Kota Belud IADA Optimistic Of
Increasing Rice Yields
Friday, 07 July 2017 22:48
KOTA BELUD -- The Kota Belud
Integrated Agriculture Development Area (IADA) is optimistic that it is capable
of producing rice harvests of more than nine tonnes per hectare through the
usage of Japanese technology and modern machinery.
According to IADA director,
Salmah Labulla, based on a Crop Cutting Survey (CCS) conducted by the agency,
it was found that a paddy plot that was cultivated using modern technology
yielded more than nine kilogrammes of rice.
"CCS provides a rough estimate
of one paddy lot. Following the estimate, we can predict the production
for the whole paddy field area. Based on the CCS carried out yesterday, we
found that the rice harvested was more than nine kilogrammes and we expect for
the area to produce more than nine tonnes of rice per hectare,” she said after
attending the launching ceremony for the use of Japanese machinery here today.
The event was officiated by
Kadamaian assemblyman Ukoh @ Jeremmy Malajad who represented
Sabah Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Datuk Musbah Jamli.
Salmah said the harvesting
site was a portion of the approximately 32.3 hectares of paddy cultivation area
which used machinery, new technology and expertise from Japan.
“The first phase of this harvesting
programme which began in March included activities such as ploughing and
the levelling of paddy fields as well as the planting of
Tuaran Rice 8 (TR8) seeds provided by the Sabah Agriculture
Department,” she explained.
She added the programme would be
carried out in stages of two years each, with each stage involving 300 hectares
of paddy cultivation area
http://malaysiandigest.com/news/685318-kota-belud-iada-optimistic-of-increasing-rice-yields.html
Sri
Lankan officials leave for Pakistan to pick rice varieties
Sat,
Jul 8, 2017, 10:09 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
"The
team, after checking both Pakistani and Myanmar markets, will decide whether to
choose Pakistan or Myanmar (or both) to purchase the 100,000 MT rice. The
purchase shall be at Government to Government levels," the Minister
said.The team of officials is led by Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and
Commerce Chinthana Lokuhetti, and two officials from the Finance Ministry and a
food technologist from ITI.
More
than 50 percent of this 100,000 MT rice would be par-boiled (Nadu) variety with
the rest in white raw, and samba.Sri Lanka is also purchasing 100,000 MT rice
from Indian private sector immediately. Tenders from Indian private suppliers
are being received and the winning Indian supplier is expected to be picked by
17 July.
Meanwhile,
Sri Lanka has also commenced Government to Government rice purchase talks with
Thailand's Ministry of Commerce this week. These talks are conducted to procure
'stand-by' buffer rice stocks for any future emergencies and not for immediate
use.
A
Sri Lankan team of officials is scheduled to fly to Bangkok next week to meet
Thai officials and decide on varieties, possibly around 100,000 MT of rice
which will include par-boiled (Nadu), white raw, and samba, Minister Bathiudeen
said.
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_17A/Jul08_1499488740CH.php
Sri Lanka to import rice to combat
shortages
Sri Lanka will immediately import
200,000 metric tons of rice from India, Pakistan and Myanmar confirmed the
Ministry of Industry and Commerce on Friday.
The Sri Lankan government has also
commenced government level talks on the possibility of purchasing rice from
Thailand.
The latest announcement comes after
the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on Monday said that the
country was not facing any shortage in rice stocks
http://tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lanka-import-rice-combat-shortages
Sri Lanka to import rice to address rice
shortage
Source:
Xinhua| 2017-07-07 19:38:04|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao
COLOMBO, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will import 200,000 metric
tons of rice immediately from India, Pakistan and Myanmar to address the rice
shortfall in its domestic market, a statement from the Ministry of Industry and
Commerce said on Friday.
Due to heavy floods this year, Sri Lanka is facing a severe rice
shortage. Sri Lanka will purchase 100,000 metric tons of rice from India
immediately, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said, adding
the rice will be purchased from private Indian importers.
The other 100,000 metric tons of rice will come from Pakistan
and Myanmar. A four-member team from Sri Lanka will leave for Pakistan and
Myanmar on Friday evening to pick rice varieties for the Sri Lankan market, and
the purchase with Pakistan and Myanmar will be at government to government
levels, Bathiudeen said.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has also commenced government
level talks on the possibility of purchasing rice from Thailand, Bathiudeen
added.
Sri Lanka to
immediately import rice to meet rice shortage
(MENAFN - NewsIn.Asia) Colombo, July 7 (newsin.asia) -Sri Lanka
will import 200,000 metric tonnes of rice immediately from Pakistan, #Myanmar
and #India to meet a rice shortfall in its domestic market, a statement from
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said here Friday.
A four member team from #SriLanka will leave for #Pakistan on
Friday evening to pick rice varieties afterwhich the team will head to #Myanmar
to test Burmese rice varieties for the Sri Lankan market.
