5th
February,2019
Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter
Rice output seen hitting 20 million metric tons
in 2019
February 5, 2019 | 9:54 pm
Farmers
load sacks of rice sold to a local trader in Pulilan Bulacan. -- PHILIPPINE
STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS
THE
Department of Agriculture (DA) is expecting a rebound in rice production this
year, projecting a harvest of 20 million metric tons (MT), Secretary Emmanuel
F. Piñol said.
“This
year, the DA is projecting a historic harvest of 20 million metric tons and
this is based on the increase in the number of farmers using inbred and hybrid
seed, from 48% to 60% last year,” Mr. Piñol said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Mr. Piñol
said agriculture is not dying, despite claims made by newspaper columnists
after targets were not met, leading to more imports of key staples.
“For as
long as people eat, farmers and fishermen will always be around,” Mr. Piñol
said.
“For
the record, the Duterte administration posted the highest harvest of rice in
the history of the country with 19.28 million MT in 2017, higher by over one
million MT than the last production of the Aquino administration. Even when the
rice sector suffered over one million MT in losses in 2018 because of the
almost monthly tropical disturbances, the harvest was still a very high 19.066
million MT,” Mr. Piñol added.
The
rice tariffication bill is expected to become a law this year. With its
passage, quantitative restrictions on rice imports will be removed, while
tariffs will be used to help the domestic rice farmers through the creation of
the P10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
On
Monday, SL Agritech Corp. said that P10 billion is not enough to support rice
farmers across the Philippines. The company also noted that hybrid seed should
be included in the assistance the RCEF will be providing.
“Hybrid
rice must be included because that is the latest technology that can help the
farmers,” Frisco M. Malabanan, SL Agritech Senior Technical Consultant, told
reporters.
“It is
now that we in the industry are asking that we plant 1.5 million hectares of
hybrid rice in one year. This is the solution to be self-sufficient, so we do
not keep relying on our neighbor countries,” Mr. Malabanan said.
In
fisheries, Mr. Piñol said that the industry is expected to grow as the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) started establishing post-harvest
facilities for fishermen.
“Fisheries
which for years posted negative growth, leveled off this year and it is
expected to grow with the establishment of ice-making, cold storage and
post-harvest facilities this year in the fishing communities,” Mr. Piñol said.
“Also,
the closed fishing season program is showing positive results with the big fish
like tuna and others swimming close to shore to feed on the pelagic species
which have multiplied because of the conservation program,” Mr. Piñol added.
According
to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the total volume of fisheries
production in 2018 was an estimated 4.38 million MT, up 0.92%. Among the three
subsectors — aquaculture, municipal and commercial fishing — only aquaculture
posted an increase.
Aquaculture
fisheries production rose 2.98% to 2.30 million MT in 2018. The subsector had a
52.95% share of fisheries production.
Municipal
fishing production meanwhile was 1.11 million MT in 2018, down 1.78%. The
subsector accounted for 25.41% of fisheries output.
Commercial
fishing production declined 0.71% to 941.59 thousand MT in 2018, comprising
21.64% of total fisheries output. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
Secretary Perdue
Stresses Trade at USA Rice Government Affairs Conference
WASHINGTON, DC - The
U.S. rice industry convened their annual Government Affairs Conference here
yesterday with board and strategy meetings to be followed up with two days of
Capitol Hill and Administration meetings. In remarks to the group, U.S. Secretary
of Agriculture Sonny Perdue praised the industry for its outstanding commitment
to conservation and made clear to everyone that he knows how important trade is
to agriculture - but particularly rice.
"The Secretary is
well-aware that about half of our annual crop is exported each year; it was
comforting to hear him say that he is aware of the negative impact retaliatory
tariffs are having on agriculture and us specifically," said Charley
Mathews, Jr., California rice farmer and chairman of USA Rice. "Ag is
frequently one of the first victims of a trade war, and with the current
disputes we are in - with China, Mexico, and the European Union in particular -
we are feeling it."
Perdue pointed to recent
positive trade developments, such as successful tenders to supply rice to Iraq
and China clearing final hurdles that could translate to big business for U.S.
rice exporters soon. He also shared that a priority of his is to secure
Congressional approval for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that is slated
to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
"We strongly
support Congressional approval of USMCA; but no NAFTA and no USMCA is not an
option for us," said Betsy Ward, president & CEO of USA Rice.
"That's a message we are carrying into all of our meetings with Members of
Congress and the Administration."
Ward said that while
U.S. agriculture revenue is expected to grow by $400 million under USMCA, a
complete withdrawal from NAFTA with no replacement deal could cost the ag
sector more than $9.3 billion.
"With Mexico as our
top market and Canada as our number four market these agreements are crucial to
the future of the U.S. rice industry," she said. "Secretary Perdue
understands this and we thank him for fighting for us."
Basmati Rice Production to Fall by
9.24 % to 5.18 Million Metric Tonne: NBHC
Share this
article
The National Bulk Handling Corporation (NBHC)
has released the final kharif crop estimates for the year 2018-19, which shows
that production of basmati rice is likely to fall by 9.24 percent to 5.18
million metric tonne.
Head of research & development at NBHC, Dr
Hanish Kumar Sinha told that the pulses production is expected to plunge
marginally to 9.10 million tonne from 9.35 million tonne last year. He said
this is mainly because of the fall in Urad production by 10.11 % largely due to
the shift in acreage towards soybean in some parts of Maharashtra and Madhya
Pradesh.
Sinha further said the overall production of
oilseeds is estimated to be 19.87 million metric tonne that is 5.36 percent
lower than last year's figure of 21 million metric tonne. Meanwhile, other
oilseed like Niger is expected to increase by 11.83 %.
NBHC said cotton crop is been badly affected
due to fluctuating weather conditions. It added that the yearly cotton
productivity in India can drop 4.57 % due to insufficient rainfall in the top
two producing states i.e. Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Sugarcane is likely to rise marginally
by 3.25 % on increased sowing. And last but not the least Jute and
Mesta is expected to improve slightly by 5.11 %
amidst favourable weather conditions.
The table below shows the details
of the final estimate for the 2018-19 Kharif crop:
Related Links:
View From the
Past
·
6 hrs ago
·
125 Years Ago, 1894
Rice Planters! Rice Millers! We can sell you for $350 a Rice
Mill that will clean, hull and polish ready for the table and market 75 to 100
bushels rough rice in 10 hours, with 6 to 8 horsepower. Can be operated by one
man and occupies no more floor space than a corn mill. You cannot afford to be
without one. Also, best “French Burr” corn mills $115 to $130; saw mills, plantation
size, $200, up to $350; Engines and Boilers. Write for catalogues and prices.
V.V. Badham, Agent, Genl. Agt., Columbia.
100 Years Ago, 1919
On Wednesday morning last as the steamer Santiago was coming up
the Sampit River, she shied and struck the newly rebuilt steam tug Tom T, which
was tied on the outside of the recently rebuilt barge Ethel, moored to the Red
Store wharf near Brightman’s railway. The tug Tom T was cut almost entirely in
half about midship. The force of the collision drove the tug and her boiler
through the hull of the barge Ethel. The ship went into the tug and barge with
such force that both went to the bottom immediately and before anything could
be done to save them. The Tom T and Ethel will prove a total loss. It is
estimated that the two boats were worth at least forty thousand dollars.
75 Years Ago, 1944
Times Tattles by I.D. Clare – The notorious spot, just out of
the city limits, where whiskey may be bought at all times for a price, was
closed Monday night. Wonder if the proprietor had been tipped off of an
impending raid?. . . Professor Hal Middleton said that his Winyah music makers
are tuned up for the concert to be given at Front and Broad Streets.
50 Years Ago, 1969
Three students, who authorities said perpetrated a bomb hoax at
Winyah High School last week, have been reprimanded by police and school
officials. A bill for $25 has been sent to parents of each youngster, much as
false alarm pranksters are billed. School officials suspended the students from
school last week and placed them on probation for the rest of the year. They
are also precluded from participating in school activities for the rest of the
year.
25 Years Ago, 1994
A report that the 25 mph signs placed on the South Causeway by
Pawleys Island Town Council was done without permission from the State
Department of Transportation was denied by Pawleys Island Mayor Julien Kelly.
“The state highway department came down and removed all of the traffic signs
without telling us,” said Kelly. “I thought vandals had gotten the damn things
until I got a letter from Florence.” Walt Brendt of the SCDOT said the signs
were removed because they were illegal and that drivers who received tickets
can write Pawleys Island Magistrate Barry McCall’s court to ask for new trials.
“It will be up to the magistrate to refund the fines,” Brendt said. “We are not
going to give any money back,” said Kelly.
Compiled by Elizabeth Huntsinger from the Georgetown Times archives.
Judiciary Dismisses Claims Of Releasing
“Poisonous” Rice Into Market
By
-
February 4, 2019
365
·
·
Total
1
The
Judiciary has come out to defend itself amid alleged claims by a section of the
media that it ordered release of poisonous rice into the market.
In a
statement on Monday, Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Communication
Catherine Wambui termed the reports malicious and only aimed at tainting the
image of the Judiciary.
“The
Judiciary’s attention has been drawn to reports in section of the media that
the Judiciary ordered release of poisonous rice into the market…This is a
malicious and false position aimed at tainting the image of the judiciary,” the
statement read in part.
Wambui
said the allegations are not based on facts as the matter before court was
never on poisonous rice but about 20% of a batch that did not meet size
standards.
“The
Judiciary will like to caution the media against reporting inaccurately and
urge them to always verify facts before publishing,” she said.
The
director added that the matter was resolved amicably three months ago and both
parties consented to the decision of releasing good rice into the market.
She
blamed the multi-agency that refused to initiate the process after the
agreement resulting to the stock being intact by the time Justice Eric Ogola
delivered his ruling which ordered immediate release of rice.
“By
consent of both parties in the case, the good rice was released more than 3
months ago but the multi-agency refused to open the go-down. So by the time of
the judgement, all the stock was intact,” said Wambui.
“In his
judgement, Justice Eric Ogola considered all the issues and ordered an
immediate release. Poison had never been an issue in the entire proceedings.”
In July
last year, a team of detectives allegedly impounded 1 million bags of poisonous
rice in Mombasa.
The
office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated that the
rice, originally from Pakistan, had been pronounced unfit for human consumption
but somehow found its way into Kenya.
Do you
know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your
news TIPS to news@kahawatungu.com
or WhatsApp +254708677607.
2019 Arkansas Pesticide
Application Clinics set
Arkansas producers can learn to get the most out of their pest
management dollars at one of six pesticide application clinics across the
state, according to a news release.
