Scientists search
the wild for food plant genes
Sunday 8 December 2019 - 1:00pm
Naturopath, herbalist and botanist Christophe de Hody holds a
purslane during a workshop on edible and medicinal wild plants within an urban
setting on August 25, 2017, in Paris.
AFP
PARIS - Scientists have been
on a global search for the wild relatives of our food crops, hoping to bolster
their defences against disease and climate change, a study showed Tuesday.
Humans have domesticated wild
plants for some 10,000 years to provide food but in doing so they have bred out
many of their natural defences, leaving them -- and us -- potentially exposed.
"We live in an
interdependent world. No single country or region harbours all of the diversity
that we need," said Chris Cockel, coordinator of the Crop Wild Relatives
project at the Kew Gardens Millennium Seed Bank.
"A wild relative of one of
these crops, in the Americas, Africa or Asia, cold be the source of say, pest
resistance, which can benefit all of us in the future," Cockel said in the
report.
The high yields sought by humans
have come at the cost of less genetic diversity which typically makes plants
more susceptible to pests, diseases and the sort of extreme climatic conditions
brought about by global warming and development.
By going back to the original
source plants of some 28 foods -- for example, of rice, potatoes, oats,
groundnuts -- researchers collected as wide a variety of seeds as possible in
25 countries to fill in the gaps in existing gene banks.
"We are looking to capture
as much diversity as possible... populations separated by even a few
kilometres may be genetically quite different," said Luigi Guarino,
Director of Science with the Crop Trust, a non-profit organisation dedicated to
promoting crop diversity.
The MSB at Kew Gardens, home to
the Royal Botanic Society, has so far distributed nearly 3,300 samples of 165
species as a result of the project.
"Many countries have now
realised how important crop wild relatives are -- and what an invaluable source
they are for breeders," Cockel said.
The most well-known seed storage
project is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault where nearly a million samples are
now stored deep within the ice some 1,300 kilometres from the North Pole.
It aims to house a collection of as many seeds as possible
as insurance against the loss of other seed banks around the world.
China's Theft of American Innovation
FBI Commentary
Monday, Dec. 9, 2019 12:00 am 1 min read
Whether it is through high-tech means or simply grabbing a
handful of proprietary grains, the People's Republic of China has consistently
proven that what they lack in creativity and innovation, they make up for in
outright theft. https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/129230/chinas-theft-of-american-innovation-fbi-commentary
Shrew Rats Can Control Earthworms Destroying
Cordi’s Rice Terraces – OpEd
Three rat species, found friendly to rice crops ,were discovered
by a group of scientists from the Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice) as
effective control measures against giant earthworms destroying many rice
terraces in the Cordillera region of the Phtlippines, partcularly the famed
Banaue Rice Terraces
One of the rats, the lowland striped shrew rat (S. Chrotomys
mindorensis) is believed the nemesis of the giant earthworm that has long been
a problem and has even threatened to wash out one of the world’s agriculture
landmarks.
The other “friendly” rodent species is the common Philippine
forest rat (S. Rattus everetti). As for the other friendly farm rat, the
scientists are still doing further taxonomic research to know to which species
it belongs.
In an article “The Mysterious
Rats of the Banaue Rice Terraces” released recently by PhilRice, it was learned
that not all rats are harmful to farm crops, particularly those planted in the
Banaue area. The article is part of the mother paper “Rodents and Other Small
Mammals in Banaue and Hungduan Rice Terraces, Philippines” by Dr. Ravindra
Joshi and other scientists from PhilRice, Australia and local counterparts from
Ifugao local government.
The researchers led by Joshi, include Alexander Stuart, a
graduate student on wildlife management and conservation from Reading
University in the United Kingdom; and Rachel Miller, Youth Ambassador for
Development of Australia.
Joshi had been doing research on ecosystem preservation and pest
management of the terraces. The most popular of his works was the Banaue rice
earthworms.
Stuart, had previous involvements in forest farm ecosystems,
including his participation in the project on mammal counts, reception work,
mapping of burnt lands, culling and patrolling at the Mkuze Game Reserve, South
Africa, besides another project, in connection with his Reading University
graduate works, in Gibbon Rehabilitation Center, Thailand .
The team is now trying to determine the habitat distribution of
the rat species in Banaue and Hungduan to establish a baseline data that might
be useful in evaluating changes in the unique status of the rice terraces’
ecosystem.
What prompted the rodent research was the recorded traditional
rat-pest problem in the terraces. In an earlier study, Banaue and Hungduan
farmers ranked rodents as first among the three most pre-harvest pests of their
rice crops, besides the damages this pest had inflicted on local warehouses and
households.
The study on a survey of rat species and their behaviors was
followed by introducing trapping techniques in farm areas and residential
communities, which yielded to capturing six rat species.
The early significant findings in the study included the food
preferences of the rats. Stuart had initially found that the lowlands striped
shrew rat feeds on insects, snails and the giant earthworms. The common
Philippine forest rat eats fruits and wild plants.
Miller started studying the
reproductive biology of the pest rats, and to find means to protect or separate
the newly discovered friendly rats from the former.
One possible measure is
controlling the pest rats without using pesticides. She said: It is important
to find out [and understand] the habitat of the ‘good rats’ [Chrotomys
mindorensis] to protect them when the control method is applied.
The researchers were glad they
did not find the most notorious rat species, Rattus argentiventer, in the area.
It is known as the major rodent pest in the rice-growing systems of mainland
Southeast Asia and Indonesian archipelago. This rat species has been noted
thriving in Laguna. Mindanao, Mindoro and Negros islands.
“Many believe that some of the
good rats are also present in the lowlands, which we doubt, because they are
mostly found, according to this study, in farmlands near forest areas,” Miller
said.
Joshi said this might be because
of the unique biodiversity environment on the rice terraces that play hosts to
abundant native mammal fauna, with “native species effectively holding back the
competitively inferior invaders,” apparently referring to the more destructive
Rattus argentiventer.
“This is good indication that the
rice terraces environment despite its very long history of human activities and
interventions, nevertheless remains a relatively healthy one. This finding
provides an important benchmark to which future developments can be composed
[with],” Josh said.
Earthworms have been blamed as
the culprits by Ifugao farmers for the collapse of the rice terraces.
Residents and local farmers in
Ifugao believe that earthworms are alien species, intentionally introduced
after the 1990s and are therefore the sole reason for the deterioration of the
Ifugao Rice Terraces.
The earthworms are either be
hermaphroditic, meaning they can reproduce asexually or sexually, where two
individuals copulate and produce fertilized eggs enclosed in a cocoon. The
giant earthworms are pigmented, local to the rice terraces and thrive in moist
soil that are not water-logged. The other kind of earthworm, Pontoscolex, are
unpigmented, introduced species, and can live in both dry and water-logged rice
paddies.
The earthworms have inhabited
Ifugao long before 1990s, but not in the terraces but rather in the muyong —
the communal forests within the vicinity of the rice terraces. Because of the
deteriorating forests of Ifugao, earthworms found sanctuary in the rice
terraces to survive.
Unlike golden kuhol, earthworms are native to the area, and are
not introduced from foreign places. In addition, Ifugao farmers’ shift from
traditional to modern farming is another cause of earthworm infestation in the
rice paddies, including the use of pesticides since these decimate the
predators of the earthworms.
Other triggers to the collapse of
the rice terraces are environmental factors like earthquakes that alter
irrigation lines, and climate changes like El Nino and La Nina.
NZ supporting future agriculture emission science leaders
9 December 2019
New Zealand supporting future
agriculture emission science leaders through prestigious scholarship programme
Thirty-one early-career
scientists from 14 developing countries will each receive research scholarships
to boost their scientific capability, with help from a New Zealand
government-supported international PhD programme, the Ministry for Primary
Industries (MPI) said today.
The successful scholarship
recipients for 2020 are being announced to coincide with the latest United
Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid.
The scholarships are being
provided by the Climate, Food and Farming Global Research Alliance on
Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Development Scholarships programme, or
CLIFF-GRADS.
CLIFF-GRADS is a joint initiative
between the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) –
in which New Zealand has a leading role – and the Climate Change, Agriculture
and Food Security (CCAFS) programme of the Consultative Group on International
Agriculture Research (CGIAR).
The CLIFF-GRADS programme forms
part of New Zealand’s international contribution towards building scientific
capability in developing countries. Other funders include the CGIAR Trust Fund
donors and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Hayden Montgomery, Special
Representative of the GRA who is based at MPI, says CLIFF-GRADS enables
early-career scientists to undertake research exchanges of up to six months at
institutions and research centres run by GRA members and partners.
“Through CLIFF-GRADS, the
successful students will be hosted by 20 research institutions in 15
countries,” says Mr Montgomery.
“CLIFF-GRADS is becoming more and
more competitive, with applications from nearly 300 students from 42 countries.
“The diversity in both the applicants
and host supervisors is also growing, which clearly shows the value people are
seeing in the programme towards boosting research expertise internationally.”
CLIFF-GRADS gives scientists the
opportunity to gain technical skills in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
management, and opens the door to an international network of experts that are
working toward reducing greenhouse gases from food production.
“Through CLIFF-GRADS, the
scientists will research rumen microbiology, rice production, soil science,
rangeland management, and other topics,” says Mr Montgomery.
“They’ll gain important hands on
experience with scientific equipment they would not normally have access to,
and form global connections with valuable career-long mentors.
“We’d especially like to
acknowledge the support of fellow GRA country members and international
partners, particularly CCAFS, for supporting these technical training
opportunities for students.
“CLIFF-GRADS is a valuable way of
boosting scientific expertise around the world and helping in global efforts to
drive action to address climate change.”
The full list of awardees and
their topics of research is available at: https://globalresearchalliance.org/library/cliff-grads-awardees-2020/
Further information about the
Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases is available
at: https://globalresearchalliance.org/country/new-zealand/
Further information about
CLIFF-GRADS is available at: https://ccafs.cgiar.org/CLIFF-GRADS#.XeR67WyP6Ag
Rice Production in Cuba – What do the Stats
Say?
HAVANA TIMES – At a recent board meeting of
governing bodies from every Cuban province, the important subject of rice
supply was discussed. (1)
Two
issues stood out:
§ The
discrepancy that exists between the statement that the Rice Program “shows
sustained growth in recent years” and the reality that available official
statistics show.
§ Information
about production estimates which are easily refuted.
What was said at the meeting
A
news report describes what was discussed in this regard as follows:
“Talking about the evolution
and sustainability of the rice program, the head of the sector, Gustavo Rodriguez
Rollero, indicated that 14 companies from 13 provinces in the country take
part, as well as the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, and brings
together 22,218 producers, 20,472 of whom belong to the cooperative and farming
sector.
The Rice Program, closely
linked to food for the population and replacing imports, shows steady growth in
recent years, even when different infrastructures still need to be repaired and
updated.
As a result of this program,
some 450,000 tons of rice should be produced by 2023, and it is estimated than
600,000 tons will be produced by 2030, which represents 86% of national demand
which currently stands at 700,000.
