Year later, mystery surrounds China's
gene-edited babies
·
Kin Cheung/AP file photo/He Jiankui, a Chinese researcher,
speaks during the Human Genome Editing Conference in Hong Kong in 2018.
The scientist shocked the world by claiming he had helped make the first
gene-edited babies. One year later, mystery surrounds his fate as well as
theirs. He has not been seen publicly since January, his work has not been
published and nothing is known about the health of the babies.
Chinese scientist He Jiankui
shocked the world by claiming he had helped make the first gene-edited babies.
One year later, mystery surrounds his fate as well as theirs.
He has not been seen publicly
since January, his work has not been published and nothing is known about the
health of the babies.
"That's the story — it's all
cloaked in secrecy, which is not productive for the advance of
understanding," said Stanford bioethicist Dr. William Hurlbut.
He talked with Hurlbut many times
before He revealed at a Hong Kong science conference that he had used a tool
called CRISPR to alter a gene in embryos to try to help them resist infection
with the AIDS virus. The work, which He discussed in exclusive interviews with
The Associated Press, was denounced as medically unnecessary and unethical
because of possible harm to other genes and because the DNA changes can pass to
future generations.
Since then, many people have
called for regulations or a moratorium on similar work, but committees have
bogged down over who should set standards and how to enforce them.
"Nothing has changed,"
said Dr. Kiran Musunuru, a University of Pennsylvania geneticist who just
published a book about gene editing and the CRISPR babies case.
"I think we're farther from
governing this" now than a year ago, said Hurlbut, who disapproves of what
He did. However, so much effort has focused on demonizing He that it has
distracted from how to move forward, he said.
Here's what's known about the
situation:
HE JIANKUI
He was last seen in early January
in Shenzhen, on the balcony of an apartment at his university, which fired him
from its faculty after his work became known. Armed guards were in the hall,
leading to speculation he was under house arrest.
A few weeks later, China's
official news agency said an investigation had determined that He acted alone
out of a desire for fame and would be punished for any violations of law.
Since then, AP's efforts to reach
him have been unsuccessful. Ryan Ferrell, a media relations person He hired,
declined to comment. Ferrell previously said He's wife had started paying him,
which might mean that He is no longer in a position to do that himself.
Hurlbut, who had been in touch
with He early this year, declined to say when he last heard from him.
THE BABIES
The Chinese investigation seemed
to confirm the existence of twin girls whose DNA He said he altered. The report
said the twins and people involved in a second pregnancy using a gene-edited
embryo would be monitored by government health departments. Nothing has been
revealed about the third baby, which should have been born from that second
pregnancy in late summer.
Chinese officials have seized the
remaining edited embryos and He's lab records.
"He caused unintended
consequences in these twins," Musunuru said of the gene editing. "We
don't know if it's harming the kids."
OTHERS WHO WERE INVOLVED
Rice University in Houston said
it is still investigating the role of Michael Deem, whose name was on a paper
He sent to a journal and who spoke with the AP about He’s work. Deem was He's
adviser when He attended Rice years ago.
The AP and others have reported
on additional scientists in the U.S. and China who knew or strongly suspected
what He was doing.
"Many people knew, many
people encouraged him. He did not do this in a corner," Hurlbut said.
THE SCIENCE
Scientists recently have found
new ways to alter genes that may be safer than CRISPR. Gene editing also is
being tested against diseases in children and adults, which is not controversial
because those changes don't pass to future generations. Some scientists think
gene editing will become more widely accepted if it's proved to work in those
situations.
"It's moving forward slowly
because it's being done responsibly," Musunuru said.
PUBLIC OPINION
A forum was held in Berkeley,
California, last month to get public views on gene editing — everything from
modifying mosquitoes and crops to altering embryos.
The National Academy of Sciences
recently pulled a video it made after concern arose about how it portrayed the
ethically dicey science and its possible use to make designer babies. The
academy has been leading some efforts to set standards for gene editing, and it
gets most of its funding from the government, although a private grant paid for
the video, a spokeswoman said.
An AP/NORC poll last year found
that most Americans say it would be OK to use gene-editing to protect babies
against disease, but not to change DNA so children are born smarter, faster or
taller.
REGULATION
A moratorium is no longer strong
enough, and regulation is needed, CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna of the
University of California, Berkeley recently wrote in a commentary in the
journal Science.
She noted that the World Health
Organization has asked regulators in all countries not to allow such
experiments, and that a Russian scientist recently proposed one.
"The temptation to tinker”
with the DNA of embryos, eggs or sperm “is not going away," she wrote.
Marilynn Marchione can be
followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP
The Associated Press
Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for
all content. https://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/national_world_news/year-later-mystery-surrounds-china-s-gene-edited-babies/article_1f4ca60e-a206-5f9c-b4bf-756a45fe2c26.html
Experts deliberate on rice, maize improvement
programmes
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Nov 29, 2019, 7:17 AM; last updated: Nov 29, 2019, 7:17 AM
(IST)
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, November 28
A special meeting was held at Punjab
Agricultural University (PAU) to review and re-orient rice and maize
improvement programmes in light of paddy straw management, crop diversification
and water saving.
The meeting,
held under the chairmanship of Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, PAU, was
attended by Navtej Bains, director of research; JS Mahal, director of extension
education; KS Thind, additional director of research (crop improvement); GS
Mangat, head, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics; and faculty of rice
and maize sections of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics.
It was decided during the meeting that the rice
breeding programme would stop working on the varieties of long duration and
would rather focus on medium maturity duration (110 days) (post-transplanting
duration). Also, the seed production of PR 122 (which takes 117 days to mature)
would be stopped from 2020. More emphasis would be laid on breeding varieties
suitable for direct seeding (DSR).
In view of
spread of basmati cultivation from the traditional zone to new areas, where
manual harvesting is not practiced, it was decided to promote cultivation of
shorter duration Pusa basmati 1509 rather than long duration Pusa basmati 1121.
PAU is in the process of developing new strains of basmati which matures a week
earlier than Pusa basmati 1121. These are at the final stage of testing and if
found suitable, multiplication and release will be accelerated. PAU will also
actively pursue the deregisteration of Pusa 44, the longest duration variety of
rice (130 days, post transplanting).
Diversification
away from rice is urgently required in the present situation, for which
important steps that need to be taken for strengthening maize were discussed
during the meeting. The maize breeding work at PAU was sought to be
strengthened by provision of two additional posts (Maize Breeding) for
strengthening research on long duration hybrids and speciality (pop, sweet,
baby, waxy, high oil) maize each, and one post for research on precision
agronomy at main campus at Ludhiana by diverting positions from other crops.
The maize
research team will also associate scientists from Farm Engineering departments
to provide improved farm mechanisation and processing technologies. Likewise,
one scientist each at Regional Research Stations at Gurdaspur and Ballowal
Saunkhri will be associated with maize as their priority area of research.
During the
meeting, it was also decided to work with farmers for implementation of
improved package of maize cultivation practices aimed at narrowing the gap in
economic returns vis-à-vis rice. Interventions will include quality seeds and
precise sowing with pneumatic planters) to ensure optimal plant followed by
effective pest management to ensure higher yield.
Supplement-protector tackles
malnutrition
28 November 2019
By FATIMA SHERIFF.
Credit: CC0, via Pixabay
Using a new micropolymer called
BMC, US scientists have figured out how to stabilise nutrients added to food...
Rickets, scurvy, beriberi… we’ve
learnt the hard way that keeping our vitamin levels in check is essential for
good health. But while these conditions are associated with bygone eras and now
seem manageable, the developing world continues to struggle with the
consequences of malnutrition.
Around 2 billion people suffer
from vitamin deficiencies, with micronutrient deficiency known as “hidden
hunger”. This can cause birth defects, anaemia, impaired growth and blindness
and leads to 50% of deaths of children under 5 according to the WHO. This
physical weakness can contribute to “the cycle of poverty” and severely impact
the prospects of low-income families.
While a balanced diet is ideal,
in countries with limited access to a wide variety of foods this isn’t
possible. The solution: fortify cupboard staples, like rice, maize, even salt,
and ensure people can get what their body needs. Although strides have been
made to fortify foodstuffs, there are still technical challenges to be
resolved. Though an effective way to introduce these nutrients into the
diet, certain additions like iron can also make the food taste
unpalatable. Furthermore, as senior author Ana Jacklenec explains, in
countries with prevalent malnutrition, foods rich in micronutrients are often
simmered in stews, and this heat can destroy their nutritional content.
In this new paper, researchers at
MIT used a polymer to coat a combination of micronutrients. After testing 50
different polymers they settled on BMC, a microparticle already approved by the
FDA that is only slightly larger in diameter than a single human hair. It was
able to make the nutrients stable at different levels of heat, moisture and
light. Eleven micronutrients were encapsulated in this particular experiment,
including iron, niacin, zinc, folic acid, and an array of those all-important
lettered vitamins.
They tested the intestinal
absorption of these coated micronutrients in rodents, finding that the capsule
acted as protection from various factors but still dissolved appropriately in
gastric acid as intended. These results were also found in mini-organs, grown
to replicate human intestines, which showed, for example, a 30-fold increase in
iron absorption.
These effects were tested within
a human trial of 44 people. The team also compared the taste of their new ‘super-bread’
with one unsupplemented, with little difference to the experience. Even Bill
Gates, whose foundation funded the research, was unable to distinguish between
the two.
By shielding key micronutrients with this polymer, scientists
have found a way to preserve nutritional content and tackle the scourge of
deficiencies in developing countries. Though it may cost more and be tricky to
implement, helping a third of the world would prove more than worthwhile in the
future, “not just on health, but on the economy, on education” alongside other
indirect benefits.
Senate bill on DSWD’s rice subsidy awaits approval
November 28, 2019, 5:22 PM
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
The Senate is expected to approve
soon a bill seeking to allow the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) to use its 2019 rice subsidy fund to buy palay from Filipino farmers
affected by the surge in rice imports in the country.
Senate of the Philippines (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Senate Majority Leader Juan
Miguel Zubiri said Thursday that the chamber will fast track the approval of a
bill formalizing the authority to be given to the DSWD to use its remaining
P6.97-billion rice subsidy budget under the 2019 General Appropriations Act
(GAA) to directly buy unmilled rice to local farmers and distribute actual rice
to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
This, following the approval in
both houses of Congress of a joint resolution this month to authorize concerned
government agencies to use their rice subsidy programs to help farmers cope
with the unimpeded importation of rice under the Rice Tariffication Law.
The Supreme Court (SC) recently
ruled that a joint resolution cannot be equated to a bill and hence cannot be
enacted into a law, saying that “neither the Rules of the Senate nor the Rules
of the House of Representatives can amend the Constitution which recognizes
that only a bill can become a law.”
Due to the High Court’s ruling,
Zubiri on Wednesday, November 27, filed Senate Bill No. 1199 as a substitute to
the Senate Joint Resolution No. 8 they approved on final reading last November
4.
Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of
the Senate agriculture committee, also filed a similar bill Tuesday.
“We decided to pass a law so
there will be no hiccup in our efforts to help the farmers. Joint Resolutions,
according to the Supreme Court, are not valid as a law,” Zubiri said told
Manila Bulletin in a text message Thursday.
The Senate leader said that like
the joint resolution, the bill on the rice subsidy program will be prioritized
by the Upper Chamber. He said they expect its approval on final reading before
December 11.
Under the Zubiri’s proposal, the
DSWD, in coordination with the National Food Authority (NFA), would be mandated
to purchase palay from local farmers in the rice producing provinces of Pangasinan,
Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental
Mindoro, Tarlac, Nueva Edja, Zamboanga del Sur, and Iloilo and distribute rice,
instead of cash, to its beneficiaries.
The bills seek to allow the
department to use the rice subsidy as provided under the Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4PS) in the 2019 GAA.
Villar, for her part, said the
DSWD, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the NFA shall set up the
procedure, guidelines, and distribution system.
The DSWD shall submit to Congress
a year-end report on the implementation of the program “to determine its
performance and effectiveness”, she proposed.
Aside from the DSWD, Zubiri also
proposed to encourage local government units having jurisdiction over the
covered provinces to purchase the rice requirement of their local hospitals,
jails, and other institutions from local farmers.
Under the 2019 GAA, the total
allocation for rice subsidies was P33.9 billion, with the DSWD receiving the
bulk of it for the 4Ps.
The DSWD said P6.97 billion of
its rice subsidy fund this year remains undisbursed.
The 4Ps, which currently has
about 4.1 million beneficiaries, grants the rice subsidy in the form of
financial assistance amounting to P600 per month, which is equivalent to 20
kilos of rice.
This is on top of the cash
assistance given to the same beneficiaries of P300 per month or P3,600 per
year.
Local farmers have complained of
the declining farm gate prices of palay due to the implementation of Republic
Act No. 11203, which allowed the unimpeded entry of rice imports into the
country in exchange of tariffs.
Despite calls for its repeal, the
administration is bent on implementing the rice tariffication law.
Pangilinan,
Belmonte seek P6 billion in 2019 budget to cover rice farmers’ losses
November 28, 2019
Farmers in -
Palawan
are preparing to plant rice in this file photo.
SEN. Francis Pangilinan has filed
a bill seeking to augment the 2019 budget with P6 billion to immediately
provide unconditional cash transfer to rice farmers.
Senate Bill 1191 proposes a
P6-billion supplemental budget for direct cash transfers to vulnerable rice
farmers who are planting 1 hectare or less, “as compensation for the reduction
or loss of farm income arising from the influx of imported rice.”
At the House of Representatives,
Quezon City Rep. Christopher “Kit” Belmonte, also on Tuesday afternoon, filed
House Bill 5629 as a counterpart measure, saying that the cash assistance will
encourage rice farmers to continue farming.
