No toxicity in Odisha rice': US Naval Research Laboratory
Published:
05th September 2016 06:51 AM
Last Updated:
05th September 2016 06:51 AM
BHUBANESWAR: A latest research has shown that rice
grown in Odisha does not have arsenic content. Unlike those produced in China
or even in neighbouring West Bengal, rice from the State is found to possess no
toxicity.Studies conducted at US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington by Dr SB
Qadri and Dr BB Rath in collaboration with Dr BK Roul of the Institute of
Materials Science (IMS), Bhubaneswar, have found the evidence in rice husks which
are an efficient concentrator of soil minerals.Samples collected from rice fields of Maluda island near Chilika lake and Dhusuri in Bhadrak district were put to study over the last three years for rice husk chemistry. Roul said the study showed varying amounts of minority elements concentrated by the plant in the husk. The Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique used to identify elemental composition showed high and medium concentration of manganese and high concentrations of iron from rice husks of these two areas.
“These elemental concentrations are uniquely present in the husk but not in rice grain and are directly correlated with the soil chemistry,” he said.
The study found that there is a clear indication of effectiveness of the rice plant to concentrate the mineral content of soil in the husk which can be easily determined using the EDXRF analysis as an indicator of mineral deposits in different locations.
“Moreover, arsenic is known as a carcinogen readily collected in the rice plant from soil and water. Earlier studies have also suggested that brown rice and white rice contain arsenic of various concentrations from different parts of the world. However, samples of rice husks and kernels obtained from Odisha showed no arsenic content,” Roul said, adding rice of Odisha should have been sold at higher price in the global market due to its non-toxicity.
The study which establishes food value of rice without presence of toxic elements could be of tremendous help in identifying many varieties of mineral deposits in the soil by simply examining the husks collected from various rice fields of Odisha. Similarly, it would also provide instant information on the soil chemistry and soil mineral of the region.
The study by the three scientists points at the fact that nature, during billion years of evolution, protects its grains. The plant produces a coating to prevent damage of grains from pests and the environment, and these protective shells are known as rice hulls or rice husks.
Advanced processing of the husk can even produce high value industrial materials such as silicon carbide and silicon oxide and silicon nitride and silicates of zinc, zirconium and cadmium.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/No-toxicity-in-Odisha-rice-US-Naval-Research-Laboratory/2016/09/05/article3612685.ece
Nigeria: Customs Loses N600 Billion to Diverted Vehicle Imports
By Babalola Yusuf and Olajide Fabamise
Nigerian ports have lost a whopping N600 billion in
the last three years due to diversion in the importation of vehicles from the
nation's ports to neighbouring ports, especially the Cotonou port in the
Republic of Benin, LEADERSHIP findings have revealed.This figure is said to be
the value of the revenue that ought to have been collected by the Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS) if the vehicles were shipped directly to Nigerian ports.
This is even as activities at the terminals designated
for handling of Roll on Roll off (RORO) have plummeted.
Similarly, rice smuggling through the country's
borders has been on astronomical increase since the ban on rice importation
through the country's land borders.
The federal government had in March, announced the
re-introduction of the ban. This was a reversal of an earlier policy in October
2015, which allowed rice imports through land borders provided appropriate duty
was paid.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the NCS had stated that during
the five-month period October 2015 and March 2016 when the importation was
allowed, a total of 24.992 metric tonnes of rice valued at N2.34 billion was
imported through the land borders. This however fell short of the projected
revenue to be generated with the removal of import restrictions.
The smuggling of rice has continued at the land
borders unabated, as evidenced by the volume of foreign rice in the country.
Between January and February 2016, about 9,238 bags of rice were seized from
smugglers, with about N64.67 million as duty paid value.
According to figures by the terminal operators in
Lagos ports, the number of cars and vans discharged at the ports dropped by 63
per cent from 27,000 units in January 2014 to 8,000 units in January 2015 and
5,000 units in August 2016. It was learnt that Nigerian ports, which previously
handled the importation of over 400,000 units of vehicles annually, now handle
just about 25 per cent of the figure.