The Ministry of Agriculture
explained that investments have essentially been made in agricultural machinery,
implements, the drying and milling industry, and transport. Upgrading works are
currently underway at 11 paddy dryers; 9 benefits, classification and seed
treatment plants; 17 80-ton scales for weighing; and 14 storage centers for
rice hulls with 38 silos.
1,720,700 tons of rice meant
for popular consumption has been produced between 2012 and last year, which
according to global market prices for rice approved by the Rice Development
Project, represents over 849 million USD and means that the country has saved
over 242 million USD in the last 7 years.
These statistics go far beyond
the undeniable contribution to replacing imports and the country’s economic
development as they also have an impact on families’ everyday lives and support
much-needed national food production, where the most is made of our potential.”
Before commenting on the
subject,
it’s worth explaining that figures on national rice production can be expressed
with indicators that aren’t the same (although this isn’t normally clarified in
official statements made on the subject).
Statistics
from reports and annual reports by Cuba’s Office of Statistics and Information
(ONEI) uses the “paddy rice” performance indicator, but sometimes (like in the
case of the aforementioned meeting) the production figure is expressed as rice
ready for consumption, which is a dry product without the hull.
Naturally,
a ton of rice ready for consumption (“husked rice”) needs a greater mass of
“paddy rice”.
Taking
the figure provided at the meeting of 1,720,700 tons of “husked rice” produced
between 2012 and 2018, and comparing it with the 3,696,685 tons of “paddy rice”
produced between 2012 and 2018 (ONEI statistics), we can calculate a quotient
average of 2.15 tons of “paddy rice” for every ton of rice ready for consumption.
(2)
“Stubborn” national rice
production statistics in Cuba
Contrary
to what was said at the meeting, the Rice Program does not “show steady growth
in recent years”, something which we can clearly see in the following graph.
The
average annual growth rate of national rice production between 2010 and 2018
was 0.18%, that is to say, that in the long-run, there was a standstill in
production.
In
2018, rice production was only 1.42% greater than the level recorded in 2010.
Cuba: rice production and imports
2010 – 2018. Paddy rice and rice ready for consumption (in tons). Source:
ONEI. Cuba’s Annual Statistical Report. 2018, 2016 and 2013 editions.
During
the 2010-2018 period, growth in the first four years resulted in a “peak” in
2013, which then fell and has never fully recovered.
To
tell you the truth, production has oscillated in such a way (negatively in more
recent times) that it cannot in any way be shown as sustained growth.
In
fact, recent news reports indicate that the estimated level of production in
2019 will be less than what it was in 2018, quoting “setbacks in different
moments with [shortages of] fertilizers, other chemical products and, more
recently, fuel.” (3)
In
some regions, such as Sancti Spiritus, there has also been poor water availability
for rice production. (4)
It
is estimated that 200,000 tons of “husked rice” will be produced in 2019, which
would be the equivalent of 430,000 “paddy rice” in 2019. (5)
Imports
(which close the wide gap between national production and total consumption)
has also oscillated, although towards growth more generally, since 2013.
Recent
instability in supplies reflect the way two factors have come together: a
tendency towards a “undulating” reduction in the total area of rice cultivation
and a tendency of decreasing yields ever since 2015.
With
less land for sowing and lower yields, trying to project the image that we have
a successful Rice Program is a risky business.
Cuba: land dedicated to rice
production (hectares) and yield (tons / hectare). Source: ONEI. Cuba’s Annual
Statistical Report. 2018, 2016 and 2013 editions. Area – blue, Yield – orange.
In
2018, the average yield per hectare was 33.7% greater than it was in 2019, but
the “area sown and for the production” of rice in 2018 was 24.2% less than it
was in 2010.
Natura non facit saltum
Perhaps
the most interesting moment in the meeting came when estimates for national
rice production in the medium-term (up until 2023) and in the longer-term
(2030), were discussed.
It
is estimated that 450,000 tons of “husked rice” will be produced in 2023, which
would be the equivalent of 967,500 “paddy rice” in 2019. (Green column on the
graph). (6)
It
is estimated that 600,000 tons of “husked rice” will be produced in 2030, which
would be the equivalent of 1,290,000 tons of “paddy rice”. (Red column on the
graph).
Cuba: rice production and
government estimates for the future (tons).
However,
herein lies a problem. As we have mentioned before, the average annual growth
rate of national rice production between 2010 and 2018 was 0.18%.
However,
the estimate announced at the meeting implies an average annual growth rate of
16% between 2018 and 2023, and an average annual growth rate of 8% between 2018
and 2030.
In
the first case (2018-2023), the average annual growth rate would have to be 89
times greater than the real average recorded between 2010 and 2018, and in the
second case, the average annual rate would have to be 50 times greater.
The
chances that these average annual growth rates are met are very slim, at least
if we follow the principle of “Nature makes no leap”.
In summary:
Contrary
to what was stated at the meeting, the Rice Program has not “grown sustainably
in recent years”:
§ In
2018, rice production was only 1.42% greater than the level recorded in 2010.
§ The
average annual growth rate of national rice production between 2010 and 2018
was 0.18%, that is to say, that in the long-run, there was a standstill in
production.
§ In
2018, the average yield per hectare was 33.7% greater than it was in 2019, but
the “area sown and for the production” of rice in 2018 was 24.2% less than it
was in 2010.
Estimates
for national rice production in the medium-term (up until 2023) and in the
longer-term (2030), seem to have very slim chances of materializing:
§ In
order to reach estimated production levels for 2023, an average annual growth
rate of 16% would have to be recorded between 2018 and 2023, that is to say, 89
times more than the real average growth rate recorded between 2010 and 2018.
§ In
order to reach estimated production levels for 2030, an average annual growth
rate of 9% would have to be recorded between 2018 and 2030, that is to say, 50
times more than the real average growth rate recorded between 2010 and 2018.
Notes:
1.
Leticia Martinez, Yaima Puig
Meneses, “DÃaz-Canel: Mantener el ahorro como premisa de trabajo”, Cubadebate,
November 27th 2019.
2.
This calculation assumes that
1,720,700 tons of rice “dedicated to popular consumption” is the result of
processing all of the tons of “paddy rice” produced between 2012 and 2018. The
fragmented way that these statistics are thrown about at these meetings, makes
it hard for us to identify how exact they are with available official
statistics.
3.
Jose Luis Camellon, “Sancti
SpÃritus: Arroceros cubanos encaran nuevos compromisos productivos”, Escambray,
November 16th 2019.
4.
Jose Luis Camellón, “Limitada
la siembra en arrocera Sur del JÃbaro por falta de agua”, Escambray, November
23rd 2019.
5.
Jose Luis Camellon, “Sancti
SpÃritus: Arroceros cubanos encaran nuevos compromisos productivos”, Escambray,
November 16th 2019.
6.
Coversion applied to the 2.15
quotient calculated above.
A/R:
Asokwa MCE Woo Farmers Into Local Rice Farming
By News Desk
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Asokwa Municipal Assembly
of the Ashanti region, Akwannuasah Gyimah has charged residents within his
municipality to engage in rice farming to reduce dependence on foreign rice in
the country.
He has charged farmers in the
municipality to venture into rice farming as a measure to reduce importation of
rice.
Speaking at this year's farmers'
day celebration held in the municipality, he stated that Ghana imports over GHS
4 million worth of rice annually; a trend he believes can be changed when more
Ghanaians engage in its cultivation to ensure regular supply.
“Each year, Ghana imports over 4
million Ghana cedis for rice alone. We can only change this when we engage in
serious farming activities. This will significantly reduce the amount we spend
on importation of rice. The government is, therefore, entreating small scale
farmers especially to also engage in its production to help the economy grow”,
he said.
He further encouraged small scale
farmers in the municipality to continue with their hard work. He explained that
the government is aware of their challenges, hence the huge investment in the
processing industry to make sure that farmers have a ready market for their
produce.
The Municipal Director of
Agriculture in the municipality, Martha Ashami Armah wants parliament to pass
laws to guide the importation of rice into the country.
Speaking to Citi News on the
sidelines of the farmers' day celebration, she posited that a deliberate plan
through legislation will help promote the consumption of local rice nationwide
and will contribute significantly in addressing the matter.
She has also urged the government
to direct all school feeding coordinators to strictly use local rice as a
measure to increase its patronage.
“I think the first step is for
the government to cut down the importation of foreign rice so that we can eat
what we grow. Also, with the school feeding programme. Please, there has to be
a legislation on it that, they use local rice to feed the children. I once had
a training with the school feeding cooks and their problem is, they bring them
foreign rice. They have to stop. The children will have a taste for local rice.
So if we can start feeding them with the local rice right from the basics, they
will have the taste for it”.
Asokwa, which is a new
municipality carved out of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, joined in the
celebration of farmers' day for the first time on Friday at Aprabo.
The 2019 edition of the farmer’s
day celebration was under the theme, ‘Enhancing Small Scale Agriculture Towards
Agribusiness Development ‘.
The occasion which was the 35th
farmer’s day celebration was used to award farmers who had worked hard to
contribute to the growth of the Ghanaian economy.
The overall best farmer, Emelia
Osei Wiredu, who is known for poultry farming in the Municipality, expressed
her delight and encouraged her colleague farmers to work hard and hope for
better days ahead.
---citinewsroom
CRFFN, Agents Blame Customs for Border Closure
December 9, 2019 4:34 am
Eromosele Abiodun
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and customs agents in the country have attributed the decision of the federal government to shut Nigeria’s land borders to incompetence by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in carrying out its statutory duties at the borders.
They stated this at a one-day
interactive session tagged, “Federal Government Land Border Closure: Freight
Forwarders Perspective,” organised by the CRFFN Governing Council Committee on
Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance held in Lagos.
Speaking at the meeting, the
Registrar/Chief Executive of the Council, Samuel Nwakohu, alleged that the
cause of the problem leading to closure of the borders was a system failure
especially on the part of Customs.
The CRFFN, however, appealed to the federal government to open land borders to legitimate goods.
Nwakohu, in a chat with newsmen on the sidelines of the meeting said the call was not intended to encourage criminality, saying that compliant goods should be allowed into the country to be traded across the borders.
The CRFFN, however, appealed to the federal government to open land borders to legitimate goods.
Nwakohu, in a chat with newsmen on the sidelines of the meeting said the call was not intended to encourage criminality, saying that compliant goods should be allowed into the country to be traded across the borders.
He said the Council resolved,
among other things, to call for better training and equipping of the NCS to
meet global standard.
According to him, “The freight forwarders are not in any way encouraging criminalities but they are of the view that the ECOWAS Trade libralisation Scheme (ETLS) compliant goods should be allowed to go, they are of the view that what went wrong at the borders are as a result of system failure especially on the part of customs.
