Friday, November 08, 2019

8th November,2019 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter


PDS racket runs deep as brokers galore in Wanaparthy
Many white ration card holders in villages who produce their own fine grain rice and also buy thick rice from ration shops sell it back to the millers on slightly higher cost.
By AuthorVivek Bhoomi  |  Published: 8th Nov 2019  12:10 amUpdated: 7th Nov 2019  10:44 pm
Description: https://cdn.telanganatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/pds-shop-568x400.jpgMany white ration card holders who produce their own rice and also buy rice from ration shops sell it back to millers at higher cost.
Wanaparthy: Farmers sell their paddy in agricultural markets, from where the produce is sent for milling at rice mills. The mills deliver the rice to State Warehouse Corporation (SWC) godowns, from where it is distributed to various fair price shop dealers in villages across the district through Public Distribution System (PDS).
The supply chain process that takes place after every harvest looks clear and simple. But there is a missing link which has created an industry of illegal transportation and recycling of PDS rice. This was exposed earlier this week in Wanaparthy district.
The recycling starts at the rice mills, where millers are required to process raw paddy and deliver 70 per cent of the thick variety to the warehouses — SWC godowns in Madanapuram. The State government not only lets the millers keep 30 per cent (mostly the leftover low quality rice, barn and other stuff) of what remains with them, but also pays good amount of money for transporting the 70 per cent rice to the godowns, in addition to other grants. Most of the millers who want to make the most out of it have been resorting to illegal means to replace the unwanted 30 per cent with high quality rice, to be sold in the open market. So where does this 30 per cent come from?
This is where a grassroots level illegal transportation chain, which is not part of the PDS supply chain, starts. It starts from the white ration card holders in villages who either produce their own fine grain rice but still take thick rice from ration shops by paying Rs 1 per kg, so that they can sell it back to the millers on slightly higher cost. There are ‘runners’ or ‘brokers’ in villages who buy this PDS from the ineligible beneficiaries by paying them anywhere between Rs 5 and Rs 10 per kg. Combine the entire rice procured this way, the total quantity is considerable to be transported to rice millers again.
At this point, self-employed youths with small four-wheelers like Tata Ace and other pick-up trucks go from village to village across the district and even beyond, as far as Gadwal, collecting this PDS rice.
For instance, in Madanapuram mandal headquarters, there is an entire fleet of such vehicles bought mostly by youth belonging to weaker sections of society. They are paid Rs 10,000 per trip and they make around eight trips per month. They do this in the middle of the night when there is hardly any patrolling. In villages, power supply is cut when vehicles are being loaded.
These vehicles then dump the procured PDS rice in mango gardens, agricultural fields and other unsuspecting places, from where bigger trucks owned by rice millers take the produce to the mills. By the time the rice reaches the miller, he would have to shed anywhere between Rs 15 and 20 per kg, depending on the layers of brokers involved.
In a recent raid, a truck was seized by Madanapuram police from Surya Rice Mills in Athmakur, when the truck was ready to unload 135 quintals of rice at SWC warehouse.
Profit all the way
The rice millers not only compensate for the 30 per cent, but also sell the remaining in the open markets for Rs 40 per kg, in addition to sending the old rice again to SWC warehouses. Quite a prosperous venture isn’t it!
One would wonder why despite having an official from the Civil Supplies Department assigned for each rice mill to regulate the quality and flow of rice in and out of the mills, the administration can’t put a check on this illegal activity. That is a million dollar question.
The enforcement wing of the Civil Supplies Department is supposed to monitor and arrest illegal transportation of PDS rice. According to Revathy, District Supplies Officer, the department had filed 60 cases this year over illegal transportation of PDS rice and had booked Section 6(A) of Essential Commodities Act against the transporters.
However, many feel this is like catching the little fish and leaving the bigger ones to swim free.
Madanapuram police officers have seized three trucks during the past one month and have booked Section 420 of the IPC against the culprits. They have also invoked PD Act against one of the repeat offenders. Despite this, the civil supplies officials have been blaming the police for showing over enthusiasm.
“It is the job of the enforcement wing of the Civil Supplies Department to monitor and seize vehicles carrying PDS rice illegally. We have other things like maintaining law and order to do. If they do their job, why will we put efforts to prevent this illegal trade?” asked Saidaiah, SI, Madanapuram police station.
“The higher ups in the Civil Supplies Department ask us what business we have in the warehouse. It is our duty to go anywhere and seize anything illegal,” he asserted.
Media plays a major role in seizing these vehicles, but such cases hardly make it to the police stations.
Govt moots new system
The State government has been contemplating depositing money directly into the accounts of ration card holders, so that they can purchase rice or any other item directly, without need for this supply chain. While many are now appreciating the idea because of the gross misuse of the present system which only feeds the corrupt, more deliberations need to be done on this front.
While Dalits and Adivasis who hardly own agricultural land and do not produce rice are the ones who may get affected if the new system is not implemented properly, the ones who are wrongful holders of white ration cards are the ones who may exploit the new system, if a complete purification of ration cards is not done immediately.
If the new system is implemented, how would estimates for requirement of paddy and other items is made and what would be its impact on the paddy sent to FCI warehouses (to be procured by the Centre) is also food for thought, which needs to be studied and analysed.


USA Rice stops in Shepherdstown on East Coast tour

November 8, 2019
Tabitha Johnston - Chronicle Staff Shepherdstown Chronicle
  
SHEPHERDSTOWN -- Hundreds of rice cookers and bags of rice lined the walls of Evolve on Saturday for USA Rice's only stop in West Virginia on their East Coast "Think Rice" promotional tour. Description: http://www.shepherdstownchronicle.com/photos/news/md/518452_1.jpg
Based in Arlington, Va, USA Rice Federation's first promotional tour was held last year on the West Coast. Both events featured free giveaways of one rice cooker and bag of rice per person, along with the sale of raffle tickets for a new Ford truck that was being used to carry the giveaway items, itself decked out with USA Rice insignia.
"We are a trade organization that represents the U.S. rice industry -- that includes farmers, millers and other industry agents," said USA Rice domestic promotions representative Lesley Dixon.

Tom Barton, of Elkins, shows off a bag of red rice he was given by USA Rice in their pop-up shop at Evolve on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston
"Our farmers are all over the country. Mostly in the south, but also in northern California--that's where a lot of the medium grain and short grain rice, or sushi rice, is grown," Dixon said, mentioning the southern farms usually grow long grain, jasmine and basmati rice. "The southern rice farmers are in Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Arkansas. Arkansas grows the most rice in the U.S.
"We're giving out rice cookers, which we bought at-cost, because we did some research and figured out that people would be more willing to eat rice if it were easier to cook," Dixon said, mentioning all of the bags of rice were donated by American farms and millers. "A lot of people don't even know we grow rice in the U.S. Eighty-five percent of the rice we eat in the U.S. is grown in the U.S."
According to USA Rice domestic promotions representative Michael Klein, last year's tour was 5,000 miles over nine states. This year's is also 5,000 miles, but will cover only the District of Columbia and five states: Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia.
"Most people are excited to know that we grow rice in the U.S. -- there's a strong sense that people want to buy U.S. produce," Klein said, mentioning this was the first time USA Rice has held a pop-up shop. The tour typically stops at farmers markets and colleges, or for bar trivia nights and charitable events.
"This morning, we donated 156 pounds of rice to local food banks," Klein said, mentioning rice grown in the U.S. is sustainable and safer to eat than rice grown internationally. "We produce more rice with less land than other countries do, and with no GMOs."
To learn more, visit usarice.com.

CRISIL ratings for Indian debt instruments-Nov 7


NOVEMBER 7, 2019 / 11:57 AM

 Nov 7 (Reuters) - Below are the ratings awarded by Credit Rating Information Service of
India (CRISIL) for local debt instruments as of November 6, 2019.
 
 
COMPANY                               INSTRUMENT         RATING         AMOUNT  MOVEMENT
                                                                        (RS.MLN)
------                                ----------         ------         -----   ---------
SHORT TERM RATINGS:
-------------------
Aditya Timbers                          Overdraft          CRISIL A4      24      Assigned
AIA Engineering Ltd                     LOC & BG%%         CRISIL A1+     500     Reaffirmed
%%nk guarantee is a sub-limit (of Rs 20 crore) of the total limit
Apollo Tyres Ltd                        LOC^               CRISIL A1+     6000    Reaffirmed
^Interchangeable with bank guarantee/letter of undertaking or acceptances for buyer's
credit/packing credit
Apollo Tyres Ltd                        CP                 CRISIL A1+     9000    Reaffirmed
Baba Structural Pvt Ltd                 BG                 CRISIL A4+     17      Reaffirmed
Baba Structural Pvt Ltd                 Bill Discounting   CRISIL A4+     3       Reaffirmed
                                        under LOC
Ford Credit India Pvt Ltd               CP Programme       CRISIL A1+     7500    Reaffirmed
Jaycee Autofab Pvt Ltd                  BG                 CRISIL A3      5       Assigned
Kailash Healthcare Ltd                  BG                 CRISIL A2      20      Reaffirmed
Kailash Hospitals Ltd                   BG                 CRISIL A2      10      Reaffirmed
Kailash Hospitals Ltd                   LOC                CRISIL A2      10      Reaffirmed
KN Engineering Works Pvt Ltd            BG                 CRISIL A4+     50      Assigned
Raghul Spinning Mills                   BG                 CRISIL A4+     3       Upgraded from
                                                                                  CRISIL A4
Ravi Shankar Jaiswal                    Proposed NFBL      CRISIL A4+     35      Assigned
Ravi Shankar Jaiswal                    BG                 CRISIL A4+     36      Assigned
Southern Tropical Foods Pvt Ltd         BG                 CRISIL A3      7.5     Upgraded from
                                                                                  CRISIL A4+'
Southern Tropical Foods Pvt Ltd         Packing Credit     CRISIL A3      400     Upgraded from
                                                                                  CRISIL A4+'
Suven Life Sciences Ltd                 BG                 CRISIL A1      25      -
(Continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications')
Suven Life Sciences Ltd                 LOC                CRISIL A1      200     -
(Continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications')
Tricolite Electrical Industries Ltd     Bill Discounting   CRISIL A4+     100     -
(Migrated from 'CRISIL A4+ ISSUER NOT COOPERATING')
Tricolite Electrical Industries Ltd     LOC                CRISIL A4+     65      -
(Migrated from 'CRISIL A4+ ISSUER NOT COOPERATING')
VR Earth Movers and Constructions Pvt   BG                 CRISIL D       30      Downgraded
Ltd                                                                               from CRISIL A4
(ISSUER NOT COOPERATING)
VR Earth Movers and Constructions Pvt   Overdraft          CRISIL D       20.8    Downgraded
Ltd                                                                               from CRISIL A4
(ISSUER NOT COOPERATING)
 
