Some baby foods sold in Canada would be 'illegal
in Europe,' arsenic testing shows
Biochemist warns
arsenic levels found in some cereals and snacks for infants too high
· CBC News · Posted: Mar 01,
2019 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: March 1
Rice cereal is often a baby's first solid food,
recommended by some pediatricians as it is easy to digest and often
iron-fortified. But studies have also shown that arsenic levels are higher in
rice than other grains.(Jonathan Stainton/CBC)
189 comments
A CBC Marketplace-Radio-Canada
investigation into baby cereals and snacks has found that the arsenic levels in
two Canadian rice-based products would see them pulled off store shelves in
Europe, according to one of the world's leading arsenic experts.
Concerns about arsenic in
rice-based products have been growing in recent years, with both Europe and the
U.S. taking action on products specifically intended for infants and toddlers.
Rice cereal is often a baby's
first solid food, as it is easy to digest and often fortified with iron, and
the grain is generally a common ingredient in many staple products for young
children.
Arsenic expert Andrew Meharg, a
professor at Queen's University Belfast in Ireland, who has been studying arsenic
in rice for decades, says he's concerned about the levels of the chemical
element found in some rice-based baby foods in Canada.
"We should not be exposing
young children, at the most sensitive time of their life, to toxic chemicals,
and if we can avoid it, we should," said Meharg. "In the case of baby
foods, we can avoid it."
Andrew Meharg, a professor of biological sciences
with Queen's University in Belfast, is one of the world's leading experts on
arsenic. (CBC)
To conduct the
investigation, Marketplace purchased 50
packages of seven different kinds of infant cereals and seven different kinds
of snacks at major retailers in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, buying
well-known brands — Gerber, Heinz, Baby Mum-Mum and Parent's Choice — as well
as products from three Canadian companies: Love Child, Baby Gourmet and PC
Organics.
The packages — mostly
rice-based — were shipped for arsenic testing to Brooks Applied Labs near
Seattle, a lab that specializes in trace chemicals and arsenic-speciation
testing.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring
element that's present in the environment, meaning it's found at low levels in
many foods. However, it is commonly found in higher concentrations in rice than
other grains.
Arsenic can form naturally or be
a byproduct of human activity, such as industrial and farm waste, including the former use of arsenic-based pesticides.
While arsenic-based pesticides
are now banned in most parts of the
world, arsenic can remain in the soil
and water. Rice tends to absorb arsenic more readily than other crops.
Marketplace tested 14 different types of popular baby
food and snacks, including these 10 rice-based products. (CBC)
There are different forms of
arsenic, with one type in particular, inorganic arsenic, considered the most
toxic. In this case, "inorganic" is a chemical term and does not
refer to the growing method; in fact, "organically grown" rice has
little bearing on arsenic levels, as arsenic is absorbed by plants regardless
of whether they are grown under conventional or organic farming
practices, according to the FDA.
Inorganic arsenic has been
classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC).
Canadian companies tested
While Marketplace's
test results showed that all of the rice products had higher amounts of arsenic
than the non-rice options, two products in particular stood out.
PC Organics Whole Grain Puffs and
Baby Gourmet Creamy Brown Rice cereal both had levels over what would be
permissible in Europe. None of the other products tested surpassed the European
limits.
PC Organics Whole Grain Puffs had
on average 170 parts per billion (ppb) of inorganic arsenic, according to the
test results of multiple samples, while Baby Gourmet Creamy Brown Rice Cereal
had on average 125 ppb of inorganic arsenic.
Arsenic averages are based on test results from at
least three different packages, unless otherwise noted.
Both products also had high
levels of total arsenic — a combination of inorganic arsenic and all other
arsenic compounds.
"I've not really come across
such high levels in baby-food products in Europe," Meharg said after
reviewing Marketplace's results.
"I do not recommend giving
children food products with such high levels of arsenic in them. They are not
safe."
Arsenic averages are based on test results from at
least three different packages, unless otherwise noted.
While Canada has limits for the
amount of arsenic permissible in drinking water — set at a maximum of 10
parts per billion — there is currently no Canadian limit for arsenic in
rice-based products for infants.
However, in 2015 the European Commission passed a law that limits the permissible amount of arsenic in all
rice-based foods for infants and young children to 100 parts per billion (ppb)
of inorganic arsenic.
In the U.S., the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) released a risk assessment in 2016 that found "eliminating
rice and rice products from the diets of infants … could reduce their lifetime
cancer risk from inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products by six per
cent."
The FDA further said that if
children below the age of six avoid rice and rice products altogether, they
could reduce the lifetime cancer risk from inorganic arsenic in rice and
rice products by 23 per cent.
The FDA subsequently released
guidelines to American industry aimed at curbing the arsenic levels in baby
food, using the same 100 parts per billion standard as Europe.
The guideline isn't legally
enforceable — and the FDA has taken some criticism for that — but some industry watchers believe there are signs
some rice-product manufacturers have responded and are working to lower the
levels of inorganic arsenic in their rice products for infants.
The impact on a baby's
health
There is ongoing debate regarding
how — or if — adults may be affected by low-level arsenic exposure over
time, but experts agree that when it comes to children, less is better.
So while you don't have to strike
rice from you or your baby's diet altogether, experts suggest you diversify it
with other grains, such as oat, bran, barley and wheat.
Pound for pound, babies eat more
than adults, which can mean they have a greater tendency to absorb more of
these substances and the potential for a greater concentration of arsenic
in their small bodies.
According to the European
Commission, dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic for children under the age
of three, including from rice-based
foods, is estimated to be "about two to three-fold that of adults."
Pound for pound, babies actually eat more than
adults. That means the potential for a greater concentration of arsenic in
their small bodies. (Jonathan Stainton/CBC)
Studies have shown that arsenic
exposure is most harmful to pregnant women and young children, especially
babies.
Arsenic exposure can lead to
trouble in brain and growth development and an increased risk of unhealthy immune system.
"People should be concerned
about arsenic in general — it's poison," said Marion Nestle, a
nutrition expert who has written a number of books on food policy, including
Food Politics and Unsavory Truth.
"It's a poison that raises
the risk for chronic disease. And it's particularly a concern for
children, because they're young and small and growing. It affects their
cognitive function and it's better to have less than more. We don't know what a
safe level of arsenic is. That means less is better."
No regulations in Canada
And while the EU has brought in
regulations and the FDA has put out guidelines, there are currently no rules in
Canada around the levels of inorganic arsenic in rice-based baby food products.
Dr. Supriya Sharma, a senior
medical adviser with Health Canada, says her department and the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) have been monitoring arsenic in baby food, as well as
water and other products, for more than 10 years.
In an interview with Marketplace,
she said she wants to assure parents that the products they are providing their
kids for nutrition are "very similar" to those found internationally,
"regardless of what the limits are or what the regulations are."
WATCH: Dr. Supriya
Sharma says Health Canada is monitoring arsenic in baby food
Marketplace
Baby food products in Canada 'very similar' to those
sold internationally, Health Canada says
WATCH
00:00 00:50
Health Canada's Dr. Supriya Sharma talks to
Marketplace about its investigation into the levels of arsenic in baby
food 0:50
Sharma agreed that studies show
there may be developmental delays and behavioural changes with exposure to
arsenic but believes more studies need to be done.
Sharma, who is also a
pediatrician, says she recommends to parents that fortified rice cereals can be
part of a balanced diet, but it doesn't need to be the first cereal a baby
eats, and it should be varied with other grains.
Sharma also said Health Canada
will be testing the products Marketplace identified and
adding the products to its monitoring survey, in addition to looking at
establishing guidelines for arsenic in rice, which the department hopes to set
in the next few months.
Do doctors need to give better
recommendations?
Marketplace spoke to several parents who said their doctors recommend
rice cereal as a good first food for their babies, as it is often
iron-fortified and easy to digest. But none of them said they were warned about
the risk of arsenic in rice.
Marion Nestle is a leading food policy expert and
author of Food Politics, What to Eat and Unsavory Truth.(David MacIntosh/CBC)
According to Nestle, doctors need
to offer parents better advice.
"I think that doctors should
know that rice cereal contains levels of arsenic that are potentially dangerous
to babies and they should be making different recommendations," she said.
Nestle suggests that parents stop
buying rice-based cereal and instead feed their babies oatmeal or barley cereal
to start, before offering a variety of foods.
Marketplace also tested barley, oat and ancient grain cereals, and the
results found they were all very low in arsenic, consistent with previous
testing done by Healthy Babies, Bright Futures.
WATCH: Should rice cereal be
baby's first food? This food expert weighs in
Arsenic levels in rice cakes and baby rice: what you need to
know
New research has caused a stir, saying that many baby rice
products contain dangerous levels of the toxic substance arsenic. Here’s what
you need to know...
There are headlines everywhere
today about a study by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast, which
included some worrying figures about the levels of arsenic found in baby rice
and rice cakes aimed at very young children.
Arsenic is a carcinogenic
substance naturally absorbed by plants from soil and water, and as a result is
found in many different food products in very low quantities.
It’s known for being found in
rice in particular – a grain which absorbs more than most.
But the research, published in
the Plos One journal, shows that little
ones consuming these products have been exposed to higher levels of inorganic
arsenic (the most harmful form) than allowed by EU regulations set in place in
January 2016.
“Babies are particularly
vulnerable to the damaging effects of arsenic,” said Professor Andy Meharg, who
led the research.“[This] can prevent healthy development of a baby’s growth, IQ
and immune system, to name but a few.”
Sounds pretty scary, right? But
what does all this actually mean – and is there really any cause for concern?
What the study
found
The Independent reports that the researchers tested the following, from 9
different (anonymous) brands/manufacturers found in 17 different Belfast-based
shops:
·
13 kinds of baby rice
·
29 packets of rice
cakes
·
31 types of rice
cereal.
The tests showed that 61% of baby
rice, 80% of rice cakes, and 32% of rice cereals contained more than the
legally-allowed amount of inorganic arsenic. (We have to wonder if this might
be the case for many different brands, too.)
Notably, it’s been reported that
products were tested in February 2016 – just one month after the EU regulations
were put in place.
A spokesperson for the British
Specialist Nutrition Association, which represents manufacturers Boots, Danone
and Nestle in this market, claims that because the products tested in this
particular study were bought in February 2016, they may not have had time to
become compliant with the EU’s guidelines.
If they were to be bought now,
the spokesperson made it clear that their members’ products would in fact
comply with the allowed level of this inorganic arsenic.
So, is it safe
to give my child rice products?
In a nutshell: yes, it is. But
like all foods, it’s important to make sure it’s in moderation, and that
they’re not being eaten all the time.
Unsalted rice cakes are even
listed as a healthy snack on the NHS website, so don’t feel panicked into
crossing them off your shopping list.
British Dietetic Association
(BDA) spokesperson Aisling Pigott told The Huffington Post that “rice cakes are still
an appropriate snack, but I would encourage parents to also include fruit and
vegetables as snacks and try to mix things up a little bit.”
We’d advise you to give your
little one baby rice cakes – ones specifically made for children under 3 – as
these contain less arsenic than rice cakes for
grown-ups, according to baby food brand
Organix.
When it comes to baby rice, we’d suggest giving these foods
no more than once a day, and as we advised in our guide, suggest moving on from this
stage early in the weaning process.
“There’s no harm in giving baby
rice,” Aisling told us. “But too much of anything isn’t beneficial.”
It’s important to note that rice
milk, however, is generally not recommended for children under 5 years as a
precaution.
What the
experts say
The important thing is not to
panic. Health complications from over-consuming the toxin are a concern, especially for
babies and young children, due to their smaller body weight – though, as the
Food Standards Agency says:
“It’s impossible to eliminate
[arsenic] from our food. However, having too much arsenic in our diet could be
harmful to health.”
And as Aisling tells us, the risk
is very, very tiny.
In other words – be aware of what
you’re giving your little ones in terms of rice cakes and baby rice, but don’t
ban them from your shopping list altogether.
Visayas
stakeholders want assurance from gov't to help farmers
March 4, 2019
RICE
industry stakeholders in the Visayas want an assurance from the government that
it will help the local farmers in case prices of the commodity slumps, amid
apprehensions on the possible adverse effects of rice tariffication.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, who attended the consultation on rice tariffication for Visayas region in Iloilo City on Friday, March 1, said participants are concerned of the possible drop in the prices of palay due to the entry of cheaper imported rice.
They asked Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who was also present at the consultation, about the concrete interventions of the government if worst case scenario arises, Masculino said.
“Stakeholders want to include in the implementing rules and regulations being finalized by the National Economic and Development Authority the measures and assistance to be given by the government in case local rice industry will be affected by the rice tariffication measure,” he added.
On February 15, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the measure lifting restrictions on rice importation.
Duterte certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent in October 2018 in a bid “to address the urgent need to improve availability of rice in the country, to prevent artificial rice shortage, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.”
Under the rice tariffication scheme, quantitative restrictions on rice importation are lifted and private traders are allowed to import the commodity from countries of their choice.
It imposes a 25-percent duty on rice imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-states and a 50 percent rate on imports from non-members of the regional bloc.
