Today Rice News Headlines...
·
PRICES OF VEGGIES,
FRUITS, RICE WITNESS DECLINE
·
International demand
for Pakistani rice set to rise
·
Rice Basmati Slides on
Muted Demand
·
Arcadia Bioscience and
BGI create non-GMO rice resource
·
Belize Agro-productive
Sector Group discourages importation of cheaper rice
·
Rice export to Kuwait
on the decline
·
Rice market failure
·
Biotech helped crop
production–farmers
·
FIRST IN THE WORLD |
Supreme Court bans development of genetically engineered products
·
Realizing the gains
from our investments in irrigation (Part I)
·
Rice varieties likely
to be replaced
·
Mechanization, credit
promise upside for rice
·
Rice Exporters Face
Greater Scrutiny from China
·
Top of the table
·
APEDA Rice Commodity
News
News Detail...
PRICES OF VEGGIES, FRUITS, RICE WITNESS
DECLINE
December 13, 2015
The prices of vegetables, fruits and rice
have witnessed a decline during this past week as compared to the proceeding
week, revealed a survey conducted by Business
Recorder here on Saturday. The survey noted that the price of
entire range of vegetables witnessed a further decline during the week under
review as capsicums price in wholesales market further reduced by Rs 100 per 5
kg from Rs 400 per 5 kg to Rs 300 per 5 kg, which in retail market is being
sold at Rs 70 per kg against Rs 80 per kg, onion price reduced by Rs 1,000 per
85 kg bag from Rs 5,500 per 85 kg bag to Rs 4,500 per bag, which in retail
market is being sold at Rs 55 per kg against Rs 65-70 per kg, tomatoes price
declined by Rs 30 per 5 kg from Rs 280 per 5 kg to Rs 250 per kg in wholesales
market, which in retail market is being available at Rs 55-60 per kg against Rs
60-65 per kg.
The price of peas witnessed a decline of Rs 130 per 5 kg
in wholesales market from Rs 330 per 5 kg to Rs 200 per 5 kg, which in retail
market is available at Rs 40-50 per kg against Rs 80 per kg and spinach price
reduced by Rs 10 per kg from Rs 25 per kg to Rs 15 per kg. Green chilli price witnessed a
reduction of Rs 50 per 5 kg in wholesales market from Rs 450 per 5 kg to Rs 400
per 5 kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 90 per kg against Rs 100
per kg, carrot price is stable at Rs 150 per 5 kg, which in retail market is
being sold at Rs 40 per kg. However Bringal price witnessed an increase of Rs
10 per kg from Rs 30 per kg to Rs 40 per kg, cabbage and cauliflower are being
sold at Rs in the range of Rs 25-40 per kg.
Kareela price reduced from Rs 350 per 5 kg to Rs 250 per
5 kg in wholesales market which in retail market is being sold at Rs 60 per kg
against Rs 80 per and okra price went up by Rs 20 per kg from Rs 80 per kg to
Rs 100 per kg. Tori price went down by Rs 5 per kg from Rs 70 per kg to Rs 65
per kg, Arvi by Rs 10 per kg from Rs 70 per kg to Rs 60 per kg, kaddu by Rs 20
per kg from Rs 70 per kg to Rs 50 per kg. Good
quality potatoes price reduced by Rs 20 per 5 kg in wholesale market from Rs
170 per 5 kg to Rs 150 per kg, which in retail market are being sold at Rs 40
per kg and normal quality potatoes also price went down by Rs 20 per 5 kg from
Rs 120 per 5 kg to Rs 100 per 5 kg, which in retail market are being sold at Rs
30 per kg. Ginger price reduced
by Rs 40 per kg from Rs 180 per kg to Rs 140 per kg, while garlic price went up
to Rs 20 per kg from Rs 180 per kg to Rs 200 per kg.
However there is no change in the prices
of chicken as live chicken in wholesales market is being sold at Rs 5,000 per
40 kg, while in retail market live chicken is being sold at Rs 130 per kg and
the chicken meat is being sold at Rs 250 per kg. The survey observed that apple prices
witnessed a reduction of Rs 30 per kg as good quality apples are being sold at
Rs 120 per kg against Rs 150 per kg, while normal quality apples are available
in the range of Rs 40-100 per kg against Rs 60-120 per kg. Good quality guava
is being sold at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 80 per kg, good quality orange at Rs
50 per dozen, good quality pomegranates are being sold at Rs 140 per kg, while
normal at Rs 100 per kg and bananas are available in the range of Rs 30-60 per
dozen depending on quality. It
was observed that the prices of all the quality rice has been reduced as good
quality Basmati is available at Rs 100 per kg against Rs 130 per kg and normal
quality Basmati at Rs 80 per kg.
The price of egg has increased by Rs 10
per dozen from Rs 90 per dozen to Rs 100 per dozen, the survey noted. No change was observed in the prices
of ghee/cooking oil, entire range of branded spices, wheat flour, packed milk,
tea packs and other non perishable items. There was no change observed in the
prices of entire range of pulses which last week went up by Rs 10 to Rs 30 per
kg as Malsh pulse is being sold at Rs 240 per kg, Black Masoor at Rs 140 per
kg, Red Masoor at Rs 150 per kg, Moong at 170 per kg, gram pulse at Rs 140 per
kg and Red Lobia at Rs 140 per kg.
International demand for
Pakistani rice set to rise
Published: December 12,
2015
Commodity
price going up, exporters gear up for orders. PHOTO: FILE
FAISALABAD: Pakistan’s rice exporters are looking
at a new dawn as prices have started to pick up in the international market
after remaining subdued for over a year, renewing hopes of them getting fresh
orders.A surge in demand from Europe and the Middle East has helped the price
of rice increase by around 25% in the last one month, according to exporters.
