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UNISAME URGES REAP TO LOWER MEMBERSHIP FEES
Mar 2, 2016 | Thaver
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the Rice
Exporters Association of Pakistan to reduce the membership and renewal fees to
make it affordable.The Union has pointed out that Rs 14000 plus Rs 1000 for
I.T/ website maintainence is very high. Even the chambers of commerce are only
taking Rs 2100 as renewal fees.
The Union informed the SME rice exporters that the membership of the
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP ) is not mandatory for rice
exporters. They can export rice to global destinations without membership of
REAP.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver has invited the attention of the rice
exporters to the circular of the Ministry of Commerce (MINCOM) in which it
reiterated that membership of REAP is not mandatory and it is up to the rice
exporters if they wish they can become members or renew their membership but
the condition of mandatory membership has been removed.The MINCOM has also sent
a copy to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority of Pakistan
(SMEDA).Thaver however said those SME members who can afford to pay may become
members or renew their memberships and participate in the activities of the
association.
He emphasized the need for REAP to become proactive and take up the
issues of the sector vigorously and especially the Geographical Indications,
the Basmati trade mark, the high cost of production, the energy, the export
bills negotiation and other issues of land at concession, marketing support and
cost of packing materials
http://www.unisame.org/unisame-urges-reap-to-lower-membership-fees/
World's
Largest Rice Miller Focused on Preferred Varieties
By
Michael Klein
MEMPHIS,
TN - Carl Brothers, senior vice president and COO for Riceland Foods, the
largest rice miller in the world, said the cooperative was looking to add a
preferred varieties list to its rice marketing programs at the request of its
farmer-members to provide guidance on variety selection.
"We
will never tell a grower that we won't take his rice, however, we are
comfortable providing a limited list of preferred varieties," Brothers
said. "Last year we handled more than 30 varieties, and we're prepared to
do it again, but we think less varieties may be in the U.S. industry's best
interest in the long run."
In
certain international markets, U.S. rice suffers from a perception of waning
quality that has dogged the industry since the disastrous 2010 crop year. Many
of the worst problems associated with that year have been put behind the
industry, thanks to solid research and better growing years, however, some
think reducing varieties may be key to restoring U.S. rice's glory around the
world.
"Our
quality can be improved by reducing the number of varieties in the
market," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice vice president of international
promotion. "Of course it's still true that probably more than 80 percent
of U.S. long grain rice comes from just a few varieties, but still, this could
improve consistency of the product which will help us overseas."
Brothers
pointed out that as a family farmer owned co-operative, Riceland Foods
recognizes that farmers need to grow what makes agronomic sense, and they'll
never be turned away. He said the list for the 2016-17 preferred varieties has
not yet been finalized but will be available soon.
USA Rice Daily, Thursday, March 3, 2016
Nigeria’s inconsistent rice import policy, catalyst for smuggling –Olam
The
Federal Government has in the last four years changed parboiled rice rice
import policy more than three times thereby making investors in the sub sector
and other stakeholders to feel that such a fiscal regime is doing more harm to
the economy than good. Head Corporate and Government Relations, Olam Nigeria
Limited, largest operator in the nation’s rice value chain, Mr. Ade Adefeko, in
this interview with FRANCIS
EZEM, says frequent changes of the commodity’s
import policy is one of the factors aiding rice smuggling into the country,
among other issues.
The Land
borders are very porous. Monitoring all the imports through Land Border is a
very uphill task. As per industry reports, the quantity of rice that was
discharged in the neighboring ports were much higher than what was declared as
imported through land borders. It is not economically viable for Rice to be
imported into Benin republic and Niger and pay duties and taxes there and then
pay the duty again in Nigeria the transportation cost is also very high as it
involves multiple borders. Yet, we can see that rice from Cotonou/ Niger routes
is coming into Nigeria and so it is not difficult to draw the obvious
conclusion about the extent of tariff payment on rice imported through land
border into Nigeria.
As an
expert and a major player, what is your advice to government on how to boost
local rice production?
The
frequent changes in policy are adversely affecting the industry. It is
encouraging smuggling from the neighbouring countries which undermines various
investments in rice value chain within Nigeria. There is a substantial gap
between production and consumption of rice in Nigeria, which was fulfilled
being met through legitimate imports earlier and now the same supply gap is
being met by smuggled rice from across the borders.
I am
aware you have large rice production farm in Benue State. What is your annual
production capacity in terms of tonnage?
Olam has
a 10, 000 hectares of farm land in Rukubi Village, Doma Local Government Area
in Nassarawa State. We are currently cultivating 4,400 hectares. Presently, we
have a state- of- the- art mill with a capacity to mill 105,000 metric tonnes
of paddy rice per annum. We have the requisite infrastructure to double this
capacity to 210,000 metric tonnes. This is the largest integrated rice farming
and milling project in Africa.
Generally,
it is believed that your brand of locally produced rice is not sold in Nigeria
because you hardly see them in the market. How do you react to this?
Our
local rice brand is very much sold in Nigeria. It is called MAMA’S PRIDE. It is
available in all leading markets in Abuja, Lokoja, Makurdi, Lafia, Aba,
Onitsha, Benin City and others. We sell the rice as close to the farm as
possible as there are challenges related to transportation, especially in terms
of cost and availability. The rice is available in some markets in Lagos as
well.
What are
the major challenges posed to rice production locally and what do you think
government should do to address these challenges?
There
are several challenges and multiple issues to address. One of such challenges
in associated with poor yield. Yield has continued to be a major issue in
Nigeria because of this, the farmers are not gaining value and hence the
acreage under production is not growing. Another issue is the lack of quality
seeds and other agro inputs, which inhibit productivity. There is also problem
of non availability of basic infrastructure including roads. This makes the
movement of goods from the production sites to the final consumers, as
transport cost eats deep into the profit. This is not encouraging. We are also
grappling with the challenge associated with the nutrition of the soil, which
invariably affects yield and thus profitability. Also is the lack of irrigation
facilities. The Federal Government has to seriously and urgently look into all
these aspects of the value chain in the country including those ones that we
could not mention in the course of this interview. I learnt that there were
some farmer cooperative associations under your company, how far have you
impacted on them, especially in terms of growing their businesses? We have an
out grower of over 4,000 farmers with our company. These farmers been impacted
positively in all aspects of farming and increasing productivity by being
associated with us. We also put in place a mechanism through which we buy their
produce at market prices and supply them with inputs. We also aid them in the
areas of supplying relevant information that they require in growing their
businesses in addition to organising training and enlightenment programmes for
them, among several other assistance we render to them.
Do you
think Nigeria should be importing rice at this time, given the vast resources
that could enhance massive local rice production?
Over the
years, experience all over the world suggests that it is hard to legislate on
consumer taste and preference. The reality is that Nigeria needs approximately
2.5 million metric tonnes of rice to cover the gap between demand consumption
and supply production. To add to this, the consumption is increasing year on
year, given the annual increase in the population of the country. So it would
take quite a while for the country to produce the quantity of rice to meet
local demand.
What is
the price range of the brand of rice your company produces locally?
The
price of our locally produced brand is dictated by the market. In the last few
months the price has been in the range of between N7, 500 to N8, 500 per bag of
50 kilogramme.
It is
believe that Nigerians have appetite for Thailand rice. Do you think that
Thailand variety and quality of rice can be produced in Nigeria?
