Redefining
NFA’s role
February 13, 2018
A few days before the Department
of Agriculture (DA) announced that paddy production rose to 19.27 million
metric tons (MMT) in 2017, from the previous year’s 17.62 MMT, the National
Food Authority (NFA) sounded the alarm
that its stockpile must be
augmented soon, as it was only good for three days. This prompted the food
agency to request the permission of the NFA Council (NFAC) to green light the
importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice.
Despite the increase in paddy
production, the NFA was unable to buy rice from farmers to boost its buffer
stock. It was in 2008 when the NFA, then under the DA, had targeted to purchase
around 1 MMT of paddy from farmers. That year, when the global food price
crisis reached its peak, the Philippines learned the hard way that even if the
government had the money to buy imported rice, traditional suppliers would
prioritize their citizens’ needs. This prompted the government to roll out
interventions to significantly increase rice output and to step up the
procurement of local paddy. To encourage more farmers to plant rice and sell
their crop to the NFA, the government raised the agency’s buying price to P17
per kilogram (kg), from P11.50 per kg, in April 2008.
Despite the hike in its buying
price, the NFA would never be able to meet its annual palay procurement target.
In recent years, the justification given by the food agency is that private
traders also raised their prices. Farmers also complained earlier that the
stringent procurement standards set by the NFA discouraged them from selling
their crop to the government. Rice bought from farmers and imports make up the
NFA’s stockpile. Part of this rice inventory is sold to the poor at P27 per kg
(regular milled) and P32 per kg (well-milled).
This year it appears that the NFA
would not be able to meet its procurement target again. It also remains to be
seen if hiking its buying price would boost its chances of buying more locally
produced rice. This is a cause for concern since the NFA would have no other
recourse but to rely on local procurement to beef up its stockpile from now
until the first week of June. The food agency’s inability to compete with
private traders was the primary reason behind its request to import rice last
year.
The debacle faced by the NFA last
year should have prompted the Duterte administration to act immediately and
ensure that it would not happen again. But as it is, the NFA found itself
grappling with the same dilemma this year. Following the government’s
announcement that it had permitted the importation of rice, Cabinet Secretary
Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. said that the council wants to start evaluating the procurement
and distribution strategies of the NFA. This should have been done last year,
especially if the administration has plans of restructuring the NFA.
Currently, there are efforts in
Congress to amend Republic Act 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, to
convert rice import caps into tariffs as part of the Philippines’s commitment
to the World Trade Organization. The conversion of the quantitative restriction
(QR) on rice is of paramount concern, but the Duterte administration should not
stop there. It must now launch efforts to seriously look at the role of the NFA
and to determine whether there is a need for it to continue selling rice to the
public. Once the QR is converted into tariff, more rice imports are expected to
enter the country. The NFA’s role must be redefined based on this scenario.
Palace backs
NFAC call to review rice-buying price
February 13, 2018
Malacañang backed the proposal of
the National Food Authority Council (NFAC) for the National Economic and
Development Authority (Neda) to again review the government’s palay-buying
price.
Presidential Spokesman Harry L.
Roque Jr. admitted in a news briefing on Tuesday that the P17- per-kilogram
(kg) support price of the National Food Authority (NFA) is “too low” and discourages
farmers from selling their crop to the government.
“The buying price of the NFA is
too low, that’s why farmers don’t want to sell their rice to the NFA. If there
would be an adjustment in the price and it is realistic, NFA stock wouldn’t be
a problem anymore,” Roque said.
He issued the statement after
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F.
Piñol on Monday urged the Neda to look into the possibility of raising the
government’s palay-buying price.
Economic managers, including the
heads of the Neda, Department of Finance and Central Bank, who are part of the
NFAC, earlier thumbed down the hike in support price, as it would open the
floodgate for inflation on all commodities, Evasco said in a news
briefing on Monday.
briefing on Monday.
He also announced during the
briefing that the NFAC is pushing through with the NFA’s purchase of 250,000
metric tons of imported rice via the “government-to-private”
scheme. The volume is set to arrive in the country by June, after the rice-harvest
reason. Evasco said the government ensured that the timing of the arrival of
imports would not coincide with the harvest season, as this could cause
farm-gate prices to fall drastically.
The NFA said it was unable to
meet its paddy-procurement target last year as traders bought rice from local
farmers at P18 to P20 per kg, higher than its buying price of P17 per kg.
The food agency earlier asked the
NFAC to increase the NFA’s support price to P22 per kg.
Supply probe
PARTY-LIST Rep. Jose Panganiban
Jr. of Anac-IP Partylist, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and
Food, said the panel will start next week its investigation on the alleged
shortfall in the buffer stock of the NFA.
Panganiban told reporters in a
news briefing that there is a need to immediately address the situation to
stabilize the price of commercial rice.
The lawmaker is one of the
authors of the resolution calling for the investigation into the country’s rice
inventory and the buffer stock of the NFA.
“In recent report, the NFA admitted
that there were only 65,200 metric tons of NFA rice, which would only last
for two days due to relief operations for victims of unrest and typhoon
last year,” the lawmaker said.
Panganiban also joined other
lawmakers in urging the NFAC to raise the government’s palay-buying price to
P20 per kg, from the current P17 per kg. Earlier, Rep. Roger G. Mercado of the
Lone District of Southern Leyte also asked the NFA to raise its buying price
for palay to as much as P25 per kg.
Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao of
Anakpawis has also filed a resolution calling for the increase in procurement
of local palay, instead of importing rice from other countries.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/palace-backs-nfac-call-to-review-rice-buying-price/
Price of Rice Unchanged Despite President Weah’s Intervention
Monrovia -
Rice prices remain the same despite President George Weah’s recent intervention
and that rice importers have responded to his request to reduce the price of
Liberia’s staple food.
Report by Al-Varney Rogers al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.com
President
Weah said: “If government-imposed tax is an issue, you can rest assured that my
government is more than ready to grant reasonable adjustments in the tax regime
to make the reduction of rice price possible.”
