Rice price rises by 29.41% in two months
Published November 25, 2019
Price of rice, a staple consumed
during festivities in Nigeria, has risen by over 29.41 per cent since July,
along with other foodstuffs. This is even as Christmas is just a few weeks
away, Anna Okon reports
Before
August 28 when the Nigeria Customs Service closed the borders against her
neighbours, the price of rice was N17,000 per 50-kilogramme bag, having risen
from N14, 000 a few months before.
Currently
the price of foreign parboiled rice, has gone up to between N22, 000 and N30,
000, findings by our correspondent have shown.
Also,
the price of local rice that is positioned to replace foreign ones on Nigeria’s
dietary palate has also gone up.
It
was gathered that the local rice at Bodija market in Ibadan, Oyo State, was
being sold for N20, 000 per 50kg bag and N16, 000/50kg in Minna in Niger State.
In
Garko Market, Kano, it sells for N20, 000/50kg bag.
In
Lapal, Niger State; Gboko, Benue State; Maitagari, Jigawa State and Ughelli,
Delta State, local rice sells for N18,000/50kg, N11,000/50kg, N19,000/50kg and
N23,000/50kg bag, respectively.
In
Egbeda Market in Lagos, local rice sells for about N18, 000; in Umuahia main
market, Abia State, it sells for N22, 000.
The
popular Ofada rice, consumed for its rich nutritional value and great flavour,
sells for N28, 000 per 50kg bag and between N2, 800 and N3, 500 per 5kg bag.
This
was not the case in July as data from Nigerian agriculture produce portals
show.
In
July, imported rice was N17, 000; local rice sold for between N11, 000 and N15,
000 for 50kg bag.
Other
staples such as noodles, chicken and mackerel (ice fish) have also witnessed
price increases.
Ghana Buffer Stock Company to
sustain drive for consumption of local rice
Business News of Monday, 25 November 2019
Source: citinewsroom.com
The Buffer
Stock Company is set to roll out series of interventions for farmers
The Ghana Food Buffer Stock Company is set to roll out series of
interventions with other state institutions to sustain the drive for the
consumption of local rice.
According to them, this will help in the promotion and consumption of local rice.
Speaking to Citi News, Chief Executive of the Company, Hanan Abdul Wahab listed some of the steps being taken to assist with marketing opportunities for local rice farmers.
“Our plan is based on the expansion for foods for planting and jobs. We have also identified two main issues, lack of market, and the lack of storage.
"This play a very important role. You cannot go and buy a produce when you don’t have a place to keep it. You cannot go and buy a produce when you have no taste for it. So, the campaign for the consumption of the local foods is something that we all have to join from a point,” he said.
“We have started from government institutions. For example, when you look at other brands of Ghana rice, it is also their responsibility to come out and market what they are selling. We as a government will also come in and support what we are selling. It is not easy to introduce a food that has not been tasted or eaten by a student before from home. It took me and my team a great time to be able to penetrate this. And today the acceptability is so great,” he added.
The Company moved in earlier in the week to help mop-up a huge pile of metric tonnes of rice from fields in Northern Ghana.
This follows Citi TV’s report of rice in Northern Ghana going waste due to lack of market.
Samuel Attah-Mensah, CEO of Citi FM/TV subsequently declared himself an ambassador for the consumption of local rice.
He also launched the Ghana Rice Campaign to boost consumption of local varieties of the staple.
Ghana’s voracious appetite for imported rice according to some stakeholders has had an apparent negative effect on the national economy, thus the call to reduce or halt the over-dependence.
According to them, this will help in the promotion and consumption of local rice.
Speaking to Citi News, Chief Executive of the Company, Hanan Abdul Wahab listed some of the steps being taken to assist with marketing opportunities for local rice farmers.
“Our plan is based on the expansion for foods for planting and jobs. We have also identified two main issues, lack of market, and the lack of storage.
"This play a very important role. You cannot go and buy a produce when you don’t have a place to keep it. You cannot go and buy a produce when you have no taste for it. So, the campaign for the consumption of the local foods is something that we all have to join from a point,” he said.
“We have started from government institutions. For example, when you look at other brands of Ghana rice, it is also their responsibility to come out and market what they are selling. We as a government will also come in and support what we are selling. It is not easy to introduce a food that has not been tasted or eaten by a student before from home. It took me and my team a great time to be able to penetrate this. And today the acceptability is so great,” he added.
The Company moved in earlier in the week to help mop-up a huge pile of metric tonnes of rice from fields in Northern Ghana.
This follows Citi TV’s report of rice in Northern Ghana going waste due to lack of market.
Samuel Attah-Mensah, CEO of Citi FM/TV subsequently declared himself an ambassador for the consumption of local rice.
He also launched the Ghana Rice Campaign to boost consumption of local varieties of the staple.
Ghana’s voracious appetite for imported rice according to some stakeholders has had an apparent negative effect on the national economy, thus the call to reduce or halt the over-dependence.
Government to consider cut in reserve price
of rice
PTI New Delhi | Updated
on November 24, 2019 Published
on November 24, 2019
File photo - The Hindu
Price of wheat
to remain unchanged
Sitting on a huge buffer stock,
the government is considering cutting reserve price of rice by almost Rs 500
per quintal for bulk buyers to boost its sale through open market.
However, there is no plan to cut
wheat price, official sources said.
The Government is considering
downward revision of reserve price of rice from Rs 2,785 per quintal to Rs
2,250 per quintal in order to boost sale from central pool stock under the Open
Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) in 2019-20, sources said.
Food Ministry runs OMSS to sell
wheat and rice stored in buffer stock by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Foodgrains are sold through
tender at a reserve price to flour and rice millers and user industries.
However, there is no plan for any
revision in reserve price of wheat, and the current reserve price of wheat will
continue to prevail throughout the remaining period of 2019-20, they said.
FCI, the Government’s nodal
agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains, has 23.1 million tonnes
of rice and 37.3 million tonnes of wheat.
The total foodgrain stock stands
at about 60 million tonnes as on November 1.
FCI has decided to sell 10
million tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers this fiscal, over 40 per cent more
than the previous year. The base base price of wheat is Rs 2,080 per quintal.
During the last fiscal, FCI had
sold 7 million tonnes of wheat.
The sale of wheat and rice to
bulk buyers is to make space for the new crop.
The current foodgrain storage
capacity in the country is around 88 million tonnes, with over 75 million
tonnes covered and 13 million tonnes covered area plinth.
Published
on November 24, 2019
Prices rose as people now prefer
fine to coarse rice: food minister
Staff Correspondent,
Published: 25 Nov 2019 02:28 AM BdST Updated: 25 Nov 2019 02:31 AM BdST
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra
Majumder has offered a fresh explanation for the recent hike in rice prices.
He says many prefer fine rice to
the coarse varieties now due to their low prices, but it has driven retail
prices of the fine varieties slightly.
Sadhan spoke to reporters after
an event organised by the FBCCI in Dhaka on Sunday.
Prices of fine varieties of rice
started to rise at the mills in the beginning of November.
In Dhaka, prices of medium
quality rice rose by 11 percent and premium quality by up to 8 percent in a
month, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.
Agriculture Minister Abdur
Razzaque last Thursday defended the spike in rice prices, and ruled out market
manipulation.
A rise in paddy prices pushed rice prices, which is good for the
farmers, he had said.
A journalist asked Sadhan why
rice prices were rising though the government claimed the stock was sufficient.
“Rice prices haven’t increased.
The hike you see is only in the retail market,” the food minister said.
“People don’t eat coarse rise
anymore. They eat fine rice. They have become used to eating fine rice as the
prices dropped following a fall in paddy prices,” he offered.
The minister claimed traders were
not buying coarse rice due to a drop in demand.
“We can’t sell coarse rice at Tk
30 a kg in the market. The dealers don’t want to buy it because they can’t find
customers,” said Sadhan, whose family is involved in rice business in Naogaon
Govt mulls cut
in reserve price of rice to boost sale through open market
The govt is
considering downward revision of reserve price of rice from Rs 2,785 per
quintal to Rs 2,250 per quintal in order to boost sale from central pool stock
Press Trust of India
| New Delhi Last Updated at November 24, 2019 12:32 IST
36
Sitting on a huge buffer stock, the
government is considering cutting reserve price of rice by almost Rs 500 per quintal for bulk
buyers to boost its sale through open market.
However, there is no plan to cut
wheat price, official sources said.
The government is considering
downward revision of reserve price of rice from Rs 2,785 per quintal to Rs 2,250 per
quintal in order to boost sale from central pool stock under the Open Market
Sale Scheme (OMSS) in 2019-20, sources said.
Food Ministry runs OMSS to sell
wheat and rice stored
in buffer stock by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Foodgrains are sold through tender
at a reserve price to flour and rice millers and user industries.
However, there is no plan for any
revision in reserve price of wheat, and the current reserve price of wheat will
continue to prevail throughout the remaining period of 2019-20, they said.
FCI, the government's nodal agency
for procurement and distribution of foodgrains, has 23.1 million tonnes of rice
and 37.3 million tonnes of wheat.
The total foodgrain stock stands at
about 60 million tonnes as on November 1.
FCI has decided to sell 10 million
tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers this fiscal, over 40 per cent more than the
previous year. The base base price of wheat is Rs 2,080 per quintal.
During the last fiscal, FCI had
sold 7 million tonnes of wheat.
The sale of wheat and rice to bulk
buyers is to make space for the new crop.
The current foodgrain storage
capacity in the country is around 88 million tonnes, with over 75 million
tonnes covered and 13 million tonnes covered area plinth.
Gov’t tells
farmers to plant one rice crop in dry season
Thou Vireak | Publication date 24 November 2019 |
22:05 ICT
The 2019-2020 paddy output across the country may decline by 10.7
million tonnes, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
secretary-general Srey Vuthy said on Sunday. Heng Chivoan
The upcoming drought will affect
Cambodia’s dry-season rice production, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries has said on Sunday.
The Mekong River Commission
announced last week that Cambodia and the other Lower Mekong River Basin
countries – Thailand, Laos and Vietnam – would suffer severe drought from now
until January.
The government issued a circular
calling on rice farmers to only plant one crop of rice during the 2019-2020 dry
season to avert water shortages.
Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF)
vice-president Chan Sokheang said the drought “will affect dry season paddy
production and will affect our exports”.
He said the CRF will encourage
planting the crop in non-affected areas to boost the Kingdom’s exports.
“We will try to work closely with
the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Water
Resources and Meteorology to determine which areas paddy can be grown in,” he
said.
The ministry’s secretary-general
Srey Vuthy told The Post on Sunday that it had ordered the provincial
Agriculture Departments of to carry out water conservation measures and
instructed farmers to grow crops other than paddy.
“The ministry, following the
Royal Government’s directive, has provided farmers [in affected areas with]
techniques [to grow] vegetables, promoting the use of drip irrigation,” he
said.
Paddy output across the country
may decline by an estimated 10.7 million tonnes for the 2019-2020 crop
harvests, he said.
“The total output of paddy will
fall by 1.73 per cent. Of that, dry season paddy may fall 5.42 per cent from
last year, with rainy season paddy declining by about 0.53 per cent.”
Late last month, CRF president
Song Saran expressed the federation’s commitment to exporting one million
tonnes of milled rice by 2022 after the government initially set the target for
2015 – back in August 2010.
“To meet export demand, we have a
special interest rate credit package of $200 million to purchase rice during
the harvest season,” he said, adding that the available funds can buy around
500,000 tonnes of paddy – particularly jasmine varieties – during the season.
However, Sokheang said the
drought would not affect the export target.
“In the medium term, it will not
affect the one million tonne export target because we have enough time to
achieve it.”
A CRF report says the Kingdom
exported 398,586 tonnes of rice in the first nine months of this year, up 2.3
per cent from the same period last year, or 389,264 tonnes.
Rice shipments to China stood at
157,793 tonnes during the period. This was up more than 44 per cent
year-on-year. But exports to Europe fell to 135,471 tonnes, or down nearly 30
per cent.
The CRF expects that Cambodian
rice exports to international markets this year will be between 650,000 and
750,000 tonnes, which is a slight increase on last year.
