Today Rice News Headlines...
·
As Asia’s rice crop
shrivels, food security fears resurface
·
Cambodian Rice Quotes (
Updated 25-02 April/May 2016 )
·
Shirley Spear's
three-salmon kedgeree
·
EATING RICE MAY BE HARMFUL
FOR YOUR KIDS: STUDY
·
Wheat, rice basmati fall on
reduced offtake
·
What to do with agriculture
in 2016 and beyond
·
Focusing on local demand
gives more business
·
SKUAST-K to revive rice
variety Zag in Tangdhar
·
Thailand takes world's top
rice exporter crown in Q1
·
Seized Containers Belong to
Westco, Not UCI, Rice Importer Clarifies
·
VIETNAM, INDIA RICE SELLERS
INCREASE SOME OF THEIR QUOTES TODAY; OTHER ASIA RICE QUOTES UNCHANGED
·
APEDA AgriExchange
Newsletter - Volume 1463
News Detail...
Asia’s top rice
producers under pressure as drought hurts crop to increase food security fears
PUBLISHED : Monday, 02 May, 2016, 2:28pm
UPDATED : Monday, 02 May, 2016, 3:51pm
Nearly a
decade after a spike in global food prices sent shock waves around the world,
Asia’s top rice producers are suffering from a blistering drought that
threatens to cut output and boost prices of a staple for half the world’s
population.World rice production is expected to decline for the first time this
year since 2010, as failing rains linked to an El Nino weather pattern cut crop
yields in Asia’s rice bowl.
The
three account for more than 60 per cent of the global rice trade of about 43
million tonnes.
Rice
inventories in the three top exporters are set to fall by about a third at the
end of 2016 to 19 million tonnes, the biggest year-on-year drop since 2003,
according to Reuters calculations based on US Department of Agriculture data.Any
big supply disruption can be extremely sensitive. In 2008, lower Asian rice
output due to an El Nino prompted India to ban exports, sending global prices
sky-rocketing and causing food riots in Haiti and panic measures in big
importers such as the Philippines.
As of now we
haven’t seen a large price reaction to hot and dry weather because we have had
such significant surplus stocks in India and Thailand. But that can’t last
forever
JAMES FELL, ECONOMIST AT THE INTERNATIONAL GRAINS COUNCIL
Manila
at the time scrambled to crack down on hoarding, ordered troops to supervise
subsidised rice sales and asked fast food chains to serve half-portions, as
well as urging Vietnam and others to sell the country more rice.The world has
suffered a series of food crises over the past decade involving a range of
grains due to adverse weather.In the case of rice, benchmark Thai prices hit a
record around US$1,000 a tonne in 2008. Price spikes like this typically also
boost demand for other grains such as wheat, widely used for noodles in Asia,
and soybeans and corn used for food or feed.While currently far below 2008
highs, rice earlier this month hit US$389.50, the strongest since July and up
13 per cent from an eight-year low of US$344 in September.
Bruce
Tolentino of the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute is
concerned about Asia’s vulnerability.“In general prices are still stable right
now. They’re inching up though, and what will drive things over the edge will
be a major calamity in one of the major producing countries.”Although India’s
rice output in 2015 was largely stable, extremely hot temperatures are
threatening a second crop in eastern regions.Traders see further price gains by
June as India’s next big crop is not due until September and Thailand’s main
crop by year end.
The IGC
sees a 2016 world harvest of 473 million tonnes, down from 479 million tonnes
in 2015 and the first decline in six years.
Thailand’s
last main crop was only about half of the peak production a few years ago and
the USDA has forecast output will drop by more than a fifth to 15.8 million
tonnes this year.“The government has been asking farmers not to plant rice as
there is little water in the reservoirs after two years of drought,” said one
Bangkok-based trader.In Vietnam, output could fall 1.5 per cent this year to
44.5 million tonnes, while exports would be 8.7 million tonnes, steady on a
previous projection, the government said.As much as 240,000 hectares of paddy
have been destroyed by drought and salination in the central area and southern
Mekong Delta region, it said.A Singapore-based trader said that while the
annual decline appeared modest Vietnam’s latest harvest “is 5 to 6 per cent
lower than last year.