Pangilinan is Liberal Party
president while Belmonte is the party’s secretary-general.
“Ang buhay at kabuhayan ng ating
mga magpapalay ay nasa panganib, at dapat nating tratuhin ito bilang
isang emergency situation na
nangangailangan ng agarang atensyon [The life and livelihood
of our farmers are in peril, and we should treat this as an emergency situation
that needed immediate attention]” Pangilinan said.
“The cash transfer will give them
a lifeline to continue farming while we try our best to fix the law,”
Pangilinan added, referring to Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication
Act.
The law imposes a minimum
35-percent tariff on rice imports in lieu of quantitative restrictions (QRs).
The liberalization of rice
imports, while intended to give the country a steady supply, has led to
declining palay farm-gate prices in many rice-producing areas.
Eight months since the passage of
the law, farm-gate prices of palay have plunged to as low as P7 to P10 per kilo
in some provinces, while the price of rice dropped by 2.9 percent, and the
price of palay by 17.48 percent.
The drop in farm-gate price of
palay has resulted in huge income losses for rice farmers and the industry, now
estimated around P60 billion, and projected to double by year-end.
Pangilinan said releases from the
proposed supplemental fund will be made by the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) directly to the Department of Agriculture (DA), which shall
make available the fund to the farmers.
The fund will be effective until
December 31, 2020.
Earlier, both the Senate and the
House approved on third and final reading their respective bills extending the
validity of the 2019 budget until December 31, 2020.
This would allow agencies to
spend funds for capital outlays and maintenance, and other operating expenses
in the 2019 budget until next year.
According to Pangilinan’s bill,
the DBM will submit to Congress and the Commission on Audit quarterly report on
the utilization of funds.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/11/28/pangilinan-belmonte-seek-p6-billion-in-2019-budget-to-cover-rice-farmers-losses/
Hearing the farmers plea
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:10 AM November 29,
2019
If we do not
hear the farmers’, not only will they be in peril. Our poverty will increase,
food security threatened, and our peace and order disrupted. At the recent
November 25-26 National Rice Industry Stakeholders Conference in Iloilo
organized by the Department of Agriculture, a farmer leader in his twenties
said: “Kung hindi ayusin ang kapatagan, ang mga tao ay pupunta sa kagubatan (If
the lowlands are not fixed, the people will go to the mountains).”
He was
referring to rice farmers losing more than half their income during the past
year because of the newly imposed 35 percent import rice tariff. This forced
the domestic price of palay to decrease in order to compete with the very cheap
rice imports.
How bad is
the rice farmer’s situation? Using the average of 4 tons a hectare, the
production cost of P12 a kilo (though the official DA presentation at the
conference showed it is now P12.45), and the officially recorded dry palay
price of P15.43, the net income was P12,040. This is only 40 percent of
last year’s P31,760. This is using Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
information as of the fourth week of October. Since PSA data was not updated
for November, we instead used DA data updated as of Nov. 25.
The average
farmgate price for the month of November was recorded at even lower than last
month at P4.40, with income correspondingly decreasing to only P9,600 a
hectare.
The critical
question that few have raised and no one has officially answered is : “At
what price can the farmer’s produce compete with imported rice?”
A few weeks
earlier, I showed that two data sources (are from the private sector and the
other from DA) independently and unofficially estimated that price to be
P12.00. Two days ago, we collected the newest DA data available. Assuming
the landed cost of imported rice at P16.00, a 35 percent tariff of P5.60, and the
cost to the warehouse at P5.20, the equivalent total cost at wholesale would be
P26.80. Though the wholesale to palay price ratio has deteriorated from 2.2:1
in 2018, 2.4:1 in 2019, we will use the conservative 2018 ratio. The resulting
palay price (P26.80 /2.2) is P12.18, similar the P12.00 price estimated a few
weeks ago. At the P12 production cost per kilo, the average farmer cannot
survive. However, the more productive farmers can, but they are in the
minority.
At the Rice
Conference, the farmers were told to wait one or two more years to give the 35
percent tariff a chance.
The farmers’
plea, heard loud and clear with many expressing much anger, was that this was
unfair and cruel. The government imposed the 35 percent tariff. But
following the law using Republic Act 8800, the government can remedy this
mistake by using the safeguard of increasing the tariff to the correct level.
They can
then implement an adjustment plan, which other countries and our own industry
sectors do, to decrease this rate to 35 percent or lower. But this should be
accompanied with the competitive enhancement measures and government support
services that our government has not been giving our agriculture for the last
22 years, when we fist committed to rice liberalization. The farmers’ plea has
been ignored during all this time.
Their plea,
and their justifiable demand, must now be heard and acted upon. Given the very
low P12 per kilo the farmers must sell their palay to compete with the cheap
imports made possible by the 35 percent tariff, many in the recently held
National Rice Industry Stakeholders Conference specified that increasing the 35
percent tariff is a top priority. They ask: “What is the government waiting
for?”
Ban on rice imports by 2022
possible – FABAG
General News of Friday, 29 November 2019
The Food and
Beverages Association of Ghana
The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), the
national trade association of the food and beverage industry in Ghana,
representing manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers believes Ghana
can successfully ban the importation of rice products by 2022 however it needs
to make some critical interventions in the sector.The General Secretary of the Association, Samuel Aggrey in a Citi News interview said one of the critical areas that government must focus its attention on is the provision of silos to promote mass storage of harvested rice.
He said without such a measure, Ghana may still need to depend on imported rice in the next 10 years since it will not be rice sufficient.
“[A ban] is possible but we need to put in place so many interventions. The issue of silos is most critical. If we don’t have those once in place, I beg to say that even in 10 years we will not be rice sufficient. What we do is that, we produce to consume so in between the period that we consume the rice, and we are exhausted do we have to wait for the next harvest? We are supposed to have about three or four harvests stored. Once that is done, we will be releasing it as and when we need it. When we do it, then we know that we have intervened with the situation that we used to have in solving the problem,” he said.
He added that other support programmes must be started to support local rice producers.
The government earlier this week announced that, it plans to ban the importation of rice by 2022 to boost local rice production.
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko who gave the hint said, the move is to reverse the significant amount of the foreign rice consumed by Ghanaians.
President of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Sampson Asaki Awingobit warned that although the ban on the importation may be helpful to the country in the near future, measures should adequately be put in place to ground its implementation in the long run.
“Government cannot use a short or medium-term to solve this issue in the country looking at the amount of money that we are spending to bring rice in this country. The country can be looking at a long term solution. But from now, giving ourselves 2022 is not a solution if government bans the importation.”
The struggles of rice farmers have been relayed by Citi News reports and a subsequent campaign started by Citi FM’s CEO, Samuel Attah-Mensah, urging Ghanaians to consume locally grown rice.
The development has seen huge quantities of rice at the risk of going waste at the Fumbisi and Gbedembilisi rice valleys in the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region.
As part of more immediate measures to tackle the problem, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been meeting with 20 major rice importers to solicit commitments to support rice production in the country.
In line with this, the Ghana National Buffer Stock Company also said it will make its licensed buying companies to purchase all rice produce going bad.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Ban-on-rice-imports-by-2022-possible-FABAG-803534
Importers Warn Gov't Against Banning Rice
Imports In 2022
By News Desk
President of the Importers and
Exporters Association of Ghana, Sampson Asaki Awingobit is warning government’s
plan of banning the importation of rice could cause more harm than good in the
short to medium term.
He said, the solution to boost
production and consumption of l
ocal rice lies in holistic
support to local farmers in terms of cultivation and marketing of the produce.
ocal rice lies in holistic
support to local farmers in terms of cultivation and marketing of the produce.
Making his claims on Eyewitness
News, Mr. Awingobit expressed fears that the country risk facing severe food
insecurity if government overlooks the needed logistical and production
assistance.
He advised government to
critically examine the entire rice value chain before it goes ahead with its
intended import ban.
“It is not feasible in the sense
that, we don’t want a situation where government will create food insecurity in
this country. With what they are bringing, if there is no demand, there will be
no supply. If we say that in 2022, we will ban entirely, can we can sustain
what we are currently producing let alone looking for surplus for export? So we
should not just rush and say, we are banning. The fears I am having is that,
the government just can’t be making pronouncements. Government should be
interested in the produce on the farm lands from cultivation to harvesting to
packaging to marketing. Government should look at the supply chain and support
the farmer adequately. At the end of the day, if they ban and the importers go
to buy it, it will even cost more than the one that is brought from outside.”
Government has announced that, it
plans to ban the importation of rice by
2022 to boost local rice production.
Deputy Minister of Food and
Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko who gave the hint said, the move is to reverse
the significant amount of the foreign rice consumed by Ghanaians.
But Mr. Awingobit maintained
that, although the ban on the importation may be helpful to the country in the
near future, measures should adequately be put in place to ground its
implementation in the long run.
“Government cannot use a short or
medium term to solve this issue in the country looking at the amount of money
that we are spending to bring rice in this country. The country can be looking
at a long term solution. But from now, giving ourselves 2022 is not a solution
if government bans the importation.”
The struggles of rice
farmers have been relayed by Citi
News reports and a subsequent campaign started by Citi
FM's CEO, Samuel Attah-Mensah, urging Ghanaians to consume locally grown rice.
The struggles of rice
farmers and millers have left huge quantities
of rice at the risk of going waste at the Fumbisi
and Gbedembilisi rice valleys in the Builsa South District of the Upper East
Region.
As part of more immediate
measures to tackle the problem, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been
meeting with 20 major rice importers to solicit commitments to support rice
production in the country.
In line with this, the Ghana
National Buffer Stock Company also said it will make its licensed buying
companies to purchase all rice produce going bad. 10 rice
millers agree to purchase locally grown rice
Meanwhile, ten major rice millers
have agreed to buy locally grown rice for processing at 60 percent capacity
which translates to 300,000 metric tonnes annually, representing over 23
million bags of home-grown rice.
This emerged at a meeting
spearheaded by Ghana’s lead campaigner for local rice consumption, Samuel
Attah-Mensah with the John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation and some 15 local
rice millers.
Speaking to Citi
News, the Head of Policy at the JAK Foundation, Nana Ama Oppong
Dua, said the next phase of the discussions is a meeting with financial
institutions to support this course.
“What we realized is that for the
300,000 metric tonnes that can be done by these 10 [millers] we need just about
125,000 hectares of land to be able to do that. From the statistics we have
from the Ministry, we have 300,000 hectares of land under cultivation. So it
means that even what we've planted is much more than the capacity of these 10
mills here.”
“So we are hoping that the other
mills will even come on board to be able to do that. What we have also done is
that we've even used very conservative estimates. What we are using for this
300,000 metric tonnes is 60 percent capacity of production so if we scale up to
100%, then we will be able to produce much more,” she noted.
Banning rice imports in 2022 not
feasible – Importers & Exporters Association
Executive
Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Sampson Asaki
Awingobit
Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association
of Ghana, Sampson Asaki Awingobit, is warning that government’s plan to ban the
importation of rice could cause more harm than good in the short to medium
term.He said boosting production and consumption of local rice lies in a
holistic support to local farmers in terms of cultivation and marketing of the
produce.
Making his claims on Eyewitness News, Mr. Awingobit expressed fears that there could be shortage of rice if government fails to boost local production and goes ahead with the ban.He advised government to critically examine the entire rice value chain before it goes ahead with its intended ban.
“It is not feasible in the sense that, we don’t want a situation where government will create food insecurity in this country. With what they are bringing, if there is no demand, there will be no supply. If we say that in 2022, we will ban entirely, can we can sustain what we are currently producing let alone looking for surplus for export? So we should not just rush and say, we are banning. The fears I am having is that, the government just can’t be making pronouncements. Government should be interested in the produce on the farm lands from cultivation to harvesting to packaging to marketing. Government should look at the supply chain and support the farmer adequately. At the end of the day, if they ban and the importers go to buy it, it will even cost more than the one that is brought from outside.”
Government has announced that it plans to ban the importation of rice by 2022 to boost local rice production.
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko who gave the hint, sai the move is to reverse the significant amount of foreign rice consumed by Ghanaians.
But Mr. Awingobit maintains that although the ban on the importation may be helpful to the country in the near future, measures should adequately be put in place to ground its implementation in the long run.
“Government cannot use a short or medium term to solve this issue looking at the amount of money that we are spending to bring rice into this country. The country can be looking at a long-term solution. But for now, giving ourselves 2022 is not a solution if government bans the importation.”
The struggles of rice farmers have been relayed by Citi News reports after a campaign started by Citi FM and Citi TV CEO, Samuel Attah-Mensah, urging Ghanaians to consume locally grown rice.
The struggles of rice farmers and millers have left huge quantities of rice at the risk of going waste at the Fumbisi and Gbedembilisi rice valleys in the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region.
As part of more immediate measures to tackle the problem, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been meeting with 20 major rice importers to solicit commitments to support rice production in the country.
In line with this, the Ghana National Buffer Stock Company also said it will make its licensed buying companies to purchase all rice produce going bad.
10 rice millers agree to purchase locally grown rice
Meanwhile, ten major rice millers have agreed to buy locally grown rice for processing at 60 percent capacity which translates to 350,000 metric tonnes annually, representing some 7 million bags of home-grown rice.
This emerged at a meeting spearheaded by Ghana’s lead campaigner for local rice consumption, Samuel Attah-Mensah and the John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation with some 15 local rice millers.
Speaking to Citi News, the Head of Policy at the JAK Foundation, Nana Ama Oppong Dua, said the next phase of the discussions is a meeting with financial institutions to support this course.
