Riceplus Magazien is a quarterly magazine that publishes research articles including industry realted for the rice sector.It shares global and regional articles on rice.Riceplus Magazine also publishes two digital magazines on daily basis namely Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter & Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter for entire global agriculture community.For more information visit on www.ricepluss.com
Boosting capacity of African change agents in rice R&D
Enhancing the capacity of change agents of research and extension communities in selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the focus of a new partnership between the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Africa Rice Center.
“Africa has only 70 scientists per million inhabitants compared to 4380 scientists per million inhabitants in Japan,” stated Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck, Director General of the Africa Rice Center, emphasizing the urgent need to make the rice sector in the region competitive by improving the capacity of operators at the research, extension, production, processing, and marketing levels.
This capacity building program is complementing the Center’s efforts to raise rice productivity in sub-Saharan Africa through the African Rice Initiative and the Emergency Rice Initiative launched in 2008 in response to the food crisis.
With support from BADEA, scientists from the Africa Rice Center and its partners imparted knowledge on Integrated Rice Management through hands-on training to more than 50 participants including about 30 women from 16 countries across SSA.
The participating countries comprise Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Senegal,Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda.
The Africa Rice Center has found that knowledge of Integrated Rice Management is crucial to bridge yield gaps in farmers’ fields through better crop management. By applying this knowledge combined with a participatory learning and action research (PLAR) approach developed by the Center, rice yields in farmers’ fields can be increased by 0.5 to 2.0 tonnes per hectare without enhanced production costs.
During the training program, which was conducted in French and English in May and June 2009, manuals on the Integrated Rice Management based on the PLAR approach as well as farmer learning videos developed by the Center were extensively used by the facilitators.
Dr Seck along with BADEA delegates participated in the official ceremony of the handing over of certificates to the participants.
“We are honored to be a partner of BADEA in this important program for Africa,” Dr Seck said.
Thanking the Center for the successful capacity building program, the delegates mentioned that about 4000 African nationals have benefited from various training programs supported by BADEA.
The Yomiuri ShimbunShimekazari
are rice straw decorations generally put up in or outside Japanese homes to
welcome the Toshigami god that bestows good fortune on New Year’s Day. Although
shimekazari remain a fixture of modern Japanese households, many lack knowledge
of their various characteristics.
There are actually a wide variety of
shimekazari that differ by size, design and decoration, and they often differ
by region. Each ornament has unique features and beauty, according to a
recently published book by graphic designer Sumako Mori.
Titled “Shimekazari: Shinnen no Negai o Musubu
Katachi” (Shimekazari: shapes looped with wishes for the New Year), the
200-page book is based on field research Mori conducted over many years.
Mori became interested in shimekazari while
working on a research project about the traditional ornament for her graduation
from art school. Ever since, she has traveled throughout the country around the
New Year holiday to observe how locals decorate home entrances or kamidana home
altars with shimekazari.
The book illustrates the ornaments’ beauty
through black-and-white and full-color photos Mori took, and describes her
encounters with rice farmers and craftspeople. It also explains various
decorations attached to shimekazari, such as fans and daidai bitter orange.
Some explanations are provided in English.
“At first sight, shimekazari pieces appear
identical, but they each have their own distinctive shapes,” Mori said. “I hope
readers will rediscover the beauty of the decoration.”
The book, published by Kosakusha, costs ¥2,500
before tax. Visit www.kousakusha.co.jp
SAN ANTONIO, TX --
Each year, USA Rice teams up with restaurants in the host city of the USA Rice
Outlook Conference to promote local establishments that serve U.S.-grown
rice. This year, members can again look forward to an expansive selection
of highly-rated restaurants that will satisfy every palate and price point. The nine restaurants participating in this year's promotion will
display "We Proudly Serve U.S.-Grown Rice" window clings and signs
provided by USA Rice. Many restaurants expressed a desire to keep the
emblem up year-round to support U.S. rice farmers.
"We hope those attending the USA Rice Outlook
Conference will visit these restaurants actively supporting the U.S. rice
industry," said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice's manager of domestic
promotion. "An added bonus this year is most of the places on the
list are walking distance from the conference hotels and Convention
Center."
Jacobs said the annual promotion helps increase
awareness of U.S.-grown rice on several levels.