 
LONG TERM RATINGS:
-------------------
Aditya Timbers                          Proposed TL        CRISIL B+      50      Assigned
Aditya Timbers                          Proposed Overdraft CRISIL B+      6       Assigned
                                        Fac
Aditya Timbers                          Proposed LT Bk     CRISIL B+      20      Assigned
                                        Loan Fac
AIA Engineering Ltd                     CC & WC demand     CRISIL AA+     1000    Reaffirmed
                                        loan**
**Interchangeable with usance bill discounting, export packing credit, foreign bills
discounting, and letter of credit
Apollo Tyres Ltd                        CC**               CRISIL AA+     10000   Reaffirmed
**Interchangeable with working capital demand loan/foreign currency non-repatriable (B)/buyer's
credit/overdraft/foreign bill discounting/export bill receivables
Apollo Tyres Ltd                        Proposed LT Bk     CRISIL AA+     3500    Reaffirmed
                                        Loan Fac
Apollo Tyres Ltd                        TL                 CRISIL AA+     3000    Reaffirmed
Apollo Tyres Ltd                        NCD                CRISIL         5000    Assigned
                                                           AA+/Stable
Apollo Tyres Ltd                        NCD                CRISIL         350     Reaffirmed
                                                           AA+/Stable
Apollo Tyres Ltd                        NCD                CRISIL         4500    Reaffirmed
                                                           AA+/Stable
Apollo Tyres Ltd                        NCD                CRISIL         3000    Reaffirmed
                                                           AA+/Stable
Baba Structural Pvt Ltd                 CC                 CRISIL BB-     150     Reaffirmed
Baba Structural Pvt Ltd                 Channel Financing  CRISIL BB-     50      Reaffirmed
Bargarh Rice Millers Consortium Pvt Ltd CC                 CRISIL BB-     50      Assigned
Bargarh Rice Millers Consortium Pvt Ltd Proposed LT Bk     CRISIL BB-     20      Assigned
                                        Loan Fac
Brij Rama Hospitality Pvt Ltd           Drop Line          CRISIL BB+     50      Assigned
                                        Overdraft Fac
Brij Rama Hospitality Pvt Ltd           Proposed FB Bk     CRISIL BB+     50      Assigned
                                        Limits
Jaycee Autofab Pvt Ltd                  WC Fac             CRISIL BBB-    15      Assigned
Jaycee Autofab Pvt Ltd                  CC                 CRISIL BBB-    100     Assigned
Kailash Healthcare Ltd                  CC                 CRISIL BBB+    350     Reaffirmed
Kailash Healthcare Ltd                  TL                 CRISIL BBB+    1290    Reaffirmed
Kailash Hospitals Ltd                   CC                 CRISIL BBB+    30      Reaffirmed
Kailash Hospitals Ltd                   TL                 CRISIL BBB+    80.5    Reaffirmed
Kailash Hospitals Ltd                   Proposed FB Bk     CRISIL BBB+    17.5    Reaffirmed
                                        Limits
KN Engineering Works Pvt Ltd            Foreign Bill       CRISIL BB      20      Assigned
                                        Discounting
KN Engineering Works Pvt Ltd            Export Packing     CRISIL BB      80      Assigned
                                        Credit
Motilal Oswal Real Estate (MORE)        India Reality      -              -       -
                                        Excellence Fund -IV
(CRISIL Fund Management Capability Level - 1 -  Renewed & Reaffirmed)
Odisha Generation Phase II Transmission Rupee TL*          -              9540    Withdrawn
Ltd
*Sublimit of letter of credit equivalent to 80% of the rupee term loan amount
Raghul Spinning Mills                   CC                 CRISIL BB-     60      Upgraded from
                                                                                  CRISIL
                                                                                  B+/Stable
Raghul Spinning Mills                   Proposed LT Bk     CRISIL BB-     8       Upgraded from
                                        Loan Fac                                  CRISIL
                                                                                  B+/Stable
Raghul Spinning Mills                   TL                 CRISIL BB-     19      Upgraded from
                                                                                  CRISIL
                                                                                  B+/Stable
Ravi Shankar Jaiswal                    CC                 CRISIL BB      11      Assigned
Southern Tropical Foods Pvt Ltd         Foreign Bill       CRISIL BBB-    450     Upgraded from
                                        Discounting                               CRISIL
                                                                                  BB+/Positive
Southern Tropical Foods Pvt Ltd         LT Loan            CRISIL BBB-    130     Upgraded from
                                                                                  CRISIL
                                                                                  BB+/Positive
Southern Tropical Foods Pvt Ltd         Proposed LT Bk     CRISIL BBB-    12.5    Upgraded from
                                        Loan Fac                                  CRISIL
                                                                                  BB+/Positive
Suven Life Sciences Ltd                 CC                 CRISIL A       310     -
(Continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications')
Suven Life Sciences Ltd                 Standby FB Limits  CRISIL A       50      -
(Continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications')
Suven Life Sciences Ltd                 WC Fac             CRISIL A       500     -
(Continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications')
Tricolite Electrical Industries Ltd     CC                 CRISIL BB      70      -
(Migrated from 'CRISIL BB-/Stable ISSUER NOT COOPERATING')
Tricolite Electrical Industries Ltd     Proposed LT Bk     CRISIL BB      3       -
                                        Loan Fac
(Migrated from 'CRISIL BB-/Stable ISSUER NOT COOPERATING')
Tricolite Electrical Industries Ltd     TL                 CRISIL BB      52      -
(Migrated from 'CRISIL BB-/Stable ISSUER NOT COOPERATING')
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$: Rating watch with positive implication
#: Rating Watch with Developing implications
@: Rating Watch with Negative Implications
%: Rating under Credit Watch
wd -Rating Stands Withdrawn
sp -Rating Suspended
pp -Principal Protected
pn -Principal Not Protected
 
CRISIL may apply + or - signs for ratings to reflect a comparative standing within the category.
 
BG-Bank Guarantee; CC-Cash Credit; CCPS-Cumulative Convertible Preference Share; CD-Certificate
of Deposit; CLO-Collateralized Loan Obligation; CPA-Claims Paying Ability; CP-Commercial
Paper; CPS-convertible preference shares; CRPS- Cumulative Redeemable Convertible Preference
shares; DDB-Deep Discount Bond; EPBI-Exchange premium bond; FBL-Fund Based Limits; FRB/FRN
-Floating Rate Bond/Note; ICD -Inter Corporate Deposit; ITD-Immediate Term Debt; LOC-Letter of
Credit; LT -Long Term; LTB -Long Term Borrowing; LTD -Long Term Debt; MOCD-multiple option
convertible debenture; MTD -Medium term Debenture; MTN-medium term notes; NCD(SO) -
Non-Convertible Debenture-(Structured Obligation); NCD-Non-convertible Debentures; NCRB-Non
Convertible Redeemable Bonds; NM-Not Meaningful; OCD-optionally convertible debenture; OD-Over
Draft; OFCD-Optionally Fully Convertible Debenture; PCD-Partially Convertible Debenture;
PCN-partly convertible notes; PCPS-Partly Convertible Preference Share; POCD-partly optional;
PP-privately placed; PSPC-Post Shipment & Packing Credit; PS-Preference Shares; PTC-Pass
Through Certificates; RPS-Redeemable Preference Shares; SCPN-secured convertible preference
notes; SDO-Structured Debt Obligation; SLR-Statutory Liquidity Ratio; SO-Structured
Obligation; SPCD - Secured Partly Convertible Debentures; SPN-secured premium notes; STB-Short
Term Bond; STD-Short Term Debentures; ST-Short Term; Sub. Bonds-Subordinate Bonds; TB-Taxable
Bond; TFB-Tax Free Bond; TL-Term Loan; TOCD-triple option convertible debentures.
 