“What we realized is that for the 300,000 metric tonnes that can be done by these 10 [millers] we need just about 125,000 hectares of land to be able to do that. From the statistics we have from the Ministry, we have 300,000 hectares of land under cultivation. So it means that even what we’ve planted is much more than the capacity of these 10 mills here.”
“So we are hoping that the other mills will even come on board to be able to do that. What we have also done is that we’ve even used very conservative estimates. What we are using for this 300,000 metric tonnes is 60 percent capacity of production so if we scale up to 100%, then we will be able to produce much more,” she noted.
Making his claims on Eyewitness News, Mr. Awingobit expressed fears that there could be shortage of rice if government fails to boost local production and goes ahead with the ban.He advised government to critically examine the entire rice value chain before it goes ahead with its intended ban.
“It is not feasible in the sense that, we don’t want a situation where government will create food insecurity in this country. With what they are bringing, if there is no demand, there will be no supply. If we say that in 2022, we will ban entirely, can we can sustain what we are currently producing let alone looking for surplus for export? So we should not just rush and say, we are banning. The fears I am having is that, the government just can’t be making pronouncements. Government should be interested in the produce on the farm lands from cultivation to harvesting to packaging to marketing. Government should look at the supply chain and support the farmer adequately. At the end of the day, if they ban and the importers go to buy it, it will even cost more than the one that is brought from outside.”
Government has announced that it plans to ban the importation of rice by 2022 to boost local rice production.
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko who gave the hint, sai the move is to reverse the significant amount of foreign rice consumed by Ghanaians.
But Mr. Awingobit maintains that although the ban on the importation may be helpful to the country in the near future, measures should adequately be put in place to ground its implementation in the long run.
“Government cannot use a short or medium term to solve this issue looking at the amount of money that we are spending to bring rice into this country. The country can be looking at a long-term solution. But for now, giving ourselves 2022 is not a solution if government bans the importation.”
The struggles of rice farmers have been relayed by Citi News reports after a campaign started by Citi FM and Citi TV CEO, Samuel Attah-Mensah, urging Ghanaians to consume locally grown rice.
The struggles of rice farmers and millers have left huge quantities of rice at the risk of going waste at the Fumbisi and Gbedembilisi rice valleys in the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region.
As part of more immediate measures to tackle the problem, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been meeting with 20 major rice importers to solicit commitments to support rice production in the country.
In line with this, the Ghana National Buffer Stock Company also said it will make its licensed buying companies to purchase all rice produce going bad.
10 rice millers agree to purchase locally grown rice
Meanwhile, ten major rice millers have agreed to buy locally grown rice for processing at 60 percent capacity which translates to 350,000 metric tonnes annually, representing some 7 million bags of home-grown rice.
This emerged at a meeting spearheaded by Ghana’s lead campaigner for local rice consumption, Samuel Attah-Mensah and the John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation with some 15 local rice millers.
Speaking to Citi News, the Head of Policy at the JAK Foundation, Nana Ama Oppong Dua, said the next phase of the discussions is a meeting with financial institutions to support this course.
“What we realized is that for the 300,000 metric tonnes that can be done by these 10 [millers] we need just about 125,000 hectares of land to be able to do that. From the statistics we have from the Ministry, we have 300,000 hectares of land under cultivation. So it means that even what we’ve planted is much more than the capacity of these 10 mills here.”
“So we are hoping that the other mills will even come on board to be able to do that. What we have also done is that we’ve even used very conservative estimates. What we are using for this 300,000 metric tonnes is 60 percent capacity of production so if we scale up to 100%, then we will be able to produce much more,” she noted.
Senate bill on DSWD’s rice subsidy awaits approval
November 28, 2019, 5:22 PM
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
The Senate is expected to approve
soon a bill seeking to allow the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) to use its 2019 rice subsidy fund to buy palay from Filipino farmers affected
by the surge in rice imports in the country.
Senate of the Philippines
Senate Majority Leader Juan
Miguel Zubiri said Thursday that the chamber will fast track the approval of a
bill formalizing the authority to be given to the DSWD to use its remaining
P6.97-billion rice subsidy budget under the 2019 General Appropriations Act
(GAA) to directly buy unmilled rice to local farmers and distribute actual rice
to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
This, following the approval in
both houses of Congress of a joint resolution this month to authorize concerned
government agencies to use their rice subsidy programs to help farmers cope
with the unimpeded importation of rice under the Rice Tariffication Law.
The Supreme Court (SC) recently
ruled that a joint resolution cannot be equated to a bill and hence cannot be
enacted into a law, saying that “neither the Rules of the Senate nor the Rules
of the House of Representatives can amend the Constitution which recognizes
that only a bill can become a law.”
Due to the High Court’s ruling,
Zubiri on Wednesday, November 27, filed Senate Bill No. 1199 as a substitute to
the Senate Joint Resolution No. 8 they approved on final reading last November
4.
Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of
the Senate agriculture committee, also filed a similar bill Tuesday.
“We decided to pass a law so
there will be no hiccup in our efforts to help the farmers. Joint Resolutions,
according to the Supreme Court, are not valid as a law,” Zubiri said told
Manila Bulletin in a text message Thursday.
The Senate leader said that like
the joint resolution, the bill on the rice subsidy program will be prioritized
by the Upper Chamber. He said they expect its approval on final reading before
December 11.
Under the Zubiri’s proposal, the
DSWD, in coordination with the National Food Authority (NFA), would be mandated
to purchase palay from local farmers in the rice producing provinces of
Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Oriental Mindoro,
Occidental Mindoro, Tarlac, Nueva Edja, Zamboanga del Sur, and Iloilo and
distribute rice, instead of cash, to its beneficiaries.
The bills seek to allow the
department to use the rice subsidy as provided under the Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4PS) in the 2019 GAA.
Villar, for her part, said the
DSWD, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the NFA shall set up the
procedure, guidelines, and distribution system.
The DSWD shall submit to Congress
a year-end report on the implementation of the program “to determine its
performance and effectiveness”, she proposed.
Aside from the DSWD, Zubiri also
proposed to encourage local government units having jurisdiction over the
covered provinces to purchase the rice requirement of their local hospitals,
jails, and other institutions from local farmers.
Under the 2019 GAA, the total
allocation for rice subsidies was P33.9 billion, with the DSWD receiving the
bulk of it for the 4Ps.
The DSWD said P6.97 billion of
its rice subsidy fund this year remains undisbursed.
The 4Ps, which currently has
about 4.1 million beneficiaries, grants the rice subsidy in the form of
financial assistance amounting to P600 per month, which is equivalent to 20
kilos of rice.
This is on top of the cash
assistance given to the same beneficiaries of P300 per month or P3,600 per
year.
Local farmers have complained of
the declining farm gate prices of palay due to the implementation of Republic
Act No. 11203, which allowed the unimpeded entry of rice imports into the
country in exchange of tariffs.
Despite calls for its repeal, the
administration is bent on implementing the rice tariffication law.
Inventors to showcase creations
in GenSan exhibit
By MINDANEWS
NOVEMBER 29, 2019 2:21 PM
Want create site? With Free visual composer you can do it easy.
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews /
29 Nov) – Top inventions and innovations from parts of Region 12 will take
centerstage anew in the 2019 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE)
slated here next week.
Engr. Mahmud Kingking, acting
director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Region 12, said
Friday at least 50 inventors and researchers will be showcasing their projects
in the RICE 2019 on Dec. 3 to 5 at the SM Mall here.
He said the annual event mainly
aims to bring together and feature the works of “the best minds” in the region.
“It is a venue to recognize and
extend encouragement to local inventors and researchers for their hard work and
ingenuity,” he said.
Kingking said the participants,
which include college and high school students, will compete for the top awards
in six categories.
These are the Outstanding
Invention or Tuklas Award, Outstanding Utility Model, Outstanding Industrial
Design, Outstanding Creative Research or Likha Award, Outstanding Student
Creative Research or Sibol Award for high School and the Sibol Award college
students.
The official said the exhibits
and other related activities, which will be held at the SM Mall events center,
are all open to the public.
He said the winners will receive
cash incentives and certificates of recognition as well as qualify for the
national competition.
Kingking said RICE intends to
highlight the vital contributions of their science and technology development
partners from all walks of life in the region.
He cited those from government,
academe, industry as well as private individuals.
“It showcases the products of
their creativity, inventiveness and innovative ideas that could help answer the
complex and never-ending societal problems that are taking place now and in the
future,” he said.
Kingking said the event seeks to
encourage more “young minds and inventors” to come up with solutions that could
be applied to the “day-to-day challenges in today’s high competitive and fast
changing global environment.”
He added that RICE can be a
driving force for inventors and researchers to achieve self-confidence in
marketing their inventions and eventually transform them into science-based
enterprises.
RICE 2019 was organized by
DOST-12 in collaboration with the agency’s Technology Application and Promotion
Institute.This year theme is “Science for the People: Enabling Technologies for
Sustainable Development.” (MindaNews)
U.S. researchers find underwater telecom cables
make superb seismic network
Source:
Xinhua| 2019-11-29 10:13:22|Editor: xuxin
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A new research shows
fiber-optic cables that constitute a global undersea telecommunications network
could one day help scientists study offshore earthquakes and the geologic
structures hidden deep beneath the ocean surface, according to a release of the
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) on Thursday.
UC Berkeley said researchers from UC Berkeley, Berkeley Lab,
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Rice University, have turned 20 km
of undersea fiber-optic cable into the equivalent of 10,000 seismic stations
along the ocean floor and recorded a 3.5 magnitude quake and seismic scattering
from underwater fault zones in a four-day experiment in Monterey Bay.
Their technique, which they had previously tested with
fiber-optic cables on land, could provide much-needed data on quakes that occur
under the sea, where few seismic stations exist, leaving 70 percent of Earth's
surface without earthquake detectors.
"There is a huge need for seafloor seismology. Any
instrumentation you get out into the ocean, even if it is only for the first 50
kilometers from shore, will be very useful," said Nate Lindsey, a UC
Berkeley graduate and lead author of the paper appeared this week in Science
journal.
The experiment cable stretches 52 km offshore to the first
seismic station ever placed on the floor of the Pacific Ocean 17 years ago.
"This is really a study on the frontier of seismology, the
first time anyone has used offshore fiber-optic cables for looking at these
types of oceanographic signals or for imaging fault structures," said
Jonathan Ajo-Franklin, a geophysics professor at Rice University in Houston.
"One of the blank spots in the seismographic network worldwide is in the
oceans."
The ultimate goal of the researchers' efforts is to use the
dense fiber-optic networks -- probably more than 10 million km in all both on
land and under the sea around the world -- as sensitive measures to help
monitor earthquakes in regions without expensive ground stations, Ajo-Franklin
said.
Local rice to be listed on Ghana
Commodity Exchange
Dr. Kadri
Alfah, CEO, Ghana Commodity Exchange
Local rice production and consumption is expected to receive
further boost as Ghana Rice will be listed on the Ghana Commodity Exchange,
GCX. This is expected to be finalized in December this year, after clearance and certification from the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC.
The Ghana Commodity Exchange is a private company limited by shares, structured as a Public Private Partnership, with the government of Ghana currently the sole shareholder.
The aim of the exchange is to establish linkages between agricultural and commodity producers and buyers, to secure competitive prices for their products, assuring the market quantity and quality as well as timely settlement of their trade.
After the clearance, the Ghana Commodity Exchange will be listing One million metric tonnes of Ghana Rice which translates into 20 million 50 kg of Ghana rice.
This comes after a meeting between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Rice Millers, the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, and some financial institutions.
As an import substitution, local Rice millers agreed on Tuesday November 26, 2019, to process 350,000 tonnes of local rice annually.
The agreement comes on the back of a meeting with local rice production advocacy groups, JAK Foundation, and HopeLine institute.
Financial support has been one of the challenges facing the local rice sector. It was thus a relief to have financial and trading institutions like the Ghana Commodity Exchange, come together to meet the millers.
The CEO of the Exchange, Dr. Kadri Alfah, announced that his outfit will by the end of the year list Ghana Rice as one of their commodities.
“So by the end of this year, Ghana Commodity Exchange will be trading rice. So we’re going to be listing Paddy rice and Mill rice. We’re just asking SEC to give us permission to trade rice, so it’s not really SEC’s problem. Before we applied to trade it, we had to undertake an extensive feasibility studies, and we also had to consult the industry, and then we had to do others things, so we started doing them, and hopefully by the end of the year, we should have rice listed.”
But what does it mean to list Ghana Rice on the Exchange, and what are the benefits?
“What it means is that, those who’re producing rice, either in the form of paddy or mill rice can actually bring their products and trade them on the Ghana Commodity Exchange, and those who want to buy paddy or Mill rice can come and by it on the Exchange. We have a system that is able trade over one million tonnes of different products a day, so the volume is not a problem. What we need is that we need to ensure that we are able to work with our partners to mobilize the farmers and also get warehouses where these commodities will be served.”
“It’s going to give a huge boost to the sector. Some of the problems the sector is facing currently include quality. Whatever is traded on the Exchange, the quality is defined with the industry and they’re accepted, and then they’re part of the products that will be listed on the Exchange”.
Some rice farmers who were elated about the Ghana Commodity Exchange’s commitment indicated that they have the capacity to produce for the needed demand.
“I think its fantastic news; when Commodity Exchange always comes in; it comes in with some sort of liquidity, putting markets and buyers together so that the person who has and the person who has the money, putting them together on a common front, that eliminates geographical challenges, so it’s welcoming addition to the coalition that we’re trying to build” CEO of Strongmen Food and Farms, Kwadwo Ofori Ampomah said.