Many are
now wondering whether the Pre
sident’s statement is a mere bluff or just another political
statement.
Kebeh
Mulbah, a mother of four, who purchase rice by cup (retail), said the price
hasn’t changed from the day of the announcement. She stressed that
dealers are still selling rice at the same prices.
Those
who are unable to buy 25kg bag of rice, daily purchase rice by cup to feed
their family.
Mulbah
said she was filled with excitement when news broke that the President had
reduced the country’s stable food.
“We were
happy when the President said the rice price will reduce but since that time,
rice price is still the same,” Madam Mulbah said.
“I don’t
know why the business people are refusing to obey the President’s mandate,
Liberian people like hard hand, if this were (Former President) Taylor, who had
said it, the next day the price would have dropped to that price that he
wants.”
A shop
owner Leroy Kollie said, from the day it was announced that the price of rice
has reduced, he is constantly confronted with tons of questions from customers
why the price of rice hasn’t change.
“We sell
base on how we buy; if the importers drop the rice price, we do not need any
announcement we will drop the price of rice,” Kollie said.
Kollie
further stated that the President’s statement is not backed by action adding
that the importers are still selling at the same rate.
Kollie
also claimed that continual increase in exchange rate is also responsible that
the price of rice is still the same.
“Most of
our customers buy from in Liberian dollars and we buy from the importers in
United States dollars,” Mulbah said.
President
Weah said rice importers have reduced the price of a 25kg bag by US$2 while the
price of a 50kg bag is reduced by US$4.
According
to an Executive Mansion release, the purported reduction had come as a result
of increased pressure on rice importers by President Weah, who believed it is
intolerable for the price of the national staple, to continue to increase
amidst the high cost of living in the country.
A
student of Economics, Darlington Johnson, said President Weah should have
commissioned a study before announcing the reduction in the price of rice.
“There
President should have allowed his economic management team to do a study before
pronouncing the reduction of price."
"It
is not just about asking people to reduce rice price, but the sustainability of
the reduction. Rice and petroleum are the fastest selling commodities and the
government depends on those commodities to generate millions to support its
budget,” Johnson said.
He
further stated that the government should provide better incentive for the
importers in order for the reduction to be effective.
“So you
need to look at all the indicators; the next thing is, what incentive is the
government providing those business people to warrant the reduction, if the
government forces the reduction we will experience artificial shortage, the
government is under obligation to provide an enabling environment for
businesses and also to protect the interest of the Liberian people,” Johnson
added.
During
the meeting with rice importers, President Weah reiterated his determination to
ensure that something was immediately done to reduce the price and make it
affordable and available to averaged Liberians.
At the
end of the negotiations, officials of the Association of Liberian Rice
Importers consented to effect a reduction of the price.
The
Association of Rice Importers headed by their Chairman John Bestman, agreed to
reduce the price of the 25Kg bag of rice by US $2 while the price of 50kg bag
of rice will be reduced by US $4 with immediate effect.
President
Weah had earlier proposed a reduction of US$3 but due to some constraints
proffered by rice moguls, it was agreed that the US$3 reduction from the cost
of a 25kg bag of rice would not be possible immediately, but that it could
still be possible in the future once a few challenges facing the rice market
were addressed and the modalities worked out.
Golden Rice: The GMO crop
Greenpeace hates and humanitarians love
Paul McDivitt | Genetic Literacy Project | February 13, 2018
Golden Rice is back in the news.
The Philippines and Bangladesh are moving closer towards commercialization of the GMO food
crop to combat vitamin A deficiency, a serious public health issue in Asia.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the countries’ joint
food safety regulator, recently recommended Golden Rice be approved for import sale in order to limit
trade disruptions with countries in Asia that adopt Golden Rice.
But not everyone is supportive.
Anti-GMO group GE-Free New Zealand launched a campaign calling on the country’s
minister for food safety to review FSANZ’s draft recommendation. The group
echoes many of the worries about Golden Rice that environmental
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), led by Greenpeace, have been promoting for years.
"'Golden' rice is a proposed but not practically viable
crop solution that has never been brought to market," Greenpeace
International declares on its
website. "It is also environmentally irresponsible and could compromise
food, nutrition and financial security."
“We/I believe there is not enough safety information provided for
me as a parent, consumer to safely feed my family this food,”GE Free NZ’s “Call to Action” letter
template reads. “There is no advantage to the
consumer, but there could be unknown risks to public health.”
Claire Bleakley, the group's president, also questioned Golden
Rice’s effectiveness in combating vitamin A deficiency.
“A person would have to eat 4 kg [8.8 pounds] of cooked rice,
(assuming it was fully absorbed and eaten immediately after harvest with
minimal cooking) to get the same level of vitamin A that one medium carrot or 1
tsp. parsley would provide," she said.
With claims about Golden Rice’s effectiveness and impact on human
health and the environment swirling, here are answers to some frequently asked
questions about the controversial crop:
What is Golden Rice?
Golden Rice is conventional rice that has been genetically
engineered to have high levels of beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A.
Beta-carotene is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables (it's what makes
carrots orange), but rice, which can make up to 80 percent of the daily diet in
Asia, contains few micronutrients.
Recognizing the need to improve upon their breakthrough discovery,
the scientists licensed their intellectual property to Syngenta on the condition that it would
be made available to farmers in the developing world for free. The
company developed an improved Golden Rice
variety with much higher levels of beta-carotene in 2005 and decided not to
commercialize it in the developed world as there was no market for it. Syngenta
continues to support the project with advice and scientific know-how, but has
no commercial control over it.
The current version of Golden Rice has two transgenes, or genes
from another species. One is from corn and the other comes from a
commonly-ingested soil bacterium. These two genes activate rice’s metabolic
carotenoid pathway, which produces beta-carotene.
Contrary to popular perception, Golden Rice is not a single rice
variety. The nutritional traits that were originally inserted in rice plants
using genetic engineering have been crossed with many local rice varieties via
conventional breeding. This means that farmers in the Philippines, Bangladesh,
India, Indonesia and Vietnam can maintain the advantages of the cultivars
they’ve been growing, improving via conventional methods and eating for years.
