2nd December,2016 daily global,regional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

Row rice farmers, specialists, consultants learning on the go

Nov 30, 2016 Forrest Laws  | Delta Farm Press

researchers, consultants and other farmers for advice about how to make the new approach to growing rice work.Dustin Harrell, Extension rice specialist with the LSU AgCenter, says most of what he knows about row rice he’s learned from talking to farmers, consultants and university specialists in Arkansas and Mississippi.
“I think researchers from the University of Arkansas and from Mississippi State University will issue reports on their findings very soon,” Dr. Harrell said at a Row Rice Production Meeting held by the North Louisiana Rice Growers Association and the Richland Parish Extension Office in Rayville, La.
Dr. Harrell gave an audience of more than 50 farmers a recap of the current thinking on row rice and some of the potential savings and other reasons growers may want to consider using the practice during a 20-minute presentation.
For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2gzt8M8.

35% import tariff better than QR on rice, says PIDS

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated December 2, 2016 - 12:00am

 

The study said opening the Philippine rice market to more imports would double the baseline importation level of 2.2. million tons to around 4.4 million tons in the succeeding years from the expiration of the QR in the middle part of 2017. This is because domestic output is still insufficient to meet domestic demand. File photo

MANILA, Philippines - Replacing the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice with a 35 percent tariff on imports would lower palay (unmilled rice) prices by as much as P5 per kilogram and rice retail prices by around P7 per kilogram, a new study by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) said.
The study said opening the Philippine rice market to more imports would double the baseline importation level of 2.2. million tons to around 4.4 million tons in the succeeding years from the expiration of the QR in the middle part of 2017. This is because domestic output is still insufficient to meet domestic demand.
Specifically, palay prices are expected to fall by P4.56 per kilogram while rice retail prices are seen to fall by P6.97 per kilogram.
 “Tariffication of the Philippine rice sector by 2017 is inevitable. Since our analysis suggests massive fall in domestic prices, it is imperative to provide farmers a measure for income support,” PIDS said.
The extended QR, which would lapse in June 2017, is meant to protect the livelihood of Filipino rice farmers while they are strengthening their production capability. This extension was borne out of two years of negotiation with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and various member countries under the Aquino administration.
Through the QR, the Philippines imposes a high tariff of 35 percent on imported rice, the volume of which has been restricted to 805, 200 metric tons (MT). Importing outside the QR is even more expensive as inbound shipments would be levied a duty of 40 to 50 percent. To fill the supply gap, the National Food Authority (NFA) imports rice through tenders and intervenes in the market by selling the staple at a cheaper price.
The Philippines would not be going for another extension of the QR as the government is finally recognizing the need to reallocate the significant resources spent on rice production to other means of reviving the agricultural sector such as crop diversification.
To blunt the immediate effects of the removal of the special tax treatment on the staple on farmers’ incomes, PIDS is recommending the institution of a compensatory payment scheme for farmers, a direct cash transfer program similar to the conditional cash transfer (CCT) scheme.
This is proposed to be implemented over and above the existing production support provided by pertinent government agencies to enable them to transition to a more open trade environment.
Using a so-called Total Welfare Impact Stimulator (TWIST), PIDS said the government can afford to carry out compensatory transfers to rice farmers of as much as P19,000 per year at stable world market prices and P17,000 per year at 20 percent increase in world market prices.
 “Assessment shows that the compensatory transfer scheme can operate at a feasible cost, with 35 percent tariff rate applied,” said PIDS. “It should be reiterated that the compensatory scheme aims not to displace existing programs, but as a supplementary measure to be financed from rice tariff revenues,” said PIDS, noting that compensatory payments can be received simultaneously with the CCT.Imposing a 35 percent tariff on rice imports, would enable the government to collect between P17 billion to P18 billion annually. “Hence, earmarking the rice tariff revenue to pay for the compensation scheme is a feasible funding strategy. Residual money from the tariff revenues could be used for other product-enhancement measures for rice farmers,” said PIDS.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) sees the removal of the QR as a major strategy in bringing down the country’s poverty incidence to between 13 to 15 percent by the end of the Duterte administration in 2022.
Imposing a competitive tariff on rice imports would lower the cost of the staple that eats up 20 percent of the budget of the poor. At the same time, it would enable the agriculture sector to transition to the production of more high value crops.
There is already consensus in the economic cluster in the Duterte cabinet to remove the QR but the Department of Agriculture is still firmly against it

Rice Prices

as on : 01-12-2016 08:10:29 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Kalipur(WB)	920.00	1050	10953.00	2400	2400	20.00
Gadarpur(Utr)	320.00	-51	199760.00	1780	2410	-15.36
Kalna(WB)	96.00	NC	954.00	2940	2970	-
Aligarh(UP)	85.00	21.43	7670.00	2560	2540	21.90
Srirampur(ASM)	70.00	-12.5	3420.00	3000	3000	0.67
Pandua(WB)	52.00	4	3616.00	2900	2900	28.89
Nadia(WB)	50.00	NC	1720.00	3400	3400	15.25
Kasimbazar(WB)	42.00	2.44	3583.00	2460	2480	9.33
Bhivandi(Mah)	38.00	-98.88	221511.00	2220	2250	8.29
Khatra(WB)	38.00	NC	1823.00	2300	2300	6.98
Beldanga(WB)	37.00	5.71	5419.00	2475	2475	15.12
Gauripur(ASM)	32.00	-5.88	3400.80	4500	4500	NC
Raiganj(WB)	29.00	7.41	1415.00	2600	2600	-5.45
Purulia(WB)	24.00	50	2330.00	2480	2500	16.43
Samsabad(UP)	23.00	-80.83	178.00	2400	2100	-
Hiramandalam(AP)	22.00	67.94	57.10	3050	2700	-10.29
Saharanpur(UP)	20.00	66.67	7249.00	2270	2280	12.38
Kaliaganj(WB)	20.00	NC	1475.00	2600	2600	-3.70
Auraiya(UP)	16.00	6.67	437.20	2100	2150	-7.08
Islampur(WB)	15.00	-25	788.90	2350	2350	9.30
Champadanga(WB)	14.00	100	1369.00	2800	2800	14.29
Dibrugarh(ASM)	13.00	4	397.60	2250	2250	-
Dhekiajuli(ASM)	12.00	-45.45	1675.10	2300	2300	15.00
Banda(UP)	12.00	-14.29	650.00	2230	2260	2.29
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)	11.00	-8.33	2578.00	3000	3000	-14.29
Muradabad(UP)	10.00	25	648.70	2310	2300	3.59
Deogarh(Ori)	9.00	NC	694.00	2500	2500	NC
Chandoli(UP)	7.00	NC	361.50	2120	2125	12.77
Firozabad(UP)	7.00	55.56	661.10	2520	2480	17.76
Mirzapur(UP)	7.00	16.67	1930.10	2135	2140	6.75
Chengannur(Ker)	6.00	-20	706.00	2400	2400	-4.00
Wahiajer(Meh)	6.00	NC	324.00	3500	3500	NC
Uluberia(WB)	6.00	NC	321.20	2450	2450	-2.00
North Lakhimpur(ASM)	5.80	-34.83	2395.10	1900	1900	NC
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)	4.40	91.3	403.30	4100	4100	26.15
Jeypore(Ori)	3.90	30	423.50	4200	4100	29.23
T. Narasipura(Kar)	3.00	-81.25	57.00	1500	1200	NC
Akola(Mah)	2.00	100	11.00	4375	3890	-
Lakhimpur(UP)	2.00	-91.3	503.95	2150	2130	0.23
Kannauj(UP)	1.80	-62.5	415.60	2175	2180	NC
Kasipur(WB)	1.10	57.14	52.20	2300	2300	2.68
Aroor(Ker)	1.00	NC	211.70	6900	6900	-5.48
Mangaon(Mah)	1.00	-66.67	71.00	2800	2800	NC
Shillong(Meh)	1.00	25	97.80	3500	3500	NC