It can be recalled that the country’s economic team has been pushing for rice tariffication, saying this should bring down the prices of the country’s staple and weaken inflation.
The Department of Agriculture has been doing rounds of consultations nationwide to make stakeholders understand the details of the rice tariffication and liberalization law.
During the consultation in Iloilo City, Masculino said the agriculture chief vowed that the agency will support local farmers.
Piñol, he said, is pushing for the lowering of interest rate in availing the Rice Comprehensive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
There’s a component that the farmers have to pay 10 percent interest to the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines, Masculino said.
“According to Piñol, it is too high. The interest rate for Production Loan Easy Access Program is only six percent,” he said, adding that the secretary echoed “we fought that RCEF is intended as grant for farmers in order to prepare them for the challenges brought by rice tariffication."
He (Piñol) also assured Visayas stakeholders that there will be no corruption in the utilization of P10 billion fund for RCEF.
“We hope that all these concerns along with other issues raised during the consultation will be considered by the government,” Masculino said.
Moreover, at the sidelines of the consultation, the provincial agriculturist has made clarifications with representatives of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and Philippine Rice Research Institute that mechanization and seed distribution should be in the form of grant not as loan.
“They validated, they agreed to it,” he said, adding that there’s a need to strengthen the local seed growers.
The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, earlier said it is bracing for the possible effects of the newly-signed rice tariffication law among farmers in the province.
Masculino said if the government can seriously implement mechanization by providing funds for purchase of machineries, it would be a big help because labor comprises more than 50 percent of the total production cost.
“Our mechanization accomplishment, especially in the planting and harvesting stages, is still minimal,” he said, adding that “if we can just fully mechanized at least our irrigated areas of 40 hectares, it would already be a big thing.”
It can be recalled that the province already funded P25 million for farm mechanization last year.
The provincial agriculturist, however, said the amount is too small for about 100,000 rice farmers in Negros Occidental with about 65,000 hectares farms. (EPN)
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, who attended the consultation on rice tariffication for Visayas region in Iloilo City on Friday, March 1, said participants are concerned of the possible drop in the prices of palay due to the entry of cheaper imported rice.
They asked Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who was also present at the consultation, about the concrete interventions of the government if worst case scenario arises, Masculino said.
“Stakeholders want to include in the implementing rules and regulations being finalized by the National Economic and Development Authority the measures and assistance to be given by the government in case local rice industry will be affected by the rice tariffication measure,” he added.
On February 15, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the measure lifting restrictions on rice importation.
Duterte certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent in October 2018 in a bid “to address the urgent need to improve availability of rice in the country, to prevent artificial rice shortage, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.”
Under the rice tariffication scheme, quantitative restrictions on rice importation are lifted and private traders are allowed to import the commodity from countries of their choice.
It imposes a 25-percent duty on rice imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-states and a 50 percent rate on imports from non-members of the regional bloc.
It can be recalled that the country’s economic team has been pushing for rice tariffication, saying this should bring down the prices of the country’s staple and weaken inflation.
The Department of Agriculture has been doing rounds of consultations nationwide to make stakeholders understand the details of the rice tariffication and liberalization law.
During the consultation in Iloilo City, Masculino said the agriculture chief vowed that the agency will support local farmers.
Piñol, he said, is pushing for the lowering of interest rate in availing the Rice Comprehensive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
There’s a component that the farmers have to pay 10 percent interest to the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines, Masculino said.
“According to Piñol, it is too high. The interest rate for Production Loan Easy Access Program is only six percent,” he said, adding that the secretary echoed “we fought that RCEF is intended as grant for farmers in order to prepare them for the challenges brought by rice tariffication."
He (Piñol) also assured Visayas stakeholders that there will be no corruption in the utilization of P10 billion fund for RCEF.
“We hope that all these concerns along with other issues raised during the consultation will be considered by the government,” Masculino said.
Moreover, at the sidelines of the consultation, the provincial agriculturist has made clarifications with representatives of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and Philippine Rice Research Institute that mechanization and seed distribution should be in the form of grant not as loan.
“They validated, they agreed to it,” he said, adding that there’s a need to strengthen the local seed growers.
The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, earlier said it is bracing for the possible effects of the newly-signed rice tariffication law among farmers in the province.
Masculino said if the government can seriously implement mechanization by providing funds for purchase of machineries, it would be a big help because labor comprises more than 50 percent of the total production cost.
“Our mechanization accomplishment, especially in the planting and harvesting stages, is still minimal,” he said, adding that “if we can just fully mechanized at least our irrigated areas of 40 hectares, it would already be a big thing.”
It can be recalled that the province already funded P25 million for farm mechanization last year.
The provincial agriculturist, however, said the amount is too small for about 100,000 rice farmers in Negros Occidental with about 65,000 hectares farms. (EPN)
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1795184/Bacolod/Business/Visayas-stakeholders-want-assurance-from-govt-to-help-farmers
Rice farm equipment faces delays due to budget, procurement issues
March 4, 2019 | 12:04 am
Philmech’s Mini Rice Combine
Harvester Prototype
MECHANIZATION of rice farms in
the country will begin next year as the Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) can only begin procurement once it
receives its budget, an official said.
“Late this year or early next
year,” Raul R. Paz, PHilMech Deputy Director, told reporters in a briefing in
Quezon City on Friday, when asked when farm machinery will be delivered to the
farmers.
“Our reckoning actually is when
the budget will be released,” Mr. Paz said, adding that “we’re now starting
with validating the lists of farmers in the municipalities.”
According to Mr. Paz, procurement
will start in August, with the bidding process expected to “take a while.”
The equipment include
transplanters and four-wheeled tractors, to be sourced from domestic manufacturers.
Mr. Paz also said PHilMech needs
more funding to expand its manpower and do the work expected of it under the
Rice Tariffication Law.
“As soon as the [funding] is
released, we will be hiring,” Mr. Paz said.
Mechanization will cover 57
rice-producing provinces which are deemed priority areas.
The Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) said that it has released P5 billion for the rice industry
development program of the government, with Mr. Paz saying none of this went to
PHilMech. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
Rice farmers seek assurances of funding under new law
March 4, 2019 | 12:06 am
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F.
Piñol briefs rice farmers and traders in the Davao Region on the impact of the
Rice Tariffication Law during a consultation on the draft implementing rules
and regulations of the new law over the weekend. -- CARMELITO Q.
FRANCISCO
DAVAO CITY — The Department of
Agriculture (DA) will ensure that the rice industry will become more
competitive as the Rice Tariffication Law comes into force.
In a public consultation Thursday
on the proposed implementing rules and regulations of the new law, Agriculture
Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said he is confident that rice farmers will be able
to increase their production with the assistance that the law will provide.
Under Republic Act 11203, the
government will set aside P10 billion a year for six years to help farmers
increase their productivity. The goal of the law is to make prices of domestic
rice competitive with imports.
The funding, which will be
assessed after three years of implementation. The Rice Competitiveness
Enhancement Fund (RCEF), as it is called, will be financed from tariffs on
imported rice, which will be shipped in more freely under the law.
Mr. Piñol said that with the
continued improvement of rice production as new rice varieties develop, rice
farmers will eventually be able to compete with the rest of the world.
On the part of rice farmers,
Balbino A. Alingalan told BusinessWorld that the government
must, among others, help rice farmers organize themselves to better access
funds from government.
Mr. Alingalan, president of the
Davao Oriental Seed Producers Cooperative, said that many of the farmers are
not organized, “so it is difficult for them to secure assistance from
government.”
He said that even those who are
organized like his group have even found it hard to access funding as
requirements are stringent.
He said most farmers turn to
informal lenders who provide immediate cash at high interest, “because we
always need the money right away.”
“If you run to formal lenders,
even those in government, it is very difficult for you to borrow because they
always ask for so many requirements,” he said.
Mr. Piñol said the current
pressure on rice prices is due to speculation that prices will fall, “borne out
of fear by traders and millers that we will be flooded with imported rice from
major rice exporting countries,” he said.
He said the DA, as mandated by
the law, will ensure that all importers are registered and issued Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSIC).
He said the DA still ha the power
to oversee imports and ensure that everyone follows the law.
Rice shipments sourced from the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be charged a 35% tariff, while
those coming from other countries will be levied as much as 180%. — Carmelito
Q. Francisco
Rice Tariffication Law gets
rid of smugglers – Lambino
Photo shows an imported rice
shipment for Negros Occidental being unloaded at the BREDCO port in Bacolod
City. NFA-NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
MANILA – With the implementation
of the Rice Tariffication Law starts on March 5, the national government has
assured that there will be no more smuggling of the staple food as importation
will be open to everybody.
“Rice tariffication will
eliminate rice smugglers as anyone can now import rice, the importer just needs
to get sanitary and phytosanitary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry
(BPI) under the new law,” said Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino at the
Pandesal Forum on Friday.
Lambino said the main objective
in opening up rice importation will benefit more than 100 million Filipino rice
consumers as prices are estimated to go down by P2 to P7 per kilo.
He also clarified that under the Rice
Tariffication Law, importation needs no implementing rules and regulations
(IRR) as importers need to get the necessary permits to ensure that the
imported rice is of good quality.
Meanwhile, Samahang Industriya ng
Agrikultura (SINAG) president Rosendo So said the National Food Authority (NFA)
imported 1.96 million metric tons (MT) with no tariff in 2018.
In January this year, the NFA
again imported 555,696 MT but So said “this did not benefit the Filipino
consumers as the price of rice was still high.”
With the new law, he said, all
rice importers will have to pay tariff and the money collected will be given
back to the farmers in the form of interventions or assistance.
On the other hand, Lambino said
despite lifting the quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice, the most important
role of the NFA under the new law is on “emergency buffer stocking” to ensure
rice availability in calamity-hit areas.
“The NFA has an important role
under the new law which is the emergency buffer stocking role, para
kung may masalanta sa kahit saang lugar sa Pilipinas ay mayroong emergency
stock,” he said.
“The challenge for the NFA is to
manage the (emergency) buffer stock well and to be logistics expert,
meaning dapat makarating ang bigas doon sa mga lugar na pinaka nangangailangan (the
supply should reach those who need them the most),” he added.
Lambino also admitted that the
rice trade was “mismanaged” and this resulted in debt of P145 billion by the
NFA.
“The inefficiency in the rice
trade has resulted in two things — one, our farmers have not been supported to
the level that they shoud be. Second, nagkautang ang taongbayan (the
country was in debt) as of the latest count P145 billion due to NFA’s
inefficient management of rice trade,” he noted.
Because of the Rice Tariffication
Law, Lambino said, the regulatory functions of the NFA was removed except for
the emergency buffer stocking.He, however, clarified that the NFA can still
procure rice from local producers. (PNA)
Premier urges rice traders to focus
on China and Vietnam
Chea Vannak / Khmer Times
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday
said that rice exporters should turn to China and Vietnam in an effort to
diversify the export market away from the European Union.
Speaking at the groundbreaking of
a China-funded hospital in Tboung Khmum province, Mr Hun Sen said exporting
more to China and Vietnam is key to the survival of the sector after the EU
imposed tariffs on Cambodian rice and initiated the process to temporarily halt
the country’s preferential trade status.
Mr Hun Sen asked exporters to
focus on filling the quota the Chinese government has for imports of Cambodian
rice, which was recently expanded from 300,000 to 400,000 tonnes.
. .
“At the moment the price of rice
has decreased and I have instructed the ministers of agriculture and commerce
to focus on China and Vietnam, which will help lift the price of the
commodity,” Mr Hun Sen said.
He said China is a priority
market for the Kingdom, with the government doing its utmost to expand export
of agricultural products to the East Asian giant.
Last year, the world’s
second-largest economy was the country that bought the largest amount of
Cambodian rice, importing 170,000 tonnes.
Hun Lak, vice president of the
Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), said diversifying Cambodia’s export markets is
crucial.
“We now face tariffs in the EU so
we have to turn to other markets to restore investor confidence,” Mr Lak said.
. .
He said the government can help
the private sector fill China’s quota by providing incentives that can reduce
production costs.
“The fact that the quota was
expanded is a good sign, but in order to actually fill that quota we must
reduce production costs so that we can be competitive in that market,” Mr Lak
said.
Last year, Cambodia exported
626,225 tonnes of rice to international markets, a drop of 1.5 percent compared
to 2017.
The largest market for Cambodian
rice continues to be the EU, which imported almost 270,000 tonnes, equivalent
to 42.98 percent of total exports.
By individual country, after
China, the largest buyers were France (90,000 tonnes), Malaysia (40,000
tonnes), Gabon (30,000 tonnes), and the Netherlands (26,000 tonnes).
Visayas
stakeholders want assurance from gov't to help farmers
March 4, 2019
RICE
industry stakeholders in the Visayas want an assurance from the government that
it will help the local farmers in case prices of the commodity slumps, amid
apprehensions on the possible adverse effects of rice tariffication.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, who attended the consultation on rice tariffication for Visayas region in Iloilo City on Friday, March 1, said participants are concerned of the possible drop in the prices of palay due to the entry of cheaper imported rice.