How big of a problem is vitamin A
deficiency?
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is one of the most important issues in
terms of global public health, according to the World Health Organization. It is a leading cause of childhood blindness in the developing
world, and weakens the immune system, increasing vulnerability to illnesses
such as measles, respiratory infections and diarrhea, often leading to death.
The condition affects more than 140 million pre-school children in
118 nations, and more than seven million pregnant women. UNICEF estimates that
1.15 million child deaths are precipitated by vitamin A deficiency each year.
Click image to enlarge (Source: VIB)
In the Philippines, vitamin A deficiency affects around 4.4
million children between the age of six months and five years. In addition, one
in ten pregnant women in the country suffers from vitamin A deficiency.
In Bangladesh, one in five children between the age of six months
and five years are affected by vitamin A deficiency.
Of the estimated 190 million children globally suffering from
vitamin A deficiency, 78 million are in India. Research has shown that Golden
Rice has the potential to decrease vitamin A deficiency by 60 percent in the
country and prevent 40,000 deaths per year.
Will Golden Rice be effective at
combating vitamin A deficiency?
Ian Godwin, a professor of plant molecular genetics at the
University of Queensland in Australia, told me his review of the academic
literature contradicts claims by Greenpeace and GE Free NZ’s that the latest
generation of Golden Rice is a failure.
"GE Free NZ is relying on old data based on the original
Golden Rice variety from the 1990s,” Godwin said. “The new variety produces up
to 23 times more beta-carotene than the original."
According to a 2009 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the
improved Golden Rice strain, now being tested in the Philippines and
Bangladesh, is as effective as vitamin A capsules, which are difficult to
distribute on a sustained basis, and works better than the natural
beta-carotene found in spinach.
“Daily consumption of a very modest amount of Golden Rice—about a
cup—could supply 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A for
an adult,” said rice breeder Russell Reinke, who leads the Healthier Rice Program at the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI), the organization that has been conducting field
trials in the Philippines. “Ms. Bleakley’s statement is inaccurate and
unsubstantiated.”
Golden Rice is meant to complement, not replace, other efforts to
address VAD, according to the IRRI. Its goal in the Philippines is to supply
30-50 percent of the estimated average requirements for vitamin A for preschool
age children and pregnant or lactating mothers, with vitamin A supplements and
diet diversification providing the rest.
Supplementation requires substantial and consistent funding in
order to distribute the capsules to those who need them when they need them.
While many foods contain beta-carotene, they can be expensive to buy and
difficult to grow in regions where VAD is an issue. Rice is a staple crop in
many countries in South and Southeast Asia, and is widely grown by smallholder
farmers. Thus Golden Rice could be a cheap, wide-reaching, sustainable approach
to fighting VAD.
Will corporations control Golden
Rice and charge farmers to use it?
Because the two academic scientists who developed the original
Golden Rice stipulated that it be made available to poor farmers for free,
Syngenta, or any other corporation, does not own the intellectual property in
developing countries and therefore cannot charge royalties. According to IRRI,
the terms of the licenses in place in the Philippines and elsewhere ensure that
Golden Rice varieties will cost no more than their conventional equivalents.
This means that farmers will be able to save and replant Golden Rice seeds.
Syngenta could in the future choose to commercialize Golden Rice
in developed countries, likely as a substitute for vitamin A pills.
Why is Golden Rice still not
available for distribution or on the market?
Genetically engineered crops take longer than conventional crops
to reach consumers for a variety of reasons. First, crop genetic engineering is
a relatively new and complex technology, and therefore demands substantial time
and money. Second, all countries that allow GMO crops have strict regulations
governing their use, and require lots of testing, including field trials, which
are time-consuming and expensive. Conventional crops are not subject to any of
these requirements. The average time it takes for a new biotechnology crop to
reach the market (starting from its initial discovery) is 13 years,
according to a 2011 industry survey.
"The development of Golden Rice is on pace with this
timeframe," according to IRRI officials. "In 2006, IRRI and its partners began working with a new
version of the Golden Rice trait that produces significantly more beta-carotene
than the 1999 prototype, and it is this version of Golden Rice that is still
under development and evaluation.”
However, Golden Rice has hit bumps along the way, including
problems integrating the nutritional traits with local varieties. See the
question below, “Does Golden Rice have the same yields as conventional rice?”,
for more on this issue.
Does Golden Rice have the same
yields as conventional rice?
In 2014, IRRI reported that field trials revealed the most
advanced version of Golden Rice at that time, GR2R, showed a lower yield
compared to its conventional equivalent. This only became apparent when the
crop was exposed to wind and rain in open, multilocation field trials (MLTs).
Results showed that while the target level of beta-carotene in the grain was
attained, the average yield was lower than that of comparable local varieties
preferred by farmers.
To remedy this, IRRI initiated new breeding programs in 2014 to
develop high-yielding versions of Golden Rice.
Results from confined field trials (CFTs), which took place from
October 2014 to July 2017, showed no unintended effects of the GR2E variety on
agronomic performance, yield, and grain quality. Moreover, there were no
observed differences in pest and disease reactions. Except for the intended
production of beta-carotene, all other nutritional components of the rice were
the same as conventional varieties.
IRRI’s GR2E variety is currently undergoing MLTs to confirm the
results from the CFTs.
Does Golden Rice pose health
risks to consumers?
Before being approved, all genetically engineered crops are
subject to rigorous testing and stringent food safety regulations by the
countries reviewing them. There has been no study suggesting any health issues
related to the consumption of vitamin-enhanced genetically engineered rice.
“There is no reasonable argument that would support any public
health, human toxicological or any other adverse effect in respect of
carotenoids,” the Golden Rice Humanitarian Board writes, in reference to the beta-carotene produced by Golden
Rice. “Indeed, carotenoids are more generally associated with imparting
important health benefits.”
Could Golden Rice be bad for the
environment or “contaminate” non-GMO rice?
