Analyze This: Climate change could make food less healthy
Levels of nutrients fell as plants breathed in more carbon
dioxide
APR 4, 2018 — 6:30 AM EST
More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may lead to wheat and
other major crops becoming less healthful.
KTTRAINER/PIXABAY (CC0)
As levels of carbon dioxide — CO2 —
in the atmosphere have been rising in recent decades, Earth has been warming.
That’s because as a greenhouse gas, CO2 traps heat in Earth’s
atmosphere. That warming is one symptom of climate change. And it has the
potential to affect food in many ways. Rising temperatures and the changes in
rainfall that it will bring should impact how much and where crops grow. Data
now show that rising levels of CO2 also can affect how
nutritious a crop will be. Some of those data were reported last year in Annual
Review of Public Health. Indeed, it noted that several
studies have come to this conclusion.
Samuel Myers is an environmental
health scientist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. He was part of a
team that has studied the potential effects of climate change on nutrition. In
one 2014 study, his group looked at six major food crops: wheat, rice, field
peas, soybeans, maize (corn) and sorghum. They exposed plants to different
amounts of CO2. Some got levels of between 363 and 386 parts per
million (ppm). Such concentrations were typical at that time. (CO2 levels
have since risen.) Other plants were exposed to more of that greenhouse gas as
they grew — 546 to 586 ppm. Such levels are expected to develop within the next
50 years or so.
After harvesting the plants, the
researchers measured their levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
And plants grown with more CO2 were less nutritious. For
instance, wheat and rice had lower protein levels. They also had less zinc and
iron, as did the peas and soybeans. Some two billion people worldwide
already don’t get enough of these minerals. Most people depend on cereal crops,
such as wheat and rice, to meet their dietary needs for both zinc and iron. If
crop levels of such nutrients fall, people may face an even greater risk of
falling ill.
People who substitute sugars and
starches for protein face a greater risk of high blood pressure and heart
disease, U.S. studies have shown.
Scientists don’t yet know why CO2 impacts
levels of these nutrients. But the new findings suggest scientists may want to
try breeding new varieties of crops that are less affected by CO2.
That way people will still get the most benefits from their greens and grains.
Crops grown in test plots and exposed to extra CO2 showed
changes in their nutrient levels. Wheat, rice and soybeans all had less zinc,
iron and protein when exposed to more of the greenhouse gas.
Source: S.S. Myers et al/Nature 2014
Data Dive:
Analyze the graph and answer the
questions below:
1. A scatter plot is a set of data points plotted along
vertical and horizontal axes. Does this graph count as a scatter plot? Why or
why not? What is another type of graph that could be used to display these
data? Explain your answers.
2. Analyze the variables represented on the x-axis
and y-axis in the graph.
o
Name
the dependent and independent variables.
o
What
do the negative numbers on the y-axis represent?
o
How
much higher were zinc levels in wheat exposed to elevated CO2 levels?
What is the approximate percent change in zinc content for wheat? What is the
difference in protein between plants that were exposed to normal levels of CO2 and
those exposed to elevated levels? What is the approximate percent change in
protein for soybeans?
o
Consider
the data represented on the graph: Why are both positive and negative numbers
included on the y-axis?
o
If
you excluded soybean data from the graph, how could you change the range of
values and the description of the trends seen on the y-axis?
3. The lines above and below each point on the graph are
known as error bars. Because no experiment will ever be perfect, an error bar
is a line through a point on a graph which shows the degree of uncertainty or
variation in findings. Error bars help to represent the overall range of data.
The error bars on this graph represent 95 percent confidence intervals. Each
confidence interval covers a range of values. The true value — how much
nutrition is really in the crop — is likely to be within that range. When a
confidence interval is described as “95 percent,” it means that 95 out of
100 times, the data that a scientist collected would fall between the bars. So
the error bars on this graph represent what scientists could expect to find 95
times out of every 100 times that they measured the nutrients
o
In
rice, compare the percent change in zinc, iron and protein between plants grown
in normal and in elevated levels of CO2. For which nutrient are the
error bars on the graph greatest? For which nutrient are they smallest?
o
Imagine
you were to run another trial for the iron and protein levels in rice exposed
to elevated CO2. Would you expect the average values that you
measured to lie between the error bars on the graph for each nutrient? Or would
you expect it to lie outside of the error bars? Explain your answer.
o
What
does each point on the graph represent? Based on the graphed data, what is the
approximate percent change in zinc content for wheat? How about for rice and
soybeans? Can you say with confidence that the percent difference in zinc for
wheat is larger than its percent difference in soybeans? Explain. Can you
confidently say that the percent difference for zinc in wheat is larger than
its percent decrease in rice? Explain.
Analyze This! explores science through data, graphs,
visualizations and more. Have a comment or a suggestion for a future post? Send
an email to sns@sciencenews.org.
Power Words
(for more about Power Words,
click here)
carbon dioxide (or CO2) A colorless,
odorless gas produced by all animals when the oxygen they inhale reacts with
the carbon-rich foods that they’ve eaten. Carbon dioxide also is released when
organic matter burns (including fossil fuels like oil or gas). Carbon dioxide
acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat in Earth’s atmosphere. Plants convert
carbon dioxide into oxygen during photosynthesis, the process they use to make
their own food.
cereal grain A plant in the grass family that
provides an edible seed, which serves as a food staple (such as wheat, barley,
corn, oat and rice).
climate The weather conditions that
typically exist in one area, in general, or over a long period.
climate change Long-term, significant change in
the climate of Earth. It can happen naturally or in response to human
activities, including the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests.
concentration (in chemistry) A measurement of
how much of one substance has been dissolved into another.
confidence interval An estimated range of values —
derived from a set of data — that are likely to contain the real value. This
range is used to understand the amount of uncertainty in a sample of data.
Confidence intervals are usually expressed as a percentage. For example, a 95
percent confidence interval means that in 95 tests out of 100, the result a
scientist obtained would likely fall within that range.
dependent variable A variable that changes during a
scientific experiment based on other factors in the experiment. A researcher
does not control it. For example, a test score is a dependent variable. It
depends on how much someone studied, how difficult the test is and even how
much sleep a student got the night before.
error bar A line (it can be vertical or horizontal)
drawn through a point or a bar on a graph. The distance from one end of
the line to the other represents how precise a measurement is,
or how far the real value of something might fall from the data point reported
in the experiment.
environment The sum of all of the things that
exist around some organism or the process and the condition those things
create. Environment may refer to the weather and ecosystem in which some animal
lives, or, perhaps, the temperature and humidity (or even
the placement of components in some electronics system or product).
greenhouse gas
A gas that contributes to the
greenhouse effect by absorbing heat. Carbon dioxide is one example of a
greenhouse gas.
independent variable A variable that changes during a
scientific experiment but that is not changed by the other variables that are
being measured. It is controlled by the scientist. Note: The independent
variable doesn’t always change. For example, age or sex (male or female) may be
an independent variable.
iron A metallic element that is common
within minerals in Earth’s crust and in its hot core. This metal also is
found in cosmic dust and in many meteorites.
journal (in science) A publication in
which scientists share their research findings with experts (and sometimes even
the public). Some journals publish papers from all fields of science,
technology, engineering and math, while others are specific to a single
subject. The best journals are peer-reviewed: They send all submitted articles
to outside experts to be read and critiqued. The goal, here, is to prevent the
publication of mistakes, fraud or sloppy work.
mean One of several measures of the “average size” of a
data set. Most commonly used is the arithmetic mean, obtained by adding the
data and dividing by the number of data points.
mineral Crystal-forming substances that make
up rock, such as quartz, apatite or various carbonates. Most rocks contain
several different minerals mish-mashed together. A mineral usually is solid and
stable at room temperatures and has a specific formula, or recipe (with atoms
occurring in certain proportions) and a specific crystalline structure (meaning
that its atoms are organized in regular three-dimensional patterns). (in
physiology) The same chemicals that are needed by the body to make and feed
tissues to maintain health.
nutrition (adj. nutritious) The
healthful components (nutrients) in the diet — such as proteins, fats,
vitamins and minerals — that the body uses to grow and to fuel its processes. A
scientist who works in this field is known as a nutritionist.
protein A compound made from one or more
long chains of amino acids. Proteins are an essential part of all living
organisms. They form the basis of living cells, muscle and tissues; they also
do the work inside of cells. Among the better-known, stand-alone proteins are
the hemoglobin (in blood) and the antibodies (also in blood) that attempt
to fight infections. Medicines frequently work by latching onto proteins.
scatter plot (or scatter diagram) A graph in which
values for two variables are plotted as dots along horizontal and vertical
axes.
starch A soft white chemical made by all
green plants. It’s a relatively long molecule made from linking together a lot
of smaller, identical building blocks — all of them glucose, a simple sugar.
Plants and animals use glucose as an energy source. Plants store that glucose,
in the form of starch, as a reserve supply of energy. Animals that consume
starch can break down the starch into glucose molecules to extract the useful
energy.
variable (in math or research) (in
mathematics) A letter used in a mathematical expression that may take on
different values. (in experiments) A factor that can be changed, especially one
allowed to change in a scientific experiment. For instance, when researchers
measure how much insecticide it might take to kill a fly, they might change the
dose or the age at which the insect is exposed. Both the dose and age would be
variables in this experiment.
x axis (in mathematics) The horizontal line at the
bottom of a graph, which can be labeled to give information about what the
graph represents.
y axis (in mathematics) The vertical line to the
left or right of a graph, which can be labeled to give information about what
the graph represents.
zinc A metallic
element that in its pure form is ductile (easily deformed) and that is an
essential micronutrient in plants and animals
How coconut, black seed, rice water, tomato, others promote hair
growth
By Chukwuma
Muanya, Assistant Editor
05 April 2018 |
3:38 am
Are you going bald? Is your hair falling off or turning gray? Not to worry. Scientists have validated rice water, tomato, and a mixture of coconut oil and black seed to promote hair growth. CHUKWUMA MUANYA, Assistant Editor, writes.
Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women. In men, this condition is also known as male-pattern baldness. Hair is lost in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples. Over time, the hairline recedes to form a characteristic “M” shape.
Studies
have shown that baldness or androgenetic alopecia directly distresses
self-confidence affecting the individual’s quality of life and hair loss is
therefore a significant psychosocial manifestation that worth much expense on
treatment.
Although
minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride including other synthetic therapeutic
agents are mostly used for alopecia treatment, their adverse effects encourage
sorting of alternative efficient treatment agent with a limited side effect
particularly herbs.
Earlier
studies had demonstrated how a combination of local herbs including onions,
garlic, guava, Shea butter, Aloe vera, neem oil, olive oil and coconut oil
could provide the next best medicine for hair loss, dandruff, baldness and
premature graying of hair.The use Shea butter, pawpaw (Carica papaya) and polysaccharide
mixture to enhance hair growth and hair restoration for damaged hair had
received a United States (US) patent: US 20050053564 A1.But recent researches
have re-validated the folklore use rice water, tomato, and a mixture of coconut
oil and black seed to promote hair growth.
Coconut
oil and black seed
The Malaysian researchers have demonstrated that a mixture of coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) and black seed (Nigella sativa) is very effective in promoting hair growth.The study published in the International Journal of Ethics in Engineering & Management Education is titled “The effectiveness of coconut oil mixed with herbs to promote hair growth.”
The Malaysian researchers have demonstrated that a mixture of coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) and black seed (Nigella sativa) is very effective in promoting hair growth.The study published in the International Journal of Ethics in Engineering & Management Education is titled “The effectiveness of coconut oil mixed with herbs to promote hair growth.”
The
researchers concluded: “The mixture among coconut oil and Nigella sativa is the
most effective to promote hair growth than others, thus it has potential as
alternative way to be used for hair treatment in the future. Further study is
suggested to identify the effectiveness of coconut oil and olive oil with
Nigella sativa extracts in promoting hair growth.”
According
to the scientists, Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) consists of lauric acid, which
has high affinity and low molecular weight that are able to penetrate into hair
shaft and promote hair growth. They noted: “In this project, the main objective
is to study the potential of coconut oil towards hair growth. In addition, the
coconut oil was mixed with two herbs, Nigella sativa and Aleurites moluccana
(candlenut) to identify their potential in contributing hair growth. Nigella
sativa, that contain high nutrient of linoleic acid (a short chain fatty acid),
are very important in blood circulation. While, Aleurites moluccana is
traditionally used to promote hair growth. In this experiment, 1L of the fresh
coconut milk was heated at 60ºC for 15 minutes and cooled at 4ºC for 24 hours.