Nigeria
produces better quality of rice than that imported from Thailand. This is a
well known fact.
The
Multinational rice importers in the country including Olam have been accused of
abusing waiver and quotas, through which the government loses huge sums of
money annually. What is your take on this?
There is
a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of facts about this issue. We have
approached the courts to put things in order on the matter and so we cannot
comment on it
Southeast Department of Agriculture Studies Arsenic Levels in Rice
Irrigation Methods
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., March 2, 2016 – The Southeast Missouri State
University Department of Agriculture’s irrigation comparison study has seen
positive results for maintaining rice yield production and reducing arsenic
concentrations.The research is part of a continuing effort by the Department to
examine the differences between furrow and delayed flood irrigation in rice
production. Dr. Michael Aide, chair of Southeast’s Department of Agriculture,
and his team looked at the nitrogen efficiency and arsenic uptake rates between
the two irrigation systems.
“We found between 44 different varieties of rice that the yields
for furrowed irrigated rice are comparable if not better than the traditional
delayed method because of improvements in water application timing, nitrogen
management and weed control,” said Aide. “An important consequence of
converting is that the normal and safe concentration of arsenic in tradition
irrigation systems virtually disappears with furrow irrigated rice.”
In furrow irrigation, or row irrigation, farmers flow water through
their crops down small, parallel trenches running in the direction of a
predominant slope. In the traditional delayed method, water is introduced to
the field from a ditch or pipe and simply flows over the ground through the
crop and ponds the water between three to six inches.
Over four growing seasons, the Department collected data indicating
that arsenic concentrations were significantly smaller in rice from furrow
irrigations systems.
Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust but is a major
toxic pollutant in its inorganic form. The World Health Organization and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established a maximum daily intake of
inorganic arsenic and sets the limits in drinking water to 10 micrograms per
liter. Long-term exposure from food and drinking water with unsafe arsenic
levels can cause serious health issues, including cancer, skin lesions,
cardiovascular disease and neurotoxicity.
Rice produced under the traditional delayed irrigation method
contains arsenic levels well within the international trade guidelines and is
considered completely safe to consume, but there’s always room for improvement,
said Aide.
Arsenic levels in “Missouri rice are low to begin with but furrow
irrigated rice is even lower,” he said. “If you switch to furrow irrigated
rice, it’s virtually undetectable.”
Additionally, farmers growing rice may also choose to use the
furrow irrigation system because it uses less water than the traditional
method, said Aide.
With farmers not only in the Delta region but also across the
nation looking for ways to conserve water, how they manage the water that is
available is a driving force behind which irrigation method they choose.
There is one caveat though.
“Furrow irrigation does take more expertise,” said Aide. “It takes
more time to watch your fields, manage your water, attend to weed issues and
assess your nitrogen efficiency.”
But the data the Department has collected has larger implications
for how rice producers choose to grow their rice in the future.
“Furrowed irrigated rice avoids arsenic uptake, it’s essentially
arsenic free and we have the supporting data,” said Aide.
With high expectations from consumers demanding safer food
products, the decisions start in the fields.
Southeast has one of the only consistent programs for furrow
irrigated rice for the Mid-South region. It has partnered with the Fisher Delta
Research Center, the University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Rice
Council which also have furrow irrigation projects to help distribute the
information and knowledge to local farmers and rice producers.
“I think southeast Missouri is showing great interest in converting
to a furrow irrigated rice regime,” said Aide.
The department will continue to calculate and compile data to
include more acres and more varieties of rice. As producers switch irrigation
methods, the data will be vital for insurance coverage, he said.
Photo Caption: Dr. Michael Aide (right) with Southeast President
Dr. Carlos Vargas (front) and Dr. Chris McGowan (behind), dean of the College
of Science, Technology and Agriculture.
http://news.semo.edu/southeast-department-of-agriculture-studies-arsenic-levels-in-rice-irrigation-methods/#sthash.W6Jioqzj.Vwo0SvEZ.dpuf
Meet India's Female "Seed Guardians" Pioneering Organic Farming
Members
of the Maa Lankeshwari seedbank in India. Photograph: Bijal Vachharajani
Bring up
the topic of seeds and Nabita Goud sits up a little straighter and begins to
talk animatedly.
Nabita
is a smallholder and a “seed guardian” at the Maa Lankeshwari seedbank of Bhimdanga
village in Odisha, eastern India. The seedbank is a small room lined with rows of
neatly-labelled earthen pots and stoppered glass bottles, all of them filled
with varieties of millets, ladies finger (okra), pumpkin, and red gram seeds
(lentil), along with cotton.Nabita puts her hand into a pot and scoops out a
fistful of paddy seeds which are a dull brown, the colour of the soil. “This is
kalajira rice,” said Nabita, who is an organic and Fairtrade-certified farmer.
“It’s a scented, local variety and gives us a high-yield. We are now conserving
it.”Seeds are at the heart of agriculture, but they are also a significant cost
for farmers. Organic seeds are hard to come by in a market flooded with
genetically modified and hybrid cotton seeds. More than 90% of cotton in India is genetically modified and input
costs for Bt Cotton are high. Hybrid cotton seeds cannot be replanted
post-harvest, which in turn forces farmers to add to their financial burden by
buying new seeds from the market.
Bhimdanga
is a fully organic and Fairtrade village in Kalahandi, Odisha. Photograph:
Bijal Vachharajani
Nabita
is one of 18 seed guardians who are part of Chetna Organic’s seed conservation
project. Over the last two years, six seedbanks have been established in five
villages in Odisha with 72 men and women conserving 50 varieties of fibre and
food crops seeds. This is a much needed shot in the arm for these districts
which are plagued with hunger, poverty and insecurity.
Traditionally,
Odisha is not a cotton growing state but over the last two decades, small and
marginal farmers have started growing the cash crop. Conserving organic cotton
seeds that are suited to the soil and as a climate adaptation measure is a
priority for smallholders. Over the last five years, Chetna has been conducting
small-scale trials with farmers like Nabita to evaluate the suitability of
indigenous cotton varieties such as Suraj and Anjali.
From
seed to plate, Kalajira rice has a heady fragrance, earning it the market name
of “white baby Basmati”. Photograph: Bijal Vachharajani
Driving through Odisha, it’s easy to spot the
organic from the non-organic farms. The landscape is dotted with stretches of
waist-length cotton. In sharp contrast are the organic farms that look like
Ceres has run riot, planted with cotton, red gram, and food crops.
In a volatile cotton market, the mixed cropping
practice that Bhimdanga’s farmers follow ensures individual food security, even
if their cotton crop fails. Farmers grow cotton alongside food crops such as
pumpkin, ridge gourd, lentils, and millets. Some are for their own consumption,
and the rest is sold in the market. Ramprasad Sana, an entomologist and the
technical head at Chetna Organic, said that the seedbanks have given 600
families food security.
Chetna enables farmers to set up sustainable
and multipliable open-source systems to share and store seeds, using
traditional knowledge along with new concepts and technology. The enterprise
operates like a bank, only with less bureaucracy. A farmer can “withdraw” a
kilo of seed and has to repay the loan with one-and-a-half to two kilos of seed
after harvest. With the establishment of seedbanks, organic farmers no longer
need to buy seeds from the market. This year, 1,594 kilos of seeds were
distributed to 603 farmers.