Terminal operators attributed the lull to the
implementation of the automobile policy adopted by the country under the
administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the automobile policy was
introduced in October 2013 to encourage local manufacturing and discourage
importation of vehicles as well as gradually phase out used cars (popularly
known as Tokunbo cars).
The commencement of the implementation of the policy
in 2013 raised the tariffs on imported vehicles from 20 per cent to 70 per
cent.
The managing director of Grimaldi Agency Nigeria Ltd,
a terminal designated for the handling of Roll on Roll off (RORO), Mr Ascanio
Russo, told LEADERSHIP in an interview that the terminal could only handle an
average of 72,000 vehicles yearly since the start of the automotive policy.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201609050148.html
State government puts millers on notice
- Special Correspondent
in the State have been set a deadline of September 30 to supply
to Civil Supplies Department 1.81 lakh tonnes of rice worth Rs 482 crore which
is yet to be delivered by them as part of custom milling.The government had
procured 23 lakh tonnes of foodgrains from procurement centres in 2015-16 and
handed over the stock to millers for custom milling. The millers milled the
grains and produced 14 lakh tonnes of rice which was supplied to the
government. As much as 1.81 lakh tonnes of rice was still due from them, Civil
Supplies Commissioner C.V. Anand was informed by departmental officials at a
meeting.
Mr. Anand asked them to take steps to get the stocks by September
30. He also directed cases against millers who defaulted in custom milling. A
release said the Commissioner addressed letters to Joint Collectors of all districts
furnishing names of millers who did not return the rice. He asked them to take
steps to get the remaining quantity of rice from millers and send him reports
by September 10. It was noted that of the 1.81 lakh tonnes due from millers, as
much as 1.74 lakh tonnes pertained to rabi crop.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/government-puts-millers-on-notice/article9074009.ece
Gov’t to remove rice import quota next year
By: Ben O. de Vera
@BenArnolddeVera
Philippine Daily Inquirer
01:23 AM September 5th, 2016
THE COUNTRY’S economic managers are in favor of removing import restrictions on rice next year in line with the Philippines’ commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.The WTO allowed the Philippines in 2014 to extend its quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice until June 30, 2017, in a bid to buy more time for local farmers to prepare for free trade.“During the economic subcluster meeting held at Malacañang on Aug. 24, the cluster members agreed to allow the lifting of the QR. However, this does not mean an open market domestically, considering the existence of Republic Act No. 8178, otherwise known as the Agricultural Tariffication Act” of 1996, the Office of the Cabinet Secretary said in a statement sent to the Inquirer Friday night.
“As explained by the Department of Agriculture in the technical working group meeting last Sept. 1, RA 8178 has to be amended to meet and comply with the lifting of the QR. Thus, it is recommended to revisit RA 8178 and amend the same accordingly to provide a harmonized direction on rice importation in the country,” it said.
Lower food prices
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) earlier disclosed the decision of the economic managers to remove the Philippines’ quota on rice importation, as the government moves to lower the price of the Filipinos’ staple food.
Neda Director Reynaldo R. Cancio told an investors conference call last week that repealing the QR on rice would form part of a “strategic” trade policy to bring down food prices.
Since the government imposes a quota on rice imports, domestic prices are vulnerable to shocks resulting from meager supply.
The QR puts the burden of rice supply and demand on the government, whereas the market forces are limited by the quota system.
The extended QR slaps a 35-percent duty on imported rice under a minimum access volume (MAV) of 805,200 metric tons. Importation outside of the MAV limit are levied a higher tariff of 40 or 50 percent.
In 1995, the WTO allowed the Philippines to impose a 10-year quota system for rice importation. The QR was extended in 2004, and then lapsed in 2012, before it was again renewed in 2014
Duterte admin to amend law mandating rice import quota to lift QR
By: Ben O. de Vera
@BenArnolddeVera
Philippine Daily Inquirer
07:00 PM September 3rd, 2016
The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte will move to amend a decade-old law that put in place the rice import quota in line with economic managers’ decision to scrap the quantitative restriction (QR) for good next year.“During the economic sub-cluster meeting held at Malacañang last Aug. 24, the cluster members agreed to allow the lifting of the QR. However, this does not mean an open market domestically, considering the existence of Republic Act (RA) No. 8178, otherwise known as the Agricultural Tariffication Act” of 1996, the Office of the Cabinet Secretary said in a statement sent to the Inquirer on Friday night.