The low molecular weight of the substance was separated and mixed with grinned
herbs, Nigella sativa and Aleurites molucana. The mixture was left for 72 hours
to make a homogenous component and then, was filtered two times to get pure
oil.
“The
coconut oil, coconut and Nigella sativa oil, coconut and Aleurites moluccana
oil and coconut with mixed herbs were applied on shaven scalp three times per
day. The three-volunteered respondent was used and the effectiveness of these
solutions was evaluated by measuring the length of hair. Hence, the most
effective solution was coconut oil mixed with Nigella sativa.”
Coconut
oil has been used long time ago to enhance a healthy looking hair. However,
undesirable properties such as strongly odour make less of people using it as a
treatment. The triglyceride component in coconut oil is lauric acid, short
chain fatty acids that has a high affinity and its low molecular weight with a
straight linear chain, make them easily to absorb and is able to penetrate into
hair shaft.
A study
on several types of oil to prevent hair damage, coconut oil is the most
effective oil like sunflower that has those properties, which are able to
penetrate easily.Nigella sativa provides a rich supply of short chain fatty acids.
According to Matthaus and Ozcan, Nigella sativa contains significant
proportions of protein, carbohydrates and essential unsaturated fatty acids,
linoleic acid and gamma linolenic acid (omega3 and 6). These ingredients play a
key role in blood circulation, consequently promotes hair growth. The fatty
acid compositional analysis of the Nigella sativa seeds oil revealed the
content of linoleic acid to be the highest. This chemical can help people which
facing hair loss problem and premature graying.
According
to Kalonji, regular application of black seed oil to the hair scalp and repeat
for one week, the loss of hair will stop completely. It also stops falling of
hair, and gives a new life to dry, damage, dull unmanageable hairs and prevent
premature graying of hair. Nigella sativa also contain short chain of fatty
acid and low molecular weight that able to penetrate into the hair root and
leading to hair growth. It can be explained when the essential oils, that is,
low molecular weight combined with lipophilic, allow them to penetrate into
cell membrane more quickly than other substances.
Rice
bran water
Women in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia have used rice water as a hair treatment for centuries. But does rice water have any scientifically proven beauty benefits?A recent study has demonstrated how rice bran promotes hair growth.The study published in Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin is titled “In vivo hair growth-promoting effect of rice bran extract prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide fluid.”
Women in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia have used rice water as a hair treatment for centuries. But does rice water have any scientifically proven beauty benefits?A recent study has demonstrated how rice bran promotes hair growth.The study published in Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin is titled “In vivo hair growth-promoting effect of rice bran extract prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide fluid.”
The
Korean researchers evaluated the potential hair growth-promoting activity of
rice bran supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) extract (RB-SCE) and major
components of RB-SCE, linoleic acid, policosanol, γ-oryzanol, and
γ-tocotrienol, with the histological morphology and mRNA expression levels of
cell growth factors using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) in C57BL/6 mice.
RB-SCE
showed hair growth promoting potential to a similar extent as three per cent
minoxidil, showing that the hair follicles were induced to be in the anagen
stage. The numbers of the hair follicles were significantly increased. In
addition, mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),
insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) were
also significantly increased and that of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)
decreased in RB-SCE-treated groups.
Among
the major components of RB-SCE, linoleic acid and γ-oryzanol induced the
formation of hair follicles according to examination of histological morphology
and mRNA expression levels of cell growth factors.The researchers concluded:
“In conclusion, our results demonstrate that RB-SCE, particularly linoleic acid
and γ-oryzanol, promotes hair growth and suggests RB-SCE can be applied as hair
loss treatment.”
Rice
water is the starchy water left over after rice is cooked or left to soak. It
is thought to make the hair smooth and shiny, as well as help it grow faster.A
report published in Medical News Today looks at the beauty benefits of rice
water hair treatments and whether scientific research backs up the purported
results. Rice grains contain 75–80 percent starch. Rice water is the starchy
water that remains after soaking or cooking rice.
Rice
water is thought to contain many of the vitamins and minerals contained in
rice. These include: amino acid, B vitamins, vitamin E, minerals, and
antioxidants.According to researchers, women in the Heian period (794 to 1185
CE) in Japan had floor-length hair they kept healthy by bathing it in rice
water.
A
modern-day equivalent of this story can be found in China. The Yao women, who
live in a village called Huangluo in China, are famed for having hair that
averages six feet long.In addition to its incredible length, the Yao women’s
hair is said to keep its color for longer, as they do not begin to get gray
hair until they reach their 80s.
The Yao
women credit the length and color of their hair to the fact they bathe it in
rice water.In recent years, beauty advice websites and product developers have
caught on to this tradition. Now, the rice water trend is spreading.Advocates
of using rice water for hair believe it: detangles the hair; makes hair
smoother; increases shine; makes hair stronger; and helps hair grow long.As the
popularity of using rice water for hair increases, there is growing anecdotal
evidence about its benefits. But are the claims scientifically proven?
At first
glance, a 2010 paper suggests they may be. The authors note that rice water may
reduce surface friction and increase hair elasticity. However, the study relies
on historical examples to draw unsupported conclusions.
Elsewhere,
a research facility in Japan has developed an imaging technique that visualizes
the strengthening effect of inositol on hair. Inositol is contained in rice
water.How to make rice water? There are several different ways to make rice
water; including soaking, washing rice in the sink, and rinsing rice thoroughly
is part of the soaking process.
Soaking
is the quickest way to make rice water.To use this method: take half cup of
uncooked rice, rinse thoroughly, place rice in a bowl with two to three cups of
water, leave to soak for 30 minutes, and strain the rice water into a clean
bowl.Some rice water advocates claim fermented rice water has more benefits
than plain rice water.
According
to a 2012 study, fermented substances have a higher amount of antioxidants.
Antioxidants may combat hair and skin cell damage, which is why they are
typical ingredients in beauty products.To ferment rice water, follow steps one
to four of the soaking method. Before straining, leave the rice water to stand
at room temperature for up to two days, allowing it to ferment. Strain the rice
water into a clean bowl before use.
Another
way to make rice water is by boiling the rice. Cover half cup of rice with
double the water typically used for cooking. Cook the rice in boiling water and
strain the rice water into a clean bowl before use.
How to
use rice water? Rice water can be used in place of a commercial conditioner. To
do this, a person should: wash hair with shampoo; rinse thoroughly with water
from the tap; pour rice water onto their hair; massage the rice water into the
hair and scalp; leave on for up to 20 minutes; and rinse hair thoroughly using
warm water from the tap.
In
addition to its potential beauty benefits for the hair, rice water may also
benefit the skin.A 2002 study found that the starch in rice water helped
damaged skin heal for people with dermatitis.Rinsing hair in rice water is a
traditional beauty treatment popular in many regions in Asia.Many people find
rice water to be a beneficial hair treatment. Historical examples and anecdotal
evidence suggest rice water may improve the strength, texture, and growth of
hair.
Tomato
extract
Also, a recent study published in International Journal of Cosmetic Science has demonstrated the effects of Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) extract on hair growth and alopecia prevention.The researchers evaluated the potential hair growth-promoting activity and the expression of cell growth factors of Lycopersicon esculentum extracts, each three per cent (w/w) of ethyl acetate extract (EAE), and supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) extract (SCE) of L. esculentum and isolated lycopene Tween 80 solution (LTS) and test hair tonic (THT) containing LTS were applied on the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice, once a day for four weeks. At week four, LTS and THT exhibited hair growth-promoting potential similar to that of three per cent minoxidil as a positive control (PC). Further, in the LTS group, a significant increase of mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), keratinocyte growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was observed than PC, as well as the negative control (NC).
Also, a recent study published in International Journal of Cosmetic Science has demonstrated the effects of Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) extract on hair growth and alopecia prevention.The researchers evaluated the potential hair growth-promoting activity and the expression of cell growth factors of Lycopersicon esculentum extracts, each three per cent (w/w) of ethyl acetate extract (EAE), and supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) extract (SCE) of L. esculentum and isolated lycopene Tween 80 solution (LTS) and test hair tonic (THT) containing LTS were applied on the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice, once a day for four weeks. At week four, LTS and THT exhibited hair growth-promoting potential similar to that of three per cent minoxidil as a positive control (PC). Further, in the LTS group, a significant increase of mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), keratinocyte growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was observed than PC, as well as the negative control (NC).
In the
THT group, increases in IGF-1 and decrease in VEGF and transforming growth
factor-β expression were significant over the NC. In a histological examination
in the THT group, the induction of anagen stage of hair follicles was faster
than that of NC. In the Draize skin irritation study for THT, no observable
edema or erythema was observed on all four sectors in the back skin after
exposure for 24 or 72 h for any rabbit.
The
researchers concluded: “Therefore, this study provides reasonable evidence that
L. esculentum extracts promote hair growth and suggests that applications could
be found in hair loss treatments without skin irritation at moderate doses.”
‘Golden rice’ will not address Vitamin A
deficiency, hunger—anti-GMO coalition
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:25 PM April 04,
2018
File photo
The genetically-modified organism (GMO)
known as “golden rice” will not significantly address hunger or Vitamin A
deficiency (VAD) in the country, according to a government agency.
NAPC facilitated the dialogue among a
regional coalition of farmers, consumers, environmental activists and other
related government agencies from different countries in rejecting the impending
commercialization of golden rice in the Philippines.
The groups opposed the use of genetic
modification, which generally meant altering the natural gene pool, until there
are enough studies that could disprove its risks to human safety and
biodiversity.
“There was no comparative studies between
GR2E (golden rice) and other varieties to see if it can lessen Vitamin A
deficiency, the reason why the golden rice variety was made,” NAPC secretariat
Liza Maza said.
Based on reports collated by the agency in
a dialogue with basic sectors, it showed that the controversial crop “poses
health risks and threatens the livelihood of peasant communities.”
According to Cris Panerio, national
coordinator for Magsasaka At Siyentipiko para sa Agrikultura (MASIPAG), there
were neither any comprehensive consultations or convincing preliminary
scientific research that proves that golden rice is safe or that it can
significantly address hunger or VAD.
“Golden rice is fraught with inherent
problems, one of which is the low yield resulting to the disruption of the
native structure of the rice plant,” Panerio said.
Panerio is referring to the recent study
made by scientists from India wherein golden rice produced abnormality and poor
yield performance.
Local farmers are worried that this can
transfer to other rice varieties as well through cross-contamination once the
open field testing is approved by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
To recall, the crop’s initial field testing
in 2013 was turned into a fiasco after farmer groups forced their way into DA’s
experiment plot and uprooted the crops that were being tested.
In a separate statement released by the
SGRN, it pointed out that policy loopholes in the Philippines would allow the
distribution of the GMO here despite “insufficient safety studies.”
The policy indicates that once a GMO has
been circulated abroad and approved by international regulatory bodies, it can
enter the country despite national opposition.
Golden rice was recently approved in
Canada.
Aside from the application to field test
golden rice, the Philippine Rice Research Institute has also applied to feed
test the rice variant here. Details of the said feeding trials are yet to be
disclosed. /jpv
Rice Figures Prominently in Craft Beer
Special to the USA Rice Daily
ARLINGTON, VA -- In late March, the Brewers Association
released its 2018 Beer Style Guidelines, with rice specifically noted as a
typical or recommended ingredient in seven styles: American-style lager and
light lager; American-style amber light lager; American-style pilsener;
contemporary American-style pilsener; international-style pilsener; and
Australasian, Latin American or tropical-style light lager. Wild rice is also
noted as a potential ingredient in the "specialty beer" category.
In the beer world, rice is considered an "adjunct," or a non-malt source of fermentable sugar, and an effective ingredient to boost the alcohol in a beer while keeping it light on the palate. Adjuncts can also be added for flavor and are any items incorporated beyond the core blend of malt, hops, water, and yeast.
