Basmati prices
down, Pusa 1121 unavailable
Farmers stock produce, hoping
for hike in rates
Nov 1, 2019,
7:05 AM; last updated: Nov 1, 2019, 11:16 AM (IST)
Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 31
Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 31
With a drop in prices of basmati variety Pusa 1121, farmers
have started stocking their produce. They are hopeful that the prices of the
paddy variety will increase in the near future.
The variety is fetching a price between Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,800
in the Karnal grain market, between Rs 2,400 and Rs 2,700 in the Nigdhu grain
market, between Rs 2,600 and Rs 2,850 in the Taraori grain market and between
Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,850 in the Gharaunda grain market.
The prices are almost the same in almost all grain markets of the
district. During last year, the variety fetched prices between Rs 3,200 and Rs
3,700 in various grain markets of the district.
“I have harvested my produce on around five acres, but will
not bring it to the grain market. I will wait for a week or two as rates will
increase and I will get better prices,” said Raman of Kamalpur Roran village in
the Indri block.
Deep Chand, another farmer, said they were hopeful that prices would
reach the same level as last year, but the produce was fetching low prices this
year, due to which he decided to stock it.
“My produce of Pusa 1121 was procured at Rs 2,500 on
Wednesday so I kept the remaining produce. I will sell it when the prices will
increase,” said Kuldeep, yet another farmer.
The area under paddy cultivation had increased in the
district this year. It was cultivated on 1.72 lakh hectares compared to 1.70
lakh hectares last year. Of the total produce, around 40 per cent was basmati.
Exporters of basmati cited several reasons for the steep fall
in prices. They pointed out the non-availability of a level playing field.
“Exporters are facing a fund crunch with their payments stuck
in Iran for five months. Over 30 per cent of basmati export is affected due to
the crisis, making exporters reluctant to purchase basmati,” said Vijay Setia,
president of the All-India Rice Exporters Association.
“There are different market fee rates in states, disparity in
rate of interest for rice mills and expenses like commission to agents and
labour charges. The markets in Syria are unstable due to the civil war and
local reasons, due to which demand is low,” he said.
He said exporters who had worked a lot on educating farmers
about the judicious use of pesticides for the last four years were feeling
tired.
He said they were demanding regulatory measures to make
Indian rice free of pesticides. He said companies should be made responsible
for excessive residue in crop and the government
should evaluate pesticides used.
Madagascar Price Bulletin, October 2019
REPORT
The Famine Early Warning Systems
Network (FEWS NET) monitors trends in staple food prices in countries
vulnerable to food insecurity. For each FEWS NET country and region, the Price
Bulletin provides a set of charts showing monthly prices in the current
marketing year in selected urban centers and allowing users to compare current
trends with both five-year average prices, indicative of seasonal trends, and
prices in the previous year.
Locally-produced
rice is the most important staple food for households in northern and central
Madagascar. Imported rice is a less-preferred substitute, but often consumed by
poor households because it is cheaper than locally-produced rice and expands more
during the cooking. Dried cassava is the primary staple food in the south,
although it is consumed in other parts of the country during the lean season
when household food stocks are low. Maize is the third most important staple
and the second most consumed cereal in Madagascar. Antananarivo, the capital
city, is the largest urban market and is the major hub for the country’s staple
food trade networks. Antananarivo is a net consumer of staple food and is
supplied by imports arriving through the port of Toamasina and from key surplus
producing areas throughout the country. Antsirabe, the second urban market, is
located in the surplus rice-producing Vakinankaratra region and one of the
markets that supply Antananarivo. Located on the eastern coast, Toamasina is
the main port city of Madagascar where major quantity of imported commodities
comes before traded throughout the country. The southern Madagascar including
Ambovombe, Tsihombe, Amboasary and Fianarantsoa markets are the main providers
of cassava and maize.
Global Price Watch: September 2019 Prices
(October 31, 2019)
REPORT
Key Messages
· In West Africa, as the new
2019/20 marketing year is about to begin, supplies are starting to increase,
especially with early harvests and release of stocks, while demand is
decreasing with substantial outstanding stocks. Month-to-month coarse grain
prices in the Sahel are stable or decreasing, at below-average levels.
Above-average local and imported rice prices, however, persist in most coastal
countries. Disrupted trade activities and atypical market trends continue in
insecurity-stricken Greater Lake Chad basin, Tibesti region, and Liptako-Gourma
region. Nigeria’s land border closure has impeded trade and affected prices for
imported products.
· In East Africa, maize and sorghum
prices increased in many areas of surplus-producing Uganda and Tanzania due to
strong domestic and regional demand. Prices declined in Kenya and South Sudan
with increased availability from local production and relatively lower-priced
imports from regional markets. Sorghum prices remained stable at elevated
levels ahead of harvests in Sudan and Ethiopia. Wheat flour prices were stable
at elevated levels in Yemen. Livestock price trends varied depending on local
rangeland conditions and export demand.
· In Southern Africa, maize
supplies on major markets were at average to below-average levels. Maize grain
prices were stable or increasing and will likely continue increasing in the
October to December period, except in South Africa where prices will likely
remain stable. Maize grain was able to circulate between surplus and deficit
areas, except in Zambia where export restrictions remain in place. There was,
however, an uptick in informal maize grain exports from Zambia into Tanzania
during September as traders were pre-positioning stocks for re-export to Kenya.
· In Central America, maize and
bean market supplies remained sufficient region-wide in September with availability
from the recent Primera harvest, carryover stocks from the Postrera harvest and
international imports. Month on month maize and bean price trends varied in
line with seasonal trends, with maize prices remaining above average and bean
prices below average. In Haiti, market activity has been disrupted by ongoing
civil unrest. Imported rice and maize meal prices were stable. Local maize
prices were stable while local black bean prices increased in September. The
Haitian gourde remained stable against the U.S. dollar but maintains a 30
percent year-on-year depreciation.
· Central Asia sustained adequate
supplies and intraregional trade is expected to fill local wheat deficits
within the region. Local wheat availability in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and
Pakistan is expected to be at average levels. Wheat prices have been increasing
and are slightly above average in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
· International staple food markets
are well supplied. Rice, maize and wheat prices decreased while soybean prices
were stable in September (Figure 2). Global crude oil prices increased sharply
following mid-month attacks on Saudi Aramco processing facilities but had
stabilized by the end of the month while global fertilizer prices decreased in
September.
OCTOBER 28, 2019 / 1:37 PM / 5 DAYS AGO
Philippines to nearly triple local rice purchases, scraps
safeguard duty proposal
3 MIN READ
MANILA, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The Philippine government will
nearly treble rice purchases from local farmers this year, officials said on
Monday, after it rejected a proposal last week to impose safeguard duty.
The National Food Authority (NFA) said it will now buy up to
1.14 million tonnes of unmilled rice from local farmers, who were hurt by the
removal of quantitative import restrictions, compared with the previous target
of 389,000 tonnes.
The state-run agency’s purchases this year have already
exceeded half of the new target, spokeswoman Rebecca Olarte said.
NFA also said it has been authorised by its council to buy
the staple grain at 19 pesos ($0.37) per kilogram, from 17 pesos previously,
and sell them to retailers at 23 pesos per kg, reduced from 25 pesos.
The announcement comes after Economic Planning Secretary
Ernesto Pernia said on Friday that the “foolhardy idea” of imposing safeguard
duty on rice imports, which could push up inflation, has been dropped.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar had pushed for the
safeguard duty to be imposed on top of existing tariffs, as proposed by some
farmers’ groups, to ease the pain of local producers hit by a surge in rice
imports.
The Southeast Asian nation, which is one of the world’s
biggest rice importers and often buys grains from its neighbours Vietnam and
Thailand, lifted a two-decade-old cap on purchases early this year and replaced
it with tariffs.
The policy shift has led to unhampered rice importation by
the private sector, with this year’s purchases seen reaching a record annual
volume of more than 3 million tonnes, way beyond what the country needs to fill
the supply gap.
While that helped bring down retail prices and ease
inflation to the lowest in nearly three years in September, from its peak in
almost a decade last year, farmers suffered as farmgate prices plunged.
The fall in farmgate prices is not a nationwide concern,
however, according to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, saying those in
central and southern Philippines in particular “seem to be holding up”.
$1 = 51 Philippine pesos Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz;
editing by Uttaresh.V
95% of tested baby foods in the US contain toxic metals,
report says
Friday, November
1st 2019
AA
Toxic heavy metals damaging to
your baby's brain development are likely in the baby food you are feeding your
infant, according to a new investigation published Thursday.
CNN — Toxic heavy metals damaging to your baby's brain development are
likely in the baby food you are feeding your infant, according to a new
investigation published Thursday.
Tests of 168 baby foods from major manufacturers in the US found
95% contained lead, 73% contained arsenic, 75% contained cadmium and 32%
contained mercury. One fourth of the foods contained all four heavy metals.
One in five baby foods tested had over 10 times the 1-ppb limit
of lead endorsed by public health advocates, although experts agree that no
level of lead is safe.
The results mimicked a previous study by the Food and Drug Administration
that found one or more of the same metals in 33 of 39 types of baby food
tested.
Foods with the highest risk for neurotoxic harm were rice-based
products, sweet potatoes and fruit juices, the analysis found.
"Even in the trace amounts found in food, these
contaminants can alter the developing brain and erode a child's IQ. The impacts
add up with each meal or snack a baby eats," the report said.
The tests were commissioned by Healthy Babies Bright Futures,
which calls itself an alliance of scientists, nonprofit organizations and
donors trying to reduce exposures to neurotoxic chemicals during the first
months of life.
Rice-based foods
Infant rice cereal, rice dishes and rice-based snacks topped the
list of most toxic foods for babies.
"These popular baby foods are not only high in inorganic
arsenic, the most toxic form of arsenic, but also are nearly always
contaminated with all four toxic metals," the report said.
Prior research has shown that even low levels of arsenic
exposure can impact a baby's neurodevelopment. A 2004 study looked at children in Bangladesh who were exposed to
arsenic in drinking water, and it found that they scored significantly lower on
intellectual tests. A meta-analysis of studies on the topic found that a 50% increase
in arsenic levels in urine would be associated with a 0.4-point decrease in the
IQ of children between the ages of 5 and 15.