According to him, “The freight forwarders are not in any way encouraging criminalities but they are of the view that the ECOWAS Trade libralisation Scheme (ETLS) compliant goods should be allowed to go, they are of the view that what went wrong at the borders are as a result of system failure especially on the part of customs.
“They are of the view that the
customs should be better equipped, better trained and adopt global best
practice; they are of the view that compliance should be adhered to on the
protocol of agreement in the West African region. These are some of the
resolutions that we have reached during the interactive session.”
Also speaking, the keynote
speaker and Chairman, Port Consultative Council, Kunle Folarin, said the
federal government was right to close the borders stressing that other
countries were taking advantage of Nigeria.
He said Benin Republic has a population of 12 million people but is the world’s fifth importer of rice.
“In 2018, it imported rice worth $996 million. How can they eat that amount of rice with the population they have? It is clear the rice are smuggled to Nigeria through the land borders.
He said Benin Republic has a population of 12 million people but is the world’s fifth importer of rice.
“In 2018, it imported rice worth $996 million. How can they eat that amount of rice with the population they have? It is clear the rice are smuggled to Nigeria through the land borders.
“Benin is the world’s largest
importer of used cars and clothing with a population of 12 million people. It
will interest you to know that 98.2 per cent of these imports into Benin are
only on transit, the final destination is Nigeria.”
He added that necessary framework should be put in place to forestall future occurrence of having to close the borders.
He added that necessary framework should be put in place to forestall future occurrence of having to close the borders.
He said, “It is good to have an
open discussion particularly for those who are either the beneficiaries or the
victims of the policy.
“From the discussion today, it’s clear that those who are affected feel that we should revisit the issue and the border should be opened and if not opened, there must be some framework to be done so that in future, we shall have no reason to close borders particularly the issue of customs administration.
“From the discussion today, it’s clear that those who are affected feel that we should revisit the issue and the border should be opened and if not opened, there must be some framework to be done so that in future, we shall have no reason to close borders particularly the issue of customs administration.
“They have to reform, restructure
all the treaties and the protocols.”
On his part, Chairman, Monitoring and Enforcement, CRFFN, Timothy Awogbemi, said the programme was aimed at acquainting the federal government with the stance of Freight Forwarders on the border closure.
He said the resolution at the session include improving on the scanner as well as platforms so that Nigeria can compete with international standard.
“This is a programme called to make a presentation to the federal government the position of freight forwarders in Nigeria. The essence is to listen to critical stakeholders, hear their views, their opinions and what they feel about border closure and to make a joint communique to the federal government of Nigeria, “he said.
On his part, Chairman, Monitoring and Enforcement, CRFFN, Timothy Awogbemi, said the programme was aimed at acquainting the federal government with the stance of Freight Forwarders on the border closure.
He said the resolution at the session include improving on the scanner as well as platforms so that Nigeria can compete with international standard.
“This is a programme called to make a presentation to the federal government the position of freight forwarders in Nigeria. The essence is to listen to critical stakeholders, hear their views, their opinions and what they feel about border closure and to make a joint communique to the federal government of Nigeria, “he said.
USA Rice Outlook
Conference: If Rice is Your Business, This is Your Conference
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The number one rice-producing
state rolled out the red carpet for the more than 800 attendees at this year's
USA Rice Outlook Conference with electronic welcome signs at Clinton National
Airport and logo banners flying from street signs throughout the capital.
And while this annual meeting is all about the rice business, the grand opening
reception last night inside the Statehouse Convention Center had a laid-back
atmosphere with a mixture of gaming tables such as ping-pong, air hockey, and
foosball, for folks to loosen up and engage in some light-hearted competition.
The emphasis on play was a nod to today's keynote speaker, Dr. Shimi Kang, an expert on human motivation and neuroscience, who studies stress and the impact it has on our bodies and minds. Kang talked about stress-related illness as a major public health crisis, and then showed how our bodies have the ability to naturally de-stress through play, social interaction, and downtime. With Arkansas rice farmer Mike Sullivan as a willing subject, Kang did a live demonstration on the effectiveness of these biofeedback techniques for lowering stress, and alleviating anxiety and depression.
"There are few professions where uncertainty plays a greater role than farming," said USA Rice Chair and California rice farmer Charley Mathews, Jr. "The mental exercises Dr. Kang shared are good strategies to help us put things in perspective, and important tools to incorporate into our daily routines to remind us to slow down, reflect, and be grateful."
Mathews emceed the first General Session that included speakers from Indigo Ag, Frost PLLC, a local food and agriculture CPA firm, and a special appearance by Matthew Lohr, chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
In between videos about sustainability and the professional chefs' tour of Mississippi rice country, Brantley Farms received this year's USA Rice Conservation Award and the USA Rice Political Action Committee honored Nolen Canon for his commitment to the U.S. rice industry.
USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward also honored Gaby Carbajal and Marvin Lehrer of Mexpromos for their dedication to the promotion of U.S. rice. Over the past two decades consumption of rice in Mexico has increased 50 percent largely as a result of their efforts.
"Today's session was just the beginning," said Ward. "We've got another General Session tomorrow plus a full slate of programs on four stages, sponsored by FMC, Indigo Ag, Heritage Agriculture, and the Rice Foundation, set up in different parts of the Exhibit Hall. Attendees never have to leave the venue to hear information on topics ranging from conservation, eCommerce, farm safety, the importance of co-ops, and more."
The Outlook Conference continues Tuesday with sessions and speakers covering the world of agriculture, politics, statistics, and history.
The emphasis on play was a nod to today's keynote speaker, Dr. Shimi Kang, an expert on human motivation and neuroscience, who studies stress and the impact it has on our bodies and minds. Kang talked about stress-related illness as a major public health crisis, and then showed how our bodies have the ability to naturally de-stress through play, social interaction, and downtime. With Arkansas rice farmer Mike Sullivan as a willing subject, Kang did a live demonstration on the effectiveness of these biofeedback techniques for lowering stress, and alleviating anxiety and depression.
"There are few professions where uncertainty plays a greater role than farming," said USA Rice Chair and California rice farmer Charley Mathews, Jr. "The mental exercises Dr. Kang shared are good strategies to help us put things in perspective, and important tools to incorporate into our daily routines to remind us to slow down, reflect, and be grateful."
Mathews emceed the first General Session that included speakers from Indigo Ag, Frost PLLC, a local food and agriculture CPA firm, and a special appearance by Matthew Lohr, chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
In between videos about sustainability and the professional chefs' tour of Mississippi rice country, Brantley Farms received this year's USA Rice Conservation Award and the USA Rice Political Action Committee honored Nolen Canon for his commitment to the U.S. rice industry.
USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward also honored Gaby Carbajal and Marvin Lehrer of Mexpromos for their dedication to the promotion of U.S. rice. Over the past two decades consumption of rice in Mexico has increased 50 percent largely as a result of their efforts.
"Today's session was just the beginning," said Ward. "We've got another General Session tomorrow plus a full slate of programs on four stages, sponsored by FMC, Indigo Ag, Heritage Agriculture, and the Rice Foundation, set up in different parts of the Exhibit Hall. Attendees never have to leave the venue to hear information on topics ranging from conservation, eCommerce, farm safety, the importance of co-ops, and more."
The Outlook Conference continues Tuesday with sessions and speakers covering the world of agriculture, politics, statistics, and history.
Smart irrigation technology for sustainable
agriculture
Polin Kumar Saha & Krishibid
Khairul Kabir Mollah | Published: December 08,
2019 20:34:44
Photo source: WikipediaIn order to protect sustainability of modern agricultural practices, many smart technologies are being used. The system of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is one, and can be introduced in saving water and energy, where both farmers and pump-owners are able to save around 30 to 35 per cent of their irrigation water requirements.
In Bangladesh around 2.36 million hectares of land (Yearbook of Agriculture Statistics-2016) are under irrigated Boro cultivation where AWD technology can be applied. With the introduction of AWD technology, saving on electricity cost equivalent to Tk 2.5 billion or fuel cost equivalent to Tk 3.5 billion annually is possible, according to experts.
WD is a water-effective technology that farmers can apply to reduce their irrigation water feeding in rice fields without decreasing the yield. In AWD, irrigation water is applied at intervals, a few days after the normally supplied water. Trials have shown that AWD method saves about 365 mm irrigation water (about 27 per cent) over the traditional irrigation practices. There is no noticeable negative effect of AWD irrigation system on crop yield.
The sustainability management system in agriculture demands that water consumption must be reduced to preserve water resources. But in reality, about 70 per cent of the fresh water is being used to irrigate rice lands in Bangladesh. It has been estimated that 3000-5000 litres of water are required to produce 1.0 kg of rice.
AWD also helps reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mostly methane, by up to 50 per cent. Methane emissions are caused by flooding of rice fields. Rigorous research by scientists from International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and its partners have helped AWD system to progress into one of the most advanced GHG mitigation methods in the agriculture sector. AWD could thus become a key component for the mitigation of GHGs in many Asian countries. Farmers in Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam are now being trained on the use of AWD by the national agricultural research and extension organisations of respective countries.
In field experiment, a tube/pipe made of PVC is typically used in the AWD method. The tube monitors the water depth and measures water availability in the field below the soil surface. Here the normal practice is to use a pipe of 7-10 cm diameter and 30 cm long, with holes at the bottom. The bottom of the perforated portion remains underneath the soil surface and the non-perforated 10 cm above the surface. The perforations allow the water to come inside the tube from the soil, where a scale measures water depth below the soil surface.
Some factors (e.g. evapotranspiration, seepage, and percolation) may decrease the water level after the irrigation in the crop field. Precautions are required, especially at time of flowering stage of rice, when the field must be kept sufficiently wet. But after flowering, especially at the mid-season and late season (grain filling and ripening stages), the water level should drop down below the soil surface to 15 cm before re-irrigation. As regards application of fertiliser, nitrogen fertiliser may be applied preferably on dry soil just before re-irrigation.
AWD appears to be a promising sustainable technology and hence efforts are underway to popularise it in our ecosystems. Water productivity and reducing GHGs emissions are the key factors that are driving scientists to refine the technology for every ecosystem and make it more farmer-friendly. Studies, however, on diseases like blast and usage change in pesticides are much warranted. Further, nutrient management, particularly those of micronutrients and breeding varieties, especially suited for this system of rice cultivation, would take the technology to the next level.
Polin Kumar Saha & Krishibid Khairul Kabir Mollah are environmental professionalsin the private sector.
polin.msls2009@gmail.com; kabir@eecsbd.com
Scientists search the wild for food plant genes
Sunday 8 December 2019 - 1:00pm
Naturopath, herbalist and botanist Christophe de Hody holds a
purslane during a workshop on edible and medicinal wild plants within an urban
setting on August 25, 2017, in Paris.
AFP
PARIS - Scientists have been
on a global search for the wild relatives of our food crops, hoping to bolster
their defences against disease and climate change, a study showed Tuesday.
Humans have domesticated wild
plants for some 10,000 years to provide food but in doing so they have bred out
many of their natural defences, leaving them -- and us -- potentially exposed.