This spring’s clinics will be: Feb. 20 – Stuttgart — Rice
Research Center in Stuttgart; Feb. 21 – McGehee – Men’s Center; Feb. 22 –
Forrest City – Woodruff Electric Cooperative Corp.; March 5 – Newport –
ASU-Newport; March 6 – Paragould – Greene County Fairgrounds and March 7 –
Manila – Manila Municipal Airport.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., with the sessions beginning at
9 a.m. Lunch will be served.
“This is an opportunity for producers to get their pre-season
skills honed by learning about new technology to help them be more productive
and efficient in the field,” said Jason Davis, extension spray application
technologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Attendees can also obtain free nozzle tests by bringing three to
five nozzles and caps to be analyzed for percentage wear, Davis said.
“This analysis has the potential to save a producer thousands of
dollars and is a great way to set them up with better nozzles for the upcoming
spray season.”
For more information about
application and pest management, contact a county extension office, www.uaex.edu/counties or
visit www.uaex.edu.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers
all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without
discrimination.
Rice tariffication mechanism to protect
farmers
By Marilyn Galang February 4, 2019,
7:03 pm
Share
·
·
QUEZON,
Nueva Ecija -- Senator Cynthia Villar said on Sunday that the rice
tariffication bill will protect Filipino farmers from the influx of imported
grains as a result of the removal of quantitative restriction.
Villar,
chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said farmers were being
misled by some groups who are against tariffication to protect their vested
interest.
“Unlike
claims that tariffication will result to flooding of imported rice to
Philippine market, this will make such importation beneficial to local rice
producers,” she told farmers during the Patimyas Ani Festival in this
municipality.
The rice
industry, she explained, is set to be liberalized due to the expiration of
quantitative restriction on June 30, 2017.
"Pag
nag-liberalize ka nang walang tariff, kawawa ang mga farmers (When you
liberalize without tariff, the farmers will suffer)," Villar said.
"Di
ba kaya mo tina-tariff ang imports para protektahan yung local producers mo?
(You impose tariff on imports to protect the local producers, isn’t it?),"
she added.
Villar
said with the tariffication bill comes the annual allocation of PHP10-billion
in Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which is now included in the
pending 2019 national budget.
The
amount will be channeled through the Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
and among other agencies to upgrade farmers’ technology and know-how.
The fear
over importation, she explained further, appeared to be baseless since rice
supply is actually limited in the world.
Only
Asian countries, she said, produce rice.
“So over
importation will only lead to increase in prices of the staple which would also
benefit farmers,” Villar said.
She
stressed that the government's grant of free irrigation to farmers,
mechanization and use of improved inbred rice varieties will cut production
cost. (PNA)
Productivity, mechanization, and
post-harvest technologies
By
-
Tuesday,
February 5, 2019
THE Central Luzon Agriculture,
Aquatic and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC) recently
conducted the Rice Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and
Technology Agenda (FIESTA) at the Philippine Rice Research Institute’s
(PhilRice’s) Central Experiment Station in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva
Ecija.
The event carried the theme “Diwang Makabago at Tradisyunal na
Teknolohiya sa Agrikultura at Pangisdaan, Handog sa mga Pilipinong Magsasaka.”
The Rice FIESTA is an amalgamation of culture, traditions, and
technology highlighting pre and postharvest machinery, biofertilizer,
integrated rice and rice-based package of technology, and other technologies
that were developed through the support of the Philippine Council for
Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
The DOST-PCAARRD, which initiated the FIESTA as a technology
diffusion platform, funded the activity together with other agencies.
FIESTA is a PCAARRD event-based technology transfer modality
which aims to promote science and technology (S&T) and its products towards
providing competitive and profitable business ventures for the micro, small,
and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the agriculture, aquatic and natural
resources sectors of the country.
This is in line with PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Plan
(ISP) for rice which primarily aims to increase rice productivity and modernize
rice production and postproduction systems in the country.
The ISP focuses on topics such as rice productivity,
mechanization, and postharvest technologies.
Among the agricultural machinery featured in the event include
the impeller-type compact ricemill, ride-behind transplanter, combined
conduction and far-infrared radiation dryer, and different attachments for
hand-tractors.
The technologies are expected to realize the goal of producing
healthy and sufficient rice for the Filipinos.
The activity was conducted with the support provided by Central
Luzon State University, and other government agencies and private institutions
like Kubota Philippines, Inc. which exhibited different farm machinery like the
Kubota NSPU-68CMD Rice Transplanter, and the Kubota SR-K800PH Automatic Seeder.
Since farmers from the different provinces in the country differ
in terms of the quantities of inputs used, technologies adopted, and management
skills employed, these result in the varying yield and production cost among
them.
To address the concern, economists from the Socioeconomics
Division of PhilRice shared ways on how to narrow these gaps to help the
farmers increase their productivity and income based on the findings from 33
major rice producing provinces in the Philippines.
A senior science research specialist from the Socioeconomics
Division presented the results of the study Narrowing the Yield and Cost Gaps:
Comparative Efficiency of Rice Farming in the Philippines.
Adopting high-quality seeds, such as hybrid, can increase yield
by 1.81 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha) from the baseline yield of 4 mt/ha. A
ton increase in farmers’ yield can lead to production cost reduction of P0.91
per kilogram, the researcher said.
The use of high-quality seeds and better access to irrigation
water can also significantly increase farmers’ yield growth.
Higher yield and better management skills of farmers, along with
their adoption of high-quality seeds and mechanized harvesting and threshing,
will then reduce their production cost./PN
Portraying rice cultivation on canvas
BHUBANESWAR:
Cultivation is the chief source of livelihood in Odisha. Keeping this in mind,
Dhauli College of Art and Crafts in collaboration with N.R.R.I organised a
three-day art expo at National Rice Research centre in Cuttack from Saturday.
The
fest concluded Monday afternoon. At least 25 top students showcased their paintings
based on rice cultivation. The concluding day of the fest was attended by
Prakash Kar of N.R.R.I and Chandan Kumar Samal of Dhauli College of Art and
Crafts. Interacting with Orissa Post, Kar said, “In the wake of modernism,
people are forgetting the contribution of our farmers. Therefore, we have
organised this huge art fest to create awareness amidst general masses.”
Artist
Raja Ram Swain said, “All the artistes have truly enjoyed depicting the story
of farmers through paintings. Right from ploughing to planting the crop, all
aspects of rice cultivation are drawn immaculately on canvas through
watercolour, acrylic and more. The ‘Rebirth’ of farming through paintings was
brought through water colours. It went beyond decorative manuscripts and was comprehended
by the elite class due to their love for art.”
Goswami
Panchayat, an art critic from Cuttack feels that paintings should cross the
border of feminism and beauty and it should capture realistic images of people.
This has been accurately done by these budding yet brilliant artistes of Dhauli
College of Art and Crafts.
Manisha
Moharana, Sanjukta Rani Das, Biswaranjan Dash, Asit Kumar Samal, Bimaljyoti
Tripathy, Chandramani Patra, Sulagna Das, Biswadeep Biswal, Pabitra Mohan
Nayak, Kunal Mandal, Soumyaranjan Samant, Niranjan Nayak, Om Prakash Barik,
Gopal Krushna Nayak, Srikant Kumar Rout, Iswar Kumar Mohanta and many others
participated in this intuitive art expo.
Feb.
4, 2019 2:37 pm
This Delaware teen is working to solve Asia’s arsenic rice
crisis
Charter School of Wilmington senior Preeti Krishnamani has been
selected as a finalist in the prestigious national Regeneron Science Talent
Search. She'll present her project in D.C. next month.
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Preeti Krishnamani.
(Courtesy
photo)
Preeti Krishnamani found her passion for rice
paddies in the 10th grade, when she had the opportunity to work in them
with Universitiy of Delaware’s Dr. Angelia Seyfferth at
the College of Agriculture and
Natural Resources.
The focus was on an issue near to
her heart, as a young Indian-American woman: lowering the levels of arsenic in
rice, especially in Southeast and East Asian areas where the levels have the
highest impact on communities.
That was just two years ago. Today, the graduating senior
at Charter School of Wilmington
(CSW) is getting ready to go to Washington D.C. to
present her project, “Effects
of Silicon Amendments on the Concentration and Adsorption Properties of
Iron-Oxides in Paddy Soils,” as one of just 40 pre-college
students nationwide to be named as a finalist in the highly prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS).
She is the first CSW student to be a finalist in the competition,
and only the sixth from Delaware since it began in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent
Search.
In early January, Krishnamani was named as one of 300
Scholars (essentially STS semifinalists) by the Society for Science & the Public and
Regeneron. That honor came with two $2,000 awards, one for her and one for CSW.
She learned she’d been picked a
few weeks later. As a finalist, Krishnamani will be awarded a minimum of
$25,000, up to a top prize of $250,000.
“It’s really
exciting,” said Krishnamani, “especially representing Delaware, being
an agricultural state.”
This isn’t the first major honor for this young project. Last
year, Krishnamani was one of 15 finalists selected in the 2018 International BioGENEius Challenge.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring
compound in many soils — a byproduct of volcanic ash and different metal ores.
The amount of arsenic that leeches into most food crops is negligible, but
rice, because of the way its grown and harvested, can have levels so high that
it’s believed to cause health issues in parts of the world where rice is a
daily staple.
“It’s a huge public health threat
that causes diseases and cardiovascular problems,” said Krishnamani. “It’s
one of the potential reasons diabetes is a big problem in Asia.”
Scientists around the world have
been working on solutions to the arsenic rice crisis for decades, but the
solutions are often not accessible to some parts of Asia like India and
Bangladesh.
“Most [of the research] has been
in genetically modified plants, but there are more cost effective ways,” the
student said.
Krishnamani’s project is based on
silicon soil amendment; silica, which also occurs naturally in soil and other
organic matter, has been found to be effective in minimizing arsenic absorption
in rice.
While there have been effective
(but costly) synthetic silicon fertilizers introduced, Krishnamani’s
project has introduced the idea of utilizing the hulls of the rice — a waste
product that is commonly burned — by using natural silica from them to create a
natural, sustainable rice fertilizer.
“It’s a productive way to use
the waste and recycle it back into the rice,” she said.
The Regeneron STS Finals will happen in early March. In
addition to the competition, she will be presenting her project on March 7 in a
public showcase National
Geographic Society in D.C
Beware of corn syrup?
Bud Light Super Bowl ad shames Miller Lite, Coors Light for using it, but
dietitians say it’s not that bad
PUBLISHED
MON, FEB 4 2019 • 5:05 PM EST | UPDATED MON, FEB 4 2019 • 7:17 PM EST
KEY
POINTS
· Anheuser-Busch used one of its Super Bowl ad spots to shame Bud
Light rivals Miller Lite and Coors Light for using corn syrup to brew their
beers.
·
Dietitians say the added
sugars are mostly removed during the beer-making process.
