Thursday, May 16, 2019

15th May,2019 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter



USA Rice Meets with Ag Secretary Perdue in Japan 
Description: C:\Users\Mujahid\Downloads\unnamed.jpgDescription: C:\Users\Mujahid\Downloads\unnamed (1).jpg

TOKYO, JAPAN -- Earlier this week, the USA Rice representative in Japan, Yumi Kojima, and Steve Vargas of Sun Valley Rice, who serves as vice-chair of the USA Rice International Promotion Committee, had the opportunity to meet with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue at a reception here honoring the U.S Agriculture Hall of Fame (HOF) at the U.S. Ambassador's residence.  The HOF, begun in 2011, honors those Japanese companies that have been stalwart supporters of U.S. agriculture and food throughout the years.  

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Exchanging business cards with Ambassador Hagerty (right)
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"The Secretary's schedule left little time to discuss in-depth issues related to trade and promotions programs in Japan," said Sarah Moran, USA Rice vice president international.  "But Yumi and Steve did get a chance to thank Perdue for his department's support for U.S. rice interests in Japan and elsewhere.  They also met briefly with U.S. Ambassador William Hagerty and gave credit to the Embassy's Agricultural Affairs and Agricultural Trade Offices for their support for USA Rice promotions programs and trade interests in Japan."

Japan is the second largest export market in terms of value, surpassed only by Mexico.  Japan imported 274,000 MT of U.S. rice in 2018 valued at $232 million
Qatar Again Bans Pakistani Basmati Rice
 Mahnoor Sheikh (@mahnoorsheikh03)  22 hours ago  Tue 14th May 2019 | 02:31 PM
Description: Qatar again bans Pakistani basmati rice
The foreign minister said that Qatar had put some conditions for importing Basmati rice.
Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 14th May, 2019) Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Qatar has banned Pakistani Basmati rice.
Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, the foreign minister said that Qatar had put some conditions for importing Basmati rice.
One of the conditions was that the Basmati rice should be Indian, he said, adding that Basmati rice is produced in Pakistan and India exportsthe same rice.
The foreign minister revealed that Qatar has banned Pakistani Basmati rice. He said that the Pakistani government has already raised the matter with Qatar.
He added that the Ministry of food and Agriculture needs several improvements, adding that the Qatari Emir is likely to soon visit Pakistan.
Qatar annually imports 200,000 tonnes of rice.
Qatar had recently agreed to include Pakistani rice in the tender documents of the Central Tendering Committee which falls directly under the purview of Qatar’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
The development came during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Qatar on January 21-22
The lifting of the ban on Pakistani rice was expected to provide an additional US $40-50 million of rice exports to Qatar if the quality is maintained.
However, the foreign minister has revealed that Qatar never lifted this ban
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HomeLatestTrendingMy ReadsCompany ResultsElections 2019Modi's 5 years - Mint's Report CardMint On Election TrailJet Airways CrisisMark To MarketBrexitPlain FactsLong ReadsDescription: The unemployment rate in Punjab among those in the 18-29 age group is 16% against the Indian average of 10.2% (Pawan Sharma/Mint)The unemployment rate in Punjab among those in the 18-29 age group is 16% against the Indian average of 10.2% (Pawan Sharma/Mint)

Elections won’t solve Patiala sized problems

9 min read.Sundeep Khanna
Punjab needs a stiff dose of hope to tackle unemployment, farm stagnation, border tensions, and the drug menace
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Amritsar: As you enter Amritsar, what strikes you immediately is the sign stating the distance to the Atari village close to the border—27 kilometres. That’s less than the distance from Delhi’s central hub Connaught Place to suburban Gurugram. No wonder that a Pakistan overhang pervades across this border city that is celebrating 550 years of Sikh saint Guru Nanak’s birth and also marking 100 years of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Don’t expect voter turnout to be very high in the state. In 2014, it was 70.61% (up from 69.8% in 2009) but this time around it could dip. People are just too weary of coping with the demands of living in a state that appears to have been pushed to the margins of the country’s collective consciousness.
Talk to the Uber and Ola drivers and they tell you they are lucky to get two-three passengers a day. That’s why they are willing to put their app off and wait for you, no matter how long it takes. In any case, the driving is just a holding operation until something else turns up. The chances of that are unlikely in a state where the unemployment rate among those in the 18-29 age group is 16% as against the Indian average of 10.2%. “Elections don’t help. In the path of development we have chosen, the state has surrendered to the market. Political parties can’t give jobs. The best they can do is to create conditions that can help people seek jobs," says Pramod Kumar, director of the Chandigarh-based Institute for Development and Communication (IDC).
Those “conditions", i.e. the reskilling apparatus, is sorely missing and young people are left to fend for themselves, resulting in the scourge of drugs. Adding to that is the military tensions between India and Pakistan, the impact of which is most acutely felt in this border state. Since 16 February this year when India withdrew most-favoured nation status for Pakistan, trade between the two countries has almost ground to a halt, rendering 1,700 labourers jobless.
As if that’s not bad enough, a 2 May ban on growing high rise crops along the border has come as a body blow for farmers. On that date, the district magistrate-cum-deputy commissioner of Fazilka, Manpreet Singh Chhatwal, issued a prohibitory order forbidding the cultivation of Bt cotton, corn, ghawra, jawar, sugarcane, sarro, toria, suraj mukhi and other high rise crops in the fields adjoining the Pakistan border. The reason given is that “there is every possibility of infiltrators crossing the Indo-Pak border in the shadow of these high rise crops".
Voter apathy
Punjab’s voters have seen it all before. After all, it is the same set of faces that keep resurfacing every election. Since February 1997 when Parkash Singh Badal became chief minister of the state at the head of a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government, he and the Congress’s Captain Amarinder Singh, the current chief minister, have swapped roles every five years.
Locals give the Bharatiya Janata Dal (BJP)-SAD combine little chance of success this time. Just two years into Captain’s rule, there isn’t a pronounced anti-incumbency factor, though it isn’t as if he’s brought any great solutions to the crisis-ridden state of 27.7 million people. So far, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah have stayed away from campaigning, though they could make a last-minute appearance.
The irony is that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which was the biggest gainer in 2014 winning four seats, isn’t in the reckoning this time. Riven with internal dissension as well as open revolt, it has been fragmenting at an alarming rate. Last year, seven of its members of legislative assembly led by Sukhpal Singh Khaira formed a rival party, the Punjab Ekta Party, which is contesting the elections as part of a four-party alliance. The party’s best hope is for Bhagwant Mann, the sitting Lok Sabha member in Sangrur.
In Amritsar, the Congress Bhawan near Rialto Chowk bears a deserted look. All the action is in the Hall Bazar office where Gurjeet Singh Aujla, the city’s sitting member of Parliament, and the man widely tipped to retain his seat, is campaigning from. His opponent is the BJP’s Hardeep Puri, Union minister for housing and urban affairs. The former diplomat, who is camping in the city addressing several rallies every day, is considered a lightweight but he isn’t giving up in a hurry.
Quiz him on specifics of a revival plan for the state and he points to the availability of land, water and the spirit of the people. That may not be enough considering that Punjab’s average agriculture gross domestic product (GDP) )growth between 2007 and 2015 was a limp 1.3% as compared to 10.9% for Madhya Pradesh which has now replaced the former as India’s food bowl, according to IndiaSpend. Says Kumar: “The economy has stagnated since the green revolution. Whatever little growth there is happened by default."
The fall of a mighty state
The pity is almost 98% of farmland in Punjab is now served by irrigation, and its farmers almost without fail use high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice. But these gains have come at a high cost. Chemical fertilizer use per acre is up sixfold over the last five decades and returns are meagre. A study in 2015-16 by Punjab University said 86% of the farmers in the state face various levels of indebtedness, with a third living below the poverty line. Little wonder that Ashok Sethi, director, Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association, calls Punjab “a case study of an ongoing economic and social disaster".
Brookings blog post pointed out, “By the mid-1980s, Punjab’s per capita output was the highest in the land. Since then, India’s economic growth picked up, and Punjab started to slip. By 2012, six states—Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu—had overtaken Punjab. To understand the reasons for this, it helps to start by looking at investment-to-GDP ratios in Punjab and in the rest of India. In 1980, at about 15%, this ratio was about the same. By 2010, it was 38% in India but still 15% in Punjab." Clearly, investors have increasingly shunned the state.
Following the rise of terrorism in the 1980s, the state steadily lost its economic leadership and post 1990, when liberalization gave wings to the entrepreneurial aspirations of Indians in many of the other states, Punjab lost its mojo.
One unfortunate fallout of those years of violence is the ambivalence regarding the capital city of the state. Chandigarh, where the state government is based, is a Union territory. Mohali, which was expected to become the new capital of Punjab, hasn’t quite taken off. At a time when most state capitals contribute anything between 7% and 20% of their revenues, Punjab doesn’t have an equivalent city.
As of January this year, the state faced a revenue gap of 37% following the roll out of the new goods and services tax. The state’s level of indebtedness is another worry. A Care Ratings report says Punjab is among the most indebted states of the country, with 26.7% of its revenue receipts going towards interest payments, which constrains its ability to spend on development.
That this state, once considered on a par with the Asian Tigers in terms of its growth potential should be reduced to such a state of affairs, is a tale of terrible governance and a missing vision. The decades lost to terrorism also stymied efforts to transition from a primarily agricultural economy to an industrial one while the wars with Pakistan and the continuous cross-border tensions ensured no major industry ever came up in the state.
The go-go years of the 1960s and 1970s when the state was the small and medium enterprises powerhouse of the country in sectors like bicycles, hosiery and sports goods are long gone, with growth petering out even as competitive products from China swamped the market.
Over the years as the salutary effects of the green revolution started ebbing, there was a need for a modified farm policy that would address the changing landscape of agriculture. But farmers have been left to their own devices. Thus, last year when the European Union (EU) imposed an indirect ban on basmati rice exports from India on account of the high level of fungicide used in its production, the 20,000 crore industry was left to fend for itself. As Sethi says, “Delhi isn’t interested in basmati." While the local basmati growers’ association held workshops for farmers, even inviting the EU delegates, there has been no central push to deal with the issue.
Some 10,000 trucks of rice meant for export to Pakistan have to drive to Ludhiana every month from where they go to Kandla and Jamnagar ports in Gujarat, as Punjab does not have the facility to ship exports out directly. A proposal to build an inland container port under the public private partnership in collaboration with Container Corp. of India has been gathering dust.
Price of failure
The consequences of this political lethargy have been disastrous. Unemployment has soared, and with it addiction to drugs among the young. The heroin trade continues unabated and most locals have no doubt who’s behind it. Puri is candid enough to say, “We have lost a generation to drugs. My heart goes out to the young people of Punjab. We must have gone wrong somewhere." Thousands of young people migrate abroad every year and Punjab also has the unwanted distinction of the largest number of young women, 30,000 of them, abandoned immediately after their marriage by their non-resident Indian husbands. Often they are pushed into these marriages by desperate parents reeling under debt.
In the villages of Punjab, there is an air of despondency. A survey conducted jointly by Punjab Agricultural University, Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University, says nearly 16,600 farmers and agricultural labourers have committed suicide since 2000.
With less than a week to go for the elections, the BJP is more or less invisible, leaving the heavy lifting to its ally, the SAD. The Congress, meanwhile, is running its most successful campaign in any Indian state. It is telling that this is led by Amarinder Singh who had defeated Arun Jaitley by a margin of more than one lakh votes in the BJP sweep of 2014.
Whatever be the final verdict, Punjab’s problems will not go away. IDC’s Kumar says, “Punjab needs a paradigm shift in thinking and planning."
That may be coming from women like Arushi Verma, president of the Amritsar chapter of FICCI Flo, who is championing several initiatives related to the environment and women’s empowerment including finding them tangible earning opportunities. Her expectations from whichever government comes to power are merely “simpler compliances and responsible politics".
In patriarchal Punjab, women like Verma may well show the way.

