China-Pakistan Free
Trade Agreement Phase II to be Effective Soon: Naghmana Hashmi
Pakistan Ambassador to China Naghmana Alamgir Hashmi was
recently interviewed by Daily China Economic Net. Answering to a question she
said, the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement phase II would be implemented
soon as Pakistani side has already approved the agreement. She told the
journalist that FTA's internal ratification on the Chinese side is underway,
and it would soon be operational. Talking about the Special Economic Zones
(SEZs), Ambassador remarked that SEZs would enhance cooperation between China
and Pakistan in many fields, especially the agricultural sector, which is the
top priority of both heads of state. Naghmana also spoke about the prospects of
cooperation in gemstones and mineral industry of Pakistan and stated that
Balochistan province is the world's only producer of Onyx (gemstone known to enhance
one's focus and possesses other healing abilities). She stressed that Pakistan
lacks the modern apparatus to polish and shape gold and copper, as a result, it
is exported to China, so gems and mineral industry of Pakistan have the
potential to welcome joint ventures and offer a promising return.
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China-Pakistan
Free Trade Agreement Phase II to be Effective Soon: Naghmana Hashmi
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BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint /
Pakistan Point News - 4th Oct, 2019 ) :Pakistan Ambassador to China Naghmana
Alamgir Hashmi has said that Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between Pakistan
and China would become operational in a few months.
"Actually the free trade
agreement will hopefully be implemented shortly, because it's still going
through the internal processes of being ratified. We hope that in the next few
months, it will become operational," she said in an exclusive interview to
China Economic Net (CEN) here on Friday.
Ambassador Hashmi said, "On
our side all the procedures have been completed. On the Chinese side, there are
a few procedures which are left. So we think it is going to be sooner rather
than later. We just need to wait a little more, because governmental procedures
have to take. But I think it will be very shortly very, very shortly."
While commenting on increase in Pakistan export to China, she said with the FTA
becoming operational, the prices will in any way go down, because the import
duties will not apply then.
"Secondly, we have just now
in the process of completing the first phase of CPEC and the second phase of
CPEC has now started, which is actually the establishment of special economic
zones in various parts of the country.
So with the establishment of
these special economic zones and with the increasing number of agreements and
cooperation in the agricultural sector, which is a priority both with President
Xi and with Prime Minister Imran Khan, I think this is one area where there is
huge potential of both investments, growth and then re-export of those value
added products to China," she added.
Commenting on export potential,
she there are certain products which have traditionally come to China, which
are very much appreciated here.
"We export a lot of rice to
China that's called 86. It's the small glutinous rice. Then sugar is
increasingly being imported in China. And sugar is very good quality. And yarn,
we produce a lot of cotton and you have a huge textile industry. So yarn comes
to China," she added.
Ambassador Hashmi said the
Balochistan province is the only area in the world that produces onyx. Then a
lot of gold and copper is being exported to China. Pakistan has a lot of
potential both in minerals and in gemstones but do not have that advanced
technology to polish and create them. So that is another area where Pakistan is
looking for potential joint ventures.
Pakistan, she said, export a
number of leather products which are very good in quality and the area that has
the most potential and again the area that has the focus of the leadership of
both countries is agricultural products, development of farms, research in
hybrid seeds, research and cooperation in the area that you put in the ground
for cultivation.
"Then there is a huge
prospect of cooperation in drip irrigation, because we are now trying to go to
drip irrigation because of the shortage of water," she added.
She said that China is one of the
leading countries that have really made very good use of drip irrigation and
opined that agriculture is one area where there is a huge potential of further
cooperation and joint ventures and investments, adding, "And then, of
course, export of the materials to China and beyond China also." While
dispelling the impression about delay of operation of Sukkur-Multan morotwary,
she said the actual project itself has been completed. But along with this
highway, there are certain other things that need to be established, adding,
"For example, the barriers along the road have to be put in place. That
work is ongoing. The lights have to be put. The police force for that
particular highway is being raised. So those little things are left."
Ambassador Hashmi reiterated all China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (PEC)
projects have absolute and full support of the government of Pakistan, of the
people of Pakistan, of all the political parties across the political divide.
So there is no confusion or no
controversy on either the importance of CPEC or the importance of completing
the projects in time.
And some of the projects have
been completed even before time.
"Our Prime Minister has met
President Xi twice and he has very clear and categorical terms conveyed to the
Chinese leadership that commitment to CPEC and to BRI is absolute and
unshakable," she added.
About visa policy for Chinese
citizens, she said for Chinese, Pakistan has on arrival visa policy and now
there is also online visa.
"One of the first countries
with which we've liberalized visa regime is China. There is so much work going
on. There's so much people to people contact. There's so much political
contact," she added.
Pakistan, she said, liberalized
the visa regime for 94 countries. Pakistan is an open country. "We have
nothing to hide. We're not like the Indian occupied Kashmir, where people can't
go. You can go anywhere in Pakistan. You're very welcome." On registration
of cell phone at Pakistani airport, she said in Pakistan, a lot of people who
were misusing this particularly when there was a lot of terrorism going on. So
in order to control that, the authorities have made a policy.
Every foreigner who comes to
visit Pakistan and even Pakistanis, it's not only for foreigners, any traveler
who's living abroad and is coming home, at the airport, he needs to register
his phone.
"And that takes five
minutes. So if your phone is registered at the airport and you only have to do
once, nobody will stop you. But if your phone is not registered, then it
becomes a problem," she added.
Ambassador Hashmi asked all the
Chinese going to Pakistan that there are big booths at the airport where they
should register phone. "So if your phone is registered, your SIM will
work. There's absolutely no problem." To yet another question, she said
that tax was import on cell phones to stop smuggling and not to stop the
communication.
"So if you have a phone that
you're using, you register it, you bring it. They know that you're going back.
You're not leaving the phone here. But if you have new phones, so in one year,
one visitor can only bring one new phone," she added.
On export of Sugar to China for
next year, she said, "I think next year also, because for our growers,
exporters and manufacturers of sugar, it's a product that we have introduced in
Chinese market. Once the word goes around that this was a successful venture, I
am sure next year you'll get more and the year after you might even get
more." Regarding a chain, from Pakistan, China, South Korea, and export to
European countries, she said that Pakistan have always had very good relations
with South Korea and a very good export trade with that country.
"So I think it's a very good
idea that you pick up one expertise from one country, another from another
country, and one advantage of a third country join together. I think this is
very, very good. Our world is progressing and the three are friendly countries,
there should not be a problem," she added.
About recently held Mango
festival, she said this was the third mango festival that was organized in Beijing,
which was so successful.
A very large number of Chinese
attended the festival to taste mango, to taste the various mango products and
we hope to see Pakistani mangoes being sold in supermarkets and markets all
over China.
Ambassador Hashmi said with the
completion of CPEC and the establishment of cold chains, lot of projects can
then be transported by road and they won't have to be airlifted.
"Mangoes cannot be shipped
up to now, because it has very short shelf life and by road with a cold chain
is also necessary for fisheries and other agricultural products, so that is
another area where a lot of Chinese investors have an opportunity to do
business in Pakistan, which would be mutually beneficial to the importers and
the exporters, and is a nice way of introducing good Pakistani agricultural
products at reasonable prices here in China," she added.
Thai policy on
rice subsidy is double-edged sword for Vietnam
07/10/2019 10:00
GMT+7
The government of Thailand has approved a budget of 21.5 billion
baht to ensure a rice price at a reasonable level for Thai farmers. The policy
is expected to have a negative impact on other export countries, including
Vietnam.
The program is expected to
benefit 892,000 rice farmers who have registered with the Thailand Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperatives. The aim of the program is to ensure that the rice
price brings reasonable profits to farmers despite price fluctuations.
According to the Vietnam News Agency, the policy will be applied for one year, commencing from October 2019, valid for some kinds of products, including Hom Mali fragrant rice, Pathum Thani, sticky rice and other fragrant rice varieties.