They asked Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who was also present at the consultation, about the concrete interventions of the government if worst case scenario arises, Masculino said.
“Stakeholders want to include in the implementing rules and regulations being finalized by the National Economic and Development Authority the measures and assistance to be given by the government in case local rice industry will be affected by the rice tariffication measure,” he added.
On February 15, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the measure lifting restrictions on rice importation.
Duterte certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent in October 2018 in a bid “to address the urgent need to improve availability of rice in the country, to prevent artificial rice shortage, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.”
Under the rice tariffication scheme, quantitative restrictions on rice importation are lifted and private traders are allowed to import the commodity from countries of their choice.
It imposes a 25-percent duty on rice imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-states and a 50 percent rate on imports from non-members of the regional bloc.
It can be recalled that the country’s economic team has been pushing for rice tariffication, saying this should bring down the prices of the country’s staple and weaken inflation.
The Department of Agriculture has been doing rounds of consultations nationwide to make stakeholders understand the details of the rice tariffication and liberalization law.
During the consultation in Iloilo City, Masculino said the agriculture chief vowed that the agency will support local farmers.
Piñol, he said, is pushing for the lowering of interest rate in availing the Rice Comprehensive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
There’s a component that the farmers have to pay 10 percent interest to the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines, Masculino said.
“According to Piñol, it is too high. The interest rate for Production Loan Easy Access Program is only six percent,” he said, adding that the secretary echoed “we fought that RCEF is intended as grant for farmers in order to prepare them for the challenges brought by rice tariffication."
He (Piñol) also assured Visayas stakeholders that there will be no corruption in the utilization of P10 billion fund for RCEF.
“We hope that all these concerns along with other issues raised during the consultation will be considered by the government,” Masculino said.
Moreover, at the sidelines of the consultation, the provincial agriculturist has made clarifications with representatives of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and Philippine Rice Research Institute that mechanization and seed distribution should be in the form of grant not as loan.
“They validated, they agreed to it,” he said, adding that there’s a need to strengthen the local seed growers.
The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, earlier said it is bracing for the possible effects of the newly-signed rice tariffication law among farmers in the province.
Masculino said if the government can seriously implement mechanization by providing funds for purchase of machineries, it would be a big help because labor comprises more than 50 percent of the total production cost.
“Our mechanization accomplishment, especially in the planting and harvesting stages, is still minimal,” he said, adding that “if we can just fully mechanized at least our irrigated areas of 40 hectares, it would already be a big thing.”
It can be recalled that the province already funded P25 million for farm mechanization last year.
The provincial agriculturist, however, said the amount is too small for about 100,000 rice farmers in Negros Occidental with about 65,000 hectares farms. (EPN)
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, who attended the consultation on rice tariffication for Visayas region in Iloilo City on Friday, March 1, said participants are concerned of the possible drop in the prices of palay due to the entry of cheaper imported rice.
They asked Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who was also present at the consultation, about the concrete interventions of the government if worst case scenario arises, Masculino said.
“Stakeholders want to include in the implementing rules and regulations being finalized by the National Economic and Development Authority the measures and assistance to be given by the government in case local rice industry will be affected by the rice tariffication measure,” he added.
On February 15, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the measure lifting restrictions on rice importation.
Duterte certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent in October 2018 in a bid “to address the urgent need to improve availability of rice in the country, to prevent artificial rice shortage, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.”
Under the rice tariffication scheme, quantitative restrictions on rice importation are lifted and private traders are allowed to import the commodity from countries of their choice.
It imposes a 25-percent duty on rice imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-states and a 50 percent rate on imports from non-members of the regional bloc.
It can be recalled that the country’s economic team has been pushing for rice tariffication, saying this should bring down the prices of the country’s staple and weaken inflation.
The Department of Agriculture has been doing rounds of consultations nationwide to make stakeholders understand the details of the rice tariffication and liberalization law.
During the consultation in Iloilo City, Masculino said the agriculture chief vowed that the agency will support local farmers.
Piñol, he said, is pushing for the lowering of interest rate in availing the Rice Comprehensive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
There’s a component that the farmers have to pay 10 percent interest to the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines, Masculino said.
“According to Piñol, it is too high. The interest rate for Production Loan Easy Access Program is only six percent,” he said, adding that the secretary echoed “we fought that RCEF is intended as grant for farmers in order to prepare them for the challenges brought by rice tariffication."
He (Piñol) also assured Visayas stakeholders that there will be no corruption in the utilization of P10 billion fund for RCEF.
“We hope that all these concerns along with other issues raised during the consultation will be considered by the government,” Masculino said.
Moreover, at the sidelines of the consultation, the provincial agriculturist has made clarifications with representatives of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and Philippine Rice Research Institute that mechanization and seed distribution should be in the form of grant not as loan.
“They validated, they agreed to it,” he said, adding that there’s a need to strengthen the local seed growers.
The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, earlier said it is bracing for the possible effects of the newly-signed rice tariffication law among farmers in the province.
Masculino said if the government can seriously implement mechanization by providing funds for purchase of machineries, it would be a big help because labor comprises more than 50 percent of the total production cost.
“Our mechanization accomplishment, especially in the planting and harvesting stages, is still minimal,” he said, adding that “if we can just fully mechanized at least our irrigated areas of 40 hectares, it would already be a big thing.”
It can be recalled that the province already funded P25 million for farm mechanization last year.
The provincial agriculturist, however, said the amount is too small for about 100,000 rice farmers in Negros Occidental with about 65,000 hectares farms. (EPN)
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Govt wants to
adjust tariff rate on poultry MDM to ease inflation
March 4, 2019
The government is keen on
imposing a lower tariff rate on mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of poultry to
further temper inflation, even as concessions are set to lapse on March 5, when
the rice trade liberalization law takes effect.
Deliberations on the petition of
local meat processors to maintain lower tariffs on MDM are ongoing at the
Cabinet-level Committee on Tariff and Related Matters (CTRM). Meat processors
said lower tariffs would ensure that canned goods would remain affordable.
National Economic and Development
Authority (Neda) Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla told the
BusinessMirror that the CTRM is inclined to impose “a tariff lower than 40
percent but higher than 5 percent on MDM imports.”
“We could see from the data that
meat products contributed to inflation. [The CTRM] will lift [the tariff rates]
but they will not put it at 40-percent [level],” Sombilla said in an interview
last week.
Philippine Association of Meat
Processors Inc. (PAMPI) urged the government last year to retain the lower
tariff rate on MDM so that canned goods and processed meat products will remain
affordable.
MDM is a raw material used by the
industry to manufacture products such as hot dogs and chicken nuggets.
The lowering of tariffs on MDM
imports was among the concessions made by the Philippines in securing the nod
of World Trade Organization (WTO) members to extend its right to impose
quantitative restriction on rice imports.
Agriculture Undersecretary for
Policy and Planning Segfredo R. Serrano said concessionary rates on some
agricultural products should automatically go back to the 2012 levels once
Republic Act 11203 or the rice trade liberalization becomes effective on March
5.
This was stipulated in Executive
Order (EO) 23 issued by President Duterte, which extended the concessionary
rates until June 30, 2020, or when a law related to rice tariffication is
enacted, whichever comes first. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) shall implement the
tariff changes and no other requirements are needed to do it, Serrano added.
‘Not inflationary’
Sombilla noted that the President
must issue an EO to implement the tariff modifications on MDM imports to
override EO 23. “They are now trying to come up with an EO that will change the
rates on MDM.”
The President could modify tariff
rates as indicated in the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act provided that any
adjustment underwent due process and was recommended by the Neda. Furthermore,
the President could only exercise such power when Congress is not in session.
Congress is currently on a break
and sessions would resume on May 20.
However, the United Broiler
Raisers Association (Ubra) is opposing the proposal of the CTRM to implement a
tariff rate lower than 40 percent on MDM.
Ubra President Elias Jose Inciong
said a 40-percent tariff would not have an impact on inflation, citing an
assessment made by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
“The processors could not dispute
our numbers. This, of course, assume that they are following the industry
health standard of a 20-percent maximum inclusion rate,” Inciong told the
BusinessMirror.
“Also, the processors failed to
show any benefit to the consumers because of the absence in the labels of the
inclusion rate. Price is what you pay, value is what you get,” he added.
If the government will not revert
the MDM tariff to 40 percent, Inciong said his group would make an appeal to
the President.
“The government will be throwing
away potential revenues of P4.5 billion without any clear benefit to the
consumers,” he said.
Serrano earlier disclosed to the
BusinessMirror that the CTRM decided to retain the 5-percent tariff on MDM
imports despite the assertion of the BSP and the Tariff Commission that a
40-percent tariff would not be
inflationary.
inflationary.
He explained that the Tariff
Commission found that reverting tariffs on MDM imports to its 2012 level of 40
percent would not have a “substantial” economic impact.
The DA official added that the
BSP has already factored in the 40-percent tariff on MDM in its inflation
forecast. Citing the BSP’s study, he said the government would still achieve
its inflation targets even if the tariff level on MDM imports would go back to
its 2012 level
‘Rice fund to hike
farm mechanization level’
March 4, 2019
A
farmer uses a hand tractor with a three-disc plow attachment developed by the
Philippine Rice Research Institute.
The Philippine Center for
Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) vowed to use the funds it
will receive under the rice trade liberalization law to raise farm
mechanization level to 4 horsepower per hectare (hp/ha) by 2024.
PhilMech Applied Communication
Division Chief Rodolfo P. Estigoy said the attached agency of the Department of
Agriculture (DA) wants to increase the current 2.31 hp/ha mechanization rate in
six years.
Estigoy said this will be made
possible by the P5-billion subsidy that PhilMech would receive under Republic
Act (RA) 11203. The money, he said, would be used to grant equipment to farmers
in 57 major rice-producing provinces.
“We are optimistic that we will
reach the 4 hp/ha farm mechanization level after six years,” he said in an
interview with the BusinessMirror on Sunday.
Under the RA 11203 or the rice
trade liberalization law, PhilMech would receive P5 billion or half of the P10-billion
rice competitiveness enhancement fund (RCEF).
The allocation is aimed at hiking
the mechanization level of rice farmers by giving them farm equipment.
Estigoy said PhilMech is planning
to distribute “packages of technology” to at least 200 municipalities this year
and is targeting to cover 1,200 municipalities and cities over the next six
years.
The package of technology that
would be provided to farmers’ organizations, cooperatives, and irrigators’
associations would include farm equipment that they could use for land
preparation and even for milling and drying, according to Estigoy.
He said some of the equipment
that may be distributed to farmers include tractors, mechanical transplanter,
combined harvester, dryers and even rice mills.
PhilMech expects to start
distributing equipment to farmers by the fourth quarter of the year. Estigoy
said it would take time for the agency to procure the equipment given the
procurement rules that it must observe.
“The equipment will be
distributed to farmers in time for the second rice cropping season or the main
cropping season,” Estigoy added.
He said PhilMech would form a
separate project implementation team that would focus on fulfilling the
agency’s role under RA 11203. The agency will hire at least 50 people to form
the team.
Estigoy also said PhilMech may
divide the Philippines into five zones to fast-track the distribution of farm
machinery: Luzon A and B, the Visayas, Mindanao A and B.
RA 11203 converted the
quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice into tariffs. It also mandated the
government to set up the RCEF which would consist of tariffs collected from
rice imports. The Philippines scrapped the non-tariff measure after more than
two decades when the special waiver on the special treatment on rice lapsed on
July 1, 2017.
Economic managers pushed for the
removal of the rice QR as the non-tariff measure made milled rice more
expensive. They projected that the scrapping of the QR would slash rice prices
by as much as P7 per kilogram.
India Grain: Wheat
down on weak demand; better buys support maize
Friday, Mar 1
By Sampad Nandy
NEW DELHI – Prices of wheat fell in key spot markets as flour
millers and wholesalers trimmed purchases at higher prices, traders said. A
marginal rise in arrivals also weighed on prices, they said.
The decline in prices was, however, limited as the good-quality
new crop saw better offtake than the old crop from last year, they
said.
"The demand for the new crop is seen firm in the coming
days as bulk buyers will have to buy the new crop from spot markets until the
government starts offloading new crop stocks at cheaper prices," a trader
based in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, said.
The government will start procuring the new wheat crop in
April.
In Indore, arrivals rose by about 100 bags to 1,700 bags (1
bag = 100 kg) today, while in Kota, Rajasthan, arrivals were pegged at 1,600
bags compared with 1,500 bags on Thursday.
Meanwhile, spot maize prices extended gains as demand from feed
manufacturers remained firm, traders said. Bulk buyers are aggressively buying
the commodity due to fear of a severe supply crunch, they said.
Prices are, however, likely to soften going ahead as end-users
have also started importing maize as spot prices rose sharply, traders said.
In Nizamabad, Telangana, arrivals were pegged steady at 500 bags
(1 bag = 100 kg) and in Davangere, Karnataka, arrivals were at 450 bags,
steady from the previous day.
Basmati 1121 paddy prices rose marginally as mill purchases
picked up, traders said.