(Mumbai Rate Reporting Unit + 91 22 6180 7222 / 3317 7222 , E-mail at
rru.data@thomsonreuters.com)

Power shortages again in dry season, says prime minister

Thou Vireak | Publication date 07 November 2019 | 23:31 ICT
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The Kingdom can currently generate a total of 1,328MW from hydropower, but low water levels will increase electricity shortages, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Thursday. Heng Chivoan
Cambodia will face power shortages again from the end of this year throughout the dry season, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Thursday.
Speaking at the official launch of the National Strategic Development Plan 2019-2023, Hun Sen said the shortages were due to unprecedented low water levels in the Mekong River leading to hydropower generation dropping below local demand.
The Kingdom can currently generate a total of 1,328MW from hydropower, he said, but the low water levels will increase electricity shortages from 184MW to 687MW.
“I recommend Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem to order the acceleration of the construction and preparation of the 400MW power generators earlier than planned, adding more workers and working day and night,” the prime minister said.
He was referring to the $180 million 200MW generator from Germany and the $175 million 200MW power generator from Finland that the government agreed to purchase in June and July, respectively.
In June, Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) signed an agreement with two Chinese companies to build a $380 million 400MW oil and liquefied natural gas power plant in Kandal province’s Lvea Em district.
Victor Jona, the director-general of the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s General Department of Energy, said the plant will be online in May next year.
“This plant will help curb the shortage of electricity during the dry season – when demand is the highest – as our hydropower production is reduced. I appeal to consumers to save power altogether,” said Jona.
To address the power shortages, he said, the government is planning talks late this month or early next month with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) to purchase an additional 300MW of power.
Early in September, a cabinet meeting decided that the government will purchase 2,400MW of electricity from Laos.
A lack of electricity supply has become an obstacle to the Kingdom’s manufacturing sector, which faces higher electricity costs compared to neighbouring countries and puts a strain on competitiveness.
Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) vice-president Chan Sokheang said the advance notice could help prepare rice millers to adjust their production lines.
“We need a lot of power. We will meet with the EdC and negotiate so that rice millers [who are] members [of the CRF] can operate. We will find a solution and talk to the rice millers . . . try to grind at night, try to shift schedules around,” Sokheang said.
Last year, Cambodia consumed 2,650MW of electricity, a 15 per cent increase compared to 2017. Of the amount, 442MW was imported from Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. The rest was produced in Cambodia from coal-fired plants, hydropower dams and solar farms.
Journalists thrashed by mills owner Our staff reporter
 A Daska based journalist and his cameraman were beaten by the owners and employees of a local flour mill in Daska.According to the FIR, Rana Ghulam Mustafa, a reporter of ARY News Channel, and cameraman Irfan went to the said rice mills in Daska for getting the version of the millers regarding the shortage of the flour in Daska.
After seeing the journalist, mills’ owner Abdul Rasheed became infuriated and called some employees in his office. Later, the accused locked the journalist and his cameraman in the office and thrashed them. The journalist made an emergency call to the local police for help. The accused also broke the camera and mobile phones of the journalist and kept them hostaged there for an hour besides threatening them with dire consequences. 
Later, a police team reached there and rescued the journalist and cameraman.
On the report of victim journalist, the Daska City police have registered a case ( No. 852/2019)against accused under sections 34,  342, 427 and 506 PPC, with no arrest, in this regard. Local journalists have expressed grave concern over this incident, demanding early arrest of the accused...#
A married woman committed suicide at Kamalia on Thursday. Police said deceased Azra Bibi, 30, wife of Muhammad Waris of Khurshid Abad locality, took poison after quarreling with her in-laws over some domestic issue.
When her husband knew he shifted her to Kamalia tehsel headquarter hospital but she expired at there after few hours.

ASIA RICE-THAI TRADERS HOPE FOR BOOST IN SHIPMENTS FROM IRAQ DEAL

11/7/2019
* India prices drop to $365-$370 a tonne from $368-$372
* Rains delay harvesting, damage paddies in many Indian states
* Bangladesh rice output may jump 2.27% in May-April- USDA
* Vietnam's jasmine rice prices climb to $520/tonne
By Swati Verma
BENGALURU, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Thai rice export prices were little changed this week, but traders hoped a deal with Iraq could bolster shipments, while lacklustre demand and a slightly weaker rupee weighed on rates for the Indian variety.
Local media on Wednesday reported Thailand signed a deal to sell rice to Iraq, nearly 10 years after losing contracts over quality concerns.
Traders said they hoped the new Iraqi market could jumpstart fresh demand for Thai rice.
Also, fresh supply, which is expected to enter the market in the coming weeks, could potentially bring down Thai prices, they added.
Thai exports have been hurt by the relatively higher prices for the variety from Thailand, especially compared with Vietnamese prices, mostly due to a strong baht -- Asia's best-performing currency this year, trader said.
One Thai trader said he was unable to sell any rice for more than one month because customers turned to cheaper options from Vietnam.
"It's been terrible. We've lost a lot of income," said another trader, who has been facing the same problem for three months.
Thailand's benchmark 5-percent broken rice <RI-THBKN5-P1> prices were quoted at $390-$408 a tonne, versus $390-$413 last week.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice <RI-VNBKN5-P1> were unchanged from last week at $345-$350 a tonne on Thursday amid lacklustre trading.
The country's export prices had risen to a four-and-a-half-month high last month.
"Low supplies at the end of the summer-autumn harvest have helped keep prices from falling," said a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader.
However, no deals were struck this week as most buyers were waiting for new supply from the autumn-winter harvest in the Mekong Delta, which is expected to come in bulk in December, another trader said.
"While prices of the regular 5% broken rice stayed flat, prices of jasmine rice have climbed up to $520 per tonne due to tight supplies," he added.
Top exporter India's 5 percent broken parboiled variety <RI-INBKN5-P1> was quoted around $365-$370 per tonne this week, down from $368-$372 last week.
"Demand is weak. We are waiting for the new season supplies that could rise from this month," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Many rice growing states received rainfall in the last two weeks, which delayed harvesting and damaged paddy crops ready for harvesting, exporters said.
In Bangladesh, rice output is expected to jump 2.27% to 35.8 million tonnes in the May-April marketing year, thanks to favourable weather, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.
Rice imports are expected to hit 50,000 tonnes in the year to April, down 50% from a year earlier, USDA said in its latest report on Bangladesh, released this week. (Reporting by Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi, Patpicha Tanakasempipat in Bangkok, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
INVESTIGATION: Border closure bites hard on rice, textile shops in Benin Republic
By Sunday Michael Ogwu, Lagos | Published Date Nov 8, 2019 4:10 AM
Telegram Investigation by our reporter has revealed that the major textile and rice markets in Cotonou, Benin Republic, have seen a massive decline in patronage following the complete closure of the land borders and increased clampdown on smuggling. A 24-hour observation at the Seme border post revealed a complete compliance with the FG’s directive on the closure of borders to both imports and exports as only passenger movement is aloud. ADVERTISEMENT In August, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the closure of Nigeria’s land border with Benin, hence preventing the import of goods. ADVERTISEMENT OVER 5,000 NIGERIAN MEN HAVE  OVERCOME POOR BEDROOM PERFORMANCE SYNDROME DUE TO THIS BRILLIANT DISCOVERY This recent move is part of an effort to tackle smuggling and associated corruption and also to spur domestic agricultural industry. On October 14, 2019, Nigeria ordered the closure of its border with Benin, as well as those with other countries, for the same reason. According to the Nigerian maritime site Ships and Ports, in 2014 Benin lowered its tariffs on rice imports from 35 to seven per cent, while Cameroon erased it completely from 10 per cent. Neighbouring Benin then recorded an astronomical rise in imports from Thailand, the world’s second largest producer of rice. At its height, each of Benin’s 11.5 million citizens would have had to consume at least 150kg of rice from Thailand alone. With the market for smuggled food now restricted, domestic food prices – already high – have gone up and the economy of neighbouring Benin – a staging area for smuggling into Nigeria – has been devastated. At the border front on the Benin area, commercial activities have drastically reduced from mere observation compared with the last time this reporter visited before the closure. Foreign rice, which litters most shops around the area hardly get buyers despite selling at N9,000. Commercial cab drivers are not left out. Mr Oliver, a Benin citizen who conveyed this reporter to the major market for cars, textile and rice, repeatedly expressed frustration at the border closure. Oliver said, “Oga, I used to do five trips between Seme border and Cotonou daily before the closure. I have been at the park since 04:30am and it is 12:30pm, and this is my first trip.” Right inside the border area, trailers carrying sardine, milk, turkey and chicken have been abandoned, with many of them already rotting and smelling. Our reporter also came across several trailer loads of cow skin (kpomo) purportedly from Mali also rotting away and forcing the owners to rent warehouses to offload. Some others were seen drying the skin on the floor along the road to salvage some. At the textile and rice market in Dantokpa and Missebo in Cotonou, the major dealers are mostly Chinese and Lebanese and the native Benin people chasing after clients and getting commission from sales. The market is a shadow of itself, with the shops stocked with goods and very few native buyers. A Lebanese textile trader, Samir, said, “What Nigeria has done is devastating. We had already ordered these goods on the high sea for December rush when the government closed the border. “When Nigerians used to come, one person buys textile wax worth around CFR15m CFR. But these days, as big as this shop, I hardly make sales of CFR100,000.” When our reporter visited the used clothes section of the market, the lamentations were the same. Emeka Eze, a trader in used clothes, said, “My brother, we are in serious trouble. I have not been able to sell one bale in one month. I used to sale two bales in one day when the borders were opened. “We are begging the Cotonou government to settle with our government so that we can survive.” At the several mega car plazas around Tokpa, the story was the same for used car dealers, mostly Lebanese and Indians. Luxembourg-based shipping company, BIM e-solutions, said an average of 10,000 cars arrived at the Cotonou port from Europe monthly. Findings by our reporter revealed that a used Lexus 2014 which used to be sold for CFR15m now goes for around CFR11m. On the Nigerian side, some amount of foreign rice makes it to the communities around the Seme border and a  50kg bag is sold for N11,000. However, the several Customs, Immigration and police checkpoints have discouraged buyers as you would be forced to pay heavily to move just one bag to Badagry; a 10km distance. In fact, commercial drivers reject passengers with any kind of load except you open them for inspection to ensure that nothing inside will land them in trouble. A passenger from Seme to Badagry who had five pieces of dry fish worth about N1,000 in the taxi this reporter traveled in, paid N200 at each of the two checkpoints to Customs before we were allowed to continue. The Customs checkpoints at Sesikodji junction and Gbaji road junction are notorious for these checks and extortion as closely observed by this reporter. At the bridge before Badagry, there are about five checkpoints, with a distance of 50 meters from one to the other, comprising Customs, Police and Immigration. These officials collect money for a pair of shoes, a bottle of groundnut oil, fish, textile, herbs, tin tomatoes, among others.
 The officers are ruthless; they can be seen recklessly emptying travellers bags in search of contraband. Meanwhile, the impact of the border closure seems to be creeping in as workers at Nichem Textile Factory around Ogolonto area of Ikorodu, Lagos, told our reporter that they had resumed their shifts owing to increased patronage of the company’s products. A worker said, “We were recalled recently because their inventory has gone down and we have continued to be busy in the last three months.” The National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) said the border closure had not only curtailed importation of smuggled textile materials into Nigeria, but that it was reviving the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sub-sector. In an interview with the President of NACOTAN, Mr. Anibe Achimugu, he said, “The reduction in the influx of textile materials Description: CBN_Governor_Godwin_Emefieleinto the country has boosted the morale of players in the sub-sector to get back to work. “The major advantage of the closure is the control it has brought to the importation of smuggled textile materials, including used clothes. The closure has reduced that significantly, but that also puts a burden on us to fill the gap. We have to start developing our internal capacities to meet the needs of Nigerians.
 The association is fully in support of the partial closure of borders.” Meanwhile, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has said if the closure of the land borders was sustained for the next two years, the issue of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping would be eradicated. Emefiele who stated this at the first Convocation Lecture of Edo University, Iyamho, Auchi, at the weekend, explained that if the youths, who were into vices, were gainfully engaged, insecurity would reduce to the barest minimum.
He said, “I can tell you that if our borders remain closed for two years, the issue of Boko Haram, kidnapping, banditry and Yahoo-Yahoo will stop. CBN will promote this policy by making sure that we produce what we consume and eat what we produce.” He vowed that the apex bank would not allow the country to be used as dumping ground for smuggled goods. Emefiele further said, “Instead of some neighbouring countries to develop policies to grow their own economies, they rather engage in things that undermine the Nigerian economy.”