"We use this program as an opportunity to
talk about U.S. rice with chefs and managers, and they in turn educate their
staff - both in the kitchen and on the floor," he said. "It
brings us new rice ambassadors and gets people talking about U.S. rice - even
after Outlook is gone."
"We take a lot of pride in serving U.S.-grown
rice here," said Michelle Montemayor, a manager at Rosario's Mexican Cafe,
one of the participating restaurants on nearby Alamo Street. "Tell
everybody to stop by Rosario's! We'd love to introduce everyone to our
special Mexican rice."
SAN ANTONIO, TX --
The 2017 USA Rice Outlook Conference got underway here last night with an
opening reception in the exhibit hall and a fundraising dinner for the USA Rice
Political Action Committee. And today's General Session opened with a
host state welcome from Texas rice farmer L.G. Raun and State Comptroller Glenn
Hegar, followed by keynote speaker Mark McKinnon.
One of the most successful, influential, and
respected political and media advisors in the modern era, McKinnon talked about
lessons he learned crafting successful political messages and how those
storytelling essentials can be used to tell the agriculture story to audiences
unfamiliar with the territory.
"In the short time I've been with you all
today, I can see the rice industry has an amazing story to tell," said
McKinnon. "The hardest part of messaging is finding one and you all
have a great one. If you tell it with authenticity, people will listen
because who doesn't love farmers?"
The early morning schedule included presentations
on the aptly named Innovation Stage, centrally located in the Exhibit Hall,
featuring the latest the industry has to offer in technology and
equipment. Today's General Session was followed by the Annual Rice Awards
Luncheon, and the afternoon schedule is filled with new breakout sessions on
topics that range from trade to conservation to grain bin safety, and more.
"We're so excited about the slate of
educational programming offered this year," said USA Rice President &
CEO Betsy Ward. "There is something here for everyone, with more to
come tomorrow.
Millers worried over excessive moisture in processed rice
Frame
policy, Centre urged
Nakesh Jindal, spokesman for the Punjab Rice
Millers Association, said millers across the state were facing the same issue.
He said only 10 per cent of the millers have dryers installed in rice mills and
rest of the millers had to dry the processed rice under direct sunlight for
lowering the moisture level. As the winter had set in, it would be difficult
for the millers to meet the norms. He urged the Centre to frame a policy in
this regard to give some relief to the millers who were already facing a financial
crisis.
Resentment prevails among rice millers as the moisture in the
rice produced after its processing was much higher than the set norms by
different state purchasing agencies and the Food Corporation of India.
The Centre and the state government had set a permissible
limit of 17 per cent moisture content for paddy but various state purchasing
agencies had purchased the paddy with a moisture content of 18 per cent to 24
per cent and stored in various rice mills in the region for processing. The
purchasing of the paddy with a higher moisture level was done due to the dense
smog conditions prevailing in the region during the previous month. The rice
millers have to deliver the rice with 14 per cent moisture content whereas the
processed rice was showing a moisture content of over
15 per cent.
Rice millers Tejinder Singh Teji, Ashok Bansal and Harish
Kumar said despite their best efforts to dry the paddy before processing, the
moisture level in the processed rice was much more than the set norms of the
government.
They claimed that they would not only have to grease the
palms of purchasing officials but would also have to pay hefty fines per truck,
causing them losses to the tune of several lakhs. They alleged that due to the
pressure of the state government to lift the paddy for milling, they were
facing heavy losses and their mills would be on the verge of closure if the
Central and state governments did not find any solution to their problems.
Nakesh Jindal, spokesman for the Punjab Rice Millers
Association, said millers across the state were facing the same issue. He said
only 10 per cent of the millers have dryers installed in rice mills and rest of
the millers had to dry the processed rice under direct sunlight for lowering
the moisture level.
He said as the winter had set in, it would be difficult for
the millers to meet the norms set by the Central Government this year and would
have to bear a loss of over Rs 5,000 per wagon during the milling season of
2017-18.
He urged the Central Government to frame a policy in this
regard to give some relief to the millers who were already facing a
financial crisis.
By Express News Service |
Published: 12th December 2017 01:50 AM |
Last Updated: 12th December 2017 07:37 AM |
JEYPORE: At a time when
the paddy procurement in Jeypore district has been stalled due to the dispute
between farmers and the State Civil Supply Corporation over FAQ standard, the
millers are now upset with the department as the latter directed Government
centres to stop receiving rice from the millers recently.