The
price of basmati rice at the start of the current season was $600 per ton,
while the non-basmati variant was fetching $350 per ton, said Taufeeq Ahmad a
rice exporter and former vice chairman of the Rice Exporter Association of
Pakistan (REAP), while talking to The Express Tribune.“Basmati rice prices have increased
33% to $800 per ton, while non-basmati rice prices saw a phenomenal increase of
42%. International contracts are signed at the price of $500 per ton,” he
added.Many exporters felt the heat due to price fluctuation over the first four
months of the current fiscal year. The country earned $484.4 million by
exporting 1.1 million tons during July-October this year, compared to an inflow
of $517 million through 846,000 tons in the same period previous year.
Ahmad
said this year could prove to be the best year for exporters who have purchased
rice at very low prices.“An increase in global demand will also help jack up
commodity prices in the local market as well. Some intermediaries, millers and
traders are still not bringing their stocks to the market in hope that prices
will increase further.”Ahmad added that Pakistan is exploring new markets in
Far East Asia, mainly in South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. “The market
for Indian rice is shrinking and Pakistani rice demand is increasing. Five
years ago, rice exports peaked to $2.2 billion but have fallen since then.”
Meanwhile,
the exporter said the government needed to help the rice sector by trying to
control the rising cost of production. The Kisan package announced by the government,
he said, was not going to be enough to help the sector.
Published
in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2015.
Express Tribune
Rice Basmati
Slides on Muted Demand
By
Published: 12th December 2015 02:41 PM
Last
Updated: 12th December 2015 02:42 PM
NEW DELHI: Prices of basmati rice drifted by Rs 100 per
quintal at the wholesale market today following sluggish demand coupled with
adequate stocks position.However, other grains moved in a narrow range in
scattered buying or selling and settled around previous levels. Marketmen said
easing demand from retailers against sufficient stocks on higher supplies from producing
belts kept pressure on rice basmati prices. In the national capital, rice
basmati common and Pusa 1,121 variety fell by Rs 100 each to Rs 6,000-6,100 and
Rs 4,500-5,300 per quintal respectively.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,000-2,600, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs
1,670-1,700, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,700-1,715, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs
230, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 230, Roller flour mill Rs 880-885 (50 kg), Maida Rs
935-940 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,040-1,045 (50 kg).Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs
10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common
new Rs 6,000-6,100, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,500-5,300, Permal raw Rs 1,950-2,000,
Permal wand Rs 2,200-2,275, Sela Rs 2,750-2,850 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,700-1,720,
Bajra Rs 1,425-1,430, Jowar yellow Rs 1,600-1,700, white Rs 3,100-3,200, Maize
Rs 1,700-1,710, Barley Rs 1,440-1,450.
Indian
Express
Arcadia
Bioscience and BGI create non-GMO rice resource
Arcadia Biosciences and BGI announced Tuesday they have agreed
to collaborate to develop a rice resource library for food crop research and
development. Together, they will create, sequence and characterize gene
alleles for global rice breeding. Arcadia already has experience with
non-genetically modified genetic diversity libraries with soybeans, two
different types of wheat, canola, and vegetable crops. BGI’s world-class genome
sequencing capabilities will help the make the data available for free online
and store seed and distribute rice lines via The China National Gene Bank.
“These shared results have the potential to accelerate rice
variety development and eventually extend to other key food crops,” Arcadia
President and CEO Eric Rey said. “We are cost-effectively connecting a major
global genetics research base with the breeders who can apply that knowledge
practically to support global food security in the face of growing populations,
limited land resources and the negative effect of climate change on crop
yields.” Rice is grown on more than 395 million acres around the world,
totaling $429.3 billion in 2013.
“As the staple food for China, as well as for nearly half of the world’s population, rice is one of BGI’s most important research priorities,” Xin Liu, vice director of BGI-Research, said.
“As the staple food for China, as well as for nearly half of the world’s population, rice is one of BGI’s most important research priorities,” Xin Liu, vice director of BGI-Research, said.
“Large-scale discovery of novel alleles for
desirable rice phenotypes is critical to understanding genomic diversity and
elucidating gene function for development of elite varieties. We also encourage
greater efforts to establish a global, public rice genomic database and advance
rice improvement. In the future, we hope to dedicate such efforts to other
important crops, like millet, soybean, maize and wheat.” Rice is especially important in China,
but Arcadia has partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development in
other countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria
and Uganda
http://cropprotectionnews.com/contact
Belize
Agro-productive Sector Group discourages importation of cheaper rice
Posted by The
Reporter Newspaper on
December 12, 2015 at 11:16 am
By Marion Ali, Staff Reporter
How many Belizean farms, farmers, farmhands, millers and
distribution workers will join the unemployment line as another agricultural
product, Belizean rice, is removed from the products we produce here in
Belize?” the release challenged.It goes on to state that there are almost 100
local rice farmers, five milling companies, and more than 2000 field workers,
employees, distributors, and their families who are bound to suffer some level
of loss if Charles is allowed to import cheaper rice for sale. “Guyanese rice will support ONE importer and a handful of
distribution workers,” the release continues. “Why is one importer interested
and actively pursuing the importation of rice, when Belize is already
self-sufficient in rice?”
The rice producers puts forth a set of questions, and
deny that local rice farmers have been guilty of price gouging, inflating
production costs, while registering huge profits.“Why does he (Charles) not
join us and grow cheaper rice here in Belize? Why does he not invest in the
industry here and put hundreds of Belizeans to work, instead of just a few
people to distribute his Guyanese rice? Why is Guyanese rice in other countries
such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Trinidad and Jamaica sold in the SAME
price range that Belizean rice is currently sold here in Belize? Can the
importer sustain this cheap rice over the long haul?”