"Purchased gained pace as rice millers and exporters are
replenishing stocks," a trader based in Amritsar, Punjab, 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
|
Change
|
|
Wheat
|
Kota
|
2,000-2,140
|
(-)10
|
|
Wheat
|
Indore
|
2,040-2,070
|
(-)10
|
|
Maize
|
Davangere
|
2,010-2,090
|
10
|
|
Maize
|
Nizamabad
|
2,020-2,100
|
10
|
|
Basmati 1121 paddy
|
Amritsar
|
3,800-3,830
|
10
|
End
Edited by Aditya Sakorkar
Cogencis Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000
This copy was first published on the Cogencis WorkStation
http://www.cogencis.com/newssection/india-grain-wheat-down-on-weak-demand-better-buys-support-maize/
2,500-year-old crop seeds discovered
12:00
AM, March 02, 2019 / LAST MODIFIED: 11:32 AM, March 02, 2019
New clue to ancient farming practices in Bangladesh
Archaeologists have found crop
seeds as old as 2,500 years in Bogura's Mahasthangarh.
They believe it will help them
discover many aspects of ancient Bengal's agricultural practices and
environmental condition.
This is the first time
archaeologists are researching crop seeds to determine Bangladesh's ancient
civilisation, Mizanur Rahman Zami, assistant professor at Jahangirnagar
University's Archaeology department, told The Daily Star recently.
Zami led a team of archaeologists
that found the seeds through an excavation carried out between February 3 and
23. The team included 30 students from the JU department and officials from the
government's archaeological department.
Digging
trenches in Bogura's Mahasthangarh, archeologists have recently found around
10,000 crop seeds and pieces of earthen northern black polished ware (below),
which they think might be around 2,500 years old. Photo: Collected
Digging 4.3 metres into the ground,
the team collected nearly 10,000 crop seeds, including that of rice, corn,
beans, chickpeas, lentil, muug daal and cotton, he said.
“Analysing those crops, it's
possible to know many crucial information, including the climatic condition of
that period. It will also reveal information about human migration through
Bangladesh and give a clear concept about ancient Bangladeshi civilisation,” he
said.
The team also found artifact like
pieces of earthen Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) which dates back to
around 2,500 years.
“So we get a relative date of those
crops that used to be cultivated in those areas at least 2500 years ago. We
could get older evidence if we excavated further,” said Zami, who did his post
graduation on Environmental Archeology from London School of Archeology.
The archaeologist thinks the most
significant discovery of the excavation was finding some samples of Oryza
Sativa Aus rice, one of the three wild rice varieties of Asia, which
researchers believe could have its origin in Bengal and Assam.
There are two other wild rice
varieties – Oryza Sativa Japoica which originated in China nearly 12,000 years
ago and Oryza Sativa Indica nearly 10,000 years ago in the Ganges plain of
northern India. All the rice varieties available now came from those three wild
varieties.
Pieces
of earthen northern black polished ware. Photo: Collected
But researchers are still not
certain about the origin of 'Aus' wild rice variety.
“Analysing the morphology of the
rice we got in Bogura, we can primarily say that it is 'Aus' rice variety,”
Zami said, adding, “However, a lot of research -- profiling of the DNA and
isotope of samples -- is needed to be absolutely sure about it.”
The research can prove that Pundru
civilization (in Bogura) is older than what was thought earlier (around 2000
years). It may also prove that there was an agro-based village civilisation in
that area before urban settlement replaced it.
Zami said he would soon take the
samples to a laboratory in the UK for testing.
After analysis of the DNA and
isotope of the samples, it would be possible to get an idea about the crop
pattern, agriculture method, food habit and many other indicators of the
civilisation of the ancient Bengal, he said.
It will also give a clear idea
about the environment and climatic condition of that period, he said, adding
that analysis of the crop would also help reveal the route of human migration
through Bengal.
“Because people stopped migration
when they started living in a certain place and domesticated the wild crop. It
helped civilisation to evolve,” he said.
Asked, eminent archaeologist Prof
Sufi Mustafizur Rahman of Jahangirnagar University, said archeological evidence
like palace, temple and mosque usually gives a glimpse of the history relating
to kings and emperors. It does not give any idea about the common people, their
agricultural practices, culture and how their civilisation evolved.
“But research on crop seeds,
pollens from the ancient period gives us that opportunity to know the history
of environment. It helps us determine when and from where people came and also
the climate of a particular period,” he said.
“This research is also important as
it will help claim intellectual property right upon any certain crop if we
could prove that that particular crop originated from our land,” added Sufi
Mustafizur Rahman, who has long been working on the archeological sites at Wari
Bateshwar and Bikrampur.
WTO
RULES CHINA GAVE ITS GROWERS UNFAIR WHEAT AND RICE SUBSIDIES
3/1/2019
STR/AFP/Getty
The Trump administration, with the weight of a WTO ruling behind
it, called on China on Thursday to eliminate trade-distorting wheat and rice subsidies
that cost U.S. farmers hundreds of millions of dollars a year in export sales.
The WTO panel report may provide impetus to negotiations to resolve the
Sino-U.S. trade war.
Still pending at the WTO is a companion U.S. complaint against
Chinese controls on imports of corn, wheat, and rice. Both complaints were
filed in the closing months of the Obama administration after farm groups and
trade officials had spent years compiling evidence of trade violations. U.S.
wheat groups, for example, said China set a support price of $10 a bushel for
wheat for its farmers, far higher than the world price.
“China’s excessive support limits opportunities for U.S. farmers
to export their world-class products to China,” said U.S. trade
representative Robert Lighthizer. “We expect China to quickly come
into compliance with its WTO obligations.”
Countries are given “a reasonable period of time” to comply with
WTO rulings. If they do not, the winner can apply retaliatory tariffs on
products from the offending nation.
When it turned to the WTO in September 2016, the U.S. said Chinese
subsidies for domestic wheat, corn, and rice production in 2015 were $100 billion larger than the limits China
accepted when it joined the WTO. The WTO dispute settlement panel, which began
work in June 2017 after fruitless U.S.-China consultations, concluded that
China’s wheat and rice supports exceeded the level allowed by world trade
rules. China had pledged that its supports would not exceed 8.5% of the value
of the crops. The WTO panel did not rule on corn because China changed its
support system after the 2015 harvest, so the U.S. complaint was moot.
Lighthizer’s office said the WTO ruling was “a significant victory
for U.S. agriculture that will help American farmers compete on a more level
playing field.” China has 60 days to appeal the ruling.
“U.S. farmers have been hurt by China’s overproduction and
protectionist measures for too long, and it’s past time for China to start
living up to its commitments,” said Vince Peterson, head of U.S. Wheat Associates, an
export promoter. China’s subsidies cost U.S. wheat growers up to $700 million a
year by encouraging domestic production and depressing world wheat prices, said
the group.
Trade group USA Rice said the WTO ruling could encourage other
nations to reform excessive support programs. “With about half of our crop
exported in any given year, these steps toward leveling the international
playing field have enormous consequences for us,” said USA Rice Chairman Charley Mathews, a California grower.
“Today’s ruling is a huge win at a time when such wins are sorely
needed,” said House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson, adding, “It’s also my hope that
this ruling can help our negotiators reach a positive path forward to reopen
trade with China and reclaim the markets that the trade war has cost our
farmers.”
China used to be the No. 1 customer for U.S. ag exports,
especially soybeans. It is forecast to be No. 5 this year due to retaliatory
tariffs.
In December 2016, the U.S. followed up its complaint about China’s
crop subsidies with a WTO complaint alleging China had unfairly manipulated its tariff system to limit imports of U.S.
corn, wheat, and rice. Farmers lost $3.5 billion in sales, the complaint said,
because of the “opaque and unpredictable management” of tariff-rate quotas,
which allow a specified amount of a commodity to enter at reduced tariff rates.
The end result was that China kept the volume of corn, wheat, and rice imports
below the level that was supposed to be allowed to enter at the lower rates.
Single-window program called for on rice tariffication
March 1, 2019 | 6:37 pm
PHILSTAR
By Carmelito Q. Francisco, Correspondent,
and Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio, Reporter
and Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio, Reporter
WITH THE implementation of the
law on rice tariffication, the government must adopt a single-window program on
importation, said a top official of the office of Sen. Cynthia A. Villar,
principal author of the law.
At the sidelines of a public
consultation Thursday in Davao City on the implementing rules and regulations
(IRR) of Republic Act 11203, lawyer Rhaegee B. Tamaña said the government must
implement the single-window program to ensure transparency.
Under the single-window program,
anything recorded from the origin of the product will be transmitted to the
receiving country so the real tariff can be computed and this will prevent
collusion among importers and government officials.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte
signed RA 11203, which replaces the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, on
February 14. The new law, which imposes tariffs on rice, replaces the
quantitative restriction on the commodity as the previous law allowed the entry
of the commodity based on volume.
“In the law there is a compelling
reason for BOC to implement the single window program that has yet to be
implemented. We are the advocate of that in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast
Asian Nations), but we are the only one (not implementing it),” said Ms. Tamaña.
She said that with this program,
the IRR must spell out how the Department of Agriculture is “able to harmonize
the collection efficiency of the (Bureau of) Customs (BOC) because even if rice
is imported,…there is nothing, (the importer does not pay the tariff).”
Ms. Tamaña said the government
must be able to strictly impose the law so that the tariff that is expected to
be collected within the six years of its implementation will be able to help
assist local farmers to increase productivity and make local rice as competitive
as imported rice.
For his part, Finance Assistant
Secretary Antonio Joselito G. Lambino II said rice tariffication will serve to
deter smuggling.
Rice smuggling in the Philippines
will be significantly reduced with the implementation of the Rice Tariffication
Act, according to an official of the Department of Finance (DoF) on Friday.
“I think we are confident that
the level of smuggling will be reduced by a significant amount. I think zero
smuggling for an archipelago is probably not a realistic goal but what we want
to make sure is we bring it down to as low a level as possible. Sa rice, ang
maganda riyan, nawala ang incentive. The biggest incentive for smuggling was so
high, pero ngayon na nagtariffy na tayo (What is good there, the incentive was
gone. The biggest incentive for smuggling was so high but now that we will
already tariffy), the import price will be born by the importer plus a
manageable tariff that will go to the farmers,” Mr. Lambino told reporters at
the sidelines of the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City.
Mr. Lambino noted that prior to
the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Act, rice importers should secure
first licenses from the National Food Authority (NFA). With the roll-out of the
law, importers are no longer required to secure licenses but only sanitary and
phytosanitary (SPS) permits from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) which would
serve as proof that the goods being imported are safe for consumption.
“Nawala na yung main incentive
for smuggling dahil unang una, hindi na nila kailangan ng lisensya…Ngayon dahil
kahit sino ang pwede mag-angkat ng bigas (The incentive for smuggling is now
removed because in the first place, they no longer need a license…Now, anyone
can import rice already) as long as you’re willing to pay a manageable tariff
that we’ve agreed with ASEAN neighbors through ATIGA [Asean Trade in Goods
Agreement], it brings about good behavior, in other words,” Mr. Lambino said.
Mr. Lambino also said that
traders are less likely to hoard rice stocks because even if they do so, other
importers will continue to bring in the commodity.
He likened the Rice Tariffication
Law into a three-in-one coffee mix, which would be good for the farmers,
traders, and consumers.
The Rice Tariffication Act is set
to be implemented starting March 5. The National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) is also now accepting suggestions from the public by sending
the proposals online, while the Department of Agriculture (DA) is on its last
day of meeting with rice stakeholders nationwide on Friday, which started last
Monday.
P5B released
to help rice farmers, another P10B from RCEF coming
Budget
secretary Benjamin Diokno
MANILA – A total of P5 billion
was already released to assist farmers, with another P10 billion to be released
once revenue is realized from the Rice Tariffication Law, the administration’s
economic cluster said Thursday.
The P5 billion was released to
the Department of Agriculture (DA) through a Special Allotment Release Order
(SARO) last December 2018, according to the Departments of Finance, Budget and
Management (DBM), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
“This program is complementary to
the Rice Tariffication Law’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, or RCEF, a
P10-billion fund that will help farmers transition to a new rice regime,” the
agencies said in a joint statement.
On Feb. 15, presidential
spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte signed
into law the measure removing quantitative restrictions on rice imports.
The measure allows unlimited
importation of rice as long as private sector traders secure a phytosanitary
permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry and pay the 35-percent tariff on
shipments from Southeast Asia.
The law earmarks P10 billion for
the RCEF, of which P5 billion will be allotted to farm mechanization and P3
billion to seedlings. The fund intends to ensure that rice imports won’t drown
out the agriculture sector and rob farmers of their livelihood.
“We are listening very carefully
to the concerns of our farmers. Some are worried that the RCEF is an
unprogrammed fund, which can only be released once there is excess revenue,”
said Budget secretary Benjamin Diokno.
“We will make sure that a minimum
of P10 billion is made available for the RCEF per year in farmer support
programs even if tariff collections are less than expected,” he added.