This year the failure of crops from the Yala season and the floods
created a severe rice shortage in the island country.
"We have picked Myanmar, #Pakistan and #India to import rice,'
Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen, said.
"The Sri Lankan team, after checking both the Pakistani and
#Myanmar markets, will decide whether to choose #Pakistan or #Myanmar (or both)
to purchase he 100,000 metric tonnes of rice. Whether it is finally supplied by
one or both countries, the purchase shall be at government to government
levels," Bathiudeen said.
#SriLanka will also purchase another 100,000 metric tonnes of rice
from #India immediately. Bathiudeen said the rice will be purchased from
private Indian importers and tenders are currently being received for this.
An Indian supplier is expected to be picked by July 17.
Meanwhile, #SriLanka has also commenced government level talks on
the possibility of purchasing rice from Thailand, Bathiudeen said.
These talks are conducted to procure rice stocks for any future
emergencies and not for immediate use.
A Sri Lankan team will visit Bangkok next week to meet Thai
officials and decide on varieties, possibly around 100,000 metric tonnes of
rice.
Rice prices stay high despite imports coming through
PM
July 10, 2017
File photo- Imported rice at a wholesaler's outlet in Dhaka
Rice prices in
India have risen as result of a revival in demand
After the duty on rice import was
cut by 18% recently to cope with the pressures caused by crop shortfalls,
prices were expected to fall in domestic markets.But the price of different
varieties of rice have only changed slightly. Importers say the prices have
gone up in India from where they import, leaving them unable to lower prices.
The government on June 20 cut the
import duty of rice by 18% from 28% to keep rice prices affordable in the
retail markets. Now the importers have to pay 10% duty.On the other hand, rice
prices in India have risen as result of a revival in demand from Asian and
African buyers, though markets in Thailand and Vietnam, two other major
importers, have remained stable.
According to local rice
importers, they were purchasing rice from India at Rs 27,300 per tonne
previously, but now they have to buy at Rs 27,950- 28,275. So, after adding
other expenses with the purchase price, per kilogramme coarse rice is now
between Tk 39-42 when it reaches Dhaka.
Rice prices shot up in the local
markets during last couple of months due to recent flash floods in the Haor
areas of north-eastern region of the country. The floods damaged over 200,000
hectares of Boro paddy.
Bangladesh Rice Merchants
Association Vice President Zakir Hossain Rony said: “The rice price hike in
Indian market would have impact on our markets, no matter how much import duty
the government cuts.“We expected the price of coarse rice to come down to Tk35
and Miniket to Tk45. But coarse rice including Miniket and Paizam were sold at
Tk54 to Tk56 per kg in Dhaka last week after prices witnessed a fall by Tk2 to
5 per kg for different rice verities.”
Mamun Ur Rashid, member of
Bangladesh Rice Exporters Association, said: “As India has increased price, it
will definitely have an impact on our markets. But right now we are yet to
calculate the volume of the possible impact.”
“I sold coarse rice at between
Tk46 to Tk52 per kg which was Tk50 to Tk56 a week ago and fine rice between
Tk54 and Tk60 per kg which was Tk58 to Tk65,” said Tawhidul Alom, a retailer at
Dhaka’s Kolabagan.Rezaul Karim, a wholesaler at Kawran Bazar said: “We sell
50-kg sack of coarse rice at Tk2,000 to Tk2,200, Paizam at Tk2,300, Miniket at
Tk2,700, Najirshal at Tk2,950 and Chinigura at Tk3,750-4,000.”
After the import duty was cut,
prices came down by Tk150 to Tk200 for every 50-kg sack.
“But we have to face pressure as
India has increased rice price,” he added.The private sector imported 1,33,000
tonnes of rice between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017 but the government did
not import any rice in that time.According to the state-run Trading Corporation
of Bangladesh which tracks the prices of daily necessities, the price of coarse
rice was Tk30-34 and fine rice was sold at Tk44-55 last year.
Bangladesh is set to buy 250,000
tonnes of white and parboiled rice from Vietnam to maintain immediate
availability of stock in the market, as well as reserves.According to a Food
Ministry proposal, the government will be importing 200,000 tonnes of white
rice at $430 per tonne, though the price per tonne was $380 in the last
month.The ministry is also planning on procuring 50,000 tonnes of parboiled
rice at a cost of $470 per tonne, while the price had been less than $450 just
a week ago.
EU looks at lifting
import curbs on Fukushima rice, Tohoku marine products, wild vegetables:
sources
The European Union may lift an import restriction on rice produced
in nuclear disaster-hit Fukushima Prefecture. | ISTOCK
JIJI
JUL 10, 2017
BRUSSELS – The European Union is considering lifting an import
restriction on rice produced in meltdown-hit Fukushima Prefecture as well as on
wild vegetables and marine products from Japan, sources said Sunday.