Arsenic is a natural element found in soil, water and air, with
the inorganic form being the most toxic. ("Inorganic" is a chemical
term and has nothing to do with the method of farming.)
Because rice is grown in water, it is especially good at
absorbing inorganic arsenic and, according to the Food and Drug Administration,
has the highest concentration of any food.
And in this case, brown and wild rice are the worst offenders,
because the milling process used to create white rice removes the outer layers,
where much of the arsenic concentrates.
And you can't rely on organic either. A 2012 study found that brown rice syrup, a
frequent sweetener in organic foods, was also a source of significant levels of
arsenic. One "organic" milk formula marketed to toddlers had levels
of inorganic arsenic that were six times the levels currently considered safe
by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
In the Healthy Babies analysis, four of seven rice cereals
contained the most toxic form of arsenic in levels higher than the FDA's
proposed action level of 100 parts per billion (ppb).
Action needed
Urgent action is needed by major baby food companies and the
FDA, the report said. While the FDA has been investigating how to reduce
exposure and some levels of arsenic in rice and juice are lower than a decade
ago, exposure is still too high.
"When FDA acts, companies respond. We need the FDA to use
their authority more effectively, and much more quickly, to reduce toxic heavy
metals in baby foods," said study author Jane Houlihan, research director
for Healthy Babies Better Futures, in a statement.
What can parents do
The analysis looked at which baby foods are highest risk, and
offered safer alternatives.
Puff rice snacks and cereals
Rice cereal is the top source of arsenic in a baby's diet
because it is often used as a first food; rice puffs and other rice flour
snacks also contain high levels. Healthy Babies suggested cereals low in
arsenic, such as oatmeal and multigrain cereals, and rice-free packaged snacks.
Pediatrician Tanya
Altmann,
author of "What to Feed Your Baby" echoes the advice of the American Academy of
Pediatrics,
which advises parents to offer a wide variety of first foods including grains
such as oats, barley, wheat and quinoa.
"Best first foods for infants are avocado, pureed veggies,
peanut-butter oatmeal and salmon," Altmann told CNN in a prior interview.
"They all provide important nutrients that babies need, help develop their
taste buds to prefer healthy food and may decrease food allergies."
She believes meats are a better source of iron and zinc for
babies than rice cereal, "so I haven't been recommending rice cereal as a
first food for several years."
If you do choose to cook rice for your toddler, Healthy Babies
recommends cooking rice in extra water and pouring it off before eating. That
will cut arsenic levels by 60%, they say, based on FDA studies.
"For the lowest levels, buy basmati rice grown in
California, India, and Pakistan. White rice has less arsenic than brown
rice," the report said.
Teething foods
Teething biscuits can contain arsenic, lead and cadmium, the
report said. Instead, soothe your baby's pain with frozen bananas, a peeled and
chilled cucumber or a clean, wet washcloth -- but be sure to watch for choking.
Drinks
Juice is often the go-to drink for parents, but it's not a good
option, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. Juices are high in sugar, lack
fiber, and can contribute to tooth decay and later obesity. Apple, pear, grape
and other fruit juices can also contain some lead and arsenic, so frequent use
is a top source of these heavy metals.
Instead, experts say water and milk are best choices, depending
on the age of the child. Babies under six months only need breast milk and
formula. The drinks of choice for a child's second year of life should be water
and whole milk. Between age 2 and 5 parents should move to skim or low-fat milk
and keep pushing water to hydrate their children.
At all ages, juice should be kept to a minimum. One tip: add
water to make the juice last longer and always be sure the drink is 100% juice.
Fruits and veggies
While sweet potatoes and carrots are great sources of vitamin A
and other key nutrients, the report found they are also high in lead and cadmium.
Go ahead and feed your child these veggies, but be sure to add many other
colorful fruits and vegetables to add variety.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company.
All rights reserved.
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Missouri farmers seeking to
reduce runoff in Gulf of Mexico
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A
farmer harvests soybeans in a field on Oct. 13 near Concordia. [Charlie
Riedel/The Associated Press]
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barge unloads fertilizer at Port KC in Kansas City in 2016. The Missouri River
is slowly resuming its role as a transportation corridor for commodities such
as grain, scrap metal and fertilizer. [Orlin Wagner/The Associated Press]
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farmer harvests soybeans in a field on Oct. 13 near Concordia. [Charlie
Riedel/The Associated Press]
A
barge unloads fertilizer at Port KC in Kansas City in 2016. The Missouri River
is slowly resuming its role as a transportation corridor for commodities such
as grain, scrap metal and fertilizer. [Orlin Wagner/The Associated Press]
A
farmer harvests soybeans in a field on Oct. 13 near Concordia. [Charlie
Riedel/The Associated Press]
Next
KANSAS CITY — When corn and
soybean farmer Kenny Reichard stopped plowing some of his fields in northern
Missouri in 1982, other farmers told him that it was a terrible decision that
would lower his yields.
“I’ve been told many times that
no-till doesn’t work,” said Reichard, 62, who farms north of Brunswick in Chariton
County.
More than three decades later,
state programs and agriculture initiatives are trying to encourage farmers to
adopt no-till and other practices that reduce fertilizer runoff that
contributes to the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. While many farmers think
such methods are expensive, they’re critical to cleaning up the Mississippi
River basin.
“We do realize if we put too much
(fertilizer) on, it’s going to go somewhere, and we don’t want to be paying to
kill the fish in the Gulf,” Mitchell Rice, 39, a farmer in Chariton County,
told KCUR-FM.
Urban stormwater, sewage and farm
runoff that flow downstream from states in the Mississippi River basin have
created an area in the Gulf where oxygen is too low to support marine life.
Missouri is among the top contributors of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to
the river basin, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Federal data shows
that the state’s pollution largely comes from fertilizer and manure.
Iowa, Minnesota and a few other
agricultural states have set goals for the reduction of nitrogen and
phosphorus. Missouri has not set targets. The state’s approach to curtailing
farm runoff, which environmentalists say lacks strength, is to use sales tax
revenue to provide farmers financial incentives to improve crop and livestock
practices.
Under the Parks, Soils and Water
Sales Tax program, Missouri farmers can apply for funding that would cover up
to 75% of the cost of conservation projects. The projects could involve
planting cover crops, types of crops that reduce soil erosion, or using
vegetation to build buffer zones that block nutrients from waterways.
Last year, the state spent $40
million generated by the sales tax on projects that helped farmers adopt
conservation practices. The program has received such a high level of interest
from farmers that the state can’t accommodate every funding request, said Chris
Wieberg, water protection program director at the Missouri Department of
Conservation.
“We would double that
conservation if we doubled that money,” Wieberg said.
Some environmentalists in
Missouri want the state set targets on nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. It
isn’t enough to increase acreage of cover crops and fund better agricultural
practices, said Maisah Khan, water policy director at the Missouri Coalition
for the Environment.
“You can check the box and say we
have accomplished x, y and z, but there’s not a lot of data and metrics behind
it,” Khan said. “The strategy isn’t really tracking what we’re achieving with
this plan.”
Khan has also pressed the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources to increase its monitoring of nutrient
pollution. The state’s plan to track nitrogen and phosphorus in lakes received
approval from the Environmental Protection Agency last year. However, the DNR has
no plans to monitor runoff in Missouri’s streams or in the Missouri and
Mississippi rivers.
Many farmers in Missouri are
opposed to limits on nutrient pollution. Some argue that the approach could be
counterintuitive. For example, state regulators might instruct farmers to avoid
applying fertilizer during a rain event, which may result in farmers adding
more fertilizer before the rain, causing more runoff to occur, said Andrea
Rice, director of research and outreach for the Missouri Fertilizer Control Board.
“By putting targets (on
nutrients), you’re having to adhere to end goals, whereas here in Missouri,
we’re able to focus on the process,” said Rice, who is married to Mitchell
Rice.
Rice and her husband farm 1,700
acres of corn and soybean near Clifton Hill, where they plant cover crops and
use grid sampling, or precision technology to conserve fertilizer.
Rising fertilizer and seed prices
have motivated farmers like him to use these practices, Mitchell Rice said.
“We have to look at the bottom
line on everything,” he said. “Cover crops, where we’re having to use less
chemical, eventually less fertilizer. It makes sense to be good stewards and do
those things.”
Research suggests it could be
many years before efforts by farmers and state governments would make much of a
difference in the Gulf of Mexico, said Steven Herrington, director of science
and impact measures at the Nature Conservancy’s Missouri chapter.
“Let’s say we reduced all of our
nitrogen into our soil to zero,” Herrington said. “We still have a legacy of
nitrogen in our soils from decades and decades of agriculture that would still
be moving down through these systems.”
Missouri DNR officials plan to
study the impact of the parks, soils and water sales tax in the coming months.
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CLIMATE CHANGE COULD DOUBLE TOXIC
ARSENIC IN RICE
RICE AS BABY FOOD
‘SOIL IS ALIVE’
EARLY WARNING, FUTURE PLANNING
Arkansas rice farmer follows multiple risk management strategies
Reducing equipment
risks
Technology
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marketing
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and communication
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AFTER WINNING the
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“toughest” seat in Punjab. In an interaction with The Indian Express, he talks
about his future plans and the reason he thinks he won from an Akali
stronghold:
RELATED NEWS
For latest coverage on Haryana and Maharashtra Elections, log on to IndianExpress.com. We bring you the fastest assembly election 2019 updates from each constituency in both the states.
India Grain: Wheat, maize dn on weak demand,
basmati up on firm buys
Mwea farmers decry
Pakistani rice influx
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CPEC- A Road towards Prosperity
95
Percent of Tested Baby Foods in the US Contain Toxic Metals, Report Says
Toxic heavy metals damaging to your baby's brain development are
likely in the baby food you are feeding your infant, according to a new
investigation published on Oct. 31, 2019.(Shutterstock/Elroi)
Rice crackers in a file
photo. (Mabel Amber/Pixabay)
Rice-Based Foods
Action Needed
What Can Parents Do
A bowl of oatmeal with
blueberries in a file photo. (iha31/Pixabay)
Puff Rice Snacks and Cereals
Teething Foods
Fresh orange juice in a
file photo.