"Rice has traditionally been a source of
fermentable sugar. In recent years, it's been employed as part of a flavor
focus," said Andy Sparhawk, the Brewers Association craft beer program web
manager and Style Guidelines committee member. Sparhawk, a Certified Cicerone®
(the industry designation for a beer sommelier), cites Michigan-based Kuhnhenn
Brewing Company's DRIPA (Double Rice India Pale Ale) made with U.S. long grain
rice as a game changer for rice-flavored beers.
Sparhawk noted that rice has been listed as an
ingredient since the Guidelines were created in 1979 to establish an archive
for classical styles and identify evolving ones. He added, "Just because
rice isn't mentioned, doesn't mean it's not included."
The Brewers Association represents more than 4,000
small and independent U.S. brewers and supports the community of brewing
enthusiasts. The Beer Style Guidelines are developed by the Brewers Association
with input from industry experts and beer analyses, and include details on
color; clarity; perceived aroma, flavor, and bitterness; fermentation
characteristics; and body. They serve as a reference for brewers and beer
competitions, including the preeminent World Beer Cup and Great American Beer
Festival.
When it comes to using rice in beer production,
however, there is definitely a "king of beers," namely,
Anheuser-Busch, the largest single buyer of rice in the United States.
USA RICE DAILY
Council
scrambles to beef up rice stock of food agency
April 4, 2018
In
Photo: A man arranges what is left of the rice stockpile of the National Food
Authority in Quezon City. 
The National Food Authority
Council (NFAC) vowed to prevent the total wipeout of the rice stockpile of the
National Food Authority (NFA), which plunged to a four-decade low of 200,000
50-kilogram (kg) bags.
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B.
Evasco Jr., who is also NFAC chairman, said on Wednesday that the rice
stockpile of the state-run food agency, at 10,000 metric tons (MT), is
equivalent to less than a day of the total national daily rice requirement. The
country’s current daily consumption requirement is 32,013 MT, or 640,260 50-kg
bags, according to the NFA.
“We have to proactively think
about it. In fact, I have to meet the council members about this because this
is a new development,” Evasco said in a news briefing on Wednesday. “We will be
asking the police to [determine] whether it is true or not.”
Evasco said he has asked the
Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit of the palay procurement
and rice distribution measures undertaken by the current management of the NFA.
He added that he has ordered his
undersecretaries and assistant secretaries to go to the COA on April 5, to
discuss the timeframe and the details of the special audit. Evasco disclosed
that the meeting between President Duterte and rice traders scheduled on the
same day will push through.
Evasco also disclosed that the
NFAC has thumbed down the NFA’s management proposed amendments to the terms of
reference (TOR) for the importation of 250,000 MT of rice via the
government-to-private scheme for “security reasons.”
He said the NFA management wanted
to allow winning foreign bidders to enter the grains agency’s warehouses. At
present, winning bidders can only deliver the imported rice up to the gate of
NFA warehouses, where NFA employees would check whether the delivery is in
accordance with the TOR.
Evasco disclosed that on April 2,
his office received a communication from the NFA management that the latter
would conduct a referendum among the members of the NFAC to determine if they
agree with the proposed amendment or not.
“We do not want to succumb to
such position because it has security implications. How will we know the new
stocks and old stocks will not be mixed?” he said. “We do not have control over
that. That is why the council members rejected this position.”
Evasco said the rice imports by
the NFA are set to arrive before June, just time for the lean months.
‘Avert rice queues’
Senate President Pro Tempore
Ralph G. Recto raised concerns on Wednesday over the Duterte administration’s
“factionalized rice team,” warning this could cause a spike in the price of
rice he deemed to be a “volatile political commodity.”
Recto prodded Duterte to “whip
his compartmentalized rice team to get their act together because rice is a
volatile political commodity in which the slightest perception of shortage
could shoot prices up and hurt the poor most.”
In a statement, Recto noted a
seeming “policy incoherence” that concerned officials should promptly address.
“There seems to be policy
incoherence. Or at the very least, instead of being on the same page, different
parts of the orchestra are playing different music,” the Senate leader said,
adding: “The President should grab the baton and be the master conductor.”
Recto warned that when the public
gets mixed signals on the status of what they eat, this could trigger market
disruption.
He pointed out, for instance,
that if each household buy an additional 10 kilos of rice, this will had a big
impact on supply, “especially if the buffer is thin.”
The senator added that while
“politically, a nation will tolerate all kinds of queues—MRT, passport… rice
queues must be avoided at all cost.” He, however, promptly clarified that “at
present, there is no need to, because—thanks to our farmers—of the recent
record rice harvests.”
Still, Recto said that despite a
stable national stock, “there is a need to make rice affordable to the poor who
cannot afford expensive fancy varieties.”
He cited statistics indicating
the poorest 30 percent of families spend 70 percent of their income on rice,
adding that “for many of them, 22 centavos for every 1 peso they earn are spent
to buy rice.”
The Senator proposed that in
order to “prove that they’re not forgotten, the government should deploy rolling
rice stores to poor urban areas to show that there’s enough rice.”
Moreover, Recto recommended that
Duterte “should regularly meet the ‘Big Four’ in rice policy—the secretaries of
Agriculture, and Finance, the cabinet secretary who heads the NFA and the NFA
administrator—so that “all the important actors shall speak in one voice, and
move towards one direction.”
“It is not just the NFA,” he
said.
“The big picture is production,
which is the DA’s responsibility. And all aspects of the industry, where government
is involved, whether production, or NFA procurement, needs funding, and the one
who must raise the money is the secretary of finance,” Recto added.
Citing consumers’ penchant for
so-called unli-rice, the senator noted that every Filipino on average eats
about 108 kilos of rice a year. “But our population grows by 1.6 million
annually,” he says adding that 136 Pinoys already consume 14.7 tons of rice
annually.
Procurement: Govt clears transport bar
Apr 5, 2018, 2:07 AM; last updated: Apr 5, 2018, 2:07 AM
(IST)
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 4
The state government has finally been able to
rein in transporters for the ongoing wheat procurement season. Besides bringing
down the rates at which the wheat will be transported from mandis, the
government has also roped in rice millers and labour and construction societies
to lift and transport the procured wheat.
It is for the first time that the government
has capped the transport and cartage rate at 120 per cent of the scheduled
rate. This will make the transport rates on a par with the charges given to the
Food Corporation of India by the Centre. Since the rate of transport given in
Punjab was much higher for the past several years, the state had been bearing
the differential cost. Now, the government will save Rs 175 crore annually.
The Food and Civil Supplies Department on
Wednesday finalised the tendering process of 340 transport clusters (of total
413), while rejecting the bids for 10 clusters. The re-bidding for these 10
clusters and 73 other where no bids were received, will be done on Thursday,
said Anandita Misra, Director, Food and Supplies. She said most tenders
allotted were over 40 per cent to 70 per cent of the scheduled rates.
While 100 per cent tenders had been finalised
for the clusters in Amritsar, Barnala, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Muktsar,
Mohali, Mansa, Pathankot, Rupnagar and SBS Nagar districts, the government was
geared to ensure hassle-free procurement and lifting of wheat. In Mansa and
Sangrur, the rice millers having their own trucks have been allotted contracts
to transport wheat.
This is also for the first time that penalty
clauses have been introduced in the contracts to be signed between labour
contractors and the government to ensure that wages are paid to labourers
through RTGS and provident fund given to them. http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/procurement-govt-clears-transport-bar/568981.html
‘Vanishing’ PDS rice
leaves Hyderabad cops puzzled
Fraudsters
hoodwink police by converting rice into flour before diverting it to the black
market
By Author |
Published: 5th Apr 2018 12:29 am Updated: 5th Apr 2018 12:31 am
Hyderabad: Rice meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the
capital is vanishing into thin air. An intensified crackdown by the police
across Hyderabad, Rachakonda and Cyberabad on large scale diversion of PDS rice
revealed that more rice than what was actually being seized during the
crackdown was diverted, but there was no trace of it at all.
According to officials, with rice
millers getting involved in the scam, fraudsters had found new methods to
hoodwink the police and divert PDS rice.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of
Police, Rachakonda (SOT), Syed Rafeeq, said after stealing PDS rice, the
fraudsters were wiping the rice off records by turning it into flour. “Rice is
the most crucial evidence when it comes to proving the crime of diversion. By
turning rice into flour, our job gets tough because the evidence itself is
changed,” he said.
More than the PDS rice, flour has a
huge demand in the black market as it is available for a low price and is used
for popular food items including idli and dosa, he said, adding that even forensic
experts were finding it tough to nail the fraudsters when rice was turned into
flour.
Technical method
However, Scientific Officer and
Head of the CLUES Team (Hyderabad) N Venkanna says adding a harmless chemical
substance to PDS rice at the processing stage itself can resolve the issue. “A
technical method used to authenticate the quality of petrol, whether it has
been adulterated with kerosene, can be used here too. To identify whether
petrol contains kerosene, a blue-colour chemical liquid is added to the sample.
In a similar way, PDS rice can be sold using such precautions so that it can be
found whether the flour was made from PDS rice,” he said.
https://telanganatoday.com/vanishing-pds-rice-leaves-hyderabad-cops-puzzled
2018 Division of Ag contest to find rice, row crop producer who
can get the ‘most crop per drop’
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
April 2, 2018
U of A System Division of Agriculture
April 2, 2018
Fast Facts
· Most Crop per Drop irrigation contest entries due
June 1
· Contest open to rice, corn, soybean growers
· Propeller flow meters must be sealed by Division of
Ag personnel before first irrigation
(487 words)
(Newsrooms: With full rules
posted at www.uaex.edu/irrigation)
(Download this story in MS Word format here.)
(Download this story in MS Word format here.)
STUTTGART, Ark. – Are you the
Arkansas rice, soy or corn producer who can get the most crop per drop? Find
out by entering the 2018 Arkansas Rice and Row Crop Irrigation Yield Contest,
presented by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Only the top entry in each
commodity — one winner each for rice, corn, and soybeans — will receive an
award. A $10,000 cash prize will be the award for the contest winners in
corn and soybeans. The rice winner will be awarded a Ricetec hybrid seed tote
with a retail value of $12,000. Awards will be presented at the Arkansas Soil
and Water Conference in January 2019. The contest prizes have been provided
by Ricetec, the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board and the
Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.
“Arkansas growers are familiar
with yield competitions like soybean’s ‘Grow for the Green,’ but there’s never
been a competition that focuses on maximizing yield by maximizing water use
efficiency,” said Chris Henry, associate professor and water management
engineer for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “We
thought it was time to have a ‘Most Crop per Drop’ contest that would highlight
Arkansas farmers’ efforts to improve sustainability and profitability, which
are paramount to the future of agriculture.”
There’s a $100 contest entry fee
and entries are due by June 1. Entrants will need a portable flow meter to
enter, but can request to borrow one from their Extension office. Sixty meters
are available on a first come first serve basis.
The contest is open to growers of
rice, corn or soybeans. Rice growers who use multiple inlet rice irrigation
(MIRI) or alternate wetting and drying methods are eligible, as are cascade
flood, furrow irrigation or sprinkler irrigation, in contour levee, or straight
levee irrigation. However, zero grade fields are ineligible.
Based on observations from
Cooperative Extension Service irrigation management demonstration fields over
the last five years, “experience has shown that when applied effectively water
use can be reduced by 24 percent on average with no yield reduction,” Henry
said. “Reductions in water use of around 40 percent have been documented.”
This is essentially a standard
yield contest but with the addition of a flow meter.
Henry said the contest is the
first irrigation contest of any kind in the United States.
“The contest is a real
challenge,” he said. “It’s easy to maximize yield with unlimited inputs, but
try doing it with just the right amount of rain and irrigation.”
To learn more about the contest,
contact your county extension office or email contest@uark.edu.
Employees of the University of
Arkansas System and their spouses may not enter. Board members, employees,
spouses of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, Arkansas Corn and
Grain Sorghum Promotion Board, and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion board are
ineligible for this contest.
Mention of product names does not
imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System
Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities,
and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices.
Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension
Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within
the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is
one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in
all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System
Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative
action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or
need materials in another format, please contact your county extension office
as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uaex.edu
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uaex.edu
https://www.uaex.edu/media-resources/news/april2018/04-02-2018-Ark-Irrigation-contest.aspx
Rice grain can be a historian
too, shows IISc study
Bengaluru
Apr 5, (Research Matters): 
1 of 1
1.