At present, the EU requires that radiation inspection certificates
be submitted by exporters of some food products from 13 prefectures in the
eastern half of the Japanese archipelago.
But the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, has drafted
import regulation reform plans that call for scrapping the requirement when it
comes to rice from Fukushima, home to the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear
power plant, the sources said.
The EC also proposes removing the regulation for some kinds of
seafood, including shrimp, crab, octopus, yellowtail, red sea bream and bluefin
tuna, from the seven prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi, Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi,
Chiba and Iwate, and certain wild vegetables from seven prefectures including
Akita, Nagano and Yamagata.
Meanwhile, the radiation certificate obligation will remain in
place for food imports from Yamanashi, Niigata and Shizuoka prefectures.
A formal decision on the deregulation proposal could come as early
as this autumn, the sources said.
The Fukushima No. 1 power plant is run by Tokyo Electric Power
Company Holdings Inc.
Amira Nature Foods Ltd (NYSE:ANFI) Cut to “Strong Sell” at Zacks
Investment Research
Shares of Amira Nature Foods (NYSE:ANFI) traded up 1.67% during
trading on Thursday, hitting $5.47. 90,883 shares of the stock traded hands.
The company has a 50 day moving average of $4.95 and a 200-day moving average
of $5.42. Amira Nature Foods has a 1-year low of $4.50 and a 1-year high of
$8.99. The company has a market cap of $198.13 million, a PE ratio of 5.97 and
a beta of -0.21.
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently
added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pinnacle Associates Ltd.
purchased a new position in Amira Nature Foods during the first quarter worth
approximately $791,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new position
in Amira Nature Foods during the fourth quarter worth approximately $427,000.
FMR LLC boosted its position in Amira Nature Foods by 1.9% in the fourth
quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,324,162 shares of the company’s stock worth
$20,444,000 after buying an additional 60,500 shares during the last quarter.
Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in Amira Nature Foods by 35.8%
in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 78,500 shares of the
company’s stock worth $307,000 after buying an additional 20,700 shares during
the last quarter. Finally, KCG Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of
Amira Nature Foods by 54.4% in the first quarter. KCG Holdings Inc. now owns
38,833 shares of the company’s stock worth $208,000 after buying an additional
13,682 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 13.10% of
the company’s stock.
About Amira Nature Foods
Amira Nature Foods Ltd is
primarily engaged in the business of processing and selling packaged Indian
specialty rice, primarily basmati rice and other food products. The Company
sells Basmati rice and other specialty rice, under its Amira brand, as well as
under other third-party brands. It also sells non-basmati rice
2017-2022 North America Rice Flour Market –
Rose Brand, CHO HENG, Koda Farms and Thai Flour Industry
Scope of the North America Rice Flour Market Report:
This report focuses on the Rice Flour in North America market
industry. This report on Rice Flour industry categorizes the North America Rice
Flour market based on manufacturers, type and application. Rice Flour Market
Segment by Manufacturers. on North America Rice Flour industry scenario.
Do Inquiry and Grab Sample Before Accessing North America Rice
Flour Report Here:https://market.biz/report/north-america-rice-flour-market-gir/112609/#inquiry
Key Manufacturers in North America Rice Flour Market:
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
Thai Flour Industry
Rose Brand
CHO HENG
Koda Farms
BIF
Lieng Tong
Bob?s Red Mill Natural Foods
Pornkamon Rice Flour Mills
HUANGGUO
North America Rice Flour Market Segment by Type, covers
Rice Flour
Brown Rice Flour
Glutinous Rice Flour
Brown Rice Flour
Glutinous Rice Flour
North America Rice Flour Market Segment by Applications, can be
divided into
Rice Noodle and Rice Pasta
Sweets and Desserts
Snacks
Bread
Thickening Agent
Sweets and Desserts
Snacks
Bread
Thickening Agent
Fundamentals of the North America Rice Flour Market report:
• Complete knowledge about Rice Flour industry segments that
depict largest growth capability
• In-depth insight of the major players and contributors impacting
this Rice Flour industry
• Comprehensive knowledge about the technological innovations
contributing to the Rice Flour industry revenue and growth
• Region-wise in-depth of Rice Flour industry analysis which will
forecast concrete growth
• Rice Flour industry competitive landscape view that which will
generate growth opportunities
• Vital Rice Flour market dynamics
• Testimonials to companies which will strengthen their grip on
the Rice Flour industry
To Acquire North America Rice Flour Report Sample With Complete
TOC athttps://market.biz/report/north-america-rice-flour-market-gir/112609/#requestforsample
There are 11 Topics to deeply describe the North America Rice
Flour industry.