As a result of the recent
direction by the corporation to the rice receiving centres of the Government,
uncertainty prevails over participation of millers and agents in mandis.Sources
said the corporation had procured about 21 lakh quintal of paddy from farmers
during the last kharif marketing season through PACs in mandis. Later, the
procured crop was distributed among at least 93 millers as per the custom
milling process.
According to the
Government norms, the millers should have delivered about 15 lakh quintal of
rice to rice-receiving centres by September 2017. However, due to the alleged
mismanagement of the officials of the Food and Civil Supply Department, enough
space was not available to store the procured crop, the sources said. Only 47
rice millers had apparently met the target, delivering 11 lakh quintal rice
within the stipulated time.
Earlier, the members of
millers’ association had met State Civil Supply and Consumer Welfare Secretary
in Bhubaneswar, apprising him of the space problem of the Civil Supply Corporation.
They had urged the Secretary to extend the deadline for paddy delivery and
provide storage facilities as required. The Secretary had allowed the millers
to deliver the rice by December 10, following which the millers geared up to
deliver the pending rice stocks and about 3.50 lakh quintal stock was cleared
by December 8.
Even as the millers were about to deliver the targeted amount, the fresh
direction of the Corporation to stop rice delivery has irked the millers who
claimed that at least 50,000 quintal of rice stock is pending.
“The Civil Supply Corporation has been harassing the millers by stopping
delivery of the pending rice. The Corporation has not provided godowns to keep
the rice stock of millers. The millers are being punished for no fault of theirs,”
Koraput District Millers secretary, Gopal Panda, said.
Meanwhile, the millers demanded that the Corporation should immediately take
the pending rice stocks from them.
Contacted, District Civil
Supply Officer BC Dash said the administration had been communicating with the
State Civil Supply Corporation to sort out the problem at the earliest. “There
will be proper procurement of paddy from farmers as well as rice from the
millers in a couple of days,” he added
‘Illegal mining has
contaminated water in Donde Khurd’
Source: The Hitavada
Date: 12 Dec 2017 11:18:14
Staff
Reporter, Raipur,
District-level weekly jan-darshan programme at
collectorate, Raipur, had on Monday come across a serious issue of water
pollution as residents of Donde Khurd village of Raipur tehsil complained about
the same.The villagers reportedly informed District Collector O P Choudhary
that the water in the village has turned very harmful because of illegal mining
in surrounding areas. The water is not even potable and it may lead to serious
diseases, the villagers complained to the Collector. In reply, the district
collector assured the villagers of taking necessary measures in this direction.
It was also decided to hold a public grievance redressal camp at Saankra
village of Tilda development block on December 13 to provide them with the
benefits of various state government welfare schemes. The District Collector
asked the district level officials to be present in the camp and listen to the
common public.Meanwhile, the district collector has directed the rice millers
to deposit more boiled rice as the Food Corporation of India will collect
boiled rice only, according to a government order.
Five
examples of how life sciences is revolutionising farming
Life sciences studies are changing farming. Picture:
Contributed Published: 12:28 Monday 11 December 2017 Share this article 0 HAVE
YOUR SAY Agriculture has always been a key sector for Scotland, and life
sciences developments have helped this crucial industry continue to anchor
rural life and contribute to the wider Scottish economy. Georgina Keys, R&D
Technical Consultant at Leyton, writes about advances in life sciences that are
helping to revolutionise
farming. Advances in life sciences in Scotland allow us to better understand
intricate biochemical interplay in Scottish crops and livestock. With this
greater understanding, farmers can then conduct experiments and undertake
R&D projects to improve the quality of their crops and livestock. This places
Scotland at the forefront of the market, as we are able to develop a strong
agricultural industry with the corresponding biological knowledge.
We are better able to
understand the unique circumstances that improve crop yields, as well as
genetic factors that can impact livestock through the work of Scottish
biologists and chemists. Five current/recent developments in Life Sciences that
have benefited the Agricultural Industry: Through genetic manipulation,
scientists create crops that are nutritionally superior to previous crop. The
Golden Rice Project is a good example of such advances. Scientists have used
genetic engineering to produce rice rich in Vitamin A. Although rice contains
Vitamin A, the genes that cue production of Vitamin A are turned off during
growth. Scientists have genetically engineered this process to allow the growth
of Vitamin A for longer.