RCEF will also be used to procure
farmer tools and equipment and assist in the production, promotion, and
distribution of rice seeds, upgrading of post-harvest storage facilities, and
research and development, among others.
“P5 billion was released in
December 2018 to help protect farmers through the National Rice Program.
Another P10 billion will be released through the RCEF once excess revenue
collection is realized from the tariffs on rice imports,” said Socioeconomic
Planning secretary Ernesto M. Pernia.
“The RCEF will ensure that
protection will go to farmers through direct support programs. We will make
certain that affected farmers will receive proper and adequate support as they
transition to a new regime. We will also establish transparency and
grievance mechanisms for this purpose,” he added.
Once implemented, the Rice
Tariffication Law could reduce inflation by 0.8 percentage point, the Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said last year.
“On economic impact, liberalizing
the rice sector could also translate into upgrades from credit rating agencies,
thus lower borrowing costs for the country, besides making it more attractive
to investors,” said Finance secretary Carlos Dominguez III.
Moody’s Investors Service earlier
this week welcomed the passage of the law, saying this could be credit positive
for the Philippines. (GMA News)
Rice Tariffication Law gets rid of smugglers: Lambino
By
Lilybeth Ison March
2, 2019, 4:24 pm
MANILA -- With the implementation of
the Rice Tariffication Law starts on March 5, the national government has
assured that there will be no more smuggling of the staple food as importation
will be open to everybody."Rice tariffication will eliminate rice
smugglers as anyone can now import rice, the importer just needs to get
sanitary and phytosanitary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) under
the new law," said Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino at the
Pandesal Forum on Friday.
Lambino said the main objective in
opening up rice importation will benefit more than 100 million Filipino rice
consumers as prices are estimated to go down by PHP2 to PHP7 per kilo.
He also clarified that under the
Rice Tariffication Law, importation needs no implementing rules and regulations
(IRR) as importers need to get the necessary permits to ensure that the
imported rice is of good quality.
Meanwhile, Samahang Industriya ng
Agrikultura (SINAG) president Rosendo So said the National Food Authority (NFA)
imported 1.96 million metric tons (MT) with no tariff in 2018.
In January this year, the NFA again
imported 555,696 MT but So said "this did not benefit the Filipino
consumers as the price of rice was still high."
With the new law, he said, all rice
importers will have to pay tariff and the money collected will be given back to
the farmers in the form of interventions or assistance.
On the other hand, Lambino said
despite lifting the quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice, the most important
role of the NFA under the new law is on "emergency buffer stocking"
to ensure rice availability in calamity-hit areas.
"The NFA has an important role
under the new law which is the emergency buffer stocking role, para kung may
masalanta sa kahit saang lugar sa Pilipinas ay mayroong emergency stock,"
he said.
"The challenge for the NFA is
to manage the (emergency) buffer stock well and to be logistics expert, meaningdapat
makarating ang bigas doon sa mga lugar na pinaka nangangailangan (the
supply should reach those who need them the most)," he added.
Lambino also admitted that the rice
trade was "mismanaged" and this resulted in debt of PHP145 billion by
the NFA.
"The inefficiency in the rice
trade has resulted in two things -- one, our farmers have not been supported to
the level that they shoud be. Second, nagkautang ang taongbayan (the
country was in debt) as of the latest count PHP145 billion due to NFA's inefficient
management of rice trade," he noted.
Because of the Rice Tariffication
Law, Lambino said, the regulatory functions of the NFA was removed except for
the emergency buffer stocking.
He, however, clarified that the NFA
can still procure rice from local producers. (PNA)
Inflation
likely eased further in February — BSP
Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine Star) -
March 2, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said inflation likely eased further in February to a
range of 3.7 to 4.5 percent amid the steady decline in the prices of rice and
other agricultural products.
According to the central bank’s
Department of Economic Research (DER), the higher domestic oil prices and the
upward adjustment in electricity rates provided an upward price pressures on
inflation last month.
The BSP economists said the
upside pressures were partly offset by lower prices of rice and other
agricultural commodities given the appreciation of the peso and ample supply,
particularly of rice following the recent harvest and arrival of rice imports.
“Looking ahead, the BSP will
continue to be watchful of evolving price trends to ensure that the monetary
policy stance remains appropriate to maintaining price stability that is
conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy and employment,”
the central bank said.
Inflation has steadily
decelerated for the third straight month to a 10-month low of 4.4 percent in
January after peaking at 6.7 percent in September and October.
Based on its latest assessment,
the BSP sees inflation easing to 3.2 percent this year and three percent in
2020 after accelerating to 5.2 percent last year from 2.9 percent in 2017,
exceeding the central bank’s two to four percent target, due to elevated oil
and food prices as well as weak peso.
This paved the way for a
tightening cycle wherein benchmark rates were raised in five straight
rate-setting meetings from May to November to prevent inflation from spiraling
out of control.
Easing inflation, however,
allowed monetary authorities to take a breather from its tightening episode to
allow the economy to absorb the rate increases.
The BSP expects the signing of
Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Act would reduce inflation by 0.6
percentage points this year and 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points next year.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/03/02/1897827/inflation-likely-eased-further-february-bsp
Official inflation target kept at 2-4% till 2022
March 1, 2019 | 7:03 pm
By Karl Angelo N. Vidal, Reporter
STATE ECONOMIC MANAGERS are
keeping their 2-4% inflation target until 2022, as the overall increase in
prices of widely used goods is expected to moderate further.
In a central bank statement sent
late Thursday, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), in
coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), said the target was set
through DBCC Resolution No. 2019-1 dated Feb. 26.
The DBCC said the 2-4% target
band approved by the government continues to be an “appropriate quantitative
representation” of the medium-term goal of price stability.
“The BSP’s latest inflation
projections indicate that inflation is likely to return to the target range
over the medium term as the impact of supply-side shocks dissipate,” the
statement read.
“Likewise, inflation expectations
have stabilized and are seen to decline in 2019-2020.”
The central bank expects
inflation to ease to 3.1% this year, well within the target band, from the a
5.2% average in 2018.
Inflation hit a nine-year-high
6.7% in September and October but has been easing since, hitting 4.4% in
January.
The BSP said on Thursday that it
expects February inflation, which the Philippine Statistics Authority will
report on March 5, to have slowed further to 3.7-4.5%. February last year saw
inflation clock in at 3.8%.
“Improved productive capacity of
the economy, fueled by higher infrastructure investments by the national
government, supports achieving robust economic growth amid a low and stable
inflation environment,” the BSP said in its statement, noting that the recent
inflation surge had been driven “largely by transitory supply-side factors”
which the Executive branch had moved to address in September.
BSP Assistant Governor Francisco
G. Dakila, Jr. had said after the Monetary Board’s policy meeting on Feb. 7
that inflation is now expected to return to below four percent by this month.
“Non-monetary measures have also
been deployed by the NG to address supply shocks directly in the short run and
the structural problems in the food/agriculture industry in the long run,” the
DBCC added.
The rice tariffication law signed
by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Feb. 14 liberalizes importation of the
staple by replacing quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariffs: 35%
for rice coming from within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN);
40% for imports within the 350,000 metric-ton minimum access volume (MAV),
regardless of country; and 180% for above-MAV imports from non-ASEAN countries.
The relaxed rules on rice
importation, which take effect on March 5, are expected to cut retail prices of
the staple by up to P7 per kilogram and inflation by 0.7-0.8 percentage point.
Sought for comment, Union Bank of
the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said the decision
to maintain the 2-4% inflation target range until 2022 may have stemmed from
the longer-term prospects of global oil production.
“2019 may pose more price
volatility, especially this first half of the year, but H2 (second half of the
year) and potentially the next three years see a surge in global oil production
coupled by the surprisingly resilient US shale oil production,” Mr. Asuncion
said in an e-mail.
“[W]ith expected lower
longer-term oil prices, local headline inflation consequently and most probably
will be within the government’s inflation target.”
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.
economist Michael L. Ricafort said the government’s non-monetary measures to
combat inflation “give further affirmation to the possible attainment of the
2-4% inflation target” up to 2022.
Raids on rice millers over
paddy bungling
Earlier, the
district administration had raided five mills of Koraput district being managed
by leaders of District Millers Association.
Published: 03rd March 2019 06:57
AM | Last Updated: 03rd March 2019 08:54 AM
JEYPORE:
ACTING on allegations of large scale irregularities by rice millers in paddy
procurement, Vigilance officials raided two mills in the district.
Farmers had
lodged a complaint with Jeypore Vigilance SP alleging that millers of SLVN rice
mill at Kumuliput and Binayak rice mill at Digapur had illegally stocked
more than permissible limit of paddy by manipulating farmers documents.
Vigilance officials and District Civil Supply Officials raided these two rice
mills and verified paddy stocks.
It was found
that the millers had stocked in excess of targeted procurement and the
stocks were not correctly reflected in their records. Besides, paddy was being
packed in polythene bags instead of gunny sacks.
The documents
were seized for further investigation.Vigilance SP Hare Krushna Behera said
exact amount of excess paddy stocked by millers will be known after District
Civil Supply department submits its report.
Earlier, the
district administration had raided five mills of Koraput district being managed
by leaders of District Millers Association.
(Get the news that matters from New Indian
Express on WhatsApp. Click this link and hit 'Click to
Subscribe'. Follow the instructions after
that.)
Sanwo-Olu’s rice gift an attempt to manipulate civil servants
—Agbaje
Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in
Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, has lambasted his All Progressives Congress
counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for giving rice gifts to civil servants on the
premises of the government secretariat ahead of next Saturday’s governorship
election.
A stampede occurred during the struggle for rice at the
government secretariat on Thursday shortly after Sanwo-Olu and other APC
leaders met with civil servants.
In a statement by his Director, Media and Publicity, Felix
Oboagwina, the PDP candidate said Sanwo-Olu’s gesture was appalling.
Agbaje described Sanwo-Olu’s meeting with civil servants at the
government secretariat as an abuse of privilege and an attempt to manipulate
the civil service which ought to be apolitical.
He said, “We find the invitation and the rice gift appalling,
opportunistic and illegal. In a political contest of the nature in which
Sanwo-Olu and the rest of us are involved, he has been offered an undue
advantage. An uneven playing field has been created. And this is condemnable
and contemptible.
“The gesture goes against Nigeria’s bureaucratic statutes that
forbid civil servants from romancing politics. For crying out loud, there are
still regulations preventing civil servants from involvement in politics. That
invitation and the rice gifts are a violation of those extant rules.”
Agbaje said the APC designed Sanwo-Olu’s rice gift to bury 20
years in which Lagos officials had been treated like trash and subjected to
sordid conditions like nepotism, over-taxation, denial of promotion, delayed
promotions and deprivation of leave and end-of-year bonuses.
He alleged that civil servants who maintained a neutrality and
refused to show up for the meeting stood the grave danger of being marked down
for discrimination and intimidation.
According to him, it was to maintain neutrality and decorum that
soldiers and Police were similarly barred from involvement in politics, and
politicians prevented from campaigning in uniformed personnel’s barracks and
formations.
“It is a shame to see civil servants struggling and hurting
themselves just to get a small bag of Sanwo-Olu rice, but it is even more
shameful to subject the crop of Nigeria’s middle-class to such an indignity,”
Agbaje said.
The PDP candidate also berated the APC for sending police and
thugs to bar a “Free Lagos” Press Conference slated for the Lagos Airport Hotel
in Ikeja.
“It is the mother of all ironies that, on the same day that APC
organised an illegal meeting for its candidate, it was sending a combined team
of cops and hoodlums to dislodge an event organised by bona fide Nigerian
citizens,” Agbaje noted.
On Police and thugs aborting the event organised by the Orange
Movement for a Free Lagos State, Agbaje said the cancellation violated the fundamental
rights of the citizens to associate and hold opinions, as enshrined in the
Nigerian Constitution.
The event ran under the theme, Setting Lagos Free from Bourdillon Bondage,
#OtogeLagos.
The statement read in part, “It is an assault on freedom of speech.
And every day, we witness the frontiers of Nigerians’ freedom being eroded by a
privileged minority that takes special delight in subjecting citizens to
impunity and corruption.
“The APC further assaulted our collective freedom by Thursday’s
order to Police to bar an event where Nigerians wanted to legitimately express
themselves.
“We roundly condemn the APC for this. And we call upon all
Nigerians and the international community to condemn this high-handed and
draconian clampdown.”
Vietnam’s
rice sector prospects expected to improve soon
Last
update 11:07 | 02/03/2019
Despite
difficulties in rice export and consumption in recent years, the country’s rice
sector is forecast to gain ground this year, with outbound shipments showing
signs of improvement.
Farmers
harvest rice in the Mekong Delta region
A
report released at a conference on rice production and consumption in the
Mekong Delta in Dong Thap Province today, February 26, showed that the prospect
of Vietnam's rice exports will be bright in the years to come.
Nguyen
Ngoc Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, said that the nation's
outbound rice shipments are expected to amount to six million tons this year,
unchanged from 2018.
The
country will continue focusing on the Asian rice-importing market, Nam said,
adding, “From January 1 to February 15, Vietnam exported over 491,000 tons of
rice to foreign markets.”