Under the program, the Thai government ensures a stable price of 10,000 baht per ton, or $325, for white rice production, 12,000 baht per ton, or $390, for sticky rice.
Pham Quang Dieu, director of Agromonitor, a market analysis firm, believes the Thai subsidy policy won’t have a big impact on Vietnam’s rice exports, because Thai rice price doesn’t compete with Vietnamese (Thai price is higher).
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The government of Thailand has approved a budget of 21.5 billion
baht to ensure a rice price at a reasonable level for Thai farmers. The
policy is expected to have a negative impact on other export countries,
including Vietnam.
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“Moreover, Vietnam’s scented rice
varieties OM 5451 and Dai Thom 8 now have prices very competitive with Thai
scented varieties and they are a favorite in the market,” he said.
According to Nguyen Thanh Phong, director of Van Loi Company, the Thai government uses the state budget to be sure that the rice purchase price is stable even if the market price goes down.
However, the program, to some extent, leads to disadvantages in export. Once Thailand raises the rice purchase price, this means that the cost price is pushed up. In other words, the government’s intervention through the subsidy program would ‘distort’ the market and break market rules.
Meanwhile, when exporting rice,
Thailand has to compete with many strong exporters, including Vietnam, India, Pakistan,
Myanmar and Cambodia.
“With the subsidy program, Thai rice will not be competitive in the market,” he commented.
However, the director of a rice export company in Mekong River Delta said if Thailand subsidizes the rice price, which leads to difficulties in exporting rice, or to high inventory level, this would badly affect other rice export countries, including Vietnam.
In the past, Thailand once applied a similar program under the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra in 2011, which led to a record high inventory level of the country, which exceeded 11 million tons at times. Finally, the government of Thailand had to clear the stockpile at low prices, thus affecting Vietnam’s exports.
As such, Thai subsidy policy is believed to be a double-edged sword for Thailand’s rivals, including Vietnam.
“With the subsidy program, Thai rice will not be competitive in the market,” he commented.
However, the director of a rice export company in Mekong River Delta said if Thailand subsidizes the rice price, which leads to difficulties in exporting rice, or to high inventory level, this would badly affect other rice export countries, including Vietnam.
In the past, Thailand once applied a similar program under the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra in 2011, which led to a record high inventory level of the country, which exceeded 11 million tons at times. Finally, the government of Thailand had to clear the stockpile at low prices, thus affecting Vietnam’s exports.
As such, Thai subsidy policy is believed to be a double-edged sword for Thailand’s rivals, including Vietnam.
Kim Chi
Paddy growers brace for productivity losses
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
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
Read more at https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/10/06/1957698/rice-prices-continue-decline#wVfmWFiIS2vYQByH.99https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/10/06/1957698/rice-prices-continue-decline
Rice export prices fall
in Asian hubs on poor demand
Rice export rates in Asian hubs fell this week as weak demand
and currency fluctuations prompted sellers in India and Thailand to cut prices,
while expectations of lower interest from the Philippines weighed on the
Vietnamese market.
Thailand's benchmark 5% broken rice prices were quoted slightly lower at $396-$417 a tonne versus last week's $400-$420. "Exporters have to lower prices to lure buyers," a Bangkok-based rice trader said adding: "I've not been able to sell any rice for two months now."
Thai exporters have struggled since the start of the year as the baht, which has been Asia's best performing currency this year, has kept Thai prices higher than those of competitors India and Vietnam.
"There could be a possible deal for parboiled rice from African markets ahead of Christmas, and perhaps some demand from China and other Asian markets for jasmine rice towards the end of the year," another Bangkok-based trader said
"But as of now there is simply no major demand due to our high prices."
Prices of top exporter India's 5% broken parboiled variety also extended losses, dipping to around $369-$373 per tonne from $371-$375 a week ago on a weak rupee and subdued demand.
"Demand is weak. Traders are waiting for the new season crop," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Indian rice exports in April-July plunged 26.5% from a year ago to 3.14 million tonnes, a government body said last month, on subdued demand for non-basmati rice from Africa.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice were quoted at $330-$340 a tonne, free on board, compared with $335 a week earlier. Prices had plunged to a near 12-year low of about $325 in the week to September 19.
"We are concerned that exports to Philippines will decline as it is seeking to limit rice imports to protect local farmers," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.
Philippines, one of the world's biggest rice importers, may consider imposing a safeguard duty on rice to ease the pain of local farmers hurting from a surge in imports.
Vietnam's rice shipments in the first nine months of 2019 likely rose 4.5% to 5.1 million tonnes, but export revenue was expected to drop 9.7% in the same period.
Elsewhere, a heavy spell of retreating monsoon rains has submerged vast swathe of farmland in low-lying Bangladesh, still recovering from previous floods.
Floods in July washed away crops that would have yielded nearly 400,000 tonnes of rice, agriculture ministry estimates showed.
Thailand's benchmark 5% broken rice prices were quoted slightly lower at $396-$417 a tonne versus last week's $400-$420. "Exporters have to lower prices to lure buyers," a Bangkok-based rice trader said adding: "I've not been able to sell any rice for two months now."
Thai exporters have struggled since the start of the year as the baht, which has been Asia's best performing currency this year, has kept Thai prices higher than those of competitors India and Vietnam.
"There could be a possible deal for parboiled rice from African markets ahead of Christmas, and perhaps some demand from China and other Asian markets for jasmine rice towards the end of the year," another Bangkok-based trader said
"But as of now there is simply no major demand due to our high prices."
Prices of top exporter India's 5% broken parboiled variety also extended losses, dipping to around $369-$373 per tonne from $371-$375 a week ago on a weak rupee and subdued demand.
"Demand is weak. Traders are waiting for the new season crop," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Indian rice exports in April-July plunged 26.5% from a year ago to 3.14 million tonnes, a government body said last month, on subdued demand for non-basmati rice from Africa.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice were quoted at $330-$340 a tonne, free on board, compared with $335 a week earlier. Prices had plunged to a near 12-year low of about $325 in the week to September 19.
"We are concerned that exports to Philippines will decline as it is seeking to limit rice imports to protect local farmers," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.
Philippines, one of the world's biggest rice importers, may consider imposing a safeguard duty on rice to ease the pain of local farmers hurting from a surge in imports.
Vietnam's rice shipments in the first nine months of 2019 likely rose 4.5% to 5.1 million tonnes, but export revenue was expected to drop 9.7% in the same period.
Elsewhere, a heavy spell of retreating monsoon rains has submerged vast swathe of farmland in low-lying Bangladesh, still recovering from previous floods.
Floods in July washed away crops that would have yielded nearly 400,000 tonnes of rice, agriculture ministry estimates showed.
A symbiotic boost for greenhouse tomato plants
Tomato
plants that are colonized by a root fungus have a large increase in yield under
saline conditions. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Use of saline water to irrigate
crops would bolster food security for many arid countries; however, this has
not been possible due to the detrimental effects of salt on plants. Now,
researchers at KAUST, along with scientists in Egypt, have shown that saline
irrigation of tomato is possible with the help of a beneficial desert root
fungus. This represents a new key technology for countries lacking water
resources.
"Salt in irrigation water is
one of the most significant abiotic stresses in arid and semiarid
farming," says former KAUST postdoc Mohamed Abdelaziz, who worked on the
project team alongside Heribert Hirt. "Improving plant salt tolerance and
increasing the yield and quality of crops is vital, but we must achieve this in
a sustainable, inexpensive way."
The root fungus Piriformospora
indica forms beneficial symbiotic relationships with many plant
species, and previous research indicates
it boosts plant growth under
salt stress conditions in barley and rice. While initial studies suggest the
fungus can improve growth in tomato plants under long-term saline irrigation, the mechanisms
behind the process are unclear. Also, little is known about the fungal-plant
interaction throughout the entire growing season.