China's super hybrid rice yields achievements in output and saline land improvement

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2019-05-14 14:21:18en.people.cnEditor : Li YanECNS App Download
The new hybrid rice variety developed by Yuan Longping, the “father of hybrid rice,” sees fruitful achievements in total output and saline land amelioration, showing a bright future for its role in addressing famine and improving the environment.
The super hybrid rice (Chaoyou 1000) cultivated in a test field in Sanya, southern China’s Hainan province, achieved an average yield of 887.9 kg per mu (about 0.07 hectares) on Saturday, which is believed to enough to safeguard the country’s self-sufficiency in grain production.
Besides increasing output, Yuan’s team also endeavored to breed salt-tolerant rice, which will improve the utilization of saline land.
The seeds are scheduled to be sown in six experimental fields, including Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province, at the end of this month, with the planting scale exceeding 10,000 mu this year.
The rice seeds in the experimental fields were selected from thousands of combinations. Though the whole process is costly, it is essential, said a local official.
The cultivation of salt-tolerant rice can improve total grain output and ensure the safety of food supply, according to Zhang Guodong, the deputy director of Qingdao Sea Rice R&D Center.
Zhang said that in the long run, the rice planted on saline land would gradually improve the soil and improve environmental protection.
GIEWS Country Brief: Democratic People's Republic of Korea 13-May-2019
REPORT
Published on 13 May 2019 View Original
Description: preview
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
·       Production prospects of 2018/19 early season crops unfavourable
·       Aggregate crop production in 2018 estimated at ten‑year low due to unfavourable weather conditions and limited supplies of agricultural inputs
·       Cereal import requirements estimated at elevated level
·       About 40 percent of population estimated to be food insecure and in urgent need of assistance
Prospects for 2018/19 early season crops unfavourable
The harvest of the early season crops (winter/spring wheat and barley, and potatoes) is expected to start in early June. Precipitation since the beginning of the season in November have been below average with erratic spatial and temporal distribution over most of the country. Limited snow coverage, due to exceptionally low snowfall during the winter months, exposed wheat and barley to freezing temperatures, with consequent loss of germinated crops. In addition, below-average spring rains in March and April, critical months for crop development, coupled with reduced soil moisture that normally comes from snow melting, further affected vegetation conditions of already weak crops (see VCI map).
According to a joint FAO/WFP Rapid Food Security Assessment Mission (for full report visit GIEWS website ), conducted from 29 March to 12 April, the production of early crops is forecast at 307 000 tonnes, 24 percent below the 2017 above average level. In addition to the unfavourable weather conditions, the expected decrease is attributed to shortages of irrigation water and other agricultural inputs, including fertilizers and crop protection materials. Rains remained below average in April and, if they do not improve in the next two dekads of May, the final output for early season crops may be even lower.
Aggregate food crop production in 2018 estimated at ten-year low
Harvesting of the 2018 main season crop was completed in September/October last year. An extended period of below‑average rains, coupled with abnormal high temperatures (up to 40°C) from mid-July to mid-August 2018 and shortage of water for irrigation, affected the 2018 main season crops during the critical pollination stages, resulting in crop losses and sharply reduced yields. The effects of the dry weather conditions were compounded by shortages of fuel and electricity, which negatively affected water pumping, as well as by reduced supply agricultural inputs. According to official estimates, the 2018 main food crop production, mostly rice, maize and soybeans, has decreased throughout the whole country. The highest losses were registered in the main producing provinces, namely North and South Hwanghae, North and South Phyongan and South and North Hamgyong, collectively known as the country’s “Cereal Bowl”. Heavy rains in late August to the first dekad of September, triggered flash floods in parts of the main crop producing areas of North and South Hwanghae provinces, causing damage to crops just before the harvest. As a result, the 2018 main season food crop production (in cereal equivalent and paddy terms) is officially estimated at a low level of 4.5 million tonnes, 11 percent below the 2017 average output.
Overall, the 2018 aggregate food crop production, including the ongoing 2018/19 early season crops, is estimated at 4.9 million tonnes, 12 percent below the previous year’s near‑average level and the lowest since 2008/09.
Cereal import requirements in 2018/19 estimated at elevated level
Total cereal import requirements in 2018/19 (November/October) are estimated by the FAO/WFP Rapid Food Security Assessment Mission to reach 1.59 million tonnes, three times higher than the previous five-year average. This is mainly the result of the reduced production and higher-than-usual post‑harvest losses, as shortages of fuel and electricity hampered the timely transport and processing of crops as well as the ventilation of stocks. With commercial imports officially planned at 200 000 tonnes and food assistance (already received or pledged) set at about 21 200 tonnes, the uncovered deficit is estimated at an elevated level of about 1.36 million tonnes.
About 40 percent of population estimated to be food insecure and in urgent need of assistance
According to the FAO/WFP Rapid Food Security Assessment Mission, large numbers of people suffer from low food consumption levels and poor diet, with a reduced intake of animal and vegetable proteins. Most of interviewed households reported severe food-related coping strategies, including reducing consumption by adults for children to eat and reducing meal sizes. Urban households, who normally rely on relatives in rural areas to access food and diversify their consumption, are no longer able to do so to the same extent, due to increasing food shortages faced in the rural areas.
Overall, the FAO/WFP Rapid Food Security Assessment Mission estimated that 10.1 million people (40 percent of the total population) are food insecure and in urgent need for food assistance. The situation could further deteriorate during the lean season between May and September, if no proper and urgent humanitarian actions are taken.