“As explained by the Department of Agriculture in the technical working group meeting last Sept. 1, RA 8178 has to be amended to meet and comply with the lifting of the QR. Thus, it is recommended to revisit RA 8178 and amend the same accordingly to provide a harmonized direction on rice importation in the country,” it added.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) earlier disclosed the decision of economic managers to remove the Philippines’ quota on rice importation, as the government moves to lower the prices of the said Filipino staple food.
Neda Director Reynaldo R. Cancio told an investor conference call last week that repealing the QR on rice will form part of a “strategic” trade policy to be pursued by the Duterte administration aimed at bringing down food prices.
In 2014, the World Trade Organization (WTO) allowed the Philippines to extend its QR on rice until June 30, 2017, in a bid to buy more time for local farmers to prepare for free trade in light of the government’s goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency.
Since the government imposes a quota on rice imports, domestic prices are vulnerable to shocks resulting from meager supply.
The QR puts the burden of rice supply and demand to the government, whereas the market forces are being limited by the quota system.
Pundits say importation should be done by the private sector in order to allow market forces to determine prices.
The extended QR slaps 35-percent duty on imported rice under a minimum access volume (MAV) of 805,200 metric tons. Importation outside of the MAV limit are levied a higher tariff of 50 percent.
The Philippines’ most favored nation (MFN) rate—the additional tariff imposed when imported outside of Asean—on the commodity remains at about 40 percent.
In 1995, the WTO allowed the Philippines to impose a 10-year quota system for rice importation. The QR was extended in 2004, and then lapsed in 2012, before again being renewed in 2014.
Now, rice seeds to combat global warming!’
Saturday, 03 September 2016 | Kumar Chellappan | Chennai
An international research project featuring Indian and Australian
biotechnology scientists is underway to develop a variety of salt tolerant rice
seed which is expected to address issues like global warming, sea level
increase and nutrition deficiency.MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and
University of Tasmania (UTAS) in Australia inked a deal on Thursday for a joint
venture research to develop a salt tolerant seed which according to scientists
could play a significant role in food and nutrition security.The rice variety,
capable of standing up to salt water incursions and sea water rise due to
climate change, was developed by the agronomists and biotechnologists in MSSRF
led by Prof Ajay Parida in 2010. But due to opposition from activists and
environmentalists, the field trials of this genetically-modified seeds could
not be taken up in India and hence the development work was in state of limbo.“Though
initial experiments were successful, we could not take up the project further
because of opposition from a section of people,” Prof Parida told The Pioneer.
This salt and drought resistant variety assumes importance in the
backdrop of water shortage ruining paddy crops and salt water incursion into
paddy fields because of climate change, said the professor.He said the seed was
developed from wild variety of rice which had many desirable and undesirable
traits. “The undesirable traits such as grain shattering, poor plant type, poor
grain characteristics, and low yield were removed from the seed. To achieve
precise transfer of genes from wild species, strategies involving a combination
of conventional plant breeding methods along with other approaches such as
tissue culture and molecular approaches have become important. That’s why we
are collaborating with UTAS,” said Prof Parida.
The three-year project is being done in the UTAS agricultural fields and has
been titled “Developing salt tolerance rice for food security in Australia and
India”. The research work is supported by Australia-India Strategic Research
Fund.“We need to produce as much food in the next 50 years as we did in the entire 10,000 year history of agriculture. This is the reason why we need this kind of project,” said Holger Meinke, director, School of Land and Food, UTAS, Hobart, who was the signatory on behalf of UTAS
http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/now-rice-seeds-to-combat-global-warming.html
Mechanization is the way to go in farming
EFFICIENT COMPACT RICE MILL –
One form of mechanization that can help increase farming profit and at the same
contribute to increased food supply is the use of efficient rice mills. The Lee
Hwa rice mill from Korea is said to have a milling recovery of 6.8 percent with
the right moisture content of palay. That’s much higher than the usual 55
percent recovery with the use of ordinary rice mills. Photo shows Philip Kim
(left) and his assistants testing the compact rice mill from Korea which will
be showcased at the forthcoming Agrilink trade show.