Through the cross breeding of plants, agricultural
biotechnology has given plants the ability to grow in a wide range of
environments. Land that has been rendered unsuitable for crop growth now has
the ability to be used. Scientists can genetically manipulate plants to make
them more resistant to diseases and toxins, while maintaining the plants safety
for human consumption. Genetic engineering of plants to improve disease
resistance means that produce for human consumption has less pesticide residue,
reduce the amount of harmful toxins seeping into groundwater and minimise
exposure to farm workers. Through these developments, biotechnology has improved
the agricultural industry and the environment. Advances in veterinary science
and new medical techniques help provide an increased level of care for animals
and are therefore able to cure diseases in a quicker and more efficient manner.
This is highly beneficial for the farming industry.
Scientists are able to improve fertility of their livestock, leading to larger
herd sizes. This is achieved through feeding trails that can help increase the
health of the livestock and through selective breeding regimes. The unique work
undertaken by the Scottish life sciences sector, improves the knowledge of the
biological and chemical underpinnings of the agricultural industry, thus
providing Scotland with a strong agricultural market position. By understanding
these biological processes, farmers and agricultural experts are able to change
current farming techniques as advancements in life sciences are achieved.
Below are examples of some of the work our customers have
undertaken within this sector: Trialling and testing growth of new varieties in
different media Undertaking projects to increase their crop yield Trials with
various fungicides and pesticides either through cessation of use or changing
the type Undertaking feeding trials to improve the overall quality of their
meat, cheese or dairy product Undertaking feeding trials to improve the fat to
muscle ratio in livestock, thereby improving the quality of meat Trials to
reduce soya content in their feed As farmers are able to secure monetary
investment into their research and development projects, they are able to feed
this information back to the scientists themselves, achieving the twin benefits
of further deepening scientific knowledge and strengthening the agricultural
market.
Your baby’s rice cereal may contain worrying levels of arsenic, according to a
report [pdf] by a coalition of scientists and health advocates.
The group, called Healthy Babies Bright
Futures, tested more than 100 baby cereal samples from nine different
companies. It found that cereals made with rice contained six times more
arsenic than baby cereals made from other types of ingredients such as oatmeal,
quinoa, buckwheat and barley.
Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment,
but industrial activities and pesticides can increase its presence. Plants
absorb arsenic from soil and water, which can lead to tiny traces showing up in
food. Rice is particularly prone to arsenic contamination because it absorbs
more of the chemical than other plants. That’s true even if the rice is
organically grown.
Exposure to high levels of arsenic has been
tied to cancer, as well as developmental problems in children. The FDA has
proposed limiting inorganic arsenic (the most toxic form of the chemical) to
100 parts per billion in infant rice cereal. Some rice cereal in the report
tested at more than 200 parts per billion.
The report is not a peer-reviewed study.
However, past testing of rice cereal by other organizations including Consumer
Reports and the FDA has also detected high arsenic levels.
Healthy Babies Bright Futures advised parents
to avoid rice cereal and feed babies iron-fortified cereals made with other
grains instead. It also called on the Food and Drug Administration to enforce
lower levels of arsenic in rice-based foods.
Several baby food companies have said they are
taking steps to make sure the rice used in their products is low in arsenic,
according to the New
York Times.
The Yomiuri ShimbunShimekazari
are rice straw decorations generally put up in or outside Japanese homes to
welcome the Toshigami god that bestows good fortune on New Year’s Day. Although
shimekazari remain a fixture of modern Japanese households, many lack knowledge
of their various characteristics.
There are actually a wide variety of
shimekazari that differ by size, design and decoration, and they often differ
by region. Each ornament has unique features and beauty, according to a
recently published book by graphic designer Sumako Mori.
Titled “Shimekazari: Shinnen no Negai o Musubu
Katachi” (Shimekazari: shapes looped with wishes for the New Year), the
200-page book is based on field research Mori conducted over many years.
Mori became interested in shimekazari while
working on a research project about the traditional ornament for her graduation
from art school. Ever since, she has traveled throughout the country around the
New Year holiday to observe how locals decorate home entrances or kamidana home
altars with shimekazari.