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article9404220.ece

Commerce ministry swaps paddy export for purchase program

By Su Phyo Win   |   Thursday, 01 December 2016

The Ministry of Commerce has cancelled plans to allow paddy exports as part of measures to address a slump in prices. Instead the government intends to buy paddy directly from farmers, some of whom have criticised the proposed floor price for the government purchase program for being too low.
U Khin Maung Lwin, assistant secretary at the commerce ministry told The Myanmar Times that paddy exports were being abandoned because of the potential impact on the livestock industry.
“Broken rice and paddy husk [which come from harvested paddy] are very useful for the livestock industry [as animal feed],” he said. “And there are a number of rice millers in the country [that rely on paddy for business]. We considered paddy export as a measure but it is not possible at the moment.”
U Myo Tint Htun, deputy secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation said the government had banned paddy exports in previous years because it was better to export finished products.
“Selling paddy [abroad] is quite risky and you have to a much larger quantity of paddy than rice to get the same revenue,” he said. “Also testing the quality of paddy for export will be difficult.”
Rather than permit paddy exports, the commerce ministry is asking for K15 billion from the government to buy paddy at a minimum price from farmers in Yangon, Bago and Ayeyarwaddy regions,” said U Khin Maung Lwin.
“The cabinet has approved the decision to give K15 billion to the Ministry of Commerce for purchasing paddy from [those] three regions,” he said. “We are going to start the process in December.”
Paddy purchasing groups will be formed under the temporary Agricultural Product Management Committee (APMC) – as stipulated in the Protecting Rights and Enhancing Economic Welfare of Farmers Law, which was revised in 2013.
The APMC is made up of regional government officials, members of the Union parliament and representatives from rice trading and milling associations, said U Khin Maung Lwin.
“Under the protecting rights of farmers law we have to support [them] or buy the paddy at a certain price if the prices fall [too much],” he said, adding that the price of paddy had fallen to levels that made it hard for farmers to cover production costs. “We are sure this is the best way of getting farmers a higher price.”
But the price at which the commerce ministry intends to buy has sparked complaint from the agricultural industry. The ministry is planning to buy 100 baskets of average-quality paddy for K380,000 said U Khin Maung Lwin. However, farmers report that with better weather drying out soaked paddy and expectations of government action, prices in several areas are already higher than that.
U Thein Aung, president of Freedom of Farmers League, told The Myanmar Times that the price for 100 baskets in Ayeyarwaddy Region was around K400,000.
“We are asking for higher paddy price,” he said. “But when the government plans to buy at a price lower than the current market price, it’s proof that the ministry thinks the market price is fair. I can’t understand why they would offer less than the market value.”
U Khin Maung Lwin said the aim of the program was to help cover farmers’ production costs, “not make them rich”, he said. The cost of production was what was determining the government purchase price, not the market price, he added.
The cost of producing 100 baskets of paddy varies widely with region, farmer and land and paddy quality. Nay Pyi Taw region farmers say the cost of production 100 baskets can range from K280,000 to K410,000

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/23992-commerce-ministry-swaps-paddy-export-for-purchase-program.html

FG distributes smartphones with agric app to rice farmers

On December 1, 20166:21 amIn NewsComments By Boluwaji Obahopo LOKOJA—The Federal Government, yesterday, flagged off the distribution of agriculture app smartphones to rice farmers across the country. The RICEADVICE smartphones distribution, which was done through the National Cereals Research Institute, NCRI, commenced with the training of 50 rice farmers extension officers on how to use the smartphones to obtain relevant information to boost rice production in the country.

 The training programme drew participants from six pilot states of Kogi, Nasarawa, Kano, Ebonyi, Kebbi and Niger, where rice is being produced with comparative advantage. Speaking at the event in Lokoja, Kogi State, Acting Executive Director of NCRI, Agboire Samuel, said the gesture was part of the Federal Government’s policy aimed at scaling up rice production in the country to meet both local and export demands. He said apart from serving as e-extension tools for farmers in the area of rice production, the smartphones would also serve as employment opportunity for the beneficiaries given the applications embedded in the gadgets.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/fg-distributes-smartphones-agric-app-rice-farmers/

Ebonyi to harvest 350 metric tons of rice by December

By - | Publish Date: Dec 1 2016 3:30PM

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.The Ebonyi Government says it anticipates bumper harvest of 350 metric tons of rice in the 2016 farming season.Gov. David Umahi expressed the hope at the inaugural National Agricultural Summit organised by the Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo Local Government Area of the State on Thursday.The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Uchenna Orji, said government invested massively in rice production in 2016.

“We were determined to revolutionalise rice production in the state due to our comparative advantage over other states and make it reclaim its position of highest rice producer in West Africa.“We currently have the biggest rice mill cluster in the sub region with over 20 metric-tons capacity of rice processing facilities.“The rice we cultivate internally is insufficient for processing in our mills and we seek rice paddy from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, among others, to meet internal and external needs”, he said.

The commissioner remarked that the government recently procured three metric tons rice milling equipment from China to boost rice production.“We also procured 8-metric tons per hour capacity parboiling equipment, to permanently stop parboiling of rice by our farmers and processors through crude methods.’’Umahi remarked that the government would pursue aggressive rice production in the dry season by cultivating over 54, 000 hectares from Jan. 2017.

“We have invited investors to install irrigation facilities at the farms with channelisation mechanisms from the Ebonyi River which spread across the state.

“Our one man, one hectare agricultural policy would ensure that our rice production feat is sustained with every citizen cultivating at least one hectare of farmland”, he said.Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister Agriculture and Rural Development, called for more funding of the agricultural sector to achieve the nation’s objectives.Ogbeh, represented by Mr Sunday Edibo, Director of Agriculture, Lands and Climate Change Management Services, noted that the country falls short of the Maputo declaration for agricultural funding.“It declared that every country should allocate 10 per cent of its budget to agriculture but the country is currently budgeting two per cent.

“It should be noted that agriculture can solve the nation’s unemployment problems by engaging individuals in its production value-chain of input supply, cultivation, processing, packaging, distribution, marketing, among others”, he said.

Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Vice , FUNAI, said the summit was apt with the country experiencing recession occasioned by depletion of crude oil prices in the international market.

“The summit would also discuss training for the next generation of farmers and agriculturists which make us canvass for the reduction of agricultural study’s duration in universities, from five to four years”, he said.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that lectures were also presented by representatives of the National University Commission, Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia among others.The theme of the summit is ‘The New Face of Agricultural Training In a Declining Oil-Based Economy.’ (NAN)

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/agriculture/ebonyi-to-harvest-350-metric-tons-of-rice-by-december/174089.html

Calling All Farmers:  NASS Surveys Need Your Input 

By Peter Bachmann

WASHINGTON, DC -- USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently distributed two surveys to the majority of rice producers that have a big impact on farm safety net assistance levels.