Local rice producers claim that the cost of rice
production is higher than in most countries, but that their retail price is far
below their counterparts in Central American and the CARICOM.The rice producers
point to the millions of dollars in loss of revenue in business tax, in areas
of fuel, equipment, chemicals, fertilizer, seed, rice milling, packaging, and
distribution if Charles is allowed to import rice for sale.The rice producers
argue that “imported rice at 69 cents per pound is UNSUSTAINABLE for the long
term. This low price is a ploy to have Guyanese rice enter the Belizean market.
When our already stressed local rice industry becomes extinct, imported rice
will then become more expensive with little to no benefit to Belizeans except
to the importer!”
The rice producers say there is a matter of urgency for
discussion on the issue to begin. “Let’s bring cheaper rice to Belizeans while
simultaneously ensuring that thousands of people remain employed. It is time to
reduce our Import Export deficit. It’s time to be talking about exporting rice,
not importing it!”
http://www.reporter.bz/general/belize-rice-producers-discourages-importation-of-cheaper-rice/
Rice export to Kuwait on the decline
December
13, 2015 LAHORE
- The exports of rice from Pakistan to Kuwait are recording significant decline
from the last few years.Country’s rice exports to Kuwait declined to 12,000
metric tons in 2014 from 30,000 tons of 2010, showing a fall of more than 60
per cent.Although Kuwait owes huge potential for Pak rice exports but Pakistan
lost its share since 2010 owing to neglected marketing, evolution of new
basmati varieties, price instability and mainly imposition of visa restriction
in 2011.
“The visa restriction limited our capacity to
understand market trends and dynamics as well as the capacity to market our
qualitative product, which ultimately created a trust deficit between suppliers
and buyers,” said Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan chairman Shafique Ch.
Taking cognizance of decline in rice export to Kuwait, a 17-member trade delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, under the leadership of its chairman Shafique Ch, visited Kuwait to have meetings with Kuwait Ministry of Commerce, Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Association of Pakistani Businessmen in Kuwait (APBK), trade bodies of Kuwait as well as officials of various chambers to explore prospects and demand of Pakistani rice.
Taking cognizance of decline in rice export to Kuwait, a 17-member trade delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, under the leadership of its chairman Shafique Ch, visited Kuwait to have meetings with Kuwait Ministry of Commerce, Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Association of Pakistani Businessmen in Kuwait (APBK), trade bodies of Kuwait as well as officials of various chambers to explore prospects and demand of Pakistani rice.
The delegation included senior and experienced rice exporters including Reap former SVC and GCCI president Samee Ullah Ch.Shafique Ch, describing the major objective of the visit, said it was aimed at exploring and enhancing demand of Pakistani rice in the country having great future prospects for the quality Pakistani rice.Kuwait is a very important market for Pakistani rice, which has been importing rice from India, Vietnam and Thailand etc.The trade between Pakistan and Kuwait is far less than the potential that both countries possess.“We need to focus on measures that could enhance our bilateral trade ties to new heights.
Rice is one of the main potential sectors that
should be focused in this context.” Shafique
Ch said that during this visit REAP delegation had fruitful meetings with rice
importers so that Pakistan again takes a good share in Kuwait markets.He also
extended cordial thanks to Aslam Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to Kuwait, and
Agha Saeed, First Secretary at Pakistan Embassy, and particularly the
Association of Pakistani Businessmen in Kuwait (APBK) for the valuable efforts
to make this visit a big success.APBK hosted a mega ‘Baryani’ festival to
attract hundreds of businessmen, creating awareness about the importance of
Pakistani high quality rice.GCCI president Samee Ullah Ch said, “We would like
to grow our mutual trade on stronger footing with our brotherly country.
A liberal visa policy for businessmen of
Pakistan would ensure increase in our bilateral trade.The exchange of trade
delegations will establish diversified B to B contacts between both the
countries businessmen and will identify the areas of mutual interest in trade
and investment.” REAP’d former
SVC said that friendship of Pakistan and Kuwait is time tested and trusted.He
was hopeful that this visit will produce fruitful results for the betterment of
rice exports from Pakistan.The delegation expressed its view that the existing
trade volume is still below the potential.
http://nation.com.pk/business/13-Dec-2015/rice-export-to-kuwait-on-the-decline
Rice
market failure
To understand what actually is happening in the rice market, we
need to get back into reasons behind food price hike in 2008
Plains of Punjab and Sindh produce the world’s best
quality basmati rice, which is famous for aroma and taste.High production, low
domestic consumption and international demand provided Pakistani exporters an
opportunity to earn revenue through higher exports. It was in 1990s that rice
market in Pakistan was integrated with global market while the state decided
not to directly intervene or “distort” free market and domestic price setting
becoming a function of international market unlike wheat, cotton and sugarcane.
Subsequently, Pakistan registered rapid growth in rice export, becoming the
fifth largest country by 2004.During the last decade, rice exporters and
millers made fortunes by fetching maximum profits with small part trickling
down to farmers. Price of per metric ton milled rice kept smoothly increasing
until encountering financial and food price crisis in 2007-08. Since then, it
is a bumpy ride for rice with overall downward trend.Access to market
information is the most crucial element of production decision and agricultural
market system whether local or global.
Lack of such information or incomplete information is
what traps small farmers. So in the following years, farmers kept growing paddy
each year and selling on lower price. However, the government realised the
catastrophe and the prime minister announced a relief package for small
farmers.So what do policy makers, millers, commission agents and farmers say?
There are at least three arguments present at different tiers of stakeholders.Policy
makers in the government see it as something happening at international level,
out of their reach. For example, in his speech to farmer’s convention, Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif called international price meltdown the reason for
domestic price failure that, without any doubt, is true to some extent. Rice
price in international market is still slightly above the 2007-08 levels. If at
this price it is not viable to grow rice then how did farmers manage in
2007-08? Answer to this question is what completes the story.