Convener of the Rice Millers Association, Yaw Adu-Poku, also said “This is the right direction; something we’ve been yearning for and it’s happening live. We have the GCX; we have some of the banks and Ghana Standards Board and the FDA; and a number of the biggest importers are also here on the tables with us and farmers are also here. So it is a very good durbar that we’re having” another excited miller said.
Government has announced that it plans to ban the importation of rice by 2022 to boost local rice production.
A Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, who gave the hint, said the move is to reverse the significant amount of foreign rice consumed by Ghanaians.
The struggles of rice farmers have been relayed by Citi News reports after a campaign started by Citi FM and Citi TV CEO, Samuel Attah-Mensah, urging Ghanaians to consume locally grown rice.
The struggles of rice farmers and millers have left huge quantities of rice at the risk of going waste at the Fumbisi and Gbedembilisi rice valleys in the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region.
As part of more immediate measures to tackle the problem, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been meeting with 20 major rice importers to solicit commitments to support rice production in the country.
In line with this, the Ghana National Buffer Stock Company also said it will make its licensed buying companies to purchase all rice produce going bad.
Haryana: No ‘major irregularity’
in paddy procurement, say probe teams
Officials
tasked with physical verification of rice mills say reports will be submitted
to government
CITIES Updated: Nov 28, 2019 23:33 IST
The inspection teams deputed by the
state government for physical verification of rice mills did not find any
‘major irregularity’ in paddy procurement by the shellers.
Officials said physical
verification revealed that the stock of most of the rice mills in Karnal,
Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Yamunanagar and Panipat districts was as per the records.
The physical verification was
ordered by the chief secretary on November 20 after ministers in the first
cabinet meeting of BJP-JJP government raised the issue of bogus paddy purchase
in the state.
Even police personnel were deployed
at the rice mills the same day and the movement of paddy from mandis was
stopped.
Officials of the food and supply
department said of 316 rice mills that procured about 17 lakh metric tonne (MT)
paddy in Panipat district, physical verification of about 290 rice mills was
complete
They, however, found some
differences in the stock and records of a few rice mills. But this difference
was due to higher moisture content at the time of procurement, they added.
Karnal deputy commissioner Vinay
Pratap said, “The reports on physical verification of rice mills will be sent
to the government. Once the reports are examined, appropriate action will be
taken against defaulters.”
Kurukshetra food and supply
controller Narender Kumar said physical verification was done at all 238 rice
mills in the district and no irregularity was reported.
If there were some gaps in the
stock and records of the rice mills they have to give clarification, he added.
Verification was done at 135 rice
mills in Panipat, 159 in Yamunanagar and 5 rice mills in Panipat districts.
Panipat deputy commissioner Sumedha Kataria said no irregularity was detected.
The leaders of opposition parties
termed the inspection “eyewash”, alleging that officials of state agriculture
marketing board and ahrtiyas were also involved in the scam. They also demanded
the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation for stringent action
against the erring rice millers and government officials.
María Ylagan
Orosa: Google Doodle celebrates Filipino food scientist and war heroine’s 126th
birthday
Posted
on
María Ylagan Orosa, Filipino food
scientist, war heroine, and humanitarian, is highlighted by Google Doodle on
Friday at her 126th birthday celebration.
María Orosa e Ylagan was born on
November 29, 1893, in the district of Taal within the Batangas region. She was
the fourth kid among eight of Simplicio An Orosa and Juliana Ylagan-Orosa.
María Ylagan Orosa proceeded to
become an extraordinary student, winning a partial government scholarship in
1916 to go to the University of Seattle. While living in a YMCA and maintaining
odd jobs, Orosa finished her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in pharmaceutical
chemistry, as well as an extra degree in food chemistry.
María Ylagan Orosa, prominently
called María Orosa is credited with more than 700 recipes—including the famous
local condiment banana ketchup.
María Ylagan Orosa
María Ylagan Orosa explored
different avenues regarding foods local to the Philippines, and during World
War II created Soyalac (from soybeans) and Darak (from rice bran), which she
likewise carried into Japanese-run internment camps and which helped spare the
lives of thousands of Filipinos, Americans, and different nationals.
María Ylagan Orosa is known to
have utilized local vegetables and fruits to encourage purchasers to patronize
local agricultural products, as well as to have created the Palayok Oven, which
significantly helped local remote towns without access to electricity in
cooking their food.
María Ylagan Orosa was then
offered a position as an assistant chemist for the State of Washington before
coming back to the Philippines in 1922 to concentrate on addressing the issue
of hunger in her country.
María Ylagan Orosa’s knowledge of
chemistry prompted various culinary innovations. For example, by fitting a
conventional earthenware pot with two sheets of metal, she concocted the
Palayok Oven, giving remote towns lacking access to electricity with more
successful methods for cooking over an open fire.
During World War II, María Orosa
utilized her food science background to concoct Soyalac (a protein-rich
powdered soybean product) and Darak (a rice bran powder rich in thiamine and
different vitamins which could likewise treat beriberi).
María Ylagan Orosa likewise
became a captain in Marking’s Guerillas, local Filipino forces organized by
Marcos V. Augustin Marking[5] which helped U.S. forces battle the involving
Japanese soldiers, including by utilizing carpenters who had embedded Soyalac
and Darak into hollowed bamboo sticks which they took to the civilians detained
at the University of Santo Tomas in the capital as well as Japanese-run wartime
captive camps in Capas and Corregigor. The powders spared the lives of many
starving detained guerillas and U.S. warriors. Her “Tiki-Tiki” cookies (made
utilizing Darak) likewise spared numerous civilian lives during wartime food
deficiencies.
In spite of the fact that adobo
and lumpia are similar to Filipino cooking, María Ylagan Orosa’s banana ketchup
isn’t a long way behind. Utilizing mashed bananas as a base rather than
tomatoes, María Ylagan Orosa created the sauce a long-lasting hit. Two
different developments created her a war heroine: Soyalac (a nutrient-rich
beverage got from soya beans) and Darak (rice cookies stuffed with vitamin B-1,
that might likewise avoid beriberi disease) spared innumerable lives throughout
World War II.
The Philippines have formally
perceived María Ylagan Orosa’s contributions. A road in Ermita, Manila (where
the Philippine Court of Appeals is found), is named after her, the same as a
building in the Bureau of Plants and Industry. During the 65th anniversary of
the Institute of Science and Technology, she got one of 19 researchers
obtaining special acknowledgment.
María Ylagan Orosa passed on
February 13, 1945, at 51 years old after a shrapnel shard pierced her heart
during an American bombing raid.
The American Red Cross gave María
Ylagan Orosa a humanitarian award for her food-smuggling endeavors. Her niece
Helen Orosa del Rosario in 1970 published Maria Orosa: her life and work, which
likewise enclosed 700 of Orosa’s recipes.
On November 29, 1983, in
acknowledgment of María Ylagan Orosa’s contributions to Filipino society, the
National Historical Institute installed a marker in her respect at the Bureau
of Plant Industry in San Andrés, Manila. In recognition of her centennial
anniversary, the Philippine Postal Corporation gave a postage stamp in her
honor. Her hometown of Taal, Batangas likewise celebrated the 125th anniversary
of her birth on November 29, 2018.
Google celebrates ‘María Ylagan
Orosa’s 126th Birthday’ on November 29, 2019, with a stunning doodle.
All nanotubes are fit to print
Read all about this, carbon
nanotube fans. Researchers at Rice and Swansea universities have developed a
technique to use inexpensive newsprint harvested from newspapers to grow
nanotubes for industry.
A study initiated by late Rice researcher Robert Hauge and
continued by research scientists Bruce Brinson and Varun Shenoy Gangoli and
chemist Andrew Barron showed
a particular kind of newsprint can
be treated to serve as a three-dimensional substrate for single-walled carbon
nanotube growth.
Transmission electron microscope images of raw carbon soot grown
on kaolin-sized newsprint shows (a) roped single-walled carbon nanotubes, and
(b) collapsed, (c) folded and (d) twisted nanotubes. Courtesy of Bruce Brinson
“Stacked newsprint that incorporates kaolin clay
and used as the catalyst-bearing substrate is a low- cost, very high
surface-area growth medium compatible with continuous-flow production methods,”
Brinson said.
Not all newsprint is created
equal, since only that produced with kaolin (china clay) sizing allowed for
carbon nanotube growth. Sizing is a filler incorporated into paper to change
its absorption, color and wear characteristics. The researchers found that
kaolin facilitates the reduction of iron to nanoscale catalyst particles that
minimize the aggregation of nanotubes in the final product.
“Our observation that kaolin sizing, and not calcium carbonate sizing,
offers insight into how the growth catalyst — in our case, iron — is affected
by the chemical nature of the substrate,” said Barron, director of the Energy Safety Research
Institute (ESRI) at Swansea.
One newspaper tested for nanotube growth, the Rice Thresher,
was unsuitable, the researchers found. For those that worked, only the parts
without ink served the purpose, limiting lab studies to sections trimmed from
the papers’ edges.
Rice University research scientist Bruce Brinson led a study
that turned the unprinted parts of old newspapers into a substrate for carbon
nanotube growth.
Brinson estimated kaolin is part
of 60% of the world’s paper products. “It’s whiter and brighter than most,” he
said. “A key to newsprint is that it is thin, cheap and light. We only need the
surface; the bulk between the front and back surfaces doesn’t count for much.”
The opportunity to prepare the
substrate in bulk differentiates newsprint from traditional chemical vapor
deposition substrates, Brinson said. He said the process promises to reduce the
use of toxic materials and greenhouse gases in the bulk nanotube growth.
Brinson is the lead author on
this work. Co-authors of the paper are Rice research manager Anjli Kumar and
adjunct faculty member Wade Adams, former director of Rice’s Smalley Institute
for Nanoscale Science and Technology. Barron is the Sêr Cymru Chair of Low
Carbon Energy and Environment and professor emeritus of chemistry and materials
science and nanoengineering at Rice.
The Office of Naval Research
supported the research.
/Public Release. View
in full here.
Tags:Bruce, Chemical, court, environment, industry, production, Professor, research, Rice
University, science, Scientists, study, technique, technology, university, world
ANALYSIS-As climate change hits crops, debate
heats up over use of plant gene data
REPORT
Governments spar over how to share out benefits fairly from new
high-tech methods to develop climate-resilient crops
By Thin Lei Win
ROME, Nov 8 (Thomson Reuters
Foundation) - Rich and poor countries are at loggerheads over how to share
benefits from genetic plant data that could help breed crops better able to
withstand climate change, as negotiations to revise a global treaty are set to
resume in Rome on Monday.
The little-known agreement is seen
as crucial for agricultural research and development on a planet suffering
rising hunger, malnutrition and the impacts of climate change.
"We need all the 'genetics'
around the world to be able to breed crops that will adapt to global
warming," said Sylvain Aubry, a plant biologist who advises the Swiss
government.
Rising temperatures, water
shortages and creeping deserts could reduce both the quantity and quality of
food production, including staple crops such as wheat and rice, scientists have
warned.
The debate over "digital
sequence information" (DSI) has erupted as the cost of sequencing genomes
falls, boosting the availability of genetic plant data, Aubry said.
"A lot of modern crop
breeding relies on these data today," he added.
At the same time, the capability
of machines to process vast amounts of that data to identify special crop
traits such as disease resistance or heat tolerance has grown.
Pierre du Plessis, an African
technical advisor on treaty issues, said companies and breeders can use DSI to
identify the genetic sequence of a desired plant trait and send it by e-mail to
a gene foundry that prints and mails back a strand of DNA.
"Then you use gene-editing
technology to incorporate that strand into a plant. So you have created a new
variety without accessing the trait in biological form," he said.
That process could enable
businesses to circumvent the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources
for Food and Agriculture which stipulates that the benefits derived from using
material from species it covers - including money and new technology - must be
shared.
Developing states, which are home
to many plant species such as maize and legumes used in breeding, hope to add
digital sequence information to the treaty's scope.
This would force companies and
breeders that develop new commercial crops from that data to pay a percentage
of their sales or profits into a fund now managed by the United Nations' Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The fund's resources are used to
conserve and develop plant genetic resources - the basis of the foods humans
eat - so that farmers, particularly in the developing world, can cope better
with a warming climate.
Most wealthy nations, which are
generally more active in seed production, argue digital information on plant
genetics should be available to use without an obligation to share benefits.
"There's almost no one still
doing the old-fashioned, 'let's try it and see' breeding. It's all based on the
understanding of genome and a lot of CRISPR gene editing creeping in,"
said du Plessis.
CRISPR is a technology that
allows genome editing in plant and animal cells. Scientists say it could lead
to cures for diseases driven by genetic mutations or abnormalities, and help
create crops resilient to climate extremes.
But developing nations and civil
society groups such as the Malaysia-based Third World Network say companies
that develop new crop varieties using this information could lock access to
their critical traits using intellectual property rights.
SCIENCE FICTION?
The treaty row emerged in late
October when representatives of governments, the seed industry, research
organisations and civil society attended a meeting at FAO headquarters in Rome.
Negotiations have been going on
for more than six years to update the treaty, which came into force in 2004 and
governs access to 64 crops and forage plants judged as key to feeding the
world.
Last month, the United States,
Canada, Australia, Japan and Germany rejected a proposal from the co-chairs of
the talks to include "information, including genetic sequence data"
in the treaty's provisions on benefit-sharing.
Africa, India, Latin America and
the Caribbean pushed back but the meeting ended without a compromise, which
negotiators now hope to secure before the treaty's governing body meets on Nov.
11.
