FBP urges govt to
declare emergency in agriculture sector
The Farmers Bureau of Pakistan (FBP), a representative platform
of progressive growers, has urged the government to impose agriculture and
climate emergency to save the sector from a bad patch it is witnessing at
present. "Cotton, rice and corn crops have almost ruined because of
erratic weather, heat wave, lose control of seed trade and lack of promotion of
new technologies in the agricultural sector. We may be witnessing a loss of 40
percent in rice and maize crops while cotton is also facing the same fate,"
said founding members of the Farmers Bureau of Pakistan.
Talking to members of the Agriculture Journalists Association (AJA) the other day, FBP founding members Dr Zafar Hayyat, Mian Shaukat, Aamir Hayat Bhandara and Imran Shah Khagga urged the government to ensure immediate intervention to save the growers.
They said maize is not a crop of South but due to poor performance of cotton, people opted for planting rice and maize. They said the companies should have told the growers that varieties being marketed by them are not meant for their region or they should plant it while keeping the weather conditions in mind.
They claimed that this year agriculture may register downward growth even lower than the previous year. They said the government should immediately improve the policies; control seed trade, introduce seed varieties resistant to climatic changes and promote the technology.
Dr Zafar Hayyat said they had formed the platform of FBP to play their role in putting the policymakers on the right path which could steer this sector out of the present marsh.
Imran Shah Khagga, another progressive grower, said that the formula of pesticides being marketed at present is 30-40 years old and it is not resistant against pests. He said pesticides of billions of rupees are imported and marketed but such medicines have no efficacy against pests rather cause illness even among human beings. He claimed that as per independent surveys we might have 12 million bales of cotton against the target of 15 million despite an increase in area under cultivation. Weight of the bales has also been reduced from 160 kg to 120-130 kg, he added.
He said our issue is pink bollworm and world has introduced cotton seed varieties which have resistance against this pest. He said we have requested the National Productivity Organisation (NPO) and other institutes concerned to ban such seed which has no proper gene expression and cannot fight against diseases prevailing in this region.
Mian Shaukat, farmer and seed producer, claimed that 75 percent of rice and corn has ruined because of bit higher temperature at the time of pollination. He said rice and maize plants are devoid of any grain. He said a law should be enacted under which seed trade could be registered under set parameters for any seed.
He said we cannot increase our production by importing seed rather hybrid seed should be developed in the country in line with our requirements. He also called for strict control over the sale of fake/stolen seeds without which, he said, no seed industry would invest in Pakistan.
LCCI Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar also called for imposing agricultural and export emergency in Pakistan. However, he claimed the present government is working in the right direction in the agricultural sector. He said agricultural machinery such as rice transplanters, rice harvesters and laser land levelers are being introduced. He also invited the growers to work in collaboration with LCCI for working on producing an exportable agricultural surplus to enhance exports.
Talking to members of the Agriculture Journalists Association (AJA) the other day, FBP founding members Dr Zafar Hayyat, Mian Shaukat, Aamir Hayat Bhandara and Imran Shah Khagga urged the government to ensure immediate intervention to save the growers.
They said maize is not a crop of South but due to poor performance of cotton, people opted for planting rice and maize. They said the companies should have told the growers that varieties being marketed by them are not meant for their region or they should plant it while keeping the weather conditions in mind.
They claimed that this year agriculture may register downward growth even lower than the previous year. They said the government should immediately improve the policies; control seed trade, introduce seed varieties resistant to climatic changes and promote the technology.
Dr Zafar Hayyat said they had formed the platform of FBP to play their role in putting the policymakers on the right path which could steer this sector out of the present marsh.
Imran Shah Khagga, another progressive grower, said that the formula of pesticides being marketed at present is 30-40 years old and it is not resistant against pests. He said pesticides of billions of rupees are imported and marketed but such medicines have no efficacy against pests rather cause illness even among human beings. He claimed that as per independent surveys we might have 12 million bales of cotton against the target of 15 million despite an increase in area under cultivation. Weight of the bales has also been reduced from 160 kg to 120-130 kg, he added.
He said our issue is pink bollworm and world has introduced cotton seed varieties which have resistance against this pest. He said we have requested the National Productivity Organisation (NPO) and other institutes concerned to ban such seed which has no proper gene expression and cannot fight against diseases prevailing in this region.
Mian Shaukat, farmer and seed producer, claimed that 75 percent of rice and corn has ruined because of bit higher temperature at the time of pollination. He said rice and maize plants are devoid of any grain. He said a law should be enacted under which seed trade could be registered under set parameters for any seed.
He said we cannot increase our production by importing seed rather hybrid seed should be developed in the country in line with our requirements. He also called for strict control over the sale of fake/stolen seeds without which, he said, no seed industry would invest in Pakistan.
LCCI Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar also called for imposing agricultural and export emergency in Pakistan. However, he claimed the present government is working in the right direction in the agricultural sector. He said agricultural machinery such as rice transplanters, rice harvesters and laser land levelers are being introduced. He also invited the growers to work in collaboration with LCCI for working on producing an exportable agricultural surplus to enhance exports.
https://fp.brecorder.com/2019/10/20191006524945/
PhilRice says Facebook page
hacked
Michael Bueza
Published 4:00 PM, October 06, 2019
Updated 1:48 PM, October 07, 2019
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) –
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said that its Facebook page
has been hacked.In a pop-up notice on its website,
PhilRice announced that its official Facebook page "has been hacked since
Friday night, October 4." It earlier wrote the date October 3, which was a
Thursday.
"Please visit our website as
we resolve this issue. We also encourage you to report the posts by clicking
the 3 dots beside the name of the page," PhilRice added in its notice.
PhilRice had been using
facebook.com/rice.matters as its official Facebook page URL or address, but the
page cannot be found anymore. Instead, the alleged hacker changed the page URL
to facebook.com/sufyankhanmatters.
Since Saturday evening, October
5, viral videos unrelated to PhilRice's mandate have been posted on the hacked
Facebook page.
PhilRice, a corporate entity
under the Department of Agriculture, is based in Muñoz City, Nueva Ecija. It
was established in 1985 to
"help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can
produce enough rice for all Filipinos," states PhilRice on its
website. – Rappler.com
Rice producers faced tough 2019, yields likely below average
Oct 5, 2019
It was a challenging growing season for Texas rice farmers.
Spring rains delayed planting, and late rains may hurt ratoon yields. (Texas
A&M AgriLife Research photo)
Texas rice growers faced a
challenging 2019 due to early and late-season rains, according to a Texas
A&M AgriLife Research expert.
Ted Wilson, Ph.D., Texas A&M
AgriLife Research and Extension Center director, Beaumont, said reports on
yields and quality are too preliminary to determine likely outcomes, but he
expects a below-average year due to late plantings and late rains that included
flooding in Texas’ rice-growing regions.
Yields in recent years have
averaged around 8,000 pounds per acre, Wilson said.
Texas’ rice crop includes 100% of
main crop acreage and the acres that producers decide to take to a second
harvest, also known as the ratoon crop. Producer surveys indicate 64 percent of
producers took their acres to ratoon, but Wilson said he expects fewer acres
actually producing ratoon rice.
Wilson said the wet spring will
likely contribute to lower yields this growing season. Flooding from Tropical
Storm Imelda likely didn’t help remaining stands of the main crop or ratoon
potential.
The effects of late plantings and
Imelda are still unknown because harvest surveys from producers, which help
assess yields and quality are only now coming in, Wilson said.
As of Sept. 27, around 97% of the
main rice crop had been harvested, Wilson said. But rains from Tropical Storm
Imelda delivered up to 40-plus inches of rainfall along rice-producing areas of
southern Texas.
“Wet springs tend to delay
planting. For every week of delay, there is a yield penalty because an
increasing amount of grain is produced when there are higher nighttime
temperatures, which reduces rice plant’s efficiency,” Wilson said. “Now there
are questions about a good portion of the ratoon crop, especially if there was
lodging due to mud.”
Delays
The majority of rice planting in
Texas usually occurs by the last week of March or first week of April west of
Houston and the second to third week of April east of Houston, he said. But
there were reports of planting as late as June, and some producers missed their
window to plant altogether.
Delays meant main crop harvest,
which typically occurs beginning in July, extended into September, he said.
“Our research shows you lose 310
pounds per acre per week each week harvest is delayed due to higher nighttime
temperatures chewing up plant energy,” he said. “So, if you were planting in
June east of Houston, that’s eight to nine weeks times 310 pounds per acre.
Those are considerable losses.”
Wilson said individual growers
did very well this year, but crop performance will likely depend on location,
planting and growing conditions and any other challenges.
Other
challenges
Pests were localized in Texas
rice this year, but diseases like kernel smut impacted several producers,
Wilson said. The fungal disease has become progressively worse over the past
five to six years.
“It hurts grain, and some
individual fields where kernel smut was found had loads of rice rejected by
driers and mills,” he said.
Narrow brown leaf spot is another
disease that is increasing in severity and is affecting yields, Wilson said.
There is no highly effective treatment for brown leaf spot.
“I’m very impressed with Texas
rice growers, but when you face challenges like those presented this year, it
can be difficult,” he said. “Hopefully there weren’t too many losses from
Imelda, and the ratooned crop does well.”
AgriLife Extension district
reporters compiled the following summaries:
Central
The district reported hot
temperatures and needed more moisture. Some brush work was done. Cattle were in
fair condition. Stock tank and pond levels were decreasing. Pastures were
drying out. Trees were showing stress from drought. Cotton harvest yields
varied from very good to bad. Corn harvest was complete. Counties reported
short to very short soil moisture. Rangeland and pasture conditions were mostly
poor.