(Steve Buissinne/Pixabay)
Drinks
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CLIMATE CHANGE COULD DOUBLE TOXIC
ARSENIC IN RICE
"I just
didn't expect the magnitude of impact on rice yield we observed," says
coauthor Scott Fendorf, professor of earth system science at Stanford University's
School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. (Credit: Getty Images)
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UNIVERSITY
Climate change may cause a dramatic drop in rice production in
major growing regions, a decline that could jeopardize critical food supplies,
researchers report.
New experiments exploring rice production in future
climate conditions show rice yields could drop about 40% by 2100—with
potentially devastating consequences in parts of the world that rely on the
crop as a basic food source.
What’s more, changes to soil processes due to increased
temperatures will cause rice to contain twice as much toxic arsenic than the
rice consumed today, according to the study, published in Nature Communications.
“By the time we get to 2100, we’re estimated to have
approximately 10 billion people, so that would mean we have 5 billion
people dependent on rice,
and 2 billion who would not have access to the calories they would normally
need,” says coauthor Scott Fendorf, professor of earth system science at
Stanford University’s School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. “We
have to be aware of these challenges that are coming so we can be ready to
adapt.”
RICE AS BABY FOOD
Researchers specifically looked at rice because it grows
in flooded paddies that help loosen the arsenic from the soil and make it
especially sensitive to arsenic uptake. While many food crops today contain
small amounts of arsenic, some
growing regions are more susceptible than others.
Future changes in soil due to higher temperatures
combined with flooded conditions cause rice plants to take up arsenic at higher
levels—and using irrigation water with naturally occurring high arsenic
exacerbates the problem.
While these factors won’t affect all global commodities
in the same way, they do extend to other flood-grown crops, like taro and
lotus.
“I just didn’t expect the magnitude of impact on rice
yield we observed,” says Fendorf, who is also a senior fellow at the Stanford
Woods Institute for the Environment. “What I missed was how much the soil biogeochemistry
would respond to increased temperature, how that would amplify plant-available
arsenic, and then—coupled with the temperature stress—how that would really
impact the plant.”
A naturally occurring, semi-metallic chemical, arsenic
exists in most soils and sediments, but generally in a form that plants don’t
take up. Chronic exposure to arsenic leads to skin lesions, cancers,
aggravation of lung disease, and, ultimately, death.
It is especially concerning in rice not only because of
its global significance, but also because the low-allergen food is often
introduced early to infants.
“I think this problem is also crucial for people that
have young kids in our society,” says lead author E. Marie Muehe, a former
postdoctoral scholar at Stanford who’s now at the University of Tübingen,
Germany. “Because infants are a lot smaller than we are, if they eat rice, that
means that they take up more arsenic relative to their body weight.”
‘SOIL IS ALIVE’
The researchers created future climate conditions in
greenhouses based on estimates of a possible 5 degree Celsius (9 degrees
Fahrenheit) temperature increase and twice as much atmospheric carbon dioxide
by 2100, as projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
While previous research examined the effects of increasing
temperature in the context of the global food crisis, this study was the first
to account for soil conditions in combination with shifts in climate.
For the experiments, the group grew a medium-grain rice
variety in soil from the rice-growing region of California. They controlled the
greenhouses for temperature, carbon dioxide concentrations, and soil arsenic
levels, which will be higher in the future due to its buildup in soils from
irrigating crops with arsenic-contaminated water, a problem that by overpumping
groundwater worsens.
“We don’t often think about this, but soil is alive—it’s
teeming with bacteria and
a lot of different microorganisms,” Fendorf says. “It turns out those
microorganisms determine whether the arsenic stays partitioned onto the
minerals and away from the plants or comes off the minerals into the water
phase.”
The researchers found that with increased temperatures,
microorganisms destabilized more of the soil’s inherent arsenic, leading to
greater amounts of the toxin in the soil water available for the rice to take
up. Once taken up, arsenic inhibits nutrient absorption and decreases plant
growth and development, factors that contributed to the 40% decrease in yield
the scientists observed.
EARLY WARNING, FUTURE PLANNING
While the dramatic loss in production is a major cause
for concern, the scientists remain hopeful that this research will help
producers find potential solutions for feeding the world.
“The good news is that given past advances in terms of
the global community’s ability to breed varieties that can adapt to new
conditions, along with revisions to soil management, I’m optimistic we can get
around the problems observed in our study,” Fendorf says.
“I’m also optimistic that as we continue to shine a light
on the threats resulting from a 5 degree Celsius change, society will adopt
practices to ensure we never reach that degree of warming.”
As next steps, Fendorf, coauthor Tianmei Wang, and Muehe
hope to use remote sensing to pinpoint contaminated rice paddies in order to
model future yields and arsenic contamination.
“This is most likely to be a problem where most rice is
consumed, so we think about South and East Asia,” says Wang, a PhD candidate in
earth system science. “Especially for people like my dad—he consumes rice three
times a day and he just cannot live without it.”
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
OCTOBER 31, 2019
OCTOBER 31, 2019
OCTOBER 29, 2019
OCTOBER 29, 2019
OCTOBER 28, 2019
Brad Robb
Grain farmer Jay
Coker farms rice and soybeans on the outskirts of the rice and duck hunting
capital of the world — Stuttgart, Ark.
Arkansas rice farmer follows multiple risk management strategies
Managing risk has never been more important in
agriculture.
Jay Coker knows managing risks has never been more important,
especially in a year that started so inauspiciously.
He’s looking at equipment, crop insurance, marketing and labor
for opportunities to mitigate some of the risks on the 4,000 acres of rice he
farms in the Arkansas Grand Prairie near Stuttgart, Ark.
The 2019 season started with an extremely narrow planting
window. “We planted rice into last year’s stubble with no prior ground work,”
Coker says. “We rolled rutted up fields and flooded them before winter and that
helped smooth them out. We didn’t burn the straw, which allows the soil to dry out
then warm up faster in the spring. It also helps to reduce disease and pest
risks.”
Most of Coker’s ground is in rice for two or three years before
he rotates into two years of soybeans. He typically floods the zero-grade
buckshot ground for duck season, and no-till drills next planting season. “We
really rutted the fields last year. After a very late harvest, we came back
with cleated rollers that allowed us to work the muddy ground,” Coker
says. “That also helped incorporate the straw and smooth out the ruts.”
In 25 years of farming, he has done that with only a few acres,
never an entire crop. His land drains slowly. Moist, sticky ground does not
like to let go of water. “It’s great soil for producing rice, but man it takes
a long time to dry out, and spring rains made it even more of a challenge this
year,” Coker says.
Reducing equipment
risks
Running heavy equipment can cause compaction and rutting, so
Coker uses a combination of tractors — tracked or dual tire configurations.
“I’m also running a tracked undercarriage on one grain cart and flotation tires
on the other,” Coker says.
“If a farmer buys into a no-till system as I have, especially in
heavy clay soils, he might have to wait two or three days after a rain before
getting back into the field to lower (or lessen) the risk of rutting during
harvest with heavy equipment. With tracked equipment and flotation tires, I can
get back in the field much sooner.”
Coker has witnessed more farmers using shallow tillage equipment
like a Diamond Harrow, a Turbo Till, or something similar that can be pulled at
a ground speed that disturbs only the top 2 or 3 inches of soil while
effectively handling crop residue. “I’m looking for economies of scale,” Coker
says. “We’re looking for ways to be successful with less tillage so we can
plant in a timely fashion.”
Each year he considers burndown products to prevent early spring
vegetation from developing, so he can avoid tilling. “This has allowed us to
get away from disk harrows, plows and other deep tillage equipment,” Coker
says.
In 2018, Coker purchased a tracked Claas 750 combine with a
32-foot stripper header to work in combination with his Case 9230. He is
running two years of rice through each combine each season. “This may be risky.
I don’t know how many farmers would try to harvest 4,000 acres of rice with two
machines, but I spoke with a number of people about the Claas machine and their
comments were all positive.
“They [Claas] have a rice package that includes more stainless
steel and beefed up, heavier components in high-wear areas,” Coker says. “Rice
is the most abrasive grain there is, and I feel like I can get more efficiency
out of this machine by not having to replace augers, boots, elevator chains, or
other components during harvest.”
Technology
Technology helps, too. Coker keeps abreast of everything going
on through the Field View application on equipment and combines. “I’m able to
use my iPad to see what’s going on with various aspects of my operation,” Coker
says. “It’s a digital tool that allows me to view real time harvest data, as
well as the location of my equipment. I can analyze yield performance by soil
type, by each field, or by the hybrids I’m using. As long as I’ve got a cell
signal, I can access it.”
Crop insurance and
marketing
Coker also evaluates crop insurance each year, looking for the
best coverage he can afford. “The amount of risk we take as farmers is hard for
non-farmers to understand,” Coker says. “We’re putting our entire net worth up
every year to plant a crop. It’s not a Harvard-designed business plan, and
sometimes Mother Nature and/or the markets are not cooperative. Sometimes it
comes down to how many dollars an acre I want to tie up in crop insurance.”
Coker says the last two farm bills addressed crop insurance.
Today, more acreage is being covered, which he says is a direct result of the
government (USDA) working with the Risk Management Agency to create policies
farmers can afford. “We can insure almost anything,” Coker says. “Crop
insurance can help if we need to replant, or even if we can’t plant. Preventive
planting was a big buzzword this year.”
Two of the world’s largest rice cooperatives, Riceland Foods and
Producer Rice Mill, are located in Stuttgart, a significant marketing
advantage. “For years, rice farmers have cut rice and delivered it green to
those two cooperatives,” says Coker, who is the chairman of the board for
Producers Rice Mill. “They dry it, store it, mill it, and have marketing
programs that allow farmers to sell on a daily cash price, forward contract, or
place rice in a marketing pool — which is what a lot of farmers do, and they
get advances throughout the year.”
Labor, technology,
and communication
Retaining qualified and reliable farm labor continues to plague
many farming operations across the country. Coker has used the H-2A visa
program for at least 15 years. He and a few other farmers in Arkansas County
formed a loosely knit organization to bring in Hispanic workers. The work force
has included a father, brothers, a few cousins and uncles.