A scene from Bud Lite’s 2019 Super Bowl ad.
Source: Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch used one of its
Super Bowl ads to shame Bud Light rivals Miller Lite and Coors Light for using
corn syrup to brew their beers, but dietitians say the sweetener isn’t all that
bad when used in the fermentation process.
In
the 60-second commercial, an order for corn syrup inadvertently shows up at the
wrong castle. The Bud Light king takes an arduous journey up mountains and
across the sea to deliver it to the Miller Lite and Coors Light castles, which
both use corn syrup in their brewing processes.
The
ad prompted
backlash from
corn grower industry groups and Millers Lite and Coors Light, who are both
owned by MillerCoors, the U.S. subsidiary of Molson Coors. Added sugars,
especially high-fructose corn syrup, have come under intense scrutiny fueling
an obesity epidemic that has left nearly 40 percent of U.S.
adults obese.
Molecular difference
While
corn syrup sounds pretty close to high-fructose corn syrup, it’s actually quite
different on the molecular level, Margaret Slavin, an associate professor in
nutrition and food studies at George Mason University, told CNBC.
Corn
syrup is essentially corn starch that has been mostly broken down into single
glucose molecules. To make high-fructose corn syrup, scientists use enzymes
that change about half of those glucose molecules into fructose. The result is
a sweeter substance that’s cheaper to produce than regular sugar.
WATCH NOW
VIDEO05:24
Super Bowl ad winners and losers with the former
marking VP for GM
Miller
Lite and Coors Light use corn syrup to feed yeast in the brewing process. Yeast
eats sugar, in this case corn syrup, and turns it into alcohol and carbon
dioxide. Anheuser-Busch uses rice to feed the yeast when brewing Bud Light.
Rice takes a little bit longer to digest because corn syrup is pre-digested,
since the enzymes break it down, Slavin explains.
The
end result for both? Beer.
“I’m
a little surprised at (corn syrup) being used in advertising in such a way,”
said Slavin, a registered dietitian. “I think it’s more playing on consumer hot
topics and concerns than on a particular scientific concern whether or not
they’re using sugar or rice or some other refined grain to feed the yeast.”
Consumer fears
Nicole
Lund, sports dietitian at NYU Langone, said one of her clients came in Monday
asking her what she thought about the commercial and the implication that
consumers should stay away from beer made with corn syrup. He said one of his
friends prefers Coors Light and was a little nervous about drinking it.
Like
Slavin, Lund says the ad plays into consumer fears about high-fructose corn
syrup and weight gain. Our bodies store whatever they haven’t used for energy.
Added sugars are typically found in foods we tend to overeat, like soda or
candy, so they commonly get stored as fat, she said.
However,
it’s not really an issue when sugars get mostly stripped out during the
beer-making process, she said.
“With
a lot of these trendy things, you have to take a step back and decide how big
of an issue it is to your life, but for the most part, that’s probably not
somebody’s biggest issue,” Lund said. “Especially if they’re drinking six beers
a day, it would probably be more about the quantity than which beer they’re
choosing.”
MillerCoors shoots back
MillerCoors, which makes Miller,
Coors and a variety of other lagers and brews, agreed. In a post on its website
titled “About those Bud Light ads,” Miller took a jab at its rival and
explained why brewers use the syrupy sweetener.
“As
Anheuser-Busch pointed out in a series of low-performing television spots aired
during Sunday’s football game, both Miller Lite and Coors Light use
corn-derived sugars during fermentation,” Miller said, adding that it “aids in
making them light-bodied, easy-drinking beers with reduced calories and
carbohydrates.” It also said that none of the sugars make their way into the
final product.
Anheuser-Busch
has been promoting its transparency efforts. In January, Bud Light became the
first beer in the U.S. to start displaying ingredient labels.
“We
don’t have anything against corn syrup, we just don’t use it in Bud Light,” the
company said in a statement. “Consumers want transparency and we’re providing
it. Bud Light’s Super Bowl commercials are only meant to point out a key
difference in Bud Light from some other light beers.”
Duterte asked to veto provisions in rice tariffication bill
Anna
Gabriela A. Mogato
Published 5:30 PM,
February 04, 2019
Updated 5:31 PM,
February 04, 2019
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VETO SOUGHT. Various sectors under the rice
industry call for President Rodrigo Duterte to veto provisions in the rice
tariffication bill, which only needs his signature to become a law. Photo by
Anna Mogato/Rappler
MANILA,
Philippines – In a bid to protect the local rice industry, various groups that
help supply the country's staple are calling for President Rodrigo Duterte to
veto certain provisions in the rice tariffication bill.
Under
the bill, the NFA will no longer monitor and regulate the entry of rice
imports, as well as decide the volume and timing of the imports. Its role would
be limited to providing stocks in case of calamities.
The
groups said the bill would affect not only farmers' livelihood and availability
of rice for poor consumers, but would also lead to loss of jobs if there is
uninhibited rice importation. (READ: With rice
tariffication, what happens to food security?)
Aside
from wholesale and retail businesses, this could affect 2.7 million farmers and
6,600 registered rice millers which employ around 55,000 workers.
National
Food Authority (NFA) Employees Association-Central Office president Maximo
Torda added that this may mean the loss of jobs for 4,635 NFA employees
"from Batanes in the north up to Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao."
The
industry representatives were set to meet with Duterte on Monday afternoon to appeal
to the President to veto the provision removing the NFA's powers, along with
with details related to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
In
2018, Duterte declared
the bill as urgent amid the rice shortage and increasing rice prices. (READ: Rice
tariffication good for the country, Filipino farmers)
That
same year, the Senate also approved the bill, which includes a mechanism
to provide financial aid to make
the rice industry more competitive. Last January 15, the
bill already reached the President's table for signing.
Other Stories
Media made inflation worse? Economic team never flagged it until now
No more cheap NFA rice in 2019 – Piñol
[ANALYSIS] Will rice tariffication live up to its promise?
Data
from the Philippine Statistics Authority released on Monday showed that the
average wholesale price of well milled rice grew 5.08% year on year to P41.56
per kilogram (kg) on wholesale, while its retail price saw a slightly higher
year on year increase at 6.34% to P45.11 per kg.
Meanwhile, both wholesale and retail prices for regular milled
rice also rose by 6.44% to P38.35 per kg and 7.75% to P41.43 per kg,
respectively.
Hybrid, a solution?
HYBRID RICE. Rice Productivity Advocacy
Incorporated representative Francisco Malabanan says the Rice Competitiveness
Enhancement Fund should also include support for hybrid rice. Photo by Anna
Mogato/Rappler
Rice Productivity Advocacy Incorporated representative Francisco
Malabanan said they are totally not against the rice tariffication bill
"since it is already needed," but there are certain provisions that
have to be changed. (READ: Will rice
tariffication live up to its promise?)
For instance, the group wants to remove the added tax on both
inbred and hybrid rice seeds to make it more affordable for farmers to procure.
Aside from this, Malabanan said the proposed RCEF only covers
the production and promotion of inbred rice seeds.
Under
the proposed RCEF, P5 billion of the P10-billion annual fund allocated for the
industry will be given to the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and
Mechanization for farm equipment, P3 billion will be set aside for the
Philippine Rice Research Institute for research, and P1 billion each will be
given to banks for loans with interest and the Agricultural Training Institute
as well as Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for training.
"Ang
kailangan isama doon ay ang hybrid rice [seeds] sapagkat iyon naman ang
pinaka-latest technology na makakatulong sa mga magsasaka para mas mataas ang
kanilang production at makapag-compete at hindi mamatay ang palay production ng
ating bansa," he added.
(They
should include hybrid rice [seeds] because that involves the latest technology
which can help our farmers increase their production and make them more
competitive. It would also ensure that the palay production in our country will
not die.)
Malabanan,
who is also a senior technical consultant of homegrown hybrid rice producer SL
Agritech Corporation, also said that since the country is only 6% away from
total rice self-sufficiency, the expanded use of hybrid rice can fill the gap.
"Si
Secretary [Emmanuel Piñol], sinusuportahan ang [hybrid] rice initially. Pero
ang problem, hindi naman siya sinuportahan ng economic managers, kaya hindi
niya na pinush ang aming kahilingan na makapagtanim [sa] 1.5 million hectares
ng hybrid rice," he added.
(Secretary
Emmanuel Piñol initally supported the use of hybrid rice. But the problem is
that he wasn't supported by the economic managers, that's why he didn't push
for our request to be able to use 1.5 million hectares for hybrid rice.) –
Rappler.com
Judiciary denies links to ''poisonous''
rice after Judge Ogola's ruling
· Posted On: 04th
Feb 2019 15:34:56 GMT +0300
Justice Eric Ogola
during a past court session. He recently ruled in favour of Phoenix Global
Kenya in rice case where he ordered state agencies to release controversial
rice from warehouses. [Photo:
Courtesy]
The Judiciary has
responded to rumours circulating on the interweb over the weekend claiming one
of its judges “ordered poisoned rice to be sold in Kenya.”
A video circulating on
social media based on a ruling by Justice Eric Ogola in a court in Mombasa on
January 31, 2019, has caused panic among Kenyans. In his ruling, Justice Ogola
ordered 10 million kilograms of rice earlier declared unfit by Kenya Bureau of
Standards (KEBS) into the market.
On Monday February 4,
the Judiciary released a statement saying the claim was not factual. The
Judiciary says the matter before the court was not about poisonous rice but
about 20 per cent of a consignment of rice that should be reclassified and
downgraded because it does not meet size standard.
“The Judiciary's
attention has been drawn to reports in sections of the media that the Judiciary
ordered release of poisonous rice into the market. This is malicious and false
position aimed at tainting the image of the Judiciary,” read the statement that
was signed by Catherine Wambui, Deputy Director of Communication and Public
Affairs at the Judiciary.
SEE ALSO :Cut flower output at risk
The Judiciary says that
the good rice was ordered for release into the market three months ago, only
for the multi-agency to fail to open the go down after the importer. “… by the
time of the judgement, all the stock was still intact. In the submissions,
parties agreed that indeed even the rice which was alleged not to meet the size
actually had minimal size variation,” reads the statement.
Additionally, by the
time Justice Ogola delivered a ruling on January 31, 2019, all the rice bags
were still in store.
The ruling
In the case, the
petitioner, Phoenix Global Kenya (importer), sought to compel several
government agencies - the Kenya Revenue Authority, KEBS, Director of Criminal
Investigations (DCI) to open the warehouse and release the rice.
The rice worth Sh250
million had been held at a Mombasa warehouse after it was found unfit for human
consumption.
Justice Ogola said in
the ruling that the DCI may have not followed the required flawless sample
testing criterion to prove that the rice was indeed unfit.