Rolling Plains
Most counties reported trace
amounts of rain up to 3 inches. Clay County reported up to 6 inches of rainfall
in areas. Rangeland and crop conditions continued to progress. Cotton continued
to mature as bolls continued to open. Wheat producers continued planting.
Livestock remained in good condition.
Coastal Bend
Scattered showers fell across the
district, but some areas remained fairly dry. Fieldwork continued with
remaining cotton harvest, stalk destruction, disking, plowing and some winter
pastures being planted. Cotton gins were still running around the clock and
were expected to continue for several more weeks. Hay baling accelerated as
producers tried to get another cutting. Rangelands and pastures were improving
after recent rains, but many livestock producers were still supplementing with
hay or protein. Livestock were in good condition, and fall calves were hitting
the ground and doing well.
East
Rains brought by Tropical Storm
Imelda were not enough to relieve drought conditions in the district. Many
counties still needed much more rain to improve pasture and meadow conditions.
Producers were on hold waiting for more moisture to make another cutting of
hay. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair. Subsoil and topsoil conditions
were adequate. Preparations were made for cool-season vegetable crops. Polk
County reported producers were planting winter pastures and some stands of
ryegrass were already established. Most other counties were on hold waiting for
moisture to plant winter pastures. Livestock were in good condition. Cattle
prices were higher. Wild pigs caused extensive damage to creeks, pastures and
hay meadows. Houston County reported that horse flies were a tremendous
problem. Armyworms continued to be an increasing problem.
South Plains
Heavy rains were reported across
most counties, with farmers receiving 3-4 inches of rain. Other counties still
needed more moisture. Heavy hail in eastern counties destroyed cotton in
several fields with all the bolls and leaves being stripped from the stalk.
Several pivots were damaged in the storm. Other cotton in the eastern part of
the counties received lighter damage from the hailstorm. Winter wheat was
emerging and making a good stand after recent rains. Late-planted corn and
sorghum were harvested for silage. Producers were busy making decisions on the
best defoliant to apply when fields dry up. Cattle were in good condition.
Panhandle
Northern parts of the district
were warmer than normal and needed moisture. Early planted corn was being
harvested. Silage harvest was complete. Wheat planting was progressing.
Rangelands and pastures were in fair to good condition and going dormant. Most
outlooks for cotton were poor. Eastern parts of the district reported cotton to
be fair, and bolls were opening. Peanuts were fair. Subsoil moisture was less
than adequate, and topsoil moisture was very short. Southern parts of the
district reported moisture conditions were favorable for wheat and rangeland
conditions. Moisture may affect cotton yields and quality for bolls open to the
rain.
North
Soil moisture was mainly short
across the district with some counties reporting adequate levels. Many counties
needed rain, but Cooke County reported some areas received 3.5 inches.
Temperatures ranged from the mid- to high-90s. Soils were dry and full of
cracks. Hay producers were working overtime to get the last cutting out.
Armyworm reports increased with heavy infestations in some places.
Rice varieties found of slaves in
Surinam
Researchers from WUR and natural
history museum Naturalis have found 15 hitherto undocumented traditional rice
varieties in Surinam. They form both a food source and part of the cultural
heritage of the Marrons, descendants of Africans brought to Surinam by slave
traders.
The study was led by Tinde van
Andel, professor of Ethnobiology at WUR and a researcher at Naturalis. Her team
collected rice varieties among the Ndyuka Marrons, who settled on the banks of
rivers including the Marowijne on the border of Surinam and French Guyana after
escaping or being freed from slavery. The researchers found 50 varieties of
both Asian and African rice in the Marron villages on the river, 15 of which
were hitherto undocumented, they reported last week in Frontiers in Plant
Science.
These traditional rice varieties
are a key source of genetic diversity, says Van Andel, but 300 years ago they
made a crucial contribution to the survival of slaves who fled into the
Surinamese jungle. The names of two traditional varieties, Milly and Sapali,
are those of women who plaited rice grains into their hair to take with them
when they escaped from slavery, says Van Andel.
Her research team could determine
the genetic origins of the 15 rice varieties using modern DNA sequencing techniques.
These revealed that the Marrons have exchanged rice seed over the past
centuries, in spite of the fact that their villages are far apart and
inaccessible. Even though the Marrons gained access to improved American rice
varieties after World War II, they still grow the traditional varieties. They
eat these for their flavour and nutritional value, but they also play a key
role in the spiritual lives of the Marrons. Through their rituals, Van Andel
concluded, the Marrons maintain the genetic diversity of rice.
Van Andel did this research with
colleagues from Naturalis, her Wageningen colleague Harro Maat and a researcher
from the Anne van Dijk Research Centre in Surinam. This research centre was
named after rice pioneer Anne van Dijk (1911-1990), from the period when
Surinam was still a Dutch colony. Van Andel proved earlier that the black rice
grown by the Marrons in Surinam originally came from Ivory Coast.
New technique for water
conservation in paddy cultivation in Punjab
Seema Sharma | TNN
| Updated: Oct 5, 2019, 18:42 IST
CHANDIGARH:
The world brainstormed over expansion of desertification as a consequence
of climate change and vice-versa in the
recently concluded 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
Punjab too stands on the brink of desertification owing to the deepening ground water crisis. The Central Ground Water Board has warned in its report that Punjab and Haryana could again become a desert in 25 years with their current practice of unsustainable use of ground water. NABARD and ICRIER too in their reports have brought to the light that India’s leading rice and wheat producers Punjab and Haryana which contribute 15% of India’s entire rice product also rank among the world’s top water-risk zones for agriculture production. One kg of paddy crop requires an average of 2,800 litres of water, much more than one kg of wheat which consumes 1654 litre.
To reduce the water usage for paddy sowing, KS Pannu, secretary Agriculture and director of Department of Environment has approved a new machine which has been named as Lucky Seed Drill machine, devised by Punjab Agriculture University for public use. Pannu told TOI, “The farmers who sowed paddy seeds directly into the soil to save water faced the problems of weeds damaging the crops. However this issue did not occur when they followed the conventional method of planting the saplings into the standing water but it was consuming so much of water. Now this seed drill machine not only sow the seeds directly into the soil but also simultaneously apply weedicide spray on soil. This machine resolved both the problems of weeds and wastage of water.”
Jasvir Singh Gill, scientist and assistant agronomist at crop production, farm machinery and power engineering unit of PAU said, “Seed drill machine is equipped with a simultaneous application of pre-emergence weedicide. It is preventive weedicide which does not let weeds germinate from soil . It is essential to do otherwise once weeds grow, they absorb significant amount of water and nutrients from the soil.”
In case of pre emergence weedicide, he said, sufficient soil moisture is pre requisite to help in enhancing the efficacy of weedicide that make selective barrier on soil surface that prohibit the germination of weeds. He also told that if the water does not remain shallow then roots have tendency to go in search of deeper water which makes the crop hardy and resilient. He further explained that this method did not require the modalities of conventional paddy sowing method which is preparation of saplings in nurseries over a period of one month followed by accumulation of water for sowing them.
Punjab too stands on the brink of desertification owing to the deepening ground water crisis. The Central Ground Water Board has warned in its report that Punjab and Haryana could again become a desert in 25 years with their current practice of unsustainable use of ground water. NABARD and ICRIER too in their reports have brought to the light that India’s leading rice and wheat producers Punjab and Haryana which contribute 15% of India’s entire rice product also rank among the world’s top water-risk zones for agriculture production. One kg of paddy crop requires an average of 2,800 litres of water, much more than one kg of wheat which consumes 1654 litre.
To reduce the water usage for paddy sowing, KS Pannu, secretary Agriculture and director of Department of Environment has approved a new machine which has been named as Lucky Seed Drill machine, devised by Punjab Agriculture University for public use. Pannu told TOI, “The farmers who sowed paddy seeds directly into the soil to save water faced the problems of weeds damaging the crops. However this issue did not occur when they followed the conventional method of planting the saplings into the standing water but it was consuming so much of water. Now this seed drill machine not only sow the seeds directly into the soil but also simultaneously apply weedicide spray on soil. This machine resolved both the problems of weeds and wastage of water.”
Jasvir Singh Gill, scientist and assistant agronomist at crop production, farm machinery and power engineering unit of PAU said, “Seed drill machine is equipped with a simultaneous application of pre-emergence weedicide. It is preventive weedicide which does not let weeds germinate from soil . It is essential to do otherwise once weeds grow, they absorb significant amount of water and nutrients from the soil.”
In case of pre emergence weedicide, he said, sufficient soil moisture is pre requisite to help in enhancing the efficacy of weedicide that make selective barrier on soil surface that prohibit the germination of weeds. He also told that if the water does not remain shallow then roots have tendency to go in search of deeper water which makes the crop hardy and resilient. He further explained that this method did not require the modalities of conventional paddy sowing method which is preparation of saplings in nurseries over a period of one month followed by accumulation of water for sowing them.
On the question of weeds appearing on direct sowing in earlier method adapted by some of the farmers, he said that the latter made the practice of irrigating land again and again after sowing the seeds in dry soil which might be the reasons for the dilution of layer of weedicide and poor root growth. He also stressed that PAU scientists are still carrying on their research on this.
Gill stated that since paddy, staple diet of Asia, is not indigenous crop of Punjab and was introduced in the state some 50 years ago , the method of using standing water changed the entire eco-system. He advocated for diversification of crops and judicious use of water for paddy cultivation to set the balance right.