”Thailand and Vietnam harvest three crops a
year.Some Asian countries are already looking to raise imports.Indonesia is
expected to see 2016 purchases jump by more than 60 per cent to two million
tonnes from a few years ago.China, the world’s top importer, taking about 5
million tonnes annually, is expected to continue this buying pace. IGC has
forecast China’s 2016 production will fall short of consumption for a third
consecutive year.The Philippines had the lowest stocks since October in March
despite importing 750,000 tonnes and its procurement agency has standby
authority to ship an additional 500,000 tonnes.“Although El Nino has entered
its weakening stage, the risk of higher food prices remains given the onset of
the summer season,” said Philippine Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel
Esguerra
http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1940487/asias-top-rice-producers-under-pressure-drought-hurts-crop-increases-food
As Asia’s rice
crop shrivels, food security fears resurface
PUBLISHED: 7:21 AM, MAY 2, 2016
SINGAPORE
— Nearly a decade after a spike in global food prices sent shockwaves around
the world, Asia’s top rice producers are suffering from a blistering drought
that threatens to cut output and boost prices of a staple for half the world’s
population.World rice production is expected to decline for the first time this
year since 2010, as failing rains linked to an El Nino weather pattern cut crop
yields in Asia’s rice bowl.A heat wave is sweeping top rice exporter India,
while the No 2 supplier Thailand is facing a second year of drought. Swathes of
farmland in Vietnam, the third-biggest supplier, are also parched as irrigation
fed by the Mekong river runs dry.The three account for more than 60 per cent of
the global rice trade of about 43 million tonnes.“As of now we haven’t seen a
large price reaction to hot and dry weather because we have had such
significant surplus stocks in India and Thailand. But that can’t last forever,”
said Mr James Fell, an economist at the International Grains Council (IGC).
Rice
inventories in the three top exporters are set to fall by about a third at the
end of 2016 to 19 million tonnes, the biggest year-on-year drop since 2003,
according to Reuters calculations based on US Department of Agriculture data.Any
big supply disruption can be extremely sensitive. In 2008, lower Asian rice
output due to an El Nino prompted India to ban exports, sending global prices
sky-rocketing and causing food riots in Haiti and panic measures in big
importers such as the Philippines.Manila at the time scrambled to crack down on
hoarding, ordered troops to supervise subsidised rice sales and asked fast food
chains to serve half-portions, as well as urging Vietnam and others to sell the
country more rice.The world has suffered a series of food crises over the past
decade involving a range of grains due to adverse weather.In the case of rice,
benchmark Thai prices hit a record around US$1,000 (S$1,344) a tonne in 2008.
Price spikes like this typically also boost demand for other grains such as
wheat, widely used for noodles in Asia, and soybeans and corn used for food or
feed.While currently far below 2008 highs, rice earlier this month hit
US$389.50, the strongest since July and up 13 per cent from an eight-year low
of US$344 in September.
FIRST
FALL IN WORLD CROP SEEN FOR 6 YEARS
Mr Bruce
Tolentino of the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute is
concerned about Asia’s vulnerability.“In general prices are still stable right
now. They’re inching up though, and what will drive things over the edge will
be a major calamity in one of the major producing countries.”Although India’s
rice output in 2015 was largely stable, extremely hot temperatures are
threatening a second crop in eastern regions.Traders see further price gains by
June as India’s next big crop is not due until September and Thailand’s main
crop by year end.The IGC sees a 2016 world harvest of 473 million tonnes, down
from 479 million tonnes in 2015 and the first decline in six years.
MEKONG DELTA
Thailand’s last main crop was only about half
of the peak production a few years ago and the USDA has forecast output will
drop by more than a fifth to 15.8 million tonnes this year.“The government has
been asking farmers not to plant rice as there is little water in the
reservoirs after two years of drought,” said one Bangkok-based trader.In
Vietnam, output could fall 1.5 per cent this year to 44.5 million tonnes, while
exports would be 8.7 million tonnes, steady on a previous projection, the
government said.As much as 240,000 hectares of paddy have been destroyed by
drought and salination in the central area and southern Mekong Delta region, it
said.A Singapore-based trader said that while the annual decline appeared
modest Vietnam’s latest harvest “is 5 to 6 per cent lower than last year.”Thailand
and Vietnam harvest three crops a year.
IMPORTERS ALSO SUFFER
Some Asian countries are already looking to
raise imports.