The County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS) was sent out to nearly every farm through their respective states and asks for planted acres, area harvested for grain, and quantity harvested.  This survey is used across the Risk Management Agency, Farm Service Agency, and university research to determine production and economic values on a per county basis.  The CAPS is open through early January and will be published on March 9, 2017. 

L.G. Raun, a Texas rice farmer and member of the USA Rice World Market Price Subcommittee, said, "The County Ag Production Survey is particularly important for us to complete as rice farmers since the data is used to determine formulas for posted county prices, disaster assistance programs, county loan rates, and our vital farm safety net programs like ARC and PLC.  I really encourage growers to complete all surveys sent out by NASS because without enough accurate responses we're at the mercy of the limited surveys actually submitted.  Surveys that incorporate planting estimates, price reporting, and yields all play a role in the direction of the futures markets, food prices, farm policy, and more."

Another survey, the Agricultural Survey for December, was sent to a smaller sample of growers but requires responses by December 13.  This survey gathers data on acres planted, acres harvested, yield per acre, and quantity stored.  Conducted quarterly in all states, this survey is used by commodity markets, university researchers, and farm operators for market assessment, planning, and decision making. 

USA Rice encourages farmers receiving NASS surveys to complete and return them within the deadline to ensure accurate data is used across USDA's various agencies and to reduce variations and discrepancies among counties and state data.  If you do not receive NASS surveys and would like to be counted in the future, visit the NASS farm survey enrollment page. 

 

 

Natural talent

Try Rutabagas for a healthier, tasty lifestyle

Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 4:32 pm

Rutabagas curry chicken salad wrap is stuffed with chicken and fresh vegetables in a spinach wrap. Grilled vegetables pair well with the wrap.  “The body is not enough, there must be healthy food for a healthy soul.”That’s the credo followed by the folks who own and manage Rutabagas Café and Natural Food Market, and they like to spread the word about how others can achieve their special kind of “soul” food.The 4,400-square-foot market featuring a delightful café and more than 200,000 grocery and supplements is a destination for anyone seeking a huge choice of such products from organic beverages, food and baked goods to a vast array of vitamins and gluten-free items.The store has grown over the years since it was founded by Richard and Sarah Parker, and manager Angie Anderkin said there is virtually everything stocked for those who wish to continue, or switch to, a healthier style of living.

The original café, too, has expanded, and offers tables for dining, as well as take-out and a “grab and go cooler” for patrons in a hurry.The café has a pleasing variety of homemade sandwiches, wraps, soups, smoothies, juices and daily entrees, with gluten-free and vegan choices. All meats and poultry are hormone-free.Keirah Tettenburn is café manager and described just some of the tasty menu items, which include chicken with wild rice, turkey chili and vegetable stews. An example of a daily special is the chicken tika masala with basmati rice.All the salads are made fresh each morning and most of the ingredients are locally sourced by Jennifer Fowler, produce manager, and served with homemade dressings.

A delicious roasted vegetable dish combines butternut squash, eggplant, green and red bell peppers, yellow and red onions, zucchini and yellow summer squash, fresh mushrooms, all roasted and seasoned with onion and garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and parsley — a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

Other customer favorites are the tahini veggie balls dipped in honey; and a treat named for a customer, “Jerry’s Delight,” a salad mix of broccoli, cauliflower, peas, raisins, almonds and vegan cheese.Other popular menu items include the chipotle chicken salad wrap, hot chicken teriyaki sandwich, roast beef and cheddar wrap, and the “Deli” — turkey, ham, provolone, tomato, spring mix, mayonnaise, oil and vinegar on a wheat roll — all at $7.99 each. A side of soup is an extra $1.

If you like it spicy, you might want to try the vegan burrito with rice, beans, veggies, salsa and cheese; and vegetable quesadillas.Deli meats include roasted turkey and chicken breast, Black Forest ham and roast beef; and, there’s an assortment of cheeses such as Swiss, provolone, mozzarella, pepper jack, cheddar and yellow American.A top smoothy seller, Anderkin said, is the Chocolate Chiller, made with banana, non-dairy milk, almond butter and vegan chocolate, for $6.99. For something tropical, try the pina colada made with pineapple, banana, coconut milk, local honey, coconut and sugar- free coconut stevia sweetner, $5.99.

Those are just a few of the many smoothy flavors and a juice bar offers plenty of veggie drinks as well, such as the Rejuvenator: a carrot, celery, apple, beet, spinach and ginger concoction, $5.39 and $6.39.

If you wish, you can browse the assortment of fresh ingredients and compose your own special salad from organic Romaine lettuce, spinach, spring mix, tomato, cucumbers, onions, olives, mushrooms, peppers and cranberries, along with natural walnuts, almonds, chicken breast and mild cheddar cheese, all for $9.99 per order.

Those who enjoy sweets will revel in the gluten-free bakery assortment of chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin coffee cake, pineapple coconut and apple muffins and much, much more.

All carbonated sodas use only organic cane sugar and stevia for sweetening and you can also buy organic beer and wine.

One should plan to spend a considerable amount of time at Rutabagas to check out the staggering number of healthy items in the vast inventory and it’s likely if what you want isn’t there — you might not find it anywhere.

Rutabagas also offers catering service and occasional nutrition lectures in house.

Rutabagas is at 335 S. Croft Road, Inverness. Café hours are: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (sandwiches and soups 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the deli, juices and smoothies 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.); Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (sandwiches and soups 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and deli, juices and smoothies 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

For information about any of the products, the café, or for catering and carry-out, call 352-419-8953.

Row rice farmers, specialists, consultants learning on the go

Nov 30, 2016Forrest Laws  | Delta Farm Press

As farmers experiment with furrow-irrigated or row rice, they’re reaching out to university researchers, consultants and other farmers for advice about how to make the new approach to growing rice work.Dustin Harrell, Extension rice specialist with the LSU AgCenter, says most of what he knows about row rice he’s learned from talking to farmers, consultants and university specialists in Arkansas and Mississippi.

“I think researchers from the University of Arkansas and from Mississippi State University will issue reports on their findings very soon,” Dr. Harrell said at a Row Rice Production Meeting held by the North Louisiana Rice Growers Association and the Richland Parish Extension Office in Rayville, La.

Dr. Harrell gave an audience of more than 50 farmers a recap of the current thinking on row rice and some of the potential savings and other reasons growers may want to consider using the practice during a 20-minute presentation.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2gzt8M8.

http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/row-rice-farmers-specialists-consultants-learning-go

Chhattisgarh's rice export hit by flawed policy, millers demand change

Millers are demanding the state's turn-out ratio be fixed at 55%

R Krishna Das  |  Raipur December 1, 2016 Last Updated at 14:33 IST

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Export of rice has been hit in Chhattisgarh owing to a technical flaw in the exsiting rice milling policy.At present, Chhattisgarh exports over one million tonnes of rice every year. The rice is exported mostly to the African countries where the demand of broken rice is more. The milling policy is restricting millers from showing the actual quantity of broken rice exported.