Rice
export contracts are seen increasing in the second quarter of this year due to
the competitive prices of Vietnamese rice and the rising rice demand of China,
the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, he said.
In
particular, the Chinese market’s rice imports are forecast to inch up by an
additional 200,000 tons to 5.2 million tons from the five million tons recorded
last year, with Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar as its major rice
suppliers.
Nam
said that of the total 5.2 million tons to be imported in 2019 by China, half
could be distributed to State enterprises and the remaining 50% to private
firms.
“Some
sources said that China will continue purchasing rice from Vietnam, but the
volume will be lower than in 2018,” he noted.
As
for Indonesia, Nam said, its rice imports in 2019 are predicted to plunge to
800,000 tons against the 2.15 million tons recorded last year. Indonesia will
start to import rice in July.
Meanwhile,
the Philippines is expected to buy 2.3 million tons this year, opening the door
for Vietnamese rice exports. Nam said that on February 15, the president of the
Philippines issued a regulation allowing private firms to import rice without
quantity limits. As such, 180 Filipino private enterprises have registered to
import 1.2 million tons of rice from Vietnam to date, showing that the Filipino
market continues to have potential.
Further,
Vietnam’s white rice prices are more competitive than those of Thailand,
attracting Malaysia, which is forecast to import 950,000 tons of rice this
year.
Bui
Thi Thanh Tam, general director of the Northern Food Corporation (Vinafood 1),
said that Vietnam’s rice importers are in the process of purchasing rice,
adding that Vinafood 1 has signed deals to buy rice from its foreign partners.
Tam
added that the Mekong Delta region has seen a fall in rice prices in recent
years owing to an imbalance in supply and demand.
Le
Minh Hoan, Party secretary of Dong Thap Province, said that through the
conference, all hindrances to the winter-spring rice crop are expected to be
lifted. It is necessary to map out a long-term plan for the sustainable
development of the sector so that obstacles in terms of production, credit
systems, science and technology can be removed and the country’s rice exports
can be maintained stably.
Hoan
said that the prime minister has issued a directive asking the relevant
ministries and departments to urgently handle the rice glut to ease the
hardship faced by farmers. Hoan, however, stressed that rescuing rice farmers
should not recur repeatedly.
Individual
production should be eliminated, Hoan said, adding that cooperative production
is an efficient structure in the agriculture sector, boosting the stability of
rice production and consumption and reducing pressure on farmers, as well as
eliminating the need to rescue rice farmers, as seen year in, year out.
A
rice production alliance would help farmers gain profits from production and
value chains and cut production costs, he explained.
The
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and
Trade, the State Bank of Vietnam and the Dong Thap government on February 26
co-organized a conference to discuss and assess rice production and consumption
and finding ways to promote the rice sector and rice exports of the Mekong
Delta in particular and Vietnam in general.
Deaths as India and
Pakistan resume shelling in Kashmir
Soldiers from India and
Pakistan have targeted each other along the volatile frontier in disputed
Kashmir, killing at least four civilians and wounding four others, officials
said.
Fighting resumed overnight into
dawn, leaving two siblings and their mother dead in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The three died after a shell
fired by Pakistani soldiers hit their home in Poonch region near the so-called
Line of Control that divides the Himalayan territory of Kashmir between the two
nuclear-armed rivals, police said.
The children’s father was
critically wounded and has been hospitalised.
In Pakistan-controlled Kashmir,
government official Umar Azam said Indian troops with heavy weapons
“indiscriminately targeted border villagers” along the Line of Control, killing
a boy and wounding three others.
He said several homes were
destroyed by Indian shelling.
Both countries’ officials used
the routine description for the military confrontations, saying their soldiers
retaliated “befittingly”, and blamed the other for “unprovoked” violation of
the 2003-ceasefire accord at several sectors along the Kashmir frontier,
targeting both army posts as well as villages.
Tensions have been running high
since Indian aircraft crossed into Pakistan on Tuesday, carrying out what India
called a pre-emptive strike against militants blamed for a February 14 suicide
bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops.
Pakistan retaliated, shooting
down a MiG-21 fighter jet on Wednesday and detained its pilot, who was returned
to India on Friday in a peace gesture.
The violence this week marked
the most serious escalation of the long-simmering conflict since 1999, when
Pakistan’s military sent a ground force into Indian-controlled Kashmir at
Kargil.
That year also saw an Indian
fighter jet shoot down a Pakistani naval aircraft, killing all 16 on board.
On both sides of Kashmir,
thousands of people have fled to government-run temporary shelters or
relatives’ homes in safer areas to escape deadly and relentless shelling along
the frontier.
Many of these villages dot the
rugged and mountainous frontier, which is marked by razor wire, watch towers and
bunkers amid tangled bushes, forests and fields of rice and corn.
Pakistan and India have fought
two of their three wars over Kashmir since their independence from British rule
in 1947.
India accuses Pakistan of
arming and training rebels and sending them into Indian-controlled Kashmir to
launch attacks against government targets.
Pakistan denies the charge,
saying it provides moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris fighting for right
to self-determination.
Rebel groups have been fighting
Indian rule since 1989 and demand that Kashmir be united either under Pakistani
rule or as an independent country.
Anti-India sentiment runs deep
in the region, and most people support the rebels’ cause against Indian rule
while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control.
Nearly 70,000 people have been
killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown.
Press Association
Dialogue is ultimate
·
March 3, 2019
366
PIN
POINT
Naveed
Aman Khan
Oil
rich Kuwait is a country nestling at the top of the Gulf. Flanked by powerful
neighbours Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran, its strategic location and massive oil
reserves make it one of the world’s richest countries. A State with a Sunni
Muslim majority and a US ally, Kuwait stands out from the other Gulf monarchies
for having the most open political system.
The Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has been ruling Kuwait since January 2006. He visited Pakistan in 2006, HH the Crown Price of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Pakistan in 2013 while the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait Marzouq Al-Ghanem and the Air Force Chief also visited in 2015. HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah served as Foreign Minister for over forty years during which time he was credited with shaping Kuwait’s Foreign Policy and steering the country through the Iraqi invasion in 1990.
Pakistan and Kuwait enjoy strong bilateral, friendly, political, diplomatic, trade and cultural ties with enormous respect of commonality and cultural traditions. The bilateral relations exist at the Government, Armed Forces and masses level. Both the countries have stood for each other in testing times. Pakistan was among the first countries that sent troops to Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. Nine Pakistani soldiers were martyred during landmines clearance operations in Kuwait.
Kuwait also responded well to Pakistan and has been the first among countries that have ever extended generous help to Pakistan in difficult times. The Kuwait Government donated generously to Pakistan during the deadly earthquake in 2005 and at the time of devastating floods in 2010. Kuwait has contributed almost US $ 25 million to flood affected people of Pakistan.
Presently, around two hundred thousand Pakistani expatriates in all fields of life are working in Kuwait. They remit around US $ 950 million a year to Pakistan. This is one of the important foreign exchange sources for balancing the external accounts of the country. In addition to the bilateral interactions of political leadership of both the countries, there are regular visits of Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy high level personnel to Kuwait. Pakistan has also trained a number of Armed Forces officers of Kuwait in Pakistan. Both countries are part of a Joint Ministerial Commission, an active body extending its role towards further strengthening and extending bilateral relations in all fields.
Although Pakistan-Kuwait political and diplomatic relations historically remained very strong, however, bilateral economic cooperation has not progressed much. The volume of investment, business and trade needs to get enhanced. There are several reasons which characterize the certain geopolitical, strategic and security obstacles. Bilateral trade volume between the two countries almost touches US $ 2.5 billion a year, though it is far from satisfactory level relative to their size and composition of domestic production and external trade volumes. Pakistan is largely importing crude oil from Kuwait and Kuwait mainly imports, fruit, vegetable, rice and cotton products.
The current Kuwaiti Ambassador to Pakistan HE Nasser Abdul Rahman Almutairi and Deputy Head of Mission Khalid Jassim Alyasin, are playing very active and commendable role towards enhancing and strengthening bilateral political, diplomatic, trade and cultural relations. They have taken a number of initiatives during their tenure as Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission of Kuwait to Pakistan. With their efforts, a large number of Kuwaiti businessmen have shown significant interest in Pakistan which is highly laudable. Because of their efforts, a large number of trade groups from Pakistan such as rice exporters and Chambers of Commerce have also been invited to exchange their business interests with Kuwaiti entrepreneurs and counterparts.
The Kuwaiti Emir helping to mediate the conflicts is regarded as one of the region’s wise, experienced figures. Kuwait’s paramount approach to the Qatar dispute is to play the role of a cautious but effective mediator. Kuwait has garnered substantial international support for its role, which in turn has provided an added layer of security for the country. For the attainment of peace elsewhere the Emir HH Sheikh Sabah has always been playing his role as a politician and mediator.
While Kuwait’s mediating tradition stretches back decades, it has carried special meaning in the years following the country’s liberation from Iraq. The Emir himself was a leading figure in Kuwait’s restoration after liberation. In this context, Kuwait is also emphasizing the need for stability and peaceful relationships between Gulf Cooperation Council members. The country’s Emir is extremely concerned over unprecedented developments and called for preserving Gulf unity and ending the rift through dialogue.
Rightly, dialogue is the ultimate of every conflict no matter it is Middle East, Cyprus, Catalonia, Palestine or Pakistan-India over Indian occupied Kashmir. Wars end at dialogue elsewhere. Influential world leaders like, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Recep Tayab Erdogan, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber, President Putin, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump should play mediatory role to resolve Kashmir and Palestine issues which has pushed Middle East and Pakistan and India in devastating wars. Even Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, has shown his deep concern and worry over recent tension between Pakistan and India. He urged India and Pakistan to exert all efforts possible to defuse the crisis and not resort to escalation, in order to preserve good neighbourhood and serve the best interest of both the nations and the whole world. All of these world leaders have experience of facing war conflicts so they know the complications and devastations of the wars. They can help in the resolution of international conflicts amicably. Same international community should come forward and play positive role in the resolution of these conflicts as Afghan issue is being resolved.
— The writer is political analyst based in Islamabad.
The Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has been ruling Kuwait since January 2006. He visited Pakistan in 2006, HH the Crown Price of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Pakistan in 2013 while the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait Marzouq Al-Ghanem and the Air Force Chief also visited in 2015. HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah served as Foreign Minister for over forty years during which time he was credited with shaping Kuwait’s Foreign Policy and steering the country through the Iraqi invasion in 1990.
Pakistan and Kuwait enjoy strong bilateral, friendly, political, diplomatic, trade and cultural ties with enormous respect of commonality and cultural traditions. The bilateral relations exist at the Government, Armed Forces and masses level. Both the countries have stood for each other in testing times. Pakistan was among the first countries that sent troops to Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. Nine Pakistani soldiers were martyred during landmines clearance operations in Kuwait.
Kuwait also responded well to Pakistan and has been the first among countries that have ever extended generous help to Pakistan in difficult times. The Kuwait Government donated generously to Pakistan during the deadly earthquake in 2005 and at the time of devastating floods in 2010. Kuwait has contributed almost US $ 25 million to flood affected people of Pakistan.
Presently, around two hundred thousand Pakistani expatriates in all fields of life are working in Kuwait. They remit around US $ 950 million a year to Pakistan. This is one of the important foreign exchange sources for balancing the external accounts of the country. In addition to the bilateral interactions of political leadership of both the countries, there are regular visits of Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy high level personnel to Kuwait. Pakistan has also trained a number of Armed Forces officers of Kuwait in Pakistan. Both countries are part of a Joint Ministerial Commission, an active body extending its role towards further strengthening and extending bilateral relations in all fields.
Although Pakistan-Kuwait political and diplomatic relations historically remained very strong, however, bilateral economic cooperation has not progressed much. The volume of investment, business and trade needs to get enhanced. There are several reasons which characterize the certain geopolitical, strategic and security obstacles. Bilateral trade volume between the two countries almost touches US $ 2.5 billion a year, though it is far from satisfactory level relative to their size and composition of domestic production and external trade volumes. Pakistan is largely importing crude oil from Kuwait and Kuwait mainly imports, fruit, vegetable, rice and cotton products.
The current Kuwaiti Ambassador to Pakistan HE Nasser Abdul Rahman Almutairi and Deputy Head of Mission Khalid Jassim Alyasin, are playing very active and commendable role towards enhancing and strengthening bilateral political, diplomatic, trade and cultural relations. They have taken a number of initiatives during their tenure as Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission of Kuwait to Pakistan. With their efforts, a large number of Kuwaiti businessmen have shown significant interest in Pakistan which is highly laudable. Because of their efforts, a large number of trade groups from Pakistan such as rice exporters and Chambers of Commerce have also been invited to exchange their business interests with Kuwaiti entrepreneurs and counterparts.
The Kuwaiti Emir helping to mediate the conflicts is regarded as one of the region’s wise, experienced figures. Kuwait’s paramount approach to the Qatar dispute is to play the role of a cautious but effective mediator. Kuwait has garnered substantial international support for its role, which in turn has provided an added layer of security for the country. For the attainment of peace elsewhere the Emir HH Sheikh Sabah has always been playing his role as a politician and mediator.