He notes in the
ruling: " In my view, the integrity of the DCI’s sampling process and
submission of samples for testing is questionable as not only do the reports
fail to identify which Samples Collection Form the tests conducted relate to
but, also, the dates for submission of samples are inherently contradictory."
but, also, the dates for submission of samples are inherently contradictory."
Phoenix Global Kenya
swore an affidavit claiming that it had suffered damages amounting to
Shs.53,938,446.60. The company attributed the losses predominantly to costs
incurred in storage, financial interests, wages, loss of businesses due to bad
reputation and sampling and testing.
Its plea was headed as
Justice Ogola ruled in its favour, ordering KEBS to additionally pay Phoenix
Global Kenya Sh15 million as damages for illegal detention of 10,327 metric
tonnes of rice.
KEBS were also asked
to ascertain: Whether the white substance meets the requirement of any grade of
rice, the percentage of moisture in the white substance, if the white substance
has aflatoxin contamination, the arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead content in
the white substance, whether the white substance is fit for human consumption.
Rice imports
In 2018, farmers from Mwea asked the Government to control imports to
keep prices stable before they harvested.
Chairman of Irrigation
Water Users Association Moris Mutugi said imports flooding the market will hurt
earnings if not controlled. “We are expecting a bumper harvest and we foresee
struggle to get market. If imports must come, then they should not be brought
here to compete with ours,” he said.
Kenya imported 625,000
tonnes of rice last year compared to 507,999 in 2016.
Ombudsman
tells policymakers to keep eye on staple imports
·
Rachmadea
Aisyah
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta / Mon,
February 4, 2019
/ 05:55 pm
The Indonesian Ombudsman building in Jakarta
(tribunnews.com/File)
4
·
·
·
·
·
·
The
Indonesian Ombudsman has urged the government to maintain a strict policy on
the import of rice, corn, sugar and salt -- four staple commodities, whose
imports often spark controversy -- ahead of the presidential and legislative
elections in April.
The
Ombudsman recorded that in its four years in office from 2014 to 2018, the
administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had authorized the import of
4.7 million tons of rice, 5.7 million tons of corn, 17.2 million tons of sugar
and 12.3 million tons of salt.
“In this
political year, attention to import administration might be lacking because of
the intensity of the national political process,” Ombudsman member Alamsyah
Saragih told reporters on Monday. “If we do not pay attention to it, it could lead
to disadvantages for various stakeholders.”
Alamsyah
said imports of corn, sugar and salt, which are meant for industrial purposes,
had been increasing because industrial players were looking for better quality
ingredients leading to price reductions for the commodities produced by local
farmers.
“This
year, industrial verification must be done thoroughly in order to avoid
importing too much,” he said. “We encourage the government, especially the
Industry Ministry, to verify industrial requirements and audit stocks of local
supplies.”
Alamsyah
also cited the plan by state-owned logistics company Bulog to export rice,
which showed stocks were getting excessive as Bulog this year distributed less
rice to poor families.
Last
month, Bulog head Budi Waseso said the rice-export plan was being carried out
to prevent stock overflows, with the domestic harvesting season coming in March
to May. (bbn)
TOPICS :
Rice Sufficiency And
Food Security Drive
Published
1 day ago
on
February 5, 2019
By
·
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One fascinating fact about
Nigeria and the strength of its agriculture is that, as is the case with many
other economic and social sectors, it is under reported, under-appreciated and
its data is often unfairly distorted. That is partly why the awareness of our
more than self-sufficiency in the key crops that constitute our staple foods
and which give the nation a satisfactory level of food availability, security
and stability, is patently latent.
For instance, many Nigerians
may latently know that the country is the largest producer of sorghum in Africa
and self-sufficient in that commodity. The country is also self-sufficient in
millet production, being the second largest producer of the crop on earth. The
Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has all the data supporting that
self-sufficiency reality. In the case of yam, cocoyam, cassava, sweet and Irish
potatoes, there is no need to attribute our national self-sufficiency status to
any local or foreign sources of data because the information is widespread,
generally accepted as fact for which we all feel happy. God
endowed us with the energy, the wisdom, the water and land to grow
and be self-sufficient in these staples food crops.
The country is also
self-sufficient in most fruits and vegetables that are consumed daily by
millions of Nigerians: citrus, lemon, pawpaw, pineapples, mangoes, guava,
tomatoes, varieties of pepper and many nuts and legumes. The one knotty and
naughty food crop that posed a challengeto all administrations, is rice. The
FAO reported that Nigeria’s rice self-sufficiency was 98.7in 1960-1964;98.8 per
cent in the 1970-1974 period and 83.8 per cent as at 1989-1996. It was from that
level of self-sufficiency that the country became the largest importer of rice
in Africa. In February 2012, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said Nigeria was importing five million
metric tons of rice per annum.
That imported rice, according
to Alhaji Aliko Dangote,drainsUS$1.8 billion from the country’s foreign
exchange yearly. He said the country imports 3.2 million metric tons
of processed rice annually, which he frowned at. He disclosed this
in 2016 while launching a 20, 000-strong rice out growers scheme for his paddy
rice processing mill in Jigawa state. Dangoterightly felt that the money spent
importing rice could be used better: “This huge foreign exchange would have
been used on more impactful social development interventions if they were not
needed for rice imports,” he said.
Then enters the Buhari-led
administration, which is diversifying and growing the Nigerian economy by
boosting the agricultural sector to deepen national food security and provide more
agro raw-materials to processing industries. The Anchor Borrowers
Programme (ABP), which he launched on November 17, 2015, in Kebbi state, is one
of the strongest initiatives aimed at returning the country to self-sufficiency
in rice production. It is driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in
concert with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, that of
Water Resources and various state governments. The Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN) said “the broad objective of the ABP is to create economic linkage
between smallholder farmers and reputable large-scale processors with a view to
increasing agricultural output and significantly improving capacity utilization
of processors.” This is happening. Dozens of new rice mills of various installed
processing capacities have sprung up across the country, furiously processing
paddy rice harvested in the country.
Consequently, the Governor of
the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, reported a huge reduction in the importation of rice
and a few other commodities between 2013 and 2017. Specifically, he said
US$1.424 billion was spent in importing the commodities in 2013, while only
US$628.6 million was spent for their importation in 2017, a saving of over
US$800 million. An elated Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, added that
Thailand and India, both dominant rice exporters to Nigeria, were able to
export just 5, 161 and 426 metric tons of rice to Nigeria respectively in 2017.
This was a paltry quantity compared with the 3.2 million metric tons imported annually
as testified by Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
Other ABP objectives achieved
include an increase in financing the agricultural sector by banks; raising a
generation of farmers who see agriculture as a business and the deepening of
the cashless policy and widening financial inclusion. The level of poverty
among smallholder farmers has been reduced. More of them now live in improved
dwellings, own agricultural machinery and send their children to school. The
CBN Governor said that the programme has improved the economic and social
standing of millions of Nigerians through the disbursement of N160 billion by
the apex bank. The money empowered 850, 000 smallholder farmers across the
country; they now have timely access to fertilisers, certified seeds and safe
agro-chemicals.
Minister of Agriculture, Chief
Audu Ogbeh, said the dominant rice exporters to Nigeria, Thailand and India,
sold only 5, 161 and 426 metric tons of rice to Nigeria respectively by the
close of 2017, against the 3.2 million metric tons imported annually as
testified by Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Another initiativeof the Buhari-led
administration which is empowering and moving Nigerians out of povertyis the
TraderMoni scheme. It is a loan programme “created specifically for
petty traders and artisans across Nigeria. It is a part of the Government
Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), being executed by the Bank of
Industry.”
Under the scheme targeted at 20
million petty traders, Nigerians in the specified category“can receive
interest-free loans starting from N10,000 and growing all the way to N100,000,”
based on the beneficiary’s record of paying back. So far over N15
billion has been disbursed as loans to the beneficiaries. Although the
notoriously,largely-partisan Transparency International of Olusegun
Obasanjo has joined the opposition in describing the scheme as a vote-buying
ploy, the truth is that it is genuinely aimed at reducing poverty among its
clearly defined, targeted beneficiaries.The positive impact it is making on the
wellbeing of its beneficiaries cannot be erased by mischievous allegations.
–Dambatta, a journalist, sent
this piece from Abuja
Customs strike: Importers say essential food prices would
go up
2019-02-04
19:32:23
0
1142
The Essential Food Commodities’
Importers and Traders Association today said it has decided to increase the
prices of a number of essential food items this week due to the work-to-rule
campaign by the Customs.
The Associations’ Media Spokesperson Hemaka Fernando said the
strike had resulted in a backlog of containers consisting of imported essential
food items at the Colombo harbour.
He said the importers had to pay demurrage of US$ 36 per day for
one 40-foot container and US$ 20 for 20-foot container until the containers are
released.
“In addition to these charges, we have to pay Rs.850,000 for one
container of potatoes because of the increased import tax on potatoes which
came into effect from last Friday. In this crisis situation, we have decided to
increase the prices of food items during this week,” he said.
Accordingly, prices of imported rice, sugar, dhal, potatoes,
onions and green grams would go up.
When contacted, Chairman of the Customs Superintendents Union
Uditha Jayasinghe said they have to charge the increased tax amount from the
containers which arrived at the port even before the date when the tax was
increased.
He said the number of containers which are being released from
the port had been reduced to 200 per day due to the Customs work-to-rule
campaign. “This could only intensify this week,” he said.
Earlier, it was reported that trade unions outside the Customs
including the Essential Food Commodities’ Importers and Traders Association had
backed the Customs work-to-rule campaign.
However, the Association rejected these reports and said it had
even rejected an invitation extended by the Customs trade unions for a meeting.
Mr. Fernando said that they are not concerned about the issue of
Customs Director General, but the cause of the strike. “This is an issue of the
Customs. Not ours. We are simply affected by their work-to-rule campaign,” he
said. (Indika Sri
Aravinda)
Rise against the clock
- Proactive research and analysis are needed to
effectively address future nutritional problems
Feb 5, 2019-
Over the weekend, I
read ‘How rice became a staple
in the hills and mountains and why that’s unsustainable’ in the Kathmandu
Post. As a student of social change, I found the article quite interesting.
Rice was indeed not a common staple food for most villagers, especially in the
hills and mountain areas. As mentioned in the article, the perception of
cultural inferiority toward foods other than rice—coupled with external forces
such as the perception of development workers and policymakers that rice was
the food staple to be provided to the farmers when they are food insecure—most
likely contributed to establish the rice culture in rural hills and mountains
in Nepal.
While the rice-culture was subtly taking over the traditional
staples through socio-cultural and market forces, consumers were not actively
informed about nutritional values offered by different staple foods. There must
have been research about it at national and international levels, but the
findings from this research did not reach consumers. For that matter, even the
mentioned article this op-ed itself are likely only going to
circulate within smaller networks (and mostly within an echo-chamber of like-minded
researchers and journalists). This points to the overall lack of proactive
research and analysis in our efforts to address future societal problems.