Under the existing policy, the turn-out ratio has been fixed at 67% for raw variety rice, while boiled rice stands at 68%. Chhattisgarh millers have been claiming that the policy was not practical as it has been designed after the quality of paddy production in Punjab and Haryana.

 

The millers said the quality does not remain common in other paddy growing states and the quantity of broken riceis more in Chhattisgarh. “Despite the proportion of demand for broken rice being more, we cannot show it in the books,” said Yogesh Agrawal, who is the President of Chhattisgarh rice millers’ association.The association had been demanding to fix Chhattisgarh's turn-out ratio to 55% but no action was taken by the government. Unable to show records showing high demand of broken rice, millers are cutting down on exports, Agrawal said.

He added that the millers have been receiving calls from African traders, but were unable to committ to exporting broken rice. “The government must change its policy as the matter is related to earning foreign exchange,” Agrawal said.Millers in Chhattisgarh had earlier called for an indefinite strike demanding changes in the milling policy and the turn-out ratio for broken rice. With thier issues remaining unaddressed, millers were compelled to call off the strike and lifting paddy for milling instead.

At present, the state government has procured around one million tonnes of paddy at minimum support price (MSP) in the current kharif season. This remained stocked as millers had not lifted it for milling so far.http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/chhattisgarh-s-rice-export-hit-by-flawed-policy-millers-demand-change-116120100574_1.html

Food Security In Nigeria: Is Biotechnology The Panacea? III

Prof. M.K Othman

Dec 2, 2016 2:29 am | 

Biotechnology is creating waves in Nigerian agriculture despite challenges, obstacles and lackadaisical attitudes of the research funding arms of government. Going by the available records, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria is the leading organisation in biotechnological breakthrough in respect of agriculture. However, IAR is not alone in this domain. Information available at the website of National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) shows impressive efforts made by some of the research institutes across the nation. NACGRAB, a research and biotechnology archive centre was established in 1987 by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMS&T). 

The centre is mandated to conduct research, gather data and disseminate technological information on matters relating to genetic resources conservation, utilisation and biotechnology applications. The Centre, located in Moor plantation, Ibadan, backed by Decree 33 of 1987, is charged with the regulation of periodic varietal releases of seeds, livestock and fisheries to industries for commercial production. Thus, the centre was established to serve diverse biological heritage endowed to the nation, which needs to be maintained for the purpose of utilisation and for posterity. The mission of NCGRAB is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the rich biodiversity through Research and Development view to enhancing agricultural, economic and social development.

 The mandate of the centre is to explore, collect, identify, evaluate, characterise, store and conserve the rich stock of both animal and plant germ plasm materials. Similarly, the centre is expected to acquire, maintain, utilise, exchange and disseminate information on genetic materials of plants, animals and microbes to the relevant stakeholders for the benefit of the nation. The biotech unit at NACGRAB was established in 1999 to handle issues relating to research and development of genetic resources. The unit complements the conservation mandate of the Centre using the simple biotechnology tools such as tissue culture technology for the in-vitro conservation, technique of regeneration and multiplication of both agronomic and tree crop species, molecular biology technique for characterisation and evaluation of plant genetic resources in the country, among others.  In recent years, the biotech unit of NACGRAB has achieved many successes and few of such recorded achievements are:

Yam improvement for Incomes and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

NACGRAB/UNILAG/NABDA – environmental protection (desertification control, soil erosion control and bioremediation).NACGRAB/UNILAG DNA bar-coding and molecular characterisation of medicinal plants at the Gashaka-gumpti national park

NACGRAB/FUMAN – collaboration on the supply of pineapple seedlings

In the last 20 years, National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) have developed over a thousand improved varieties of agricultural commodities for the five agricultural ecological zones. Some of such varieties were certified and released by NACGRAB. In this regard, the centre, being the custodian of biotechnology products, has been duly certified and releases 586 varieties of many agricultural commodities for commercialisation and sales to public. Among these varieties are 46 cassava improved varieties code named NICASS 1 to 31 and UMACASS 33 to 43. These varieties were developed by the combined efforts of International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and National Roots Crops Research Institute, (NRCRI) Umudike, Abia State.

The unique characteristics of these improved cassava verities are early maturing, high yielding, suitable for gari and fufu, tolerance to drought (leaf retention in dry season), high starch yield, high dry matter, erect plant type suitable for intercropping and dense population in plantations, high quality cassava flour due to low fibre content with potential yields ranging from 40 tons per hectare to 53 tons per hectare compared to the local varieties with maximum yield of less than 10  tons per hectare. Soybean is another commodity featuring predominantly in the seed catalogue of NACGRAB. 23 varieties of soybean were developed by the combined efforts of IITA, Ibadan, National Cereal Research Institute, Badegi, Niger State, Institute for Agricultural Research and Training (IAR and T), Ibadan. The unique features of the soybean are Medium maturing, high promi-scuous nodulation, high percentage nitrogen derived from atmosphere, high fodder yield and resistance to lodging, cercospora leaf spot and bacterial pustule with potential yields ranging from 1.5 tons per hectare to two tons per hectare.

Additionally, there is a variety of Soybean code named “NCRISOY 1” which was released in 2014 with unique characteristics being extra early maturity, promiscuous nodulation, resistance to rust, cercospora leaf spot and bacteria pustule with yield potential of 2.5 tons per hectare. The traditional soybean yields less than one ton in a hectare.

Rice is one of the most important agricultural commodities with global attention. It is used for the preparation of many local and intercontinental dishes and it is one commodity that one out of every three houses eats on daily basis. Nigeria spends billions of Naira annually to import rice into the country. Rice consumption was reported to increase at a rate of five percent per year between 1961 and 2006. In my article of 2nd September, 2015, I quoted the total demand for rice as about five million Metric tons per year out of which about 3.2 million Metric tons were produced locally (ATA Document).

 Over the years, the national rice production has not kept pace with the national consumption, thereby widening domestic rice deficit, which has to be met through massive importation of processed rice. Nigeria is reported to be among the largest rice importers in the world. The 2011 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report showed that Nigeria is the world’s second largest importer of rice  worth N356 billion. Banning of rice importation has never been successful due to porous borders and compromising security personnel. Solve rice problem in Nigeria, more than half of Nigerian foods problems are solved. This is how important rice is to Nigerian food security.

From 1991 to 2015, 71 rice improved varieties were developed and released into the country. These varieties include FARO 1 to 62, FUNAABOR-1 and 2, UPIA 1, 2, and 3, FARO 63, 64 and 65. The improved varieties are of different sizes; short. Medium and long grain types with potential yields ranging from 2.5 per hectare to 4.5 per hectare compared to about 1.5 tons per hectare of local varieties. The rice varieties were developed for swampy areas, forest zones, Northern and Southern Guinea Savanna, Sudan Savanna, Sahel Savanna and practically for every location in Nigeria.

There are many other improved varieties of all the strategic agricultural commodities government has been promoting in recent years. Maize is an excellent example in this case. There are 139 varieties of improved maize for short, medium and long maturity periods, example of SAMAZ 47, which is early maturity, high grain yield, tolerance to drought, Striga hermonthica and can perform in low soil nitrogen with yield potential of 10.3 tons per hectare. Millet, cowpea, groundnut, etc are among the crops varieties released over the years.

