Tuesday, February 28, 2017

28th February 2017 daily global,regional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Rice e-Newsletter

Global Regional and Local Rice News

February 28,2017

Vol 8 , Issue II

Rice News Headlines...

News Detail...

Vietnam's Jan-Feb rice export volume dips, value slides faster

February 27, 2017 | 07:55 pm GMT+7

Farmers plant rice on a rice paddy field in Ha Tinh province, Vietnam February 4, 2017. Photo by Reuters

Rice export turnover in the first two months falls around 40 percent from a year ago, quickening from a 34 percent slide in January.

Vietnam's rice export extended its downtrend on thin overseas demand, with shipments in the first two months falling 17 percent from a year ago to an estimated 799,000 tons, while the turnover fell faster, the agriculture ministry said Monday.

The Southeast Asian nation, with world ranking in rice export this year expected to remain unchanged at the third position after India and Thailand, would get $248 million from shipments of the grain in the January-February period, down 40.6 percent from the corresponding period last year, the ministry said in a monthly report.

In January, the volume already dropped 31 percent from a year ago to 337,000 tons, while earnings fell 33.8 percent to $144 million, based on Vietnam's customs data.

China, the Philippines and Ivory Coast were the top three buyers of Vietnamese rice last month, the agriculture ministry said.

Slowing overseas demand and uncompetitive prices are putting the brakes on Vietnam's rice exports this year, industry players say.

The Vietnam Food Association has projected the country's rice exports to reach around 5 million tons in 2017. Last year, the volume fell to 4.8 million tons, the lowest level since 2008.

http://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/vietnam-s-jan-feb-rice-export-volume-dips-value-slides-faster-3547730.html

Thai rice still in global demand

VNA MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017 - 9:36:00

Rice fields in Thailand (Photo: thailandnews.co)

Bangkok (VNA/NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce has confirmed Thai rice is still in global demand and exports will likely hit 10 million tonnes this year, thanks to increasing orders at both government-to-government and peer-to-peer levels.

Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn has revealed the Department of Foreign Trade has signed a trade deal with China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO), enabling the country to sell 900,000 tonnes of rice to China. A batch of 200,000 tonnes of rice will be exported to China between February and April. The remaining 700,000 tonnes will be shipped to the mainland within the year.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has approached the Thai government about buying 200,000 tonnes of Thai rice to ease the impact of drought on its agricultural sector. The Department of Foreign Trade has been assigned to undertake negotiations with the island nation.

The private sector is also enjoying continued orders from other countries. Thai companies and importers in Iran have signed trade deals for purchases of Thai rice. At least 100,000 tonnes of rice will be exported to Iran in June. Purchases from other customers, including Hong Kong, Malaysia and African countries have increased as well.-VNA/NNT

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/thai-rice-still-in-global-demand/107848.vnp

Per capita rice consumption forecast to hit fresh low in 2017

2017/02/27 09:38

SEOUL, Feb. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's per capita rice consumption is forecast to hit a new low in 2017 due to people's changing eating habits, a report showed Monday.

The average annual consumption of rice per person is likely to reach 59.6 kilograms this year, compared with 61.9 kg a year earlier, according to the report by the Korea Rural Economic Institute.

It will mark the first time for the country's per capita rice consumption to fall below the 60-kg mark. It will also be equal to 40 percent of the record high of 136.4 kg recorded in 1970.

Daily rice consumption per person will thus translate into about 163 grams this year, down from the 169.6 g last year.

South Korea's rice consumption per head has been on a steady decline since 1984, when it reached 130.1 kg. The amount reached a fresh low of 104.9 kg in 1996, breaking the previous record of 105.5 kg in 1963, when the country began to compile related data.

The fall comes as a growing number of South Koreans have been reducing their rice intake and diversifying their diets with other alternative grains like wheat, barley, beans and corn.

The institute offered a grim outlook for the country's rice consumption, predicting the figure to fall as low as 47.5 kg in 2027 should the current downtrend continue.

Despite slumping demand, South Korea's output has been on the rise with bumper harvests in recent years. As of end-2016, the government's rice stockpiles reached 2 million tons.

With the country's rice oversupply worsening, rice prices have been on the skids. The price of an 80-kg sack fell below the psychological support level of 130,000 won (US$115) last year, reaching a 21-year low.

Kim Tae-hoon, a researcher at the institute, called on the government to step up efforts to increase rice consumption. "With a focus on slowing the decline, the government needs to make efforts to increase consumption of rice for manufacturing processed foods. It is realistically difficult to jack up overall rice consumption, given the rise in single-person households and the country's rapid population aging.

South Korea's single-member households numbered 5.2 million in 2015, accounting for 27.2 percent of total households and becoming the most common household type in Asia's fourth-largest economy. The country became an "aging society" in 2000, with the percentage of people aged 65 and older topping 7 percent, and is projected to become an aged society in 2017 with the ratio hitting 14 percen

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2017/02/27/0200000000AEN20170227001200320.html

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-February 27,2017

LIVE COVERAGE:

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-February 27

Nagpur, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices recovered in Nagpur Agriculture Producing and

Marketing Committee (APMC) auctions on increased seasonal demand from local millers amid weak

supply from producing belts. Notable rise in Madhya Pradesh pulses and enquiries from

South-based millers also jacked up prices, according to sources.

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES

   GRAM

   * Gram varieties reported down in open market here in absence of buyers amid increased

     supply from producing regions.

   TUAR

   * Tuar varieties declined in open market on poor demand from local traders amid

     profit-taking selling by stockists at higher level.

   * Moong and Udid varieties reported higher in open market on good festival season

    demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing belt.

   * In Akola, Tuar New – 3,900-4,000, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,500-6,700, Udid Mogar (clean)

    – 8,500-9,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,600-6,900, Gram – 4,700-4,800, Gram Super best

     bold – 7,300-7,500 for 100 kg.

   * Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in

     scattered deals, settled at last levels.

 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close

     Gram Auction                     4,400-4,700         4,200-4,730

     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600

     Tuar Auction                3,800-4,200         3,700-4,200

     Moong Auction                n.a.                6,400-6,600

     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500

     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800

     Gram Super Best Bold            7,500-7,800        7,500-8,000

     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.

     Gram Medium Best            6,500-6,800        6,500-7,000

     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a

     Gram Mill Quality            4,400-5,000        4,700-5,200

     Desi gram Raw                4,800-5,100         5,100-5,300

     Gram Yellow                 7,600-8,000        7,800-8,200

     Gram Kabuli                11,600-12,800        11,600-12,800

     Tuar Fataka Best-New             6,600-6,800        6,800-7,000

     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        6,200-6,400        6,400-6,600

     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        5,800-6,000        6,000-6,200

     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        5,300-5,600        5,500-5,800

     Tuar Gavarani New             4,000-4,200        4,100-4,300

     Tuar Karnataka             4,400-4,600        4,500-4,700

     Masoor dal best            5,600-5,800        5,600-5,800

     Masoor dal medium            5,300-5,500        5,300-5,500

     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Mogar bold (New)        6,800-7,200         6,800-7,000

     Moong Mogar Medium            6,200-6,500        6,000-6,500

     Moong dal Chilka            5,800-6,500        5,500-6,300

     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Chamki best            6,400-6,700        6,200-6,500

     Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,800-9,500       8,500-9,500

     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    7,500-8,000        7,300-7,900

     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        5,200-5,500        5,000-5,300

     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        5,200-5,600        5,200-5,600

     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          3,650-3,850         3,650-3,850

     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            3,000-3,100        3,000-3,100

     Watana White (100 INR/KG)           3,200-3,400           3,200-3,400

     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,800-4,300        3,800-4,300

     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        2,000-2,100        2,000-2,100

     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    2,000-2,100        2,000-2,100

     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         2,100-2,300           2,100-2,300

     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,500-2,700        2,500-2,700

     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   2,200-2,500        2,200-2,500

     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.

     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,600-4,200        3,600-4,200

     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,700-3,200        2,700-3,200

     Rice BPT best New(100 INR/KG)    2,700-3,200        2,700-3,200

     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400

     Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)         2,200-2,500        2,200-2,500

     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,600-2,800        2,600-2,800

     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      2,400-2,500        2,400-2,500

     Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG)    3,500-4,000        3,500-4,000

     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,900-3,100        2,900-3,100

     Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG)    4,600-4,800        4,600-4,800

     Rice Shriram med New(100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,400        4,200-4,400

     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    9,200-13,300        9,200-13,300

     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,000-6,200        5,000-6,200

     Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG)    4,800-5,100        4,800-5,100

     Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG)    4,500-4,700        4,500-4,700

     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,000-2,300        2,000-2,300

     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,900-2,000        1,900-2,000

WEATHER (NAGPUR)

Maximum temp. 36.1 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 13.1 degree Celsius

Rainfall : Nil

FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 35 and 15 degreeCelsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices)

http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N1GC2VU

Thailand Seals 1st Iran Rice Deal in 10 Yrs.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Thailand has secured a deal to sell rice to Iran for the first time in 10 years, with delivery of 50,000-100,000 tons of white rice due over the next 1-2 months.

Sombat Chalermwutinan, president of Asia Golden Rice Company, said the company has already reached an agreement to sell rice to the Iranian government after Iran’s Health and Medical Education Ministry inspected Asia Golden Rice’s factory late last year, Bangkok Post reported.

The company is in the process of asking for cooperation from the Export-Import Bank of Thailand to help handle the payment and settlement system, which is expected to take about one month. Delivery is likely over the next 1-2 months or before June this year.

“The purchase order is considered good news for Thailand after a close partnership between the government and private sector to resume Thai rice shipments to Iran after 10 years as a result of United Nations sanctions,” he said.

In the past, Iran used to import 700,000 to 1 million tons from foreign countries, about 300,000-500,000 tons of which came from Thailand.