“Now their children have gotten old enough to participate,” Coker
says. “They come over around the middle of March and return home around the
beginning of November. I have a full-time crew of great guys with me all year,
but the H-2A visa program allows me to supplement labor during the most
labor-intensive part of the crop year.”
Coker’s labor needs correlate to planting and harvest. “Some
crop years I get by with less labor, some years I can’t. H-2A helps reduce my
risk of a labor shortage, and it pays off when I need to get a crop out during
a narrow weather window,” Coker says.
Coker Farms spreads out over a 25-mile radius, and technology
plays a key role in communication. The operation uses 11 grain trucks and
trailers, and four seasonal truck drivers during harvest. Communicating
independently with each one would eat up much of his time. “We all have iPhones
and Facebook, so we use the Messenger App,” Coker says. “I can drop a location
pin to identify the next field I want them to harvest and the drivers know just
where to go without making a phone call or typing out directions.”
Coker believes a better way
to do anything always exists and he is ready to evaluate that better way
anytime the opportunity presents itself. “I think the real risk is not doing
something, instead of doing it. If you risk nothing, you risk everything,”
Coker said.
SMUGGLED CARS FROM LIBYA COME WITH
WEAPONS- CUSTOMS
November 1, 2019
Smuggled cars from Libya come with weapons- Customs
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The
Nigeria Customs Service has discovered that cars smuggled into the country from
Libya, come with weapons.
Senior officials of the service made this revelation in Kaduna while giving operational update in the last two months.
Senior officials of the service made this revelation in Kaduna while giving operational update in the last two months.
They
also disclosed that thousands of smuggled bags of rice have been seized, with
the bulk of the seizures happening at the popular Mando garage in the state
capital.
The
Federal Operations Unit, Zone B of the Nigerian Customs Service and rice
farmers in the zone met to discuss how the menace of smuggling could be tackled
Senior
customs officers suspect some of them are conniving with smugglers.
They say
bags of seized foreign parboiled rice are now been re-bagged in local sacks.
The
Customs officials are not happy that the Republics of Benin and Niger are
working hard to frustrate the good work of the government.
They
disclosed that cars smuggled into the country, now come with weapons especially
those from Libya.
The rice
farmers and millers are charged to partner with government to grow the economy.
They
promise to do their best.
The
farmers are also calling on Nigerians to endure what they call “the initial
pain of change”.
The rice
farmers and the Nigerian Customs service both believe that the government is
right on the border closure.
This is a victory over gunda gardi, fake FIRs
done during Akali rule: Punjab Congress MLA Raminder Awla
AFTER WINNING the
Jalalabad bypoll, newly-elected Congress MLA Raminder Awla feels he has won the
“toughest” seat in Punjab. In an interaction with The Indian Express, he talks
about his future plans and the reason he thinks he won from an Akali
stronghold:
·
·
·
RELATED NEWS
Jalalabad MLA Raminder Awla.
(Source: Facebook/RaminderAwlaOfficial)
Jalalabad was considered as Akali stronghold and was being represented by
the SAD President himself. What factors were responsible for your victory?
This is a victory over gunda gardi done by SAD-BJP during
their rule and lodging of fake FIRs during the Akali regime. After 2017,
although Sukhbir Badal had won this seat, the Congress had come to power in the
state and due to the intervention of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the fake
FIRs, hence people started realising that electing a Congress representative
will provide them justice from the 10 years pof injustice done by Sukhbir
Badal. The SAD president won three elections from Jalalabad (2009, 2012, 2017)
but could not make a change in this constituency as he had promised. Hence
voters preferred to vote for Congress. During Akali rule, Sukhbir Badal also
served as deputy CM and hence gunda gardi was at its peak.
What issues did you witness in rural as well as urban areas during your
campaign?
I have found that rice millers
don’t have enough business, their mills are lying closed for want of stock.
There is no big industry in this area where local residents can be employed. In
border villages, the incomes of farmers are limited and hence they need an
alternative source of income. The issue of drug smuggling is also prevalent in
border villages. I need to work on all of these one by one.
On polling day, SAD leaders alleged that Congress indulged in
high-handedness to win elections, what do you have to say about it?
Videos can be proof of who was
involved in violence. SAD workers tried to overpower our workers, they even
damaged many of our polling booths and after that started raising allegations
otherwise. Nearly 2,000 voters of town area did not come out to vote because of
such incidents done by SAD workers at many booths in the town area. Once a
person starts losing, they resort to cheap ways to justify their defeat.
It is being said that the SAD president was busy in Haryana and hence did
not campaign much in Jalalabad…
He made repeated visits, his wife
and many SAD leaders campaigned in Jalalabad. Despite that they lost as they
had lost connect with the masses in the past two years.They tried to defame me
by raising allegations of liquor distribution, but despite that negative
propaganda, voters took the right decision.
What are your future plans?
I will bring agro-based industry
to this area so as to generate employment for local residents. Agriculture is
the main occupation here and hence agro-based industry is the need of the hour.
I will try to convince the government to open a unit here, otherwise I myself
will generate employment for the masses. I will be meeting the chief minister
with my plans to open industry in this area. I am hopeful of bringing big
projects to border areas.
For latest coverage on Haryana and Maharashtra Elections, log on to IndianExpress.com. We bring you the fastest assembly election 2019 updates from each constituency in both the states.
India Grain: Wheat, maize dn on weak demand,
basmati up on firm buys
Friday, Nov 1
By Sampad
Nandy
NEW DELHI
– Prices of mill-quality wheat fell across key spot markets today due to
weak demand from bulk buyers such as flour millers and stockists at higher
prices, traders said. A gradual decline in arrivals, however, cushioned the
decline, they said.
In Indore,
arrivals were pegged at 200-250 bags (1 bag = 100 kg), down from
350-400 bags on Thursday, traders said. In Jaipur, arrivals were at 200
bags compared with 250 bags on Thursday, they added.
Prices of the
grain are seen falling further in the coming days as spot prices have
crossed the base price of the government's weekly auction scheme, traders said.
For
Oct-Dec, the government has set a base price at 2,190 rupees per 100
kg in non-wheat producing states under its open market sale scheme. The price
will be hiked by 55 rupees every quarter in the current financial year.
Futures
contracts of wheat on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, however,
rose due to an anticipation of tight supply in spot markets. The November
contract of wheat on NCDEX ended 0.2% higher at 2,131 rupees per 100 kg.
Prices of
maize fell in key spot markets as higher arrivals of poor quality crops
dampened demand from poultry feed makers and starch manufacturers, traders
said. A rise in arrivals also weighed on prices, they said.
In Nizamabad,
arrivals were pegged at 5,000 bags (1 bag = 100 kg), up from 2,000 bags
from Thursday.
Demand for the
new kharif maize crop is seen weak in the coming days as fresh
arrivals are of poor quality with moisture content of 25-30%, against the
acceptable limit of 13-14%, traders said.
Prices of Pusa
1121 basmati paddy continued to rise due to firm demand from rice millers amid
steady arrivals, traders said. The new crop has started arriving in some parts
of Haryana and Punjab in full swing, Amritsar-based trader Ashok Sethi said.
However, heavy rains during the harvest season has delayed arrivals in many
places.
The December
1121 basmati paddy futures contract on the Indian Commodity Exchange fell 0.9%
to 3,130 rupees per 100 kg as production is pegged 15% higher on year, traders
said.
India's
basmati rice production may also rise 15% on year to 5.7 mln tn in 2019-20
(Jul-Jun), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority's Basmati Exports Development Foundation Director A.K. Gupta had told
Cogencis earlier.
Following are
today's prices of wheat, maize, and paddy, in rupees per 100 kg, in key
wholesale markets, and the change from the previous day:
Commodity
|
Market
|
Price
|
Change
|
Wheat
|
Indore
|
2,225
|
(-)10-15
|
Wheat
|
Jaipur
|
2,190
|
(-)15-20
|
Maize
|
Sangli
|
2,270-2,280
|
(-)10-15
|
Maize
|
Nizamabad
|
2,090
|
(-)10-15
|
Pusa 1121 basmati paddy
|
Amritsar
|
2,900-2,970
|
30-50
|
End
Edited by
Subham Mitra
Cogencis Tel
+91 (11) 4220-1000
Send comments
to feedback@cogencis.com
.
This copy
was first published on the Cogencis WorkStation
© Cogencis
Information Services Ltd. 2019. All rights reserved.
Mwea farmers decry
Pakistani rice influx
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 11:22
Workers
on a rise field. Unbranded rice imported from Pakistan has flooded the market
with local farmers and traders struggling to sell produce from Mwea Scheme.
FILE PHOTO | NMG
Workers
on a rise field. Unbranded rice imported from Pakistan has flooded the market
with local farmers and traders struggling to sell produce from Mwea Scheme.
FILE PHOTO | NMG
Unbranded
rice imported from Pakistan has flooded the market with local farmers and
traders struggling to sell produce from Mwea Scheme.
Mwea,
in Kirinyaga County, is Kenya’s largest irrigation scheme, whose performance
impacts the volumes of the grain available in the market as well as pricing.
A
kilogramme of Pakistani rice is selling at Sh80 while the Mwea brand is
retailing at between Sh130 and Sh140 for the same quantity.
Traders
interviewed said their mini-rice milling factories were on the verge of closure
as lack of profits is edging them out of the market.
They
want the government to regulate imports as choosy buyers shun local rice for
the cheaper foreign brands.
ALSO
READ
“Business
has become really hard for us because of the imported rice. Many of us will be
closing shop soon,” said Ms Mary Mumbi, owner of Good Hope Rice Millers.
According
to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2019 data, Mwea produces about
100,000 tonnes of rice which is 80 percent of the national output.
Currently,
the country has a deficit of 400,000 tonnes of rice annually meaning it has to
import 300,000 tonnes.
Exporters seek share in Qatar’s rice tender
KARACHI: Rice exporters on Friday urged the government to approach
Qatari authorities for including Pakistan origin rice in the Doha’s second
import tender for 48,000 tonnes which had been specified for Indian-origin rice
only.