Govt. will purchase damaged crops: Minister

NIZAMABAD, NOVEMBER 07, 2019 23:51 IST
UPDATED: NOVEMBER 07, 2019 23:51 IST
Minister V. Prashanth Reddy observing damaged crop at Nalluru village in Nizamabad district on Thursday.   | Photo Credit: K_V_RAMANA

Description: Minister V. Prashanth Reddy observing damaged crop at Nalluru village in Nizamabad district on Thursday.Collector asked to hold a meeting with concerned officials

Minister for Roads and Buildings V. Prashanth Reddy asked farmers not to worry over crops damaged due to the recent rains as the government would purchase it.
He was addressing the farmers after inaugurating a paddy purchase centre at Nalluru village in Mupkal mandal on Thursday, where he inspected the damaged crops.
After the assessment by the officials, it was found that crops in around 22,000 acres was damaged at Nalluru village. Allaying farmers’ fear of not getting MSP for their produce, he asked District Collector M. Ram Mohan Rao to issue orders for the purchase of soaked grain at all the purchase centres and transport the same to rice mills immediately.
The Collector was asked to hold a meeting with the District Civil Supplies Officer, rice millers and the officials of the Agriculture Department on what to be done with the soaked grain. The Minister was appraised about the hurdles that the district authorities would face in purchasing soaked paddy.
Mr. Prashanth Reddy asked the Agriculture Department to look into the issue of compensation to farmers who suffered severe loss. The Minister suggested the officials to take an individual farmer as a unit.
Also, he unveiled the statues of Jyothi Rao Phule and Telangana Talli on the occasion.

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Kano/Jigawa Customs Command Says Smuggling Has Drastically Reduced

 On Nov 7, 2019
Description: Customs


The Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says the activities of smugglers across its coverage areas have reduced drastically since the closure of land borders in the country.
Mr Isa Danbaba, the command’s Public Relations Officer, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday, in Kano, said the success was achieved due to the serious measures put in place by the NCS to reduce the smuggling of contraband products, especially rice and other food items.
“In spite of the drastic reduction of smugglers’ activities in this zone, up till now we have not achieved our target of reducing it to the lowest level as you know, I cannot say to zero level because it cannot be possible,” he said.
He said lack of cooperation from the residents of those border areas by not providing all necessary information on the activities of the smugglers was one of the biggest challenges hampering the operations of the area command.
“Therefore, we are calling on them to give us more support by providing all the necessary information on the smugglers.
“We are doing everything possible to enlighten the public on the danger of smuggling the contraband products into the country,” he said.
Danbaba said that from October 14 to October 20, the command had intercepted 11350 kgs of smuggled rice with over N2.9 million Duty Paid Value (DPV) in addition to seizing one vehicle as a means of transportation.
“From October 21 to October 27, we intercepted 223 compressed blocks and one small sack of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp).
“We also seized 34 bags of foreign rice of 50 kg and nine bales of second-hand clothing. All the seizures within this period have DPV of over N4.6 million,“ he added.
Alhaji Auwalu Yusuf, the Chairman of Dawanau International Grains Market Traders Association said the closure of the land borders would boost food production and help to improve the country’s economy.
He said that the measure taken by the Federal Government would encourage many farmers to be more productive, encourage many people to go into farming business and improve the nation’s economy.
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“Nigerian farmers can feed the country and some neighbouring countries if given the needed support by the government.’’
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He said that in spite of the closure of land borders, there was no significant increase in the prices of food items in the market as being speculated.
He said that four years back, a bag of maize was sold for N20, 000 and now a bag costs N9, 000.
Yusuf added that some of the foodstuffs only recorded price increase of between N500 and N1, 000, which according to him is normal.
The chairman said that President Muhammadu Buhari meant well for the country going by his actions, adding that the president would not introduce any policy deliberately to hurt the masses in the country.
“We cannot say that traders are doing well, but the truth is that we have started enjoying the impact and we are going to witness more by the grace of God,” he said.
According to him, the policy or measure had also encouraged Nigerians to patronise our local products and seriously helped in employment generation.
He said that the decision had also generated employment for women and youths involved in the processing of rice.
Yusuf said that many people were currently engaged in rice processing and there was an increase in the number of rice mills in the state.
“With the need support of the government, there is hope that Nigeria can produce enough to feed its citizens and export it,” he said.
The chairman also appealed to the government to provide a laboratory in the market for testing products before export.
“We only have two laboratories in the whole of Nigeria, one in Lagos and the other one in Port Harcourt, and about 75 per cent of the products tested there passed through Dawanau Market.
“We are appealing to the President to provide one for us in Kano, specifically in Dawanau Market for convenience,” he added.
According to him, Dawanau international grains market, being the biggest grains market in West Africa, lacks basic amenities.

RPT-Asia Rice-Thai traders hope for boost in shipments from Iraq deal
Swati Verma
NOVEMBER 8, 2019 / 6:32 AM
·        
(Repeats item originally published on Nov 7, no change to content)
* India prices drop to $365-$370 a tonne from $368-$372
* Rains delay harvesting, damage paddies in many Indian states
* Bangladesh rice output may jump 2.27% in May-April- USDA
* Vietnam’s jasmine rice prices climb to $520/tonne
By Swati Verma
BENGALURU, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Thai rice export prices were little changed this week, but traders hoped a deal with Iraq could bolster shipments, while lacklustre demand and a slightly weaker rupee weighed on rates for the Indian variety.
Local media on Wednesday reported Thailand signed a deal to sell rice to Iraq, nearly 10 years after losing contracts over quality concerns.
Traders said they hoped the new Iraqi market could jumpstart fresh demand for Thai rice.
Also, fresh supply, which is expected to enter the market in the coming weeks, could potentially bring down Thai prices, they added.
Thai exports have been hurt by the relatively higher prices for the variety from Thailand, especially compared with Vietnamese prices, mostly due to a strong baht — Asia’s best-performing currency this year, trader said.
One Thai trader said he was unable to sell any rice for more than one month because customers turned to cheaper options from Vietnam.
“It’s been terrible. We’ve lost a lot of income,” said another trader, who has been facing the same problem for three months.
Thailand’s benchmark 5-percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 prices were quoted at $390-$408 a tonne, versus $390-$413 last week.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 were unchanged from last week at $345-$350 a tonne on Thursday amid lacklustre trading.
The country’s export prices had risen to a four-and-a-half-month high last month.
“Low supplies at the end of the summer-autumn harvest have helped keep prices from falling,” said a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader.
However, no deals were struck this week as most buyers were waiting for new supply from the autumn-winter harvest in the Mekong Delta, which is expected to come in bulk in December, another trader said.
“While prices of the regular 5% broken rice stayed flat, prices of jasmine rice have climbed up to $520 per tonne due to tight supplies,” he added.
Top exporter India’s 5 percent broken parboiled variety RI-INBKN5-P1 was quoted around $365-$370 per tonne this week, down from $368-$372 last week.
“Demand is weak. We are waiting for the new season supplies that could rise from this month,” said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Many rice growing states received rainfall in the last two weeks, which delayed harvesting and damaged paddy crops ready for harvesting, exporters said.
In Bangladesh, rice output is expected to jump 2.27% to 35.8 million tonnes in the May-April marketing year, thanks to favourable weather, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.
Rice imports are expected to hit 50,000 tonnes in the year to April, down 50% from a year earlier, USDA said in its latest report on Bangladesh, released this week. (Reporting by Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi, Patpicha Tanakasempipat in Bangkok, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

As climate change hits crops, debate heats up over use of plant gene data
Thin Lei Win
NOVEMBER 8, 2019 / 12:08 PM
ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Rich and poor countries are at loggerheads over how to share benefits from genetic plant data that could help breed crops better able to withstand climate change, as negotiations to revise a global treaty are set to resume in Rome on Monday.