In the past years, prices of inputs were at lower level.
After witnessing unprecedented profits in rice exports, the then People’s Party
government started cutting subsidies on agricultural inputs.As the price of
rice in international market declined the gap between cost and return on
production started narrowing down, ultimately becoming negative.Other argument
prevalent among the rice exporters and millers is the issue of quality and
branding. Pakistan doesn’t have any established rice brand in the international
market and most of the produce is sold in bulk. Rice quality depends on each
consignment being exported. Many exporters mix low quality rice with high
quality and call it Basmati.
The low quality of Pakistani rice has led many countries
to contract with Indian exporters hence Pakistan’s share declined.
Exporters/millers are not interested in buying the new produce.The third
argument presented by the mainstream academia is of low productivity and
competitiveness among Pakistani farmers. Use of high tech agricultural
technology can increase per acre yield of produce that can help farmers to earn
more profits. This argument completely ignores the presence of skewed power
relations on which local agricultural markets are oriented. Without considering
those relations, technology introduction can backfire further disempowering
small farmers.
To understand what actually is happening we need to get
back into reasons of food price hike in 2008. Increasing role of finance in
food, termed Financialisation of food, is the main culprit. Globally financial
institutions like AIG and Goldman Sachs have devised ways to avoid financial
risks attached with their financial speculative practices. Their method is to
invest in commodity markets to hedge against financial risks as commodity
markets are more stable. For this purpose, commodity price index (CPI), like
different indexes, is created.
The CPI provides investors opportunity to invest in the
market which they don’t have direct access to or enough knowledge of. Here
agricultural produce (like rice) are mere commodities invested to seek profit.
These financial institutions are private in nature so they are under no
obligation to show real stock of commodities they hold.Private nature of these
investment funds have provided them possibility to go on for speculation in
commodity market like the financial market. Together with speculation, profit
seeking behaviour of investment in agricultural commodities has made prices
highly volatile.
http://tns.thenews.com.pk/rice-market-failure/#.Vm6giEp94dV
Biotech helped crop
production–farmers
December 13, 2015
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—Farmers from several
parts of the Philippines belonging to the Asian Farmers Network (Asfarnet)
vowed they would mobilize their ranks for an all-out campaign to push for an
unhindered science-based agricultural learning to address the country’s food
security.
The stakeholders,
during National Agri-Biotechnology Farmers’ Congress at the Southeast Asian
Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca)
auditorium held in this science town on Friday, were unanimous in declaring
that modern biotechnology has helped crop production without jeopardizing human
health and the environment.
Searca Director
Gil Saguiguit said the recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling to temporary stop the
research, laboratory tests and field testing of genetically modified organisms
(GMOs), would result in a negative implication to the country’s ongoing studies
related to agriculture, particularly in the development of biotechnology.“But as it is, the ruling would have
implications on what we are doing and the parallel research that other
institutions are doing in line with food production. And if the SC says that
products of biotechnology are not safe, they have to prove it, because when we
say it’s safe, we can prove it,” Saguiguit said. Part of the SC ruling states that,
“Consequently, any application for contained use, field testing, propagation
and commercialization, importation of genetically modified organisms is temporarily
enjoined until a new administrative order is promulgated in accordance with
law.”
One of the ongoing
research that would be jeopardized is the Golden Rice project of the
International Rice Research Institute, that would not see field testing as a result
of the SC ruling. Golden rice is a potential source of vitamin A.Reynaldo
Cabanao, Asfarnet president, said the SC ruling would stall ongoing research
and future testing of biotech crops. And the GMO crops, such as the Bt corn,
that are already propagated by farmers would be jeopardized.“The SC ruling
would cause the collapse of the corn industry in the country affecting the
economy and the lives of millions of farmers dependent on the industry,”
Cabanao said.He added that the Philippines has more than 700,000 hectares
planted to Bt corn seeds. “If the use of GMO corn seeds is stopped, the corn
industry would regress from its rosy development,” Cabanao said.
Asfarnet said the
Philippines produces about 35 million metric tons (MT) of corn each cropping
season, or 70 MMT a year. In 2014 12 MMT of corn silage were exported to South
Korea and the volume is increasing since corn export to that country started in
2010.Cabanao said
that, as a result of the possible drop of corn production, the livestock industry
and feed millers will also suffer as a consequence. “If importation of Bt corn
seeds is banned, millions of farmers who are relying on the corn industry for
subsistence would likely add up to the poverty incidence of the country,”
Cabanao said.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/biotech-helped-crop-production-farmers/
FIRST IN THE WORLD | Supreme Court bans
development of genetically engineered products
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA - Voting unanimously Tuesday, the Supreme Court
en banc expanded the Court of Appeals’ writ of kalikasan (environment) order
that permanently stopped the field trials of Bt talong, a
genetically modified eggplant engineered with a bacterium to deter pest
insects.Aside from affirming the halting of Bt talong testing,
the high tribunal stopped the use, testing, propagation, commercialization, and
importation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) after it nullified the
Department of Agriculture’s regulating GMO use.
It ordered the use of GMOs “temporarily” stopped until the
agriculture department promulgates new rules that will more sufficiently comply
with the country’s biosafety framework and international protocols.The
temporary ban includes the highly controversial Golden Rice, an
experimental project by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) that is
currently back at the laboratory stage due to poor performance. The high
court in that decision cited the lack of scientific certainty in stopping GMO
use, saying that it had to rule in the benefit of the environment amid the lack
of safety guarantees.The ruling earned the praise of farmers, consumers,
environmental organization Greenpeace Southeast Asia, scientists’ group Magsasaka
at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag), and other
petitioners. They called the decision “a major victory for Filipino farmers.”