With the easing situation in Iran, Thailand and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in early 2016 to resume sales of 300,000 tons of rice worth 4.3 billion baht ($120 million).

Thailand and Iran agreed in October last year to a preferential trade agreement, a move intended to rev up bilateral commerce to 104.7 billion baht ($3 billion) by 2021.

Both sides have agreed to cut import tariffs on 100 goods.

The PTA differs from a free trade agreement, as the pact will be much easier to conclude and does not require the need to completely eliminate tariffs. Generally, tariffs will be cut to 10% or less, depending on the outcome of negotiations.

An FTA generally requires that talks cover not only access to goods, but also for investment and services.

Iran is Thailand’s ninth largest trading partner in the Middle East. In 2016, two-way trade totaled $421 million, up 36.1% from a year before. Exports from Thailand reached $267 million, up 23.1% from 2015.

Thailand’s Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said good signs have appeared since early this year for Thai rice export prospects, both through government-to-government and private-to-private deals.

The Commerce Ministry expects Thailand to ship 10 million tons of milled rice this year, but the Thai Rice Exporters Association said shipments would amount to 9.5 million tons.

Meanwhile, India, Thailand’s major rival in the Iranian rice import market, seems to be missing out.

Basmati export market of India was expecting a good time this year, as Iran had decided to resume rice imports from the country. But the higher price of Basmati rice made the situation hard, as Iran has fixed its import price at $850 per ton, Indian news portal Commodity Online reported earlier this month.

Indian exporters have to fix the price at least $900 per ton for the trade to be economical, which has made the hopes of Indian exporters fade, the report added.

Iran annually imports about 1 million tons of rice to supplement its domestic production of about 2 million tons.

The Iranian government has recently amended tariffs for importing rice by reducing it from the previous 40% to 26%. It was announced on January 21 that the rate would stand at 5%, following a series of tariff cuts on a list of agrofood products.

There is an all-out ban on rice imports during harvest season in Iran. This year, the measure was in place from July 21 to November 21

Image: A worker loads bags of rice at a CP Intertrade Company warehouse in Thailand’s Ayutthaya Province.

https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-business-and-markets/60341/thailand-seals-1st-iran-rice-deal-in-10-yrs

Sustainable rice production

Bangladesh has more than tripled the production of rice in the space of 45 odd years. PHOTO: Anurup Kanti Das

Reaz Ahmad

Last time the world witnessed a phenomenal growth in agricultural productivity was back in the 60s. What American biologist Norman Borlaug initiated in Mexican wheat fields during the mid-20th century, the first breeder of then newly established International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Dr Peter Jennings, did the same for rice. Together, these two men brought a phenomenal change in rice and wheat production thereby ushering in a Green Revolution, long being credited for averting a billion deaths.

Dwarfing of wheat and rice plants, thereby turning the world's two of the most consumed staples highly yielding, was a game changer. It saw Mexico becoming a net wheat exporter by 1963, India and Pakistan literally doubling their wheat baskets between 1965 and 1970, Borlaug winning a deserving Nobel in peace in 1970 and nations across Asia, Africa, Latin America and elsewhere benefiting from semi-dwarf 'Miracle Rice' IR8.

IRRI's hand in helping the rice-eating world through breeding better varieties of rice began shortly after the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations established the Institute with the help of the Philippine government in 1960. IRRI scientists sought to replicate in rice what had been done in wheat in Mexico, and successfully bred IR8—a semi-dwarf variety that journalists dubbed 'Miracle Rice' because it could produce twice the amount of rice grains that tall varieties produced. IR8 has been credited with averting a humanitarian crisis that would have otherwise plunged the world's poor into abject hunger. Since then, more than 900 IRRI varieties have been released in 78 countries, across five continents. Some of these were bred to be resistant to insects or diseases, and they can withstand poor soils.

In November 2016, IRRI celebrated the 50th anniversary of the official release of the semi-dwarf rice variety IR8 to Asia and the world. It became popular with farmers because it had short growth duration and a high-yield capacity related to its response to nitrogen fertiliser.

Since that time (the mid-20th century) the world has seen its population grow from 2.5 billion (1950) to 7.4 billion (2016) and its per capita arable land nearly halve from 0.37 hectares (1961) to 0.197 (2013).

Half of today's world population depends on rice for survival, and, owing to predicted population increases and a general trend towards urbanisation, per hectare of land that currently provides enough rice to feed 27 people will need to support 43 by 2050.

In December 2021, Bangladesh will celebrate 50 years of independence. Keeping that timeframe in consideration, Bangladesh's Vision 2021 rightly set goals: a) to become a participatory democracy; b) to have an efficient, accountable, transparent and decentralised system of governance; c) to become a poverty-free middle-income country; d) to have a nation of healthy citizens; to develop a skilled and creative human resource; e) to become a globally integrated regional economic and commercial hub; and f) to be environmentally sustainable; and to be a more inclusive and equitable society.

In 1971, we had a population of 75 million and our food production was a little over 10 million metric tonnes. Thanks to adoption of modern farm technologies, policy support, better breeds and inputs and above all a hard working farming community, today we grow over 35 million metric tonnes of cereal crops.

So it's true that since the Borlaug and Jennings days, the world's food production grew dramatically keeping pace with an alarmingly faster rate of population growth. To cite a country-specific example, we can easily refer to the Bangladesh scenario. Over the past four decades, Bangladesh succeeded outpacing the population growth rate with its growth in rice output. The country has more than tripled the production of its staple in the space of 45 odd years.

But questions arise whether we have reached a plateau - where any further growth in farm outputs would be too hard to achieve. We have a large population base and despite a falling population growth rate, it'll take a few more years before we get stabilised by the time farmlands continue to get scarcer thanks to rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and infrastructure developments.

Achieving self-sufficiency in rice at this point of time is no way perpetual. History shows we have reached such points in a few occasions in the past when output matched the demands but again we did slip back - not because of any production decrease rather, because of population increase.

More importantly, attaining autarky in rice, the staple, is not enough to proclaim ourselves food self-sufficient. We need a reality check here. After rice, maize emerges as the second most important cereal crop relegating wheat into third position in Bangladesh. We're still not able to meet the total domestic requirements of maize thanks to a huge feed demand triggered by a burgeoning fish and poultry industry. And over 75 percent of our annual wheat demands are met by imports.

Currently, more than 790 million people in the world do not have enough to eat, and over 280 million, in other words, nearly a third of food-starved people, live in our part of the world (South Asia). Producing enough food does not necessarily guarantee people's right to food. To make sure people have rightful access to food all the time, ensuring its availability, stability, accessibility, sustainability and adequacy is equally important.

Standing at this crossroads, we need to revisit the whole range of farming issues - how sustainable the heavily input-driven production system is, how prudent it is to overexploit our fast depleting groundwater table and what would be our coping mechanisms to face impacts of climate change in the farm sector.

Prior to Green Revolution we had rain-fed rice like Aman and Aus but thanks to introduction or irrigated dry season rice Boro during the winter there has been phenomenal growth in the staple output. But for that to happen we started sinking millions of shallow and deep-set pumps to draw water from underground and irrigate the Boro rice. At the same time we started using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We had also advanced in farm mechanisation thereby dwindling the numbers of our draft animals, which were also a big source of dung, the natural manure.

Climate-induced stresses are becoming all the more challenging. Extreme weather conditions like prolonged flood, shorter winter, drought and salinity pose huge challenges. Too much mining of groundwater in the north (greater Rajshahi, Rangpur-Dinajpur region) for irrigating rice lands creates vacuums underneath, giving more inroads for the southern saline water to seep in. To some count a tenth of our cultivable lands are saline-prone to varied levels.

To address these challenges scientists have taken up an uphill task of developing various crop varieties that can withheld stress conditions and are genetically better bred giving extra vigour and higher productivity.

Growing rice with less water

It takes 14 million litres of irrigation water to produce six tonnes of Boro rice on one hectare of typical farmland in Bangladesh. A farmer has to burn 250 litres of diesel to run a shallow pump, owned or hired, to irrigate this single hectare of paddy field. If translated into minuscule unit, each kilogram of rice reaches our plates from the farm at the expense of 3,500 litres of immensely valuable fresh water.

One Bangladeshi agronomist took it upon himself to see what difference he could make in terms of water conservation and save the country from an ecological disaster. Irrigated-rice Boro contributes 55 percent of Bangladesh's nearly 35 million tonnes of yearly rice output and heavily sucks on a rapidly depleting groundwater.

Professor Moshiur Rahman, who teaches agronomy at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh, negated the notion that rice in dry season has to grow in puddle condition, soaked field and in standing water. Rahman wanted to challenge the notion and began with an on-campus experiment back in 2006-07. In the last 10 years, Rahman reached out to plots of many farmers in six rice-rich districts, and reached a conclusion—rice can be grown using less than half the irrigation water in Boro season.

Rahman and his team conserved water by not growing seedlings in the nursery. They, rather, directly sowed in the dry field by plowing furrows and did not puddle or soak the field with water, thereby saving some water as well. They didn't keep standing water in the paddy field during the period between panicle initiation and grain-filling. In the direct-seeded Boro rice technology, Professor Rahman said, what farmers are required to do is keep the seeds soaked in water for 24 hours and then incubate the soaked seeds for another 30 to 40 hours prior to sowing in the paddy field. From the results of his experiments with the direct-seeded rice technology in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Tangail, Netrokona and Mymensingh over the last 10 years, Rahman showed statistical evidence that in the most conservative estimate, 50 percent less water was required for growing rice with equally productive yield.