While Kuwait’s mediating tradition stretches back decades, it has carried special meaning in the years following the country’s liberation from Iraq. The Emir himself was a leading figure in Kuwait’s restoration after liberation. In this context, Kuwait is also emphasizing the need for stability and peaceful relationships between Gulf Cooperation Council members. The country’s Emir is extremely concerned over unprecedented developments and called for preserving Gulf unity and ending the rift through dialogue.
Rightly, dialogue is the ultimate of every conflict no matter it is Middle East, Cyprus, Catalonia, Palestine or Pakistan-India over Indian occupied Kashmir. Wars end at dialogue elsewhere. Influential world leaders like, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Recep Tayab Erdogan, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber, President Putin, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump should play mediatory role to resolve Kashmir and Palestine issues which has pushed Middle East and Pakistan and India in devastating wars. Even Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, has shown his deep concern and worry over recent tension between Pakistan and India. He urged India and Pakistan to exert all efforts possible to defuse the crisis and not resort to escalation, in order to preserve good neighbourhood and serve the best interest of both the nations and the whole world. All of these world leaders have experience of facing war conflicts so they know the complications and devastations of the wars. They can help in the resolution of international conflicts amicably. Same international community should come forward and play positive role in the resolution of these conflicts as Afghan issue is being resolved.
— The writer is political analyst based in Islamabad.
Tariffication law enforcement must not be bungled, says solon
Published March 3, 2019, 5:28 PM
By Ellson Quismorio
A Bicol lawmaker is prodding the
14 government agencies tasked to draft the implementing rules and regulations
(IRR) of the Rice Tariffication Act to work double-time, and beat the 45-day
deadline set by the law in order to avoid a repeat of the fiasco that was the
implementation of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Act.
Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep.
LRay Villafuerte said that while one of the most important aspects of the Rice
Tariffication Act—the opening of the domestic rice market to private
traders–would already come into effect by March 5, other provisions of the law
need to be threshed out through the IRR.
This includes the need for the
National Food Authority (NFA) to maintain a nationwide rice buffer stock, the
imposition of special rice safeguards, and mechanisms to ensure the effective
implementation of programs under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund
(RCEF) for the benefit of the country’s palay (unmilled rice) growers.
Under Republic Act (RA) 11203 or
the Rice Tariffication Act, 14 government agencies led by the Department of
Agriculture (DA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), after consultations with affected
stakeholders, are tasked to promulgate the IRR of the law 45 days from its
effectivity.
“The swift crafting of the IRR
for the Rice Tariffication Act will enable the government to carry out
President Duterte’s overriding objective of signing this into law, which is to
dramatically pull down the retail cost of rice and prevent a repeat of the
elevated inflation rate last year,” said Villafuerte, a co-author of RA 11203.
The NFA Council, which convened last February 18, set an initial deadline of completing the IRR and have it published in the Official Gazette by the third week of March, or well within the 45-day deadline set under the law.
The NFA Council, which convened last February 18, set an initial deadline of completing the IRR and have it published in the Official Gazette by the third week of March, or well within the 45-day deadline set under the law.
Aside from the DA, DBM and NEDA,
the other government agencies, which will be involved in crafting the IRR, are
the Land Registration Authority (LRA), National Irrigation Administration
(NIA), Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), Agricultural Training Institute
(ATI), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Philippine Crop
Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the
Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).
ARTA implementation bungled
Villafuerte earlier lashed out at
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA)
for bungling the speedy implementation of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Act
with their failure to submit the complete set of the law’s IRR to Malacañang
the first time around in October last year.
ARTA conducted consultations on
the EODB Law’s IRR as recently as last February 13, or four months after the
October 30 deadline for the submission of such guidelines, as set in the EODB
Act.
Villafuerte said lifting
quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice, which will liberalize the entry of
relatively cheaper imports, is the “logical sequel to the decisive measures
that the President took last year to rein in inflation,” which was largely
driven by the price spiral in rice and petroleum products.
The solon recalled that President
Duterte carried out a set of administrative and non-monetary measures last year
to reduce the gap between the farmgate and retail prices of rice and other food
items–leading to a steady decline in inflation to 5.1 percent in December and
an even lower 4.4 percent in January.
Under the Rice Tariffication Act,
a tariff of 35 percent will be imposed on imported rice originating from ASEAN
countries. For countries outside ASEAN, the tariff is 40 percent within the
350,000 metric ton (MT) minimum access volume (MAV), and 180 percent if above
this MAV quota.
The law also earmarks P10 billion
for the RCEF, of which P5 billion will be allotted to farm mechanization, P3
billion to seedlings and P1 billion to expanded rice credit assistance.
CamSur rose to become the No. 4
rice-producing province on Villafuerte’s watch as three-term governor prior to
his election to the House of Representatives.
How to Make a Perfect Pot of Rice Without a Rice Cooker
You
don't need fancy equipment to make this staple.
I've made rice roughly a billion times in my life, and I have never used
a rice cooker to do it. I understand why the appliance is so popular—it's
efficient and you can use it to make a lot more than just rice—but I also know
that you definitely don't need expensive machinery to cook rice. As a matter of
fact, all you really need is a stovetop, a pot with a lid, and a bit of water,
which are likely things you already have in your kitchen anyway.
The fact that you don't need any special equipment to make great rice is part
of why budget bloggers love it so much. It will always be a great way to
substantiate any meal, whether that's soup, or roasted veggies, or a curry, and
even the fancier varieties of rice never cost very much. Plus, the ingredient
lends itself well to meal prepbecause it can stay good in the
refrigerator for a few days, and you can make it taste like it's fresh off the
stovetop with a super simple trick (more on that in a minute).
Start making perfect rice with this little guide I've put
together, based on what experts have told me and what I've learned from doing
it myself over and over again.
There are several common varieties
of rice, but you can use the same techniques to cook all of them.
Jasmine, basmati, and brown rice are the best varieties to cook
on the stove, and they're the most common ones you'll see at the grocery store,
too. In general, you can use approximately the same method for all of them to
achieve a perfect final product.
WATCH THIS
Healthy Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Chili
For the different kinds of white rices, Mike Le, cocreator
of I Am a Food Blog, tells SELF that you can use the
same timing and ratio no matter which one you're using, and I can personally
vouch for that. You can also use the same measurements for brown rice, but it
will need about twice as long on the stove because it still has an outer bran
layer (which is removed from white rice during processing).
Before you start cooking, gather
your tools and rinse your rice.
To make rice on the stove, all you'll need is a small pot with a
lid, a wooden spoon, a fork, and a cup to measure the rice with. Before you
begin cooking the rice, you should rinse it first, Maxine Yeung, R.D., trained
pastry chef and owner of The Wellness Whisk, tells SELF. This helps wash away any grime and extra starch in
order to prevent the rice from becoming too sticky, she explains.
In general, you should use a ratio
of about 1 1/2 cups water to 1 cup rice.
This ratio will work no matter what type of rice you're cooking,
and you can adjust it based on how chewy or soft you usually like your rice. If
you prefer an al dente texture, use less water or a ratio of 1 1/4 cups water
to 1 cup rice, and if you prefer it on the softer side, use more, about 2 cups
water to 1 cup rice. The nice thing is that you can always fix it up with a bit
of water, says Yeung: If you notice the rice isn't soft enough for your
preference, you can add however much water it seems like it needs (which is
usually not very much), put the lid back on, and let it cook for a few minutes
longer.
If you want to add a bit of flavor
to the rice as it cooks, consider more than just salt.
I've always added a small pinch of salt to my pots of rice,
because I've found that it emphasizes and enhances the rice's natural flavor
without making it salty. However, the experts I spoke with told me you
definitely don't need to use salt to make rice that tastes great. Le loves the pure
flavor of rice, especially when it comes to the high-end Japanese options, he
explains. And Yeung prefers to let the food she serves alongside the rice take
care of the seasoning for her. "I typically don't add salt to my rice
because the other parts of the meal, such as the marinade or sauce, usually
have enough seasoning," Yeung says, "and I like the balance the
unseasoned rice adds to the meal."
There are also other ways to add flavor to your rice during the
cooking process that don't involve any salt. Yeung likes to toast her grains in
a bit of oil and spices before she adds water, which gives the rice earthy and
nutty notes. Le likes to cook rice in a liquid other than water, like chicken
or seafood stock—you could even cook it in coconut milk if you want. As long as
you stick to a simple ratio of rice to liquid, feel free to get as creative as
you want.
Bring the water and rice to a boil
at the same time, then lower the heat and cover. Set a timer and resist the
urge to take a peek while it's cooking.
To cook rice, Le always follows the same process: He brings the
rice and water to a rolling boil, then puts on the lid, drops the heat as low
it can go, and sets a timer for 17 minutes. (For brown rice, let it cook for 30
to 40 minutes). Once the timer goes off, he moves the pot off the heat and
waits another 10 minutes before opening the lid.
He says he does this because it's the steam that cooks the rice,
not the boiling water. So if you lift the lid, even just for a second, that
steam will escape and your rice may not cook properly. So whatever you do,
don't lift the lid until the timer's up. At that point, if you notice it hasn't
reached your desired texture, you can make adjustments from there, such as
adding water and cooking it longer.
Refrigerate your leftover rice in a
sealed container and use this trick to quickly refresh it.
According to the USA Rice Federation, cooked rice will stay good to
eat for up to five days in the refrigerator. The longer it stays in the fridge,
though, the more it dries out. Dried out rice is actually ideal for dishes like
fried rice, which should have texture and shouldn't be mushy.
But if you want leftover rice to taste like it's fresh off the
stovetop, there's one little thing you can do. Add about a tablespoon or two of
water in a bowl with your rice, cover it, and microwave it for about a minute.
The steam will give it the same fluffy texture it had when it was fresh.
Reduce export of products which
require more water
PublishedMar 4, 2019, 1:12 am IST
UpdatedMar 4, 2019, 1:12 am IST
On an average, India exported every year 49.79
billion cubic metres of virtual water (162 tmcft).
But,
the buffalo meat requires 16,840 cubic metres of water to produce one tonne of
meat and sheep/ goat meat requires 11,879 metres cube of water to produce
one-tonne meat.
CHENNAI: India, one of the biggest beef and rice exporters of the
world, is exporting 162 tmc ft of water every year in virtual form, researchers
found out in a new study.
As one of the measures to save
depleting groundwater resources in the country, the researchers from Anna
University have suggested the scaling down of the export of beef, rice, maize
and other items to conserve groundwater.
By using the data of exports and
imports of food and livestock products of India, the researchers studied the
virtual water trade from 2006 to 2016.
The study on “Temporal variation
in export and import of virtual water through popular crop and livestock
products by India” was sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology,
Government of India.
It was found that India has
exported 496.7 billion cubic meters of virtual water (the water required or
consumed in the production of goods) during the study period.
It has imported 237 billion cubic
metres of water by importing products such as cashew nuts, pulses from 2006 to
2016.
On an average, India exported every year 49.79 billion cubic metres of virtual water (162 tmcft).
On an average, India exported every year 49.79 billion cubic metres of virtual water (162 tmcft).
It also imported 23.72 billion
cubic metres of water (77.8 tmc ft), thus becoming a net exporter with an
average of 25.9 billion cubic metres of virtual water (roughly 84 tmcft) every
year.
“The maximum export of virtual
water was mainly through rice, maize and buffalo meat while the imports were
through cashews, pulses and wheat. The rest of the food items contributing
negligible amounts,” Professor L. Elango from Anna University and leading
researcher of the study said.
Among the agricultural products,
coffee and walnut, pulses and groundnuts, rice, maize and wheat require more
water to get yield per one tonne. But, the buffalo meat requires 16,840 cubic
metres of water to produce one tonne of meat and sheep/ goat meat requires
11,879 metres cube of water to produce one-tonne meat.
“Though the water products for
the crops is very high, the water requirement for producing meat and processed
products consumes 5 to 20 times more virtual water per kg for compared to crop
products. The water consumed by the animal from the day it is born until its
slaughter is high which includes the water required for producing its feed,
drinking, cleaning and servicing the land where the animal was raised,”
researchers pointed out in the article published in a leading journal
“Groundwater for Sustainable Development” recently.
The per capita availability of
surface water would considerably be reduced from 1902 cubic metre in 2001 to
1401 cubic metre in 2025 and 1191 cubic metre in 2050. “The use of groundwater
for agricultural and farming purposes is about 85% and the remaining only is
used for industrial and domestic purposes. Hence, it is important to reduce the
export of products including rice, maize and buffalo meat which requires more
water. The other way to reduce the export of water in virtual form from India
is through the production of food products by water efficient methods,”
Professor Elango said.
Water efficient methods include
effective irrigation techniques, proper irrigation scheduling, suitable crop
selection according to the land, climate conditions and using alternative
sources of water for irrigation. “Judicious mixing and growing of different
crops with lower water demand at the national level need to be taken up to
reduce the export of virtual water from India, especially in the current
scenario of wide-scale depletion in groundwater resources and climate change
induced rainfall variability,” Professor Elango said.