PHL year-end rice stocks to hit 2.9 MMT on more imports–FAO

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Description: https://39byfk2z09ab1y1bzj1l5r82-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/top02-030619-696x484.jpgA worker at the National Food Authority (NFA) sweeps the rice grains at their warehouse in FTI, Taguig City.
THE Philippines could end 2019 with a nine-year-high rice inventory of 2.9 million metric tons (MMT) due to the increase in the stockpile of the National Food Authority (NFA) and the private sector’s “record-breaking” purchase of imports.
In its biannual food outlook report, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said it expects the expansion in local output and imports this year to be sustained following the liberalization of the rice trade.
The FAO said more imports and the projected hike in output would cause year-end stocks to grow by 45 percent from the 2 MMT recorded last year.
“The Philippines, where record-breaking imports combined with efforts to reconstitute state reserves through local procurement, could boost carryovers to a nine-year high of 2.9 million tons,” the FAO said in the report published last week.
Last year, the depletion of the NFA’s buffer stock caused the Philippines to suffer an artificial rice shortage and see unprecedented hikes in retail prices.
Due to the higher-than-usual nationwide rice inventories, the FAO estimated that the per-capita rice consumption of Filipinos would go up slightly to 116.9 kilograms per year from 116.2 kg.
Total rice utilization this year is pegged at 14.5 MMT, 2.11 percent over the 14.2-MMT estimated total demand last year.
The FAO noted that rice consumption in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Sri Lanka would rise on the back of higher disposal of state-held rice stocks to “stabilize prices and ensure affordable supplies for vulnerable groups.”
“This is the case of Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, but also of India, where officials could accelerate rice releases through the country’s public distribution system next season, in an effort to trim the size of state inventories,” FAO added.
Just like the United States Department of Agriculture, the FAO also expects the Philippines to again become one of the largest buyers of imported rice this year, with purchases expected to reach an all-time high of 2.5 MMT. Last year, the country imported 2.4 MMT of rice.
“This volume would mostly comprise private-sector purchases, facilitated by the recent replacement of long-standing quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariffs,” the FAO said.
The FAO report also noted that local milled-rice output would expand by 2.42 percent to 12.7 MMT, from last year’s 12.4 MMT despite the anticipated hike in imports by the private sector.
This translates to roughly 19.42 MMT of palay output, slightly below the government’s projected 2019 production of 20 MMT, based on the BusinessMirror’s computation.
The enactment of Republic Act 11203 or the rice trade liberalization law, which deregulated the NFA as well as the industry, would whet the private sector’s appetite to import more.
Despite the change in the rice trade regime, the NFA has been aggressive in hiking its buffer stock by capitalizing on its buying price advantage.
The NFA has maintained its palay buying price of P20.70 per kg, since it became effective in October 2018, amid falling farm-gate prices. The food agency has already purchased over 3 million bags of palay, or about 153,665.5 MT as of end-April.
The food agency said it is confident of hitting its paddy rice procurement goal of 14.46 million bags, or 723,000 MT, this year. It increased its palay procurement target for 2019 after the rice trade liberalization law took effect on March 5.
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PH seen to reduce rice imports
MAY 14, 2019
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·       PH SEEN TO REDUCE RICE IMPORTS
PHILIPPINE rice imports is expected to fall by 3.5 percent or 100,000 metric tons (MT) for marketing year (MY) 2019/2020 due to ample stocks and larger forecast production, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.
In its latest ‘Grain: World Markets and Trade’ report, the USDA said that despite the projected lower rice imports, the country is seen to be the second largest rice-importing country, following China which is expected to import 4 million MT.
Description: https://s14255.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/rice.jpgRICE BUFFER STOCK A worker lifts a sack of rice stored at the NFA warehouse on Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, on Monday. The National Food Authority has approved a government-to-government procurement scheme for the importation of 250,000 MT rice to be used as buffer stock during the lean months beginning July. Another 250,000 MT will be used in case local production drops sharply due to the effects of El Niño. photo by MIke De Juan
Since the last few years, the country’s total rice imports have been increasing. In MY 18/19, rice imports stood at 2.8 MMT, significantly higher than the 2.5 MMT and 1.2 MMT recorded in MY 17/18 and MY 16/17 respectively.
For MY 19/20, the USDA attributed the projected lower rice imports on ample stocks of the staple due to the projected larger crops.
“The quantitative restrictions on rice imports have been replaced with tariffs, with a tariff advantage for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries,” the USDA explained on the projected lower rice imports for MY 19/20.
On the other hand, consumption is expected to increase by nearly 4 percent to 14.45 million MT in MY 19/20 from 13.90 million MT a year earlier “on both abundant local supplies and relatively low-priced imports,” the USDA said.
The agency said the country’s ending stocks of the staple would hit 3.634 million MT for MY 19/20, a 14.2-percent increase from 3.174 million MT in the previous MY.
Meanwhile, the USDA kept its earlier projection for Philippine wheat imports unchanged at a record-high of 7 million MT due to “strong growth in both food and feed use.”
The country’s wheat imports have consistently increased since 2016. Total imports in that year reached 4.918 million MT, which significantly expanded to 5.704 million in 2017 and 5.987 million MT last year.
About 95 percent of the country’s wheat requirements are being sourced from the US.
FCI to dispose 100 lakh tonne of wheat, 50 lakh tonne of rice in ’19-20
Tuesday, 14 May, 2019, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has decided to dispose around 100 lakh tonne of wheat and 50 lakh tonne of rice to bulk customers this fiscal, which is about 40 per cent more than the previous year’s sale.

The Government has, in this regard, released tenders for the procurement through a government order recently.

According to an official with FCI, this was being done under the open market sale scheme (OMSS).

The order stated that the quantum of the sale of wheat had been fixed at 100 lakh tonne, adding that it would, however, be reviewed by the Department of Food and Public Distribution if the offtake was more.

For wheat, the govrnment’s offer was Rs 2,080 per quintal for the states of Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh for the first quarter of this fiscal, while Rs 2,135, Rs 2,190 and Rs 2,245 was the offered price for the rest of the three quarters of the fiscal 2019-20.

The order added that for other states, railway freight, ex Ludhiana to nearest railhead and road transportation cost from railhead to depot, where the sale is undertaken, will be added to the reserve prices.

Last fiscal, 69,14,900 metric tonne of wheat was sold to the bulk consumers.

For rice, reserve price of Grade A rice will be taken as Rs 2,785 per quintal for auction upto September 30, 2019, while from October, the price shall depend upon the MSP (minimum support price) for the paddy grade A.

The quantum of the rice for the sale through OMSS has been fixed at 50 lakh metric  tonne. However, this also is subject to review.

Last fiscal, around 1,400 metric tonne of rice was sold to the bulk consumers.

According to FCI, the stocks of food grains as on March 31, 2019 was 493.86 lakh tonne, which included 293.94 lakh tonne of rice and 169.92 lakh tonne of wheat.

Also, the FCI has earlier disposed around 2.97 lakh tonne of pulses it has procured over last two years to various states and to bulk consumers. The pulses comprised tur, masoor, moong and urad and was sold to through the OMSS.

According to a statement issued by C R Chaudhary, minister of state for food and public distribution, in Lok Sabha earlier this year, “On the basis of peak stock requirement during normal procurement season, the overall storage capacity required for central pool foodgrains in the country is about 650 lakh metric tonne (LMT).”

Against this, the total storage capacity available with Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Agencies (both owned and hired capacity), is 851.54 LMT (as on December 31, 2018) comprising 724.79 LMT in covered godowns and 126.75 LMT in cover and plinth (CAP) storage. As such, there is sufficient capacity for storage of Central pool foodgrains at the national level.

Chaudhary said that the foodgrains are stored scientifically with various preservation measures like fumigation and treatment with pesticides. In spite of taking necessary care and precautions, small quantities of foodgrains may become non-issuable due to various reasons like natural calamities, damages in transit, negligence of officials, etc.