"Plant salt tolerance is a
complex trait influenced by many factors," says Abdelaziz. "The
salt-tolerance mechanism depends on the correct activation of salt tolerance
genes, stresses on cell membranes and the buildup of toxic sodium ions. We
monitored growth performance over four months in tomato plants colonized with
P. indica and in an untreated control group, both grown commercial style in
greenhouses. We examined genetic and enzymatic responses to salt stress in both
groups."
Mohamed
Abdelaziz (left) and Heribert Hirt aim to improve the salt tolerance of crop
plants to enable the use of saline water for irrigation. Credit: KAUST
The main threat to plants
under salt stress is the
buildup of sodium ions, which affects plant metabolism, and leaf and fruit
growth. For example, excessive sodium in shoots and roots disrupts levels of
potassium, which is vital for multiple growth processes from germination to
enzyme activation.
The team showed that colonization
by P. indica increased the expression of a gene in leaves called LeNHX1, one of
a family of genes responsible for removing sodium from cells. Furthermore,
potassium levels in leaves, shoots and roots of the P. indica group were higher
than in controls. P. indica also increased levels of antioxidant enzyme
activity, offering further protection.
"Colonization with P. indica
boosted tomato fruit yield by 22 percent under normal conditions and 65 percent
under saline conditions," says Abdelaziz. "Colonizing vegetables
provides a simple, low-cost method suitable for all producers, from
smallholders to large-scale farming."
Explore further
More information: Mohamed
E. Abdelaziz et al. Piriformospora indica alters Na+/K+ homeostasis,
antioxidant enzymes and LeNHX1 expression of greenhouse tomato grown under salt
stress, Scientia Horticulturae (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2019.05.059
Long term plan needed to respond
to climate change
Update: October,
07/2019 - 09:00
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 Delta
Do 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
PBC to tackle ease of doing business, rice tariff
Updated October 7, 2019, 10:25 AM
By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
The 45th Philippine Business
Conference (PBC), the country’s largest annual business gathering, is expected
to pass resolutions urging government to improve ease of doing business among
government agencies and to impose measures to help rice farmers, who are
reeling from the influx of imported rice.
PCCI President Alegria “Bing”
Limjoco
Alegria “Bing” Sibal-Limjoco,
president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the organizer
of the annual PBC, revealed that ease of doing business is one of the top
concerns among businessmen in the three Regional Business Conferences conducted
by PCCI on the run up to the final PBC on October 16-17 in Manila Hotel.
On the ease of doing business,
Limjoco said the Visayas Regional Conference particularly raised complaints
against the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for sitting on their applications
for registration of their products for one to two years. This practice by FDA,
she said, has hampered any improvements on the product packaging of the micro
and small enterprises.
PCCI has already forwarded this
concern to Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Jeremiah Belgica,
who in turn directed FDA to automatically approve these applications in
accordance with the 3-7-21-day approval scheme under the ARTA Law.
However, Limjoco said that these
micro and small enterprises would like the approval to be in black and white.
With that, the 45th PBC is
expected to approve a resolution for government to ensure the strict
implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act and RA 11032
or the Ease of Doing Business Act in the concerned certifying bodies.
Limjoco also reported that more
local government units are improving the ease of doing business in their
respective municipalities. In fact, she said, about 20 LGUs are vying for the
“Most Business Friendly LGU Award”, which recognizes deserving LGUs.
“There used to be a few LGUs
participating in this award but now we have several,” she added.
On the issue of rice, Limjoco
said they are open to proposals to raise the current 35 percent tariff to
discourage over rice importation and help rice farmers. Some suggestions
indicated higher rice tariffs at 70 percent, almost double the current 35
percent.
“This year’s PBC will also look
into the issue of very low prices of palay (unhusked rice) following the influx
of imported rice as a result of the implementation of Rice Tariffication Law,
which opens rice importation as long as traders pay 35 percent tariff,” she
said.
Limjoco noted that the country’s
inflation rate has gone down substantially to 0.9 percent in September as rice
prices have already stabilized due to influx of imported rice.
Limjoco said PCCI believes that
the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law did work initially because
prices of rice have stabilized and the inflation level has gone down. But, rice
farmers are suffering with prices of palay falling to as low as P16 per kilo
and even P6-P8 per kilo in some areas.
“We really have to help our
farmers no matter what,” she said.
“We are going to discuss the rice
tariffication during the PBC to increase the tariff on imported rice. We have a
session on agriculture so we will take it up,” she said adding that the session
on agriculture will gather Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar and
Department Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. This will be part of
this year’s PBC Resolutions.
“We will take that up as we have
taken note that our inflation is already at 0.9 percent and how we can help our
farmers,” said Limjoco.
Part of the help to farmers is to
link farmers with PCCI members, who urged farmers to sell to them directly
their produce such as vegetables, beef, pork, and chicken.
The PCCI is also signing a
memorandum of agreement with the DA and DTI to promote and invest in
agriculture to ensure food availability, income for farmers and reforms in the
agriculture sector.
Limjoco noted that even in
Bacolod, sugar farmers are now into other businesses because several malls have
sprouted in the area and converting the sugar lands into malls.
Meanwhile, other proposed PBC
resolutions include businessmen’s request for the DA to implement fully the
farm-to-market roads. The DA, the Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA), DTI and the
National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) should also rationalize the
importation of sugar.
In addition, the PBC would like
the national government to fast track the economic recovery of Marawi City.
The PBC would also ask the Department
of Finance to increase consultations and more in-depth analysis on the
implications of the CITIRA Bill to labor and human capital, internal revenues,
business competitiveness, trade performance, health and education and
countryside investment, among others.
Likewise, DOF should also come up
with a simplified form of taxation for micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSMEs) to encourage them to comply, and help them grow, until they are ready
to join the mainstream.
Other resolutions to be passed
include fast tracking of transportation and logistics projects such as railways
and upgraging of NAIA and provincial airports.
The local government units in
Metro Manila must also implement the urban development plan for Manila Bay and
Laguna Lake.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan to leave for China today
Islamabad,
Oct 7 (UNI): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will pay a three-day official
visit to China from Monday to discuss issues of regional and bilateral
significance with Chinese leadership.
This will be the Khan's third
visit to China within a year.
According to Radio Pakistan, Khan
will hold separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li
Keqiang.
The report further said that he
will also discuss expansion of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor framework besides cooperation in agriculture, industrial and
socio-economic sectors.
It is likely that the two sides
will discuss immediate implementation of Phase-II of China-Pakistan Free Trade
Agreement, signed between the two strategic cooperative partners to further
enhance bilateral business and trade.
Talks on abolition of quota for
all Pakistani agro products like rice, wheat, corn, soybean, sugar and tobacco
are also on the cards.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan to embark
on a 3-day visit to China today
ANI | Updated: Oct 7,
2019, 11:30 IST
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan will
depart on a three-day visit to China today to discuss issues of regional and bilateral
significance, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Kashmir.
The visit by the Pakistan premier comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's tour of Nepal and India, Radio Pakistan reported.
The visit by the Pakistan premier comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's tour of Nepal and India, Radio Pakistan reported.
During
his visit, the Prime Minister will hold separate meetings with Chinese
President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
Khan will discuss expansion of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor framework besides cooperation in agriculture, industrial and socio-economic sectors.
He is also likely to address the China Pakistan Business Forum in Beijing to further promote economic and trade exchanges between the two countries. The Prime Minister will also meet with Chinese entrepreneurs and heads of different companies during the visit.
The two sides will discuss the immediate implementation of Phase-II of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, signed between the two strategic cooperative partners to further enhance bilateral business and trade.
They will also examine the abolition of quota for all Pakistagro products like rice, wheat, corn, soybean, sugar and tobacco as Pakistan will prove to be a food basket for China.
Khan will discuss expansion of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor framework besides cooperation in agriculture, industrial and socio-economic sectors.
He is also likely to address the China Pakistan Business Forum in Beijing to further promote economic and trade exchanges between the two countries. The Prime Minister will also meet with Chinese entrepreneurs and heads of different companies during the visit.