Erratic monsoons, droughts,
floods, increase in population, increase in mean atmospheric temperature and
depletion of groundwater resources will intimidate food and livestock
production. “Here, the need to keep up with the demand for export the producers
will be forced to increase groundwater exploitation which will threaten the
sustainable goals of the country,” the researchers warned in their study. This
study will enable the water managers of the country to prioritise the export
and import of products by considering virtual water form which will result in
sustainable management of groundwater resources which is under threat in India.
Effects of rice tariffication law temporary: Piñol
By
Cherry Mhae Palicte March
2, 2019, 8:33 pm
DAVAO CITY -- Agriculture Secretary
Emmanuel Piñol assured farmers that the effects of the rice tariffication law
are only temporary.
During a consultation held in Davao City on Thursday, farmers from various parts of Mindanao expressed their apprehension with the law.
“If there is an adverse effect, it will be temporary. Continue planting rice and don’t fear the influx of rice imports. If you stop planting rice and our production will decrease to 60 percent, surely the traders will manipulate the prices,” Piñol told the farmers.
He also clarified reports that the current low buying price of unhusked rice is brought about by the rice tariffication law, saying it was not the case.
However, Piñol told farmers that the influx of cheap imported milled rice could result to lower wholesale price of milled rice at PHP35.31 per/kg (from the average of PHP42.25 per/kg in 2018) and lower farmgate price at PHP16.94 per/kg (from an average of PHP20.43 per/kg in 2018).
He also called on farmers to trust President Rodrigo Duterte, "who himself understood that it (rice tarrification) would be beneficial to all."
He assured that the Department of Agriculture will continue to help farmers improve their competitiveness and farm income, enhance resiliency to disasters and climate risks, and ensure access to safe and nutritious rice.
Piñol said rice farmers can avail of assistance from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which has a PHP10 billion allocation from RA 11203 on top of the budget of DA’s Rice Program.
He said about PHP5 billion is allotted for farm mechanization, PHP3 billion for seeds, PHP1 billion for credit, and PHP1 billion for technical skills training.“DA will help you along the way. Just tell us what to do and what you need,” he added. (PNA)
During a consultation held in Davao City on Thursday, farmers from various parts of Mindanao expressed their apprehension with the law.
“If there is an adverse effect, it will be temporary. Continue planting rice and don’t fear the influx of rice imports. If you stop planting rice and our production will decrease to 60 percent, surely the traders will manipulate the prices,” Piñol told the farmers.
He also clarified reports that the current low buying price of unhusked rice is brought about by the rice tariffication law, saying it was not the case.
However, Piñol told farmers that the influx of cheap imported milled rice could result to lower wholesale price of milled rice at PHP35.31 per/kg (from the average of PHP42.25 per/kg in 2018) and lower farmgate price at PHP16.94 per/kg (from an average of PHP20.43 per/kg in 2018).
He also called on farmers to trust President Rodrigo Duterte, "who himself understood that it (rice tarrification) would be beneficial to all."
He assured that the Department of Agriculture will continue to help farmers improve their competitiveness and farm income, enhance resiliency to disasters and climate risks, and ensure access to safe and nutritious rice.
Piñol said rice farmers can avail of assistance from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which has a PHP10 billion allocation from RA 11203 on top of the budget of DA’s Rice Program.
He said about PHP5 billion is allotted for farm mechanization, PHP3 billion for seeds, PHP1 billion for credit, and PHP1 billion for technical skills training.“DA will help you along the way. Just tell us what to do and what you need,” he added. (PNA)
Grught, Cambodian Farmers Struggle Against Changing Climate
Cambodian farmers
harvest rice in two seasons: the rainy and dry seasons.
02
MARCH 2019
·
VOA Khmer
A
farmer is seen bagging rice along a road in Banteay Meanchey province,
Cambodia, February 23, 2019. Photo: VOA Khmer
PHNOM SROK DISTRICT, BANTEAY MEANCHEY PROVINCE
—
Trapaing
Thmar reservoir, the largest of the Khmer Rouge regime’s irrigation projects
built atop the bones of the dead, is running dry amid one of the worst droughts
to hit Cambodia in living memory.
In
northwestern Cambodia, over 400 kilometers from Phnom Penh, the vast protected
area serves as a crucially important water store for thousands of rice farmers
and their families in Phnom Srok district and other neighboring areas.
Trapaing
Thmar reservoir also provides a home to a number of endangered species,
including the Sarus crane.
During
a recent visit to the area, farmers were fishing and pumping water to their
rice field from small ponds that are all that remains of the more than
12,000-hectare reservoir.
In
Banteay Meanchey province’s Phnom Srok district, farmers complain that there is
a scarcity of rain, both during the wet and dry season.
Ping Chantrea, a rice
farmer, lives in Phnom Srok district, Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia,
February 22, 2019. (Sun Narin/VOA Khmer)
“It is
not like before. It is worse than ever,” says Ping Chantrea, a 30-year-old
farmer who adds she can no longer produce enough rice.
“It
only rained twice during the wet season last year,” she laments from her home
in Ponley commune’s Porabun village, as other farmers sit around and share
their concerns over the lack of rainfall.
“And
now early this year until now, it has not rained at all,” said another farmer,
who is at eight-months pregnant.
“I lost
the money I saved from my wedding,” she says.
Cambodian
farmers harvest rice in two seasons: the rainy and dry seasons. Farmers in this
district have complained that production of paddy rice in both rainy and dry
seasons has declined. Cambodia’s rainy season typically arrives in May and ends
in October.
Another
farmer, Laing Thom, says the temperature is rising and the rains not regular.
“Now it
is only about 8 am, but it is very hot,” says Thom.
Cambodia
has been ranked among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate
change in Southeast Asia. The impacts may already be being felt.
Thom
says he cannot produce much rice on his 2.6-hectare farm.
“I
can’t make a profit, or even cover the cost of fertilizer,” he adds,
complaining of price manipulation.
‘No
More Rice Farming’
On
February 20, Prime Minister Hun Sen called on farmers to stop rice farming
during the dry season this year due to the drought.
“I want
to call on all authorities to advise all people not to do dry-season rice
farming... Please do farming only one time this year because we do not have
enough water,” Hun Sen told thousands of garment workers in Kandal province,
adding that Cambodia will face severe drought and water shortages this year.
Cows are seen at a field
in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia, February 22, 2019. (Sun Narin/VOA
Khmer)
In a
directive dated January 17, Hun Sen called on local authorities and villagers
to save water from natural reservoirs for daily use and crops.
Cambodia
will likely be indirectly impacted by a phenomenon called El Nino, which refers
to a short-term period of warm ocean surface temperatures in the tropical
Pacific, stretching from South America towards Australia.
Cambodia
will also grapple with soaring temperatures of between 40 and 42 degrees
Celsius in April and May.
Lim
Kean Hor, minister of water resources and meteorology visited Trapaing Thmar
reservoir in Phnom Srok district on the morning of February 23. He said
villagers in Phnom Srok villagers had broken the rules by farming during the
dry season, against the direction of the prime minister.
“They
have farmed more than the plan allowed. They were allowed to do only a total of
5,000 hectares of land,” said the minister.
“We
lack water,” he said, adding that rain might fall in mid-May.
Impacts
on Farmers
The
drought has now affected over 20,000 hectares of rice fields in 13 provinces,
according to the National Committee for Disaster Management.
In
2015, Cambodia experienced its worst drought in half a century, with most of
its 25 provinces experiencing water shortages, and about 2.5 million people
severely affected.
Mean Seum, a village
chief in Porabun, is concerned about rice farming in Banteay Meanchey province,
Cambodia, February 22, 2019. (Sun Narin/VOA Khmer)
Mean
Seum, chief of Chantrea’s Porabun village, said it is estimated that only 10
percent of the normal amount of paddy rice will be produced this year.
“Mostly
they owe money to microfinance [institutions] and other people,” he said. “The
debt will be more.”
“If it
is worse like that in the future, parents will migrate to work in Thailand or
children will be forced to work,” he added.
“There
is no family in this village whose members don’t go to Thailand,” he said,
adding that the migrants work in construction or agriculture.
Normally
the migrant workers return to help their families with the harvest. “But they
won’t come this year,” he added.
Seum
himself has three-hectares of land and rents two hectares for farming. But he
cannot break even in the current climate, he says.
“People
also get angry with each other because some families get water for their rice
fields and some don’t,” he adds.
Em
Dara, the technical assistant at the Ministry of Water Resources, who oversees
the reservoir, said about 5,000 hectares of land have been affected so far.
Endangered species at
Trapaing Thmar reservoir in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia, February 23,
2019 (Sun Narin/VOA Khmer)
“It has
affected thousands of families,” he said. “Some don’t have water to use now.”
“It has
affected species and fish in the reservoir as well. The climate has changed
now. It is the worst in ten years,” he said.
The
reservoir can store up to 180 million cubic meters of water but now holds less
than 1 million cubic meters, according to Dara.
Villagers
are also concerned about the impact on fish stocks.
“There
is no water. This year is worse than other years,” says Mea Siz, 58, who is
fishing at Trapaing Thmar reserve. “I am now concerned about fish here.”
Taking
a Chance
Having
land to farm crops, especially rice, is the most important thing in many Cambodians’
lives. It is what gives them a sense of security, community, and family.
Eighty-five percent of Cambodia’s approximately 16 million people still depend
on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods.
Despite
being aware of the water shortage, farmers in this district say they have
decided to carry on farming through the dry season.
“I
could not make rice during the rainy season, so I decided to do in the dry
season, but it was not successful,” says Chantrea.
Deu Yuch, a farmer, said
he is concerned about the loss of profit from rice farming in Banteay Meanchey
province, Cambodia, February 22, 2019 (Sun Narin/VOA Khmer)
“I
thought that the water in the reservoir was enough, but it was not because many
farmers have done farming at the same time and the water is insufficient,” she
adds.
Deu
Yuch, another farmer, says the poor farming conditions have led him to fall
into $3,000 of debt.
“I
don’t know what to do, but will keep growing rice in the next season,” he says.
“We have no choice. We have to take a chance.”
Some
parts of the community have been provided water from an irrigation system built
by Chinese investors. The water has been transported from nearby provinces --
Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey -- according to Khut Khuon, a Poichar commune chief.
An irrigation system for
water access to farmers in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia, February 23,
2019. (Sun Narin/VOA Khmer)
Khuon
says during the Khmer New Year farmers will hold a ceremony to pray for rain.
“We
will ask the Buddha to give rain,” he says.
As the
drought continues to blight the countryside, Chantrea says she is worried that
it will get worse and she will not have enough water to farm in the wet season.
“What
can I do? I have to take the chance to do it.”
Another
farmer, Laing Thom, says rice farming is all the community knows. He said
villagers would attend the ceremony at Khmer New Year to seek help from Tevada,
a guardian angel figure in Khmer spiritual belief.
“We are
farmers, but if we don’t do farming, what do we have to eat? So I take a chance
with Tevada. I pray to Tevada to bring rain so it will be cold and have water.”
Premier urges rice
traders to focus on China and Vietnam
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday said that rice exporters should
turn to China and Vietnam in an effort to diversify the export market away from
the European Union.
Speaking at the groundbreaking of a China-funded hospital in
Tboung Khmum province, Mr Hun Sen said exporting more to China and Vietnam is
key to the survival of the sector after the EU imposed tariffs on Cambodian
rice and initiated the process to temporarily halt the country’s preferential
trade status.
Mr Hun Sen asked exporters to focus on filling the quota the Chinese
government has for imports of Cambodian rice, which was recently expanded from
300,000 to 400,000 tonnes.
. .
“At the moment the price of rice has decreased and I have
instructed the ministers of agriculture and commerce to focus on China and
Vietnam, which will help lift the price of the commodity,” Mr Hun Sen said.
He said China is a priority market for the Kingdom, with the
government doing its utmost to expand export of agricultural products to the
East Asian giant.
Last year, the world’s second-largest economy was the country
that bought the largest amount of Cambodian rice, importing 170,000 tonnes.
Hun Lak, vice president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF),
said diversifying Cambodia’s export markets is crucial.
“We now face tariffs in the EU so we have to turn to other
markets to restore investor confidence,” Mr Lak said.
. .
He said the government can help the private sector fill China’s
quota by providing incentives that can reduce production costs.
“The fact that the quota was expanded is a good sign, but in
order to actually fill that quota we must reduce production costs so that we
can be competitive in that market,” Mr Lak said.
Last year, Cambodia exported 626,225 tonnes of rice to
international markets, a drop of 1.5 percent compared to 2017.
The largest market for Cambodian rice continues to be the EU,
which imported almost 270,000 tonnes, equivalent to 42.98 percent of total
exports.
By individual country, after China, the largest buyers were
France (90,000 tonnes), Malaysia (40,000 tonnes), Gabon (30,000 tonnes), and
the Netherlands (26,000 tonnes).
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/583377/premier-urges-rice-traders-to-focus-on-china-and-vietnam/
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