CATTLE IN AN ORCHID FARM –
Sally Leuenberger, dubbed the Orchid Queen of Davao City, has a practical way
of utilizing the portion of her 7-hectare farm that is not occupied by orchids.
That’s by raising cattle. The animals keep the grasses low and the grasses that
are cut from the area occupied by her orchids are also fed to the ruminants.
Her cows provide her good additional income. For instance, she has been selling
her cows at P18,000 to P35,000 per head. Aside from cattle, she also has some
goats for meat and milk.
In the past, about the only form mechanization in
the Philippines was the use of tractors in tilling the land. That was fine but
times have changed.Some have expressed before that mechanization would displace
the manual workers in the farm. That is not true. With more machines that
produce bigger harvests, there are new opportunities for people to be employed
in higher-paying employment in the community. With higher income of farmers,
there are new investments that could be made.
Today, it is possible to mechanize many farm
chores. The latest we have gathered is that FIT Corea which distributes various
Korean farm machines in the Philippines is introducing a direct-seeding machine
for rice. This can seed four hectares in one day, according to FIT Corea
president Philip Kim.
The good thing about the direct seeding machine
besides being able to sow the seeds fast is that the rows are straight. And
this will facilitate mechanical weeding and harvesting.
Of course, many people know that rice
transplanters and combine harvesters are now becoming increasingly popular in
the country. And the trend could continue as more machinery companies introduce
their machines. At the forthcoming Agrilink trade show, for instance, the
Korean agricultural machinery industry cooperative (KAMIKO) will be showcasing
their products in their pavilion which is said to be the biggest in the trade
expo.
Efficient rice milling is another important form
of mechanization that can increase profitability among farmers. The trend,
according to Philip Kim, is the use of compact rice mills that can do the
function of the big rice processing complexes (RPC). He said that the compact
machines require only little space and they also don’t require three-phase
electric connection which could be a big problem in the countryside.
FIT Corea is also distributing a compact brown
rice mill that is also very efficient. In a recent demonstration at the Palawan
State University in Puerto Princesa, the machine proved its worth. It produced
clean brown rice in just one passing.
If you are interested in farm mechanization, make
sure to visit the Agrilink expo on October 6-8 at the World Trade Center, Pasay
City
http://www.mb.com.ph/mechanization-is-the-way-to-go-in-farming/#xBHu83LjMHkgKbMZ.99
Rice Field Day recognizes farmers, others
Photo by David VantressGabe LaHue, right, a
doctoral student in agriculture at UC-Davis, poses with Bruce Linquist of
UC-Davis at the annual Rice Field Day at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs
on Wednesday.
By
David Vantress
Sports/News Reporter
Sports/News Reporter
Posted
Sep. 2, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Rice
is a big part of the economy in our area, and on Wednesday, the people who
produce it had a chance to get together, share a meal, and recognize some of
their own. The California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation held its annual
California Rice Field Day at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs. An annual
meeting was held in the morning, followed by tours of the facility to observe
research in progress at the local facility. Kent McKenzie, director of the Rice
Experiment Station in Biggs, said the station and its research helps to provide
pure, weed-free, high-quality seed for California rice growers. A highlight of
the day was the presentation of the California Rice Industry Award, which went
to longtime area farmer Homer Lundberg.