"We live in an
interdependent world. No single country or region harbours all of the diversity
that we need," said Chris Cockel, coordinator of the Crop Wild Relatives
project at the Kew Gardens Millennium Seed Bank.
"A wild relative of one of
these crops, in the Americas, Africa or Asia, cold be the source of say, pest
resistance, which can benefit all of us in the future," Cockel said in the
report.
The high yields sought by humans
have come at the cost of less genetic diversity which typically makes plants
more susceptible to pests, diseases and the sort of extreme climatic conditions
brought about by global warming and development.
By going back to the original
source plants of some 28 foods -- for example, of rice, potatoes, oats,
groundnuts -- researchers collected as wide a variety of seeds as possible in
25 countries to fill in the gaps in existing gene banks.
"We are looking to capture
as much diversity as possible... populations separated by even a few
kilometres may be genetically quite different," said Luigi Guarino,
Director of Science with the Crop Trust, a non-profit organisation dedicated to
promoting crop diversity.
The MSB at Kew Gardens, home to
the Royal Botanic Society, has so far distributed nearly 3,300 samples of 165
species as a result of the project.
"Many countries have now
realised how important crop wild relatives are -- and what an invaluable source
they are for breeders," Cockel said.
The most well-known seed storage
project is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault where nearly a million samples are
now stored deep within the ice some 1,300 kilometres from the North Pole.
It aims to house a collection of as many seeds as possible
as insurance against the loss of other seed banks around the world.
Straw
Baling | Four Straw Balers in the Same Rice Field | Tractor Video
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In this tractor video
we'll learn all about how rice straw is baled. The baling operation featured is
comprised of 4 MT635B Challenger tractors, each pulling a Claas 5300 RC
Quadrant straw baler. Also included are additional tractors pulling behind 20'
rakers that create the straw rows for the balers. Baling rice straw after
harvest allows us to prepare the field for next years crop. Another straw
management program in California, aside from baling rice straw, is tilling and
flooding the fields before winter. This helps the straw to decompose. It's a
four step process. In the video you'll see our Case IH 7240 chopping the straw,
then our Case IH 260 Magnum plowing the field and finally our Case IH 245
putting in drains--all before flooding the field with water. Whether a farmer
bales their rice straw after harvest, it's a lot of tractor work! Check out
last week's episode of Rice Farming TV: "Yield Loss during the 2019
California Rice Harvest!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMrc3... Check out the California Rice Commission's latest
wildlife video on their YouTube Channel: "Exhilaration" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkhQo... Thank you for watching and don't forget to subscribe! 🔴
Subscribe! Stay updated with California rice production: https://goo.gl/pOjVfO Please share this episode if you found it entertaining
and/or educational. 🔴 Recommended Playlist "Rice Farming TV | Starting
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Category
Cutting-edge biochip to detect HIV within 1 week of infection
Livingston Contributor on December 8, 2019
Cutting-edge biochip to detect
HIV within 1 week of infection Scientists have patented a groundbreaking
biosensor technology that can detect HIV within a week of infection, boosting
expectations of large-scale early detection in developing countries with the
highest transmission rates.
Researchers at the Spanish
National Research Council (CSIC) created a rice-grain sized chip that can
detect p24 antigen, a protein that is attached to the HIV virus, “at
concentrations 100,000 times lower than in current techniques.”
Presently, it takes three weeks
to detect HIV. A more expensive test, which tests for the genetic material of
HIV, can detect the virus’ presence from 10-14 days.
The team’s findings were
published in scientific journal , and detail how, using existing technology,
the new test makes “large-scale, low cost production possible,” with the
potential for the chips to be used in countries with the highest transmission
rates.
Early detection of HIV is vital
to prevent the disease being spread, and to improve the health of those
infected through antiretroviral therapy.
“The potential for HIV
infectivity in the first stage of infection is much higher than in the later
stages,” CSIC researcher Priscila Kosaka .
“Therefore, initiating
antiretroviral therapy prior to seroconversion improves immune control and has
been associated with benefits in CD4 cell count, a reduction in systemic
inflammation, the preservation of cognitive function, and a reduction of the
latent reservoir. Logically, its detection is critical to the prevention of HIV
transmission.”
The test works by taking 1mm of
human serum on the biosensor and incubating it at 37 degrees for one hour, to
allow the p24 antigen to bind to the capture antibodies on the sensor’s
surface.
The specimen is then incubated at
37 degrees for 15 minutes, this time with gold nanoparticles which mark the p24
proteins.
“The test takes a total of 4
hours 45 minutes, which is really rapid. In fact, to confirm the diagnosis you
could even repeat the test and the clinical results could be back on the same
day as the medical examination,” CSIC researcher Javier Tamayo said. “The
results are statistically significant and could be adapted to medical
requirements.”
The technology is also being used
in early stage detection of some types of cancer. “The chip itself, the
physical part, is identical for HIV tests and for cancer biomarker tests.”
Tamayo said: “What changes is the
chemical part – the solution we apply – so that it reacts accordingly to what
we are looking for. That‘s why our fundamental work is focused on developing
applications for this new technology.”
According to , 2.1 million people
were newly infected with HIV in 2015 and 36.7 million people were living with
HIV in 2015.
CCL Unanimously Selects Turmeric
Powder as Best Spice for Both Keto and Paleo Diet
Posted: Dec 09, 2019 6:51 PM PST
CCL
Has Awarded Turmeric Powder as Best Spice for Both Keto and Paleo Diet. In
celebration of this yearly choice, it is giving away it’s best seller Turmeric
Secrets for Health & Beauty during its winter sale.
Coconut Country Living (CCL) has honored
turmeric powder with its best spice award this year for showing its
effectiveness for its ketogenic benefits, from its thermogenic nature to
increase metabolic rate and raise core body temperature, and for its easy
incorporation with other ketogenic foods, including coconut oil, black pepper,
and avocado.
Once a year keto friendly superfoods company
Coconut Country Living gives this special award to the stand out food that is
helping its customers most. Those who have reported their results from CCL’s
Organic Turmeric powder have given raving testimonials about what this spice
has done for their lives, and thus the staff at CCL have selected it as this
year’s winner.
The owner and staff has picked out turmeric as
the true “super spice” because of its consistent performance with its many
health benefits, including its natural anti-inflammatory effect against chronic
conditions, its antioxidant capacity, brain boosting abilities, and help for
the heart health. and its applications for beauty, including replacing toxic
and polluting products containing microbeads and carcinogens, including
toothpastes, face, skin and nail care. Its wide application made it a sure
choice because even those who do not cook find important uses with their
turmeric. These are all qualities Coconut Country Living holds in especially
high regard when picking a preferred spice for customers.
Coconut Country Living selects its best spice
for the keto or paleo diet because it believes the most important element in
its business after it’s customers is to give those customers the very highest
quality ingredients that are good long term solutions to their health and
beauty needs.
Michael DiSalvo, Owner of Coconut Country
Living said: “Many companies overlook a spice like turmeric because it has been
around so long. But with current developments and ongoing research, there is no
doubt that turmeric is the preferred spice for those seeking health and beauty.
However, here at Coconut Country Living we also realize that with so many
possible chemicals used in processing and raising of turmeric, it’s important
that turmeric root is not only organically grown, but tested for heavy metals
and pathogens. This is why we work to promote a healthy food supply and always
test our turmeric so customers can take advantage of all it has to offer.
“This is a big reason we will continue to star
our organic turmeric powder in many more promotions. It is a true superspice
that adds warming flavor to food and drinks, but also accentuates beauty
naturally while offering protective benefits. The hundreds of studies proving
turmeric and curcumin’s benefits are simply overwhelming. Consumers simply need
to be certain they are getting a quality turmeric and that they activate its
bioactive compounds. Rather than relying on dangerous drugs like ibuprofen and
methadone and polluting our oceans and drinking water with microbeads, is a
great fit for young and old, whether your children love their turmeric milk,
cauliflower tots, hot chocolate, or even homemade chocolate itself, or you are
fixing a more “mature” dish like chicken curry, basmati rice, or spiced yellow
dal. and is always willing to go the extra mile.”
“Coconut Country Living’s Organic Turmeric
powder displays exactly what we stand for at Coconut Country Living…continually
looking for ways for our customers to experience the healing powers of
delicious food, in simple enjoyable ways.. We’re especially proud of Coconut
Country Living’s Organic Turmeric powder for that. He’s a very deserving award
winner.”
More information about Coconut Country Living
and the Best spice for keto or paleo diet and winners of this award are
available at The Coconut Country Living Store. Those
interested in trying CCL’s award winning turmeric powder can get it until the
New Year at a 30% discount during the “Celebrate Turmeric” promotion also get
the free e-book of best selling turmeric hacks e-book either at the online
store on Amazon.
Media Contact
Company Name: Coconut Country Living, LLC
Contact Person: Michael DiSalvo
Email: Send Email
Phone: 513-939-9033
Country: United States
Website: https://www.coconutcountryliving.com
Company Name: Coconut Country Living, LLC
Contact Person: Michael DiSalvo
Email: Send Email
Phone: 513-939-9033
Country: United States
Website: https://www.coconutcountryliving.com
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Myanmar earns US$150 M from two months of rice export
PUBLISHED 9
DECEMBER 2019
ZEYA
NYEIN
Myanmar
earned over US$150 million from over 520,000 tons of rice and broken rice
export from October 1 to November 22 in this fiscal year and over 84 per cent
of them are exported through maritime routes, according to figures from Myanmar
Rice Federation (MRF).
It
earned over US$108 million from over 360,000 tons of rice export to 40
countries and over US$42 million from over 160,000 tons of broken rice export
to 33 countries.
Myanmar
is exporting rice to EU and African markets via maritime routes and China
through Muse border trade center.
Myanmar
earned about US$130 million from about 442,000 tons of rice and broken rice
export from maritime trade.
Moreover,
it earned over US$21 million from over 81,000 tons of rice and broken rice
export through border trade centers.
Myanmar
earned US$709 million from more than 2 million tons of rice and broken rice
export in 2018-19 FY, announced the MRF.
Myanmar
exported about 3.6 million tons of rice and broken rice in 2017-18 which broke
the record in over 50 years time.
The
MRF is dealing with problems such as the decrease of paddy prices and the
difficulties of the farmers. The MRF said they have difficulties to have
warehouses to store rice, to dry paddy and to have more vehicles to transport
rice.
Moreover
rice export is declining and rice dealings in border trade centers are low. It
will not be dealt with private sector alone.
Deputy
Commerce Minister Aung Htoo said Myanmar had 11 companies officially recognized
to export rice previously and now more than 40 companies have been selected to
export rice to China. Myanmar sent the list of companies to China to resume the
rice export.
RDB set to
distribute $50M to rice millers to sustain paddy market
Thou Vireak | Publication date 08
December 2019 | 23:28 ICT
A woman works in a rice processing factory in Battambang
province. Heng Chivoan
The state-owned Rural Development
Bank (RDB) has announced that it will distribute $50 million in loans to
private rice millers to sustain the paddy market for farmers.