At a meeting held at the Federation House, Convener FPCCI Standing
Committee on Rice Rafique Suleman met with the members of Rice Exporters
Association of Pakistan (Reap).
Appreciating the efforts made by the Ministry of Commerce in
re-opening of Qatari market for Pakistani rice which also resulted in winning
the first import tender of 4,000 tonnes rice. However, the participants
regretted that the second tender issued by Qatar was specific for Indian rice
only. The FPCCI convener urged the government to take up this matter with
relevant Qatari authorities.
Besides including Pakistan in this the second tender of 48,000
tonnes rice, Mr Suleman also demanded that in future all tenders to be issued
by Qatar should without any discrimination to give an opportunity to Pakistan
rice imports.
He explained that import tenders issued by Qatar for rice
varieties belonging to both India and Pakistan should not be origin specific so
that a fair level playing field was ensured to rice exporters of both
countries.
Mr Suleman informed the participants that new revolutionary rice
seed variety called Green Super Rice (GSR) is very low cost and needs less
quantity of water and other inputs while the yield is better than other rice
seeds.
Residents turn to Waiguru after influx of
Pakistan rice
Rice traders in Kirinyaga cry foul over massive imports of
Pakistan rice that is choking their business. Sine entry of the rice in Mwea,
the traders claim they have not managed to break even since last year.
Rafique Suleman urges govt to take up matter
of 2nd rice tender with Qatar
By
-
November 2,
2019
215
Share
Zubair Yaqoob
Karachi
Rafique Suleman, Convener, FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice
called 3rd meeting of his Committee Today at Federation House, Karachi. This
meeting was attended by Muhammad Raza, Senior Vice Chairman REAP, Shiraz Shaikh
REAP’s Managing Committee Member, Faisal Anis, Kazim Khandwala, Sufiyan Rahim,
Shoaib Rauf, Noman Arif, Jatender Kumar and other leading rice exporters.
During the matter various matters related to rice export trade have been discussed. Rafique Suleman thanked all participants for attending this meeting. He expressed his gratitude to Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Team at MINCOM for their efforts for re-opening of Qatar market for Pakistani rice exporters after long time. As a result, first tender of Qatar was issued for 4,000 M/Ton rice and successfully awarded to a Pakistan origin company.
However, it was very surprising that 2nd tender of Qatar CTC for 48,000 M/Ton was only for India origin. He requested Government of Pakistan to take up this matter with relevant Qatari Authorities and arrange to add Pakistan origin in this tender and all future tenders. Further he suggested that if the rice variety belongs to both India and Pakistan then the tender should not be origin specific, so that fair level playing field will be available for all.
He informed the House about the new revolutionary rice seed namely, Green Super Rice (GSR) which is very low cost and needs less quantity of water and other input and its yield is better than other rice seeds.
He added that after the consistent efforts GSR seed was distributed to farmers for sowing in this season and recently a delegation of REAP’s Senior Members along with Dr. Muhammad Arif, Senior Scientist from NIBGE Faisalabad, Nadeem Shah, Vice President Sindh Abadgar Board, Director General, National Institute of Agriculture, Tando Jam and Other officials visited various rice fields in Sindh Province and it is very good to see the encouraging results and we will be having good quality of rice this year.
During the matter various matters related to rice export trade have been discussed. Rafique Suleman thanked all participants for attending this meeting. He expressed his gratitude to Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Team at MINCOM for their efforts for re-opening of Qatar market for Pakistani rice exporters after long time. As a result, first tender of Qatar was issued for 4,000 M/Ton rice and successfully awarded to a Pakistan origin company.
However, it was very surprising that 2nd tender of Qatar CTC for 48,000 M/Ton was only for India origin. He requested Government of Pakistan to take up this matter with relevant Qatari Authorities and arrange to add Pakistan origin in this tender and all future tenders. Further he suggested that if the rice variety belongs to both India and Pakistan then the tender should not be origin specific, so that fair level playing field will be available for all.
He informed the House about the new revolutionary rice seed namely, Green Super Rice (GSR) which is very low cost and needs less quantity of water and other input and its yield is better than other rice seeds.
He added that after the consistent efforts GSR seed was distributed to farmers for sowing in this season and recently a delegation of REAP’s Senior Members along with Dr. Muhammad Arif, Senior Scientist from NIBGE Faisalabad, Nadeem Shah, Vice President Sindh Abadgar Board, Director General, National Institute of Agriculture, Tando Jam and Other officials visited various rice fields in Sindh Province and it is very good to see the encouraging results and we will be having good quality of rice this year.
CPEC- A Road towards Prosperity
- 0
Shares
NOVEMBER
2, 2019
China-Pakistan friendship dubbed as “higher
than the Himalayas and sweeter than honey” further strengthened with the
announcement of the CPEC project on 20th April 2015.
The economic corridor (CPEC), a part of
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a 3000km linkage of roads,
pipelines, and railways to transport goods from Gawadar port to Kashgar in
Xinjiang. With an investment of 62 billion dollars, CPEC is a “flagship
project” which can change the destiny of the country explicitly due to its
strategic position. Pakistan is located at the juncture of energy proficient to
the energy-deficient countries which would transform the country into a transit
corridor.
With the four phases of the CPEC project; each
focusing on transport, infrastructure, agriculture, and industry, it has been
anticipated that if CPEC utilized properly, it would assist in revamping the
ailing economy of Pakistan. In the first phase, the emphasis was laid on
refining the transport sector of the country. The number of roads and railways
have been constructed as a part of this plan.
Next comes the energy sector where 34 billion
dollars have been invested for the refurbishment of the outdated energy sector
of Pakistan. The establishment of Quaid-e-Azam solar, Port Qasim, Sachal wind
and Sahiwal Coal have been completed while other 3 to 4 projects will be
finalized very soon that would add about 7500 MW to the national grid of the
country. It is no wrong to say that Pakistan has been able to overcome acute
energy cries solely due to the installation of these energy-rich projects by
China.
Besides, the 11billion dollars investment has
spent on the infrastructure development in Pakistan under the CPEC project
which envisages an extensive overhaul of the existing transportation
infrastructure in Pakistan and laying out of new routes for easing the transit
trade and enhancement of market accessibility. Also, the chief achievement has
been the up-gradation of Pakistan’s digital Infrastructure in the form of
construction of 44 million dollars Optical Fiber that runs from Khunjrab to
Islamabad to amplify the source of data connectivity.
In the agriculture sector, the efforts are
underway for boosting yields in the crop sector, reducing losses from harvest
and transportation and engaging with life stocks and dairy. Moreover, as a part
of the Long Term Plan (LTP), China has already started cultivating Hybrid rice
in Pakistan. The usage of China’s expertise and modern technology would also
aid in rebuilding the agriculture sector of the country.
The current focus as a part of the fourth
phase has been made on the industrial development of Pakistan. New SEZ has been
set up and Chinese investors are invited to acquire stakes and do investments
in various sectors of the country. The first Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
comprising of 20 factories is being set up in KPK. In the next stage, China is
planning of planting heavy industry SEZ in Sindh. Keeping in view the
importance of these zones for both China and Pakistan, president Xi at the
aftermath of SCO meeting 2019 said:
“We must expand and enrich the construction of
the CPEC with a new focus on industrial parks, agriculture and people’s
livelihood’.
Not only this but the number of experts has
also predicted that China’s investment could potentially stimulate an 8-10%
increase in Pakistan’s GDP by 2020. Moreover, in 2018, the Chinese embassy
while lauding the successful execution of projects enunciated that there was a
growth of 2.11 percent in Pakistan’s GDP due to China Pakistan Economic
Corridor.
New industries and Business would in return
brings new jobs which would ultimately solve the employment crises in Pakistan.
As per International labor organization (ILO), CPEC is estimated to create
400,000 jobs to the country while another source from Applied Economic Research
Centre (AERC) has estimated that mega Initiatives would produce around 700,000
direct jobs in Pakistan. This means that our country will soon replete with a
skillful and talented labor force that would contribute positively towards the
development of the country.
Keeping in view the significance of this mega
initiative for the betterment of Pakistan, there is a need to design
investment-friendly policies on an immediate basis to make this project a
success story. Moreover, knee-jerk reactions are required to resolve the
confronted hurdles; be it external or internal as CPEC is not only a
game-changer for China and Pakistan but for the whole South Asian region.
The writer is a Masters in International
Relations from NDU and currently works at NOA Islamabad.
95
Percent of Tested Baby Foods in the US Contain Toxic Metals, Report Says
Wire
Service Content November 1, 2019
Toxic heavy metals damaging to your baby's brain development are
likely in the baby food you are feeding your infant, according to a new
investigation published on Oct. 31, 2019.(Shutterstock/Elroi)
Toxic heavy metals damaging to your baby’s
brain development are likely in the baby food you
are feeding your infant, according to a new investigation published Thursday.
Tests of 168 baby foods from
major manufacturers in the United States found 95 percent contained lead, 73
percent contained arsenic, 75 percent contained cadmium, and 32 percent
contained mercury. One fourth of the foods contained all four heavy metals.
One in five baby foods tested
had over 10 times the 1-ppb limit of lead endorsed by public health advocates,
although experts agree that no level of lead is safe.
The results mimicked a previous
study by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that found one or more of the
same metals in 33 of 39 types of baby food tested.
Foods with the highest risk for
neurotoxic harm were rice-based products, sweet potatoes, and fruit juices, the
analysis found.
“Even in the trace amounts
found in food, these contaminants can alter the developing brain and erode a
child’s IQ. The impacts add up with each meal or snack a baby eats,” the report
said.
The tests were commissioned by
Healthy Babies Bright Futures, which calls itself an alliance of scientists,
nonprofit organizations, and donors trying to reduce exposures to neurotoxic
chemicals during the first months of life.
Rice crackers in a file
photo. (Mabel Amber/Pixabay)
Rice-Based Foods
Infant rice cereal, rice
dishes, and rice-based snacks topped the list of most toxic foods for babies.
“These popular baby foods are
not only high in inorganic arsenic, the most toxic form of arsenic, but also
are nearly always contaminated with all four toxic metals,” the report said.