The book illustrates the ornaments’ beauty
through black-and-white and full-color photos Mori took, and describes her
encounters with rice farmers and craftspeople. It also explains various
decorations attached to shimekazari, such as fans and daidai bitter orange.
Some explanations are provided in English.
“At first sight, shimekazari pieces appear
identical, but they each have their own distinctive shapes,” Mori said. “I hope
readers will rediscover the beauty of the decoration.”
The book, published by Kosakusha, costs ¥2,500
before tax. Visit www.kousakusha.co.jp
http://www.the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004101199 DECEMBER 11, 2017 / 6:19 PM / UPDATED 21
HOURS AGO
Smaller farms can cope better with climate
change in India, say analysts
MUMBAI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - India’s
small farmers are better equipped than large landowners to deal with climate
change, but need more support to find innovative ways to minimize the impacts
of higher temperatures, uneven rainfall, floods and droughts, analysts said.
About 60 percent of India’s population of 1.3
billion depends on agriculture for a living. More than three quarters of farmers
cultivate than 2 hectares (5 acres) of land each.
While the small size of the land holding is
often seen as a challenge to raising incomes, it is an advantage when it comes
to tackling extreme weather and rising temperatures, said Arindom Datta, Asia head
of sustainability banking at Rabobank.
“Large farmers tend to do mono cropping, which
is far more vulnerable to climate change, and more difficult to change and
adapt as the situation demands. Plus they need more water, another resource
under threat from warmer weather,” he said.
“Small farmers are far more versatile; they
usually plant multiple varieties of crops, so they are more flexible and better
able to adjust and adapt,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to
double farmers’ incomes over the next five years, with reforms including better
irrigation, crop insurance and higher prices for crops.
Poor prices for grains and cereal have led to
mounting piles of debt for Indian farmers, triggering thousands of suicides
every year. More than two-thirds of farmers who committed suicide were small
and marginal farmers, data show.
The average size of land holdings in rural
India has halved over the past two decades as land is passed down from father
to son, and as more land is surrendered for development projects.
While a law caps the amount of land that can be
owned by individual farmers, several states have introduced leasing laws to
enable farmers to increase the land under cultivation.
But smaller land holdings are better suited if
the government invests in training - particularly for women - on topics such as
traditional grains such as millets, said Ishira Mehta, founder of CropConnect
Enterprises, which links farmers to markets.
“With rising temperatures, we may not be able
to grow basmati rice or wheat 20 years from now; we need to revive traditional
grains that are more climate resilient,” she said.
“Women farmers in particular are more
adaptable, more willing to learn about new harvest and marketing methods. But
they cannot tackle the problem on their own.”
Farmers in the southern state of Tamil Nadu are
already returning to indigenous varieties of rice and traditional seeds as the
region suffers more frequent droughts.
Reporting
by Rina Chandran @rinachandran. Editing by Ros Russell. Please credit the
Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers
humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change
and resilience. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Sokoto state Command, says it
has seized a truck containing 300 bags of foreign rice concealed within 350
bags of made in Nigeria ones.The state Comptroller, Alhaji Nasir Ahmed,
disclosed this on Monday at the command’s headquarters while displaying the
seized items.
Ahmed
said that the team of the state task force had on Dec. 9, intercepted the truck
on the Sokoto, Gusau road containing the 650 mixed bags of rice.He assured that
the command would not relent in its effort to ensure that no person or group of
persons sabotaged the effort of the NCS and the growth of the nation’s economy.
“We will
keep pursuing them to ensure no foreign rice passes our borders, as smugglers
can do everything possible to succeed in their unlawful strive,” Ahmed said.He
said that the command would contact manufacturers of the made in Nigeria rice,
Labana Rice Mill, from Kebbi state, to ascertain whether the remaining rice
were from their company.
The
Department of Finance (DOF) would help in pushing for the passage of proposed
measures aiming to raise taxes on “sin” products, slapping import duty on rice
and the national ID system.
While
they will prioritize the Duterte administration’s tax reform package II next
year, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the fiscal authorities
will support these three bills now pending in the Congress.
“We told
them that we will be really focusing on package two which is lowering CIT
[corporate income tax tax] together with reviewing fiscal incentives. We would
also support review of the sin tax law for both alcohol and tobacco,” Dominguez
told reporters at the DOF headquarters.
