unique with respect to rice, with a storied history, complicated present, and contested future for the crop.
This is the country that brought us the rice half of the Green Revolution (the wheat half was developed in Mexico); the country with famous rice terraces; the country with a resurgent trade in 'heirloom' landrace rice; the country with the famous International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
And Golden Rice simply doesn't grow well in the Philippines - not yet anyway, after years of trying. The actual rice grains on the cover of Time were not adapted to grow where underfed kids live; they were more like the plant equivalent of lab rats. For the high-flying rice to actually be farmed, it had to be brought down to the ground - literally.It had to be re-bred to grow in a country where it might have an impact.  The Philippines - with the world's premier rice research station, with a full-fledged biosafety regulatory apparatus, and (at the time) a high incidence of childhood VAD - was the obvious choice.
Long and winding road in the Philippines
Golden Rice seeds arrived at IRRI in 2001 and began the long process of being crossed into locally-adapted varieties. By 2008, IRRI (along with the Philippine Rice Institute) was running confined field trials of two different versions of Golden Rice bred into four rice varieties.During 2011-2013, they focused on field trials of Golden Rice bred into the Green Revolution workhorse rice called IR64 and also a popular variety called 'Peñaranda' (A. Alfonso, pers comm).
But as of this writing, over 14 years after IRRI began trying to bring Golden Rice down to earth in the Philippines, the best varieties still exhibit a 'yield drag' - i.e., lower productivity than seeds that are identical except for the Golden Rice trait (Dubock 2014; Eisenstein 2014; IRRI 2014).That's right: contrary to claims that millions of children are dying because of Greenpeace's opposition, Golden Rice is simply not ready, and hasn't even been submitted to regulatory authorities for approval. IRRI is quite clear about this, as a visit to their website will show. When I was at IRRI last month the word was that 3-5 more years of breeding would probably be needed.
Saving millions - really? 
Even if Golden Rice is brought up to speed agronomically, and even if it is approved, released, and adopted by farmers, its goal of saving millions of lives - or even having any significant public health impact - is probably unlikely.Nutrition programs have brought the incidence of childhood VAD from a peak of 40% in 2003 to 15% in 2008 (Food & Nutrition Research Inst. nd), and the incidence has almost certainly fallen more since then. Again, IRRI itself has been transparent, acknowledging on their website that VAD is being effectively reduced without Golden Rice(IRRI nd).
IRRI is also quite explicit that it will release Golden Rice only IF "it is found to be safe"and IF it is "shown to improve vitamin A status" (see their website).  It is not yet known if it will be effective in raising Vitamin A levels in underfed children.Filipino children who still suffer from VAD have poor diets lacking in the fats that are needed to absorb Vitamin A (Dawe, et al. 2002; Haskell 2012; Nestle 2001). To date, the human feeding trials have only been conducted with well-nourished individuals.In the heavily cited (and since retracted) study by Tang, et al. (2012), children were fed balanced meals with 20% energy from fat; this  demonstrated only that Golden Rice worked in children who did not need it.
Golden Rice has soared as a high-flying superfood on magazine covers, the New York Times, industry front group websites and speeches by paid activists; the problem comes from bringing it down to earth.
  Glenn Stone is Professor of Sociocultural Anthropology and Environmental Studies in Arts & Sciences, Washington University in St Louis. He has conducted research on agricultural systems for over 30 years, including on the spread of genetically modified crops in developing countries. His current research projects focus on long-term dynamics of agricultural decision-making in India, indigenous knowledge in rice production in the Philippines, and economic aspects of alternative farming in Applachia (US). He is author of over 40 peer-reviewed articles and past president of the Anthropology & Environment Society. 
More: Glenn blogs at fieldquestions.com, where this article was originally published. More information on his academic page.
References
·         AllowGoldenRiceNow.org 2015 About.
·         Beachy, Roger N. 2003 Editorial: IP Policies and Serving the Public. Science299(5606):473.
·         Brooks, Sally 2010 Rice Biofortification: Lessons for Global Science and Development. London: Earthscan.
·         Dawe, D., R. Robertson, and L. Unnevehr 2002, 'Golden rice: what role could it play in alleviation of vitamin A deficiency?' Food Policy 27(5-6):541-560.
·         Dawe, David, and Laurian Unnevehr 2007, 'Crop case study: GMO Golden Rice in Asia with enhanced Vitamin A benefits for consumers'. AgBioForum 10(3):154-160.
·         Dubock, Adrian 2014, 'The present status of Golden Rice'. Journal of Huazhong Agricultural University 33(6):69-84.
·         Eisenstein, Michael 2014, 'Biotechnology: Against the grain'. Nature 514(7524):S55-S57.
·         Enserink, Martin 2008, 'Tough lessons from golden rice'. Science 320(5875):468-471.
·         Food & Nutrition Research Inst. nd, 'Seventh National Nutrition Survey 2008-2009: Department of Science and Technology' (Philippines).
·         Haskell, Marjorie J 2012, 'The challenge to reach nutritional adequacy for vitamin A: β-carotene bioavailability and conversion-evidence in humans'. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 96(5):1193S-1203S.
·         Krock, Becca 2009, 'Researchers look to enriched crops to solve childhood malnutrition'.Student Life, 28 Sept.
·         Nestle, Marion 2001 Genetically Engineered "Golden" Rice Unlikely to Overcome Vitamin A Deficiency. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 101(3):289-290.
·         Ohnuki-Tierney, Emiko 1993. Rice as self: Japanese identities through time. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ Press.
·         RAFI 2000, 'Golden Rice and Trojan Trade Reps: A Case Study in the Public Sector's Mismanagement of Intellectual Property'. RAFI Communique 66.
·         Tang, Guangwen, et al. 2012, 'b-Carotene in Golden Rice is as good as b-carotene in oil at providing vitamin A to children'. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 96:658-64 [Retracted, August 2015].
·         Thomson, Jennifer A. 2002 Genes for Africa: genetically modified crops in the developing world. Landsdowne: UCT Press.
·         Wesseler, Justus, Scott Kaplan, and David Zilberman 2014, 'The Cost of Delaying Approval of Golden Rice'. Agricultural and Resource Economics Update, Vol. 17, No. 3, Jan/Feb, 2014 17(3):1-3.

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