DELHI NEWS TODAYMUMBAI RAINSBANGALORE RAINSDELHI EARTHQUAKECHENNAI RAINSODISHA ELECTIONS 2019DELHI POLLUTIONMUMBAI FLOODSAP ELECTIONS 2019
PCCI seeks lower cost of rice imports
Members of the
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry will recommend a lower importation
cost of rice to stabilize prices and make the staple more affordable to the
consuming public.
The lower
import cost will be one of the resolutions that the PCCI is set to submit to
President Rodrigo Duterte during the upcoming 45th Philippine Business
Conference and Expo on October 16 and 17 at the Manila Hotel.
The group will
also recommend the creation of a bilateral partnership with Myanmar for
guaranteed rice supply to the Philippines and call on the Agriculture and Trade
departments, the Sugar Regulatory Administration and the National Economic and
Development Authority to rationalize sugar imports.
The PCCI said
the importation of sugar should be based on a careful analysis of projected
production against domestic demand and done in consultation with industry
stakeholders.
It will urge
the SRA to take the leadership role in ensuring the development of the
sugarcane industry and optimizing the use of the annual P2-billion fund
allotted for the industry as stated under the Sugar Industry Development Act.
Congress goes on monthlong break,
with rice farmers left hanging
Ralf Rivas
Published 3:05 PM, October 07, 2019
Updated 3:20 PM, October 07, 2019
RELIEF. Farmers are having a hard
time competing with cheap rice imports and are seeking cash assistance. File
photo by Mau Victa/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Farmgate
palay prices have dropped, with
some farmers selling at a loss amid the liberalization of rice imports.
What has Congress done? The Senate has two joint resolutions to help farmers out.
Joint Resolution No. 2, sponsored
by Senator Francis Pangilinan, aims to authorize the use of the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to provide direct cash transfers to
affected rice farmers.
Under the rice tariffication law,
the RCEF is mainly for cash loans, trainings, and farm tools, and cannot be
used for doleouts.
Joint Resolution No. 8,
authored by senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Cynthia Villar, seeks to allow the
Department of Social Welfare and Development to convert the P600 rice subsidy
for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries to actual rice.
But the Senate and the House of
Representatives have adjourned for a monthlong break. Farmers' needs amid the
liberalization of rice imports remain unaddressed.
Joint Resolution No. 2 only made
it on 2nd reading.
What can still be done? Think tank Action for Economic Reforms
(AER) urged President Rodrigo Duterte to call for a special
session by both chambers of Congress to place relief measures for rice farmers
badly hit by the implementation of the rice tariffication law.
House wants to increase DA funds to buy more rice from farmers
"We plead to legislators to
hold hearings and conduct plenary debates to put in place these emergency
measures. The farmers need relief now, as next year, they might no longer go
into farming," AER president Jessica Reyes Cantos said on Monday, October
7.
Duterte needs to certify the
measures as urgent, compelling the legislature to hold sessions during the
break.
Should Duterte not act on them,
Congress will only tackle the resolutions when sessions formally reopen on
November 4.
By then, bulk of the second
rice harvest would have happened.
"And with no relief on
declining palay prices, Congress which took a monthlong break will be remiss in
its duty of safeguarding our agriculture producers' interest," Cantos
said.
The law was designed to correct
the inefficient rice importation regime and has tamed inflation in 2019.
However, Filomeno Sta Ana III, economist and AER coordinator, said that
"the law is rigid with regard to the allocation of the initial P10 billion
for the [RCEF]."
Sta Ana said Joint Resolution No.
2 "somehow addresses that rigidity."
How are palay prices? As of the 2nd week of September,
the dry palay prevailing
price is at P16.18 per kilo. (READ: Farmers seek floor price as
palay sells for just P7 per kilo)
The lowest price is at P10, which
means that farmers are selling at a loss, assuming that the production cost is
P12 per kilo.
The highest selling price is at
P21.41. – Rappler.com
sunamganj
farmers for free agro-inputs in boro season
Staff Correspondent . Sylhet | Published: 00:14,
Oct 06,2019
Leaders of Haor Banchao Sunamganj Banchao Andolan, a civic forum
in the haor belt, on Saturday demanded immediate implementation of its
four-point charter of demands including providing agricultural inputs free of
cost for the survival of rice growers in boro season.
The demands include providing the rice growers with agricultural
inputs including fertilizer, seeds and pesticides free of costs, allot
interest-free agricultural loan, payment to those who implemented crop
protection embankment projects, and preparing a list of genuine growers in boro
season. They made demands at a press conference held at Shaheed Muktijoddha
Jagatjyoti Public Library in Sunamganj town.
The platform general secretary Bijan Sen Roy read out a
statement at the programme.
He said despite harvesting bumper crops during boro season 2018
and 2019, rice grower had to incur loss as they did not get reasonable price.
‘So, the government have to come up with special incentives to
encourage the genuine farmers of Sunamganj to plant paddy in the upcoming boro
season,’ he said.
Apart from proving agricultural inputs free of cost, the Bijan
Sen also demanded giving interest free loan among the farmers after preparing a
list of genuine rice-growers
Mentioning the project implementation committees, who properly
completed crops protection embankments, were yet receive the money of the last
instalment even six months after completing the project, he said sincere people
would be discouraged to do the job in future if the payment was not made in
time.
The platform president Bazlul Mazid Chowdhury Khasru, its advisers
Ramendra Kumar Dey Mintu, Chittaranjan Talukder, Murshed Alam, Yakub Bakht
Bahlul and Bikash Chowdhury, joint-general secretary Saleheen Chowdhury Shubha
and organising secretary AK Qudrat Pasha, among others, were present at the
news conference.
Indonesian envoy for enhancing bilateral ties in trade
OCTOBER 5, 2019
Business and trade ties between
Indonesia and Pakistan will be further strengthened in the future to benefit
from each other’s experiences, said Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan Iwan
Suyudhie Amri on Saturday.
The relations between Indonesia
and Pakistan are based on mutual respect and touching new horizons and
bilateral relations have seen marked improvement in all fields during the last
couple of years, he said.
Both countries had similarities
in culture and way of living.
He said this while addressing the
Indonesia-Pakistan Business Forum at a local hotel in Rawalpindi. The forum was
jointly organized by the Indonesian Embassy and the Rawalpindi Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (RCCI).
Pakistan had been producing one
of the best mangoes and rice and Pakistan is the second largest country where
Indonesia imports oranges after Russia, he said. Indonesia along with The
Association of South East Asian (ASEAN) countries are huge markets with great
potential for Pakistani products and businessmen should focus on these
countries to promote trade and exports, said Amri.
The bilateral trade volume has
crossed the $3.1 billion mark and with increase scope of preferential trade
agreement between the two countries will further increase the trade volume, he
added.
Indonesia with a population 250
million was the largest Muslim country and provided easy access to Pakistan to
over $2 trillion ASEAN market, said the ambassador. Amri noted with
satisfaction that relations between the two countries were heading in the right
direction and hoped in coming days these relations would get a further boost.
He also praised efforts of RCCI
for contributing greatly towards strengthening of bilateral relations through
business opportunity conferences and exhibitions. He assured full cooperation
and assistance in upcoming International Rawal Expo 2020.
Pakistan and Indonesia enjoyed
cordial relations and there was a need to transform these good relations into
thriving bilateral trade, investment and joint ventures between the two
countries, said RCCI President Saboor Malik while addressing the Business
Forum.
Both countries should provide
better market access to each other’s private sectors, grant more tariff
concessions and remove all non-tariff barriers that will help in promoting
bilateral trade up to actual potential, he said.
Group leader and former President
Sohail Altaf in his address urged on improving linkages between the private
sectors of the both countries and also appreciated Indonesian support for
Kashmir.
New technique for water
conservation in paddy cultivation in Punjab
Seema Sharma | TNN
| Updated: Oct 5, 2019, 18:12 IST
CHANDIGARH:
The world brainstormed over expansion of desertification as a consequence
of climate change and vice-versa in the
recently concluded 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
Punjab too stands on the brink of desertification owing to the deepening ground water crisis. The Central Ground Water Board has warned in its report that Punjab and Haryana could again become a desert in 25 years with their current practice of unsustainable use of ground water.
Punjab too stands on the brink of desertification owing to the deepening ground water crisis. The Central Ground Water Board has warned in its report that Punjab and Haryana could again become a desert in 25 years with their current practice of unsustainable use of ground water.
NABARD
and ICRIER too in their reports have brought to the light that India’s leading
rice and wheat producers Punjab and Haryana which contribute 15% of India’s
entire rice product also rank among the world’s top water-risk zones for
agriculture production. One kg of paddy crop requires an average of 2,800
litres of water, much more than one kg of wheat which consumes 1654 litre.
To
reduce the water usage for paddy sowing, KS Pannu, secretary Agriculture and director
of Department of Environment has approved a new machine which has been named as
Lucky Seed Drill machine, devised by Punjab Agriculture University for public
use. Pannu told TOI, “The farmers who sowed paddy seeds directly into the soil
to save water faced the problems of weeds damaging the crops. However this
issue did not occur when they followed the conventional method of planting the
saplings into the standing water but it was consuming so much of water. Now
this seed drill machine not only sow the seeds directly into the soil but also
simultaneously apply weedicide spray on soil. This machine resolved both the
problems of weeds and wastage of water.”
Jasvir Singh Gill, scientist and assistant agronomist at crop production, farm machinery and power engineering unit of PAU said, “Seed drill machine is equipped with a simultaneous application of pre-emergence weedicide. It is preventive weedicide which does not let weeds germinate from soil . It is essential to do otherwise once weeds grow, they absorb significant amount of water and nutrients from the soil.”