The two sides will discuss the immediate implementation of Phase-II of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, signed between the two strategic cooperative partners to further enhance bilateral business and trade.
They will also examine the abolition of quota for all Pakistagro products like rice, wheat, corn, soybean, sugar and tobacco as Pakistan will prove to be a food basket for China.
It will be the third visit of Khan to China within a year.
He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed, Minister for Planning Khusro Bakhtiar and Finance Adviser Hafeez Sheikh.
LATEST NEWSBREAKING NEWSUS NEWSPAKISTAN NEWSEUROPE NEWSCHINA NEWSSOUTH ASIA NEWSWORLD NEWSNARENDRA MODI
Pak-China FTA phase-II to be implemented shortly
October 7, 2019
BEIJING: Pakistan Ambassador to China Naghmana
Alamgir Hashmi has said that the free trade agreement (FTA) phase-II between
Pakistan and China will be implemented shortly as it is still going through the
internal ratification process.
In an exclusive interview with China
Economic Net in late September, Naghmana said, “We hope that in the next few
months, it will become operational. With the FTA becoming operational, the
prices will in any way go down, because import duties will not apply then.”
Although the reporter asked for a more
specific timeline on the FTA becoming operational, the ambassador said, “That
depends on how quickly work is done, because on our side all the procedures
have been completed. On the Chinese side, there are a few procedures that are
left. So we think it is going to be sooner rather than later. We just need to
wait a little more, because governmental procedures have to take time. But I
think it will be very shortly very, very shortly.”
The envoy said that the first phase of
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is nearing completion and the second
phase has now started, which is actually the establishment of Special Economic
Zones in various parts of the country.
“With the establishment of these Special
Economic Zones and increasing number of agreements and cooperation in the
agriculture sector, which is a priority for both President Xi and Prime
Minister Imran Khan, I think this is one area where there is a huge potential
for investments, growth and then re-export of those value-added products to
China.”
Talking about the recent mango festival
organised in Beijing, Naghmana said, “Mango is our leading export product and
one day we hope to see Pakistani mangoes being sold in supermarkets and markets
all over China.”
Responding to a question on the difference
in prices, the envoy said the price of a product is always cheaper in the
country where it is produced. However, by the time the product is exported,
duties, taxes, and processes are involved.
“It either has to be sanitised by heat,
water vapour or through other technologies. Those technologies are not very
easily available in Pakistan.”
She added that China can actually help
reduce prices of Pakistan’s agricultural products, particularly mango and other
delicate fruit, by having joint ventures with the growers and exporters.
“Secondly, I think with the completion of
CPEC and the establishment of cold chains, a lot of products can then be
transported by road and they won’t have to be airlifted. Mangoes cannot be
shipped up to now, because they have a very short shelf life and roads with a
cold chain are also necessary for fisheries and other agricultural products. So
that is another area where I think a lot of our Chinese friends and investors
have an opportunity to do business in Pakistan, which would be mutually
beneficial to the importers and exporters, and is a nice way of introducing
good Pakistani agricultural products at reasonable prices here in China.”
Motorway project
The ambassador also talked about the delay
in the operation of Sukkur-Multan motorway, saying, “These are huge projects,
so some delays are normal. It’s nothing to be really very alarmed about. The
actual project itself has been completed. So the highway is there. But then
along with this highway, there are certain other things that need to be
established.”
She said, “All CPEC projects have the
absolute and full support of the government of Pakistan, of the people of
Pakistan, of all the political parties across the political divide. So there is
no confusion or no controversy over either the importance of CPEC or the
importance of completing the projects in time. And some of the projects, as you
know, have been completed even before time.”
Talking about the visa process for
businessmen, Naghmana said, “For the Chinese, as you know, we have on-arrival
visa policy and now we also have visa online. So I don’t think there should be
a problem. Maybe some people only apply for three months and then they realise
that they need more than three months. They don’t need to come back. They can
apply to the department concerned in Pakistan and it’s very easily extended.”
Referring to Pakistan’s visa policy, she
added, “We are liberalising. One of the first countries with which we’ve
liberalised the visa regime is China. There is so much work going on. There’s
so much people-to-people contact. There’s so much political contact.”
Joint ventures
The ambassador also spoke about potential
Pakistani categories where China can invest.
“There are certain products which have
traditionally come to China, which are very much appreciated here. We export a
lot of rice to China, not Basmati. Basmati is not that popular in China. We
have another category of rice which is very close to the Chinese kind. It’s
small glutinous rice. So there’s a huge market for that here.
“Then sugar is increasingly being imported
into China. And sugar is of very good quality. And yarn, we produce a lot of
cottons and you have a huge textile industry. So yarn comes to China.
“And then, of course, we have a lot of
stones. For example, we produce the best onyx in the world. I mean Balochistan
is the only area in the world that produces onyx. And Chinese people love onyx.
Then, a lot of gold and copper comes from our mines to here. So we have a lot
of potential both in minerals and gemstones because our northern areas are full
of beautiful gemstones. We do not have that advanced technology to polish and
create them. So that is another area where we are looking for potential joint
ventures.”
She added, “The area that has the most potential
and again the area that has the focus of the leadership of both countries is
agricultural products, development of farms, research on hybrid seeds, and
research and cooperation in cultivation.
“Then there is a huge prospect of
cooperation in drip irrigation because we are now trying to go to drip
irrigation because of the shortage of water. China is one of the leading
countries that have really made very good use of drip irrigation. So I think
agriculture is one area where there is a huge potential for further
cooperation, joint ventures, and investments. And then, of course, the export
of the material to China and beyond China also.”
“I think they also feel that if they develop
a hybrid quality of Basmati rice, then it’s a patent for Pakistan Basmati rice
and it may lose its aroma and taste. We want absolutely pure Basmati. So I
think they want to preserve the originality and the texture and the aroma and
the length of Basmati. I think that is why they don’t want to open Basmati.”
Article on Manipur’s black rice wins
prestigious 2019 SAJA awards
The exotic black rice of Manipur has found a place of pride in
the global platform.
An extensive article by Makepeace
Sitlhou, published in an online magazine popula.com has won the
2019 SAJA awards.
The award has been instituted by South Asian Journalists
Association.
The article titled ‘Sweet or Salty: Could Black Rice Become
Manipur’s Quinoa?’ won in the category of Outstanding business reporting about
South Asia, or the worldwide South Asian diaspora: All media.
The other finalists who were left behind by the article on black
rice of Manipur were:
Ambreen Ali’s ‘At the Wheel: Women Drive Pakistan’s Ride-Sharing
Industry’ published in Ozy.com and Ananya Bhattacharya’s ‘Blockchain is helping
build a new Indian city, but it’s no cure for corruption’ published by Quartz
India.
The article in popula.com highlights
the aesthetically well-packaged ‘Chapham doughnuts’, a dark brownish doughnut
made from ‘black rice’.
The article emphatically says
black rice – or Chak-hao, meaning ‘delicious rice’ – is the new kid on the block in the
‘superfood’ fad.
The article also deals with the fact how local indigenous
products like the black rice have survived the tag of ‘troubled area’ and the
imposition of the draconian AFSPA.
Black rice stood the test of time to emerge to be acknowledged
as a superfood taunting even the blueberry of which the world is so crazy for.
Now with the government’s ‘Look East Policy’, entrepreneurs are
optimistic that indigenous products of Manipur like the black rice will travel
the globe be accepted world-wide.
Rich tributes to former Sikkim CM on birth
anniversary
Sikkim chief minister Golay says
Bhandari always inspired and encouraged him and his immortal advises would be
followed by SKM government
Rich tributes were paid to former
three-term Sikkim chief minister late Nar Bahadur Bhandari on his 79th birth anniversary.
The birthday was commemorated at his native place of Malbasey in
West Sikkim.
The programme was attended by
state chief minister P S Golay, ministers, state and district officials, Bhandari’s
family members and school students.