Topic 1, to describe Rice Flour Introduction, product scope, Rice
Flour industry overview, North America market opportunities, Rice Flour
industry risk, North America Rice Flour industry driving force;
Topic 2, covers top manufacturers of Rice Flour in North America
region, with sales, Rice Flour industry revenue, and price of Rice Flour, in
2016 and 2017;
Topic 3, to provids Rice Flour market competitive situation among
the top manufacturers in North America region, with sales, revenue, and Rice
Flour industry share in 2016 and 2017;
Topic 4 and 5, to show the North America market of Rice Flour by
type and application, with sales Rice Flour industry share and North America
market growth rate by type, application, from 2017 to 2022; on North America
Rice Flour industry scenario.
Topic 6, North America Rice Flour industry forecast, by type and
application, with sales and Rice Flour industry revenue, from 2017 to 2022;
Topic 7, to analyze the Rice Flour industry development potential
except for North America , covering China, Southeast Asia, India, Latin America
etc on North America Rice Flour industry scenario.
Topic 8, 9, 10 and 11, in North America Rice Flour report to
describe sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Rice Flour industry
effect factors, appendix, and data source.
http://peopleexclusive.com/north-america-rice-flour-market/
Despite the Myth, Sustainable
Farming Methods Can Lead to High-Yield Agriculture
According to
government data, the rate of increase of farm yields for many crops was higher
in the pre-green revolution period when compared to later years.
A farmer removes weeds from her corn
field in Kolkata, India, February 28, 2016. Credit: Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri
This is the first article in a
two-part series on sustainable farming methods.
The recent unrest of farmers has prompted a lot of rethinking about
alternative farming policies and strategies. However the search for genuine
alternatives is still hindered and distorted by the longest prevailing myth in
the context of agriculture – that ecologically-destructive methods may be
detestable but still are necessary to increase farm production. It is by
deliberately foisting this myth that agriculture was made heavily dependent on
chemical fertilisers and pesticides in the first place.
At the time when traditional
highly diverse, well-acclimatised varieties evolved by several generations of
millions of farmers were replaced by exotic varieties with a narrow genetic
base, (the so-called green revolution) it was stated that this was necessary to
increase food production. But in fact, according to the government’s own data,
the rate of increase of farm yields in the pre-green revolution years (growing
traditional varieties) was higher than in post-green revolution years when
exotic HYVs (high-yielding varieties) necessarily requiring high doses of
chemical fertilisers and pesticides were spread over hundreds of thousands of
hectares very quickly.
This is clearly brought out
in the table given below, based entirely on official data presented in the 12th plan document. It is clear from this
table that the average annual growth rate in the pre-green revolution years was
higher in the case of wheat, rice, jowar other coarse
cereals (millets), pulses, oil seeds and cotton, although it was lower in the
case of bajraand sugarcane.
Average annual growth rates in
yields per hectare
Crop
|
Pre-green revolution (1951-52 to
1967-68)
|
Green revolution (1968-69 to 1980-81)
|
Wheat
|
3.7
|
3.3
|
Rice
|
3.2
|
2.7
|
Jowar
|
3.4
|
2.9
|
Bajra
|
2.6
|
6.3
|
Maize
|
4.8
|
1.7
|
Coarse
cereals
|
2.6
|
1.5
|
Pulses
|
2.3
|
-0.2
|
Oilseeds
|
1.3
|
0.8
|
Cotton
|
3.0
|
2.6
|
Sugarcane
|
1.6
|
3.1
|
Some of the reasons for this are
also evident from the government’s own reports. In the case of the most
important food crop – rice – when the green revolution introduced many
problems, the government appointed a task force in 1979 comprising eminent
farm experts to study the real situation.
These experts met at the Central
Rice Research Institute, Cuttack and prepared a report on the emerging problems
of the green revolution. This report said, “Most of the HYVs are derivatives of
T(N) 1 or IR 8 and, therefore, have the dwarfing gene of Dee-geo-woo-gen. This
narrow genetic base has created alarming uniformity, causing vulnerability to
diseases and pests. Most of the released varieties are not suitable for typical
uplands and low lands which together constitute about 75% of the total rice
area of the country. To meet these situations, we need to reorient our research
programmes and strategies.”
Referring to this problem of
narrow genetic base at another place again the task force says, “A cursory look
at the pedigree of the different rice varieties released in India reveals that
a very narrow germplasm base is involved. It is also noticed that many times
the same female parent is involved in the cross combination.”
This was the reality of the new
exotic varieties. What about the hurriedly displaced traditional varieties?
There is increasing evidence that
several of these traditional varieties actually provided high yields while
using ecologically-protective methods. This is being rediscovered today by many
organic farmers who value traditional seeds.
Bharat Dogra is a freelance
journalist who has been involved with several movements and initiatives.