In case of pre emergence weedicide, he said, sufficient soil moisture is pre requisite to help in enhancing the efficacy of weedicide that make selective barrier on soil surface that prohibit the germination of weeds. He also told that if the water does not remain shallow then roots have tendency to go in search of deeper water which makes the crop hardy and resilient. He further explained that this method did not require the modalities of conventional paddy sowing method which is preparation of saplings in nurseries over a period of one month followed by accumulation of water for sowing them.
Jasvir Singh Gill, scientist and assistant agronomist at crop production, farm machinery and power engineering unit of PAU said, “Seed drill machine is equipped with a simultaneous application of pre-emergence weedicide. It is preventive weedicide which does not let weeds germinate from soil . It is essential to do otherwise once weeds grow, they absorb significant amount of water and nutrients from the soil.”
In case of pre emergence weedicide, he said, sufficient soil moisture is pre requisite to help in enhancing the efficacy of weedicide that make selective barrier on soil surface that prohibit the germination of weeds. He also told that if the water does not remain shallow then roots have tendency to go in search of deeper water which makes the crop hardy and resilient. He further explained that this method did not require the modalities of conventional paddy sowing method which is preparation of saplings in nurseries over a period of one month followed by accumulation of water for sowing them.
On the question of weeds appearing on direct sowing in earlier method adapted by some of the farmers, he said that the latter made the practice of irrigating land again and again after sowing the seeds in dry soil which might be the reasons for the dilution of layer of weedicide and poor root growth. He also stressed that PAU scientists are still carrying on their research on this.
Gill stated that since paddy, staple diet of Asia, is not indigenous crop of Punjab and was introduced in the state some 50 years ago , the method of using standing water changed the entire eco-system. He advocated for diversification of crops and judicious use of water for paddy cultivation to set the balance right.
Farmers can easily shell cereals with this huller
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 5 2019
Nadunga of China Humper Food Machines
demonstrates how a maize huller works. PHOTO BY LOMINDA AFEDRARU.
In Summary
· A maize huller polishes maize by removing the brand (outer layer)
through friction as it passes through the chamber between the emery roller and
standard size sieve. A maize huller requires low maintenance and lower
operational costs, writes Lominda Afedraru.
By Lominda Afedraru
Technological trends in agriculture have
improved over the years. These have not only evolved from tractors used in
ploughing, planting fields but it also crossed over to post-harvest handling.
One of the old methods of processing maize flour with its husks is not something farmers and processors are practicing in Uganda today.
Consumers of maize flour prefer refined first class flour and the same applies to people engaged in rice process.
For this to be successful, processors are now privileged to use a motorised grain huller, which is used to clean the grain in order to make a white sparkling flour in the case of maize flour and grain for the case of rice.
One of the old methods of processing maize flour with its husks is not something farmers and processors are practicing in Uganda today.
Consumers of maize flour prefer refined first class flour and the same applies to people engaged in rice process.
For this to be successful, processors are now privileged to use a motorised grain huller, which is used to clean the grain in order to make a white sparkling flour in the case of maize flour and grain for the case of rice.
Farmers and grain processors can purchase the
cereal grain hullers from most farm machinery suppliers around Kampala and
other major towns.
Ms Clara Nadunga, a technician at China Humper food machines based at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (Uma) Showgrounds, Lugogo explains how the machine can be used by farmers engaged in processing maize, as well as agro food processors.
Ms Clara Nadunga, a technician at China Humper food machines based at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (Uma) Showgrounds, Lugogo explains how the machine can be used by farmers engaged in processing maize, as well as agro food processors.
Components
The cereal grain huller is comprised of a motor frame, starter and an isolator. There is an inlet for pouring the maize and rice grain. Once the grain is hulled, there is an outlet, which enables release of a clean grain to a container attached.
The cereal grain huller is comprised of a motor frame, starter and an isolator. There is an inlet for pouring the maize and rice grain. Once the grain is hulled, there is an outlet, which enables release of a clean grain to a container attached.
Operations
The tool uses an induction power mortar which is used for powering the machine. There are surveyor belts which keep rolling to ensure the machine runs at the required speed to allow smooth hulling process. The machine is comprised of diesel engine, meaning it is powered using diesel oil.
It has the capability of shelling one tonne of grain per hour. Shelling saves a lot of labour in comparison to traditional systems.
The tool uses an induction power mortar which is used for powering the machine. There are surveyor belts which keep rolling to ensure the machine runs at the required speed to allow smooth hulling process. The machine is comprised of diesel engine, meaning it is powered using diesel oil.
It has the capability of shelling one tonne of grain per hour. Shelling saves a lot of labour in comparison to traditional systems.
Cost
The purchasing price for all the parts is Shs14 million. Small scale farmers or processors can purchase it as a group for use.
These can be farmer associations and payment on instalment, according to Nadunga, is allowed. One can pay in instalments before delivery can be effected.
Once the parts are purchased, the technical team at China Humper Food Machine will install it at no cost.
The purchasing price for all the parts is Shs14 million. Small scale farmers or processors can purchase it as a group for use.
These can be farmer associations and payment on instalment, according to Nadunga, is allowed. One can pay in instalments before delivery can be effected.
Once the parts are purchased, the technical team at China Humper Food Machine will install it at no cost.
Very useful
The motorised huller has its advantages in that there is no need of electric power to enable operations. This means processors in rural areas where there is no electricity are privileged to use it.
The weight of the machine is about 600-700kg while shelling efficiency is about 100 per cent and broken grains are maximum up to two per cent.
There is assurance of clean and quality grain processing, leading to quality flour for the case of maize flour and clean rice grain.
A flour bag of 100kgs can be hulled in under five minutes making it a useful farm tool.
It saves labour since it takes one person to operate it, thus cutting farm costs.
The motorised huller has its advantages in that there is no need of electric power to enable operations. This means processors in rural areas where there is no electricity are privileged to use it.
The weight of the machine is about 600-700kg while shelling efficiency is about 100 per cent and broken grains are maximum up to two per cent.
There is assurance of clean and quality grain processing, leading to quality flour for the case of maize flour and clean rice grain.
A flour bag of 100kgs can be hulled in under five minutes making it a useful farm tool.
It saves labour since it takes one person to operate it, thus cutting farm costs.
Long term plan needed to
respond to climate change
A project to prevent
salt-water intrusion in Giồng Trôm District in the Mekong Delta province
of Bến Tre. — VNA/VNS Photo Công Trí
Lê Thanh Tùng, deputy head the
Department of Plant Cultivation, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development, speaks to Nông thôn Ngày Nay (Countryside
Today) newspaper on the need to develop a long term plan to cope with floods in
the Mekong DeltaDo you think the opening of flood gates in the Tiền and Hậu rivers will have negative impacts on agricultural production in the region?
Flood water is only discharged to unproductive land areas lying outside the dyke. This activity is done every three years. So, there is no reason to worry about it.
In recent years, in the face of unpredictable weather and climate change, provinces in the Mekong Delta have adopted actions to adjust agriculture production to make it more adaptable. Based on weather forecasts, local authorities in An Giang and Đồng Tháp Provinces have recommended their farmers not to grow the autumn-winter rice crop.
Provincial authorities in the Mekong Delta have developed specific production plans until 2020 for regions which are subject to flooding.
According to the latest statistics, the Mekong Delta region has successfully changed some 40,000ha of rice to grow other crops. The economic efficiency in regions which have switched from growing rice to other crops has improved.
Many farmers in An Giang and Đồng Tháp Provinces want to give up rice cultivation and switch to other crops. What do you recommend?
Farmers in the Mekong Delta have been growing rice for 50-70 years and rice cultivation is a strong economic sector. They have adapted to climate change and the problem of salt-water intrusion. In addition, the central Government has granted financial support to consolidate the dyke system there to help local farmers adapt to drought and salt water.
In addition, scientists have been successful in developing rice species which are adaptable to high salinity as well as drought.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has launched a programme to encourage rice farmers in the Mekong Delta to switch to other crops which are more adaptable to climate change.
As weather is unpredictable, does the Department of Plant Cultivation have any recommendations for farmers in the region?
People’s livelihoods in the Mekong Delta should be adaptable to the region’s weather conditions. The MARD has already adopted plans on how to help people living in the region adapt to climate change.
There are four factors that people living in the Mekong Delta should pay attention to – flood frequency; flood duration; timing of the flooding and whether it brings a lot of alluvium.
The quality of the water in the Mekong Delta depends on the frequencies of the floods. Based on the forecast that the flood season in 2019 would be low, the MARD planned a special conference on the winter-autumn rice crop in early October. At that conference the ministry will come up with warnings and recommendations for farmers on how and when to start the winter-autumn rice crop.
Does the MARD have scenarios on how to respond to climate change to help farmers in agriculture production?
Under the Government's Resolution 120 on sustainable development of the Mekong Delta, agriculture production here will be organised according to ecological regions. To implement the Resolution, the MARD will have to review and adjust the region’s development strategy focusing on the three groups of products, including fish, fruit and rice.
According to the plan, areas under rice and other plants requiring a lot of water will be narrowed as commercial profits have dropped. In the meantime, the MARD encourages local farmers to combine agriculture production with eco-tourism. Last but not least, if we want to increase land areas for fruit trees and aquaculture, we must reduce areas under rice cultivation. — VNS
http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/536472/long-term-plan-needed-to-respond-to-climate-change.html#w4BlGeD1MkqhwqtE.99
Reason to rejoice
HIDDEN AGENDA - Mary Ann LL.
