GUARD optimistic of launching ‘hybrid wheat’ for commercial sowing
After successfully launching eight hybrid rice varieties and
revolutionizing the coarse rice production in Sindh, Guard Agriculture Research
& Services Limited (GUARD) is hopeful to launch 'Hybrid Wheat' for
commercial sowing in the year 2021-22.
'We have collaborated with the Beijing Academy of Agricultural Sciences to produce a hybrid wheat seed which could ensure more per acre yield and prosperity to the growers. It is hoped that we will be launching this seed with double the yield potential than the existing varieties in two years,' said Guard Chief Executive Shahzad Ali Malik while talking to Business Recorder here on Friday.
Shahzad said that his organization which was set up in 1989 is busy in research to produce hybrid seeds for rice (coarse/basmati), maize, wheat, vegetables and oilseed crops to fetch more per acre yield thus producing more surplus and bringing prosperity to the farmers. He said that their company in collaboration with the Yuan Long-Ping High Tech Industries is working with a vision to introduce innovation in seed industry & variety development aimed at poverty alleviation and prosperity of farmers by higher yield due to better seed.
Shahzad's services to introduce hybrid rice in Pakistan were also acknowledged by the Government by conferring Sitara-i-Imtiaz on him in the year 2013. He said encouraged from success in the rice sector, Guard signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Beijing Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the year 2014 and since then experimenting to develop hybrid seed at eight locations in Punjab and five locations in Sindh.
In Punjab, these field trials are being conducted in Depalpur, Okara, Sahiwal, Lahore, Manga Mandi, Gujranwala (two points) and Sialkot. While in Sindh, seeds are being sent from Punjab and field trials are being held in Hala, Kotri, Shehdadpur, Tando Muhammad Khan and Matli.
Till date, we have recorded a 46 per cent yield increase in seeds produced during these experiments and we are aiming to have a seed with double the yield as compared to existing varieties of wheat. We are aiming to revolutionize this sector of agriculture just like the introduction of hybrid rice varieties have done for the paddy growers, Shahzad Malik concluded.
'We have collaborated with the Beijing Academy of Agricultural Sciences to produce a hybrid wheat seed which could ensure more per acre yield and prosperity to the growers. It is hoped that we will be launching this seed with double the yield potential than the existing varieties in two years,' said Guard Chief Executive Shahzad Ali Malik while talking to Business Recorder here on Friday.
Shahzad said that his organization which was set up in 1989 is busy in research to produce hybrid seeds for rice (coarse/basmati), maize, wheat, vegetables and oilseed crops to fetch more per acre yield thus producing more surplus and bringing prosperity to the farmers. He said that their company in collaboration with the Yuan Long-Ping High Tech Industries is working with a vision to introduce innovation in seed industry & variety development aimed at poverty alleviation and prosperity of farmers by higher yield due to better seed.
Shahzad's services to introduce hybrid rice in Pakistan were also acknowledged by the Government by conferring Sitara-i-Imtiaz on him in the year 2013. He said encouraged from success in the rice sector, Guard signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Beijing Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the year 2014 and since then experimenting to develop hybrid seed at eight locations in Punjab and five locations in Sindh.
In Punjab, these field trials are being conducted in Depalpur, Okara, Sahiwal, Lahore, Manga Mandi, Gujranwala (two points) and Sialkot. While in Sindh, seeds are being sent from Punjab and field trials are being held in Hala, Kotri, Shehdadpur, Tando Muhammad Khan and Matli.
Till date, we have recorded a 46 per cent yield increase in seeds produced during these experiments and we are aiming to have a seed with double the yield as compared to existing varieties of wheat. We are aiming to revolutionize this sector of agriculture just like the introduction of hybrid rice varieties have done for the paddy growers, Shahzad Malik concluded.
Poisonous Spray
Claims Three Lives In Lodhran District: Police
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint /
Pakistan Point News - 13th Sep, 2019 ) :At least three persons were killed
while spraying the rice crops located in Lodhran district, police reported
on Friday night.
According to details, some farmers
were busy in spraying the rice crop, on the northern site of
River Sutlej of Punjab.
While another was shifted to nearby hospital in critical
condition. Further investigations are underway.
Modern Plant Raises
Rice Seed Quality in Cuban Province
Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, Sep 13 (Prensa Latina) The
operation in the South of Jíbaro of a modern plant with Chinese technology, to
benefit rice seed, raised cereal quality parameters, said a specialist today.
Leonardo Puerto, director of the Los Españoles Base Business Unit, belonging to
the Agroindustrial Enterprise of Granos Sur del Jíbaro, told local press that
among the advantages of this equipment is a better classification of grain.
Together with this, there is an increase in processing
capacity of 100 tons and greater protection for the worker, as it is an
automated system.
He explained how with the previous technology - exploited for more than four decades - the seed was stored with almost eight percent of impurities and currently that indicator only amounts to two percent.
In this first stage, the installation - started up last year - received about 5,500 tons of rice seed, volume processed with a much higher efficiency, said the manager.
Meanwhile, the previous plant required nine operators to operate, the current one only needs four.
The Agroindustrial Enterprise of Granos Sur del Jíbaro is located in the spirit municipality of La Sierpe and is one of the most efficient rice producers in the country.
For several years, this entity strengthens its links with the research centers, such as the Territorial Grain Research Station, located in La Sierpe, and its international collaboration, as is the case with the Vietnam-Cuba project.
It also has a development program until 2030 that includes the execution of significant investments in equipment and other actions.
He explained how with the previous technology - exploited for more than four decades - the seed was stored with almost eight percent of impurities and currently that indicator only amounts to two percent.
In this first stage, the installation - started up last year - received about 5,500 tons of rice seed, volume processed with a much higher efficiency, said the manager.
Meanwhile, the previous plant required nine operators to operate, the current one only needs four.
The Agroindustrial Enterprise of Granos Sur del Jíbaro is located in the spirit municipality of La Sierpe and is one of the most efficient rice producers in the country.
For several years, this entity strengthens its links with the research centers, such as the Territorial Grain Research Station, located in La Sierpe, and its international collaboration, as is the case with the Vietnam-Cuba project.
It also has a development program until 2030 that includes the execution of significant investments in equipment and other actions.
Ghana: Improving Rice Production to
Imports
13 SEPTEMBER 2019
The Senior Minister, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, was on Wednesday,
quoted as saying that Ghana imported a whopping GH¢1.3bn worth of rice into the
country in 2016/2017.
He was angry that Ghana could use such amount in importing rice
when it could have been used for other essential things.
"This is, indeed, sad because we can grow rice anywhere in
Ghana.
"The amount could have been used rather on the importation
of machinery and medications in the better interest of the nation," he
said.
The Senior Minister added "if you want to develop, produce
food and do not import food".
The Ghanaian Times shares the view of Mr Osafo-Maafo which we
believe many Ghanaians would agree with.
There is no one who would disagree with the fact that Ghana is
naturally blessed with all the resources to produce food bountifully and in a
massive way.
It is, therefore difficult to understand why we have remained
uncompetitive in rice production and continue to import such large quantities
into the country.
We agree that rice as a staple food, is one of the food
commodities whose demand is rapidly growing. Rice consumption has increased
tremendously and nearly every home consumes rice.
It is, not surprising therefore that; the volumes are increasing
year on year. What is rather baffling is that, no effort is being made to
increase domestic production of rice.
Rice is by far, the second most important cereal crop after
maize, yet the country is unable to produce it locally in large quantities to
feed the nation.
Punjab hurries registration of Basmati growers for quality
traceability
The relevant information pertaining the names
and mobile numbers of basmati rice growers as well as the longitudinal and
latitudinal details of their farms is being uploaded on the portal.
Sep 13, 2019, 03.30 PM IST
Considering
the fact that Basmati is a flagship crop on Punjab’s diversification front as
it consumes less water than paddy, all efforts towards encouraging better
remuneration for the crop will significantly check the depleting groundwater
levels in the state, opined Secretary Agriculture.
To
boost export of basmati by
incorporating quality traceability feature in its production and supply, Punjab government has
launched an ambitious project of registration of all Basmati growers in the
State. The process is being carried out in collaboration with Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), informed KS
Pannu, Secretary Agriculture adding that the registration of Basmati growers on
the GoI portal basmati.net is on full swing.
The relevant information pertaining the names and mobile numbers of basmati rice growers as well as the longitudinal and latitudinal details of their farms is being uploaded on the portal. Also details of the quantity and quality of fertilizers and pesticides used by the farmers on the crop are also being recorded.
Pannus said that so far about 70,000 Basmati farmers have been registered and the tagging of details of over 25000 farms spanning to 137864 hectares, has also been realised. This tag will help to preserve the unique identity of their rice in the national and international market, said he. After the completion of registration process the farmers are being issued a unique ID and the registration certificates, said Pannu, adding that 15,000 certificates have been distributed till date.
This is a win-win situation for the farmers as well as the department because farmers will get good price of their produce as the buyers would be able to contact them and get the samples of Basmati directly from them. Besides, the department will be able to identify the farmers who are using the fertilizers over and above the recommended quantity and also those who are using prohibited pesticides. Subsequently, the department can monitor and motivate the non-adherents towards using optimum quantity and quality of fertilizers/pesticides. This mammoth exercise will be a giant step towards making Basmati crop “pesticide free”, said Pannu adding that the gradual elimination of these poisons will result in Punjab’s Basmati passing all the international import parameters.