Prior research has shown that
even low levels of arsenic exposure can impact a baby’s neurodevelopment. A
2004 study looked at children in Bangladesh who were exposed to arsenic in
drinking water, and it found that they scored significantly lower on
intellectual tests. A meta-analysis of studies on the topic found that a 50
percent increase in arsenic levels in urine would be associated with a
0.4-point decrease in the IQ of children between the ages of 5 and 15.
Arsenic is a natural element
found in soil, water and air, with the inorganic form being the most toxic.
“Inorganic” is a chemical term and has nothing to do with the method of
farming.
Because rice is grown in water,
it is especially good at absorbing inorganic arsenic and, according to the Food
and Drug Administration, has the highest concentration of any food.
And in this case, brown and
wild rice are the worst offenders, because the milling process used to create
white rice removes the outer layers, where much of the arsenic concentrates.
And you can’t rely on organic
either. A 2012 study found that brown rice syrup, a frequent sweetener in
organic foods, was also a source of significant levels of arsenic. One
“organic” milk formula marketed to toddlers had levels of inorganic arsenic
that were six times the levels currently considered safe by the US
Environmental Protection Agency.
In the Healthy Babies analysis,
four of seven rice cereals contained the most toxic form of arsenic in levels
higher than the FDA’s proposed action level of 100 parts per billion (ppb).
Action Needed
Urgent action is needed by
major baby food companies and the FDA, the report said. While the FDA has been
investigating how to reduce exposure and some levels of arsenic in rice and
juice are lower than a decade ago, exposure is still too high.
“When FDA acts, companies
respond. We need the FDA to use their authority more effectively, and much more
quickly, to reduce toxic heavy metals in baby foods,” said study author Jane
Houlihan, research director for Healthy Babies Better Futures, in a statement.
What Can Parents Do
The analysis looked at which
baby foods are highest risk, and offered safer alternatives.
A bowl of oatmeal with
blueberries in a file photo. (iha31/Pixabay)
Puff Rice Snacks and Cereals
Rice cereal is the top source
of arsenic in a baby’s diet because it is often used as a first food; rice
puffs and other rice flour snacks also contain high levels. Healthy Babies
suggested cereals low in arsenic, such as oatmeal and multigrain cereals, and
rice-free packaged snacks.
Pediatrician Tanya Altmann,
author of “What to Feed Your Baby” echoes the advice of the American Academy of
Pediatrics, which advises parents to offer a wide variety of first foods
including grains such as oats, barley, wheat, and quinoa.
“Best first foods for infants
are avocado, pureed veggies, peanut-butter oatmeal, and salmon,” Altmann told
CNN in a prior interview. “They all provide important nutrients that babies
need, help develop their taste buds to prefer healthy food and may decrease
food allergies.”
She believes meats are a better
source of iron and zinc for babies than rice cereal, “so I haven’t been
recommending rice cereal as a first food for several years.”
If you do choose to cook rice
for your toddler, Healthy Babies recommends cooking rice in extra water and
pouring it off before eating. That will cut arsenic levels by 60 percent, they
say, based on FDA studies.
“For the lowest levels, buy
basmati rice grown in California, India, and Pakistan. White rice has less
arsenic than brown rice,” the report said.
Teething Foods
Teething biscuits can contain
arsenic, lead, and cadmium, the report said. Instead, soothe your baby’s pain
with frozen bananas, a peeled and chilled cucumber or a clean, wet
washcloth—but be sure to watch for choking.
Fresh orange juice in a
file photo.(Steve Buissinne/Pixabay)
Drinks
Juice is often the go-to drink
for parents, but it’s not a good option, says the American Academy of
Pediatrics. Juices are high in sugar, lack fiber, and can contribute to tooth
decay and later obesity. Apple, pear, grape and other fruit juices can also
contain some lead and arsenic, so frequent use is a top source of these heavy
metals.
Instead, experts say water and
milk are best choices, depending on the age of the child. Babies under six
months only need breast milk and formula. The drinks of choice for a child’s
second year of life should be water and whole milk. Between age 2 and 5 parents
should move to skim or low-fat milk and keep pushing water to hydrate their
children.
At all ages, juice should be
kept to a minimum. One tip: add water to make the juice last longer and always
be sure the drink is 100 percent juice.
Fruits and Veggies
While sweet potatoes and
carrots are great sources of vitamin A and other key nutrients, the report
found they are also high in lead and cadmium. Go ahead and feed your child
these veggies, but be sure to add many other colorful fruits and vegetables to
add variety.
What suspension of Thiba Dam construction means for Kirinyaga
In Summary
•
Central Regional Commissioner Wilfred Nyangangwa, assured that the
problem will be solved soon.
President Uhuru
Kenyatta during the ground-breaking of the Sh20 billion Thiba Dam in Kirinyaga
county, November 23, 2017.
FILE
FILE
A temporary
halt to the construction of the Sh20 billion Thiba Dam meant to
boost rice production in Kirinyaga County spells doom for rice farmers who
viewed the project as a major solution to water shortage in Mwea.
The close
down, attributed to cash flow from the treasury, has seen over three hundred
workers previously engaged by the contractor, Strabag Internationals suspended.
The workers
including drivers said they were sent packing because the government had not
released money to the company.
Officials
from the National Government and those in charge of the Strabag Company have
confirmed that the government has not remitted money in excess of Sh1 billion
which has left them with no other alternative but to suspend the work.
Central
Regional Commissioner Wilfred Nyangangwa, assured that the problem
will be solved soon.
“It is true
the construction has temporarily been suspended due to problem of resources,”
the Commissioner said without elaborating.
He said, as
the Chair of the Regional National Government Project Implementation Team, he
has impressed upon officials at the treasury to address the issue.
“Once the
problem is addressed, the project will resume in the shortest time possible, we
are taking the matter seriously,” he said.
Nyangangwa
said the government is committed to ensuring the project moves within the
scheduled time to enhance irrigation of rice in Mwea and improve
country’s food security.
“The problem
is further complicated by some of the people who surrendered their land for the
construction of the dam, claiming they will come back and re-possess their land
if the work is abandoned,” claimed the people living around the project.
“We have
been told to go home until further notice because the Company has no money to
pay us and finance the project,” John Njiraine, a worker at the dam said.
A Strabag
official who is, however, not authorised to speak for the Company said the
change of the Cabinet Minister and his Principal Secretary was also affecting
the cash flow for the project.
He said they
have now gone for over eight months without receiving any funding from the
government which has virtually brought everything to a standstill.
“We are
getting worried that the works at Thiba Dam which has been on good progress at
30% is now almost abandoned, we don’t exactly know what is happening, we are
only hoping the dam will not end up as Kimwarer Dam,” said the official
“There is
even a possibility that cartels importing cheap rice to the country could be
behind the whole thing, trying to frustrate the work with an intention of
making sure the dam is not completed to enable them continue importing the
rice,” he said.
The Sh19
billion project was expected to be completed in 45 months, but the Manager,
Eng. Stephen Mutinda, always claimed the work could be completed much earlier
that is before the problem occurred.
Mutinda
previously claimed with all factors remaining and according to the work plan,
the construction could have taken about 36 months to complete. But this
will now have to change.
Data from
the Kenya Bureau of Statistics shows that Kenya imports rice worth about Sh 40
billion every year largely from Pakistan, Thailand, India and Vietnam.
It is
estimated that with the completion of Thiba Dam, this amount will be reduced by
half or even more if it succeeds in improving more water, to allow for three
seasons of rice per year, unlike the current one season.
While the
current rice production during a good season is about 100,000 tones or about 80
percent of Kenyan total rice, it has been achieved without steadfast water
flow.
The rice
scheme is fed by direct water flow from Thiba and Nyamindi rivers without a
dam.
But Thiba
Dam will provide a holding ground for water, ensuring controlled flow even
during the times of lower rainfall.
This is
planned to increase normal production by about 100 percent, meaning 140,000
tones and since the water will double overall area under rice, Mwea is set to
produce about 280,000 tons of rice.
There is
much more opportunity as by the time the dam is finished, ongoing research on
better yielding rice is likely to have reached the farm level.
Rice farms
are also likely to be more mechanized by then. The storage of rice will have
improved, eliminating post-harvest losses.
More farmers
will also be educated on modern farming methods to ensure that they harvest
more bags of rice per acre than they currently do.
While Kenya
produces on average Four tons of rice per 2.5 acres, Egypt produces double at 8
tons, while Vietnam produces Six tones, same as China, Pakistan and India.
Exporters of
rice into Kenya produce the same tonnage as Kenya, according to data
aggregator index. It therefore means, Kenya has a big opportunity to become
self-sufficient in rice if it can increase its yields per acre.
The project
will also help in the stabilization of the irrigation water supply, allowing
double cropping with the area under irrigation increasing from 25,000 cares to
35,000 acres.
The
construction of the Thiba Dam is being financed in partnership with Japanese
Government through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
At
completion, the Dam will be 40 meters tall and 1 kilometer long and is expected
to have a holding capacity of 15 million cubic meters.
The construction
was initially expected to take Three years and seven months, meaning it would
have been complete around July 2020.
Thiba Dam
project, officially launched on November 23 2017 by Presidents Uhuru
Kenyatta, is being constructed at Rukenya in Gichugu Constituency, about four
kilometers from Kutus town, the County Headquarters.
During the
launch the President directed that work be completed within the stipulated time
Kenya produces 100,000 tons of rice
annually which is not enough to meet the local demand of 500,000 tones.
MCAs fault Water
ministry over stalled Embu dams
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Ghana plans to ban rice, poultry imports
File photo
Rice
importers would be ordered to cease their trade in three years if everything
goes as planned, Ghana's Agric Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie-Akoto, has said.
The same applies to persons who import poultry products.
The policy, if implemented would also be similar to the situation with Nigeria, its neighboring country.
Afriyie-Akoto said the government was working fervently to "establish the local capacity" to meet demand.
Speaking on JoyNews' PM Express programme on Wednesday, he said this should be completed in the next three years.
After that, merchants would be expected to trade with local farmers.
Currently, most of the rice consumed locally comes from overseas.
Deputy Trades Minister, Robert Ahomka Lindsay had previously said rice importation alone takes 82 per cent of all imports into the country.
