GMO Cassava Can Provide Iron, Zinc To Malnourished African Children
In poor parts of the world,
people may rely on a single staple crop to meet a substantial proportion of
their energy requirements. For example, those who live in southeast Asia rely
heavily on rice. Many denizens of Africa rely on cassava, a tuber somewhat
reminiscent of a potato.
In the United States, cassava is
mainly associated with tapioca, which is used in pudding or bubble tea.
However, in Africa, cassava is essential for survival: About one-third of
sub-Saharan Africans rely on it for more than half of their caloric intake.
The trouble with cassava,
however, is that it is nutrient-poor. Partially as a result, iron and zinc
deficiencies are common in Africa. Iron deficiency results in anemia, zinc
deficiency in susceptibility to death by diarrhea, and each is also associated
with impaired cognitive development. Breeding better varieties of cassava that
absorb and store more of these nutrients is made difficult by a lack of genetic
diversity. So, scientists have turned to biotechnology.
GMO Cassava Can Help Treat Iron and Zinc Deficiency
An international team of
researchers, including scientists affiliated with the USDA, have genetically
modified cassava to contain much higher levels of iron and zinc than the
non-transgenic variety. They used two genes from thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), a pathetic
looking plant that happens to be one of the most studied organisms in all of
biology. The first gene was a derivative of IRT1, which encodes an iron transport protein. The
second, FER1, encodes
ferritin, an iron storage protein.
Modifying the plant with these
two genes increased not only iron levels but zinc levels, as well. (See figure
below. The left panel depicts iron levels; the right panel depicts zinc levels.
The controls are on the left side of each panel; the others are experimental
plants.)
The authors further assessed the
effects of processing on nutrient retention. Cassava is not eaten raw. Instead,
it is often turned into garri or fufu, and some iron and zinc are lost in this
process. Using this data, combined with food consumption patterns, the authors
estimate that their genetically modified cassava could provide up to 50% of the
dietary requirement for iron and up to 70% for zinc in children aged 1 to 6
years, as well as non-lactating, non-pregnant women.
One wonders how the anti-GMO
movement could oppose something like this. But given their hostility to Golden
Rice, which has been genetically modified to contain a vitamin A precursor to
prevent blindness, they usually find a way. For the sake of African children,
let's hope they aren't successful.
Source:
Narayanan Narayanan, et al. "Biofortification of field-grown cassava by
engineering expression of an iron transporter and ferritin." Nature
Biotechnology 37: 144-151. Published: 28-Jan-2019. DOI:
10.1038/s41587-018-0002-1
International Promotion Funding Tops $5M in
2019
WASHINGTON DC -- The 2019 Market Access Program (MAP)
and Foreign Market Development (FMD) allocations were announced late last
week and USA Rice received more than $4 million, close to $25,000 more than
last year, reflecting an 11 percent increase in FMD and a 7 percent reduction
in MAP.
The MAP and FMD allocations, coupled with the $3 million dollars of Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) Program funding over three years increases opportunities to explore new markets and greater export potential for the rice industry. "In total, USA Rice will have more that $5 million dollars to conduct promotional activities in FY2019," said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. "We depend on these funds to spread the message to consumers in overseas markets of the multiple benefits and the quality of U.S.-grown rice." Last week during the USA Rice Government Affairs Conference, Ward and several USA Rice members met with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) Administrator Ken Isley and Trade Programs Administrator Mark Slupek to thank them for their continuing support and discuss issues facing the U.S. rice industry. "The MAP and FMD programs are the lifeblood for USA Rice promotional activities abroad," said Terry Harris, chairman of the USA Rice International Promotion Committee who was at the meeting with FAS officials. "The overall increase in funding is a testament to the great work that USA Rice is doing in our partner countries to reach new markets and grow market share worldwide." |
|
Video to see
Published on Feb 10, 2019
Arkansas
Sate Turns up the Heat on Rice Crops
Arkansas State collaborates with two
universities to create a heat-resilient variety of wheat.
Feb. 11, 2019, at
1:05 a.m.
BY KENNETH HEARD, THE Jonesboro Sun
JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) — A group of Arkansas State
University educators and students are studying effects of heat on rice crops in
a three-university project aimed at discovering plants that can withstand
global warming.
Scientists at the University of Nebraska at
Lincoln and Kansas State
University are also looking at creating a heat-resilient variety of wheat. The
five-year, $6 million project is funded by the National Science Foundation
through its Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research program.
Argelia Lorence, director of ASU's phenomics facility and a
Vaughn Endowed Professorship of metabolic engineering, is heading the ASU study
with Wency Larazo, a rice agronomist.
She said climate data has shown that during the past 40 years,
the average night time temperature in areas that produce rice have increased by
5 degrees. That's indicative, she said, of continued rising temperatures that
are putting stress on important crops.
"This isn't a political issue," she said to The
Jonesboro Sun. "It's a food issue."
Lorence and seven ASU students will construct six greenhouse
tents at a newly opened University of Arkansas rice research center at
Harrisburg in March. The team will plant 400 various breeds of rice in each of
the tents and raise temperatures in three of the tents to see how resilient
they are. Each plant is photographed daily to see how the increased climate may
affect it.
The plants will also be taken back to the Arkansas Biosciences
Institute on the ASU campus in Jonesboro where they will be further tested for
size, color, the amount of chlorophyll they contain and their leaf
temperatures.
When Lorence and her team find the most resilient brands of
rice, they will present their findings to rice breeders who can then attempt to
crossbreed brands for a more heat-resilient form of rice seed.
Lorence, who has been at ASU for 14 years, was raised in Mexico
City, Mexico. She earned her doctorate in biotechnology at the Universidad
Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
She worked on projects in Mexico until a change in the country's
government took science funding decisions from the National Council on Science
and Technology and gave it to politicians instead.
"Instead of the (council) deciding what was best, they let
the politicians decide," she said. "It was about who you knew. I knew
no politicians."
While at Virginia Tech, she was part of a team that published
the discovery of a new biosynthetic pathway for vitamin C in plants.
She sent 25 applicants to research institutes across the country
and was offered three jobs, including one at ASU.
The Arkansas Biosciences Institute attracted Lorence, and she
accepted the position. In addition to the rice study, she is also leading a
team in understanding how vitamin C delays aging and contributes to plant
tolerance to stresses.
Lorence's rice-studying team is an international group of
students. Along with Larazo, who is from the Philippines, the team is made up
of doctoral students Kharla Mendez and Cherryl Quinones, both of the
Philippines; master's student Shannon Cunningham of the Bahamas; post-doctorate
student Karina Medina-Jimenez of Mexico; and undergraduate student Lilian
Aniemena of Nigeria.
She is also working with Arlene Adviento-Borbe, a representative
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Delta Water Management Unit.
A team at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln that is
conducting similar greenhouse tests with wheat is led by Harkamal Walia, an
associate professor of agronomy and horticulture.
"We are excited about this project," Lorence said.
"The amount of land for crops is decreasing, but there are more people. We
need to eat. The only way to do this is to make the crops more productive. I
love coming to work," she said. "This is my passion. We're working as
hard as we can."
___
Information from: The Jonesboro Sun, http://www.jonesborosun.com
An AP Member Exchange shared by the Jonesboro Sun.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Vice president calls for more
competitive rice production
A
farmer applies pesticide to his paddy field. Zarni Phyo/The Myanmar Times
The vice president, who is also head of the Protection of Farmer
Rights and Enhancement of their Benefits Group, said at the annual meeting of
the Myanmar Rice Federation that the country earns K5 trillion (US$3.2 billion)
annually from its rice, including K2 trillion from exports.
He urged farmers at the meeting over the weekend at the Myanmar
Convention Centre in Mandalay city that they have to maintain, if not improve,
the quality of rice the country produces.
U Aung Thu, minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation,
said, “To compete in the international market with both quality and price, we
have drawn up and issued good agricultural practices as well as announced
organic standards last month.”
U Aung Thu said that it regularly updates its standards to keep
up with the demands of the international market.
Myanmar produced more than 9 billion tonnes of rice in fiscal
2017-2018 and exported 3.85 million tonnes, worth about US$1.1 billion, the
highest amount in 73 years.
Rice exports for 2020 are expected to reach over 4 million
tonnes, according to U Chit Khine, chair of the federation.
U Henry Van Thio said the government will continue to negotiate for the best
price for Myanmar rice.
“The government will discuss with higher-ups and participants
from foreign countries that buy rice, and will try to get a higher quota
through government-to-government contacts,” he said.
The vice president said that among the key strategies of the
government to boost rice production is to encourage more contract farming,
implement simple and easy policies, and improve the foreign investment climate,
among others.
Vietnam
loses out on global market without rice brand
Vietnamese
rice exporters often ship in 50-kilogramme bags under the labels of their
foreign distributors (Photo: VNA)
Long An
(VNS/VNA) - Trung An Hi-tech Farming JSC in the
Mekong Delta has been exporting rice under foreign brand names for many years
though it is itself one of the biggest rice exporters in Vietnam.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the third Vietnamese Rice Festival in Long An province last December, Pham Thai Binh, the company’s director, said to let consumers know about Vietnamese rice products, exporters like his company have to be able to show consumers their brand logos.
“But at the moment we still depend on buyers, which means they decide the packaging and labelling and we only have to follow instructions.
“Some markets allow the phrase ‘origin in Vietnam’ to be written on the package, and that is already quite generous.”
He said foreign buyers usually order in bulk and want 50kg packaged under their name.
“They do not have to introduce Vietnamese rice to consumers, they just want to promote their own brands.”
According to the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD), Vietnam exports to 150 markets yet global recognition of Vietnamese rice brands is still very low.
Last December, it unveiled the official Vietnam rice brand logo hoping to create a firm foothold in the global market.
Binh said it was an important move because it would help consumers identify Vietnamese rice since the logo is on the package.
But having a national brand does not mean it would automatically enhance the value of Vietnamese rice, he said.
“Whether or not we can increase the value depends on the quality of the product. Quality decides everything. Even the national rice brand can only be successful if companies and farmers collaborate to improve product quality.”
Nguyen Quoc Toan, Acting Director of MARD’s Department of Agricultural Market Processing and Development, had emphasised the importance of quality at the launch of the national brand logo.
“The main issue [when building a brand for Vietnamese rice] is product quality because no brand will be accepted when the quality is poor.
“First and foremost, we need to improve the quality of our rice grain to not only meet the requirements of traditional rice markets but also niche markets in future.”
