RESEARCH
TO TURBOCHARGE RICE GIVEN MAJOR FUNDING BOOST
Professors Robert Furbank &
Susanne von Caemmerer
Research that
could transform global rice production by increasing yields from the world’s
number one food crop has been boosted by five more years of funding. 
The Australian
National University (ANU) is part of an international collaboration between
seven research partners, the C4 Rice
Project, funded by a grant to the University of Oxford from the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation worth A$22 million.
The ANU
research, led by Professor Robert Furbank, will contribute to
the project by assembling the genes needed in rice to make it more efficient at
using sunlight to produce food. The ANU team will receive A$4 million for their
work.
“Other plants
like maize and sorghum – known as C4 crops –
have a ‘turbocharged’ photosynthesis process. We’re trying to recreate this
process in rice – taking it from a C3 crop to a C4," Professor Furbank said.
“It’s like
transforming the photosynthesis process from a VW Beetle into a Porsche.
“And if we are
able to build this process into rice, it could theoretically see up to a 50 per
cent increase in yields.”
Professors
Robert Furbank, Susanne von Caemmerer and their team of
ANU researchers, who played a key role in this project over the last three
phases of investment, are now tasked with assembling the “genetic parts” of C4 rice.
Professor
Susanne von Caemmerer said: “Now it’s about working out the right combination
of genes needed to achieve the switch between C3 and C4 rice.”
“We’ll be
working on putting all the parts together in rice, then with our consortium
collaborators, testing them to make sure they work well. In other words, seeing
how fast the car can go.
“This project
is mimicking a natural evolutionary process – where the C4 pathway has evolved independently many times
in nature.”
By the end of
the next phase of research in 2024, scientists hope to have experimental plots
up and running in Taiwan.
“This really is
about a long term international effort to improve rice production for all of
humanity,” Professor Furbank said.
“This would be
a game-changer for food production in Asia – where billions of people depend on
rice for survival."
Access to C4 Rice technology for the developing world is
ensured by a condition of the funding for the project called the Global Access
Commitment.
The C4 Rice Project consortium is made up of
researchers from the University of Oxford, Academia Sinica, Max Planck
Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Leibniz Institute of Biochemistry,
University of Cambridge and Washington State University, and ANU.
Professor Jane
Langdale from the University of Oxford, who leads the consortium, said: “This
is an extremely challenging long-term project and we are grateful to the
foundation for backing the team for a further five years.
“This new award
will get us closer to delivering rice lines that will have real impact for
farmers.”
Professor
Robert Furbank is based at the ANU Research School of Biology and also leads
the ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis.
DA allots addl
P1.5B for planters’ fertilizers
December 2, 2019
The Department of Agriculture
(DA) said it allotted P1.5 billion from its national rice program budget to
help Filipino rice farmers affected by the implementation of a law that removed
the quantitative restriction on the staple.
The DA said the supplemental
budget will be used for the fertilizer program that will be carried out
simultaneously with the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund
(RCEF).
The RCEF, which was created by
Republic Act (RA) 11203, allots P5 billion for rice farm equipment, P3 billion
for seed development, P1 billion for credit and another P1 billion for
extension service.
Under the fertilizer program, the
DA said in a statement that the government will implement the “buy 2 take 2”
scheme which will allow planters to get two bags of urea for free if they
purchase two bags.
Agriculture Secretary William D.
Dar announced the availability of the supplemental budget during a Farmers’
Forum held in San Fernando, Pampanga, on November 30.
“The Department has also created
new credit programs for farmers and fishers to help hem increase productivity
and income,” said Dar.
Under the Expanded Survival and
Recovery Assistance Program for Rice Farmers (SURE Aid Propgram), farmers
tilling 1 hectare or less farm land may avail of a P15,000 zero-interest rate
loan. “Rice farmers just have to pay P1,850 per year for eight years, that is
just a small amount,” Dar said.
He added that a new credit window
has been opened for farmers tilling more than 1 hectare. “This one-time
financial assistance worth P5,000 is another cash outright-no condition
SURE Aid loan to help our rice farmers.”
According to a policy brief
prepared by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), rice farmers
have lost at least P61.77 billion due to the decline in the farm-gate price of
rice. However, a separate study by the Philippine Institute for Development
Studies (PIDS), using a different method for computations, estimated the losses
at only a little over P8.22 billion from April to September.
The PhilRice paper noted that the
drop in farm-gate prices was hastened by the implementation of RA 11203, which
made it easier for traders to purchase imports.
Government data indicated that
some 2.99 million metric tons of rice have arrived in the Philippines in
October. The DA said it expects arrivals to go up as there are still a number
of sanitary phytosanitary import clearances issued by the government that have
not been used.
The United States Department of
Agriculture had earlier projected that the Philippines’s rice imports this year
will reach 3 MMT. The anticipated volume is bigger than the 2.5 MMT projected
for China this year.
Planters have been urging the
government to roll out safeguard measures that will cushion the impact of the
surge in imports, which has pulled down the farm-gate price of the staple in recent
months.
Villar says P3 billion realignment in 2020 national budget to assist
local rice farmers
Published December 3, 2019, 12:09 AM
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senator Cynthia Villar clarified
on Monday that the transfer of the P3-billion fund from the National Food
Authority’s (NFA) proposed 2020 budget to the Land Bank of the Philippines will
also be used to assist local rice farmers affected by the Rice Tariffication
Law (Republic Act 11203).
Sen. Cynthia Villar
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
Villar defended her suggested
amendment to the P4.1-trillion proposed 2020 national budget after Albay
Representative Joey Salceda questioned it as among the Senate’s supposed
“dagdag-bawas” or realignments in the government’s spending plan.
In a phone interview with the
Manila Bulletin, the senator said her proposed P3 billion fund transfer was
adopted by the Upper Chamber to make sure that local rice farmers will benefit
from the funds appropriated for them.
“That P3 billion was given from
the DA (Department of Agriculture) to the Land Bank as cash assistance to
farmers because we don’t want the funds to be with the NFA because it might end
up not being used to buy palay from farmers,” Villar explained in mixed English
and Filipino.
“At least there is a provision
[in] the budget that they will give something to the farmers to cover for the
low price of unmilled rice,” she added.
If approved by the President, the
P3 billion, she said, would be distributed to farmers owning at least one
hectare of land at a rate of P5,000 each.
This would be on top of the assistance
offered to farmers in the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) under RA
11203.
Villar said she already discussed
her proposed amendment with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and members of
the bicameral conference committee tackling the 2020 budget, who agreed to the
realignment.
“Cong. Salceda is just not
aware,” she said.
Salceda is a member of the House
bicameral panel.
Despite this, Villar said she
would wait for Congress’ final copy of the 2020 General Appropriations Bill
(GAB).
Aside from the P3-billion
realignment, Villar said she also proposed the inclusion of a provision in the
Senate’s version of the 202 GAB mandating the Department of Social Welfare and
Development to use its rice subsidy fund under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
to buy from local farmers and give beneficiaries actual rice instead of cash.
Villar, who chairs the Senate
committee on agriculture and is an author of the Rice Tariffication Law, has
repeatedly chided the NFA for failing in its mandate to purchase palay from
Filipino farmers for its buffer stocking, which was blamed for the shortage in
the supply of affordable rice last year.
Because of this, lawmakers
stripped NFA of its authority to regulate rice importation in the country,
allowing the unimpeded entry of rice imports in exchange of tariffs.
Under RA 11203, “The NFA shall,
in accordance with the rules, regulations and procedures to be promulgated,
maintain sufficient rice buffer stock to be sourced solely from local farmers.”
It’s not government’s
job to promote local rice – Dep. Agric Minister
at 11:44 AM
A Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has urged
local processing companies to up their game in the promotion of local
rice.
It’s not government’s job
to promote local rice – Dep. Agric Minister
It’s not government’s job
to promote local rice – Dep. Agric Minister
According to him, the government can only create awareness but
is not responsible for the marketing and promotion of local rice brands.
He said processing companies must intensify the campaign to make
Ghanaians know the various local rice brands.
“If you don’t give details then
it means you are not helping the consumer. So the consumer goes to the market,
he is faced with what he can see around,” Mr. Osei Nyarko told Accra-based Starr FM.
“The marketing and the
promotion aspect of Ghana rice is not the responsibility of the government to
go and start running radio or TV adverts promoting this kind of rice for the
producers. It is their own responsibility. Government can only come in and
create awareness.”
Advocacy for the consumption of local rice has been high in
recent weeks, with Accra-based Citi FM leading the charge.
A campaign has been launched to get Ghanaians to patronise local
rice as against the ones imported from other countries.
The Deputy Agric Minister also revealed that rice is the highest
commodity on Ghana’s import bill.
He said $1.35 billion out the about $2.2 billion Ghana spends on
food import goes into rice.
Mr. Osei Nyarko added that government will continue to create
the enabling environment in order to get more people to go into rice
production.
· Home
Genetically modified rice project nets $15m to
engineer climate change-resistant strain
Show Hide image
Lucy is the editor of Verdict. You can reach her at
lucy.ingham@pmgoperations.com
Agenetically modified rice
research project that is currently underway at Oxford University has attracted
$15m funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The C4 Rice
Project is focused on genetically modifying rice to create a strain that
produces higher yields and is more resistant to harsher environmental
conditions than current versions.
It is hoped that it will help
combat future food shortages brought about by climate change and urbanisation,
particularly given how essential rice is to almost half the world’s population.
It is estimated that an area of
land that as of 2010 produces enough rice to feed 27 people will need to feed
53 by 2050 if serious food shortages are to be avoided.
It is hoped that this genetically
modified rice could play a vital role in solving the issue, by changing the way
the rice photosynthesises.
The C4 rice project: creating a genetically modified
crop
The focus of the project is on
changing the pathway rice uses to photosynthesise.
Currently rice uses the C3 pathway,
which is far more inefficient in hot and dry conditions than the alternative C4 pathway.
While the C4 pathway
is not found in rice, it is common in a host of other plants, including maize
and sorghum – in fact, it has evolved entirely independently over 60 times.
And while only 3% of plant
species that grow above ground use the C4 pathway, they account
for a quarter of all terrestrial primary productivity –the energy produced by
photosynthesis in above-ground plants – showing how effective this form of
photosynthesis is.
But making rice use this superior
pathway isn’t simply a matter of switching a single gene – C4 plants
have entirely different leaf structures, with a more complex arrangement of
cells. And it is this that the researchers are working to change in rice.
This is a complicated process
that involves working out which combination of genes need to be changed, which
builds on efforts so far but will likely take another five years.
However, if this is successful,
the eventual results will be a new genetically modified rice strain that makes
a powerful difference to the world’s food supplies – and the Bill & Melinda
Gates foundation funding it vital to achieving this.
Thailand’s
fragrant rice falls behind peers’
By
2019-12-02
Failure to win the World’s Best Rice award for
two consecutive years has jolted Thailand – the home of the Hom Mali
(jasmine) rice – to overhaul its research and development to catch up with the
changing global demand for fragrant rice.
Having previously won the World’s
Best Rice Contest for five years, Thailand’s signature Hom Mali rice was beaten
last year by Cambodia’s fragrant rice and this year by Vietnam’s ST24 variety.
“It’s about time that both the
government and the private sector joined hands in a more serious effort to
improve the quality of Thai rice to meet the global market’s
expectations,” said Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai
Rice Exporters Association.
“The country’s reputation for
producing quality rice is suffering due to a lack of effective research and
development to create better varieties of Thai Hom Mali rice,” he added.
The strong baht has also worsened
the rice export situation, pushing the price of Thai rice to US$1,100 higher
per tonne than its competitors.
The yield of Thai rice is about
400 kilograms per 0.16 hectares, which is fairly low when compared with
Vietnam’s rice yield at 1,000 kg per 0.16 hectares or China’s at 2,000 kg per
0.16 hectares.
Despite new softer varieties, the
promotion of these among growers leaves much to be desired. Thus, exporters
have been unable to meet the demand for rice with a soft texture.
Nipon Poapongsakorn, a
distinguished fellow at the Thailand Development Research Institute, proposed
to slash production costs by increasing the yield, albeit with a less fragrant
rice variety.
Meanwhile, Charoen blamed
Thailand’s lack of rice variety development on politicians vying for farmers’
support only through price interventions.
“These policies have failed to
give any incentive for research and development into new varieties. As farmers
are satisfied with these price intervention policies, they are no longer
interested in improving the quality or yield.”
Further, Nipon said that the
current 200-300 million baht (US$6.61-9.91 million) annual budget for research
is insufficient to attract capable researchers.
“Thailand’s competitors are
spending far more money on their rice research,” he added.
Now, Thai Hom Mali rice’s
popularity in the global rice market remains high despite its losses in the
rice contest.
And, as of August 2019, Thailand
was the second-largest exporter of rice in the world, ranked only behind India,
but far ahead of all of its Southeast Asian competitors.
This couple of facts translate
into some time for Thailand if it intends to speed up its research and
development on rice.
Protecting Baby From Toxic Chemicals: Tips for a Toxin-Free First
Year
December 2, 2019
Preparing for a new baby is
overwhelming at the best of times. Feelings of
excitement and anxiety mix with the universal urge to protect a person you
haven’t even met yet.
Unfortunately, protecting babies from toxic chemicals is more complicated than ever before. Today, the link between environmental chemical exposure and many
diseases is well established.
And many parents wonder what this means for their families. How do the products we buy contribute to our children’s chemical
burden? Do our day-to-day routines contribute to
household toxicity and harm our children?
The answer isn’t pretty. And while it’s impossible to cut the
toxins in our lives to zero, it is possible to limit our children’s exposure.
Protecting
Baby From Household Toxins
You can make small changes that
greatly reduce your baby’s exposure to toxins. The following tips can help you protect
your baby from harmful chemicals.
#1 Get To
Know the Worst Offenders
Without knowing what to look for,
it’s hard to keep your baby safe. These are
some of the most common and harmful chemicals in everyday products.
· Fire retardants: Research correlates fire retardant exposure with a range of health issues. You’ll
find fire retardants in some polyurethane foam, car seats, baby carriers,
changing pads, crib mattresses, bath toys, nursing pillows, strollers, and
toys. With research, you can find
fire-retardant-free versions.
· Phthalates and alternatives: You’ll find phthalates in
many everyday products and some foods. Manufacturers
add them to PVC (vinyl) to make it flexible, and to many fragrance blends. Americans have widespread phthalate exposure and studies on children’s exposure are concerning.
· Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): VOCs are
carbon-containing chemicals used in many day-to-day products. Some VOCs are naturally occurring. In
other cases, manufacturers add them to products. Formaldehyde
and benzene are common VOCs responsible for indoor air pollution.
· Heavy metals: These days, most parents know about lead in old pipes, paints, and
even bathtubs. Less known is the risk of heavy metals in common baby foods — rice products in particular.
· Chlorine and dioxins: Chlorine bleached
disposable diapers can expose your baby to trace amounts of dioxins. Research links dioxin exposure to neurodevelopmental and reproductive problems, among others. Choose chlorine-free diapers to reduce dioxin exposure.
· Bisphenol A (BPA) and alternatives: While most consumers
know about BPA, many of us don’t know about alternative chemicals. BPS, BPF, BPAF, BPZ, BPP, and BHPF are almost identical to BPA. Avoid them by skipping
plastics numbered with a three, six, or seven.
#2 Choose
Nontoxic Toys
Babies are tactile beings. They learn by touching, throwing,
stacking, and — you guessed it — tasting. Give
a baby a toy, and chances are it will end up in her mouth before too long.
Skip plastic toys, especially for
anything that could end up in your baby’s mouth. Instead, choose silicone or wood products.
Likewise, skip bath books. They are often made with polyurethane foam
and a soft, flexible plastic cover, indicating phthalates. There are plenty of safe bath toys made of natural latex rubber.
#3 Limit
Lotions & Other Baby Care Products
Using
baby lotions and powders correlates with an increase in some phthalate metabolites in a baby’s urine.
Limit these products to those that
are medically necessary. Even
better, use safe, green ingredients like coconut oil to make your own baby skin care products.
#4 Focus on
Where Baby Spends the Most Time
When it comes to buying a crib
mattress, conventional wisdom is to buy the best you can afford.
That’s especially true when it
comes to creating an eco-friendly and healthy nursery.
Studies have found a baby’s crib mattress can be a significant source of VOC exposure.
Given how much time babies spend
sleeping, it’s worth choosing a nontoxic crib and crib mattress. Look for Greenguard Gold
certification for low emissions.
#5 Become a
Cleaning Machine
Babies spend a lot of time on the
floor. Because of
this, they also end up ingesting a fair amount of household dust, which
commonly contains fire retardants.
Fire retardants aren’t chemically
bound to products during manufacturing. They come
loose over time, settling in dust. As babies pick
up toys or suck on their hands, they end up eating these harmful chemicals.
Hunt down dust bunnies with a damp
mop. If you can
afford it, invest in an air purifier and vacuum with a HEPA filter.
#6 Skip the
Rice Cereal
Researchers recently found 95
percent of baby foods contain levels of one or more heavy metals.
The researchers classified rice
products in particular as high risk for babies. Puffed rice snacks and rice cereal have
long been a solid food staple. But some doctors
now recommend skipping rice products altogether.