Ask a rice grain, “where are you
from and what’s the climate like there?” and it will answer you. Yes, the
humble rice we eat every day can be a climate historian, says a new study by researchers from the Indian
Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. In a first of its kind attempt, they
have demonstrated the potential of rice grains as recorders of relative
humidity—the amount of water vapour in the air, and the changes in monsoon.
“Understanding the long-term variability of the southwest
monsoon over India is a key scientific question to our modern society. Like
today, rice cultivation since the Harappan civilisation depended on monsoonal
rains. Hence, rice can confirm monsoonal variability in the past”, says
Dr. Ritika Kaushal, Research Associate at the Centre for Earth Sciences, IISc
and one of the authors of the study published in the Journal
of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences.
The study proposes a linear
relationship between the stable isotope composition of oxygen and carbon in
rice grains, with relative humidity. Isotopes are atoms of the same element
that have the same number of protons and electrons but differ in the number of
neutrons. There are two stable isotopes of carbon and two for oxygen that were
used in this context. The proposed relationship can help in understanding the
climate parameters prevalent when the rice was grown.
“The present study explores the
potential of rice grains to serve as recorders of climate. Application of the
study might give us clues on the climate prevalent during Harappan civilisation
and the factors that might have contributed to its eventual collapse around
3,000 years before present”, say the authors while talking about their study.
The researchers collected 105
varieties of rice grains from 23 different locations across India grown during
the rainy seasons, from 2010 to 2014. The study sites ranged from Jammu
to Andaman and Nicobar Islands and lay in different climatic zones. They then
studied the oxygen and carbon isotopes in the rice grain, which depend on the
relative humidity in the atmosphere and the water that was used to cultivate.
Further, the researchers calculated
an ‘enrichment parameter’, which is the adjusted value of oxygen isotope after
removing the contribution from source water. This parameter was found to
be strongly dependent on the relative humidity, implying that as the humidity
increased, the enrichment of oxygen in the rice grain decreases. The
researchers have proposed the linear equation based on this dependence.
Similarly, the researchers
calculated a ‘discrimination parameter’ for carbon isotopes in rice grains by
removing the effect from atmospheric carbon dioxide, and established its
relationship with relative humidity. The results prove the influence of
relative humidity as a driver of variations in both oxygen and carbon isotopic
composition.
The researchers claim that besides understanding the past
climate, the results can also help in the authentication of rice grains. “Food
authentication involves proving the geographic origin of the food, which is
important for food safety, food quality, and consumer protection. For instance,
basmati rice is a geographical indication denoting a particular type of rice
from the foothills of the Himalayas. The properties yielding high market value
for basmati can be attributed to the geographical origin and the prevalent
conditions. Not surprisingly, there is an alarming number of adulteration
cases, especially by the exporters. The present study provides the geographic
characterisation of the most commonly cultivated rice varieties in India,
including a few basmati varieties and presents an index for rice-grain
authentication”, explains Dr. Kaushal.
The study has demonstrated that
one can derive climatic information of the past using well-preserved rice
grains from archaeological sites. Considering that ours is a monsoon dependent
country, these findings help us understand the long-term variability of the
southwest monsoon. The results could also help us identify climate-resilient
rice varieties for uncertain climate scenarios of the future.
Extending the study, the
researchers also wish to get wheat talking! They plan to understand the
dependency of wheat on the climate parameters. As the grain is cultivated in
India during winter, one could use wheat as a recorder of winter monsoons.
Webinar: Writing the Next Farm Bill and Ongoing Trade Issues,
April 12
Posted on April 3, 2018
The next Food and Agribusiness Webinar will be on Thursday,
April 12 at 10 a.m. Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute
(FAPRI) director Pat Westhoff will discuss
the economic, trade and biofuels considerations, crop and livestock market
outlook, and other issues that congressional leadership and members are
considering as they pen the next farm bill.
Pat provides perspective into the monumental task of writing and
passing the next farm bill and ongoing trade issues and considerations.
Miss a webinar and want to catch up? You may view past
webinars by visiting the Food and Agribusiness Webinar Series webpage at:
View Previous Webinar Videos
Want to stay in the loop with the webinar schedule? Subscribe to the webinar alert emails
NFA buffer stock good for less than a day
Photo shows the remaining rice stocks at a National Food
Authority warehouse in Quezon City yesterday.
Michael Varcas
Paolo Romero, Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) -
April 5, 2018 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The
National Food Authority (NFA)’s rice stock has been depleted to less than a
day, but there is no need to worry because the country still has enough supply
of the staple, Malacañang said yesterday.
NFA Council chairman and Cabinet
Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. said the agency’s buffer stock is good for just
0.35 days, way lower than the required 15-day rice reserve it is required to
maintain at any given time.
In Bicol, NFA information officer
Beth Jacob admitted it has no more buffer stock in its warehouses, but they are
working double time to buy palay from rice farmers and take advantage of the
harvest season.
Jacob said the NFA is still at a
disadvantage compared to private buyers since it can only buy a kilo of palay
at P17 per kilo compared to P19 to P20 per kilo offered by private and
commercial rice buyers.
Jacob also said the approval for
rice importation was already “too late” and that “government-to-government”
agreement is still the best mode to do it.
For his part, Senate President
Pro Tempore Ralph Recto called on President Duterte to immediately crack the
whip on his “factionalized rice team” as the food staple is a volatile
political commodity which could trigger discontent among Filipinos, especially
the poor, if its prices continue to spike due to perceived or actual shortage.
Evasco is still blaming the NFA
and its officials for making irresponsible statements about the country’s rice
supply while those from the agency maintained they only told the truth about
the situation.
The NFA is required to have a
rice reserve good for at least 15 days during harvest season and at least 30
days during the lean months of July to September. The buffer stock is maintained
to ensure that the country will have rice in case of emergency situations or
natural disasters.
Asked about reports that the NFA
rice stock has been wiped out, Evasco said: “Wala pa naman, wala pa (Not yet).
It’s 0.35 (days).”
The rice reserve is equivalent to
200,000 bags, he added.
Evasco said the figure would not
change “if there is no rice produced tomorrow.”
But Evasco maintained that there
is no rice shortage in the country, citing the expected arrival of imported
rice and the “big harvest” of local farmers based on the report of Agriculture
Secretary Emmanuel Piñol during a meeting on March 19.
The NFA only contributes about
five percent of the staple in the market.
“That’s why there was no panic on
our end,” Evasco said in a press briefing.
“The purchase of rice is timed to
arrive in May, in time for the start of the lean months,” he added.
Evasco said 501,000 metric tons
of rice imported under the minimum access volume arrived last month. The NFA
has also been directed to buy 250,000 metric tons, which is expected to be
delivered in time for the lean months or before June.
“So there’s nothing to worry
about but we have to ask the traders to bring out their rice and we will ask
COA (Commission on Audit) to audit (the NFA’s operations),” the NFA council
chairman said.
‘NFA causing panic’
Evasco claimed that the NFA’s
statements about the insufficient rice supply have caused panic that may have
raised prices.
He said some NFA officials
continued to release statements despite Duterte’s instruction that the NFA
Council chairman is the only person authorized to talk about rice supply.
“The way things are happening
now, they create the artificial shortage and pin down the council; that we are
responsible in creating such situation of shortage when, in fact, we have
checked that based on the report of the Department of Agriculture, there is so
much rice,” Evasco said.
Evasco said the NFA should be
audited to determine if it is buying rice at the right time.
“Why will you release so much rice
to the market when it is in time of the harvest season? Comparing this to the
June, July, August, we found in the report that there was less rice given out
to the market when at that time it was lean months. Meaning to say, there was
few rice available in the market,” he said.
Evasco said Duterte would be
meeting with big rice traders this afternoon to discuss the rice supply
situation in the country. – Celso Amo
Philippines cannot be rice self-sufficient,
says Duterte
By RO-Angelica Equio, Philippine Canadian Inquirer on April 4,
2018
Contrary
to the projected development in the year 2020 that the Department of
Agriculture claimed, President Rodrigo Duterte said that rice self-sufficiency
in the country cannot happen due to rich people’s acquisition of the cultivable
land and turning it into cash
crop.
crop.
“Of
course, we cannot be self- sufficient, why? In rice? Because ourlands that are
suitable for plowing has been taken by people who have money for the cash –
cash crop, it is no longer food crop,” Duterte said in his speech during his
visit in Sultan Kudarat.
With
this, the president also called on the Department of Agriculture and Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to speed up its efforts in
giving away agricultural fields with no owners to the landless farmers because
according to him, there is no use of hanging onto a property which does not
serve the Filipino people.
Moreover,
Duterte expressed gratitude towards farmers, stressing that they are the ones
who “regularly provide people with sustenance and ensure food security despite
difficulties such as disasters, price fluctuations and financial shortages.”
To help
improve lives of these farmers whom he said are a vital aspect in the survival
of the country, Duterte vowed to continue “providing livelihood programs,
insurance, production and postharvest trainings and the most important of
all, the credit access.”
Council
scrambles to beef up rice stock of food agency
April 4, 2018
In
Photo: A man arranges what is left of the rice stockpile of the National Food
Authority in Quezon City.
The National Food Authority
Council (NFAC) vowed to prevent the total wipeout of the rice stockpile of the
National Food Authority (NFA), which plunged to a four-decade low of 200,000
50-kilogram (kg) bags.
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B.
Evasco Jr., who is also NFAC chairman, said on Wednesday that the rice
stockpile of the state-run food agency, at 10,000 metric tons (MT), is
equivalent to less than a day of the total national daily rice requirement. The
country’s current daily consumption requirement is 32,013 MT, or 640,260 50-kg
bags, according to the NFA.
“We have to proactively think
about it. In fact, I have to meet the council members about this because this
is a new development,” Evasco said in a news briefing on Wednesday. “We will be
asking the police to [determine] whether it is true or not.”
Evasco said he has asked the
Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit of the palay procurement
and rice distribution measures undertaken by the current management of the NFA.
He added that he has ordered his
undersecretaries and assistant secretaries to go to the COA on April 5, to
discuss the timeframe and the details of the special audit. Evasco disclosed
that the meeting between President Duterte and rice traders scheduled on the
same day will push through.
Evasco also disclosed that the
NFAC has thumbed down the NFA’s management proposed amendments to the terms of
reference (TOR) for the importation of 250,000 MT of rice via the
government-to-private scheme for “security reasons.”
He said the NFA management wanted
to allow winning foreign bidders to enter the grains agency’s warehouses. At
present, winning bidders can only deliver the imported rice up to the gate of
NFA warehouses, where NFA employees would check whether the delivery is in
accordance with the TOR.
Evasco disclosed that on April 2,
his office received a communication from the NFA management that the latter
would conduct a referendum among the members of the NFAC to determine if they
agree with the proposed amendment or not.
“We do not want to succumb to
such position because it has security implications. How will we know the new
stocks and old stocks will not be mixed?” he said. “We do not have control over
that. That is why the council members rejected this position.”
Evasco said the rice imports by
the NFA are set to arrive before June, just time for the lean months.
‘Avert rice queues’
Senate President Pro Tempore
Ralph G. Recto raised concerns on Wednesday over the Duterte administration’s
“factionalized rice team,” warning this could cause a spike in the price of
rice he deemed to be a “volatile political commodity.”
Recto prodded Duterte to “whip
his compartmentalized rice team to get their act together because rice is a
volatile political commodity in which the slightest perception of shortage
could shoot prices up and hurt the poor most.”
In a statement, Recto noted a
seeming “policy incoherence” that concerned officials should promptly address.
“There seems to be policy
incoherence. Or at the very least, instead of being on the same page, different
parts of the orchestra are playing different music,” the Senate leader said,
adding: “The President should grab the baton and be the master conductor.”
Recto warned that when the public
gets mixed signals on the status of what they eat, this could trigger market
disruption.
He pointed out, for instance,
that if each household buy an additional 10 kilos of rice, this will had a big
impact on supply, “especially if the buffer is thin.”