Lindbergh
Family Farms, the company Lundberg founded in 1969 with his older brothers, is
a mainstay of the community, based in Richvale. Game LaHue, a UC-Davis doctoral
student and native of Santa Cruz County, also received the DeMarlin Brandon
Rice Research Fellowship. The fellowship has been given since 2000 to provide
financial assistance to students pursuing careers in rice production science
and technology. LaHue said the money will help him pursue his Ph.D at UC-Davis,
which focuses on soil-water interaction. “It’s an honor to receive this
fellowship,” LaHue said. “It will really help me continue my work.”
For
more information on rice production in the area, visit the California
Cooperative Rice Research Foundation’s website at www.ccrrf.org.
IFIC Bank, IRRI launch
agri-credit facility for farmers
Mobile phones to be used to transfer money from banks to
farmers
IFIC Bank Limited has partnered with the International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Bangladesh to pilot a new innovative agri-credit
facility for farmers in Jessore and Satkhira districts.
IRRI, Bangladesh in coordination with IFIC Bank and with
support from USAID's mSTAR project launched this innovative intervention
recently at the Rural Reconstruction Foundation (RRF) in Jessore, according to
a statement..
A total of 25 farmers were also present at the event to have
their registration done with the IFIC Bank's MFS platform. In this system,
mobile phones will be used to transfer money from banks to farmers. Farmers
will be able to pay for inputs and services by transferring funds from their
IFIC Mobile Bank account to the merchant account of retailers of IFIC Mobile
Bank.
Kbd. Chaitanya Kumar Das,
Director (Monitoring), Field Services Wing, Department of Agricultural Extension
(DAE) graced the event as chief guest while Mr. Shah Md. Moinuddin, Deputy
Managing Director and Head of Business, IFIC Bank Ltd, Kbd. Chandi Das Kundu,
Additional Director, DAE, Jessore Region, and Shah Abul Kashem, Deputy General
Manager, Bangladesh Bank, Khulna were present as special guest. The event was
chaired by Mr. Timothy Russell, Chief of Party (CoP) of Feed the Future
Bangladesh Rice Value Chain Project.
Under the pilot project, IFIC
Bank Limited will offer farmers one of their newest product IFIC AAmar Account,
which is a unique transactional account where both deposit and loan facilities
are bundled in a single account. Farmers will operate the account and avail
agri-credit through IFIC Mobile Banking system. IFIC Bank introduces this type of
account for the first time in Bangladesh.
"This mobile phone based
banking system will encourage farmers' groups to invest as a business group
which will eventually support the cash flow in the country's economy. This type
of initiatives is important to implement the government's vision for 2041.
Quality agri business depends on quality production, processing and marketing
of agri products which can be expanded by a financial service like this - a
mobile phone based banking transaction. This will save farmers' time and money
that now occurs from the hassle of commuting to a bank branch from their remote
locations," said Mr. Kbd. Chaitanya Kumar Das, Director (Monitoring),
Field Services Wing, DAE.
"Farmers have to pay
approximately 25 - 30% interest when they borrow from money lenders to continue
their cultivation. So, IRRI and IFIC Bank joined forces with a proposal to
develop an agri-credit program through mobile phone based banking. We are now
here with you with this innovative financial service where the interest rate
will be counted on the outstanding money only… This has been launched as a
pilot project for six months. We want to continue this noble work in the
future. So, your timely repayment of the loans will let us provide you with
more credit as a tested party," said Mr. Shah Md. Moinuddin, Deputy
Managing Director and Head of Business, IFIC Bank.
Event participants, among others,
were Mrs. Ferdousi Begum, Head of Retail Bank, Mr. Asaduzzaman, Head of
Corporate Communication and Branding, and other regional and divisional
employees and of IFIC Bank, Mr. M. Ataur Rahman, Team Lead of mSTAR/Bangladesh
project, Mr. A.K.M. Ferdous, Senior Specialist - Agricultural Research and
Development, and Hub Manager - Jessore,
Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice Value Chain Project, IRRI, Bangladesh,
Mr. Md. Faruk Hossain, Senior Specialist - Agricultural Research and
Development, and Hub Manager - Khulna,
Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice Value Chain Project, IRRI, Bangladesh,
Bikash Kumar Roy, Deputy Director, Jagarani Chakra Foundation (JCF).
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