'Concern' over ruling's impact on food security,
micronutrient drive
On the other hand, the Los Banos-based IRRI expressed
“concern” over the decision.In a statement sent to BusinessWorld,
the IRRI expressed reservations about the ruling, concern it said was based on
“the best scientific knowledge and evidence.”Yet, in response
to BusinessWorld’s queries how it affects the development of better rice
varieties at the institute, the statement read: “We, of course, remain
committed to abiding by the laws and regulations of the Philippines and of
every country in which we do collaborative research.”As soon as the institute
obtains the full copy of the decision, it said it will read it carefully “to
take stock of all implications” on biotechnological research.
One of the products that may be affected by the Tuesday
ruling is Golden Rice, a genetically engineered variety developed at the IRRI.The
rice strain was designed to produce beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A) and address
vitamin A deficiency, which may lead to blindness and thousands of deaths among
children.“It is the poorest and most vulnerable groups, especially women and
children, whose health and well-being are most negatively affected by the
scourge of micronutrient deficiency,” the IRRI noted.
Landmark decision
The Supreme Court decision sets a global precedent as it is
the first legal decision on GMOs in the Philippines using the writ of kalikasan (environment) - a
legal environmental remedy found only in the Philippines. The court is also the
first in the world to adopt the precautionary principle - that it is best to
err on the side of caution in the absence of scientific consensus - regarding
GMOs in their decision.The decision of the high court means that the Department
of Agriculture and the Department of Science and Technology are barred from
issuing any approvals for genetically modified (GM) crops pending the crafting
and approval of a new administrative order.
The court order would also have an impact on the trading of GM crops.
In 2014, the US exported $784 million worth of GM crops and products to the
Philippines.“It is high time that the Philippine government also looks at new,
innovative, and science-based ecological farming,” says Virginia Benosa-Llorin,
Food and Ecological Agriculture Campaigner Greenpeace Southeast Asia -
Philippines.The Supreme Court affirmed the May 2013 Court of Appeals order for
the government to prepare an immediate plan of action to rehabilitate field
trial sites and protect, preserve, and conserve the environment, and recommend
policies and measures to reform the present regulatory process.
The petitioners to the case are: Greenpeace Southeast Asia
(Philippines), Magsasaka Siyentipiko sa Pagpapaunlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag),
Rep. Teodoro Casino, Dr. Ben Malayang III, Dr. Angelina Galang, Mr. Leonardo
Avila III, Ms. Catherine Untalan, Atty. Maria Paz Luna, Mr. Juanito Modina, Mr.
Dagohoy Magaway, Dr. Romeo Quijano, Dr. Wency Kiat, Atty. H. Harry Roque Jr.,
Former Sen. Orlando Mercado, Mr. Noel Cabangon, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward
Hagedorn, and Mr. Edwin Marthine Lopez.
REUTERS FILE PHOTO: Genetically modified corn by Monsanto
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/121368/first-in-the-world--supreme-court-bans-development-of-genetically-engineered-products
Realizing the gains from our investments in irrigation
(Part I)
December
12, 2015
We have invested hundreds
of billions of pesos in the 1.72 million hectares of irrigated lands we have
developed so far. We still have about 1.30 million hectares to go to fully
develop the estimated over 3.0 million hectares of irrigable lands with slope
of three percent or less.Actually should we consider the additional physically
suitable areas with slopes with as much as eight percent, our total irrigable
area should reach six million hectares out of a total area of 10 million
hectares agricultural land.
We shall need all these
farmlands and water in the coming century to meet our increasing requirements
for food, fiber, energy and shelter. The question is not whether but when will
we have the means and political will to look after our people’s basic needs for
food well into the future.But for now the immediate challenge is realizing the
gains from our previous investments in irrigation. And to accomplish this we
need to do essentially two things: 1) narrow the gap between the actual
irrigated areas versus the designed area coverage, and 2) properly operate and
maintain the irrigation systems to optimize productivity and minimize system
deterioration to make the systems pay for themselves.
NARROWING THE GAP
BETWEEN ACTUAL AREA IRRIGATED VERSUS DESIGN COVERAGE
The basic objective of
irrigation is to enable to grow crops where and when natural precipitation is
inadequate. For us in the humid tropics, the goal at the minimum is to grow a
second crop during the dry season after the regular wet season crop i.e. twice
cropping on the same piece of land or a cropping intensity of 200 percent.Unfortunately
the realized cropping intensity of our national irrigation system is only 157
percent. Therefore, with a physical area of 1.72 million hectares irrigated
area, this is equivalent to a loss of production from 783,000 hectares.Year after
year we fret over intractable rice imports. But right there the missing 783,000
hectares, at the national average palay yield of 3.3. tons per hectare should
produce 2.58 million tons, more than enough to affect our perennial rice
deficit of about 10 percent.Yes, we can be self-sufficient in rice!
There are wide variations
in the history and circumstances among irrigation systems. But the major
explanations for water delivery underperformance include 1) over-optimistic
projections during the design stage; 2) inundation of low lying areas during
the rainy season due to insufficient provision for drainage; 3) destruction of
facilities due to force majeure i.e. floods, typhoons and earthquakes; 4)
progressive deterioration of systems due to siltation and obstruction by
vegetation, and 5) poor distribution of available water such that farms far
from the water sources are deprived of water during the dry season.
Over-optimistic
projections and inundation of low-lying areas due to inadequate provisions for
drainage are engineering issues for which there is no remedy except hiring and
paying well, competent agricultural and civil engineers.Very little can be done
with typhoons especially when the rice crops are hit when they are almost ready
to harvest. Also true for temporary flooding i.e. submergence of crops for a
few days. However, there is hope in the horizon with the new varieties released
by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI) which are tolerant of temporary submergence, called
“scuba” varieties by farmers.