Industrial crops were not left behind. Rubber, an industrial crop was among the varietal releases. 14 improved varieties of rubber were certified and released for public use. For instance, a rubber crop variety, code named “NIG 805”, developed by Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) was released and the variety is found to be high yielding with potential yields from 2.3 to 2.8 tons per hectare per year compared to obtainable yield of local varieties from a mere 0.3 to 0.4 ton per hectare per year.

Sugarcane is another example of industrial crop with many improved cultivars. From 1990 to 2010, there were 19 improved varieties of sugarcane released for public use. These varieties are resistant to smut and other diseases. Vigorous tillering and ratooing habit with non-hairy leaves. Good ratooning ability, medium to high tillering, good canopy formation, Smut resistance, good juice quality and high cane yield of an average of 105 t/ha.

It is apparent that this column cannot exhaust all the available information on the agricultural products of biotechnology developed here in Nigeria. Suffice to say that Nigeria is on the path of achieving self sufficiency in food production through this God given technique – biotechnology. However, there are many fears – hiccups associated with the products of biotechnology; some of these fears constitute serious impediment to the use and acceptability of such products especially genetically modified organisms popularly called GMO. What are the fears, how far can we use biotechnology to produce foods

https://leadership.ng/columns/562144/food-security-in-nigeria-is-biotechnology-the-panacea-iii

35% import tariff better than QR on rice, says PIDS

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated December 2, 2016 - 12:00am

The study said opening the Philippine rice market to more imports would double the baseline importation level of 2.2. million tons to around 4.4 million tons in the succeeding years from the expiration of the QR in the middle part of 2017. This is because domestic output is still insufficient to meet domestic demand. File photo

MANILA, Philippines - Replacing the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice with a 35 percent tariff on imports would lower palay (unmilled rice) prices by as much as P5 per kilogram and rice retail prices by around P7 per kilogram, a new study by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) said.The study said opening the Philippine rice market to more imports would double the baseline importation level of 2.2. million tons to around 4.4 million tons in the succeeding years from the expiration of the QR in the middle part of 2017. This is because domestic output is still insufficient to meet domestic demand.Specifically, palay prices are expected to fall by P4.56 per kilogram while rice retail prices are seen to fall by P6.97 per kilogram.

 “Tariffication of the Philippine rice sector by 2017 is inevitable. Since our analysis suggests massive fall in domestic prices, it is imperative to provide farmers a measure for income support,” PIDS said.The extended QR, which would lapse in June 2017, is meant to protect the livelihood of Filipino rice farmers while they are strengthening their production capability. This extension was borne out of two years of negotiation with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and various member countries under the Aquino administration.

Through the QR, the Philippines imposes a high tariff of 35 percent on imported rice, the volume of which has been restricted to 805, 200 metric tons (MT). Importing outside the QR is even more expensive as inbound shipments would be levied a duty of 40 to 50 percent. To fill the supply gap, the National Food Authority (NFA) imports rice through tenders and intervenes in the market by selling the staple at a cheaper price.

The Philippines would not be going for another extension of the QR as the government is finally recognizing the need to reallocate the significant resources spent on rice production to other means of reviving the agricultural sector such as crop diversification.

To blunt the immediate effects of the removal of the special tax treatment on the staple on farmers’ incomes, PIDS is recommending the institution of a compensatory payment scheme for farmers, a direct cash transfer program similar to the conditional cash transfer (CCT) scheme.This is proposed to be implemented over and above the existing production support provided by pertinent government agencies to enable them to transition to a more open trade environment.

Using a so-called Total Welfare Impact Stimulator (TWIST), PIDS said the government can afford to carry out compensatory transfers to rice farmers of as much as P19,000 per year at stable world market prices and P17,000 per year at 20 percent increase in world market prices. “Assessment shows that the compensatory transfer scheme can operate at a feasible cost, with 35 percent tariff rate applied,” said PIDS. “It should be reiterated that the compensatory scheme aims not to displace existing programs, but as a supplementary measure to be financed from rice tariff revenues,” said PIDS, noting that compensatory payments can be received simultaneously with the CCT.

Imposing a 35 percent tariff on rice imports, would enable the government to collect between P17 billion to P18 billion annually. “Hence, earmarking the rice tariff revenue to pay for the compensation scheme is a feasible funding strategy. Residual money from the tariff revenues could be used for other product-enhancement measures for rice farmers,” said PIDS.The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) sees the removal of the QR as a major strategy in bringing down the country’s poverty incidence to between 13 to 15 percent by the end of the Duterte administration in 2022.

Imposing a competitive tariff on rice imports would lower the cost of the staple that eats up 20 percent of the budget of the poor. At the same time, it would enable the agriculture sector to transition to the production of more high value crops.There is already consensus in the economic cluster in the Duterte cabinet to remove the QR but the Department of Agriculture is still firmly against it.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/12/02/1649353/35-import-tariff-better-qr-rice-says-pids

Advice for India's rice-wheat farmers: Put aside the plow and save straw to fight pollution

by Mike Listman | CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center)

Thursday, 1 December 2016 22:19 GMT

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Can "zero tillage" farming clear Delhi’s deadly smog?

Recent media reports show that the 19 million inhabitants of New Delhi are under siege from a noxious haze generated by traffic, industries, cooking fires and the burning of over 30 million tons of rice straw on farms in the neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab.

However, farmers who rotate wheat and rice crops in their fields and deploy a sustainable agricultural technique known as “zero tillage” can make a significant contribution to reducing smog in India’s capital, helping urban dwellers breathe more easily.

Since the 1990s, scientists at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) have been working with national partners and advanced research institutes in India to test and promote reduced tillage which allows rice-wheat farmers of South Asia to save money, better steward their soil and water resources, cut greenhouse gas emissions and stop the burning of crop residues.

The key innovation involves sowing wheat seed directly into untilled soil and rice residues in a single tractor pass, a method known as zero tillage. Originally deemed foolish by many farmers and researchers, the practice or its adaptations slowly caught on and by 2008 were being used to sow wheat by farmers on some 1.8 million hectares in India.

Scientists and policymakers are promoting the technique as a key alternative for residue burning and to help clear Delhi’s deadly seasonal smog.

Burning soils the air, depletes the soil

“Rice-wheat rotations in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan account for nearly a quarter of the world’s food production and constitute a key source of grain and income in South Asia, home to more than 300 million undernourished people,” said Andy McDonald, a cropping systems agronomist at CIMMYT.

“But unsustainable farming practices threaten the region’s productivity and are worsening global climate change.”

The burning of paddy straw is one example, according to expert studies.  triggering costly respiratory ailments in humans and animals in farm regions and urban centers like Delhi, burning rice residues depletes soil nutrients, with estimated yearly losses in Punjab alone of 3.9 million tons of organic carbon, 59,000 tons of nitrogen, 20,000 tons of phosphorus and 34,000 tons of potassium, according to M.L. Jat, a senior agronomist at CIMMYT, who leads CIMMYT’s contributions to “climate-smart” villages in South Asia, as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).

Zero tillage: A lot to like

Traditional tillage for sowing wheat in northern India involves removing or burning rice straw and driving tractor-drawn implements back and forth over fields to rebuild a soil bed from the rice paddy, a costly and protracted process.