The International Seed
Federation, a body representing the $42-billion seed industry, says plant
breeding still requires the use of physical material and it is too early to set
the rules on genetic data.
"Developing policy based on
speculation and on things that are bordering on scientific fiction doesn't seem
wise," said Thomas Nickson, who attended the Rome talks for the
federation.
"It is critical to have the
information publicly available, especially for small companies in developing
countries," he added.
But Edward Hammond, an advisor to
Third World Network, said small farmers needed support, and open access to
plant data should not mean a "no-strings-attached free-for-all".
"Resilience to climate
change is being grown in the fields," he said. "Interesting and new
varieties are appearing in the fields as they adapt. This is not coming from
companies using new seeds."
'UNFAIR' SYSTEM
Kent Nnadozie, secretary of the
treaty, said if it were agreed the genetic data should be freely available, it
would be mostly developed countries that had the capacity, resources and
technology to put it to use.
"The fear is that (this)
perpetuates and reinforces an unfair system or... amplifies it," he said.
Concerns over increasing
privatisation and monopolisation of food crops - which experts say threaten
agricultural biodiversity - played a role in the treaty's origins.
Its aim was to build a
multilateral approach to access and exchange plant resources, with "fair
and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use" as a means
to address historical imbalances between farmers and seed companies.
While breeders and seed firms
rarely pay for the knowledge and genetic resources they source from farmers and
indigenous peoples, farmers usually have to buy the seeds of the improved crop
varieties businesses produce and sell.
So far, more than 5.4 million
samples of plant genetic resources have been transferred under the treaty
between governments, research institutes and the private sector in 181
countries, its secretariat said.
A large majority of those
transfers are improved materials from CGIAR, the global agricultural research
network, to public-sector research organisations in developing countries
tackling food security issues, said Michael Halewood, head of policy at
Bioversity International, a CGIAR centre.
"Countries around the world
have always been interdependent on crop genetic resources. Climate change is
making us all more interdependent than ever on those resources," he said.
(Reporting by Thin Lei Win
@thinink; editing by Megan Rowling. Please credit the Thomson Reuters
Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian
news, climate change, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, and property
rights. Visit www.trust.org)
MSMEs play vital role in
mechanisation of agriculture, says Nitin Gadkari
|
Date :29-Nov-2019
|
Business Bureau :
PM Parlewar,
Director, MSME-DI, Nagpur was felicitated in Agrovision organiser in presence
of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for prominent role played by MSME-DI, Nagpur in
Agrovision this year. It is established fact that mechanisation of farming
increases the yield of farming and its productivity many fold with consistency
in quality. In this 21st century mechanisation of farming is must for
sustainable development of agriculture sector in the country. The country like
Israel has proved that mechanisation of farming sector can make the country
global leader in farming sector. It is pertinent to mentioned here that the
agriculture implements and tools are manufactured mainly by MSME sector in our
country. In view of the importance of mechanisation MSME-DI, Nagpur, the
Ministry of MSME played prominent role in 11th Agrovision this year. About 100
MSME stalls where set up in the separate MSME dome with Ministry of MSME theme
pavilion.
The officers of
MSME-DI, Nagpur provided information about various schemes of Ministry of MSME
applicable to agriculture sector to the visitors visited in large number in
MSME pavilion. The innovation carried out by MSME in agriculture sector was
showcased in theme pavilion. The theme pavilion of Ministry of MSME set up in
Agrovision has received overwhelming response during the four-day of
exhibition. The innovation carried out by various technology centre of the
ministry where also demonstrated in separate stall. The work done by MSME-DI,
Nagpur in agriculture and Food Processing sector was the point of attraction
for the visitor under Cluster Development Scheme.
MSME-DI, Nagpur
set up common facility centre in Rice Mill Cluster at Ramtek in Nagpur district
which was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari. Two more Common Facility Centres for
rice millers are coming up one at Pawani in Bhandara and another at Armori in
Gadchiroli. These CFC will help in increasing export of rice from Vidarbha and
also help in increasing the earning of the farmers. Dal Mill CFC set up in
Nagpur has boosted export of dal processed in CFC. MSME-DI, Nagpur has planned
to set up pack houses for orange grover’s in Nagpur and nearby to increase
export of orange from Nagpur. Number of other programme is planned by MSME-DI,
Nagpur to boost the income of farmers in Vidarbha.
Golden Rice awaiting food safety
clearance: BRRI
daily industryon: November 27, 2019In: Bangladesh, CorporateNo Comments
Staff Correspondent: Genetically modified (GM)
Golden Rice is now waiting for food safety clearance certificate to be released
as a new variety as the vitamin-A fortified rice will fight childhood blindness
that affects country’s 21 percent children.
“The vitamin A enriched rice variety, popularly known as Golden Rice, would finally require the environment ministry’s permission … and then maximum two years will be needed for it to be released as the new GM rice variety for the growers,” said Dr Partho Sarothi Biswas, Principal Scientific Officer (PSO) of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).
After final approval within this year, the national seed certification agency under the Ministry of Agriculture will take steps to release the variety after two season trial production at the field level by some assigned growers at some particular locations, said the BRRI scientist.
In November 2017, BRRI submitted the proposal to the Bangladeshi Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The Bio safety Core Committee, a group of eight officials and scientists, has since been reviewing environmental risks, such as the plant’s potential to become a weed, as well as food safety, said the BRRI scientist.
Bangladesh could be the first to cultivate Golden Rice, genetically altered to fight blindness ever since the variety first made headlines nearly 20 years ago, according to a recent article published by Science (Journal), an academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in its recent publication.
“The vitamin A enriched rice variety, popularly known as Golden Rice, would finally require the environment ministry’s permission … and then maximum two years will be needed for it to be released as the new GM rice variety for the growers,” said Dr Partho Sarothi Biswas, Principal Scientific Officer (PSO) of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).
After final approval within this year, the national seed certification agency under the Ministry of Agriculture will take steps to release the variety after two season trial production at the field level by some assigned growers at some particular locations, said the BRRI scientist.
In November 2017, BRRI submitted the proposal to the Bangladeshi Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The Bio safety Core Committee, a group of eight officials and scientists, has since been reviewing environmental risks, such as the plant’s potential to become a weed, as well as food safety, said the BRRI scientist.
Bangladesh could be the first to cultivate Golden Rice, genetically altered to fight blindness ever since the variety first made headlines nearly 20 years ago, according to a recent article published by Science (Journal), an academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in its recent publication.
After the environment ministry signs off, Golden Rice must be
registered by a seed certification agency within the Ministry of Agriculture,
which requires field trials in multiple places to test for seed quality.
If all goes smoothly, farmers might have Golden Rice seed to
plant by 2021, said the Science Magazine, one of the world’s topmost weekly
circulated journals with an estimated readership is 5,70,400.
Now, Bangladesh appears about to become the first country to
approve Golden Rice for planting. “It is really important to say we got this
over the line,” says Johnathan Napier, a plant biotechnologist at Rothamsted
Research in Harpenden, U.K., who was not involved in the crop’s development.
He says approval would show that agricultural biotechnology can
be successfully developed by publicly funded research centers for the public
good. Still, environmental groups haven’t dropped their opposition-and the
first harvest isn’t expected until at least 2021. And more research will be
needed to show the extent of real-world benefits from Golden Rice.
But for now, all eyes are on dhan 29. “It would be great to see
it approved,” Napier says. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Proponents are optimistic, however. The scientific evidence is
strong, the committee previously approved another transgenic crop, and Golden
Rice enjoys high-level political support in Bangladesh, they say. “We are
hopeful that Golden Rice might get the green light soon,” says Arif Hossain,
director of Farming Future Bangladesh in Dhaka, which is funded by the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation to inform policymakers and others about
biotechnology.
How popular it will be is uncertain. Farmers in Bangladesh
quickly adopted an eggplant variety engineered to kill certain insect pests
after its 2014 introduction, but that crop offered an immediate benefit:
Farmers need fewer insecticides. Golden Rice’s health benefits will emerge more
slowly, says agricultural economist Justus Wesseler of Wageningen University
& Research in the Netherlands, so adoption may be slower as well. The
government may need to promote Golden Rice and, Hossain says, even subsidize
farmers to grow it.
Consumer acceptance may be another challenge, given the golden
hue, says Sherry Tanumihardjo, who studies vitamin A and global health at the
University of Wisconsin in Madison. “People have a difficult time changing the
color of food they eat,” and many people in Bangladesh prefer to eat white
rice.
On the other hand, cooked Golden Rice resembles khichuri, a
popular dish of rice and lentils cooked with turmeric, which may increase its
appeal. With Gates Foundation support, IRRI and BRRI are developing a strategy
for directing farmers’ harvest to rural regions and cities with high poverty
and malnutrition rates.
Golden Rice was developed in the late 1990s by German plant
scientists Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer to combat vitamin A deficiency, the
leading cause of childhood blindness.
Low levels of vitamin A also contribute to deaths from
infectious diseases such as measles. Spinach, sweet potato, and other
vegetables supply ample amounts of the vitamin, but in some countries,
particularly those where rice is a major part of the diet, vitamin A deficiency
is still widespread; in Bangladesh it affects about 21% of children.
Over the past 2 years, regulators in the United States, Canada,
New Zealand, and Australia approved Golden Rice for consumption. There are no
plans to grow the crop in these countries, but approval will prevent problems
if Golden Rice somehow accidentally turns up in food supplies, the journal said.
For Haryana’s
farmers, MSP is only an illusion
Rajalakshmi Nirmal BL Research
Bureau | Updated on November 28, 2019 Published
on November 28, 2019
At Haryana’s Taraori mandi where paddy is weighed on manual
scales and packed
Commission
agents, who procure paddy, pay less than the MSP. There is no moisture testing
or correct weighment. Is there a nexus all round?
It is widely perceived that MSP
operations in Haryana are quite effective and farmers there are a happy lot.
But the reality is quite different. In the last paddy season, many farmers in
Karnal’s Taraori, the largest grain mandi in Haryana, got only ₹1,750/quintal against the Minimum
Support Price of ₹1,815/quintal.
BusinessLine’s investigation into the issue revealed a few shocking
facts. One, across mandis in Karnal (indeed, entire Haryana), the FCI does not
procure directly from farmers but through commission agents. Two, the
commission agents, arhatiyas, usually do
not give a proper bill to farmers; they give only a kachi
parchi. Three, there is no moisture-testing of the paddy.
Farmers get
lower than MSP
Also, there is no ‘open-bidding’
for basmati (where there is no government procurement and private millers buy
from farmers) in any mandi, including Taraori. Interestingly, Taraori is one of
585 eNAM mandis that promise pricing transparency. For Kharif 2019, the
Centre-set MSP for paddy is ₹1,815/quintal. But farmers of Taraori whom BusinessLine spoke
to received ₹1,730-1,750, and some times even
less.
In Haryana, paddy procurement
happens via State agencies, including the Food and Civil Supplies Department,
Hafed, Haryana Agro Industries, Haryana Warehousing Corporation; none of them
does it directly, but through the commission agents. The little the FCI
procures is also through commission agents.
“The Arhatiya says
moisture is higher than the desired level, and that is why he is paying a lower
price. But when I ask him how much it is, he doesn’t have an answer. He just
says take it or leave it…”, laments a farmer. The Taraori mandi does have
moisture meters, but are used only when some farmers sell basmati rice through
the eNAM platform. Not, as a rule. So, it is only by touch and feel or by
biting the grain do commission agents set the price for a farmer’s paddy.
Nor are there electronic weighing
scales. “We see the weight only at the arhatiya’s shop where there is
a traditional weighing scale. We know this scale is not precise... we lose 1-2
kg on every bag, but we don’t have an option,” says another farmer.
Not many farmers can raise their
voice as they take an advance from the agents against the crop.
Sources tell BusinessLine that
commission agents pay farmers less than the MSP, but they take the full price
from the procurement agencies.
No open
bidding
There is no open bidding in
Taraori for basmati rice. Krishan Sharma from Nadana village, Karnal, who is a
farmer and also a teacher at the government school, says: “Once I leave my
paddy at the shop of the arhatiya, I have to go. He contacts
me after a few hours and tells me the rate. There is no information on who
purchases my paddy. If there is an open auction, a farmer can get a better rate
as there will be competition among millers, but in the current system, there is
no room for this…”
Tiny Intel
EMIB Helps Chips ‘Talk’ with Each Other
Most chips in today’s
smartphones, computers and servers are comprised of multiple smaller chips
invisibly sealed inside one rectangular package.
How do these multiple chips —
often including CPU, graphics, memory, IO and more — communicate? An Intel
innovation called EMIB (embedded multi-die interconnect bridge) is a complex
multi-layered sliver of silicon no bigger than a grain of rice. It lets chips
fling enormous quantities of data back and forth among adjoining chips at
blinding speeds: several gigabytes per second.
Today, Intel EMIBs speed the flow
of data inside nearly 1 million laptops and field programmable gate array
devices worldwide. That number will soon soar and include more products as EMIB
technology enters the mainstream. For example, Intel’s Ponte Vecchio processor, a general-purpose GPU the
company unveiled Nov. 17, contains EMIB silicon.
To meet customers’ unique needs,
this innovative technology allows chip architects to cobble together
specialized chips faster than ever. And compared with an older, competing
design — in which chips inside a package sit atop what is essentially a single
electronic baseboard, with each chip plugged into it — tiny, flexible,
cost-effective EMIB silicon offers an 85% increase in bandwidth. That can make
your tech — laptop, server, 5G processor, graphics card— run dramatically
faster. And next-generation EMIB could double or even triple that bandwidth.