PH to continue rice
imports, tighten food safety measures
NOVEMBER 23, 2019
The importation of rice into the
Philippines will continue in accordance with the law, the country’s agriculture
secretary clarified.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar
on Thursday, November 21 said that instead of suspending the importation, the
government will tighten food safety measures to control the entry of cheap
grain that is affecting the incomes of Filipino farmers.
President Rodrigo Duterte
declared a rice importation ban on Wednesday in response to local farmers
complaining of falling palay (rice prior to husking) prices as a result of the
Rice Tariffication law.
However, suspending imports is
against the law as doing so would mean imposing quantitative restrictions on
the commodity.
Dar, Executive Secretary Salvador
Medialdea, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III met with Duterte on
Wednesday night to clarify his pronouncements, coming up with the solution of
stricter measures in the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import
clearance (SPSIC).
“The president is really looking
at all angles and this is the directive. We will be strict in giving SPSIC,
especially during the main harvest season,” Dar said, adding that “But we will
not stop it, we are implementing the law properly.”
The Department of Agriculture
will conduct pre-inspection at the point of origin of imported rice stock to
ensure rice quality and safety for consumers and at the same time protect the
spread of crop pests and diseases, Dar explained.
The Philippines often buys rice
from neighboring Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Thailand. This
year, it imported 2.9 million tons of rice — more than double the annual
average in recent years and making the country the world’s top buyer.
“He (Duterte) said that the Rice
Tariffication Law will be pursued to provide affordable and quality rice to all
Filipinos,” Dar said.
As a result of increased domestic
supply, farmgate rice prices have plummeted more than 20 percent in the last 9
months.
To ensure Filipino farmers are
able to sell and make a profit from their produce, Dar said Duterte has issued
an order to the National Food Authority (NFA) to increase the country’s
emergency rice buffer stock from 15 to 30 days by buying more palay from farmers.
Rice Prices
as on :
25-11-2019 02:26:16 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Gadarpur(Utr)
|
2688.00
|
13.56
|
97227.00
|
2025
|
2790
|
-
|
|
Barhaj(UP)
|
190.00
|
26.67
|
9943.00
|
2390
|
2400
|
6.70
|
|
Naugarh(UP)
|
97.50
|
25.81
|
3926.50
|
2530
|
2500
|
12.44
|
|
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
|
95.00
|
-29.63
|
4360.00
|
2650
|
2650
|
1.92
|
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
87.00
|
14.47
|
5708.50
|
3160
|
3200
|
17.04
|
|
Kalipur(WB)
|
78.00
|
11.43
|
2746.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
-
|
|
Chintamani(Kar)
|
60.00
|
114.29
|
967.00
|
2300
|
2250
|
17.95
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
50.00
|
11.11
|
2471.50
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Bhivandi(Mah)
|
50.00
|
16.28
|
1113.00
|
2340
|
2350
|
0.86
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
46.50
|
86
|
1103.30
|
2380
|
2375
|
9.17
|
|
Bankura Sadar(WB)
|
45.00
|
18.42
|
823.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-3.85
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
3420.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
NC
|
|
Beldanga(WB)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
2025.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
8.00
|
|
Vasai(Mah)
|
38.00
|
NC
|
1555.00
|
3385
|
3390
|
7.12
|
|
Dadri(UP)
|
30.00
|
-40
|
1343.00
|
2850
|
2850
|
3.64
|
|
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP)
|
27.00
|
3.85
|
567.50
|
2720
|
2730
|
18.26
|
|
Karimganj(ASM)
|
25.00
|
-37.5
|
950.00
|
2450
|
2450
|
-
|
|
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
|
25.00
|
4.17
|
1933.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
NC
|
|
Firozabad(UP)
|
21.50
|
13.16
|
149.20
|
2575
|
2580
|
-
|
|
Falakata(WB)
|
20.00
|
NC
|
960.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
-7.14
|
|
Asansol(WB)
|
20.00
|
12.36
|
2127.06
|
3000
|
3000
|
2.04
|
|
Jayas(UP)
|
19.90
|
11.8
|
1159.80
|
2060
|
2060
|
6.46
|
|
Durgapur(WB)
|
19.00
|
15.85
|
1527.40
|
2800
|
2800
|
-1.75
|
|
Jafarganj(UP)
|
16.00
|
NC
|
1012.00
|
2450
|
2400
|
4.26
|
|
Champadanga(WB)
|
15.00
|
25
|
609.00
|
3150
|
3150
|
3.28
|
|
Badayoun(UP)
|
12.00
|
9.09
|
718.50
|
2610
|
2675
|
14.98
|
|
Mohamadabad(UP)
|
10.00
|
17.65
|
213.00
|
2700
|
2760
|
-
|
|
Atarra(UP)
|
9.00
|
50
|
332.00
|
2380
|
2375
|
8.18
|
|
Karvi(UP)
|
9.00
|
NC
|
519.50
|
2370
|
2360
|
6.28
|
|
Tamkuhi Road(UP)
|
8.50
|
NC
|
618.40
|
2250
|
2250
|
4.65
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
7.60
|
-25.49
|
441.60
|
3100
|
3100
|
6.16
|
|
Mangaon(Mah)
|
6.00
|
20
|
102.00
|
3500
|
2800
|
25.00
|
|
Jahangirabad(UP)
|
3.00
|
-25
|
183.50
|
2525
|
2550
|
-1.75
|
|
Gadaura(UP)
|
2.50
|
38.89
|
592.10
|
2300
|
2300
|
15.00
|
|
Sindholi(UP)
|
2.00
|
NC
|
34.00
|
1850
|
1850
|
-
|
|
Anandnagar(UP)
|
1.60
|
-27.27
|
235.40
|
2470
|
2445
|
7.39
|
|
Fatehpur Sikri(UP)
|
1.30
|
-18.75
|
55.80
|
2570
|
2565
|
NC
|
|
Nandyal(AP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
50.00
|
3900
|
4250
|
-
|
|
Jambusar(Kaavi)(Guj)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
105.00
|
3000
|
3000
|
11.11
|
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
118.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
-16.00
|
|
Murud(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
119.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
5.00
|
|
Ujhani(UP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
23.20
|
2550
|
2570
|
12.33
|
|
Achnera(UP)
|
0.70
|
NC
|
37.90
|
2540
|
2560
|
-0.78
|
Published
on November 25, 2019
Consumption of local rice campaign won’t last – John Dumelo Politics of Tuesday, 26 November 2019
Source: mynewsgh.com
John Dumelo
Following the massive campaign in mainstream and social media
for the consumption of locally produced rice, Actor cum politician John Dumelo
has explained that Ghanaians who patronise the more expensive Ghana rice may
soon stop if the prices remain higher than that imported rice. 
The campaign to patronize locally produced rice gained steam following a rice glut in parts of the country that prompted the Managing Director of CITI FM, Samuel Atta Mensah, to advocate strongly for the consumption of Ghana rice. His campaign caught on with many Ghanaians and has remained a trending issue.
But Mr Dumelo, who is also a farmer and National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency maintains that given that factors beyond the control of Ghana’s rice farmers compel them to sell their produce at a higher price than imported rice, the patronage of Ghana rice may soon dwindle again because of the higher prices.
“It will interest you to know that imported rice (after paying all the shipping and duties at the port) is still cheaper than our local rice. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a farmer and a huge advocate for the consumption of made in Ghana products but the patriotic patience of Ghanaians will quickly run out if our local rice farmers don’t do anything about their pricing. Same as our local chicken and the imported ones. Once it’s cheap, it’s the best,” he pointed out on social media.
Mr Dumelo has therefore called for support for farmers to make them competitive.
“It might not be the fault of the farmers when pricing. The unit cost of producing a bag of rice depends on external factors (high-interest rates, taxes, fuel costs etc) which is beyond their control. We must do more to support farmers across the country. Competitive pricing and branding are sine qua non to Ghanaians being patriotic but all hope is not lost. Ghana shall prosper…” he appealed.
Ghana imports more rice than it produces. Many prefer foreign rice to local rice due to factors such as pricing, polishing, packaging, taste among others. Government after government has failed to reverse the trend.
The campaign to patronize locally produced rice gained steam following a rice glut in parts of the country that prompted the Managing Director of CITI FM, Samuel Atta Mensah, to advocate strongly for the consumption of Ghana rice. His campaign caught on with many Ghanaians and has remained a trending issue.
But Mr Dumelo, who is also a farmer and National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency maintains that given that factors beyond the control of Ghana’s rice farmers compel them to sell their produce at a higher price than imported rice, the patronage of Ghana rice may soon dwindle again because of the higher prices.
“It will interest you to know that imported rice (after paying all the shipping and duties at the port) is still cheaper than our local rice. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a farmer and a huge advocate for the consumption of made in Ghana products but the patriotic patience of Ghanaians will quickly run out if our local rice farmers don’t do anything about their pricing. Same as our local chicken and the imported ones. Once it’s cheap, it’s the best,” he pointed out on social media.
Mr Dumelo has therefore called for support for farmers to make them competitive.
“It might not be the fault of the farmers when pricing. The unit cost of producing a bag of rice depends on external factors (high-interest rates, taxes, fuel costs etc) which is beyond their control. We must do more to support farmers across the country. Competitive pricing and branding are sine qua non to Ghanaians being patriotic but all hope is not lost. Ghana shall prosper…” he appealed.
Ghana imports more rice than it produces. Many prefer foreign rice to local rice due to factors such as pricing, polishing, packaging, taste among others. Government after government has failed to reverse the trend.
US Farm
Deals With South Korea and Japan to Limit China Trade War Retaliation
Rice seeds are transferred to a bucket before being loaded onto
a bi-plane for distribution over a rice field in Biggs, California, U.S. in
this file photo. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
CHINA-US NEWS 
BY
Share
News Analysis
The Trump administration’s new farm deal with South
Korea and the passage of Japanese agricultural import legislation undermine
China’s trade war retaliation strategy.
China’s trade war retaliation strategy, which
is aimed at economically targeting President Donald Trump’s rural voting base,
took two huge hits this month. South Korea ended its four-year rice ban on Nov.
19 and agreed to allow rice imports of at least 132,304 tons annually. Shortly
thereafter, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe overcame opposition in the Lower
House for a potentially huge American beef, pork and corn import deal.
China has employed a sophisticated U.S.
voter targeting methodology to maximize the economic
pain of its retaliatory trade war tariffs in so-called U.S. “battleground”
counties that President Trump will need to win in the 2020 elections, according
to a study by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Research.
There has been an uptick in farm
bankruptcies, mostly due to weather issues, but the U.S. Department of
Agriculture forecasts 2019
farm income will increase by $4 billion, or 4.8 percent, to $88 billion in
2019, after rising in both 2017 and 2018. The USDA report added that 2019 farm
income will be in the top 30 percent after inflation.
The Chinese strategy has inflicted
substantial economic pain on its own households, with China food inflation
rising from 11.2 percent in September to 15.5 percent in October, the highest
since January 2008. Bloomberg warned that
China’s monthly consumer inflation surged past 3 percent in
September and could exceed 4 percent in early 2020 on the back of
surging pork and other meat prices.
The ratio of Chinese household debt to
gross domestic product rose by 2.1 percentage points in the first six months of
2019 to 55.3 per cent, according to
Beijing think tank National Institution for Finance and Development. With China
accounting for 15 percent of global debt, NIFD warned the strain of heavy debt
and high inflation is hurting consumption.
Domestic inflation is credited with forcing
China on Nov. 13 to lift its almost six-year ban on U.S. poultry imports that
was valued by U.S.
Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny
Perdue at “more than $1 billion worth of poultry and poultry products each
year.”
The last World Trade Organization (WTO)
agreement covering Korean rice exports expired in 2014. Under the new rice
deal, the first 408,700-ton import tariff-rate quota will fall from 513 percent
to 5 percent. With only 388,700 tons of rice imports subject to U.S.,
Australia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam specific quotas under WTO Plurilateral Agreements,
U.S. rice farmers have export potential for another 20,000 tons.
Under the Japanese agricultural deal that is
expected to clear the Upper House and be signed by Prime Minister Abe on Dec.
9, Japan will gradually lower its 38.5 percent tariff on U.S. beef to 9 percent
and remove or reduce its tariffs on U.S. pork. The agreement also covers
greater access for American cheese, wine and wheat exports to Japan.
The United
States agreed to remove or reduce tariffs on some types of manufacturing
equipment as well as for other industrial products, including parts for air
conditioners and train locomotives and railcars from Japan.