Empowering women farmers to manage their own
seed enterprises enables them to become decision-makers in the community. This
is significant, given that according to the 2011 census, 68.5% of women work in agriculture. Traditionally,
women have been the custodians of seeds and Chetna hopes to revive the
practice.
Last year, Nabita and her neighbours
participated in a seed festival in the neighbouring village of Mading where
they met other farmers and showcased their indigenous varieties of seeds.
“Everyone loved our kalajira rice there,” said Nabita with a smile. The
short-grained kalajira is one of the key scented rices of India (pdf)
and gives a high yield in a short timespan. When cooked, the rice has a heady
fragrance, earning it the market name of “white baby Basmati”.
Rice is a staple agriculture product but in
most of India, farmers cultivate high-yield paddy for a homogenous market. The
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that at least 75% of the genetic diversity of
agricultural crops had been lost by the beginning of this century.
Kalajira rice and indigenous cotton varieties
are being conserved by seedbanks like Maa Lankeshwari at a time when indigenous
species of food and fibre are rapidly disappearing from farms and plates. With
women like Nabita taking back control of their seeds, soil and food security,
the smallholders of Bhimdanga are becoming part of a thriving, sustainable
community that is conserving India’s indigenous seed heritage and protecting
its food sovereignty.
For a taste of heaven
Check out biryani with a twist at Aqni on Hennur Road
Much like the diversity the country offers,
biryanis also change taste and texture based on location. From the
richly-flavoured Awadhi varieties and the spicy masala mixed versions from
Hyderabad to the spicy, soupy delights that a well-made Thalassery biryani
offers it is a gustatory experience like no other. It was during the course of
one such expedition that I stumbled upon Aqni, a small outlet on Hennur Road
that claims to serve authentic Memoni Kutchi Biryani.
As we wait for the biryani, we wolf down
portions of the innovatively-named kebab Manchurian, an Indian-Chinese twist to
kebabs.
The soft kebabs were excellent with curry
leaves providing an extra crunch. Another speciality, the lemon chicken,
boneless strips fried in a batter and sloshed in a sour lemon sauce transports
me into gastronomic heaven. We then arrive at the mutton biryani, served in
Kutchi style with two pieces of potatoes and jeera samba rice.
It is high on flavour, the potatoes are cooked
well and the soft mutton pieces are delightful.
The baingan salan served alongside adds to the
flavour, though the jeera samba rice works wonders even without any
accompaniments. Unlike its cousins in Hyderabad and Thalassery, the Kutchi
biryani is not very spicy and tastes like homemade biryani, and doesn’t force
you drink copious amounts of water to douse the fire. Special mention must be
made of the soft, fluffy rice, which brings an added aroma to the preparation.
If a sweet is what you crave for post the meal, you can sample the superb rice
kheer consisting of condensed milk, rice, milk and dry fruits, which will
remind you of the payasam made by mum.
APEDA RICE COMMODITY NEWS
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Rice consignments: KPA waives Rs 200 million storage charges
March 03, 2016
RECORDER REPORT
On behalf of Rice Exporters, Rafique Suleman, Chairman FPCCI Rice Export Committee and immediate past chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) reached Kenya in the first week of last month to resolve the matter and ensure timely release of held up rice consignments.
Suleman told Business Recorder via phone from Kenya that with the support of Pakistan High Commission Nairobi the issue had finally been resolved and KPA had fulfilled its promise of waiver. He informed that in a meeting held on February 17, 2016, KPA officials agreed to waive all demurrages and storage/re-marshaling charges may accrued on rice consignment stuck due to the cancellation of license of two yards.
Amir Mohyuddin co-ordinated a follow up meeting on February 29 with KPA officials for waiver of storage charges. The main agenda of the meeting was the procedural delays of Pakistani rice consignments and storage invoices being raised, he said.
"I together with Amir Mohyuddin held meeting with Madam Catherine Muturi Managing Director KPA, Soodi KIFWA Operation Manager KPA, Patrick GM Finance KPA and Brian development manager EATTA Trade, on Monday and accordingly discussed the issue of storage charges in detailed," Suleman informed.
After discussion, the KPA officials assured full waiver on storage amounting to Rs 200 million imposed on all cargo from Pakistan that arrived during January 18, to February 15, 2016 and were held up due to the policy change, he said. "Those who have already paid the storage charges will be refunded on presentation of full documentation and waiver request in writing. KPA also assured to speed up the release process and expedite the credit notes against the storage accrued,' he added.
Suleman informed that so far some 1,000 containers of Pakistan rice had been released from the port and remaining 500 containers were in process. He said that a deadline of 15th March 2016 has been set for the release of remaining rice consignments from KPA without any storage or additional charge. He, particularly, appreciated the role of Amir Mohyuddin Commercial Counsellor Pakistan High Commission and said that without his support it was difficult to achieve this task.Meanwhile, Suleman and other office-bearers of REAP have thanked Eng. Khurram Dastagir Khan, Federal Commerce Minister, for taking prompt action on the issue and sending letter to top Kenyan Authorities.
"On behalf of REAP, we also appreciate the role of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Raza Bashir Tarar High Commissioner of Pakistan in Nairobi for their active involvement to resolve this critical issue in the larger interest of rice export industry of Pakistan
http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/21795/
Grain of truth: Making rice greener
Anmar Frangoul | Special to CNBC.com
Wednesday, 2 Mar 2016 | 6:01 AM ETCNBC.com
Rice is one of the world's most important
staples, with billions of people basing their meals around it. But as the
world's population grows, the amount of resources needed to produce the food is
growing as well. Demand for crops
such as rice, wheat and maize is set to increase by 33 percent by 2050,
according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
According to the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), it takes between 1,000 and 3,000 liters of
water to produce just one kilo of rice. While this compares favorably with the
13,000 to 15,000 liters needed to produce one kilo of grain-fed beef, rice
still has an impact on the environment.
Risk
The FAO says that, along with the stagnation of
cereal yields and depletion of natural resources, climate change is threatening
food security.
Founded more than 50 years ago and based in the
Philippines, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is a research
organisation looking to slash poverty and global hunger through "rice
science."
"When the decision was made to found IRRI
as the first international agricultural research center, the world was facing
famine," V. Bruce J. Tolentino, the IRRI's deputy director general for
communication and partnerships, told CNBC's Sustainable Energy.
"To supply the world with the food… (it)
needed, we needed to be able to push productivity, and that's been the end goal
and mission of IRRI ever since," Tolentino went on to add.
The power
of science
Climate change is likely to have an impact on
rice production, according to IRRI. Those who farm rice are often some of the
poorest agricultural workers, and their livelihoods are threatened by
environmental changes.
Climate change impacts including an increase in
sea levels, flooding, salinity, increased CO2 levels, higher temperature,
scarcity of water and pests, diseases and weeds could all hit crop yields.
At IRRI a key aim is to gain an in depth
understanding of the genetic diversity of rice in order to assist producers
facing challenges from climate change as well as diseases and pests. To date,
more than 40,000 rice genes have been mapped.
The importance of rice that is hardy and high
yielding is only set to increase.