He said enterprises and farmers must work together very closely to enhance the value of Vietnamese rice.
Dr Nguyen Duc Thanh, Director of the Institute of Economic and Policy Research, told Vietnam News that consumers are now more demanding than ever. “They want to buy clean and organic rice whose production is traceable.”
He said farmers have to meet those requirements but cannot do it by themselves.
They have to work with enterprises because the latter work directly with consumers and have the responsibility to ensure people can buy good quality products, he said. “Only by joining hands can farmers and enterprises tap foreign markets.”
He also pointed out that due to low productivity, farmers have to grow three rice crops a year instead of two as recommended by scientists for sustainability, which leads to low quality and almost no value addition.
If the non-agricultural sector grows further, farmers could abandon the third crop, he said.
“Production may decrease but quality will improve and bring more value.”
According to Dr Nguyen Van Sanh, former director of the Mekong Delta Development Research Institute, the delta, the country’s rice basket, has been hit by climate change in recent years, which has brought challenges such as changing water flows, low market competitiveness and overexploitation of agricultural resources.
Besides, production costs increase while quality deteriorates, he said. “To develop a sustainable rice industry, farmers, enterprises and administrators must be ‘smart’ in production and trading.”
It can be done by selecting appropriate rice varieties, making use of ecological advantages through regional and sub-regional integration, improving production techniques, and adopting effective mechanisms and policies, he added.
Dr Thanh noted that enterprises need to pay more attention to communication and advertising to build their brands in the domestic market first before expanding overseas.
He said though advertising is costly, without communication consumers cannot know and would continue to think that foreign rice is better than Vietnamese rice though it is not always the reality.
He said high-income families prefer to buy imported rice from Japan, Thailand or South Korea, and so building rice brands should not only be for international markets but also the domestic market.
“We can sell Vietnamese rice at supermarkets overseas but on a small scale. At the moment the biggest market for us is the domestic market.
“It has 100 million people who eat rice every day. Only a small number of highly selective consumers care about rice brands while the majority are indifferent.
“The domestic market is very sustainable for us as it is familiar and we have knowledge about the local market and consumers,” he said.-VNS/VNA
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the third Vietnamese Rice Festival in Long An province last December, Pham Thai Binh, the company’s director, said to let consumers know about Vietnamese rice products, exporters like his company have to be able to show consumers their brand logos.
“But at the moment we still depend on buyers, which means they decide the packaging and labelling and we only have to follow instructions.
“Some markets allow the phrase ‘origin in Vietnam’ to be written on the package, and that is already quite generous.”
He said foreign buyers usually order in bulk and want 50kg packaged under their name.
“They do not have to introduce Vietnamese rice to consumers, they just want to promote their own brands.”
According to the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD), Vietnam exports to 150 markets yet global recognition of Vietnamese rice brands is still very low.
Last December, it unveiled the official Vietnam rice brand logo hoping to create a firm foothold in the global market.
Binh said it was an important move because it would help consumers identify Vietnamese rice since the logo is on the package.
But having a national brand does not mean it would automatically enhance the value of Vietnamese rice, he said.
“Whether or not we can increase the value depends on the quality of the product. Quality decides everything. Even the national rice brand can only be successful if companies and farmers collaborate to improve product quality.”
Nguyen Quoc Toan, Acting Director of MARD’s Department of Agricultural Market Processing and Development, had emphasised the importance of quality at the launch of the national brand logo.
“The main issue [when building a brand for Vietnamese rice] is product quality because no brand will be accepted when the quality is poor.
“First and foremost, we need to improve the quality of our rice grain to not only meet the requirements of traditional rice markets but also niche markets in future.”
He said enterprises and farmers must work together very closely to enhance the value of Vietnamese rice.
Dr Nguyen Duc Thanh, Director of the Institute of Economic and Policy Research, told Vietnam News that consumers are now more demanding than ever. “They want to buy clean and organic rice whose production is traceable.”
He said farmers have to meet those requirements but cannot do it by themselves.
They have to work with enterprises because the latter work directly with consumers and have the responsibility to ensure people can buy good quality products, he said. “Only by joining hands can farmers and enterprises tap foreign markets.”
He also pointed out that due to low productivity, farmers have to grow three rice crops a year instead of two as recommended by scientists for sustainability, which leads to low quality and almost no value addition.
If the non-agricultural sector grows further, farmers could abandon the third crop, he said.
“Production may decrease but quality will improve and bring more value.”
According to Dr Nguyen Van Sanh, former director of the Mekong Delta Development Research Institute, the delta, the country’s rice basket, has been hit by climate change in recent years, which has brought challenges such as changing water flows, low market competitiveness and overexploitation of agricultural resources.
Besides, production costs increase while quality deteriorates, he said. “To develop a sustainable rice industry, farmers, enterprises and administrators must be ‘smart’ in production and trading.”
It can be done by selecting appropriate rice varieties, making use of ecological advantages through regional and sub-regional integration, improving production techniques, and adopting effective mechanisms and policies, he added.
Dr Thanh noted that enterprises need to pay more attention to communication and advertising to build their brands in the domestic market first before expanding overseas.
He said though advertising is costly, without communication consumers cannot know and would continue to think that foreign rice is better than Vietnamese rice though it is not always the reality.
He said high-income families prefer to buy imported rice from Japan, Thailand or South Korea, and so building rice brands should not only be for international markets but also the domestic market.
“We can sell Vietnamese rice at supermarkets overseas but on a small scale. At the moment the biggest market for us is the domestic market.
“It has 100 million people who eat rice every day. Only a small number of highly selective consumers care about rice brands while the majority are indifferent.
“The domestic market is very sustainable for us as it is familiar and we have knowledge about the local market and consumers,” he said.-VNS/VNA
President to table cabinet paper to resolve problems of small and
medium scale rice millers
President Maithripala Sirisena will put forward a cabinet paper
today (Feb 12) to provide compensation and solutions for the problems faced by
small and medium scale rice millers.
Speaking at a meeting in Battaramulla attended by small and
medium scale entrepreneurs, the President said that the state policy focuses on
uplifting the lives of the people who are finding it difficult to make ends
meet.
These people will be assissted via a broad programme, Mr.
Sirisena said while outlining the importance of moving forward with the
cooperation of the public and private sector to formulate new policies and
strategies.
Agirculture Minister P. Harrison, Non Cabinet Minister of
Economic Reform and Public Distribution Dr. Harsha De Silva, District
Secretaries, Secretaries of divisional Secretariats and public officers were
present at the meeting.
Philippines rice imports to hit 2.3
million MT this year
“The Philippines has
been a more active buyer in recent months and pending legislation would likely
keep imports at robust levels,“ USDA said.
Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine
Star) - February 11, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The
Philippines will continues to import more rice this year as local production will
still not be able to cover the national demand for the country’s main staple
and as the government moves toward the liberalization of the industry.
In the latest report of the
United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS),
the Philippines is seen importing some 2.3 million metric tons (MT) of rice
this year, 21 percent higher than last year’s 1.9 million MT.
The USDA hiked this year’s rice
imports from the earlier projection of 1.8 million MT following reduced crop
estimates and the lifting of the quantitative restriction on the commodity.
“The Philippines has been a more
active buyer in recent months and pending legislation would likely keep imports
at robust levels,“ USDA said.
In fact, application to bring in
the commodity under the out-quota scheme has already reached 1.19 million MT as
of January after 180 private traders have sought approval for the importation.
An updated list released by the
National Food Authority showed that 180 firms have already applied for the
out-quota importation of 1,185,764 MT of rice to be sourced from Vietnam,
Thailand, Pakistan, India, Myanmar and China.
It was in November 2018 when the
interagency NFA Council allowed the unlimited importation of rice to further
stabilize the market.
The out-quota allocation means
traders can apply for any volume of imported rice they would want to bring into
the country.
Of the initial volume, the
imports will be discharged in Manila, Subic, Cebu, Zamboanga City, Davao, La
Union, Tacloban and Cagayan de Oro.
Meanwhile, the USDA said high
rice prices due to tight supplies, rising fuel prices, and market distribution
inefficiencies will force the Philippine government to import more rice to
stabilize prices and contain inflation.
The country’s additional imports
also aim to strengthen buffer stocks ahead of the midterm elections scheduled
in May.
Rice consumption has also been
raised to 13.65 million MT from 13.25 million MT as rising food prices are
forcing less affluent Filipinos to consume more rice and less meat and
vegetables.
Production of milled-rice this
year is seen decreasing by one percent to 12.15 million MT from the 12.23
million MT in 2018.
USDA said there may be slight
reduction in area planted as rice areas in 2019 will be at 4.81 million
hectares, one percent lower than the 4.84 million hectares last year.
Draft Rice
Act draws objection from industry
Rice industry employers and
academics have opposed the draft Rice Act, claiming it would harm the Thai rice
industry. The draft passed the first reading of commissioners under the
National Legislative... Please credit and share this article with others
using this
link:https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1627714/draft-rice-act-draws-objection-from-industry.
View
our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post
Public Company Limited.
Valentine's
Day 2019: Where to dine with your sweetheart in San Diego
Strawberry Creme Brulee Tart. (Extraordinary Desserts)
Flowers?
Check. Candy? Check. Dinner reservations? It’s not too late. San Diego is prime
with romantic dining options to show the love of your life how much you care on
Valentine’s Day.
All menus are served on Valentine’s Day, unless indicated. All
prices are per person, unless indicated. Reservations are required.
Cocktails
Breakfast Republic will start your brunch off with a variety of Valentine’s
Day drink specials, including a Red Rosé Mimosa infused with rose syrup and
cranberry or a White Chocolate Raspberry Mocha. North
Park, Liberty Station, Encinitas, East Village, Ocean Beach, Carmel Valley and
Pacific Beach. breakfastrepublic.com
Bub’s @ the Beach is serving its
Black-Hearted Mule of the Month, crafted with Gosling Black Seal Rum, a dash of
bitters, a hint of lime juice, ginger beer and soda water and garnished with a
heart-shaped gummy; and $3 red baskets of regular tater tots, sweet potato
tater tots, seasoned fries and onion rings. 1030 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. (858)
270-7269. bubspb.com
Little Italy Food Hall Bar’s
Love Bird Specials include two-for-one mimosas, $5 single shots of tequila and
whiskey; and a limited-time $10 Love Elixir cocktail, made with gin, St.
Germaine, lemon, rose water and pomegranate, garnished with a rose petal. 550 W.