This cost more than $1 billion, almost two per cent of the country's GDP in 2018.
This must stop, the Agriculture Minister said.
The government intends, with the help of its flagship planting for food and jobs programme, to increase the yield of farmers.
This, Afriyie-Akoto said should be achieved in three years, paving way for the order to stop imports.
He said this is not over-ambition, neither does it violate WTO protocol.
The government has been selling fertilisers to farmers at subsidised rates as part of the planting for food and jobs programme.
The Minister says with 50 per cent government subsidy on fertilisers for smallholder farmers, a farmer who was previously producing three bags of rice per acre was now producing 10 bags.
This has massively increased jobs since more hands are needed to harvest the produce and process same for the market.
The same applies to persons who import poultry products.
The policy, if implemented would also be similar to the situation with Nigeria, its neighboring country.
Afriyie-Akoto said the government was working fervently to "establish the local capacity" to meet demand.
Speaking on JoyNews' PM Express programme on Wednesday, he said this should be completed in the next three years.
After that, merchants would be expected to trade with local farmers.
Currently, most of the rice consumed locally comes from overseas.
Deputy Trades Minister, Robert Ahomka Lindsay had previously said rice importation alone takes 82 per cent of all imports into the country.
This cost more than $1 billion, almost two per cent of the country's GDP in 2018.
This must stop, the Agriculture Minister said.
The government intends, with the help of its flagship planting for food and jobs programme, to increase the yield of farmers.
This, Afriyie-Akoto said should be achieved in three years, paving way for the order to stop imports.
He said this is not over-ambition, neither does it violate WTO protocol.
The government has been selling fertilisers to farmers at subsidised rates as part of the planting for food and jobs programme.
The Minister says with 50 per cent government subsidy on fertilisers for smallholder farmers, a farmer who was previously producing three bags of rice per acre was now producing 10 bags.
This has massively increased jobs since more hands are needed to harvest the produce and process same for the market.
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Participation in tender: Rice exporters urge government to take
up matter with Qataris
Rice exporters have urged the federal government to negotiate
with Qatari authorities to ensure Pakistan's participation in the international
rice tender, issued for import of 48,000 tons of rice.
The federal government should take up rice origin issue with
Qatari authorities so that Pakistan could participate in the international rice
tender and earn foreign exchange for the country, they added.
The 3rd meeting of FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice was held
Thursday at the Federation House. The meeting was convened by Rafique Suleman,
Convener of the committee.
During the meeting, Suleman expressed his gratitude to Abdul
Razzak Dawood, Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and his team at MINCOM for
their efforts for re-opening of Qatar market for Pakistani rice exporters after
long time. As a result, first tender of Qatar was issued for 4,000 metric tons
of rice and successfully awarded to a Pakistan origin company.
However, it was surprising that the 2nd tender of Qatar CTC for
48,000 metric tons entailed a condition, ie, for India origin only, after which
Pakistani exporters are unable to participate in the tender.
Therefore, he has requested the federal government to take up
the matter with relevant Qatari authorities to add Pakistan origin in the
recently issued Qatar rice import tender and future tenders.
He said as the rice variety belongs to both India and Pakistan,
therefore the tender should not be origin specific to provide a fair level
playing field. The addition of Pakistani origin in the tender will also create
a competition in the market and ultimately Qatar will be beneficiary in shape of
quality and price, he added.
Rafique Suleman informed the meeting about the new revolutionary
rice seed namely, Green Super Rice (GSR) which is very low cost and needs less
quantity of water. Its input and yield is better than other rice seeds.
He said that after the consistent efforts of Rice Exporters
Association GSR seed was distributed to farmers for sowing in this season and
recently a delegation of REAP's Senior Members along with Dr. Muhammad Arif
Senior Scientist from NIBGE Faisalabad,. Nadeem Shah Vice President Sindh
Abadgar Board and Director General National Institute of Agriculture Tando Jam
and Other officials visited various rice fields in Sindh Province to check the
progress of this seed.
“It is very good to see that the results were satisfactory and
encouraging and we will be having good quality of rice this year. Nadeem Shah
also commented that a rice seed having 75-80 maunds per acre yield is
considered as a good but GSR seed is looking far better than conventional
seeds," he added.
Convener of FPCCI Committee informed that during the visit of
Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) Tando Jam, its team briefed about the
another rice seed called Shandaar. This is another conventional seed which has
given good results. Commercial trials for this seed are also in the process
after which it will be available to the farmer.
Rafiq Suleman also appreciated the efforts of NIA for the
betterment of the farmer and their role in agricultural development in
Pakistan.
Muhammad Raza senior vice chairman Rice Exporters Association of
Pakistan (REAP) endorsed that GSR seed is heat tolerant and despite very low
quantity of water and other inputs its yield is amazing. This project was
funded by Malinda & Bill Gates Foundation for the distribution among under
developed countries including Pakistan.
He was of the view that our aim should be to spread this seed as
much possible. He also suggested to take REAP's Representative on the board of
Rice Research institutes and all technical departments of Pakistan. He proposed
to start a training course with the joint collaboration of Kala Shah Kaku Rice
Research Institute & REAP to arrange awareness workshops for rice related
subject.
Kazim Khandwala and Faisal Anis also seconded the views of
Muhammad Raza. It was also decided that a REAP delegation will visit to Rice
Research Institute at Dokri (Larkana) very soon for better interaction with
relevant Government officials.
The meeting was also attended by Shiraz Shaikh REAP's Managing
Committee Member, Faisal Anis, Kazim Khandwala, Sufiyan Rahim, Shoaib Rauf,
Noman Arif, Jatender Kumar and other leading rice exporters. Various matters
related to rice export trade were also discussed.
Exporters seek share in Qatar’s rice tender
KARACHI: Rice exporters on Friday urged the government to approach
Qatari authorities for including Pakistan origin rice in the Doha’s second
import tender for 48,000 tonnes which had been specified for Indian-origin rice
only.
At a meeting held at the Federation House, Convener FPCCI Standing
Committee on Rice Rafique Suleman met with the members of Rice Exporters
Association of Pakistan (Reap).
Appreciating the efforts made by the Ministry of Commerce in
re-opening of Qatari market for Pakistani rice which also resulted in winning
the first import tender of 4,000 tonnes rice. However, the participants
regretted that the second tender issued by Qatar was specific for Indian rice
only. The FPCCI convener urged the government to take up this matter with
relevant Qatari authorities.
Besides including Pakistan in this the second tender of 48,000
tonnes rice, Mr Suleman also demanded that in future all tenders to be issued
by Qatar should without any discrimination to give an opportunity to Pakistan
rice imports.
He explained that import tenders issued by Qatar for rice
varieties belonging to both India and Pakistan should not be origin specific so
that a fair level playing field was ensured to rice exporters of both
countries.
Mr Suleman informed the participants that new revolutionary rice
seed variety called Green Super Rice (GSR) is very low cost and needs less
quantity of water and other inputs while the yield is better than other rice
seeds.
Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2019
SUMMARY
o Unbranded rice imported from
Pakistan has flooded the market with local farmers and traders struggling to
sell produce from Mwea Scheme.
o Mwea, in Kirinyaga County, is
Kenya’s largest irrigation scheme, whose performance impacts the volumes of the
grain available in the market as well as pricing.
o A kilogramme of Pakistani rice is
selling at Sh80 while the Mwea brand is retailing at between Sh130 and Sh140
for the same quantity.
ECONOMY
Mwea farmers decry
Pakistani rice influx
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 11:22
Workers
on a rise field. Unbranded rice imported from Pakistan has flooded the market
with local farmers and traders struggling to sell produce from Mwea Scheme.
FILE PHOTO | NMG
Workers
on a rise field. Unbranded rice imported from Pakistan has flooded the market
with local farmers and traders struggling to sell produce from Mwea Scheme.
FILE PHOTO | NMG
Unbranded rice imported
from Pakistan has flooded the market with local farmers and traders struggling
to sell produce from Mwea Scheme.
Mwea, in Kirinyaga
County, is Kenya’s largest irrigation scheme, whose performance impacts the
volumes of the grain available in the market as well as pricing.
A kilogramme of
Pakistani rice is selling at Sh80 while the Mwea brand is retailing at between
Sh130 and Sh140 for the same quantity.
Traders interviewed
said their mini-rice milling factories were on the verge of closure as lack of
profits is edging them out of the market.
They want the
government to regulate imports as choosy buyers shun local rice for the cheaper
foreign brands.
Use of neonicotinoids on rice paddies linked to fishery collapse
in Japan
Credit: CC0 Public
Domain
A team of researchers with members affiliated with several
institutions in Japan has found what they describe as compelling evidence of
two fisheries collapsing due to use of neonicotinoid pesticides by nearby rice
farmers. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team
describes their study of fishery water quality data over two decades and what
they learned from it. Olaf Jensen with Rutgers University has published a
Perspective piece discussing the work by the team in the same journal issue.
As Jensen notes, it is easy to test the toxicity of chemicals
directly on plants or animals. Simply applying them and watching what happens
lets researchers know the impact it has. Much more difficult is nailing down
the indirect effects of chemicals such as those that are used in neonicotinoid
pesticides. In this new effort, the researchers started with the notion that it
was likely the use of such pesticides that had led to sudden fishery collapse
in Lake Shinji, Japan.
Back in 1993, fishermen working at two fisheries on the lake found that yields had suddenly dropped dramatically. The
reason for it was not known but many suspected it was tied to the use of
neonicotinoid pesticides by nearby farmers—a new practice. To find out if that
was indeed the case, the researchers gathered data obtained by other teams
studying the lake over a period ten years before and after the collapse of the
fisheries.
In looking at the results, the researchers found that the year
following the first use of neonicotinoid pesticides in the local area, the amount of zooplankton in the lake nosedived. This was
followed by a very swift drop in population of the fish that fed on them. More
specifically, they found that zooplankton biomass shrank by approximately 83
percent. That year the smelt harvest was just 22 tons, a dramatic drop from an
average haul of 240 tons each year.