India's monsoon to arrive late, deliver less rain: Skymet
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NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s monsoon rains will arrive on its southern coast on June 4 and deliver less rain than average this year, a private weather forecaster said on Tuesday, lowering prospects of higher farm and economic growth in the $2.6 trillion economy.
FILE PHOTO: A man rides his bicycle across a bridge as pre-monsoon clouds gather over the Vembanad Lake in Kochi, India, May 8, 2018. REUTERS/Sivaram V/File Photo
Monsoon rains, the lifeblood for India’s farm-dependent economy, arrive on the southern tip of Kerala state around June 1 and retreat from the desert state of Rajasthan by September.
“Onset of monsoon will be around June 4. It seems that initial advancement of monsoon over peninsular India is going to be slow,” said Jatin Singh, managing director of Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency.
The monsoon season delivers about 70% of India’s annual rainfall and is key to the success of the farm sector in Asia’s third-biggest economy.
The country is likely to receive 93% rainfall of the long period average (LPA) in 2019, Singh said.
The state-run India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines average, or normal, rainfall as between 96 percent and 104 percent of a 50-year average of 89 centimetres for the entire four-month season beginning June.
The IMD last month forecast average rainfall over the June-September monsoon season.
The weather office will update its forecast in the first week of June.
Central India - which is key in the production of cotton, soybean and corn - could receive 91% rainfall of the LPA, while the eastern and northeastern part of the country is likely to get 92 percent rainfall of LPA, Singh said.
The rice-growing southern peninsula could get 95% rainfall, while northwest India is likely to get 96% rainfall, he said.
India is the world’s biggest producer of cotton and pulses and the second-biggest producer of sugar and rice.
Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj; Writing by Rajendra Jadhav; editing by Gopakumar Warrier

No mill yet in Koraput to produce parboiled rice

Koraput, known for growing several varieties of rice, is yet to have a mill to process parboiled rice forcing the farmers to depend on other districts.
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Published: 15th May 2019 11:23 AM  |   Last Updated: 15th May 2019 11:23 AM  |  A+A A-
Description: rice cooked rice kerala rice
Image used for representational purpose only
By Express News Service
JEYPORE: Koraput, known for growing several varieties of rice, is yet to have a mill to process parboiled rice forcing the farmers to depend on other districts. Despite being handicapped by lack of mill, the farmers continue to cultivate the traditional variety of paddy during rabi season. In order to meet the farmers’ demand, the district administration invites rice millers from outside to take part in procurement and milling of parboiled rice. This rabi season is no exception.
As many as 21 rice millers from Kalahandi and Balangir had procured six lakh quintals of paddy during the last rabi season. This apart, the State Civil Supply Corporation procures a large chunk of rabi paddy from farmers and mills the stock outside which is then sent to coastal districts for distribution under National Food Security Act.
The farmers of Koraput district produce around 10 lakh quintals of paddy every rabi season when irrigation water is available. However, there are no takers for rabi paddy in the absence of parboiled rice processing unit. There are 90 rice mills in Jeypore and Koraput sub-divisions besides the Civil Supply Corporation. These rice mills only process raw paddy and deliver it to different State Government-run godowns.
Local millers said the amount of parboiled rice grown in rabi season is less compared to Kharif and opening a parboiled rice processing unit requires huge investment. Operating a parboiled unit costs over ` four crore and none of the rice millers here are willing to invest that amount of money. Civil Supply Officer, Koraput, Tularam Nayak said the administration has been urging millers to set up parboiled rice processing unit. “We hope some millers will start the units from this year,” he said.
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ABL conducts SME awareness session at Larkana

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·      MAY 15TH, 2019

·      KARACHI
"In line with Allied Bank's corporate social responsibility strategy to create awareness on financial inclusion avenues for the small and medium enterprises & agri financing and to create conducive environment for women entrepreneurs to thrive and prosper, an awareness seminar was conducted on both SME & Agri Finance & Women Empowerment recently at Larkana.

The session was attended by senior officials of Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) along with around 80 participants including members from Small and Medium Enterprises, rice millers, notable business community members, agriculturists & members of commerce and other trade bodies of the area and the corporate depositors of SRSO.

Fasih Siddiqui, from ABL briefed the participants about the SME & Agri products being offered by the Bank. Further, in accordance with the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) and strategic directions of SBP, a detailed presentation was also given on SBP refinance products for SME & Agri business, Warehouse Financing, Green Banking Initiative, Refinancing Facility for Women Entrepreneurs, highlighting the focus of both the regulator and the Bank on the sector.

Muzaffar Chajro, Regional Head CRBG thanked all the the participants, especially those coming from far flung areas like Rato Dero, Qamber and Shahdadkot to attend the session and showing their interest in ABL products. It was further informed that ABL is already working to extend quality credit to SME & Agri customers and emphasized on the importance of capacity building and awareness of all stakeholders; especially women entrepreneurs.

He stated that in line with the policies and vision of the State Bank, ABL has taken various initiatives for financial inclusion of underserved areas of the country.-PR

https://fp.brecorder.com/2019/05/20190515473626/Eminent rice scientist now leads SEA centre for agriculture

A DISTINGUISHED rice scientist now heads the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
Dr Glenn B Gregorio assumed the top SEARCA post on May 1, 2019 for a three-year term.
For more than 50 years, SEARCA has been strengthening capacities of institutions working in agriculture and rural development in Southeast Asia, including Brunei Darussalam, through graduate education and institutional development, research and development, and knowledge management.
Dr Gregorio is also an Academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) of the Philippines and a professor at the Institute of Crop Science of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) College of Agriculture and Food Science.
He brings with him to SEARCA not only his expertise in plant genetics and breeding, but also his international experience in research and administration.
While serving the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for almost 30 years, Dr Gregorio has bred more than 15 rice varieties, most of which are salt-tolerant varieties that have greatly helped farmers in Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, and the Philippines.
ABOVE AND BELOW: The new types of rice released in 2013 include nine salt-tolerant varieties in the Philippines, three flood-tolerant varieties in South Asia, and six in sub-Saharan Africa; and Dr Glenn B Gregorio
He also led efforts to develop micronutrient-dense rice varieties to address anaemia and malnutrition in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Prior to joining SEARCA, he was also the global lead of the East-West Seed Company’s sweet corn and waxy corn breeding programmes for South and Southeast Asia, the Latin Americas, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr Gregorio has been the recipient of numerous awards, including Outstanding Young Scientist Award (OYS 2004) and Outstanding Publication Award given by NAST; The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM 2004) in the field of Agriculture-Plant Breeding and Genetics; the Ho Chi Minh Medal Award for great contribution to the cause of agriculture and rural development in Vietnam; Ten Outstanding Youth Scientists (TOYS 1981) of the Philippines given by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippines; Honorary Scientist, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Korea; and other awards for his outstanding research and research management achievements.
He has authored and co-authored at least 90 articles published in various scientific journals, chapters on rice breeding in 14 books, and five scientific manuals and bulletins.
He mentored and supervised 20 PhD and 27 MS graduate students and more than 40 BS students in plant breeding and genetics at UPLB and other universities in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America; and he continues to hone scientists and future scientists as a mentor and teacher.
Dr Gregorio obtained his PhD in Genetics, MS in Plant Breeding, and BS in Agriculture at UPLB. – Text and Photos by Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)


https://borneobulletin.com.bn/eminent-rice-scientist-now-leads-sea-centre-for-agriculture/U.S. Prepares Tariffs On Additional $300B Of Imported Chinese Goods

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May 14, 20199:00 AM ET
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The new U.S. tariffs list includes staples such as rice, along with clocks, watches and other items that weren't previously under threat of new duties. Here, farmers plant rice seeds at a seedlings pool in China's Jiangsu province.
Xu Jingbai/VCG via Getty Images
The Trump administration is preparing a new list of $300 billion worth of Chinese imports that would be hit with tariffs of up to 25%, after China retaliated Monday in the trade war between the world's two largest economies.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative published a list of Chinese goods that would be hit with new duties, ranging from artists' brushes and paint rollers to clocks and watches. The list also includes a wide range of sporting goods, from baseballs to fishing reels. And it dedicates several pages to agricultural products, from livestock to dairy, plants and vegetables. Staples such as rice and tea are on the list.
"The proposed product list covers essentially all products not currently covered by action in this investigation," the USTR office says. It adds, "The proposed product list excludes pharmaceuticals, certain pharmaceutical inputs, select medical goods, rare earth materials, and critical minerals."
The U.S. proposal will enter a public comment period and could take effect sometime in late June or July.
On Monday, China's State Council Customs Tariff Commission announced it will impose tariffs of up to 25% on $60 billion worth of U.S. goods starting in June, in retaliation for Trump's tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods.
The tit-for-tat exchange rattled stock markets on Monday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 2.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite closed the day down 3.4%.
The dispute is affecting how U.S. companies do business in China, says Jake Parker of the U.S.-China Business Council in Beijing.
Description: China Puts New Tariffs On $60 Billion Of U.S. Goods, And Stock Prices Reel

POLITICS

China Puts New Tariffs On $60 Billion Of U.S. Goods, And Stock Prices Reel

Description: U.S.-China Trade Talks End For Now, As Higher Tariffs Take Effect

BUSINESS

U.S.-China Trade Talks End For Now, As Higher Tariffs Take Effect

In addition to rising costs, Parker tells NPR's Morning Edition, "The reputation of U.S. companies as reliable suppliers has also taken a hit."
He adds, "Many customers are beginning to diversify away from U.S. products towards other suppliers, because the consistency in price and supply can no longer be guaranteed because of the uncertainty of these tariffs."
The new exchange of tariffs comes nearly a year after the Trump administration imposed the first set of tariffs on Chinese goods last summer. The two countries recently concluded the latest round of trade talks — all of which have failed to resolve several high-profile issues.
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 · 22h

Our great Patriot Farmers will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of what is happening now. Hopefully China will do us the honor of continuing to buy our great farm product, the best, but if not your Country will be making up the difference based on a very high China buy......
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....This money will come from the massive Tariffs being paid to the United States for allowing China, and others, to do business with us. The Farmers have been “forgotten” for many years. Their time is now!