Date St., San Diego. 619-269-7187. littleitalyfoodhall.com
Get into the spirit of Valentine’s Day with Saint
Archer Brewing Company’s pink beers. The Blackberry Gose, Peach
Gose and Razzleberry Gose brews all sport a naturally rose hue. (Gose is a sour
German wheat beer brewed with salt and coriander seeds). Miramar
Tasting Room: 9550 Distribution Ave., San Diego. Leucadia Tasting Room: 978 N.
Coast Highway, Encinitas. saintarcherbrewery.com
The Oceanaire is mixing up a signature
cocktail that both singles and couples will swoon over. The Flight ($16) is
crafted with vodka, Grand Marnier, strawberry cordial, fresh lime juice, edible
glitter and Prosecco. 400 J St., San Diego. (619) 858-2277. theoceanaire.com
Toast to romance at Fig Tree Cafe with drink
specials like the Bouquet of Roses Mimosa Flight complete with Blush Rose,
Lavender Rose, Yellow Rose and Red Rose tasters, or the Chocolate Raspberry
Mocha. Pacific Beach, Hillcrest, Liberty
Station. figtreeeatery.com
Dessert
Notorious Burgers’ specialty milkshake ($14) combines a classic strawberry
shake with six Callebaut chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberry purée
Callebaut chocolate syrup, whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles. Available
Fridaythrough Feb. 14. 6955 El Camino Real, Carlsbad. (760) 431-2929. notoriousburgers.com
Extraordinary Desserts is offering two Valentine’s
Day treats for those looking for an alternative to chocolate without losing the
decadent flavor. The Individual Guava Cheesecake ($13.50) is a creamy
cheesecake marbled with guava jam on a coconut graham cracker crust, finished
with a guava gelee and toasted coconut. The Strawberry Creme Brulee Tart ($12)
is strawberry cremeuse and fresh strawberries that surround the vanilla-bean
creme brulee nestled on a baked raspberry almond tart. 2929
Fifth Ave., San Diego. (619) 294-2132, and 1430 Union St., San Diego. (619)
294-7001. extraordinarydesserts.com
The Chocolate Lounge at
Theatre Box San Diego will offer 21-and-over romantics a pairing of Champagne
and chocolate-covered strawberries. For $49, couples can share a bottle of
Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé and four strawberries hand-dipped in French
milk chocolate. 701 Fifth Ave., San Diego. (619)
814-2225. theatrebox.com/chocolate-lounge-2
Casual dining
Bub’s @ the Ballpark in East Village will host its fifth annual Valentine’s Day
Doggie Brunch featuring a special menu for pups, Bloody Mary bar, raffles and
prizes. Looking for a four-legged love match? Rescue dogs will be available for
adoption, benefiting Second Chance Dog Rescue San Diego. 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Sunday. 715 J St., San Diego. (619) 546-0815. bubssandiego.comevents/valentines-day-doggie-brunch
Natural Style Chicken will keep your Valentine’s
Day casual with eats like fresh rotisserie chicken, ribs and Korean-style beef.
Split a regular-size red soju (a Korean drink) with your sweetheart and share a
free bowl of sweet chili mushrooms, or split a large-size red soju and get a
free bulgogi (marinated grilled beef). 501 University Ave., Hillcrest. $13 for regular
size. (619) 228-9442.
Fresh Brothers will offer heart-shaped
pizzas Feb. 14-17. Order a large pizza topped with fresh tomatoes, all-natural
mozzarella and 30 toppings of your choosing. A la carte pricing. The Village at Pacific
Highlands Ranch, 13490 Pacific Highlands Ranch Parkway, Suite 103, San Diego.
(858) 252-7000. freshbrothers.com
Harumama will celebrate Valentine’s
Day with a heart-shaped version of its signature character buns, each filled
with chocolate. Available through Feb. 14. 1901 Columbia St.,
Little Italy, and 2958 Madison St., Carlsbad. $7.95 for two buns. harumamasd.com
Everbowl’s “On A Date” bowl is the
perfect option for health-centered couples or for those looking for a sweet
Valentine’s Day treat that won’t break your New Year's resolution. It starts
with an acai base with strawberries, dates, bananas, frozen peanut butter and
topped with granola, bananas, peanut butter and cacao nibs. Poway,
San Marcos, Rancho Penasquitos, Escondido, Bonita, Scripps Ranch, Oceanside, Santee,
Mission Valley, Carmel Valley, San Elijo Hills. $8 per bowl. everbowl.com
Coaster Saloon is shaking up date night
with $7 craft cocktails for its Coaster Over Cupid special menu created with
the anti-romance crowd in mind. Try the Stupid Cupid, a concoction of Benchmark
Bourbon, Bols Elderflower, lemon juice, simple syrup and Wycliff, or The Other
Girl, an Aperol and gin cocktail with watermelon. Coaster Saloon is also
offering a half rack of spare ribs for $13.99 or a full rack for $19.99. 744
Ventura Place, Mission Beach. (858) 488.4438. cohnrestaurants.com/coastersaloon
Corvette Diner offers a night of burgers, ice cream sundaes and a whole lot of
family fun. The Sweetheart Dinner for Two starts with sparkling cider and
includes the choice of two entrées, including the Brenda Burger with bacon and
Sophia Loren Spaghetti and Meatballs, and a shareable dessert, plus two $5
Gamers Garage arcade cards. Kid’s meals are also available as part of the
special. 2965 Historic Decatur Road, Liberty
Station. cohnrestaurants.com/corvettediner
It’s all about puppy love at Mavericks
Beach Club, which is why its hosting “I’d Rather Date My
Dog” on Valentine’s Day. Hosted by Tito’s Vodka, there will be lots of fun for
both humans and pooches, including drink specials, giveaways and treats. Be
sure to wear your bow ties or tuxedos because awards will be given to best
dressed “couple.” 860 Garnet Ave., San Diego. (858)
999-0348. maverickssd.com
The Haven Pizzeria will offer a three-course
meal for two that includes a house salad or an order of Haven twists, a 14-inch
specialty pizza of your choice and a ice cream cookie or dessert twists. A
bottle of house red or white wine will accompany the meal. 11:30
a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 4051 Adams Ave., San Diego. $50. (619) 281-1904. thehavenpizzeria.com
All Tajima eateries (Kearny
Mesa, Hillcrest, East Village, North Park) will serve couples any two ramen
dishes on the menu along with two fountain drinks or one hot sake and mochi
(Japanese rice cake) ice cream. 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. $25 per couple. tajimasandiego.com
Prix fixe dinners
Morton’s The Steakhouse will offer sweetheart dishes like steak and lobster Oscar
or 8-ounce filet topped with a whole Maine lobster and Bearnaise sauce.
Saturday-Feb. 16. The Harbor Club, 285 J St., San Diego. $59.
(619) 696-3369. mortons.com/sandiego
Bluewater Grill
Carlsbad and Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill will
host “From Europe with Love” featuring countries that wrote the book on love —
France and Italy. Borrowing from the European tradition of linking romance with
food, Bluewater chefs will serve special versions of French bouillabaisse and
Italian cioppino (fish stew), followed by a split of chocolate lava cake or key
lime pie paired with Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut or hand-selected French and
Italian wines. 417 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, (760)
730-3474, and 1701 Strand Way, Coronado, (619) 435-0155. $40 with wine pairing
Tuesday only; $40 same menu without Champagne and wine pairing
Wednesday through Feb. 28. bluewatergrill.com
Mister A’s will serve a four-course
dinner that includes a shareable starter for two and distinct dishes like
oven-roasted lamb loin, poached Maine lobster or Wagyu-aged New York
steak. Wednesday-Feb. 17. 2550 Fifth Ave., San Diego.
$145 per person; $55 per person for wine pairings. (619) 239-1377. opentable.com
Kairoa in University Heights will
offer a prix fixe Valentine’s Day menu for couples with differing diets. The
dinner will feature one vegan and one non-vegan item per course. 4601
Park Blvd., San Diego. $40 per person; $20 additional wine pairing of Vinho
Verde. (619) 295 1355. kairoa.com
Bleu Boheme’s executive chef and owner, Ken
Irvine, is treating guests to a French “Saint Valentin” prix fixe menu. Entrée
options include a choice between saumon “Oscar,” fresh King salmon pan roasted
with crab; filet mignon “Rossini,” filet mignon on foie gras croutons with
truffle butter and Madeira sauce; coquilles Saint Jacques, sea scallops with
farro saffron risotto; or gnocchi à la parisienne, made with Parmesan
dumplings, Brussels sprouts, smoked duck bacon and white wine sauce. The Saint
Valentine Martini ($14), made with Flor de Cana Rum, Grand Marnier, Fonseca No.
27 port and fresh lime juice will also be available. First
seating starts at 4 p.m. 4090 Adams Ave., San Diego. $75 per person, with
additional items available for a supplemental charge. (619) 255-4167. bleuboheme.com
Vivace chef de cuisine Richard Powers has created a Valentine’s
Day menu with dishes like buttered poached Maine lobster risotto and a
wood-fired roasted venison loin. Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, 7100 Aviara Resort
Drive, Carlsbad. (760) 603 3773. vivace-restaurant.com
Argyle Steakhouse will offer all the favorite
cuts of steaks, including prime tenderloin and prime New York along with other
options for the non-steak fans in a prix fixe menu. Aviara
Golf Club, 7447 Batiquitos Drive, Carlsbad.(760) 603-6908. argylesteakhouse.com
Bistro 39 at Hilton Garden Inn Del
Mar features a three-course prix fixe menu with entree options like
pepper-crushed filet mignon, Bistro 39 vegetable napoleon, Chef Jose’s chicken
cordon bleu or fresh herb-crusted halibut. 3939 Ocean Bluff Ave., San Diego. $45 per
person. (858) 720-9500. bistro39sandiego.com
Hope 46 at The Lafayette Hotel will
serve a prix fixe menu with your choice of entree: pan-seared Diver scallops
($52), Yukon River Delta wild salmon ($48) or grilled 10-ounce top sirloin ($50).