The little-known agreement is seen as crucial for agricultural research and development on a planet suffering rising hunger, malnutrition and the impacts of climate change.

“We need all the ‘genetics’ around the world to be able to breed crops that will adapt to global warming,” said Sylvain Aubry, a plant biologist who advises the Swiss government.

Rising temperatures, water shortages and creeping deserts could reduce both the quantity and quality of food production, including staple crops such as wheat and rice, scientists have warned.

The debate over “digital sequence information” (DSI) has erupted as the cost of sequencing genomes falls, boosting the availability of genetic plant data, Aubry said.

“A lot of modern crop breeding relies on these data today,” he added.

At the same time, the capability of machines to process vast amounts of that data to identify special crop traits such as disease resistance or heat tolerance has grown.

Pierre du Plessis, an African technical advisor on treaty issues, said companies and breeders can use DSI to identify the genetic sequence of a desired plant trait and send it by e-mail to a gene foundry that prints and mails back a strand of DNA.

“Then you use gene-editing technology to incorporate that strand into a plant. So you have created a new variety without accessing the trait in biological form,” he said.

That process could enable businesses to circumvent the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture which stipulates that the benefits derived from using material from species it covers - including money and new technology - must be shared.

Developing states, which are home to many plant species such as maize and legumes used in breeding, hope to add digital sequence information to the treaty’s scope.

This would force companies and breeders that develop new commercial crops from that data to pay a percentage of their sales or profits into a fund now managed by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The fund’s resources are used to conserve and develop plant genetic resources - the basis of the foods humans eat - so that farmers, particularly in the developing world, can cope better with a warming climate.

Most wealthy nations, which are generally more active in seed production, argue digital information on plant genetics should be available to use without an obligation to share benefits.

“There’s almost no one still doing the old-fashioned, ‘let’s try it and see’ breeding. It’s all based on the understanding of genome and a lot of CRISPR gene editing creeping in,” said du Plessis.

CRISPR is a technology that allows genome editing in plant and animal cells. Scientists say it could lead to cures for diseases driven by genetic mutations or abnormalities, and help create crops resilient to climate extremes.

But developing nations and civil society groups such as the Malaysia-based Third World Network say companies that develop new crop varieties using this information could lock access to their critical traits using intellectual property rights.

SCIENCE FICTION?
The treaty row emerged in late October when representatives of governments, the seed industry, research organisations and civil society attended a meeting at FAO headquarters in Rome.

Negotiations have been going on for more than six years to update the treaty, which came into force in 2004 and governs access to 64 crops and forage plants judged as key to feeding the world.

Last month, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and Germany rejected a proposal from the co-chairs of the talks to include “information, including genetic sequence data” in the treaty’s provisions on benefit-sharing.

Africa, India, Latin America and the Caribbean pushed back but the meeting ended without a compromise, which negotiators now hope to secure before the treaty’s governing body meets on Nov. 11.

The International Seed Federation, a body representing the $42-billion seed industry, says plant breeding still requires the use of physical material and it is too early to set the rules on genetic data.

“Developing policy based on speculation and on things that are bordering on scientific fiction doesn’t seem wise,” said Thomas Nickson, who attended the Rome talks for the federation.

“It is critical to have the information publicly available, especially for small companies in developing countries,” he added.

But Edward Hammond, an advisor to Third World Network, said small farmers needed support, and open access to plant data should not mean a “no-strings-attached free-for-all”.

“Resilience to climate change is being grown in the fields,” he said. “Interesting and new varieties are appearing in the fields as they adapt. This is not coming from companies using new seeds.”

‘UNFAIR’ SYSTEM
Kent Nnadozie, secretary of the treaty, said if it were agreed the genetic data should be freely available, it would be mostly developed countries that had the capacity, resources and technology to put it to use.

“The fear is that (this) perpetuates and reinforces an unfair system or... amplifies it,” he said.

Concerns over increasing privatization and monopolization of food crops - which experts say threaten agricultural biodiversity - played a role in the treaty’s origins.

Its aim was to build a multilateral approach to access and exchange plant resources, with “fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use” as a means to address historical imbalances between farmers and seed companies.

While breeders and seed firms rarely pay for the knowledge and genetic resources they source from farmers and indigenous peoples, farmers usually have to buy the seeds of the improved crop varieties businesses produce and sell.

So far, more than 5.4 million samples of plant genetic resources have been transferred under the treaty between governments, research institutes and the private sector in 181 countries, its secretariat said.

A large majority of those transfers are improved materials from CGIAR, the global agricultural research network, to public-sector research organizations in developing countries tackling food security issues, said Michael Halewood, head of policy at Bioversity International, a CGIAR center.

“Countries around the world have always been interdependent on crop genetic resources. Climate change is making us all more interdependent than ever on those resources,” he said.

Reporting by Thin Lei Win @thinink; editing by Megan Rowling. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, and property rights. Visit www.trust.org

DJI’s Agras Drones are Being Deployed in the Fight Against Malaria
 Malek Murisonon: November 07, 2019
DJI’s Agras drones are being used by scientists in Tanzania to combat mosquito populations. The Agras MG-1S, typically adopted by farmers to spray pesticides over crops, is one element of a revolutionary attempt to fight Malaria.
The equipment is being customized and used by entomologists in Zanzibar in a pilot project that could eventually change the way mosquito populations are controlled.
Description: https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/malaria1-1024x614.png
Drowning mosquitos with help from DJI
The Anti-Malaria Drones project is being led by Dr. Bart Knols. The new method of fighting mosquito populations involves spraying infested rice fields with a unique non-toxic and biodegradable silicone-based liquid. The liquid is spread across stagnant water, creating a thin film that prevents pupae and larvae from breathing at the surface – effectively causing them to drown.
The trail started in October in Zanzibar. The aim is to show that the precision application of biological insecticides in rice fields can significantly reduce the local mosquito population. The team will sample the larval and emerging mosquito population before, during and after spraying to determine the possible impact of the approach. If successful, it could be rolled out across the continent.
“This experience has been made possible thanks to a customized DJI Agras MG1-S spray drone, enabling the deployment of the Aquatain liquid over rice paddies”, said Dr. Bart Knols, the scientist behind the project.
“The use of spray drones proves to be essential in efficiently treating large rice fields, because spraying by hand is very time consuming and using a helicopter is too expensive and simply not realistic.”
In the pilot project, several rice paddies in Zanzibar are being sprayed with differing levels of the organic pesticide. Some are not being sprayed at all to provide a benchmark to measure the results against.
The hope is that in the fields sprayed with the Aquatain liquid, the numbers of mosquitos emerging into adulthood will be significantly reduced, which will, in turn, lead to a drop in bites and a local reduction in the transmission of malaria.
After the trial, the scientific team intends to publish the findings in a scientific journal generate publicity around the new method.
“This pilot project is the first attempt to fight malaria with spray drones on such a large scale. If the results of these tests are as good as expected, this could give a tremendous boost for winning the fight against malaria,” said Professor Wolfgang Richard Mukabana from the University of Nairobi.
Description: https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/agras-1024x683.jpg
DJI tech used for good, again
This isn’t the first time DJI’s drones have been used for good. The company already supplies search and rescue teams, inspection crews, public safety officials and more with life-saving technology.
“We are proud to be pioneers in this field along with scientific experts using our spray drones against malaria in Africa, and we have great hopes that this approach will significantly contribute towards defeating this fatal disease in affected regions around the world”, said Dr. Barbara Stelzner, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication at DJI Europe.
“Reducing the cases of new malaria infections will not only put an end to all the suffering of people, but it will also contribute to generating larger harvests, and provide new economical perspectives in Africa.”
The sky’s the limit: Could drones help eliminate malaria altogether?
In conjunction with the new pesticide that builds a physical barrier rather than a chemical one, drone technology could soon play a huge role in fighting malaria around the world.
In an interview, Dr. Bart Knols argues that some countries in Africa could see the disease eliminated completely if the right steps are taken.
“If you’re asking me what is my vision with this technology I would tell you: I see several countries in Africa that could use drone technology to actually eliminate their malaria problem.
Two examples: the Gambia in West Africa. You could use drones to spray all of the river’s flood plains and remove your malaria problem there. Second, Sudan: the Nile river. You could use drones flying up and down the Nile to control these mosquitos and get rid of malaria altogether.
There’s really a role to play for drone technology in eventually moving malaria down to zero.”
Description: https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/87eeb60970784b69ef05e56427cec5ab?s=100&d=mm&r=r
Malek Murison is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for tech trends and innovation. He handles product reviews, major releases and keeps an eye on the enthusiast market for DroneLife.
Email Malek
Twitter:@malekmurison


How Do You Tackle Crop Burning? Here Are 5 Solutions That Can Work!
Description: How Do You Tackle Crop Burning? Here Are 5 Solutions That Can Work!What does groundwater have to do with stubble burning in Punjab? As it turns out, a lot. Which is why we need solutions that help farmers. #DelhiAirEmergency #DelhiSmog
·       RINCHEN NORBU WANGCHUK
·       NOVEMBER 7, 2019
Every winter, vast swathes of North India, particularly the Delhi-NCR region, get engulfed under a cloud of poisonous smog.
Besides the usual suspects, one singular phenomenon which has a massive bearing on the devastating air quality in the Delhi-NCR region is the decision of farmers, especially in Punjab and Haryana, to burn their fields following the rice harvest.

Keep yourself safe from respiratory infections with this ultrasoft, lightweight and comfortable mask which keeps dust, germs and airborne contaminants out!