President Trump says China unfairly subsidizes its industries, doesn't respect intellectual property rights and makes it difficult for U.S. companies to compete in China's market. And he wants to see a large trade imbalance — which last year ran to a record $419.2 billion — begin to shrink. If the two countries can agree on how to approach those complicated issues, any deal that emerges would also need to include an enforcement mechanism, adding another prickly layer to the dispute.
On Tuesday morning, Trump said in a tweet, "We can make a deal with China tomorrow, before their companies start leaving so as not to lose USA business, but the last time we were close they wanted to renegotiate the deal. No way!"
He added, "We are in a much better position now than any deal we could have made."
Description: Stopping Key Tech Exports To China Could Backfire, Researchers And Firms Say

WORLD

Stopping Key Tech Exports To China Could Backfire, Researchers And Firms Say

Trump is expected to speak directly to China's President Xi Jinping at the G-20 summit in Japan, which will take place late next month. But while Trump continues to speak favorably about Xi and insist they have a close relationship, those sentiments have yet to translate into a trade deal.
"When the time is right we will make a deal with China," Trump said Tuesday. "My respect and friendship with President Xi is unlimited but, as I have told him many times before, this must be a great deal for the United States or it just doesn't make any sense."
China's retaliations for higher U.S. duties have targeted a list of U.S. products that ranges from sorghum, soybeans, meat and whiskey to airplanes and cars. The ongoing dispute has sparked concern among soybean farmers: Before the tariff war began, China was buying some $14 billion in U.S.-produced soybeans every year — nearly a third of the American crop.
Description: Trump Administration Plans $12 Billion In Farm Aid To Offset Tariffs

POLITICS

Trump Administration Plans $12 Billion In Farm Aid To Offset Tariffs

Last summer, the Trump administration said it would devote some $12 billion in government assistance to help farmers — a move that was quickly criticized as a bailout and a federal subsidy.
Last week, a soybean farmer in Virginia told NPR that his situation has only gotten worse, with falling prices and difficulties in getting loans amid an uncertain market. And that farmer, John Wesley Boyd Jr., said he hasn't gotten any relief from the government.
"I haven't seen a dime of that money," Boyd said. "And I've been calling and calling USDA. And they continue to say that the funds are in process, and the funds are going to be sent to me."
Boyd said he is planting soybeans again this year, in the hope that things will change. And he's cautiously optimistic about starting to grow hemp.
Boyd also laid out how the economics of a small-scale farm work:
"Farmers pay their bills basically twice a year. Like right now, I'm getting ready to sell my winter wheat, which is coming for harvest next month. So I receive a payday there — hopefully it's a fair payday — and then my soybean crop later on this fall.
"So we plan our operations a year out. And I thought by now that there would be a big change in the commodity price for soybeans. And that simply hasn't happened. And this president is playing footsie with American agriculture and American farmers here."
Trump's series of tweets about the tariffs Tuesday included a mention of U.S. farmers.
"Our great Patriot Farmers will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of what is happening now. Hopefully China will do us the honor of continuing to buy our great farm product, the best, but if not your Country will be making up the difference based on a very high China buy...... ....This money will come from the massive Tariffs being paid to the United States for allowing China, and others, to do business with us. "
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Palay output falls 4.6% in Q1 to 4.69 million MT
May 14, 2019 | 10:14 pm
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Description: farmer rice fieldPHILSTAR/EDD GUMBAN
PRODUCTION of palay, or unmilled rice, fell 4.6% year-on-year in the first three months of 2019 to 4.69 million metric tons, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
According to the PSA’s rice production and price report for January to March 2019 released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, on Tuesday, palay output also fell 0.4% from 4.71 million MT in the fourth quarter of 2018.
The production report covers effectively the last quarter before rice imports are liberalized, with domestic farmers under pressure from potential competition from cheap foreign imports and the government still gearing up to fund farm mechanization and switching farmers over to alternative crops.
“From 2011 to 2019, the highest deseasonalized palay output for the first quarter was in 2018 at 4,918 thousand metric tons and the lowest was in 2016 at 4,248 thousand metric tons,” PSA said in the report.
The farmgate price of palay fell 5.3% to P20.07 per kilogram (kg), quarter-on-quarter. It was still slightly higher than the P20.04 per kg recorded in the same period last year. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang
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HEALTH: Rice and obesity

Is there a link after controlling for a wide range of factors?
| TIM NEWMAN | A study that used data from more than 130 countries concludes that eating more rice might protect against obesity. After controlling for a wide range of factors, the team found that the results remained significant. Despite this, big questions remain.
Obesity in the Western world and beyond is on the rise. However, some countries are not facing the same challenge.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 39.8% of people in the United States now have obesity.
In Japan, however, the figure is just 4.3%, say the World Health Organization (WHO).
The array of factors that could be involved in differences such as this are dizzying — so where would one begin?
According to one group of researchers, a good place to start might be rice.
The average food intake of someone in the United States is very different to that of someone in any country outside of the Western world. However, diets in some of the countries with low obesity rates share a common staple: rice.
Researchers from Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts in Kyoto, Japan, decided to take a closer look. They recently presented their findings at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO2019) in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
A global look at rice consumption
To investigate, the scientists took data from 136 countries. They found that countries where people ate an average of at least 150 grams (g) of rice per day had significantly lower rates of obesity than countries where people ate less than the global average amount of rice, around 14 g per day.
The researchers attempted to take into account as many confounding variables as they could, including average education level, smoking rates, total calories consumed, money spent on healthcare, percentage of the population over 65, and gross domestic product per capita.
All of these variables were significantly lower in the countries whose residents ate the most rice; however, even after accounting for this in their analysis, the researchers found that the positive influence of rice over obesity persisted.
From their data, they estimate that an increase of just one-quarter of a cup of rice per day (50 g per person) could reduce global obesity by 1%. That equates to a change from 650 million to 643.5 million adults.
“The observed associations suggest that the obesity rate is low in countries that eat rice as a staple food. Therefore, a Japanese food or an Asian-food-style diet based on rice may help prevent obesity,” says    Lead researcher Prof. Tomoko Imai.
When considering exactly why rice might influence obesity rates, Prof. Imai says: “Eating rice seems to protect against weight gain. It’s possible that the fiber, nutrients, and plant compounds found in whole grains may increase feelings of fullness and prevent overeating.”
Prof. Imai adds, “Rice is also low in fat and has a relatively low postprandial blood glucose level, which suppresses insulin secretion.”
Significant limitations
The researchers know that distinguishing between cause and effect is incredibly challenging when looking at diet — especially on such a large scale.
Though they accounted for as many confounding variables as possible, it is still likely that they did not consider many other important factors in the analysis.
They also explain that they used country-level data, rather than person-level data. This has several drawbacks; for instance, certain regions of some countries might eat substantially more rice than others. Also, obesity rates can vary within a country from region to region.
Another concern is the use of body mass index (BMI); although it is a standard measure that researchers use widely, it is not a measure of overall health. The scientists did not ascertain how many people have, for instance, an unhealthily low BMI, which would skew the data by bringing the country’s average BMI down.
It is also worth pointing out that the researchers have not published these findings in a journal and, therefore, they have not been through a peer-review process.
Rice types
Another potential issue is that the team’s analysis does not take into account the type of rice that a population tends to consume, which could be important. For example, white rice is much lower in fiber than less processed types. How much fiber someone consumes may play a part in obesity risk.
Also, a meta-analysis published in the BMJ in 2012 looked at the relationship between white rice and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Its authors concluded that: “Higher consumption of white rice is associated with a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes, especially in Asian (Chinese and Japanese) populations.”
Another study that involved more than 10,000 Korean adults found that a diet centered on white rice was associated with obesity.
Doubts remain, so scientists should continue to study the impact of rice on obesity. If such a cheap, readily available food as rice could play even a small part in the fight against obesity, it is worth pursuing. However, for now, the jury is out.
****
Source: Medical News Today

10 things to know about giving Zakat Al Fitr in UAE this Ramadan
Filed on May 15, 2019 | Last updated on May 15, 2019 at 06.37 am
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(alamy.com)