Filipinos now eating less rice – NFA
July 9, 2017, 10:00 PM
By Madelaine B. Miraflor
A slight reduction in the country’s
daily consumption of rice has been observed after several years and the
government is happy about it.National Food Authority (NFA) spokesperson
Marietta Ablaza cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA),
which showed that the country’s daily consumption requirement is now at 31,463
metric tons (MT) or 629,260 bags.
This, after the country’s average
requirement had stayed at 32,720 MT or 654,600 bags for so many years.
Ablaza said this is a welcomed
development since the country’s rice consumption had been outpacing the harvest
for so many years. Hence, the need to import.
She also said that reduction in rice
consumption may also be good for the health of Filipinos.
For its part, Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice) is also urging the public to be more responsible
with their rice consumption, affirming that eating too much rice has ill
effects to human health.
A study by the Harvard School of
Public Health, which was cited by PhilRice, showed that excessive rice intake
may adversely affect glucose metabolism and insulin production of the body thus
may result in diabetes.
According to the study, carbohydrate
content of one bowl of rice is equivalent to more than twice of a can of soft
drink and each plate of white rice eaten in a day raises the risk of diabetes
by 11 percent in the overall population.
PhilRice Executive Director Sailila
Abdula said the agency is now exploring ways to improve the rice ecosystem.
“We are not just looking at
production but also at the other side of rice security, which is consumption,”
Abdula said.
“We are one in curtailing rice
wastage because we believe that every grain our farmers produce means life to a
Filipino and could help in ensuring enough supply of rice for the country,” he
added.
To recall, the Department of
Agriculture (DA) had recently launched the ‘Be Riceponsible Campaign,’ a
nationwide initiative to promote responsible rice consumption by reducing rice
wastage in households and eating healthier forms of rice such as brown rice.
As of June 22, the total rice stock
inventory stood at 3.1 million MT only. This was 11.92 percent below the 3.54
million metric tons level in the same period last year.
NFA said this would be sufficient
for 99 days. Stocks in the households would be enough for 47 days, while those
in commercial warehouses will last for 46 days. NFA depositories are only
enough for six days.
Aside from the planned importation
of 250,000 MT of rice through government-to-private (G2P) scheme, Ablaza said
the NFA is currently utilizing portions of the P5.1-billion subsidy it got from
the government to procure palay produce from local farmers.
Ablaza said the grains agency is
targeting to procure as much as 4.6 million bags of palay this year but had so
far bought only 268,900 bags.
Tags: brown rice, consumption, Marietta Ablaza, National Food Authority, NFA, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Statistics Authority
http://business.mb.com.ph/2017/07/09/filipinos-now-eating-less-rice-nfa/
Steve Linscombe honored for years of service to LSU, rice industry
LSU Rice Research Station staff goes to great lengths to honor
leader, coworker.
For more than two decades Bill
Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of
Agriculture, and Steve Linscombe, resident director of the H. Rouse Caffey Rice
Research Station, have greeted each other warmly at the start of the station’s
annual field day.
This year was different. Dr.
Linscombe, who also is the rice breeder for the LSU AgCenter and director of
its Southwest Region, based in Crowley, La., walked up to Dr. Richardson and
said “I want you to know I didn’t approve this.”
This was the cover of the program
the Rice Research Station distributes at its annual Rice Field Day. Instead of
the cover Linscombe thought he had approved, the station’s staff substituted
one with a smiling photo of Linscombe standing in a rice plot, probably planted
to one of the 33 varieties he developed during his 35 years of service to LSU
and the rice industry.
“The last thing he wanted today
was any recognition,” said Dr. Richardson, speaking at the indoor portion of
the Rice Field Day. “This program was real sneaky. We hoped he wouldn’t see it,
and he came walking up to the table, grabbed a copy and came over and said ‘I
did not approve this.’
“The staff sneaked one in on him,
and the one he approved never got published.”
LSU recognition policy
Dr. Richard said trying to find a
fitting recognition for “someone who has dedicated his entire life to building
one of the best rice breeding programs in the country is next to impossible.
“LSU policy is you can’t name a
building for someone until they’ve been dead for two years. That created a
little problem,” he said, as Dr. Linscombe responded that he would pass on the
honor because of the qualification.
Instead, LSU officials plan to
rename the Conference Room in the Rice Research Station Building on the Crowley
Campus for Dr. Linscombe, which Dr. Richardson called a “very fitting thing.”
Dr. Rogers Leonard, associate
vice president for plants, soils and water resources at the LSU AgCenter, noted
Dr. Linscombe originally applied for a forage breeding position with LSU after
he received his Ph.D. in agronomy from Mississippi State University. He was not
chosen for that job, but later became Extension rice specialist for Louisiana.
“I can’t imagine what would have
happened without him as a rice breeder,” Leonard said. “It’s been a pleasure to
work with someone who expects so much from himself and his employees.”