Zero tillage cuts farmers’ costs and provides better yields. By eliminating plowing, farmers can sow wheat up to two weeks earlier. This allows the crop to fill grain before India’s withering pre-Monsoon heat arrives — an advantage that is lost under conventional practices.

A 2016 study in Bihar state showed that farmers’ annual income increased by an average 6 percent when they used zero tillage to sow wheat, due both to better yields and savings in diesel fuel through reduced tractor use.

Zero tillage also diminishes farmers’ risk from erratic precipitation, according to Jat. “A new study in Haryana has shown that in wet years when conventionally-sown wheat fields are waterlogged, zero-tilled crops can produce 16 percent more grain.”

Environmental and climate change benefits include 93 kilograms less greenhouse gas emissions per hectare. “In the long run, retaining crop residues builds up soil organic matter and thereby reduces farming’s carbon footprint,” Jat explained.

Zero-tilled wheat also requires 20 to 35 percent less irrigation water, slowing depletion of the region’s rapidly-dwindling underground water reserves and putting money in farmers’ pockets by reducing their need to pump.

“It’s impressive that a single practice provides such a broad set of benefits,” said McDonald, who leads CIMMYT’s Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA).

Specialized seed planters sell slowly

Farmer awareness is growing, but putting aside the plow is not an easy proposition for some. In particular, zero tillage requires use of a special, tractor-mounted implement which, in a single pass, chops rice residues, opens a rut in the soil, and precisely deposits and covers the seed.

Development of this special seeder was first funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and led by Punjab Agricultural University, with contributions from CIMMYT and other organizations.

The latest version, the Turbo Happy Seeder, costs $1,900 — an investment that many farmers still struggle to make.

“As an alternative, we’ve been saying that not all farmers need to own a seeder,” Jat observed. “Many can simply hire local service providers who have purchased the seeder and will sow on contract.”

In Bihar and the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh, the number of zero-tillage service providers rose from only 17 in 2012 to more than 1,900 in 2015, according to Jat.

Given New Delhi’s smog troubles, Haryana and Punjab policymakers are adding support to avoid burning rice straw.

“The government of Haryana has taken a policy decision to aggressively promote the seeder for zero tillage and residue management and to provide 1,900 seeders on subsidy this year,” said Suresh Gehlawat, assistant director of agriculture for that state, in a recent statement.

On the horizon: Zero tillage for rice

As part of these efforts, CIMMYT scientists and partners are testing and promoting with farmers a suite of resource-conserving practices. These include precision land levelling, which saves water and improves productivity, as well as directly sowing rice into untilled, non-flooded plots.

“The practice of direct-seeded rice requires less labor, raising farmers’ profits by as much as $130 per hectare over paddy-grown rice,” said Jat. “Moreover, growing rice in non-flooded fields uses 25 percent less water and reduces the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas 200 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, by 20 kilograms per hectare.”

http://news.trust.org/item/20161201221914-7w1yq

Synthetic rice odour blend lures gravid malaria mosquitoes

December 1, 2016

Anopheles arabiensis. Credit: Rickard Ignell

The increased use of irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa has benefited the Anopheles arabiensis mosquito – an important malaria vector – particularly in rice paddies. A research team led from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences now shows that rice odours attract females, and elicit egg laying. The team has also produced a synthetic odour blend that triggers the same behaviour. Their findings may be an important step in the development of novel and cost-effective control measures.

The results were published on November 30th in the journal Scientific Reports.In sub-Saharan Africa, systematic efforts are undertaken to increase the areas under irrigated cultivation. rrigation of crops such as rice, maize and sugarcane provides food security, but it also provides ideal larval habitats for malaria mosquitoes. This has led to the emergence of mosquito populations in inhabited areas, and an increased risk of malaria.Irrigated crops provide mosquito larvae with shelter from various threats, as well as nutrients in the form of pollen, detritus and microorganisms. The conditions in rice paddies are particularly well suited, and can offer permanent mosquito larval habitats. As a consequence, in many areas where irrigated rice is now common we also experience an increased abundance of the well-known malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis.

A key-factor for the build-up of viable mosquito populations, and for the spread of malaria, is that the female mosquitoes are able to find suitable aquatic habitats where they can lay their eggs.

"We know that smells are extremely important for the behaviour of mosquitoes in most phases of their life cycle, but it is only now that we begin to understand what attracts the egg-laying females to rice fields and other egg-laying sites", says Rickard Ignell, leader of the study and professor of chemical ecology at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Together with colleagues from SLU and scientists in Ethiopia, Kenya and England he has now shown that gravid females of Anopheles arabiensis are attracted and lay eggs in response to the odour present in the air surrounding rice. The research team has also identified a synthetic rice odour, consisting of a mixture of eight compounds in specific proportions, which triggers the same behaviour, both under laboratory and semi-field conditions.

"This synthetic lure may well become a tool in future control strategies against malaria", says Rickard Ignell, "and it is the first one that targets egg-laying females". "It can be used as an important complement to other control methods that target females searching for blood meals."

As the next step following this pre-field study, the team intends to test the rice odour blend under field conditions to evaluate its efficacy in relation to natural odours in the landscape.

Earlier this year, Rickard Ignell co-authored two other high-profile articles concerning alternative ways to reduce the transmission of malaria. One showed that chicken odours have a deterrent effect on A. arabiensis females, the other that malaria transmission rates can be reduced if certain plant species are included in the mosquitos' diet.

 Explore further: To protect yourself from malaria sleep with a chicken next to your bed

More information: Betelehem Wondwosen et al. Rice volatiles lure gravid malaria mosquitoes, Anopheles arabiensis, Scientific Reports (2016). DOI: 10.1038/srep37930 

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-12-synthetic-rice-odour-blend-lures.html

Indian tomato imports stopped

THE NEWSPAPER'S STAFF REPORTER 

LAHORE: Pakistan has stopped importing tomato from India as there is enough local production to meet domestic demand, Federal Secretary National Food Security and Research Muhammad Abid Javed said on Thursday.

Speaking to office-bearers of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said special attention was being given to the halal food sector as it has the ability to give a quantum jump to national exports.He said the Rice Research Institute has recently introduced two new varieties that would help enhance rice exports. He said there was a high demand for Pakistani basmati rice in the global market.

In his address, LCCI President Abdul Basit said it was a matter of concern that the performance of the agriculture sector as a whole remained dismal during the previous fiscal year.He said that unlike other sectors of economy, the agriculture sector witnessed a negative growth of 0.19 per cent against 2.53pc growth during the same period last year. Other sub-components of the agriculture sector like livestock, forestry and fishing posted a positive growth of 3.63pc, 8.84pc and 3.25pc, respectively.“This is high time that our farmers and local entrepreneurs related to food and its associated sectors must be motivated to modernise their processes,” Mr Basit said. “The Ministry of National Food Security and Research can play a pivotal role in this regard.”

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1299965/indian-tomato-imports-stopped

Los Baños-based Irri marks 50th anniversary of rice variety’s release

By BusinessMirror

DECEMBER 1, 2016

THE International Rice Research Institute (Irri) said it recently hosted a “Partners’ and Farmers’ Day” to mark the 50th anniversary of the release of the rice variety IR8.Officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA), led by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, Undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano, and Philippine Rice Research Institute Director Sailila Abdula attended the event.Irri said in a statement that over 350 farmers from the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal and Oriental Mindoro joined the DA officials.