#7 Go
Fragrance-Free
Manufacturers often use phthalates
in fragrance blends. Since the
FDA doesn’t make companies disclose fragrance components, it’s impossible to
know what’s actually in these products.
Buy products labeled fragrance free
and/or phthalate-free, especially when choosing baby care products.
Small Changes
for a Healthier Baby
When it comes to protecting your
baby from environmental pollutants, small changes go a long way.
Get to know the most common pollutants
in your home, and make small changes to reduce your baby’s exposure.
About the
Author
Born and raised on Canada’s west
coast, Katie Matthews became acutely aware of the toxins and chemicals allowed
in baby products when she was pregnant with her daughter. Long an enthusiastic researcher and
writer, she realized she could help other families make more informed, nontoxic
purchases for their own families by sharing what she found on Green Active
Family. Prior to this, Katie spent close to
a decade as a travel blogger. She has written for
National Geographic and been featured in the Washington Post, Business Insider,
and more.
Editor’s note: This article contains affiliate links that help fund our Recycling Directory, the most comprehensive in North America.
Scientists hunt wild relatives of food crops to bolster defences
DECEMBER 3, 2019
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
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 harbors 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, potatos, 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
(miles) 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 (800 miles) from the North Pole.
It aims to house a collection of
as many seeds as possible as an insurance against the loss of other seed banks
around the world.
Deep-rooted dishonesty among Nigerians warranted border closure –
Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
John Ameh and Friday Olokor
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday defended the temporary
closure of the country’s land borders, saying that it had reduced domestic fuel
consumption by 30 per cent.
Buhari, who said there had yet to be any decision on when
the borders would be reopened, said deep rooted dishonesty made the Federal
Government to close the borders.
He, however, said farmers were among the biggest beneficiaries
of the government’s decision to close the borders, which had led to a
remarkable drop in the smuggling of goods, especially rice.
Acknowledging the efforts of farmers, Buhari said, “Farmers must
be protected. Dishonesty is deep-rooted in the country. Otherwise the border
closure would not have been warranted.”
Buhari was speaking in Daura, Katsina State, when a delegation
of Katsina State Elders Forum visited him at his country home.
“The President said the country’s domestic fuel consumption had
dropped by more than 30 per cent, following closure of land borders”, a State
House statement by his media aide, Mr Garba Shehu, quoted the President as
saying.
The statement added, “The President commended the actions taken
by the President of Niger Republic, Muhammadou Youssoufou, including the
dismissal of officials and a ban on use of the country as a dumping ground for
Nigeria-bound smuggled goods.
“President Buhari noted that the measures taken by the President
of Niger were helpful and supportive.
“President Buhari acknowledged the hardship of border
communities following the ban on sale of fuel at stations 20 kilometres to the
border, a restriction that also saw to the closure of all fuel stations in his
native home, Daura.”
He stated that the Nigeria Customs Service was reviewing all
border outlets in a bid to identify the illegal routes used for smuggling and
those officially recognised for genuine transactions.
“President Buhari told the delegation that he intends forging
ahead with poverty alleviation schemes and the agricultural and livestock
reforms started by the administration in the first term, since the election was
behind him and a government now in place.
“He explained that the reforms, especially those relating to the
settlement of livestock herders would take time to accomplish, assuring that
his deliberate choice of tested farmers as his past and current ministers of
agriculture was informed by the need to carry his vision through”, the
Presidency added.
The Chairman of the Elders Forum, Alhaji Aliyu Saulawa, earlier
thanked Buhari and Governor Aminu Masari for combating banditry, kidnapping and
cattle rustling.
The group urged the President to come to the aid of victims
through intervention funds and the creation of a North-West Development
Commission.
It also sought the establishment of Ruga settlements for victims
and the completion of the 10 megawatts wind power project in Katsina State.
FG uncovers illegal petrol stations at Katsina border
towns
Meanwhile, The Federal Government on Monday said it had
uncovered “hundreds of filling stations” along Nigeria’s Magama Jibia border
with the Republic of Niger purposely set up for the smuggling of petroleum
products.
The government identified fuel smuggling, illegal migration,
importation of arms and ammunition and smuggling of rice from the Republic of
Benin to Nigeria through Niger Republic as some of the challenges on the border
communities.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who led a
high-powered delegation of the Federal Government to Magama Jibia, Nigeria’s
border with the Republic of Niger, said with the border closure, Nigeria
had recorded 30 per cent drop in domestic fuel consumption.
Among those in the delegation were the Minister of State (Budget
and National Planing), Clement Agba; Minister of State (Industry, Trade and
Investment), Mariam Katagum, and top echelons of the Nigeria Immigration
Service and Nigeria Customs Service.
The government’s delegation last week visited the Seme border in
Lagos State to commence the on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing border drill
in the South-South (Sector 1), South-West (Sector 2), North-Central (Sector 3)
and North-West (Sector 4).
The border drill, code-named ‘Exercise Swift Response’, was
inaugurated on August 20, 2019 as part of the measures to secure Nigeria’s land
and maritime borders.
Mohammed said, “We have just assessed the border drill in sector
4 (North-West). Please note that the challenges in Sector 4 are different from
what we witnessed in Sector 2, especially Seme. Whereas rice smuggling is the
main issue in Sector 2, the challenges here in Sector 4 include fuel smuggling,
illegal migration and importation of arms and ammunition. Of course rice from
Benin is also smuggled to Nigeria through Niger.
“Smuggling of petroleum products out of Nigeria has been greatly
reduced. The closure of filling stations along the borders is a huge success.
There are hundreds of filling stations along the borders. We counted many as we
drove to the border this (Monday) morning.
“They were set up purposely for smuggling. They don’t sell the
fuel consignment they receive to the public. No! over 50 per cent of them are
owned by foreigners. Now that they are closed, we have recorded over 30 per
cent drop in domestic fuel consumption.
“The drill has drastically curtailed the inflow of arms and
ammunition. Bandits and terrorists are finding it hard to procure arms and
ammunition, hence we have recorded a reduction in cases of cattle rustling,
kidnapping and banditry, which were predominant in the North-West region.
“These acts have now been significantly reduced. The arms and
ammunition being used by violent extremists and criminal elements no longer
make their way into the country through the land borders. Of course, this will
also have a negative effect on the insurgency.
“We have recorded over 30 per cent increase in revenue since the
drill. Gentlemen, before the drill, the borders contributed nothing to the
revenue. Customs were recording about N4.5billion daily. Since the
closure, the figure has increased to between N5 and N8billion daily.
“The North-West sector, of the four sectors affected by the
drill, has recorded the highest success in terms of reduction of illegal
migration, thanks to the drill.”
According to him, the main reason for embarking on the drill was
to protect Nigeria against transnational security concerns such as smuggling,
proliferation of small arms and light weapons; irregular migration as well as
terrorism and banditry.
While maintaining that the exercise was not targeted at any
region in the country, neither was it designed to cripple businesses in any
part of Nigeria, “as some conspiracy theorists have been insinuating”, the
minister said that since the exercise commenced over three months ago, “local
businesses across the country have continued to thrive, as farmers and rice
millers in particular are now having turnover on investments.”
“We said the exercise wouldn’t have been contemplated if our
neighbours had complied with the various ECOWAS transit protocols including
ECOWAS Trade Liberalisa
tion Scheme.
“We traced discussions on doing legitimate trade between Nigeria
on the one hand and Benin and Niger on the other to 2005, and noted that the
discussions led to MoUs in 2005, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, none of which
– unfortunately – led to any legitimate transit trade between Nigeria and Benin
and Niger”, he stated.
Border closure will revive agric, says Buhari
Vincent
Ikuomola, Jibia border, Katsina
Nigeria’s border closure will rekindle interest in agriculture
and revive the sector, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.
The President spoke on Monday against the backdrop of the
reduction in smuggling, especially rice, following the border closure for two
months.
A statement on Monday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant
(SSA) on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Buhari expressed
confidence that the border closure will save the country billions of naira on
import bills.
Receiving a delegation of Katsina State Elders Forum at his home
in Daura, the President said the country’s domestic fuel consumption had
dropped by more than 30 per cent, following the land border closure.
President Buhari said he had not given any date for the reopening
of the border until the situation improves.
He lauded the actions taken by Niger Republic President
Muhammadou Youssoufou, including the dismissal of officials and a ban on use of
the country as a dumping ground for Nigeria-bound smuggled goods.
Also, over 50 per cent of petrol stations on Nigeria’s land
borders belong to foreigners, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed, said on Monday.
Mohammed spoke when he led a Federal Government’s high-powered
delegation to Jibia border in Katsina State.
The minister said the decision to close the country’s land
borders has yielded positive result for the country’s security.
Other ministers on his entourage included the Minister of State
for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, and the Minister of State
for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba.
The minister, who spoke at Magama-Jibia, on the Nigeria/Niger
border post in Katsina State, said the border closure had reduced insecurity in
the Northwest.
Mohammed also said the ongoing border drill is neither targeted
at any region nor designed to cripple businesses in any part of the country, as
insinuated by some conspiracy theorists.
The minister said the border closure also helped to cut off the
supply of bandits and other armed groups in the region.
Mohammed said Nigeria had experienced a drastic reduction in arm
importation, cattle rustling and petroleum products smuggling, among others.
The minister noted that the country had also recorded about 30
per cent reduction in local consumption of petroleum products, following the
banning of supply to border areas.
He said: “Smuggling of petroleum products out of Nigeria has
been greatly reduced. The closure of filling stations on the border is a huge
success. There are hundreds of filling stations along the border. We counted
many as we drove to the border this morning (yesterday).
“They were set up purposely for smuggling. They don’t sell the
fuel consignment; they deceive the public. Over 50 per cent of them are owned
by foreigners. Now, they are closed. We have recorded over 30 per cent
reduction in domestic fuel consumption.”
Reviewing the peculiarities in each of the borders across the
country, the minister said the challenges in Sector 4 included fuel smuggling,
illegal migration and importation of arms.
He added that rice from Benin Republic was also smuggled into
the country through Niger Republic.
Mohammed recalled that after relevant officials at the Jibis
border post with Niger were briefed, Nigeria had a lot of good news to report.
The minister also said the drill at the Jibia post had
“drastically curtailed the inflow of arms and ammunition”.
He added: “Bandits and terrorists are finding it hard to procure
arms and ammunition; hence, we have recorded a reduction in cases of cattle
rustling, kidnapping and armed banditry, which were predominant in the
Northwest. These acts have now been significantly reduced.
“The arms and ammunition being used by violent extremists and
criminal elements no longer make their way into the country through the land
borders. Of course, this will also have a negative effect on insurgency.”
Nigeria, he also said, had recorded “over 30 per cent increase
in revenue since the drill started”.
Mohammed said: “…Before the drill, the borders contributed nothing
to the revenue. Nothing. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was recording about
N4.5 billion daily. Since the closure, the figure has increased to between N5
billion to N8 billion daily.
“As a matter of fact, since the exercise commenced over three months
ago, local businesses across the country have continued to thrive. Farmers and
rice millers in particular are now having good turnover on investments.”
The Northwest sector, he said, recorded the highest success in
reducing illegal migration, following the drill.
Mohammed assured stakeholders that Nigeria will continue to
engage with neighbouring countries to ensure that all the issues that led to
the Exercise Swift Response are fully addressed.
The minister said the borders were closed to protect the country
against transnational security concerns.
These, he said, include smuggling, proliferation of small arms
and light weapons, illegal migration as well as terrorism and armed banditry.
Rice to feed the world given a funding boost
DECEMBER 2ND, 2019
The next phase of what is known as the C4 Rice Project has been
given the green light for a further five years during which time scientists
believe they will develop a prototype for a strain of rice which would give
higher yields and endure harsher environmental conditions.
Put simply, it could help to feed a world which is already struggling to provide for its expanding population, particularly in South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently over 3 billion people in Asia depend on rice for survival, and, owing to predicted population increases and a general trend towards urbanisation, the same area of land that provided enough rice to feed 27 people in 2010 will need to support 43 by 2050.
Professor Jane Langdale, from the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, who leads the consortium, said: 'This is an extremely challenging long-term project and we are grateful to the foundation for backing the team for a further five years. This new award will get us closer to delivering rice lines that will have real impact for smallholder farmers'.
Rice uses the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which in hot dry environments is much less efficient than the C4 pathway used in other plants such as maize and sorghum. The C4 Rice project aims to 'switch' rice to use C4 photosynthesis, with transformational potential.
The C4 photosynthetic pathway, which has evolved over 60 times independently, accounts for around a quarter of terrestrial primary productivity on the planet despite being used by only 3% of species. In most C4 plants, photosynthetic reactions happen in two types of cell arranged in 'wreaths' around closely spaced veins—an arrangement referred to as Kranz anatomy. One of the major challenges of the C4 Rice Project is to convert rice leaf anatomy to this form. Working out which genes need to be modified to achieve this switch will be a major focus of the team's research over the next five years.
The most recent phase of the project has seen a leap in progress by harnessing a synthetic approach towards engineering the photosynthetic pathway. The highly promising direction of this research is confirmed in today's announcement, and this funding boost now makes the C4 Rice project one of the longest running projects in the foundation's agriculture portfolio.
Professor Julian Hibberd from the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge, who is a member of the C4 consortium, said: 'We are excited to be able to build on the significant progress to date, and move closer to our ultimate goal of generating a higher yielding rice'.
Professor Steve Long, who runs the Gates Foundation-funded RIPE Project from the University of Illinois, and was a Visiting Professor at Oxford's Department of Plant Sciences, said: 'This is wonderful news. The C4 rice team have made outstanding progress toward cracking the code as to how to make a C4 crop. This will bring the world one step closer to obtaining C4 rice, and to gaining extra productivity without needing more water or nitrogen."
By the end of the next phase of research in 2024 scientists hope to have experimental field plots up and running in Taiwan.
The scale and reach of the project means that this is a trans-generational project.
Professor Langdale said: 'This is about being custodians of something that's bigger than our individual scientific interests'
A condition of Gates Foundation funding for the project is a Global Access Commitment to ensure that the knowledge and advancements made will be made available and accessible at an affordable price to people most in need in developing countries.
The C4 Rice Project consortium comprises the University of Oxford (lead), Academia Sinica, Australian National University, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Leibniz Institute of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge and Washington State University.
Provided by University of Oxford
Put simply, it could help to feed a world which is already struggling to provide for its expanding population, particularly in South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently over 3 billion people in Asia depend on rice for survival, and, owing to predicted population increases and a general trend towards urbanisation, the same area of land that provided enough rice to feed 27 people in 2010 will need to support 43 by 2050.
Professor Jane Langdale, from the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, who leads the consortium, said: 'This is an extremely challenging long-term project and we are grateful to the foundation for backing the team for a further five years. This new award will get us closer to delivering rice lines that will have real impact for smallholder farmers'.
Rice uses the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which in hot dry environments is much less efficient than the C4 pathway used in other plants such as maize and sorghum. The C4 Rice project aims to 'switch' rice to use C4 photosynthesis, with transformational potential.
The C4 photosynthetic pathway, which has evolved over 60 times independently, accounts for around a quarter of terrestrial primary productivity on the planet despite being used by only 3% of species. In most C4 plants, photosynthetic reactions happen in two types of cell arranged in 'wreaths' around closely spaced veins—an arrangement referred to as Kranz anatomy. One of the major challenges of the C4 Rice Project is to convert rice leaf anatomy to this form. Working out which genes need to be modified to achieve this switch will be a major focus of the team's research over the next five years.
The most recent phase of the project has seen a leap in progress by harnessing a synthetic approach towards engineering the photosynthetic pathway. The highly promising direction of this research is confirmed in today's announcement, and this funding boost now makes the C4 Rice project one of the longest running projects in the foundation's agriculture portfolio.
Professor Julian Hibberd from the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge, who is a member of the C4 consortium, said: 'We are excited to be able to build on the significant progress to date, and move closer to our ultimate goal of generating a higher yielding rice'.
Professor Steve Long, who runs the Gates Foundation-funded RIPE Project from the University of Illinois, and was a Visiting Professor at Oxford's Department of Plant Sciences, said: 'This is wonderful news. The C4 rice team have made outstanding progress toward cracking the code as to how to make a C4 crop. This will bring the world one step closer to obtaining C4 rice, and to gaining extra productivity without needing more water or nitrogen."
By the end of the next phase of research in 2024 scientists hope to have experimental field plots up and running in Taiwan.
The scale and reach of the project means that this is a trans-generational project.
Professor Langdale said: 'This is about being custodians of something that's bigger than our individual scientific interests'
A condition of Gates Foundation funding for the project is a Global Access Commitment to ensure that the knowledge and advancements made will be made available and accessible at an affordable price to people most in need in developing countries.
The C4 Rice Project consortium comprises the University of Oxford (lead), Academia Sinica, Australian National University, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Leibniz Institute of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge and Washington State University.