Indonesia is expected to see 2016 purchases
jump by more than 60 per cent to two million tonnes from a few years ago.China,
the world’s top importer, taking about 5 million tonnes annually, is expected
to continue this buying pace. IGC has forecast China’s 2016 production will
fall short of consumption for a third consecutive year.The Philippines had the
lowest stocks since October in March despite importing 750,000 tonnes and its
procurement agency has standby authority to ship an additional 500,000 tonnes.“Although
El Nino has entered its weakening stage, the risk of higher food prices remains
given the onset of the summer season,” said Philippine Economic Planning
Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra. REUTERS
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/asias-rice-crop-shrivels-food-security-fears-resurface
Cambodian Rice Quotes (
Updated 25-02 April/May 2016 )
|
Variety
&
Percentage
|
Premium
Jasmine Rice (Rumduol) Purity > 90% Wet Season |
Jasmine
Rice (Rumduol) Purity > 85% Wet Season |
Fragrant Rice
(Sen Kra Ob)
>
85%
Dry Season |
Long Grain White Rice IR
|
|
5%
|
775
|
760
|
685
|
455
|
|
10%
|
770
|
755
|
....
|
450
|
|
25%
|
....
|
....
|
....
|
435
|
|
A1 Extra Super
|
....
|
....
|
....
|
....
|
|
A1 Super
|
....
|
....
|
....
|
....
|
FOB Term
US$/Ton Phnom Penh or Sihanouk Ville Port (Min 10 Container)
http://mekongoryza.com/en/ricenews/rice-news/49/asia-rice-quotes-unchanged-today.html
Shirley Spear's three-salmon
kedgeree
Shirley
Spear's kedgeree
PEAT
smoke is evocative of everything Hebridean. The smell of smouldering peats on a
still, dusky evening in Skye, will forever be a part of me.When Eddie and I
first arrived at The Three Chimneys, we had the winter ahead of us to source
local supply lines and develop our first menu. It was a daunting task. The
Highlands and Islands Development Board (as it was known back in 1984) had
produced a booklet highlighting a number of excellent food producers and
suppliers. This became my Bible. From its pages I found Andy Race, our fish
merchant in Mallaig, who was to become a friend as well as a font of fishing
knowledge. I was also interested in a small, one-man company in Uist that was
listed as peat smoking and hand-slicing wild salmon. I phoned him and he agreed
to send me a sample, which duly arrived in the post late on the following
Saturday afternoon at the end of a short, dark January day.
We used the restaurant as our sitting room in
those early years, affording ourselves more space and a roaring fireside during
the months when the business was closed to the public. When I cut open the
pack, the peaty aroma from the smoked salmon was a heady experience. I prepared
a plate of thin slices of freshly-baked wholemeal bread, lightly buttered, with
the peat smoked salmon laid atop, seasoned with freshly ground black pepper and
fresh lemon juice. Nothing more. We all relished our first taste. It was a
winner.
Sadly, smoking wild salmon became prohibitively
expensive a few years later, but by this time, farmed salmon was more widely
used. Andy Race always smoked his own products, including traditional kippers.
I asked him if he would use peat in his smoke mixture and he did with great
results, still selling widely today.The Salmon Kedgeree originated as a means
of using up the off-cuts and tail end of the huge, wild fish I regularly
prepped for the restaurant. It is a dish (more commonly made with curry spiced
smoked haddock) associated with the groaning sideboards of Victorian shooting
lodges, laden with help-yourself breakfast dishes keeping hot under silver
cloches.
But wild salmon, like oysters, was also
considered poor man’s food in the olden days, sold widely in our city pubs and
alehouses. A kind of salmon hash called Tweed Kettle, made with potatoes and
flaked salmon, was the equivalent of today’s pub grub.My Three-Salmon Kedgeree
was a great favourite in the restaurant at lunchtime. The smoked products lend
a light, spicy flavour, an alternative to the curry. When we opened The House
Over-By, this dish became a breakfast special, but it also makes a great family
brunch or supper dish.
Three-salmon
kedgeree
Serves
4/6
To poach
the salmon
450g
fresh Scottish salmon fillet
4 slices
of lemon
2 slices
of onion, separated into rings
2 bay
leaves
A few
sprigs of parsley with stalks
A sprig
of fresh fennel or dill with stalks (optional)
8 white
peppercorns
Pinch of
sea salt
½ lemon,
juice only
10fl oz
dry white wine
10fl oz
water
Method
1. Place
all ingredients except the salmon into a shallow sauté pan or wide saucepan
deep enough to take the piece of fish. Lay the salmon in the poaching liquid,
which should reach about halfway up the pan, almost covering the fish. Place on
a low heat and allow the liquid to come to simmering point. Cover with a lid,
or a piece of close-fitting foil, and cook gently over a low heat for three
minutes. Yurn off the heat and leave to cool with the lid or foil in place.
2. When
cool, remove the fish and strain the cooking liquor through a sieve, into a
bowl. Discard the ingredients in the sieve. Before pouring the poaching liquor
into a measuring jug, first measure Basmati rice in the jug, up to the level of
10fl oz. Pour the rice into a sieve and rinse it under cold running water until
the water runs clear and set aside to drain. After measuring the rice, pour the
poaching liquor into the jug. You will need 20fl oz of liquid to cook the rice.