Reyes (The Philippine Star) - October 6, 2019 - 12:00am
Farmers adversely affected by low palay prices after the country
moved from quantitative import restrictions to rice tariffs finally have a
reason to look forward to after Sen. Cynthia Villar revealed that the Bureau of
Customs had already collected P10.7 billion from rice imports from March to
Sept. 20.The amount collected will finance the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), a component of the Rice Tariffication Law.
During a recent Senate hearing, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the amount collected can be reinvested in the assistance program, which includes cash transfers to palay farmers.
Last August, the BOC collected only a total of P5.9 billion in tariffs from 1.43 million metric tons of rice imported by private traders following the implementation of the RTL in March.
Revenues from the opening up of the rice market will likely yield P15 billion this year, exceeding the P10-billion target under the law, according to Customs deputy commissioner Edward Buco.
For her part, Villar said this a very positive development for Filipino farmers, adding that if she finds the RCEF program to be successful over six years, she will move to expand it.
Villar, the main proponent of the RTL and chairman of the Senate committee on food and agriculture, said tariff revenues from rice imports in excess of P10 billion shall be appropriated by Congress will be used for providing direct financial assistance to small farmers, titling of rice lands, expanding crop insurance, and carrying out of crop diversification programs. Bulk of the RCEF will be used to modernize rice farms and support the government’s goal of increasing the sector’s productivity.
She expressed support for House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s proposal to realign at least P2 billion under the proposed P4.1-trillion budget so the Department of Agriculture can buy more palay stocks from rice farmers.
Politics threatens Phl export crop
Cavendish bananas remain one the country’s biggest foreign
exchange earners.Primarily grown in Mindanao, these bananas contributed around $1.3 billion from January to November in export earnings last year.
But unless our government takes action, this major agricultural export may soon be a thing of the past.
One of the biggest threat facing the industry right now is the emergence of fusarium wilt which had wiped out banana plantations in Panama and has threatened other Cavendish banana producers in Latin American countries. Reports show that over 15,000 hectares of banana plantations which are mostly grown by small growers had been destroyed by the Panama disease which is caused by soil-borne fungi.
Fortunately, corporate farms like Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. (Tadeco), Sumifru and Dole have so far managed to keep their plantations away from this disease by establishing quarantine stations in their plantations. The Department of Agriculture has also warned against the disease and has enforced all available options to control the dreaded fungal menace.
Unfortunately, in Davao del Norte where most of these bananas are grown, newspapers have reported that newly elected governor Edwin Jubahib, together with government personnel and military forces, have used heavy equipment provided by the provincial engineers to attempt to dismantle the quarantine stations, particularly those of Tadeco.
Reports reveal that when he was chief of staff of then House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Jubahib also led a contingent of DPWH and policemen allegedly on orders of a congressman from Surigao del Sur to dismantle the same stations.
Both attempts at dismantling the quarantine stations did not materialize as Tadeco employees resisted the moves.
If Tadeco’s farms are affected by the disease, then the entire banana industry in Davao del Norte will be wiped out.
The Philippine banana industry has regained its position as the second biggest exporter of Cavendish bananas in the world. The country has the biggest share of the Japanese marker and enjoys preferential trade with China. We cannot simply allow this industry to die. This is a matter that the national government, particularly the President as well as the DILG top brass, should look into, especially if the LGU, the police and the military are involved.
No to pork in budget
The House of Representatives of the 18th Congress is turning out
to be much, much more than what many expected.More than two months after its first regular session opened, we have learned that around 5,000 bills have already been filed. But more importantly, most of the tax reform measures and economic reform bills outlined by President Duterte in his fourth State of the Nation Address have progressed swiftly in the respective committees and have been approved on third and final reading.
Just last Sept. 20, the House approved on third and final reading the 2020 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), minutes after the plenary passed the same measure on second reading. It took just nine straight session days, some lasting for 10 hours, to have pass the budget bill in record time.
On Aug. 20, Package 2 Plus of the President’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) under House Bill 1026 was approved. The bill aims to further increase taxes on alcohol products and electronic cigarettes, such as heated tobacco and vaping products.
Also last Sept. 9, the House gave the green light to the fourth CTRP package or the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act (PIFITA), which aims to simplify taxes on capital income and financial services, and HB 300, which amends the Foreign Investments Act by allowing foreign investors to own small and medium-sized enterprises with a minimum paid-up capital of less than $100,000 if it involves advanced technology, or if it employs at least 15 direct employees.
Four days later, the House approved HB 4157 or the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA), which represents Package 2 of the CTRP.
Meanwhile, the House ways and means panel has approved last Sept. 11 the substitute bill for Package 3 of the CTRP, which aims to reform the system of property valuation in the country.
Also, amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act was approved by the House committee on trade and industry last Sept. 23. HB 78, which contains proposed amendments to Public Service Act to allow foreign ownership of certain public utilities, was sponsored on the floor last Sept. 4.
House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano deserves commendation for transforming the body into what is now described as a relevant, responsible and reliable Congress.
Cayetano has assured critics that the 2020 GAB remains free of pork and illegal insertions, as well as parked funds, adding that if there are, they will remove it and that everyone is free to scrutinize the House-approved budget bill.
For comments, e-mail at mareyes@philstarmedia.com
Latest data from the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed consistent lower prices for more
than seven months now after the Philippines opened its rice industry to more
private sector imports.
Rice prices continue to decline
Louise
Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) - October 6, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Prices of
rice continued to be on the downward trend with consumers saving more but
farmers earning less following the influx of imported rice.
Latest data from the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) showed consistent lower prices for more than seven
months now after the Philippines opened its rice industry to more private
sector imports.
In its regular update on palay,
rice and corn prices, the PSA said the average wholesale price of well-milled
rice is now at P38.43 per kilogram as of end of September.
This is 17 percent lower than the
P46.18 per kilo level from the same period a year ago and 0.4 percent below on
a weekly basis. Its average retail price also decreased by 14.2 percent to
P42.27 per kilo.
The wholesale price of
regular-milled rice was P34.29 per kilo, down 21 percent while its average
retail price was at P37.79 a kilo.
While consumers are benefitting
from the opening up of the market, local farmers are suffering from declining
palay farm gate prices.
The average farm gate price of
palay is nowhere near recovery at P16.18, declining by 0.6 percent on a weekly
basis.
The current price is a 30.1 percent
drop from the P23.14 per kilo last year when rice liberalization had yet to
become a law. It is also lower than the P19.40 per kilo last March when the law
took effect.
The lower farm gate price is caused
by the increased local harvest and is exacerbated by imports flooding the
commercial market.
Total rice inventory as of August
stood at 2.13 million metric tons (MT), 40.3 percent higher than last year’s
volume stock of 1.52 million MT.
However, this is 19 percent below
from the previous month’s volume stock of 2.62 million MT.
Under the rice tariffication law,
quantitative restrictions on rice importation are lifted and private traders
are allowed to import the commodity from countries of their choice.
The rice tariffication law replaced
the government’s quantitative restrictions on importation of the staple with a
35 percent tariff.
The measure also created the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund or a special rice buffer fund, with an initial
P10-billion annual fund, to ensure rice production competitiveness.
Meanwhile, rice watch groups have
launched a petition against the government’s Rice Liberalization Law or
Republic Act No. 11203, including the increasing retail prices of rice in the
market.
The Bantay Bigas and the Amihan
National Federation of Peasant Women said the petition signing is part of the
nationwide “palengke hopping,” which will be carried out by peasant groups in
the provinces.
The groups are also pushing for the
enactment of House Bill 447 or the Rice Industry Development Act (RIDA) filed
by the Makabayan Coalition.
“We are nearing the celebration of
annual World Food Day on Oct. 16, but the government’s liberalization policies
are literally changing this to a
‘World Foodless Day’ for the poor
farmers and consumers,” Cathy
Estavillo, Bantay Bigas spokesperson
and Amihan secretary-general, said.
Estavillo said the petition signing
is a venue for the people to express their opposition to the rice
liberalization policies of the government.
“We urge the people, sectoral
groups and institutions to sign and promote the petition against the Rice
Liberalization Law. The neoliberal policy of the government is turning us into
beggars of imported rice and displacing the country’s rice farmers and farm
workers,” she said.
Test-milling
The National Food Authority (NFA)
in Bulacan has started the test-milling by private traders of its palay stocks
procured from local farmers in the province.
Ed Camua, NFA-Bulacan acting
provincial manager, told The STAR that at least 12 private traders from the
Intercity Industrial Estate in Bocaue has started the test-milling the NFA
palay stocks in the province.
Intercity Industrial Estate in
Bocaue is one of the country’s major rice trading centers.
The NFA has around 600,000 bags of
palay stored in its different warehouses in Bulacan that are set to be milled
this month.
The milling of NFA palay will
decongest the agency’s warehouses of its stocks to accommodate its palay
procurement program.
Piolito Santos, NFA regional
director for Central Luzon, said the test-milling procedures of private traders
need to pass the specifications of the grains agency before the proper
milling contract can be awarded to them.
The private traders will have to
return to the NFA 63 percent of the rice equivalent of palay stocks that
they will be milling.
Excess milling recovery and its
by-products will be retained by the millers as milling fee payment, Santos
said, adding the NFA has around 1.9 million of palay stocks in its warehouses
in Central Luzon.
Meanwhile, Camua said the NFA has
started procuring farmers’ unhusked rice produce for the current wet cropping
season at P19 per kilo for dry and clean palay with 14 percent moisture
content.