Provided by University of Oxford
HKU Plant
Scientists Identify New Strategy to Enhance Rice Grain Yield
December 2, 2019
Rice provides a daily subsistence
for about three billion people worldwide and its output must keep pace with a
growing global population. In light of this, the identification of genes that
enhance grain yield and composition is much desired. Findings from a research
project led by Professor Mee-Len Chye, Wilson and Amelia Wong Professor in
Plant Biotechnology from the School of Biological Sciences of The University of
Hong Kong (HKU), with postdoctoral fellows Dr Guo Zehua and Dr Shiu-Cheung
Lung, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Calgary and
Rothamsted Research (UK), have provided a new strategy to enhance grain yield
in rice by increasing grain size and weight. The research results have been
published in The Plant Journal and an
international patent has been filed (Patent Application No. WO 2019/104509).
In this technology, the research
group led by Professor Chye has identified a protein, ACYL-COA-BINDING PROTEIN2
(OsACBP2) from rice (Oryza sativa), that when
overexpressed in transgenic rice, will enhance grain size and weight by 10% and
elevate grain yield (Image 1). The biomass of the OsACBP2-overexpressing
transgenic rice grains exceeded the control by over 10%. OsACBP2 is a
lipid-binding protein that binds lipids such as acyl-CoA esters, the major
precursors in seed oil production. Oil was observed to accumulate in the
transgenic rice grains (Image 2). OsACBP2 is promising not only in enhancing
grain size and weight, but also in improving nutritional value with a 10%
increase in lipid content of rice bran and whole seeds (Image 3).
As OsACBP2 contributes to
boosting oil content as well as size and weight in transgenic rice grains, an
application of this technology in rice is expected to benefit agriculture by
increasing grain yield and composition to satisfy the need for more food.
Professor Chye said: “Increasing grain size and yield, besides rice bran and
seed lipid content, in crops such as rice is an important research area that
aligns with the aspirations of Dr Wilson and Mrs Amelia Wong on the use of
plant biotechnology for a sustainable future. Furthermore, as rice bran oil is
considered highly valuable because it contains bioactive components that have
been reported to lower serum cholesterol and possess anti-oxidation,
anti-carcinogenic and anti-allergic inflammation activities, this technology,
if applied to other food crops, would not only help address food security but
also elevate nutritional properties in grains.”
This research project was funded
by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong and the Wilson and Amelia Wong
Endowment Fund.
Government must adopt proactive
measures for rice sector - PFAG
Monday 2nd
December, 2019
By Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA
Fijai,
Dec. 2, GNA - The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on
government to adopt proactive measures to secure the Ghana rice industry and
ensure a complete ban on the importation of rice to boost sales.
It
said there was enough Ghanaian rice to meet the demands of the country and
called on all government institutions to patronise it.
While
commending the Government for the move to secure the Ghanaian rice
industry, the Association recommended low interest on loans for agricultural
businesses to curtail the challenges confronting the sector.
Other
recommendations included increased budget allocation and subsidies for combined
harvesters, rice millers and packaging materials, new technology to address
aflatoxins and other post-harvest challenge, storages facilities and increased
budget on mitigating problems in the rice value chain.
Mr
Abdul Rahman Mohammed, the Board Chairman of the PFAG, during the 2019 Annual
General Meeting of the Association, said the directive by the Government to the
National Buffer Stock Company to mop-up the excess rice and importers to buy
local rice had come in handy.
"We
hope the directive will be enforced immediately without any further delay to
bring hope to our farmers," he added.
Meanwhile,
a Research on; "Assessment of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ)
Programme: Perspectives from beneficiary farmers,” revealed that farmers had
received improved certified variety of seeds.
Professor
Awetori Yaro from the University of Ghana, who presented the Findings, said the
research was commissioned to analyse access to certified seeds, fertilizer,
extension services, marketing and post-harvest handling.
It
established that much progress had been made with the PFJ and that the project
could stimulate the commercialisation of small scale agriculture in Ghana.
The
study, however, recommended increased surveillance, extension services, and
early delivery of seeds and fertilizers.
Other
recommendations included a deliberate government policy to direct banks to
lower their interest rates on agricultural businesses.
Mr
Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, urged farmers to
work effectively towards improving household nutrition of women and children.
He
called for the development of a comprehensive value-chain approach to
agriculture and focus on market oriented extension services to build the
capacity of farmers through training.
GNA
Cambodian farmer
wins volunteer award for community work
Niem Chheng |
Publication date 02 December 2019 | 23:09 ICT
Share
Roeum Socheat won the Livelihood Volunteer Award for his
contribution to the IMA4P project. VSO
Roeum Socheat, a Cambodian farmer
who volunteered with the Voluntary Service Overseas won the “Volunteer Impact
Award 2019” in London, UK, last week for his work with around 200 farmers as a
community volunteer in Battambang.
The award was presented to him at
a ceremony held last Tuesday by international NGO Volunteer Services Overseas
(VSO) in London. He was one of the five winners out of 20 finalists chosen from
over 100 nominations across 25 developing countries. He won in “The Livelihood Volunteer
Award” category.
VSO said Socheat was involved in
the Improving Market Access for the Poor (IMA4P) project, where he worked
directly with around 200 farmers in his Raing Kesei commune, in Battambang’s
Sangke district.
VSO Cambodia staff member Sovanvatey
Khuon said Socheat was the voice of VSO in the community to support logistical
project arrangements and he also delivered the “train the trainer” session.
He started his volunteer work
with VSO in mid-2017 and had become instrumental in enabling the two
cornerstone initiatives of IMA4P project success which included the sustainable
rice platform contract farming.
In the awards announcement, VSO
said Socheat had built trust and forged relationships between farmers,
agricultural cooperatives and millers, and had ensured each party understands
the others’ priorities and challenges.
“As a farmer himself, he helped
demonstrate the value of sustainable rice platform by applying his technical
understanding to his land, helping to build the community’s confidence around
its adoption,” VSO said.
VSO CEO Dr Philip Goodwin said at
the awards ceremony that the Volunteer Impact Awards served as a yearly
reminder of the power of putting people at the centre.
“I hope, as we come together
tonight to celebrate these volunteers’ incredible achievements, you find their
stories as inspiring as I have done. It truly shows what we can achieve when we
work together,” he said.
Socheat told The Post on Monday
that with the support of VSO, he had gained knowledge of rice production with
the focus on safety and sustainability, and selling products between farmers
and rice millers.
“I am happy to receive this
international award in London. It encourages me to continue my work and proves
that I have helped to improve the community,” he said.
Contact author: Niem Chheng
Chinese researcher claims first gene-edited babies
Independent Online/ UNB
2 December, 2019 02:00:52 PM / LAST MODIFIED: 2 December, 2019
07:49:49 PM
Chinese researcher He Jiankui of Shenzhen claims that
he helped make the world’s first genetically edited babies. Photo: UNB
A Chinese researcher claims that
he helped make the world’s first genetically edited babies — twin girls born
this month whose DNA he said he altered with a powerful new tool capable of
rewriting the very blueprint of life.
If true, it would be a profound
leap of science and ethics.
A U.S. scientist said he took
part in the work in China, but this kind of gene editing is banned in the
United States because the DNA changes can pass to future generations and it
risks harming other genes.
Many mainstream scientists think
it’s too unsafe to try, and some denounced the Chinese report as hman
experimentation.
The researcher, He Jiankui of
Shenzhen, said he altered embryos for seven couples during fertility
treatments, with one pregnancy resulting thus far. He said his goal was not to
cure or prevent an inherited disease, but to try to bestow a trait that few
people naturally have — an ability to resist possible future infection with
HIV, the AIDS virus.
He said the parents involved
declined to be identified or interviewed, and he would not say where they live
or where the work was done.
There is no independent
confirmation of He’s claim, and it has not been published in a journal, where
it would be vetted by other experts. He revealed it Monday in Hong Kong to one
of the organizers of an international conference on gene editing that is set to
begin Tuesday, and earlier in exclusive interviews with The Associated Press.
“I feel a strong responsibility
that it’s not just to make a first, but also make it an example,” He told the
AP. “Society will decide what to do next” in terms of allowing or forbidding
such science.
Some scientists were astounded to
hear of the claim and strongly condemned it.
It’s “unconscionable ... an
experiment on human beings that is not morally or ethically defensible,” said
Dr. Kiran Musunuru, a University of Pennsylvania gene editing expert and editor
of a genetics journal.
“This is far too premature,” said
Dr. Eric Topol, who heads the Scripps Research Translational Institute in
California. “We’re dealing with the operating instructions of a human being.
It’s a big deal.”
However, one famed geneticist,
Harvard University’s George Church, defended attempting gene editing for HIV,
which he called “a major and growing public health threat.”
“I think this is justifiable,”
Church said of that goal.
In recent years scientists have
discovered a relatively easy way to edit genes, the strands of DNA that govern
the body. The tool, called CRISPR-cas9, makes it possible to operate on DNA to
supply a needed gene or disable one that’s causing problems.
It’s only recently been tried in
adults to treat deadly diseases, and the changes are confined to that person.
Editing sperm, eggs or embryos is different — the changes can be inherited. In
the U.S., it’s not allowed except for lab research. China outlaws human cloning
but not specifically gene editing.
He Jiankui (HEH JEE’-an-qway),
who goes by “JK,” studied at Rice and Stanford universities in the U.S. before
returning to his homeland to open a lab at Southern University of Science and
Technology of China in Shenzhen, where he also has two genetics companies. The
university said He’s work “seriously violated academic ethics and standards” and
planned to investigate. A spokesman for He confirmed that he has been on leave
from teaching since early this year, but he remains on the faculty and has a
lab at the school.
The U.S. scientist who worked
with him on this project after He returned to China was physics and
bioengineering professor Michael Deem, who was his adviser at Rice in Houston.
Deem also holds what he called “a small stake” in — and is on the scientific
advisory boards of — He’s two companies.
The Chinese researcher said he
practiced editing mice, monkey and human embryos in the lab for several years
and has applied for patents on his methods.
He said he chose embryo gene
editing for HIV because these infections are a big problem in China. He sought
to disable a gene called CCR5 that forms a protein doorway that allows HIV, the
virus that causes AIDS, to enter a cell.
All of the men in the project had
HIV and all of the women did not, but the gene editing was not aimed at
preventing the small risk of transmission, He said. The fathers had their
infections deeply suppressed by standard HIV medicines and there are simple
ways to keep them from infecting offspring that do not involve altering genes.
Instead, the appeal was to offer
couples affected by HIV a chance to have a child that might be protected from a
similar fate.
He recruited couples through a
Beijing-based AIDS advocacy group called Baihualin. Its leader, known by the
pseudonym “Bai Hua,” told the AP that it’s not uncommon for people with HIV to
lose jobs or have trouble getting medical care if their infections are
revealed.
Here is how He described the
work:
The gene editing occurred during
IVF, or lab dish fertilization. First, sperm was “washed” to separate it from
semen, the fluid where HIV can lurk. A single sperm was placed into a single
egg to create an embryo. Then the gene editing tool was added.
When the embryos were 3 to 5 days
old, a few cells were removed and checked for editing. Couples could choose
whether to use edited or unedited embryos for pregnancy attempts. In all, 16 of
22 embryos were edited, and 11 embryos were used in six implant attempts before
the twin pregnancy was achieved, He said.
Tests suggest that one twin had
both copies of the intended gene altered and the other twin had just one
altered, with no evidence of harm to other genes, He said. People with one copy
of the gene can still get HIV, although some very limited research suggests
their health might decline more slowly once they do.
Embryologist Qin Jinzhou looks
through a microscope at a laboratory in Shenzhen. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Several scientists reviewed
materials that He provided to the AP and said tests so far are insufficient to
say the editing worked or to rule out harm.
They also noted evidence that the
editing was incomplete and that at least one twin appears to be a patchwork of
cells with various changes.
“It’s almost like not editing at
all” if only some of certain cells were altered, because HIV infection can
still occur, Church said.
Church and Musunuru questioned
the decision to allow one of the embryos to be used in a pregnancy attempt,
because the Chinese researchers said they knew in advance that both copies of
the intended gene had not been altered.
“In that child, there really was
almost nothing to be gained in terms of protection against HIV and yet you’re
exposing that child to all the unknown safety risks,” Musunuru said.
The use of that embryo suggests
that the researchers’ “main emphasis was on testing editing rather than
avoiding this disease,” Church said.
Even if editing worked perfectly,
people without normal CCR5 genes face higher risks of getting certain other
viruses, such as West Nile, and of dying from the flu. Since there are many
ways to prevent HIV infection and it’s very treatable if it occurs, those other
medical risks are a concern, Musunuru said.
There also are questions about
the way He said he proceeded. He gave official notice of his work long after he
said he started it — on Nov. 8, on a Chinese registry of clinical trials.
It’s unclear whether participants
fully understood the purpose and potential risks and benefits. For example,
consent forms called the project an “AIDS vaccine development” program.
Zhou Xiaoqin places an embryo in
a storage tube at a laboratory in Shenzhen. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The Rice scientist, Deem, said he
was present in China when potential participants gave their consent and that he
“absolutely” thinks they were able to understand the risks.
Deem said he worked with He on
vaccine research at Rice and considers the gene editing similar to a vaccine.
“That might be a layman’s way of
describing it,” he said.
Both men are physics experts with
no experience running human clinical trials.
The Chinese scientist, He, said
he personally made the goals clear and told participants that embryo gene
editing has never been tried before and carries risks. He said he also would
provide insurance coverage for any children conceived through the project and
plans medical follow-up until the children are 18 and longer if they agree once
they’re adults.
Further pregnancy attempts are on
hold until the safety of this one is analyzed and experts in the field weigh
in, but participants were not told in advance that they might not have a chance
to try what they signed up for once a “first” was achieved, He acknowledged.
Free fertility treatment was part of the deal they were offered.
He sought and received approval
for his project from Shenzhen Harmonicare Women’s and Children’s Hospital,
which is not one of the four hospitals that He said provided embryos for his
research or the pregnancy attempts.
Some staff at some of the other
hospitals were kept in the dark about the nature of the research, which He and
Deem said was done to keep some participants’ HIV infection from being
disclosed.
Lin Zhitong speaks during an
interview in Shenzhen. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“We think this is ethical,” said
Lin Zhitong, a Harmonicare administrator who heads the ethics panel.
Any medical staff who handled
samples that might contain HIV were aware, He said. An embryologist in He’s
lab, Qin Jinzhou, confirmed to the AP that he did sperm washing and injected
the gene editing tool in some of the pregnancy attempts.
The study participants are not
ethicists, He said, but “are as much authorities on what is correct and what is
wrong because it’s their life on the line.”
“I believe this is going to help
the families and their children,” He said. If it causes unwanted side effects
or harm, “I would feel the same pain as they do and it’s going to be my own
responsibility.”
Staples, nutrition and bureaucratic
red-tape
12:00
AM, December 02, 2019 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, December 02, 2019
Regular
rice next to Golden Rice. PHOTO: IRRI
Bangladesh is on the verge of
making one of the most important decisions in the history of GM crops: it may
become the first country to commercialise and grow golden rice.
This miracle crop promises to save
lives and prevent blindness in children. Packed with beta carotene in the
yellow grains that inspire its name, golden rice holds the potential to wipe
out the Vitamin-A deficiencies that have caused so much suffering in the
developing world.
The toll is enormous: an estimated
one million people die each year because they don’t have enough Vitamin A in
their food. Most of them are children. An additional half million people go
blind.
I have observed poverty,
malnutrition and disease up close here in the Philippines, where I am a farmer
who grows corn and rice. More than one in five of my fellow Filipinos live in
dire poverty. The situation is even worse in Bangladesh. Its per-capita GDP is
about half of what we enjoy in the Philippines.
Poverty is a root cause of
malnutrition and malnutrition gives rise to any number of severe problems with
long-term consequences. It can stunt growth in every nightmarish way, from
physical stature to mental capacity. In the worst cases, it kills.
The good news is that golden rice
would fuel the consumption of Vitamin A in poor countries where rice is a
staple food. Its regulatory approval would keep people alive and their vision
intact. All they would have to do is keep eating the rice-based meals just like
they do today.
Science shows that golden rice is
safe. We have studied it for two decades. Regulators in Australia, Canada, New
Zealand, and the United States have accepted it—but hardly anybody in those
countries needs golden rice. They get enough Vitamin A in their diet so there
is no commercial market.
The situation is different in Asia.
Here, golden rice would help hundreds of millions of people in countries such
as India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Bangladesh and the Philippines would also
benefit, which is why scientists in our two countries have studied golden rice
and pushed for its commercialisation.
Several weeks ago, word got out
that Bangladesh would make an important announcement about golden rice on November
15. Anticipating its regulatory approval, media around the world prepared for
its coverage. Would Bangladesh indeed become the first developing nation to
accept this GMO? Would other countries then follow its example, approving the
crop for their own farmers to grow and consumers to eat?
Yet November 15 came and went
without an announcement. Perhaps a decision will arrive next week, or maybe
next month. We just don’t know. We remain right where we have been, stuck in
the maddening limbo of recognising a bad problem, knowing a specific solution,
and doing nothing.