But the Trump administration did not remove
the 2.5 percent tariff on all Japanese car exports to the United States—a U.S.
key concession the Obama administration offered Japan for approval of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership. President Trump abandoned TPP because he believed it
was bad for U.S. workers and the economy, and has refused to discuss auto
tariffs as long as Japan continues to hammer U.S. auto parts exports to Japan
with up to 80 percent tariffs.
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
(R-Miss.) welcomed the
news of both the rice agreement with South Korea and poultry agreement with
China “that will benefit Mississippi agriculture directly.” She stated that
with Mississippi being America’s sixth largest rice producer and fifth largest
poultry producer, the deals could bring over $100 million to the State of
Mississippi.
Chriss Street is an expert in macroeconomics,
technology, and national security. He has served as CEO of several companies
and is an active writer with more than 1,500 publications. He also regularly
provides strategy lectures to graduate students at top Southern California
universities
DOF: Excess rice import tariffs to fund unconditional cash
transfer for small farmers
Published November 26, 2019 12:22pm
By DONA MAGSINO, GMA News
The Department of Finance (DOF) said Tuesday that excess rice
import tariffs will be used to fund an unconditional cash transfer program for small
farmers bearing the brunt of falling prices of palay.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said that the P10-billion
that was set to be earmarked annually for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement
Fund (RCEF) has already been reached, seven months after the Rice Tariffication
Law took effect.
An excess of P1.4 billion is already on hand as of October 31,
he noted.
“The P10 billion is already fixed, it already has an allocation
(for RCEF). The excess will be part of the P6 billion that will be allocated to
the farmers for two years,” Dominguez said.
Farmers tilling lands two hectares and below are qualified to
benefit from this program which will be allocated with P3 billion this year and
P3 billion in 2020..
Dominguez quoted Dar as saying that the Department of
Agriculture already has a list of beneficiaries.
President Rodrigo Duterte enacted the Rice Tariffication Law
earlier this year, removing quantitative restrictions on rice imports and
setting a 35% tariff for shipments from Southeast Asia.
Under the Rice Tariffication Law, the government should allot
P10 billion annually to the RCEF for six years.
From this fund, P5 billion will be allocated to farm machinery
and equipment, P3 billion to rice seeds, P1 billion to expanded credit
assistance, and P1 billion to rice extension services such as farmers’
training.
Dominguez, however, pointed out that the Rice Tariffication law
“significantly reduced inflation and helped drive gross domestic product growth
to 6.2 percent in the July-September period.”
He characterized the drop in palay farm gate prices as a
“short-term transition challenge” which he said is being addressed by the
Duterte administration through various interventions
‘Once it’s cheap, it is the best’ – John
Dumelo on rice importation
General News of Monday, 25 November 2019
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
John Dumelo
Actor cum politician, John Dumelo, has stated that the increase
of foreign rice consumption in the country is due to relatively cheap prices
compared to the local produce.
Despite numerous advocacy messages on the purchase and consumption of local rice, John Dumelo argued that Ghanaians will continue to prefer imported rice if the local market is void of a competitive pricing and branding.
“Once it’s cheap, it’s the best.” He maintained in a post on Instagram.
Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) have complained about the influx of foreign rice in the country which has adversely affected the sale of their produce.
According to the group, the perennial post-harvest issues have served as a disincentive for the growing of rice in the country.
The Ayawaso West Wuogon aspirant, indicated that though he is a farmer and supports the consumption of made in Ghana products,“the patriotic patience of Ghanaians will quickly run out if our local rice farmers don’t do anything about their pricing.”
He was quick to add that it may not be the fault of local farmers as far as pricing is concerned, particularly because the unit cost of producing a bag of rice depends on external factors such as high interest rates, taxes, fuel costs, which is usually beyond their control.
He called on various stakeholders as well as citizens to “do more to support farmers across the country.”
Meanwhile, government has announced its intention to solicit with rice importers to invest in local manufacturers for both domestic consumption and export.
At a press briefing, the Minister for Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Owusu Afriyie Akoto, said rice importation will reduce drastically in about three years time as the government builds the capacity of local rice farmers.
He added, “At the moment, we are in communication with the 20 biggest importers of rice in this country. We have had three meetings with them and we are telling them that, time is going to come soon when they cannot do business and give rice farmers in Thailand, Vietnam and America an opportunity to overcome our own. Our farmers were asleep because of the lack of government’s support.
“Therefore, it means that if you want to import rice into this country, it means that you are taking away bread from the mouth of Ghanaian farmers and giving it to those in Thailand. What we are now saying is that, in two- or three-years’ time, we will work out on an agreement for them to buy from local millers.
Read his full post below:
Despite numerous advocacy messages on the purchase and consumption of local rice, John Dumelo argued that Ghanaians will continue to prefer imported rice if the local market is void of a competitive pricing and branding.
“Once it’s cheap, it’s the best.” He maintained in a post on Instagram.
Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) have complained about the influx of foreign rice in the country which has adversely affected the sale of their produce.
According to the group, the perennial post-harvest issues have served as a disincentive for the growing of rice in the country.
The Ayawaso West Wuogon aspirant, indicated that though he is a farmer and supports the consumption of made in Ghana products,“the patriotic patience of Ghanaians will quickly run out if our local rice farmers don’t do anything about their pricing.”
He was quick to add that it may not be the fault of local farmers as far as pricing is concerned, particularly because the unit cost of producing a bag of rice depends on external factors such as high interest rates, taxes, fuel costs, which is usually beyond their control.
He called on various stakeholders as well as citizens to “do more to support farmers across the country.”
Meanwhile, government has announced its intention to solicit with rice importers to invest in local manufacturers for both domestic consumption and export.
At a press briefing, the Minister for Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Owusu Afriyie Akoto, said rice importation will reduce drastically in about three years time as the government builds the capacity of local rice farmers.
He added, “At the moment, we are in communication with the 20 biggest importers of rice in this country. We have had three meetings with them and we are telling them that, time is going to come soon when they cannot do business and give rice farmers in Thailand, Vietnam and America an opportunity to overcome our own. Our farmers were asleep because of the lack of government’s support.
“Therefore, it means that if you want to import rice into this country, it means that you are taking away bread from the mouth of Ghanaian farmers and giving it to those in Thailand. What we are now saying is that, in two- or three-years’ time, we will work out on an agreement for them to buy from local millers.
Read his full post below:
Poultry
farmers in Ghana want the government to reduce imported chicken
Yesterday
at 5:37 PM
The Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association of Ghana (GAFPA) has
called on the government to put measures in place to reduce the volumes of
chicken imported into the country ahead of the Christmas season.
poultry
in Ghana
poultry
in Ghana
According to the association, this is to help save the local
poultry industry.
The Association explained that Ghanaians would often opt for
imported chicken over locally produced broilers. They argued that a deliberate
attempt to reduce the import will grow the local industry.
Statistics from agricinghana.com, domestic consumption of
poultry is has gone up to 13.9% per year in Ghana.
Meanwhile, the local production of poultry is growing at a rate
of 14.1%. However, this is dominated by layers and not broilers.
The Association says this means there is an annual consumption
of 230,000 tons of poultry. However, only 5% is produced locally.
Poultry is on almost every meal Ghanaians eat. But during
Christmas, the consumption goes high which translates to more money for those
in the industry.
However, according to the GAFPA, the high imports are taken a
toll on their businesses, since they incur losses when Ghanaians purchase
imported frozen chicken.
The Vice President of the Association, Michael Ampem, said even
though the government claims it has reduced chicken imports they are yet to
feel the impact.
“Those of us who’re into broilers, we are dealing with the
imported broilers, and we’re looking at ways to bring the importation down. I
am sure a lot of us have heard the rice farmers fighting to get rice imports
banned, and we will also be glad as poultry farmers to have imported chicken if
not totally banned, reduced to a level where we will be competitive”.
“This year Maize is doing well because of some of the policies
put in by the government. The Planting for Food and Jobs is helping. However,
that’s not the end of the day because there are other things that go into the
production of our feed. We have the soya, we have the wheat brand, and we have
the other things, and those ones are not necessarily coming down, so as an
Association we are not able to significantly bring down the prices of our
feed”.
GAFPA argued that when the government reduces importation it
will have an impact on job creation.
Creating novel 4IR solutions for Africa
The design of 4IR solutions
that address Africa’s problems cannot be solved by the application of canned
approaches.
Read time 5min
30sec
Academic
researchers and industry practitioners working on the fourth industrial
revolution (4IR) view the problems they hope to resolve as “wicked” research
problems.
The term “wicked problem” refers to those that
are difficult to define clearly, with the solutions having unintended
consequences.
Although it is hoped that innovative 4IR
solutions will have broad universal applicability, given the social complexity
of certain contexts, 4IR innovations can exacerbate or generate further
unintended problems.
Similarly, the design of 4IR solutions that
address Africa’s problems cannot be solved by the application of canned
approaches; Africa requires creative 4IR solutions.
Panel at the SAICSIT
conference
A panel of academics at the South African
Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT)
conference, which took place at Nombolo Mdluli Conference Centre, Skukuza, in
September, generally agreed that creative 4IR solutions will be needed for the
African context.
SAICSIT is a prominent local association
supporting education, training and research in computing and IT. The first
SAICSIT conference was held in 1979. This year was a very special occasion as
it celebrated 40 years since the first SAICSIT conference.
As the panel organiser and moderator, I
explored the issue with four outstanding computing and IT scholars on the
panel.
The
panel included:
·
Robert Winter,
professor of business and information systems engineering at the University of
St Gallen, and director of its Institute of Information Management.
·
Paula Kotzé,
extraordinary professor at the Department of Informatics at the University of
Pretoria and adjunct professor in the School of ICT at Nelson Mandela
University.
·
Judith Bishop,
extraordinary professor, Computer Science.
·
Kirstin Krauss,
professor, School of Computing, University of South Africa.
4IR and prospects for
development
Winter spoke about revolutionary technologies
that are benefitting the poor. He used the example of the analysis and testing
of rice. In South-East Asia, rice is produced and usually tested with high-end
and very expensive technology from Switzerland.
In Switzerland, there are no rice fields but for
over 20 years the technological advancement has been going on – always smarter
machines, always bigger, always more powerful with better functionality, always
more expensive machines.
Technology
is vital. We cannot stick with observation, surveys and impressions.
The latest innovation of rice quality analysis
devices involves a piece of cardboard, a smartphone, and a photo which is sent
to an analysis unit, and as a result of the analysis, the rice quality is
displayed on the smartphone.
“Now we are thinking about what the people
really need, what they have, what they can afford. Totally new things to come
out; it is about data, it is about technology – smartphones, it is about the
camera, it is about data analysis and about really understanding what farmers
need, what they can afford and how they can be supported.
“And that is really revolutionary. If we bring
together the technology view and the business view and the data view in a
customer-centric way, often radically innovative, lightweight solutions can be
found. A totally new enablement. A decent service that they can afford to buy.”
Bishop emphasised the value of using research
to design and build innovative technologies. “We need to go further than
observation in our research and insert technology into what we do.
“The technology should be relevant and chosen
in collaboration with industry. That’s where the joy is going to happen, and
where the satisfaction of the project as you see it with consortia. Technology
is vital. We cannot stick with observation, surveys and impressions.”
4IR and the African
realities
Some members of the audience felt that while we
should not ignore 4IR, we need to think hard and deep about the African
response.
For example, drones delivering organs for
transplants assumes that qualified surgeons are in place, or hospitals are not
in disrepair. Therefore, it was proposed that Africa’s preparation perhaps
calls for a more unique response.
Krauss briefly spoke about what people are
saying about the fifth industrial revolution and that it is principally a
response to some of the perceived risks of the fourth industrial revolution.
The fifth industrial revolution is about being
more humane – using technology for the betterment of humankind. For Krauss,
there are social and ethical implications of the fourth industrial revolution.
Krauss cautioned that we must not reproduce the
mistakes of the past. Academia has a responsibility to help make sure issues we
observed from history do not repeat in new waves of tech-driven innovation.
“And I believe this is the role we have as
academics to articulate these sorts of issues to people that are at the
forefront of innovation with the fourth and fifth industrial revolution,” noted
Krauss.
“We need to be the moral ethical compass in a
sense, by being more critical than we are.”