Guests can add a half dozen oysters with classic garnishes or two Dungeness
crab cakes with spicy remoulade and petite arugula for $14. 2223 El
Cajon Blvd., San Diego. (619) 296-2101. lafayettehotelsd.com
Treat your Valentine to a four-course menu surrounded by
breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean at JRDN in Pacific
Beach. Feb. 14-16. 723 Felspar St., San Diego. $65 per
person. (858) 270-2323. t23hotel.com/play/events/valentinesday
Nonna will offer a prix fixe menu
with dishes like short rib lasagna, osso buco risotto, Gamberi al limone
(lemon-scented shrimp) and manzo con pancetta (beef with bacon). 1735
India St., Little Italy. $40 per person. (619) 234-1735. nonnasd.com
Kettner Exchange will offer five courses
with optional wine pairings. Dishes include prime beef tenderloin with potato
puree and black truffle hollandaise, plus a “Thin Mint” chocolate cake with
mint ice cream and chocolate macarons. Service starts at 5 p.m. 2001 Kettner Blvd.,
San Diego. $90; $50 additional wine pairings. (619) 255-2001. kettnerexchange.com
The Grass Skirt will offer several specials
in addition to bao buns and signature cocktails. Couples can share carved-out
pineapple punch bowls filled with cocktail creations priced at $35 alongside a
special coconut panna cotta with strawberry puree, chocolate soil (crumbs) and
pineapple pieces for $10. Service starts at 5 p.m. 910 Grand Ave., San
Diego. (858) 412-5237. thegrassskirt.com
Cloak & Petal will amp up your romance
with a three-course prix fixe menu featuring A5 Wagyu tartare, specialty rolls,
including the 30th & University crafted with crab, scallops, asparagus and
other delicacies, and glazed duck breast. The Valentine’s Day cocktail, the
Kobito No Yume (Lover’s Dream), is infused with Peychaud’s Bitters, lime juice,
pineapple juice, house-made grenadine, and Cutwater Fugu Hibiscus Vodka. 1953
India St., Little Italy. $65. (619) 501-5505. cloakandpetal.com
Farmer’s Bottega in Mission Hills will offer
a three-course prix fixe menu with offerings like lobster shrimp bisque, petite
filet mignon, surf and turf and limoncello cake for dessert. 860 W.
Washington St., San Diego. $60; $15 option wine pairing. (619) 458-9929. farmersbottega.com
Pacific Beach AleHouse’s Valentine’s Day three-course
dinner features items like West Coast oysters, beef carpaccio, scallop-stuffed
salmon and a shareable dessert of your choice. 721 Grand Ave., San Diego. $34.99; $59.95 per
couple. (858) 581-2337. pbalehouse.com
Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas will share the love with a three-course menu brimming with
dishes like lobster and truffle cakes, stout-braised pork cheeks, sweet potato
gnocchi and chocolate-orange creme brulee. 1108 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. $75; $25
additional wine pairing. (760) 230-2337. localunion101.com
Union Kitchen & Tap Gaslamp will offer a Valentine’s Day menu priced at $60 per couple
along with live acoustic music from 7 to 10 p.m. After dinner, sing a song to
your love during Broken Hearts karaoke from 10 p.m. to close or have a nightcap
at the Late Night Social Hour with half-off cocktails, beer and wine from 10
p.m. to close. 333 Fifth Ave., San Diego. (619)
795-9463. gaslampunion.com
Kitchen 1540 is providing couples with a
romantic four-course Valentine’s Day menu. The evening starts with either a
Tasting of West Coast Oysters, Skuna Bay salmon tartare with caviar or roasted
Chino Farm beets. Entrees include your choice of roasted 16-ounce ribeye with
bone marrow polenta and radish and frisée salad; seared Liberty duck breast
with parsnip puree, duck jus and Brussels sprouts; scallop and poached lobster
tail with watercress puree and oyster mushrooms; or roasted Nantes carrots with
French lentil salad, shaved almonds and lime mint. 5:30 to
9:30 p.m.L’Auberge Del Mar, 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar. $89; $40
additional wine pairings, exclusive of tax and gratuity. (858) 793-6460. laubergedelmar.com
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse says “Be Mine” with its
Valentine’s Day Filet, an elevated twist on surf and turf with an 8-ounce filet
mignon topped with butter-poached lobster tail, sea scallops, grilled
asparagus, served with yuzu hollandaise sauce. End your dinner with dark
chocolate cheesecake served with chocolate dipped strawberries, white chocolate
curls and warm Godiva chocolate sauce. Feb. 14-17. 901 Bayfront Court, San
Diego. (619) 272-5060. delfriscos.com
Stake Chophouse’s multicourse menu begins with
chef’s selection of bites, followed by your choice of entree like Wagyu eye of
rib or jumbo scallops with citrus Israeli couscous. Keep the love flowing with
$15 glasses of Veuve Clicquot Rosé. 1309 Orange Ave., Coronado. $120. stakechophouse.com
Provisional Kitchen Cafe & Mercantile will offer couples a four-course candlelight dinner.
Choose either the veal tenderloin carpaccio or New York strip and scallop
duo. Pendry
San Diego, 550 J St., San Diego. $75 per person; $35 additional wine pairings.
(619) 738-7300.
Dine on a four-course prix fixe dinner accompanied by live music
at Avant on Valentine’s Day.
$85; $120 with wine pairings. 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, San Diego. (844)
254.0013. opentable.com
Rustic Root will offer a specialty
three-course menu in the downstairs dining room. For the main course, guests
can choose between seared salmon, clams and linguine, duck confit or roasted
acorn squash. Feb. 14-17. 535 Fifth Ave., San Diego. $55 per
person. (619) 232-1747. rusticroot.com
Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant at Rancho Bernardo Inn will serve a three-course prix fixe
dinner with wine pairings. Regular a la carte dining is available. 17550
Bernardo Oaks Drive, San Diego. $65 per person; $95 with wine pairings. (844)
338-9275. opentable.com
Marina Kitchen at the Marriott Marquis San
Diego Marina will serve a three-course prix fixe dinner with your choice of
entree: pan-roasted ocean trout, carrot bolognese or Brandt Beef prime filet.
Paired with the amuse-bouche, toast to your partner with a complimentary rosé
Champagne. 5 to 10 p.m. Feb.14-16. 333 W. Harbor Drive,
San Diego. Prices starting at $55. (619) 234-1500.
The Shores Restaurant offers a gourmet
four-course menu with entrees like Pacific ahi tuna steak, Maine Diver
scallops, Maple Leaf Farm duck or Angus filet mignon. 5 to 10
p.m. 8110 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla. $68 per person. (858) 456-0600. theshoresrestaurant.com
The Patio on Goldfinch in Mission Hills will offer
main course choices like braised pork belly with a glass of French Cahors wine
or the local catch of the day with a glass of Sonoma County chardonnay. Feb.14-17.
4020 Goldfinch St., San Diego. 619-501-5090. thepatioongoldfinch.com
The Patio on Lamont in Pacific Beach will offer
appetizers like loup de mer (European sea bass) in a caviar butter sauce paired
with Sonoma County chardonnay, and entree options like New York steak topped
with uni butter, chive and creme fraiche pommes puree. Feb.
14-17. 4445 Lamont St., San Diego. (619) 412-4648. thepatioonlamont.com
The coastal-chic eatery The Patio on 101 will warm
your heart on Valentine’s Day with butternut squash soup and chardonnay or
Moroccan beef tartare with a pinot noir from Oregon. Then, dive into a bowl of
linguini and clams paired with an Italian Grillo or cocoa-braised short ribs
with a Syrah from Tuscany. Feb. 14-17. 345 S. Coast Highway 101,
Encinitas. (760) 209-1274. thepatio101.com
Crown Landing at Loews Coronado Bay
Resort will serve a three-course menu featuring items like seared scallops and
New York strip. 5 to 10 p.m. 4000 Coronado Bay Road, Coronado.
$40 per person. opentable.com
A.R. Valentien at The Lodge at Torrey
Pines will craft a special five-course prix fixe menu with optional wine
pairings. 5 to 10 p.m. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Road, San
Diego. $135 per person; $185 with wine pairings. (858) 777-6635. lodgetorreypines.com
The Grill at Torrey Pines will serve
a three-course prix fixe menu with optional wine or beer pairings. 5 to 10
p.m. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. $60 per person; $80 with beer
pairings; $90 with wine pairings. (858) 777-6641. lodgetorreypines.com
Oceana Coastal Kitchen will offer dishes like
grilled Harris Ranch rib eye or truffle risotto along with a complimentary
glass of Champagne. 5:30 to 10 p.m. Catamaran Resort Hotel
and Spa, 3999 Mission Blvd., San Diego. (858) 539-8635. catamaranresort.com
Bahia Resort Hotel’s three-course bayside dinner
offers delicious menu options with views of Mission Bay. 5:30 to
9:30 p.m. 998 W. Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. (858) 488-0551. bahaihotel.com
Viewpoint Brewing Company will host a special beer dinner open to singles and
couples. Four courses and an amuse-bouche will be paired with house-brewed
beers. The dog-friendly patio will be open and will serve from its regular
menu. Heart-shaped dog treats will be passed out to all furry four-legged
dates. 2201 San Dieguito Drive, Del Mar. $75 per
person. Email Kb@viewpointbrewing.com to reserve a seat or
two.
Mille Fleurs’ four-course menu begins
with a shareable dish, including a choice of either caviar with a buckwheat
waffle or black truffle pasta, followed by your choice of starter, entree and
dessert. 6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe. $145 per
person. (858) 756-3085. opentable.com
Monkey King will set the mood with a
three-course dinner featuring choices like M.K. chicken, Mongolian beef or pad
Thai, rice noodles with egg, carrots, bean sprouts, green onions, peanuts and
lime. 467
Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. $80 per couple. (619) 359-8897. monkeykingsd.com
Meze Greek Fusion will offer a choice between
several main dishes, including chicken souvlaki, grilled Greek kabob served
with basmati rice, sautéed vegetables and tzatziki or lamb shank marinated in
Greek spices, topped with tomato-garlic sauce and served with a side of asparagus
and mashed potatoes. 345 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. $80 per
couple. (619) 550-1600. gaslampmeze.com
Havana 1920 will serve a three-course
dinner with options like ropa vieja, shredded beef cooked in tomato sauce with
peppers and onions, or lechon asado, classic Cuban-style marinated roasted
pork. 548
Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. $80 per couple. (619) 369-1920. havana1920.com
Monzu Fresh Pasta in East Village will serve
a three-course menu that includes smoked salmon and dried cranberries salad;
choice of shrimp ravioli and pink sauce or spicy nduja pici (pasta) and a dark
chili-chocolate raspberry cake. Italian and California wines will also be
available by the glass or bottle. Monzu’s regular menu will also be available a
la carte. 455 10th Ave., San Diego. $45 per person, plus
tax and gratuity. (619) 255-5032. Email info@monzufreshpasta.com
Tahona‘s four-course dinner with mezcal
pairings includes Spanish music by guitarist Augustin El Moro. An assortment of
specialty cocktails designed to complement the Valentine’s Day menu will also
be offered. Two seatings: 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. 2414 San Diego
Ave., San Diego. $75 per person. opentable.com
In addition to its full menu, Sugar Factory American Brasserie will
offer a 21-and-over prix fixe dinner for two. The shareable menu starts with
bruschetta, followed by a choice of lobster bisque, burrata and tomato or
shrimp cocktail. Entree options range from pan-roasted salmon to Black Angus
filet mignon. End your meal with red velvet fondue or chocolate-covered
strawberries. Theatre Box San Diego, 701 Fifth Ave., San
Diego. $79 per couple. (619) 814-2225. theatrebox.com/sugar-factory-american-brasserie
Couples who dine at The Westgate Hotel will
have the option to taste and share a little bit of everything in executive chef
Fabrice Hardel’s four-course prix fixe menu. Favorites include the Black Angus
beef tenderloin with Brussel sprouts, oyster mushroom and Rossini sauce; and
Baja striped bass with zucchini tagliatelle, fava bean and Parmesan gnocchi.