Intel’s embedded multi-die interconnect bridge (EMIB)
technology helps multiple chips – CPU, graphics, memory, IO and more —
communicate. EMIB is a complex multi-layered sliver of silicon no bigger than a
grain of Basmati rice that moves large quantities of data among adjoining
chips. (Credit: Walden Kirsch/Intel Corporation)
» Click for full image
» Click for full image
Rice exports
increases 43.76pc in four months
27 November,2019 09:18 am
During the period from July-October, rice worth
$633.739 million was exported.
(APP) – Rice exports from the
country during first four months of current financial year grew by 43.76 per
cent as compared to the exports of the corresponding period of the previous
year.
During the period from
July-October, rice worth $633.739 million was exported as compared to the
exports of $440.828 million of same period of last year, according the data of
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The rice exports during the
period under review, witness significant increase as it went up from 800,078
metric tons in first four months of last financial year to 1,141,334 metric
tons in same period of current financial year.
The exports of basmati rice also
increased by 55.32% as about 279,257 metric tons of basmati rice worth $256.817
million were exported as against the exports of 161,812 metric tons valuing
$165.351 million of same period of last year, it added.
Meanwhile, country earned
$376.922 million by exporting about 862,087 metric tons of others rice, which
stood at 638,266 metric tons valuing $275.477 million in the period under
review.
In first four months of current
financial year, about 54,177 metric tons of fish and fish products valuing
$129.655 million also exported as compared to the exports of 44,513 metric tons
worth $109.776 million of same period of the last year.
The exports of meat and meat
products witnessed 53.57% increase in four months of financial year 2019-20, as
27,554 metric tons of the above mentioned commodities worth $97.885 million
exported which was recorded at 17,566 metric tons valuing $63.722 million in
same period of last year, the data added.
It may be recalled here that food
group exports from the country during first four months of current financial
year increased by 16.21%, where as imports of the food commodities into the
country decreased by 20.34% as compared to the corresponding period of the last
year.
The imports of the food group
came down to $1.583 billion during the period from July-October, 2019-20 from
$1.987 billion of the same period of the last year.
Rice exports to China still under
last year’s quota: CRF
Sok Chan / Khmer Times
China has not yet purchased
milled rice from Cambodia for the period 2019-2020, with the country still
trying to fulfill its quota for the year 2018.
Kao Thach, CEO of Rural Development Bank (RDB), told Khmer
Times that Cofco – China’s largest food processor, manufacturer
and trader – has not placed any orders yet for Cambodian milled rice for the
year 2019. The quota for 2019 is 400,000 tonnes.
“We don’t know whether they will
purchase our rice or not. It seems like they don’t want to buy, so we are
pushing,” he said.
Mr Thach noted that some local
rice exporters are shipping rice to China based on the quota for 2018 – 300,000
tonnes.
“We are afraid that when the
quota for 2018 is complete, we won’t receive new orders. It is difficult to
sell,” Mr Thach said.
China has pledged to purchase
400,000 tonnes of rice from Cambodia this year. The pledge was made in January
during a meeting in Beijing between Prime Minister Hun Sen and Chinese
president Xi Jinping.
From January to October this
year, Cambodia shipped 184,844 tonnes of milled rice to China, according to the
Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export Formality (SOWS-REF).
Exports to China accounted for 40
percent of Cambodia’s total exports of 457,940 tonnes, a 5 percent hike over
the corresponding period last year.
In 2018, the Kingdom was unable
to meet its rice export quota in the Chinese market, shipping only 170,000
tonnes out of the 300,000 allowed.
Lun Yeng, secretary-general of
the Cambodian Rice Association, said that until this month, Cambodia is
shipping rice to China based on the quota of 300,000 tonnes set for 2018. He
said the old quota must be fulfilled before the new quota of 400,000 tonnes for
2019 can begin.
“Now we have almost completed the
old quota of 300,000 tonnes since we had a very small amount left. Next month
we will complete the old quota, and we will continue with the new one,” he
added.
“We already have a quota for
2019, but China has not implemented it yet because first it has to complete the
old quota for 2018,” Mr Yeng added. “We do not have a fix contract with
China, so when they want to purchase, they will discuss the price and request a
quote from us. No price is set in advance,” he added.
“For the new export quota of
400,000 tonnes for 2019, we already signed an initial agreement on November 5
in Shanghai for 125,000 tonnes. This means that for the period 2019-2020 they
will buy at least 125,000 tonnes as per this agreement,” Mr Yeng said.
In principle, the new quota
should be implemented this November, but they start with a lower amount, Mr
Yeng noted.
“Now, China’s Cofco is not
purchasing, so our rice millers are considering whether they should buy more
rice to store in their warehouses or not,” he added.
Mr Yeng said rice millers have
already purchased paddy from farmers and now all warehouses are full because
China has not placed new orders yet.
“If China starts ordering, rice
millers can start purchasing paddy from farmers. They can clear the old stock
and purchase new one,” he added.
According to the figure from SOWS-REF,
the European Union is the second-biggest buyer of Cambodian rice, purchasing a
total of 155,950 tonnes of milled rice from January to October – an increase of
34 percent when compared with the same period last year.
The report showed that 83 companies
exported Cambodian rice to the international market, including Baitang
(Kampuchea) Plc, the biggest rice exporter, who shipped 60,358 tonnes. Amru
Rice (Cambodia), the next biggest exporter, shipped 41,068 tonnes.
Rice Prices
as on :
29-11-2019 12:23:21 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)
|
1353.00
|
-63.21
|
120761.00
|
2412
|
2365
|
-
|
|
Sultanpur(UP)
|
280.00
|
-20
|
5900.00
|
2350
|
2385
|
-1.05
|
|
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
|
80.00
|
14.29
|
4660.00
|
2660
|
2655
|
2.31
|
|
Kasimbazar(WB)
|
75.50
|
4.14
|
1122.50
|
2630
|
2650
|
-7.07
|
|
Azamgarh(UP)
|
70.00
|
16.67
|
3582.50
|
2460
|
2470
|
8.85
|
|
Jorhat(ASM)
|
65.00
|
NC
|
2700.50
|
3400
|
3400
|
6.25
|
|
Sahiyapur(UP)
|
60.00
|
50
|
1621.50
|
2470
|
2470
|
9.53
|
|
Bankura Sadar(WB)
|
42.00
|
-12.5
|
1189.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-3.85
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
40.00
|
100
|
3540.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
NC
|
|
Beldanga(WB)
|
40.00
|
-11.11
|
2195.00
|
2650
|
2700
|
6.00
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
32.50
|
-15.14
|
1309.90
|
2365
|
2370
|
8.49
|
|
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
|
26.00
|
8.33
|
2127.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
NC
|
|
Mohamadabad(UP)
|
25.00
|
150
|
323.00
|
2715
|
2710
|
-
|
|
Wansi(UP)
|
20.00
|
NC
|
1058.00
|
2110
|
2110
|
NC
|
|
Naanpara(UP)
|
18.40
|
-28.12
|
1003.80
|
2230
|
2230
|
37.23
|
|
Jayas(UP)
|
16.00
|
-50.16
|
1256.00
|
1950
|
1950
|
0.78
|
|
Badayoun(UP)
|
11.00
|
-26.67
|
840.50
|
2600
|
2590
|
14.54
|
|
Panchpedwa(UP)
|
10.80
|
-1.82
|
453.50
|
1990
|
1990
|
-7.44
|
|
Sehjanwa(UP)
|
8.00
|
60
|
322.00
|
2430
|
2440
|
12.50
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
7.80
|
36.84
|
487.40
|
3100
|
3100
|
6.16
|
|
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB)
|
7.00
|
16.67
|
531.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
-1.89
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
6.50
|
-13.33
|
389.50
|
2450
|
2420
|
8.17
|
|
Tamkuhi Road(UP)
|
6.50
|
18.18
|
670.40
|
2250
|
2250
|
4.65
|
|
Jhansi(UP)
|
6.00
|
-14.29
|
171.10
|
2290
|
2285
|
0.88
|
|
Kasganj(UP)
|
6.00
|
-25
|
302.00
|
2580
|
2570
|
1.98
|
|
Tundla(UP)
|
5.00
|
11.11
|
258.70
|
2575
|
1700
|
2.39
|
|
Khatra(WB)
|
3.00
|
36.36
|
597.60
|
2650
|
2650
|
NC
|
|
Anandnagar(UP)
|
2.00
|
-9.09
|
248.80
|
2485
|
2460
|
5.74
|
|
Gadaura(UP)
|
1.50
|
-25
|
606.70
|
2300
|
2300
|
15.00
|
|
Ujhani(UP)
|
1.50
|
-6.25
|
32.40
|
2530
|
2520
|
11.45
|
|
Nandyal(AP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
56.00
|
4250
|
4250
|
-
|
|
Jambusar(Kaavi)(Guj)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
113.00
|
3200
|
3300
|
18.52
|
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
126.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
-16.00
|
|
Murud(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
127.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
5.00
|
|
Achnera(UP)
|
0.60
|
-14.29
|
40.50
|
2560
|
2540
|
0.39
|
Published on November 29, 2019
Pakistan to
hold Trade Conference in Nairobi in January next year
By Mati
November 28, 2019
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Prime Minister’s
Adviser on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razaq Dawood has said that under
the ambit of the “Look Africa Policy Initiative”, the Ministry of Commerce has
planned to hold a Trade Conference in Nairobi on January 30-31 next year which
will bring stakeholders from both sides to explore trade enhancement
opportunities.
While addressing the Envoys’
Conference titled Engage Africa in Islamabad on Thursday, Abdul Razaq Dawood
said that the “Look Africa Policy Initiative” has the potential to double
Pakistan’s trade volume with Africa in the next five years which currently
stands at $4.28 billion.
The adviser said that under the
initiative, the Ministry of Commerce is opening up six new commercial sections
in Africa which include Algeria Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sudan and Tanzania.
Razaq Dawood said that reaping
the benefits of Belt Road Initiative (BRI), Pakistan has the potential to
export rice, engineering foods, electrical appliances, pharmaceuticals, sports
goods, surgical instruments, cutlery and furniture to Africa.
In his address at the Envoy’s
Conference, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed the commitment
to develop a strong relationship with the African Countries.
The foreign minister said that
the Foreign Office will fully facilitate and cooperate with the Commerce
Ministry to achieve this objective
Coordination
needed to develop agenda of agri research: PARC
By admin
November 29, 2019
Staff Reporter
Islamabad
There is dire need of greater research coordination among the
federal & provincial research partners and academic institutions to avoid
duplication, overlapping and to develop a concrete agenda of agriculture
research at national level.
This was stated by the 11th meeting of IPARCC was held at PARC HQs. Dr. M. Azeem Khan, Chairman PARC presided over the meeting. Dr. Shahid Hameed, Director (Coordination) PARC, welcomed the distinguished members of the meeting.
Chairman PARC apprised the house that PARC, has a broad mandate to coordinate research among federal, provincial and higher education agencies on one side and with international agencies (CGIAR) on another. PARC operates 12 satellite institutes across the country.
He briefed the house regarding the new initiatives in agriculture and described that present government has launched mega projects with worth of Rs. 310 Billion focused on wheat, rice & sugarcane inclusive enhancing command area of small and mini dams in barani areas, water conservation in barani areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These initiatives will play key role in promoting agriculture, economic development, job growth, infrastructure improvements, technological innovation, and quality of life in rural area of Pakistan.
He further elaborated that on overcoming the emerging issues, challenges and realizing the opportunities for prosperity in rural area required action on multiple fronts, including promoting economic development, advancing Innovation and Technology, ensuring a well trained and productive work force and improving the quality of life in rural communities.
He said that the success depends, in large part on promoting two key drivers of long term growth and prosperity; broad-based productivity growth in the rural economy and connectivity of rural people to each other, to urban areas and to rest of the world.
This was stated by the 11th meeting of IPARCC was held at PARC HQs. Dr. M. Azeem Khan, Chairman PARC presided over the meeting. Dr. Shahid Hameed, Director (Coordination) PARC, welcomed the distinguished members of the meeting.
Chairman PARC apprised the house that PARC, has a broad mandate to coordinate research among federal, provincial and higher education agencies on one side and with international agencies (CGIAR) on another. PARC operates 12 satellite institutes across the country.
He briefed the house regarding the new initiatives in agriculture and described that present government has launched mega projects with worth of Rs. 310 Billion focused on wheat, rice & sugarcane inclusive enhancing command area of small and mini dams in barani areas, water conservation in barani areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These initiatives will play key role in promoting agriculture, economic development, job growth, infrastructure improvements, technological innovation, and quality of life in rural area of Pakistan.
He further elaborated that on overcoming the emerging issues, challenges and realizing the opportunities for prosperity in rural area required action on multiple fronts, including promoting economic development, advancing Innovation and Technology, ensuring a well trained and productive work force and improving the quality of life in rural communities.
He said that the success depends, in large part on promoting two key drivers of long term growth and prosperity; broad-based productivity growth in the rural economy and connectivity of rural people to each other, to urban areas and to rest of the world.
Amid 'air apocalypse', mask-clad Lahore looks for answers
NOVEMBER 29, 2019 / 2:08
LAHORE, Pakistan (Thomson Reuters
Foundation) - When black smoke from burning rice stubble in nearby India swept
into Lahore - one of Pakistan’s largest and wealthiest cities - earlier this
month, outraged residents declared an “air apocalypse” and the provincial
government shut down schools.
FILE PHOTO: Men wearing protective
masks wait for a bus in Lahore, Pakistan November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza
But even the city’s own thick
autumn smog - driven in large part by emissions from polluting vehicles - is
becoming a significant threat to health and basic rights, residents and human
rights groups warn.