This was informed in a press release
issued by Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM).
Addressing the function, chief minister Golay shared that Bhandari
always inspired and encouraged him and his immortal advises would be followed
by the SKM government.
Calling Bhandari as the architect of modern Sikkim for ushering
in massive development, Golay recalled his immense contributions in
constitutional recognition of Nepali language and according citizenship to
several stateless persons.
He mentioned that the SKM government has given him the respect
he deserved and declared October 5, his birthday as a state holiday.
He further informed that a memorial would be constructed after
consultation with Bhandari’s family, the SKM release informed.
The chief minister also criticized the former SDF government for
putting Sikkim in a massive debt trap.
“We will not criticize all former governments and take credit
but will acknowledge and respect the good works done by our predecessors,” said
Golay.
He also said in these four months, ‘we have realized that all
developmental claims were mere publicity while massive corruption happened’.
Scholarships for meritorious students of Soreng senior secondary
school and Malbasey secondary school, instituted by late Bhandari’s daughter
Primula Bhandari, were also presented to the students through the hands of the
chief minister.
Four-day BSF-BGB meet vows to curb
trans-border crime
A four-day meeting between
the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) concluded in Kolkata on Sunday.
Several major issues including measures to curb trans-border
crime including unwanted loss of life, smuggling of cattle, drugs and narcotics
were discussed at the meeting.
Smuggling of arms and ammunition and gold were also deliberated
upon during the Border Co-ordination Conference between Inspectors’ General of
BSF and Region Commanders’ of the BGB, officials informed the media.
The BSF delegation was led by Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, inspector
general, South Bengal Frontier.
While Md Jalal Ghani Khan, additional director general, Region
Commander, South West Region, Jashore, was the head of the Bangladesh team.
Khurania was quoted as saying the aim of the conference was to
improve mutual co-operation and understanding between both the border guarding
forces of India and Bangladesh.
He was also quoted as saying that it was necessary for better
border management and to resolve various issues related to border in the mutual
interests of both the countries.
He also added during the conference, various issues for
effective border management were discussed.
These included measures to curb trans-border crime including
unwanted loss of life, smuggling of cattle, drugs and narcotics, contraband
items, he was also quoted as saying.
The delegations also discussed about effective measures to check
illegal movement across the International Boundary, smuggling of Fake Indian
Currency Notes (FICN), breach of fence and safety and security of border
population of both the countries.
During the meeting, various pending issues related to
infrastructure and developmental works in border areas were also discussed,
with both sides appreciating various activities being conducted under the
Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP).
The CBMPt includes Simultaneous Coordinated Patrols (SCP),
sharing of intelligence, identification of vulnerable areas and increased
frequency of meetings at all levels.
Both sides appreciated that trans-border crime has declined
following efforts made by the border guarding forces, and agreed to pursue the
construction of developmental projects in the respective border areas.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research Celebrates
29th Foundation Day
The
ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi celebrated its
29th Foundation Day. The Chief Guest, Professor Arvind Kumar,
Vice-Chancellor, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi
highlighted the role of the production of value-added vegetables in ensuring
the self-dependency of the country in the field food production. He stressed
that the higher production of the horticultural crops in the present times will
help in the fight for achieving nutritional security.
The
Guest of Honor, Dr. Mangala Rai, Former Director General (ICAR) & Secretary
(DARE) accentuated on sustainable agriculture for vegetable farmers by
maintaining the soil health and water management practices in the present era
of climate change. He urged the scientists for developing the technologies to
solve the problems associated with the vegetable processing, value-addition,
and storage.
Dr.
Gautam Kalloo, Former Deputy Director General (Horticulture), ICAR &
Founder Director, ICAR-IIVR applauded the Institute’s initiatives in the
designated field.
Dr.
Arvind Kumar, Director, South Asia Regional Centre, International Rice Research
Institute, Varanasi lauded the Institute scientists for their commendable
research.
Dr. Ramesh Chand, Director, Institute of Agricultural Sciences,
BHU urged the farmers to be vigilant with the misconceptions associated with
the organic farming. He encouraged them for growing the value-added vegetables.Earlier,
Dr. Jagdish Singh, Director, ICAR-IIVR briefed about the benefits the farmers
are getting by scientific research and various extension programmes like “Mera
Gaon Mera Gaurav”, “SC/ST Sub Project” and “Farmers’ First”, etc. Dr. Singh
highlighted about the development of more than 100 varieties and hybrids of
different vegetable crops by the Institute.
Among
the developing farmers associated with the Institute, Shri Om Prakash Dubey and
Shri Rameshwar elaborated their success stories on vegetable production.
In
this series, 3 Innovative Farmers - Ananda Kumar Patel, Mannu Yadav and Shitala
Devi were also felicitated with the Letters of Appreciation. Around 400 farmers
participated in the event.
Evidence of Fish Farming Found
at Neolithic Site in China
Monday, October 7, 2019
(© Mark Hudson)
JENA, GERMANY—An international
team of researchers led by Mark Hudson of the Max
Planck Institute for the Science of Human History suggests that fish may have
been raised for food in China as early as 6200 B.C. The scientists analyzed and
compared carp teeth unearthed at Jiahu, a Neolithic site in central China, with
remains of fish unearthed at other archaeological sites, and fish raised in
modern fish farms in Japan. In earlier periods at Jiahu, when fish were caught
in the wild during the spawning season, the catch consisted of adult fish, the
researchers explained, but beginning around 6200 B.C., both mature and immature
fish were processed at the site. Hudson and his colleagues think the early
farmers began to keep some of the wild-caught carp alive in confined spaces,
such as rice paddy fields, where they continued to spawn. When the water was
drained, both the mature and immature fish were harvested. The high proportion
of bones at Jiahu from a type of carp found less commonly in the wild is also
evidence for the practice of aquaculture, the researchers added, indicating
that the fish farmers kept their preferred variety. To read about large-scale
construction at a Neolithic city in the Yangtze Delta, go to "Early Signs of Empire."
Researchers Develop Self-cleaning Coating Material from Rice
Husk
Corrosion is a big problem the
world over and is said to cost around $2.5 trillion globally, which is equal to
3.4 percent of global GDP.
The organic coating material
developed by the team of researchers led by Harpreet Singh Grewal of the
Department of Mechanical Engineering at Shiv Nadar University (SNU), addresses
a number of problems in just one go.
Smart coating material with
self-cleaning properties from rice husk, which when applied on a range of
surfaces, can help fight adverse effects of corrosion and dust.
Apart from producing a high-value
material with wide-ranging industrial and household applications from
agricultural waste, it aids in significantly reducing water used for cleaning.
Besides, it has the potential to replace toxic substances-based paints that are
normally used.
The journal Progress in Organic
Coating featured recently their work.
For making this novel coating
material, the researchers first extracted nano-silica particles that are
present in rice husk by burning the husk at high temperatures. These
nano-silica particles — that are nearly 250 nanometres (one nanometre is
one-billionth of a meter) in size — is mixed with a solution of silicone oil
and toluene, a commonly used solvent. The solution is now ready to be used for
spray painting.
“The coating material can be used
on a variety of surfaces including concrete, steel structures, and even wood,”
said Grewal, who joined SNU in 2015 after completing his Ph.D. from the Indian
Institute of Technology, Ropar and a post-doctoral degree from South Korea.
He said his team that also
included a colleague Harpreet Arora and Grewal's masters and doctoral students,
was inspired to take up this work as they wanted to find a way to put locally
available agricultural waste materials to better use.
“The material has sufficient
roughness and water-repelling properties that dust particles cannot remain on
the coated surfaces for long. When very little quantity of water is sprayed,
water droplets will roll off these surfaces taking dust and other particles
along with them, just like what happens when they fall on lotus leaves,” said
Grewal.
“Our calculations show that for
cleaning one square inch surface, we just need 30 to 40 microlitres (one
microlitre is one-millionth of a litre) of water, which is 5 to 10 times lesser
quantity of water needed for conventional cleaning,” he said.