Africa needs creative 4IR
solutions
For Kotzé, there’s not a one size fits all
solution. It’s a case where we need to look at our issues, our problems and we
need to address them and see what technologies we can use, and if they do not
exist, develop them, to solve our own problems.
“Nobody else is going to solve our problems; we
are going to have to solve them ourselves.”
4IR readiness at the
University of Pretoria
The Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment
and Information Technology at the University of Pretoria has already begun
steps to prepare for 4IR.
From a research perspective, these include a
new Future Transportation and Sustainable Future Smart Cities infrastructure
and research programme, and a world-leading Big Data and Data Science
Institute.
In the School of Information Technology, the
Department of Information Science has launched a state-of-the-art research,
teaching and learning facility through its new virtual reality and interaction)
lab.
The Department of Informatics has a mobile
development lab and a user experience lab that provide students with a creative
space to learn about and experience current trends in technology design.
The
Department of Computer Science has already added a stream in big data science
to its Masters degree offerings.
Paddy prices
staging modest recovery after hitting rock bottom
Exporters
hopeful of Iran market improving next year
Virendra Singh Rawat
| Lucknow Last Updated at November 26, 2019 00:52 IST
Lush green paddy fields of the Kaveri delta
The domestic paddy prices are staging a modest recovery in the
current procurement season after hitting rock bottom levels not long ago
coupled with a rugged export market scenario.
A combination of factors have been suggested for the slow yet firm
recovery in the paddy prices in the coming weeks, including significant crop
loss due to flood induced inundation apart from the recent cyclone in some of
the key paddy growing areas.
Besides, the paddy prices are gaining traction owing to the higher
minimum support price (MSP) announced by the Centre for the current season
2019-20.
“The paddy price situation is slowly getting better after
witnessing the drastic downfall. This the perfect time for the stockists and
rice mills to stock for the entire coming year, which is fuelling robust
procurement and buying by the market players,” Mumbai based rice exporter
Devendra Vora told Business Standard.
He claimed the popular view among the traders is that the domestic
rice market would not slip again at least in this season, which is why the
domestic stockists and millers were acting bullish.
“At the same time, the exporters are optimistic that the Iran
market would be back on track again in the next 2-4 months, which has further
improved the price sentiments,” Vora added. Iran accounts for more than one
million tonnes of basmati exports annually, however, the US-Iran tensions had
imparted uncertainty for the mutual barter trade between India and Iran.
At the Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX), the paddy (1121 variety)
prices were trading at Rs 3,260 per quintal (100 kg), up by 3.55 per cent, as the purchase was halted at the Asia’s biggest grain market in
Khanna (Punjab) following a spell of rain that lashed the area recently. Paddy
1121 price a onth ago was around Rs.3700 which fell to Rs.3088 last weekend.
Ajay Kedia, commodity analyst, said
cyclone had caused extensive damage to the rabi crops, including paddy in West
Bengal and Odisha belts, while there had been shortfall in paddy arrival in
some Southern India markets, including Telangana.
“The extent of the damage to paddy
due to flooding in the key Northern states and the recent cyclone in the
South-Eastern states has yet not been estimated, but they are significant. The
expected short supply in the current season is also pushing up the paddy
prices,” he claimed.
He maintained while the prices have
gained, there is expectation of further improvement in the coming months, owing
to the spurt in demand around the New Year and the perceptible improvement in
the US-Iran relations, which holds promise for the reopening of the lucrative
Iran market for Indian rice exporters.
Besides, unseasonal rains in
Maharashtra are expected to have damaged crops on 7 million hectares of land,
he added.
Indian exporters rue the lack of
long term rice export policy coupled with successive increase in procurement
costs under the MSP mechanism, which they claim have made Indian rice exports,
especially non-basmati, noncompetitive in the global arena.
As such, over the past few years,
Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam have emerged as strong players in the Asian and
African regions, thus hampering the prospects of Indian rice exports.
WFP Senegal Country Brief, October 2019
REPORT
In Numbers
3.48 mt of food assistance distributed US$ 0.198 m cash-based
transfers madeUS$ 3.3 m six months (November 2019 - April 2020) net funding requirements.
28,788 people assisted in October 2019
Operational Updates
• School feeding: WFP continued
to support the Government of Senegal with the preparation of a roadmap for the
launch of a national school feeding programme in 2020. WFP Country Director met
with the Minister of National Education, H.E. Mamadou Talla, to discuss the
proposed programme and related activities such as the adoption of a legislation
and the establishment of a multi-sectoral coordination group. In addition, WFP
started school feeding activities for the 2019/20 academic year.
• Lean season operations:
According to the March 2019 Cadre Harmonisé, 342,000 people were projected to
be food insecure in Senegal during the 2019 lean season. WFP has supported the
Government response in the two most affected departments (Matam and Podor) with
an integrated approach of targeted food assistance (TFA) and nutritional
support. In October, 23,071 individuals received about USD 200,000 as cash
transfers under targeted food assistance (TFA). WFP’s response is implemented
in partnership with several actors, including the Secrétariat Exécutif du
Conseil National de Sécurité Alimentaire (SECNSA), the Délégation Générale à la
Protection Sociale et à la Solidarité Nationale (DGPSN) and AFRICARE.
• Nutrition (lean season): As
part of lean season activities in Matam and Podor, WFP continued to provide
nutritional assistance. Overall, 3,000 children aged-23 months received
assistance through prevention of acute malnutrition. About, 9.54 mt of super
cereals were distributed. WFP also started the treatment of children 6-59
months suffering from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) 26 mt of nutritional
products were distributed in four departments (Matam, Kanel, Ranérou and
Podor). WFP held three capacity strengthening sessions with the National Agency
Against Malnutrition (CLM): these sessions gathered 41 project leaders and
community workers from the four targeted departments.
• In partnership with Nutrition
International (NI) and the National Food Fortification Committee (COSFAM), WFP
organized a workshop to elaborate a road map for mandatory rice fortification
in Senegal. The workshop was held on 1-2 October and gathered key stakeholders,
including government institutions, civil society, development partners, UN
agencies, donors, as well as private sector, rice millers, academia and
research institutions. The roadmap is set to be published by the end of 2019.
Nigeria: Why Local Rice Costs As
Much As Imported Rice - Expert
26 NOVEMBER 2019
INTERVIEWBy Oge
Udegbunam
A senior rice specialist at the
Africa Rice Centre, a pan-African rice research organization, Philip Idinoba says the reason a bag of
imported rice costs as much as its local variety is as a result of the cost of
production in the rice value chain in Nigeria.
The centre works with the
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. Mr Idinoba
spoke with our REPORTER, OGE UDEGBUNAM, in Abuja. He said the government should subsidize the production
process to help reduce the cost of local rice. Excerpts:
PT: In recent times, the price
of imported rice appears to be similar to the local blend. Why do you think
this is so?
PHILIP: The reason for this is simple: The cost of production of
local rice is quite high. Before now, the government was working on three
tracks - improving quality, improving quantity and improving efficiency along
the value chain.
The efficiency along the value chain is tied down to these three
factors.
For instance, a rice miller in Anambra State will have to go to
Niger State, moving from village to village to mop up the rice paddy that will
be taken to Ebonyi State or something like that.
The cost of transportation alone is very high. Also, these
millers do not have electricity supply most of the time. The cost of servicing
the generators, like supplying diesel, is very expensive.
In addition, they do not have a good mechanism to run these
mills. Any little problem, they will have to look for an Indian who works with
Mikano to replace the parts. So, they are still facing serious problems in all
the mills.
Then, we take it back a little to the farms. The cost of
production per hectare is also very high. We don't have technology for
transplanting or harvesting.
The variety we are using can take up to nine tonnes. Only a few
farmers get up to six tonnes, because the production environment is not so
well-developed.
One can have a variety that can produce nine tonnes. But, if one
does not level the ground in a way that one can control the water, and the
water will rise into the plot. If you put 9:20 fertilizer blend, only 20 per
cent of the fertilizer will be utilized. Others will be wasted.
That way, farmers will not get the benefits of using that
quantity of fertilizer. But, if you can get to an environment where the land is
well irrigated, bring in water, take out water, you can apply the quantity of
fertilizer needed and you will get plant optic at above 70 per cent.
Then, one would be sure of getting the yield one expects. But,
we don't have that here. So, what people are doing is very little to get what
they can get.
You can plant with fertilizer today, and it doesn't rain for the
next two days. If it is Nitrogen, then the fertilizer is wasted. So, at
production level, people in Kebbi and Sokoto States, some of them use like
250,000 per hectares of land.
As you go down South, cost of production is dropping, because
most of the farmers are not using very intensive methods.
If you go to Anambra State, for instance, they just throw the
rice to the fields and just expect that everything will grow well.
But, the people in the North, like Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto and
Kebbi States, try to prepare their fields. They transplant and do all the
things they need to do and prepare for eight tonnes.
Indeed, some of them are getting up to that. But, if the other
factor, like water availability, is not controlled, one cannot guarantee other
factors, then you may not get it.
The higher the yields one gets, the lesser the cost of
production per unit area. If I use a cost of N100 to produce, and I get two
bags, or I begin to get four bags, it means the effective cost is N50, not
N100.
Improved productivity increases the yield. We don't have technology
for planting or harvesting. This is one of the bottlenecks the Nigerian
government is having.
One thing the government would have done would have been to
subsidize the cost of fertilizer. This is what we call mass subsidy on the
fertilizer. Rather than the farmer picking the fertilizer at the N10,000 a bag,
the farmer would have been getting it 50 per cent the price.
PT: In that circumstance, is
there any role the government can play to bring the cost down?
PHILIP: The only thing I think the government can do would be to
pay the remaining 50 per cent to the fertilizer manufacturing company under
some kind of arrangement.
These are the indirect involvement of institutions like the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other agencies involved in agriculture.
It is mass subsidy because the money is not given directly to
the farmers. But somehow the government is cushioning the production of rice in
the country.
So, if one uses six bags of fertilizer alone, at N10,000,
already this is N60,000. And if one transplants with another N40,000, one is
already on an N100,000, not to talk of weeding, harvesting, and all the rest of
it.
So, the cost of producing rice in Nigeria is still very high. We
can reduce the cost in two ways.
First, through subsidy and two, increasing productivity, so that
the amount of output will get higher per unit area.
The third point is the introduction of technology to reduce the
cost of production.
The places we import rice from are like Nigeria. But, their
governments subsidize their production. For instance, India, Vietnam, China,
and Thailand provide subsidies for their farmers.
But they hide it, because they don't want to be accused of
favouring one sector over the others. You call it a smart subsidy.
The (Goodluck) Jonathan administration was doing it through the
E-wallet thing where farmers were given fertilizers and seeds free.
That was the kind of subsidy used to trash the challenges and we
were getting results. What's bad was that since the present government came in,
we have not seen any of the previous administration's polices implemented.
Cost of production in those other countries are low, because
their governments subsidized and they have some simple technology to produce
and still have good environment.
Our soils are varying, while their soils are homogeneous. Their
soils are deep and clear. They can use tractors one million times without
disturbing the soil.
But ours is different, especially the upland. If one uses
tractors, then one will not be able to use that soil again, unless one has to
find a solution.
A lot of people say tractors should be given to farmers. But,
our soils are so fragile. These are the factors that make our rice much more
expensive. Once it is easier for one to go to the backyard and pick a bag for
N50 and sell it for N150, the attraction will still be there.
Whether border closure or not, with time people will devise a
means of beating the Nigeria Customs operating at the borders and bring in the
rice.
PT: Do you think Nigerian rice
farmers can produce enough to meet the demand for the rice required to feed
Nigerians?
PHILIP: Within two seasons, we can produce enough to meet local
demand if the right things are done. But, the government does not have the
political will to do the right thing.
If the farmers planting rice during the wet season from Sokoto
to Ebonyi States, the majority are relying on rain for their production.
In the wet season, every farmer who wants to plant rice can
plant rice, whether in the upland system or in the lowland system.
Most of our rice is 90 to 120-day variety. So, if they were six
million and we can still get half of them, that is three million, to plant in
the dry season, then we will soon come out of the problem.
People will tell you they are going to promote dry season farming.
But, only a few places have water to practice dry season farming.
In Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa Zones, a lot of dams have been
developed there. Kebbi State, for instance, we can get water in three metres.