Analyses and research
conducted after the fact are useful to understand the history and draw lessons
for learning purpose. But understanding them before or as they happen, and
their future implications are equally, if not more, important to help minimise
or avoid future negative consequences. Two aspects are particularly important
to make these analyses effective: intentionality and specificity. Such analyses
should be intentional to improve our knowledge about current and future trends,
and the topic of analysis should be specific enough to produce tangible change.
Analyses that are
reflective in nature are good for learning lessons and to understand what has
happened. But if we stop there and don’t analyse the current and future trends,
we will miss an opportunity to introduce corrective measures. And if these
findings do not reach to the relevant stakeholders in a timely manner, they
cannot make necessary policy, programmatic and advocacy interventions at the
time of need.
Let’s take the case of
the referred article. If the researchers and analysts had paid attention to the
details of the emerging trends of the culturally perceived superiority of rice
in the hills and mountain areas at the time when it started (after the 1980s),
and if the results of such analyses were received by the relevant stakeholders,
all the negative effects we are seeing now triggered by or associated with
rice-based diets could have been minimised or even avoided. As such, we
wouldn’t have experienced the rice-driven negative consequences, as captured by
the Post’s article as a nation today.
With this premise, I have
two specific recommendations. One, all researchers, analysts, and think tanks
alike should give equal importance, if not more, to proactive and predictive
studies as much as they do on reflective studies, especially on the topics that
hold severe implications to people and society. For instance, fast food culture
is evolving rapidly in Nepal these days. Given the ways in which the new
generation is flocking toward the industry, it is possible that in the next
five or 20 years, we will talk about various public health and dietary problems
associated with such foods, just like the way we are talking about the rice at
this moment. Thus, it’s important to conduct predictive analyses of emerging
fast food culture and its possible implications at present and in future.
We must learn from our
historical shortcomings. A strong communication and advocacy intervention about
the current status of fast food consumptions, its nutrition values, consumption
trends, and health and socio-economic implications, if well analysed and disseminated,
could greatly benefit the public.
Bishwakarma, PhD, is a
Sr. Technical Advisor for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning for
Lutheran World Relief in Baltimore, USA.
Published: 05-02-2019
07:22
Productivity, mechanization, and
post-harvest technologies
By
-
Tuesday,
February 5, 2019
THE Central Luzon Agriculture,
Aquatic and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC) recently
conducted the Rice Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and
Technology Agenda (FIESTA) at the Philippine Rice Research Institute’s
(PhilRice’s) Central Experiment Station in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva
Ecija.
The event carried the theme “Diwang Makabago at Tradisyunal na
Teknolohiya sa Agrikultura at Pangisdaan, Handog sa mga Pilipinong Magsasaka.”
The Rice FIESTA is an amalgamation of culture, traditions, and
technology highlighting pre and postharvest machinery, biofertilizer,
integrated rice and rice-based package of technology, and other technologies
that were developed through the support of the Philippine Council for
Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
The DOST-PCAARRD, which initiated the FIESTA as a technology
diffusion platform, funded the activity together with other agencies.
FIESTA is a PCAARRD event-based technology transfer modality
which aims to promote science and technology (S&T) and its products towards
providing competitive and profitable business ventures for the micro, small, and
medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the agriculture, aquatic and natural resources
sectors of the country.
This is in line with PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Plan
(ISP) for rice which primarily aims to increase rice productivity and modernize
rice production and postproduction systems in the country.
The ISP focuses on topics such as rice productivity,
mechanization, and postharvest technologies.
Among the agricultural machinery featured in the event include
the impeller-type compact ricemill, ride-behind transplanter, combined
conduction and far-infrared radiation dryer, and different attachments for
hand-tractors.
The technologies are expected to realize the goal of producing
healthy and sufficient rice for the Filipinos.
The activity was conducted with the support provided by Central
Luzon State University, and other government agencies and private institutions
like Kubota Philippines, Inc. which exhibited different farm machinery like the
Kubota NSPU-68CMD Rice Transplanter, and the Kubota SR-K800PH Automatic Seeder.
Since farmers from the different provinces in the country differ
in terms of the quantities of inputs used, technologies adopted, and management
skills employed, these result in the varying yield and production cost among
them.
To address the concern, economists from the Socioeconomics
Division of PhilRice shared ways on how to narrow these gaps to help the
farmers increase their productivity and income based on the findings from 33
major rice producing provinces in the Philippines.
A senior science research specialist from the Socioeconomics
Division presented the results of the study Narrowing the Yield and Cost Gaps:
Comparative Efficiency of Rice Farming in the Philippines.
Adopting high-quality seeds, such as hybrid, can increase yield
by 1.81 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha) from the baseline yield of 4 mt/ha. A
ton increase in farmers’ yield can lead to production cost reduction of P0.91
per kilogram, the researcher said.
The use of high-quality seeds and better access to irrigation
water can also significantly increase farmers’ yield growth.
Higher yield and better management skills of farmers, along with
their adoption of high-quality seeds and mechanized harvesting and threshing,
will then reduce their production cost./PN
Focus on the Farmer
Series Finale
ARLINGTON,
VA -- The final subject the USA Rice "Focus on the Farmer" Facebook series is Austin Davis, a third generation farmer from
Shaw, Mississippi. Austin graduated from Mississippi State University
with a degree in Industrial Engineering and now works with his brother and
father on the family's operation, Larry Davis Farms, growing soybeans and rice.The year-long series that has run the first week of each month since March 2018 brought attention to twelve young rice farmers who help put U.S.-grown rice on America's plates - and to let them tell the real story of food production in their own words.
"Social media definitely has its benefits," said Austin. "Unfortunately, there is a lot of incorrect information that gets spread with regard to agriculture. We must do our best to let the truth be known about our practices and that we, as producers, are good stewards of the land."
Follow along with Austin all week, and look, "like," and, most importantly, share the posts to help spread the U.S. rice story!
‘Banks to feel more pain from rice tariff
bill than default of Hanjin’
By
-
February 5,
2019
Farmers, millers, retailers
and irrigators urged President Duterte to veto the rice tariffication bill, as
the unimpeded entry of imports could cause businessmen to stop paying bank
loans estimated at P300 billion.
THE full liberalization of the rice industry may hurt banks more
than the default of South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and
Construction Co.-Philippines (HHIC-Phil), as thousands of millers could go
bankrupt.
In an open letter to President Duterte, a coalition of rice
farmers, millers, retailers and irrigators outlined the economic consequences
of the enactment of the rice tariffication bill into law.
The Coalition of Farmers’ Organizations, Unions, Retailers, and
Rice Millers to Protect the Philippine Rice Industry (C-FOURR PROTECT) said the
unimpeded entry of cheap rice following the conversion of import caps into
tariffs could significantly cut palay production.
This, C-FOURR PROTECT pointed out, would create a detrimental
domino effect on the rice industry value chain with the local millers suffering
the brunt of an open rice market, as lower palay output could cause their
facilities to go unused.
The underutilization of rice mill facilities, the group said,
could lead to eventual closures and worse, the default of about P300 billion
worth of loans obtained by millers from local banks. HHIC-Phil borrowed a total
of $412 million, or about a P21.6-billion loan from five local banks. Based on
C-FOURR PROTECT’s estimate, a complete rice mill facility costs about P30
million to P50 million to put up, which would mean that the whole Philippine
rice milling industry is
valued at about P200 billion to P300 billion.
valued at about P200 billion to P300 billion.
“Imagine a scenario where these rice milling facilities could
not be operated at full capacity because of lack of enough local palay produce
to mill and the owners default on their bank loans citing unfavorable business
climate similar to the recent bankruptcy case of the Subic-based Hanjin Heavy
Industries Inc.,” the open letter read, a copy of which was provided to
reporters on Monday.
“The big loan exposure of the owners of these rice mills will
definitely shake the very foundation of the banking industry and cause shock
waves to the whole Philippine financial system,” it added.
C-FOURR PROTECT also estimates that around 55,000 workers of
6,600 registered rice millers nationwide could be displaced by a more open rice
market.
Millers’ dilemma
Rowena del Rosario-Sadicon of the Nueva Ecija Rice Millers
Association said around 10 percent, or about P30 billion of the P300-billion
investment made by local millers nationwide, were poured into Nueva Ecija.
Sadicon said these loans are still being amortized by rice millers.
“Our partnership with the banks is important. It is
important that they have confidence in us that we are capable of repaying the
money we borrowed from them,” she told the BusinessMirror.
“If the farmers will not plant anymore, then we won’t have
anything to mill. We will depend on rice importation, which we are already
doing now, but it would not be enough as we have institutional clients needing
locally produced rice,” she added.
Sadicon, who is also vice president for Marketing and Manager
for International Trade of Victor Del Rosario Rice Mill, also pointed out that
their supply of rice hull, which they use as biomass fuel to run their mills,
would also be reduced due to lower palay output.
“Shortage in local palay production will mean shortage in the
supply of ipa or rice hull used as biomass fuel, binder in cement manufacturing
as well as earth/land fillers,” C-FOURR PROTECT said in its letter.
The rice tariffication bill approved by the bicameral conference
committee will lapse into law on February 15 if President Duterte does not act
on it. Rice industry stakeholders have been calling on Duterte to veto specific
provisions of the bill, such as removing the powers of the national ood to
intervene in the domestic market.
Feb.
4, 2019 2:37 pm
This Delaware teen is working to solve Asia’s arsenic rice
crisis
Charter School of Wilmington senior Preeti Krishnamani has been
selected as a finalist in the prestigious national Regeneron Science Talent
Search. She'll present her project in D.C. next month.
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Preeti Krishnamani.
(Courtesy
photo)
Preeti Krishnamani found her passion for rice
paddies in the 10th grade, when she had the opportunity to work in them
with Universitiy of Delaware’s Dr. Angelia Seyfferth at
the College of Agriculture and Natural
Resources.
The focus was on an issue near to
her heart, as a young Indian-American woman: lowering the levels of arsenic in
rice, especially in Southeast and East Asian areas where the levels have the
highest impact on communities.
That was just two years ago. Today, the graduating senior
at Charter School of Wilmington
(CSW) is getting ready to go to Washington D.C. to
present her project, “Effects
of Silicon Amendments on the Concentration and Adsorption Properties of
Iron-Oxides in Paddy Soils,” as one of just 40 pre-college
students nationwide to be named as a finalist in the highly prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS).
She is the first CSW student to be a finalist in the
competition, and only the sixth from Delaware since it began in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent
Search.
In early January, Krishnamani was named as one of 300
Scholars (essentially STS semifinalists) by the Society for Science & the Public and
Regeneron. That honor came with two $2,000 awards, one for her and one for CSW.