It may also be sent abroad.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE) has fixed Dh20 per person as the amount for Zakat Al Fitr this Ramadan. It was the same amount set last year.
Every Muslim man and woman, who owns more than what he or she needs, is obligated to give Zakat Al Fitr as prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the GAIAE's Fatwa Centre explained.
It is meant not only to help those in need but also to "cleanse any 'flaw' in the faithful's fasting".
Zakat Al Fitr can be given to official organisations, like the UAE Red Crescent or Zakat Fund, which support the less fortunate.  
The GAIAE Fatwa Centre, along with Islamic researchers, also issued the following guidelines in giving Zakat Al Fitr:
1. One can give more than Dh20.
2. It can be given from the first day of Ramadan and until the morning of Eid Al Fitr, "before the Eid prayer time".
3. Even if one misses this period, the person still has to give the zakat after Eid "yet he or she must seek forgiveness".
4. The zakat can also be contributed in kind, like 2.2kg of rice. Islamic researcher Dr Sheikh Mohammed Ashmawy said the set amount - four normal handfuls of dates or barley as per Sunnah - is found to weigh 2.2kg and valued at Dh20.5.
5. It can be sent abroad, according to researcher Dr Mahmoud Saleh. People may send it to the needy or their relatives in their home country, or to another country's residents who are in dire need because of starvation, calamity or war.
6. Older children, who are earning money yet still living with their parents, are advised to give Zakat Al Fitr on their own, or else their parents need to provide for them.
7. Parents shall also give the same for their girls who are still under their guardianship.
8. Domestic helpers should give Zakat Al Fitr, "but if given by their employers, they will be rewarded by Almighty Allah for it". However, employers need to tell their domestic helpers about this.
9. Employers may also give Zakat Al Fitr to their poor Muslims helpers.
10. One should not give Zakat Al Fitr for sponsored orphans. If given on their behalf, one should tell their guardians.
- ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

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Ahmed Shaaban

Originally from Egypt, I have been in Dubai since December 2005. Before coming here, I worked as an English language instructor, chief En/Ar translator, proofreader, reporter in Egypt and Qatar. I have also worked as a reporter, correspondent and simultaneous translator with two satellite channels in Dubai. I have a masters degree in media, Cairo University, 2014, a bachelor degree in English language and translation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 1996, and three post-graduate diplomas in English language and Instruction. With over 19 years of experience in translation, interpretation, EFL instruction, and reporting. I am interested in technology, aviation, politics, as well as community, parliament and defence issues. I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, and surfing the web.

Click/tap here to subscribe to Khaleej Times news alerts on WhatsApp. Make sure you save the phone number under Contacts on your phone for uninterrupted service.
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·       IMSAK
3:59
·       FAJR
4:09
·       SHURUQ
5:31
·       DUHR
12:18
·       ASR
15:44
·       MAGHRIB
18:59
·       ISHA
20:22
These prayer timings are for Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman. For Abu Dhabi, add four minutes. Deduct four minutes for Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, and six minutes for Fujairah.



Do you shop with a grocery list to avoid unnecessary purchases?
Yes
59.17% (1858)
No
40.83% (1282)

TECHNOLOGY

14 May 2019

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CRIME AND COURTS

13 May 2019

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13 May 2019

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GOVERNMENT

14 May 2019

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14 May 2019

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GENERAL

13 May 2019

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HEALTH

14 May 2019

SAUDI ARABIA

14 May 2019

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GOVERNMENT

14 May 2019

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INDIA ELECTIONS 2019

14 May 2019

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INDIA

14 May 2019

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GOVERNMENT

22 April 2019

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GOVERNMENT

14 May 2019

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RAS AL KHAIMAH

14 May 2019

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NATION

14 May 2019



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Piscivores could have more mercury in their system: study

Conducted by IIT-Hyderabad, the research found that frequent fish eaters, those living in the vicinity of coal-fired power plants and gold artisans have higher levels of mercury in their bodies than others

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By Susheela Srinivas
Last Updated: Wednesday 15 May 2019
Description: Goan fish curry with rice. Photo: Getty Images Goan fish curry with rice. Photo: Getty Images
An investigation conducted by a team from Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-Hyderabad), has highlighted the problem of mercury exposure in humans.
Many natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions, weathering of rocks and forest fires emit traces of mercury into the environment. These spread through land, air and water, and enter the food chain via seafood and freshwater fish where they bio-accumulate in organic form. The mercury passes on to humans when they consume contaminated fish.
Human activities such as burning of coal and metal processing also add far higher amounts of mercury to the environment, escalating the contamination. Prolonged exposure to the heavy metal can cause neurological, cardiovascular and endocrinal disorders in humans.
Small-scale gold artisans too contribute to the burden of mercury in the environment. They use mercury to amalgamate gold from jewellery works, exposing themselves and their families to the toxic element.
A research team from IIT-Hyderabad conducted an exploratory study on the levels of mercury exposure in 668 volunteers from three cities — Hyderabad in Telangana, Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and Vasco da Gama in Goa. Nellore was selected as it has four active power plants and has a high level of fish consumption. Hyderabad and Vasco da Gama were chosen because fish consumption in these two cities was high, though they do not have any power plant.
The team hypothesised that people consuming fish would have more exposure to mercury than others would. The study considered several parameters like gender, dietary habits, frequency of fish consumption and occupational exposure to analyse the data. They used scalp hair as a representative biomarker for the mercury analysis. Data from different parameters and variables were integrated using statistical tools and related software.
Fish consumers from Nellore had a higher total mean value of mercury compared to fish consumers in the other two cities, supporting the hypothesis that presence of coal-fired power plants increased the exposure to mercury.
Researchers observed that total mercury burden in those who frequently consumed fish was higher than those who ate less fish. Besides, fish-eaters had significantly higher mean value of mercury compared to vegetarians. The rice consuming population of Nellore also showed higher readings of mercury than rice-eaters in the other two cities, after accounting for fish consumption.
The mercury readings in artisanal goldsmiths were also higher, irrespective of fish consumption and it was found to be due to occupational inhalation of mercury vapours. The effect of gender on mercury accumulation was inconclusive, necessitating further research.
In all, the data indicated that the total mercury in the hair samples was higher in populations from the emission zone, in high-frequency fish consumers and gold artisans who use mercury compared to the other categories. About 1.6 per cent of the surveyed population of 668 volunteers had a higher mercury level than the reference value of 1.1 parts per million derived in the United States.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. Emissions are projected to increase in the absence of technological interventions and this, in turn, could escalate exposures. There is a need for further study to assess and develop a database across India on a case by case basis,” said Asif Qureshi, principal investigator of the study, while speaking to India Science Wire. In this regard, he said, IIT-Hyderabad is now collaborating with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Qureshi conducted the study along with KL Subhavana and Arpita Roy. The team has published its findings in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. (India Science Wire)

Customs Distribute Bags Of Rice, Cartons Of Spaghetti, Others To IDPs In Bauchi

 On May 14, 2019
Description: IDPs
INTERNALLY Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bauchi State have received relief materials comprising 929 bags of 50kgs of rice, 30 cartons of spaghetti and 307 bales of second-hand clothing from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The donation of the materials was disclosed by the Comptroller in charge of Bauchi/Gombe Commands of the Service, Kalla Hamis in an interview with newsmen in his office on Monday saying that the Bauchi/Gombe Command headquarters was given a directive from the Customs Headquarters in Abuja to release the relief materials to the Bauchi State Government for distribution to the IDPs in their various camps.
He said: “We were given a directive from the Customs headquarters to immediately release some materials for distribution to the Internally Displaced Persons in Bauchi State. The items include 929 bags of rice, 30 cartons of Spaghetti and 307 bales of second-hand clothing which were duly seized and condemned by the High Court and forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
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Kalla Hamis added that, “The Comptroller General in his magnanimity, decided that we should hand them over to the Bauchi State Government for distribution to the Internally Displaced Persons in the state.”
He further said “that upon receipt of the directives from our Headquarters, a letter was written to the state government which was acknowledged and responded to on the 8th of May. We have since delivered the goods to them accordingly. We’ve been able to do appropriate documentation to make sure that the goods actually get to where they should get to.”
The Zonal Comptroller said that the goods were handed to the IDPs through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and said that three trucks were used to convey the goods and each truck was escorted by the men of the Federal Operations and Command with all the landing documentations duly signed by both parties.
Speaking on the reasons for the release of the goods to the IDPs, he said: “Its a normal thing when we have seized goods and we look at the less privileged, they are given to them as welfare by the federal government to alleviate their sufferings.”
Kalla Hamis explained that in trying to carry out this directive, he formed a committee that will ensure that the exercise is given the actual necessary and sensitive attention it requires.
“Against this backdrop, I set up a committee that ensures the successful handing over of these items to the beneficiaries. This committee consists of the Comptroller, Federal Operations, Zone D, the representative of the Zonal Coordinator, Zone D, the Assistant Legal Adviser, Zone D, whose responsibility is to go the courts and condemn these goods,” he said.
“So they need to see what is actually being done. You know the fulcrum of the whole seizure is the FOU and the strike force. We have handed over those goods to them because of the sensitive nature,” he further stated.
While confirming the receipt of the items in a telephone interview with our Correspondent, the Officer in Charge of Relief and Rehabilitation, SEMA, Bauchi, Bala Yakub, said that all the goods were brought as you see. them.”
He said: “Yes, we received 929 bags of rice, 30 cartons of Spaghetti and 307 bales of second-hand clothing from the Nigeria Customs Service. These items have been handed over to the Chairman of the IDPS and his executives for the onward distribution to their members.”