It is pertinent to mention that use of 9 pesticides including Acephate, Triazophos, Thiamethoxam, Cerbendazim, Buprofezin, Arbofuron, Propiconazole and Thiophanate Methyl has been banned since they lead to rejection of Basmati export orders to the European Union and other Western countries. But, some farmers in a bid to get better yield, continue to use thrice the recommended urea and a bag of Dai Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) which are not recommended.
Considering the fact that Basmati is a flagship crop on Punjab’s diversification front as it consumes less water than paddy, all efforts towards encouraging better remuneration for the crop will significantly check the depleting groundwater levels in the state, opined Secretary Agriculture.
The relevant information pertaining the names and mobile numbers of basmati rice growers as well as the longitudinal and latitudinal details of their farms is being uploaded on the portal. Also details of the quantity and quality of fertilizers and pesticides used by the farmers on the crop are also being recorded.
Pannus said that so far about 70,000 Basmati farmers have been registered and the tagging of details of over 25000 farms spanning to 137864 hectares, has also been realised. This tag will help to preserve the unique identity of their rice in the national and international market, said he. After the completion of registration process the farmers are being issued a unique ID and the registration certificates, said Pannu, adding that 15,000 certificates have been distributed till date.
This is a win-win situation for the farmers as well as the department because farmers will get good price of their produce as the buyers would be able to contact them and get the samples of Basmati directly from them. Besides, the department will be able to identify the farmers who are using the fertilizers over and above the recommended quantity and also those who are using prohibited pesticides. Subsequently, the department can monitor and motivate the non-adherents towards using optimum quantity and quality of fertilizers/pesticides. This mammoth exercise will be a giant step towards making Basmati crop “pesticide free”, said Pannu adding that the gradual elimination of these poisons will result in Punjab’s Basmati passing all the international import parameters.
It is pertinent to mention that use of 9 pesticides including Acephate, Triazophos, Thiamethoxam, Cerbendazim, Buprofezin, Arbofuron, Propiconazole and Thiophanate Methyl has been banned since they lead to rejection of Basmati export orders to the European Union and other Western countries. But, some farmers in a bid to get better yield, continue to use thrice the recommended urea and a bag of Dai Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) which are not recommended.
Considering the fact that Basmati is a flagship crop on Punjab’s diversification front as it consumes less water than paddy, all efforts towards encouraging better remuneration for the crop will significantly check the depleting groundwater levels in the state, opined Secretary Agriculture.
An edible rice starch coating improves the
marketability of bananas
Scientists
of University of Newcastle (Australia) have developed a rice starch edible
coating blended with sucrose esters to control the postharvest physiological
activity of Cavendish banana and to extend postharvest quality during ripening
at 20 ± 2 °C. They evaluated the coating's effectiveness against changes in
fruit physiochemical parameters in terms of weight loss, titratable acidity,
total soluble solids, flesh fruit firmness, ion leakage, colour change,
respiration, ethylene production, chlorophyll degradation and starch
conversion.
"Surface
morphology studies have highlighted the binding compatibility of the coating
matrix with the fruit peel character and formed a continuous uniform layer over
the fruit surface - scientists explain. The results show that the coating is
effective in delaying ethylene biosynthesis and reducing respiration rate. Also
the other factors impacting quality were reduced with consequent improvement of
the commercial value of the fruit. The shelf life of coated fruit has been
prolonged for 12 days compared to the untreated control which ripened within
seven days and lost marketability after Day 6. These results demonstrate the
effectiveness of a starch-based edible coating formulation for improving the
ambient storage capacity of banana fruit".Source: Rahul Thakur, Penta Pristijono,
Michael Bowyer, Sukhvinder P. Singh, Christopher J. Scarlett, Costas E.
Stathopoulos, Quan V. Vuong, 'A starch edible surface coating delays banana
fruit ripening', 2019, LWT, Volume 100, pages 341-347.
Agriculture
Secretary Restricts Alarmist Announcements
Sonny Perdue was well chosen by President Donald Trump to be
Agriculture Secretary. As part of Perdue’s efforts to put our agricultural
house in order, he has succeeded in filling the upper echelon of the agency
with straight shooters. However, below the surface, the agency remains heavily
influenced by misguided scientists promoting the mistake that life as we know
it is being destroyed through the use of our fossil fuels.
They do this by spreading falsehoods about agriculture being
severely diminished by rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). This,
despite the fact that CO2 is the gas that keeps plants alive
just as oxygen keeps us alive.
These scientists expect us to believe that a little extra warmth
and a lot more CO2 will wreak havoc on our food supply.
Happily, Perdue remembers his high school science well enough to recognize that
this is nonsense and, accordingly, he has stopped the publishing of the
agriculture department’s press releases of fraudulent science. He cannot easily
get rid of the thousands of deep state operatives in the department, but he can
stifle their bull horns intended to scare the public with unscientific alarmist
claims.
Here are the topics of some of the studies reported by
politico.com that did not result in press releases touting them, presumably
because Secretary Perdue blocked them as inappropriate and unscientific.
- One of the biggest concerns of biased
academics was that faster growing, larger rice grains would be bad for the
hundreds of millions of people across the world who depend on rice for
their survival. Their studies showed that each rice grain would have a
lower percentage of protein and certain minerals. While this may be true
as a percentage, it is not the case as on a per grain basis. And clearly,
the most important ingredient of rice is its calorie content which sustain
that population. That would surely be increased.
- Reports that pollution from farming is
“likely to increase,” an unsubstantiated claim.
- The fears that Prairie grass may contain
less protein, an important source of nutrition for cattle, as a result of
more CO2 and resulting photosynthesis. More weeds are also
likely on our farms. While that too may be true, it is also true that
yields of all our crops have increased as a result of increased CO2.
This is why satellites show us that Africa is 24% greener than it was 30
years ago.
- They say that a little more warmth may
result in an environment friendlier to insects. By and large, a little
more warmth is friendlier to everything living on Earth, including us.
And, of course, they are likely correct that we can see more pollen in the
air too.
- They propose that there might be more
run-off from farms with increased CO2 in the air, but we
suspect that this was forecast to be the result of growing more marijuana
based on their legal use of now.
- Forty-five studies dealing with climate
change were not released as they were all unsubstantiated opinions not
based on verifiable facts. Two studies were released because they dealt
with facts—their calculations showed that cattle produce an insignificant
amount of greenhouse gas (methane) compared to that in the atmosphere, and
that removing beef from our diets to eliminate methane from cattle would
have a negative impact on overall human health.
In response to a question from politico.com regarding the
decline of press releases on agriculture/climate studies, Secretary Perdue said
in April:
“We know ‘that’ research, some has been found in the past to not
have been adequately peer-reviewed in a way that created wrong information, and
we’re very serious when we say we’re fact-based, data-driven decision makers.
That relies on sound replicable science rather than opinion. What I see
unfortunately happens many times is that we tried to make policy decisions
based on political science rather than one sound science.”
If this causes your eyes to glaze over, just remember what we
know for sure: CO2 makes up far less than one percent of the
atmosphere’s heat trapping greenhouse gases and only four ten thousandth of all
the molecules in the air. This places CO2 at one of the lowest
levels in Earth’s history, leaving us far closer to a dangerously low level of
the gas than any risk of too high a level. CO2 could triple and
we would see nothing but positive effects.
Indeed, most plants are best adapted to far higher levels of CO2 than
we currently have in the atmosphere, which is why greenhouse operators
regularly boost the gas to 1200 parts per million, three times that found in
the outside air.
The result? Plants grow faster and with less water requirements.
Secretary Perdue is right to put the lid on alarmist climate claims.
Dr. Jay Lehr is Senior Policy Advisor with of the
Ottawa-based International Climate Science Coalition (ICSC) and former Science Director of The Heartland Institute which is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Tom Harris
is Executive Director of ICSC and a policy advisor to Heartland.
New book finds insufficient public
investments in Ghana’s non-cocoa sector
A
new book titled Ghana’s Economic and Agricultural Transformation: Past
Performance and Future Prospects, posits that public agricultural spending over
the period 1961 to 2012, shows that the bulk of the spending has gone into the
cocoa subsector, to the neglect of the non-cocoa sector like the country’s food
staples.
“Public
investment plays a crucial role in promoting agricultural growth and shaping distributional
outcomes. In Ghana, agricultural subsectors outside of cocoa—including all the
country’s food staples—have been neglected,” says Sam Benin, a chapter author
and deputy division director of IFPRI’s Africa Region.
Co-edited
by researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the
book shows, almost GH₵300 million was spent in the non-cocoa sector, compared
to almost GH₵700 million for the cocoa sector. Overall, the researchers found
government spending in agriculture to be low-an average of two to three per
cent of total government expenditure between 2001 and 2012. This they say, is
even below African standards and falls short of the 10 per cent commitment
made, when Ghana signed its compact with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture
Development Programme (CAADP) in 2009.
The
results, according to researchers has led to Ghana’s inability to compete with
imports like rice, poultry, and processed foods, or to grow additional
agricultural exports beyond cocoa.
Generally,
these two commodities (rice and poultry) continue to experience a surge in
imports annually.