The senator added that while
“politically, a nation will tolerate all kinds of queues—MRT, passport… rice
queues must be avoided at all cost.” He, however, promptly clarified that “at
present, there is no need to, because—thanks to our farmers—of the recent
record rice harvests.”
Still, Recto said that despite a
stable national stock, “there is a need to make rice affordable to the poor who
cannot afford expensive fancy varieties.”
He cited statistics indicating
the poorest 30 percent of families spend 70 percent of their income on rice,
adding that “for many of them, 22 centavos for every 1 peso they earn are spent
to buy rice.”
The Senator proposed that in
order to “prove that they’re not forgotten, the government should deploy
rolling rice stores to poor urban areas to show that there’s enough rice.”
Moreover, Recto recommended that
Duterte “should regularly meet the ‘Big Four’ in rice policy—the secretaries of
Agriculture, and Finance, the cabinet secretary who heads the NFA and the NFA
administrator—so that “all the important actors shall speak in one voice, and
move towards one direction.”
“It is not just the NFA,” he
said.
“The big picture is production,
which is the DA’s responsibility. And all aspects of the industry, where
government is involved, whether production, or NFA procurement, needs funding,
and the one who must raise the money is the secretary of finance,” Recto added.
Citing consumers’ penchant for
so-called unli-rice, the senator noted that every Filipino on average eats
about 108 kilos of rice a year. “But our population grows by 1.6 million
annually,” he says adding that 136 Pinoys already consume 14.7 tons of rice
annually.
Duterte to meet big rice traders
amid NFA shortage
Published 12:35 PM, April 04, 2018
Updated 12:35 PM, April 04, 2018
RICE SHORTAGE. President Rodrigo
Duterte is set to meet with big rice traders on April 5, 2018, to discuss the
NFA rice shortage. Malacañang file photo
MANILA, Philippines РMalaca̱ang
said President Rodrigo Duterte will meet with big rice traders on Thursday
afternoon, April 5, after the National Food Authority (NFA) sounded the alarm
over its depleted rice buffer stock."The President will be meeting with
big rice traders tomorrow afternoon because the president will have a take on
that," said Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr, chair of the NFA Council,
in a press conference on Wednesday, April 4.
Evasco said that through this
meeting with Duterte, Malacañang "can ask these traders to help us rather
than take advantage of the situation to make money at the expense of the
consuming public."
Asked if the NFA is creating an
"artificial shortage," Evasco said that their statement on dwindling
rice supplies "would eventually make the traders withdraw the rice, to
speculate on higher prices of rice in a few weeks from now."
Evasco also reiterated that the
government is considering to abolish the NFA "if we have enough rice
produced in our country to feed our people."
Asked if the NFA is claiming a
rice shortage to avoid abolition, Evasco said, "Ikaw ang nagsabi niyan." (It
was you who said that.)
The NFA management, led by
administrator Jason Aquino, is putting pressure on
the NFA Council to speed up rice importation because of the dwindling NFA
reserve.
Malacañang, however, said the
current NFA rice shortage should not be cause for panic since NFA rice
comprises only a small portion of the total rice supply of the country. – with reports from Pia Ranada / Rappler.com
An Giang
earns over 41 million USD from rice exports
An Giang (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of An Giang shipped abroad 83,920 tonnes of rice in the first three months of 2018 for 41.1 million USD, up 18,3 percent in volume and 28.8 percent in value over the same period last year.
According to Vo Nguyen Nam, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, An Giang’s rice has been exported to 21 countries, mostly Asian ones with 83.7 percent. A rise of 30.4 percent was seen in the African market.In the first three months of this year, rice price was 487 USD per tonne averagely, a rise of about 43 USD per tonne over the same time last year.
Nam said that global demand of rice is forecast to continue rising. The good results in the locality’s rice exports in the first quarter of 2018 was due to high demand from traditional markets of Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and a number of new markets like Bangladesh.Meanwhile, Tran Anh Thu, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that farmers in An Giang have used high-quality rice varieties in 72 percent of total rice farming area in this Winter-Spring crop, thus enhancing the quality of the province’s rice and contributing to facilitate exports.
Thu revealed that An Giang is developing the An Giang rice trade mark to 2020 with a vision to 2030, while preparing to issue a rice export market development strategy in the 2017-2020 period, aiming to improve the competitiveness of the grain.-VNA
Import
demand continues boosting Vietnam’s rice export
Farmers
dry unhusked rice in Hong Dan district, the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu
(Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – High rice import demand from Vietnam’s major
markets in the second quarter is expected to help exporters continue good
overseas shipments in the first three months of this year.
Some foreign news sources reported that in late March, the State Logistics Agency of Indonesia (Bulog) signed contracts to purchase 300,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam and 200,000 tonnes from Thailand. This is the third time Indonesia has imported rice since the beginning of 2018.
Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) Nguyen Ngoc Nam confirmed the report, saying that Bulog invited the Vietnam Northern Food Corporation and the Vietnam Southern Food Corporation to supply the rice. This contract will be carried out from April to July this year.
The Philippines, another major market, is also planning to import rice in large amounts in the second quarter, the VFA said, adding that the country will import 250,000 tonnes of rice to augment its rice reserves. The auction will open in May.
Meanwhile, rice import demand from China, Malaysia and Japan has also helped warm up the Asian rice market, promising good prospects for Vietnam’s rice shipment in the second quarter.
According to the agriculture ministry’s Department of Crop Production, about 980,000 hectares of winter-spring rice in the Mekong Delta, the biggest rice hub in Vietnam, had been harvested as of March 29 with average productivity of 6.5 – 6.6 tonnes of unhusked rice per hectare.Some rice exporters said the market in the Mekong Delta has become vibrant since mid-March due to abundant rice supply, supporting their export activities.
The US Department of Agriculture predicted Vietnam could export 6.7 million tonnes of rice this year thanks to shipments to China and expansion in other markets.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that rice exports in January – March totalled 1.36 million tonnes worth 669 million USD, representing year-on-year rises of 9.4 percent in volume and 24 percent in value. China remained the top importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for 24.4 percent of total exports.-VNA
Some foreign news sources reported that in late March, the State Logistics Agency of Indonesia (Bulog) signed contracts to purchase 300,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam and 200,000 tonnes from Thailand. This is the third time Indonesia has imported rice since the beginning of 2018.
Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) Nguyen Ngoc Nam confirmed the report, saying that Bulog invited the Vietnam Northern Food Corporation and the Vietnam Southern Food Corporation to supply the rice. This contract will be carried out from April to July this year.
The Philippines, another major market, is also planning to import rice in large amounts in the second quarter, the VFA said, adding that the country will import 250,000 tonnes of rice to augment its rice reserves. The auction will open in May.
Meanwhile, rice import demand from China, Malaysia and Japan has also helped warm up the Asian rice market, promising good prospects for Vietnam’s rice shipment in the second quarter.
According to the agriculture ministry’s Department of Crop Production, about 980,000 hectares of winter-spring rice in the Mekong Delta, the biggest rice hub in Vietnam, had been harvested as of March 29 with average productivity of 6.5 – 6.6 tonnes of unhusked rice per hectare.Some rice exporters said the market in the Mekong Delta has become vibrant since mid-March due to abundant rice supply, supporting their export activities.
The US Department of Agriculture predicted Vietnam could export 6.7 million tonnes of rice this year thanks to shipments to China and expansion in other markets.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that rice exports in January – March totalled 1.36 million tonnes worth 669 million USD, representing year-on-year rises of 9.4 percent in volume and 24 percent in value. China remained the top importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for 24.4 percent of total exports.-VNA
Angola
re-launches agricultural rice production complex
Manquete’s agro-industrial
complex for rice production in Angola’s Cunene province, at a standstill since
May 2017, will be re-launched later this year, when management is handed over
to food production company Faz Angola, the director Agriculture, Rural
Development and Fisheries of Cunene said on Tuesday in Ondjiva.
Pedro Tiberio also told Angolan
state news agency Angop news that the process of recovery of agricultural
equipment as well as land is underway.
This agro-industrial complex,
originally approved in 2010 and now reactivated, has an area of 2,000 hectares,
of which 1,500 hectares has been set aside for rice and maize cultivation and
the remaining 500 hectares for construction of infrastructure and natural
reserves.
With two units for processing and
husking, cleaning, bleaching of packaging and equipment, the complex has three
silos for storage, two of them for 3,000 tons of rice and one for 2,000 tons of
corn.
The Manquete project was approved
in 2010 by the Angolan government under the credit line from the China
Development Bank (CDB), and China National Electronics Import and Export
Corporation (CEIEC) was hired to put it into operation within 60 months, 36 of
which for the training of technical and auxiliary staff.
The agency also reported that the
production shutdown was due to the CEIEC abandoning the project, as it did not
comply with the five-year contract, at which time management was handed over to
the Angola Sovereign Fund. (macauhub)
Early planting surges ahead, even as rain
makes for slow work in some parts of state
By Ryan McGeeney, U of A System Division of Agriculture
Even as the rains of late winter
and early spring kept fieldwork at a standstill through some parts of Arkansas,
corn and rice growers around the state managed to make headway, according to
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
By March 25, 18 percent of
estimated 2018 corn acreage had been planted—double the 5-year average for this
point in the season. Rice growers had seeded 4 percent of acreage, twice what
was completed by this time last year and four times the 5-year average.
Robert Goodson, agriculture agent
for the Phillips County Cooperative Extension Service office, said that while
some growers stayed out of the fields, suspecting excessive rain on the way,
growers collectively planted more than 3,000 acres of corn and 1,000 acres of
rice throughout the county.
Goodson said that most growers in
his county have finished their pre-emergence pesticide applications, using
either aerial or ground rigs.
“There’s still some prep to do,
but we’re in good shape. If we can have four or five days of dry weather and a
little breeze, we’ll be back on schedule,” Goodson said.
In Cross County, rains not only
stalled field preparations over the past several weeks, but may have incurred
additional costs, Cross County extension agent Rick Wimberley said.
“We were seeing a lot of tractors
go in the field last week, doing some tillage work,” Wimberley said. “But now,
because of the rains, they’re going to have to go back in there and scratch the
field up again. You’re adding $12 to 15 an acre to your production cost right
there, in fuel and labor.”
Remaining ahead of the planting
calendar, however, has kept growers in a reasonable mood, he said.
“With rice and beans, we’re
nowhere near being behind the optimal planting date—we’re still in good shape
there,” Wimberley said. “Nobody is really surly yet, but if this keeps up,
they’re going to get that way.”
Progress in much of Perry County,
however, remained stalled as rains kept soil saturated, nearly to the point of
flooding in some areas. Kevin Lawson, Perry County agricultural agent, said
that while pasture managers were finally able to apply pre-emergent pesticides,
row crop farmers were in a holding pattern.
“But nobody’s gone to ‘plan B’
yet,” Lawson said, as far as planting intensions. “It’s too early for that, in
our neck of the woods. Everyone’s still on track.”
To learn about Arkansas row
crops, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.edu.
Nagpur
Foodgrain Prices Open- April 05, 2018
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open
Market-April 5, 2018
Nagpur, April 5 (Reuters) – Gram
and tuar prices reported down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce
Marketing Committee (APMC) on lack
of demand from local millers amid release of stock from
stockists. Easy condition on NCDEX
in gram, weak trend in Madhya Pradesh pulses and high
moisture content arrival also
pushed down prices.
About 3,800 bags of gram and 2,200
bags of tuar reported for auction in Nagpur APMC, according
to sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram raw reported higher in open market on fresh buying support
from local
traders.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from
local traders
amid ample stock in ready position.