The Cambodia Rice Federation
(CRF) said the funds will be used to purchase nearly 300,000 tonnes of paddy
during the post-monsoon harvest season, which ends at the beginning of next
year.
The additional loans come after
the CRF asked the government to provide $200 million in loans to rice millers
late last month.
On Wednesday, the RDB said in a
statement that it had received the $50 million from the Ministry of Economy and
Finance, which was to be used as capital to buy paddy for additional stockpiles
during the harvest season.
The funds will be released from
Monday onwards to serve the agricultural sector – to stabilise prices, and for
processing and export, it said.
“Rice millers and other buyers of
paddy will continue to purchase the crop at reasonable prices for storage,
which are to be used as collateral for the loan in accordance with the RDB’s
requirements,” it said.
RDB CEO Kao Thach told The Post
last week that capital shortage in the rice sector is between $200 million and
$250 million. To help remedy the issue, he has called on commercial banks to
lend more to the sector.
The CRF said in a statement that
it hopes the loan will help rice millers and the agricultural community –
especially CRF members – continue buying various types of paddy from farmers
during the harvest season.
“It will help stabilise the paddy
market for farmers and increase the demand from rice millers and farming
communities for additional paddy to process and export to domestic and
international markets,” the CRF said.
CRF secretary-general Lun Yeng
told The Post on Sunday that its members are ready for the RDB loans to be released.
Of the CRF’s 100 rice millers,
only 44 are currently able to purchase additional paddy for stockpiles, he
said. “Most CRF members have already prepared their applications for the
funding to buy paddy from farmers.
“These funds will urgently help
address the private sector, which wants to buy more paddy, despite facing a
shortage of working capital,” Yeng said.
The CRF statement called on its
members to work closely with the RDB and farmers. “All farmers and farmer
communities that have either finished or will soon finish their harvest and do
not have a market [for their paddy], please contact nearby rice millers,” it
said.
According to an official report,
in the first 11 months of this year, rice exports to the international market
totalled 514,149 tonnes. This was a 3.4 per cent increase compared to the same
period last year, which stood at 497,240 tonnes.
China was the Kingdom’s leading
export market in the first 11 months of this year, with 195,242 tonnes. The EU
imported 174,397 tonnes and the Asean region 69,239 tonnes. The balance was
exported to Africa and other destinations.
Gov’t adds $50 million to rice
fund
Sok Chan / Khmer Times
The Cambodia Rice Federation,
together with millers and exporters, has hailed a recent government move to
allocate an additional $50 million to rescue the rice sector and stabilise the
price of premium varieties.
“CRF thanks the government,
through the Ministry of Economy and Finance, for allocating an additional $50
million to the Rural Development Bank (RDB) to expand the credit available to
rice millers and rice exporters. This will stabilise the price of paddy and
allow more of it to be stocked, milled, process and exported,” CRF said in a
statement.
CRF said it hopes the additional
funds will help rice millers and agriculture communities members of CRF to
continue collecting rice from farmers, particularly the varieties Phka Rumdoul
and Phka Malis (premium fragrant rice) as well as Sen Kro Ob and Sen Pidor.
The harvest of these varieties
begins this week, running until early 2020.
“We ask rice millers and
agriculture cooperatives able to store more paddy to contact RDB to request a
loan, using their current stock as collateral,” it said.
Chan Pich, general manager of
Signatures of Asia, one of the country’s leading rice exporters, told Khmer
Times he was happy to learn that the government was injecting another $50
million into the fund.
He said a lot of millers invested
all their working capital to purchase paddy from August to November, so they
are running short of cash now.
“The additional $50 million will
help rice millers collect more paddy to store in their warehouse,” he said. “We
haven’t applied for a loan yet but we will do it soon to collect more paddy in
Banteay Meanchey province,” he said.
“We are also happy that China
allowed more Cambodian rice millers to begin shipping to the Chinese market.
This is great news for farmers and exporters alike,” Mr Pich added.
Last week, China’s General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ)
approved the applications of 18 local rice millers that wanted to begin
exporting to China. A total of 44 local rice millers can now export rice to the
Chinese market.
The additional capital going into
the fund will be available to all rice millers and exporters from today.
“RDB is pushing rice millers and
rice collectors to continue buying rice at an affordable price and storing it
in their warehouses so that it can be used for collateral to access credit from
RDB,” the bank said in a statement.
According to CRF, as of the end
of November, a total of 350,000 tonnes of paddy had been stored by members of
the association. This figure does not include new stock or milled rice for
export.
During a board meeting last week,
CRF agreed to consider the possibility of expanding to new markets based on the
existing mechanism with China through the Ministry of Commerce, who is acting
as the negotiator.
CRF noted that the price of
premium fragrant rice has dropped by about 100 riel to reach 1,000 riel per
kilogram.
“The slight drop in the price is
the result of having poor quality. The Malis and Somaly varieties make up only
a small percentage of all the rice. Also, the Somaly variety in some areas is
not fragrant but hard-cooked rice, which is not in high demand.
“There have also been issues with
the quality of the rice in Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap.”
He noted, however, that the paddy
in Kampong Speu, Takeo, Kampot and Kandal provinces had good quality and was
being sold at a higher price although supply was not enough to meet the demand.
18 More Cambodia’s Rice Traders to
Export to Chinese Market
Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 7 – China’s General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has
decided to grant qualifications to an additional 18 Cambodian local rice traders
to export to Chinese market, according to the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia.
“Thanks to the joint efforts by
China and Cambodia, the kingdom’s 18 rice trading enterprises have been granted
qualifications to export to China, making it 44 in total,” the Chinese Embassy
wrote on Facebook on Friday.
“The entries of 18 rice companies
will help Cambodia achieve its goal of fulfilling its rice export quota in
Chinese market, which is 400,000 tons of rice per annum,” it said.
According to the statement, “in
the first 11 months of 2019, Cambodia has exported rice to 60 countries across
the world. China remains the largest export destination for Cambodia, in which
the kingdom has exported more than 200,000 tons of rice to China in 2019,
increased by 53 percent compared to last year.”
=FRESH NEWS
=FRESH NEWS
RIFAN urges Fed Govt to sustain border
closure
Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has urged Federal
Government to sustain its current border closure.The association said it would
boost the economy.
Its chairman in Niger State, Alhaji Idris Abini, spoke in Minna,
the state capital, in an interview yesterday with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN).
Abini noted that the closure had increased rice production in the
state due to increased demand by marketers and consumers.
“Although we are yet to meet local demand for rice, we have
started the journey to produce more rice due to the closure of our borders
because efforts will be made by both government and farmers to produce enough
food.
“The border closure is a right step in the right direction
because it is already increasing wealth among farmers as consumers are
beginning to patronise our local rice,” he said.
Abini said Nigeria has different varieties of rice that can
compete favourably with foreign brands.
The RIFAN chairman stressed that the closure would ensure
security in the country as smuggling of illegal arms and ammunition would be
curtailed.
“Those criticising the closure of the borders are not a true Nigerians
because it is one of the best decisions of this administration,” he said.
Abini expressed optimism that the policy would succeed as
government was providing the enabling environment for agriculture to thrive by
supporting farmers with inputs and implements.
“The Federal Government has demonstrated this through the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Scheme by allowing farmers to
access more loans even when previous ones have not been fully repaid,” he said.
Rice Production in Cuba – What do the Stats Say?
HAVANA TIMES – At a
recent board meeting of governing bodies from every Cuban province, the
important subject of rice supply was discussed. (1)
Two issues stood out:
§ The discrepancy that exists between the statement that the Rice
Program “shows sustained growth in recent years” and the reality that available
official statistics show.
§ Information about production estimates which are easily refuted.
What was said at the meeting
A news report describes what was
discussed in this regard as follows:
“Talking about the evolution and sustainability of the rice
program, the head of the sector, Gustavo Rodriguez Rollero, indicated that 14
companies from 13 provinces in the country take part, as well as the special
municipality of Isla de la Juventud, and brings together 22,218 producers,
20,472 of whom belong to the cooperative and farming sector.
The Rice Program, closely linked to food for the population and
replacing imports, shows steady growth in recent years, even when different
infrastructures still need to be repaired and updated.
As a result of this program, some 450,000 tons of rice should be
produced by 2023, and it is estimated than 600,000 tons will be produced by
2030, which represents 86% of national demand which currently stands at
700,000.
The Ministry of Agriculture explained that investments have
essentially been made in agricultural machinery, implements, the drying and
milling industry, and transport. Upgrading works are currently underway at 11
paddy dryers; 9 benefits, classification and seed treatment plants; 17 80-ton
scales for weighing; and 14 storage centers for rice hulls with 38 silos.
1,720,700 tons of rice meant for popular consumption has been
produced between 2012 and last year, which according to global market prices
for rice approved by the Rice Development Project, represents over 849 million
USD and means that the country has saved over 242 million USD in the last 7
years.
These statistics go far beyond the undeniable contribution to
replacing imports and the country’s economic development as they also have an
impact on families’ everyday lives and support much-needed national food
production, where the most is made of our potential.”
Before commenting on the subject, it’s
worth explaining that figures on national rice production can be expressed with
indicators that aren’t the same (although this isn’t normally clarified in
official statements made on the subject).
Statistics from reports and annual
reports by Cuba’s Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) uses the “paddy
rice” performance indicator, but sometimes (like in the case of the
aforementioned meeting) the production figure is expressed as rice ready for
consumption, which is a dry product without the hull.
Naturally, a ton of rice ready for
consumption (“husked rice”) needs a greater mass of “paddy rice”.
Taking the figure provided at the
meeting of 1,720,700 tons of “husked rice” produced between 2012 and 2018, and
comparing it with the 3,696,685 tons of “paddy rice” produced between 2012 and
2018 (ONEI statistics), we can calculate a quotient average of 2.15 tons of
“paddy rice” for every ton of rice ready for consumption. (2)
“Stubborn” national rice production statistics in Cuba
Contrary to what was said at the
meeting, the Rice Program does not “show steady growth in recent years”,
something which we can clearly see in the following graph.
The average annual growth rate of
national rice production between 2010 and 2018 was 0.18%, that is to say, that
in the long-run, there was a standstill in production.
In 2018, rice production was only
1.42% greater than the level recorded in 2010.
Cuba: rice production and imports 2010 – 2018. Paddy rice and rice
ready for consumption (in tons). Source: ONEI. Cuba’s Annual Statistical
Report. 2018, 2016 and 2013 editions.
During the 2010-2018 period,
growth in the first four years resulted in a “peak” in 2013, which then fell
and has never fully recovered.
To tell you the truth, production
has oscillated in such a way (negatively in more recent times) that it cannot
in any way be shown as sustained growth.