Moreover, the coating is
non-toxic unlike lead- or chromium-based paints and can be applied on all
household appliances, buildings, automobiles, and industrial components.
Besides, it’s been found to be very durable,” said Grewal, whose team carried
out this research under a project sponsored by the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research.
Even though the scientists did
not ascertain the cost of the coating material, it may not be very expensive,
according to Grewal. “My hunch is that we may be able to produce 1 liter of
material for ₹50 to 100,” he said, adding that 20 to 30 kg
of nano-silica can be produced from 100 kg of rice husk.
In the immediate future, the
scientists want to see whether similar hard protective coverings found in wheat
can help produce nano-silica, apart from finding a replacement solvent for
toluene, which is a by-product of fossil fuel.
Nigeria’s border
closure hits hard on India, Thailand
Jerrywright Ukwu -
Nigeria’s border closure is hitting hard on India, Thailand others - The rice
exporting countries are heavily reliant on the Nigerian market - Reports say
the wholesale price of top exporting countries fell on product glut resulting
from a decline in exports A report by Business Day indicates that the closure
of Nigeria’s land borders aimed at curbing smuggling activities, especially of
rice, has taken a toll on rice-exporting countries. According to the report,
the price of the commodity dipped by a joint 46 percent in one month in
countries like Thailand and India. President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday,
August 21, ordered the closure of the Seme border. Between that period and
September, the wholesale price of the broken parboiled rice, the species in top
exporting countries fell on product glut resulting from a decline in exports.
In India, the wholesale price dropped from $0.64/kg in August to $0.40/kg as at
30 September of this year. In Thailand, the price of the commodity declined by
9.2 percent in the review period. Data from both Thailand and India, which
previously accounted for up to 90 percent of Nigeria’s rice imports, show legal
imports to the country have declined at the same time. Meanwhile, there are
fears that Nigerians may buy a 50kg bag of rice for as high as N50,000 in
December 2019 if the land borders remain shut by the federal government.
Already, the price of rice by 86% to an all-time high of N27,000 per 50kg from
N14,500, an indication that local rice farmers do not currently have the
capacity to meet local demand in the country. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) ->
Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Customs Seize N1bn
Worth of Codeine: Importation of Fairly-Used Bags, Shoes Banned | Legit TV
Source:
Iraq
replaces state grain agency chief
REUTERS
BAGHDAD/DUBAI
Published08.10.201911:21
·
An Iraqi protester waves the
national flag during a demonstration against state corruption, failing public
services, and unemployment, in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Oct. 5, 2019. (AFP
Photo)
Iraq,
a major Middle East wheat and rice importer, has replaced the head of its state
grain buying agency, government sources and a document showed on Tuesday.
Naeem
al-Maksousi was replaced by Hassanein Mahdi Elwan, a document reviewed by
Reuters showed.
The
reason for the replacement, which comes after a week of unrest in Iraq in which
more than 100 people have been killed, was not clear.
A
government source told Reuters the move was routine, but a Middle East grains
trader with close knowledge of the Iraqi market linked the change to the
current protests over living conditions.
"The
government has to make some changes with all what is happening in the
country," said the trader, who declined to be identified.
The
unrest in Iraq represents the biggest security and political challenge for
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi's government since it took power a year ago.
Iraq's
grain board is responsible for billions of dollars worth of wheat and rice
purchases each year to supply the country's massive food rationing program.
Maksousi has headed the organization since 2018.
The
state buyer falls under the trade ministry and holds regular international purchasing
tenders to import wheat and rice for the rationing program, which covers flour,
cooking oil, rice, sugar and baby milk formula. The program was first created
in 1991 to combat U.N. economic sanctions.
Iraqis
have taken to the streets in the last six days to protest poor living
conditions which they blame on what they see as corrupt leaders.
Iraq replaces the head of its state grain agency
by Reuters
Tuesday, 8 October 2019 05:51 GMT
BAGHDAD/DUBAI, Oct 8 (Reuters) -
Iraq, a major Middle East wheat and rice importer, has replaced the head of its
state grain buying agency, government sources and a document showed on Tuesday.
Naeem al-Maksousi was replaced by
Hassanein Mahdi Elwan, a document reviewed by Reuters showed.
The reason for the replacement,
which comes after a week of unrest in Iraq in which more than 100 people have
been killed, was not clear.
A government source told Reuters
the move was routine, but a Middle East grains trader with close knowledge of
the Iraqi market linked the change to the current protests over living
conditions.
"The government has to make
some changes with all what is happening in the country," said the trader,
who declined to be identified.
The unrest in Iraq represents the
biggest security and political challenge for Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's
government since it took power a year ago.
Iraq's grain board is responsible
for billions of dollars worth of wheat and rice purchases each year to supply
the country's massive food rationing programme. Maksousi has headed the
organisation since 2018.
The state buyer falls under the
trade ministry and holds regular international purchasing tenders to import
wheat and rice for the rationing programme, which covers flour, cooking oil,
rice, sugar and baby milk formula. The programme was first created in 1991 to
combat U.N. economic sanctions.
Iraqis have taken to the streets
in the last six days to protest poor living conditions which they blame on what
they see as corrupt leaders.
(Reporting By Moayed Kenany in
Baghdad and Maha El Dahan in Dubai; editing by Richard Pullin)
Revisit rice tariffication law
04:00 AM October 08, 2019
The whole
rationale of Republic Act No. 11203 or the rice tariffication law (RTL) is to
provide affordable rice prices for consumers, coupled with the goal of raising
the income of palay/rice farmers. These twin objectives of the law would
supposedly ensure food security for all, and secure the income of producers and
the need of consumers. Supply and demand should always remain balanced. Economists
want the public to believe this.
The
implementation of RTL in March 2019 has, however, resulted in higher rice
prices for consumers but lower palay prices for rice farmers. This is not the
balance that economists envisioned from the law.
The current
farm gate price of palay is ridiculously low. It currently sells between P7 and
P10 per kilogram (fresh). In Central Luzon, the country’s rice granary, the
average price of fresh palay is P10.60 (low P9, high P14). In Cagayan Valley,
it costs P12.31 per kg (low P11, high P15). If one compares this with the cost
to produce a kilogram of palay at about P12.40 per kg, farmers are losing.
Under this
current pricing scheme, no farmer will continue planting rice below production
cost. The impact on the farmer household level, such as higher incidence of
malnutrition, school dropouts and increased vulnerability to early marriage,
are effects that cannot be ignored.
The National
Food Authority (NFA) buffer stocking for 15 days is equivalent to 488,895
metric tons, and the budgetary requirement for palay procurement is only P15.5
billion. The 30-day stock is equivalent to 977,790 metric tons, requiring a
palay procurement budget of P31.5 billion. But the government can only provide
budgetary support of P7 billion. Under the RTL, the NFA is limited only to
maintaining buffer stocks (to be sourced locally) for emergencies and disaster
relief. Only one import restriction remains under the RTL, and this is the
Bureau of Plant Industry sanitary permit. This is easy to secure.
The
recommendation to engage the services of local government units (LGUs) in the
market price mechanism seems interesting but problematic. Are LGUs willing and
capable to take on the task of buying and selling palay, same as the previous
role of the NFA? Do they have the necessary logistics to purchase, store and
deliver palay from farm to market places?
A World
Trade Organization trade and food security expert has said that the
government’s (pre-RTL) tariffication should have looked first into the effects
of tariffs before pursuing a rice deregulation policy. The WTO did not require
the Philippine government to deregulate the rice industry. What the WTO
required was simply to replace quantitative restriction (QR) with tariff as the
standard form of global trade policy, and not total rice deregulation measures
for the domestic rice industry as now enshrined under the RTL.
This was
primarily why the Department of Agriculture (during pre-RTL) had warned of the
adverse effects of unilaterally liberalizing the domestic rice industry. As the
only “state-trading enterprise notified by the Philippines in the WTO, the NFA
has exclusive or special rights or privileges, including statutory or
constitutional powers, in the exercise of which they influence through purchases
or sales.”