The rivers in Sokoto and Zamfara States made it possible for the
presence of good ground water and they are well connected.
People in this area can get water at two to three metres,
maximum of six metres. But, if you try to dig in Adani (Anambra State), you
don't get it in 15 metres.
We actually brought farmers from the North who dug this to help
those in Anambra State, they had to dig to 15 metres, but their rods were not
more than 12 metres.
Most of our people who grow rice during the dry season are
people who pump water from the rivers, or dig the borehole they are using. The
government needs to prepare, make water available.
I hope you have heard of rivers rising and water carrying people
around? These are not curses, but blessings.
We are not taking the opportunity of the good resources we have.
If Niger River was dredged, all that water will contain there and it will be
used for transportation of cows to have enough water, whether it is for RUGA or
not.
Why is Kano State the home of agriculture in Nigeria? Because
the Ahmadu Bello's government in the 1960's was able to build small water
bodies.
Old
newspapers to grow carbon nanotubes
"Newspapers
have the benefit of being used in a roll-to-roll process in a stacked form
making it an ideal candidate as a low-cost stackable 2D surface to grow carbon
nanotubes," said lead researcher Bruce Brinson from the Rice University in
the US.
By Author | Published: 25th Nov 2019 4:10 pmUpdated: 25th Nov 2019 8:17 pm
Old newspapers can be used as a low
cost, eco-friendly material to grow single-walled carbon nanotubes on a large
scale, says a study. Carbon nanotubes are tiny molecules with incredible
physical properties that can be used in a huge range of things, such as
conductive films for touchscreen displays, flexible electronics, fabrics that
create energy and antennas for 5G networks.
“Newspapers have the benefit of
being used in a roll-to-roll process in a stacked form making it an ideal
candidate as a low-cost stackable 2D surface to grow carbon nanotubes,” said
lead researcher Bruce Brinson from the Rice University in the US.
However, not all newspaper is
equally good only newspaper produced with sizing made from kaolin, which is
china clay, resulted in carbon nanotube growth, said the researchers.
The study, published in the Journal
of Carbon Research, details the research experiments carried out in
producing carbon nanotubes which could have the potential to solve some of the
problems associated with their large-scale production such as, the high cost of
preparing a suitable surface for chemical growth and the difficulties in
scaling up the process.
The research team discovered that
the large surface area of newspapers provided an unlikely but ideal way to
chemically grow carbon nanotubes. “With our new research, we have found a
continuous flow system that dramatically reduces the cost of both substrate and
post synthesis process which could impact on the future mass manufacture of
single walled carbon nanotubes,” said Andrew Barron, Professor at Rice
University.
Daily Trust’s Agric
Conference, Exhibition begins today
By Francis Arinze Iloani | Published Date Nov 26, 2019 6:22 AM
Daily
Trust’s Agric Conference and Exhibition will begin today in Nigeria’s
commercial city, Lagos. A statement signed by the company’s General Manager,
Business and Strategy, Ahmed Shekarau, said the event is holding at the Federal
Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. ADVERTISEMENT The statement announced the
theme of the Agric Conference and Exhibition, which is the third edition, as
‘Repositioning Rice, Sugar and Dairy Production for Optimal Yield’. ADVERTISEMENT
HOW OVER 5000 NIGERIA MEN HAVE PERMANENTLY OVERCOME TERRIBLE BEDROOM
PERFORMANCE DUE TO THIS RECENT BRILLIANT DISCOVERY BY MEDICAL CONSULTANTS Media
Trust, publishers of Daily Trust newspaper titles, disclosed that First Bank of
Nigeria (FBN) Limited, Unity Bank Plc, Fidelity, Stanbic IBTC, Jaiz and other
key financial institutions have indicated interest to participate in event. The
Minister of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, is
expected to declare the event open. Key institutions attending the event
include Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending
(NIRSAL) Plc and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).
The
conference and exhibition are “aimed at tackling critical issues along the
rice, sugar and dairy value chains, with the view of increasing output,” the
statement said. It said further that renowned businessman, Mr. Emmanuel
Ijewere, who is a co-chairman of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), is
expected to chair the event at which critical stakeholders like the Executive
Secretary/CEO of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Dr. Latif
Busari and the Executive Director/CEO, National Animal Production Research
Institute (NAPRI), Zaria, Prof. C.A.M Lokpini would examine issues that are
vital to the growth of the value chains listed. Other stakeholders in the
agricultural sector that are expected at the event, the statement said, include
agricultural development institutions, the National Quarantine Service (NAQS),
agricultural research councils, and agricultural research institutes. Also
expected at the event, are agro-allied industries such as the projects section
of Dangote Group, Honeywell Group, Wamco, Olam Group, L & Z Integrated
Dairy Farms Ltd, Umza Rice Mill Ltd and Labana Rice Group Ltd. The statement
said Notore Chemical Industries Nigeria has also confirmed its participation,
adding that “various farmers, rice millers and paddy rice dealers’ associations
are participating in the two-day conference and exhibition.”
Avoid rice millers to
scrap middlemen system in paddy procurement: Minister Nani
MSP for paddy with up to 17%
moisture content, says district Collector
Transport Minister Perni Nani on
Monday appealed to farmers to avoid selling paddy directly to rice millers, and
join hands with the government to scrap the middlemen system in paddy
procurement.
Haryana agriculture minister gives
clean chit to rice millers
CITIES Updated: Nov 25, 2019 22:34 IST
Even as hundreds of government
officials along with police personnel are conducting physical verification of
paddy stock at rice mills of the state, Haryana agriculture minister JP Dalal
gave a clean chit to rice millers, saying that there was no scam and
allegations of the opposition parties were baseless.
At the time when the opposition
parties are terming the investigation a ‘cover up’ and government is being
criticised for working under a ‘strong lobby’ of rice millers and commission
agents, Dalal’s statement has raised question mark over credibility of the
verification, which is yet to be completed.
“Kaun kehta hai ghotala hua hai ?Haryana pradesh ka dhaan godaam me
rakha hua hai (Who says there is a scam? Haryana’s paddy is
stocked in warehouses),” Dalal said while interacting with mediapersons during
his visit to Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Karnal’s Gharaunda on
Monday.
“The government has a right to
inspect the stock of paddy procured by its agencies. It does not prove that
there was a scam in the procurement. So far, no irregularity has been detected
by the inspection teams,” he said.
‘Bring cheap labour from Orissa’
Earlier during his visit, he
advised the centre’s officials to bring labourers at cheaper rates from Orissa
and other states. He even told them that there were labourers at his farm who
work at ₹100 per day. “Why are you paying
higher wages to labourers while we pay only ₹100 per labourer at our farm. You should call labourers from
Orissa,” he told the officials. However, the officials said this was a
government-run centre and workers cannot be paid less than the daily wages
fixed by the government.
BKU leaders protest, seek probe in bogus billing
Meanwhile, members of the Bhartiya
Kisan Union (BKU) have accused the government of not taking action against the
people involved in the paddy scam. They alleged that officials of the Haryana
agriculture marketing board, food and supply department and commission agents
were also involved in the scam along with rice millers. BKU Haryana president
Ratan Mann said, “Erring officials have been tasked with the physical
verification. We want a judicial inquiry in this scam so that stern action can
be taken against the culprits.”
No paddy scam, claims minister Dalal
Nov 26, 2019, 7:01 AM; last updated:
Nov 26, 2019, 7:01 AM (IST)
Agriculture Minister Jai Parkash Dalal at the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Gharaunda on Monday.
Agriculture Minister Jai Parkash Dalal at the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Gharaunda on Monday.
Tribune News Service
Karnal, November 25
Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Jai
Parkash Dalal on Monday refuted the allegations of the opposition leaders and
denied any paddy scam in Haryana.
He said no paddy
scam took place in Haryana and the opposition leaders were only making baseless
allegations. The rice millers have the rice which they have been allotted by
the government for milling purpose. He maintained that the government has been
conducting physical verification of the mills.
The minister was on the visit of Indo-Israel
Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Gharaunda and Potato Technology Centre
(PTC), Shamgarh village. He admitted the farmers had been facing problem of
marketing of agricultural produce and emphasised on the need of marketing of
the produce.
“Farmers work
hard with dedication to produce agricultural products, but they face marketing
problem. We will focus on the marketing of the farmers’ produce to increase
their income. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the aim to double the income of
the farmers by 2022,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, he
flagged off a mobile retail van from Gharaunda centre. The minister said the
centre had been extending support to enhance the production with the help of
new technologies and the farmers were being trained for new research in
horticulture.
Lai: 95 percent
of arms for kidnapping, banditry come through land borders
November 25
14:432019
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Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says 95 percent
of arms used in kidnapping and banditry in the country come through the porous
land borders.
Speaking on Monday at the Seme border, the minister said
neighbouring countries have not been playing by the rules as regards the ECOWAS
protocol.
“Overtime, Nigeria has been confronted with numerous trans-border
economic and security challenges. These challenges range from banditry,
kidnapping, smuggling, illegal migrants and proliferation of light weapons
amongst others,” he said.
“Meanwhile, the preference for foreign goods, especially food
items like rice has continuously impoverished our farmers and adversely
affected domestic government policies supporting the agricultural sector to
enhance food security.
“It is however disturbing that some neighbouring countries
circumvent the ECOWAS protocol on transit. For clarity, the ECOWAS protocol on
transit demands that when a transit container berths at a seaport, the
receiving country is mandated to escort same without tampering with the seal to
the border of the destination country. Unfortunately, experience has shown that
our neighbours do not comply with this protocol. Rather, they break the seals
of containers at their ports and trans-load goods destined for Nigeria.”
Mohammed said the closure has curbed the smuggling of foreign rice
and other prohibited items into the country.
He said from his interaction with rice millers the border closure
has enhanced the production of local rice.
He also said the patronage of Nigerian rice has increased, and
that farmers are increasing their scale and engaging more hands.
The minister said the exercise has curbed the diversion of
petroleum products from Nigeria to neighbouring countries.
According to him, items worth more than N3 billion have been
seized and disallowed from entering the country since the exercise began.
“So far, 296 illegal immigrants have been arrested. Also, some
items seized include; 38,743-50kg bags of parboiled foreign rice; 514 vehicles;
1,012 drums filled with PMS; 5,400 jericans of vegetable oil; 346 motorcycles;
10, 553 jerricans of PMS and 136 bags of NPK fertiliser used for making
explosives. The estimated values of the apprehended items is about
₦3,235,126,420.00,” he said.
“It is important to note that 95 percent of illicit drugs and
weapons that are being used for acts of terrorism and kidnapping in Nigeria
today come in through our porous borders. However, since this partial closure,
the acts have been drastically reduced. Our conclusion is that, the arms and
ammunition these terrorists and criminal elements were using no longer gains
access into the country. In addition, the drugs which affect the health and the
wellbeing of Nigerians have equally been reduced.
“The government, through diplomatic channels will continue to
engage our neighbours to agree to comply with the ECOWAS Protocol on transit.
Goods that are on the prohibition list to Nigeria, such as rice, used clothing,
poultry products and vegetable oil should not be exported to the country. As a
result of this closure, Niger Republic has already circulated an order banning
exportation of rice in any form to Nigeria. In addition, the National Assembly
has supported the executive directive on the border closure and the efforts of
security agencies in executing the task.”
The minister added that the swift response exercise coordinated
the by the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with
the military and paramilitary has strengthened inter-agency relationships.
Nigeria’s Funmi Fagbola, Mercy Bankole win L’Oréal-UNESCO
science awards
2019 Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents Awardees. Photo:
L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme
Two Nigerian female scientists — Mercy Bankole and Funmilola
Fagbola — have been awarded the 2019 Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa
Awards alongside 18 other female researchers.
The award is sponsored jointly by Fondation L’Oréal and UNESCO
For Women in Science programme.
Mercy Temitope Bankole is a post-doctoral researcher at the
Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. She majors in Chemistry,
with a research project on ‘Healing open wounds faster and better thanks to a
nanocomposite.’
Funmilola Fagbola is a doctoral candidate at the Ladoke Akintola
University of Technology’s department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer
Engineering. Her research project focuses on ‘Detecting misinformation with
proof and deep learning models, and nature-inspired algorithms.’
Each doctoral student awardee received €10,000; while each
post-doctoral student awardee got €15,000.
The awardees also benefited from a four-day
training designed to give them more resources to pursue their careers.