In fact, recent news reports
indicate that the estimated level of production in 2019 will be less than what
it was in 2018, quoting “setbacks in different moments with [shortages of]
fertilizers, other chemical products and, more recently, fuel.” (3)
In some regions, such as Sancti
Spiritus, there has also been poor water availability for rice production. (4)
It is estimated that 200,000 tons
of “husked rice” will be produced in 2019, which would be the equivalent of
430,000 “paddy rice” in 2019. (5)
Imports (which close the wide gap
between national production and total consumption) has also oscillated,
although towards growth more generally, since 2013.
Recent instability in supplies
reflect the way two factors have come together: a tendency towards a
“undulating” reduction in the total area of rice cultivation and a tendency of
decreasing yields ever since 2015.
With less land for sowing and
lower yields, trying to project the image that we have a successful Rice
Program is a risky business.
Cuba: land dedicated to rice production (hectares) and yield (tons
/ hectare). Source: ONEI. Cuba’s Annual Statistical Report. 2018, 2016 and 2013
editions. Area – blue, Yield – orange.
In 2018, the average yield per
hectare was 33.7% greater than it was in 2019, but the “area sown and for the
production” of rice in 2018 was 24.2% less than it was in 2010.
Natura non facit saltum
Perhaps the most interesting
moment in the meeting came when estimates for national rice production in the
medium-term (up until 2023) and in the longer-term (2030), were discussed.
It is estimated that 450,000 tons
of “husked rice” will be produced in 2023, which would be the equivalent of
967,500 “paddy rice” in 2019. (Green column on the graph). (6)
It is estimated that 600,000 tons
of “husked rice” will be produced in 2030, which would be the equivalent of
1,290,000 tons of “paddy rice”. (Red column on the graph).
Cuba: rice production and government estimates for the future
(tons).
However, herein lies a problem. As
we have mentioned before, the average annual growth rate of national rice
production between 2010 and 2018 was 0.18%.
However, the estimate announced at
the meeting implies an average annual growth rate of 16% between 2018 and 2023,
and an average annual growth rate of 8% between 2018 and 2030.
In the first case (2018-2023), the
average annual growth rate would have to be 89 times greater than the real
average recorded between 2010 and 2018, and in the second case, the average
annual rate would have to be 50 times greater.
The chances that these average
annual growth rates are met are very slim, at least if we follow the principle
of “Nature makes no leap”.
In summary:
Contrary to what was stated at the
meeting, the Rice Program has not “grown sustainably in recent years”:
§ In 2018, rice production was only 1.42% greater than the level
recorded in 2010.
§ The average annual growth rate of national rice production between
2010 and 2018 was 0.18%, that is to say, that in the long-run, there was a
standstill in production.
§ In 2018, the average yield per hectare was 33.7% greater than it
was in 2019, but the “area sown and for the production” of rice in 2018 was
24.2% less than it was in 2010.
Estimates for national rice
production in the medium-term (up until 2023) and in the longer-term (2030),
seem to have very slim chances of materializing:
§ In order to reach estimated production levels for 2023, an average
annual growth rate of 16% would have to be recorded between 2018 and 2023, that
is to say, 89 times more than the real average growth rate recorded between
2010 and 2018.
§ In order to reach estimated production levels for 2030, an average
annual growth rate of 9% would have to be recorded between 2018 and 2030, that
is to say, 50 times more than the real average growth rate recorded between
2010 and 2018.
Notes:
1.
Leticia Martinez, Yaima Puig Meneses, “DÃaz-Canel: Mantener el
ahorro como premisa de trabajo”, Cubadebate, November 27th 2019.
2.
This calculation assumes that 1,720,700 tons of rice “dedicated to
popular consumption” is the result of processing all of the tons of “paddy
rice” produced between 2012 and 2018. The fragmented way that these statistics
are thrown about at these meetings, makes it hard for us to identify how exact
they are with available official statistics.
3.
Jose Luis Camellon, “Sancti SpÃritus: Arroceros cubanos encaran
nuevos compromisos productivos”, Escambray, November 16th 2019.
4.
Jose Luis Camellón, “Limitada la siembra en arrocera Sur del
JÃbaro por falta de agua”, Escambray, November 23rd 2019.
5.
Jose Luis Camellon, “Sancti SpÃritus: Arroceros cubanos encaran
nuevos compromisos productivos”, Escambray, November 16th 2019.
Climate Change
Will Affect Rice Crops, Study Finds
Tuesday,
10 December, 2019 - 07:15
A farmer
transplanting rice in a field near Khon Kaen, northeastern Thailand. (Reuters)
Cairo - Hazem
Bader
Rice is the largest global staple crop, consumed by more than half
the world's population -- but new experiments from Stanford University suggest
that with climate change, production in major rice-growing regions with endemic
soil arsenic will undergo a dramatic decline and jeopardize critical food
supplies.
Arsenic is a chemical that is found naturally in the soil, and is not generally transmitted to plants, but according to the new study, climate changes can transfer it, especially to rice.
The experiments' findings, which are published in the Nature Communication journal, show that rice production in future climate conditions could drop about 40 percent by 2100, and that changes to soil processes due to increased temperatures will cause rice to contain a high level of arsenic.
The researchers specifically looked at rice because it is grown in flooded paddies that help loosen the arsenic from the soil and make it especially sensitive to arsenic uptake.
While many food crops today contain small amounts of arsenic, future changes in soil due to higher temperatures combined with flooded conditions cause arsenic to be taken up by rice plants at higher levels, and using irrigation water with naturally occurring high arsenic exacerbates the problem.
While these factors will not affect all global commodities in the same way, they do extend to other flood-grown crops.
The researchers created future climate conditions in greenhouses based on estimates of a possible 5 degree Celsius temperature increase and twice as much atmospheric carbon dioxide by 2100, as projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
While previous research examined the impacts of increasing temperature in the context of the global food crisis, this study was the first to account for soil conditions in combination with shifts in climate.
For the experiments, the group grew medium-grain rice. The greenhouses were controlled for temperature, carbon dioxide concentrations and soil arsenic levels, which will be higher in the future due to its buildup in soils from irrigating crops with arsenic-contaminated water, a problem that is worsened by over-pumping groundwater.
The researchers found that with increased temperatures, microorganisms destabilized more of the soil's inherent arsenic, leading to greater amounts of the toxin in the soil water that is available for uptake by the rice. Once taken up, arsenic inhibits nutrient absorption and decreases plant growth and development, factors that contributed to the 40 percent decrease in yield the scientists observed.
Scott Fendorf, co-author and professor at the University of Stanford said "The findings highlight a 'dangerous issue' that would lead to negative consequences on the global food security".
In a report published on the university's website, Fendorf said: "By the time we get to 2100, we're estimated to have approximately 10 billion people, so that would mean we have 5 billion people dependent on rice, and 2 billion who would not have access to the calories they would normally need. We have to be aware of these challenges that are coming so we can be ready to adapt."
Dr. Khaled Abdel Sattar, nutrition expert at the Egyptian Ministry of Health, sees that along the crop failure challenge, the high levels of arsenic highlighted in the study is concerning, not only because of rice's global significance, but also because it is a low-allergen food often introduced early to infants.
"Because infants are a lot smaller than we are, if they eat rice, that means that they take up more arsenic relative to their body weight," he added. Chronic exposure to arsenic leads to skin lesions, cancers, aggravation of lung diseases and ultimately death
Arsenic is a chemical that is found naturally in the soil, and is not generally transmitted to plants, but according to the new study, climate changes can transfer it, especially to rice.
The experiments' findings, which are published in the Nature Communication journal, show that rice production in future climate conditions could drop about 40 percent by 2100, and that changes to soil processes due to increased temperatures will cause rice to contain a high level of arsenic.
The researchers specifically looked at rice because it is grown in flooded paddies that help loosen the arsenic from the soil and make it especially sensitive to arsenic uptake.
While many food crops today contain small amounts of arsenic, future changes in soil due to higher temperatures combined with flooded conditions cause arsenic to be taken up by rice plants at higher levels, and using irrigation water with naturally occurring high arsenic exacerbates the problem.
While these factors will not affect all global commodities in the same way, they do extend to other flood-grown crops.
The researchers created future climate conditions in greenhouses based on estimates of a possible 5 degree Celsius temperature increase and twice as much atmospheric carbon dioxide by 2100, as projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
While previous research examined the impacts of increasing temperature in the context of the global food crisis, this study was the first to account for soil conditions in combination with shifts in climate.
For the experiments, the group grew medium-grain rice. The greenhouses were controlled for temperature, carbon dioxide concentrations and soil arsenic levels, which will be higher in the future due to its buildup in soils from irrigating crops with arsenic-contaminated water, a problem that is worsened by over-pumping groundwater.
The researchers found that with increased temperatures, microorganisms destabilized more of the soil's inherent arsenic, leading to greater amounts of the toxin in the soil water that is available for uptake by the rice. Once taken up, arsenic inhibits nutrient absorption and decreases plant growth and development, factors that contributed to the 40 percent decrease in yield the scientists observed.
Scott Fendorf, co-author and professor at the University of Stanford said "The findings highlight a 'dangerous issue' that would lead to negative consequences on the global food security".
In a report published on the university's website, Fendorf said: "By the time we get to 2100, we're estimated to have approximately 10 billion people, so that would mean we have 5 billion people dependent on rice, and 2 billion who would not have access to the calories they would normally need. We have to be aware of these challenges that are coming so we can be ready to adapt."
Dr. Khaled Abdel Sattar, nutrition expert at the Egyptian Ministry of Health, sees that along the crop failure challenge, the high levels of arsenic highlighted in the study is concerning, not only because of rice's global significance, but also because it is a low-allergen food often introduced early to infants.
"Because infants are a lot smaller than we are, if they eat rice, that means that they take up more arsenic relative to their body weight," he added. Chronic exposure to arsenic leads to skin lesions, cancers, aggravation of lung diseases and ultimately death
With tantalizing aroma
and taste, Pakistani Biryani hits Morocco big style
RABAT: Pakistan Embassy in the Kingdom of Morocco organised
a Biryani festival in Rabat in order to promote Pakistani rice, spices and the
soft image of the country as a tourist destination.
The event was organised in in collaboration with Pakistan Morocco
Joint Business Council (PMJBC). Pakistan’s Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan hosted the festival and
welcomed dignitaries and businessmen from both the countries at the glittering
event.
Ishtiaq Baig, Honorary Consul General of Morocco and Chairman Pak
Morocco Joint Business Council, headed a delegation of 25 leading businessmen
from Karachi to grace the event.
The Vice Chairman of Moroccan Parliament, members of the National
Assembly, Chamber Presidents and local notables were among the 300 guests.
Famous Pakistani chef Gulzar Hussain was brought from Karachi with his team
especially for the occasion to cook Biryani for the guests. Four trademark
varieties of the specialty, including prawn biryani, mutton biryani, vegetable
biryani and chicken biryani, were served and highly appreciated by the guests.
The festival area was filled with the aroma of delicious Pakistani Basmati
rice. Pakistani music was another attraction that added to the festive mood of
the environment.