"The varieties that survive the drought
and flooding, they enable farmers not only to at least keep that season's worth
of income and survive that season, but they also encourage farmers to invest
more in other ways to increase the productivity," Sarah Beebout, a senior
scientist at IRRI's soil chemistry, crop and environmental sciences division,
said
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/02/grain-of-truth-making-rice-greener.html
Hats off to a master juggler
Savitri
Mohapatra | Mar 2, 2016
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A
dynamic research leader, a well-respected rice agronomist, a mentor to young
scientists, a widely published author, and a loving family man, Marco Wopereis
wears many hats and juggles them all with equal efficiency.
In January 2013, Martin Kropff, then CGIAR
Consortium board member and future director general of CIMMYT, and Dr. Wopereis
inspect a containment facility for rice pathogens and pests at AfricaRice in
Cotonou, Benin. (Photo by R. Raman, AfricaRice)
“Marco
has made significant contributions to AfricaRice, especially in establishing a
solid scientific direction and foundation,” said AfricaRice Director General
Harold Roy-Macauley in his
congratulatory message. “He has played a highly significant role in
leading the implementation of the research for development program, which has
ensured a sound scientific position for AfricaRice in the global rice research
arena and the achievement of important successes.”
Rooted
in agriculture
Since his childhood, Dr. Wopereis has been associated with plants and soil as his parents ran a small nursery for ornamental plants. “The strong link our family had with plants and working outdoors greatly influenced me,” he said.
Since his childhood, Dr. Wopereis has been associated with plants and soil as his parents ran a small nursery for ornamental plants. “The strong link our family had with plants and working outdoors greatly influenced me,” he said.
His
father was a soil scientist working for the Dutch Soil Survey Institute.
Therefore, it seems quite fitting that he would take up agricultural sciences
following in his father’s footsteps. However, his first choice was to become a
veterinarian.
Fortunately
for the world of agronomy, Dr. Wopereis decided to take up soil science and
fertilizer use instead as the veterinary institute was overbooked. He obtained
his BSc and MSc (with distinction) degrees from Wageningen University in 1984 and 1988, respectively.
The
rice connection
A few months later, Prof. Johan Bouma, his professor at Wageningen University who had seen signs of a promising agronomist in him, asked if he was interested in going to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños in the Philippines to coordinate a soil management project. Dr. Wopereis’s positive decision proved pivotal, both professionally and personally. “It was great to work at IRRI—great people, fantastic facilities,” he said, describing this golden period of his life.
A few months later, Prof. Johan Bouma, his professor at Wageningen University who had seen signs of a promising agronomist in him, asked if he was interested in going to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños in the Philippines to coordinate a soil management project. Dr. Wopereis’s positive decision proved pivotal, both professionally and personally. “It was great to work at IRRI—great people, fantastic facilities,” he said, describing this golden period of his life.
His
research focused on quantifying the impact of soil and climate variability on
rainfed rice production. This work led to a PhD thesis, which Dr. Wopereis
defended at Wageningen University in 1993. His stay at IRRI was very enriching
at the personal level as well because he met his lovely wife, Myra, there.
A
continental leap
Soon after this, Dr. Wopereis and Myra left for Africa, where he accepted an agronomist’s position at the AfricaRice (then WARDA) regional station in Saint Louis, Senegal. This was a huge change from the lush greenery of Los Baños to the Sahelian town of Saint Louis. But it was exciting, too.
Soon after this, Dr. Wopereis and Myra left for Africa, where he accepted an agronomist’s position at the AfricaRice (then WARDA) regional station in Saint Louis, Senegal. This was a huge change from the lush greenery of Los Baños to the Sahelian town of Saint Louis. But it was exciting, too.
The six
years (1994-2000) he spent in Senegal and the following couple of years spent
in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, as the scientific coordinator of the Inland Valley
Consortium convened by AfricaRice, were one of the most productive periods for
Dr. Wopereis as a scientist.
He,
along with his colleagues, showed that farmers in the Senegal River Valley
could increase their yields by 1–2 tons per hectare by simply modifying their
agricultural practices. The team developed integrated crop management (ICM)
options and decision support tools for irrigated-lowland rice farmers, which
were widely disseminated.
“I am
certain that our team contributed to the rise in average rice yield from about
4.5 tons per hectare to about 6 tons per hectare observed in Senegal from the
1990s onwards,” explained Dr. Wopereis.
A
thresher-cleaner developed by the team in 1997, based on an IRRI prototype, received
the Senegal President’s award in 2003. Virtually all rice grown in the Senegal
River Valley is threshed with that machine and there are now hundreds of these
threshers in neighboring countries.
He also
co-developed a participatory learning and action research approach for lowland
rice systems focusing on ICM options, which was adopted in seven countries.
Outside
the rice world
In 2002, Dr. Wopereis joined the International Fertilizer Development Center as program leader of the Integrated Intensification Program in Togo, focusing on integrated soil fertility management in maize, sorghum, and millet-based systems.
In 2002, Dr. Wopereis joined the International Fertilizer Development Center as program leader of the Integrated Intensification Program in Togo, focusing on integrated soil fertility management in maize, sorghum, and millet-based systems.
In 2005,
he became director of the Annual Crops Department at CIRAD, the French development-oriented agricultural
research organization.
A POURING rainstorm does not stop participants
in the Japan-funded Emergency Rice Project in Liberia from posing with Dr.
Wopereis (5th from left), Dr. Dobermann (white shirt), and Inoussa Akintayo
(far right), African Rice Initiative coordinator, AfricaRice. See Rice for peace (Photo by R. Raman, AfricaRice)
Back to Africa
However, after 2 years, Africa and the rice world called him back. AfricaRice selected him to lead its research and development program toward the end of 2007. Dr. Wopereis’s passion for high-quality research and his drive to achieve impact in farmers’ fields brought positive changes in the AfricaRice research agenda and structure, contributing to the center’s achievements and continued relevance.
He and
his research team, after extensive consultation with AfricaRice’s national
partners, were instrumental in developing a product-oriented 10-year strategic
plan with a major shift in focus from supply-driven research to more
demand-driven research. The plan presented a clear vision of success to help
Africa achieve almost 90% self-sufficiency in rice by 2020.Another milestone
was the publication in 2013 of Realizing
Africa’s Rice Promise, for which he was the lead editor. This
reference book provides a comprehensive overview of Africa’s rice sector and
ongoing rice research and development activities, indicating priorities for
action on how to realize the promise of rice in a sustainable and equitable
manner.
He was
able to build and lead effective teams to secure significant research grant
funding for the Center to sustain a continuous portfolio of collaborative
projects. Consequently, AfricaRice’s research and development activities,
partnerships, and budget grew substantially during the last 10 years.
“One of
the most rewarding experiences, without a doubt, is the establishment of the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP),” said Dr. Wopereis.
Robert
Zeigler and Papa Seck, former directors general of IRRI and AfricaRice,
respectively, pioneered the idea of a worldwide partnership for rice research
as early as 2007.
“It was
in the office of then IRRI deputy director general for research, Achim
Dobermann, that we sketched the contours of GRiSP,” he
said, reiterating his conviction that GRiSP would outlast any other CGIAR
Research Program. “It is essential that IRRI and AfricaRice work together for
the benefit of rice farmers and consumers worldwide, particularly Africa.”
Speaking
fondly of his strong bonding with Africa, Dr. Wopereis said, “I look back at my
time in Africa with great satisfaction. It is filled with unforgettable
experiences, friendships, and achievements through solid teamwork. Working in
partnership has always been AfricaRice’s strong point.”
Ms.