She learned she’d been picked a
few weeks later. As a finalist, Krishnamani will be awarded a minimum of
$25,000, up to a top prize of $250,000.
“It’s really
exciting,” said Krishnamani, “especially representing Delaware, being
an agricultural state.”
This isn’t the first major honor for this young project. Last
year, Krishnamani was one of 15 finalists selected in the 2018 International BioGENEius Challenge.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring
compound in many soils — a byproduct of volcanic ash and different metal ores.
The amount of arsenic that leeches into most food crops is negligible, but
rice, because of the way its grown and harvested, can have levels so high that
it’s believed to cause health issues in parts of the world where rice is a
daily staple.
“It’s a huge public health threat
that causes diseases and cardiovascular problems,” said Krishnamani. “It’s
one of the potential reasons diabetes is a big problem in Asia.”
Scientists around the world have
been working on solutions to the arsenic rice crisis for decades, but the
solutions are often not accessible to some parts of Asia like India and
Bangladesh.
“Most [of the research] has been
in genetically modified plants, but there are more cost effective ways,” the
student said.
Krishnamani’s project is based on
silicon soil amendment; silica, which also occurs naturally in soil and other
organic matter, has been found to be effective in minimizing arsenic absorption
in rice.
While there have been effective
(but costly) synthetic silicon fertilizers introduced, Krishnamani’s
project has introduced the idea of utilizing the hulls of the rice — a waste
product that is commonly burned — by using natural silica from them to create a
natural, sustainable rice fertilizer.
“It’s a productive way to use
the waste and recycle it back into the rice,” she said.
The Regeneron STS Finals will happen in early March. In
addition to the competition, she will be presenting her project on March 7 in a
public showcase National
Geographic Society in D.C.
Duterte asked to veto provisions in rice tariffication bill
Anna
Gabriela A. Mogato
Published 5:30 PM,
February 04, 2019
Updated 5:31 PM,
February 04, 2019
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VETO SOUGHT. Various sectors under the rice industry
call for President Rodrigo Duterte to veto provisions in the rice tariffication
bill, which only needs his signature to become a law. Photo by Anna
Mogato/Rappler
MANILA,
Philippines – In a bid to protect the local rice industry, various groups that
help supply the country's staple are calling for President Rodrigo Duterte to
veto certain provisions in the rice tariffication bill.
Under
the bill, the NFA will no longer monitor and regulate the entry of rice
imports, as well as decide the volume and timing of the imports. Its role would
be limited to providing stocks in case of calamities.
The
groups said the bill would affect not only farmers' livelihood and availability
of rice for poor consumers, but would also lead to loss of jobs if there is uninhibited
rice importation. (READ: With rice
tariffication, what happens to food security?)
Aside
from wholesale and retail businesses, this could affect 2.7 million farmers and
6,600 registered rice millers which employ around 55,000 workers.
National
Food Authority (NFA) Employees Association-Central Office president Maximo
Torda added that this may mean the loss of jobs for 4,635 NFA employees
"from Batanes in the north up to Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao."
The
industry representatives were set to meet with Duterte on Monday afternoon to
appeal to the President to veto the provision removing the NFA's powers, along
with with details related to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
In
2018, Duterte declared
the bill as urgent amid the rice shortage and increasing rice prices. (READ: Rice
tariffication good for the country, Filipino farmers)
That
same year, the Senate also approved the bill, which includes a mechanism
to provide financial aid to make
the rice industry more competitive. Last January 15, the
bill already reached the President's table for signing.
Other Stories
India Grain: Wheat, maize prices down on
subdued demand, paddy flat
Monday, Feb 4
By Sampad
Nandy
NEW DELHI
– Prices of mill-quality wheat fell across key spot markets today because
of weak demand from wholesalers and flour millers amid a rise in arrivals,
traders said.
Arrivals
continued to rise as the early-sown wheat crop has started trickling into
markets in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Better demand
for the good-quality new wheat crop cushioned the overall fall in prices, the
traders said.
"Demand
is seen weak going ahead as bulk buyers have started drifting to the weekly
government auctions under the open market sales scheme to source the food grain
at a cheaper rate," Indore-based trader N.K. Agarwal said.
"In the
long term, prices are likely to edge down once crops from the current rabi
season starts arriving in larger quantities," a Delhi-based trader
said.
Arrivals in
Indore were pegged at 1,400-1,500 bags (1 bag = 100 kg), about 200-300
bags higher than Saturday. In Kota, Rajasthan, arrivals were estimated to have
risen by 200-300 bags to 1,500-1,600 bags.
Prices of
maize also fell across key spot markets as feed manufacturers avoided making
bulk purchases at higher rates, traders said. Prices have risen sharply during
the last few weeks due to a persistent supply crunch.
"Despite
a weakness in demand, prices are seen edging up in coming days as the supply
crunch is likely to persist until the rabi crop from the current season
starts arriving," said Shiv Kumar, a trader based in Davangere, Karnataka.
At Davangere,
maize arrivals were pegged at 800-900 bags (1 bag = 100 kg), compared with
1,000 bags on Saturday. In Nizamabad, Telangana, arrivals were estimated at
600-700 bags, down 100-200 bags from the previous day.
Basmati paddy
prices remained steady in a lacklustre trade in Amritsar, a local trader said.
Basmati paddy
prices are likely to remain steady going ahead as rice millers are not likely
to purchase the poor-quality paddy, local traders said.
Following are
today's prices for wheat, maize and paddy, in rupees per 100 kg, in key
wholesale markets, and the change from the previous day:
|
Commodity
|
Market
|
Price
(in
rupees)
|
Change
(in
rupees)
|
|
Wheat
|
Kota
|
2,110-2,170
|
(-)20-30
|
|
Wheat
|
Indore
|
2,080-2,120
|
(-)10-20
|
|
Maize
|
Davangere
|
2,070-2,100
|
(-)10-20
|
|
Maize
|
Nizamabad
|
2,020-2,030
|
(-)10-20
|
|
Basmati 1121 Paddy
|
Amritsar
|
3,760-3,780
|
—
|
End
Edited by
Subham Mitra
Cogencis Tel
+91 (11) 4220-1000
This copy
was first published on the Cogencis WorkStation
© Cogencis
Information Services Ltd. 2019. All rights reserved.
Kenya;s
Kano rice farmers reap from new technology
· Posted On: 04th
Feb 2019 14:32:09 GMT +0300
Monica
Awino spreads rice to dry before milling at Nyang'ande in Nyando, Kisumu
County. (Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard)NYANGANDE, KENYA: It is a sunny Friday
morning, and Monica Awino spreads her rice in the sun to dry at her Nyang’ande
home in Nyando, Kisumu County.
For
over two decades, Awino had toiled and prayed for better harvest, in vain.
The
last two seasons however have seen her prayers shift from better harvest to
reliable market, after bumper harvest courtesy of a new technology dubbed
System for Rice Intensification (SRI).
The
system, borrowed from Mwea Irrigation Scheme involves intensive utilization of
water, where farmers have equal access of the limited commodity for a
particular number of days, and give it away to other farmers, and the
cycle continues.
The
system also promotes mechanization, use of certified seeds and intensive
sensitization which has seen the likes of Awino embrace team work, in terms of
planning right from land preparation, planting, harvesting and marketing.
Three
plots away from Awino’s is Jack Otange, 30, who has been in the trade for 10
years. The young farmer has three quarter of an acre, and last week harvested
32 bags of paddy rice, a big improvement from the 10 bags he used to get.
Just
like Awino, he planted a hybrid seed, Arize 644, which has become the scheme’s
preferred rice variety in the recent past.
“I
have dried my rice and just waiting for sales. We have information that the
price per kilo of paddy has dropped to Sh32, but we have no other option, since
we can’t keep the produce for long,” he said.
His
sentiments are echoed by Austin Abuto, whose 1.1 acre piece earned him 50 bags.
Abuto who has been in the trade since 1992 says the fortune has revived
people’s hopes in rice farming.
“I
first ventured into the trade in 1992, but I pulled out after it proved not
viable. But five years ago, with the news of improved farming techniques, I got
back to the farm, and I do not regret,” he said.
And
just like the rest, Abuto is worried by the low prices coming with the bumper
harvest.
“We
had agreed that this season the price of paddy would move from the previous
Sh37 to Sh40 per kilo. But things have worsened, with the price dropping to
Sh33,” he said.
The
trio are some of the over 80 farmers at Siany CC3, an out grower rice scheme in
Kisumu County, who are counting blessings after implementing modern farming
techniques with the scheme becoming a model farm standing tall between over 40
outgrower schemes in the county.
When
The Standard visited the scheme on Friday, there was a myriad of activities at
the 100-acre scheme which has since become a model farm.
Harvesting
was at the peak, with women hitting the dry rice husks to shed off paddy, while
young men ferrying sacs of paddy to the drying areas and to the store as
farmers ponder about their next move.
Others
were in the open fields drying their paddy, while others were busy recording
their harvests in the books as with scheme management.
All
these benefits however seems to be turning to curses due to lack of market.
This has seen middlemen penetrate the farms with Ugandan businessmen who are
taking advantage of the already disadvantaged farmers.
“Since
I started rice farming in 1993, I have never harvested above 15 bags per acre,
but there has been some positive change since 2016 where the harvest jumped to
40 bags,” said Awino.
Last
season, the Ugandan traders were offering Sh37 per kilo of paddy, which the
farmers considered low, but there are fears that this price may go lower with
improved harvest.
“But
do we have options? The stores we use here are not up to the standards, and our
produce may not be safe there for long. We will have to dispose the produce to
avoid wasting them since we are also in need of money for other domestic needs
and preparation for the next planting season,” said Otange.
In
2015, a group of farmers from the scheme visited Mwea Irrigation Scheme in
Kirinyaga County for benchmarking which would change farming for the better.
“We
realised that apart from lack of uniformity, our people had not embraced the
spirit of mechanisation due to the small size of parcels here,” said Dr Paul
Omanga, who was part of the tour.
Omanga
would later mobilize farmers through Nyabon, a technical advisory team
implementing farm mechanization at the scheme, organize them into four blocks,
making it easy to pull resources and seek the assistance of other players.
According
to Dr Omanga, outgrower farmers have had no proper infrastructure, with most of
them relying on rain-fed agriculture, and using traditional methods of farming.
And
with lack of support from the relevant government agencies, they have had
little knowledge of the changing trends in farming, with most of them recycling
seeds, and avoiding the use of fertilizer in a bid to reduce the cost of
production.
“Convincing
farmers to come together was not an easy task, and the first season saw only 50
acres of land put into use. In the second season, there were 25 more acres, and
today the entire scheme lying on 100 acres is utilized,” said Omanga.