However, a whole lot can
be done to clear up the canals, free them from silt and unwanted vegetation
which impede the free flow of water. A lot of water can be saved from
percolation and seepage losses by progressively lining the canals with cement.And
most importantly, the planning and irrigation schedules can be staggered and
better synchronized so that water is efficiently and equitably distributed
among all the farms in the service areas of every lateral canal.These last two
functions the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) cannot accomplish on its own
without the full cooperation and discipline among the water users themselves.
This leads to the second requirement to properly operate and maintain the
irrigation facilities to optimize productivity and minimize system
deterioration to make the irrigation systems pay for themselves.
PROPER OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
The operation and
maintenance of irrigation systems have four aspects: 1) operation of storage
and diversion dams, 2) maintenance of facilities including service areas and
access roads, 3) repairs of major damages by floods, typhoons and earthquakes,
and 4) operation and maintenance of gates, turn-outs and drainage ditches.The
first three services are better performed by an entity like NIA. However, the
downstream functions of looking after, opening and closing of gates, turn-outs
and drainage canals are more readily accomplished by the water-users themselves
who are familiar with the territory and whose livelihoods depend upon how well
the services are delivered.
The judicious opening and
closing of gates and turn-outs are vital in ensuring timely delivery and
equitable distribution of water among all the farms served by the irrigation
system. And in order to spread out the demand for water the farmers must
organize and agree among themselves to stagger their planting dates. In fact in
most places this is the most contentious part.The demand for timeliness of
water delivery is made more acute as farmers are encouraged to grow crops like
vegetable, legumes and even ornamental plants in rotation with rice. In fact,
multiple cropping of high-value crops with rice is the key towards recouping
our investments in irrigation and increasing incomes of farmers.
To be continued. . .
Irrigation Management Transfer
***
Dr. Emil Q. Javier is a
Member of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and also Chair
of the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP).
For any feedback, email
eqjavier@yahoo.com.
http://www.mb.com.ph/realizing-the-gains-from-our-investments-in-irrigation-part-i/
Rice
varieties likely to be replaced
Sun,13
Dec 2015
PANAJI: Jyoti and a couple of other rice varieties, known for
their unique tastes, feature in the diet of many Goans. These varieties,
however, are likely to be replaced by six new ones what with them being
vulnerable to pests during cultivation. Over the last two years, the
agriculture department has successfully experimented growing six
higher-yielding varieties to replace Jaya, Jyoti and Karjat. The new varieties
of red kernel now cultivated are Makom, Aiswarya and Kanchana. Warangal,
Somasila and Sampada comprise white kernels. "These varieties have been
dominant in Goa for the last 20 to 25 years," said director of agriculture
Ulhas Pai Kakode. But, as their resistance to pests decreases, they get
affected by a disease called Blast, specially in rabi season, and the yield
shows a progressive decline.
The new varieties which can be cultivated in both, rabi and
kharif seasons, have been actively promoted after taking into consideration
changes in tastes and the demand for the fine quality of white rice among
consumers. Agriculture scientists have been finding it tough to replace Jyoti
though, as consumers are habituated to its taste. Two more varieties of red
kernel, Samyuktha and Vaishakha are recommended for cultivation in hilly areas
of Goa, as these varieties are drought tolerant. The new varieties promise
higher production, and farmers can keep seeds for cultivation for the next
season..
Mechanization,
credit promise upside for rice
December 13, 2015 06:08:00 PM
PHILIPPINE
rice production can improve in several areas including irrigation, credit,
insurance and labor costs, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said.
Mr. Alcala was citing a comparative study on the local rice
sector and other rice producing countries in Asia that was conducted by the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the department’s Philippine
Rice Research Institute.The study provided inputs that allow the analysis of
factors critical to understanding competitiveness, namely: production costs and
practices, levels of subsidy, farming systems and marketing practices in the
rice industry of other countries.“These numbers are important but need to be
contextualized as to production subsidies as well as short-term market
conditions,” the department said in a statement.
Prior to the study, an analysis of competitiveness was limited
to comparing published statistics like the free-on-board rice prices of
exporting countries.The study also compared the level of mechanization across
countries and found that mechanization could address the increasing cost of
farm labor in the local rice sector.Mr. Alcala said that in the context of the
ASEAN Economic Community and in anticipation of the free flow of goods among
member countries, enhancing competitiveness “should not be mere lip service.”“Instead,
it must be translated into targeted interventions that lead to the capacity of
farmers to compete and to expand their engagement in agribusiness
opportunities,” he said.He made the statement during the third research seminar
last week at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.“We will never look at
Philippine rice farming the same way again because now, we know better,” he
said.
Victor V.
Saulon
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=mechanization-credit-promise-upside-for-rice&id=120098
Rice
Exporters Face Greater Scrutiny from China
Khmer Times/Sok Chan
Sunday, 13 December 2015
China has set a yearend deadline for Cambodia to submit a
list of all Cambodian rice exporters so that Chinese inspectors can evaluate
whether they can fully meet food safety laws in a market Cambodian exporters
are hoping to increase exports to, according to an announcement from the
Ministry of Agriculture.It called on domestic rice exporters to cooperate with
ministry officials by providing contact information by December 18. Ministry
officials will then inspect and evaluate each rice miller to determine whether
they have the capacity to process, mill and store rice so that it can meet
standards required to ship it to the Chinese market. Hean Vanhan, a deputy
general director at the ministry, said China had asked Cambodia to evaluate
rice exporters to determine whether they adhered to hygiene laws in China
because officials in the world’s second largest economy did not trust all of
the 71 rice exporters registered with the Ministry of Commerce.
“China is strengthening hygiene and food safety standards so they have some conditions for Cambodia to implement for Cambodian rice exporters,” Mr. Vanhan said. “They asked the Cambodian government to recheck whether rice exporters are fully complying with their standards.”“It is a rush to work on this, but we are trying our best to send them the list of our rice exporting companies by the deadline. Our officials will go onsite to evaluate the technical production, processing and storage facilities in each rice exporter and then send the information to China,” Mr. Vanhan said.