According
to Ghana Export Promotion Authority, The nation’s value of rice imports has
escalated eight-fold in seven years from $152 million in 2007 to a peak of $1.2
billion in both 2014 and 2015. In addition, in a May 2019 article on
myjoyonline.com, the Minister for Agriculture, Afriyie Akoto was quoted to have
said that Ghana currently imports about $1.5 billion worth of rice.
In
the poultry market too, imported frozen chicken, largely from Europe, has been
reported as taking over the business of domestic farmers. A feature article on
ghanabusinessnews.com in 2011, reported that, the country imported frozen
chicken from the EU, USA and Brazil, worth $200 million in 2010. A June 2019
report by German broadcaster DW on Ghana’s poultry market, shows the country in
2017 imported 95 per cent of its chicken, with only five per cent backed by
domestic production.
“Business
was booming, especially from broiler production. And then these days, we have
challenges because of the imported chicken. The competition is very high,”
Augustine Amankwaah, a poultry farmer, who was described as ‘one of Ghana’s
last poultry farmers,’ said in the video report.
“This
failure to enhance exports or import substitutes means the country is missing
out on creating jobs, boosting national per capita income, absorbing a growing
labour force and enabling more workers to shift out of traditional
agriculture,” the book indicated.
In
as much as overall, funding in the non-cocoa sector is insufficient,
researchers agree there has been a recent rebound in spending in that area
through expansion of subsidy programmes, such as the Planting for Food and Jobs
programme.
“Given
current macroeconomic imbalances, agricultural investments increasingly need to
be more strategic and focused, with potential for long-term impacts,” the book
said.
KMP’s
Ramos calls for repeal of rice tariff act
Rice
farmers on Friday blamed the Rice Tariffication Law or Republic Act No. 11203
for the drop in the prices of “palay” or unhusked rice to their disadvantage.
In
an interview, Danilo Ramos, Kilusang Magbubukid ang Pilipinas chairperson,
called for the repeal of the law that caused the influx of cheaper imported
rice.
“The
rice trade liberalization is slowly killing the lowly farmers and the rice
industry itself,” Ramos said, adding farmers are getting destitute.
“We
went around to see if there was still NFA (National Food Authority) rice being
sold in many markets. We saw none since over a week ago,” he told the Manila
Standard.
This
developed as lawmakers said Friday the NFA needs at least P10 billion to
help farmers as RA 11203, which allows unlimited rice imports, affects their
livelihood.
Makabayan
bloc party-list legislators Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Euphemia
Cullamat of Bayan Muna, France Castro of Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Arlene
Brosas of Gabriela and Sarah Elago of Kabataan made the call after the
tariffication law brought the farmgate prices of unmilled rice to as low as P7
per kilo.
“We
in the Makabayan block see that P10 billion is needed by NFA to buy the palay
from farmers at P20 per kilo, so the NFA could sell this to the market at P27
per kilo,” Zarate told reporters.
“That’s
the budget the government needs to subsidize our farmers,” he added.
Rice
farmers are suffering and are losing a lot of income because of the law, Ramos
lamented.
Even
rice millers are hurting, he said.
According
to Ramos, while President Rodrigo Duterte has told the NFA to buy palay
directly from the farmers, the law “has removed NFA’s role of palay
procurement.”
“I
have just come from Central Luzon and found out that a kilo of palay is being
bought at P6 to P7 compared against the price of ‘darak’ (rice husk) at P12,”
he said.
“The
Rice Tariffication Law must be repealed,” Ramos added.
Gabriela
party-list Arlene Brosas has filed House Bill No. 477 or the Rice Industry
Development Act of 2019 to protect the both the welfare of the farmers and
consumers, the KMP chief noted.
KMP
is composed of 65 organizations of local farmers in 15 regions in Luzon, the
Visayas and Mindanao, according to Ramos.
Cathy
Estabillo, Bantay Bigas spokesperson, on Thursday blamed the passage of the
Rice Tariffication Law for government’s failure to stabilize the prices of rice
in the market.
Under
the law, the NFA could only be allowed to procure palay for its buffer stock of
15 days to 30 days only, she lamented.
“And
that procurement would only be for calamity purposes,” Estabillo said.
At
least 10 million Filipinos depend on NFA rice being sold at P27 per kilo, she
said, citing data of the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“The
people, the millers and the farmers suffer a lot from the effects of the law,”
she told the Manila Standard.
Estabillo
said the P1.5-billion Survival and Recovery Assistance program is just a
“palliative measure” that offers a P15,000 loan to a rice farmers cultivating
one hectare or less at zero percent interest and payable in eight years.
“A
cost of production for a one-hectare farm could peg at P50,000 to P65,000 to be
able to plant rice. What good is the P15,000 loan?” she asked.
Silvestre
Bonto, president of the National Confederation of Irrigators Association Inc.
with over 1.2 million rice farmers, said despite the influx of imported rice,
the prices of commercial rice in the market still remain high.
“The
NCIA is the most affected group since 67 percent to 70 percent of the rice
supply come from us,” he told the Standard.
He
complained that prices of palay would range from P8 per kilo to P12 per kilo.
“What
is too disappointing is, retailers in the markets or stores sell rice at a h
high cost,” he said.
He
partly blamed the retailers for the price increase of commercial rice, saying
they sometimes dictate the prices of rice.
“Why
is this so? A rice retailer sometimes could only sell two sacks of rice a day,
or at a maximum of five to 10 sacks a day. How do you expect them to earn for
day if they do not raise their prices?” he asked.
Ghana: Improving Rice Production to
Imports
13 SEPTEMBER 2019
The Senior Minister, Mr Yaw
Osafo-Maafo, was on Wednesday, quoted as saying that Ghana imported a whopping
GH¢1.3bn worth of rice into the country in 2016/2017.
He was angry that Ghana could use
such amount in importing rice when it could have been used for other essential
things.
"This is, indeed, sad
because we can grow rice anywhere in Ghana.
"The amount could have been
used rather on the importation of machinery and medications in the better
interest of the nation," he said.
The Senior Minister added
"if you want to develop, produce food and do not import food".
The Ghanaian Times shares the
view of Mr Osafo-Maafo which we believe many Ghanaians would agree with.
There is no one who would
disagree with the fact that Ghana is naturally blessed with all the resources
to produce food bountifully and in a massive way.
It is, therefore difficult to
understand why we have remained uncompetitive in rice production and continue
to import such large quantities into the country.
We agree that rice as a staple
food, is one of the food commodities whose demand is rapidly growing. Rice
consumption has increased tremendously and nearly every home consumes rice.
It is, not surprising therefore
that; the volumes are increasing year on year. What is rather baffling is that,
no effort is being made to increase domestic production of rice.
Rice is by far, the second most
important cereal crop after maize, yet the country is unable to produce it
locally in large quantities to feed the nation.
This situation has created
conditions for the unbridled importation of rice at the expense of production
locally.
Ghana has the potential to
produce rice everywhere in every part of the country and capable of producing
yields that could feed the nation.
We find the current trend
unhelpful for the country's economy. It is therefore time for the country to
implement policies that would encourage domestic productivity and consumption
of local rice.
That would save the country huge
sums of foreign exchange which can be used for the importation of machinery or
set up factories to provide employment for the youth.
We urge our policy makers to
institute measures that would encourage our farmers to produce more and to make
importation of rice unattractive.
Marcos urges DA, NFA
to buy P37-billion worth of ‘palay’ from local farmers
Published September 14, 2019, 2:04 PM
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senator Imee Marcos has urged the government to release P37
billion for the purchase of palay from local rice farmers.
Senator Imee Marcos (Senator Imee Marcos Official Facebook Page
/ FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Marcos on Saturday said it was urgent for the government to buy
unmilled rice from farmers who are hurting from low farmgate prices due to the
Rice Tariffication Law.
“Our fear is that local rice will flood the market when harvest
season begins next week, so the NFA (National Food Authority) should already be
buying palay from local farmers while prices are relatively higher, or we’d be
done for,” Marcos said in a statement.
The senator said she filed Friday proposed Senate Joint
Resolution No. 4, which urges the Department of Agriculture (DA) and NFA to
immediately purchase palay, with funds from subsidy programs of the Departments
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of National Defense (DND),
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Marcos claimed that the DSWD, alone, has P33.9 billion that can
be used to buy palay and give rice instead of cash to beneficiaries of the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
She added that P2.9 billion more from the DND and the DILG can
be used to buy rice allocations for the military, police and other uniformed
personnel.
DA Secretary William Dar earlier said that the DA and DSWD were
finalizing an agreement to use the latter’s P28-billion rice subsidy fund under
the 4Ps.
During the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food’s hearing on
the implementation of the rice tariffication law late August, senators scolded
the NFA for supposedly not buying rice from local farmers and instead hoarding
some four million sacks of imported rice in its warehouses.
Farmers groups’ are blaming the cheaper rice imports allowed by
the enactment of the Republic Act 11203 for the decline in the farmgate prices
of rice, affecting further the measly income of the country’s rice farmers.
Raman Singh denies
role in Chattisgarh PDS ‘scam’ after accused claims he played part
The former
manager Shiv Shankar Bhatt, who was posted in Civil Supplies department in
Raipur in 2001, gave a statement under oath to the local court alleging that he
was privy to supplying of Rs 5 crore cash to the BJP party office during 2013
state assembly elections. Bhatt was arrested in 2015 and is currently on bail.