Mohapatra is the head of Marketing and Communications at AfricaRice.
http://ricetoday.irri.org/hats-off-to-a-master-juggler/
03/02/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
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Rice Comment
Rice futures were in the red across the board
today. The market continues to absorb disappointing export news. The loss of
the Iraqi tender, which had originally been for 90,000 tons US origin rice
only, was the impetus for the negative undertone this week. The market needs to
see better movement in order to gain any upward momentum. USDA pegged US
acreage at 2.8 million acres, up from last year's 2.6 million. Depending on the
weather, though, that total could be even higher. May is testing support at
$10.50. Below that, support is at the contract low of $10.43 set last week.
USA Rice
Promotions Highlight Quality, Good Taste
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- While
being the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has consistently
been one of the top five export destinations for U.S. rice. Just last
year, over 400,000 MT of long grain, milled rice was exported there - an amount
that is 12 percent higher from 2014.
Using USDA's Market Access Program (MAP) USA Rice conducts
nationwide promotions, targeting both consumers and the importers/sellers of
U.S. rice.
"USA Rice is one of the few, if not the only, trade
association conducting promotional activities in the country," says
Ives-Marie Chanel, USA Rice's representative in country. "Starting
in 2013 when Vietnamese rice made its initial foray into Haiti, USA Rice spread
the message of high quality, reliable, easy-to-cook U.S. rice throughout the
country."
And these promotions have been hugely successful. While it
was initially feared that Vietnamese rice would cut into the U.S. market share,
so far there has been no long term negative effect from this new origin.
U.S. exports dipped initially when 66,000 MT of Vietnamese rice entered the
market in 2013, but due to consistent, effective promotions that highlight the
positive characteristics of U.S. rice, Haitians returned to their origin of
choice.
"In several interviews with Haitian consumers, they complained
that the Vietnamese rice does not cook well and is harder to digest," says
Park Eldridge, a rice merchant from Arkansas and a member of the USA Rice
Western Hemisphere Promotion Subcommittee. "USA Rice's promotions
highlighted the better quality of U.S. rice and really helped stop what could
have been a huge hit to one of our largest export markets."
Fond farewell–Rice Today editorial for January-March
2016
With my
retirement looming after more than 22 years at the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI), this is my last
issue of Rice Today as
editor-in-chief. A staff member on the magazine since its debut in April 2002,
I have served as a contributing writer, Asia editor, and finally, since January
2014, editor-in-chief.
Over the last 14 years, I’ve worked with a
great, continually evolving—and award-winning—team of writers, editors,
designers, and photographers (photo). Together, we have witnessed the
magazine’s growth as it has become the institute’s flagship publication.
Certainly, being part of this magazine’s team has been the pinnacle of my time
at IRRI.We have a fascinating set of stories and commentaries in this issue. Be
sure to read the guest editorial in which Matthew Morell, IRRI’s ninth director
general, sets the stage for building further the institute’s compelling mission
and cutting-edge research that is paramount to alleviating poverty in the
world.IRRI is not the only rice research center experiencing major change in
2016. After more than 8 years leading the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) as
deputy director general and director of research for development, Marco
Wopereis will be taking the helm of The World Vegetable Center in Taiwan this
coming April. Read about Marco’s significant contributions to rice research and
development in Africa in Hats
off to a master juggler.
Staying in Africa, find out about a ’SMART’ choice for Africa’s inland-valley rice
farmers. These inland valleys are increasingly being considered
as the continent’s future food basket. And in our map section, see how AfricaRice researchers are using satellite images to define
flood-prone rice areas in West Africa. Doing so will help
provide a more efficient and effective introduction of new flood-tolerant Sub1
varieties to the region’s farmers.Onward to Asia, January 2016 marks the 30th
anniversary of IRRI’s post-war involvement in a remarkable episode in
agricultural history. I’m referring to the rebuilding of Cambodia after the
horrendous genocide of the “Killing Fields” in that Southeast Asian country
(1975-79). Glenn Denning told this amazing story during my latest IRRI Pioneer Interview. Glenn,
who spent 18 years at IRRI, points out that what was achieved there over the
last three decades is a compelling example about why genetic conservation and
human capacity are so critical to agricultural development.
Moving
on to another Southeast Asian nation, see how Filipino farmers are recovering
from another kind of disaster that was Typhoon Haiyan. This powerful storm
devastated the island of Leyte a little more than 2 years ago. Green Super Rice is giving many of them a
fighting chance to
rebuild their families’ livelihoods.
In
addition to having celebrity chefs, we also have celebrity scientists. Read an
entertaining interview with Michael Purugganan, IRRI collaborator and
reluctant rock star scientist. He talks about making science and scientists
approachable, his creative process, and the GMO debate. He also has some good
advice for young researchers.Sam Mohanty, IRRI’s senior economist, examines whether or not the global rice market is
headed for a repeat of the 2007-08 rice price crisis, which
today seems like a distant memory. Market players will need to keep cool to
avoid duplicating that turbulent time.And finally, Michael Jackson, former head
of IRRI’s Genetic Resources Center, introduces a new term: “Genebank
tourism.” He sees this interesting concept as being an
important tool to spread the good word about the strategic importance of
genetic conservation.
I now
pass on the reins of Rice
Today to the capable
hands of Lanie Reyes (to my left in
photo), long-time contributor to the magazine, most recently as managing
editor. She has proven to be truly enthusiastic about accurately reporting on
the significance of this staple that is so important to nearly half the world’s
population
A glimmer of hope for Vietnam’s white gold
Bernadette
Joven | Mar 2, 2016
The CLUES project offers viable adaptation and
mitigation options to rice farmers in the Mekong Delta as they face various
climate challenges. (Photo by G. Smith, CIAT)
Rice is
referred to as Vietnam’s “white gold” because it is not only a valuable staple
crop but also one of the country’s major export products. In 2015, Vietnam
exported 6.61 million tons of rice, making it the world’s third-largest rice
exporter after only India and Thailand.
But, the
country’s rice industry has been beset with challenges because of climate
change, particularly in its regional granaries—the Red River Delta and the
Mekong River Delta. These major rice-growing areas are increasingly becoming
vulnerable to salt water intrusion and flooding caused by sea-level rise.
To
secure enough rice for the almost 90 million Vietnamese and the people of other
nations, Vietnam’s rice industry must soon adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change.
Maintaining rice productivity also means sustained livelihood and income for
many Vietnamese farming communities.
The
recently concluded project, Climate
Change Affecting Land Use in the Mekong Delta: Adaptation of Rice-based
Cropping Systems (CLUES),
offers a basketful of climate-smart practices and technologies that should help
rice farmers in the Mekong Delta cope.
“The
interdisciplinary approach adopted by CLUES yielded a range of tangible
insights into dealing with future risks stemming from sea-level rise,” says Reiner
Wassmann, project leader and coordinator for climate
change research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). “It has
also provided possible response strategies in terms of adaptation and
mitigation in rice-based systems of the delta.”
A 4-year
initiative (2011-15), CLUES aimed to increase the adaptive capacity of the
region’s rice production systems and provide farmers and management agencies
with technologies and knowledge to improve food security. It was conducted in
four provinces of the Mekong Delta region (MDR) with varying geographic
features: An Giang (flood zone), Can Tho (intermediate flood zone with alluvial
soils), Hau Giang (acid sulfate soils), and Bac Lieu (coastal area with
saline-affected soils and local submergence).