IR8 was the first high-yielding variety released by Irri and is credited to have sparked the Green Revolution in rice in the 1960s to 1970s that saved Asia from mass starvation.Irri Principal Scientist Emeritus Peter Jennings, now in his 80s, traveled from North Carolina to join the celebrations in Los Baños, Philippines.

“On a personal note, when people talk to me about IR8, my mind tends to go back earlier, to the very beginning of Irri: it was unknown then, without a track record. But it had two important qualities,” Jennings said.“First, Irri started with the audacious objective of improving rice yield and the wellbeing of farmers; second, it had a very small number of staff, but all very brilliant and excellent in what they did. That team came up with IR8, which laid the foundation for what had become a world-class institution,” he added.In his speech, Piñol said it is important to benchmark the competitiveness of Filipino farmers in achieving food sufficiency for the country despite the challenges in the sector.

The Philippine government, which supported hosting Irri in the country, is now the fourth biggest donor to the institute’s research.“Irri does not do anything alone; we work with our sister organizations in the CGIAR, and we work heavily in partnership with both public- and private-sector entities,” Irri Director General Matthew Morell. “We have strong support from nations and we are grateful for that support.”

Senior leaders from Irri and the Department of Agriculture took part in a ceremonial planting of IR8 seedlings in special plots at the Zeigler Experiment Station, while Deputy Director General for Research Jackie Hughes demonstrated the use of the labor- and time-saving mechanical transplanter.The event is the culmination of a global celebration that started in New Delhi, India, on November 21

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/los-banos-based-irri-marks-50th-anniversary-of-rice-varietys-release/

Indian tomato imports stopped - Newspaper

LAHORE – Federal Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security & Research Muhammad Abid Javed has said that special attention is being given to the Halal food sector it has the ability to give a quantum jump to the national exports.He was speaking here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Thursday.

The LCCI President Abdul Basit and former President Shahzad Ali Malik also spoke on the occasion while  former Vice Presidents Aftab Ahmed Vohra, Abuzar Shad, Mian Zahid Javed, Muhammad Arshad Chaudhry, Ali Hussam Asghar, Tehmina Saeed Chaudhry, former Executive Committee Members Rehmatullah Javed, Naseeb Ahmed Saifee, Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmed and Ghulam Sarwar Malik were present at the meeting.

Federal Secretary said that Rice Research Institute is continuously working in to introduce new varieties and recently two new varieties have been introduced that would help enhance rice exports. He said that there is a high demand for Pakistani basmati rice in the global market. He said that import of tomato from India has been stopped as the country has enough production to meet the domestic demand.

The LCCI President Abdul Basit said that Pakistan is an agrarian economy could not be able to draw the potential benefits of this sector. It is a matter of concern that during the fiscal year of 2015-2016, the performance of agriculture sector as a whole remained dismal.

He said that unlike other sectors of the economy, the agriculture sector witnessed a negative growth of 0.19% against 2.53% growth during the same period last year. The growth of crops also declined by 6.25%, while the other sub-component of agriculture sector like livestock, forestry and fishing posted positive growth of 3.63%, 8.84%, and 3.25%, respectively.

“It is really unfortunate that we lag terribly behind in producing the desired results. It is high time that our farmers and local entrepreneurs related to food and its associated sectors must be motivated to modernise their processes. For that matter, the Ministry of National Food Security can play pivotal role”, Abdul Basit added.

He said that since there are a number of research institutions working under the control of the ministry, so, it is suggested that they should take this responsibility to highlight the benefits of adopting new ways and technologies to increase the existing low level of agricultural yield. We believe that there can be better results if the cost factor of availing such facilities is as minimised as possible

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/business-community-should-come-forward-in-halal-food-sector-secretary

Tech boost for Asia’s rice farmers

[TALLINN, ESTONIA] A new initiative to provide rice breeders across the Asia Pacific region with advanced technologies is expected to help improve crop yields, sustainability and profitability in the vital agricultural sector.

‘Rice Action Agenda,’ introduced by the The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for the 16-member countries of the Council for Partnership on Rice Research in Asia, calls on parties to share germplasm, collaborate on investments, and exchange rice-breeding techniques.Bruce Tolentino, deputy director-general of the IRRI, Los Baños, the Philippines, said the new agenda is “crucial to developing the rice sectors” of the participating countries. He said the new agenda was a response to concerns about diminishing rice stocks in India and Thailand — the two top global exporters.

IRRI noted in February that the combined rice stocks of India and Thailand were set to decline by almost three-quarters by the third quarter of 2016 as compared to 2013 numbers, mostly due to environmental causes such as droughts.“Fears of another rice crisis early this year was the impetus for the Rice Action Agenda,” Tolentino told SciDev.Net.Under a 10-point action plan the agenda will introduce superior, higher yield rice varieties; upgrade rice research and breeding pipelines; increase research into global rice varieties; invest in rice education and increase the sustainability of rice cultivation systems.

The plan also calls for reducing crop losses using mechanised technologies; reforming policies to increase production efficiency; increasing investments in agricultural infrastructure; strengthening food security for consumers and working to implement the ASEAN Rice Breeding Initiative.IRRI proposes that participants take advantage of three programmes —  the CGIAR Research Programme on Rice, the Sustainable Rice Platform, and the ASEAN+3 Rice Genetics and Breeding Platform. The last includes a suite of tools for fast-tracking germplasm development, including genotyping and molecular markers, high-throughput phenotyping, and breeding informatics.

Tolentino noted that participating countries are expected to carry out the new Rice Action Agenda using internal funding sources. “The goal is for each of the member countries to adopt the recommendations into each of their own national rice-sector strategies and fund implementation from their own fiscal budgets.”

Rajeev Varshney, a geneticist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, India, tells SciDev.Net that rice is the “most important crop for food as well as nutrition security in Asian countries.”According to Varshney, the agenda is a “great opportunity to bring the entire value chain of actors together." By combining the various programmes proposed in the plan, participants should be able to “make the rice sector stronger.”

http://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/agriculture/news/tech-boost-for-asia-rice-farmers.html

Farming subsidies rise 74% in state

USDA payments at $370.7M in ’15

By Stephen Steed

This article was published December 2, 2016 at 5:45 a.m.

Arkansas farmers have received $370.7 million in federal "safety net" payments for losses in 2015, an increase of 73.9 percent from the year before, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.In comparison, for losses in the 2014 farm year, Arkansas farmers received $213.2 million through Sept. 30 of this year, the USDA said.The increase of $157.5 million reflects how steeply market prices have fallen for almost every agriculture commodity, Linda Newkirk, executive director of the Arkansas office of the Farm Service Agency, a division of the USDA, said Thursday. Only a few checks remain to be cut, Newkirk said, estimating that the payment process in Arkansas is 99 percent complete.

Newkirk said 76,830 payments have been made this year for 2015 losses. Divided by the $370.7 million total paid out, the average payment was $4,824.Farmers can receive more than one check, because the safety-net programs also are based on prices for individual commodities, and most farmers grow more than one crop in any given season.The payments are allowed under the 2014 farm bill, passed by Congress that year after a monthslong stalemate between the House and Senate.Previous farm bills, normally passed by Congress every five years, issued "direct" payments to farmers regardless of market conditions or crop yield. The 2014 law allows payments only when markets or crop yields are down. The payments, however, aren't aimed at covering 100 percent of a producer's loss.