“China is strengthening hygiene and food safety standards so they have some conditions for Cambodia to implement for Cambodian rice exporters,” Mr. Vanhan said. “They asked the Cambodian government to recheck whether rice exporters are fully complying with their standards.”“It is a rush to work on this, but we are trying our best to send them the list of our rice exporting companies by the deadline. Our officials will go onsite to evaluate the technical production, processing and storage facilities in each rice exporter and then send the information to China,” Mr. Vanhan said.
Agriculture officials say not all of the 71 rice exporters registered in the Ministry of Commerce are active. Some have reserved licenses with the intention to export in the future, they said.
Only 23 companies exported rice – to China and other countries – this year, officials said. Of these, just 10 account for most rice exports, they said. Exporters that lack rice milling, warehouse and storage facilities are not permitted to export rice to China, officials said. “China imported about 91,883 tons of rice in the first 11 months this year, so if Cambodia cannot meet requirements set by China it will have a bit effect of rice exporters in Cambodia,” Mr. Vanhan said.
Song Saran, president of Amru Rice (Cambodia), welcomed the move, saying that it will be good for Cambodia as a rice exporting country. Cambodia has the ability to supply a large amount of high-quality, hygienic rice to China and Cambodia can meet food-safety standards set by China.
“If China is aiming to strengthen food safety, it is not a big concern as we also want to show them our production process, from producing to processing and storage,” Mr. Saran said.
“We are ready to work with the government to ensure that it has all the information related to rice millers so that it is easy for them to check in case a problem occurs,” he added.
Hun Lak, vice president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, told Khmer Times recently that the federation has worked with experts on rice promotion, logistics, energy issues, export documentation and to conduct field visits to rice millers in various provinces to assess concerns. “They are working with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture to smooth out the production process,” Mr. Lak said.
Cambodia exported 450,000 tons of rice over the first 11 months of the year, according to a recent report from the Agriculture Ministry. Though only around half of the government’s goal for the year, rice exports did rise 36 percent over the same period last year, despite some 242,416 hectares of rice fields in 16 provinces being severely affected by drought as of November, the report said.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/18623/rice-exporters-face-greater-scrutiny-from-china/
Top of the table
Rice
will always reign supreme in Asian diets but rising affluence and changing
tastes are making more room for other staples. By Tanyatorn Tongwaranan
- 14 Dec 2015 at 04:30
- NEWSPAPER SECTION
While many Asians are
seeking new ways to satisfy their appetites by moving away from rice-based
staples toward wheat and potatoes, experts say demand for rice across the
region will continue to swell.Even with more Asian consumers making westernised
meals and convenience foods part of their regular diet, rice demand is still
rising in the region of 4.5 billion people, according to the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations."Rice consumption is
expected to be healthy, especially for Asian countries where rice is a
traditional form of daily staple, and is not likely to be replaced by wheat
products," said Emil Fazira Bte Kamari, a research analyst at Euromonitor
International.China, India and Vietnam are seeing higher growth in rice demand
in line with population growth. Consumers in these emerging markets are also
increasingly likely to prefer packaged instead of unpackaged rice, she said.
Samarendu Mohanty, head
of the social sciences division at the International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI), told Asia Focus from Manila that global average rice consumption per
capita had not yet begun to decline and that Asia would continue to dominate
the world as the largest rice consumer."We expect some diversification in
Asian diets, but the demand for rice will continue to rise in line with
population growth," he said.The world consumes about 485 million tonnes of
rice annually, and 90% of the consumption or about 440 million tonnes is in
Asia. By 2035, the IRRI projected that an additional 116 million tonnes will be
added to global demand.
"It's not the
demand side that we should be concerned about. It's going to be the supply
side," Mr Mohanty added.Vichai Sriprasert, honorary president of the Thai
Rice Exporters Association (TREA), agreed saying that the industry would
continue to grow and rice would remain the main staple in Asia.The shift toward
higher wheat, meat and dairy consumption is a typical scenario for rice-eating
countries to as they become wealthier, a trend that can be observed globally.
"Rice will still
continue to be popular among Asians; however, rice eaters are becoming more
conscious about the quality of rice they consume," said Mr Vichai.
"Consumers will opt for better quality rice even if they have to spend
more."The Rice Knowledge Bank suggested that good quality rice should have
the right moisture content at 14%, with high purity. Other characteristics
include uniformly mature kernels, uniform size and shape, and no contaminants.
"While rice consumption
per person in Japan and South Korea has gone down roughly 50% compared to how
it was 40-50 years ago, a similar trend is not going to happen yet in Southeast
Asia, at least for the next decade," Mr Vichai said.Mr Mohanty added that
rice had also become increasingly popular everywhere else in the world.
Consumption outside of Asia, although accounting for only 10%, has been growing
over the past years and continues to rise.Africa is the fastest growth market
as rice has a more appealing taste than the traditional staples such as maize
and cassava and is much more convenient to prepare."In Africa, they see
rice as a luxury item and as people become richer, we would expect to see much
higher demand from this region," he added.Between 2010 and 2012, FAO
statistics show that the world's top importers of rice were Nigeria at 2.1
million tonnes a year, followed by Indonesia (1.7 million), China (1.5 million)
and the Philippines (1.3 million).
FUTURE OF FARMING
David
Dawe, a senior economist with the agricultural development economics division
of the FAO, explained that strong economic growth in Asia had encouraged many
Asian farmers to leave the farming business."Given the rise in population
and global food demand, farming will always be inevitable; however,
agricultural practices will become less labour-intensive with greater
integration of technologies," he said.Mr Mohanty said that rice farming in
Asia was still dominated by millions of small farmers with an average land
holding of 1 hectare. Farming on such a small scale results in very low
earnings per crop. But outmigration by some farmers has led to more land
consolidation, which allows those who remain to acquire more land.