The reasons behind Bangladesh’s
delay are unclear, but it’s easy to speculate about the political pressures its
policymakers face. Here in the Philippines, poorly informed environmental
activists destroyed a golden rice testing site in 2013. Beholden to an ideology
that refuses to tolerate scientific inquiry, they launched a violent attack on
a tool that can fight malnutrition—and their extreme tactics unfortunately have
succeeded in delaying the approval of golden rice.
I have planted GM corn on my farm
for years. I prefer these crops because they have protected my crops from pests
that would have destroyed it, allowing me to grow more food on less land. It is
good for the environment, as well as the food security situation of my country.
It is also good for me as a farmer. The extra income has helped me pay for the
education of my children.
I would love to have the
opportunity to plant golden rice—and I am hoping that an approval in Bangladesh
would lead to an approval in the Philippines.
A new book by Ed Regis—a science
writer with a doctorate in philosophy—makes a persuasive case for this
innovative crop. “The effects of withholding, delaying, or retarding golden
rice development through overcautious regulation has imposed unconscionable
costs in terms of sight and lives lost,” he writes in “Golden Rice: The
Imperilled Birth of a GMO Superfood,” published by Johns Hopkins University
Press.
It’s time to stop the suffering of
our peoples and grow golden rice. I am hopeful that Bangladesh would do the
right thing and show us the way.
Sustainability
Webinar Series Continues Tomorrow
By Lydia Holmes
MEMPHIS, TN -- A new webinar series focused on
the impressive sustainability record of the U.S. rice industry continues
tomorrow at 12:00 noon EST. The webinars are an extension of the work
done around the U.S. Rice Industry Sustainability Report, and are
open to anyone interested in learning about rice sustainability efforts and
practices.
The second in the four-part series, hosted by the American Society of Agronomy and sponsored by The Rice Foundation and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, is titled, "Water Use in Rice: The Efficiency Win-Win."
Tomorrow's webinar speakers include Dr. Michele Reba, research hydrologist and lead scientist with the Delta Water Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS; Scott Matthews, a rice farmer from Wiener, Arkansas; and Christian Richard, a rice farmer from Kaplan, Louisiana.
"These webinars are a good opportunity to go more in depth on a topic like new irrigation practices than we were able to in the Sustainability Report," said Dr. Steve Linscombe, director of The Rice Foundation. "Since these are recorded, anyone who registers online can watch the webinar on their own schedule."
Continuing education units (CEUs) are available for this webinar although you do not have to be a certified crop advisor or professional agronomist to sign up.
Go here to register.
The second in the four-part series, hosted by the American Society of Agronomy and sponsored by The Rice Foundation and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, is titled, "Water Use in Rice: The Efficiency Win-Win."
Tomorrow's webinar speakers include Dr. Michele Reba, research hydrologist and lead scientist with the Delta Water Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS; Scott Matthews, a rice farmer from Wiener, Arkansas; and Christian Richard, a rice farmer from Kaplan, Louisiana.
"These webinars are a good opportunity to go more in depth on a topic like new irrigation practices than we were able to in the Sustainability Report," said Dr. Steve Linscombe, director of The Rice Foundation. "Since these are recorded, anyone who registers online can watch the webinar on their own schedule."
Continuing education units (CEUs) are available for this webinar although you do not have to be a certified crop advisor or professional agronomist to sign up.
Go here to register.
CPFTA second phase
implementation comes into effect from today
December 1, 2019
BEIJING, Dec 01 (APP):The second
phase of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) has come into the effect
from today (Sunday) allowing the Pakistani manufacturers and traders to export
around 313new products on zero duty to the Chinese market.
The two countries have completed
all the legal procedures and formalities to start the implementation of the
agreement from today,” well-informed sources confirmed here on Sunday.
Both Pakistan and China signed a
protocol for the implementation of the agreement during the last visit of Prime
Minister Imran Khan to China, under which, Pakistan has got the export
concession on 313 new items.
Pakistan is already enjoying zero duty on export of 724 products to China under the first FTA signed between the two countries in 2006. After the implementation of the second FTA, Pakistan has been allowed to export a total of 1047 products to China on zero duty.
Pakistan is already enjoying zero duty on export of 724 products to China under the first FTA signed between the two countries in 2006. After the implementation of the second FTA, Pakistan has been allowed to export a total of 1047 products to China on zero duty.
The new facility will
particularly benefit the textile sector to enhance its export to China as
textile exports to China will virtually be duty-free.
There are a number of other items particularly leather and agriculture products as well as confectionery and biscuits etc which Pakistani manufacturers can export to China.
There are a number of other items particularly leather and agriculture products as well as confectionery and biscuits etc which Pakistani manufacturers can export to China.
While commenting on the positive
impacts of implementation of the second phase of the trade agreement, the
sources informed that after the implementation, Pakistan can now increase its
export around US$ 1 billion in the short term while the export of these items
are likely to touch US$ 4-5 billion in the medium term after setting up a new
industry in the special economic zones being constructed in Pakistan under
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) flagship project.
After this agreement, Pakistan
can enhance its exports to China up to US$ 10 billion in the next few years as
the volume of the Chinese import market is around US$ 64 billion.
The per capita income in China is
around US$ 10,000 while buying capacity of the people is increasing gradually.
China has organized import expos
as it wants to import quality products from different countries including
Pakistan. If our traders actively participate in different trade fairs in China
to market their goods, they can get import orders with good price.
Regarding further benefits,
sources said, now not only Pakistani manufacturers can enhance exports of
different goods to China but the Chinese manufacturers who are interested to
shift industry to Pakistan owing to cheaper labour and other resources, can
export goods to China and other countries in the world.
Pakistan has already signed FTA
with Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Indonesia
under its trade liberalization policy to enhance its exports.
There are active discussions to
sign FTA with South Korea in a bid to provide more and more access to Pakistani
manufacturers to the new markets. China has already become the second-largest
export destination of Pakistani traders after the US.
The present government has
resolved export rebate issue and started the disbursement to traders for which
the finance ministry is allocating funds while it is giving subsidy to
exporters on electricity and gas.
The State Bank of Pakistan has
also increased funds limits for the traders and manufacturers under export
refinance scheme which will help increase the exports.
Regarding the impact of
cooperation in the agriculture sector between the two countries, sources said
that China has imposed a strict quality control system on food-related items.
Chinese experts inspect and
qualify the manufacturing facility before allowing imports. China also imposed
quota and Pakistani traders can benefit from it if they achieve all the
standards.
A quota of 350k tons yarn, 300k
tons sugar and 200 tons rice respectively was given by China under US$ 1
billion zero percent import tariff facility and exporters are actively availing
this opportunity.
“We want to complete the
quarantine procedures of wheat and tobacco to be able to export these products
to China.”
Currently, cotton yarn, copper,
rice, chromites nephrite, seafood, and ethylene alcohol are main products being
exported to China.
CBN, rice farmers meet to curb scarcity, price
stability
December 2, 2019
By
he Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN) has entered into an agreement with stakeholders in rice production value
chain.The parley is aimed at increasing rice supply and maintaining price
stability this December and beyond in the face of Christmas and New Year
celebrations.
New Telegraph findings over the
weekend revealed that the meeting between CBN top officials, representatives of
Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) and Rice Processors Association of
Nigeria (RIPAN) was held at CBN headquarters in Abuja at the instance of CBN
Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
“You know Yuletide is here.
Christmas and New Year are weeks away. You do know exploitative tendency
associated with this season, commodities, especially foodstuffs, going up in
prices.
“The CBN as driver of Anchor
Borrower Program, a scheme that supports rice production in this country, wants
to ensure there is sufficient supply in December and beyond at a reasonable
price,” a source told this reporter.
National President, RIFAN,
Alhaji Aminu Muhammad Goronyo, also confirmed his group’s meeting with CBN to
New Telegraph in an interview.
He said his association and
others in rice production chain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the CBN to increase supply and maintain price stability.
“The festive season is already
here. Christmas is a few days away. For your information, the CBN invited all
rice producers and critical stakeholders in rice production business to a
meeting at CBN.
“They converged in their office
(CBN). We took a decision and we are on the same page. We have agreed that
there is going to be enough rice that would be sufficient for Christmas and New
Year and beyond the festive season.
“The producers, who are rice
farmers as represented by RIFAN, the processors, who are millers, represented
by RIPAN, and rice dealers also attended the meeting. The CBN drafted a MoU for
three stakeholders to make sure rice is sufficiently available during the
festive season and beyond. I’m just coming from that meeting with CBN. No doubt
about it, rice will be sufficiently enough,” he said.
Though a staple food in most
Nigerian homes, foreign countries, Thailand and India were major suppliers of
the commodity to over 200 million Nigerians until Federal Government, through
CBN’s Anchor Borrower Programme, a scheme designed to support local rice
farmers to up the scale of local production of rice, was invented four years
ago.
To further curb smuggling of
foreign rice through land borders, Federal Government, in August, enforced
border closure with Benin Republic and Niger with routes notorious for
smuggling of foreign rice into Nigeria.
RIFAN president lauded the
border closure policy, describing it as the best policy ever taken in support
of agriculture and Nigerian farmers.
According to him, “The border
closure is a hard decision, but I think it has to be made. It’s a hard
decision, but a necessary one for any rational leader to take.
“We thank the type of person we
have as a president, gifted with a capacity to take this decision. It will
augur well 100 per cent in favour of Nigeria and Nigerians. The border closure
isn’t only in favour of small holder farmers; it’s about Nigeria and Nigerians.
It’s a welcome idea by Nigerians that want Nigerians to progress, that want to
see Nigeria amongst top nations that develop.
“This is one of the steps that
will position Nigeria. So we thank Mr. President for taking this very hard, but
economically good benefitting decision. It’s very pleasing and okay for Nigeria,
particularly at this material time.”
Reflecting on gains, benefits
of border closure, Goronyo said it had opened more economic doors for
Nigerians, not only in rice, but across other value chains.
“The situation is that
Nigerians are now getting it better than before. Nigerians are now eating
fresh, sweet Nigerian rice instead of what they were previously eating as rice.
The diseases that were being imported into the country in guise of eating
foreign rice have been cured.
“First good thing that happened
to Nigerians is: If you look at the activities that have emanated from border
closure, you will know it’s a decision that was supposed to have been taken
long time ago.
“Today, the value chain
activities in farming alone, from cultivation, processing, packaging and
bio-products processing, is enormous. Nigerians are gainfully engaged doing so
many activities that give them income.
“With the border closure,
manufacturers of bags have sprung up everywhere. If you go to Lagos today,
manufacturers of bags for rice are busy; go to Onitsha, manufacturers of thread
are busy. If you go to Kano, the millers are busy; go to Calabar where you find
Ayade’s seedling factory busy. These alone will tell you the border closure is
God’s approved decision. It is not about the President. This is a God-sent
decision.
“We thank God for giving us a
President with this kind of quality to take this kind of decision,” he said.
The Federal Government, in
August, closed land borders to all movement of goods with a recent promise to
reopen them by end of January 2020.
Nigeria meets 100% OPEC target on agreement –
Sylva
December 2, 2019
By
Nigeria has met the 100 per
cent target agreement entered into by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting
Counties (OPEC) and 10 non-OPEC member states.
The agreement is on the
Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) voluntarily entered into September this year.
OPEC and 10 Non-OPEC Member
States are also known as the OPEC plus or the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC)
Countries.
The Minister of State for
Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva, made this known during a tele-conference with the
Chairman of the OPEC-Non-OPEC Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) and
Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman
Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and some other DoC Ministers over the weekend.
Sylva, in a statement issued by
his spokesman, Alhaji Garba Muhammad, in Abuja yesterday, recalled that the
minister had, in September when entering into the agreement, said Nigeria would
be 100 per cent compliant to the agreement in three months.
The minister said that in
fulfillment of that pledge, Nigeria’s compliance level had witnessed tremendous
progress month-by-month since August, resulting in 100 per cent compliance in
November.He commended member countries of the DoC that had consistently met and
even exceeded their targets of production cuts.
He attributed the successes
achieved in bringing stability to the oil market to the whole group, but
especially due to the extra efforts of these countries.
Sylva commended the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia for the extra burden it had taken on its own volition to help
stabilise the global oil market.
He thanked Prince Abdulaziz and
the Government of the Kingdom for the exemplary leadership role they had been
playing in the DoC.
On his part, Prince Abdulaziz
commended Nigeria for the efforts it had made since August to ensure
compliance, noting that the agreement came into effect at the same time when
Nigeria’s Egina was coming on-stream.
OPEC ministers are expected to
meet in Vienna next week to review developments in the global oil market for
the first half of 2020 and take some critical decisions affecting the oil
industry and, by implication, the global economy.
The first decision is on the
fate of the current agreement which expires on March 31, 2020.
The Organisation will decide
whether to renew it or not, if it is to be retained, decision has to be taken
on the need for modification or allow it to stand as it is.
Garba said: “OPEC ministers are
expected to meet in Vienna next week to review developments in the global oil
market for the first half of 2020 and take some critical decisions affecting
the oil industry and, by implication, the global economy.
“The first decision would be on
the fate of the current Agreement which expires on 31st March 2020. The
Organisation has to decide whether to renew it or not; if it is to be retained,
decision has to be taken on the need for modification or allow it to stand as
it is.
“The second decision is: Given
the outlook for the oil market in the first and second quarters of 2020, where
demand is forecast to dampen while production from non-DoC members is forecast
to rise, experts believe that the DoC Countries need to make deeper cuts to
sustain the stability that they have been able to bring to the market.”
The JMMC is expected to meet in
Vienna on December 5 and the OPEC Ministerial Conference same day, while the OPEC
and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting is expected to take place on December 6 in
Vienna.
Mandviwalla lauds
progress in lifting of ban on export of rice to Mexico
By admin
December 2, 2019
Islamabad
On the sidelines of the Seminar in Mexico, the Deputy Chairman
Senate Saleem Mandviwalla had a meeting with Ms. Lourdes Cruz Trinidad, Vice
Minister for Agriculture and Dr. Javier Trujillo, Director General, National
Service of Health, Safety and Agri-food Quality (SENASICA) at the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development.
The two sides agreed that Pakistan and Mexico could benefit from their respective expertise in agriculture. They discussed the possible avenues of collaboration in agriculture such as avocado cultivation in Pakistan.
The Deputy Chairman Senate also took up the matter of lifting of the ban on the export of rice from Pakistan by Mexican authorities. After detailed discussion the Mexican side conveyed its general agreement for lifting of ban after completion of some procedural formalities. It is hoped that the import of rice from Pak will resume in near future. The Deputy Chairman also proposed the signing of an MoU on Agricultural Cooperation which was welcomed by the Mexican side.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Deputy Chairman Senate is leading a Parliamentary delegation to Mexico to attend the Executive Education Parliamentary Leadership Programme organized under the auspices of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Besides attending the seminar, the Deputy Chairman had an extensive programme to strengthen Parliamentary Cooperation between Pakistan and Mexico. Ms. Monica Fernandez Balboa, President of the Senate of Mexico received the Deputy Chairman and members of delegation in the Senate of Mexico.
Referring to the long history of cordial relations between Pakistan and Mexico, the Deputy Chairman stressed upon the need of further strengthening of these ties through parliamentary diplomacy. He urged upon setting up of a Pakistan-Mexico Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Senate of Mexico. He also extended invitation to the President of Senate to visit Pakistan to deepen parliamentary cooperation. Ms. Munoz warmly welcomed the delegation and agreed with the Deputy Chairman to strengthen parliament cooperation. She identified a number of areas such as climate change.—INP
The two sides agreed that Pakistan and Mexico could benefit from their respective expertise in agriculture. They discussed the possible avenues of collaboration in agriculture such as avocado cultivation in Pakistan.
The Deputy Chairman Senate also took up the matter of lifting of the ban on the export of rice from Pakistan by Mexican authorities. After detailed discussion the Mexican side conveyed its general agreement for lifting of ban after completion of some procedural formalities. It is hoped that the import of rice from Pak will resume in near future. The Deputy Chairman also proposed the signing of an MoU on Agricultural Cooperation which was welcomed by the Mexican side.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Deputy Chairman Senate is leading a Parliamentary delegation to Mexico to attend the Executive Education Parliamentary Leadership Programme organized under the auspices of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Besides attending the seminar, the Deputy Chairman had an extensive programme to strengthen Parliamentary Cooperation between Pakistan and Mexico. Ms. Monica Fernandez Balboa, President of the Senate of Mexico received the Deputy Chairman and members of delegation in the Senate of Mexico.
Referring to the long history of cordial relations between Pakistan and Mexico, the Deputy Chairman stressed upon the need of further strengthening of these ties through parliamentary diplomacy. He urged upon setting up of a Pakistan-Mexico Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Senate of Mexico. He also extended invitation to the President of Senate to visit Pakistan to deepen parliamentary cooperation. Ms. Munoz warmly welcomed the delegation and agreed with the Deputy Chairman to strengthen parliament cooperation. She identified a number of areas such as climate change.—INP
https://pakobserver.net/mandviwalla-lauds-progress-in-lifting-of-ban-on-export-of-rice-to-mexico/
Pakistan Foreign
Minister arrives in Sri Lanka
December 1, 2019 - 23:59
Pakistan Foreign Minister
Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Sri Lanka today on an official visit.
While in Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister will call on President
Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and felicitate the new
leadership.