What farmers
now recommend to the government and lawmakers is to suspend the RTL
implementation during the competitive measures phase, a period crucial to
making Filipino rice farmers viable. Filipino rice farmers are not mere
recipients of conditional cash transfers. They are key staple food producers.
Assistance along the lines of the pre-RTL palay price support of P20.70 will go
a long way, especially for cash-starved Filipino rice farmers. Farmers need at
least eight cropping seasons (two cropping seasons a year) to become
competitive. The government should continue to regulate rice imports and should
provide direct farm and market support to farmers.
As with any
responsible government, it should keep its option for quantitative restrictions
in case of disasters, manmade (such as policy failures) or otherwise.
* * *
Omi C. Royandoyan is executive
director of Centro Saka and founding chair of Alyansa Agrikultura.
Climate change
drives Asia's 'life and death' race for food security 
From Japan to ASEAN bloc, agritech offers hope for hungry region
RURIKA IMAHASHI, Nikkei staff writerOCTOBER
08, 2019 15:37 JST
TOKYO -- It has been a good year for Takeshi Ishisaka, a
69-year-old rice farmer in Japan's Toyama Prefecture, northwest of the capital.
Ishisaka just finished harvesting
his crop in mid-September, and even he was surprised by what his paddies
produced. "The quality is better than the rice I've cultivated
before," he said, explaining that 100% was classified as first class --
superior in terms of color, appearance and size.
His good year was a product of 15
years of effort by the prefecture, which sought to develop a new breed of rice
capable of withstanding high temperatures and other extreme weather.
From Japan to Singapore, Thailand
the Philippines and beyond, governments are increasingly spooked by the
prospect of climate change undermining their food security. The warnings are
stark, the competition for resources is intense, and technological innovation
may be Asia's best chance to feed itself.
Toyama recognized the threat back
in 2002, when it had its worst rice harvest ever. Only half the crop was rated
first class. Excessive heat was deemed the culprit.
"We needed to take
measures," recalled Yoichiro Kojima at Toyama's Agricultural Research
Institute. The next year, it started working on a new variety of rice that
would be able to survive hotter weather and heavy rains.
Japanese farmer Takeshi Ishisaka, who started growing
a new type of rice last year, described hotter summers as "a matter
of life and death." (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
The result is a breed called
Fufufu -- meaning "richness." The rice was developed by crossbreeding
five rice varieties that have various desirable characteristics, such as
heat resistance, shorter plant length and resistance to diseases, particularly
rice blast. Shorter plants are better because they are unlikely to be toppled
by heavy rains. Of the five varieties, the key was Indica, which has
high heat resistance. After 10 years of study, researchers finally
determined which chromosome is responsible for that trait. This year is
the first that the rice is available nationwide.
Ishisaka started growing Fufufu
in 2018 and this year doubled the cultivation area to 10 hectares. Previously,
he had only grown Koshihikari -- one of Japan's most famous varieties, which
accounts for 30% of all rice grown in the country.
"Summer is getting hotter
and hotter and conventional rice varieties are less suited to the
weather," Ishisaka said, explaining that more Koshihikari ends up written
off. "It's been a matter of life and death for farmers as our revenue is
subject to the yield." According to the Japan Meteorological Agency,
the average number of days in which the high temperature exceeded 35 C in
13 areas of Japan reached 7.1 in 2018, up from 3.0 in 2000 and 1.8 in
1990.
Japanese farmers are hardly the only ones feeling the heat. A
recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that
cereal prices could surge up to 23% by 2050 due to climate change. This would
hurt the poor, and the risk is especially acute in parts of Asia where growing
populations need ever more food.
On top of more expensive cereals, the IPCC's report highlighted
a number of other side effects of warming -- reduced yields, disruptions to
food storage and transport networks, and declines in nutritional quality.
Under the Paris Agreement, 196 countries pledged to take steps
to limit the global average temperature increase this century to well below 2
C. But Akio Shibata, head of Japan's Natural Resource Research Institute,
argues that global warming is "accelerating" and that temperatures
will "rise more quickly than expected."
In September, the World Meteorological Organization said the
global average temperature is up by 1.1 C from the preindustrial period, and by
0.2 C from as recently as 2011-2015. The Breakthrough-National Center for
Climate Restoration, an Australian think tank, projected in a separate report
that warming will reach 1.6 C by 2030.
The danger is not just theoretical: Across Asia, countries are
grappling with extreme weather conditions as we speak. And the World Food
Program says the number of people suffering from hunger increased for the third
consecutive year in 2018, to 821 million. "A major factor behind the trend
is global warming," Shibata said.
In Thailand this year, a long
drought hit the kingdom's north and northeastern rice-growing regions, closely
followed by torrential rains and massive flooding. A farmer in the province of
Maha Sarakham said in early August that he was unable to plant his rice before
the seedlings died because his paddies were so dry. Farmers who managed to do
their planting saw their fields inundated by the floodwaters at the end of
August.
The flooding is believed to have
caused 20 billion to 25 billion baht ($656 million to $820 million) worth of
economic damage and slashed production by 100,000 tons, equivalent to 8% of
Thailand's rice exports. Countermeasures are almost as expensive: The National
Water Resource Commission introduced a 13 billion baht plan in March to combat
droughts and flooding.
India, the world's largest rice
exporter after Thailand, also suffered from drought this year. Australia, the
No. 1 grain supplier, imported wheat for the first time in 12 years due to
water shortages.
Even if the Paris Agreement
works, the world is likely to face food security challenges. One study by
Japan's National Agriculture and Food Research Organization found that even if
the global mean temperature rises less than 1.8 degrees from preindustrial
levels this century, warming will still suppress yields of maize and soybeans.
Technology, though, provides
glimmers of hope.
Japanese agritech company Mebiol sells a hydrogel
film, on which plants can grow without water or soil. (Photo by Rurika
Imahashi)
A Japanese agritech company
called Mebiol has been fielding calls from China, India, Thailand and Brazil
about its workaround for soil contamination and insufficient water. The key is
a "hydrogel" film, on which plants can grow.
The film reduces water usage by
90%, compared with conventional hydroponics. "No matter what the weather
is, this film can supply stable food," said Yuichi Mori, Mebiol's founder.
The company has secured patents in 130 countries, and 3,500 tons of tomatoes
are already grown with the film annually. Revenue reached 350 million yen
($3.27 million) in fiscal 2018.
"The number of overseas
inquiries has tripled compared with two years ago," Mori said.
Asian governments hope to harness
new technologies as they compete -- and sometimes collaborate -- to ensure food
security for their people.
Singapore has lined up a series
of food projects, including an 18-hectare Agri-Food Innovation Park that will
be used for high-tech farming along with research and development. Even insect
farms are on the menu.
Sustenir Agriculture, a
Singaporean vertical farming company, has successfully cultivated strawberry
plants in a laboratory and is selling the product through online supermarket
RedMart.
Singapore, despite its wealth, is
in a precarious position because it imports 90% of its food -- imports that
were worth around 11.3 billion Singaporean dollars ($8.18 billion) in 2018.
This makes the city-state vulnerable if and when other countries restrict
exports to safeguard their own supplies.
Malaysia raised alarm over
precisely this in December, when it announced it was looking at limiting
shipments of seafood and eggs.
Singapore has been aware of this
risk for years. It has actively sought to diversify its procurement, expanding
its import sources to 180 countries from 140 in 2004, Environment and Water
Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli told parliament earlier this year.
Australia is suffering one of its worst droughts
on record. Here, a water level indicator stands next to a nearly empty
creek on Sept. 24. © Reuters
"We take for granted apples
from Poland, bananas from Ecuador and Mandarin oranges from China in our
supermarkets," Zulkifli said, stressing that all these foods are "the
fruits of a deliberate strategy."
Ultimately, however, the
city-state wants to become more self-sufficient. The current goal is to triple
homegrown food production by 2030.