If further tweaking makes the water-conserving rice production system work fine, then it will definitely be a great relief for rice-rich northern region of Bangladesh that has long over-exploited groundwater in irrigation. Around 88 percent of total fresh water is used for agriculture in the country and rice production accounts for 73 percent of that water. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated in a report, “In some parts of the country, particularly the Barind Tracts in the northwest region, there are already symptoms of deterioration in the natural hydrological regime. Declining groundwater levels have affected water quality causing it to affect soils, the growth of agricultural crops, flora and fauna and to increase health hazards.”

Rice going southbound

It couldn't have been better timed for rice breeders in Bangladesh to come up with more solutions for southern farmers when the government is all out in its efforts to make rice southbound giving relief to the north that has long been over mined for groundwater to irrigate winter rice Boro. Scientists have come up with a solution for southern farmers who have long been deprived of the benefits of high-yield modern rice varieties (MVs) that cannot grow on tidal wetlands. After 12 years of arduous breeding process, they succeeded in developing two modern varieties suitable for cultivation in the tidal floodplain ecosystem of the southern delta region, with the promise of an additional yield of one million tonnes a year.

Against 2.5 to 3 tonnes of rice per hectare, which farmers reap from traditional varieties, the new modern varieties - BRRI dhan77 and BRRI dhan78 - will bring about 4 tonnes of crops a hectare during the Aman season in July-December, according to Helal Uddin Ahmed, a chief scientific officer at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). While farmers elsewhere have already switched to MVs from low-yield traditional varieties, rice growers in over a million hectares of tidal wetlands have had to remain satisfied with homegrown varieties.

For so long indigenous varieties have performed better than modern varieties on tidal floodplains because seedlings of the former are taller than the latter. As the region is at the proximity of the sea and inland estuaries, shorter seedlings often fail to survive the water flowing in and out with high tide and low tide twice a day.

BRRI dhan77 and BRRI dhan78 are bred in a way in which their seedlings would be tall in size and survive the tidal wetland condition. The newly developed breeding lines will meet southern farmers' aspiration for higher yields in the Aman season.

Nationwide modern varieties coverage in rice cultivation has increased from 25 percent in 1972 to over 80 percent now, but their penetration in the tidal regions of Barisal, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Bhola, Bagerhat and Gopalganj has remained at 15 percent for all these years. The new MVs come as a breakthrough offering the southern farmers a good choice to shift from low-yield homegrown varieties like Sadamota, Lalmota, Moulata, and Dudhkalom.

Meanwhile, as saline water continues to creep in, scientists are also continuing their efforts to develop rice varieties that can withstand a certain degree of salinity. In recent years, Bangladeshi scientists developed four transgenic rice varieties capable of production in high soil salinity, far better than the ones derived through conventional breeding.

A particular pea gene – helicase – was infused into four high yielding rice varieties (HYVs) that helped rice plants have higher salt tolerance and higher yield potential. A team led by Dhaka University's Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Professor Zeba Islam Seraj made it possible after a decade of research. In lab and net house, the transgenic varieties had shown potential to yield up to 50 percent more than the available salt-tolerant HYVs in saline-stressed soil.

In Bangladesh, one million hectares out of a total nine million hectares of cultivable land are salinity affected, and the vulnerability is more profound during the dry season. That's why the scientists chose the dry season Boro rice varieties first for the gene transfusion.

Climate change is a reality and so is the farming sector's resilience to it in Bangladesh. With limited resources at hand and a rapidly increasing population to feed, some 18 million farming households in Bangladesh have shown fortitude against all odds. Farmers never called it quits in their constant fight against natural calamities, shrinkage of farmland, market irregularities, and all sorts of resource limitations.

From Green Revolution to Gene Revolution

Given the fact that world population would continue to increase for many more years to come and farm resources - land, water, etc. - would continue to get scarcer, the global food regime would definitely require a big push to the scale of mid-20th century.

Green Revolution was to some extent chemical-driven - the increased productivity was gained largely by use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. While it was widely recognised that Green Revolution came as a blessing for mankind when fear of famine was haunting a large part of developing economies, there is no denial that injudicious applications of chemicals had long-term bearings on environment and ecology.

Currently, a lot of the efforts of scientists are centred on biological maneuvering so that better breeds can be derived which are more productive and less susceptive to stresses like cold, drought, submergence, salinity, etc.

What scientists and journalists sometimes tout as Gene Revolution has to come through scientific advancement, better understanding of genetic structures and functioning of different plant species and sub-species. In recent months, genomes of 186 Bangladeshi rice varieties have been sequenced in Beijing Genomics Institute, China as part of a global collaborative project, opening up new opportunities for varietal developments. These include rice germplasms, high yielding varieties (HYVs) and advanced lines. Germplasm is the living genetic resources such as seeds or tissue that is maintained for the purpose of animal and plant breeding, preservation and other research uses.

C4 - The next big thing

An IRRI literature reads, “Only 29 percent of the earth's surface is land and only a little over a third of that is suitable for agriculture; the rest is ice, desert, forest or mountain and is unsuitable for farming. More simply stated, only 10 percent of the surface of the earth has topographical and climatic conditions suitable for producing the food requirements of human beings.” It further reads, “Sixty percent of the world's population lives in Asia, where each hectare of land used for rice production currently provides food for 27 people, but by 2050 that land will have to support at least 43 people. Nonetheless, the area for rice cultivation is continually being reduced by expansion of cities and industries, to say nothing of soil degradation.”

For the past few year scientists have embarked upon an uphill task of changing the biophysical structure of the rice plant, making it a much more efficient user of solar energy. Solar energy captured in photosynthesis over the duration of a crop gives it the capacity to grow. Rice has what is known as a C3 photosynthetic pathway, less efficient than that of maize, which has a C4 pathway.

A galaxy of scientists drawn from IRRI to Oxford University, from Chinese Academy of Sciences to Cambridge University, is now working on an ambitious project so that rice can be converted into a C4 plant from a C3 plant. An Oxford University release said, “If rice could be 'switched' to use C4 photosynthesis, it would theoretically increase productivity by 50 percent.” As well as an increase in photosynthetic efficiency, introduction of C4 traits into rice is predicted to improve nitrogen use efficiency, double water use efficiency, and increase tolerance to high temperatures, according to Oxford University, as the C4 rice project entered, what the scientists say into third phase in December 2015.

f http://www.thedailystar.net:8080/towards-just-and-inclusive-society/sustainable-rice-production-1367641

In Memory: Mark Rose

Last week, long-time USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employee and friend to USA Rice, Mark Rose, passed away unexpectedly. Rose spent 31 years as a public servant, working first for his alma mater, The Ohio State University in research and agricultural leadership development before heading to NRCS.

Rose began his career with NRCS as a soil conservationist and worked his way up the ranks in Ohio, Oklahoma, Maryland, and eventually to National Headquarters in Washington, DC, where he served as the director of conservation financial assistance programs. He was instrumental in helping USA Rice and the Rice Stewardship Partnership secure funding through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and making rice-friendly revisions to the Conservation Stewardship Program.

USA Rice staff and members met with Rose less than a week prior to his passing during the Government Affairs Conference in Washington, where he described the Rice Stewardship Partnership as "exemplary" for other commodities and wildlife organizations.

Dave White, former NRCS chief and supervisor to Rose, said, "This is a hard one for me - Mark was truly one of the 'good guys.' He cared deeply about agriculture and worked tirelessly to make the conservation programs better. Mark always had time to visit with producers and his kindness enriched our lives."

Rose is survived by his wife, father, three children, and two grandchildren.

Congressional Staff Awards Recognize Extra Efforts on Behalf of U.S. Rice


	*Ted Verrill is literally the center of attention at award ceremony*

By Peter Bachmann

WASHINGTON, DC -- At the Government Affairs Conference earlier this month, USA Rice continued its tradition of recognizing Congressional staff that go above and beyond their duties to support the U.S. rice industry. The 2017 recipients of the USA Rice Outstanding Congressional Staff Award are Ted Verrill and Carlisle Clarke.

Ted Verrill has been a staple in the halls of Congress for quite a while and currently serves as the deputy chief of staff and legislative director for rice champion, Representative Ralph Abraham (R-LA). Verrill is no stranger to the issues facing the rice industry as prior to joining Abraham's staff, he served as legislative director and counsel for Representative Rick Crawford (R-AR) and also worked for former Senator Dale Bumpers (D-AR).

"Ted is certainly most deserving of this award," said USA Rice Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Mosely. "He is a great communicator and frequently reaches out to us as a resource to make sure he and Congressman Abraham can effectively support the rice industry."


*Many gather to thank* Carlisle Clarke

The Senate awardee, Carlisle Clarke, currently serves as the clerk for the Senate Appropriations Committee's Agriculture Subcommittee, overseeing the annual funding bills for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Clarke has worked under Subcommittee Chairmen Roy Blunt (R-MS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and most recently John Hoeven (R-ND), but got his start as the legislative assistant covering agriculture for rice champion Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS).

Mosely said, "Carlisle has been instrumental in ensuring that programs that are vital to the needs of the rice industry continue to be funded in the annual appropriations bills, including food aid and conservation-related accounts. His efforts on behalf of the industry go all the way back to his days serving on Senator Cochran's personal staff."

"Verrill and Clarke are just two of the many Congressional staff that USA Rice has strong relationships with," added Mosely. "It's important to continue to strengthen our ties with staff and recognize those who really take our issues to heart and work overtime for the rice industry when the needs arise.

Good-old-delicious-food

27 FEBRUARY 2017 @ 2:02 PM Good Old Days restaurant on Singapore’s Sentosa Island offers authentic local cuisine at reasonable prices, writes Alan Teh Leam Seng IT is very common to hear visitors in Sentosa, Singapore talk about the exorbitant prices of food. In general, outlets here charge a premium for the same type of food that can be found in other parts of Singapore. The food quality is also nothing much to shout about. So it is a pleasant surprise to find a place that offers authentic local cuisine at reasonable prices.