The four-day training course, given by international
experts selected by the Fondation L’Oréal, covered different dimensions such
as leadership, management, negotiation, public speaking, media training
and personal branding, the Press release announcing their awards added.
The award, which held in Dakar, Senegal, last Thursday, was part
of the 10th edition of its regional programme For Women in Science.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice-President of the
Fondation L’Oréal, Alexandra Palt, said, “The number of women in Science is not
yet significant: only 2.4%1 of the world’s researchers are African scientists,
of whom 30% are women. Through the Young Talents Awards for SubSaharan Africa,
we promote and support the continent’s remarkable female researchers.
“They play a key role to develop inclusive research in Africa,
for Africa and conducted by Africans.”
According to the Press release distributed by the Chief of
Project Rosine Zadi, the 20 awardees were drawn from 15 countries and comprised
computer scientists, engineers and biologists.
“They prove the diversity and crucial role of women’s scientific
research on the continent,” the release said.
They were awarded in front of high-level audience from all over
Africa.
They included First Lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo,
Mrs. Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi; Minister of Higher Education,
Research and Innovation of Senegal, Mr. Sheikh Oumar Anne; Regional Director of UNESCO West Africa (Sahel), Dimitri Sanga; and CEO Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Hafsat Abiola, among others.
Research and Innovation of Senegal, Mr. Sheikh Oumar Anne; Regional Director of UNESCO West Africa (Sahel), Dimitri Sanga; and CEO Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Hafsat Abiola, among others.
See the full list of the 2019 awardees:
1 – Regina Esinam ABOTSI – Doctoral candidate – Ghana –
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Discipline: Health Sciences
Research project: Determining antibiotic resistance in potentially pathogenic bacteria present
in the respiratory tract of HIV-infected children.
2 – Becky Nancy ALOO – Doctoral candidate – Kenya – Laboratory, Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha City, Tanzania
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Research project: Identifying novel species of Irish potato rhizobacteria to enhance yields.
3 – Fatoumata BA – Doctoral candidate – Senegal – Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis
Discipline: Fundamental medicine
Research project: Studying sleep to better fight metabolic diseases.
4 – Dr. Mercy Temitope BANKOLE – Post-doctoral researcher – Nigeria – Federal University of
Technology, Minna Niger State
Discipline: Chemistry
Research project: Healing open wounds faster and better thanks to a nanocomposite.
5 – Najah Fatou COLY – Doctoral candidate – Senegal – Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar
Discipline: Biological sciences
Research project: Better understanding infections during delivery to fight neonatal mortality
6 – Funmilola FAGBOLA – Doctoral candidate – Nigeria – Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology
Discipline: Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
Research project: Detecting misinformation with proof and deep learning models, and natureinspired algorithms
7 – Dr. Nowsheen GOONOO – Post-doctoral researcher – Mauritius – Mauritius University, Moka
Discipline: Materials sciences
Research project: Avoiding amputations by enhancing healing in diabetic wounds
8 – Fatou JOOF – Doctoral candidate – The Gambia – Banjul Open University
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Research project: Developing new antimalarial strategies by tracking genetic mutations
9 – Ruth KIHIKA – Doctoral candidate – Kenya – Nairobi Kenyatta University
Discipline: Chemistry
Research project: Identifying gene targets that correlate with biochemical pathways
responsible for plant resistance to parasites
10 – Stéphanie Maubath Carène KONAN – Doctoral candidate – Côte d’Ivoire – Félix Houphouët
Boigny University, Abidjan
Discipline: Informatics and Information Science
Research project: Geomatics at the service of the fight against malnutrition
11 – Carine KUNSEVI-KILOLA – Doctoral candidate – Democratic Republic of Congo –
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Discipline: Health Sciences
Research project: Combating tuberculosis contamination in diabetics
12 – Dr. Jacqueline KYOSIIMIRE-LUGEMWA – Post-doctoral researcher – MRC/UVRI & London
School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Unité de recherche ougandaise, Uganda
Discipline: Health Sciences
Research project: Generating comprehensive data on the pre-existing immune status and its
effect on vaccine response.
13 – Dr. Henintsoa Onivola MINOARIVELO – Post-doctoral researcher – Madagascar – Université
de Stellenbosch, Afrique du Sud
Discipline: Mathematics
Research project: Using mathematical modelling and computational simulations to predict
the fate of insect pollinators.
14 – Celia MOFFAT JOEL MATYANGA – Doctoral candidate – Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe University,
Harare
Discipline: Fundamental Medicine
Research project: Using the interactions between a herbal traditional medicine and first line
treatment of hiv/aids
15 – Mweete NGLAZI – Doctoral candidate – Zambia – Cap University, South Africa Discipline:
Health Sciences
Research project: An analysis of overweight and obesity in South Africa: the case of women of
childbearing age
16 – Ines NGOH – Doctoral candidate – Cameroon – Buea University et London School of
Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Gambian Research Unit, Gambia
Discipline: Biological sciences
Research project: Understanding genetic variations, used by natural populations of malaria
parasites
17 – Georgina NYAWO – Doctoral candidate – Zimbabwe – Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Discipline: Health sciences
Research project: – Assessing the microbiome in patients with tuberculosis to develop novel
diagnostic interventions and therapeutic
18 – Dr. Cécile Harmonie OTOIDOBIGA – Post-doctoral researcher – Burkina Faso –
Ouagadougou Joseph Ki-Zerbo University
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Research project: Improving productivity of lowland rice in West Africa
19 – Francine TANKEU – Doctoral candidate – Cameroon – Yaoundé 1 University
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Research project: Treating leukemia by allying biochemistry to the power of plants
20 – Jesugnon Fifamè Murielle Féty TONOUEWA – Doctoral candidate – Benin – Parakou
University
Discipline: Environmental Engineering
Research project: Improving the Acacia wood supply chain in Benin
Discipline: Health Sciences
Research project: Determining antibiotic resistance in potentially pathogenic bacteria present
in the respiratory tract of HIV-infected children.
2 – Becky Nancy ALOO – Doctoral candidate – Kenya – Laboratory, Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha City, Tanzania
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Research project: Identifying novel species of Irish potato rhizobacteria to enhance yields.
3 – Fatoumata BA – Doctoral candidate – Senegal – Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis
Discipline: Fundamental medicine
Research project: Studying sleep to better fight metabolic diseases.
4 – Dr. Mercy Temitope BANKOLE – Post-doctoral researcher – Nigeria – Federal University of
Technology, Minna Niger State
Discipline: Chemistry
Research project: Healing open wounds faster and better thanks to a nanocomposite.
5 – Najah Fatou COLY – Doctoral candidate – Senegal – Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar
Discipline: Biological sciences
Research project: Better understanding infections during delivery to fight neonatal mortality
6 – Funmilola FAGBOLA – Doctoral candidate – Nigeria – Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology
Discipline: Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
Research project: Detecting misinformation with proof and deep learning models, and natureinspired algorithms
7 – Dr. Nowsheen GOONOO – Post-doctoral researcher – Mauritius – Mauritius University, Moka
Discipline: Materials sciences
Research project: Avoiding amputations by enhancing healing in diabetic wounds
8 – Fatou JOOF – Doctoral candidate – The Gambia – Banjul Open University
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Research project: Developing new antimalarial strategies by tracking genetic mutations
9 – Ruth KIHIKA – Doctoral candidate – Kenya – Nairobi Kenyatta University
Discipline: Chemistry
Research project: Identifying gene targets that correlate with biochemical pathways
responsible for plant resistance to parasites
10 – Stéphanie Maubath Carène KONAN – Doctoral candidate – Côte d’Ivoire – Félix Houphouët
Boigny University, Abidjan
Discipline: Informatics and Information Science
Research project: Geomatics at the service of the fight against malnutrition
11 – Carine KUNSEVI-KILOLA – Doctoral candidate – Democratic Republic of Congo –
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Discipline: Health Sciences
Research project: Combating tuberculosis contamination in diabetics
12 – Dr. Jacqueline KYOSIIMIRE-LUGEMWA – Post-doctoral researcher – MRC/UVRI & London
School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Unité de recherche ougandaise, Uganda
Discipline: Health Sciences
Research project: Generating comprehensive data on the pre-existing immune status and its
effect on vaccine response.
13 – Dr. Henintsoa Onivola MINOARIVELO – Post-doctoral researcher – Madagascar – Université
de Stellenbosch, Afrique du Sud
Discipline: Mathematics
Research project: Using mathematical modelling and computational simulations to predict
the fate of insect pollinators.
14 – Celia MOFFAT JOEL MATYANGA – Doctoral candidate – Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe University,
Harare
Discipline: Fundamental Medicine
Research project: Using the interactions between a herbal traditional medicine and first line
treatment of hiv/aids
15 – Mweete NGLAZI – Doctoral candidate – Zambia – Cap University, South Africa Discipline:
Health Sciences
Research project: An analysis of overweight and obesity in South Africa: the case of women of
childbearing age
16 – Ines NGOH – Doctoral candidate – Cameroon – Buea University et London School of
Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Gambian Research Unit, Gambia
Discipline: Biological sciences
Research project: Understanding genetic variations, used by natural populations of malaria
parasites
17 – Georgina NYAWO – Doctoral candidate – Zimbabwe – Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Discipline: Health sciences
Research project: – Assessing the microbiome in patients with tuberculosis to develop novel
diagnostic interventions and therapeutic
18 – Dr. Cécile Harmonie OTOIDOBIGA – Post-doctoral researcher – Burkina Faso –
Ouagadougou Joseph Ki-Zerbo University
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Research project: Improving productivity of lowland rice in West Africa
19 – Francine TANKEU – Doctoral candidate – Cameroon – Yaoundé 1 University
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Research project: Treating leukemia by allying biochemistry to the power of plants
20 – Jesugnon Fifamè Murielle Féty TONOUEWA – Doctoral candidate – Benin – Parakou
University
Discipline: Environmental Engineering
Research project: Improving the Acacia wood supply chain in Benin
For high-level football players, kikiam is one of the
worst breakfast choices
by LIO MANGUBAT
KIKIAM,
rice, bread, and egg.This was the breakfast of champions of the women’s
football squads — right in time for their opening SEA Games matches this week.“The
quality and quantity of food is not enough,” lamented Let Dimzon, the coach for
the Philippine women’s football team, at a press conference. “Sa variety din,
like for this morning hindi enough yung rice and kikiam and egg, walang
nutrients.”
Added
Malaysia coach Joceph Jacob: “Today my breakfast, most of the players eat only
bread and some egg.”
At
elite levels of play, players explode into short bursts of intense action,
bookended by a long stretch of constant aerobic activity as they cut back and
forth across the pitch. “Mean energy expenditure (above rest) for a match has
been estimated to be approximately 1107 kilocalories,” writes a team of sports
scientists from Lisbon, Portugal in the article “Nutrition and Supplementation in Soccer”,
published in the journal Sport in 2017.
That’s
the equivalent of three and a half to four burgers.
However,
it’s not just a matter of ingesting calories to cover what an athlete will burn
up over the course of a match. Athletes must carefully watch their consumption
of nutrients to fuel their bodies and recover well after the game.
The
article recommends that, right before a match, players must ingest 1 to 4 grams
of carbohydrates for each kilogram of body weight. Similarly, they must eat 0.25
to 0.4 grams of protein for each kilogram of body weight.
For
athletes, it’s easy to measure: get their weight in kilos, and divide it by 4.
That’s how many grams of protein they should be consuming before a match. For
an athlete weighing 73 kilos, or around 160 pounds, they need to eat at least
18.25 grams of protein — equivalent to around 4 to 5 egg whites. Even then,
more is probably better. “A high protein intake has been recommended for
athletes for many years,” conclude four nutritionists from the Czech Republic's
Charles University in their article “Macronutrient Intake in Soccer Players—A
Meta-Analysis”, published in the journal Nutrients just this year.
It’s
in this last requirement that the SEA Games’ athletes’ breakfast may fall
astoundingly short. After all, “more important than the total amount is the
intake profile, which includes characteristics as the amount of protein at each
meal, the timing of intake, and the source of protein,” writes the team from
Portugal.
High-quality
protein is key here. If the kikiam served is the street food version of the
Chinese delicacy, it’s most likely packed with fillers. But even in its most
authentic version, this deep-fried dish is no match, nutritionally, for the
lean protein athletes need for muscular recovery.