According to an August 2019 study titled ‘Fields on fire: Alternatives to crop residue burning in India,’ published in the journal Science, farmers in northwest India burn around 23 million tonnes of rice straw so that they can clear the land quickly for the sowing of wheat.
The effects are devastating. Air quality monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR registered above 999 on the Air Quality Index, which is way beyond emergency levels. Schools and offices were forced are forced to shut down for days.
As per a report in Business Standard, officials at the Central Pollution Control Board last year stated that stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana contributed to 20-30% of the capital’s overall air-pollution for that period.
While it’s important to note that crop burning only exacerbates the air quality crisis for 15 days to a month (last week of October and the first week of November), and isn’t a core source of air pollution, we also urgently need definitive solutions.
Description: Crop burning (Source: Flickr/CIAT)Crop burning (Source: Flickr/CIAT)
Here are some of them:
1) Waste Decomposer
Scientists at the National Centre for Organic Farming have developed a ‘Waste Decomposer’ solution concocted with effective microorganisms that propel in-situ composting of the crop residue.
“This is done by spraying the preparation on the post-harvest stalks of crop plants and leaving it for a month. The waste decomposer comes in a small bottle that is distributed to farmers at a measly price of 20. According to the centre officials, the solution can decompose over 10,000 metric tons of biowaste in 30 days. The same can also be used in foliar spray and via drip irrigation,” says this TBI report.
2) Converting Crop Stubble Into Animal Feed, Manure, Cardboard
In a recent tweet, eminent agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan said, “In South India, stubble is not burnt as there’s economic value as animal feed. For years I pointed out many commercial uses of rice straw. We should adopt a do-ecology approach with farmers to convert rice stubble into income rather than making them agents of eco-disaster.”
You can also upcycle stubble to make products including paper, cardboard and animal feed. In Palla village outside Delhi, for example, a non-profit called the Nandi Foundation recently shared a tweet of its initiative where 800 MT of paddy residue was purchased from farmers to turn it into manure.
Prof.@msswaminathan This is exactly what @naandi_india has been doing! The pictures below are from our #UrbanFarmsCo farmers cluster in Palla village of #Delhi where purchased 800MT of paddy residue from farmers to prevent them from burning! We will now compost it as manure! https://t.co/DgmBCEaZE5 pic.twitter.com/St1fOaSNHj
— Manoj Kumar (@manoj_naandi) November 4, 2019
3) Happy Seeder
Description: Happy Seeder Machine (Source: Twitter/Pooja Shali) (Source: Twitter/Pooja Shali)
Instead of burning the stubble, a tractor-mounted machine called the Happy Seeder “cuts and lifts rice straw, sows wheat into the bare soil, and deposits the straw over the sown area as mulch,” says this Ideas For India article.
According to a recent study published in the journal Science, it will “eliminate air pollution by crop burning and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from on-farm activities by more than 78% relative to all burning options.”
Having said that, there are concerns surrounding the machine’s costs and maintenance that need to be addressed.
4) Converting Crop Stubble to Biodegradable Cutlery
Description: (Source: IIT Delhi)(Source: IIT Delhi)
Kriya Labs, an IIT-Delhi startup, has developed a machine that can convert the leftover rice straw into pulp, and that is further moulded to produce biodegradable cutlery.
“The straw is treated with a natural solvent to separate the organic polymer from cellulose leading to the formation of pulp. The semi-solid substance is then dried and moulded into biodegradable cups, plates and jars. This entire operation is eco-friendly and sustainable,” says Kanika Prajapat, the Chief Technology Officer, speaking to YourStory.
Kriya claim that in a day they can generate 4-5 tonnes of rice pulp with residue generated by 800 acres of land every harvest season.
Description: (Source: Flickr/CIAT) (Source: Flickr/CIAT)
5) Incentivising Farmers to Grow Crops That Don’t Guzzle Water
The problem of crop burning cannot rest entirely on farmers. For example, in Punjab, this practice has a lot to do with the groundwater crisis, and this is a well-documented fact.
Since paddy is a water-intensive crop, why not incentivise farmers to make the shift towards millets. Besides using very little water, millets are suitable for the land available in Punjab and are highly nutritious.
But how do you incentivise farmers to make that shift from a money-earner like paddy?
“Delhi can prevent its annual health catastrophe by creating markets for these nutritious millets. What if Punjab and Haryana included millets in their mid-day meals in schools? Apart from positive health outcomes for children, this could also be a fix for an earlier, polluting policy flaw. Delhi could offer to work with Punjab to identify how much millet supply it can procure and consume next year, and pilot a downstream project in select schools. The lessons should be incorporated to scale up and feed children with millets more frequently,” writes Bharati Chaturvedi for Hindustan Times.
Between elected representatives bickering among themselves in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, and the Supreme Court’s sermons to ordinary farmers, the discourse surrounding crop burning is rife with hopelessness.
However, there are real solutions that can work, and it’s high time they are utilised.


AAU Regional Agricultural Research Station observes Farmers’Day-2019

November 7, 2019
By Bijoy PTC Handique

Jorhat: Like the previous years the 30th Krishak Divas was organized by Regional Agricultural Research Station, Titabor following inauguration, interaction with farmers, field demonstration of various paddy breeds, field visit and drone demonstration as how drone helping scientists to control pest and other diseases during its various stages till the period of harvesting and how proper surveillance output report for pest infection in the experimental filed where a total of 45 number of latest variety of Ahu and Sali rice being produced for seeds . It may be mentioned that a total of 500 ahu and 1500 Sali local variety of which 45 are of latest that’s making records for years , said Dr. Tomiz-uddin Ahmed, the chief scientist of the station here today.

The 30th Krishak Divas that is Farmers’Day was an annual affair of the station at Titabor and the day was inaugurated by Dr. Ashik Bhattacharyya, the Vice Chancellor incharge of AAU among others were Dr. Jayanta Deka-Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Hemanta Das-a progressive farmer from Merapani, Golaghat was felicitated in presence of farmers from Sivasagar, Majuli, Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat among agricultural experts, faculty members from four colleges viz College of Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture and Community Science along with students.

Day long Expo in agricultural activities along with Rain Forest Research Institute, Tocklai Tea Research Institute, North East Institute of Science and Technology, Fishery Research Station, Rubber Board of India etc. Moreover during the inaugural session of the day long Farmers ‘Day the vice chancellor Dr, Bhattacharyya called upon the farmers to come forward to take the latest technical tips from the AAU scientists here as just because of the 45 new variety of paddy findings at RARS, Titabor the station is soon to be declared as National level status by the Government of India which is the very good result for the farmers ‘fraternity and the people of this region in days to come.

We celebrate this day like a farmers ‘festival as Titabor is well known for bumper paddy cultivation and just  adjacent to our experimental paddy field – there lies historic Bosapathar which the Ahom king named it since 1246 (Bosapathar means selected paddy field) . On this day 80% of the farmers both Rabi and Kharif comes out in cluster whereas schools and office goers comes to the station and enjoy the Divas to know about the latest techniques of paddy cultivation for maintenance of crops and other farming, said Dr. Ranjit Kumar Choudhury, former scientist from the station during the day long farmers festival


Scientists work to improve rice varieties impacted by higher temperatures


by Talk Business & Politics
Wednesday, November 6th 2019
Description: https://katv.com/resources/media/e99e6ea0-f37f-48e7-86a3-0375f4a114b7-large16x9_rice498688_1920.jpg?1573054333882
Scientists work to improve rice varieties impacted by higher temperatures (Photo: Pixabay)
Temperatures have been on the rise in recent decades and the increased heat is having an impact on agriculture. About half of the nation’s rice is grown in Arkansas, so it will be imperative for farmers to find ways to continue to increase yields in the rice paddies in the coming years.
Scientists are working to develop rice varieties that are tolerant of Arkansas’ frequent high nighttime air temperatures, a condition that can significantly reduce yields and post-harvest quality.
Paul Counce, a University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture professor and rice physiologist, is leading the high nighttime air temperature rice research in the division’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.
“We began to do work about twenty years ago to pin these issues down,” Counce said. “We started a series of experiments at the Rice Research and Extension Center and in Fayetteville with Dr. Terry Siebenmorgen.”
The team’s current objective is to identify genes associated with resistance to high night temperatures.