Updated: Sep 13, 2019 22:59 IST
Former
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has termed the allegations of his
involvement in the PDS ‘scam’ as Congress ‘vendetta’(HT PHOTO)
One of the accused in the alleged
Chhattisgarh public distribution system (PDS) scam, in a statement under oath
said former Chief Minister Raman Singh and former minister Punnulal Mohale were
involved in the irregularities and caused a huge loss to the state exchequer.
The former manager Shiv Shankar
Bhatt, who was posted in Civil Supplies department in Raipur in 2001, gave a
statement under oath to the local court alleging that he was privy to supplying
of Rs 5 crore cash to the BJP party office during 2013 state assembly elections.
Bhatt was arrested in 2015 and is currently on bail.
Raman Singh, in a press conference
later on Friday evening, accused the Congress government of vendetta politics
and denied all allegations leveled against him and the party members.
“They are misusing powers of the
government. The main accused of PDS scam Bhatt, who had spent 4 years in jail,
is trying to malign the image of BJP and senior BJP leaders. As far as
allegation of supplying money to the BJP office, the party only takes money
through cheque and audit has been done every year,” said Raman Singh adding
that he had full faith in the court.
Bhatt’s 21-point detailed statement
claimed that in 25 October 2013, he was privy to supplying money to the BJP
office on strict directives of former Chief Minister Raman Singh and former
civil supplies Minister Punnulal Mohle and Bhojvani. The fund, he said, was to
be collected from rice millers and was handed over to one Jain in BJP office in
the presence of other senior leaders of the BJP.
“In November 2013, prior to
assembly election Raman Singh said in a meeting that he has to manage the
election expenses… and he told us that he (Raman Singh) also needed funds for
panchayat elections of 2015..,” Bhatt’s five page statement alleged.
In the statement, Bhatt alleged
that in the year 2013, 21 lakh fake ration cards were made against the
officials’ wishes. Raman Singh, Punnulal Mohale and President of Civil Supplies
Corporation commonly known as ‘NAN’, Leelaram Bhojavani were involved in making
the fake ration cards.
The statement claimed that
Bhojavani later accepted the presence of 12 lakh fake ration cards but an
impartial investigation was never conducted.
“ ... No one raised questions
against Raman Singh, I want a complete investigation in the case,” the
statement claimed adding that his life was in danger.
The alleged PDS scam was unearthed
in 2014 and after a year, a PIL was filed by Sudeep Shrivasatva, an advocate,
in Chhattisgarh high court demanding an SIT investigation in the case.
Shrivastava in his PIL alleged the investigating agency saved few officers who
were involved in the scam.
As per Shirvastava, total 27 people
were named in the FIR registered by ACB in which only 12 were chargsheeted.
Later, six other accused were added which include two IAS officers.
KMP’s
Ramos calls for repeal of rice tariff act
Rice
farmers on Friday blamed the Rice Tariffication Law or Republic Act No. 11203
for the drop in the prices of “palay” or unhusked rice to their disadvantage.
In
an interview, Danilo Ramos, Kilusang Magbubukid ang Pilipinas chairperson,
called for the repeal of the law that caused the influx of cheaper imported
rice.
“The
rice trade liberalization is slowly killing the lowly farmers and the rice
industry itself,” Ramos said, adding farmers are getting destitute.
“We
went around to see if there was still NFA (National Food Authority) rice being
sold in many markets. We saw none since over a week ago,” he told the Manila
Standard.
This
developed as lawmakers said Friday the NFA needs at least P10 billion to
help farmers as RA 11203, which allows unlimited rice imports, affects their
livelihood.
Makabayan
bloc party-list legislators Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Euphemia
Cullamat of Bayan Muna, France Castro of Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Arlene
Brosas of Gabriela and Sarah Elago of Kabataan made the call after the
tariffication law brought the farmgate prices of unmilled rice to as low as P7
per kilo.
“We
in the Makabayan block see that P10 billion is needed by NFA to buy the palay
from farmers at P20 per kilo, so the NFA could sell this to the market at P27
per kilo,” Zarate told reporters.
“That’s
the budget the government needs to subsidize our farmers,” he added.
Rice
farmers are suffering and are losing a lot of income because of the law, Ramos
lamented.
Even
rice millers are hurting, he said.
According
to Ramos, while President Rodrigo Duterte has told the NFA to buy palay
directly from the farmers, the law “has removed NFA’s role of palay
procurement.”
“I
have just come from Central Luzon and found out that a kilo of palay is being
bought at P6 to P7 compared against the price of ‘darak’ (rice husk) at P12,”
he said.
“The
Rice Tariffication Law must be repealed,” Ramos added.
Gabriela
party-list Arlene Brosas has filed House Bill No. 477 or the Rice Industry Development
Act of 2019 to protect the both the welfare of the farmers and consumers, the
KMP chief noted.
KMP
is composed of 65 organizations of local farmers in 15 regions in Luzon, the
Visayas and Mindanao, according to Ramos.
Cathy
Estabillo, Bantay Bigas spokesperson, on Thursday blamed the passage of the
Rice Tariffication Law for government’s failure to stabilize the prices of rice
in the market.
Under
the law, the NFA could only be allowed to procure palay for its buffer stock of
15 days to 30 days only, she lamented.
“And
that procurement would only be for calamity purposes,” Estabillo said.
At
least 10 million Filipinos depend on NFA rice being sold at P27 per kilo, she
said, citing data of the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“The
people, the millers and the farmers suffer a lot from the effects of the law,”
she told the Manila Standard.
Estabillo
said the P1.5-billion Survival and Recovery Assistance program is just a
“palliative measure” that offers a P15,000 loan to a rice farmers cultivating
one hectare or less at zero percent interest and payable in eight years.
“A
cost of production for a one-hectare farm could peg at P50,000 to P65,000 to be
able to plant rice. What good is the P15,000 loan?” she asked.
Silvestre
Bonto, president of the National Confederation of Irrigators Association Inc.
with over 1.2 million rice farmers, said despite the influx of imported rice,
the prices of commercial rice in the market still remain high.
“The
NCIA is the most affected group since 67 percent to 70 percent of the rice
supply come from us,” he told the Standard.
He
complained that prices of palay would range from P8 per kilo to P12 per kilo.
“What
is too disappointing is, retailers in the markets or stores sell rice at a h
high cost,” he said.
He
partly blamed the retailers for the price increase of commercial rice, saying
they sometimes dictate the prices of rice.
“Why
is this so? A rice retailer sometimes could only sell two sacks of rice a day,
or at a maximum of five to 10 sacks a day. How do you expect them to earn for
day if they do not raise their prices?” he asked.
FFI
director discusses fortification
Photo
courtesy of FFI.
09.13.2019
By Arvin
Donley
For many years the Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) has been campaigning
for the vitaminization of industrially produced flours and their enrichment
with minerals in order to eliminate deficiency symptoms caused by malnutrition.
And it has made significant progress, as it has become a mandatory practice in
82 countries.
There is also an effort to fortify other grain-based foods,
including rice. World Grain recently interviewed the director of the FFI, Scott
J. Montgomery, to get an update on the initiative.
WG: Food Fortification made
significant progress over recent decades globally. Why does FFI further
advocate fortification and how can we make a significant impact globally in
mandating fortification?
MONTGOMERY: Although much progress has
been made, we have more work to do. We estimate that in 2018, of the world’s industrially
milled cereal grains, only about one-third of the wheat flour, half the maize
flour, and less than 1% of the rice was fortified. We also know many countries
lack monitoring systems to ensure that fortified products contain the amounts
of vitamins and minerals required by their country. We can make a significant
impact by helping countries that are not fortifying now to start and implement
effective programs, and also helping countries with established programs ensure
they are maximizing fortification’s potential impact.
WG: What are the main challenges facing
fortification programs?
MONTGOMERY: The challenges to fortification vary according to
countries and are sometimes region specific. For example, some places have a
cultural bias against any perception of food adulteration, including
fortification. In other places, foods do not comply with the amounts of
vitamins and minerals stipulated in the national standard, and this compromises
the health impact of the program. Non-compliance is due to a host of reasons,
such as limited number of food safety inspectors or lack of effective industry
incentives. In some countries, the national standards do not optimize the
number or levels of nutrients to include in fortification programs.
WG: Rice fortification is a key
focus of the Food Fortification Initiative. What is the strategic approach to
scaling up rice fortification
MONTGOMERY: With advances in technology
for fortifying kernels in the last few years, rice has been accepted as an
appropriate food to fortify. Yet less than 1% of industrially milled rice is
fortified today, which means that rice is not fortified at volumes needed to
reach economies of scale and long-term sustainability. Rice prices are
extremely sensitive, so fortified rice must be produced at scale to lead to a
viable and cost-effective intervention. FFI has identified countries and
regions where scaling up rice fortification is feasible based on the supply of
industrially milled rice and the volume of rice consumption. These include West
Africa and parts of China and India where massive demand for fortified rice
would instantly lead to scale-up. We believe that rice fortification has to be
mandatory to create equitable competition for producers and to simplify the
monitoring process.
WG: How does rice fortification
differ from fortifying wheat flour?
MONTGOMERY: Rice fortification differs
from wheat flour because it’s not just a powder-to-powder blending process.