According to a report by VIB, a life sciences research institute in Belgium,
Golden Rice’s potential to cross-pollinate other rice varieties has been
studied and found to be limited, because rice is typically
self-pollinated.
Many plants produce beta-carotene, and their ability to do so
doesn’t provide a competitive advantage, or disadvantage, that could affect the
survival of wild varieties should cross-pollination occur. Research at IRRI and
elsewhere has demonstrated that the chance of “gene flow” is very low because
rice is self-pollinating and rice pollen is only viable for 3-5 minutes. Preventative
measures such as staggered flowering dates and observing recommended distances
to other rice fields could further limit this risk.
Who is opposed to Golden Rice?
A variety of environmental and public safety groups and activists
oppose Golden Rice because it is genetically modified.
Soon after the Golden Rice prototype was announced, influential
food author Michael Pollan wrote an article in the New York Times
Magazine criticizing Golden Rice as a kind of Trojan horse––a way for agricultural
biotechnology companies to “win an argument rather than solve a public-health
problem.” He and other critics of biotechnology have aggressively promoted many
of the criticisms voiced by Greenpeace and other anti-GMO activist groups.
Greenpeace has been especially vocal in its opposition to Golden
Rice, issuing reports, organizing protests, and working to sow public doubt and
fear in
developing and developed countries. The group claims that Golden Rice is not a “practically viable crop
solution,” is “environmentally irresponsible,” and could “compromise food,
nutrition and financial security.” Similar to Pollan, Greenpeace has also
promoted the argument that Golden Rice is a Trojan horse aimed at paving the
way for multinational corporations to deceptively hook developing countries on
genetically engineered crops.
Several groups in developed and developing countries have adopted Greenpeace’s arguments against Golden
Rice.
In August 2013, 400 protesters smashed down the fences surrounding an IRRI field trial of Golden Rice in the
Philippines and uprooted the rice plants.
Who supports Golden Rice?
Golden Rice has the support of the vast majority of scientists
with and without expertise in agricultural biotechnology. In June of 2016, a
group of 110 Nobel laureate scientists penned a letter criticizing Greenpeace
for its campaign against GMOs, specifically its effort to block Golden Rice.
The letter states:
We urge Greenpeace and its supporters to re-examine the experience
of farmers and consumers worldwide with crops and foods improved through
biotechnology, recognize the findings of authoritative scientific bodies and
regulatory agencies, and abandon their campaign against 'GMOs' in general and
Golden Rice in particular.
The list has since grown to 129 Nobel laureates.
The Golden Rice project has received funding and support at
various stages from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, the European Union, the US Agency for International Development and
various other humanitarian groups.
Band-aid solution to shortage, critics say of rice imports
·
Duterte told to focus on boosting
local production instead
MANILA, Philippines – Various
rice-watch groups and a lawmaker have denounced President Rodrigo Duterte’s
administration for allowing the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice
as the supply of government-subsidized rice dwindled in the past weeks.
In a press conference on Monday,
February 12, Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo lamented how Duterte
chose to depend on importation instead of increasing the local palay production
and boosting the National Food Authority’s (NFA) local palay procurement.
“Ensuring the country’s food
security is the state’s responsibility to its people. However, instead of
increasing local palay production and boosting NFA’s local palay procurement,
Duterte, like his predecessors chose to depend on importation without a second
thought,” Estavillo said.
NFA spokesperson Rebecca Olarte
earlier bared that NFA’s buffer stock of about 64,000 MT at the end of January
was at its “lowest monthly holding in 10 years.”
But on Monday, the NFA Council
green-lighted the importation of 250,000 MT of rice in a bid to ensure rice
availability and stabilize rice stock in the country.
For her part, Amihan (National
Federation of Peasant Women) Chairperson Zen Soriano said the rice price hike
had already taken its toll on peasant families.
“Most farmers earn barely enough
due to the high cost of production. Almost every peso spent in rice production
as well as the family’s basic needs are from lending and microfinancing
institutions,” Soriano said.
“Peasant women are forced to
borrow money from such institutions; many depend on two or three of those just
to meet the needs of their families. Ang kababaihang magbubukid, nagungutang
para may ipambayad ng utang. Ang mga magsasaka nagiging magsasako na lang
pagkatapos ng anihan sa dami ng binabayaran,” she added.
Soriano stressed that importation
would not solve but would only make the crisis of the local rice industry
worse, especially that imported rice arrives in the country in time for the
harvest season.
She said the government is
willing to spend billions for private traders but not for its local farmers who
have long been calling to uphold the mandate of the NFA.
‘Band-aid solution’
AGHAM-Advocates of Science and
Technology for the People, meanwhile slammed the Duterte administration’s move
as a mere “band-aid” solution to the NFA rice shortage.
The group said the
recently-approved importation will be on top of the 325,000 MT of imports under
the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) scheduled to arrive this month.
“Rice importation will not
resolve the chronic crisis of food insecurity because the global rice market is
volatile. We are not assured of its availability and its price in the market,”
it said.
The group pointed out that a
genuine agrarian reform law, and the development of the local rice industry are
the true solutions to the country’s perennial problem on food security and
self-sufficiency.
Inquiry launched
Last week, Anakpawis party-list
Rep. Ariel Casilao filed House Resolution 1676, which called for an
investigation into the reported NFA rice shortage in the country.
Casilao echoed the sentiments of
progressive groups, saying the Duterte government should prioritize the
procurement of palay of local producers and act on HB 555 or the Genuine
Agrarian Reform Bill.
“We have four million hectares of
agricultural lands, if it utilized mainly for food production, especially
palay, we don’t need to import rice,” Casilao said. (davaotoday.com)
Rice Leadership Development Class Graduates
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Rice Leadership
Development Program's Class of 2016-18 graduated from the prestigious program
during a special ceremony at the USA Rice Federation's 2018 Government Affairs
Conference yesterday. Rice Foundation Chairman Charley Mathews and USA
Rice Chairman Brian King presided over the ceremony, congratulating the
graduates and thanking program sponsors, John Deere, RiceTec, Inc., and American
Commodity Company.