Hamid Asghar Khan and his wife Ayesha Hamid welcomed the guests at
the imposing and fully decorated venue. Several stalls were set up to showcase
Pakistani rice. A number of rice buyers, restaurant and hotel operators were
among the guests.
The well-attended festival was the first event after the launch of
'Engage Africa Policy' announced by the Prime Minister at a conference in
Islamabad last week.
The ambassador explained that the event was a perfect
example of the government facilitating the private sector and engaging
proactively in trade diplomacy as per the government vision and directions of
the foreign minister. He explained that “Moroccans are not traditionally a
rice-eating nation but there is a growing interest in rice. Several Asian
restaurants have recently opened up."
“Pakistan needs to swiftly turn to Africa and tap the African
regional markets. This festival is part of PM’s vision of promoting trade and
exports. Countries like Morocco offer huge opportunities of access to the
common African market of 1.3 billion people, with the right kind of approach
sky is the limit in these countries,” he added.
The Biryani festival was the brainchild of Mirza Ishtiaq Baig who
put in a lot of effort in organising it and arranging the logistics. He said
that Biryani is now popular in India and Pakistan regions but Mughals and Arabs
brought Biryani to the north and south of India, respectively and from there it
branched out. He said that the historical perspective is important because
there is a growing market of rice and Biryani has become the important
component when it comes to the export of rice from Pakistan. He shared that in
Pakistan more than 40 different types of Biryani are cooked and in Arab-African
countries like Morocco the demand for it is growing due to expanding cultural
and business ties.
Ishtiaq Baig said that the festival provided a great opportunity
for the Karachi business delegates to meet businessmen from Morocco over the
course of three days during which future business opportunities were explored.
He said import of Pakistani rice and other products will help increase rice
exports as well as other industries.
Ishtiaq Baig said that Morocco — which has a population of 35
million people — is an important market to expand into a gateway to
Africa and the present govt is taking steps to reach out to the unexplored
markets.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/580975-aroma-and-taste-of-pakistani-biryani-hits-morocco-big-style
Pakistan Biryani festival
in Morocco goes down as big success
RABAT:
Pakistan Embassy in the Kingdom of Morocco in association with Pakistan Morocco
Joint Business Council (PMJBC) organised a Biryani festival in Rabat to promote
Pakistani rice, spices and the soft image of Pakistan as a tourist destination.
Pakistan’s
Ambassador to Morocco Hamid Asghar Khan hosted the festival and welcomed
dignitaries and businessmen from both Pakistan and Morocco at the glittering
festival.
Ishtiaq
Baig, Honorary Consul General of Morocco & Chairman Pak Morocco Joint
Business Council, headed a delegation of 25 leading businessmen from Karachi
for the festival. The Vice Chairman of Moroccan Parliament, a number of Members
of the National Assembly, Chamber Presidents and local notables were among the
300 guests who attended the colourful festival.
Famous
Pakistani chef Gulzar Hussain was brought from Karachi with his team especially
for the occasion to cook Biryani for the guests. Four trademark Pakistani
Biryanis including prawn biryani, mutton biryani, vegetable biryani and chicken
biryani were served and we're deeply appreciated by the guests. The festival
area was filled with the aroma of delicious Pakistani Basmiti rice. Pakistani
music in the background added further to the festive environment.
Hamid
Asghar Khan and his wife Ayesha Hamid welcomed the guests at the imposing venue
which was decorated for the occasion. Several stalls were set up to showcase
Pakistani rice. A number of rice buyers, restaurant and hotel operators were
among the guests.
The
well-attended festival was the first event after the launch of Engage Africa Policy
announced by the PM at a conference in Islamabad last week.
Ambassador
Hamid Asghar Khan explained that the event was a perfect example of the
government facilitating the private sector and engaging proactively in trade
diplomacy as per the government vision and directions of the Foreign Minister.
He explained that “Moroccans are not traditionally a rice-eating nation but
there is growing interest in rice. Several Asian restaurants have recently
opened up.
“Pakistan
needs to swiftly turn to Africa and tap the African regional markets. This
festival is part of PM’s vision of promoting trade and exports. Countries like
Morocco offer huge opportunities if access to the common African market of 1.3
billion people, with the right kind of approach sky is the limit in these
countries,” he added.
The
Biryani festival was the brainchild of Mirza Ishtiaq Baig who put in a lot of
effort in organising it and arranging the logistics. He said that Biryani is
now mainly popular in India and Pakistan regions but Mughals and Arabs brought
Biryani to the north and south of India respectively and from there it branched
out. He said the historical perspective is important because there is a growing
market of rice and Biryani has become the important component when it comes to
the export of rice from Pakistan.
He shared
that in Pakistan more than 40 different types of Biryani are cooked and in
Arab-African countries like Morocco the demand for it is growing due to
expanding cultural and business ties.
Ishtiaq
Baig said that the festival provided a great opportunity for the Karachi
business delegates to meet businessmen from Morocco over the course of three
days during which future business opportunities were explored. He said import
of Pakistani rice and other products will help increase rice exports as well as
other industries.
Ishtiaq
Baig said that Morocco — which has a population of 35 million people — is an
important market to expand into as well as a gateway into Africa and the
present govt is taking steps to reach out to the unexplored markets.
Pakistan goes digital
DECEMBER 9, 2019
The capability of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to make promises and falling short has
been witnessed several times. The Digital Pakistan initiative by the PTI must
not take a U-turn. Perhaps to ensure that they stand true to their words, the
government – upon the request of the Prime Minister – decided to bring in an
experienced technology leader, Tania Aidrus. Her recent job was at Google as
head of Payments and Next Billion Users. She joined Google in 2008 as the Country
Manager, South Asia Emerging Markets. Completing her MBA from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), Tania brings with her a vast experience of
digital media.
While the advancements of technology are being
used by countries in all continents, they have not yet anchored in Pakistan.
Digital technology has created opportunities for businesses in sub-Saharan
Africa. For instance, in Ghana, digital technologies have impacted the
agriculture sector. Farmerline and Farmable are agri-techs that have pursued
the development of new farming businesses while renewing the existing ones. In
Nigeria, Prime Wave supplies equipment to rice processing firms while Al-Wabel
Trading Company Ltd is inventing new technological solutions. When Africa is
capable to transform their agriculture through technology, Pakistan should have
done so at least five years ago. Even then we would have been way off our
schedule towards progress. One reason could be a lack of vision, which is a
limitation facing all sectors. The gatekeepers and leaders of the many sectors
are themselves naïve and unable to foresee the change that must come.
In Pakistan, however, slow internet bandwidth
and speed with a limited broadband penetration has been hampering such growth.
While the metropolitan cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan and
even Hyderabad has internet connections, broadband connectivity has yet to
reach the rural areas. The government did pursue digitization but could not
make headways. The Digital Pakistan Initiative, however, has given some
optimism in this regard. Pakistan is surely capable to apply digitization in
all sectors. It will enhance and assist in education, health, justice, economy
among other sectors. While such an initiative will bring good results, the government
– under the leadership of Tania Aidrus – must follow protocols, practices and
procedures to remain on track. They must also minimize all loopholes that might
emerge as valuable data can be breached, manipulated and misused.
While the Digital Pakistan
Initiative will assist the growth of all sectors, it will help two areas in
particular. They are Pakistan’s freelance industry and the e-commerce sector.
Pakistan’s young entrepreneurs will avail opportunities under this initiative
to build their businesses and make an impact in their respective fields
While the Digital Pakistan Initiative will
assist the growth of all sectors, it will help two areas in particular. They
are Pakistan’s freelance industry and the e-commerce sector. Pakistan’s young
entrepreneurs will avail opportunities under this initiative to build their
businesses and make an impact in their respective fields. While talking at the
inaugural ceremony, Tania mentioned the five pillars of the Digital Pakistan
Initiative. They are Access and Connectivity, Digital Infrastructure,
E-Government, Digital Skilling and Literacy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The first pillar, Access and Connectivity, will ensure that the internet is
made available for all. Here, the challenge will be to penetrate internet
services in rural areas. Digital Infrastructure is the second pillar. It will
facilitate in completing all daily tasks using a smartphone. The development of
applications will be an integral part of this phase. Moreover, the upgrading of
smartphones can become a challenge. Because of rapid advancements in
technology, users must keep themselves up-to-date or the mobile applications
developed must be compatible with higher, current and lower Android/iOS
versions. The third pillar is E-government. One can wonder how we will shift to
a paperless environment that will ease away most of our troubles of managing
data. Although there must a backup of data in some form, a paperless
environment will save and access data through cloud computing. How will the
government tackle corruption in a paperless environment and what loopholes must
be minimized is yet to be seen.
Digital Skilling and Literacy, the fourth
pillar, will guarantee that graduates having degrees in technology and
computer-related fields will secure jobs. The curriculum taught at universities
must be updated by including courses that are more practical rather than
teaching through textbooks. The fifth and last pillar is Innovation and
Entrepreneurship. The startup industry of Pakistan is evolving and it must be
guided to enable aspiring entrepreneurs to launch their businesses. While these
five pillars will require multiple phases to be completed in each, the change
for a Digital Pakistan will not come overnight. It will be a gradual process allowing
us to shift our activities from manual to digital. However, the concerned
authorities must keep all processes leading to this digital transformation
simple. The content used for marketing and promotion on social media must be
both in English and Urdu to cater to the two main spoken and written languages.
Furthermore, targeted content in regional languages must be made to facilitate
people from all areas of Pakistan. We hope that Pakistan enters the digital era
and that this time there are no U-turns. Otherwise, ‘ctrl-alt-delete’ will not
be effective.
3 new businesses to check out in Downtown Berkeley
Lucky
Bird | Photo: Lara T./Yelp
December
9, 2019
Interested
in getting intel on the freshest new spots in Downtown Berkeley? From an ice
cream shop to an Asian fusion spot, read on for a rundown of the newest
destinations to open their doors in this part of Berkeley.
Taste of
Pakistan
2160
University Ave.
Taste of
Pakistan is a Pakistani and Indian spot, offering wraps and more.
The
restaurant offers an array of South Asian fare, including lamb biryani,
tandoori chicken and saag paneer.
Yelp
users are excited about Taste of Pakistan, which currently holds four stars out
of 16 reviews on the site.
Yelper
Anwar H., who reviewed Taste Of Pakistan on October 2, wrote, "Very
flavorful—varied and fresh buffet lunch. Nice assortment of meat curries,
tandoori chicken, homemade tandoor nan bread, steamed white rice with cinnamon
and more."
Taste
of Pakistan is open from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5 p.m.–10 p.m. on weekdays and
11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. and 5 p.m.–10 p.m. on weekends.
Lucky Bird
1926
Shattuck Ave.
Lucky Bird is a
Thai, Asian fusion and Korean spot.
Here,
you'll find curries, noodles, fried rice dishes and stir fry, crispy
Korean-style pork and various tofu dishes.