If short on quantity, make it up to the correct amount with some cold water.
To cook
the rice and complete the dish
Basmati
rice, measured and washed as above
1 medium
onion, finely chopped
50g
Scottish butter, preferably unsalted
Finely
grated zest of 1 large lemon (juice of half can be used in the poaching liquor
above)
4
cardamoms, gently crushed with the blade of knife
Sea salt
flakes
3 large
eggs, hard boiled, cooled and chopped
4 spring
onions, sliced
125g
hot-smoked salmon
125g
peat-smoked salmon (or any well-flavoured smoked salmon)
2 heaped
tbsp mixed chopped chives, parsley, and herbs such as dill, fennel, chervil,
etc.
A little
butter and fresh single cream for serving
Method
1. Melt
the butter in a medium-size, thick-bottomed, lidded saucepan. Add chopped onion
and allow to cook for a few minutes. Add the washed rice, crushed cardamoms,
lemon zest and a good pinch of sea salt. Stir well and pour in the poaching
liquor. Bring to the boil and immediately cover with the close-fitting lid, or
a layer of foil plus the lid. Turn the heat down very low for exactly 15
minutes then turn the heat off, but do not remove lid for at least a further 10
minutes.
2. While
the rice is cooking, discard any skin and flake the poached salmon into a large
mixing bowl. Add the finely chopped hard-boiled eggs, spring onions, flaked
hot-smoked salmon and peat-smoked salmon cut into small pieces.
3. Once
the rice is cooked, remove the cardamoms and add it to the salmon mixture. Fold
ingredients together well with a large metal spoon. Just before serving, stir
in the fresh herbs and check seasoning. The whole dish can be cooled completely
and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator at this stage.
Individual portions can be reheated, but never reheat rice more than once.
4. To
serve, add a small knob of butter and a tablespoonful of cream per person and
reheat slowly and thoroughly over a low heat. Alternatively, this dish reheats
per portion in a microwave very successfully. Serve piping hot with wedge of
lemon and additional hard-boiled eggs quartered as a garnish if liked.
EATING RICE MAY BE
HARMFUL FOR YOUR KIDS: STUDY
The study included 759 infants born to mothers
in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study from 2011 to 2014. The infants were
followed up with phone interviews every four months until 12 months of age.At
12 months, dietary patterns during the past week were assessed, including
whether the infant had eaten rice cereal, white or brown rice or foods either
made with rice — such as rice-based snacks — or sweetened with brown rice syrup
— such as some brands of cereal bars. Infant urine samples were collected
beginning in 2013 along with a 3-day food diary.Researchers found that 80 per
cent of the 759 infants were introduced to rice cereal in the first year of
life with most (64 per cent) starting at 4 to 6 months of age. At 12
months, 43 per cent reported eating some type of rice product in the past week;
13 per cent ate white rice and 10 per cent ate brown rice at an average of one
to two servings per week. About 24 per cent of infants ate food made with
rice or sweetened rice syrup in the past week at an average of five to six
servings per week. Based on information recorded in food diaries two days
before urine sample collection, 71 infants (55 per cent) consumed some type of
rice product in the prior two days.
Results indicated that arsenic concentrations
were higher among infants who ate rice — or foods mixed with rice — compared
with infants who ate no rice. Also, total urinary arsenic concentrations were
twice as high among infants who ate white or brown rice compared with those who
ate no rice. The highest urinary arsenic concentrations were seen among
infants who ate baby rice cereal. It was nearly double for those who ate rice
snacks compared with those who ate no rice.
The study was published in the journal JAMA
Pediatrics
Wheat, rice basmati fall on reduced
offtake
By PTI | 30 Apr, 2016, 04.21PM IST
NEW DELHI: Wheat and rice basmati prices eased by up to Rs 100 at
the wholesale grains market today due to reduced offtake against adequate
stocks position on increased supplies from producing regions. However, barley
advanced by on rising demand from consuming industries. Traders said adequate
stocks position on the back of increased supplies from producing regions
against reduced offtake by flour mills kept pressure on wheat prices. They said
muted demand from retailers against sufficient stocks helped rice basmati
prices to trade lower.
In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) shed anotherRs 5 to
Rs 1,620-1,625 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and enquired
lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,625-1,630 per 90 kg.
In the rice
section, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety also slipped to Rs
5,700-5,800 and Rs 4,600-5,500 against last close of Rs 5,800-5,900 and Rs
4,600-5,600 per quintal respectively.