* Wheat mill quality reported higher in open market here on increased
buying support
from local traders amid thin arrival from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 4,300-4,375, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,000-6,300, Udid
Mogar (clean)
– 7,500-8,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,500-7,200, Gram – 3,750-3,800, Gram
Super best
– 5,200-5,600
* Other varieties of wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a
narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market
prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous
close
Gram Auction
3,300-3,570 3,300-3,630
Gram Pink Auction
n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
3,400-4,070 3,400-4,100
Moong Auction
n.a. 3,900-4,200
Udid Auction
n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality Auction
1,550-1,622 1,550-1,642
Gram Super Best Bold
5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800
Gram Super Best
n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best
5,000-5,400 5,000-5,200
Gram Dal Medium
n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality
3,750-3,850 3,750-3,850
Desi gram Raw
3,650-3,750 3,600-3,700
Gram Kabuli
12,700-13,200 12,700-13,200
Tuar Fataka Best-New
6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500
Tuar Fataka Medium-New
6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New
5,700-5,800 5,700-5,800
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New
5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600
Tuar Gavarani New
4,350-4,450 4,350-4,450
Tuar Karnataka
4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800
Masoor dal best
4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900
Masoor dal medium
4,300-4,500 4,300-4,500
Masoor
n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New)
7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000
Moong Mogar Medium
6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000
Moong dal Chilka
5,800-6,600 5,800-6,600
Moong Mill quality
n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best
7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,500-8,500 7,500-8,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)
5,600-6,500
5,600-6,500
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
6,000-6,300
6,000-6,300
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
4,000-4,500 4,000-4,550
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
2,550-2,650 2,550-2,650
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,500-3,600 3,500-3,600
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)
4,200-4,300
4,200-4,300
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)
2,000-2,050
2,000-2,050
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,350
2,200-2,350
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)
2,250-2,400
2,250-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)
n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)
3,200-4,000
3,200-4,000
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)
2,400-2,800
2,400-2,800
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)
3,400-4,000
3,400-4,000
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)
2,900-3,250
2,900-3,250
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,800
2,600-2,800
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)
2,800-3,000
2,800-3,000
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,700
2,600-2,700
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)
4,200-4,600
4,200-4,600
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,000
3,800-4,000
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)
5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)
4,600-4,800
4,600-4,800
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)
9,500-14,000
9,500-14,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100
INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)
6,000-6,500
6,000-6,500
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)
5,600-5,900
5,600-5,900
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,000-2,200
2,000-2,100
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,800-2,000 1,700-2,000
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 40.9 degree Celsius,
minimum temp. 22.4 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky with
one of two spells of rains or thunder-showers. Maximum and
minimum temperature would be around
and 41 and 22 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are
excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices).
Nagpur
Foodgrain Prices Open- April 04, 2018
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open
Market-April 4, 2018
Nagpur, April 4 (Reuters) – Gram
and tuar prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture
Produce Marketing Committee (APMC)
on poor buying support from local millers amid high moisture
content arrival. Release of stock
from stockists and easy condition in Madhya Pradesh pulses
also affected prices.
About 2,600 bags of gram and 1,400
bags of tuar reported for auction in Nagpur APMC, according
to sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram raw reported higher in open market on fresh buying support
from local
traders.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from
local traders
amid ample stock in ready position.
* Wheat mill quality reported higher in open market here on increased
buying support
from local traders amid thin arrival from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 4,300-4,375, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,000-6,300, Udid
Mogar (clean)
– 7,500-8,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,500-7,200, Gram – 3,750-3,800, Gram
Super best
– 5,200-5,600
* Other varieties of wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a
narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market
prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous
close
Gram Auction 3,300-3,600 3,300-3,680
Gram Pink Auction
n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
3,400-3,930 3,400-4,100
Moong Auction
n.a. 3,900-4,200
Udid Auction
n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality Auction
1,550-1,642 1,550-1,644
Gram Super Best Bold
5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800
Gram Super Best
n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best
5,000-5,400 5,000-5,200
Gram Dal Medium
n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality
3,750-3,850 3,750-3,850
Desi gram Raw
3,650-3,750 3,600-3,700
Gram Kabuli
12,700-13,200 12,700-13,200
Tuar Fataka Best-New
6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500
Tuar Fataka Medium-New
6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,700-5,800 5,700-5,800
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New
5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600
Tuar Gavarani New
4,350-4,450 4,350-4,450
Tuar Karnataka
4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800
Masoor dal best
4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900
Masoor dal medium
4,300-4,500 4,300-4,500
Masoor
n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New)
7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000
Moong Mogar Medium
6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000
Moong dal Chilka
5,800-6,600 5,800-6,600
Moong Mill quality
n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best
7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,500-8,500 7,500-8,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)
5,600-6,500
5,600-6,500
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
6,000-6,300
6,000-6,300
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
4,000-4,500 4,000-4,550
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
2,550-2,650 2,550-2,650
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,500-3,600 3,500-3,600
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)
4,200-4,300
4,200-4,300
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)
2,000-2,050
1,950-2,000
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,350
2,200-2,350
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)
2,250-2,400 2,250-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)
n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)
3,200-4,000
3,200-4,000
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)
2,400-2,800
2,400-2,800
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)
3,400-4,000
3,400-4,000
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)
2,900-3,250
2,900-3,250
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)
2,800-3,000
2,800-3,000
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,700
2,600-2,700
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)
4,200-4,600
4,200-4,600
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,000
3,800-4,000
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)
5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)
4,600-4,800
4,600-4,800
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)
9,500-14,000
9,500-14,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)
5,000-7,500
5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)
6,000-6,500
6,000-6,500
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)
5,600-5,900 5,600-5,900
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,000-2,200
2,000-2,100
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,800-2,000 1,700-2,000
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 40.7 degree Celsius,
minimum temp. 21.7 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky.
Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 41 and 22
degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are
excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices).
Monsoon likely to be normal this year: Skymet
IANS
| New Delhi Last Updated at April 4, 2018 17:18 IST
Monsoon in India is likely to
be normal with no chances of drought this year,
private forecaster Skymet said on Wednesday, bringing relief to the country.The
forecaster said there were 5 per cent chances of excess rainfall that is more
than 110 percent of long-period average (LPA).The average, or normal, rainfall
in the country is defined between 96 and 104 per cent of a 50-year average for
the entire four-month monsoon season. If
it is normal, the country will record 887 mm for the four-month period from
June to September.
"The onset month of June and
the withdrawal month of September give a promising picture in terms of good
countrywide rainfall distribution," Skymet said in its report.
The official forecaster, India Meteorological
Department, is expected to come up with its monsoon predictions
later this month.
In its forecast bulletin, Skymet
drew up three more scenarios likely for the season -- ranging from below normal
to excess rainfall with an error margin of plus-minus 5 per cent.There are 20
per cent chances of above normal which is between 105 to 110 per cent of LPA.
Chances of normal, which is
seasonal rainfall between 96 to 104 per cent of LPA, are 55 per cent.
Below normal rainfall, which is
between 90 to 95 per cent of LPA, are 20 per cent.
There is "0 per cent chance
of drought or seasonal
rainfall that is less than 90 per cent of LPA", the forecaster said.
Normal rainfall in the country is
critical for rice, cane, corn, cotton and soybean cultivation.However, the
agency said key monsoon months of
July (97 per cent) and August (96 per cent) would see "below normal"
rains. The two months, which bring in half the monsoon rains, are
critical for a good crop harvest.
But June is likely to receive
excess rainfall. September is also going to have normal rainfall with 101 per
cent of LPA.
In terms of geographical risk, Skymet
expected that Peninsular India along with
major portion of northeast India was likely to
be at "higher risk of being rain deficient
throughout the season".About the pre-monsoon heat across
the country, Skymet said it "is a positive indicator and points towards
normal monsoon"."Similar conditions are presently prevailing across
the country. In fact, weathermen are of the view that pre-monsoon season
would be slightly below normal, paving the way for intense heat before the
onset of monsoon."
--IANS
sar/mg/mr
(This story has not been edited by
Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US-China trade aggression threatens rice deal
“After more than a decade of work to achieve U.S.-grown rice access to the enormous Chinese market, we could finally see the finish line, and now a trade war could set us back years,” Betsy Ward, president and CEO of the USA Rice Federation, told Agri-Pulse. “The flip side is that were China to allow U.S.-grown rice in, it would be a first small step to balancing the trade deficit.”
On Monday, China slapped $3 billion worth of
tariffs on a list of 128 U.S. products like pork, oranges, cherries, almonds,
plums and ethanol. (For the full list of products and tariffs, read this FAS
Gain Report here.) This retaliation came on the heels of new U.S. global
tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, a small percentage of which come in
from China.Whether the U.S. and China can prevent further
escalation is unclear, but it’s looking like it will get worse before it gets
better. That’s because the Trump administration didn’t stop with the steel and
aluminum tariffs. On March 22, President Donald Trump signed an order to impose
about $60 billion in tariffs solely on Chinese goods in order to punish China
for years of intellectual property theft and forced technical transfers.
President Donald Trump
China hasn’t yet announced any retaliation for those tariffs, but the U.S. ag sector is bracing for it.None of these tariffs, whether they are meant to deal with China’s over-production of steel or the country’s theft of intellectual property, have anything to do with rice trade, and it’s still possible that the process of gaining access to the Chinese market may move forward.
U.S. rice farmers have been after China to allow in U.S. rice for more than a decade and it seemed that real progress was finally being made last summer. In July, during the first Comprehensive Economic Dialogue between the two countries in Washington, China finally signed off on the sanitary and phytosanitary protocols needed to allow in U.S. rice.
“This is another great day for U.S. agriculture and, in particular, for our rice growers and millers, who can now look forward to gaining access to the Chinese market,” USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said at the time. “This market represents an exceptional opportunity today, with enormous potential for growth in the future.”
China consumes about 144 million tons of rice every year and is the world’s largest rice-producing and importing country.
As part of the deal China struck when it joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, the Asian nation agreed to take in at least 2.7 million tons of U.S. rice each year. Still, there has been no trade because of China’s past refusal to approve the protocols.
China, in what was widely expected to be a part of the final phase in lifting its ban on U.S. rice just a few months ago, sent a 10-page questionnaire to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and then the agency passed copies to the U.S. rice mills that export to China. The mills labored to fill out the dense questionnaires that many felt were far too intrusive, according to rice industry sources. Some of the questions dealt with a mill's export history, records of phytosanitary inspections and inspections of raw materials used by a mill.
Despite the reservations of rice producers, the questionnaires have been mostly completed and they are expected to be turned in to USDA's APHIS soon. After that, it will be up to China to decide whether the process moves forward. Under the best possible scenario, China will scrutinize the responses and then choose some or all of the mills to visit in order to verify that they meet the country's sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
Historically, the U.S. and China have been able to quietly continue conducting what are seen as mostly technical-level talks on issues, unaffected by more splashy, high-stakes political battles, but it’s unclear if that will be the case with rice.
“The question is, can our technical experts continue the quiet relationship or does it all get caught up in the politics of this trade fight?” said one trade official who asked not to be named.
Bobby Hanks, chairman of the USA Rice International Trade Policy Committee and CEO of Supreme Rice LLC, is concerned that rice exports could be a casualty of a trade war.
"Our industry is at the end-game of providing detailed information to Chinese authorities about the approximately 30 facilities registering to ship U.S. milled rice to China," said Hanks. "Efforts to get U.S. rice into China are difficult and complicated, and recent events only increase our challenges."
For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com.
Chinese scientist gets 10 years in US prison
for stealing engineered rice from research facility
Zhang Weiqiang was a rice breeder for Ventria Bioscience in
Junction City, Kansas, which developed genetically engineered rice for
therapeutic and medical fields
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 05 April, 2018, 9:18am
UPDATED : Thursday, 05 April, 2018, 9:18am
A Chinese scientist in the United
States was sentenced on Wednesday to more than 10 years in a federal prison for
conspiring to steal samples of a variety of genetically engineered rice seeds
from a US research facility.US District Court Judge Carlos Murguia in the
District of Kansas sentenced Zhang Weiqiang, 51, a Chinese national living in
Manhattan, Kansas, to 121 months in prison.
Zhang was convicted in February 2017 on three counts, including
conspiracy to steal trade secrets and interstate transport of stolen property,
the department said in a statement.“Today’s sentence demonstrates the
significant consequences awaiting those who would steal trade secrets from
American companies,” said John Cronan, DOJ’s acting assistant attorney general.
Neither Zhang nor his lawyer could be reached for comment on
Wednesday.
Zhang, who holds a doctorate from Louisiana State University,
worked as a rice breeder for Kansas-based Ventria Bioscience Inc, which
develops genetically programmed rice used in the therapeutic and medical
fields.
Prosecutors said Zhang stored hundreds of seeds from Ventria at
his home. In 2013, Zhang toured facilities in the Midwest with officials from a
crop research institute in China. Federal officials found Ventria seeds in the
visitors’ luggage as they prepared to return to China.