Instead, rice fortification involves producing a fortified kernel that is blended
with the non-fortified, milled rice, with fortified kernels making up between
0.5% to 2% of the blend. Producing these fortified kernels is not simple, but
every country may not need its own fortified kernel production plant, depending
on its demand for fortified rice. Industrial rice mills in rice exporting
countries need to easily procure fortified kernels prior to export. Basically,
the supply chain needs consolidated points that allow an efficient blending of
fortified kernels with the non-fortified, milled rice. Before investing in a
facility to create high quality fortified kernels, it is critical for a company
to be assured that there is a high demand for fortified kernels. We estimate
that a demand of nearly 2 million tonnes of rice per year is needed to keep a
fortified kernel plant operating at scale.
WG: Rice fortification is at a very
early stage, although rice is a staple food for over 3 billion people globally.
What are the key nutrients missing in polished rice?
MONTGOMERY: Most naturally occurring vitamins
and minerals in rice are removed with the bran in milling. The remaining
polished grain is predominately the starchy endosperm. The rice bran includes
vitamins B1, B3 and B6 as well as the minerals iron, copper and manganese.
Ultimately, each country decides which nutrients and the levels of each
nutrient to include in fortified rice based on the needs of its population.
WG: Which regions do you see rice
fortification will be scaled-up and what is needed to make it happen?
MONTGOMERY: West Africa is an obvious
answer. We have identified 12 countries in this region where rice is commonly
consumed, and the milling industries or imported rice industries could be
candidates for fortification. Scaling up rice fortification in these countries would
require a critical mass of countries to mandate that imported rice as well as
local industrially milled rice is fortified. We are in the midst of a very
specific proposal and road map to make that happen.
WG: What are the main drivers of
micronutrient deficiencies beside poverty and lacking access to food and water?
MONTGOMERY: Micronutrient deficiencies are not
prejudiced; they impact low- and middle-income countries as well as high-income
countries. Being overweight or obese can cause vitamin mineral loss, and this
is increasing in countries of all economic strata. Chronic diseases and
infectious diseases also lead to micronutrient deficiencies. Increasing
urbanization can change people’s diets and food sources, which may result in
micronutrient deficiencies. Folate (vitamin B9) is very hard for the body to
absorb, making it difficult to get enough of this essential nutrient to prevent
brain and spine birth defects without consuming folic acid (the type of vitamin
B9 used in fortification and supplements).
WG: What opportunities and
benefits does fortification open up for the private sector and its customers?
MONTGOMERY: Iron deficiency limits cognitive
ability and productivity. Consequently, fortifying with iron provides the
private sector with a smarter, stronger workforce. Micronutrient deficiencies
also take a toll on a country’s economy. This impacts millers because when
economies are healthy and people have more disposable income, they buy more
foods made with the millers’ products. Also, fortifying can improve the
company’s reputation as it is recognized for its corporate social
responsibility.
WG: Still, many millers see
fortification only as a cost factor to their business. How can we change this
perspective?
MONTGOMERY: The global fortification
community may be partly to blame for this as we have not always made sure
millers understand the key role they play in improving the health of people in
their country as well as the wealth of the country. We need to always
acknowledge the role of millers when we report on the success of a
fortification program. We can also more strongly urge governments to make
fortification as inexpensive for millers as possible by exempting premix from
import duties. Mainly, we need to be sure millers are involved in every aspect
of fortification planning from the beginning of a country’s program.
WG: What are your personal wishes
to all stakeholders to develop fortification programs in a sustainable manner?
MONTGOMERY: I have a lot of aspirations for
fortification, but in short, I wish that all stakeholders would prioritize
nutrition because poor nutrition undermines the success of many other programs
such as education and workplace development. In many countries, grain
fortification is a logical, cost-effect way to correct nutritional
deficiencies, but stakeholders will not consider this without prioritizing
nutrition. Food fortification has been happening for 100 years. I wish grain
fortification was standard milling practice around the world. To be
sustainable, this will require all stakeholders to work together to promote,
plan, implement, and monitor effectively.
ROBERTS:
Truth-tellers are heroes
·
BY STEVE AND COKIE ROBERTS,
syndicated columnists
·
Sep 12, 2019
Sharpie-gate
really matters.
Yes,
President Trump’s erroneous insistence that Alabama would be hit by Hurricane
Dorian — and his ham-handed alteration of an official map to support his
mistake — has spawned countless hilarious memes. But the larger implications of
this incident are far more serious. It starkly symbolizes this president’s
ferocious war on any facts or findings that contradict his warped view of the
world.
He’s
single-handedly destroying the ability of his own government to make sensible
policy because he refuses to accept the work of professionals — scientists and
economists, intelligence analysts and agronomists — who remain dedicated to
their standards of independent nonpartisanship.
Three
former administrators of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) made this point about weather forecasting in the Washington Post, but
their words apply to all information produced by government researchers.
“Even
a hint that a forecast or warning was influenced by politics would undermine
the public’s trust and the ability to respond quickly and effectively under
potentially life-threatening conditions,” wrote Jane Lubchenco, D. James Baker
and Kathryn D. Sullivan. “If political appointees overrule trained scientists,
imposing political concerns on scientific matters, they endanger public safety
as well as the credibility and morale of the agency charged with protecting that
safety.”
When
Trump inflates the size of his inaugural crowds, or denies hush-money payments
to former girlfriends, he’s being outrageous, but not dangerous. But when his
delusions undermine government policy, the consequences can be deeply damaging.
When
he insists that trade wars are “easy to win,” or that tax cuts pay for
themselves, the results can be fiscal disaster. When he denies that Russia
tried to help him win the last election, he cripples our ability to protect the
integrity of future elections.
No
issue illustrates Trump’s war on facts better than climate change. Maria
Caffrey was a climate scientist for the National Park Service who documented
the potential danger to coastal parks from future sea level increases. After
Trump took office, she writes in The Guardian, senior park service officials
“tried repeatedly, often aggressively, to coerce me into deleting references to
the human causes of the climate crisis.”
After
a long battle, Caffrey’s report was published, but she was forced out of her
job. “Politics has no place in science,” she writes. “I am an example of the
less discussed methods the administration is using to destroy scientific
research. ... The current administration may only last a matter of years, but
its actions may potentially impact our planet for centuries.”
As
an analyst in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Rod
Schoonover produced a report “on the national security implications of climate
change” for the House Intelligence Committee. But his superiors truncated his
live testimony and blocked the submission of his written conclusions.
“The
White House trampled not only on the scientific integrity of the assessment but
also on the analytic independence of an arm of the intelligence community,”
Schoonover writes in the Post, after resigning from “the institution I loved.”
Lewis
Ziska, a plant scientist for the Department of Agriculture, documented “how
rice is losing nutrients because of rising levels of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere,” writes Politico. Department officials tried to bury his findings,
“which raised serious concerns for the 600 million people who depend on rice
for most of their calories.”
“You
get the sense that things have changed, that this is not a place for you to be
exploring things that don’t agree with someone’s political views,” Ziska told
Politico. “That’s so sad. I can’t even begin to tell you how sad that is.”
The
political leadership at NOAA bent to the president’s pressure, contradicting
their own analysts and issuing a statement supporting Trump’s fallacious claims
about the risk to Alabama. But the professionals in the agency are fighting
back and defending their integrity.
Craig
McLean, NOAA’s chief scientist, said the heads of his own agency had acted
“inappropriately and incorrectly” when they undermined their staff’s forecast
that Alabama was not in danger. “My understanding is that this intervention to
contradict the forecaster was not based on science, but on external factors
including reputation and appearance — or, simply put, political,” Mclean wrote.
“I
have a responsibility to pursue these truths,” he added. “I will.”
McLean
speaks for a vast army of professionals — judges and journalists, analysts and
researchers — who share his determination. The best way to constrain the Lord
of the Lies is to pursue the truth, wherever it leads.
Trader
Moni: Kebbi Beneficiaries Want FG To Sustain Program
September 13, 2019
Cross section of “TraderMoni ‘ beneficiaries in Kebbi State have
expressed their gratitude over the scheme and called on the federal government
to sustain it in order to continue to boost entrepreneurs in the country.
The beneficiaries made the commendation when the Vice President,
Yemi Osinbajo, came to Birnin Kebbi on Thursday to launch the 24th edition of
National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic and inspect the ongoing
‘TraderMoni’ scheme in Birnin Kebbi.
One of the beneficiaries, a beans cake seller, Fatima Umar said
she got to know about the ‘trader money’ scheme from a friend and after opening
an account she successful gotten alert.
“It was not much of a problem in getting the money I can say.
After filling a form and an account, they send me #10,000 within a week. I feel
so happy because it will boost my bussiness .
“I only hope that federal government will continue with this
gesture for a long time, we really thank them “”, she said.
Sera Jibril also said she benefited from the scheme by securing
Fifty thousand naira.
“The information got to me through our association or group called
‘ Kwazu Women Farmers Association.The leader of our group asked me to fill a
form and open an account which they send me #50,000.
“I commend the federal government, it has really increase my
capital. The idea is to increase one’s capital, and it does. I am into soap and
perfume making and other products of the farm”, she said.
Ibada Atiku is also a trader in Birnin Kebbi who benefited from
the scheme.
According to her, Twenty thousand naira dropped into her account
within days of meeting the criteria.
”I have no words but to say thank you to government for increasing
my trader capital. I will use it to expand my business and my children will as
well benefit from it “, she laughed.