Fresh and newly harvested palay
with 30 percent moisture content are being bought at P14 per kilo.
For this month, Camua said they are
planning to procure 200,000 bags of palay from Bulacan farmers and at the same
time would dispatch around 150,000 bags of its imported rice from their
warehouses in the province.
In Lanao del Norte, the provincial
government has acted on a complaint of rice farmers who have no access to the
Department of Agriculture (DA)’s Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund
(RCEF).
Some 4,000 rice farmers from the
towns of Kapatagan, Salvador, Sapad, Kolambugan and Maigo said they are greatly
affected when palay prices are low and do not have enough funds for farms
inputs.
The provincial council said the DA
tasked the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to facilitate the loans of
the farmers, but the DBP does not have a branch in Lanao del Norte. Rhodina
Villanueva, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Lino dela Cruz
East
Godavari supplying quality rice for Srikakulam: JC Hans News Service
6
Oct 2019 1:35 AM
IST
Joint Collector G Lakshmisha HIGHLIGHTS Joint Collector G Lakshmisha said that
there was sufficient stock of Swarna Variety rice in East Godavari to supply it
to beneficiaries in Srikakulam district. Important updates in your mailbox
Subscribe Kakinada: Joint Collector G Lakshmisha said that there was sufficient
stock of Swarna Variety rice in East Godavari to supply it to beneficiaries in
Srikakulam district. Speaking to The Hans India on Saturday, he said
nearly14,000 tonnes of rice was needed to Srikakulam district. The fine variety
of rice is waiting for nod from the government to begin distributing it in East
Godavari also, he added.
He
said that the beneficiaries can easily consume it without purchasing the rice
in open market. ADVERTISEMENT Stating previously, the rice under PDS was coarse
and thick, he said now the PDS rice was being processed at Sortex Rice Mills
which reduces broken rice drastically and the rice becomes thin and fine
variety. District Civil Supplies Officer P Prasada Rao said that 13 rice mills
have been selected for custom milling and they have to give quality rice by
milling in sortex method. He added the rice millers have to give 92.5 kilos of
quality rice to government per 150 kilos of paddy.
https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/east-godavari-supplying-quality-rice-for-srikakulam-jc-570346
https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/east-godavari-supplying-quality-rice-for-srikakulam-jc-570346
YSRCP
supports TRS in Huzurnagar by-poll
TRS in-charge
for the by-election, Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, met YSRCP Telangana State president
Gattu Srikanth Reddy at his residence in Kodad and sought his party’s support
in the by-election.
By Author | Published: 5th Oct 2019 8:30 pmUpdated: 5th Oct 2019 8:36 pm
Suryapet: Telangana YSRCP on Saturday announced its support for TRS
candidate Shanampudi Saidi Reddy in the by-election to Huzurnagar Assembly
constituency.
TRS in-charge for the by-election,
Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, met YSRCP Telangana State president Gattu Srikanth Reddy
at his residence in Kodad and sought his party’s support in the by-election.
Responding positively, the YSRCP leader announced his party’s support to Saidi
Reddy.
Srikanth Reddy said Andhra Pradesh
Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy and Telangana Chief Minister K
Chandrashekhar Rao were working together for the development of the two States.
“At this juncture, we will support the TRS candidate in the by-election,” he said.
Stating that there was a need to
root out Congress from Telangana, he said TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy
was only making big promises, but did nothing for the constituency. He
questioned Uttam why he did not speak about democracy when the then Chief
Minister of AP late Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy’s statue was set afire in
Huzurnagar. He said YSRCP leaders and workers would work for the victory of TRS
candidate.
Palla Rajeshwar Reddy thanked
YSRCP. YSRCP State secretary Vemula Shaker Reddy and the party leaders were
also present.
Uttam reacts to KTR’s Huzurnagar
roadshow
Telangana Pradesh Congress (TPCC)
president and Nalgonda MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday held IT and MA&UD
Minister KT Rama Rao responsible for the backwardness of Huzurnagar Assembly constituency.
Reacting to the comments made by
Rama Rao during his road show at Huzurnaga on Friday, Uttam said the Minister
exposed his lack of knowledge on the conditions prevailing in the area. “The
Minister just read out a speech scripted by someone,” he said, and claimed that
that the constituency witnessed significant development during his tenure as
MLA. He also worked for the development of the native village of TRS candidate
S Saidi Reddy, Uttam said.
Alleging that the ruling party
leaders were indulging in cheap politics in the constituency with the support
of the police, he said they were involved in sand mafia and land-grabbing
cases. He accused them of implicating tribal and Congress leaders, who oppose
them, in false cases.
“No area in the district witnessed
development since 2014. Roads that were damaged across the State due to digging
for laying of pipelines of Mission Bhagiratha were not repaired after the works
were completed. No village in Huzurnagar Assembly constituency got drinking water
supply under Mission Bhagiratha,” the Congress leader alleged, adding that
officials swindled Mission Bhagiratha funds.
Countering Rama Rao’s contention,
he said he raised the issue of 4,000 Indiramma houses at Huzurnagar in the
Legislative Assembly and also brought the matter to the notice of Power
Minister G Jagadish Reddy.
Uttam said, in fact, the road on
which Rama Rao conducted the roadshow was laid during his tenure. Most
buildings housing government offices in Huzurnagar were also constructed during
his tenure as MLA. He assured to turn Huzurnagar into a smart town, if
Congress’ candidate wins the by-elections.
Stating that Congress candidate and
his wife Uttam Padmavathi would win the by-election with a heavy majority of
the votes, he said he and his wife would strive for the development of
Huzurnagar. He also promised to bring an ESI Super Speciality Hospital to
Huzurnagar as thousands of employees and labourers were residing in the
constituency. He also promised to solve the issues of rice millers by talking
to the Centre and State government.
Scientists research solution to stink bug infestations
by: Grace Hayba
Posted: Oct 4, 2019 / 06:11 PM GMT-0500 Updated: Oct 4, 2019
/ 06:11 PM GMT-0500
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)– The brown
marmorated stink bug originated in Asia but migrated to the United States in
the 1990s. Now, they’re found all around the nation and they’re growing
uncontrollably.
“They will lay their eggs on the
underneath side of leaves, about twenty to thirty, and they look like little
pieces of rice. Then when they hatch, they go through five molting stages in
the course of one year, get to three quarters of an inch, and then they start
looking for warm places to hibernate during the winter time,” said garden
expert Charlie Stocker.
“Naturally they’re hanging out in
corn fields and soybean fields and as those get harvested, they’ve found out
that we have built a nice little structure for them to live in throughout the
winter, so they start moving inside,” said Brian Ranes with Mahon
Exterminating.
Ranes said the cooler it gets, the more likely you are to find the bugs in your homes.
Ranes said the cooler it gets, the more likely you are to find the bugs in your homes.
Usually an attic or a wall void or
a chimney or something like that, where it’s very difficult to find them and
eliminate them from those locations,” said Ranes.
But Ranes said even if you don’t see them, that doesn’t mean they’re not there. “These insects can actually be frozen to some point and then survive,” said Ranes.
It’s a process called diapause. The insect enters a motionless, dormant stage which blocks developmental growth in anticipation of a harsh seasonal change. There are several species of stink bugs native to the United States, but their predators won’t kill this particular pest. Therefore, scientists say we have to look overseas for the solution.
But Ranes said even if you don’t see them, that doesn’t mean they’re not there. “These insects can actually be frozen to some point and then survive,” said Ranes.
It’s a process called diapause. The insect enters a motionless, dormant stage which blocks developmental growth in anticipation of a harsh seasonal change. There are several species of stink bugs native to the United States, but their predators won’t kill this particular pest. Therefore, scientists say we have to look overseas for the solution.
“Trissolcus Japonicus. We’ve been
studying this in the laboratory for some years to determine if specific enough
to brown marmorated stink bug to introduce,” said Dr. Kim Hoelmer, USDA
Research Entomologist
Hoelmer said the wasp should help reduce numbers, but stink bugs are here to stay.
Hoelmer said the wasp should help reduce numbers, but stink bugs are here to stay.
Samurai Wasp ( Trissolcus Japonicus )
Courtesy: E. Talamas, USDA
Courtesy: E. Talamas, USDA
“It may take some time because it
may take some years for the population to grow to the point where they occur
everywhere the stink bugs occurs,” said Hoelmer.
Other than a foul odor, experts say
the stink bugs are relatively harmless. Some tips for keeping them out of your
homes include: making sure your doors and windows are securely shut, keeping
your lights off when they’re not in use and caulking any crevices.
Copyright 2019 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Mumbai Crime: Crooks who pulled off a
'scientific' con arrested
Gang would convince people to
invest in testing a device that they claimed would be sold to agencies such as
ISRO, NASA and DRDO
The documents, posters etc seized from the accused
Unit 11 of the Mumbai Crime
Branch arrested a gang of five recently that duped people to invest in testing
a device that they claimed would be sold to agencies such as ISRO, NASA and
DRDO. According to the police, the fraudsters even dressed up to appear as
scientists and met investors in five-star hotels.
Crime Branch officials said the
scam has been fooling people across the globe. In the name of a device called a
'rice puller' (a metal device that can pull rice grains), fraudsters cheat
people saying agencies like ISRO and DRDO were willing to purchase it from Rs
30,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore, if its genuineness was proved after testing.