The researchers note that they also studied other factors that
might have led to fishery collapse, such as nutrient depletion or changes in
oxygen or salt concentrations. They report that they were not able to find any
evidence showing that there might have been something other than pesticides
killing the food fish ate leaving them to starve. They conclude that the
evidence strongly suggests it was the introduction of neonicotinoid pesticides into the lake
environment that led to the die-offs.
Explore further
More information: Masumi Yamamuro et al. Neonicotinoids disrupt aquatic food
webs and decrease fishery yields, Science (2019). DOI:
10.1126/science.aax3442
Japanese
Fisheries Collapsed Due to Pesticides, New Research Says
Spraying chemicals on rice crop in Japan. Stockbyte / Getty Images
Scientists announced today that pesticide use on rice fields led
to the collapse of a nearby fishery in Lake Shinji, Japan, according to a
new study published
in the journal Science.
The long-term study seems
to have borne out the prophecy of Rachel Carson's seminal 1962 book Silent Spring,
in which the author describes the nefarious trickle down effects of chemical
pesticides that could "still the leaping of fish." While it is
impossible to say that the use of pesticides caused the collapse of the
fishery, the correlation is extremely strong.
The researchers looked at the degradation of the food chain
around rice paddies after the introduction of the pesticide neonicotinoids in
1993 in Japan. The study showed an immediate decline in insect and plankton
populations in Lake Shinji after the pesticide was sprayed in nearby rice
fields, as The Guardian reported.
The decline in insects and plankton then led to the collapse of
eel and smelt populations, which rely on the tiny insects for food. The
scientists looked at other possible causes for the collapse of the smelt and
eel fisheries, but those were all ruled out. The scientists say there is "compelling
evidence" that neonicotinoids are the culprit, as The Guardian reported.
The pesticide has previously been linked to declines in
pollinator populations. Researchers have found that it lowers the sperm count
of bees and shortens their lifespan, as EcoWatch reported. Its role in
colony collapse disorder and in declining butterfly populations caused the
European Union to ban the world's most popular insecticide for all outdoor use
in 2018, as Reuters reported.
Previous studies have also linked ripple effects of the
pesticide's application to cause collapses of mayflies, dragonflies and snails.
A Dutch study found that bird populations declined
where the insecticide was sprayed. In that case, the absence of swallows,
starlings and tree sparrows does not mean they were dying, but possibly moved
to riper feeding grounds.
By contrast, the study is the first time a potential link has
been shown between the insecticide and its effect on other animals, including
vertebrates, according to a press release from the
American Association for The Advancement of Science.
The year that the insecticide was first applied, 1993, coincided
with an 83 percent decrease in the average amount of springtime plankton. A
year later, the smelt harvest collapsed from 240 tons per year to just 22 tons
in a single year, according
to the study. Additionally, the midge, Chironomus plumosus, which smelt
also feed on, was one of the worst affected bugs. It vanished completely from
all 39 locations sampled in 2016, despite being abundant in 1982.
The researchers noted that Rachel Carson's book was prophetic.
In their paper, The Guardian reported, the Japanese researchers
said how "she wrote: 'These sprays, dusts and aerosols are now applied
almost universally to farms, gardens, forests and homes – nonselective
chemicals that have the power to kill every insect, the 'good' and the 'bad',
to still the song of birds and the leaping of fish in the streams.' The
ecological and economic impact of neonicotinoids on the inland waters of Japan
confirms Carson's prophecy."
"This disruption likely also occurs elsewhere, as
neonicotinoids are currently the most widely used class of insecticides
globally," worth more than $3 billion per year, they said, as The Guardian reported.
The German company Bayer is the world's largest producer of
neonicotinoids.
"The annihilation of humble flies and the knock on effects
on fish serve as further testament to the dreadful folly of
neonicotinoids," said Matt Shardlow, from the charity Buglife, to The Guardian. "Let's hope this is a wake-up
call for Asian countries and they move to quickly ban the chemicals from
paddyfields."
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These 10 baby foods have the highest
levels of arsenic, says report
Posted Nov 01, 7:00 AM
Staff-Shot
Of each of the metals, arsenic was found in
73% of baby foods, lead was found in 94%, cadmium was found in 75% and mercury
was found in 32%, according to a recent study conducted by Healthy Babies
Bright Future. (Staten Island Advance)
6
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Nearly three out of
every four baby food items sold in the United States include trace amounts of
arsenic, with some containing much more of the harmful carcinogen than others.
A recent study
conducted by Healthy Babies Bright Future (HBBF) found that 95% of all popular baby foods in the country contain toxic heavy
metals, with 73% containing arsenic.
Researchers tested 168 different baby food
items, consisting of 61 brands and 13 types of food, including infant formula,
teething biscuits, cereals, and fruit juices, all of which were selected by
parents at their local stores and online. The study tested for arsenic, lead,
cadmium, and mercury.
Of the 123 baby food items that tested
positive for arsenic, these 10 contained the highest amount, measured in parts
per billion (ppb):
HappyBABY
Organic Rice Cakes Puffed Rice Snack - Apple Snack: 455 ppb
BioKinetics
BioKinetics Brown Rice Organic Sprouted Whole Grain Baby Cereal: 353 ppb
O Organics
(Albertson/Safeway) Organic Puffs - Apple Strawberry Snack: 309 ppb
Simple Truth
Organic (Kroger) Whole Grain Puffs Broccoli & Spinach Snack: 307 ppb
HappyBABY
Superfood Puffs Organic Grain Snack - Sweet Potato & Carrot Snack: 295 ppb
HappyBABY
Superfood Puffs - Apple & Broccoli Organic Grain Snack - for crawling
baby: 266 ppb
Healthy Times
Organic Brown Rice Cereal - 4+ months: 153 ppb
Earth’s Best
Whole Grain Rice Cereal: 138 ppb
Earth’s Best
Whole Grain Rice Cereal: 126 ppb
Beech-Nut Rice
Single Grain Baby Cereal - Stage 1, from about 4 months: 117 ppb
Arsenic is a Grade-A carcinogen, known to
cause lung, skin and bladder cancer. The toxic metal is also known to harm the
development of the brain and nervous system, with at least 13 studies linking
arsenic to IQ loss in children.
According to the HBBF study, lead was found
in 94% of baby foods, cadmium in 75%, arsenic in 73% and mercury in 32% of
foods. Twenty-six percent of baby foods contained all four metals, 40%
contained three metals, 21% contained two metals, and 8% contained only one
metal. Only 5% (nine baby foods) contained no metals.
According to the study, while the FDA has
proposed to limit the amount of toxic heavy metals in baby food in the past, no
action has been taken to this point.
ADVICE FOR PARENTS
HBBF recommended five healthier food
substitutions that can help in reducing babies’ exposure to heavy toxic metals:
· Rather than rice
snacks, parents can give their children rice-free snacks, which which contain
much lower levels of toxic metals
· Parents can use
organic teething foods, like frozen bananas and chilled cucumbers, instead of
teething biscuits or rice tusks
· Multi-grain
cereals, like oatmeal, can also be fed to babies instead of rice cereal
· Babies can drink
tap water instead of fruit juice
· Feed babies a
variety of fruits and veggies instead of just carrots and sweet potatoes
View Comments6
Arsenic
Found in 73% of Baby Food: 4 Things to Know About Arsenic Poisoning
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Source: MedicineNet Health News
Arsenic has been found in nearly three out of every four baby food products
tested for a report published this month by a health advocacy group. Sixty-one
brands of baby foods were tested for the study, including infant rice
cereals, teething biscuits,
and fruit juices.
The study was not peer-reviewed. It comes from Healthy Babies
Bright Futures, a non-profit public health advocacy group. The researchers used
a detection method more sensitive than the one used by the FDA.
The FDA has not set standards for arsenic in rice, according to
MedicineNet author Charles
Patrick Davis, MD, PhD. Arsenic is a naturally-occurring
substance found in low amounts in nearly all foods.
According to the FDA, the amount of arsenic typically found in
food is usually not enough to cause poisoning: "As a naturally occurring
element, it is not possible to remove arsenic entirely from the environment or
food supply."
The potential risks of arsenic
poisoning have inspired several groups to advocate for FDA and EPA
safety standards, Dr. Davis said.
"The groups claim some private laboratories have detected
that a single adult serving of some commercially available rice can give about
1.5 times the amount of permissible arsenic in one liter of water (under 10
parts per billion)," he said. "So action on permissible arsenic
levels should be done quickly."
The FDA currently advises the food industry to limit arsenic
levels to less than 100 parts per billion (PPB). The study found that four of
seven rice cereals tested higher than this recommended limit.
Chronic exposure to arsenic has been associated with a wide
range of health problems, Dr. Davis said. These include vomiting, diarrhea, dark
urine, heart problems, vertigo, delirium, shock, and
death.
"There are only a few ways to possibly save the patient's
life" after arsenic poisoning, Dr. Davis said. Treatments include hemodialysis, which
must be administered quickly after arsenic exposure, as well as chelation drug
therapy.
Here are four key facts from Dr. Davis regarding chronic arsenic
poisoning.
Arsenic is classified as a
carcinogen by the FDA. Some studies have linked the drinking of arsenic-tainted
water with higher rates of bladder, kidney, lung, and skin
cancers.
2.
Arsenic comes in
different forms.
The severity of arsenic
poisoning depends on many factors, including how much arsenic you are exposed
to and what form it takes.
Arsenic can be found in
organic, inorganic, and gaseous forms. Inorganic arsenic is more hazardous to
your health than the organic form. Organic arsenic compounds are not as toxic
as inorganic compounds and are not believed to be linked to cancer.
3.
Arsenic exposure is
associated with common, chronic health problems.
Chronic inorganic arsenic
poisoning has been associated with a number of chronic medical conditions, such
as sensory and motor nerve defects, skin changes like swelling, bumps, and
redness, and liver and
kidney problems.
4.
Arsenic poisoning can be
difficult to diagnose.
Arsenic poisoning may develop
gradually and can be subtle.
Here are some signs and symptoms of arsenic poisoning that a
physician might watch for:
- Breath and urine
smell like garlic.
- Urine may be
dark, a condition known as "blackwater."
- A low blood
count may be caused by arsenic blood cell destruction.
- Calcium and
magnesium in blood may be affected.
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