Along
with higher excise tax on tobacco and alcoholic beverages, Dominguez said the
DOF will also support the tarriffication of rice and the national ID.Asked
about the chances that these measures may be delayed given 2019 is an election
year, Dominguez said the passage of the these three-pending bills will depend
on the legislators’ judgment.
He,
however, said the lowering of CIT, higher excise on sin products, slapping a
35-percent tariff on rice, and the national ID could be among the priority
measures of the Duterte administration in 2018.“We understand that there may be
other distractions from legislation, that will come up, [but] we want to push
this legislation onward,” Dominguez said.The increase in sin taxes was
originally included in the DOF’s tax reform package five or the so-called
“health package.”
“I think
we have to accelerate it [increase in excise tax],” Dominguez said when asked
if the sin tax law is no longer included in the DOF’s package five.The
government is considering to slap a 35-percent tariff on rice while providing
subsidies to farmers.The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
that majority of economic managers were supporting the plan to remove the
Philippines’ quota on rice importation, as the government moves to lower the
prices of the staple food.
Economic
managers have been pushing the amendment of the decade-old Republic Act No.
8178 or the Agricultural Tarrification Act of 1996, which had put the rice
import quota in place.In 2014, the World Trade Organization allowed the
Philippines to extend its QR on rice until June 30, 2017, in a bid to buy more
time for local farmers to prepare for free trade in the light of the
government’s goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency.
Since
the government imposes a quota on rice imports, domestic prices are vulnerable to
shocks resulting from meager supply.The QR puts the burden of rice supply and
demand to the government, whereas the market forces are being limited by the
quota system.
The
rise in trade deficit is due to the decrease in the export of apples and
pistachios, and increase in the import of staple foods such as rice, sunflower
oil, palm oil, soybean, red meat, field corn, bananas, sugar and barley
Iran’s
trade deficit in the agriculture sector stood at $3.17 billion for the
eight-month period. The deficit was at $2.16 billion in last year’s
corresponding period
More than 3.67 million tons of agricultural
products worth $3.85 billion were exported from Iran during the eight months to
Nov. 21, registering a 3.5% decrease in weight and more than 9% increase in
value compared with the corresponding period of last year, the head of
Agriculture Commission of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and
Agriculture said.
"Iran's
trade deficit in the agriculture sector stood at $3.17 billion for the
eight-month period. The deficit was at $2.16 billion in last year's
corresponding period," Kaveh Zargaran also told Financial Tribune.
Imports
of agricultural products during the same period stood at around 12.57 million
tons worth more than $7 billion, registering a year-on-year increase of 9% and
23% in weight and value respectively.
The
official noted that the rise in trade deficit is due to the decrease in the
export of apples and pistachios, and the increase in the import of staple foods
such as rice, sunflower oil, palm oil, soybean, red meat, field corn, bananas,
sugar, barley and soymeal.
> 20% Decline in Pistachio Export Value
Close to
68,680 tons of pistachios worth $628 million were exported during the
eight-month period, registering a 22% and 20% decrease in weight and value
respectively compared with last year’s corresponding period, Zargaran said.
Pistachio
is among Iran's major non-oil exports.
The main
customers of Iranian pistachio are the US, Ukraine, the UAE, Italy, Bahrain,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Turkey, Canada, Qatar, Switzerland, France, Poland, Sweden,
Malaysia, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Thailand, Japan, Romania and Hong Kong.
According
to Deputy Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Mojtaba Khosrotaj, Iran
supplies more than 50% of the world pistachio market and its main rival in
pistachio production is the US state of California.
Mahmoud
Abtahi, chairman of the board of directors at the Iran Pistachio Association,
noted that the amount of pistachio production in Iran in the last fiscal year
halved to 180,000 tons, which is the main reason behind the decline in export
this year.
Mohsen
Jalalpour, the head of Iran Pistachio Association said between 8,000 and 12,000
hectares of Iran’s pistachio orchards are lost annually because of water
shortage and soil salinity.
“Land
under pistachio cultivation in Iran is currently close to 350,000 hectares while
during the 2000s, the figure stood at more than 400,000 hectares,” he said.