The
project, implemented jointly by IRRI and Can Tho University, with
partners from Vietnam and Australia, under the Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research (ACIAR),
involved more than 70 team members. IRRI’s project team members specialized in
climate change, plant breeding, water sciences, and agronomy.
Vietnam’s rice production is an unprecedented success story. The country underwent a period of acute rice shortages and dependency on imports until the implementation ofinstitutional and policy reforms that led to rice self-sufficiency. The past two decades saw Vietnam doubling its rice yield to become one of the top global rice producers and exporters. The country’s average yield went up to 5.89 tons per hectare (from 5.32 tons in 2010), with a total production of 45 million tons and exports of 7.3 million tons, based on FAO statistics (2015). The MDR contributes more than half of the country’s annual rice production and 90% of its export supply.
Bleak climate scenarios
The country’s drive to improve its rice industry even further is threatened by sea-level rise where flooding and salinity conditions are predicted to become worse. The CLUES project has developed high-definition risk maps of the current and forecasted flooding depths (Fig. 1) and salinity amounts for Bac Lieu and Soc Trang provinces.
High-definition maps illustrating the impact of
sea-level rise and climate change scenarios on spatial and seasonal flooding
risks in Bac Lieu and Soc Trang provinces. (Click to enlarge)
“Within
the next 30 years, more than 60% of the MDR will be affected by flooding and
40% by salinity intrusion,” says Ngo Dang Phong, IRRI’s project facilitator.
The maps also show that sea-level rise will greatly increase flooding depths
and areas in a wide range. Its strongest impact will be felt in the coastal
areas, especially during the dry season, generally decreasing upstream.
Submergence caused by stagnant flooding (0.4 to 1 meter) is also predicted to
extend to up to 40% of the downstream areas in the MDR. Flooding will be
exacerbated because of the construction of dams, dikes, and sluices that
regulate sea-water inflow coming from east of the delta.
“By
using these maps, we can determine the best climate-smart practices to adapt,
such as promising flood- and salt-tolerant rice varieties or other techniques,”
says Dr. Phong. “We can also test and apply targeted interventions to maintain
the high productivity of current rice systems.”
Promising varieties for the MDR
Given that the MDR is destined to have more frequent and deeper floods and increasing salinity, farmers will need rice varieties that have tolerance of these climate-related stresses. Thus, 300 rice varieties, comprising both traditional and improved ones, were screened as part of CLUES for their survival and recovery potential against these stresses at the study sites.New breeding lines have been developed and field-tested for their suitability in these areas. These lines combine salt and submergence tolerance as well as high yield potential. These are set to be outscaled through participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials and seed multiplication and distribution.
Water-saving technology for climate adaptation
and mitigation
Although the MDR is surrounded by water, it is not impervious to drought. In 1997-98 and 2009-10, for instance, the region experienced severe drought because of El Niño. The early end of the wet season prolonged the dry season.A solution to the drought problem is the simple and inexpensive IRRI-developed technology known as alternate wetting and drying (AWD). It can save water use in rice paddies by as much as 25% through a cycle of draining and reflooding of rice fields that keeps water at an optimum level when needed.In partnership with GIZ, the German development agency, 100 farmers in Bac Lieu Province assessed AWD’s viability. The farmers found that they were able to reduce the cost of pumping irrigation water, resulting in increased income.
Demonstration site in Bac Lieu Province where
AWD viability was tested. (Photo: CLUES)
Apart
from AWD’s adaptation potential, this technology has been proven effective in
reducing methane emissions from rice paddies by 50%. This is especially
important for climate change responses because rice
production is one of the main sources of greenhouse gasses (GHG). It accounts for a sizable share of the
national GHG inventory of Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam.A
pioneering output of CLUES was the generation of new data on emissions and
mitigation in rice production, which will help in identifying options for the
reduction of GHG in the MDR. The project measured methane gas emission rates at
various plant growth stages under different farm practices (i.e., nitrogen
application and straw compost application). The data were analyzed at the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute.
Results
showed that the emission rate of methane in conventional field plots was
consistently greater than in AWD plots. Also, methane emission rates varied at
different stages of growth. After an initial increase, the emission rates
peaked at flowering time and decreased with reduced water depth at harvesting
time.
Farming
practices, such as AWD that are climate-smart and result in low GHG emissions
are highly relevant for defining and implementing new climate change policies.
After the successful completion of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris, France, rice-growing
countries can now turn their attention to reducing GHG emissions without
affecting rice yields.
“AWD
will help achieve these multiple objectives,” says Dr. Wassmann.
Community involvement in rice research
The approach undertaken by CLUES was based on participatory research that engaged local communities during every phase of the project. It focused on the poor farmers in the four provinces who must deal with varying degrees of salinity, acidity, and flooding in their rice fields. More than 3,900 farmers were involved in field trials, PVS, and other activities. This included around 700 women who participated in PVS and participatory rural appraisal for crop and natural resource management assessment studies.
Building capacity to enrich rice science
With support from the project, 18 students completed their master’s theses and four CLUES staff obtained doctorate degrees. The project also facilitated postgraduate studies for students in and outside of Vietnam. Cognizant of the importance of disseminating the research results to enrich rice science, project team members published papers in international and Vietnamese refereed journals and made conference presentations. Leaflets were disseminated to farmers, local decision-makers, and the public.
Collaborative partnership
“The CLUES project is an excellent example of multi-stakeholder involvement in Vietnam,” said H.E. Le Quoc Dohan, vice minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, during the end-of-project workshop.The CLUES project team built on previous work undertaken by IRRI and its Vietnamese and Australian research partners. Throughout the life of the project, the team reached out to numerous local research and government institutions and farming communities. A solid partnership was established among the Australian and Vietnamese institutions, which will continue well into the future.
The CLUES project team involved more than 70
staff members and students from 12 institutions working on six individual
themes. (Photo: CLUES)
What lies ahead?
Beyond CLUES, plans on disseminating and amplifying the research results among farmers and the farming communities will continue.“We support the adoption of research results and are communicating CLUES outputs with larger audiences,” said An Nguyen, ACIAR country manager-Vietnam. “The major outputs of CLUES have been presented to policymakers in MDR provinces and to related Vietnamese ministries, such as Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources and Environment. The results were also included in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Vietnam Aid Program Performance Report for 2014-15. Relevant technical packages will be communicated to potential development donors, international organizations, and local communities in the region for outscaling.”Taking things further, Dr. Phong suggested establishing more demonstration farms to illustrate the promising technologies produced by the project, alongside complementary training activities. Outscaling by local and national authorities with supporting policy and logistics support should also be in place.
Based on
CLUES results, the concept of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) could be
specified and substantiated for rice production in the MDR as well as in other
mega-deltas of Asia. CSA combines mitigation as well as adaptation technologies
into one comprehensive package. Several ongoing projects are now capitalizing
on these results and are further expanding this concept by adding new elements
such as mobile phone technologies for technology transfer and establishing
Climate-Smart Villages acting as catalysts for upscaling.CLUES undoubtedly was
a rewarding endeavor with plenty of tangible and helpful results that farmers
in the MDR and Vietnam’s local and national governments can exploit to improve
rice production. With these results, Vietnam’s white gold industry should
continue to improve—perhaps even thrive—despite the challenges brought about by
climate change.