The class is made up of five rice producers: Michael Bosworth, Olivehurst, CA; Imran Khan, Chico, CA; Allen McLain, Abbeville, LA; Sidney Robnett, Stuttgart, AR; and Brandon Truax, Gillett, AR; and two industry-related members: Sunny Bottoms with Horizon Ag, and Kristopher Riggs with Anheuser-Busch.
Sidney Robnett served as class spokesperson. He expressed his appreciation to the many people the class met and the staggering amount of information the class was exposed to "by some of the greatest minds within the U.S. rice industry."
Robnett concluded his commencement speech with encouraging words for his fellow classmates. "I believe this class has prepared each one of us to take up the role of future leaders; to help in whatever role necessary to ensure that USA Rice has a bright and prosperous future. A future that we can be proud of for our kids and grandkids."
The class was immediately put to work representing the rice industry during the conference, participating in multiple meetings with Members of Congress, staff from key Congressional Committees, and agency representatives.
They also met with officials at CropLife America to discuss the responsible use of environmentally sound crop protection products, and got a lesson in the intricacies of the pesticide registration process at the Environmental Protection Agency.
While in Washington, the group is also scheduled to meet Ambassador Camilo Reyes of the Colombian Embassy to discuss the remarkable success of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement that allowed Colombia to become one of the top fifteen U.S. export markets, as well as attend the USA Rice World Market Price Subcommittee meetings.
The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication training. During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills.
If you have interest in applying for the 2019 Rice Leadership Development Program, contact Steve Linscombe at slinscombe@usarice.com
The class is made up of five rice producers: Michael Bosworth, Olivehurst, CA; Imran Khan, Chico, CA; Allen McLain, Abbeville, LA; Sidney Robnett, Stuttgart, AR; and Brandon Truax, Gillett, AR; and two industry-related members: Sunny Bottoms with Horizon Ag, and Kristopher Riggs with Anheuser-Busch.
Sidney Robnett served as class spokesperson. He expressed his appreciation to the many people the class met and the staggering amount of information the class was exposed to "by some of the greatest minds within the U.S. rice industry."
Robnett concluded his commencement speech with encouraging words for his fellow classmates. "I believe this class has prepared each one of us to take up the role of future leaders; to help in whatever role necessary to ensure that USA Rice has a bright and prosperous future. A future that we can be proud of for our kids and grandkids."
The class was immediately put to work representing the rice industry during the conference, participating in multiple meetings with Members of Congress, staff from key Congressional Committees, and agency representatives.
They also met with officials at CropLife America to discuss the responsible use of environmentally sound crop protection products, and got a lesson in the intricacies of the pesticide registration process at the Environmental Protection Agency.
While in Washington, the group is also scheduled to meet Ambassador Camilo Reyes of the Colombian Embassy to discuss the remarkable success of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement that allowed Colombia to become one of the top fifteen U.S. export markets, as well as attend the USA Rice World Market Price Subcommittee meetings.
The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication training. During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills.
If you have interest in applying for the 2019 Rice Leadership Development Program, contact Steve Linscombe at slinscombe@usarice.com
NFA set to import 250,000 MT of rice
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:50 AM February 13,
2018
The National
Food Authority (NFA) Council yesterday approved the importation of 250,000
metric tons of rice to replenish the NFA buffer stock that is used in part to
help stabilize rice prices, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr said.
Evasco,
chair of the NFA Council, said the council met yesterday morning and approved
the rice importation, mainly from Vietnam and Thailand.
“The standby
authority to import 250,000 metric tons is approved considering the importation
should arrive after the harvest or the first week of June,” Evasco said in a
press conference.
“We assure
the public there is no rice shortage. This importation is for the NFA’s buffer
stock,” he added.
The NFA
Council, with representatives from agencies like Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,
the National Economic Development Authority and the Department of Finance, must
approve all plans to import rice.
Evasco also
noted that President Duterte had given a verbal order approving the importation
of the 250,000 metric tons of rice.
To ensure
that the importation process will be “more inclusive and transparent,” Evasco
said the mode of importation would be “government to private importation or
open tender procurement.”
NFA
management earlier asked that it be allowed to use its standby authority to
import 250,000 metric tons of rice as its buffer stock of rice was down to only
64,000 metric tons, or good only for two days, when the agency is required to
maintain 15 days worth of rice supply at any given time.
“We’ll be
expecting El Niño. We’ll be expecting typhoons to come but the stock is down
when the Ledac (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) issued a
resolution that the buffer stock should be 15 days during harvest and 30 days
during low season,” he said.
Evasco said
the country had no rice shortage, as 3.8 million metrics ton of rice or
equivalent to 121 days of rice supply were available.
He added
that the NFA council also discussed hiking the NFA’s buying price of P17 per
kilo for clean and dry palay but the BSP, NEDA Board, and the DOF objected as
this would be inflationary, or would cause prices of basic commodities to
increase.
https://business.inquirer.net/245888/nfa-set-import-250000-mt-rice
State moving in right direction to be
self-sufficient in rice’
February 13, 2018, Tuesday
Sagah (fourth left) and Nogeh
(second left) listen to a briefing by a Mardi officer on the MRQ 98 rice.KUCHING:
The state government is moving in the right direction by emphasising
large-scale rice production to achieve self-sufficiency.
In stating this, Assistant Minister
of Native Land Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the government is
now vigorously putting in money to develop all areas in Sarawak which are
suitable for paddy planting.He noted that to date there are 66 irrigation schemes in the state, which include Skuduk Chupak (236 hectares), Tg Bijat (1,060 hectares), Daro in Mukah (1,575 hectares) and Asajaya in Samarahan (850 hectares).
He said there were also small irrigation schemes for wet paddy planting, which include the ones at Tanjung Purun (90 hectares), Sebubok Engkala (114 hectares) and Tanjung Seduru (58 hectares).