Yelp
users are generally positive about Lucky Bird, which currently holds four stars
out of 87 reviews on the site.
Yelper
Sona T. wrote, "Went
here for desserts a couple of weeks ago and it was yummy. Super sweet but not
overwhelming. We got the mango sticky rice and bingsu and wild berry sweet
toast."
Lucky
Bird is open from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily.
Milkbomb Ice
Cream
2079
University Ave.
PHOTO: GEL Z./YELP
Milkbomb Ice
Cream is a spot to score specialty ice cream and doughnuts.
The
menu features ice cream flavors like creamy horchata, Thai tea, rocky road,
ginger, ube, strawberry and more. You can get your ice cream in a cup, a
flavored cone or even in a doughnut.
Yelp
users are excited about Milkbomb Ice Cream, which currently holds 4.5 stars out
of 49 reviews on the site.
Yelper
Shayla B. wrote, "I
love that you can add a variety of different toppings. They also have flavored
waffle cones and you can get your ice cream 'toasted' too. They'll torch the
top (I think it may be a marshmallow coating) and it's fun to watch them do
it."
Milkbomb
Ice Cream is open from 2:15 p.m.–9 p.m. on Tuesday-Thursday and 2:15 p.m.–10
p.m. on Friday-Sunday. (It's closed on Monday.)
This
story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and
augmented by an editor. Click here for
more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to
share your feedback.
by Hoodline
Group moves to create market window for rice farmers
ON DECEMBER 9, 20196:13 PM
The Nigeria Farmers Group and
Cooperative Society (NFGCS), has moved to create a larger market window for
farmers by aggregating rice paddy across Nigeria to meet increasing demand
occasioned by borders closure. A rice paddy is an irrigated or flooded field
where rice is grown. READ ALSO:Buhari’s $30bn loan request: Rising debt
profile, cause for concern — MAN DG(Opens in a new browser tab) The National
Coordinator of the group, Mr Tedheke Retson, made this known in an interview
with Newsmen in Abuja on Monday. Retson
said the move, beyond meeting the increasing demand for rice, was meant to encourage
more Nigerians to go into rice farming without being afraid of how to dispose
of the commodity. According to him, the group’s farm, sitting on more than 3,
000 hectares of land, is a farm settlement with state-of-the-art rice
processing plants and a ready market to comfortably take off the burden of
selling the commodity.
He said: “We are currently short by
about five million metric tonnes of rice every year. “With the closure of
borders, the Federal Government made it possible and easier for groups like
ours to take that lead to get involved and make things happen. “We are
currently producing about 2, 000 of 25 kg bags of rice in a day and we are
moving from that to excess of about 10, 000 bags every day before the end of
the first quarter of 2020. “As it stands, we cannot meet the demand. We are
aggregating paddy rice across the country. So, opportunities are created for
those who are farming rice, for processors and those who are selling. “We have
brought in de-stoners with the capacity of de-stoning about three trailer loads
of rice in a day, polishers with the capacity of polishing about three trailer
loads a day. “There are also whiteners that will ensure that the rice is clean
from all forms of particles without adding chemicals, and we have also brought
in colour sorters to separate brown from white and white from black. “All of
these upgrades have increased our capacity to about 100 tonnes of rice every
day. We are working to get two processing mills with the capacity of 200 tonnes
a day. So, in no distant time we will be doing about 300,000 tonnes of rice in
a month.” The coordinator hailed the border closure saying it was a blessing
for small holder farmers, small rice producers and rice marketers in Nigeria,
noting that it was only smugglers who were not happy with the development. He
called for total support for local production to boost the revenue base of the
country while improving Nigerians’ standard of living.
“If we support local producers in Nigeria,
there is absolutely no way we will not add more to our value process, job creation
and making Nigeria a better place for the over 200 million people. “The boost
in demand for local rice is occasioned by the shutting down of the borders. It
has encouraged local farmers to see it as a profitable venture, he said.
Retson, however, called for an enabling environment to encourage competition
among local producers. “The farmer from Thailand, India, Pakistan and
Singapore, sells his rice lower than what we are selling in Nigeria because the
government subsidises it, and so ends up making more money and gets cheap loan
also because policies favour him.
“We need those favourable working conditions
for our processors to make money. It is good we are no longer importing rice,
what is next is to make loan cheaper for farmers of rice and making the
environment more conducive by providing power supply. “This farm operates on
diesel every day, we spend on the average of N450, 000 to buy diesel every
week. We do not need to bear that cost. If we have light on the farm and we are
spending on the average of N400, 000 in a month we are okay.
“The point is most of these
variables need to be solved so that we can maximise the potentials that are
available in the closure of borders.
A farmer cannot construct road,
provide power, employ labour and make money,’’ he said. According to him,
Nigeria with about 84 million hectares of arable land and more than 200 million
people is battling to ensure food security. “More needs to be done to put
Nigeria on the path of food security, job sustainability among others. “ This
farm is an eye opener that everything is possible with the potentials we have,”
he said. On funding, the national coordinator called for single digit loans
that would make farmers break even and compete favourably with their
counterparts globally.
Dynamics of regional
integration
Javid Husain
It
is generally acknowledged now that the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) has failed to achieve most of its goals given in the SAARC
Charter adopted in Dhaka in December 1985. In particular, the promise of
regional economic integration, inspired by the experience of the European
Union, remains unfulfilled. This is not surprising because SAARC does not meet
the essential preconditions for the success of a regional economic cooperation
organization with the ultimate aim of regional integration. Pakistan would be
well advised instead to explore within the framework of SAARC opportunities for
mutually beneficial regional cooperation on a level playing field in selected
areas instead of seeing it as a vehicle for regional integration as implied by the
goal of a South Asian Economic Union.
There
are several prerequisites for the success of a regional economic cooperation
organization in achieving the goal of regional economic integration or a
regional economic union which implies not only free trade among the member
states and a common external tariff but also harmonization of economic and
monetary policies. To begin with, there must be a feeling of common destiny and
a shared vision of the future or in other words shared goals and aspirations
among the member states. The absence of such a feeling is likely to pull the
member states in different directions politically, economically, and
culturally, making the complicated task of regional integration difficult if
not impossible to achieve. Secondly, cultural affinities are important for
facilitating regional cooperation leading to integration through the
development of a feeling of common identity among the member states. Thirdly,
the absence of hegemonic designs on the part of member states is a necessary
condition for the smooth progress of any scheme of regional economic
integration. The quest for hegemony generates tensions and engenders disputes
among the member states of a regional organization. It is unrealistic to expect
that a climate of fear and tension would help promote the cause of regional
integration.
Fourthly,
the absence of serious disputes helps create a climate conducive to the
promotion of regional cooperation. Conversely, the presence of serious disputes
generates tensions, mistrust and hostility which act as serious obstacles in
the way of the promotion of regional cooperation. Fifthly, it is worth noting
that the economic benefits of regional cooperation are largely determined by
complementarities among the economies of the member states. The greater the
economic complementarities, the more would be the possibilities and benefits of
regional economic and commercial cooperation.
A
close look at the regional scene in South Asia and the state of relations
between Pakistan and India reveals that other than the factor of geographical
proximity, SAARC lacks all the other necessary prerequisites for the deepening
of regional economic cooperation leading to regional economic integration.
There is no community of interests among its member states, especially between
Pakistan and India. India is more interested in establishing its hegemony in the
region than in promoting regional cooperation on an equitable basis. While
India looks at China as a rival in Asia, Pakistan considers it an important
strategic partner. Pakistan has also legitimate security concerns relating to
India which dismembered it in 1971.
SAARC
also suffers from the absence of cultural affinities. After all it was the
cultural divide between the Muslims and the Hindus which led to the demand for
partition and the establishment of Pakistan. Whereas Islam establishes a society
based on the principles of human brotherhood and social equality, Hinduism
establishes an oppressive system that divides the society into castes
precluding vertical mobility. With the rise of Hindutva or extreme Hindu
nationalism in India under the leadership of Narendra Modi, who has been a
life-long member of RSS, a militant Hindu organization wedded to the concept of
Hindutva, the civilizational and cultural tensions will increase not only
within India carrying with them the seeds of India’s disintegration in the long
run, but also between Pakistan and India which represent two diametrically
opposed ideologies.
It
is extremely doubtful that the tidal wave of Hindutva sweeping across India
will reverse itself in the foreseeable future. Therefore, coming decades will
witness enduring tensions and even local conflicts between Pakistan and India.
In such a state of affairs, how can anyone in Pakistan even think of economic
integration in South Asia or a South Asian Economic Union, which would enable
India to dominate the region through economic means and thus fulfill its
hegemonic designs? Yet, till just a few years ago we were officially pursuing
this impossible goal with India and other SAARC member states.
The
regional climate in South Asia has been further vitiated by the presence of
serious disputes such as Kashmir, Sir Creek, Siachen and the sharing of river
waters between Pakistan and India. These disputes make the task of regional
cooperation in South Asia that much more difficult. The current stalemate in
SAARC which has prevented the holding of a SAARC Summit in Islamabad is the
logical consequence of the Pakistan-India disputes which will continue to cast
their shadow over the plans for South Asian regional cooperation.
SAARC
also lacks economic complementarities which are necessary for a successful
programme of regional cooperation. The economies of SAARC member states, by and
large, are more in competition with one another instead of being complementary.
For instance, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are all in competition
with one another in exporting textiles. Similarly, both Pakistan and India are
rice exporting countries. These factors restrict the possibilities of expanding
intra-regional trade in the SAARC region. Further, the competition for export
markets for the same commodities such as textiles and rice has negative
repercussions on incentives for regional cooperation among the member states.
Above
all, the danger is that in a SAARC free trade area or in a South Asian Economic
Union, India because of the enormous size of its economy, the economies of
large scale production, the advanced stage of its manufacturing sector and
political clout because of the huge size of its population compared with other
countries, will tend to have a dominant role in the regional economic decision
making processes thus furthering its goal of regional hegemony and reduce
Pakistan and other member states to the status of suppliers of raw materials
for its industries thereby slowing down their economic progress. It is worth
remembering that bigger and economically advanced member states tend to benefit
more from the process of economic integration as compared with the smaller and
less developed members if the matters are left to the market forces alone, in
accordance with the principle of social and cumulative causation propounded by
the famous Swedish economist Gunnar Myrdal.
The
foregoing analysis leads one to the inevitable conclusion that even if the
SAARC cooperation process is resumed in right earnest at some time in the
future, we should not attach high hopes and expectations to it. From Pakistan’s
point of view, the pursuit of the goal of a South Asian Customs Union and more
so a South Asian Economic Union would unleash economic and political forces
which would result in decisions about Pakistan’s economy and ultimately even
its foreign policy, as the two cannot be separated, being taken at dome regional
forum dominated by India because of the sheer weight of its huge size. Instead
we should use SAARC as a vehicle for regional cooperation on a selective basis
in such areas as river water management, environment, transportation,
cross-border crimes, communicable diseases and control of drug trafficking.
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