Furthermore, it is just a stone’s throw from the popular Siloso Beach! It is around lunch time when I alight from the Sentosa Express. The Beach Station is the last stop on the island before the elevated train makes its return journey back to Vivo City. It has been several years since I have been here and things have definitely changed. I am taken aback to learn that even the popular Songs Of The Sea nightly light and sound show has been replaced with a newer and more exciting production called Wings Of Time. Honestly, I am not excited when it comes to looking for food in Sentosa.

However, everything changes when I come across the Good Old Days restaurant, located just opposite the Wings Of Time main entrance. Externally, the restaurant looks like a large black and white colonial era bungalow. Coupled with its nostalgic sounding name, this place conjures up images of yesteryear when Sentosa was known as Pulau Blakang Mati. This strategically positioned island just off the southern Singapore coast, used to serve as the backbone of the British military command back in the days leading up to World War II. The interior is tastefully furnished with wooden chairs and marble tables. Although these are new they give diners the feeling that they are eating at a traditional coffee shop. Black and white is the main colour scheme throughout the entire restaurant, including the floor tiles.

TIME TO EAT The latest restaurant to open in Sentosa, it give tourists the opportunity to sample Singapore’s rich culinary heritage. The menu boasts a wide selection of halal certified dishes. I order several local favourites to compare them to the same ones I have tasted outside. I decide on the three Singapore food icons, namely Singapore Chicken Rice, South Indian set and Singapore Laksa. Good Old Days restaurant on Singapore’s Sentosa Island offers authentic local cuisine at reasonable prices. Those who love the hawker styled “zi char” will be happy to know that the beef hor fun is also available. While waiting for the food to arrive, I do a bit of exploring. Looking at the framed black and white photographs on the walls is like taking a walk back in time. With easy to read captions, these wonderful images tell a spell binding tale of life in old Sentosa before the luxury hotels, theme parks and golf courses arrived. Back then life was simple and laid back. Ahh... the price we pay for progress. My chicken rice comes in a circular tray with individual compartments for the dishes.

I take a spoonful of rice first. I want to taste it plain. The rice grains are fragrant, fluffy and not too greasy. It is comparable to one I tried at the famous Maxwell Road hawker centre. Good Old Days restaurant on Singapore’s Sentosa Island offers authentic local cuisine at reasonable prices. The Singapore Chicken Rice is highly recommended. The chicken pieces are juicy and go very well with the dark soya sauce, crushed ginger and garlic chilli sauces. The soup is flavourful though slightly sour. The lightly sauteed green leafy vegetables in oyster sauce are crunchy and their flavour is further enhanced by the crispy deep fried shallot toppings. The laksa arrives in a large bowl and at first look I can sense that it is not spicy at all. The gravy is yellowish unlike the super hot versions that are much redder. I take my first sip. The laksa version here is more towards the “lemak” side which uses coconut milk instead of the sourish asam (tamarind) as the main gravy ingredient. Good Old Days restaurant on Singapore’s Sentosa Island offers authentic local cuisine at reasonable prices.

The Singapore Laksa is not too spicy. Foreign tourists and children can handle this dish without batting an eyelid. However, on its own I find it to be a bit bland. I like my laksa super spicy. Fortunately, the serving staff brings me a saucer of red chilli paste to help bring things up a notch. Apart from this, this dish is excellent. The prawns are fresh and juicy. I like their crunchy texture and combined flavour when taken together with the gravy. The sliced fishcakes taste nice when soaked in the gravy. The South Indian set looks very authentic. All the dishes are served in separate stainless steel bowls, just like my favourite banana leaf curry shop back home in Malaysia. I know there is also attention to detail as I can see a small saucer of mango chutney on the side. No self-respecting Indian curry meal is complete without this sweet condiment. Good Old Days restaurant on Singapore’s Sentosa Island offers authentic local cuisine at reasonable prices. The South Indian set is a favourite with diners.

Putting the dishes separately is a very good idea. This way I get to gauge the exact amount of curry I want to add to my rice. I recommend mixing a bit of the yogurt with the curry gravy. The slight tangy yogurt complements the curry and makes each mouthful a treat for my taste buds. I suggest eating the papadum quickly as this crispy cracker tends to get soft very quickly. This popular meal was traditionally eaten by pioneers who first came to Singapore from the Indian sub-continent. It comes with a delicious fish curry, okra masala, and turmeric potato combined with dry chilli and onion. I am glad that the restaurant uses quality basmati rice infused with a mixture of fragrant spices. This curry meal is my favourite for the day. I end my meal with hot tau suan.

This popular dessert is delicious and I really enjoy the gravy-soaked fried dough fritters. I must remember to make another trip here to watch the Wings Of Time production. During that time I plan to arrive early to enjoy the Good Old Days buffet spread here before the show starts. Good Old DaysRestaurant 60 Siloso Beach Walk, #01-03/04, Sentosa Island, Singapore Tel +65 6273 1743 OPENING HOURS Monday to Sunday 11am-10pm Daily buffet 5pm-10pm GETTING THERE Alight at HarbourFront MRT station and use the sheltered Sentosa Boardwalk. Then hop on board the Sentosa Express at Waterfront Station and alight at Beach Station.

Good Old Days restaurant is just by Siloso Beach, opposite the Wings Of Time amphitheatre WHAT’S COOKING Halal local favourites as well as popular traditional desserts MUST TRY Singapore Chicken Rice, Singapore Laksa, South Indian Set YOU’LL PAY Rates are inclusive of GST.

Sets range from below S$10 (RM31) to less than S$20 ATMOSPHERE Nostalgic and comfortable THE LOO Clean and well equipped SERVICE Friendly and courteous OVERALL VERDICT Go give it a try 116 reads Good Old Days restaurant on Singapore’s Sentosa Island offers authentic local cuisine at reasonable prices, writes Alan Teh Leam Seng RECOMMENDED SpaceX to send first paying tourists… Plane with five aboard crashes into… US, Mexico churches join forces to… Sergeant-Major found dead with gunshot… PROMOTED STORIES Here's What's Leaving Netflix In March Bustle How Did the Most Legendary NCAA Players… PointAfter | By Graphiq Teen Goes Missing In Aruba. But 10… LifeDaily These Are the 33 Healthiest Dog Breeds -… PetBreeds | By Graphiq Recommended by TRENDING Senior adviser to Thai king sacked in latest purge (Gymnastics) Olga Korbut sells Munich medal collection Platform for China firms Japan's Takata pleads guilty in defective airbag case Ukraine's first wheelchair model breaks taboos Tighter check-and-balance mechanism underway for MSPO certification: Mah Walk your way to health RECOMMENDED Core of the matter EAIC begins probe of Hulu Selangor death-in-custody case Saudi Aramco invests US$7b in Petronas' Rapid refinery project Saudi Aramco invests US$7b in Petronas' Rapid refinery project Sime Darby Q2 net profits more than double previous year's Saudi Aramco to invest US$7 billion in Rapid Pengerang project Poor demand for 1-litre subsidised bottled cooking oil; Ministry may scrap it SPORTS (Badminton) Rising star Chi Wing aims to break into top 60 KUALA LUMPUR: With the confidence of winning back-to-back national titles, rising star Lim Chi Wing now hopes to make his presence felt in overseas tournaments.

(Gymnastics) Olga Korbut sells Munich medal collection (NBA) James leads Cavs over Bucks MORE LIFESTYLE Surprise, surprise at this year's Oscars [VIDEO] It was a wet early Monday morning, but the live screening of the Oscars by HBO Asia in Kuala Lumpur saw local celebrities turning up dressed to the nines, writes Tahir Alhamzah Indonesian singer Afgan to perform in Johor on April 8 The Q&A: Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid MORE NATION Mother foils attempted kidnapping at gov't clinic KAJANG: A foreign man had attempted to kidnap a toddler from Klinik Kesihatan Sungai Chua, here, yesterday. Visually-impaired Penangite scores 3.84 CGPA in STPM Authorities purge illegal ketum farm on gov't land MORE WORLD Samsung heir indicted for bribery, embezzlement: prosecutors SEOUL: The heir to the Samsung empire and four other top executives from the world’s biggest smartphone maker were indicted Tuesday on multiple charges including bribery and embezzlement, South Korean prosecutors said. Hiding in swamps, S. Sudanese eat little more than lilies US, Mexico churches join forces to support migrants MORE BUSINESS REHDA urges gov't to rejuvenate property sector through new policies PETALING JAYA: The government needs to rejuvenate domestic demand for the property sector through various policies. CIMB Group achieves highest-ever revenue of RM16.1 billion in 2016 Platform for China firms

http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/02/215787/good-old-delicious-food

As enforcement increase, more immigrants avoid public places in D.C. area

Adults are skipping English classes or keeping children home from school

Published: 17:53 February 27, 2017

Washington: The number of day labourers waiting for work outside a Hyattsville, Maryland, shopping centre has dwindled to a couple of dozen a day, from more than 100 a few months ago.

Business is slow at markets and shops in immigrant neighbourhoods, and fewer foreign-born residents are coming to food pantries. In some cases, adults are skipping English classes or keeping children home from school.

President Donald Trump’s promised clampdown on illegal immigration is having a distinct impact on the Washington region’s immigrant-rich suburbs, according to residents, advocates, workers and business owners. Fewer people are venturing out into once-lively shops and commercial strips, and the economies of those communities are suffering as a result.

“It’s too hard, and people are too scared,” said Julio Umanzor, a carpenter and legal permanent resident from Mexico who comes to the shopping Centre to find workers to put up drywall, paint or run wires for a day’s wages.

Saqib Choubhry, part of a large Pakistani family that owns the Fair Price International Supermarkets in northern Virginia, said not as many customers are coming in, and those who do are buying less.