Sagah said all these irrigation schemes were implemented to increase paddy production and the income of farmers in the state.
“Now, we don’t have enough rice for local consumption yet, but we are hoping that we have enough. That is why we have a programme to get all the identified areas fully planted with paddy so that we can achieve at least a self-sufficiency level.
“Of course our target is to achieve export level, which is much better,” he told a press conference after the declaration of MRQ 98 or Mardi Warna 98 as a new paddy variety by the Malaysian Agriculture Research Development Institute (Mardi) at Kampung Plaman Payang, Serian yesterday.
Sagah said Sarawak needs to increase its self-sufficiency of rice and eventually, for export.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Datuk Anthony Nogeh, who accompanied Sagah, urged Mardi to do more research and produce more new varieties especially those that mature very fast so farmers in Sarawak can go for at least two-cycle cultivation per year.
“I want Mardi to produce more varieties that can increase the quantity. If the yield is high, we are also helping to increase the income of our farmers. That is important,” he said.
https://www.theborneopost.com/2018/02/13/state-moving-in-right-direction-to-be-self-sufficient-in-rice/
Published on Feb 11, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CMttAwPMnQ&feature=youtu.beGovt okays rice imports after harvest season
TRADERS may have to open their warehouses for inspection and face charges of
economic sabotage if they are found hoarding rice, Secretary to the Cabinet
Leoncio Evasco Jr. said on Monday, as he announced the National Food Authority
(NFA) Council’s approval of the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of
rice.
In a news conference in Malacañang,
Evasco, chairman of the NFA Council, instructed the NFA to “proactively
monitor” and inspect warehouses of “private traders” and called for the
prosecution of those found hoarding stocks of the staple.
“Criminal offense talaga `yan pag
mag-hoarding ka (Hoarding is really a criminal offense). That’s economic
sabotage. Can you sleep at night when a lot people don’t have anything to buy
and yet you’re hoarding and keeping so much?” Evasco said.
“There is really a need to be very,
very proactive on the part of NFA to look into the bodegas, warehouses managed
and run by private traders, kasi tinatago (because they might be hoarding
[rice])…(The NFA) should monitor kasi part iyan ng trabaho nila (because that’s
part of their job). If they (rice traders) are found to be hoarding, [we
will]prosecute, arrest [them],” he added.
Evasco issued the warning amid reports of a looming rice shortage
because of the dwindling supply of government-subsidized rice in the country.
Evasco said the NFA Council, in a
meeting held earlier Monday, agreed to approve the standby authority to import
250,000 metric tons.
This, he said, after President
Rodrigo Duterte gave him a “verbal” instruction to activate the standby
authority subject to the NFA Council’s “assessment on timing and mode of
procurement.”
Evasco said the importation would
be done after the harvest season. The government projects production of 4.9
million metric tons of palay, equivalent to 3.6 million metric tons of milled
rice.
“The standby authority to import
250,000 MT is approved and considering the timing of the harvest season, the
importation should arrive after the said harvest season, first week of June,”
he said.
To ensure that importation is
“inclusive, open and transparent,” he said the NFA Council chose the method of
government-to-private (G2P) importation or open tender based on the same terms
of reference in the 2017 G2P procurement.
G2P importation is when the government
buys imported rice from private importers who use permits under the minimum
access volume (MAV) scheme to import rice. The NFA Council last year introduced
guidelines to the scheme to ensure it is not abused.
But Evasco was quick to clarify
that there was no rice shortage, especially in the stock of
government-subsidized rice.
“We assure the public that there is
no rice shortage and this importation is only as to NFA’s buffer stock. In this
manner, the NFA Council has issued a directive on the reassessment of the
inventory of the NFA, including its procurement and distribution strategies,”
Evasco said. http://www.manilatimes.net/govt-okays-rice-imports-harvest-season/379790/
LCCI vows to enhance Pakistan’s share of
Malaysian imports
Earlier this week, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (LCCI) President Malik Tahir Javaid expressed a resolve to make all
out efforts to enhance Pakistan’s share in Malaysian imports of 163.4 billion.
Malik was speaking at a dinner hosted by the Pakistani High Commissioner in
Malaysia, Nafees Zakaria, in honour of the LCCI delegation arriving in Malaysia
after a very successful visit to Indonesia.
Pakistan and Malaysia have had close and cordial relations since long and this relationship is still growing, but this should be reflected more in mutual trade and economic ties, saud Mailk.
Brecorder.com quoted Malik as saying the Pakistan business community was trying its best to make good use of the FTA but it lacked support from by the Ministry of Commerce and especially the commercial section of Pakistan’s High Commission in Malaysia. “We want to acquire a justifiable share in the trade with Malaysia. There is a huge potential of exporting Pakistani rice, fresh fruits like citrus and mango to Malaysia.”
Pakistan and Malaysia have had close and cordial relations since long and this relationship is still growing, but this should be reflected more in mutual trade and economic ties, saud Mailk.
Brecorder.com quoted Malik as saying the Pakistan business community was trying its best to make good use of the FTA but it lacked support from by the Ministry of Commerce and especially the commercial section of Pakistan’s High Commission in Malaysia. “We want to acquire a justifiable share in the trade with Malaysia. There is a huge potential of exporting Pakistani rice, fresh fruits like citrus and mango to Malaysia.”
Govt okays rice imports after harvest season
TRADERS may have to open their warehouses for inspection
and face charges of economic sabotage if they are found hoarding rice,
Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. said on Monday, as he announced the
National Food Authority (NFA) Council’s approval of the importation of 250,000
metric tons (MT) of rice.
In a news conference in Malacañang,
Evasco, chairman of the NFA Council, instructed the NFA to “proactively
monitor” and inspect warehouses of “private traders” and called for the
prosecution of those found hoarding stocks of the staple.
“Criminal offense talaga `yan pag
mag-hoarding ka (Hoarding is really a criminal offense). That’s economic
sabotage. Can you sleep at night when a lot people don’t have anything to buy
and yet you’re hoarding and keeping so much?” Evasco said.