Kerman
Province in southeast Iran is the country’s biggest producer of pistachio. The
province once accounted for 70% of Iran’s pistachio production, but now
produces only 30% of all the pistachio grown in the country due to the severe
water crisis.
> 7% Fall in Apple Export Value
During
the same eight-month period, nearly 155,000 tons of apples worth $65 million
were exported from Iran, indicating a 26% and 7% fall in volume and value
respectively, Zargaran said.
Abbas
Pakpour, the deputy head of Export Promotion Office with the Ministry of
Agriculture, has attributed the decline in apple exports to the fact that
almost all the stored apples were exported last year and there was not much
left in warehouses across the country.
Close to
354,000 tons of apples worth around $110.45 million were exported from Iran in
the last fiscal year (March 2016-17), registering a more than 10% increase in
weight and 16% fall in value compared with the year before.
"Based
on figures released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, Iran is the ninth biggest producer of apples worldwide. In exports,
the country ranks ninth in terms of weight and 14th in value. As such, we
account for 1.87% and 4.05% of the global production and exports
respectively," he had said in an earlier interview.
The UAE,
Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, China,
Qatar, Russia, the US, South Korea, Switzerland and France are the main export
destinations for Iranian apples.
The
three main provinces producing apples in Iran are East and West Azarbaijan and
Tehran.
Iran
follows China, the US, Poland, India, Turkey, Italy, Chile and Russia in world
apple production in a descending order.
> Rice Tops List of Imports
About
1.07 million tons of rice worth more than $1 billion, 407,000 tons of sunflower
oil worth $347 million and around $288 million worth of barley were imported
into the country over the nine-month period, registering a 93%, 150% and 74%
growth respectively in value.
A total
of $252 million worth of palm oil, close to $670 million worth of soybean, $296
million worth of frozen boneless red meat, $980 million worth of field corn,
$355 million worth of green bananas and $379 million worth of unrefined sugar
were imported, registering a 34%, 13%, 32%, 10%, 21% and 52% increase in value
compared with the similar period of last year.
“These
products constituted the bulk of our agro imports during the period,” Zargaran
said.
He added
that 804,000 tons of meal worth $323 million were imported, registering a 21%
and 19% decrease in weight and value respectively compared with last year’s
similar period, though the product was still listed among the country’s main
agro imports.
In a
letter to Minister of Industries Mohammad Shariatmadari, Agriculture Minister
Mahmoud Hojjati has called for reinstating the ban on rice imports until
further notice due to excessive imports.
Every
year, during the rice harvest season, the government bans rice imports to
support local farmers and production. Import tariffs have increased from 22% four
years ago to 40% at present for the same reason.
The
temporary ban was lifted last month as per the directive of the Ministry of
Industries and was supposed to last until July 22, 2018.
“We need
imports, but imports that are limited and controlled,” Hojjati said earlier.
Iran
imports rice mainly from the UAE, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and Iraq.
Iranians
consume 3 million tons of rice a year while domestic production stands at 2.2
million tons. Therefore, there is a need for around 800,000 tons of imports
every year.
According
to the Central and West Asia Rice Center, with around 54% of Central and West
Asia’s paddy fields located in Iran, the country accounts for 61% of the
regions’ combined rice production.
The two
northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran are home to a majority of Iran’s
paddy fields.
Hojjati
noted that the agriculture sector accounts for 12% to 13% of Iran’s gross
domestic product.
“The
sector has created between 19% and 20% of all the jobs in the country,” he was
quoted as saying earlier.
According
to Eskandar Zand, the head of Agricultural Research, Education and Promotion
Organization, the number of farmers reduces by 50,000 every year due to a lack
of facilities in the sector.
“Some
50% of the rural population are active in the agriculture sector. The figure
for urban population is 5%,” he said.
The
agriculture sector expanded by 4.2% in the last Iranian year (March 2016-17)
compared to the preceding year, according to the Central Bank of Iran.
Rice exports have been
on the rise this year, according to recent figures released by the Ministry of
Agriculture.In the first 11 months of 2017, rice exports have reached 562,000
tonnes, an increase of 17.2 percent compared to the same period last year.Approximately
45 percent of Cambodia’s total rice exports have gone to the European market,
while 29 percent have gone to China alone.According to Hean Vanhan, director
general at the General Directorate of Agriculture, “based on the trend, rice
exports should reach over 600,000 tonnes by the end of the year”.