Grand Marnier creme brulee topped with orange Valrhona cocoa sorbet will end
your dinner on a sweet note. 5 to 9 p.m. 1055 Second Ave., San Diego. Dinner
pricing starts at $89 per person, tax and gratuity not included. (619)
238-1818. westgatehotel.com
Bencotto Italian Kitchen in Little Italy says amore
with its homemade saffron potato dumplings filled with braised prime beef in a
port wine-reduction creamy sauce with herbs and old spices. Cast a spell on
your true love with the restaurant’s Italian Love Potion, made with vodka,
cranberry juice, vermouth and rose water. 750 W. Fir St., Suite 103, San Diego. (619)
450-4786. lovebencotto.com
Lovers of pasta and cheese will find their perfect pairing
at Monello with risotto
Valentino, a traditional Milanese saffron risotto along with veal osso buco,
served tableside out of a lodigiano nero cheese wheel. 750 W.
Fir St., Little Italy. (619) 501-0030. lovemonello.com
Trust Restaurant will offer options like the
Baja hiramasa with coconut, Asian pear, chili oil, opal basil, soy beech
mushrooms, spicy rice cracker or the 14-ounce dry-aged pork chop with local red
beans, onions, mustard greens and pomegranate pine nut vinaigrette. Top off the
dinner with a handcrafted cocktail or exotic wine paired with dessert like the
maple pecan creme brulee with poached pear and mascarpone creme. 3752
Park Blvd., San Diego. (619) 795-6901. trustrestaurantsd.com
Fort Oak, Trust Restaurant Group’s
newest concept, offers a large selection of seafood like the petite tower from
its raw bar complete with oysters, clams, prawns, Jonah crab claws, half Maine
lobster, hamachi poke and scallop aquachile. Indulge in the cannoli cones with
oak-vanilla ice cream and ginger Chantilly. 1011 Fort Stockton Drive, San Diego. (619)
722-3398. fortoaksd.com
Cannonball at Belmont Park will offer a four-course dinner, in
addition to wine specials and live music on Valentine’s Day. 4 to 9
p.m. 3105 Oceanfront Walk, San Diego. $90 per couple. belmontpark.com/event/valentines-day-cannonball
Casa de Pico’s Valentine's Day menu includes
a 17.5-ounce house margarita, surf-and-turf entree of four-ounce portions of
both steak and salmon served with arroz verde (green rice) and sauteed
vegetables in achiote sauce, and a chocolate lava cake. 5500
Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa. $31.95. (619) 463-3267. casadepico.com
Madison in University Heights
boasts a four-course prix fixe menu with options like tuna tartare, watermelon
stack, swordfish Milanese and Madison’s double-cut sesame-crusted pork chop.
Two seatings: 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. 4622 Park Blvd., San Diego. $59 per person; $19
optional wine or cocktail pairing. (619) 269-6566. madisononpark.com
Casa de Bandini at The Forum Carlsbad will
serve a three-course dinner with your choice of entree: Mariscos de Corazon,
two large roasted peppers filled with sautéed shrimp and crab and topped with
serrano chiles; Pollo Valentino, butterflied chicken breast broiled on an open
flame and served with chipotle mashed potatoes and black beans; or Carne Asada
Tampiqueña, flame-grilled carne asada topped with a mild California chile and
grilled onions. For $9.95, guests can order a Margarita Valentina, crafted with
Casa Noble Tequila, triple sec and sweet and sour blended with passion fruit
puree. 1901 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad. $29. (760)
634-3443. casadebandini.com
Jalisco Cantina’s three-course dinner includes
an appetizer of spinach, roasted yam and garlic-rolled tacos; butter-basted
carne asada New York strip with potato puree and calabacitas; and a dessert of
churros and chocolate fondue. The eatery and tequila bar will offer two
limited-time signature cocktails: Love Potion #Nueve and the sweet,
rose-covered Roasted Strawberry Cheesecake Margarita. 213 N.
Coast Highway, Oceanside. $29 per person. (760) 429-1679. thejaliscocantina.com
Amici’s Ristobar at The Village at Pacific
Highlands Ranch will offer a unique three-course Valentine’s Day menu and
special Champagne offers all night long. Seating is limited. 13490
Pacific Highlands Ranch Parkway, Suite 106, San Diego. $49.99 per person. amicisristobar.com
Herb & Wood‘s classic Valentine’s Day prix
fixe four-course dinner is a mix of flavorful fare, including escarole (a
bitter green) and sunchoke (also called Jerusalem artichoke) salad, oxtail
gnocchi, wild mushroom and truffle risotto and a lobster crepe. Opt for
tiramisu or passion fruit pavlova for dessert. 5:30 to 10 p.m. $99.85. 2210 Kettner Blvd., San
Diego. (619) 955-8495. herbandwood.com
Pechanga Resort Casino offers Valentine’s Day
dining specials at the following restaurants. Regular menus will also be
served. Reservations: (877) 711-2946. pechanga.com/eat
- Paisano’s: Four-course
dinner with choice of filet mignon or pappardelle pasta. Open
at 5 p.m. $58 per person.
- Great Oak Steakhouse: Three-course
dinner with entree of prime filet mignon and Maine lobster tail. Open
at 5 p.m. $72 per person.
- Kelsey’s: Three-course
dinner featuring petite filet mignon with mushroom ragu and pan-seared
scallops. Open at 11 a.m. $45 per person.
- Pechanga Cafe: Three-course
dinner with prawns stuffed with blue crab served over angel hair
pasta. Open 24 hours. $35.
- Journey’s End: Filet
mignon of beef and red wine demi, Grand Marnier-seared jumbo shrimp served
with candied carrots, asparagus and panko-crusted polenta. $27. Dining
specials served starting at 11 a.m.
- Lobby Bar & Grill: Entrees:
center-cut New York sirloin bordelaise with roasted garlic mashed potato;
poached King crab with Béarnaise sauce and asparagus ($45); and pan-seared
barramundi (Asian sea bass) with saffron clams, crispy sunchokes, peas and
rainbow carrots ($30). Service starts at 4 p.m.
- Pechanga Buffet: Guests
will find an array of cuisine, including American, Italian, Asian, Mexican
and an extensive selection of freshly made desserts. 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. $45.99 per adult; $22.99 per child.
Thornton Winery’s Cafe Champagne three-course
Valentine’s Day menu includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. Entree choices
include lobster ravioli, grilled filet mignon, cedar plank wild salmon and
Mediterranean chicken roulade. 5 to 9 p.m. 32575 Rancho California Road,
Temecula. $82 per person, plus tax and tip. (951) 699-0099. thorntonwine.com
India's farm exports down 46% by volume, over 50% by value in Apr-Dec
2018
Stockists in
global market defer purchases on hopes of price fall; Experts, however, feel
sentiment has started reviving, may lift India's overall agri exports in coming
quarters
Dilip Kumar Jha | Mumbai Last
Updated at February 12, 2019 03:03 IST
232
Basmati exports at risk from EU regulations, impending Iran
sanctions: Icra
India
mulls barter system to satisfy Iran's basmati appetite amid sanctions
Needed: A
strategy to revive exports
Exports
bounce back in October to 17.86%, trade deficit widens to $17.13 bn
Textiles,
clothing exports jump 11% in July on govt policies, falling rupee
·
India's exports of
agricultural commodities nosedived by up to a staggering 46 per cent in volume
terms due to supply glut in the international market which prompted stockists
to defer their purchase plans amid e
xpectations of further price fall.
xpectations of further price fall.
Data compiled by the Agricultural & Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority (Apeda) showed India’s wheat exports slumped to 135,284 tonnes ($35
million) for the period between April and December 2018 from 249,702 tonnes
($72 million) for the corresponding period last year.
Non-basmati rice exports fell by 14 per cent by
volume and 16.4 per cent in value due to a global supply glut. Basmati rice,
buffalo meat, groundnut and fresh fruit exports also posted a decline during
the first 
nine months of the current fiscal. Experts, however, believe that
global sentiment has started reviving towards the end of December 2018 and
early January 2019 which may lift India’s overall agri commodity exports in the
coming quarters.
nine months of the current fiscal. Experts, however, believe that
global sentiment has started reviving towards the end of December 2018 and
early January 2019 which may lift India’s overall agri commodity exports in the
coming quarters.
“India’s agri commodity exports declined for the nine-month period
ending December due to weak global prices. With global commodities prices
having already started recovering, agri exports from India are all set to move up
in future,” said Anup Wadhawan, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government
of India on the sidelines of an event in Mumbai on Friday.
Barring a few, realisation from almost all agri commodities
declined due to a sharp fall in global prices. Average realisation for wheat
fell from $288 a tonne in April–December 2017 to $257 a tonne for the same
period this fiscal, while that for groundnut fell from $1,057 a tonne to $966 a
tonne.
Meanwhile, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the
United Nations last week forecast world cereal production at 2,611.4 million
tonnes for 2018-19, compared with 2,658.8 million tonnes in the previous year.
With massive carryover stock spilling over from the previous year, total
availability of cereal in the world is estimated to remain higher than
consumption estimated at 2,657.5 million tonnes.
The sharp decline in farm commodity realisations indicates a
proportionate fall in their prices in global markets. Prices of agri
commodities have fallen in India proportionately.