China had long banned commercial growing of GMO grains due to
public opposition to the technology.
But last year, ChemChina’s purchase of Swiss agrochemical and seed company
Syngenta was seen by market analysts and industry experts as a
sign that the country was becoming more open to production of genetically
modified crops.
In recent years, US law enforcement officials have urged
agriculture executives and security officers to increase their vigilance and
report suspicious activity involving farm products, citing a growing economic
and national security threat to the sector.
The search is on for who can get the most crop per drop
By Mary Hightower, U of A System Division of Agriculture
Are you the Arkansas rice, soy or
corn producer who can get the most crop per drop? Find out by entering the 2018
Arkansas Rice and Row Crop Irrigation Yield Contest, presented by the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.Only the top entry in
each commodity—rice, corn and soybeans—will receive an award. A $10,000 cash
prize will be the award for the contest winners in corn and soybeans. The rice
winner will be awarded a Ricetec hybrid seed tote with a retail value of
$12,000. Awards will be presented at the Arkansas Soil and Water Conference in
January 2019. The contest prizes have been provided by Ricetec, the Arkansas
Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion
Board.
“Arkansas growers are familiar
with yield competitions like soybean’s ‘Grow for the Green,’ but there’s never
been a competition that focuses on maximizing yield by maximizing water use
efficiency,” said Chris Henry, associate professor and water management
engineer for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “We
thought it was time to have a most crop per drop contest that would highlight
Arkansas farmers’ efforts to improve sustainability and profitability, which
are paramount to the future of agriculture.”
There’s a $100 contest entry fee
and entries are due by June 1. Entrants will need a portable flow meter to
enter, but can request to borrow one from their Extension office. Sixty meters
are available on a first come first serve basis.
The contest is open to growers of
rice, corn or soybeans. Rice growers who use multiple inlet rice irrigation
(MIRI) or alternate wetting and drying methods are eligible, as are cascade
flood, furrow irrigation or sprinkler irrigation, in contour levee, or straight
levee irrigation. However, zero grade fields are ineligible.
Based on observations from
Cooperative Extension Service irrigation management demonstration fields over
the last five years, “experience has shown that when applied effectively water
use can be reduced by 24 percent on average with no yield reduction,” Henry
said. “Reductions in water use of around 40 percent have been documented.”
This is essentially a standard
yield contest but with the addition of a flow meter.
Henry said the contest is the
first irrigation contest of any kind in the United States.
“The contest is a real
challenge,” he said. “It’s easy to maximize yield with unlimited inputs, but
try doing it with just the right amount of rain and irrigation.”
To learn more about the contest,
contact your county extension office or email .
Employees of the University of
Arkansas System and their spouses may not enter. Board members, employees,
spouses of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, Arkansas Corn and
Grain Sorghum Promotion Board, and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion board are also
ineligible for this contest.Mention of product names does not imply endorsement
by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Danforth Center Announces New
Executive Director of the Institute for International Crop Improvement
Donald MacKenzie to lead effort
to deliver improved crops where they are needed most
Article ID: 692218
Released: 4-Apr-2018 11:05 AM EDT
Source Newsroom: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Credit: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Donald MacKenzie, Ph.D
·
Credit: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Institute for International Crop Improvement
Credit: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Donald MacKenzie, Ph.D
Newswise — ST. LOUIS, MO, April
4, 2018 – The Donald Danforth Plant
Science Center, the world’s largest independent plant science
institute, today announced that Donald MacKenzie, Ph.D. will serve as the Executive
Director of its Institute for International Crop Improvement (IICI).
MacKenzie will manage the IICI’s programs and partnerships dedicated to
translating key discoveries in plant health, disease and pest management, genomics,
advanced breeding and nutrition to staple crops that impact food security
around the globe. He will also provide guidance on navigating
through the practical, safety and regulatory processes necessary to demonstrate
that new crop varieties are proven safe and effective for the farmers who will
benefit from them.
“We are extremely fortunate to attract Dr. MacKenzie to the
Danforth Center and IICI,” said James Carrington, Ph.D., president of the
Danforth Center. “His expertise in moving scientific discovery into the
marketplace to meet needs of farmers, including smallholder farmers, and
consumers is matched by few others.”
MacKenzie is an international
expert in regulatory systems for agriculture, including environmental and food
safety assessment. His extensive experience in plant product development and
global regulatory processes aligns with the Institute’s commitment to collaborate with
international and local partner organizations to deliver crops with improved
nutritional content and disease resistance to places where people are in most
need. In addition to feeding the hungry, these efforts have the potential to
contribute to environmental health and empower farmers to become more
self-sufficient.
“I am excited by the opportunity IICI has to deliver solutions for
improving food and nutrition security, and that will contribute to addressing
environmental and production challenges faced by farmers in developing
countries,” said MacKenzie. “Building strategic alliances with partner
organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia will help ensure that the
Danforth Center’s expertise and innovative technologies are deployed in ways
that are both responsive and impactful.”
MacKenzie joins the Danforth Center from his position as the
Regulatory Affairs and Stewardship Leader of the Golden Rice Project
coordinated by the International Rice Research Institute. His proven track
record of working with diverse stakeholder groups to achieve progressive policy
outcomes was critical in his role as the Canola Global Regulatory Lead at
Dupont Pioneer and Regulatory Affairs Leader for Dupont Pioneer Canada, where
he provided direction and coordination across all regulatory and registration
activities for canola globally. Prior, he was the Executive Vice
President at Agbios, Inc., and held numerous government postings, including
head of Science Policy Division within Health Canada’s Health Protection
Branch. In 2012, he was awarded the International 2012 Leadership and
Excellence in Agriculture by CropLife. MacKenzie received his Ph.D. in
Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
The IICI works in partnership with international research
institutions, NGOs, funding agencies and regulatory agencies. Members of the
Institute are involved in international collaborations: connecting leading
scientists and cutting-edge technologies, training international scientists,
and providing regulatory, biosafety and project management services. This work
is supported by a number of private sources and government agencies, including
the James S. McDonnell Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and
USAID from the American People.
About The Donald Danforth Plant
Science Center Founded in 1998, the Donald
Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a
mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research,
education and outreach aim to have impact at the nexus of food security and the
environment and position the St. Louis region as a world center for plant
science. The Center’s work is funded through competitive grants from many
sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of
Energy, National Science Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation. Follow us on Twitter at @DanforthCenter.
Chinese scientist sentenced to prison in theft of engineered
rice
By: KSNT
News
Apr
04, 2018 06:06 PM CDT
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KSNT) - A
Chinese scientist was sentenced Wednesday to about 10 years in a federal
prison, announced the Department of Justice.
Weiqiang Zhang, 51, of
Manhattan conspired to steal samples of a variety of rice seeds from a
Kansas biopharmaceutical research facility.
Zhang was sentenced by U.S.
District Court Judge Carols Murguia in the District of Kansas. Zhang was
convicted on Feb. 15, 2017 of one count of conspiracy to steal trade secrets,
one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property
and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.
Evidence at the trial established
that Zhang worked as a rice breeder for Ventria Bioscience in Junction
City.
Ventria develops genetically
programed rice to express recombinant human proteins, which are tehn
extracted for use in the therapeutic and medical fields.
"Ventria invested years
of research and tens of millions of dollars to create a new and beneficial
product," said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. "It is vital that we
protect such intellectual property from theft and exploitation by foreign
interests. We all benefit when American companies continue to drive socially
valuable advancements in food, medicine and technology."
According to trial evidence,
Zhang acquired, without authorization, hundreds of rice seeds produced by
Ventria and stored them at his residence in Manhattan.
In summer of 2013, personnel from
a crop research institute in China visited Zhang at his home in Manhattan.
Zhang drove the visitors to tour facilities in Iowa, Missouri and Ohio. On Aug.
7, 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found seeds belonging to
Ventria in the luggage of Zhang's visitors as they prepared to leave the
United States for China.
Antipoverty
agency: No to golden rice
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:14 AM April 05,
2018
The genetically modified organism (GMO)
known as golden rice will not reduce hunger or cure vitamin A deficiency in the
country, according to a government agency.
The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)
has joined a coalition of farmers, consumers and environment activists from
different countries in rejecting the entry of golden rice into the Philippines.
Liza Maza, NAPC secretariat head, said
aside from not being proven to cure vitamin A deficiency, golden rice was also
feared to have health risks, citing reports gathered by the NAPC from
communities.
The
Philippine Rice Research Institute has applied for a permit to test golden rice
in Philippine farms. —Karl R. Ocampo
Chinese
scientist gets 10 years in U.S. prison over theft of GMO rice
(Reuters)
- A Chinese scientist in Kansas was sentenced on Wednesday to more than 10
years in a federal prison for conspiring to steal samples of a variety of
genetically engineered rice seeds from a U.S. research facility, the U.S.
Justice Department said.Zhang
Weiqiang is shown in this Wyandotte County Detention Center handout photo
released to Reuters December 12, 2013. REUTERS/Wyandotte County Detention
Center/Handout via Reuters
U.S.
District Court Judge Carlos Murguia in the District of Kansas sentenced
Weiqiang Zhang, 51, a Chinese national living in Manhattan, Kansas, to 121
months in prison.Zhang was convicted in February 2017 on three counts,
including conspiracy to steal trade secrets and interstate transportation of
stolen property, the department said in a statement.“Today’s sentence
demonstrates the significant consequences awaiting those who would steal trade
secrets from American companies,” said John P. Cronan, DOJ’s acting assistant
attorney general.Neither Zhang nor his attorney could be reached for comment on
Wednesday.
Zhang,
who holds a doctorate from Louisiana State University, worked as a rice breeder
for Kansas-based Ventria Bioscience Inc, which develops genetically programmed rice
used in the therapeutic and medical fields. He stole hundreds of rice seeds
produced by Ventria and stored them at his Manhattan residence, the statement
said. China had long banned commercial growing of GMO grains due to public
opposition to the technology. But last year, ChemChina’s purchase of Swiss
agrochemical and seed company Syngenta was seen by market analysts and industry
experts as a sign that the country was becoming more open to production of
genetically modified crops.
Beijing hits back at U.S. trade
tariffs
In
recent years, U.S. law enforcement officials have urged agriculture executives
and security officers to increase their vigilance and report suspicious
activity involving farm products, citing a growing economic and national
security threat to the sector.
Rice Transplanter Machine Market
to Grow at CAGR of 9.35%: Global In-Depth Market Analysis with Inputs from
Industry Experts
Rice Transplanter Machine
Market research report delivers erudite market data on
the market drivers, present as well as upcoming growth opportunities, segment
wise and region wise challenges faced by Rice Transplanter Machine market,
competitive scenario in the global market. Rice Transplanter Machine Market
analyst segments the market to help the buyer to understand the present as well
as future market size, situations in terms of growth rate and revenue.
Rice Transplanter Machine market
report will be mainly useful for the research Institutes, manufactures,
potential investors, key executive (CEO and COO) and strategy growth manager.
Ask for Sample PDF of
Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/request-sample/11157237
The report splits global Rice
Transplanter Machine market into Americas, APAC, EMEA regions. The
Rice Transplanter Machine Market report provides detailed analysis of the key
players in the market which provides company overview, financial
overview, service offering, different strategies used by them,
and comprehensive SWOT analysis of
·
Kubota
·
Iseki
·
Yanmar
·
TYM
·
Jiangsu World Agriculture Machinery and many more
>For any
pre-order inquiry of market report, contact our experts @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/11157237
The worldwide and regional Rice
Transplanter Machine market elements are precisely explained which helps to
understand advancing of business trends, drivers, opportunities, and
difficulties for the worldwide Rice Transplanter Machine market.
Rice Transplanter Machine Market
driver
One of the major drivers for this
market is Shift toward mechanization. Mechanization, which involves
mechanically transferring saplings from trays to the soil, is set to
revolutionize the production of rice. This technique enhances productivity by
20%-30%, reduces the overall cultivation cost, and increases the profitability
for farmers by doing away with the extensive manual labor associated with rice
cultivation. It will change the scenario of rice production on a mass scale by
reducing the drudgery associated with preparing the field, transplanting,
cutting crops, and threshing paddy.