On her part, Toyin Adeniji, Executive Director, Micro Enterprises,
Bank of Industry while fielding questions from newsmen said the Bank of
Industry was a key partner in the program through the office of the Vice
President.
According to her , the bank is the costodian of the ‘Money Market’
and ‘TraderMoni “funds dedicated to helping the growth of Micro,Small and
Medium Enterprises, stimulate the economy through job creation and help in
diversification of Nigeria’s economy.
She said over 35 million MSMEs have been registered across the
country and that the bank had supported rice millers and Farmers with
equipment.
“We also had an arrangement with Kebbi Government to support MSMEs
with a billion naira “”, She explained.
Agriculture Secretary Restricts Alarmist
Announcements
|
Sonny Perdue was well chosen by
President Donald Trump to be Agriculture Secretary. As part of Perdue’s efforts
to put our agricultural house in order, he has succeeded in filling the upper
echelon of the agency with straight shooters. However, below the surface, the
agency remains heavily influenced by misguided scientists promoting the mistake
that life as we know it is being destroyed through the use of our fossil fuels.
They
do this by spreading falsehoods about agriculture being severely diminished by
rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). This, despite the fact that
CO2 is the gas that keeps plants alive just as oxygen keeps us
alive.
These
scientists expect us to believe that a little extra warmth and a lot more CO2 will
wreak havoc on our food supply. Happily, Perdue remembers his high school
science well enough to recognize that this is nonsense and, accordingly, he has
stopped the publishing of the agriculture department’s press releases of
fraudulent science. He cannot easily get rid of the thousands of deep state
operatives in the department, but he can stifle their bull horns intended to
scare the public with unscientific alarmist claims.
Here
are the topics of some of the studies reported by politico.com that did not
result in press releases touting them, presumably because Secretary Perdue
blocked them as inappropriate and unscientific.
- One of the
biggest concerns of biased academics was that faster growing, larger rice
grains would be bad for the hundreds of millions of people across the
world who depend on rice for their survival. Their studies showed that
each rice grain would have a lower percentage of protein and certain
minerals. While this may be true as a percentage, it is not the case as on
a per grain basis. And clearly, the most important ingredient of rice is
its calorie content which sustain that population. That would surely be
increased.
- Reports
that pollution from farming is “likely to increase,” an unsubstantiated
claim.
- The fears
that Prairie grass may contain less protein, an important source of
nutrition for cattle, as a result of more CO2 and
resulting photosynthesis. More weeds are also likely on our farms. While
that too may be true, it is also true that yields of all our crops have
increased as a result of increased CO2. This is why satellites
show us that Africa is 24% greener than it was 30 years ago.
- They say
that a little more warmth may result in an environment friendlier to
insects. By and large, a little more warmth is friendlier to everything
living on Earth, including us. And, of course, they are likely correct
that we can see more pollen in the air too.
- They
propose that there might be more run-off from farms with increased CO2 in
the air, but we suspect that this was forecast to be the result of growing
more marijuana based on their legal use of now.
- Forty-five
studies dealing with climate change were not released as they were all
unsubstantiated opinions not based on verifiable facts. Two studies were
released because they dealt with facts—their calculations showed that
cattle produce an insignificant amount of greenhouse gas (methane)
compared to that in the atmosphere, and that removing beef from our diets
to eliminate methane from cattle would have a negative impact on overall
human health.
In
response to a question from politico.com regarding the decline of press
releases on agriculture/climate studies, Secretary Perdue said in April:
“We
know ‘that’ research, some has been found in the past to not have been
adequately peer-reviewed in a way that created wrong information, and we’re
very serious when we say we’re fact-based, data-driven decision makers. That
relies on sound replicable science rather than opinion. What I see
unfortunately happens many times is that we tried to make policy decisions
based on political science rather than one sound science.”
If
this causes your eyes to glaze over, just remember what we know for sure: CO2 makes
up far less than one percent of the atmosphere’s heat trapping greenhouse gases
and only four ten thousandth of all the molecules in the air. This places CO2 at
one of the lowest levels in Earth’s history, leaving us far closer to a
dangerously low level of the gas than any risk of too high a level. CO2 could
triple and we would see nothing but positive effects.
Indeed,
most plants are best adapted to far higher levels of CO2 than
we currently have in the atmosphere, which is why greenhouse operators
regularly boost the gas to 1200 parts per million, three times that found in
the outside air.
The
result? Plants grow faster and with less water requirements. Secretary Perdue
is right to put the lid on alarmist climate claims.
Dr.
Jay Lehr is Senior Policy Advisor with of the Ottawa-based International
Climate Science Coalition (ICSC) and former Science
Director of The
Heartland Institute which is based in Arlington
Heights, Illinois. Tom Harris is Executive Director of ICSC and a policy
advisor to Heartland.
Rice
Doing Good in the Neighborhood
WASHINGTON,
DC -- With corporate headquarters in northern Virginia just outside Washington,
Mars, Incorporated calls the area home. And with its purpose of
"Creating a Better World Tomorrow," it should come as no surprise the
company and its employees are actively engaged in giving back to
communities. Last week, the company, maker of Uncle Ben's and Seeds of
Change rice lines, participated in a neighborhood free farmers market with
Bread for the City, one of the most respected charitable organizations in the
region."Bread for the City is a safety net for folks here fighting not only to end poverty, but also to help bridge gaps for underserved people on many fronts - legal, medical, social, and nutritional," explained the organization's CEO George A. Jones. "Food insecurity affects so many residents of our city and federal assistance only provides help for 26 days. At Bread for the City we're covering the shortfall."
They do this with a food pantry, area farms, and twice monthly free farmers markets that feature fresh produce donated by area farmers and other organizations. And last week, it also featured an Uncle Ben's booth.
"We gave out about 300 ready-to-heat packages of Uncle Ben's rice with a recipe card, a coupon for another free Uncle Ben's rice product, and of course, a delicious sample of veggie stir fry brown rice using ingredients like those handed out at the market and what is regularly available in the Bread for the City pantry," said Kelly Horton, from Mars North America Public Affairs, who led the team at the event.
Other areas of the Mars family were also involved, with Wrigley oral healthcare samples, and a free preventive care veterinary health clinic from the Banfield Pet Hospital and Foundation team offering checkups at no charge.
Mars and Bread for the City have partnered before, though this was the first time any outside vendor was brought into the free farmers market.
"Mars says '#TomorrowStartsToday,' and that mantra fits perfectly with ours that encourages people to #GiveWhereYouLive," said Emmy Torruellas, Bread for the City associate director of development. "We are all about Dignity, Respect, Service, and Justice and it's partnerships and support from the community of volunteers and good corporate citizens that make that all possible. We appreciate Mars' participation at our market and I know our clients did as well."
USA RICE Daily
In
Memory: Iris Danklefs
USA Rice extends condolences to the
family and friends of Iris Danklefs, of El Campo, Texas, who passed away
September 11, at the age of 97. Iris is survived by her sons, Jim and Kenneth, her daughter, Donna Kent, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Iris graduated from the Southwest Texas State Teachers College, and started her teaching career at Crescent School near El Campo. She later taught English at Rice Consolidated ISD.
Visitation is this evening from 5-7:00 p.m. at Triska Funeral Home, located at 612 Merchant Street in El Campo. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., September 14, at Lehrer Memorial Methodist Church in Garwood, Texas. Memorials may be made to the Garwood Volunteer Fire Department or Lehrer Memorial Methodist Church.
USA
Rice Daily
Arkansas produces
more rice than any other state in the country
The Arkansas Rice Federation celebrates Arkansas Rice
Month each September.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Did you know Arkansas produces more rice than
any other state in the country?
It's a huge part of the state’s economy. That's why the
Arkansas Rice Federation celebrates Arkansas Rice Month each September. They're
utilizing creative ways to encourage Arkansans to support the state’s booming
rice industry.
Small grains make a huge difference in Arkansas. Arkansas rice
contributes over $6 billion to the state’s economy every year and employs
nearly 25,000 Arkansans. The rice industry and its impact is a cause for
celebration and an opportunity to raise awareness of its importance.
Lauren Waldrip, Executive Director of the Arkansas Rice
Federation, said they chose the month of September to honor Arkansas rice
farmers for multiple reasons.
“September is the time our farmers start harvesting every year so
this is something we do annually to celebrate the harvest and farmers that grow
the safe and quality food supply we enjoy in Arkansas and around the world,”
she said.
This year, the Federation is raising awareness of the rice industry by partnering with local restaurants.“Consumers are concerned about where their food comes from and how it was grown so by partnering with restaurants and connecting them with our farmers we can close the loop on that and illustrate that entire process,” said Waldrip.
This year, the Federation is raising awareness of the rice industry by partnering with local restaurants.“Consumers are concerned about where their food comes from and how it was grown so by partnering with restaurants and connecting them with our farmers we can close the loop on that and illustrate that entire process,” said Waldrip.
Local restaurants will be highlighting their rice dishes all month
long. Some are doing unique things, too. Participating restaurants are having
everything from special rice themed brunch menus to local rice beers and creamy
delicious rice grits. Chef Donnie Ferneau with Cathead’s Diner is partnering
with the Arkansas Rice Federation highlighting Cathead’s Arkansas made grits.