By contrast, prices of globally traded commodities have started
recovering in the international markets.
FAO in its latest report said that global Food Price Index jumped
by 1.8 per cent to average at 164.8 points in January 2019, which is still 2.2
per cent below the corresponding month last year. After three successive months
of relatively stable levels, the increase in January was largely driven by a
sharp rebound in dairy quotations and firmer vegetable oil and sugar prices.
“India’s potential for future exports, however, would depend upon
the opportunity in specific commodities under consideration. In commodities
like edible oils and pulses, which India is in deficit, the global price rise
would not help much. But commodities of surplus availability will certainly
help achieve growth,” said Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Care Ratings.
India has made strong inroads in exports of floriculture,
processed fruits and vegetables over the past few years. Dairy is one area to
have witnessed phenomenal export growth. Exports of specific value-added
commodities like guar gum and sugar would continue to grow irrespective of
global economic conditions.
Rice imports to top 2 MMT in ’19 on
liberalization–Usda
February 11, 2019
PHILIPPINE rice imports this year could reach 2.3 million metric
tons (MMT), driven by stronger appetite from traders as they anticipate the
full liberalization of the industry, according to the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA).
This would be the second consecutive year that the Philippines
would be importing over 2 million metric tons of rice, as purchases from abroad
last year were also estimated at 2.3 MMT, according to the USDA.
Prior to 2018, the last time the Philippines imported over 2 MMT
of rice was in 2010, when the country suffered a shortage of the staple due to
El Niño and typhoons, government data showed.
In the February iteration of its global grain market report, the
USDA projected that the rice tariffication bill “would likely keep imports at
robust levels.”
The legislation, which would convert to a tariff system the
Philippines’ s two-decade-long quantitative restriction on rice imports, would
encourage exporters, particularly Vietnam, to further supply Manila with its
staple requirement, the USDA added. In fact, due to the rice tariffication
bill, the USDA revised upward its import projections for the Philippines this
year to 2.3 MMT from its earlier forecast in December of 1.8 MMT.
Despite the revision in import forecast, the USDA maintained its
earlier projection on the local milled rice output at 12.15 MMT, slightly lower
than the 12.235 MMT estimated production in 2018.
In the same report, the USDA hiked its forecast on the
Philippines’s rice consumption and residual requirement this year to 13.65 MMT
from 13.5 MMT projected in December. The new forecast is 400,000 MT more
than the 13.25 MMT estimated rice utilization in 2018, according to USDA data.
Private traders have already applied to import at least 1.185
MMT of rice under the National Food Authority’s out-quota program, with the
majority entering the country this year. The Department of Agriculture is
targeting to reach a palay output of about 20 MMT this year, or around 13.08
MMT in milled rice terms at a 65.4-percent milling recovery rate. The country
produced 19.1 MMT of palay last year, or equivalent to nearly 12.5 MMT of rice.
No rice price spikes despite NFA power removal,
says NEDA
February 11, 2019
Last updated on
DESPITE the absence of a concrete study on its impact, the
National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) assured the public that the
removal of regulatory powers of National Food Authority (NFA) will not lead to
higher rice prices.
The rice tariffication bill and the implementing rules and
regu-lations (IRR) will contain measures that allow the President to intervene
on behalf of public interest, Neda Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla
said in a recent phone interview.
Sombilla said the bill, which is now with the President for
signing into law, will also outline the phases of the removal of NFA’s
regulatory powers. She said the removal of NFA’s regulatory function will not
be done immediately.
“Trade liberalization is the way to go for any market especially
if you want competition. So you don’t really need to study especially since you
can already see [that because] it’s very much regulated, we are not able to
enjoy the prices that we should be taking advantage of in the world market,”
Sombilla pointed out.
The Neda official said the Governance Commission for
government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) or GCG will be in charge
of the restructuring plan for the NFA.
Sombilla also said that during meetings with farmers, Finance
Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III explained what the bill is about and how it
can help farmers and the entire country.
She said Dominguez also cited as examples the fertilizer and oil
trade, which improved on account of liberalization. While prices temporarily
increased, they eventually stabilized after stakeholders were able to get
“accustomed” to the changes, she added.
“The benefits of liberalization [were] really for the long term.
And that’s going to happen to rice. The private sector knows better, they know
when to import, they know what to import,” Sombilla said.
No queues
Further, the marching orders of the President during the meeting
was to prevent any queueing when it comes to buying cheap rice, something that
happened in 2012. There were also pockets of NFA rice queues last year due to
the spike in inflation.
Sombilla said the President told the farmers in the meeting to
list down their concerns and submit them to him. He will then instruct the
economic team to answer all these concerns.
This, Sombilla said, is already an indication that the President
was not likely to veto the rice tariffication bill.
“Just to make the story short, the least intervention from the
government, market to play, the most benefit that would go to the…greater
majority, that’s what he [President Duterte] said. [He added] so list down all
your concerns, I will let my economic managers, my cabinet secretaries to look
at them and instruct them to respond to it considering that the response should
take into consideration what is best for the people. The message [from the
President] was clear. To us it was clear,” she said.
Earlier, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said
through rice tariffication, affordable rice can be obtained from various sources
and need not be the sole responsibility of the NFA.
The rice tariffication bill amends the two-decade-old Republic
Act 8178, otherwise known as the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, and
replaces the quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports with tariff.
The bill, ratified by both chambers of Congress on November 28,
2018, is set to be transmitted to Malacañang for the President’s signature.
Under the new rice importation regime, legitimate rice traders
can now import rice without NFA permits, provided they secure a sanitary and
phytosanitary import clearance from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of
Plant Industry (DA-BPI) and pay the appropriate tariff to the Bureau of
Customs.
The NFA, on the other hand, will focus on ensuring sufficient buffer
stocks to address emergency situations. As there is a need to
periodically replenish the buffer stocks, the NFA can still sell cheap rice,
but to very targeted markets.
Arkansas
Sate turns up the heat on rice crops
JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) — A group of
Arkansas State University educators and students are studying effects of heat
on rice crops in a three-university project aimed at discovering plants that
can withstand global warming.
Scientists at the University of
Nebraska at Lincoln and Kansas State University are also looking at creating a
heat-resilient variety of wheat. The five-year, $6 million project is funded by
the National Science Foundation through its Established Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research program.
Argelia Lorence, director of
ASU’s phenomics facility and a Vaughn Endowed Professorship of metabolic
engineering, is heading the ASU study with Wency Larazo, a rice agronomist.
She said climate data has shown
that during the past 40 years, the average night time temperature in areas that
produce rice have increased by 5 degrees. That’s indicative, she said, of
continued rising temperatures that are putting stress on important crops.
“This isn’t a political issue,”
she said to The
Jonesboro Sun. “It’s a food issue.”
Lorence and seven ASU students
will construct six greenhouse tents at a newly opened University of Arkansas
rice research center at Harrisburg in March. The team will plant 400 various
breeds of rice in each of the tents and raise temperatures in three of the
tents to see how resilient they are. Each plant is photographed daily to see
how the increased climate may affect it.
The plants will also be taken
back to the Arkansas Biosciences Institute on the ASU campus in Jonesboro where
they will be further tested for size, color, the amount of chlorophyll they
contain and their leaf temperatures.
When Lorence and her team find
the most resilient brands of rice, they will present their findings to rice
breeders who can then attempt to crossbreed brands for a more heat-resilient
form of rice seed.
Lorence, who has been at ASU for
14 years, was raised in Mexico City, Mexico. She earned her doctorate in
biotechnology at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Cuernavaca,
Mexico.
She worked on projects in Mexico
until a change in the country’s government took science funding decisions from
the National Council on Science and Technology and gave it to politicians
instead.
“Instead of the (council)
deciding what was best, they let the politicians decide,” she said. “It was
about who you knew. I knew no politicians.”
She decided to move to the United
States and began working at labs at Texas A&M and Virginia Tech.
While at Virginia Tech, she was
part of a team that published the discovery of a new biosynthetic pathway for
vitamin C in plants.
She sent 25 applicants to
research institutes across the country and was offered three jobs, including
one at ASU.
The Arkansas Biosciences
Institute attracted Lorence, and she accepted the position. In addition to the
rice study, she is also leading a team in understanding how vitamin C delays
aging and contributes to plant tolerance to stresses.
Lorence’s rice-studying team is
an international group of students. Along with Larazo, who is from the
Philippines, the team is made up of doctoral students Kharla Mendez and Cherryl
Quinones, both of the Philippines; master’s student Shannon Cunningham of the
Bahamas; post-doctorate student Karina Medina-Jimenez of Mexico; and
undergraduate student Lilian Aniemena of Nigeria.
She is also working with Arlene
Adviento-Borbe, a representative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Delta
Water Management Unit.
A team at the University of
Nebraska at Lincoln that is conducting similar greenhouse tests with wheat is
led by Harkamal Walia, an associate professor of agronomy and horticulture.
“We are excited about this
project,” Lorence said. “The amount of land for crops is decreasing, but there
are more people. We need to eat. The only way to do this is to make the crops
more productive. I love coming to work,” she said. “This is my passion. We’re
working as hard as we can.”
___
Information from: The Jonesboro
Sun, http://www.jonesborosun.com
Published
By Madelaine B. Miraflor
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government agencies to
squeeze in a “one-page” position paper all the issues farmers have raised
against the Rice Tariffication Bill, but did not say what exactly he was going
to do with it.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that, after meeting
with farmers who are opposing the implementation of the Rice Tariffication
Bill, Duterte asked the DA, Department of Finance, National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to
collate and submit the position of farmers and stakeholders about the law.
But Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Bill, which
will liberalize rice importation in the Philippines by replacing volume
restrictions with tariff, is likely to be signed by Duterte soon.
When asked about how the farmers’ position paper could have an
impact on the Bill’s implementation, Piñol said he “doesn’t want to second
guess.”
If Duterte doesn’t veto the Bill, it will lapse into law on
February 15.
“It will be the President’s call,” the DA chief said. “But I
would assume he is open to changes and as to how these changes will be
implemented, that’s beyond me.”
The original intention of the Rice Tariffication Bill is to
remove the volume restrictions on rice imports and replace them with tariffs as
required by the country’s commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
But Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) National Manager Raul
Montemayor said legislators “went too far” in drafting the law after it removed
the government’s regulatory functions over rice.
He noted that WTO rules do not prohibit licensing and
supervision of importers, or the operations of government agencies like the
National Food Authority (NFA) which buy and sell agricultural products in the
market.