On the other hand, other bold grains like barley rose by Rs 40 to Rs 1,580-1,585 per quintal.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 1,850-2,100, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,620-1,625, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,625-1,630, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 265, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 265, Roller flour mill Rs 850-860 (50 kg), Maida Rs 930-950 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 980-990 (50 kg).
On the other hand, other bold grains like barley rose by Rs 40 to Rs 1,580-1,585 per quintal.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 1,850-2,100, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,620-1,625, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,625-1,630, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 265, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 265, Roller flour mill Rs 850-860 (50 kg), Maida Rs 930-950 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 980-990 (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 5,700-5,800, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,600-5,500, Permal raw Rs 1,900-1,950, Permal wand Rs 2,075-2,125, Sela Rs 2,400-2,500 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,775-1,800, Bajra Rs 1,600-1,605, Jowar yellow Rs 1,800-1,900, white Rs 3,400-3,500, Maize Rs 1,375-1,385, Barley Rs 1,580-1,585.
What to do
with agriculture in 2016 and beyond
Control of Pests and Diseases
After availability of water, good seeds and
fertilizers, come the need to protect crops from pests and diseases to raise
yields, minimize losses and produce quality products.
Majority of the pests are insects but rodents,
birds and snails are also very damaging to crops in certain locations and at
certain times of the year. Pathogens include bacteria, fungi and viruses as
well as nematodes (very tiny worms infesting roots).
The first line of defense is planting of
species/varieties best for local growing conditions and with natural
resistance/tolerance to prevalent pests and diseases. Next are quarantine and
sanitation .i.e. removal and burning of diseased materials.
Pests and diseases are also contained by
mechanical/physical measures like handpicking, use of barriers, insect traps and tillage.
Chemical control with synthetic chemicals and
botanical preparations is common, standard practice when resistant varieties
are not available and when the usual, cultural practices do not provide
adequate control.
And finally biological control with mass
rearing and release of natural agents like wasps, lacewings and earwigs which
prey on insects. Likewise, deployment of certain bacteria, fungi and viruses
which are pathogenic to insects like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). These
beneficial microorganisms can also be used to control soil-borne pathogens.
Included among the techniques for biological
control is the deployment of male sterile insects made impotent by irradiation
or by use of molecular biology procedures. The sterile males significantly
reduce reproduction rate of target pests and serves as a form of birth control.
Integrated Pest Management
With the advent of potent and relatively
inexpressive and easy to apply chemicals, farmers the world over including our
own, have become addicted to massive, indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides
until their long-term unwanted consequences on the health of humans and on the
environment became apparent with the publication of Rachel Carson’s book
“Silent Spring.”
Since then the standards for maximum
permissible levels of pesticide residues became progressively strict (recent
example of the rejection of Philippine banana exports to China). The chemicals
classified as highly hazardous (Category I and II in The World Health
Organization [WHO] classification system) have been banned worldwide. They are
being replaced by Category III and IV pesticides, still hazardous nevertheless
relatively benign.
The world has moved on from the automatic,
mindless use of chemical pesticides into the new paradigm of Integrated Pest
Management (IPM). A better understanding of the ecology of insects have shown
that the objective of pest control had to be the establishment of acceptable pest
levels below which interventions are not called for. That the emphasis ought to
be on control, not eradication because not only is eradication expensive but
also unsafe. Allowing a pest population to survive at a reasonable threshold
reduces selection pressure and prevents build up of resistant pest populations.
We had been a beneficiary of this global
paradigm shift towards 1p.m. The brown plant hopper is a very serious pest of
rice. Entomologists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), University
of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice) and their counterparts in the national research organizations in
Asia, have found out that withholding chemical sprays during the first 40 days
of the rice crop allowed the spiders, wasps and dragon flies which prey on the
brown leafhoppers to build up and provide effective control of the brown
leafhoppers which appear late in the season. This observation led to a massive
drop in application of chemicals in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam as well as
among rice farmers in Indonesia and the Philippines.
More Science Needed
IPM as a broad-based approach for economically
controlling pests and diseases without compromising human health and
sustainability of the environment is a continuing challenge. The preferred
methods are breeding for resistance and deployment of biological control
agents.
However, unlike synthetic chemicals which we
just import, we cannot rely very much on other countries for our technology
requirements for plant breeding and biological control. The species and strains
of insects and pathogens affecting crops are by and large unique to geographic
locations. The methodologies may be similar but we still have to work out the
details ourselves.
The recent outbreak of cocolisap in the coconut
farms in Batangas, Laguna and Quezon illustrates the complexity and magnitude
of the challenge. Since no other countries were affected except us there was
nobody we can turn to.