Lao Citizen Scientists Manage Wetlands Sustainably
November 6, 2019

By Tassaya Charupatanapongse and Derin Henderson
There were no fish in the Nong Tham Hee wetland in the 2017 dry season. There were none in the 2018 dry season. The people of Nyangkham village, who once fished here year around, saw only cracked, parched earth. Over the years, the water had slowly dwindled, as farmers in the village expanded their rice paddies into the wetlands and disrupted their natural hydrology. It wasn’t until the community got organized that things started to change.
Description: https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nyangkham-before2.jpg
The Nong Tham Hee wetland, in Nyangkham, Laos, after years of agricultural encroachment. Photo: Mouksy Vongsouvath.
Lao PDR (Laos) is rich in natural resources: water and fertile land, timber, metals, gems, and minerals. Laos’s wetlands have long provided its people with a range of benefits, including water for agriculture, fish and wildlife habitat, water purification, and flood mitigation. But this precious endowment is increasingly threatened by unsustainable economic development practices. Among them, the reclamation and conversion of wetlands for agriculture is one of the most significant threats facing natural wetland ecosystems.
Description: https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nyangkham-before1.jpg
The Nong Tham Hee wetland. Photo: Mouksy Vongsouvath.
In the past, resource management in Laos was divided up between different ministries, depending on the type of resource. Development planning was centralized, and water projects were often implemented without local input or deliberation. Over the past decade, however, as pressure on water resources has grown, the government has worked to institute more effective, community-based approaches.
With support from The McConnell Foundation, The Asia Foundation recently worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to bring the Community-Based Integrated Water Resource Management Project (CWRM) to three villages in the Xe Bang Fai District of Khammouane Province.
The CWRM project uses Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which emphasizes that competing uses of finite water resources are interdependent and must be managed equitably and systematically. Heavy agricultural use, for example, can mean less fresh water for drinking or industry; industrial wastewater can threaten rivers and wetlands; wetland preservation can mean less land for farming. Attempts to manage these competing uses in isolation fail to address their systematic interdependencies.
CWRM emphasizes bottom-up, participatory mechanisms for water resources management that acknowledge the legitimate interests of competing stakeholders and help communities understand and manage their own water resources, waste management, and the local environment. The project in Xe Bang Fai focused on three principal areas—agriculture, waste management, and wetlands and fisheries. In the CWRM project area, the Napork wetland had been reduced to one-third of its original size by the expansion of rice paddies. The fish catch had declined drastically, and water quality had deteriorated due to agricultural run-off from nearby fields.
To address this unfolding tragedy of the commons, the CWRM project partnered with the affected villages and the government to create a participatory resource management framework. They trained village volunteers, local government staff, teachers, and students to become “citizen scientists,” who began monitoring wetland water quality using macroinvertebrates such as mayflies, midges, water boatmen, and freshwater shrimp.
The project raised earthen embankments around the wetlands to prevent further encroachment and reduce agricultural contamination, and it introduced organic agriculture techniques to the surrounding farms to limit agrochemical runoff. Villagers and local authorities came together to establish consensus rules for legal and illegal fishing practices. In some cases, villagers went a step further and set aside large portions of the wetland for fish conservation.
Description: https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nyangkham-after.jpg
Nong Tham Hee wetland after enhancement. Photo: Mouksy Vongsouvath.
The villagers had to work through a patchwork of competing interests, such as one Napork farmer who was unwilling to return parts of his paddy fields to the wetlands. “Some people may want to eat fish,” he said, “but I want to eat rice.” So, a compromise was eventually struck: the project created natural barriers around the remaining wetlands to prevent further encroachment, and the farmer kept the additions to his fields. This is what CWRM seeks to achieve: a practical system of cooperative, local resource management that addresses the needs of all users.
In Nyangkham village, the CWRM project supported the restoration and regeneration of the degraded wetland—building embankments, digging deeper pools for fish in the dry season, and restoring the channels that connect the wetlands with the Xe Bang Fai River.
And the villagers of Nyangkham are proud of the results.
“Since the village’s wetland was improved,” says the village head, “there is water in the wetland all year around, so there is an abundance of fish even in the dry season.”
All the villagers know the rules to protect the wetlands and the fish in the wetlands,” said a member of the Nyangkham Wetland Committee. “Since we have put the wetland management regulations in place, we have not found any villagers who have violated the rules.”
Description: https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Hadkhamhieng-No-Fishing-after.jpg
Nong Tham Hee wetland in Nyangkham village after enhancement. The villagers have erected a sign declaring parts of the wetland off limits for fishing. Photo: Mouksy Vongsouvath.
While the CWRM project provided technical expertise, the real success lies in the villagers banding together as citizen scientists to manage their wetlands systematically and sustainably for all stakeholders. It underscores the interconnectedness of water management among competing users and the importance of an inclusive, equitable, and participatory approach that considers both environmental and socioeconomic needs.
As Laos and the rest of Asia continue to grow and develop, water supplies and other natural resources will come under increasing stress. Sustainable management practices that allow competing stakeholders to both benefit from and protect these natural resources will be vital to future prosperity.
Tassaya (Toffy) Charupatanapongse is a program associate in The Asia Foundation’s Resource Development Department, and Derin Henderson is director of The Asia Foundation’s Environment Program in Laos. They can be reached at tassaya.charupatanapongse@asiafoundation.org and derin.henderson@asiafoundation.org respectively. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the authors, not those of The Asia Foundation.
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Researchers use drones to pilot a new tool to fight malaria

06 November,2019 09:41 am
Description: https://img.dunyanews.tv/news/2019/November/11-06-19/news_big_images/517424_87635739.jpg
Ninety percent of all cases occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Health Organization.
CHEJU, Zanzibar (Reuters) - Scientists seeking a breakthrough in the fight against malaria have used drones to spray rice fields in Zanzibar - not with traditional pesticides but with a thin, non-toxic film.
The fields are typical breeding grounds for the anopheles mosquito - the type that transmits malaria, which the United Nations says kills a young child every minute and causes 75 percent of all under five deaths.
Ninety percent of all cases occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Health Organization.
The researchers, led by Bart Knols from Radboud University in The Netherlands, plan to sample the larvae and the mosquitoes in the fields before, during and after spraying it with the silicone-based liquid, Aquatain AMF, to test its impact.
Malawi has used drones to map mosquito breeding sites but the researchers in Zanzibar say preventing pupae and larvae from attaching themselves to the surface of the water takes the malaria fight to the next level.
“By controlling them right at the source we hope to have an impact ultimately on the transmission of malaria,” Knols said.
He and fellow researchers chose Tanzania’s Zanzibar archipelago for the pilot partly due to its progressive laws on the use of drones for research.
“It is very difficult to just walk through the paddies and apply the chemicals, so you want to have something that can just spray it on the water surface. It spreads, does the job and that’s it,” said Wolfgang Richard Mukabana from the University of Nairobi, one of the researchers.
After the trial in Zanzibar, they aim to publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals, they said, and hope to expand the approach across the continent.
The liquid is made by Australian company Aquatain Products Pty Ltd, which says it is highly permeable to gases so does not prevent the water from being oxygenated.


Annual Yellow Rails and Rice Festival Attracts Birders from Far and Wide 
By Kane Webb

THORNWELL, LA -- This past weekend marked the eleventh year that ornithologists and avid birdwatchers have gathered in southwest Louisiana for a chance to take in the beauty and abundance of waterfowl and wildlife here - particularly the yellow rail, a rare marshbird that migrates to the Gulf Coast each winter, stopping over in Louisiana's rice fields.

The Yellow Rails and Rice Festival grew out of an idea that began with the curiosity of birdwatchers passing through the Thornwell area in search of yellow rails.  Rice farmers Shirley and Kevin Berken, along with ornithologists Donna Dittmann and Steve Cardiff with Louisiana State University, realized the potential this elusive little bird had in bringing folks to the area to showcase the habitat created by the conservation efforts of the rice industry.
Beyond birdwatching in the rice fields, the festival also includes tours of Falcon Rice Mill in Crowley, as well as trips south to the Louisiana coast and north to the Piney Woods region for a chance to view all the state has to offer as a birding paradise. 
As this year's festival got underway, rainy weather slowed activity on the first day, but the weekend improved with clear, sunny skies and perfect conditions for enjoying birds in their natural habitats.  There were a number of return human visitors, along with folks from as far away as Alaska, and from around the globe, including the Netherlands. 

The festival kicks off with a 'Rice Farming 101" presentation by Kevin Berken.  "The opportunity to share the importance of how the rice industry benefits not only the habitat it provides for waterfowl and wildlife, but the economic impact the rice industry and agricultural in general provides to our community and across the country is eye opening to everyone who attends," said Kevin.  "Each year, we get to share our story firsthand with hundreds of people who then go back to their communities and share what they've seen and learned with others.  The ability to not just tell, but to show how and why we do the things we do goes a long way in resolving a lot of misinformation they may have had about agriculture and farming practices."
A highlight for festival attendees is riding a combine and spotting rails as they are flushed from the stubble, with the best views from the platform near the cab.  This year there were two harvesters operating, Kevin Berken in one and fellow rice farmer Paul Johnson at the helm of the other. 

With another successful outing in the books, many birders are already looking forward to next year's festival and returning to southwest Louisiana to share their experience and promote the Louisiana and U.S. rice industries.


People watching from the yellow rails' perspective

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Disasters to hit rice output
Northeast reeling from drought, floods
published : 8 Nov 2019 at 05:37
newspaper section: Business
Description: Workers unload sacks of rice at a warehouse. Rice export prospects remain dim as a result of the stronger baht. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)Workers unload sacks of rice at a warehouse. Rice export prospects remain dim as a result of the stronger baht. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)
Alternating drought conditions and flooding in northeastern Thailand are expected to cut paddy production in the region in the 2019-20 crop year by 488,000 tonnes.
According to the latest report by the provincial extension offices in 20 provinces of the Northeast, paddy production from the 2019-20 main season is estimated at 12.7 million tonnes, compared with 13.2 million tonnes in the previous season.
Of the total 488,000 tonnes, white rice and glutinous rice paddy are forecast to make up a combined 405,000 tonnes, with hom mali paddy accounting for the rest.
Widespread rice blast disease was also blamed for a fall in hom mali and white rice paddy production, notably in Surin province.
The report was presented on Thursday in Khon Kaen to a joint meeting of leading rice exporters, millers and senior-ranking provincial extension officials to evaluate main crop production for 2019-20.
Paddy production from the Northeast typically represents 37% of the country's average production of 32 million tonnes a year.
The report said a particular drop was seen in production of glutinous paddy, whose output is estimated to fall by as much as 320,000 tonnes, prompting a price surge in recent months.
Partly due to lower production, rice exports in the first nine months fell by 28% year-on-year to 5.93 million tonnes.
Shipments of white rice in the period tumbled 42% to 2.38 million tonnes, while those of hom mali rice were down 12.3% at 786,275 tonnes and those of sticky rice were down 49% at 71,724 tonnes.
India's rice exports were reportedly down 9.1% at 8.25 million tonnes for the period, while China's surged 56.2% to 2.15 million tonnes. Vietnam's were flat at 5.62 million tonnes.
Because of the strong baht, Thai rice export revenue in baht terms is estimated to lose 30-40 billion baht this year, with rice shipments expected to slip to as low as 8-8.1 million tonnes this year from 11.2 million tonnes last year on a sharp drop in white rice exports, said Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
The strong baht is expected to shave 35% off white rice shipments from last year's 5.49 million tonnes.
Thailand's rice exports average 10 million tonnes a year, with white rice making up half the amount.
Mr Chookiat said white rice shipments could reach just 3 million tonnes this year.
In July, the association cut its target for 2019 rice exports from 9.5 million tonnes to 9 million.Of the total, white rice would account for 3.9 million tonnes, followed by parboiled (2.8 million), hom mali (1.3 million), aromatic (600,000) and glutinous (400,000).