WPI inflation a tad lower at 3.07% in April

14 May 2019
The annual rate of inflation, based on wholesale price index stood at 3.07 per cent in April 2019, compared with 3.18 per cent in the previous month, provisional figures released today showed. WPI inflation stood at 3.62 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. 
Build up inflation rate in the financial year so far was 0.75 per cent compared to a build up rate of 0.86 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Inflation rate for the `primary products’ group, which has a weight of 22.62 per cent in the wholesale price index, rose 3.3 per cent in April 2019.
Among primary articles, inflation rate for the 'food articles' group rose 3.4 per cent due to higher prices of tea, fruits and vegetables, peas/chawali, maize, poultry chicken, arhar, bajra, rajma, gram, condiments & spices, masur, urad, mutton and pork. However, the prices of eggs, betel leaves, barley, wheat, beef and buffalo meat declined.
Inflation rate for the 'non-food articles' group rose 2.6 per cent due to higher prices of floriculture, safflower (kardi seed), raw cotton, niger seed, castor seed, gaur seed, soyabean, cotton seed, groundnut seed, skins (raw) raw silk, linseed, raw rubber and fodder. However, the prices of copra, raw jute and mesta, gingelly seed (sesamum), sunflower, rape & mustard seed and coir fibre declined.
Inflation rate for the 'minerals' group rose 5.3 per cent due to higher prices of sillimanite, copper concentrate and chromite. However, the prices of iron ore, lead concentrate, garnet, manganese ore and limestone declined.
Inflation rate for the 'crude petroleum and natural gas' group rose 2.4 per cent due to higher prices of natural gas and crude petroleum.
Inflation rate for the ‘fuel and power’ group, which has a weight of 13.15 per cent in the WPI, declined by 0.5 per cent in April 2019.
Within the fuel and power group, inflation rate for the 'mineral oils' group rose 0.4 per cent due to higher prices of LPG, naphtha, petrol, kerosene and ATF. However, the price of petroleum coke, furnace oil and HSD declined.
Inflation rate for the 'electricity' group declined by 3.1 per cent due to lower prices of electricity.
Inflation rate for the `manufactured products’ group, which has a weight of 64.23 per cent in the wholesale price index, remained unchanged at its previous month level in April 2019.
Within the manufactured products group, inflation rate for the 'food products' group rose 0.2 per cent due to higher prices of processed tea, honey, chicken/duck, (dressed - fresh/frozen), castor oil, gram powder (besan), processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs and products thereof, buffalo meat, fresh/frozen, rapeseed oil, cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery, manufacture of starches and starch products, manufacture of health supplements, powder milk, processing and preserving of fruit and vegetables, sugar, spices (including mixed spices) and bagasse. However, the prices of molasses, groundnut oil, copra oil and maida, mustard oil, coffee powder with chicory, sooji (rawa ), macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar farinaceous products and wheat flour (atta), instant coffee, palm oil, prepared animal feeds, soyabean oil, rice bran oil and wheat bran declined.
Inflation rate for the 'beverages' group rose 0.7 per cent due to higher prices of wine, rectified spirit, spirits and aerated drinks/soft drinks (incl. soft drink concentrates).
Inflation rate for 'tobacco products' group rose 0.6 per cent due to higher prices of other tobacco products. However, the price of cigarette and biri declined.
Inflation rate for the 'textiles' group rose 0.6 per cent due to higher prices of manufacture of cordage, rope, twine and netting, cotton yarn and weaving and finishing of textiles. However, the price of woollen yarn declined.
Inflation rate for the 'wearing apparel' group rose 0.4 per cent due to higher prices of knitted and crocheted apparel.
Inflation rate for the 'leather and related products' group rose 0.5 per cent due to higher prices of chrome tanned leather, gloves of leather and vegetable tanned leather. However, the prices of travel goods, handbags, office bags, harness, saddles and other related items, athletic/sport shoes, belt and other articles of leather and leather shoe declined.
Inflation rate for the 'wood and products of wood and cork ' group declined by 1.5 per cent due to lower prices of particle boards, wooden box/crate, lamination wooden sheets/veneer sheets, wood cutting, processed/sized and plywood block boards. However, the prices of timber/wooden plank, sawn/resawn, wooden board (non-electrical) and wooden block moved up.
Inflation rate for the 'paper and paper products' group declined by 0.5 per cent due to lower prices of paper bag, including craft paper bag, newsprint and corrugated sheet box, paper for printing and writing and kraft paper. However, the prices of laminated plastic sheet, corrugated paper board and paper carton/box moved up.
Inflation rate for the 'printing and reproduction of recorded media ' group rose 1.2 per cent due to higher prices of journal/periodical and printed books. However, the prices of printed labels/posters/calendars declined.
Inflation rate for the 'pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products' group declined by 1 per cent due to lower prices of vials/ampoule, glass, empty or filled, anti-malarial drugs, API and formulations of vitamins, cotton wool (medicinal), anti-diabetic drug, excluding insulin (i.e. tolbutam), digestive enzymes and antacids, antioxidants, anti cancer drugs and antibiotics and preparations thereof. However, the prices of anti-retroviral drugs for HIV treatment and antiseptics and disinfectants, medical accessories and vaccine for hepatitis-B moved up.
Inflation rate for the 'rubber and plastics products' group rose 0.4 per cent due to higher prices of medium and heavy commercial vehicle tyre, plastic button, plastic box/container and elastic webbing,  plastic bag, rubber crumb, plastic film, tooth brush and car tyre. However, the prices of plastic furniture, rubberized dipped fabric and plastic tube (flexible/non-flexible), polythene film, acrylic/plastic sheet, plastic bottle, rubber moulded goods and thermocol  declined.
Inflation rate for the 'other non-metallic mineral products' group rose 0.2 per cent due to higher prices of clinker, ordinary portland cement, slag cement, fibre glass (incl. Sheet), lime, calcium carbonate, plain bricks, pozzolana cement, toughened glass, porcelain crockery, railway sleeper, asbestos corrugated sheet, ordinary sheet glass and porcelain sanitary ware. However, the prices of graphite rod, ceramic tiles (vitrified tiles), marble slab, cement superfine, non-ceramic tiles, poles & posts of concrete and white cement declined.
Inflation rate for the 'basic metals' group declined by 0.4 per cent due to lower prices of sponge iron/direct reduced iron (DRI), ferrosilicon, ferrochrome, MS pencil ingots, stainless steel coils, strips and sheets, aluminium alloys, other ferro alloys, hot rolled (HR) coils & sheets, including narrow strip, cold rolled (CR) coils & sheets, including narrow strip, stainless steel tubes, alloy steel wire rods, aluminium powder, copper shapes - bars/rods/plates/strips, MS bright bars, aluminium ingot, stainless steel bars and rods, including flats, copper metal/copper rings, alloy steel castings and GP/GC sheet. However, the prices of aluminium disk and circles, steel cables and rails, aluminium shapes - bars/rods/flats, MS castings, steel forgings - rough, angles, channels, sections, steel (coated/not), pig iron, brass metal/sheet/coils moved up.
Inflation rate for the 'fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment' group rose 0.9 per cent due to higher prices of cylinders, electrical stamping- laminated or otherwise and hand tools, sanitary fittings of iron and steel, hose pipes in set or otherwise, copper bolts, screws, nuts and steel structures. However, the prices of metal cutting tools and accessories, forged steel rings, bolts, screws, nuts, nails of iron and steel, steel drums, barrels and pressure cooker declined.
Inflation rate for the 'electronic and optical products' group declined by 0.3 per cent due to lower prices of electro-diagnostic apparatus, used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences and colour TV. However, the prices of microscopes and capacitors moved up.
Inflation rate for the ‘electrical equipment' group declined by 0.1 per cent due to lower prices of fibre optic cables, jelly filled cables, electric switch gear control/starter, electric welding machine, ACSR conductors, connector/plug/socket/holder-electric, incandescent lamps, insulator, domestic gas stove, flourescent tube, PVC insulated cable and rubber insulated cables. However, the prices of air coolers, generator parts and electrical resistors (except heating resistors), aluminium wire, generators and alternators, batteries, electric wires and cables, transformer, washing machines/laundry machines moved up.
Inflation rate for the 'machinery and equipment' group declined by 0.2 per cent due to lower prices of injection pump, rice mill machinery, pressure vessel, tank for fermentation and other food processing, drilling machine, water purifier, pump sets without motor, separator, open end spinning machinery and air filters and  harvesters, hydraulic pump, windmill turbines and hydraulic equipment. However, the prices of packing machine, air gas compressor (including compressor for refrigerator and pneumatic tools), moulding machine, conveyors (non-roller type), manufacture of bearings, gears, gearing and driving elements, roller and ball bearings, motor starter, oil pump, sewing machines, cranes, pharmaceutical machinery, excavator, roller mill (raymond), clutches and shaft couplings, threshers, soil preparation and cultivation machinery (other than tractors) and grinding or polishing machine moved up.
Inflation rate for the 'motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers' group declined by 0.4 per cent due to lower prices of seat for motor vehicles, crankshaft, passenger vehicles, brake pad/brake liner/brake block/brake rubber, chassis of different vehicle types and head lamp. However, the prices of steering gear control system, minibus/bus and chain and cylinder liners, release valve, axles of motor vehicles and wheels/wheels and parts moved up.
Inflation rate for the 'other transport equipment' group rose 0.2 per cent due to higher price of scooters. However, the price of railway brake gear declined.
Inflation rate for the 'furniture' group declined by 0.1 per cent due to lower prices of hospital furniture, plastic fixtures and foam and rubber mattress. However, the prices of steel shutter gate moved up.
Inflation rate for the 'other manufacturing' group declined by 2.1 per cent due to lower prices of stringed musical instruments (incl santoor, guitars, etc), silver, gold and gold ornaments and football. However, the prices of plastic moulded toys, table tennis table and non-mechanical toys, carrom board and cricket ball and playing cards moved up.
Inflation rate for the Food Index consisting of food articles from the primary articles group and the manufactured products group, and a combined weight of 24.38 per cent in the wholesale price index, increased to 4.95 per cent in April 2019 from 3.89 per cent in March 2019.
The final wholesale price index for February 2019 based on the wholesale price index for 'all commodities' remained unchanged at its provisional level of 2.93 per cent as reported on 14 March 2019.