Our first problem was species identification.
Was this scale insect a native species or an alien one which somehow eluded our
quarantine? Since the local species Aspidiotus destructor is a minor pest and
disappears during the rainy season, it was below the radar of our insect
taxonomists. It took them a while to find out that we are dealing with a second
species, Aspidiotus rigidus.
In the meantime, there was a huge debate in
social media between organic farming advocates and the Philippine Coconut
Authority (PCA) on what pesticides to use to contain the pest outbreak. The
organic farming advocates preferred use of horticultural oils which have a
contact mode of action and non-toxic. They vehemently opposed the use of the
new class of relatively benign pesticides called neonicotinoids.
Since the target insects adhere closely to the
underneath parts of the leaf, contact pesticides like horticultural oils could
not get to them. Worse, it was difficult to spray the coconut trees which are
tall and most of which are located in far, inaccessible areas. Thus, PCA went
ahead with the neonicotinoids chemicals which were easier to administer and
more effective because of their systemic mode of action.
Mario Navasero and his colleagues at the
National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) at UPLB had to scramble and survey the
devastated coconut plantations in Batangas, Laguna and Quezon in search of
naturally-occurring predators of cocolisap. They found a candidate species, a
wasp of the order Hymenoptera, but there was much still to be done. They had to
study the biology of the candidate biological agent, its cycle and most
importantly how it can be commercially mass produced in the laboratory, what
kind of culture medium to use and how best to deploy the predator in the field.
Fortunately, nature came to our rescue in the
guise of Typhoon Glenda which ripped across Southern Luzon. Typhoon Glenda must
have blown the cocolisap away and the affected coconuts in Batangas, Laguna and
Quezon miraculously recovered.
Network of Crop Protection Centers
In the late 70s, at the time of Department of
Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arturo Tanco, Domingo Panganiban, the lead
implementor of the Masagana 99 rice program and entomologist Fernando Sanchez,
Sr. conceived of a network of regional crop protection centers in the Bureau of
Plant Industry (BPI) with its national headquarters at UPLB.
These centers were adequately staffed with
well-trained entomologists, plant pathologists, weed scientists and ecologists.
The centers had well-equipped laboratories with generous bilateral support from
US, Germany and Australia.
Unfortunately, these agencies are now shells of
their original status due to lack of support and neglect. Their research staff
have been decimated by the rationalization program imposed on the DA and its
agencies.
The cocolisap mini-tragedy should be warning
enough. We may not be as lucky next time.
Use of chemical pesticides ought to be only a
last resort whenever everything else fails in the control of pests and
diseases. However, modern plant breeding and development of biocontrol agents
are highly knowledge intensive and very location-specific. We must possess the
capacity to develop these technologies on our own.
Part of the agenda for agriculture for 2016 and
beyond should be the massive rehabilitation of the NCPC at UPLB, the regional
crop protection centers of the BPI and the entomology and plant pathology
academic departments of the regional state colleges and universities (SCUs).
***
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
April
28, 2016
LAHORE: Domestic commerce is steadily growing
in the country as even the large exporters have realised that they cannot
survive any global downturn if they do not have a solid base for their products
in the domestic market.
The thrust towards domestic market has also
increased because young consumers are the dominant force. Retail is a buzz word
these days and it is not limited to groceries. Walk-in customers are being
served even at private hospitals and private schools, as the government
services in these fields continue to deteriorate.
Pakistan’s economy has come a long way from
licensed based imports when the license holders used to make tons of money.
Exports were then seen as the best business to make money. This period lasted
for a longer period because the rupee was regularly devalued to provide the
exporters with guaranteed profits against their investments. After every three
consignments, the exporters used to get higher returns for the goods as the
rupee value used to be higher at the time of shipment and lower when the export
proceeds were received.
Retailing first started in education when
hundreds of private schools, colleges and universities were established by the
private sector to fill the vacuum created by the inept public education system.
The healthcare services too were soon dominated by the private sector as
government health services were pathetic. The housing societies were the next
to erupt as the state had no answer to the ever growing housing needs of the
population.
Among the manufacturing sectors home appliances
started slowly replacing the imported appliances. Two decades back, the
refrigerators, colour television, and air conditioners market was dominated by
imports. Today, the top three brands in each of these categories are produced
in Pakistan along with fully automatic washing machines, microwave ovens and
other electronic gadgets.