“Air pollution ... claims tens of
thousands of lives, devastates the health of millions, and denies other rights,
like the right to education, when children cannot go to school,” said Omar
Waraich, South Asia campaigns director for Amnesty International.
“This is a human rights crisis,”
he said.
This autumn, Lahore’s worsening
air quality has led it to overtaking New Delhi on some days as the most
polluted city in the world, according to the community-led Pakistan Air Quality
Initiative.
“Both Lahore and Delhi now have a
similar number of days of very unhealthy or hazardous air pollution” said Abid
Omar, a founder of the non-profit initiative.
Since October, the city of more
than 10 million has been engulfed most days by a smoky, chemical haze that is
relieved only briefly when it rains.
Warmer air layers above the
cooler air at ground level act like a lid that keeps the pollutants close to
the ground, according to Pakistan’s Meteorological Department.
Across the city, many residents
now wear disposable anti-pollution masks - but they are a poor fit for the
faces of vulnerable young children, residents say.
Air quality is so bad that it
exceeds even the worst ratings of the World Health Organization, said Attiya
Noon, an air quality activist in Lahore and the mother of three young children.
Pollution “is now beyond the
index” - which means serious consequences for the city’s health, said Noon, a
member of the Punjab government’s newly set up Smog Committee.
The committee was hurriedly
established earlier this month when air quality levels became so hazardous in
Punjab’s capital that schools had to be shut down three times, and social media
channels erupted with outrage.
The smog group now aims to find
both immediate and longer-term ways to reduce pollution.
Mahbina Waheed, a Lahore
entrepreneur and another member of the committee, said the creation of the
group was one sign the provincial government was taking the problem seriously.
“With the last government we felt
we were helpless and were spiraling into this abyss with all the focus on
building new roads. Now with this new government we can raise our voices and
they are heard,” she said.
MORE MONITORING
One of the quick fixes the
activists are proposing is to require students to ride buses to school, rather
than arriving in many more individual cars.
Countries such as China and Iran
have used school closures as a way of curbing smog emergencies, Noon noted.
Malik Amin Aslam, an advisor to
the country’s prime minister on climate change, attended early meetings of the
Smog Committee and said Lahore needed “more high-quality air monitoring
stations and actionable data.”
New Delhi, he said, has 37
official air monitoring stations, while Lahore has just four.
The World Bank plans to provide
30 new monitors in Pakistan, including 10 in Lahore, with the aim of having
them in place within six months, he said.
The biggest driver of the city’s
pollution, Aslam said, is vehicles, which contribute 43% of the smog. Burning
of crop stubble, steel manufacturing furnaces and brick kilns are other major
sources, he said.
Omar, of the Pakistan Air Quality
Initiative, said mandating the use of cleaner fuels should be a top priority.
“While closing schools or low
weekend traffic have a marginal impact, our transportation and industrial
sectors never sleep,” he said.
Aslam said he would take up fuel
standards with the country’s oil ministry and urge them to import higher
quality diesel.
He said he also planned to
introduce vehicle inspection systems in Punjab province in coming months to
keep a check on polluting vehicles.
As well, Pakistan’s cabinet
recently passed a new electric transport policy, which aims to shift 30% of
vehicles on the country’s roads to electric power by 2030.
Aslam said the World Bank also
plans to provide $55 million to help Punjab steel and brick plants shift to
cleaner technologies, and to help farmers find alternatives to burning crop
residues by next year.
‘UNLIVEABLE’ CITIES?
Effectively cutting emissions,
however, will also require better city planning, said Mome Saleem, executive
director of the new Islamabad-based Institute of Urbanism.
The most densely populated and
least well-planned cities are the ones with the most serious smog problems, she
said - and as people flock to already congested cities Pakistan will see more
of air pollution threats.
“We need a proper urban policy or
else our cities will become unliveable,” she warned.
Waraich, of Amnesty
International, said governments in too many smog-hit South Asian cities “seem
content to ride out of the months of the smog season” rather than “enforce
clear limits on pollutants and punish those responsible for poisoning the air”.
“The failure to take these steps
is a human rights violation,” he said.
Waheed, the Smog Committee
member, said she had installed an air quality monitor in her home, connected to
the Air Visual mobile phone app.
The app gives residents an
indication of air quality around the city - and has helped back the campaign to
clean up Lahore’s air.
“Clean air was something we took
for granted and now it has become the most cherished commodity,” she said.
Reporting by Rina Saeed Khan ;
editing by Laurie Goering : Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the
charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate
change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights.
Visit news.trust.org/climate
Pakistan Has Worst Water Management :says Expert
Pakistan is the worst at its water
governance and management
Karachi (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point
News / Online - 28th November, 2019) Pakistan is
the worst at its water governance
and management. Capacities of institutions dealing with water are
exhausted and need to be enhanced".This was said by Sardar Muhammad Tariq,
a water expert, CEO Pakistan Water Partnership
(PWP), former member (water) WAPDA and
former regional chair GWP - South Asia while
addressing an informative session on "Water Security
in Pakistan: Present Situation &
The Way Forward" organized by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper
Editors (CPNE) Editors Club here at its secretariat."We developed
national water policy after 72 years
but this also needs to be effective.
Water saving and water conservation
has to be strictly followed in all sub-sectors
as water use efficiency is at its
poorest" he added .Sardar Muhammad Tariq told that Pakistan is
one of the world's most arid countries with
over 75 percent of it receives rainfall less than 250 mm (millimeter) annually
and 20 percent of it less than 125 mm.
"The population and economy
are heavily dependent on an annual influx into Indus River System of about 191
BCM (billion cubic meters) of water mostly
derived from snow and
glacier melt. Since 2002, 12 BCM of water has
disappeared, while surplus water is
only available during 30 days and for remaining 335 days, water availability
is less than demand," he added.He said that Pakistan uses
more than 90 percent of water in agriculture sector
against world average of 67 percent,
while developed countries use even less than 50 percent.
As per data India has reduced its
use from 93 percent to 87
percent, China from 87
to 65 percent, whereas Pakistan is
using 90 percent of water in
this sector and irony is that no effort is being taken to reduce it.
Our three major crops rice, cotton and wheat use
90 percent of agriculture water.
Data shows USA is using 42 percent, Germany 20
percent and France 15 percent of water in agriculture sector,"
Sardar Muhammad Tariq told.He lamented that Pakistan is
also worst on productivity per unit of water.
"Productivity per unit
of water in Canada is
8.72 kg/one cubic meter, USA 1.56
kg, China 0.82 kg, India 0.39
kg as compared to 0.13 kg per one cubic meter of Pakistan.
Productivity per unit of land is also the least 2.24 T/ha among France 7.60
T/ha, Egypt 5.99
T/ha, Saudi Arabia 5.36 T/ha
and India Punjab 4.80
T/ha.
Gross Developed Product (GDP)
contribution per one cubic meter water is
8.
60 US$ average in the world whereas
it is 30-40 US$ in developed countries, 10 US$ in Malaysia and
0.34 US$ in developing countries.
Per capita storage in Pakistan is
52 cubic meters per person as compared to 6150 in USA and
5000 cubic meter in Australia.
It is very alarming situation for Pakistan.
No country can develop without two resources water and
energy.
For arid country like Pakistan,
storages are vitally important for water security, flood mitigation
and drought proofing," he
shared."Carry over capacity (one season to another; one year to another)
of Pakistan is less than 30 days
as compared to 120 to 220 days of India,
500 days (Orange River) of South Africa, 600 days of Australia,
900 days (Colorado) of America and 1,000 days (Niles) of Egypt (Aswan).
World countries secure 90 percent
of drain water but unfortunately we
have made no effort in this regard", he added.He further said that water has
strong linkages with food security, energy
security, health and wellbeing, development and employment -
industries - exports,
foreign exchange earnings -
environment & biodiversity, forestry - life and national security.
"On the other hand, water scarcity results in
impediments to development like unemployment, hunger, water-borne diseases,
environmental degradation, water thefts, water refugees, water terrorism
and water wars," he
warned.Discussing way forward, Sardar Muhammad Tariq stressed that Pakistan has
to improve its water governance
and management, enhance capacities of institutions dealing with water,
effective national water policy,
follow water saving and water conservation
strictly in all sub-sectors,
introduce water use efficiency in
the agriculture sector with
enunciated objective of reducing water by
20 percent in it, introduce dry and salt tolerant
variety of crops."Pakistan should
introduce principles of three R's i.e.
reduce, recycle, reuse. Rain water harvesting
and facilities for ground water recharge
have to be introduced. Fresh water bodies
and ground water have to be
protected from pollution - principle of
user pays and polluter pays ore has to be adopted.
Cheap solar technologies have to be
introduced for desalinization of saline water.
Storages need to be added to mitigate floods and droughts and to combat climate
change impacts. Ground water governance
has to be improved to balance extraction against
recharge," he suggested.
Plating
Memory
When I moved from country to country, I
kept friends and relatives close through recipes, each morsel an ode to
remembrance.
Credit...Lucy Jones
By Soniah Kamal
· Nov. 29, 2019, 5:00 a.m. ET
I grew up an immigrant child, spending my
formative years in three countries, England, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. In a
time before keeping in touch was an internet call away, I’d have to say goodbye
forever to bedrooms, to classrooms, to friends. I learned to rely for
continuity on two constant companions: books and food.
On nights when I’d cry for the homes we’d left
behind, my mother consoled me by preparing meals I’d eaten with friends —
chicken tikkas dyed so red they rivaled the fiery lipsticks of girls playing
with makeup, drumsticks coated with grains of pepper so large they shone like
stick-on black diamonds on homemade tiaras — and so while those friends weren’t
there, they were there.
When I moved from Pakistan to America for
college and got married straight after graduation, I carried my mother’s
recipes with me. Except they were more than recipes, they were memories forever
bursting on my tongue. Now friends from back home graced my table though
cardamom-infused chais and cheese-toast, each morsel an ode to remembrance.
When my
grandfather died and I was unable to fly to Pakistan for his funeral, I
conjured him up by eating my keema-chawal the way he’d eat his, by dousing the red
minced meat spiced with hot peppers and white rice in warm whole milk. When I
missed my father, I made a masoor ki dal and, as he did, I finger-shredded
chapatis into the yellow lentils garnished with deep fried onions. As for my
mother, she is always the Kashmiri staple of batha-haak, in her case mustard
greens glistening atop a hill of steaming white rice. When I moved to a suburb
of Atlanta, the mustard greens were replaced by collard greens, which is how my
mother’s Kashmiri cooking became Southern or a Southern staple became Kashmiri.
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“Food is the connective tissue between space,
time, cultures and death,” my mother said.
She would know. As a child, her parents fled
India for Pakistan in the 1947 Partition, and, once she got married, she’d move
again from Pakistan to England and from there to Saudi Arabia. She was an
immigrant hungry for connections who gradually settled upon cooking as her way
out of homesickness. Even though my mother is an anesthesiologist and I’ve seen
her plenty of times in her scrubs, for me she is also the person in our kitchen
preparing relationships from scratch over and over again.
When my husband, our young children and I moved
to the Atlanta suburbs in 2005, we didn’t know anyone. In between feeding our
children their beloved store-bought dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, we feasted
on my memories of tables full of laughter. While I did not cook back home in
Pakistan, my American kitchens taught me to cook and I wanted to nourish my
kids with the cuisine I’d grown up on, as well as the new foods they were eating
at school and demanding at home.
“Do not be scared to experiment,” my mother
urged. “Sprinkle the macaroni and cheese with sautéed onions. Serve the tater
tots with date-tamarind chutney. Prepare the batter for the popcorn shrimp with
spicy chickpea flour so it becomes a popcorn shrimp pakora.”
As most immigrants can attest, distance plus a
yearning for home cooking grows a newfound umbilical cord between parent and
the adult child. Daily I called my mother for precise ingredients and
meticulous instructions.
“What do you mean salt to taste?”
“Are you
sure green coriander and ground coriander are not the same thing?”
Editors’ Picks
“Can you repeat the steps all over again?”
Gradually I learned that like my mother, I too
am a whatever-is-in-the-fridge-throw-in-the-pot-kind-of-cook and I too would
eventually learn to cook for a multitude of guests at even a moment’s notice. I
too rely on a sixth sense for spices to know which ingredients will go together
and a certain aroma to know when a dish is done. I am my mother’s daughter:
Some turn to yoga and music to relax; I chop onions, julienne carrots and cube
bell peppers. A kitchen to me is the comfort and care of a mother’s arms.
Two years after moving to Georgia, I had a
miscarriage at 16 weeks. I could not even stand to be in the kitchen. Knives
reminded me of breakage, tomatoes of blood and smells of all the meals my baby
would not eat. Food stopped being about the abundance of past memories and
turned into a reminder of future memories that would never be.
My mother counseled me to prepare rich foods
cooked in ghee to mend my body and drink doodh pati chai, in which tea leaves
are simmered in whole milk, cardamom, cloves and sugar to heal my heart, but
grief had left me incapable of entering the kitchen. Instead, we lived on
delivery pizzas.
A few weeks after the miscarriage, my doorbell
rang one afternoon. It was the mother of my 5-year-old daughter’s best friend.
She hugged me and told me my daughter had told her daughter and she was so
sorry. Through a blur of tears, I took the aluminum dish she handed me. She
instructed me to bake it for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
“Enchiladas,” she said. “I hope you like
chicken.”
I had not yet acquired a taste for Mexican food
and I was not a fan of chicken, but I thanked her. After she left, I told
myself that all I had to do in the kitchen was turn on the oven to 350 degrees.