Bizman Invested Over A Crore
"So far we have got 13
complainants, one of them is a businessman from Navi Mumbai who invested around
Rs 1.35 crore for the testing, and was assured that if the product was proved
genuine during testing, he would be paid around R200 crore. The fraudsters have
managed to forge documents of the defence ministry and Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)," said DCP Akbar Pathan of Mumbai Crime
Branch. Police said the total amount invested by the 13 complainants is Rs 2.15
crore.
The arrested accused were
identified as Vikas Kameshvar Singh, 49, the mastermind who hails from
Jamshedpur in Jharkhand; Kaleem Nizam Sheikh, 38, Viblab Haran De, 40, Sajid
Allah Rakkhi Sheikh, 48, and Shivaji Vijay Shankar Tiwari, 32.
Kaleem Sheikh and Viplab De
"The accused formed a
company called Franklin Power Material Handling Center and Supremo
International Center to lure investors. They would claim that these companies
are interested in getting investments in the metal device known as rice puller.
The company website is well-designed and only selected people and the investors
can access it," Pathan added.
What Is A Rice Puller
According to officials,
fraudsters have invented the rice puller to fool investors. They take a copper
plate or utensil and coat it with liquid magnet. They fill the utensil which
has small iron wires, with boiled rice and fool people by pulling the rice
towards the magnet-coated plate.
Mixed reactions trail border closure as food prices go up
By Femi
Ibirogba, Head, Agro-Economy
07 October 2019
| 3:10 am
Bags of rice PHOTO: Ibe Wada
• ‘Each state should develop irrigation facilities for dry season farming’
• Those complaining are anti Nigerian poultry, rice farmers
Some
Nigerians have commended the Federal Government for closing porous borders
linking the Republic of Benin, Niger Republic and the country, saying such
effort had sent signals to the two countries to steer clear of smuggling
activities that have affected agricultural production and other industries.
At the same time, some Nigerians have kicked against the policy, saying ordinary Nigerians are left food-stranded while the big players in corruption and smuggling live in affluence.
At the same time, some Nigerians have kicked against the policy, saying ordinary Nigerians are left food-stranded while the big players in corruption and smuggling live in affluence.
This is
as the prices of rice and other food items have increased drastically since the
closure of the borders.Those who kicked against the policy argued that Nigeria
is not ready for such a policy, knowing that the natural law of demand and
supply would come to play, causing higher prices of food items such as rice,
tomatoes and poultry products.
President
of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Mr Sayina Riman, told The Guardian that
the closure of the borders has no effect on cocoa production, but influx of
chocolates could be prevented. Having done that, he argued, the Federal
Government and cocoa-producing states should make deliberate efforts to
encourage more cocoa production to create jobs and revenue for the government.
Riman lamented that Nigeria is the lowest in cocoa production per hectare as a
result of neglect of the crop which was a major revenue earner for the country
in the pre-colonial era.
The
association’s 10-year action plan, with intension to transform cocoa
production, value addition and consumption, he said, would go a long way in
boosting production per hectare and would create thousands of jobs along the
value chains.Nigeria has the natural resources and favourable ecological
factors to surpass Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana in cocoa production, he added, but
the reverse is the case because of poor interest in agriculture.
President
of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Kabir Ibrahim, expressed
satisfaction that farmers now have a stable market for their produce and could
plan, expand their farm operations and be sure of where to sell without
cut-throat competition from smuggled unwholesome rice.He argued that a N20,000
bag of rice is still less than $50, which, by international standards, is not
expensive for wholesome rice.
The ban
agro-allied products and prevention of smuggling would stimulate investments in
crop production, infrastructure and agro-allied machinery for value addition.A
grain breeding specialist and Vice Chancellor of Al-Qalam University, Katsina,
Professor Sheu Garki Ado, is of the opinion that “Bottom of Form
Top of
Form
border closure is very important to protect the majority of Nigerians from the unpalatable consequences of dumping materials [that are] locally available in the country.“Those who complain of the closure are not interested in the farmers who toil to get ends meet daily. Nigeria ought to be self-sufficient in whatever it can produce locally.”He added that with porous borders, there would be no incentive to local producers, and job opportunities would not be available to the increasing number of jobless youths.
border closure is very important to protect the majority of Nigerians from the unpalatable consequences of dumping materials [that are] locally available in the country.“Those who complain of the closure are not interested in the farmers who toil to get ends meet daily. Nigeria ought to be self-sufficient in whatever it can produce locally.”He added that with porous borders, there would be no incentive to local producers, and job opportunities would not be available to the increasing number of jobless youths.
If the
country allows indiscriminate imports, it can never be independent, he said,
explaining that “the first independence should be on food, clothing and
shelter. Nigeria has no business importing food. We ought to depend on
ourselves for food at all cost.“We must not be a dumping ground for food and
cloth producers. We have all that is needed to not only to be
self-sufficient, but also to export surplus if proper incentives are provided.
One of the incentives is to protect local producers.”
Executive
Director, Agriculture and Rural Management Training Institute (RMTI), Ilorin in
Kwara State, Dr Olufemi Oladunni, said it a positive step. Local production
would be protected from extinction, he argued.“The reality is that local
production cannot compete with the imported ones as the cost of production here
is higher primarily because of infrastructural deficit,” he said.
Another
academic at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T),
Ibadan, Professor Gabriel Oluwatosin, said whoever complains against border
closure is an enemy of rice and poultry farmers.“What Nigeria has been doing in
the past is to be paying rice farmers in other countries in hard currency to
produce rice, but we have failed to encourage local production. The quality of
such rice and chicken is so poor in nutrients.
“The
present policy will make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production. Currently,
Nigeria is self-sufficient in poultry production. By raising local production,
we shall henceforth be having wealthy farmers.” Professor Sanni Lateef, Deputy
Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB),
said the action of the government is an indication that the future of
agriculture and its transformations are fully assured.
Agricultural
value chain would be more sustainable with consistent off-taking of
agricultural commodities from farmers at fair prices, he added.He was
optimistic that rural-urban youth migration could be curbed if agriculture is
made attractive with stable and sustainable market and pricing systems. More
small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups would be aided with
functional market structures and efficient internal control.He, however,
admitted that there should be farm production and processing infrastructural
upgrade to complement the control and avoid inflation of basic food items.
“This
calls for concerted efforts to encourage private multiplication of more
high-yielding and climate-friendly seeds, stems and breeds. Our infrastructures
require upgrading and stakeholders need enough timely and affordable credit
supports,” he advised.
Executive
Secretary of Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria (POFON), Mr Fatai Afolabi, said
it is normal that the closure of the border between two countries would affect
both countries. Ironically, he explained, the effect goes beyond the frontiers
of Republic of Benin or Niger Republic for instance.
“The
reason given by the Nigerian government for the closure of the borders was to
check the debilitating effect of smuggling on the economy, which, on the
surface, looks fine, but in reaching that decision, we should have profiled the
various trans-border business activities.
“Because
smuggling has become intractable, the government had to jettison all other
legitimate trans-border economic activities. In the circumstance, farmers in
our border towns, more especially those producing perishable crops, will be
adversely affected. “Traders in household consumer goods, for instance at
Oke-Arin market in Lagos, will be badly affected. Lagos is actually a border
community in terms of trans-border trade in West Africa. The economy of Lagos
will also be affected. In general, the common man is affected by the border
closure and would feel more insecure food-wise.”
Smuggling,
he added, is done by big people; the elite, saying, “It is also the big people;
the elite that are aiding and abetting smugglers, and also protect them. Some
of the smugglers have since been using the Nigerian ports, thus shoring up the
revenue of the Nigeria Customs. Whereas, farmers, traders and food supply chain
actors continue counting their losses and hoping that the borders will be
opened shortly. “In my opinion, I think that the borders should be open, while
we find a more pragmatic approach to solving the problem of smuggling through
engagement and cooperation by governments of neighboring countries and their
corporate and individual citizens.”
Basic
food production information
Some Nigerians vehemently oppose the policy, saying it is a deliberate policy to inflict hardship on Nigerians by the government, knowing that Nigeria produces less that it requires in all the commodities except yam and cassava.
Some Nigerians vehemently oppose the policy, saying it is a deliberate policy to inflict hardship on Nigerians by the government, knowing that Nigeria produces less that it requires in all the commodities except yam and cassava.
In wheat
production, Nigeria produces about 100,000 metric tonnes while it consumes four
million metric tonnes, with a deficit of 3.9 million tonnes yearly. In 2016,
Nigeria produced 3.94 million metric tonnes of rice; 4.41 million tonnes in
2017; 4.66 million tonnes in 2018; 4.79 million tonnes and 4.90 million tonnes
are expected in 2019 and 2020 respectively. The production shortfall for this
year is predicted to be 3.12 million tonnes while in 2020, it will be 3.21
million tonnes. Data on maize production indicates that Nigeria needs
approximately 16 million metric tonnes of maize yearly, but it produces about
12 million tonnes, with a shortfall of about four million tonnes. The country
also requires eight million tonnes to close the gap and become maize secure.
The
yearly demand for sugar is estimated to be 1.5 million, while the country
produces less than 10 per cent of the demand.On citrus, the country needs 8
million hectares of farmland and a minimum of 24 million fully engaged workers
to produce the yearly national deficit, estimated to be 415 million litres.
Dr
Adeoye Afolayan, Director of Research and Development at the National
Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Oyo State, disclosed that
the national production of citrus is estimated at 135 million litres of orange
juice, while the demand is 550 million litres.
Managing
Director, Aden River Estate Ltd, Edo State, President of Plantation Owners
Forum of Nigeria (POFON), Mr Emmanuel Ibru, based on the data available to the
forum, said crude palm oil consumption is about 1.4 million tonnes. So, there
is a demand gap of between 400,000 and 500,000 metric tonnes.