This
phenomenon has pushed the harvest, with farmers like Awino lacking space in
their houses to store the produce, and have since come together to construct a
makeshift store at Nyang’ande Market.
The
marketing challenge may worsen when the farmers roll out two harvests per
season, which Omanga said they have been looking into in order to economically
maximize the use of the scheme.
“We are now looking into bringing in the National cereals and
Produce Board to consider taking our rice so that farmers do not have to live
at the mercy of the middlemen after toiling to revive the dwindling rice
production,” he added. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001311945/rice-farmers-reap-from-new-technology
image: https://www.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/str2_cooksnook030219_abirami_1-1170x480.jpg
Cook’s Nook: Fresh salads galore
Cook’s Nook: Amy
Beh cooks 3 auspicious CNY dishes
Fun, festive
cookbooks to start the year right
These fresh, vibrant salads offer are great for brightening up
the festive season and for that much needed post-celebratory dieting.
RICE ON THE GO
Miso dressing
1 tbsp white miso sauce
1 tbsp finely grated lemon rind
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp white miso sauce
1 tbsp finely grated lemon rind
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salad
3/4 cup long grain Basmati rice, soaked for 10 minutes, then cooked
20g finely diced carrot
10g finely diced red capsicum
10g finely diced green capsicum
3 snow peas, cut into slanting pieces and scalded briefly
3/4 cup long grain Basmati rice, soaked for 10 minutes, then cooked
20g finely diced carrot
10g finely diced red capsicum
10g finely diced green capsicum
3 snow peas, cut into slanting pieces and scalded briefly
Topping
adequate amount of crispy seaweed
dash of freshly ground black pepper
adequate amount of crispy seaweed
dash of freshly ground black pepper
To make
Whisk the miso dressing well together. Set aside.
Combine cooked rice with the diced vegetables and snow peas.
Drizzle in miso dressing gradually, then toss to mix evenly. Dish out and serve
with a sprinkling of seaweed and pepper.
image: http://www1.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/str2_cooksnook030219_abirami_3.jpg
WONDER
SALAD
Dressing
100ml sour cream
1 tbsp finely chopped dill
2 tbsp finely chopped jalapenos
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
pinch of ground cumin
100ml sour cream
1 tbsp finely chopped dill
2 tbsp finely chopped jalapenos
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
pinch of ground cumin
Salad
30g broccoli florets
30g cauliflower florets
20g red capsicum, sliced
20g green capsicum, sliced
20g yellow capsicum, sliced
2 cabbage leaves
2 purple cabbage leaves
1 red onion, sliced finely
30g carrot, shredded
5 cherry tomatoes, halved
30g canned chickpeas, well drained
50g rocket leaves
30g broccoli florets
30g cauliflower florets
20g red capsicum, sliced
20g green capsicum, sliced
20g yellow capsicum, sliced
2 cabbage leaves
2 purple cabbage leaves
1 red onion, sliced finely
30g carrot, shredded
5 cherry tomatoes, halved
30g canned chickpeas, well drained
50g rocket leaves
To make
Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Stir to mix
the dressing well. Set aside.
Blanch broccoli and cauliflower florets in a pot of boiling
water for 30 seconds. Dish out and steep in a basin of ice-cold water for 10
minutes. Add all vegetables in a large bowl.
Gently fold the chickpeas through the vegetables then transfer
mixture to a serving platter lined with rocket leaves. Drizzle the dressing
over the vegetables and serve at once.
image:
http://www1.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/str2_cooksnook030219_abirami_2.jpg
NOODLE
FANTASY
Dressing
2 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp sriracha sauce
1-2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp brown sugar or to tase
1 tbsp finely chopped coriander stems
2 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp sriracha sauce
1-2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp brown sugar or to tase
1 tbsp finely chopped coriander stems
Salad
100g Korean sweet potato vermicelli
1/3 cup bean sprouts, tailed
10g red capsicum, julienned
20g green dragon chives, cut into 5cm lengths
1 tsp finely chopped bird’s eye chilies
1 tbsp chopped spring onion
1/3 cup coriander leaves
100g Korean sweet potato vermicelli
1/3 cup bean sprouts, tailed
10g red capsicum, julienned
20g green dragon chives, cut into 5cm lengths
1 tsp finely chopped bird’s eye chilies
1 tbsp chopped spring onion
1/3 cup coriander leaves
Garnish
1/2 a red chilli, seeded and sliced finely
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
1/2 a red chilli, seeded and sliced finely
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
To make
Mix the dressing in a small bowl. Set aside.
Soak noodles in cold water for 20 minutes. Bring a pot of water
to a boil. Add in the soaked noodles and 1 teaspoon cooking oil. Scald for 8 to
10 minutes or till al dente. Drain and rinse well then transfer to a large
bowl. Using a pair of kitchen scissors, roughly cut the noodles to about 6cm
length.
Pour dressing over the noodles. Toss to combine. Add bean
sprouts, capsicum, green dragon chives, bird’s eye chillies, chopped spring
onion and coriander leaves. Toss briskly to combine.
Transfer the noodles to a serving platter and garnish with red
chilli and coriander leaves.
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10 of the best tapas bars and restaurants in Almería, Spain
As Spain’s gastronomic capital for 2019, Almería will be in the
spotlight. Here, the author of a new book on Andalucían food picks her
favourite places to eat
Tue 5 Feb 2019 06.30 GMTLast modified on Tue 5 Feb
2019 06.32 GMT
·
·
·
406
Shore
and simple … Almería’s food scene focuses on traditional dishes done with
style. Photograph: Tomasz Czajkowski/Getty Images
Some find
it a bit of a mystery that Almería has been named
Spain’s gastronomic capital for 2019. The modest city in the south-eastern
corner of the peninsula is often overlooked and draws fewer visitors than the
rest of Andalucía. Yet it boasts Europe’s largest Islamic fortress, after
Granada’s Alhambra, with 10th-century walls clambering over two rocky hills,
peering down over the compact city below. Islamic flavours don’t stop there as,
following centuries of connecting Almería’s traders with the Arab world, there
are daily ferries from Algeria and Morocco. Their imprint is part of the food
scene – along with succulent seafood fresh from the Mediterranean.Remember that many places are closed on Monday.
Bar Casa Puga
Photograph: Alamy
This
venerable tapas bar opened in 1870 and, though the service can be offhand, it
thrives on an enticing, buzzy ambience, with jamones dangling from the ceiling,
varnished wood shining like a mirror and shelves crammed with bottles and
cheeses. The free tapas – with a glass of wine (the house Albuñol is €1.80) or
beer – are minimal but for €8-€10 more substantial half raciones of grilled
kidneys, fried fish, octopus or a juicy Raf tomato salad are available. Get
there when the doors open at noon and again at 8pm for elbow room.• Calle Jovellanos 7, +34 950 231 530, barcasapuga.es
Bar Bahía de
Palma
• Calle Mariana 17, +34 661 20 59 59, on Facebook
Restaurante-Tetería
Almedina
• Calle Paz 2, +34 629 27 78 27, on Facebook
Valentín
• Calle Tenor Iribarne 19, +34 950 26 44 75 restaurantevalentin.es
Bodega Las Botas
Photograph: Lucas Vallecillos/Alamy
Down
a narrow alleyway near Valentín, Las Botas is distinctive for its low,
handpainted chairs and tables outside. Inside, it’s delightfully old-fashioned
jamón-land with a dizzying lineup of top Cinco Jotas (ham) legs, a bull’s head,
and a smattering of related photos. It is not the cheapest (a ración of red
mullet is €14, six seafood croquettes €8) but service is excellent and the wine
selection is good: a glass of smooth Ribera del Duero is €2. Order grilled meat
and the waiter will go up the alleyway to its mother restaurant, Marisquería
Baviera, where owner Pedro Sánchez, who started work in a bar aged
eight, has held forth since 1968.• Calle Fructuosa Pérez 3, +34 950 23 42 39, on Facebook
Tito’s
• Rambla Obispo Orberá 17, +34 950 30 73 78, on Facebook
Café Express
• Stand 17, Mercado Central, on Facebook
Cafe Cyrano
• Calle Mendez Nuñez 19, +34 950 58 99 64, on Facebook
Taberna
Entrevinos
• Calle Francisco García Góngora 11, +34 950 25 75 61, tabernaentrevinos.net
La Barraquilla
• Avenida de la Playa, El Alquián, +34 850 52 01 71, on Facebook
Fiona Dunlop is author of Andaluz: A Food Journey through Southern Spain (Interlink Books, £27) and leads food tours through Andalucía
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Iran: Over $1b Worth of Rice Imported in 10 Months
About 1.11 million tons of rice worth around $1.1 billion were
imported into Iran during the first 10 months of the current Iranian year
(March 21, 2018-Jan. 20), which shows a 0.89% decline in weight and 4.41% rise
in value compared with the similar period of last year.
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Author Name: https://financialtribune.com/articles/domestic-economy/96557/iran-over-1b-worth-of-rice-imported-in-10-months
Removal of tariff on hybrid rice seeds pushed
MANILA, Philippines — Rice industry
stakeholders are urging the government to remove the tariff on hybrid rice
seeds and allocate a portion of the P10-billion fund for improving
hybridization. SL Agritech Corp., the largest producer of hybrid rice and seeds
in the country, sought the removal of up to 50 percent levy on imported hybrid
rice seeds. “This will have a huge effect on our farmers. All seeds especially
hybrid cannot be produced in the Philippines since we do not have a compact
area due to land reform,” SL Agritech technical advisor Frisco Malabanan told
reporters yesterday.
The rice tariffication bill was
already submitted to the Office of the President last month and will lapse into
law if not acted upon next week. “If we will follow the proposed tariff bill,
tariff will be up to 50 percent. Hybrid seeds are already costly. The
tariff will further discourage farmers to plant more,” he added. Read more at
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/02/05/1890814/removal-tariff-hybrid-rice-seeds-pushed#eh7z7yaj7LRBScrO.99
Date: 05-Feb-2019
Contest yields three winners for best local paddy
The third Best Paddy Competition came to an end Friday,
crowning agricultural communities in three provinces for their jasmine,
fragrant or IR rice varieties. Organised by the Cambodian Rice Federation
(CRF), the competition gave awards in three categories – phka romdoul (jasmine
rice), sen kra oub (fragrant rice), and IR. The best phka romdoul paddy rice
award was given to an agricultural community in Takeo province, while the
awards for sen kra oub and IR went to communities in Battambang and Kampong
Chhnang provinces, respectively. CRF said in a press release that more
communities entered the competition this year hoping the contest will enhance
exposure for their rice in Cambodia and abroad. Participation in the
competition encourages farmers to produce rice exclusively and following strict
quality standards, CRF said. The competition helps strengthen the quality of
rice and makes it more competitive in international markets, CRF president Sok
Puthyvuth told reporters at the event. “There is still great demand for quality
milled rice in the international market. By holding a completion to select the
best paddy rice, we hope to promote Cambodian rice and help increase the
quality of our rice so that it can compete in foreign markets,” Mr Puthyvuth said.