Textiles, rice, and leather that comprised the
bulk of our exports however remained focused on foreign markets. Rice
manufacturers were the first among exporters to recognise the importance of the
domestic market and successfully introduced their basmati rice brands a decade
back. They now have a lucrative domestic market for their products. Some
leather exporters introduced their branded products in the domestic market but
received lukewarm response.
The share of textiles in the domestic market
was less than 15 percent about five years back. Textiles however remained the
mainstay of our exports commanding a share of 65-55 percent in the total
exports of the country. Whenever global textiles came under pressure, the
textile industry in Pakistan suffered more heavily because of its dependence on
exports. Currently the entire ladies fabric and apparel market of Pakistan is
designed and produced here.
Breeze was the first Pakistani brand of fabric
and apparel that made its mark in the domestic market and then in exports. Its
products were retailed at company retail stores. This model was replicated in
foreign countries. Thus, this brand was first established in Pakistan before
venturing into exports. Khadi has emerged the most popular brand in Pakistan.
Fabric designing played a major role in the
popularity of Pakistani ladies fabric that according to some estimates has
sales in the vicinity of Rs400 billion per annum and increasing. Khadija Shah,
the daughter of former federal Finance Minister Salman Shah is the most
celebrated fabric and apparel designer of the country.
The country boosts of over 150 most talented
fabric and apparel designer that remain engaged throughout the year to produce
innovative designs for scores of brands.
In the last two years, the largest business
houses of the country have established hundreds of retail outlets of their
brands. You can find retail outlets in every major market of the country from
Gul Ahmad, Nishat Group, Al Karam, Sapphire, and Din Textiles. Most of them
have opened dozens of retail outlets in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom,
Canada and the United States. Even individual brands like Junaid Jamshaid
after success in Pakistan have opened retail outlets in UK, Canada and the US.
The new retailers innovate ways to attract the
new high-tech generation with appealing ads and innovative brand names.
The name attracts the youngsters but it is the
final product that matters for sustained sales and mouth publicity
SKUAST-K to revive rice variety Zag
in Tangdhar
“The
traditional Zag variety (Lal Chawal) was losing its area in Tangdhar and was
becoming extinct. On the directives of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nazeer Ahmed
an effort was initiated to revive the heritage rice variety ZAG rice in this
area,” the statement said.
Srinagar, Publish Date: May 1 2016 12:44AM | Updated Date: May 1 2016 12:44AM
In
a welcome initiative, SKUAST-K has decided to revive the heritage rice variety
Zag in Tangdhar in district Kupwara.
In
this regard, a university team led by Dr G A Parray, Associate Director
Research, MRCFC, Khudwani, officers of agriculture department recently launched
a 2-day “Participatory Seed Production of High Yielding Varieties” and “Revival
of Zag Rice of Kashmir Himalayas” in Tangdhar, a statement here said.
Raja
Manzoor local MLA and large number of farmers of the area were present. An
interface of the scientists-farmers was also held on the occasion.
“The
traditional Zag variety (Lal Chawal) was losing its area in Tangdhar and was
becoming extinct. On the directives of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nazeer Ahmed
an effort was initiated to revive the heritage rice variety ZAG rice in this
area,” the statement said.
“15q
seed of high yielding varieties and pure seed of Zag were distributed among
farmers for up-scaling the production. One compact block of 200 kanals of land
in the Agriculture Zone Gabar of Tangdhar was brought under this participatory
seed production programme,” it said.
Dr
Parray speaking during the interface highlighted the role played by the
university scientists towards rice research and in addressing the problems
faced by farming community of the valley.
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/business/skuast-k-to-revive-rice-variety-zag-in-tangdhar/216291.htmlhttp://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/business/skuast-k-to-revive-rice-variety-zag-in-tangdhar/216291.html
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/may/01/muhith-against-duty-hike-rice-import
Thailand takes world's top rice
exporter crown in Q1
- 29 Apr 2016 at 17:27
- WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS
- Thailand topped
the list of the world’s biggest rice exporters in the first quarter, shipping
2.85 million tonnes of the grain, a 34% year-on-year increase.
The Thai
Rice Exporters Association said Friday that the 44 billion baht in rice exports
marked a 23% increase in value over the same period in 2015.By comparison, India shipped 2.3 million tonnes of rice from January-March while Vietnam exported 1.4 million tonnes, Pakistan 1.3 million tonnes and 820,000 tonnes by the United States.
However, Vietnamese customs data released on Wednesday showed the world's No.3 rice exporter shipped 1.55 million tonnes. The country said it expects second-quarter exports to top 1.6 million tonnes.
India's export volume was estimated to have risen 2% in the quarter, while that of Vietnam rose by 58% and 4% by the US. Pakistan's export volume dropped 9%.