"Best
protein sources for athletes would be lean proteins such as white meat items
like chicken and lean fish," said nutritionist Timothy Jeffe Ting, RND,
CSCS, to Spin LIFE. Ting is a sports nutrition consultant for the UP Fighting
Maroons, the NU Women's and Girl's Volleyball Team, and the Foton Blue Energy
Pro-Volleyball team.
He
recommends that these proteins be grilled, baked, or boiled in a stew.
Deep-fried should definitely be avoided.
"It's
crucial that athletes eat lean proteins to maximize recovery [and] at the same
time, allow easier digestion," Ting continued. Fats, like those present in
grease and fillers, will "take longer to digest properly, and might be
detrimental to performance when taken around training time."
If
this quality of breakfast continues over the course of the Games, eggs will
probably be the football players’ best bet.
And
even then, without a wider variety of food, like fruits and vegetables, athletes,
Filipino and foreign alike, may miss out on the micronutrients they need to
deliver peak performance.
ATP
Funds Support New Promotion in the West Bank
By Sarah Moran
WEST
BANK, RAMALLAH - USA Rice has initiated promotional program activities here for
the first time utilizing Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program funds. The
ATP program is one of three programs that President Trump authorized in 2018 to
assist agricultural producers who have been affected by retaliatory tariffs in
many overseas markets, and USA Rice received more than $5.5 million to promote
U.S. rice internationally over the next three years.
The
West Bank imported some U.S.-origin rice in the past as the mostly Arabic
speaking local population consumes rice on a daily basis and appreciates the
high quality characteristics of U.S.-grown rice that fits perfectly with the
local cuisine.
"There
are several identified U.S. rice brands available in the market, and USA Rice
reached out to importers to develop promotions supporting the increased sale of
these brands," said Eszter Somogyi, USA Rice director for Europe, the Middle
East, and Africa. "Local traders have been very interested in
participating in the program and agreed to contribute 30 percent of the third
party promotional costs."
USA
Rice recruited four different U.S. rice brands to participate in promotional
activities that started in October and include billboard advertising and LED
screens installed in several major cities, such as Ramallah, Hebron, and
Jericho. Radio spots also are being aired on selected radio channels touting
the benefits of U.S. rice. More in-store promotions are planned for November
and December to influence consumer decisions at the point of sale.
These
promotions have demonstrated increased awareness of U.S. rice and as of
September 2019, U.S. rice exports are up 90 percent over the same time period
last year, totaling 13,200 MT.
"The
strong interest and willingness of local importers to participate in our
program and contribute in cash to the promotional costs is a huge success and
we look forward to further developing the program in the West Bank in the
coming years," said Somogyi.
USA Rice Daily
Indonesia’s Bulog wants
government funding to buy rice
Indonesia's
state food procurement agency (Bulog) needs government funding of 20 trillion
rupiah ($1.42 billion) in 2020 to finance purchases of rice needed as a buffer
stock, its chief executive said on Thursday. The agency typically takes up bank
loans to purchase government rice reserves which Bulog stocks to stabilise
prices and which can only be sold under the direction of the government. But
the agency is facing rising financial costs due to its large debt, Bulog's
chief executive Budi Waseso told reporters after attending a parliamentary
hearing where he asked for the funding. About 80% of Bulog's revenue used to
come from a social security programme which involved the government buying rice
from Bulog, Waseso said, a programme which has since been changed. “That's why
we propose that the rice reserves are being funded by the government," he
said. He said Bulog currently has nearly 28 trillion rupiah in debt, a jump
from 2017's debt level after the agency was directed to import nearly 1 million
tonnes of rice last year. Bulog's total short term debt stood at around 13
trillion rupiah at the end of 2017, according to its financial report. “We are
buying rice every day, which means our debt continues to increase, meanwhile
there is no assignment to sell," Waseso said. Bulog expected to procure
1.6 million tonnes of rice from local farmers next year. In the past three
years, the government budgeted 2.5 trillion rupiah per year to help finance the
rice purchase, he said, to subsidise price gaps. The request for funding comes
at a time when the government is struggling to raise revenue from tax and the
budget deficit is seen widening to 2.2% of GDP from 1.84% this year.
Thailand using blockchain tech to help trace organic rice
In a first, local farmers and
growers will participate in the project which is expected to start in mid-2020.
The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) announced that it will use blockchain
technology for production-to-export traceability of agricultural products,
starting with organic rice, so as to build confidence among buyers. The
project will start as soon as the Office receives the operating budget for
fiscal 2020 and TPSO will also accelerate discussions with blockchain experts,
related authorities, and financial institutions to speed up the development of
blockchain system. The agency has already talked with farmers and some 5,000
growers from Surin province will participate in this project. The project is
expected to start in the middle of the next year, and if successful, will be
extended to other agricultural products. The blockchain system will be able to
trace the process from cultivation, which involves a camera being installed in
the rice fields to check where it was grown and whether it is really organic
rice, while the production or packaging process can verify where it was
produced. The certification process checks the department that serves as the
inspector and issues the certificate, while the financial institutions who act
as the payment intermediary after the rice are sold provide the information on
the buyer and the country of export. The system will help instil confidence in
Thai organic rice, reducing problems of buyer’s rejection, product
adulteration, and licence subrogation in order to increase the bargaining power
and add more value to the product, as well as creating opportunities for
expanding export markets. The buyers can check the source of organic rice. If
they have a problem such as finding that it is not organic rice, they will be
able to reject it. The blockchain project couldn’t have come at a more vital
time. Another recent report noted that on 25 November
2019, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister had submitted a second list of
rice manufacturers to China and that its government promised it would finish
the registration process under its import scheme as soon as possible. The
Minister’s statement came after he met with the Deputy Minister of the General
Administration of Customs, China (GACC). Rice exported from Thailand has gained
huge popularity in China. The Thai government had previously submitted the
first batch of rice manufacturers’ names for the GACC’s consideration based on
product quality and their safety standard, and 49 exporters were given
approval, comprising both large manufacturers and SMEs. China’s willingness to
consider a second batch is a positive sign, which could pave the way for
additional exports of 1 million tonnes of rice to China estimated at Bt27
billion. The agriculture minister also said he and China’s GACC Deputy Minister
discussed opportunities to export more agricultural products from Thailand to
China, including processed tapioca and fruits, frozen pork, live cattle, and
bird nests.
The two also discussed the
possibility to export fruits via the newly opened Dongxing border checkpoint,
which Thai exporters can use to conveniently transport their products by land.
The checkpoint is located only 150 metres away from the Mong Cai agricultural
market. GACC officials have acknowledged Thailand’s offers and promised to work
out agreements that favour both countries as soon as possible. As exports
increase so does the threat of quality and false verification, the blockchain
technology, if hopefully scaled up, could aid in inter-country trade relations
as well, enabling all parties to rest assured in the strength and veracity of
the supply chain.
Make Thai rice great again
The
failure of Thailand's signature jasmine rice, Thai Hom Mali, to win back the
World's Best Rice award two years in a row, is a wake-up call for the
government to start taking Thailand's rice development seriously. Earlier this
month, an organic rice strain from Vietnam's Soc Trang province, ST24, was
named the World's Best Rice at The Rice Trader (TRT) World Rice Conference in
Manila, the Philippines, where a panel of international judges inspected and
evaluated the aroma, taste, texture and shape of each participating rice
variety. The ST24 strain, Vietnamese rice experts say, is a high-yield variety
that can be harvested 2-3 times each year. It produces long, white grains which
give off the aroma of pineapples. ST24, they say, can yield up to 8.5 tonnes
per hectare, or about 1,300 kg per rai.
Last
year, a premium fragrant variety from Cambodia, Malys Angkor, won the honour.
Both countries have managed to take the crown away from Thailand's jasmine
rice, which has received the honour five times in total -- including a
back-to-back win in 2016 and 2017. The loss does not reflect a decline in the
quality of our rice. Instead, it reflects the lack of further research and
development of Thai rice varieties, especially when substantial improvements
have been made by our neighbouring countries.
While
this year is only the first time a variety from Vietnam won the award, it shows
that rice strains from Vietnam could potentially become a highly-competitive
rival to the Hom Mali in the international market. This is especially true when
costs are considered -- Vietnamese rice are considerably cheaper, especially
given the baht's continued appreciation. Thai Hom Mali goes for about
US$1,100-1,200 (about 33,280 to 36,300 baht) per tonne, while a similar strain
from Vietnam is priced at about $600 per tonne, according to Thai Rice
Exporters Association. Furthermore, Vietnamese crops have better yields per
rai. For example, the average rice crop in Thailand yields about 450
kilogrammes per rai, while in Vietnam, the average yield per rai can be as high
as 800-1,000 kg per rai. Thailand's jasmine rice can still compete with
Vietnamese rice in the world, thanks to the reputation it built over the past
two decades. But how long can a country's rice industry rely on old reputation
without further development amid tougher competition? The honorary president of
Thai Rice Exporters Association, Chookiat Ophaswongse, said that without
further R&D that can help improve yields and meet popular demand, Thai Hom
Mali will disappear from the world's rice markets within five years. While
Thailand exported more than 11 million tonnes of rice last year, generating
more than 180 billion baht in revenue, the country spent much less on R&D
for rice variety improvement, roughly around 200-300 million baht a year. The
government seems to pay more attention on digital trends and national security
rather than agricultural development, despite the fact that the agriculture
sector -- particularly rice production -- has always been the backbone of the
country's economy. Thailand also do not give out incentives to attract a new generation
of rice researchers, resulting in the low number of rice research. With these
challenges in mind, the government should set rice development as a national
agenda item.
C.P. Intertrade releases high-end
Hom Mali Rice brand
BANGKOK,
Nov 26, 2019 - (ACN Newswire) - On November 15, C.P. Intertrade Co., Ltd (brand:
Royal Umbrella) held the 3rd World's Hom Mali Rice Harvesting Day in Phayao,
one of the major agricultural provinces in Thailand. During the event, C.P.
Intertrade introduced various Hom Mali Rices and introduced a new local rice
brand from Phayao, the Hug Phayao. Thai Hom Mali Rice, also known as Jasmine
Rice, is a point of national pride for Thai people. Hom Mali Rice is a
long-grain variety of fragrant rice with a smooth and chewy texture. It's very
popular among consumers all over the world. C.P. Intertrade provides trade
services of Thai rice and relevant products. It owns several Thai Hom Mali Rice
brands, including Royal Umbrella, Royal Buriram, and C.P. Rice. Due to the high
quality and strict control, it is certified by multiple international
standards, such as HACCP and ISO9001. Royal Umbrella is one of the greatest
Thai rice brands and among them, it is the only one that's widely sold in the
world. Royal Umbrella has also achieved numerous awards: the Ministry of
Commerce, Department of Export Promotion award three times; the Prime
Minister's Award twice; Super Brand in Singapore in 2003-2011; the World's Best
Rice Award 2009, the Philippines World Rice Conference. In 2013, it received
the FDA Quality Award, which is the first and only bagged rice operator in
Thailand to win such an award. Phayao is located in northeast Thailand, with a
clean and beautiful natural environment. Its soil is composed of volcanic and
fluvial sediments that provide extremely rich nutrition. In addition, there's
hardly any industrial enterprise in Phayao. It is barely affected by human
pollution, which makes it propitious to grow organic rice with high quality.
During
the 3rd World's Hom Mali Rice Harvesting Day, representatives from the local
agriculture department, rice brands dealers and farmers cooperatives jointly
signed an agreement that they will work together and promote Thai Hom Mali Rice
to the global market. In the past, there was a lack of promotion and quality
control for Thai rice. Due to the unguaranteed quality and authenticity, it was
difficult to buy a bag of real Thai Hom Mali Rice. According to Mr. Withaya
Sriareerug, they will launch a series of promotions to deliver their
high-quality Thai rice and the spirit of sustainability, so as to enhance the
connection with their global customers. A large portion of the Chinese people
lives on rice, so the Chinese market is a very important part of the Hom Mali
Rice in CPI (C.P. Intertrade). Currently, Chinese customers can order original
Thai rice from C.P. Intertrade in both online stores and physical stores.