The Foreign Minister will have separate meeting with his
newly-appointed Sri Lankan counterpart, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
The two sides will exchange views on the entire gamut of
bilateral relations and matters pertaining to regional and international
issues.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy close, cordial ties based on mutual
trust and understanding. The bilateral relationship is broad-based and
multifaceted, covering diverse fields including political, trade, commercial,
defence, people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges. High-level visits
are a regular feature of Pakistan-Sri Lanka relations.
2
COMMENTS
1.
Gabriella December 2, 2019 - 16:22 at 16:22
Let’s not forget for the sake of political expediency, that it
was Pakistan who proved to be a loyal ally in our time of need.
3.
Noor Nizam. December 2, 2019 - 09:48 at 09:48
A wonderfull move to balance the involvement of India in the
affairs of Sri Lanka.
Though the Indian move to invite HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Delhi and the offer of USD. 400 million credit facilities loan and USD. 50 million for enhancing anti-terror inteligence in Sri Lanka should be commended in terms of bilateral relations, In terms of International Relations, was India trying to influence Sri Lanka their way in matters concerning the geo-politics of the Pacific ring and the South East Asia region of the Indian Ocean. Or was India trying to enhance the trading capacity of Indian exports to Sri Lanka, especially that of consumer goods and cereals. Pakistan exported “Rice and textile” to Sri Lanka in a big way. The Pakistan-Sri Lanka Business Forum Chairman Aslam Pakhali has stated to the media that the export of “Rice and Textile” have stopped and Potato exports has also reduced drastically. So is India trying to fill this gap for India’s benefit? Can the socio-ecomonic political climate in Sri Lanka that has been created in the aftermath of the April 21st., bombing be blamed for this, or the failure of the Muslim political party leaders, ministers and the 21 Muslim parliamentarians to maintain good liaison with the political and religious hierarchy of the country be a cause, because Muslim politicians were accused of having knowlwdge of the bombings (adied and abetted).
Pakistan has to make sure what it wants to do with Sri Lanka Pakistan relations which has been at a very high and cordial level always. Pakistan should not “invest politically” in Sri Lankan Muslim politicians for lobbying power with the new government of HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, PM Mahinda Rajapaka and the National Organizer of the SLPP, Basil Rajapaksa. Pakistan should speak directly and franking to the Rajapaksas.
The Sinhalese and the nationalist who love their “Maathrooboomiya” will never forget the helping hand Pakistan gave to Sri Lanka to defeat the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit – the LTTE, when other neighbours were contemplating whether to do so or not. The Sinhalese nation is a nation of gratitude. Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmood Qureshi who has arrived Sri Lanka on an official visit should iorn out the misconcepts created about Pakistan by foreign powers and lay a concrete foundation to play its role to support the new governments plans to revive the socio-economic situation, reconcialiation efforts and bilaterial relations and help Sri Lanka maintain it’s policy of neutrality in the region. This way, Sri Lanka will also listen to Pakitan.
Noor Nizam – Peace and Political Activist, Political Communication Researcher, SLFP/SLPP Stalwart and Convener – “The Muslim Voice”.
Though the Indian move to invite HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Delhi and the offer of USD. 400 million credit facilities loan and USD. 50 million for enhancing anti-terror inteligence in Sri Lanka should be commended in terms of bilateral relations, In terms of International Relations, was India trying to influence Sri Lanka their way in matters concerning the geo-politics of the Pacific ring and the South East Asia region of the Indian Ocean. Or was India trying to enhance the trading capacity of Indian exports to Sri Lanka, especially that of consumer goods and cereals. Pakistan exported “Rice and textile” to Sri Lanka in a big way. The Pakistan-Sri Lanka Business Forum Chairman Aslam Pakhali has stated to the media that the export of “Rice and Textile” have stopped and Potato exports has also reduced drastically. So is India trying to fill this gap for India’s benefit? Can the socio-ecomonic political climate in Sri Lanka that has been created in the aftermath of the April 21st., bombing be blamed for this, or the failure of the Muslim political party leaders, ministers and the 21 Muslim parliamentarians to maintain good liaison with the political and religious hierarchy of the country be a cause, because Muslim politicians were accused of having knowlwdge of the bombings (adied and abetted).
Pakistan has to make sure what it wants to do with Sri Lanka Pakistan relations which has been at a very high and cordial level always. Pakistan should not “invest politically” in Sri Lankan Muslim politicians for lobbying power with the new government of HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, PM Mahinda Rajapaka and the National Organizer of the SLPP, Basil Rajapaksa. Pakistan should speak directly and franking to the Rajapaksas.
The Sinhalese and the nationalist who love their “Maathrooboomiya” will never forget the helping hand Pakistan gave to Sri Lanka to defeat the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit – the LTTE, when other neighbours were contemplating whether to do so or not. The Sinhalese nation is a nation of gratitude. Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmood Qureshi who has arrived Sri Lanka on an official visit should iorn out the misconcepts created about Pakistan by foreign powers and lay a concrete foundation to play its role to support the new governments plans to revive the socio-economic situation, reconcialiation efforts and bilaterial relations and help Sri Lanka maintain it’s policy of neutrality in the region. This way, Sri Lanka will also listen to Pakitan.
Noor Nizam – Peace and Political Activist, Political Communication Researcher, SLFP/SLPP Stalwart and Convener – “The Muslim Voice”.
Pak-China
FTA second phase comes into effect
Pakistan is
already enjoying zero duty on export of 724 products to China Two countries
complete legal procedures, formalities to start execution of agreement
APP
BEIJING
- The second phase of
China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) has come into the effect from
Sunday, allowing the Pakistani manufacturers and traders to export around 313
new products on zero duty to the Chinese market.
The two countries have completed all the legal
procedures and formalities to start the implementation of the agreement from
today,” well-informed sources confirmed here on Sunday.
Both Pakistan and China signed a protocol for
the implementation of the agreement during the last visit of Prime Minister
Imran Khan to China, under which, Pakistan has got the export concession on 313
new items.
Pakistan is already enjoying zero duty on
export of 724 products to China under the first FTA signed between the two
countries in 2006. After the implementation of the second FTA, Pakistan has
been allowed to export a total of 1047 products to China on zero duty. The new
facility will particularly benefit the textile sector to enhance its export to
China as textile exports to China will virtually be duty-free.
There are a number of other items particularly
leather and agriculture products as well as confectionery and biscuits etc
which Pakistani manufacturers can export to China.
While commenting on the positive impacts of
implementation of the second phase of the trade agreement, the sources informed
that after the implementation, Pakistan can now increase its export around $1
billion in the short term while the export of these items are likely to touch
$4-5 billion in the medium term after setting up a new industry in the special
economic zones being constructed in Pakistan under China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC) flagship project. After this agreement, Pakistan can enhance
its exports to China up to $10 billion in the next few years as the volume of
the Chinese import market is around $64 billion.
The per capita income in China is around
$10,000 while buying capacity of the people is increasing gradually. China has
organized import expos as it wants to import quality products from different
countries including Pakistan. If our traders actively participate in different
trade fairs in China to market their goods, they can get import orders with
good price.
Regarding further benefits, sources said, now
not only Pakistani manufacturers can enhance exports of different goods to
China but the Chinese manufacturers who are interested to shift industry to
Pakistan owing to cheaper labour and other resources, can export goods to China
and other countries in the world.
Pakistan has already signed FTA with Sri Lanka,
Malaysia and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Indonesia under its trade
liberalization policy to enhance its exports.
There are active discussions to sign FTA with
South Korea in a bid to provide more and more access to Pakistani manufacturers
to the new markets. China has already become the second-largest export destination
of Pakistani traders after the US.
The present government has resolved export
rebate issue and started the disbursement to traders for which the finance
ministry is allocating funds while it is giving subsidy to exporters on
electricity and gas.
The State Bank of Pakistan has also increased
funds limits for the traders and manufacturers under export refinance scheme
which will help increase the exports.
Regarding the impact of cooperation in the
agriculture sector between the two countries, sources said that China has
imposed a strict quality control system on food-related items.
Chinese experts inspect and qualify the
manufacturing facility before allowing imports. China also imposed quota and
Pakistani traders can benefit from it if they achieve all the standards.
A quota of 350k tons yarn, 300k tons sugar and
200 tons rice respectively was given by China under $1 billion zero percent
import tariff facility and exporters are actively availing this opportunity.
“We want to complete the quarantine procedures
of wheat and tobacco to be able to export these products to China.”
Currently, cotton yarn, copper, rice, chromites
nephrite, seafood, and ethylene alcohol are main products being exported to
China.
CPFTA second phase
implementation comes into effect Pakistani traders to export 313 new products
on zero duty to Chinese market
By admin
December 2, 2019
Beijing
The second phase of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA)
has come into the effect from Sunday (December 1, 2019) allowing the Pakistani
manufacturers and traders to export around 313new products on zero duty to the
Chinese market.
The two countries have completed all the legal procedures and formalities to start the implementation of the agreement from today,” well-informed sources confirmed here on Sunday.
Both Pakistan and China signed a protocol for the implementation of the agreement during the last visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China, under which, Pakistan has got the export concession on 313 new items.
Pakistan is already enjoying zero duty on export of 724 products to China under the first FTA signed between the two countries in 2006. After the implementation of the second FTA, Pakistan has been allowed to export a total of 1047 products to China on zero duty.
The new facility will particularly benefit the textile sector to enhance its export to China as textile exports to China will virtually be duty-free.
There are a number of other items particularly leather and agriculture products as well as confectionery and biscuits etc which Pakistani manufacturers can export to China.
While commenting on the positive impacts of implementation of the second phase of the trade agreement, the sources informed that after the implementation, Pakistan can now increase its export around US$ 1 billion in the short term while the export of these items are likely to touch US$ 4-5 billion in the medium term after setting up a new industry in the special economic zones being constructed in Pakistan under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) flagship project.
After this agreement, Pakistan can enhance its exports to China up to US$ 10 billion in the next few years as the volume of the Chinese import market is around US$ 64 billion.
The per capita income in China is around US$ 10,000 while buying capacity of the people is increasing gradually.
China has organized import expos as it wants to import quality products from different countries including Pakistan. If our traders actively participate in different trade fairs in China to market their goods, they can get import orders with good price.
Regarding further benefits, sources said, now not only Pakistani manufacturers can enhance exports of different goods to China but the Chinese manufacturers who are interested to shift industry to Pakistan owing to cheaper labour and other resources, can export goods to China and other countries in the world.
Pakistan has already signed FTA with Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Indonesia under its trade liberalization policy to enhance its exports.
There are active discussions to sign FTA with South Korea in a bid to provide more and more access to Pakistani manufacturers to the new markets. China has already become the second-largest export destination of Pakistani traders after the US.
The present government has resolved export rebate issue and started the disbursement to traders for which the finance ministry is allocating funds while it is giving subsidy to exporters on electricity and gas.
The State Bank of Pakistan has also increased funds limits for the traders and manufacturers under export refinance scheme which will help increase the exports. Regarding the impact of cooperation in the agriculture sector between the two countries, sources said that China has imposed a strict quality control system on food-related items.
Chinese experts inspect and qualify the manufacturing facility before allowing imports. China also imposed quota and Pakistani traders can benefit from it if they achieve all the standards.
A quota of 350k tons yarn, 300k tons sugar and 200 tons rice respectively was given by China under US$ 1 billion zero percent import tariff facility and exporters are actively availing this opportunity.
“We want to complete the quarantine procedures of wheat and tobacco to be able to export these products to China.” Currently, cotton yarn, copper, rice, chromites nephrite, seafood, and ethylene alcohol are main products being exported to China.—APP
The two countries have completed all the legal procedures and formalities to start the implementation of the agreement from today,” well-informed sources confirmed here on Sunday.
Both Pakistan and China signed a protocol for the implementation of the agreement during the last visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China, under which, Pakistan has got the export concession on 313 new items.
Pakistan is already enjoying zero duty on export of 724 products to China under the first FTA signed between the two countries in 2006. After the implementation of the second FTA, Pakistan has been allowed to export a total of 1047 products to China on zero duty.
The new facility will particularly benefit the textile sector to enhance its export to China as textile exports to China will virtually be duty-free.
There are a number of other items particularly leather and agriculture products as well as confectionery and biscuits etc which Pakistani manufacturers can export to China.
While commenting on the positive impacts of implementation of the second phase of the trade agreement, the sources informed that after the implementation, Pakistan can now increase its export around US$ 1 billion in the short term while the export of these items are likely to touch US$ 4-5 billion in the medium term after setting up a new industry in the special economic zones being constructed in Pakistan under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) flagship project.
After this agreement, Pakistan can enhance its exports to China up to US$ 10 billion in the next few years as the volume of the Chinese import market is around US$ 64 billion.
The per capita income in China is around US$ 10,000 while buying capacity of the people is increasing gradually.
China has organized import expos as it wants to import quality products from different countries including Pakistan. If our traders actively participate in different trade fairs in China to market their goods, they can get import orders with good price.
Regarding further benefits, sources said, now not only Pakistani manufacturers can enhance exports of different goods to China but the Chinese manufacturers who are interested to shift industry to Pakistan owing to cheaper labour and other resources, can export goods to China and other countries in the world.
Pakistan has already signed FTA with Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Indonesia under its trade liberalization policy to enhance its exports.
There are active discussions to sign FTA with South Korea in a bid to provide more and more access to Pakistani manufacturers to the new markets. China has already become the second-largest export destination of Pakistani traders after the US.
The present government has resolved export rebate issue and started the disbursement to traders for which the finance ministry is allocating funds while it is giving subsidy to exporters on electricity and gas.
The State Bank of Pakistan has also increased funds limits for the traders and manufacturers under export refinance scheme which will help increase the exports. Regarding the impact of cooperation in the agriculture sector between the two countries, sources said that China has imposed a strict quality control system on food-related items.
Chinese experts inspect and qualify the manufacturing facility before allowing imports. China also imposed quota and Pakistani traders can benefit from it if they achieve all the standards.
A quota of 350k tons yarn, 300k tons sugar and 200 tons rice respectively was given by China under US$ 1 billion zero percent import tariff facility and exporters are actively availing this opportunity.
“We want to complete the quarantine procedures of wheat and tobacco to be able to export these products to China.” Currently, cotton yarn, copper, rice, chromites nephrite, seafood, and ethylene alcohol are main products being exported to China.—APP
Our farmers
deserve a ‘Merry Christmas’ too
2019-12-01
December has come—my favorite
month. By this time, we would have started hearing the songs of Christmas and
feeling that excitement of buying gifts whose prices were put on a huge
discount. I am unsure about the other countries, but in the Philippines, you
would expect the so-called certified titas, or aunties in English,
storming the supermarkets and department stores as early as now to take
advantage of the huge sale on groceries before they go skyrocketing as
Christmas looms.
Christmas is the most important
holiday in my country. It is by far our most-celebrated holiday as it speaks of
unity and reunion. It is the day where most faces gleam and hearts sing happiness
and peace.
For the Filipino millennials,
Christmas starts as early as September 1, but the formal celebration begins on
the 16th of December when people flock to Catholic churches to complete the
nine-day series of masses. For them, failure to complete the novena would rob
them of a one-time chance for their wish to be granted—which is, of course,
untrue and baseless.
What a happy month for most, but
I could not help but ache for the people living on the streets, for those who
have no one, and for our farmers whose this year is not for them.
What happened exactly?
In September 2018, the
Philippines saw its inflation figure shot up to a nine-year high of 6.7
percent, with the figure blamed on increased prices in food and non-alcoholic
beverages; housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels; as well as
transport.
As for the food sector, the
shortage of rice staple—a primary food in the Philippines—was a loud alarm to
the nation, leading to rice prices soaring. Add to this that the Philippine
peso was weaker as against the greenback, global crude oil prices went
volatile, and that consumer demand further grew.
Thanks to the government’s
efforts, inflation figure was tamed to 6 percent in November 2019, and cooled
further in the proceeding months. As of October 2019, inflation figure settled
at 0.8 percent.
What were the government’s
efforts?
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
performed several rounds of interest rate hikes to tame inflation, but rice
staple remained low at that time. This prompted for calls to repeal the
two-decade-old Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, and replaced the
quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariffs. The measure was signed
by President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019.
The long-regime QR would have
protected rice farmers but the newly-amended law liberalized the entry of
imported rice from neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. This was
the start of our farmers’ crying for help amid the continued decline in local
rice prices to as much as P7 per kilogram, whereas rice production costs around
P12 per kilogram.
As of October this year, the
passage of the Rice Tariffication Law, resulted in as much as 2.5 million
metric tons of rice imports, nearly double the country’s 1.3 million annual
rice supply gap, and is nearing the 3 million metric tons as projected import
by the United States Department of Agriculture.
The new law allowed for the
disbursement of cash assistance to our ailing farmers, and the government has
promised already P3 billion in cash assistance to the affected farmers by
year-end. This is on top of the P10 billion as provided under the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) of the law.
To date, there are 10 million
Filipino rice farmers, and they constitute a huge portion of the 100 million
Filipinos. Such help may do so little to satisfy the hungry stomachs and the
needs to survive every day.