“We had a plan to open another location, but we postponed it,” Choubhry said last week, on a day when Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, D, visited the store in Alexandria to demonstrate his support for immigrants. “It’s very slow — just look around.”

A trickle of customers approached the halal meat counters, but the grocery aisles, where large jugs of sesame paste, mango juice containers and bags of basmati rice were neatly stacked, stayed nearly empty.

The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has rounded up hundreds of undocumented residents across the country in recent weeks, including some outside a homeless shelter in northern Virginia and near a Walgreens in Baltimore.

Undercurrent of fatalism

Trump’s executive orders — an expansion of who can be targeted beyond known criminals, as well as the travel ban that was blocked in federal court — have sparked what appears to be a new assertiveness in enforcement, and a rising wave of worry among immigrants in the Washington, D.C., area and across the country.

“It’s fear, fear, fear. That’s the language we are speaking,” said Theodore Ngatchou, a community activist within Washington’s French-speaking African community. “Nobody knows what’s going to happen. Even those with papers, like me, are scared.”

But there is also an undercurrent of fatalism about a situation that immigrants know they cannot fully control.

Edwin, an Guatemalan day labourer who has been in the country for 20 years and did not want his last name used, said he will keep looking for jobs, guided by a verse from the Bible’s Book of Daniel and a belief that the US economy relies on people like himself.

“This country needs us, the workers. But whatever happens, I trust in God’s will,” he said Friday outside the shopping centre in Hyattsville. “God deposes kings and raises up kings. The same goes for presidents.”

Absenteeism has, so far, not been widespread, area school systems said. But there are isolated reports of adults and children staying home, including in Baltimore, where immigrants are skipping their English-as-second-language classes at Catholic Charities’ Esperanza Center.

Meanwhile, parents are requesting legal consultations and applying for passports for their children in numbers organisers haven’t seen before.

Facts

“We are trying to arm people with facts,” said Valerie Twanmoh, director of the Esperanza Centre. “We try to tell them to continue with their daily routines.”

About half as many people as usual came last week to the Legal Aid Justice Center’s weekly food distribution in Fairfax County, Virginia’s Culmore neighbourhood, advocates there said.

“Now, there is priority for everyone, whether you’re guilty of a civil offence or are a hardened criminal,” said Del. Carlo Sanchez, D-Prince George’s, who has signed on as co-sponsor of a state bill to limit cooperation with federal immigration agents. “People can no longer afford to believe that if they stay clean, they will be OK.”

The streets were nearly empty at lunchtime Friday on a street in Silver Spring, Maryland, where Sonia Castellon has parked her pupusa truck for several months.

“There’s nobody,” she said. Some people simply want to stay out of public view. Others are trying to save money, fearing that tougher times could lie ahead.

“Business is down by 60 per cent,” said Pulgarin, 48. “Meanwhile, there is rent to pay.”

Ronald Torres, owner of the nearby mobile phone retailer Viva Wireless, and Francisco Escobar, who owns a clothing store called Ropa Colombiana, said sales have plummeted in their shops as well.

“I don’t think Trump sees the bigger picture,” said Torres, who opened his store four years ago, when business was abundant. “But we all see what is happening. I don’t know what we are going to do.”

http://gulfnews.com/news/americas/usa/as-enforcement-increase-more-immigrants-avoid-public-places-in-d-c-area-1.1985447

Rice prices soar as millers capitalise on little imports

Yasir Wardad

The retail prices of rice went up as high as 23 per cent in the last six months as millers were allegedly taking advantage of almost no import of the coarse varieties that majority people consume. Importers said they were not importing the coarse varieties of rice due to 25 per cent duty that has made imports costlier than local rice.

The price hike of different varieties of rice ranged between 6 to 23 per cent during the period, according to official figures, showing higher rate of hike for the mostly consumed varieties and lower rate of increase for the less consumed varieties.

Rice prices soar as millers capitalise on little imports

Market observers, however, said that the import restriction should have little impact on the price hike as imports meet very insignificant percentage of the country's demand, which is also much lower than local production.

The country produced 34.57 million tonnes of rice against a 31.0 million tonnes of demand in FY'16, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and Directorate General of Food (DGoF). But the prices went up even in the peak harvesting season, said the observers.Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said millers were pocketing hefty profits, depriving both the farmers and consumers.

He said the millers' cost for Jeerashail or Miniket, Boro season variety, was maximum Tk 33-Tk 34 a kg as paddy price was highest Tk 750 a maund."But they are selling the variety at Tk 44-Tk 54 a kg," he added.Md Sarwar Alam Kajol, a Naogaon based importer, said the import of daily edible rice remained almost halted, following the imposition of the duty.

He said the import cost of Indian Swarna now stands at Tk 36-Tk 37 a kg as compared to Tk 32-Tk 33 a kg at the local mills.The import declined sharply to only 41,000 tonnes worth around US $ 20 million in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY'17), which was much lower than 0.19 million tonnes worth $ 61 million in the corresponding period of last FY, according to the Food Ministry data.

The period's import was lowest in last four financial years. The period's decade low was recorded at 0.04 million tonnes in FY'13.

Market observers viewed that the imposition of the duties might have discouraged the private imports this fiscal year, apparently affecting the supply side to some extent if not much.Under this situation, many millers are believed to have taken the advantage of seeking higher prices although the farmers were also getting some dividends.Rice were now selling at Tk 32 (coarse) per kg to Tk 48 (finer) at village level as against Tk 26 to Tk 44 in 2015-16, according to the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM).

However, Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) said rice prices increased by Tk 4 - Tk 6 a kg in Dhaka in the last six months.The prices of finer varieties like Miniket, Jeerashail, Najirshail increased by Tk 4 a kg; medium quality Brridhan-28, Lata and coarse variety of Swarna by Tk 6 a kg in the country, according to the TCB and DAM.

The TCB data also revealed the prices increased even in peak Aman harvesting season (November-January, FY'17).However, having a zero duty facility, the private sector had imported a huge quantity of rice during the period from FY'14 to FY'16.Rice import hit an all time-high of 1.49 million tonnes worth $ 350 million in FY'15.

"The outcome was a price debacle during the harvesting seasons as local production was also an all-time high of 34.7 million tones," additional secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Md Mosharaf Hossain said.He said the low prices of paddy persisted during all the harvesting seasons from 2014 and 2016 (Boro season).

"And the consequence was that many of the farmers shifted to other crops which caused decline in production of rice to 34.57 million tonnes in FY'16," he said.

"Boro cropping area reduced by above 0.12 million hectares in the last FY," he added.He said higher import duty should be continued to help farmers getting fare prices, which is necessary to keep them in rice cultivation. Asked, President of Bangladesh Auto Major Husking Mills Association Md Abdur Rashid said traders can store paddy or rice for maximum 60 days.

"We are buying finer paddy from the local market now at Tk 1050-Tk 1150 a maund," he said.

However, to help farmers and to maintain higher production, the government removed zero duty facility on rice import from middle of FY'16, which was increased to 25 per cent from FY'17.

Paddy was selling at Tk 760-Tk 820 (coarse variety) and Tk 800 -Tk 950 (aromatic) a maund (40 kg) during the Aman harvest season that ended last month, said DAM assistant director T M Rashed Khan.

He said the paddy price was only Tk 450 to Tk 750 a maund in last seven harvesting seasons from 2014 to 2016 against a production cost of Tk 740 to Tk 800.Executive director of the local think tank Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Fahmida Khatun said that a dilemma always persisted over initiating the rice import policy as the policy makers take into account fair price for farmers in one hand and interest of consumers on the other.

"The import policy should have checks and balances. Import restriction could be lessened for a period of time to reduce the consumers' woes," she added.But the price trend of rice and the rate of inflation of last few years should also be taken into consideration to see whether real price of the staple increased or not, said Dr Fahmida.

"The national statistical agencies will have to provide authentic data on local demand and supply on quick and regular basis," she added.

28 Feb 2017, 00:32:24

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/02/28/62960/Rice-prices-soar-as-millers-capitalise-on-little-imports

Trader expects costlier rice imports soon, possibly up by seven to 10 pct

February 28, 2017, Tuesday

SIBU: The price of imported rice from Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan is expected to cost more from March 1.

A rice trader here, who spoke on anonymity, said he heard about a price hike in three types of imported rice. He further pointed out about 80 per cent of rice in the state was imported, unlike in the peninsula where around 20 per cent was imported, with the rest produced locally.

“If there is an increase as what I have heard – perhaps it (the increase) will be within the range of between seven and 10 per cent.

“I think this has got to do with the higher exchange rate – the rising US dollar,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He lamented that his sales of imported rice would be slightly affected if there was indeed an increase and people might buy less.

“But rice is our staple food which people will not do away with it. They will get used to getting dearer rice,” he suggested.

Meanwhile, a local Chinese daily recently quoted Malaysia Rice Wholesalers Association as saying that three types of imported rice – Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan – would cost more starting March 1. According to the report, a 10kg pack is expected to be costlier by 50 sen. Currently, one tonne of imported rice is RM2,150, but it could increase by RM50 to RM2,200 per tonne come March 1, it stated

http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/02/28/trader-expects-costlier-rice-imports-soon-possibly-up-by-seven-to-10-pct/

MoA, Partners Tackle Rice Value Chain

Tue, 02/28/2017 - 02:00 tjohnson

Farmers say Government lacks the political and fiscal will to support agriculture to make the country food sufficient

By: Jerry Kai-Lewis and Judoemue M. Kollie

For a country that imports 60 percent of its staple food, rice, Liberia has an uphill battle to cut that importation to a level where it can be food sufficient, create more jobs and be able to export the commodity to other countries.This was the major thrust of a workshop that was held over the weekend by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and partners at a hotel in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.