‘Even The Lord Couldn’t Withstand Fani, How Could We Mortals?’

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Description: http://www.odishabytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/AMP_352501.jpg
Brahmagiri (Puri): Lord Jagannath’s picture frame in office rooms could not withstand Cyclone Fani, says Duryodhan Pagala. Then, pointing at his damaged rice mill, he said: “How could we mortals?” His mill is at Talikabadi Chaak in Odisha’s Brahmagiri, where the eye of the storm passed on May 3.
An innocent reference from a fervent devotee of the Lord, who, he felt, would protect them from this disaster even as the government sounded the warning bell and engaged all machinery to evacuate people to safer places. He admits that faith had made them a little complacent.
When the severe cyclonic storm smacked Odisha, no one had the slightest idea that the ferocious winds would leave behind a catastrophic trail of destruction. A look at the rice mill spread across 2 acres is enough to gauge the intensity of the storm, the strongest since 1999. The huge machines have been damaged beyond repair, the walls have collapsed and the godowns stare straight into the sky with the asbestos roofs having blown away.
Description: http://www.odishabytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/AMP_3532-300x200.jpg
Tears rolled down his eyes, as Duryodhan relived those four hours (8.30am to 12.30pm) when Fani barreled though his space, twisting and turning whatever came its way. “We had taken shelter at a pucca house across the road and helplessly watched this dance of Fani. My elder brother Hampal walked down from Puri on hearing the news and fainted on seeing the place in ruins,” he said.
They had set up the mill in 2007. It provided employment to around 200 people, 50 to 100 of them daily-wage labourers. “Fortunately, the mill was closed and no one was inside on the fateful day,” he said, adding that 1.5 lakh quintals of rice was milled per annum at the mill.
Description: http://www.odishabytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/AMP_3533-300x200.jpg
“We lost everything to the storm,” he said, pegging the total loss at over Rs 7 crore.
Duryodhan said they had written to the authorities concerned, but was not sure how much of the loss the government would cover.
A little away from this place is another rice mill with roof blown away and paddy sacks lying exposed to elements. “The paddy must have sprouted. Everything has gone waste,” he said.
Description: http://www.odishabytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sack-300x200.jpg

According to Duryodhan, the storm has pushed Brahmagiri 30 years back. “The houses with thatched roofs and those covered with asbestos and tin have been damaged. Coconut and cashew plantations were the main source of livelihood for people of the area. These have been completely destroyed by Fani,” he said, adding that except for the 1968 floods, the place had never witnessed such fury of nature.
The extremely severe cyclonic storm has left behind a trail of devastation akin to that of 1999 Super Cyclone in Odisha.
“A large number of trees were uprooted, resulting in disruption in road communication and power supply in different districts. There is also extensive damage to dwelling houses. Power supply has snapped as electricity poles have got uprooted and there is damage to sub-stations and high tension overhead electric line. Telecom towers have been damaged, resulting in disruption of cellular and landline phones,” the Chief Secretary’s office had said.
But life goes on and they are slowly picking up the pieces of life to start afresh. “It will take us about three months to dismantle and remove the damaged machines. Though the future is uncertain, we have to find ways to make ends meet,” Duryodhan said.
Tell-tale destruction signs are there for all to see and so is the resilience of the people.

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BJP Responds To Naveen’s ‘Thank You’ With A Thumbs-Up On Law & Order During Polls

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Central Team Praises Odisha Govt For Post-Fani Relief & Restoration Work

SK Telecom commercializes IoT network-based autonomous rice transplanter for first time

Park Sae-jin Reporter(swatchsjp@ajunews.com) | Posted : May 15, 2019, 15:16 | Updated : May 15, 2019, 16:01
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[Courtesy of SK Telecom]
SEOUL -- SK Telecom, South Korea's top mobile carrier, has partnered with Daedong, a top domestic agricultural machinery maker, to commercialize an autonomous rice transplanter which locates and guides itself around rice paddy fields using precision satellite positioning technology.

SK Telecom (SKT) said in a statement Wednesday that the company and Daedong have jointly developed an automatic rice-panting tractor using real-time kinematic technology (RKT), a precise satellite navigation technology that uses internet of things (IoT) and GPS.

The autonomous rice transplanter will help farmers reduce costs by carrying out multi-roles like planting rice seedlings and scattering fertilizer. Farmers can do other things and even unskilled farmers can professionally operate the self-driving transplanter thanks to pre-settings.

"Anyone can easily handle agricultural machines if they are combined with ICT and improve productivity," SKT's ICT research center head Park Jin-hyo was quoted as saying. Dadong CEO Ha Chang-wook said the new machine would be widely distributed soon as it received good feedback from farmers

In South Korea, many farmers use rice transplanters, a type of small tractors, but some do it manually mainly because rice-planting tractors are expensive. Sometimes farmers share a transplanter or hire a skilled tractor driver during the rice planting season.
 

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NEDA sees rice tariffs exceeding P10 billion quota for RCEF
May 14, 2019 | 10:14 pm
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Description: NFA rice warehousePHILSTAR/MICHAEL VARCAS
THE NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it is expecting more than the authorized P10 billion total to be collected from rice import tariffs under the Rice Tariffication Law, with the excess to be used to help farmers diversify into other crops.
In a mobile message, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon said NEDA is still in the process of finalizing its estimates of total revenue from rice tariffication this year.
The Rice Tariffication Law cam into force on March 5. Its provisions include the allotment of P10 billion for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) which will be used to assist farmers in the form of mechanization, credit, education and seed.
“We are still finalizing our estimates. But we do expect it to be higher than P10 billion. The law stipulates that the excess of P10 billion will go back to assist farmers diversifying into other crops,” Ms. Edillon said.
“Assistance for diversification is not in the RCEF. Funds for this will come from the excess revenue,” Ms. Edillon added.
Ms. Edillon declined to give initial estimates of revenue from tariffs.



The Department of Agriculture (DA) has been advanced P5 billion from the re-enacted 2018 Budget pending the generation of revenue for the RCEF proper, NEDA Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla has said.
Another P5 billion will be given to DA in the third quarter to complete the P10 billion RCEF for the year, according to Ms. Sombilla.
Mayroon nang napaunang P5 billion (The first P5 billion has been released). About P1 billion out of that has to be given to the farmers. DA is now trying to allocate some parts of it to the various agencies who are supposed to receive the RCEF,” Ms. Sombilla said in a briefing late last month.
Kinakausap na namin ang DA (We’ve spoken to the DA). As much as possible, (it needs to) find measures to allocate some money to PhilMech, PhilRice, and to the training institutes which should be receiving money from RCEF,” according to Ms. Sombilla, referring to the various agencies in charge of farm mechanization and rice research. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
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