Our farmers needed more help than
delayed or broken promises. They deserve to see more actions than words from
our installed officials who have showered their vows during election campaigns.
Make good on a promise. Release
and increase their cash assistance, and purchase the rice staple at a higher
price so as to cripple the greedy traders who have been clouded by the power of
money. It is high time we show our farmers the respect that they deserve.
It’s not just ‘us’ who deserve a
Merry Christmas. They do, too
PSA set to conduct
survey of commercial rice stocks
December 2, 2019
This file photo shows different varieties of rice being sold at
a local market in Manila.
The Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) and the law that created it will be put to the test once it
takes over the collection of information on rice stocks, according to a senior
research fellow of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (Pids).
Under the rice trade
liberalization (RTL) law, the conduct of the Commercial Rice Stocks Survey
(CSS) will be turned over by the National Food Authority (NFA) to the PSA by
July 2020.
Pids Senior Research Fellow
Roehlano M. Briones told the BusinessMirror this will test the resolve of the
PSA to apply the provisions of the law, which allows the agency to initiate
legal action against those who will not disclose correct information to the
government.
“The question here is how are
they [PIDS] going to secure the cooperation of the commercial [warehouses]
because before, [the NFA is a] regulator. So of course they will respond,
otherwise they won’t get a permit, or they will be closed,” said Briones.
“The PSA has the power of
compulsion because of its charter. It can initiate legal action if you don’t
want to disclose [information]. Although I have never heard it happen before,”
he added.
Nonetheless, Briones said the PSA
has procedures for these kinds of surveys. One of the surveys being conducted by
the PSA is the Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI), which
collects income and expense information from businesses.
However, the information
regarding the specifics of these businesses, such as the names of the
companies, cannot be disclosed and may not even be used in court.
National Statistician Dennis S.
Mapa told the BusinessMirror over the weekend that the PSA is ready to conduct
the CSS by July 2020.
Mapa said the PSA’s Sectoral
Statistics and Statistical Methodology Units are already preparing the
procedures for conducting the survey.
“[Our team is] preparing a
sampling design to capture the data for the commercial stock. The PSA is ready
to do this in 2020,” Mapa said.
“Our timetable here is the second
semester of 2020.”
Based on the RTL law, the CSS
will be conducted by the NFA until the end of 2019. It will be jointly
conducted by the NFA and PSA until it is fully turned over to the PSA in July
next year.
Rule 29 of the implementing rules
and regulations (IRR) of RA 10625, or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013,
orders respondents in surveys to provide “truthful and complete answers” to PSA
and other statistical offices of the Philippine Statistical System (PSS).
It also provides that the PSA
should not divulge “the name, address and telephone numbers; the business and
products that they are engaged in; and the specific ranges of number of
employees.”
Under Rule 30 of the IRR,
individuals who violate Rule 29 face one-year imprisonment and a fine of
P100,000. Companies that will violate the IRR will be fined anywhere from
P100,000 to P500,000.
Any person caught divulging
confidential information from the PSA will be fined P5,000 to P10,000 and face
jail time of three to 12 months. Further, failure to complete with survey clearance
provision will also be fined P50,000 to P100,000, depending on the gravity of
noncompliance
No syndicate in rice market: BIDS
study
12:00
AM, December 02, 2019 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, December 02, 2019
50 large mills can influence the market, it says
Former
finance minister AMA Muhith speaks at the inaugural session of “Research
Almanac 2019” organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies at
the Lakeshore hotel in Dhaka yesterday. Photo: Collected
Star Business Report
There is no syndicate in the rice
market but 50 large mills have the capacity to influence the supply and prices
of the staple food, finds a study of the Bangladesh Institute of Development
Studies (BIDS).
“We have to really think about the
big auto rice millers,” said BIDS Senior Research Fellow Nazneen Ahmed.
“There are very big auto rice mills
and some of them have 400-500 tonnes of daily processing capacity,” she said
while presenting the findings of the study on the rice market in Bangladesh and
the role of key intermediaries at the Research Almanac 2019.
The BIDS organised the two-day
event to present the findings of various researches at the Lakeshore Hotel in
Dhaka. Former finance minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the event in the morning.
Nazneen, citing food ministry data,
said the top 50 rice mills out of 949 auto rice mills have around 20 percent of
the total fortnightly rice milling capacity in the country.
“We don’t know whether they are
engaged in any syndication but what we are trying to say is that they are very
big and they can store high quantity of rice legally,” she said, suggesting
monitoring of the activities of the large mills.
“It is not that they are doing
syndication but if they retain rice for two more days or up to 20 days
instead of 15 days during any crisis, they can naturally influence the
price,” said Nazneen.
She said rice and paddy could be
retained by auto rice millers who are part of large corporates. “They are the
ones who have natural capacity to have some influence over the market.”
The study was carried out among 88
traders in four major rice districts -- Dinajpur, Bogura, Kushtia and Naogaon.
In addition, wholesalers in four major rice markets -- Badamtoli Babubazar,
Karwan Bazar, Mohammadpur Krishi Market, and Cantonment Kochukhet Bazar in
Dhaka city -- were interviewed. Secondary data were also used for the study.
Co-authored by BIDS Research Fellow
Mainul Haque and Research Associate Nahian Azad Shashi, the paper said traders
known as middlemen play a major role in moving paddy from farmers to millers or
stockists or commission agents.
It found the dominance of millers
who procure paddy mostly during the harvesting season when prices remain low
and store the grains to continue milling for several months until the next
harvest takes place.
Mills, as per laws, can store paddy
five times their milling capacity for 30 days and rice twice their fortnightly
milling capacity.
So, if a mill stores grains as per
law, the person can’t be called hoarder legally, Nazneen said. She, however,
added that they found during their field visits to 16 mills that 12.5 percent
mills had higher storage capacity compared to their milling capacity.
“We have also found that very big
millers have grain in the hands of aratdars (stockists or commission agents)
and other actors in their chains. Very big mills can afford this, small and
medium-sized millers can’t.”
The researchers analysed the trend
of wholesale and retail prices of fine, medium and coarse rice since 2006 and
found seasonality as one of the major factors for variation in rice prices.
The researchers found that the gap
between wholesale and retail prices widens during the slack season, meaning
prices go up prior to harvesting of paddy.
“At that time, it is natural that
prices would go up because of low supply. So, if prices increase at that time,
apparently it would not be right to think there is anti-competitive behaviour
or collusion in the market,” said Nazneen.
There is competitive behaviour
among the actors in the market. “Apparently there is no syndicate. We can’t say
strongly that there is anti-competitive behaviour,” she said.
The study found the link of the
price hike with the low stock of grains at public warehouses and suggested the
government monitor food stocks in public godowns.
Prof Shamsul Alam, a senior
secretary and member of the General Economics Division under the planning
ministry, said the study findings show there is no market concentration. No
certain group can influence the market alone.
“In broader sense, what I can say
is that the rice market works competitively,” said Alam. He recommended taking
timely measures to provide objective data on demand, production and import.
He said the market would function
properly if price, supply and demand are forecast timely. A price commission
can be formed, said Alam, who was also critical about production and demand
estimates of rice and onion.
At the opening session, Prof Alam
said Bangladesh should have 50-60 lakh tonnes surplus rice if the production
estimates were accurate.
He said production and demand
estimates of onions are done by government agencies. If production is 22 lakh
tonnes and demand is 24 lakh tonnes, why aren’t prices falling even after large
imports?
“We need to do some soul-searching
before blaming businesses,” he said.
In his speech, Muhith said the
current pace of economic growth of Bangladesh would continue for two-three
years.
“But we have to be careful about
international developments,” he said, suggesting following the economic
situation in India as developments in the neighbouring country can influence
Bangladesh economy.
Muhith stressed maintaining the
achievements in the social sector and increasing national savings. “Our savings
are very low, one of the lowest in the world.”
Former Finance Minister M
Syeduzzaman and Planning Division Secretary Md Nurul Amin also spoke in the
opening session, which was chaired by BIDS Director General KAS Murshid.
Scent of Thailand's famous fragrant rice is fading
(file pic) Failure to
win the honour of the world's best fragrant rice for two consecutive years has
jolted Thailand – home of the Hom Mali (jasmine) rice – into overhauling its rese.
NSTP/SHARUL HAFIZ ZAM
- December 1, 2019 @
7:00pm
FAILURE to win the honour of the world's best fragrant rice for
two consecutive years has jolted Thailand – home of the Hom Mali (jasmine) rice
– into overhauling its research and development to catch up with changing
global demand for fragrant rice.
It is now focusing on improving its Hom Mali varieties, which
had previously won the contest for five consecutive years.
Thailand's Hom Mali rice was beaten last year by Cambodia's
fragrant rice and this year by Vietnam's ST25 variety.
Thai Rice Exporters Association president Charoen Laothamatas
said that it's about time that both the government and the private sector join
hands in a more serious effort to improve the quality of Thai rice to meet the
global market's expectations.
He said the situation now is different from two decades ago,
when Thailand was the world's major rice exporter and could sell whatever rice
it produced.
"The country's reputation for producing quality rice is
suffering due to a lack of effective research and development to create better
varieties of Thai Hom Mali rice," he said.
According to the Bangkok Post, he said the strong baht has also
exacerbated the rice export situation, pushing the price of Thai rice to
US$1,100 (RM4,600) higher per tonne than its competitors.
As a result, Vietnam, for instance, is gaining a larger market
share in the global rice trade, as it can sell its rice for half the price that
Thailand can.
Vietnam won this year's competition because it has continued
developing its rice varieties to improve both quality and crop yield.
Charoen said Thailand had stuck to its old varieties such as
Thai Hom Mali and Pathum Thani 1 and has not created any new strain for a long
time.
The yield of Thai rice is about 400 kilogrammes per 0.16
hectare, which is fairly low when compared with the 1,000 kg per 0.16 hectare
yielded in Vietnam.
Buyers in the world market are now looking for rice with a soft
texture, but Thai rice remains as hard as it was many years ago.
He said that despite the development of some new softer
varieties, the work of promoting them among rice growers has been slow and far
from successful.
This has left exporters unable to respond to demand for rice
with a soft texture.
"If nothing is done to improve this problem, Thai Hom Mali
rice will soon become a thing of the past," Charoen said, adding that when
consumers get used to the taste of cheaper rice from other rice exporting
countries, it will become highly difficult for Thailand to regain a foothold.
Thailand Development Research Institute distinguished fellow
Nipon Poapongsakorn said one way to help bring the price down is to slash
production costs by increasing the yield.
"Thailand may consider developing a rice variety that is
less fragrant, yet gives a higher yield for the sake of cost cutting," he
said.
He added that the yield of the off-season crop needs to rise to
at least 1,000 kg per 0.16 hectare as China's hybrid rice variety now yields up
to 2,000 kg per 0.16 hectare.
Charoen also blamed Thailand's lack of rice variety development
on politicians competing to win farmers' support only through price guarantees
or other types of price intervention.
"These policies have failed to give any incentive for
research and development into new varieties. As farmers are satisfied with
these price intervention policies, they are no longer interested in improving
the quality or yield.”
Nipon said that the current 200-300 million baht (RM27.6-RM41.5
million) yearly budget for research is far from sufficient to attract capable
and talented researchers.
"Thailand's competitors are spending far more money on
their rice research," he said.
As of August this year, Thailand
was the second-largest exporter of rice in the world, ranked only behind India,
but far ahead of all of its Southeast Asian competitors.
Border Closure:
NIDO trains rice farmers in Lagos, Abuja
Felix Ikem, Nsukka
Prof. Emenike Ejiogu,
President Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Asia, says the
organisation has concluded arrangements for a free training workshop for rice
farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs and the general public.
The aim of the workshop is to boost local rice production and
processing, Ejiogu told Daily Sun in Nsukka at the
weekend.
He said that experts from Japan
in agriculture would teach and practically demonstrate the use of machines in
de-husking, de-hulling, de-stoning and polishing of rice during the workshop.
“NIDO Asia is the umbrella
organisation of Nigerians living in Asia, the aim of the workshop is to train
Nigeria farmers on the use of modular rice processing machinery in order to
boost local rice production,” he said.
“Over the years, NIDO Asia has
identified and intervened in several areas of Nigeria economy so as to move the
country forward.”
According to him, the workshop on
the use of modular rice processing machinery is free of charge for farmers and
general public.
“This is part of NIDO
contributions to ensure that rice produced locally meets demands of Nigerians
at affordable price as well as have enough to export.
“We are bringing five technical
experts from Japan as well as partnering with Kanryu industry Ltd Japan, Ino
Inc Japan and Mirai Denchi Nigeria Ltd a subsidiary of Mirai Denchi lnc,
Japan.”
Ejiogu said the event would hold
in Lagos and in Abuja on December 4th and 6th, respectively.
“We commend President Muhammadu
Buhari on the border closure and urge all hands to be on deck to ensure that
the era of foreign rice is over in Nigeria.
“If all Nigerians buy and eat
local rice, it will not only boost the economy of the country but also generate
more employment for jobless youths,” Ejiogu said.
355 individuals graduate from skills dev't program in AgNor
By 29IB Philippine ArmyPublished on December 2, 2019
CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte,
Dec. 2 -- A total of 355 individuals successfully graduated from the
skills development program of the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) conducted in partnership with the 29th Infantry "Matatag"
Battalion and local government unit (LGU) of Remedios Trinidad Romualdez (RTR)
on November 22, 2019.
Of
the 355 graduates, 130 were students of the Mobile Computer Literacy Training,
25 were students of the Electrical Installation NCII, 50 were students of the
Wellness Hilot massage NCII, 25 were students of Cookery NCII, 50 were students
of Driving NCII, 25 were students of Rice Machinery Operation NCII, and 50 were
students of Shielded Metal Arc Welding NCI.
Mayor
Richard P. Daquipil of the Municipality of RTR thanked the 29IB troopers for
bringing the Army’s Mobile Computer Literacy program to the Agusanons. He
emphasized the importance of computer literacy - that this would open the doors
to better opportunities for the Indigenous people and out of school youth in particular.
He also thanked the TESDA for their tireless support in providing livelihood
skills development training to the Agusanons.
In
his message, Gov. Dale B. Corvera of Agusan del Norte lauded the organizers and
other stakeholders who have supported the said training. "Your efforts to
support this kind of endeavor proved that you value the future of the
Agusanons. To the graduates, this effort of the government will enable you to
acquire better job opportunities for your future,” he said.
Meanwhile, Agusan del Norte
Rep. Maria Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba said that the main
objective of the government is to uplift the lives of every Agusanon through
the skills acquired from the training, "and for them not to be deceptively
recruited by the NPA terrorists just like what happened to alias Kent, a young
NPA combatant who was saved by the 29IB troopers last November 4, 2019.”
In
his statement, Lt. Col. Isagani O. Criste, Commanding Officer of 29IB applauded
the graduates for investing time and effort in the skills training. "The
skill and lessons that they've gained in this training will open their minds to
the possibilities and opportunities that are there waiting for them," he
said.
"However,
their success will depend not just on having the skill but their determination
and perseverance to continue on the path of success despite challenges that may
come their way as they seek for better opportunities in their life,"
Criste added. (1Lt. Nonette B. Banggad, CMO Officer, 29IB, PA/PIA Agusan del
Norte)
PH, Korea sign deal on farm mechanization
Philippine
Daily Inquirer / 03:35 AM December 02, 2019
The Philippines and South Korea have signed
a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at bolstering the two countries’
partnership in agricultural mechanization.
The deal was signed during President
Duterte’s second visit to South Korea last week, where he also forged
agreements related to social security, tourism cooperation and education.
In a statement, the Department of
Agriculture said the MOU sought to promote agricultural development of both
countries by investing in mechanization and modernization.
These included technical collaboration on
research and development, capacity enhancement and the establishment of
agri-machinery manufacturing complex in the country.The Korea Agricultural
Machinery (Kamico) has proposed to bring in about 30 agri-machinery companies
to invest in farm equipment and manufacturing in the Philippines through
DA.Manufacturing equipment such as tractors, rice transplanters, rice mills,
tillers and plows, cultivators, greenhouses, agricultural product dryers and
balers were some of the equipment that were discussed. INQ
Eastern Naval Command seizes 16,773 bags of smuggled rice
Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas
Ada Wodu, Calabar
The Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has seized 16,320
bags of smuggled rice following the closure of the nation’s land borders.
It also arrested 320 suspects and seized 19,989 metric tonnes of
petroleum products as well as 30,843.8 metric tonnes of crude oil between
January and November this year.
This was disclosed by the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval
Command, Rear Admiral David Adeniran, in Calabar.
Adeniran said following the closure of the land borders by the
Federal Government to forestall smuggling, the command witnessed an upsurge in
the activities of smugglers trying to breach the sea borders on the eastern
flank.
He stated, “Nevertheless, security patrols were intensified,
especially on the eastern border, by officers and men of our units operating
within the area in support of Mr President’s policy on border closure.
“This yielded tremendous results as evident in the arrest of
several boats attempting to smuggle 16,773 bags of foreign rice worth hundreds
of millions of naira.”
Adeniran, who appraised the achievements of the command in the
past 11 months, attributed the successes recorded to the cooperation of the
personnel.