“There is really a need to be very,
very proactive on the part of NFA to look into the bodegas, warehouses managed
and run by private traders, kasi tinatago (because they might be hoarding
[rice])…(The NFA) should monitor kasi part iyan ng trabaho nila (because that’s
part of their job). If they (rice traders) are found to be hoarding, [we
will]prosecute, arrest [them],” he added.Evasco issued the warning amid reports
of a looming rice shortage because of the dwindling supply of
government-subsidized rice in the country.
Evasco said the NFA Council, in a
meeting held earlier Monday, agreed to approve the standby authority to import
250,000 metric tons.
This, he said, after President
Rodrigo Duterte gave him a “verbal” instruction to activate the standby
authority subject to the NFA Council’s “assessment on timing and mode of
procurement.”
Evasco said the importation would
be done after the harvest season. The government projects production of 4.9
million metric tons of palay, equivalent to 3.6 million metric tons of milled
rice.
“The standby authority to import
250,000 MT is approved and considering the timing of the harvest season, the
importation should arrive after the said harvest season, first week of June,”
he said.
To ensure that importation is
“inclusive, open and transparent,” he said the NFA Council chose the method of
government-to-private (G2P) importation or open tender based on the same terms
of reference in the 2017 G2P procurement.
G2P importation is when the
government buys imported rice from private importers who use permits under the
minimum access volume (MAV) scheme to import rice. The NFA Council last year
introduced guidelines to the scheme to ensure it is not abused.
But Evasco was quick to clarify
that there was no rice shortage, especially in the stock of government-subsidized
rice.
“We assure the public that there is
no rice shortage and this importation is only as to NFA’s buffer stock. In this
manner, the NFA Council has issued a directive on the reassessment of the
inventory of the NFA, including its procurement and distribution strategies,”
Evasco said.
http://www.manilatimes.net/govt-okays-rice-imports-harvest-season/379790/
State moving in right direction to be
self-sufficient in rice’
Sagah (fourth left) and Nogeh
(second left) listen to a briefing by a Mardi officer on the MRQ 98 rice.KUCHING:
The state government is moving in the right direction by emphasising
large-scale rice production to achieve self-sufficiency.
In stating this, Assistant Minister of Native Land Development
Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the government is now vigorously putting in
money to develop all areas in Sarawak which are suitable for paddy planting.He noted that to date there are 66 irrigation schemes in the state, which include Skuduk Chupak (236 hectares), Tg Bijat (1,060 hectares), Daro in Mukah (1,575 hectares) and Asajaya in Samarahan (850 hectares).
He said there were also small irrigation schemes for wet paddy planting, which include the ones at Tanjung Purun (90 hectares), Sebubok Engkala (114 hectares) and Tanjung Seduru (58 hectares).
Sagah said all these irrigation schemes were implemented to increase paddy production and the income of farmers in the state.
“Now, we don’t have enough rice for local consumption yet, but we are hoping that we have enough. That is why we have a programme to get all the identified areas fully planted with paddy so that we can achieve at least a self-sufficiency level.
“Of course our target is to achieve export level, which is much better,” he told a press conference after the declaration of MRQ 98 or Mardi Warna 98 as a new paddy variety by the Malaysian Agriculture Research Development Institute (Mardi) at Kampung Plaman Payang, Serian yesterday.
Sagah said Sarawak needs to increase its self-sufficiency of rice and eventually, for export.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Datuk Anthony Nogeh, who accompanied Sagah, urged Mardi to do more research and produce more new varieties especially those that mature very fast so farmers in Sarawak can go for at least two-cycle cultivation per year.
“I want Mardi to produce more varieties that can increase the quantity. If the yield is high, we are also helping to increase the income of our farmers. That is important,” he said.
A single gene's mutation makes rice hybrid
possible
Source:
Xinhua| 2018-02-13 13:35:09|Editor: Shi Yinglun
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Japanese scientists have
identified the gene that causes hybrid sterility in rice, a major reproductive
barrier between species.
The findings, published on Monday in Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, are important not only for understanding the evolutionary
biology of speciation, but also for improving crops for food production.
There are only two cultured rice species in the world: an Asian
one and an African one. The African species is tolerant of various abiotic and
biotic stresses such as high temperature, providing a valuable source of genes
that could be useful in rice production.
However, the interspecific reproductive barrier stands in the
way of using the African species in breeding programs with the Asian species.
Plants obtained from hybridizing the two species yield almost no seeds when
they are cultivated. This is known as hybrid sterility.
A Japanese team found that a peptidase-coding gene called SSP
causes the hybrid sterility.
The team then studied the evolutionary pathways of SSP and found
that the gene is present only in the African species and some other wild
species, not in the Asian one, hence leading to the interspecific boundaries.
"Our study shows the interspecific reproductive barrier can
be overcome by a disruption of a single gene. Further research could help
improve breeding programs and enhance rice yields to address food shortages in
growing populations," said Yohei Koide, assistant professor of Hokkaido
University and the paper's lead author.
Gov’t to sell commercial rice to counter effects of NFA rice
lack
February 13, 2018 6:35pm
The Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said that it would set
up outlets where it could sell more affordable commercial rice to counter the
effects of the lack of government-subsidized NFA rice in the markets.
According to a report on Balitanghali by Joseph Morong, the DA
said commercial rice will be sold at these outlets for P38 per kilo.
This developed more than a week after the National Food
Authority (NFA) suspended the
distribution of its subsidized rice to accredited retailers, saying that its
buffer stock was down to two days worth of supply.
Compared to commercial rice at prices ranging from P36 to over
P65 per kilo, NFA rice is more affordable at P27 to P32 per kilo.
The NFA is required to secure at least 15-day buffer stock at
any given time and 30-day buffer stock during lean season.
On Monday, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio "Jun" Evasco Jr.
had ordered the NFA to monitor and inspect warehouses of traders and called for
the prosecution of
those found hoarding stocks of the staple.