PHNOM
PENH, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 562,237 tons of milled rice in the
first 11 months of 2017, up 17 percent compared with the same period last year,
according to the latest report on Sunday.China is still the top buyer of
Cambodian milled rice, followed by France and
Poland, said the report released by the Secretariat of One Window Service for
Rice Export.Export to China accounted for 165,000 tons, or 29.3 percent of the
total exports, during the January-November period this year, the report said. Cambodia
is expected to sell 200,000 tons of rice to China this year and up to 300,000
tons next year.The Southeast Asian country produces over 9 million tons of
paddy rice a year. With this amount, it has over 3 million tons of milled rice
for annual export
Rice growers, millers urged
to promote sustainable production
Staff
Reporter
Lahore
Rice growers, exporters and millers were
stressed to promote the sustainable production of the commodity in order to
meet the growing demand of international market.
This was stated by Director Van Sillevoldt Rijst (VSR) Netherland, Henk
Verschoor who visited the Rice Partners Pvt Ltd (RPL) plant in Muridke here on
Sunday.
During his visit, Henk Verschoor had interaction with RPL staff and said he was
really impressed to see the RPL sustainable rice production programme.
He said the international rice clients, especially from European Union
countries are more interested to procure Pakistani Super Basmati rice as the
people from EU are fond of eating tasty, delicate and fragrant rice that is
specifically produced in Pakistan.
Henk also visited farmer’s field and had interaction with them, talking to the
farmers he said Super Basmati Rice is very important to EU, as their people are
very much fond of eating rice.
He paid tribute to the rice growers saying that they play an important part in
producing grains for consumption of the people and when they buy rice from
farmers, it will help them to earn their livelihoods.
He proposed the farmers to adopt good agricultural practices to boost their per
acre yield. He also urged all millers to keep interaction with farmers and
listen to them as they are the integral part of their business.
He said that he was happy to see that RPL has maintained a very close relation
with the farmers and is giving them technical guidance, inputs to grow good
rice crop.
Talking to the farmers and RPL management, VSR official said, now the world and
EU will focus on sustainable sourcing from the rice growing countries as RPL
from Pakistan is already providing sustainable rice in the global market. He
emphasized other rice millers to follow the RPL programme to grow sustainable
rice.
A man arranges sacks of rice for exports at a
warehouse in Ayutthaya province.TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD
Thailand is set to export 9.5 million
tonnes of milled rice next year, says the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
That is
down slightly from the 11 million tonnes Thailand is forecast to ship for the
whole of this year, as the stronger baht is expected to curb exports, said
president Charoen Laothammatas.
Thailand
has exported 10.3 million tonnes of rice so far this year, up 16.3% from the
same period of last year, according to Commerce Ministry data.
Mr
Charoen said strong demand during the year-end holiday season should help
Thailand export more rice in December and could push total 2017 rice exports to
11 million tonnes.
But that
figure will not be enough for Thailand to reclaim its title as the world's
biggest rice exporter, as India is expected to ship more than 11 million
tonnes, he said.
Thailand,
which was the No.1 rice exporter for more than three decades, lost the crown
for the first time in 2012, when exports fell to 6.9 million tonnes from 10.6
million in 2011.
The
sharp fall in 2012 was largely because of the Yingluck Shinawatra government's
rice pledging scheme, which offered to buy rice from farmers at 50% above
market prices. That made Thai rice exports uncompetitive, with massive amounts
being kept in the state stockpiles, weighing on prices for years to come.
Mr
Charoen said the Commerce Ministry's Foreign Trade Department has gradually
released the record-high 18 million tonnes in rice stocks since mid-2017,
leaving only 1 million tonnes of inedible-grade rice to be sold as animal
feedstuff and other related purposes next year.
He said
a major factor that was expected to cut Thai rice exports to 9.5 million tonnes
next year is the stronger baht, which could make Thai rice prices less
competitive.
"We
are very concerned about the stronger baht, which keeps rising quite
fast," said Mr Charoen.
He said
the baht has risen more than 9% to a 31-month high of 32.50 baht per US dollar.
That
level is well above the Vietnamese dong, which has risen 2%, allowing Vietnam,
a major rice-exporting competitor, to offer lower prices.