“In fact, many countries require importers of critical products
to secure licenses and subject them to strict provision,” Montemayor said.
Almost all countries have some forms of regulation over their
rice markets even if they have long removed quantitative restrictions (QRs).
“Our trading partners in the WTO must be laughing at us for
interpreting WTO rules in their favor and making it easier for them to sell
their rice to us, while they use every loophole in the rules to protect their
own markets,” Montemayor said.
Under the Rice Tariffication Bill, NFA will also no longer be
allowed to import and can only boost its stock, which is mainly for calamity
and disasters, through local palay procurement.
NFA already warned of the dangers of leaving the country’s
staple food under the mercy of the open market.
“The grains industry is one of the most important sectors of our
economy as it directly affects everyone because we all eat rice. Leaving it
under the mercy of the open market without any regulation is just too
dangerous,” NFA’s Officer-in-Charge Administrator Tomas Escarez said.
Rice imports to counter El Niño impact
· RICE
IMPORTS TO COUNTER EL NIÑO IMPACT
Import-boosted rice stocks will be enough to counter the inflationary impact of
an expected El Niño, a senior Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) official said.
The weather phenomenon, central bank Deputy Governor Diwa
Guinigundo told reporters last last week, “is one important factor but remember
that the National Food Authority (NFA) Council already approved out-quota
importation.”
He was responding to a query if the Bangko Sentral’s reuduced
2019 inflation rate forecast of 3.07 percent had factored in the impact of
droughts on rice supply and prices.
Guinigundo noted that as of January 18, 174 firms and
cooperatives had already applied for permits to import about 1.2 million metric
tons (MMT) of rice.
“If there is going to be an El Niño phenomenon that could happen
any time during the year, this could be addressed by such mitigant as out-quota
importation,” he said.
“In other words, during El Niño, there’s a good fallback
position in terms of out-quota importation,” he added.
Latest government data showed that total rice stocks were up
11.40 percent to 2.55 MMT as of the start of the year. The tally, however, was
down 6.23 percent from 2.72 MMT in the previous month.
Rice stocks in commercial warehouses climbed by 40.59 percent to
1.21 MMT but stocks in households and NFA depositories fell by 5.88 percent to
1.25 MMT and 8.37 percent to 97,910 MT, respectively.
A temple
festival boat race cooks rice, catches a duck
By Ngoc Thanh
February 11, 2019 | 05:41 pm GMT+7
A unique boat
race in northern Vietnam has 60 rowers competing to cook rice and catch a duck.
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The Bach Hao Temple Festival is held on the 5th and 6th day of the
first lunar month every year in Thanh Xa Commune, Thanh Ha District, Hai Duong
Province, 60km east of Hanoi.
The main ceremony starts on the morning of the 6th day of the
Lunar New Year, with competitors from five villages arriving at the venue with
five trays of offerings and grave markers of three village tutelary gods, who
are three generals of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400) that served the legendary
commander Tran Hung Dao.
This festival involves many folk
games, the most striking of which is a boat race that involves rice being
cooked even as the boats are rowed. The boat race is held to commemorate the
day King Tran Nhan Tong, the third emperor of the Tran Dynasty, visited Hai Duong Province to pray at the Bach Hoa Temple.
Male and female teams take turns to compete in the morning and
afternoon.
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Five boats from five villages will race on Cua Chua River. The
race is more than one km long and the goal is to select the three fastest
teams. The fastest team among these three will join the next game.
"The game originated from the cooking of rice during wartime
to feed the army. There was no dike back in the days, we were surrounded by
water. Ducks were raised as the boats traveled along the river. Whenever food
was needed, soldiers jumped off the boat and caught them. The games are like
military training exercises," said Pham Quoc Trong, who chairs the
festival's organizing committee and is also chairman of the Thanh Xa Commune
people's committee.
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There is no age limit for the athletes in this unique boat race,
all they have to be is healthy. The number of contestants on each racing boat
is between 12 -14 people - 10-12 rowers and a captain.
In the past, the racing boats were not made of wood but thin
slices of bamboo. Since 1985, the locality has invested in making wooden boats
to ensure safety.
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Cooking rice on boat is the most exciting part of the competition.
An earthen pot is filled with rice and water, tied to the end of a stick, and
cooked on a wood fire while the boat is being rowed.
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As some of the crew members cook the rice, others continue rowing
to the sound of drums and cheers of festival goers on both sides of the river.
Teams can splash water on competitors to try and douse the fire being used to
cook rice on those boats. The boat that manages to cook the rice with the fire
remaining lit until the end wins.
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Fire and water at play as a fight
breaks out between two boats.
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In addition to forming a shield to protect their fire, teams use
bamboo and kerosene to keep the fire going as the rice gets cooked.
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Three teams continuously splash water on each another, and in the
ensuing commotion, a boat capsizes in the river.
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Most of the rice delivered to the judges was undercooked.
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In the next contest, a duck is released in the middle of the
river, and teams chase it on their boats. The team that catches the duck first
wins, of course.
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As the duck swims frantically in the river, contestants jump off
their boats and give chase to the unfortunate fowl. The teams make "water
explosions" to prevent competitors from catching the duck.
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This year, the duck was caught after 36 athletes chased it for
more than 20 minutes.
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The Bach Hao Temple is believed to have been built in 1011, a Year
of the Pig, during the reign of King Ly Thai To, according to steles found
there.
In addition to the main deity, the Buddha, the temple also pays
obeisance to three Tran Dynasty generals: Nguyen Danh Quang, Nguyen Danh Nguyen
and Ly Dinh Khue, who served Tran Hung Dao. These three generals used their
military acumen to repel the enemy, liberate the land, and establish villages.
They are also said to have taught the people of Thanh Xa Commune
to grow silkworms, weave fabric, produce food and row boats. The temple was
recognized as a national historical monument in 1993.
The Bach Hao Temple Festival was also recognized as a National
Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015.
Bac Lieu
to continue expanding large-scale rice fields
Bac
Lieu plans to create five large-scale rice fields with a total area of 25,000ha
this year (Photo: VNA)Bac Lieu (VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu plans to create five large-scale rice fields with a total area of 25,000ha this year and six more with a combined area of 31,000ha next year, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The province hopes by next year to have 10,000ha of large-scale rice fields, created by pooling individual farmers’ lands to achieve economies of scale, adopting Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) standards.
Luong Ngoc Lan, director of the department, said the province is implementing policies to stimulate consumption of agricultural produce, create large-scale rice fields, create tie-ups between farmers and companies to guarantee sales of their produce, and restructure agriculture towards value addition and sustainability.
To achieve the targets it would invest in infrastructure for large-scale rice fields, including electric pumping stations, roads, irrigation systems, drying facilities, and rice processing and preserving facilities, he said.
The province plans to set up co-operatives and co-operative teams that can instruct farmers in growing crops and represent them in negotiations with companies.
It will help adopt advanced farming techniques and use machinery at all stages of growing and preserving rice.
It has encouraged large and prestigious companies to invest in its large-scale rice fields and adopt VietGAP standards and guarantee purchase of more rice from the large-scale fields.
The department has petitioned the provincial People’s Committee for funding to create efficient rice farming models using VietGAP and organic standards.
It also wants the People’s Committee to get research institutes and universities to improve the quality of local speciality rice varieties and create new fragrant and high-quality varieties that suit local conditions and can cope with climate change.
The province has 21 large-scale rice fields with a total area of 11,400ha. Most rice grown there are high-quality and fragrant varieties.
Individual farmers with contiguous fields will grow the same variety and follow the same schedule and techniques. The entire harvest of large-scale fields is guaranteed purchase.
The province has some 183,000ha of land under rice and produces 1 million tonnes of paddy annually.
Rice is the main source of income for farmers, but most grow on a small scale and lose out on the advantages offered by scale.-VNA
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Rice export slump affects local prices
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Trung Chanh
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Sunday, Feb 10, 2019,12:01 (GMT+7)
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Sri Lanka Finance
Ministry allocates Rs. 5 Bn to buy rice from farmers ahead of 2019 harvest
February, 11, 2019
Sri Lanka's Finance Ministry lead by Minister Mangala
Samaraweera had allocated Rs. 5.0 billion to buy rice at guaranteed prices from
farmers ahead of the upcoming major harvest season, the government informed
recently.
The cabinet of ministers had approved the proposal by Finance
Minister Mangala Samaraweera to provide Rs. 5.0 billion for paddy purchases.
Accordingly, under scheme operated by district secretaries, Samba rough rice (paddy)
would be bought at Rs. 38 a kilogram and Nadu and other varieties at Rs. 38 a
kilogram.
30,000 Rice farmers to benefit from dry season farming loan in Bauchi
| Published Date
30,000 rice farmers in Bauchi
State are to benefit from the 2019 dry season rice farming loan.
The State Chairman, Rice Farmers
Association of Nigeria, Dr. Yahaya Adamu Yusuf disclosed this at the flagging
off of commodities distribution under the Anchor Borrower’s programme for this
year’s farming in Bauchi at the weekend.
He said the Anchor Borrowers programme had boosted the economic
status of its beneficiaries in addition to advancement of agricultural sector.
According to him, the Bauchi State Government had assisted over
20,000 rice farmers in the state, who have benefited from the Anchor Borrower’s
programme.
He said that the farm inputs were distributed to the
beneficiaries based on the need of their farmland.
He appealed to the beneficiaries torepay the loans on time to
enable others benefit.
Farmers
urged to adopt ‘lucrative’ long grain rice
Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) has urged rice farmers to adopt
long grain rice due to its high demand and the high price it fetches. This was
said on Tuesday by RAB General Director Patrick Karangwa while addressing an
issue raised by farmers that they do not have market for their harvest,
especially in Nyagatare.He advised them to adopt and grow the long grain rice to meet its high demand and to increase their benefit as that variety is now at a high price.
“We have 37 rice varieties. Of those, 29 are long grain, while only eight are short grain known as Kigoli but still short grain rice occupies 60 per cent of rice grown in Rwanda. Farmers tend to prefer growing kigoli for its higher yield. However, long grain rice is lighter and has higher market preference. We have stepped up efforts to streamline rice seed systems and extension,” he said
“Kigoli is not a bad variety as some think. It is also delicious. But its preference has been higher in the countryside, while long grain is most preferred in towns and restaurants”.
He noted that there is no lack of good varieties in Rwanda. It is just which ones are being used by farmers mostly.
“We have many varieties but now that it’s obvious that our consumers like long grain rice, we have to meet their demand,” he noted.