Ferneau said choosing to serve local rice is a priority. He often serves
Ralston Family Farms rice.
“When you look at what Arkansas farmers can do you want to
stimulate that economic growth and keep that money funneling through so we can
consistently have that rice,” he said. “Plus, it just tastes better.” Waldrip
is hoping this year's efforts of supporting local restaurants who support local
rice will help get more people excited about the industry.
“When you support your neighbors you are supporting the state’s
largest industry which is agriculture and that is essentially supporting the
state as a whole,” said Waldrip.
For more information about participating restaurants in Arkansas
Rice Month plus other events and activities, click here.
Pakistan’s
regional trade dilemma
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
The country’s trade deficit
plummeted by nearly 38 percent in the first two months of current fiscal year,
driven majorly by a decline in the imports of non-essential luxury items amid
exorbitant import duties. The macroeconomic indicators may have been an
encouraging factor for economic pundits, however, the country is missing upon
major trade potential within its region.
Pakistan is one of the lowest
regionally-integrated countries in the world as the country’s trade with its
regional partners has remained paltry over the years.
The desired improvement in
imports and exports was partly achieved after the government implemented
reforms under the 39-month IMF loan programme, which started in July. The loan
programme binds the government to undertake structural reforms. These included
increase in the key interest rate which stood at an eight-year high of 13.25%
in July, depreciation of the rupee, which fell 32% to Rs160 to the US dollar in
FY19, upward revision in power and gas tariffs and an ambitious tax-collection
target of Rs5.55 trillion for the current fiscal year among other tough
conditions for steering the economy out of the crisis.
Pakistan’s exports have been
conventional in nature and that most of its exports are destined to US, EU, the
GCC and regional countries. Exports to China have increased over the years and
as of 2018, China had overtaken UK as the second largest export destination for
Pakistani export commodities.
Pakistan’s trade balance with its
regional partners has cumulatively been mostly negative in the last 10 years.
The country recorded its highest ever deficit of $1.06 billion, up from a
deficit of $0.69 billion in the previous year. Pakistan Business Council (PBC)
revealed in its latest report that “As of 2018, the share of regional partners
in Pakistan’s imports was 4.67 percent against a share of 7.42 percent in
Pakistan’s exports.” Although Pakistan shares a border with China, Pakistan has
a Free Trade Agreement with China and is also integrated under the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) hence the regional trade dilemma
revolves around India, Afghanistan and Iran.
The trade partnership with India
has witnessed a drastic dip ever since 2013 and remains on the negative trend
amid political and security disputes between the arch rivals. Despite sharing
longest land border and an export potential of $1.59 billion for just the top
20 high potential items as of 2018, the country’s imports to India has been
meager $0.38 billion. On the import side top 20 high potential import products
from India were worth $7 billion. However as of 2018, the actual imports from
India stood at $1.93 billion while exports clocked at only $0.38 billion
resultantly posting a trade deficit of $1.55 billion by the end of fiscal year
2018.
Pakistan’s western neighbor
Afghanistan with whom the country shares the most hostile border In the world
was always a significant trading partner, however since 2011 there has been a
decline in the trade volumes .As of 2018 Pakistan’s untapped export potential
to Afghanistan remained $354 million for top 20 potential products. The import
potential from Afghanistan for the top 20 potential products was steady at $56
million as of 2018 which was marginally less in contrast to current imports
from Afghanistan. As of 2018, Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan stood at $1.35
billion while the import remained $0.51 billion, above and beyond its potential
trade capacity.
Similarly, the case is not
different with Iran as only as the trade volume is very limited with exports to
Iran being meager $22.77 million while imports were amounted to $373.97 million
in 2018.The data shows that the potential for trade between the two countries
is immense which is majorly marred by hostility on the border and US sanctions
on Iran. For the top 20 high potential Pakistan items for export to Iran has a
potential of worth $1.91 billion, rice alone among these commodities has a
potential of $1.2 billion. The import potential from Iran for top 20 items
stands at $7.18 billion.
Pakistan has much greater
potential to tap into regional markets and integrate its trading capital with
its regional partners to enhance the value of its trade. Domestic policies may
have shown encouraging results, however unless the trade deficit isn’t squeezed
by increasing exports and generally increasing trade partners near home, the
short term overhaul policies will not drive long lasting economic results.
Regional trade has proven to be a key tool in economic development and
competitiveness in various regions of the world, however trade amongst the countries
of South Asia has traditionally remained low.
Non-Basmati rice exports dropped by 37 per cent
Though Basmati
rice exports have also declined 1.5 per cent, but experts don't suggest price
as reason behind it
Saturday September 14, 2019 12:53 PM, P.K. Jha, IANS
New Delhi: Rising domestic rice prices have affected exports this
year with shipment of the non-Basmati variety falling about 37 per cent or 10
lakh tonnes, over the previous year.
Though Basmati rice exports have
also declined 1.5 per cent, but experts don't suggest price as reason behind
it.
Arvind Kumar Gupta, Director of
the Basmati Export Development Institution that comes under the Agricultural
and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), told IANS,
"Prices of non-Basmati rice are high in the country, which has affected
its demand overseas. Exports have declined in the first four months of this
financial year (FY20) against the corresponding period of FY19".
According to APEDA data,
17,06,891 tonnes of non-Basmati rice were exported in April-July of FY20
against 26,94,827 tonnes in the same period of FY19. The non-Basmati rice
exports have declined around 9.88 lakh tonnes or 36.66 per cent.
In value terms, it has declined
by 36.30 per cent to Rs 48.16 crore over the smape period of FY19. Similarly,
Basmati rice exports have declined by 1.42 lakh tonnes to 14.35 lakh tonnes
between April and July against the year-ago period.
Vijay Setia, Chairman, All India
Rice Exporters Association, said due to the high prices of non-Basmati rice its
demand had soften in the foreign market. "The paddy is sold on the minimum
support price (MSP) decided by the government, which pushes rates compared with
other competitive countries".
Rise in local production in the
importing countries is also the reason behind the falling demand. For instance,
demand in Bangladesh has come down because of domestic production, said Setia.
India is world's top rice
exporter, followed by Thailand and Vietnam. Pakistan also exports rice.
"Countries, like Bangladesh,
have to pay less shipping charges when they import rice from India. Therefore,
high-prices don't cost them much. But in the far away African countries, the
situation is different. They purchase it from where they find it cheaper,"
Gupta told IANS.
There is a price difference of
around $30 per tonne of non-Basmati rice between India and other nations. It
meant that the domestic price was $30 per tonne higher, said Gupta.
AIADMK warns govt of
agitation if cash for free rice not remitted in beneficiaries account
Sep 13 2019 4:14PM
Puducherry,
Sep 13 (UNI) AIADMK legislature party leader A Anbazhagan on friday warned the
government that his party would resort to massive agitations if the government
failed to remit the cash for free rice in the bank account of the beneficiaries
forthwith.
Talking to news persons here, Mr Anbazhagan said that if needed the party after obtaining the permission from the High Command would approach the court on the issue.
Talking to news persons here, Mr Anbazhagan said that if needed the party after obtaining the permission from the High Command would approach the court on the issue.
Gov't
urged to use rice subsidy to buy palay from farmers
By
Filane Mikee Cervantes September 13, 2019, 7:16 pm
MANILA -- A joint resolution, urging
government agencies to use a total allocation of PHP37 billion for the rice
subsidy program to buy rice from local farmers, has been filed at the Senate to
protect them from the recent liberalization of rice importation.
According to a statement on Friday,
Senator Imee Marcos filed Senate Joint Resolution No. 4, which urges the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior
and Local Government, Department of National Defense, Department of
Transportation, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in
coordination with the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Department of
Agriculture, to directly buy palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers.
"Despite the efforts made by
the government to protect the local rice industry, large stocks of imported
rice have depressed the buying price of local palay to levels way below the
cost production," Marcos said in the resolution.
Marcos said the government can use
the allocation of PHP33.9 billion for rice subsidies in the 2019 General
Appropriations Act, the largest of which is given to the beneficiaries of the
DSWD under the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
She added that the remaining
allocations of PHP2.89 billion for the rice subsidy programs of military
uniformed personnel, such as the provision of twenty kilos of rice per month,
in the form of financial assistance, to the uniformed personnel of the Philippine
Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine
National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Bureau of Fire
Protection can also be utilized.
The senator also noted that
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the NFA to expend their budget of PHP7
billion for procuring palay from local farmers to provide immediate support and
assistance to the local rice industry.
She stressed the need to give
assistance to two million farmers suffering due to the drop in farm gate prices
of palay after nearly four million bags of rice flooded the Philippine markets.
"Dapat ngayon ang presyo ng
palay ay mataas na at mamili na ang NFA dahil ang fear natin
na matambakan tayo ng lokal na bigas habang papasok na ang anihan(harvest
season) next week, yari tayo (The NFA should immediately
increase the buying price for palay and start purchasing it from local farmers.
Our fear is that we might be flooded with local rice once harvest season starts
next week)," Marcos said. (PNA)
Iran sanctions hit Basmati rice farmers
THE ASIAN AGE. | TANVEER THAKUR
Published : Sep 13, 2019, 3:18 am IST
Updated : Sep 13, 2019, 3:18 am IST
Farmers have been struggling to
get payments of the rice consignments after the imposition of trade sanctions
on Iran.