In a bid to develop and implement plans for boosting the rice value chain, the MoA hired a short term rice value chain consultant, Dr. Chijioke Osuji, to assist in developing plans for the paddy aggregation and rice processing centers to sustain rice production.Dr. Osuji initiated the Rice Strategy Workshop to enable stakeholders to provide inputs and agree on strategies for filling the gaps in the rice value chain to enable it to contribute effectively to the national economy and food security.

After a challenge to come up with viable questions and suggestions from which the MoA would come up with solutions, Agriculture Minister Moses Zinnah said that he spends hours each day thinking of ways to end Liberia’s dependency on rice imports.“We don’t lack ideas, but unfortunately we spend close to 200 million dollars a year importing rice. We have to do something about it. What is holding back our ability to change this?

Tell us what we need to do at the end of the workshop,” Minister Zinnah challenged the participants during his opening statement.

He said although Liberia lost a lot of mileage on its way to developing the agriculture sector because of its dependency on iron ore and rubber, the country, however, needs to move forward. “Guide us to know the steps by focusing on those things that could improve the rice value chain,” he urged workshop participants.Giving an overview of the workshop, Dr. Osuji said there is a need to develop a vibrant rice strategy that will attract investment for locally produced rice.

He said that the major problem confronting Liberia’s rice value chain is the need to produce import quality rice that can reduce the demand for rice importation.

“There is an urgent need for the production of import quality rice from small scale rice processors. This will contribute to the reduction of the supply gap, while integrated rice mills are being set up to boost production,” he indicated.The Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Commerce, Sayon Henry Yaidoo, said it is sad to note that food self-sufficiency is not confronting only Liberia but almost the entire West Africa region.“There must be a reason why we are yet to achieve food sufficiency in the sub-region. So this gathering is very significant to help address the problems facing the rice value chain,” he said.

For the country to increase local rice production to reduce imports, the issue of financing the sector must be addressed.Africa Rice country director Dr. Inoussa Akintayo stated that his institution is involved in supporting farmers to cultivate improved rice seed varieties for lowland and upland rice that meet market demand.“Fourteen improved rice varieties for both upland and lowland are being introduced to local farmers and they are eager to multiply these varieties,” he informed workshop participants.

Meanwhile, some farmers at the workshop told this paper that although they are impressed with the Ministry’s efforts to stem the tide of imports and improve the rice value chain, they said that government lacked the political will to support agriculture to make the country food sufficient.

“We are thankful to the Ministry for this initiative but I think it is belated. Why should we be talking about a rice strategy at this time after many years? The government is allotting 3 percent for agriculture in the National Budget yearly, which demonstrates lack of interest for agriculture,” said David Suah, a farmer from Sinoe County.

For Jefferson Tokpa, who heads the Donkodan Farmers’ Cooperative in Nimba County, “there is no need for Liberia to continue to depend on other countries for food when farmers are willing to produce more.”In an effort to come up with strategies to tackle key focal points the MoA is trying to address in the rice value chain, workshop participants were separated into four working groups that looked at: seed system management/input support initiatives; policy initiatives/credit and financing; rice farming systems and research; and value addition initiatives/marketing. At the end of the sessions, each group selected a representative who presented a report on their deliberations.The workshop ended with Dr. Osuji making a presentation on the “draft strategy implementation framework.

http://www.liberianobserver.com/news/moa-partners-tackle-rice-value-chain

AATF, others to boost rice production for export

February 28, 2017

THE African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and partners will soon develop and disseminate a Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant Rice (NEWEST) for food sufficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers involved in the development of Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water Use Efficient and Salt-Tolerant Rice, insist it will lead to self-sufficiency in rice production

The AATF Executive Director (ED), Dr Denis Kyetere made this known at the NEWEST Rice Project Annual Review and Planning Meeting held at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

Kyetere said the goal of the project was to develop, disseminate farmer preferred, locally adapted rice varieties with enhanced nitrogen, water use efficiency and salt tolerance.

He noted that it would lead to food sufficiency, adding that food self-sufficiency in rice will redirect limited foreign exchange used to import rice.

In his words, Kyetere said “there will be improved rice yields resulting in enhanced household food security and production of marketable crop surplus.”

“Also abandoned croplands will be reclaimed reducing land shortages; an additional 1.3 million tons of rice will be produced in Africa each year, reducing the current deficit by 10 per cent.”

Also speaking, Dr Mohammed Ishiaq, Director, Information and Documentation Department, National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) emphasized that rice demand exceeded production in most Sub-Saharan

Africa. Ishiaq who represented the NCRI Executive Director, Dr Samuel Agboire, said insufficient rice production affected well-being of over 20 million smallholder farmers who depend on rice as a staple.

“Sub-Saharan Africa countries are spending more than US$5 billion annually on rice imports, rice production deficit along with large outflow of foreign exchange presents great development challenge to governments in SSA. Low yields experienced by farmers are responsible for rice imports in SSA where over 40 per cent of the rice consumed is imported. Also nitrogen deficiency has been cited as a major constraint to rice production; nitrogen is difficult to maintain when applied in lowland areas due to floods,” he said.

According to the project manager, Dr Kayode Sanni, the project started in 2008 and that the essence was to have excess rice production and reduce its importation by or before 2020.

“Improving the nitrogen use efficiency of rice is one means of achieving this goal. With the utilization and application of water use efficient component, the rice will require less water and this will offer an appreciable coping mechanism against drought,” he said.

Sanni noted that the project was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Scientists from AATF, National Cereal Research Institute, NCRI, Badegi, Nigeria, Crop Research Institute, CRI, Kumasi, Ghana, National Research Organisation, NARO, Uganda, Arcadia Biosciences, USA and International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, CIAT, Colombia form the team that is working on the development of this variety

http://tribuneonlineng.com/aatf-others-boost-rice-production-export/

Rice processor urges more support for rice farmers

February 27, 2017

A rice processor, Mr Hassan Sheshi, has called on the Federal Government to assist rice farmers in the country with more intervention programmes to enable them to increase their productivity. Sheshi, the General Manager of Onyx Rice Mill Limited, Bida in Niger, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that most rice processors were currently operating below installed capacity because of the scarcity of paddy.

“Federal Government should support rice farmers with more intervention programmes so as to enable them to produce more paddy for rice mills across the country,’’ he said.According to him, the Onyx Rice Mill is operating below its installed annual capacity of 16,000 tonnes due to inadequate paddy from local growers.

Sheshi said that the mill, which was established in 2012, was just managing to produce about 9,000 tonnes per annum.

“We are currently producing 9,000 tonnes of rice per annum instead of our full capacity of 16,000 tonnes.

“This is below our installed capacity but we are not getting enough supply of paddy,’’ he said.Sheshi said that that the mill was initially producing between 5,000 tonnes and 6,000 tonnes per annum before the introduction of some intervention programmes by federal and state governments as well as some multinational agencies.He listed some of the interventions as IFAD/VCDP (International Fund for Agricultural Development/ Value Chain Development Programme), the agricultural programme of Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Development Agency) and Anchor Borrowers Programme.

He said that his company had been buying paddy from farmers at between N155 and N165 per kilogramme due to the shortage of supply. He also said that the rice processing mill was contending with the increasing cost production.

“We face the challenge of running generator for 24 hours during production,’’ he said, urging the government to make pragmatic efforts to improve the power supply so as to ensure food security.Sheshi said that the unit cost of production in the mill was N17, 000 per 50kg bag of rice, adding that it was, however, selling the commodity on a wholesale basis.He, however, noted that marketers from Edo, Benue, Akwa Ibom and Rivers had been patronising the company’s rice.

“Our rice is one of the best milled rice in the country; it doesn’t have stones and other impurities.“The standard of our rice is comparable to the international standard, it is nutritious because we don’t store it for long and we don’t use any form of preservatives either,’’ he said.

Sheshi appealed to government to carry the millers along in all its rice development projects, while ensuring the proper coordination of all the intervention programmes aimed at boosting rice cultivation and production.

NAN reports that Onyx Rice Mill Ltd., located in Badeggi, Bida Local Government Area of Niger, is a private rice mill which began operations in 2013.NAN reports that the Federal Government, in November 2016, announced that it was facilitating the establishment of additional 40 large-scale rice mills as part of efforts to attain self-sufficiency in rice production by 2018.

Chief Audu Ogbe, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who made the announcement at a workshop in Abuja, said that the Integrated Rice Mills (IRMs) of the ministry had significantly increased the rice milling capacity of the country.

http://tribuneonlineng.com/rice-processor-urges-support-rice-farmers/

‎How Buhari’s agric programme is creating jobs, pushing Nigeria towards self-sufficiency in rice

February 27, 2017Hassan Adebayo

At eight every morning, hundreds of farmers throng Birni Sala, an upland farming area along Gubin Ka (River Ka), in Jega town of Kebbi State. At about the same time, thousands more head to their farms in other Kebbi communities like Argungu, Bagudo, Augie, Kangiwa, Kalgo, and Yauri.

Although farming has always been a popular profession in Kebbi, it was, until recently, not considered a lucrative vocation, especially among educated folks.

All that changed in 2016.

In late 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the pilot phase of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), spurring thousands to debut as rice growers on at least one hectare of land each. Even for existing farmers, pre-ABP, the programme, despite its downside, helped improve operations.

One of the debutants, Umaru Salihu, is a level nine health worker in the state civil service where he earns about N34,000 monthly. “Month to month,” Mr. Salihu said, “I was suffering. Before the end of the month, I would have finished my salary and be waiting for the next one.”

Encouraged by Umaru Alhassan, the Chairman of Jega Rice Farmers’ Association to enlist for ABP, Mr. Salihu got one hectare of land at Zariyar Kala-Kala in Bagudo to grow rice. Now, he has 10-hectare farmland, five of which he currently cultivates. He started with one hectare in the beginning of 2016 when he became an ABP beneficiary.