Ms.
Joven is a senior communication specialist at IRRI and the CGIAR Regional
Program for Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
http://ricetoday.irri.org/a-glimmer-of-hope-for-vietnams-white-gold/
Golden rice isn’t the panacea for Vitamin A deficiency
If
golden rice was available, it would have to be priced at a premium. The
original goal in developing the rice was to counter vitamin A (beta-carotene)
deficiency of under nourished children. Diet deficiency in vitamin A is and has
been the leading cause of blindness in children in many parts of the world
where rice is the staple food in their diets. The worst regions are the Indian
subcontinent and Africa. None of these people could pay a premium for golden
rice, and they aren’t eager to eat it anyway.Anti-GMO zealots have hindered the
development of golden rice by doing everything from scare tactics about it
poisoning people to destroying field research plots. And their tactics have won
government officials’ with malnourished populations to support banning golden
rice production or consumption in several nations
Philpott
claims that golden rice’s health effects have not been proven sufficiently. He
cites a lack of studies proving that the beta-carotene can be taken up by a
child eating a low-fat diet, which is the case with malnourished individuals.
Because vitamin A is fat soluble, the contention is that unless the vitamin A
is accompanied by sufficient dietary fat it will not be providing health
effects.It still appears that road blocks, instead of investment and support for
golden rice, are examples of anti-GMO activists paving the way for more
starvation in the world.
http://www.agprofessional.com/news/golden-rice-isn%E2%80%99t-panacea-vitamin-deficiency
World first database collates information on proteins in wheat, barley,
rice and maize plants to facilitate research into new crop varieties
Posted
Australian researchers have launched a world
first database to help scientists get more targeted information on breeding new
crop varieties.
Media player: "Space" to play,
"M" to mute, "left" and "right" to seek.
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Lead
researcher Dr Cornelia Hooper is a part of the Australian Research Council
Centre of Energy in Plan Energy Biology at UWA.She said the resource would
improve research into traits like drought resistance and salt
tolerance."It's not a straight forward thing to breed a drought tolerant
plant; there's a lot of trial and error," Dr Hooper said."With
actually knowing which proteins you want to improve, increase or decrease or
change you might be able to do a more targeted approach and you might be able
to guide the breeding."
Dr Hooper
said the database gave scientists the opportunity to learn more about how these
proteins work.She said scientists generally researched a particular area and
this database would offer "an extra layer of
interpretation"."The protein location is a really important piece of
information," Dr Hooper said."Because proteins within the cells work
together in units."So it's really important to know which units do which
functions so that you can link them to other parts of the cell."
Dr
Hooper said CropPAL currently collated data on the proteins within the
"four most important" crops, including barley, wheat, rice and maize
plants.But she said researchers aimed to add information on a further seven
crop varieties by the end of 2017
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-03/crop-protein-research-database/7214134
Millers, exporters take on rice
federation
Thu, 3 March 2016
A newly
formed coalition of rice millers and exporters has raised alarm bells,
forecasting the imminent “collapse” of the nation’s rice sector within two
years and blaming in part “governance failure” by the industry’s apex body.The
18-member group, whose initiative is called the Rice Industry Strategic Key
Solution (RISKS), met Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol earlier this week to make
a case that governance of the Cambodia Rice Federation’s (CRF) “had broken
down” and the industry body was wrongly focused on long-term initiatives rather
than formulating an emergency plan to protect struggling millers and
exporters.In a presentation, the group claimed that the recently signed
Vietnam-EU free trade agreement, cheap rice imports from Vietnam and the
ineffectual leadership of the CRF have led the industry to a breakingpoint.
It
called for the Ministry of Commerce’s assistance in arranging an extraordinary
general meeting of the CRF to vote on amending the organisation’s charter and
bylaws “so as to salvage the sinking ship.”
The
group also asked the industry body to make a detailed presentation of its
expenses ahead of planned CRF elections in May.Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice and
a member of the RISKS initiative, said the CRF was caught up in formulating
long-term plans, while taking no action to address the immediate concerns of
its members.“We are trying to push for actions [to ensure] the survival of
millers and exporters,” he said, “The CRF has to take action within a specific
timeframe rather than only make plans.”He acknowledged the CRF’s work since its
formation in 2014, but said its accomplishments were limited and some members
were deeply dissatisfied.
CRF
president Sok Puthyvuth told the Post yesterday he understood the “pain”
felt by some of the industry body’s members, but said cohesion and unity were
needed in order to address the sector’s structural issues.
“When
things are tough you’re pointing fingers, but we have a platform and a
federation, and if you have concerns bring them up and we can work on them
together,” he said.
One of
the demands of the RISKS initiative is access to cheaper financing options.
Members have requested that the government facilitate access to $500 million in
soft loans at 4 per cent interest per annum.Puthyvuth suggested that some
millers and exporters were feeling the pressure from banks, which might be
holding back loans, but insisted that was out of the federation’s control.He
also disputed the group’s claim that “the number of [rice] millers and
exporters was reduced by half in 2015,” claiming this was not the “correct
picture” and that there were in fact some millers who reported a solid
financial performance last year.
“I know
big rice mills that will continue to survive and there are some that are doing
very well,” he said. “I don’t think it is going to happen that in two years all
millers will go bankrupt.”Another contentious issue brought up during the
presentation was the import of cheaper rice from Vietnam, which the group
claims prohibits local millers from competing in the market.During its
presentation, it asked the government to introduce protectionist measures, like
higher duties, or place a six-month moratorium on imports.Puthyvuth said while
the CRF was working with the government to monitor these imports, it needed to
ensure that local importers pay the relevant duties and taxes, evasion of which
can provide a cost advantage to importers. He added a ban on imports was not the
right solution in this situation.“That’s not going to work and I don’t endorse
that. There are other ways to do it, but not that,” he added, without giving
any further details.
Following
the meeting, Chanthol asked the RISKS initiative to provide a detailed report
with evidence to back their claims, which he said would be presented to Prime
Minister Hun Sen for further action.Mey Kalyan, senior adviser to the Supreme
National Economic Council and architect of the country’s rice policy, said that
while times were tough for the rice sector, given the low margins and price
pressures, millers focused on producing fragrant rice were able to turn a
profit.He added that Cambodian rice firms were in part responsible for bringing
down prices, given that they were competing with each other instead of working
together.“They compete among themselves with the price,” he said. “This
competition is bringing down the price and in the end it’s a loss for
them.”Yang Saing Koma, former president of agriculture organisation CEDAC, said
the problems in the sector extend beyond millers and exporters to smallholder
farmers.
“It’s an
injustice for farmers in this competitive market, where they do not get fair
loans and don’t have much involvement with the market,” he said.Koma added that
it was important for farmers to build a strong association so their issues
could be heard on a governmental and industry level.“It has almost turned
normal for no one to pay any attention to them,” he added.
Sok
Puthyvuth, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, speaks at the Cambodia
Rice Forum in Phnom Penh earlier this year. Pha Lina
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/millers-exporters-take-rice-federation
Labels on genetically modified foods? Not so fast
WASHINGTON
— States could no longer require labeling of genetically modified foods under
legislation approved by a Senate panel.The Senate Agriculture Committee voted
14-6 Tuesday to prevent the labeling on packages of foods that include
genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Vermont is set to require such labels
this summer, and other states are considering similar laws.Senators have said
they want to find a compromise on the labeling issue before Vermont’s law kicks
in. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairman of the panel, said a patchwork of state
laws would be a “wrecking ball” that could be costly for agriculture, food
companies and ultimately consumers.