The 2014 farm bill took two years to pass and was written at a time of high commodity prices.Commodity prices have since fallen, and farmers nationwide likely are looking at a fourth-consecutive year of falling incomes, according to the USDA.This is the second year of such payments under the new law. Farmers have to choose between one of two safety-net programs.The Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program makes payments when market-year average prices are below certain reference prices determined by the USDA.The Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC-CO) program created payment rates for each county in the nation by comparing historical average crop yields and prices in each county with actual yields and prices.

Eric Wailes, a professor of agriculture economics and agribusiness at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, also said much of the increase in total payments from 2014 to 2015 is because "market prices are even further down, so there's more exposure" to loss."As farm prices have softened, the program has done exactly what it was designed to do," Wailes said. "Again, as prices move up, the price-loss coverage payments will drop."

Randy Veach, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, said Wednesday during the group's 82nd annual convention that the next farm bill, which will come before Congress in 2018, will need some improvement over the current one."What we've got to have is a new farm bill that provides a safety net for all agriculture commodities," Veach said. Cotton is one commodity that's not covered under the current law.He said the 2014 farm bill fell short of being fair to livestock producers.The 2018 legislation likely will be another tough battle, Veach said. "There will be more pressure from certain groups to not even pass another farm bill," he said.Newkirk, of the Farm Service Agency, also said the total number of payments made under each program during the two years also reflects the worsening market for commodities: 20,291 payments for 2014, and 76,830 for 2015 losses.

For the 2014 market year, 14,159 payments were made in Arkansas through the price-loss coverage program. Those payments totaled $196.3 million. This year, for 2015 production, 41,887 payments have been made, totaling $293.5 million.For the county-based program, 6,132 payments totaling $16.9 million were made for 2014 production losses. This year, 34,943 payments were made, totaling $77.1 million.Payment rates among counties vary considerably, and that has raised concerns among some farmers about the fairness of such a system, Wailes, the UA economist, said.Payment rates also vary among commodities, because prices for some commodities haven't dropped as much as prices for others.

Nationally, $5.8 billion has been paid out through the county-based program, mostly to cover losses sustained by corn growers, according to USDA data. About $1.8 billion has been paid through the price-loss coverage program, mostly for growers of long-grain rice. The biggest payments, to date, have been made to farmers in the Midwest, largely because of plummeting corn prices.Based on a Nov. 8 report by the USDA that detailed state-by-state payments, Arkansas was among the top seven in payments. Illinois was first in that report, with $914 million in payments through both programs.

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/dec/02/farming-subsidies-rise-74-in-state-2016/?f=news-arkansas

Early Rain Caused Concern for Butte County Rice Growers

December 1, 2016

Butte County Rice Growers Respond to Early Rain

 By Brian German, Associate Broadcaster

 

The Butte County Farm Bureau has been working to protect agriculture’s interests since 1917, thanks in large part to the continued hard work of their members. With continued support, the Bureau is able to advocate for growers on important issues in the community and fund educational opportunities.Colleen Cecil, executive director of the Bureau, observed the rice harvest looks strong for Butte County rice growers, but a weather-related issue caused a bit of a problem during harvest. “We had some wet weather and then we had a break. Then it was, ‘Hurry up and get it done before the next storm comes in,’” said Cecil.

While the weather was an issue for growers, its impact was minimal. “There was a percentage, somewhere in the teens likely, of rice that was still left out in the field after the last wet weather event [in which] we just got pounded with rain,” Cecil noted.“Water shortages over the past couple of years had forced many rice growers in Northern California to cut back on overall production. However earlier this year, as a result of improved rainfall last winter, growers went back to planting a more average level of rice. Those fields that had been taken out of production had a good amount of rest, and are now producing nicely once again.”

Though not uncommon, growers may have adjusted their harvest schedule in response to the early winter rain. “While it does happen on occasion, it is not ideal for farmers to harvest rice after wet weather all the time. It goes more slowly, it becomes a little messier, and it requires a transition from tires to tracks on their harvesting equipment. Again, it slows it down,” Cecil said.

“In 2013, the average rice grower in Butte County was producing just under 90 sacks per acre, with each sack weighing the [approximately] 100 pounds. Butte County has close to 88 thousand bearing acres of rice. While the local industry remains strong, early rainy weather can put a dent in production.”

Cecil explained, “It wasn’t that they couldn’t get [the rice] out, it was that the crop wasn’t ready to come out. There was still a tremendous amount of moisture in it and it wasn’t at the right percentage of moisture to take out of the field, so they had to wait.”

Last year’s crop report shows that Butte County’s five most valuable crops were walnuts, almonds, rice, prunes and peaches. The area’s walnut crop alone was valued at just under $241 million dollars. Cecil said this year’s harvest, “the almonds came off without a hitch. The walnuts got tagged at the end with the wet weather, but I don’t think it slowed everybody down,” Cecil said.

Featured Photo: Richard and Laurel Nelson’s Farm, Twin Creek Ranch, on Pleasant Grove Road and Marcum, Thursday, September 29, 2016.
Photo Courtesy of California Rice Commission/Brian Baer Photography

http://californiaagtoday.com/early-rain-butte-county-rice-growers/

Color-coded PH agri-map for farmers, fishers devised

Updated December 3, 2016, 3:19 PM

By MB Online and Ellalyn de Vera

A color-coded national agricultural map analyzing the country’s farming and fishing efficiency as well as land use has been unveiled by the Department of Agriculture.Secretary Manny Piñol said the National Color-Coded Agriculture Guide-Map (NACCAG) is derived from combining factors affecting agri-fishery production such as soil properties, water availability and climate topography, as well as economics and demography in the regional level.

The NACCAG is part of the department’s Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture (AMIA) project launched last December 1.AMIA defines DA’s national framework in addressing climate change in agriculture and serves as the umbrella program covering climate change across all programs, functions and DA agencies.A website for the NACCAG map will be unveiled this month after President Rodrigo Duterte officially launches the program. In the website, farmers will be able to see the soil suitability and climatic conditions in their area to distinguish suitable crops and plants.Fishermen will also get to receive updates on the weather as well as possible risks and hazards when they go out to sea.

Agricultural investors who wish to invest on a particular crop can also see a list of areas where it could be grown ideally.By 2017, farmers and fishers will get smartphones and tablets, and will undergo seminars and workshops, to help them access the website.Piñol, speaking at the 50th anniversary of the breeding of IR-8 or the “miracle rice” at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Laguna on Tuesday, November 29, bared four other major interventions since he took over the agriculture portfolio last July.These include national food consumption quantification survey—currently being undertaken—that will give accurate statistics on food supply and consumption.

DA has also initiated a paradigm shift in irrigation: irrigation water will be provided free by the National Irrigation Administration starting next year, a first in the country’s rice farming history.

It is also moving towards solar-powered and small irrigation projects.Likewise, DA is pushing for corporate rice farming, which will directly link farmer producers with corporate buyers including the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps rice ration program to free them from the manipulation of traders and middlemen. It will also give farmers access to quality rice seeds and fertilizers.Lastly, the department will focus on mechanization and post-harvest facilities.

http://newsbits.mb.com.ph/2016/12/03/color-coded-ph-agri-map-for-farmers-fishers-devised/