“Now, I have confidence. I have hope. I can support my family very well and buy what I want,” he said, but quickly added, “Not that I am very rich; but whether they (government) pay or not, I don’t care. Wetin concern me? I have hope!”

Mr. Salihu’s story is not unique. It offers a window into the experiences of many others who only depended on meagre salaries from poor employment or were unemployed

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/224697-special-report-%E2%80%8Ehow-buharis-agric-programme-is-creating-jobs-pushing-nigeria-towards-self-sufficiency-in-rice.html

As enforcement increase, more immigrants avoid public places in D.C. area

Adults are skipping English classes or keeping children home from school

Published: 17:53 February 27, 2017

Washington: The number of day labourers waiting for work outside a Hyattsville, Maryland, shopping centre has dwindled to a couple of dozen a day, from more than 100 a few months ago.

Saqib Choubhry, part of a large Pakistani family that owns the Fair Price International Supermarkets in northern Virginia, said not as many customers are coming in, and those who do are buying less.

Undercurrent of fatalism

But there is also an undercurrent of fatalism about a situation that immigrants know they cannot fully control.

Meanwhile, parents are requesting legal consultations and applying for passports for their children in numbers organisers haven’t seen before.

Facts

“We are trying to arm people with facts,” said Valerie Twanmoh, director of the Esperanza Centre. “We try to tell them to continue with their daily routines.”About half as many people as usual came last week to the Legal Aid Justice Center’s weekly food distribution in Fairfax County, Virginia’s Culmore neighbourhood, advocates there said.

Lindolfo Carballo, who oversees CASA’s immigrant welcome centers, said asylum seekers from Ghana, Togo and Cameroon have stopped coming to CASA-run day labour centers, instead calling in to ask whether there is any work.“Now, there is priority for everyone, whether you’re guilty of a civil offence or are a hardened criminal,” said Del. Carlo Sanchez, D-Prince George’s, who has signed on as co-sponsor of a state bill to limit cooperation with federal immigration agents. “People can no longer afford to believe that if they stay clean, they will be OK.”

The streets were nearly empty at lunchtime Friday on a street in Silver Spring, Maryland, where Sonia Castellon has parked her pupusa truck for several months.“There’s nobody,” she said. Some people simply want to stay out of public view. Others are trying to save money, fearing that tougher times could lie ahead.At a salon off University Boulevard in Langley Park, stylist Ana Pulgarin cut one client’s hair and talked about others who have been calling to cancel appointments because they fear being detained.

“Business is down by 60 per cent,” said Pulgarin, 48. “Meanwhile, there is rent to pay.”Ronald Torres, owner of the nearby mobile phone retailer Viva Wireless, and Francisco Escobar, who owns a clothing store called Ropa Colombiana, said sales have plummeted in their shops as well.

Some customers have told Torres they are packing their belongings and planning to leave the United States on their own, before they are forced to do so. Their energy and industriousness, he added, will go with them.“I don’t think Trump sees the bigger picture,” said Torres, who opened his store four years ago, when business was abundant. “But we all see what is happening. I don’t know what we are going to do

http://gulfnews.com/news/americas/usa/as-enforcement-increase-more-immigrants-avoid-public-places-in-d-c-area-1.1985447

FG procures 100 rice mills for distribution to states, says Ogbeh

By NAN | 27 February 2017 | 6:25 pm

Nigeria is spending 5 million dollars daily on rice importation from Thailand, India and Vietnam.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, says the Federal Government has purchased 100 rice mills for distribution to rice-producing states in the country.

Ogbeh said this in Umuahia on Monday during the Federal Government’s town hall meeting with prominent indigenes of the state. He said that the machines would also be sold to private millers at reduced rates, adding that the gesture was part of government’s interventions to boost local rice production.

According to him, Nigeria is spending 5 million dollars daily on rice importation from Thailand, India and Vietnam. He expressed delight that Nigeria now ranked second in rice production in the continent, adding that the money spent on importation could be put into infrastructure development.

The minister also spoke on government’s efforts to enhance the production of Cocoa and Cashew in the country. He said that the Federal Government would soon relaunch Cocoa production in three states of Abia, Ondo and Cross River, adding that new fertiliser for the commodity was being developed.

Accordingly, he said that Federal Government also planned to set up six major cashew-processing factories in the country in collaboration with the private sector.

Ogbeh said that Abia had potential for coconut production and urged the state to explore its great potential in agriculture to boost its internally generated revenue.

He said that states in the federation could be financially autonomous and viable, “without depending on Federal Allocation,” if they could explore and exploit their huge potential in agriculture.

According to him, a scheme for the construction of 10 dams in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, known as Project 10-37, is underway.
The minister also said that there were plans to restructure the Bank of Industry to enable it meet the demands for facilities by agriculturists in the country.

He said that the Anchor-Borrower Programme would be expanded to include the rice millers at the end of the restructuring. Also, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enalemah, said that the Federal Government was committed to the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for which Aba was known for.

Enalema said that to achieve its target on SMEs, government placed high premium on the development of dilapidated infrastructure, especially the roads and power.

He also expressed the hope that with the recent efforts made to resolve some issues delaying the take-off of Geometric Power Plant, located in Osisioma, near Aba, the problem of power in Aba would soon be over.

He said that government was determined to create industrial zones and parks in the country and that Aba stood to benefit greatly from government’s interventions for the nation’s industrial growth.

According to him, with government’s emphasis on how to promote made-in-Nigeria products, Aba stands an advantage of being a great beneficiary of all the Federal Government’s interventions.The meeting, which was organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Cuture, was attended by some National Assembly members from Abia, including Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, representing Abia North Senatorial District.

Other dignitaries included chairmen of political parties as well as a cross-section of traditional rulers from the 17 local government areas of the state

https://guardian.ng/news/fg-procures-100-rice-mills-for-distribution-to-states-says-ogbeh/

‘It’s fear, fear, fear’: As enforcement increases, more immigrants avoid public places

By Arelis R. Hernández and Patricia SullivanFebruary 26

Julio Umanzor, a 45-year-old carpenter, has seen the number of immigrant day laborers awaiting work in Hyattsville dwindle since the inauguration of President Trump. “Everybody's scared,” he said. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)

The number of day laborers waiting for work outside a Hyattsville shopping center has dwindled to a couple of dozen a day, from more than 100 a few months ago. Business is slow at markets and shops in immigrant neighborhoods, and fewer foreign-born residents are coming to food pantries. In some cases, adults are skipping English classes or keeping children home from school.

President Trump’s promised clampdown on illegal immigration is having a distinct impact on the Washington region’s immigrant-rich suburbs, according to residents, advocates, workers and business owners. Fewer people are venturing out into once-lively shops and commercial strips, and the economies of those communities are suffering as a result.

“It’s too hard, and people are too scared,” said Julio Umanzor, a carpenter and legal permanent resident from Mexico who comes to the shopping center off New Hampshire Avenue to find workers to put up drywall, paint or run wires for a day’s wages.

Saqib Choubhry, part of a large Pakistani family that owns the Fair Price International Supermarkets in Northern Virginia, said not as many customers are coming in, and those who do are buying less.

“We had a plan to open another location, but we postponed it,” Choubhry said last week, on a day when Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) visited the store in Alexandria to demonstrate his support for immigrants. “It’s very slow — just look around.”

Kazi Del Hussain, a clerk at the immigrant-owned Fair Price International Supermarket in Alexandria, Va., talks with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. The governor visited the store Wednesday to show support for immigrants. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has rounded up hundreds of undocumented residents across the country in recent weeks, including some outside a homeless shelter in Northern Virginia and near a Walgreens in Baltimore.

But there is also an undercurrent of fatalism about a situation that immigrants know they cannot fully control.

Edwin, an Guatemalan day laborer who has been in the country for 20 years and did not want his last name used, said he will keep looking for jobs, guided by a verse from the Bible’s Book of Daniel and a belief that the U.S. economy relies on people like himself.

“This country needs us, the workers. But whatever happens, I trust in God’s will,” he said Friday outside the shopping center in Hyattsville. “God deposes kings and raises up kings. The same goes for presidents.”

Day laborers Edwin and Carlos, undocumented immigrants who did not want their last names used, wait for work outside a suburban Maryland shopping strip Friday. Both are from Guatemala. Edwin has been in the United States for 20 years, Carlos for three. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)

Elected leaders across many parts of the region have vowed to support undocumented residents, issuing a patchwork of statements denouncing ICE actions. Governments in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties have reaffirmed their refusal to comply with certain federal immigration requests, and school systems have dispatched messages to remind parents that they should continue to send their children to class.Absenteeism has, so far, not been widespread, area school systems said. But there are isolated reports of adults and children staying home, including in Baltimore, where immigrants are skipping their English-as-second-language classes at Catholic Charities’ Esperanza Center.Meanwhile, parents are requesting legal consultations and applying for passports for their children in numbers organizers haven’t seen before.“We are trying to arm people with facts,” said Valerie Twanmoh, director of the Esperanza Center. “We try to tell them to continue with their daily routines.”About half as many people as usual came last week to the Legal Aid Justice Center’s weekly food distribution in Fairfax County’s Culmore neighborhood, advocates there said.Lindolfo Carballo, who oversees CASA’s immigrant welcome centers, said asylum seekers from Ghana, Togo and Cameroon have stopped coming to CASA-run day labor centers, instead calling in to ask whether there is any work.“Now, there is priority for everyone, whether you’re guilty of a civil offense or are a hardened criminal,” said Del. Carlo Sanchez (D-Prince George’s), who has signed on as co-sponsor of a state bill to limit cooperation with federal immigration agents. “People can no longer afford to believe that if they stay clean, they will be okay.”
A photograph of the Obama family is posted in a business that caters to Hispanic clients in Hyattsville, Md. Many such shops have had a noticeable decrease in business since ICE has increased deportation raids, their owners say. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)

The streets were nearly empty at lunchtime Friday near Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring, where Sonia Castellon has parked her pupusa truck for several months.