"Can you sleep at night when a lot of people don't have
anything to buy and yet you're hoarding, you are keeping so much?" the
Palace official said.
To replenish the buffer stock, the NFA has secured the approval
of President Rodrigo Duterte to import 250,000
metric tons of rice.
In addition, the report said local farmers are expected to
produce 3.6 million metric tonnes this harvest season in June.
"The more rice getting into the market, prices will be
stabilized," Evasco said.
A Senate inquiry on
the NFA's low buffer stock has been set for February 27.
The Palace has warned traders
allegedly hoarding rice in order to justify price increases of being charged
for economic sabotage. —NB, GMA Newshttp://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/643229/gov-t-to-sell-commercial-rice-to-counter-effects-of-nfa-rice-lack/story/
NFA set to import 250,000 MT of rice
Philippine Daily Inquirer /
05:50 AM February 13, 2018
The National
Food Authority (NFA) Council yesterday approved the importation of 250,000
metric tons of rice to replenish the NFA buffer stock that is used in part to
help stabilize rice prices, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr said.
Evasco,
chair of the NFA Council, said the council met yesterday morning and approved
the rice importation, mainly from Vietnam and Thailand.
“The standby
authority to import 250,000 metric tons is approved considering the importation
should arrive after the harvest or the first week of June,” Evasco said in a
press conference.
“We assure
the public there is no rice shortage. This importation is for the NFA’s buffer
stock,” he added.
The NFA
Council, with representatives from agencies like Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,
the National Economic Development Authority and the Department of Finance, must
approve all plans to import rice.
Evasco also
noted that President Duterte had given a verbal order approving the importation
of the 250,000 metric tons of rice.
To ensure
that the importation process will be “more inclusive and transparent,” Evasco
said the mode of importation would be “government to private importation or
open tender procurement.”
NFA
management earlier asked that it be allowed to use its standby authority to
import 250,000 metric tons of rice as its buffer stock of rice was down to only
64,000 metric tons, or good only for two days, when the agency is required to
maintain 15 days worth of rice supply at any given time.
“We’ll be
expecting El Niño. We’ll be expecting typhoons to come but the stock is down
when the Ledac (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) issued a
resolution that the buffer stock should be 15 days during harvest and 30 days
during low season,” he said.
Evasco said
the country had no rice shortage, as 3.8 million metrics ton of rice or
equivalent to 121 days of rice supply were available.
He added
that the NFA council also discussed hiking the NFA’s buying price of P17 per
kilo for clean and dry palay but the BSP, NEDA Board, and the DOF objected as
this would be inflationary, or would cause prices of basic commodities to
increase.
https://business.inquirer.net/245888/nfa-set-import-250000-mt-rice
Agricultural exports grew by 11
percent last year
Sok Chan / Khmer
Times
During the last five years, agricultural exports have grown on
average 7 percent per year, according to the latest report from the Ministry of
Agriculture’s general directorate of agriculture (GDA).
Nearly 24,000 sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificates were
issued last year alone, with agricultural exports reaching 5.13 million tonnes,
including 76 different products.
According to the ministry’s report, exports of agricultural
products grew 11 percent in 2017, with sliced cassava topping the list for most
exported Cambodian commodity, with more than 2.83 million tonnes shipped
abroad.
It was followed by fresh cassava (936,984 tonnes), rice (635,679
tonnes), corn (168,685 tonnes), and cassava starch (76,093 tonnes).
Hean Vanhan, Ministry of Agriculture’s director general, said
the ministry’s focus is on increasing productivity and diversifying crops in
the sector, with the ultimate objective of achieving 10 percent growth in
exports for every product by the end of the year.
He said his department is prioritising research and product
quality while working to increase efficiency and sustainability through
contract farming schemes and adequate land management.
Mr Vanhan also said that the government has successfully
negotiated better SPS terms with Vietnam for the exportation of dragon fruit
and banana, adding that negotiations are ongoing for longan, green orange,
rambutan, wax apple, and jack fruit.
Finally, he commented on a law on plant protection and SPS,
saying that a draft will be ready before the July elections and that it will
provide a boost to the sector by ramping up the competitiveness of local crops.
“The draft law on plant protection and SPS will allow the
ministry’s SPS officers to check agricultural imports and exports at the
border,” Mr Vanhan said.
The ministry’s Secretary of State, Ty Sokun, said the sector has
thrived in the last two years, with yields, exports and prices on the rise, but
added that to continue on this impressive trajectory the country must focus on
improving productivity and finding new markets.
“We should diversify our agriculture production through
knowledge, technology and innovation in order to be http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50108283/agricultural-exports-grew-11-percent-last-year/able
to compete with neighboring countries,” he said.
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Rice basmati slips on muted demand
13 FEBRUARY 2018 Last Updated at 2:56
PM
New Delhi, Feb 13 Prices of rice
basmati drifted lower by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market
today owing to slackened demand.
Wheat also slipped on adequate
stocks position against reduced offtake by flour mills.
Traders said sluggish demand
against sufficient stocks position mainly led to decline in rice basmati
prices.
In the national capital, rice
basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety fell by Rs 100 each to Rs 8,000-8,100 and
Rs 6,700-6,800 per quintal respectively.
Wheat dara (for mills) also
declined by Rs 20 to Rs 1,765-1,770 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed
suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,775-1,780 per 90 kg.
Sooji too shed Rs 20 to Rs
1,030-1,040 per 50 kg.
Following are today's quotations
(in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,080-2,280,
Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,765-1,770 Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,775-1,780,
Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour
mill Rs 955-965 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,030-1,040 (50
kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs
10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common
new Rs 8,000-8,100, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,700-6,800, Permal raw Rs 2,325-2375,
Permal wand Rs 2,375-2,425, Sela Rs 2,800-3,000 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,975-2,025,
Bajra Rs 1,200-1,205, Jowar yellow Rs 1,400-1,450, white Rs 2,800-2,900, Maize
Rs 1,400- 1,405, Barley Rs 1,490-1,500.
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/rice-basmati-slips-on-muted-demand/1252194
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