Rice Transplanter Machine Market
challenge
one of the major factors
hindering the growth of this market is Lack of finances for small farmers to
replace old machinery. Agricultural machinery such as tractors, rice
transplanters, and harvesters are capital-intensive and a major investment for
most farmers. The quality and after-sales services of such machinery are
another concern, and most farmers belong to the low-income bracket. Also,
agriculture is largely carried out in rural areas, and there is still an
inadequacy of service-centers for proper maintenance.
Rice Transplanter Machine Market
trend
The latest trend gaining momentum
in the market is Product innovation. Manufacturers are increasingly coming up
with more varied products. For instance, Kubota launched a new rice-seedling
transplanter that enables unskilled drivers to move it straight along with the
machine. In an agreement with telecommunications giant Nippon Telegraph and
Telephone group, Kubota is also developing auto-driving farm machines that use
GPS. The company aims to roll out unmanned tractors around 2018.
The Porter’s five forces analysis
included in the report educates buyer on the current situations along with
anticipated future Rice Transplanter Machine market size.
Purchase Market report at $3500
(Single User License) @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/purchase/11157237
The CAGR of each segment in Rice
Transplanter Machine market along with global market (as whole) is explained
with great ease. Also, global and regional Rice Transplanter Machine market
supply chain analysis provides vital info about producers, distributers and key
end-users in the market. It also explains import-export situations, affecting
factors etc. to fully and deeply reveal market situations.
SOURCE Facts Week https://factsweek.com/
Eastern
District of Missouri corrects settlement amounts in genetically modified rice
case
by Robert Davis |
Apr. 4, 2018, 10:49pm
ST. LOUIS - Judge Catherine D.
Perry of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri has amended her decision regarding settlement
amounts owed to Stearns National Bank and Amegy Bank National Association in
Texana Mill Rice's lawsuit against Bayer CropScience over genetically modified
rice.
The revised decision was filed on
March 20. The case was on remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th
Circuit.
Texana and Bayer settled the case
in September 2012, with Bayer agreeing to pay $2.1 million in exchange for
Texana’s agreement to release its tort claims of lost profits and damage to its
equipment and facilities totaling $13.9 million.
The court concurred that all of
Texana's claims against Bayer were "included in the Settlement Agreement
and Release, including its claim for damage to property, equipment, and
machinery," and awarded the company a settlement for 39.7 percent of all
damages. Stearns and Amegy were owed proceeds by Texana of over $8 million
at the time the settlement was reached. The banks argued that they were
entitled to proceeds of the net settlement because of their involvement with
the company, according to background information in the order.
The court ordered Stearns to
receive 78.1 percent of the net settlement and Amegy to recoup the
remainder.
Stearns received $765,267.75 of
the $977,269.90 net settlement, while $212,002.15 went to Amegy.
Perry wrote in her revised order
that the clerk of court informed her that "the principal sum on deposit in
the Court’s registry is actually $977.270.84, which is 94 cents more than the
$977,269.90," to account for accrued interest.
She further updated the amounts
each bank will receive and ordered that “Amegy Bank shall recover the remainder
of the Net Settlement in the Court’s registry – that is, $212,003.09 – as and
for its interest in the commercial tort claim for lost profits, contracts, and
goodwill. I will, therefore, order the Clerk to disburse $212,003.09 to Amegy
Bank from the Court’s registry.”
Primary Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) Market Analysis by
Product Type & Applications, Key Players and Growth Forecast Analysis
Primary Food Processing
Machinery (PFPM) Market research report delivers
erudite market data on the market drivers, present as well as upcoming growth
opportunities, segment wise and region wise challenges faced by Primary Food
Processing Machinery (PFPM) market, competitive scenario in the global market.
Primary Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) Market analyst segments the market to
help the buyer to understand the present as well as future market size,
situations in terms of growth rate and revenue.
Primary
Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) market report will be mainly useful for the
research Institutes, manufactures, potential investors, key executive (CEO and
COO) and strategy growth manager.
Ask for
Sample PDF of Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/request-sample/11016213
The
report splits global Primary Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) market into Americas,
APAC, EMEA regions. The Primary Food Processing Machinery
(PFPM) Market report provides detailed analysis of the key players in the
market which provides company overview, financial overview, service
offering, different strategies used by them, and comprehensive SWOT analysis of
· Anko Food Machine
· Buhler
· GEA Group
· Krones
· Tetra Laval and many more
>For any
pre-order inquiry of market report, contact our experts @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/11016213
The
worldwide and regional Primary Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) market elements
are precisely explained which helps to understand advancing of business trends,
drivers, opportunities, and difficulties for the worldwide Primary Food
Processing Machinery (PFPM) market.
Primary
Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) Market driver
One of
the major drivers for this market is Increased efficiency of machinery. The
increase in production rates, decrease in changeover time between runs,
improvement in food quality, deduction in the number of line workers, increase
in the ability to process a variety of food products, and simplification in
sanitation and clean-up of machinery are the focus areas of food processing
firms. Food processing manufacturers are now focusing on more efficient
machines in order to fulfil all the above-mentioned requirements. For instance,
GEA Group introduced an innovative poultry parts injection process in 2016 for fueling
the yield of skin-on and bone-in products, including chicken wings, thighs,
legs, drum sticks, and whole or half birds. Originally, this process was
carried out using tumbling.
Primary
Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) Market challenge
one of
the major factors hindering the growth of this market is Food wastage during
processes. Problems in machinery performance like mechanical mishandling and
product blockages are leading to wastage of food products in the primary stage.
Technical malfunctions and overproduction are the major causes of food wastage.
These losses are difficult to avoid due to technical dependency. In the primary
stage, food goes through trimming where the edible and inedible portions are
separated. If a product is over processed, it reduces the output rate and
increases the cost for processor. For instance, most rice processors polish the
rice twice or more, which increases the commercial value of rice but decreases
its nutritional value.
Primary
Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) Market trend
The
latest trend gaining momentum in the market is Modernization and operation
optimization. Companies providing PFPM are constantly upgrading their machinery
to pace with the growing demand for processed food products. Low profit margins
and strict food processing regulations are pushing manufacturers to improve
their machine efficiency by investing in large processing plants and advanced
food processing machinery. Due to customer demand for upgraded PFPM,
manufacturers are constantly working on automation, inspection systems, and
energy efficiency to enhance the product quality and reduce the food processing
costs. The increasing demand for reliable performance, high efficiency degree,
easy installation, robustness, and low maintenance will trigger the innovations
and investment in R&D in the global PFPM market
The
Porter’s five forces analysis included in the report educates buyer on the
current situations along with anticipated future Primary Food Processing
Machinery (PFPM) market size.
Purchase
Market report at $3500 (Single User License) @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/purchase/11016213
The CAGR
of each segment in Primary Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) market along with
global market (as whole) is explained with great ease. Also, global and
regional Primary Food Processing Machinery (PFPM) market supply chain analysis
provides vital info about producers, distributers and key end-users in the
market. It also explains import-export situations, affecting factors etc. to
fully and deeply reveal market situations.
SOURCE Facts Week https://factsweek.com/
Aromatic rice, sweet scent of
success
North Bengal farmers enthusiastic about aromatic variety rice
crops
12:00 AM, April 05, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, April 05, 2018
A
smiling farmer holds a basket full of aromatic rice grown on his field at
Angarpara village in Nilphamari Sadar upazila. Photo: EAM Asaduzzaman
EAM Asaduzzaman with Andrew Eagle
Chinigura, kalijira, kataribhog,
nenia and basmati: to connoisseurs the mere mention of these aromatic rice
varieties is enough to make them hungry. For North Bengal's farmers the same
variety list conjures not only the idea of delectable cuisine but also,
increasingly, cash. Add to that the most popular aromatic variety of all: the
high-yield Brri dhan-34 strain developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research
Institute. With high sales prices and suitable geography, aromatic rice farming
across the north is flourishing.“Aromatic rice is more lucrative than the usual
aman varieties,” says Fazal Huq, a paddy farmer from Pushna village in
Nilphamari's Kishoreganj upazila. “Aromatic rice can produce 2.7 tonnes per
hectare to sell for around Tk 1.22 lakh. Aman will produce 3.6 tonnes per
hectare, which sells for approximately Tk 86,000.”
“Varieties like Brri dhan-34 can be
transplanted to the field as late as mid-September,” says another enthusiastic
farmer, Sufal Chandra from Harialkuti village in Rangpur's Taraganj upazila.
“That means the monsoon downpours of July and August can't ruin the crop as
sometimes happens with aman paddy.”
“It's easy to sell aromatic rice
crops,” notes Abu Bakkar Siddik, a farmer from Balapara village in Nilphamari
Sadar upazila. “Quite a few companies search it out. They have village agents
to buy from our doorsteps.”
It's not only farmers who are
impressed by the characteristics of aromatic rice. Experts agree that for the
northern region, such varieties are a winner.
“We can hardly think of having a
festival or celebratory meal without such types of rice,” says the Department
of Agriculture Extension's regional Additional Director Shah Alam. “The demand
is there. We advise farmers to use organic fertiliser which preserves that
tell-tale scent and taste. We can also help them to implement the best grain
processing methods to maximise their profits.”
“The prospect of producing more
export-quality aromatic rice in this region is very bright,” says Md
Moniruzzaman, the department's deputy director for the Rangpur region. “Farmers
are interested in crop diversification. With the right technological approach,
aromatic rice farming can be highly profitable.”“The alluring scent and
mouth-watering taste that result in high prices both domestically and abroad
offer good incentive for farmers to grow aromatic rice,” remarks Mesbahul
Islam, a horticulture specialist with the department. “The Rangpur region has
suitable irrigation resources and favourable land conditions to support these
crops.”
This season has seen 13,779
hectares across the northern region devoted to aromatic rice strains, which is
an increase of 762 hectares from the previous season. Given the suitability for
cultivation and profit potential of these crops, it's not difficult to foresee
continued production growth.
Aromatic rice,
sweet scent of success
North Bengal
farmers enthusiastic about aromatic variety rice crops
A smiling farmer holds a basket
full of aromatic rice grown on his field at Angarpara village in Nilphamari
Sadar upazila. Photo: EAM Asaduzzaman
“Aromatic
rice is more lucrative than the usual aman varieties,” says Fazal Huq, a paddy
farmer from Pushna village in Nilphamari's Kishoreganj upazila. “Aromatic rice
can produce 2.7 tonnes per hectare to sell for around Tk 1.22 lakh. Aman will produce
3.6 tonnes per hectare, which sells for approximately Tk 86,000.”
“Varieties
like Brri dhan-34 can be transplanted to the field as late as mid-September,”
says another enthusiastic farmer, Sufal Chandra from Harialkuti village in
Rangpur's Taraganj upazila. “That means the monsoon downpours of July and
August can't ruin the crop as sometimes happens with aman paddy.”
“It's
easy to sell aromatic rice crops,” notes Abu Bakkar Siddik, a farmer from
Balapara village in Nilphamari Sadar upazila. “Quite a few companies search it
out. They have village agents to buy from our doorsteps.”
It's not
only farmers who are impressed by the characteristics of aromatic rice. Experts
agree that for the northern region, such varieties are a winner.
“We can
hardly think of having a festival or celebratory meal without such types of
rice,” says the Department of Agriculture Extension's regional Additional
Director Shah Alam. “The demand is there. We advise farmers to use organic
fertiliser which preserves that tell-tale scent and taste. We can also help
them to implement the best grain processing methods to maximise their profits.”
“The
prospect of producing more export-quality aromatic rice in this region is very
bright,” says Md Moniruzzaman, the department's deputy director for the Rangpur
region. “Farmers are interested in crop diversification. With the right
technological approach, aromatic rice farming can be highly profitable.”
“The
alluring scent and mouth-watering taste that result in high prices both
domestically and abroad offer good incentive for farmers to grow aromatic
rice,” remarks Mesbahul Islam, a horticulture specialist with the department.
“The Rangpur region has suitable irrigation resources and favourable land
conditions to support these crops.”
This season
has seen 13,779 hectares across the northern region devoted to aromatic rice
strains, which is an increase of 762 hectares from the previous season. Given
the suitability for cultivation and profit potential of these crops, it's not
difficult to foresee continued production growth.
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