“There’s nobody,” she said. Some people simply want to stay out of public view. Others are trying to save money, fearing that tougher times could lie ahead.

At a salon off University Boulevard in Langley Park, stylist Ana Pulgarin cut one client’s hair and talked about others who have been calling to cancel appointments because they fear being detained. “Business is down by 60 percent,” said Pulgarin, 48. “Meanwhile, there is rent to pay.”

Ronald Torres, owner of the nearby mobile phone retailer Viva Wireless, and Francisco Escobar, who owns a clothing store called Ropa Colombiana, said sales have plummeted in their shops as well.

Some customers have told Torres that they are packing their belongings and planning to leave the United States on their own, before they are forced to do so. Their energy and industriousness, he added, will go with them.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/fewer-immigrants-at-stores-food-pantries-day-labor-centers/2017/02/26/a9704336-fa02-11e6-9845-576c69081518_story.html

Philippines, Cambodia boost cooperation on rice research, production

February 27, 2017

QUEZON CITY, Feb. 27 - The Philippines and Cambodia have agreed to boost their cooperation on rice research and production following the visit to the Department of Agriculture last February 20 by officials of Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Accompanied by officials of the Los Baños-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Cambodian Agriculture Secretary Dr. Ty Sokhun informed Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol that his country seeks Philippine cooperation in learning new rice growing technologies, particularly in the development of new seed varieties and knowledge exchange on rice farming.

Seventy percent of Cambodia’s rice lands are rain-fed while only 30% of their farmers use hybrid rice. While most Cambodian rice farmers could only plant once a year, Cambodia remains one of the major rice exporters in Asia, with the Philippines a major destination for its rice exports.

DA officials informed the Cambodian delegation that the Philippines under the Administration of President Rodrigo Duterte intends to ensure sufficient rice production to meet the growing demand of Filipino consumers.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations and National Deputy Director of Rice and Corn Program Frederico Laciste Jr. said the Philippines under the DA’s program aims to increase the annual yield per hectare of local rice farms by investing on hybrid rice propagation so that Philippine rice farmers could eventually produce sufficient rice for the country’s needs.

“The program envisions a competitive and climate-resilient rice industry that can provide the requirement of the country at any given time,” Laciste said.

Piñol told the Cambodian agriculture officials that he intends to visit Cambodia next September to explore agricultural joint ventures and to learn more about Cambodian rice farming technologies.

Dr. Sokhun was accompanied during his visit to Secretary Piñol by IRRI Development Specialist II and Chief of the Party Dr. Georgina Vergara, Cambodian General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) Director General Dr. Hean Vanhan, GDA Director of Department of Rice Crops Ngiren Chhay, and Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute Director Dr. Ouk Makara.

“Our Cambodian friends here produce rice that is highly aromatic and uses quality rice varieties,” Dr. Vergara informed Secretary Piñol.

Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) OIC-director Vivencio Mamaril informed the Cambodian delegation that the Philippines implements a rigid seed registration and seed certification system.

“By law, seed certification is not mandatory,” Mamaril told the Cambodian officials.

But he stressed that “in the Philippines, the government can only procure seeds that are certified.”

“However, a variety cannot be certified if it wasn’t registered in the National Seeds Industry Council,” Mamaril said.The Cambodian delegates will visit the facilities of BPI – National Seed Quality Control Services (NSQCS) and PhilRice. They will also visit IRRI headquarters in Laguna to know more on pest management and crop management. (DA)

http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1141488021257

Research details developments in the global rice flour market

WhaTech Channel: Industrial Market Research

Published: 28 February 2017

Global Rice Flour Industry 2017 Market Research Report provide the details about Industry Overview and analysis about Manufacturing Cost Structure, Revenue, Gross Margin, Consumption Value and Sale Price, Major Manufacturers, Distributors, Industry Chain Structure, New Project SWOT Analysis with Development Trends and Forecasts 2021. Learn details of the Forecast to 2021: Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price, Cost, Gross Margin, Consumption Value, Sales and Key Companies Profile

The Global Rice Flour Industry 2017 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Rice Flour industry. With around 150 tables and figures this report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.

Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and Bill of Materials cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.

Complete Report Available atwww.themarketreports.com/report/global-rice-flour-market-2016-industry-trend-and-forecast-2021

Companies like Burapa Prosper, Thai Flour Industry, Rose Brand, Cho Heng, Koda Farms, Bif, Lieng Tong, Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods, Pornkamon Rice Flour Mills, Huangguo and more are profiled in the terms of product picture, specification, capacity, production, price, cost, gross, revenue, and contact information.

Global Rice Flour Market report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out.

The Rice Flour industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.

Access Report at: www.themarketreports.com/report/361811

Table of Contents:

1 Industry Overview of Rice Flour

2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Rice Flour

3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Rice Flour

4 Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Rice Flour by Regions, Types and Manufacturers

5 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Rice Flour by Regions, Types and Manufacturers

6 Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Sale Price Analysis of Rice Flour by Regions, Types and Applications

7 Supply, Import, Export and Consumption Analysis of Rice Flour

8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Rice Flour

9 Marketing Trader or Distributor Analysis of Rice Flour

10 Industry Chain Analysis of Rice Flour

11 Development Trend of Analysis of Rice Flour

12 New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Rice Flour

13 Conclusion of the Global Rice Flour Industry 2017 Market Research Report

Inquire About Report at: www.themarketreports.com/report/ask-your-query/361811

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Rice Flour World Market 2017 Analysis and Forecast to 2021

Albany, New York, February 28, 2017: Market Research Hub adds “Global Rice Flour Market 2016 Industry Trend and Forecast 2021 “new report to its research database. Consistent with our stated policy of making available the best research material from across the globe to our ever-growing list of erudite clients, here is another report that is sure to meet their high expectations. This 2016 market research report on Global Rice Flour Market is a meticulously undertaken study. Experts with proven credentials and a high standing within the research fraternity have presented an in-depth analysis of the subject matter, bringing to bear their unparalleled domain knowledge and vast research experience. They offer some penetrating insights into the complex world of Global Rice Flour Industry. Their sweeping overview, comprehensive analyses, precise definitions, clear classifications, and expert opinions on applications, make this report nothing short of brilliant in its presentation and style.

Request for Sample Report: www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=995265

Whether one delves into the report for a regional perspective or for a bird’s eye view of a larger geographical stretch, the document presents invaluable facts and figures, news and views, on all relevant Global realities. It also showcases the latest market trends in the sector related to critical parameters such as technology, competition, supplies, capacity, production, price and profit. The report, ‘Global Rice Flour Market’, also contains detailed information on clientele, applications and contact information. Accurate forecasts by credible experts on critical matters such as production, price, and profit are also found in this brilliant study. It also provides, wherever applicable and relevant, technical data of products, and sheds useful light on expected commercial production dates and current R&D status.

The wide-ranging report pays due heed to the significance of industry chain analysis, and focuses on both upstream- and downstream-related variables, such as raw material and equipment on the one hand, and client surveys, marketing channels, industry trends and proposals, on the other. Crucial information on critical factors such as consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also included in this priceless study.

Finally, like every report we put up on Orbis Research, which is the handiwork of thoroughbred professionals, this report, ‘Global Rice Flour Market’, also ends with a SWOT analysis, and analyses on investment feasibility and returns, not to mention development trends and forecasts. It is our conviction that any serious seeker of knowledge and truth, irrespective of whether his or her pursuit is commercial or academic, will greatly benefit from the wealth of information that is contained in this report.

Table of Content:

1 Rice Flour Market Overview1

1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Rice Flour1

1.2 Rice Flour Segment by Types2

1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Rice Flour by Types in 20152

1.2.2 Rice Flour3

2 Global Rice Flour Market Competition by Manufacturers19

2.1 Global Rice Flour Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)19

2.2 Global Rice Flour Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)20

2.3 Global Rice Flour Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)21

3 Global Rice Flour Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Regions (2011-2016)30

3.1 Global Rice Flour Capacity and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016)30

3.2 Global Rice Flour Production and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016)32

3.3 Global Rice Flour Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016)34

Browse Full Report with TOC: www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-rice-flour-market...

Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRH’s expansive collection of Market Research Reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.

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http://www.openpr.com/news/451672/Rice-Flour-World-Market-2017-Analysis-and-Forecast-to-2021.html

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Tuesday, February 28, 2017

28th February 2017 daily global,regional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

Rice News Headlines...

Vietnam's Jan-Feb rice export volume dips, value slides faster

Rice export turnover in the first two months falls around 40 percent from a year ago, quickening from a 34 percent slide in January.

Thai rice still in global demand

Per capita rice consumption forecast to hit fresh low in 2017

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-February 27,2017

Thailand Seals 1st Iran Rice Deal in 10 Yrs.

Sustainable rice production

As enforcement increase, more immigrants avoid public places in D.C. area

Trader expects costlier rice imports soon, possibly up by seven to 10 pct

MoA, Partners Tackle Rice Value Chain

AATF, others to boost rice production for export

Rice processor urges more support for rice farmers

‎How Buhari’s agric programme is creating jobs, pushing Nigeria towards self-sufficiency in rice

As enforcement increase, more immigrants avoid public places in D.C. area

FG procures 100 rice mills for distribution to states, says Ogbeh

‘It’s fear, fear, fear’: As enforcement increases, more immigrants avoid public places

Philippines, Cambodia boost cooperation on rice research, production

Research details developments in the global rice flour market

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Rice Flour World Market 2017 Analysis and Forecast to 2021

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