More than 1,000 presentations
Clarence Berken, a rice producer
and vice chairman of the Louisiana Rice Research Board, said Linscombe has
received 14 awards in 21 years, developed 33 new rice varieties, obtained $17
million in grants and made more than 1,000 presentations around the world.
Berken presented him with a certificate of recognition signed by Gov. John Bel
Edwards.
After those comments, Dr.
Linscombe assured the audience none of what he had accomplished could have been
done without the assistance of the many staff members at the Rice Research
Station who had served with him through the years.
“This has been a very good place
to work because of the people at the station and the people I’ve worked with
throughout the years,” he said. “It has been an honor to work for the LSU
AgCenter and for the rice industry.
I’ll miss it. I won’t miss
walking in the rice fields when it’s 100 degrees and 110 percent relative
humidity for three or four or five or six hours at a time, but I’ll miss the
people and the connections,” he noted.
Dr. Linscombe recognized another
soon-to-be retiree, Bill Leonard, who has served as station superintendent for
more than 40 years.
“We get a lot of credit for the
way the rice plots and the station look on days like this, our 108th field
day,” he noted. “I promise you much of that would not be possible without the
dedication of Mr. Leonards.”
For more information on Dr.
Linscombe’s research, visit http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/provisia-rice-better-weed-control-higher-quality.
http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/steve-linscombe-honored-years-service-lsu-rice-industry
USe of Machines taking way job
say farm workers
However, the farm workers say
that they would be forced go jobless if the machines were used for
transplantation.
Farms workers in Tamil Nadu are alleging
that increase in the usage of the agricultural machinery is taking away their
jobs.
The Tamil Nadu government's
decision to provide financial assistance to farmers opting for mechanical
transplantation for paddy cultivation to increase crop yield and bring down
cultivation cost is resulting in job loss for farm workers, particularly women.
To encourage farmers in six Cauvery
delta districts including Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam to take up
paddy cultivation using ground water sources, the government announced a Rs
56.92 crore package including financial assistance of Rs 4,000 per acre for
farmers using machine transplantation of paddy.
However, the farm workers say that
they would be forced go jobless if the machines were used for transplantation.
The Cauvery delta district, known as "rice bowl of Tamil Nadu", is
home to 15 lakh farm workers, mainly Dalits, depending on agriculture for their
livelihood.
"While drought hit farm
workers were pinning their hopes on the Kuruvai crop season, the government's
decision to provide subsidy for using machines for paddy plantation will take
away their jobs," A Lasar, state president of All India Agricultural
Workers Union said. He demanded that the government provide subsidy to the
farmers to engage farm workers so that it would be a win-win situation for both
the farmers and the worker as well.
Dr V Ravi, Director, Tamil Nadu
Rice Research Institute in Aduthurai, Thanjavur said that paddy transplanters
are being used due to the shortage of labour. It also helps bring down the cost
of cultivation. "If we delay transplantation of saplings due to labour
shortage, it will affect the crop yield," he said.
Using machines for transplantation
instead of labourers have several advantages, he said, adding that the machines
would help to plant seedlings during the right time period, maintain optimum
plant population.
"Farmers using machines for
plantation will be able to get 30 to 40 per cent more paddy yield compared to
the manual plantation. The machines also help reduce the cost of cultivation in
terms of savings in labour costs," he noted.
Another agronomist dismissed the
union's complaint that workers would go jobless if the machines were used for
sowing. "I don't think using machines will affect farm workers. Machines
are not suitable for all kinds of land in terms of holding size. Hence there is
enough lands available to provide jobs for workers," he said.
Govt to buy more rice from
Thailand, India
Prices drop by Tk 2 a kg; private importers active again after
duty cut
Photo:
Star
Bangladesh is now trying to buy rice from Thailand and India under
the government-to-government arrangement, weeks after striking a G2G deal to
import the staple from Vietnam.
The government is also opening two more international bids this
week, seeking to import 50,000 tonnes of rice and equal amount of wheat. This
would be the first public sector wheat import in the last eight months.
The moves come amid high rice prices in the domestic market and
further depletion of the public food reserve. The government had already a low
food reserve -- below five lakh tonnes -- in June. Now, the volume has come
down to 3.4 lakh tonnes, of which rice stock is only 1.54 lakh tonnes.
Apart from the regular food aid programmes, rice and wheat stored
in the public granaries are also being given to flood and landslide victims as
assistance.
Meanwhile, the price of per kg of coarse rice has dropped by Tk 2
from Tk 48 last week. Rice prices had posted a 47 percent increase comparing
the prices in June last year.
Market sources said the prices would go down further as private
traders were bringing in the staple from India after the import duty was
lowered to 10 percent from 28 percent. The government is also expecting the
first consignment of rice from Vietnam to reach the Chittagong port by the end
of this week.