Rice Prices

as on : 07-11-2019 12:39:15 PM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Bangalore(Kar)
1994.00
-11.02
87430.00
4650
4650
8.14
Barhaj(UP)
200.00
17.65
7683.00
2400
2400
6.43
Agra(UP)
85.00
-15
3697.00
2570
2560
3.21
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
80.00
NC
2510.00
2690
2755
1.32
Naugarh(UP)
72.50
17.89
2916.50
2465
2470
8.59
Kalipur(WB)
68.00
13.33
1978.00
2400
2400
-
Madhoganj(UP)
62.00
53.09
2012.50
2280
2300
1.79
Manvi(Kar)
60.00
140
312.00
1825
2469
-
Beldanga(WB)
45.00
12.5
1625.00
2700
2700
3.85
Bhivandi(Mah)
44.00
158.82
825.00
2750
2300
18.53
Basti(UP)
35.00
34.62
1282.50
2475
2475
10.00
Bankura Sadar(WB)
35.00
25
403.00
2500
2500
-3.85
Hanagal(Kar)
30.00
900
533.00
1900
1900
NC
Sahiyapur(UP)
30.00
233.33
1081.50
2470
2465
9.78
Dadri(UP)
30.00
NC
943.00
2800
2920
1.82
Jorhat(ASM)
29.00
-35.56
1850.50
3400
3400
6.25
Islampur(WB)
26.00
13.04
320.00
3750
3700
-
Raiganj(WB)
22.00
-4.35
294.00
3650
3550
-
Wansi(UP)
20.00
-9.09
758.00
2110
2110
NC
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
18.00
-25
1693.00
2800
2800
NC
Honnali(Kar)
15.00
-79.17
503.00
1863
1986
4.96
Akbarpur(UP)
15.00
87.5
796.60
2430
2450
8.48
Shikaripura(Kar)
14.00
-
28.00
1700
-
-
Puwaha(UP)
12.00
100
347.20
2500
2500
-0.79
Champadanga(WB)
12.00
NC
433.00
3100
3100
-1.59
Vilthararoad(UP)
10.00
NC
761.00
2150
2150
NC
Badayoun(UP)
9.00
NC
618.50
2660
2670
17.70
Tamkuhi Road(UP)
9.00
-5.26
537.40
2250
2250
4.65
Khurja(UP)
8.50
-5.56
413.30
2665
2675
2.50
Dibrugarh(ASM)
6.80
-24.44
350.80
3100
3100
6.16
Hailakandi(ASM)
6.00
-14.29
102.00
2450
2450
2.08
Nadia(WB)
6.00
-14.29
412.00
3800
3800
-5.00
Kasganj(UP)
4.00
-60
202.00
2560
2580
1.99
Kishunpur(UP)
3.00
-81.25
208.00
1800
1900
NC
Muskara(UP)
2.60
62.5
27.40
2360
2250
4.42
Gadaura(UP)
2.00
NC
561.50
2300
2300
9.52
Anandnagar(UP)
1.80
-10
204.00
2445
2455
11.14
Khair(UP)
1.50
-50
42.10
2580
2600
1.98
Nandyal(AP)
1.00
NC
36.00
4250
4250
-
Jambusar(Kaavi)(Guj)
1.00
NC
91.00
3100
3200
-
Penugonda(Mah)
1.00
NC
28.00
4090
4090
0.25
Alibagh(Mah)
1.00
NC
106.00
4200
4200
-16.00
Murud(Mah)
1.00
NC
107.00
4200
4200
5.00
Achalda(UP)
0.60
NC
23.30
2500
2600
31.58
Published on November 07, 2019

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Rice exporters require certification of inspection to export to European Union

NEW DELHI: Indian rice exporters will now have to obtain a certification of inspection from a government agency to ship both the basmati and non-basmati varieties to countries of the European Union.
“Export of rice (basmati and non-basmati) to European Union (EU) countries will require certificate of inspection from Export Inspection Council/Export Inspection Agency with immediate effect,” directorate general of foreign trade has said in a notification.
Two aromatic basmati rice varieties—PB1 and 1401 — witness maximum export to the EU.
The European Commission had brought down in basmati rice the maximum residue limit (MRL) level for Tricyclazole, a fungicide used by farmers against a disease, to 0.01 mg per kg from 0.03 mg earlier. This was done for all countries.
India, the world’s top rice exporter, exports about 3 lakh tonnes of basmati rice to the EU.
The Export Inspection Council (EIC) is the official export certification body of India which ensures quality and safety of products exported from India.
It was set up by the government of India under the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 to ensure sound development of export trade of India through quality control and inspection.
The assurance to quality and safety is provided through either a consignment wise inspection or a quality assurance/food safety management based certification through its field organisation.
The Export Inspection Agencies (EIAs) under the council are located at Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Delhi and Chennai. (AGENCIES)

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- November 08, 2019
NOVEMBER 8, 2019 / 1:29 PM * * * * * *
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-November 8, 2018 Nagpur, Nov 8 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Producing and Marketing Company (APMC) here on good seasonal demand from local millers amid weak arrival from producing regions. Good hike on NCDEX in gram, upward trend in Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh pulses and reported demand from South-based millers also boosted prices. About 250 bags of gram and 100 bags of tuar reported for auctions here, according to sources.

GRAM
* Desi gram reported higher in open market here on renewed demand from local traders.

TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local

traders amid ample stock in ready position.

* Moong chamki recovered in open market here on increased demand from local traders

amid weak supply from producing regions.

* In Akola, Tuar New – 5,500-5,700, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,300-8,400, Udid Mogar (clean)

– 7,900-9,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 8,500-9,200, Gram – 4,350-4,500, Gram Super best

– 6,000-6,300 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in

scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close

Gram Auction 3,930-4,550 3,900-4,500

Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600

Tuar Auction 5,400-5,560 5,200-5,500

Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200

Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500

Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500

Wheat Lokwan Auction 2,050-2,198 2,000-2,098

Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000

Gram Super Best Bold 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500

Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000

Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a

Gram Mill Quality 4,600-4,750 4,600-4,750

Desi gram Raw 4,450-4,650 4,400-4,600

Gram Kabuli 8,500-10,000 8,500-10,000

Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,500-8,800 8,500-8,800

Tuar Fataka Medium-New 8,000-8,300 8,000-8,300

Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 7,800-8,000 7,800-8,000

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 7,200-7,600 7,200-7,600

Tuar Gavarani New 5,800-5,900 5,800-5,900

Tuar Karnataka 6,200-6,300 6,200-6,300

Masoor dal best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800

Masoor dal medium 5,300-5,400 5,300-5,400

Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 9,100-9,600 9,100-9,600

Moong Mogar Medium 7,600-8,200 7,600-8,200

Moong dal Chilka New 7,200-8,000 7,200-8,000

Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 8,500-9,500 8,500-9,500

Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 9,000-10,000 9,000-10,000

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,500-8,500 7,500-8,500

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,900-6,200 5,900-6,200

Mot (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,000 5,800-6,800

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,800-5,200 4,800-5,200

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,000 4,700-5,000

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-8,800 8,500-8,800

Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400

Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,150-2,250

Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,650-2,750 2,650-2,750

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,750 2,600-2,750

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500

Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-4,000 3,400-4,000

MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200

Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500

Rice BPT best new (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,500 3,000-3,500

Rice BPT medium new(100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,000 2,700-3,000

Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,100 3,000-3,100

Rice Swarna best new (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,700 2,600-2,700

Rice Swarna medium new (100 INR/KG)2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500

Rice HMT best new (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,000 3,900-4,000

Rice HMT medium new (100 INR/KG) 3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800

Rice Shriram best new(100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800

Rice Shriram med new (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,300 4,000-4,300

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500

Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,200 5,000-7,200

Rice Chinnor best new 100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,500 5,400-5,500

Rice Chinnor medium new(100 INR/KG)5,000-5,200 5,000-5,200

Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550

Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 33.4 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 20.2 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rains or thunder-showers. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 33 degree Celsius and 20 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)

Bangladesh Rice Production and Area Rises During MY 2019/20

Bangladesh Rice Production and Area Rises During MY 2019/20
November 7, 2019 8:05 IST | capital market
As per the latest update from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bangladesh rice production area and output have been marginally increased to 11.8 million hectares (HA) and 35.8 million metric tons (MMT), respectively. The increase is due to a reportedly strong year for Aus rice (April-August) production and a forecasted good season for Aman rice (July-December). Harvested Aus rice area is revised up to 1.1 million HA and production up to 2.45 MMT, based on official data from the Government of Bangladesh (GOB). Harvest of Aman rice will start in November. The planted Aman rice area is revised at 5.8 million HA and production forecast is raised to 14 MMT as official sources and other contacts believe that continued favorable weather will result in an above average Aman rice harvest.
The MY 2019/20 rice import forecast is lowered to 50,000 MT, which is 50 percent lower than MY 2018/19 imports. The forecasted decrease in imports is the result of the increased import tariff to on rice, from 28 percent to 55 percent.
According to the Ministry of Food, on October 16, 2019, government rice stocks were 1.33 MMT, compared to 1.1 MMT at the same time last year.



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