“Now is
not the time for Congress to make food more expensive for anybody,” Roberts
said.
The bill
would block Vermont’s law and create new voluntary labels for companies that
want to use them on food packages that contain genetically modified
ingredients.The legislation is similar to a bill the House passed last year.
The food industry has strongly backed both bills, saying GMOs are safe and a
patchwork of state laws isn’t practical. Labeling advocates have been fighting
state-by-state to enact the labeling, with the eventual goal of a national
standard.
Passage
won’t be as easy in the Senate, where 60 votes will be needed to overcome a
certain filibuster. Vermont Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders have both
strongly opposed efforts to block their state’s law.Roberts and Stabenow have
worked to find a compromise that can pass the Senate. But those negotiations
broke down before the committee vote, and Roberts said the panel needed to move
quickly ahead of the Vermont law. Both said they are still negotiating and hope
to find agreement.
Stabenow
said that for the legislation to receive broad enough support to pass the
Senate, “it must contain a pathway to a national system of mandatory disclosure
that provides consumers the information they need and want to make informed
choices.”Three Democrats voted for Roberts’ bill: North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp,
Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.Genetically modified
seeds are engineered in laboratories to have certain traits, like resistance to
herbicides. The majority of the country’s corn and soybean crop is now
genetically modified, with much of that going to animal feed. Corn and soybeans
are also made into popular processed food ingredients like high-fructose corn
syrup, corn starch and soybean oil.The food industry says about 75 percent to
80 percent of foods contain genetically modified ingredients.While the Food and
Drug Administration says they are safe and there is little scientific concern
about the safety of those GMOs on the market, advocates for labeling say not
enough is known about their risks. Among supporters of labeling are many
organic companies that are barred by law from using modified ingredients in
their foods.
Those
groups said they are holding out hope for a compromise on the Senate floor.
“We
remain hopeful that the Senate will craft a national, mandatory GMO labeling
system that provides consumers with basic factual information about their
food,” said Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/bill-to-block-state-labeling-of-genetically-modified-foods/2016/03/01/7eb3c95a-dfce-11e5-8c00-8aa03741dced_story.html
Grain of truth: Making rice greener
Anmar Frangoul | Special to CNBC.com
Wednesday, 2 Mar 2016 | 6:01 AM ETCNBC.com
Rice is
one of the world's most important staples, with billions of people basing their
meals around it. But as the world's population grows, the amount of resources
needed to produce the food is growing as well. Demand for crops such as rice, wheat
and maize is set to increase by 33 percent by 2050, according to the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.According to the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), it takes between 1,000
and 3,000 liters of water to produce just one kilo of rice. While this compares
favorably with the 13,000 to 15,000 liters needed to produce one kilo of
grain-fed beef, rice still has an impact on the environment.
Risk
The FAO
says that, along with the stagnation of cereal yields and depletion of natural
resources, climate change is threatening food security. Founded more than 50 years ago and
based in the Philippines, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is a
research organisation looking to slash poverty and global hunger through
"rice science.""When the decision was made to found IRRI as the
first international agricultural research center, the world was facing
famine," V. Bruce J. Tolentino, the IRRI's deputy director general for
communication and partnerships, told CNBC's Sustainable Energy.
"To
supply the world with the food… (it) needed, we needed to be able to push
productivity, and that's been the end goal and mission of IRRI ever
since," Tolentino went on to add.
The power
of science
Climate
change is likely to have an impact on rice production, according to IRRI. Those
who farm rice are often some of the poorest agricultural workers, and their
livelihoods are threatened by environmental changes. Climate change impacts including an
increase in sea levels, flooding, salinity, increased CO2 levels, higher
temperature, scarcity of water and pests, diseases and weeds could all hit crop
yields.At IRRI a key aim is to gain an in depth understanding of the genetic
diversity of rice in order to assist producers facing challenges from climate
change as well as diseases and pests. To date, more than 40,000 rice genes have
been mapped.The importance of rice that is hardy and high yielding is only set
to increase.
"The
varieties that survive the drought and flooding, they enable farmers not only
to at least keep that season's worth of income and survive that season, but
they also encourage farmers to invest more in other ways to increase the
productivity," Sarah Beebout, a senior scientist at IRRI's soil chemistry,
crop and environmental sciences division, said.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/02/grain-of-truth-making-rice-greener.html
Millers refuse to collect paddy
Paddy farmers are facing fresh trouble in
Kuttanad as rice millers have refused to collect paddy from the fields where
harvesting has begun.The millers are demanding higher processing charges from the
government. Though the government had agreed to pay higher processing charges
during the previous harvesting season, the promised hike has not been paid,
according to millers.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/millers-refuse-to-collect-paddy/article8307249.ece
We don’t have to import rice with improved technology, govt support’
Marya Salamat March 3, 2016
Science and technology advocates want the government to take action
in modernizing local agriculture.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — At the forum for science and technology electoral agenda
led by AGHAM (Advocates of Science and Technology for the People), experts
agreed that government support in research and improving technology can spell
wonders for the country’s overall rice production. It can stabilize rice prices
and curb importation, it can increase the income of farmers and millers. All
these, based on government data on palay harvest and production as cited by a
rice expert who attended AGHAM’s forum. Although he focused just on the
technology used in post-harvest milling and drying, he said a lot more of rice
would be produced if technology here was improved. Joji Co at AGHAM’s science
and technology agenda for 2016 elections (Photo by Loi Manalansan / Bulatlat.com)
For Joji Co, president of Philippine Confederation of Grains
Association, the current trend of rising rice imports of the country could have
been avoided if the country’s succeeding presidents had stuck to their promise
of focusing on agriculture.Our total rice imports, he said, is only five
percent of what is wasted during the rice milling process, a problem which the
country could have resolved if the government was supportive.He cited Vietnam’s
achievement. He visited Vietnam in 1995 after it came out of a civil war. At
the time, he said Vietnam had 65 percent rice recovery after milling. But they
improved on their technology and after 20 years, they’re now exporting rice.In
the Philippines, Co said, “if we improve our current 65 percent to 70 percent
rice recovery after milling, we won’t have to import rice anymore.”
Co said the problems candidates should tackle are not just
government neglect in helping improve mechanical dryers and other equipment,
which Filipino farmers and millers use from the time palay is harvested.
Another problem revolves on government saying or promising something but doing
something else.“Rather than promise us help (without really doing so), why
doesn’t the government just say outright what their real policy in rice is?” he
said.By now, a “cartel” in rice and others more are benefiting from rice
importation, Co said. “All we ask (candidates and government) is state the
policy. Then we will stop rice milling and just import and tell the farmers to
stop planting rice,” said Co. S & T experts calling attention of 2016
electoral candidates (Photo by Loi Manalansan / Bulatlat)
But his heart is more for demanding, along with other science and
technology advocates, that the government take action in modernizing local
agriculture.Coming from a second generation of millers, Co expressed confidence
that with research funding from the government, Filipinos can develop better,
more affordable technology in rice milling.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:HKYIgMzisq0J:bulatlat.com/main/2016/03/03/we-dont-have-to-import-rice-with-improved-technology-govt-support/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
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