I put the dish on a rack. I switched on the timer. When the timer pinged, I
placed the dish on the table and held my hands over it. The fragrant steam
warmed my cold fingers. I inhaled the smell of a food I’d never eaten in my
life. I lifted a forkful to my mouth. I chewed and chewed and finally I managed
to swallow. I did not like it and yet I chewed and swallowed and chewed and
swallowed because the fact is it was not enchiladas I was eating.
I was eating the kindness in the thought to
make me, a veritable stranger, a meal. I was eating the effort involved in
shopping for the ingredients. I was eating the money spent. I was eating the
time that had gone into preparing the dish and delivering it into my hands. For
the first time in a long time I was eating maternal care.
I did
not finish the enchiladas. In fact, I made sure to leave a little in the
container and I let it take up as much space as it needed in the fridge for as
long as possible. It would take me years to develop a taste for Mexican food
and a few more years before I’d try a recipe at home. I made enchiladas with
chicken in red sauce and with each bite I thought of the woman whose
kitchen-kindness rescued me from aloneness and brought me back, forkful by
forkful, into the world of the living where people cooked and ate and drank and
made memory.
These days when I make a memory meal, there is
my grandfather in fiery milk and keema, my father in yellow lentils, my mother
in glistening collard greens and among them are enchiladas in red sauce; the
child I lost and the person who found him.
Stakeholders
Seek Collaboration for Realisation of Nigeria’s Agricultural Fortunes
November 29, 2019 4:55 am
Ejiofor Alike
Stakeholders in the agricultural
value chain who gathered in Lagos recently at the 3rd edition of the Daily
Trust Agricultural Conference and Exhibition have called for a systematic
collaboration between agriculture and agriculture finance for the realisation
of what they called the agricultural fortunes of Nigeria.
In a communiqué issued at the end
of the two-day conference organised by Media Trust Limited, the participants
noted that such collaboration should involve deepening interventions like the
Anchor Borrower Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the efforts
led by the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending
(NISRAL).
The theme of the conference was:
‘Repositioning Rice, Sugar and Dairy Production for Optimal Yield’.
The event, which was chaired by a
renowned Chartered Accountant and Co-Chair of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group
(NABG), Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, noted that the rice economy estimated at $5.2
billion, is projected to hit $6.3 billion by 2025.
The communiqué, however,
identified some impediments militating against the realisation of this target.
According to the communiqué, the
combined improved seed production capacity of 100,000 tonnes, could only
satisfy less than eight per cent of national demand.
It also noted lack of enough
extension agents to cover Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) as recommended by the
Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO); challenges in accessing finance; and
low access to irrigation schemes, among others.
The communiqué also stated that
Nigeria has the potential of becoming a net exporter of sugar as consumption in
the country has been on the increase since Independence with an annual average
growth rate of eight per cent.
It however, pointed out that only
about five per cent of the national demand for the commodity is produced
locally, while the balance is imported with a huge foreign exchange on an
annual basis.
“Smuggling of granulated sugar
and faking of local brands, particularly in the North-West Zone, has been a
major menace. In spite of engagements with relevant agencies and measures put
in place to address the issue, smuggling of packaged sugar persists,” the
communiqué added.
On the issue of dairy farming,
the communiqué stated that even though the Nigerian cattle population has been
put at about 20 million heads, domestic milk production is not commensurate
with this large cattle population as only about 2.2million are used for milk
production.
“Nigeria completely relies on
huge import of dairy products to bridge the gap between demand and supply,” it
added.
The participants at the
conference recommended that Nigeria should invest in competitiveness by
bringing knowledge and innovation into the rice value chain; standardising
practices in the sector; and developing protocols for rice farming.
They also urged the federal
government to check the unprecedented dependence on importation of sugar;
Too boost dairy farming, they
recommended that the country should develop resettlement programmes for nomadic
Fulani herdsmen
“Nigeria should invest in
aggregation of milk from clusters in various states and make it available to
the big buyers. Formation of cooperatives should be at two levels, including
producers’ cooperatives and processing cooperatives,” they recommended
Supply
position of rice, LPG reviewed
November 29, 2019 IST
By |
Srinagar, Nov 28: Director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer
Affairs (FCS&CA) Bashir Ahmad Khan, today visited FCI godowns at Lethpora
and Hindustan Petroleum LPG bottling plant Pampore for on spot assessment of
the stock and supply position of essential commodities.
He was accompanied by Joint Director and Deputy Director Supplies
Kashmir.
During the inspection of the FCI Godown at Lethpora, the Director
was informed that 3021 MTs of Rice is available at the Godowns. He directed the
FCI Officers to ensure timely dispatch of food grains so that people do not
face any shortage.
He also visited LPG Bottling plant at Pampore and directed the
company representatives of gas agencies to keep sufficient stocks of LPG
cylinders available for the consumers. He was informed that about 2.5 Lakh
cylinders are available while 1 Lakh more are in transit. He directed HPCL
Plant Manger to ensure smooth supply of stock to all the Districts in time
besides maintaining the stock for at least two months
https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/supply-position-of-rice-lpg-reviewed/
Uganda signs two agreements with China to
boost agriculture, trade
The new agreement with China will foster increased
private sector engagement and investment in the agricultural
sector, ICT integration, and Climate-SmarT Agriculture, among other areas of
focus (PHOTO/Javira Ssebwami)
KAMPALA – President Yoweri Museveni this week discouraged the
growing of rice in swamps saying the practice endangers the environment.
The President made the remarks as he opened the South-South and
Triangular Cooperation Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo. The 3-day
conference has coincided with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – China South-South
Cooperation Programme. The conference is being attended by delegations from 10
countries from Africa and overseas.
The Munyonyo meeting offers an opportunity to celebrate
achievements registered by the program whose crucial role is to improve
nutrition and food security in Africa, showcase the key results and address challenges
as well as define a new approach for the future.
President Museveni pointed out that it was acceptable for water
to be pulled from the swamp for rice growing in the upland areas or apply
irrigation but not growing rice directly in the swamps. He told conference
participants, who included a high powered delegation from China, that Uganda
was the right place to promote cooperation in the agricultural sector as the
weather is very conducive being on high elevation right on the Equator.
“When it comes to agriculture and you come to Uganda you are in
the right place where crops grow easily. Combining latitude and altitude with
water, Uganda is an ideal place for crops,” he said.
The President asked delegates to promote and propagate to the
whole world the growth of indigenous crops that are more nutritious like millet
that has all the three ingredients of proteins, carbohydrates, and iron. He
also cited other areas with the potential for cooperation such as the fisheries
industry, livestock, and poultry. He, however, underscored the need for value
addition to products for the longevity of their life and removal of impurities.
Solving Market challenges
Mr. Museveni informed the conference that the challenge of
markets is being resolved through economic integration. He cited the formation
of the Continental Free Trade Area on the African continent as a measure geared
addressing the challenge of the market. He called for the diversification of
some products that appear to be in a glut on the markets like sugar that could
be used in industries for the production of beverages and the making of syrups
in pharmaceuticals.
Museveni praises Chinese
The President used the occasion to praise the Government of
China for the support to African countries right from the days of
anti-colonialism up to now in the development of the continent in several
sectors including infrastructure.
MR. Museveni witnessed the signing of a Tripartite
Agreement between Uganda,FAO and China (PHOTO/PPU)
“We are very grateful to the Government of China for those
friendly actions,” he said.
The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon.
Vincent Ssempijja thanked the Government of China for implementing the
South-South Cooperation program in Uganda.
“Through the programme, Uganda has benefited from those projects
that include, among others, agronomy, improved rice, and fish culture,” he
said.
The Director-General of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center
of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in China who is the leader of
the Chinese Government High Powered delegation, Mr. Yi Yang, thanked President
Museveni for supporting Uganda-China Cooperation. He also commended FAO for
helping SSC adding that the project aims at helping African countries,
especially Uganda, to improve its agricultural practices for improved nutrition
and food security.
The Director and Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on
South-South Cooperation, Mr. Jorge Chediek, praised President Museveni for his
good leadership that, he said, has been recognized by being selected to host an
international conference in April 2020 of the group of 77 countries including
China. Delegations from over 135 countries worldwide are expected to attend the
conference.
Signing pacts
Later, President Museveni witnessed the signing of 2 Memoranda
of Understanding: the first being for the Tripartite Agreement for the Third
Phase of the FAO-China SSC Programme in Uganda whose signatories included the
Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon. Vincent Ssempijja
signed on behalf of the Government of Uganda and Mr. Yi Yang, the Director of
Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Affairs who signed on behalf of the Government of China. Dr. Abebe Haile
Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General of the Regional Office for Africa
signed the MOU on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization.
The second MOU on Agricultural Cooperation between Sichuan
Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and the Uganda
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. Mr. Yang Xiu Bin,
member of the Chinese delegation signed on behalf of his Government and
Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Permanent Secretary, Mr. Pius Wakabi
Kasajja, on behalf of the Government of Uganda
Subsidies
spark cheaper energy
Thou Vireak | Publication date 28 November 2019 |
22:41 ICT
Cambodia plans to spend more than $100 million on subsidies by
2021 to reduce electricity tariffs in a move to spur economic growth and
relieve the financial burden on businesses and households. Heng Chivoan
Cambodia plans to spend more than
$100 million on subsidies by 2021 to reduce electricity tariffs in a move to
spur economic growth and relieve the financial burden on businesses and
households, a senior government official said.
Electricite du Cambodge (EdC)
director-general Keo Ratanak told The Post that the government had already
spent some $95 million to reduce tariffs this year.
According to Ratanak, EdC drew in
some $50 million in revenue last year through the sale of electricity.
“This year’s earnings could be
even higher because of the growing number of consumers so the government will
also have to increase their subsidies,” he said.
The tariff subsidies will be
introduced at the start of the General Assembly’s next legislature.
Currently, Cambodian households
that consume less than 50kW per month pay on average 610 riel per kilowatt-hour
(kWh), while commercial consumers pay between 600 and 800 riel per kWh on
average.
Rice Federation of Cambodia
secretary-general Lon Yeng told The Post that EdC currently sold electricity to
the rice processing industry for 600 riel per kWh.
“Electricite du Cambodge may
reduce the rate to 592 riel next year, but businessmen want it to be lowered
even further to increase manufacturing productivity for the export market,”
Yeng said.
He said he feared Cambodia’s
electricity supply was not enough to meet the rice industry’s demands, adding
that rice mill owners often complained of power cuts during this year’s dry
season.
“We have a lot of problems
regarding the lack of energy being supplied. It’s not good. Rice mills need
constant power to dry grain during the harvest season,” Yeng said.
The Kingdom consumed a total of
2,650MW of electricity in 2018, an increase of around 15 per cent compared to
2017, according to official figures from the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Hearing the farmers plea
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:10 AM November 29,
2019
If we do not
hear the farmers’, not only will they be in peril. Our poverty will
increase, food security threatened, and our peace and order disrupted. At the
recent November 25-26 National Rice Industry Stakeholders Conference in Iloilo
organized by the Department of Agriculture, a farmer leader in his twenties
said: “Kung hindi ayusin ang kapatagan, ang mga tao ay pupunta sa kagubatan (If
the lowlands are not fixed, the people will go to the mountains).”
He was
referring to rice farmers losing more than half their income during the past
year because of the newly imposed 35 percent import rice tariff. This forced
the domestic price of palay to decrease in order to compete with the very cheap
rice imports.
How bad is
the rice farmer’s situation? Using the average of 4 tons a hectare, the
production cost of P12 a kilo (though the official DA presentation at the
conference showed it is now P12.45), and the officially recorded dry palay
price of P15.43, the net income was P12,040. This is only 40 percent of
last year’s P31,760. This is using Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
information as of the fourth week of October. Since PSA data was not updated
for November, we instead used DA data updated as of Nov. 25.
The average
farmgate price for the month of November was recorded at even lower than last
month at P4.40, with income correspondingly decreasing to only P9,600 a
hectare.
The critical
question that few have raised and no one has officially answered is : “At
what price can the farmer’s produce compete with imported rice?”
A few weeks
earlier, I showed that two data sources (are from the private sector and the
other from DA) independently and unofficially estimated that price to be
P12.00. Two days ago, we collected the newest DA data available. Assuming
the landed cost of imported rice at P16.00, a 35 percent tariff of P5.60, and
the cost to the warehouse at P5.20, the equivalent total cost at wholesale
would be P26.80. Though the wholesale to palay price ratio has deteriorated
from 2.2:1 in 2018, 2.4:1 in 2019, we will use the conservative 2018 ratio. The
resulting palay price (P26.80 /2.2) is P12.18, similar the P12.00 price
estimated a few weeks ago. At the P12 production cost per kilo, the average
farmer cannot survive. However, the more productive farmers can, but they are
in the minority.
At the Rice
Conference, the farmers were told to wait one or two more years to give the 35
percent tariff a chance.
The farmers’
plea, heard loud and clear with many expressing much anger, was that this was
unfair and cruel. The government imposed the 35 percent tariff. But
following the law using Republic Act 8800, the government can remedy this
mistake by using the safeguard of increasing the tariff to the correct level.
They can
then implement an adjustment plan, which other countries and our own industry
sectors do, to decrease this rate to 35 percent or lower. But this should be
accompanied with the competitive enhancement measures and government support
services that our government has not been giving our agriculture for the last
22 years, when we fist committed to rice liberalization. The farmers’ plea has
been ignored during all this time.
Their plea,
and their justifiable demand, must now be heard and acted upon. Given the very
low P12 per kilo the farmers must sell their palay to compete with the cheap
imports made possible by the 35 percent tariff, many in the recently held
National Rice Industry Stakeholders Conference specified that increasing the 35
percent tariff is a top priority. They ask: “What is the government waiting
for?”
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