The
Phayao Thai rice harvest this time will be available around December in
domestic online stores, such as Tmall.com, Taobao.com, JD.com, and
Freshhema.com before it enters physical supermarkets. Except for the
incomparable environment for rice planting, another important reason for the
3rd World's Hom Mali Rice Harvesting Day in Phayao province is the company's
successful promotion of their GAP Plus project, which enhances the quality of
the rice and improves the farmers' lives. The goal of the GAP Plus project is
to boost the feeling of happiness for the farmers and sustainable agriculture.
On
the basis of GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), the company established a
professional team to provide high purity seeds. In the meantime, they also
teach the farmers a sustainable way to plant rice in order to reduce pollution,
for example, enhancing the soils, monitoring the insect attack, and checking
the rice fields. As Mr. Thiti Lujintanon, the COO of the company puts it:
"According to the regulations of the government, we purchase the Thai rice
with a high price and standard, which results in a standard production model.
The farmers also live better lives while their Thai rice can be sold
worldwide." "Rice is like life for a farmer. If he plants rice well
one year, the whole family will be guaranteed the next year," says Mr.
Withaya Sriareerug. The concept of "Rice is life" is also the proof
of it. C.P. Intertrade hopes the customers can understand the ingenuity of the
farmers with the "life supply chain" from the field to the table.
With the help of GAP Plus, the farmers can harvest higher quality rice, thus
C.P. Intertrade (Royal Umbrella) can also purchase the rice at a better price.
"We offer a high price to purchase the rice, so we can attract more
farmers to participate in this project. What is more, this also encourages the
farmers to plant better rice." The high quality rice not only increases
the income of the farmers, but also boosts their feeling of satisfaction. It
also helps to improve the living conditions as well as to promote sustainable
agriculture, which protects the earth.
Thousands of Thai farmers march
for pesticides
BANGKOK: About 2,000
demonstrators marched to Thailand’s Government House on Tuesday to demand a
delay in a ban due from Dec 1 on three pesticides, as a dispute over the plan
escalates. The protesters submitted a letter to Prime Minister Prayuth
Chan-Ocha asking for time to assess scientific evidence, the economic impact
and whether alternatives are available. Outlawing the chemicals will hurt Thai
farmers’ competitiveness and imperil millions of jobs, according to the letter.
Thailand
plans to prohibit three pesticides – paraquat, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate –
over health risks under a push by a party in the sprawling coalition
government. The move against glyphosate, commonly sold as weedkiller Roundup,
has sparked resistance from the US, which has also asked Prayuth to delay to
consider scientific evidence. The party spearheading the ban, Bhum Jai Thai,
controls the health and transport ministries. It’s one of more than a dozen in
the coalition, which has a razor-thin majority in parliament. Asked by
reporters whether any slip in the Dec 1 deadline would have political
ramifications because Bhum Jai Thai ministers could quit, Health Minister
Anutin Charnvirakul said he has to put concerns about health first. ‘No
compromise’ “We have to listen to all parties and assess what we can
do to create less dispute,” Bhum Jai Thai leader Anutin said. “But I’m
responsible for the Ministry of Health, and there can be no compromise on any
policy that’s dangerous for health.” Police on the ground gave rough estimates
of the size of the crowd. The demonstration was organised by the Thai
Agricultural Innovation Trade Association, the Thai Agro-Business Association
and the Thai Crop Protection Association. Last week, Singapore-based CropLife
Asia, a trade group representing pesticide firms, asked Prayuth to delay the
ban because of the potential disruption to the agriculture sector. Glyphosate
is banned or restricted in a range of places, such as Vietnam and Austria, and
triggered a flurry of lawsuits in the US from people alleging it causes cancer.
About 11 million of Thailand’s 69 million people are employed in agriculture.
The nation is among the world’s top exporters of rice, rubber and sugar.
Explained:
What is Golden Rice?
Said to be answer to Vitamin A deficiency, yet to be
planted on large scale. Will Bangladesh be first?
By Express News Service |New Delhi |Updated: November
26, 2019 1:03:53 pm
The Golden Rice that is being reviewed in Bangladesh is
developed by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute.
According to the institute, this rice variety will not be more expensive than
the conventional variety.In the late 1990s, German scientists developed a
genetically modified variety of rice called Golden Rice. It was claimed to be
able to fight Vitamin A deficiency, which is the leading cause of blindness
among children and can also lead to death due to infectious diseases such as
measles.
The claim has sometimes been contested over the years,
with a 2016 study from Washington University in St Louis reporting that the
variety may fall short of what it is supposed to achieve.
Now, Bangladesh could be on the verge of becoming the
first country to approve plantation of this variety. The Dhaka Tribune recently
quoted visiting Nobel Laureate Sir Richard John Roberts as saying that
Bangladesh would take a decision on the release of Golden Rice.
Advocates of the variety stress how it can help
countries where Vitamin A deficiencies leave millions at high risk. In
Bangladesh, over 21 per cent of the children have vitamin A deficiency.
The Golden Rice that is being reviewed in Bangladesh is
developed by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute.
According to the institute, this rice variety will not be more expensive than
the conventional variety.Rice is naturally low in the pigment beta-carotene,
which the body uses to make Vitamin A. Golden rice contains this, which is the
reason for its golden colour.
.
STUDY LOOKS AT SECOND-CROP RICE, CRAWFISH PRODUCTION
BRUCE SCHULTZ, LSU AGCENTER
CROWLEY — An LSU AgCenter and
Louisiana Sea Grant agent is studying the effects of crawfish production
following a second crop of rice.
Mark Shirley is conducting the study requested by farmers who want to know to what extent harvesting a second rice crop will affect their crawfish.
“These days, rice farmers are trying to get every bit of value out of their crawfish crop in addition to their rice crop,” Shirley said.
The study, funded by the Louisiana Rice Research Board, will try to determine how food for crawfish, habitat, water quality and crawfish populations are affected by harvesting a second rice crop.
The project is underway at the South Farm of the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station.
On one 7.5-acre field, an initial crop of rice was harvested in August. The field was then flooded, but no second crop was harvested. On the second 7.5 acres, the first crop was harvested in August and the second crop was cut Nov. 19 with several inches of water flooding the field.
Rice straw from harvesting a second crop will decompose in the flood, Shirley said. That usually results in lower water quality because dissolved oxygen will be removed from the decomposition, reducing the amount of food available for crawfish in the spring.
“So it’s a question of how much damage do you have by harvesting the second crop,” he said.
The field with the second crop was left flooded for the second harvest because draining it would have killed most of the crawfish, he said.
Some farmers have asked about the possible benefit of using a stripper header on a harvester that leaves more of the plant intact and could have less impact on water quality. Further study may be done to explore that alternative, Shirley said.
Shirley is optimistic about the upcoming crawfish season. Cooler temperatures and rain in October provided needed moisture that allowed adults to emerge from their burrows.
“Conditions for crawfish are actually looking pretty good,” he said.
Mark Shirley is conducting the study requested by farmers who want to know to what extent harvesting a second rice crop will affect their crawfish.
“These days, rice farmers are trying to get every bit of value out of their crawfish crop in addition to their rice crop,” Shirley said.
The study, funded by the Louisiana Rice Research Board, will try to determine how food for crawfish, habitat, water quality and crawfish populations are affected by harvesting a second rice crop.
The project is underway at the South Farm of the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station.
On one 7.5-acre field, an initial crop of rice was harvested in August. The field was then flooded, but no second crop was harvested. On the second 7.5 acres, the first crop was harvested in August and the second crop was cut Nov. 19 with several inches of water flooding the field.
Rice straw from harvesting a second crop will decompose in the flood, Shirley said. That usually results in lower water quality because dissolved oxygen will be removed from the decomposition, reducing the amount of food available for crawfish in the spring.
“So it’s a question of how much damage do you have by harvesting the second crop,” he said.
The field with the second crop was left flooded for the second harvest because draining it would have killed most of the crawfish, he said.
Some farmers have asked about the possible benefit of using a stripper header on a harvester that leaves more of the plant intact and could have less impact on water quality. Further study may be done to explore that alternative, Shirley said.
Shirley is optimistic about the upcoming crawfish season. Cooler temperatures and rain in October provided needed moisture that allowed adults to emerge from their burrows.
“Conditions for crawfish are actually looking pretty good,” he said.
LSU AgCenter Study to Reveal
Effects of Second Rice Harvest on Crawfish
The LSU
AgCenter is studying the effects of how the rice harvest can affect the
upcoming crawfish season.
As most
rice farmers double as crawfish farmers, the study funded by the Louisiana
Seagrant can help improve both.
“Rice
and crawfish go well in the pot, but they are also go well in the field.” said
Mark Shirley, LSU AgCenter County Agent for Vermilion Parish
After
the initial rice crop is harvested in the summer, the second crop grows right
behind, but this time it will stay there because it will provide the nutrients
for the next crawfish crop.
Shirley
is conducting the study at the Rice Research Center in Crowley.
“Harvesting
that second crop rice, it actually affects water quality by dumping a lot of
straw in the water so oxygen levels go down. It can have a negative impact on
your crawfish.” said Shirley.
For
crawfish farmers, that can be a big deal
“The
production of crawfish, you can actually make a lot more money off of the
crawfish so for the last several years the crawfish crop has been the lucrative
crop to grow.” said Shirley.
Crawfish
season is in its early stages as places like D&T Crawfish in Abbeville are
getting their first round of shipments, but it’s expected to be slow for the
next 4 to 6 weeks.
Shirley
is optimistic the weather will be favorable this season.
“A lot
depends on the weather. Crawfish may be a little more active so they will go in
the traps, but if we could get a cold nasty spell or freeze that slows them.”
said Shirley.
The
study is expected to be completed in May.
Crawfish
season starts slow in the cold months and peaks between March and June.
Rice
production provides a $379 million dollar impact to Louisiana’s economy while
crawfish adds $209 million.
Across
the Nutra-verse: Studying probiotic impact using an ingestible sensor, Europe
lowers red yeast rice contaminant level, and more
- Last updated on GMT
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USA
Using an ingestible gas sensor to study
the impact of probiotics
Seed Health has announced a new
partnership with digital health company Atmo Biosciences to study microbiome
activity by using the Atmo Gas Capsule, which is said to be the first
ingestible sensor technology to track location-specific gases through the human
gastrointestinal tract.Seed will use the capsule in a series of upcoming clinical studies on their flagship probiotic, the Daily Synbiotic.
“While antibiotics are a key frontline tool to treat and eliminate infections, they're also known to negatively impact the diversity and function of the gut microbiome as reflected in the variety of side effects they cause,” said Dr. Gregor Reid, distinguished professor at Western University and Lawson Institute Chair of Human Microbiology and Probiotics, and Seed's Chief Scientist.
“As a research and clinical tool, this device will contribute greatly to learning how interventions, including probiotics, alter the gut microbiome's activity and metabolic readouts.”
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will include 64 healthy participants between the ages of 18-55. Recruitment for the study is slated for December with the trial commencing in January 2020.
For more on this, please click HERE.
Europe
Europe lowers max contaminant levels in
red yeast rice-fermented supplements
The European Commission (EC) has issued
a notification to decrease the maximum limit of mycotoxin contaminant deemed
acceptable for supplements fermented with red yeast rice, with the new max set
at 100 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) of citrinin for food supplements.“Given the remaining uncertainties as regards the toxicity of citrinin and the feasibility to achieve low levels of citrinin by applying good manufacturing practices, it is appropriate to lower the maximum level for citrinin in food supplements to ensure a high level of human health protection,” stated the Commission.
“Data provides evidence that very high levels of citrinin can be found in certain samples of these products, resulting in a high exposure to citrinin for consumers of these products.”
The new level will be effective from 1 April 2020
For more on this, please click HERE.
Asia
Morinaga research reveals
immunity-boosting metabolite produced in infant gut
Scientists from Japan’s Morinaga Milk
Industry have identified a key immunity-boosting metabolite produced by that
the infant-type human-residential bifidobacteria (HRB).Writing in Microorganisms, the scientists report that strains of infant-type HRB, including B. longum BB536, B. breve M-16V and B. infantis M-63, produced higher levels of the key metabolite called indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) than other species.
This mean that, “strains of infant-type HRB could be better probiotic candidates for infant use,” said Dr Chyn Boon Wong, research associate at Morinaga Milk Industry.
Wong added that the new discovery on the metabolite of human bifidobacteria was a breakthrough in the field and would add value to infant nutrition products.
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