Following this year's crop loss owing to Haor flashfloods and
fungal attacks (rice blast), the government struck three deals in May and June
for importing 3.5 lakh tonnes of rice -- 1 lakh tonnes from two Dubai and
Singapore-based suppliers and 2.5 lakh more from Vietnam under the G2G.
None of the import consignments, however, has reached the country
yet.
The government is now seeking to import more rice from Thailand
and India to ensure the staple's availability in the market as the flood
situation is worsening and the prospect of the upcoming rice season seems
uncertain.
A two-member official team comprising one official each from the
food ministry and food directorate left for Bangkok on Wednesday to look into
the possibility of purchasing rice from Thailand under the G2G arrangement.
“We're also expecting a team from India to visit Bangladesh soon.
We'll try to buy rice from India as well," Food Minister Qamrul Islam told
The Daily Star yesterday.
He, however, insisted that he would not say at this stage how much
rice the government was intending to buy from the two countries.
In addition to floating international tenders seeking to buy 1.5
lakh tonnes of parboiled (Shiddo) and white (Atap) rice, the food department
would also open bids for importing 50,000 tonnes of more parboiled rice this
week.
Tender is also being floated to buy 50,000 tonnes of wheat from
the international market to replenish the depleting food reserve. This was the
first public sector wheat tender since October last year. In 2016-17,
Bangladesh imported over 58 lakh tonnes of wheat. Over 80 percent of that wheat
was brought in by private importers.
Early flashfloods this season completely washed away 10 lakh
tonnes of rice in the northeastern areas while fungal attack blast also caused
losses of Boro crops in 19 districts, said the agricultural extension
department.
A prolonged flood in the northeast and northwestern regions is
also being feared to have some bearings on the productions of this year's two
remaining rice crops -- Aus and Aman.
Zim imports maize worth $82m despite 'bumper harvest' – report
2017-07-08 13:02 Harare – Zimbabwe has imported maize worth $82
million in the first five months of 2017, despite boasting a bumper harvest,
NewsDay reports.The report said that the latest trade data from Zimbabwe
National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) showed that the country imported maize
worth $82 million. This was, however, down from the comparative period in 2016
which was $97 million.Zimbabwe also imported durum wheat and rice worth $46
million and $41 million respectively within the same period under review, the
report said.The report added: "Overall imports in the first five months of
the year stood at $2.1 billion while exports amounted to $1.1 billion, giving a
trade deficit of $1.01 billion."
"GMB will buy maize from local farmers from the funds they
have and more money will be available to purchase locally produced maize,"
Marapira was quoted as saying at the time.
He added: "Government stopped
issuing grain import permits about four months ago and no maize imports are
allowed at our borders.http://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/zim-imports-maize-worth-82m-despite-bumper-harvest-report-20170708
Tono rice farmers fear loss of 400,000 tonnes of produce
Saturday 8th
July , 2017 1:34 pm
Rice farmers at the Tono Irrigation site at
Navrongo in the Upper East Region says, over four thousand metric tonnes of
rice cultivated this year could go waste, if the government does not provide
farmers market opportunities and combine harvester machines.
According to them, the over one thousand four
hundred and fifty (1,450) hectares of rice cultivated and partly harvested are
wasting away on the farms while some going bad on the farms due to lack of
combine harvesters.
Speaking to Citi
News after a tour of the farms, Chairman of Tono
Irrigation Cooperative Farmers Union Chief James Adawina highlighted the
adverse impact of the situation on farmers.
“This time we are harvesting and you can see a
lot of rice sitting on the yard and we are challenged of getting market our
rice. And you know when you farm, you need to sell the produce before you
can re-cultivate but now we can’t get buyers to buy our produce.”
“We also have most of our rice going bad on the
farms, this season we have done 1,450 hectares of rice production but we cannot
get combine harvester machines to harvest them. Our fears are that, if we start
to experience heavy downpours and floods, all our produce will be destroyed.”
Mr. Adawina added that, the perennial problem
of marketing of their produce and combine harvesters have been reported to the
appropriate ministry and agencies but has yielded not result.
He, however, appealed to the government as a
matter of urgency to buy their produce directly or facilitate get their produce
sold.
“We are appealing that, if government can buy
our rice or get someone buy the rice and mill to feed Second cycle and basic
school students under the school feeding programme in the three regions
of the North. Our produce can feed the three Northern regions and others
because on daily basis we load ten articulators to Kumasi and Accra yet we
still have more than enough on the farms.
The government should stop importing rice and
support farmers with the needed inputs, facilities and ready market so as to
produce more rice to feed Ghana and even export.” Mr. Adawine noted.