He added, “The command improved her patrol efforts to reduce the
activities of illegal refinery operations as well as pipeline vandalism/crude
oil theft.
“Other areas are smuggling and piracy/sea robbery. Our efforts
have led to the arrest of eight vessels, 145 large wooden boats, 320 persons
and the seizure of 19,989 metric tonnes of petroleum products as well as
30,843.8 metric tonnes of crude oil.
“Furthermore, the command destroyed 128 illegal refineries
between January and November 2019.”
He commended the naval personnel for the successful conduct of
various operations, which he said resulted in the recent promotion of officers
in the command as an adequate reward for their efforts.
Adeniran said with the support of the Chief of Naval Staff, the
command launched the Eastern Naval Command Maritime Control Management System,
which he noted ha improved its ability to monitor criminals as well as share
information.
Bids Research: Top 50 millers influence rice market
Published at 06:55 pm December 1st, 2019
Guests attend the inaugural session of a two-day Research
Almanac 2019 organized by Bangladesh Institute of
Development Studies at a Dhaka hotel on Sunday, December 1, 2019 Rajib
Dhar/Dhaka Tribune
The government should strength monitoring over
the top rice millers so that none can stockpile rice beyond the government-set
time period and amount
Supply chain of rice market is mainly
dominated by the millers, particularly 50 top millers are influencing the rice
market, according to a research paper placed on the first day of a two-day
seminar that began on Sunday.
The government should strength monitoring over
the top rice millers so that none can stockpile rice beyond the government-set
time period and amount.
The Bangladesh Institute of Development
Studies (BIDS) organized the event titled Research Almanac 2019 to publish the
findings of 15 researches done this year at a Dhaka city hotel.
The research paper “Rice Market in Bangladesh:
Role of Key intermediaries” was presented by BIDS senior research fellow
Nazneen Ahmed.
According to it, 50 top millers are
controlling 19% rice market while there are 20,000 registered millers across
the country.
“According to data from Food and Agriculture
Organization, 2017, Bangladesh is the fifth rice producing country in the
world. Our productivity is better than India. Now the total supply of rice in
our country is at 36 lakh tons including import,” she said while presenting the
paper.
"We do not know if there is any syndicate
or not in the market but faria, aratdar, millers and commission agent play an
important role in the rice market," she added.
“The aratdars are really the central actors in
the market playing the all important role of enabling stranger-transactions,
creating trust, and in general, supporting credible contracts to be entered
into and leading to repeat transactions. Millers are bridging between
downstream of paddy and upstream of rice,” says the paper.
Nazneen Ahmed suggested strengthening
monitoring over the top rice millers, saying: “There are 20,000 rice millers in
the country, of them 950 are auto rice millers. They are the big auto rice
millers. Their daily production capacity is around at 200 tons. As per
government stock law, the millers can stock the rice twice their production
capacity and they can stock their rice for 15 days in the store.”
She said there were many rice millers who had
a larger store than their mills and it should not be allowed.
As per the paper, top four millers' milling
capacity is 11,648 tons and they are controlling three percent of the market;
top eight millers' milling capacity is at 18,552 tons and they are controlling
four percent the market; top 16 millers' milling capacity is at 32,465 tons and
they are controlling eight percent of the market; top 32 millers' milling
capacity is at 54,100 tons and they are controlling 13% of the rice market and
top 50 millers' milling capacity is at 78,686 tons and they are controlling 19%
of the rice market.
Although there is strong belief among the
market participants that millers influence the market price, the evidence is
not absolutely concrete, it says, adding millers’ risk is higher and so is
their expected return from the business.
Since millers have a strong network and
evidently long trading relationship with aratdars in the upstream and
wholesalers in the downstream, they may temporarily slowdown the production
process which may exert a spike in rice price, the paper points out.
Boro and Aman varieties constitute 91% of rice
production. The country’s share of rice import is less than 1-2% of the total
supply. Rice is mainly imported from India, Myanmar and Thailand.
Shamsul Alam, member of the General Economic
Division (GED) under the Planning Commission, said: “There is a huge
competition in the country’s rice market. Yearly rice production of our country
is at 36 million tons including imports. The demand for rice is about 30
million tons. There is a surplus of 60 lakh tons. So I do not understand why
there is a crisis.”
He claimed the same thing happened in the case
of onion. "Who is responsible for this failure, businessmen or government?
Data analysis is very important. We need to have the right information on our
production and demand," Shamsul Alam said.
As the chief guest, former finance minister
Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said the economy of Bangladesh had similarities with
India in several aspects, including dependence on neighboring countries.
"The government should analyze the
situation of India and has to think why their (India) economy is experiencing a
four percent growth," he said.
"China's growth is also falling. Our
economy might face the same situation," Muhith warned.
He put emphasis on taking proper measures
instead of releasing data that show huge growth.
The former minister said the size of budget in
Bangladesh was small compared to other countries. "The budget-GDP ratio
and the revenue-GDP ratio are the lowest in the world, and the ratios are not
rising despite several initiatives," he noted.
He lauded the government for spending more
than two percent of the GDP for social safety net, which played a significant
role in maintaining higher purchasing power, boosting aggregate demand and
reducing poverty rate.
"Based on expenditure on social security,
Bangladesh improved in many socio-economic indicators and became a role model
for Pakistan, India and other neighboring countries," he said.
Former finance minister M Syeduzzaman said
lack of good governance and inefficiency in the banking sector would be a major
challenge for the economic development in the near future.
He expressed annoyance over the low quality of
education at all levels and emphasized more research in public and private
universities.
Planning Secretary Nurul Amin recommended
finding a way to meet the challenges of the economy after graduating from least
developed country (LDCs).
KAS Murshid, Director General of the BIDS,
chaired the inaugural session.
PFAG
calls on gov't to adopt proactive measures for the rice sector
The Peasant Farmers Association
of Ghana (PFAG), has recommended a complete ban on the importation of rice into
the country to secure the local rice industry. According them there was enough local capacity to meet the rice demand of the country and asked all government institutions to patronise local rice.
While praising the government for the move to secure the local rice industry, they recommended low interest on loans for agricultural businesses to curtail the challenges confronting the sector.
Other recommendations included increased budget allocation and subsidies for combine harvesters, rice millers and rice packaging materials, new technology to address aflatoxins and other post-harvest challenge, storage facilities and increase budget on mitigating problems in the rice value chain.
Mr Abdul Rahman Mohammed, the Board Chairman of the PFAG during the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Association said the directive by the government to the National Buffer Stock Company to mop up the excess rice had come in handy.
We hope the directive will be enforced immediately without any further delay to bring hope to our farmers", he added.
Professor Awetori Yaro from the University of Ghana, who presented the findings said the research was commissioned to analyze access to certified seeds, fertilizer, extension services marketing and post-harvest handling.
The research established that much progress had been made with the PFJ and that the project could stimulate the commercialization of small scale agriculture in Ghana.
The study however, recommended increased surveillance, adequate extension services and early delivery of seeds and fertilizers.
Other recommendations included a deliberate government policy on low interest rate for agricultural businesses.
Mr. Kobena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minster urged farmers to work effectively towards improving nutrition especially for women and children.
Punjab:
Produce per acre up, but total paddy yield down by almost 3% thanks to
diversification
Apart from the decrease in area,
around 52,000 hectares area under paddy was damaged so effectively in floods.
So the effective decrease in area under paddy in the state has been over 3.53
lakh hectares.
Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba
|Jalandhar |Updated: December 2, 2019 7:25:51 am
Around 52,000 hectares area under
paddy was damaged in floods. (File)
Despite more per acre paddy yield in
Punjab this year, the state has produced around 8 lakh metric tonnes (LMTs)
less paddy (non-basmati) this year, thanks to three lakh hectares under paddy
being diversified to other crops including basmati, cotton, maize and
sugarcane.
According to data sourced from
Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) till November 28, total arrival of rice in Punjab’s
grain markets was recorded at 179.51 LMTs including 162.50 LMTs paddy and 17.01
LMTs of basmati rice, while on the same date last year Punjab’s mandis got
184.34 LMTs rice which included 170.20 LMTs paddy and 14.14 LMTs basmati. Last
year, total rice procurement was 193.68 LMTs, including 21.03 LMTs basmati.
So far, Punjab has received 7.70
LMTs less paddy this year till November 28 which is 2.62 per cent less compared
to corresponding period last year. This year, however, nine districts including
Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Nawanshahr, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar,
Mohali and Ludhiana have recorded more paddy production comparing to last year
till date.
However, the state has received 2.87
LMTs more basmati till date in this season compared to last year. But total
basmati procurement might go up from last year as area under basmati is more
this year. The arrival of basmati will continue in the mandis till the end of
this year.
This year there was total 29.20 lakh
hectares area was under basmati (6.29) and paddy (22.91 lakh hectares) rice.
Last year, there was 31.03 lakh hectares under rice cultivation which included
25.92 lakh hectares under paddy and 5.11 lakh hectares under basmati.
Apart from the decrease in area,
around 52,000 hectares area under paddy was damaged so effectively in floods.
So the effective decrease in area under paddy in the state has been over 3.53
lakh hectares. This year the MSP of Paddy is Rs1835 per quintal and basmati’s
rate is Rs 2000 per quintal for PUSA 1509 varieties and Rs 3260 for other fine
varieties, including 1121 and others. Though the rate of 1509 varieties is at
par with last year’s rate, but rate of 1121 variety is less as it was Rs 4300
per quintal last year.
Punjab Mandi Board officials said
that the procurement of basmati will continue for some more weeks while
procurement of paddy is about to end in coming few days and currently only
40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of both paddy and basmati is arriving daily across
state.
While paddy is being procured by the
government, basmati is always procured by the private players. Also farmers use
to stock basmati crop at home sometime in the wait of good price, so the crop
keeps arriving in mandis even in December and early January. Director Punjab
Agriculture Department Sutantra Kumar Airy said that their main focus was on
decreasing area under paddy and this year they were successful to some extent,
but there was a need to achieve further diversification.
So far, Punjab has procured 17. 51
million tonnes including 1.7 million tonnes of basmati which comes to 15 per
cent of total rice production target of the country from a state which has only
1.5 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.
The Overlooked Illegal Immigrants: From India, China, Brazil
President Trump has
focused on blocking unauthorized crossings on the Southern border. But nearly
half of those who are in the country unlawfully actually entered with
permission
·
Dec. 1, 2019
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Eddie Oh, an industrial
engineer, lost his job during the financial crisis that gripped South Korea in
1998. With no prospects, he scrounged together his savings to pay his family’s
airfare to California. They were going on vacation, he told the United States
embassy, which issued six-month visitor visas for the family.
The Ohs headed to Sunnyvale, a middle-class community
in California’s Silicon Valley where a relative already had rented a small
apartment. The Ohs moved in, nine people crammed into two rooms. Mr. Oh got to
work painting houses. His wife found a job as a waitress. And their children,
Eli, 11, and Sue, 9, started school.
“We were constantly in debt. We struggled to
pay the rent,” said Eli Oh, who grew up to be a critical-care response nurse at
Stanford University. “Nobody ever thought we were illegally here because we
didn’t fit the stereotype.”
They are
hardly alone. Though President Trump has staked much of his presidency on
halting the movement of undocumented immigrants across the southern border, the
Oh family’s roundabout route to residence in the United States is part of one
of America’s least widely known immigration stories.
Some 350,000 travelers arrive by air
in the United States each day. From Asia, South America and Africa, they come
mostly with visas allowing them to tour, study, do business or attend a
conference for an authorized period of time. But when they stay beyond when
their visas expire, some of them fall into the same illegal status often
associated with migrants showing up at the border.
Nearly half of the estimated 11 million
undocumented immigrants now in the country did not trek through the desert or
wade across the Rio Grande to enter the country; they flew in with a visa,
passed inspection at the airport — and stayed.
Of the roughly 3.5 million undocumented
immigrants who entered the country between 2010 and 2017, 65 percent arrived
with full permission stamped into their passports, according to new figures
compiled by the Center for Migration Studies, a nonpartisan think
tank. During that period, more overstayers arrived from India than
from any other country.
“A big overlooked immigration story is that
twice as many people came in with a visa than came across the border illegally
in recent years,” said Robert Warren, the demographer who calculated overstay
estimates by using the Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey and
shared those figures with The New York Times.
As Mr.
Trump has called for hiring thousands of new Border Patrol agents and erecting
miles of new fencing, federal immigration authorities have devoted relatively
few resources toward the much larger numbers of undocumented immigrants who
have overstayed their visas.
authorities are only beginning to gain access
to better data on who has and has not flown out of the country.
“Once they are in the country, they are home
free because there is so little interior enforcement,” said Jessica Vaughan, a
former federal visa officer who is now policy director at the Center for
Immigration Studies, which lobbies for restricting immigration.
Nearly half of
the undocumented population overstayed a visa.
Overstayers represent about 46 percent of the
10.7 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, according to the
migration center’s data. This is not necessarily because of a huge jump in the
number of people overstaying their visas; rather, their proportion of the
undocumented population has soared amid a huge decline in border crossings
since 2000.
The largest number of overstayers — about 1
million — hail from Mexico, a neighboring country with a long history of
commercial and family ties and substantial flows of people across the border.
But the picture is changing. Between 2010 and 2017, 330,000 Indians overstayed
their visas, more than from any other country. Large numbers of people from
China, Venezuela, the Philippines, Brazil and Colombia also overstayed.
Many undocumented Asians — including a large
number from India — have settled like the Ohs in and around Sunnyvale, about 50
miles southeast of San Francisco, according to the Center for Migration Studies
analysis.
Apple, LinkedIn and other tech titans in the
area employ many whom the companies have sponsored for legal work visas or
permanent residency in the United States.
Some of
them stay on as independent programming contractors after their visas have
expired or after leaving a company that sponsored them for a visa.
But they
are only part of the story. Many undocumented Indians here in Sunnyvale have
low-skilled service jobs, catering to their well-heeled brethren who frequent
the Indian supermarkets, eateries and clothing shops that line El Camino Real,
the main commercial corridor.
Sarika Johari shopped for jewelry at Sagar Exclusive, a store
specializing in Indian clothing and jewelry, in Sunnyvale, Calif.Credit...Talia Herman for The New York Times
They are people like S. Singh, 24, who works at
a diner where the Indian lunch crowd on a recent afternoon dined on spicy
lentils and spinach with flatbread and sipped masala chai. Mr. Singh, who like
most others interviewed for this story declined to share his full name, said
that he had arrived as a tourist two years ago.
At Indian grocery stores nearby, Indian workers
arranged shelves stocked with Taj Mahal tea, basmati rice and canned Kesar
mangoes. They hesitated to answer questions, beyond saying that they had
entered as tourists. One of them said that he had come on a student visa that
had expired.
Inside a closed restaurant on a recent
afternoon, two Indian men and two Indian women workers slept before dinner
service, their bodies draped over a long bench where patrons would later be
seated. Ankit, an Indian engineer on a work visa who had hoped to grab a bite,
only to realize it was too early, surmised that they were undocumented — just
like the Indian Uber driver who had brought him there.
“There are no legal pathways for people working
in restaurants and grocery stores,” he said. “These workers are coming for a
better life.”
Tracking visa
overstayers is difficult.
The
government reported that nearly 670,000 travelers who arrived by air or sea and
were supposed to depart in the 2018 fiscal year had not left by Sept. 30, 2018.
That number had dropped to nearly 415,700 by March 2019, because many people
overstay by just a few months.
But developing policies to curb overstays
requires accurate data, experts say, and Homeland Security officials still lack
a reliable system to track them.
Most travelers are photographed and
fingerprinted at American consulates abroad when they receive a visa and then
again on arrival in the United States. But Customs and Border Protection still
depends overwhelmingly on biographical information from the manifests of
departing travelers, provided by airlines, to tally who did not leave in time,
or at all.
In 2016, federal officials began working with
airlines and airport authorities to install a biometric facial-comparison
system at departure gates. A digital picture taken of those boarding a
plane to leave the country is compared to the one taken on their
arrival.
Thus far, the program covers 4 to 5 percent of
those departing by air each day, said John F. Wagner, a deputy assistant
executive commissioner for Customs and Border Protection. He said in an
interview that his agency hopes to cover 90 percent of departing travelers
within three years.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which
enforces immigration rules in the interior of the country, said that it puts a
priority on identifying those who pose potential national security or
public-safety threats. In fiscal 2018, its Homeland Security Investigations
unit made 1,808 arrests in connection with visa-violation leads.
Many do not
mean to lose their legal status.
Many of those who overstay their visas do not
intend to stay illegally, said Kalpana Peddibhotla, an immigration lawyer in
the San Francisco Bay Area.
“They
entered with a specific purpose and fell out of status for a variety of
reasons, only to realize there is no easy mechanism to correct their status
violations,” she said.
Graduates of American universities, allowed to
remain in the United States for a period of time to work, run afoul of
deadlines or commit errors on immigration forms that automatically render them
deportable. Sometimes employers transfer foreign workers to a new site and fail
to amend their paperwork, as required, which also cancels their legal status.
“They
stay because they built their lives here, bought homes here, had children
here,” said Ms. Peddibhotla, who became familiar with Indian overstay cases
while on the board of the South Asian Bar Association of North America.