In the first quarter, the five biggest buyers of Thai rice were Indonesia (317,100 tonnes, an 877% annual increase), Ivory Coast (272,354 tonnes, up 86%), Benin (266,246 tonnes, up 426%), China (257,708 tonnes, up 86%) and Cameroon (191,846 tonnes, up 251%).
In March alone, the country exported 990,864 tonnes of rice worth 15.2 billion baht, rising 26% by volume and 17% by value year-on-year. In the month, exporters delivered white rice to governments in China, Indonesia and the Philippines and broken rice to African nations.
The association estimated the rice export at 700,000-750,000 tonnes in April due to the Songkran holidays.
Without government-to-government rice deals,
rice sales in traditional markets did not increase much because the purchasing
power of African countries remains low, the association said
Seized Containers Belong to Westco,
Not UCI, Rice Importer Clarifies
Monrovia - The management of United Commodities
Incorporated (UCI), a major rice importer in Liberia, says it has been wrongly
accused by the Liberia Revenue Authority relating to some 56 containers
released to UCI without honouring the authority’s levies.The LRA in a statement
last week charged that the containers entered Liberia, stored at APM Terminals
and later released between January and March 2016 by the alleged perpetrators
to UCI without the payment of customs and other revenues due Liberia.”But UCI,
in a statement responding to a FrontPageAfrica inquiry said the containers in
question actually belonged to another company, Westco International
Incorporated.
“We want to clarify that the containers in question do not belong to UCI but Westco, which is using our warehouses.” The company says it has since settled all payments to LRA and all receipts given by LRA carry Westco’s name. It is very unfortunate that someone is using this to tarnish UCI's image,” the company statement noted.UCI says the LRA is demanding payment in levies from the corporation simply because Westco International Incorporate cleared the goods from the port and placed them in portion of our warehouse that has leased to the said Westco Incorporated.UCI says it has operated within Liberia from more than nine years without any duty related problems with Liberia Custom Service.
“UCI, because of her confidence in the Liberian economy has made huge investment within the Freeport of Liberia in excess of five million United States Dollars. Our corporation has no intent to carry out illegal activities that will jeopardize our investment in Liberia.”According to UCI, Westco Incorporated sometime in December 2015 leased a portion of UCI warehouse to store some commodities such as vegetable products including oil.“Regrettably, it now appears to us that Westco International Incorporated brought in 56 and placed them in the facility illegally by their failure to pay the customs duties, something we as a corporation frown upon.”
Nevertheless, UCI says it remains committed to maintaining a cordial relationship it has enjoyed over the years with the Ministry of Finance and has taken the position that it will work along with the LRA to ensure that Westco International pays the short payment amount as requested by the LRA.The company says it is resolved to do this in a bid to show good faith with the LRA and also establish the fact that whatever Westco International did was not sanctioned by UCI.UCI has since the incident called upon Westco International to immediately commence the payment of the amount requested by the LRA without delay as UCI strives to remain engaged with them until the full amount is paid to government revenue.
http://frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/business/612-seized-containers-belong-to-westco-not-uci-rice-importer-clarifies
VIETNAM, INDIA RICE SELLERS INCREASE SOME OF THEIR QUOTES TODAY;
OTHER ASIA RICE QUOTES UNCHANGED
4/29/2016
ORYZA
(29-04-2016)
VIETNAM, INDIA
RICE SELLERS INCREASE SOME OF THEIR QUOTES TODAY; OTHER ASIA RICE QUOTES
UNCHANGED
Vietnam rice
sellers increased their quotes for 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton to
around $345 $355 per ton today. India rice sellers increased their quotes for
parboiled rice by about $5 per ton to around $345 $355 per ton.Other Asia rice
sellers kept their quotes unchanged.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5%
rice is indicated at around $380 $390 per ton, about $15 per ton premium on
Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $365 $375 per ton.
India 5% rice
is indicated at around $365 $375 per ton, on par with Pakistan 5% rice shown at
around $365 $375 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25%
rice is indicated at around $365 $375 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on
Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $355 $365 per ton.
India 25% rice
is indicated at around $335 $345 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan
25% rice shown at around $325 $335 per ton.
Parboiled Rice
Thailand
parboiled rice is indicated at around $390 $400 per ton. India parboiled rice
is indicated at around $345 $355 per ton, about $60 per ton discount to
Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 $415 per ton.
100% Broken
Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at
around $340 $350 per ton, about $5 per ton discount to Vietnam 100% broken rice
shown at around $345 $355 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around
$280 $290 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice
shown at around $290 $300 per ton.
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1463
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