Over in the Philippines, the
government is gathering extensive data and offering farmers advice on how to
navigate an unpredictable climate.
The Department of Agriculture's
office in charge of climate change launched a program in 2013 to evaluate the
sensitivity of farming communities to extreme weather and help them adjust. The
program is called the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture, and
the communities involved are known as AMIA Villages.
Comprehensive local data will
form the "basis on how the communities will specifically address the
climate vulnerabilities they are experiencing, and to improve the
implementation of climate-related strategies," explained Director
U-Nichols Manalo, head of the climate change office.
Cecilia Quipayo, leader of the
farming community in the village of Cagbunga, signed up for the AMIA program in
August 2017. Since then, she said, her organization has received regular
updates from the regional agriculture office. "They let us know when it
will rain, when it is best to plant, when we should dry the grains, among
others," Quipayo said. Local farmers were also introduced to alternatives,
like growing vegetables and raising ducks, to diversify their incomes and food
supplies.
A 2017 study only added to the
urgency. With every temperature increase of 1 C, the research found, the
Philippines' rice yield will decline by 10%. To avoid that, the local
authorities in Davao -- President Rodrigo Duterte's home region -- have urged
farmers to plant sturdier, next-generation varieties that can stand up to heat,
droughts, floods, diseases and salinity, local media reported.
But as governments and countries
turn to high-tech climate solutions, some experts say they should watch out for
ripple effects. Others stress the need for not just country-specific measures
but also more international cooperation.
"Even if a certain
technology can address one issue, it could sometimes have a negative effect on
other issues," said Nobuko Saigusa, director of Japan's National Institute
for Environmental Studies and a contributor to the IPCC report. She advises
combining "several measures, which have a positive effect on multiple
issues" in order to "minimize the trade-offs and maximize the
synergy."
A step toward more collaboration
came in August, when the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum released a
joint statement on food security, in which agriculture ministers acknowledged
the growing impact of climate change on production. Masayuki Yokozawa, a
professor at Tokyo's Waseda University, said it was "a good attempt to strengthen
regional cooperation to suppress the variability of climate and agriculture
production."
The risks are there for all to
see -- and they extend far beyond malnutrition.
Back in 2008, when wheat prices
surged due to dry weather and a resource boom, the global population suffering
from hunger exceeded 1 billion in 2009. This pressure is considered one factor
that sparked the Arab Spring protests in the Middle East.
A failure to take sufficient
countermeasures now, the Natural Resource Research Institute's Shibata warned,
could lead to more hunger as well as "conflict, especially in the
vulnerable countries of Asia."
Nikkei staff writers Dylan Loh in
Singapore, Masayuki Yuda in Bangkok and Researcher Ella Hermonio in Manila
contributed to this report.
Long term plan needed to respond to
climate change
Update: October,
07/2019 - 09:00
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 Delta
Do 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
Food grain
output seen at 140.57 million tonne in FY20 on monsoon boost
Production of monsoon-sown
food grain is expected to be 140.57 mt in 2019-20, up by 8.4 mt from average
output in the past five years, the report added.
PTI|
Oct 07,
2019, 07.06 PM IST
In the pulses sector,
acreages under tur and urad exceeded last year's levels.
MUMBAI: With the best
monsoons in 25 years, the overall food grain production is expected to increase
marginally by 8.4 million tonne from the average output in the past five years
at 140.57 million tonne in 2019 -20, says a report.
The monsoons have been normal or excess in 84 percent of the regions, while the rest of the regions getting insufficient rainfalls, the National Bulk Handling Corporation (NBHC) said in a report Monday.
Production of monsoon-sown food grain is expected to be 140.57 mt in 2019-20, up by 8.4 mt from average output in the past five years, it added.
The report said total rice is expected to show marginal improvement in sown area by 2.80 percent as farmers have shifted 20-25 percent of their crop areas from non- basmati rice to basmati in Punjab due to the higher export demand last year.
"Receding waters in the flood-affected regions of Bihar, Odisha and Karnataka have helped recover the areas under paddy but delayed in sowing, which is likely to lower the yield by 2.58 percent," NBHC head for research & development Hanish Kumar Sinha said in a statement.
Maize acreage is expected to go up, but output may fall by 5.75 percent due to the massive armyworm infestation.
Area and production of jowar is expected to fall by 4.79 percent and 0.61 percent respectively, while bajra area is expected to increase by 2.47 percent but is expected to decline by 4.69 percent, it said.
In the pulses sector, acreages under tur and urad exceeded last year's levels after widespread rains in early August boosted the sowing, the government has begun to dispose of stocks.
Arhar area is expected to rise by 1.69 percent and the production is expected to rise significantly by 21.27 percent, while urad output is expected to be lower by 0.16 percent.
"We expect the area under moong to increase by 4.66 percent while production is expected sharply lower by 17.23 percent mainly due to flooding of fields in MP, Maharashtra and Rajasthan," Sinha added.
In oilseeds, castor area is expected to increase by 5.32 percent and likely to see significant increase in production by 21.07 percent due to good prices of castor in domestic markets.
Production fall is expected to be 8.90 percent and 2.32 percent for sesame and sunflower, respectively, and marginal improvement is expected in groundnut and niger seeds by 4.93 percent and 4.93 percent, respectively.
Soybean acreage expected to improve by 5.68 percent but the production is expected be lower by 17.72 percent due to heavy rains and floods in major growing areas.
The cash crops are likely to be stable as area for sugarcane is expected to be up by 14.32 percent but production is likely to dip by 5.60 percent as farmers from major growing areas have to other crops.
Cotton area and production are expected up by 4.32 percent and 9.99 percent, respectively, the report added.
The monsoons have been normal or excess in 84 percent of the regions, while the rest of the regions getting insufficient rainfalls, the National Bulk Handling Corporation (NBHC) said in a report Monday.
Production of monsoon-sown food grain is expected to be 140.57 mt in 2019-20, up by 8.4 mt from average output in the past five years, it added.
The report said total rice is expected to show marginal improvement in sown area by 2.80 percent as farmers have shifted 20-25 percent of their crop areas from non- basmati rice to basmati in Punjab due to the higher export demand last year.
"Receding waters in the flood-affected regions of Bihar, Odisha and Karnataka have helped recover the areas under paddy but delayed in sowing, which is likely to lower the yield by 2.58 percent," NBHC head for research & development Hanish Kumar Sinha said in a statement.
Maize acreage is expected to go up, but output may fall by 5.75 percent due to the massive armyworm infestation.
Area and production of jowar is expected to fall by 4.79 percent and 0.61 percent respectively, while bajra area is expected to increase by 2.47 percent but is expected to decline by 4.69 percent, it said.
In the pulses sector, acreages under tur and urad exceeded last year's levels after widespread rains in early August boosted the sowing, the government has begun to dispose of stocks.
Arhar area is expected to rise by 1.69 percent and the production is expected to rise significantly by 21.27 percent, while urad output is expected to be lower by 0.16 percent.
"We expect the area under moong to increase by 4.66 percent while production is expected sharply lower by 17.23 percent mainly due to flooding of fields in MP, Maharashtra and Rajasthan," Sinha added.
In oilseeds, castor area is expected to increase by 5.32 percent and likely to see significant increase in production by 21.07 percent due to good prices of castor in domestic markets.
Production fall is expected to be 8.90 percent and 2.32 percent for sesame and sunflower, respectively, and marginal improvement is expected in groundnut and niger seeds by 4.93 percent and 4.93 percent, respectively.
Soybean acreage expected to improve by 5.68 percent but the production is expected be lower by 17.72 percent due to heavy rains and floods in major growing areas.
The cash crops are likely to be stable as area for sugarcane is expected to be up by 14.32 percent but production is likely to dip by 5.60 percent as farmers from major growing areas have to other crops.
Cotton area and production are expected up by 4.32 percent and 9.99 percent, respectively, the report added.
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