Nigeria
is also deficient in tomato production. The Executive Director of the National
Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Dr Abayomi Olaniyan, has
also disclosed that Nigeria needs to produce additional 500,000 metric tonnes
of fresh tomatoes to meet demand for local consumption, apart from industrial
utilisation.“Tomato production of Nigeria is still short of what is demanded.
Production figure for fresh tomatoes is about 1.8 million metric tonnes while
the annual demand is 2.3 million tonnes,” he disclosed.
Based on
the foregoing, Mr Pariola Rotimi, said the government should have stimulated
more production of grains, especially rice, and should have stored such in
preparation for border closure against smuggling. He argued that smuggling or
not, Nigerians must eat, but since the home production is not enough, the
policy is counter-productive and anti-masses.
Director
of Agriculture at the Lower River Niger Basin Authority, Dr Olabisi Awoniyi,
also said Nigeria is not really prepared for massive rice production locally
although the policy is good.Irrigation facilities to revolutionise rice
production are scanty and obsolete, while the seed system is not supportive of
rice production.
Dr
Francis Nwilenele, Regional Coordinator of Africa Rice Centre, supports
Awoniyi, saying all state governments should invest in irrigation facilities if
they serious about agriculture and food security. Though Nwilene commended the
policy as a good step in the right direction, he lamented poor investments in
research and development of improved varieties and technologies, irrigation
facilities, and asked that activities of fraudsters parading themselves as
farmers to corner incentives meant for real farmers should be checked.
Being the underdog in a mixed football family
Level 50 Life
By
Recently I attended a college
football game. For many people that is a normal thing to do. For me, it is as
rare as having a teenager voluntarily put away the clean dishes.
I’m not a sports fan. The only
time I enjoy watching sports is if my kids are playing. If challenged to come
up with a favorite sport, I’d have to say it is watching 3-year-olds play
soccer. And that has nothing to do with athleticism, stunning game play or
keeping score. At that age, the kids are awesome, funny, generally having fun
and sometimes snotty.
If you’ve ever watched a soccer
‘game’ between three-year-olds, you know what I mean. They zig zag across the
field as one solid clump of legs, flailing arms and bouncing ponytails.
Periodically a kid will drop out of the clump and wander off the field for a
potty break or because she got distracted by a butterfly. And on a really good
day, some excited kid scores a goal — but he usually scores it in the wrong
net. For the kids, the highlight of the game is usually the post-game snack.
They run faster to grab Doritos than they did while chasing the ball.
My interest in this college
football game had much more to do with the company than with the game. My
oldest son came home from his freshman year at the University of Texas to
accompany his Rice alum parents to the Rice-UT football game.
Mixed football family — Rice and UT
Yes, we are a mixed family — blue
and burnt orange. — Rice Owls and University of Texas Longhorns.
Split loyalties can be tough, but
choices had to be made. My son supported his team with his UT shirt. My husband
split the difference with a UT shirt and a Rice hat. I followed the path of my
money and wore a UT shirt.
2019 is the 50th anniversary of
the moon landing. Famously, John F Kennedy made his 1962 speech pledging to go
to the moon at the Rice stadium. In that historical speech he said:
“But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And
they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the
Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?
We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this
decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are
hard…”
It is a historic fact that Rice
does not stand a chance against UT — even JFK pointed that out.
But Rice continues to take on the
hard task, suit up and show up. Being more known for research and academics,
Rice is the known underdog and typically gets crushed in Division 1 football.
UT players are bigger, faster and focused on professional careers. Rice players
are more likely to be daydreaming about Calculus problems. But they try.
During the pre-game events, I had
a brief spark of hope. From above, the UT team with their white helmets looked
like a squadron of Star Wars stormtroopers.
Everyone knows that stormtroopers
can’t hit anything. Hopefully they would play like stormtroopers as well.
Alas, that hope was not to be. UT
played well. My son was very gracious as his team squished ours. I guess he
knows where his tuition is coming from.
I reverted back to the last-hope
wish of any underdog fan — just let my team score something!
I’m pleased to say that Rice
showed up and scored. Sometimes, we don’t shoot for the moon, we just want to
get on the score board.
For more Level 50 Life, check
out:
Paddy growers brace
for productivity losses
Mohammad Hussain KhanOctober 07, 2019
The paddy crop in Sindh is facing
multiple problems that are leading to productivity losses in northern parts of
the province.
The otherwise bumper crop that is
cultivated on over 770,000 hectares has been hit by temperature variations in
the right-bank districts.
The entire right-bank strip from
Dadu to Kashmore is home to paddy cultivation in the Kharif season. Many paddy
growers in upper Sindh say the temperature variation is causing sterility in
the crop, which will lead to zero grain formation.
“The early sowing of the hybrid
variety failed to sustain the temperature variation experienced in September.
The hybrid variety needs a low temperature at the time of flowering,” says
Ashraf Soomro, director of the Dokri Rice Research Institute of the Sindh Agriculture
Department.
Agriculture officials confirmed that
the Sindh agriculture secretary has called for conducting a survey to assess
losses in the paddy crop. According to Sindh Agriculture Extension Director
General Hidayatullah Chhajro, the survey is underway in the right-bank
districts and its result will soon be available with the department.
A team from Dokri’s research
institute recently visited the districts in upper Sindh to determine the cause
of sterility. According to one member of the team, it was caused by a rise in
temperature between Sept 3 and 12. Paddy needs a temperature of less than 30
degrees at night, but it remained close to 49 degrees during this period. The
quantum of losses may vary, he says, but it can be as high as 90 per cent in some
cases.
The rice crop is hit by temperature
variations in the right-bank districts of Sindh
Paddy grower Ameer Bux Pahore says
sterility as well as a rice blast fungicide and an attack by leaf folders have
led to crop losses. “Intense heat in the maturity stage has badly damaged the
crop. I had obtained a yield of 70 maunds per acre last year in the hybrid
variety. But this year, I got only 33 maunds per care from the same piece of
land (owing to this problem),” Mr Pahore added.
Paddy growers like Nadeem Shah from
lower Sindh say their region also witnessed the temperature problem on a
smaller scale. “Rains have also damaged our paddy crop in Badin and Thatta
districts,” Mr Shah says.
Sindh’s growers grow mostly coarse
and hybrid varieties whereas Punjab’s farmers are inclined to basmati, which is
unique in terms of aroma, texture and the elongation ratio. Post-cooking rice
elongation is an important factor. Basmati rice is a luxury item and has a
greater export value. According a rice exporter, its export value is around
three times higher than those of other varieties.
The trend of the imported hybrid
variety continued in Sindh for several years. Sindh’ local varieties like DR82,
83 and 92 have taken a back seat. But a veteran paddy grower Gada Hussain Mahesar
considers the hybrid variety the main culprit in this year’s
temperature-related losses.
He says market dealers sell the
imported variety claiming that it is imported from China. In reality though, he
says, it’s a mixture of different varieties that is sold in the garb of the
hybrid variety. He says the hybrid variety is on 75pc of the area under
cultivation in Sindh whereas local varieties are grown on the rest of the 25pc
of land. “Most hybrid varieties are unregistered. This variety is exported to
African countries because other nations don’t opt for it,” he says.
In the last season (2018-19), the
crop missed the sowing target by 10.36pc. It grew on 690,224ha against the
target of 770,000ha. A year before (2017-18) Sindh had surpassed the sowing and
production targets by 10.44pc and 9.6pc, respectively.
This year, growers sowed the hybrid
variety early (June) although it is a late-grown variety. Farmers prefer the
hybrid variety to Sindh’s indigenous varieties for higher productivity because
the former offers greater yield potential. But the over-reliance of growers on
the hybrid variety is not going down well with veteran paddy growers like Mr
Mahesar.
Sindh leads in the per-hectare paddy
yield by 42pc (3,441kg per hectare) as the national yield is 2,423kg per
hectare, according to provincial agriculture officials. Sindh contributes
28.6pc to the total area of paddy crop and 40.6pc to national rice production
as per 2017-18 figures issued by the Ministry of National Food Security and
Research.
Within Sindh, Irri varieties are
cultivated on 43pc of the total paddy acreage. It contributes 55pc to the
national acreage. Out of Sindh’s total rice production, the share of Irri
varieties is 30.8pc. It is 49.3 pc nationally.
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan
(Reap) Chairman Shahjahan Malik says the association is poised to double rice
exports in terms of tonnage in the next five years. If farmers in Sindh start
using laser land levellers and adopt better harvest practices, they can
substantially increase their paddy production, he adds.
He called for the enhanced use of
laser land levellers to save water. Growers need to give up the use of
harvesters for paddy as it is more suited for wheat thrashing, he said. The
harvester causes losses of around 5pc in yields, he added.
When the private sector was allowed
to export rice in 1998-99, the value of Pakistan’s rice exports was only $300
million, according to Reap. But its members managed to export over 4m tonnes of
rice amounting to more than $2bn a year until 2008-09.
Rice is a high-delta crop requiring
plenty of water from sowing to harvesting. Uneven farmlands need more water.
But the use of equipment like laser levellers ensures uniformity in water
distribution and saves around 30-40pc of irrigation water. The equipment is
being distributed on a cost-sharing basis under Rs18bn foreign-funded Sindh
Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Enhancement Project.
Published in Dawn, The Business and
Finance Weekly, October 7th, 2019
https://www.dawn.com/news/1509343/paddy-growers-brace-for-productivity-losses
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