Mr. Adawine said the situation has reduced
their bargaining power with aggregate buyers who now buys a bag of rice at
between GHC180.00 to GHC200.00 hitherto went for between GHC230 and GHC240.00.
He also urged the government to urgently
support farmers at the area with combine harvester machines, milling machines
and storage facilities to optimize the production
Govt gets
lowest offer of $430 per tonne in rice
import
tender Bangladesh received a lowest offer of $430 tonne CIF liner out from
Phoenix in a tender that opened on Sunday to import 50,000 tonnes of parboiled
rice, officials at the state grains buyer said. Bangladesh is stepping up
imports due to depleted stocks and record local prices following flash floods.
Six traders competed for Sunday's tender, the fourth issued since May by the
Directorate General of Food.
Growing
demand from Bangladesh should stoke Asian prices that have already hit
multi-year highs in recent months. The rice is to be shipped within 40 days of
contract signing. Last week, a Bangladeshi delegation visited Thailand to
finalise imports of rice in a government-to-government deal, officials said.
Bangladesh is buying 200,000 tonnes of Vietnamese white rice at $430 a tonne
and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice at $470 a tonne in a state-to-state deal -
at rates much higher than in the tenders. "We don't have any other option
but to speed up imports," said a senior food ministry official.
"This time we won't be able to achieve
our local procurement target. We are going for state-to-state deals even if it
is costlier, as importing via tenders is a lengthy process." The state
grains buyer bought 50,000 tonnes of white rice at $406.48 a tonne and 100,000
tonnes of parboiled rice at $427.85 and $445.11 a tonne in three previous
tenders. It is also in talks with India, and private traders have started
importing rice from the neighbour after the government cut import duties late
last month.
Researchers have created a mobile phone you don't need to charge
Your future phone may never need to
be charged.
That's the exciting implication of
new research out of the University of Washington, where researchers have
created a mobile phone prototype that doesn't require a battery to operate.
The astonishingly efficient prototype requires just 3.5 microwatts
of juice, and it employs an innovative approach to avoid the need for a battery
cell. Instead, it uses ambient power from radio signals and light — its onboard
solar cell is "roughly the size of a grain of rice" — to transmit a
signal back to a base station 50 feet away. The prototype itself is made of
simple materials: capacitive touch buttons, a circuit board, and other
"off the shelf" components. More impressive is that the team of
scientists were able to create a custom base station to transmit the signal
with such a small amount of power.
Using this setup, the researchers
were able to successfully make and receive calls (via Skype) and place callers
on hold. But the scientists say they want to improve the prototype by adding an
e-ink display with video-streaming capabilities and encryption to make the
calls more secure.
Vamsi Tall, who coauthored the
paper, says the base station technology they developed — while it's still an
early prototype — could make it possible for battery-free mobile phones to
become ubiquitous.
“You could imagine in the future
that all cell towers or Wi-Fi routers could come with our base station
technology embedded in it,” Tall said. “And if every house has a Wi-Fi router
in it, you could get battery-free cellphone coverage everywhere.”
http://mashable.com/2017/07/08/battery-free-phone-research/#uj8.sYoiMaqo
Iran to import 1st rice cargo from Thailand
after sanctions lifted
Iran to import 1st rice cargo from Thailand after sanctions lifted
VOICEPRESS reports citing the Trend,Iran will import first rice consignment from Thailand after 10 years, Secretary of Iran Rice Association Jamil Alizadeh Shayeq said.
He said that the deal for importing the aforementioned cargo was actually signed before sanctions, but Thailand stopped export to Iran, after the Islamic Republic failed to pay the money due to sanctions, Alizadeh Shayeq said, Tasnim news agency reported July 9.
He further said that Iran needs to import about 800,000 to 1 million tons of rice per year from abroad.
International sanctions against Iran removed in January 2016, after the country signed a historic nuclear deal with the six world powers.
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).
The Iranian government bans rice import annually with only a few months of break to support domestic products.
The annual consumption of rice in Iran is 3 million tons. India, Pakistan and Uruguay are main supplier of rice to Iran.
http://voicepress.az/en/iqtisadiyyat/3843-iran-to-import-1st-rice-cargo-from-thailand-after-sanctions-lifted.html
He said that the deal for importing the aforementioned cargo was actually signed before sanctions, but Thailand stopped export to Iran, after the Islamic Republic failed to pay the money due to sanctions, Alizadeh Shayeq said, Tasnim news agency reported July 9.
He further said that Iran needs to import about 800,000 to 1 million tons of rice per year from abroad.
International sanctions against Iran removed in January 2016, after the country signed a historic nuclear deal with the six world powers.
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).
The Iranian government bans rice import annually with only a few months of break to support domestic products.
The annual consumption of rice in Iran is 3 million tons. India, Pakistan and Uruguay are main supplier of rice to Iran.
No comments:
Post a Comment