Last year, exports of milled rice dropped by 1.5 percent, amounting to just
626,225 tonnes. China is the biggest market for Cambodia’s milled rice,
absorbing about 270,000 tonnes in 2018. Last month, Chinese president Xi
Jinping said his country’s import quota for Cambodian rice will be increased to
400,000 tonnes for 2019, an increase of 100,000 tonnes. Cambodian premium
fragrant rice, Malys Angkor, won the World’s Best Rice award in 2018 – the
fourth achievement it earned for Cambodia, after landing second in the previous
three years. Since participating in the annual World Best Rice contest,
Cambodia’s rice has been crowned four times with best awards – in 2012, 2013,
2014 and 2018.
Author Name: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50575230/contest-yields-three-winners-for-best-local-paddy/
Date: 05-Feb-2019
Rice tariffication mechanism to protect
farmers
By Marilyn Galang February 4, 2019,
7:03 pm
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QUEZON,
Nueva Ecija -- Senator Cynthia Villar said on Sunday that the rice
tariffication bill will protect Filipino farmers from the influx of imported
grains as a result of the removal of quantitative restriction.
Villar,
chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said farmers were being
misled by some groups who are against tariffication to protect their vested
interest.
“Unlike
claims that tariffication will result to flooding of imported rice to
Philippine market, this will make such importation beneficial to local rice
producers,” she told farmers during the Patimyas Ani Festival in this
municipality.
The rice
industry, she explained, is set to be liberalized due to the expiration of
quantitative restriction on June 30, 2017.
"Pag
nag-liberalize ka nang walang tariff, kawawa ang mga farmers (When you
liberalize without tariff, the farmers will suffer)," Villar said.
"Di
ba kaya mo tina-tariff ang imports para protektahan yung local producers mo?
(You impose tariff on imports to protect the local producers, isn’t it?),"
she added.
Villar
said with the tariffication bill comes the annual allocation of PHP10-billion
in Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which is now included in the
pending 2019 national budget.
The
amount will be channeled through the Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
and among other agencies to upgrade farmers’ technology and know-how.
The fear
over importation, she explained further, appeared to be baseless since rice
supply is actually limited in the world.
Only
Asian countries, she said, produce rice.
“So over
importation will only lead to increase in prices of the staple which would also
benefit farmers,” Villar said.
She
stressed that the government's grant of free irrigation to farmers,
mechanization and use of improved inbred rice varieties will cut production
cost. (PNA)
Vietnamese rice makes name in world market
Hanoi
(VNA) - In 2018, Vietnam’s total rice exports reached 6.15 million
tonnes, with export turnover of 3.15 billion USD. The industry saw a 5.7
percent increase in volume and a 19.6 percent increase in value compared to
2017. Loc Troi 28 is a short term rice variety and the final product
between the hybrid of Loc Troi 1 and Basmati rice variety of India.
High-yielding, fragrant and nutritious compared to other varieties, Loc Troi 28
was well received at an international rice convention held in China. Huynh Van
Thon, Chairman and General Director of Loc Troi corp., said Loc Troi 28 rice
variety has surpassed Homali rice variety of Thailand and, SKO of Cambodia to
win the top quality. “This is a high-yielding variety that meets the
strict demand of consumers regarding quality and food safety,” he added.
Vietnamese rice producers now focus on production value, not just increasing
volume. Furthermore, Vietnam has become a member of the global sustainable rice
production programme, and for the first time in years, Vietnam’s rice price is
higher than Thailand’s. Tran Tuan Anh, Minister of Industry and Trade, said
“With huge competition coming from major rice exporting countries, Vietnam has
proven its capacity and its rice product has shown its quality.” In recent
years, Vietnam’s rice industry has paid more attention to promotional
activities. The launch of Vietnam’s national rice logo has reiterated the
efforts to bring more rice to the world market. However, in the context of
global warming and unpredictable weather patterns, as well as limitation in
value chains and farmers’ struggle to make a living from growing rice, there is
much needed to be done. Bui Chi Buu, former Director of the Institute of
Agricultural Science for Southern Vietnam, said “Farmers still meet with lots
of difficulties, and in order to help the farmers, we should cut out the middle
man so traders and sellers can buy rice directly from farmers, increasing
farmers’ profitability.” The global market is changing at a rapid pace and it
requires Vietnam’s rice industry to heighten the production volume, improve the
quality and deliver more diverse rice products.-VNA
Date: 05-Feb-2019
Rice tariffication is good for our rice farmers, our
country
February
4, 2019 | 9:45 pm
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Introspective
DA Undersecretary Fred Serrano threw his support to groups
urging President Duterte to veto the rice tariffication law in Friday’s issue
of Business Mirror.
Blaming the senators for their version of tariffication or SB
1998, Serrano maintains that rice tariffication, which converts the quantity
restriction on imported rice (QR) into tariff protection rates, is not about
removing the “regulatory power of the NFA to control the entry of imported rice
in the country.”
That is not entirely correct. Rice tariffication should remove
the power of NFA to regulate rice imports. Article 4.2 of the WTO Agreement on
Agriculture prohibits the use of restrictions on agricultural imports other
than tariffs — and that includes non-tariff measures maintained through state-trading
enterprises such as the NFA.
The enrolled rice bill sent to Malacañang hits the bull’s eye on
rice tariffication. The rice import monopoly of NFA is removed by the proposed
law, and is replaced with tariff protection. Congress approved 35% tariff rate
on imported rice from ASEAN (and at least 5% higher if imported outside of
ASEAN) to protect the local rice industry.
Putting aside the topic of complying with our WTO obligation, is
the law now on the President’s desk good for our farmers? Opponents (e.g.
founding Chairman Robert Hernandez of Alyansa ng Industriya ng Bigas) disagree.
He contends that “deregulating the NFA would mean unregulated entry of imported
rice, which would flood the market and depress palay prices.”
Let us check the data. Once the President enacts rice
tariffication, we should expect that private sector importers would import rice
from ASEAN member states particularly Vietnam or Thailand, since the import
tariff and freight cost are lowest. The tariff on imported rice from ASEAN
would raise the price that rice consumers in our country pay by 35%. This is
called the implicit tariff (IT).
If the implicit tariff is entirely passed on to farmers, a 35%
IT will result in a 35% nominal protection rate (NPR). But under current
trading restrictions implemented by the NFA, this is not the case. In 2017 for
example, only 23% of the potential protection was passed on to farmers (Table
1). That is, roughly three fourths of what consumers pay above free trade
price for rice does not go to rice farmers. Instead it goes to rice traders and
to inefficiencies in the domestic rice marketing system (Dawe et al., 2008;
Mataia, et al., 2018).
Rice consumers in Metro Manila in 2017 paid on average 41% more
than the landed price of rice imported freely from Vietnam or Thailand. But our
rice farmers sold their rice at only 9% above this free trade price. The
difference or 32% went to rice traders, millers, and/or simply lost to market
inefficiencies in the rice value chain.
NFA and trade restrictions, especially in rice distribution,
“displace private transportation, storage, and handling, rendering marketing
less competitive and efficient” (Jandoc and Roumasset 2018).
A compelling argument why President Duterte should sign this
bill into law is that in doing so he kicks off the process of substantially
reducing the inefficiencies and collusion in the rice market system, which for
nearly half a century had made rice farmers poor. Farmers become better off as
they capture more of the intended trade protection of the law from rice traders
in collusion with corrupt NFA agents.
If farmers obtained 10% NPR in 2017, rice tariffication coupled
with investments in infrastructure under the government’s Build, Build, Build
program, could potentially raise NPR from 10% to 35%.
The tariff rate on imported rice could be lowered in the future
without harming the vast majority of farmers. The current proposed tariff level
of 35% is a maximum rate. If it is lowered, most of the rice farmers who are
rice consumers during most part of the year can be made better off, along with
non-rice farmers in rural areas, fisherfolk, workers and residents in urban
areas.
References
Jandoc, K. and Roummaset, J. 2018. Rice Tariffication and its Role in Reducing Rice Prices. Unpublished paper.
Jandoc, K. and Roummaset, J. 2018. Rice Tariffication and its Role in Reducing Rice Prices. Unpublished paper.
Dawe, D., P. Moya, C.Casiwan and J. Cabling. 2008. “Rice
Marketing systems in the Philippines and Thailand: Do large numbers of
competitive traders ensure good performance?” Food Policy 33(5): 455-463
Mataia, A., J. Beltran, R. Manalili, B. Catudan, N. Francisco
and A. Flores. 2018. Rice Value Chain Analysis in the Philippines. Muñoz City,
Philippines: Philippine Rice Research Institute.
Ramon L. Clarete is a professor at the University of the
Philippines School of Economics.
· Wednesday, 06 Feb 2019
Rice
millers set $5-billion export target for 2023
Published: February 3, 2019
0SHARES
Rice. PHOTO: REUTERS
KARACHI: Pakistan
has had enough power plants and road infrastructure and now the government will
develop the agriculture sector with the help of Beijing under the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), remarked Adviser to Prime Minister on
Commerce, Textile, Industries, Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on
Saturday.
He was talking to members of the Rice
Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) which included its Chairman Safder
Hussain Mehkri, former chairman Abdul Rahim Janoo and others. The adviser
appreciated the new target of exporting $5 billion worth of rice, assuring rice
millers that the government would provide full support.
Dawood said the Japanese were also willing
to help Pakistan in the agriculture sector, adding that in 2003, when he
visited the REAP office, rice exports were only $300 million and now they had
crossed $2 billion.
“People at REAP are not ordinary, they are visionary
people who keep thinking about boosting their sector,” remarked the PM adviser.
“Let us meet every quarter or six months to discuss and take a step forward to
this goal.”
Earlier, the REAP chairman revealed that the
rice exporters were aiming to ship $5 billion worth of the commodity by 2023.
“Farmers who use modern technologies get a
yield of 70 maunds (40 kg) per acre as compared to regular farmers who get a
yield of 40 maunds per acre,” said Arif Nadeem, CEO of Pakistan Agriculture
Coalition. Rice exporters said the sector needed backward integration and the
industry and government should join hands in order to train farmers in new ways
of farming.
Pakistan’s seeds were degenerating and these
should be replaced with better seeds, they said. Farming practices in the
country are also obsolete, which should be modernised.
According to the exporters, the rice crop in
the country is damaged as it does not have modern drying and storage
facilities. Rice mills are also in need of adopting innovative ways of
processing.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd,
2019.
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