In
addition, the labour-intensive nature of farming is gradually changing as
farmers are exploring new methods to increase productivity in terms of land
preparation, transplanting, harvesting and threshing. The cost of labour, which
accounts for about 45% of the total cost of conventional farm production, is
expected to go down as a result."The direction of rice farming in Asia
will be toward modernisation and commercialisation and it will be integrated
along the supply chain," said Mr Mohanty.Smallholder farmers in Asia are
adopting small-scale mechanisation and renting machinery when needed. This is
because many women and young people are no longer available to help with farm
chores as they find it more attractive to do other kinds of work, he said.Competition
among rice exporters has also intensified. "India, for example, overtook
Thai imports into Singapore in 2014, and with Thailand's droughts and irregular
output, Indian rice may retain its popularity in rice-importing
countries," added Ms Kamari of Euromonitor.
Statistics
from World's Top Exports (WTEx) showed that global rice exports last year were
worth US$24.9 billion, an increase of 22.7% since 2010. Asian countries
supplied 74.6% of all export volume in 2014 and had the highest dollar value at
$18.6 billion.Since 2010, Cambodia has been the fastest growing rice exporter,
expanding by 750.7% from a low base, followed by Australia (545.1%), India
(244.4%) and Brazil (151.8%).For Thailand to remain competitive, Mr Vichai
said, the country needed to develop better irrigation systems for paddy farmers
and integrate more technologies into agricultural practices."It's the only
way we can remain competitive. Water is our main issue and we need more
investment in water management systems. This will ultimately improve the
quality of Thai rice while lowering the cost of production," he added.
DIVERSIFIED DIETS
While
rice consumption globally is still on the rise, per capita consumption has
fallen significantly in some Asian countries where baked goods, potatoes and
noodles are gaining in popularity amid the proliferation of Westernised
cuisines."This has affected consumer preferences and is causing them to
switch to wheat consumption like noodles. With millennials largely having
strong purchasing power, they are also encouraged by the availability of
healthier varieties," said Ms Kamari.Noodles and pasta are two types of
staple food products that are attracting more Asian consumers. For example, in
Thailand, the growth of rice consumption in 2015 slowed compared with 2014,
while pasta and noodles showed the opposite trend.
According
to the World Instant Noodles Association, global noodle consumption stood at
102.7 billion servings (packets and cups) in 2014. Among the world's 15 biggest
consumers of instant noodles, 11 are in Asia.China and Hong Kong consumed 44.4
million servings last year, followed by Indonesia (13.4 million), Japan (5.5
million), India (5.3 million), Vietnam (5 million) and South Korea (3.5
million)
Potatoes,
the third most popular food crop after rice and wheat, are also gaining in
popularity in the Asia, according to the Dutch potato organisation Nederlandse
Aardappel Organisatie (NAO)."Asians are increasingly including potatoes in
their eating habits amid the proliferation of westernised restaurant
chains," said Karst Weening, a policy adviser to the NAO."There is an
upward trend in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) segment, which means
increased consumption of processed potato products," he said.China and
India are the two largest potato producers in the world where almost a third of
all potatoes are harvested; however, total potato consumption in Asian
countries is still relatively small compared to other parts of the world.
"China
and India constitute only about 2-4% of total potato consumption," said Mr
Weening.
The
latest FAO statistics show that China produced 85.9 million tonnes of potatoes
in 2012, followed by India (45 million), Russia (29.5 million), Ukraine (23.3
million) and the United States (19.2 million).Potato exports from China also
rose significantly last year. Malaysia, Russia and Vietnam are among the
biggest importers of Chinese potatoes.The Chinese government is looking to make
potatoes play a bigger role as a daily staple for its population given that
rice and wheat have become more difficult to grow during periods of drought."In
countries like China and India, potato production is being heavily promoted.
This is partly related to the environment. The water used in the cultivation of
potatoes is significantly lower compared to rice, the biggest competitor to
potatoes in Asia," added Jan Gottschall of the NAO.
INFLUENCING FACTORS
Mr
Dawe suggested that the common theme is that as people become wealthier, they
want to vary their diets. Southeast Asia is a rice-eating region so therefore
the diversification is running toward wheat."The main drivers for the
diversification are income and age. It's the rich and the young who consume
more wheat products than the poor and the old," he said.Even for a
comparable level of income, he said, younger people seem to diversify their
diets more quickly as they are more globalised and interested in the latest
trends, whereas the older generations prefer to eat what they always eat.
The
price of rice is another factor that is influencing the shift away from rice
consumption. In Southeast Asia, rice prices are relatively low in Thailand,
Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam, but higher in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines
to reflect import costs."When the price of rice goes up in these countries
(Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines), it induces people to eat more
wheat-based products such as bread or noodles," said Mr Dawe.The
governments in these countries have been trying to promote self-sufficiency in
rice by imposing restrictions on rice imports, as they prefer not to rely
solely on the instability of the global rice market.In South Korea, meanwhile,
consumers are opting for healthier alternatives with multigrain and premium
whole-wheat bread seen as major drivers for retail value growth, noted Ms
Kamari of Euromonitor.SPC Group, South Korea's leading bakery chain, reported
that the country consumed about $5.37 billion worth of baked products last
year.In emerging markets such as the Philippines, convenience and value for
money are the key factors that influence people to shift away from rice
consumption."Unpackaged baked goods like artisanal breads, cakes and
pastries are becoming more significant in emerging markets due to dynamic new
product developments," she said, adding that consumers were also more
willing to spend on the fresher quality of artisanal baked goods compared to
packaged foods.
The Bangkok Post
APEDA Rice Commodity News
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