A file photo of protesting farmers resting under a tent on
the rail tracks at Muchhal village near Amritsar. (Photo: PTI)
Premium Basmati farmers and
traders of Punjab and Haryana are facing a lot of hardship. They have been
struggling for long to get payments of the rice consignments after the
imposition of trade sanctions on Iran. Now with the Basmati crop reaching the
markets, the growers and traders are looking at bleak future as Iran is the
biggest importer of high-quality Indian Basmati.
Earlier this year, there was some
cheer among the growers due to increase in the export of Basmati.
However, the euphoria was
short-lived as payments from Iran got delayed. According to some estimates,
payment for 1 lakh tonne of Basmati worth Rs 1,000 crore has been delayed.
Perturbed over the issue, the
exporters have sought intervention of the Central government into the issue.
According to Agricultural and
Processed Foods Exports Development Authority, total Basmati exports from the
country touched 8.64 lakh tonnes during April-May 2019 as compared to 7.45 lakh
tonnes during the corresponding period previous fiscal. Out of this, Basmati
exports to Iran were 3.33 lakh tonnes as compared to 2.41 lakh tonnes in
2018-19 during the same period. Iran has been a major market for Indian Basmati
and accounted for around 34% of the country’s overall basmati exports during
2018-19.
“The payment against Indian basmati shipments
to Iran has got stuck at Iranian ports as the Government of Iran has stopped
issuing Indian currency (at concessional rate) to Iranian rice importers
without any prior notice. According to estimates, around 1 lakh tonne of
basmati valued at around Rs 1,000 crore is lying at Iranian ports,” said Vinod
Kumar Kaul, executive director, All India Rice Exporters Association. If the
issue of delayed payment persists for a longer time, it might hit the earnings
of farmers from the region as Punjab and Haryana account for over 70-75% of the
total volume-wise exports. According to Mr Kaul, in the current scenario, the
market has shown a price slump of around 15%, which will affect the
remuneration to farmers once the new crop flows in. However, the woes of
Basmati rice exporters of Punjab and Haryana aggravated.
High prices cut
non-Basmati rice exports 37%
Rising domestic rice prices have affected exports this year with
shipment of the non-Basmati variety falling about 37 per cent or 10 lakh
tonnes, over the previous year.
Written By: IANS
Updated: Sat, Sep 14, 2019
09:50 am
09:50 am
IANS
Rising domestic rice prices have affected exports this year with
shipment of the non-Basmati variety falling about 37 per cent or 10 lakh
tonnes, over the previous year. Though Basmati rice exports have also declined
1.5 per cent, but experts don`t suggest price as reason behind it.
Arvind Kumar Gupta, Director of the Basmati Export Development
Institution that comes under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority (APEDA), told IANS, "Prices of non-Basmati
rice are high in the country, which has affected its demand overseas. Exports
have declined in the first four months of this financial year (FY20) against
the corresponding period of FY19".
According to APEDA data, 17,06,891 tonnes of non-Basmati rice
were exported in April-July of FY20 against 26,94,827 tonnes in the same period
of FY19. The non-Basmati rice exports have declined around 9.88 lakh tonnes or
36.66 per cent.
In value terms, it has declined by 36.30 per cent to Rs 48.16
crore over the smape period of FY19. Similarly, Basmati rice exports have
declined by 1.42 lakh tonnes to 14.35 lakh tonnes between April and July
against the year-ago period.
Vijay Setia, Chairman, All India Rice Exporters Association,
said due to the high prices of non-Basmati rice its demand had soften in the
foreign market. "The paddy is sold on the minimum support price (MSP)
decided by the government, which pushes rates compared with other competitive
countries".
Rise in local production in the importing countries is also the reason
behind the falling demand. For instance, demand in Bangladesh has come down
because of domestic production, said Setia.
India is world`s top rice exporter, followed by Thailand and
Vietnam. Pakistan also exports rice.
"Countries, like Bangladesh, have to pay less shipping
charges when they import rice from India. Therefore, high-prices don`t cost
them much. But in the far away African countries, the situation is different.
They purchase it from where they find it cheaper," Gupta told IANS.
There is a price difference of around $30 per tonne of
non-Basmati rice between India and other nations. It meant that the domestic
price was $30 per tonne higher, said Gupta.
|
Rice importers’
strict requirements discourage local firms
|
|||
|
|||
|
Friday, Sep 13, 2019,15:41 (GMT+7)
|
|||
|
Rice Prices
as on :
13-09-2019 12:06:15 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Barhaj(UP)
|
90.00
|
28.57
|
6478.00
|
2430
|
2430
|
8.97
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
50.00
|
NC
|
1626.50
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Jorhat(ASM)
|
45.00
|
NC
|
1196.00
|
3400
|
3400
|
6.25
|
|
Karimganj(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
300.00
|
2450
|
2450
|
-
|
|
Naugarh(UP)
|
37.50
|
-9.64
|
2366.00
|
2460
|
2450
|
19.13
|
|
Balrampur(UP)
|
22.00
|
-21.43
|
431.00
|
2250
|
2260
|
-
|
|
Vilthararoad(UP)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
751.00
|
2150
|
2150
|
-1.83
|
|
Tamkuhi Road(UP)
|
8.00
|
6.67
|
506.50
|
2250
|
2250
|
5.14
|
|
Jhansi(UP)
|
7.50
|
25
|
141.10
|
2325
|
2370
|
3.56
|
|
Panchpedwa(UP)
|
6.00
|
15.38
|
668.10
|
1940
|
1925
|
-
|
|
Soharatgarh(UP)
|
5.00
|
42.86
|
431.00
|
2460
|
2470
|
18.84
|
|
Gadaura(UP)
|
3.50
|
133.33
|
377.00
|
2300
|
2300
|
7.48
|
|
Nautnava(UP)
|
2.00
|
33.33
|
259.10
|
2350
|
2250
|
-
|
|
Anandnagar(UP)
|
1.50
|
50
|
218.40
|
2300
|
2400
|
-
|
|
Shikohabad(UP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
152.50
|
2950
|
2960
|
1.03
|
Published
on September 13, 2019
Govt imposes
$850/tonne minimum export price on onion
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article29407253.ece Purdue
postdoctoral researcher named HHMI Hanna Gray fellow
Daniel Gonzales (Courtesy
photo)WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —A postdoctoral neuroscience researcher in Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering has been selected into the Hanna Gray Fellowship of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Daniel Gonzales of San Angelo,
Texas, was one of 15 outstanding early career scientists, announced on Thursday
(Sept.12).
“Receiving an extremely
competitive fellowship such as the HHMI Hanna Gray is a tremendous honor that
reflects the high-quality research being performed by Daniel in our Weldon
School,” said George R. Wodicka, Purdue’s Dane A. Miller Head of Biomedical
Engineering. “Daniel comes to Purdue with an extraordinary record of
accomplishment in nanoscience at Rice University and is now using that strong
base to tackle the challenge of mapping subcellular neural circuit function.
The HHMI Hanna Gray Fellowship will allow him to fully pursue such high-impact
interdisciplinary research and aid in his goal of becoming a faculty member in
the future.”
Gonzales studies how dendrites,
or the wires of the brain, transmit information and plays a role in basic tasks
like touch, vision, memory and learning.
“My work is a bridge between
engineering, technology and neuroscience,” he said. “As neuroscientists, we
want to record electrical activity from the brain to understand how it senses
the world, makes decisions, drives behavior and forms memories. Dendrites play
a significant role in each of these basic brain functions. However, probing and
studying the brain at such a fine scale is incredibly difficult as dendrites
are only about one one-hundredth the diameter of a hair.”
To study dendrites, Gonzales and
his advisor, Krishna Jayant, assistant professor in the Weldon School of
Biomedical Engineering, are developing a set of nanoscale probes. The
technology can record activity from some of the smallest structures of the
brain and conforms to the brain surface. The probes allow Gonzales and Jayant
to interface with individual dendrites and listen to the brain’s conversations.
They refer to their array of probes as the “Nano-Needle Net.” The team is also
collaborating with Scott Pluta, assistant professor in the Department of
Biological Sciences, to use the Nano-Needle Net to dissect the dendritic
circuit mechanisms involved in touch.
The HHMI Hanna Gray Fellows
Program provides each fellow with up to $1.4 million in funding over eight
years, mentoring and active involvement in the HHMI community. In the first
four years of the program, HHMI supports the fellow’s postdoctoral training.
The next four years, the fellow is supported as a faculty member at a research
university. The program’s goal is to increase diversity in science and encourage
talented early career scientists who have the potential to become leaders in
academic research. HHMI has now recognized 45 fellows since the start of the
program three years ago.
Gonzales received a Bachelor of
Science in physics from Angelo State University and his master’s and doctoral
degrees in applied physics from Rice University. He is a Hispanic,
first-generation college student. He submitted his research proposal on
Nano-Needles in January and was selected as one of 30 semifinalists in April. The
finalists were determined based on formal presentations in June. He also is
a Lillian Gilbreth Fellow here at Purdue.
About HHMI
HHMI plays an important role in
advancing scientific research and education in the U.S. Its scientists, located
across the country and around the world, have made important discoveries that
advance both human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. The
institute also aims to transform science education into a creative,
interdisciplinary endeavor that reflects the excitement of real research.
HHMI’s headquarters are located in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside
Washington, D.C.
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