Karangwa also said that MINICOM has now set prices that help address the problem; long grain price is assigned a higher price. Farmers are now expected to grow more the long grain rice. Long grain for Rwf290 and short grain Rwf270.
David Claudian Mushabe, The Mayor of Nyagatare District, said that they are aware of that problem and are working with concerned organs to address it.
“There are three cooperatives that still have no market. More than a half of their harvest is still in stores. We know the problem and we are working on it. Besides, we are also encouraging farmers to adopt the long grain rice to meet the demand as it is the one most popular in Rwanda,” he noted.
Appolinaire Gahiza the President of Rwanda Rice Farmers Federation (FUCORIRWA) said farmers like the short variety because of its higher yield and resistance to disease.
“RAB has many varieties but may not match with our climate and could cause losses. That is the main reason for not growing other varieties. Meanwhile, we keep on sensitizing farmers to grow what consumers want,” he emphasised.
Roxas blames 'policy failure' on rice for price
spikes
ABS-CBN News
The government should have imported rice earlier to avoid price
spikes in the staple grain, which could have ripple effect on other
commodities, Roxas said.
While helping farmers grow rice and providing them with
post-harvest facilities is like "prevention," rice importation is a
"cure," he said.
"It’s policy failure. Let’s remove it from the economy, let’s
say it’s a patient. Kung lumala ang sakit ng pasyente, baka mali ang
rekomendasyon ng doctor, mali ang gamot," he told ANC's Headstart.
(It’s policy failure. Let’s remove it from the economy, let’s
say it’s a patient. If a patient's illness worsens, perhaps the doctor's
recommendation was wrong, the medicine was wrong.)
"If there is a failure in the crop, then you have to be
agile, you have to see it right away and you bring in the rice so that the
urban who don’t grow rice are not damaged by the high prices," he said.
Inflation slowed to 4.4 percent in
January, moving closer to the government's 2 to 4 percent target. It peaked in
2018 at near 10-year highs.
Counter-inflation measures by government include pushing for
tariffs on rice instead of import quotas to bring prices down.
Roxas said he was against calls for the Philippines import all
its rice needs.
A city in sugar-producing Negros region produces an average of 6
to 8 tons of palay per hectare in its 30,000 hectare rice plantation because
there is "proper support," he said.
"Before we give up on the farmer, before we say hindi
talaga natin kayang pakainin ang sarili natin, let’s give it our all," he
said.
(Before we give up on the farmer, before we say we really cannot
feed ourselves, let's give it our all.)
GMO Cassava Can Provide Iron, Zinc To Malnourished African Children
In poor parts of the world,
people may rely on a single staple crop to meet a substantial proportion of
their energy requirements. For example, those who live in southeast Asia rely
heavily on rice. Many denizens of Africa rely on cassava, a tuber somewhat
reminiscent of a potato.
In the United States, cassava is
mainly associated with tapioca, which is used in pudding or bubble tea.
However, in Africa, cassava is essential for survival: About one-third of
sub-Saharan Africans rely on it for more than half of their caloric intake.
The trouble with cassava,
however, is that it is nutrient-poor. Partially as a result, iron and zinc
deficiencies are common in Africa. Iron deficiency results in anemia, zinc
deficiency in susceptibility to death by diarrhea, and each is also associated
with impaired cognitive development. Breeding better varieties of cassava that
absorb and store more of these nutrients is made difficult by a lack of genetic
diversity. So, scientists have turned to biotechnology.
GMO Cassava Can Help Treat Iron and Zinc Deficiency
An international team of
researchers, including scientists affiliated with the USDA, have genetically
modified cassava to contain much higher levels of iron and zinc than the
non-transgenic variety. They used two genes from thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), a pathetic
looking plant that happens to be one of the most studied organisms in all of
biology. The first gene was a derivative of IRT1, which encodes an iron transport protein. The second, FER1, encodes ferritin, an iron storage protein.
Modifying the plant with these
two genes increased not only iron levels but zinc levels, as well. (See figure
below. The left panel depicts iron levels; the right panel depicts zinc levels.
The controls are on the left side of each panel; the others are experimental
plants.)
The authors further assessed the
effects of processing on nutrient retention. Cassava is not eaten raw. Instead,
it is often turned into garri or fufu, and some iron and zinc are lost in this
process. Using this data, combined with food consumption patterns, the authors
estimate that their genetically modified cassava could provide up to 50% of the
dietary requirement for iron and up to 70% for zinc in children aged 1 to 6
years, as well as non-lactating, non-pregnant women.
One wonders how the anti-GMO
movement could oppose something like this. But given their hostility to Golden
Rice, which has been genetically modified to contain a vitamin A precursor to
prevent blindness, they usually find a way. For the sake of African children,
let's hope they aren't successful.
Source:
Narayanan Narayanan, et al. "Biofortification of field-grown cassava by
engineering expression of an iron transporter and ferritin." Nature
Biotechnology 37: 144-151. Published: 28-Jan-2019. DOI: 10.1038/s41587-018-0002-1
Solar para sa pulitika, Rice Tariffication para sa masa
My Cup Of Liberty
By Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr.
The cronyist “Solar para
sa Bayan Corporation” (SPBC) franchise bill (HB 8179) was magically passed by
the House of Representatives despite opposition by many groups in the energy
sector. Among the oppositors is the Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent,
Inc. (DREAM), the umbrella organization of all RE associations in the
Philippines.
As I did in my letter to Sen.
Grace Poe, arguing for the junking of HB 8179, DREAM said the bill is
unconstitutional and should not be passed. In particular, (1) it violates the
equal protection clause under Article III, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution.
The proposed SPBC franchise has no substantial distinction with other
generators that will not be granted a similar franchise. (2) It violates the
fundamental right to due process of law under the Constitution. And (3) it
violates the proscription against unfair competition.
Nonetheless, a Senate Committee
Report 659 was passed last week, February 7, 2019, and some outlandish
provisions from the original bill have been tamed. Among the changes is that
the operational coverage “in any… areas throughout the Philippines” has been
limited to only 13 provinces.
Note three things here: (1) SPBC
claims it is competitive yet it requires a Congressional franchise and a
franchise by nature is a monopoly, (2) EPIRA law of 2001 has unbundled energy
components and players are classified as transmission, generation,
distribution, supply companies; SPBC is a generation, distribution and supply
company rolled into one, and (3) first time that a franchise will have
implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
BusinessWorld reported (“Court challenge
looms for Solar Para Sa Bayan franchise,” February 08, 2019) that the Coalition
for Rural Electrification (CoRE) warned that such a franchise bill may not hold
up to a court challenge. Good. It is shameless that this bill was rushed at the
House and the Senate where a member is the mother of the company owner as we
all know. If it becomes law, the measure should be called as Solar para sa Pulitika
Corp.
Meanwhile, on another front,
there is a last-minute lobby by various protectionist groups who insist that
expensive rice is good for the country and the poor. They oppose SB 1998 or the
Rice Tariffication bill, removing quantitative restrictions (QR) and replacing
it with a 35% tariff rate on imported rice from ASEAN, and 40% or higher on
imported rice outside of ASEAN.
The protectionists’ main argument
is that rice liberalization will lead to the demise of the local rice industry
as there will be a huge influx of imported rice from our neighbors.
This is outright disinformation,
deception and lie. Even if we wanted to import one-half or even one-fourth of
our domestic rice consumption, it is not possible, it is not going to happen.
Data from the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) show that Philippine rice production has been
steadily rising and the average productivity per hectare has also been rising,
from only 2.2 tons per hectare in 1980 to 4.0 in 2017.
The two big rice exporters in the
world, Thailand and Vietnam, have actually experienced a declining or low
expansion in rice output. Thailand’s output declined from 35.7 M tons in 2010
to 33.4 M tons in 2017. Over the same period, Vietnam’s output increased a
little from 40 to 42.8 M tons.
Myanmar and Cambodia can be the
next group of rice exporters but they also have a rising demand and population
(see table).
So the Philippines’ rice
importation will be limited and restricted even if it wants to import more and
there will be no such demise in the local rice industry. Rice trade
liberalization should proceed, and NFA’s distortionist monopoly of power to
regulate rice imports should be removed.
The 35% tariff is actually high.
Why should a P30/kilo potential landed price of rice from ASEAN neighbors be
made P40.50/kilo to many poor Philippine households? That 35% should go down
through time, down to zero for rice imports from ASEAN.
Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Minimal Government
Thinkers
Farming group seeks
‘Filipino First’ policy
31SHARES
Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine
Star) - February 12, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The private farm sector is calling on the
government to adopt a “Filipino Farmers First” policy as it rejects the
liberalization of rice imports into the country.
The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) is
urging President Duterte to zero in on a policy adopted by economic giants US
and China.
“Since rice is most political of commodities, if the government
will be seen as having abandoned rice farmers to the ravages of unfair trade so
that consumers can savor the magic of the market, then investments in the
sector will shrink. Why produce when the signal from the government is to
import?” PCAFI president Danilo Fausto said.
He said the bill replacing quantitative restriction on rice with
tariffs may threaten local food security as climate change could unexpectedly
shrink global rice supply anytime.
The group argued that providing subsidies to farmers has been
the success track of countries like the US and China which have become leaders
in agriculture.
“Subsidies in one form or another have been the template for
other countries with successful agricultural sectors. If we are to win the
struggle for the future of agriculture, a more pragmatic approach as practiced
by countries like the US and China should be the way forward,” Fausto said.
PCAFI said even the current QR policy, which imposes a maximum
volume per crop year that may be imported by the National Food Authority, is a
weak one that will not optimize opportunities for Filipino farmers nor boost food
production.
The group is also questioning a bill which provides for an
automatic appropriation of P10 billion for the proposed Rice Competitive
Enhancement Fund over the next five years.
“The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 also
provided for an automatic appropriation of P17 billion annually for six years
on top of the regular Department of Agriculture budget, but it never happened,”
Fausto said.
He added that the 1995 Tariffication Act, which established an
Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, was known for corruption than
enhancing agricultural competitiveness.
“These safety nets seemed to be more for show because up to now
the government has no trade data system to determine if an importation is in
accordance with the rules of the WTO in terms of valuation and trade remedies,
if any,” Fausto said.
Read more at https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/02/12/1892849/farming-group-seeks-filipino-first-policy#CxYqhZLjZvcpHDOX.99 https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/02/12/1892849/farming-group-seeks-filipino-first-policy
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