Marilyn
Omatang left Manila in 2004 with her eldest child, Dean, then 12, to join her
husband, who had arrived in California two years earlier.Credit...Talia Herman for The New York Times
Among Asians, in particular, being undocumented
brings shame to the family. Like several others, the senior Mr. Oh, his wife
and daughter, declined to be interviewed for this article even though the
daughter was able to help her parents obtain green cards after she married an
American.
“My parents are not proud of breaking the law,”
said Mr. Oh, who also now has a green card. “To this day, most of their church
friends do not know they were undocumented.”
In places like Sunnyvale, it is not hard for
people to disguise their immigration status.
“Especially if they’re not from Mexico or Latin
America, no one suspects them of being undocumented,” said Kathy Gin, executive
director of Immigrants Rising, a San Francisco-based advocacy organization that
works with undocumented youth.
“Their
parents encourage them to keep their heads low, not share their stories, not
speak out about immigration issues,” said Ms. Gin.
Marilyn Omatang left Manila in 2004 with her
eldest child, Dean, then 12, to join her husband, who had arrived in California
two years earlier. “She told me we are going to Disneyland,” recalled Dean,
which they did.
But they had to remain in the United States to
earn the money to provide for a special-needs child who required pricey medical
care and for the schooling of three others, all living in the Philippines with
relatives.
“With just a job at a 7-Eleven, I could pay for
the medical treatment and their education,” said Ms. Omatang, 56, who rose to
the position of manager, only to be let go after a co-worker reported to their
boss that she was undocumented.
For more than a decade since then, she has been
a caretaker to wealthy seniors in Silicon Valley, never revealing her status,
and using a different name to report her income to the federal tax authorities.
One of her employers, Ms. Omatang said, is a
Trump supporter who favors a tough approach to undocumented immigration.
“I heard
her say, ‘just send all those illegal people back home,’” she said. “And I
thought, ‘Oh, oh. If you only knew.’”
Miriam Jordan is a national
immigration correspondent. She reports from a grassroots perspective on the
impact of immigration policy. She has been a reporter in Mexico, Israel, Hong
Kong, India and Brazil. @mirjordan
Thai rice feels the strain
For
second year running, flagship export misses out on top taste prize 
Farmers
has stuck to its old varieties such as Thai Hom Mali and Pathum Thani 1 and has
not created any new strains for a long time. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Failing
to win the prize as the world's best fragrant rice for two consecutive years
has come as a wake-up call for Thailand to overhaul its research and
development into Hom Mali rice varieties to catch up with the changing global
demand for fragrant rice. After winning the contest for five consecutive years,
Thailand's Hom Mali (jasmine) rice was beaten last year by Cambodia's fragrant
rice and this year by Vietnam's ST25 variety. "It's about time that both
the government and the private sector joined hands in a more serious effort to
improve the quality of Thai rice to meet the global market's
expectations," said Charoen Laothamatas, president of Thai Rice Exporters
Association.
Unlike
two decades ago when Thailand was the world's major rice exporter and could
sell well whatever rice it produced, the number of competitors is growing, he
said. "The country's reputation for producing quality rice is suffering
due to a lack of effective research and development to create better varieties
of Thai Hom Mali rice," he said.
Higher costs, lower yield
The
strong baht also has exacerbated the rice export situation, he said, adding
that it has pushed the price of Thai rice more than US$1,100 higher per tonne
than its competitors, he said.
As
a result, Vietnam, for instance, is gaining a larger market share in the global
rice trade, as it can sell its rice for half the price that Thailand can, he
said. Vietnam won this year's competition because it has continued developing
its rice varieties to improve both quality and crop yield, he said, adding the
country has been continually upgrading its fragrant rice and is now up to a
25th iteration. Thailand, on the other hand, has stuck to its old varieties
such as Thai Hom Mali and Pathum Thani 1 and has not created any new strains
for a long time, he said. The yield of Thai rice is about 400 kilogrammes per
rai, which is fairly low when compared with the 1,000kg-per-rai yield of
Vietnam's rice, he said. And while buyers in the world market are now looking
for rice with a soft texture, the Thai rice remains as hard as it was many
years ago, he said. Despite the development of some new softer varieties, the
work of promoting these among rice growers has been slow and far from
successful, he said. This has left exporters unable to respond to demand for
rice with a soft texture, he said. Worse still, he said, the stronger baht has
crippled exporters' ability to compete with their counterparts in other
rice-growing countries. "If nothing is done to improve this problem, Thai
Hom Mali rice will soon become a thing of the past," Mr Charoen said. When
consumers in those countries get used to the taste of cheaper rice from other
rice exporting countries, it will become highly difficult for Thailand to
regain a foothold, he said.
Seeking a solution
Nipon Poapongsakorn, a
distinguished fellow with Thailand Development Research Institute, said one way
to help bring the price down is to slash production costs by increasing the
yield, he said.
"Thailand
may consider developing a rice variety that is less fragrant yet gives a higher
yield for the sake of cost-cutting," he said. The yield of the off-season
crop needs to rise to at least 1,000kg per rai, he said, adding that China's
hybrid rice variety now yields up to 2,000kg per rai. The government should
also consider giving more incentives for people to study to become researchers,
he said. China, for instance, offers researchers a handsome share of income
earned through intellectual property fees, on top of high salaries for
researchers in the civil service, he said. Instead of boasting that Thai rice
is better than products from other countries, Thailand should pay more
attention to meeting the changing expectations of rice buyers in the world
market, he said.
Low incentives
Mr Charoen blamed Thailand's lack
of rice variety development on politicians competing to win farmers' support
only through price guarantees or other types of price intervention.
"These
policies have failed to give any incentive for research and development into
new varieties. "As farmers are satisfied with these price intervention
policies, they are no longer interested in improving the quality or yield.
"The priority here is to speed up development a Hom Mali rice variety with
a yield of at least 800kg per rai, which will help to lower production
costs," he said. "The problem is that Thailand's rice research
centres are using outdated tools and full of old researchers. So, to cope with
this problem the government should make rice research a national agenda,"
he said.
Little support for R&D
The current 200-300 million baht
yearly budget for research is far from sufficient to attract capable and
talented researchers, according to Mr Nipon.
"Thailand's
competitors are spending far more money on their rice research," he said.
"The research budget was only 238.6 million baht last year [2018], yet the
gross domestic product generated through rice trade was as much as 140 billion
baht," he said. The director-general of the Rice Department declined to
comment on issues surrounding the Thai rice production.
Not just the strains
Tanee Sreewongchai, associate dean
for Research and Innovation in the Department of Agronomy at Kasetsart
University's Faculty of Agriculture, said Thai Jasmine rice was developed from
"Khao Dok Mali 105" and "Kor Khor 15", and resulted in
intense fragrance, soft texture and long grains.
But
this was in 1959, he said, and since then there has been no effort to improve
on it, despite the ever more desirable strains being produced by Thailand's
competitors. However, the Department of Rice is now attempting to develop it
further to increase its yield and make it more disease and weather resistant.
This is because, he added, Thai jasmine rice was developed from native rice
with an average yield of only 350kg per rai. Another challenging issue is that
Thai farmers have high costs of production compared with competitors like
Vietnam and Cambodia. "The problem is not related to the Thai rice strain,
but it might be related to harvesting and packing procedures that destroy the
quality and fragrance, a report by our department has shown," he said. He
said exporters are aware of the problem and try to keep stored harvested rice
at optimal temperatures to maintain the fragrance. However, he admitted that
Vietnam is now a real rival as it can produce better rice at lower prices.
Silver lining
Mr Charoen said that at the moment,
Thai Hom Mali rice's popularity in the global market remains high despite its
losses in the rice contest in the past two years, which means Thailand still
has some time if it intends to accelerate its research and development.
Meanwhile,
Boonrue Chantarangsri, coordinator of the Knowledge Management and Farmer
School Network Foundation in Nakhon Sawan, prefers to ignore the annual
contest, saying that it is down to a subjective judgement in flavour. He said
that his department has collected domestic rice strains, which can be further
developed for higher quality in terms of texture and nutrients for consumers
who are concerned about health. He prefers the metric of market share in order
to determine the success, or otherwise, of Thai jasmine rice. And as of August
2019, Thailand was the second-largest exporter of rice in the world, ranked
only behind India, but far ahead of all of its Southeast Asian competitors.
SunRice job cuts hit hard in
Riverina's rice bowl
DECEMBER
2 2019 - 3:00PM
Talia Pattison
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from Australian Community Media,
which has journalists in every state and territory. Sign up here to get it by email, or here to forward it to a friend. Today's newsletter is written by The Irrigator journalist Talia
Pattison.
A rice crop growing in Leeton.
In Leeton, they say once you've
had a taste of the channel water, you'll never leave.
I came to Leeton, in the Riverina area of NSW, at the beginning
of 2009, and I've worked at the town's newspaper - The
Irrigator ever since.
The name of the newspaper itself
is an ode to the irrigation farmer, and tells how reliant this area is on
irrigators and water.
PRODUCTION: Busier times at Leeton's SunRice factory.
Leeton is a town known for its
rich agricultural diversity right in the heart of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation
Area.
The MIA includes other regional
centres such as Griffith, Yanco, Whitton and Yenda. From above one will see the
land criss-crossed with channels that deliver water from the river system to
farmers for their irrigated crops of all varieties. But it's rice that Leeton
is best known for.
In good times it is thought the
region contributes around $5 billion to the country's economy. We are vibrant
and diverse in so many ways, but agriculture and our people are the biggest
feathers in our cap.
I myself was not born and bred in
Leeton, but I do come from another small town just down the road - Temora. When
I arrived, my plan was to be here for one or two years, but then as they say,
fate intervened.
I met my now husband, who is a
born and bred local Leeton resident. So far, there's been no reason to leave.
We both have stable employment and we love living here.
This brings me to the crux of what is happening now in regional
areas like ours. This week in Leeton the town was shocked to learn the news 55 of its own would lose their jobs at the town's SunRice
mill by April next year.
It's the third round of job cuts
announced by the company within the last 12 months.
SunRice blames a low rice crop due to the ongoing
grip of drought, low water allocations, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and the
water market.
HARD TIMES: The cracks in the earth are the real life
scars of regional communities. Photo: The Irrigator
There's no doubt the reasons are
all relevant, but there's also no doubt that each time a job is lost in
regional Australia, the spark of a community is a little less brighter than it
was before.
We feel it here in Leeton. This
community is known for its resilience and ability to get on with the job, but
how many blows, such as the one delivered this week, can we take?
CUTS: The Leeton SunRice mill is continuing to reduce its
operations. Photo: Talia Pattison
This should not be seen as a jab
at SunRice. The company says it will maintain its presence in Leeton, their
home and headquarters. People know when the good years come around, SunRice
will be employing once again.
But what happens in the meantime? Fifty-five people will soon be out of a job and
there's not much else out there. Likely they will be forced to leave the town
they love to search for employment elsewhere.
HOME: Leeton has a reputation for being a strong and
resilient community. Photo: Talia Pattison
This then flows on to many others
in town - the retail stores, the property market and the many and varied other
small businesses.
Regional communities are what
built this great country. They shouldn't be left to hang out to dry. Now more
than ever we need great people to stay on in places like Leeton so it can
thrive and rise again.
https://www.theislanderonline.com.au/story/6516128/job-cuts-hit-hard-in-riverinas-rice-bowl/?cs=2880
Cambodia plans to spend over US$100mil on subsidies by 2021
Cambodia plans to spend more than US$100 million (RM417 million)
on subsidies by 2021 to reduce electricity tariffs and spur economic growth.
(File pic)
- December 2, 2019 @
1:04pm
CAMBODIA plans to spend more than
US$100 million (RM417 million) on subsidies by 2021 to reduce electricity
tariffs and spur economic growth.
The move is also to relieve the
financial burden of businesses and households.
Cambodian utility company
Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) director general Keo Ratanak told The
Phnom Penh Post that the government had already spent some
US$95 million (RM396 million) to reduce tariffs this year.
According to Ratanak, EdC
generated about US$50 million (RM208 million) in revenue last year through the
sale of electricity.
“This year’s earnings could be
even higher because of the growing number of consumers, so the government will
also have to increase their subsidies,” he said.
The tariff subsidies will be
introduced during the next sitting of the General Assembly.
Currently, Cambodian households
that consume less than 50kW per month pay on average 610 riel (63 sen) per
kilowatt hour (kWh), while commercial consumers pay between 600 (62 sen) and
800 riel (82 sen) per kWh on average.
Rice Federation of Cambodia
secretary-general Lon Yeng said the EdC currently sold electricity to the rice
processing industry for 600 riel (62 sen) per kWh.
“Electricite du Cambodge may reduce
the rate to 592 riel (61 sen) next year, but businessmen want it to be lowered
even further to increase manufacturing productivity for the export market,”
Yeng said.
He also feared Cambodia’s
electricity supply may not be enough to meet the rice industry’s demands,
adding that rice mill owners often complained of power cuts during this year’s
dry season.
“We have a lot of problems
regarding the lack of energy being supplied. It’s not good. Rice mills need
constant power to dry grain during the harvest season,” Yeng said.
According to official figures from the Ministry of Mines and
Energy, Cambodia consumed a total of 2,650 MW of electricity last year, an
increase of around 15 per cent compared to 2017
https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2019/12/543937/cambodia-plans-spend-over-us100mil-subsidies-2021
Three bodies formed to monitor rice market
| Update: 18:21, Dec 01, 2019
Amid the uptrend in rice prices, the food
ministry on Sunday formed three committees and set up a control room to monitor
the retail markets of rice in the capital, reports UNB.
Sumon
Mehedi, information officer of the ministry, said the ministry has taken
various initiatives, including holding meetings with rice traders and mill
owners, as the rice prices kept steadily rising.
Apart
from setting up a control room at the ministry, three monitoring committees
have been formed to keep the prices stable through strong monitoring.
"The
control room has been set up in order to control the rising trend in rice
prices, assist the people of low-income groups and keep the prices stable in
the market," said a handout.
People
can provide information or lodge any rice market-related complaint to the
control room over phone (029540027, 01642967727), Mehedi added.
The
first committee consists of Mahbubur Rahman, senior assistant secretary
(external procurement) of the food ministry, Utpal Kumar Saha, additional director
(movement) and Saiful Kabir Khan, deputy director (procurement) of Directorate
General of Food.
Faruk
Hossain, additional director (admin section), Nazim Uddin, deputy director
(silo) and Nurul Islam Sheikh, assistant secretary of Directorate General of
Food, are members of the second committee.
Members
of the third committee are Sheikh Nurul Alam, deputy secretary of the food
ministry, Amjad Hossain, additional director (internal audit) and Rakibul
Hasan, deputy director (development) of the Directorate General of Food.
Nurul
Islam, assistant secretary of the food ministry will be in charge of the
control room.
Kharif output of rice, pulses, oilseeds will be
down due to floods: Skymet
Our
Bureau New Delhi | Updated on December 02, 2019 Published
on December 02, 2019
Cotton to buck
trend, production set to go up 23%, says weather monitoring firm
Most kharif crops, barring
cotton, are expected to witness 12 to 4.5 per cent drop in production due heavy
rains and floods in many parts of the country during the just-gone by monsoon
season, said a report released by Skymet, India's leading private weather
monitoring firm on Monday.
While rice and main kharif
oilseed crop soybean produced is expected to fall by 12 per cent to 90 million
tonnes (mt) and 12.15 mt respectively, the pulses output is estimated to be
nearly 8.2 mt,4.5 lower than the previous year's production estimates of 8.59
mt.
Cotton production in the country,
on the other hand, would increase by 23 per cent to 35.37 million bales in
2019-20 from 28.70 million bales previous year due to improved yields and
increased acreages, Skymet kharif outlook for 2019 said.
This is despite the crop being
adversely impacted in three major cotton growing States -- Gujarat, Maharashtra
and Karnataka -- firstly by late sowing and secondly by excess rains during the
boll opening stage.
As far as soyabean was concerned,
the crop suffered mainly in Madhya Pradesh, the State where the crop is grown
widely. Heavy rainfall occurred in the State at a time the crop was at
flowering to pod formation stage and excess rainfall led to failure in pod
formation and poor seed setting. Districts like Indore, Ujjain, Neemuch,
Mandsaur, Jhabua, and Ratlam have recorded yield losses to the tune of 50-70 per
cent, while districts such as Sehore, Dewas, Ashok Nagar, Guna, Dhar,
Vidisha and Rajgarh have experienced yield losses to the tune of 30-50 per
cent. Other soyabean growing districts have yield losses in the range of
10-20 per cent. Some pockets of Maharashtra too, reported huge losses
in soyabean crop due to heavy rains. Last year's
soyabean production was estimated to be 13.78 mt.
3.2 million
hectares of agricultural land inundated
According to Skymet, a 12 per
cent drop in rice production from previous year's 102.13 mt is expected this
year. This is because heavy rainfall in a few pockets of Madhya
Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, north and west Madhya Pradesh and
eastern Gujarat is feared to affect the productivity.
This monsoon season, an initial
prolonged dry spell in June and early July coupled with excess rain in second
fortnight of August and throughout September was detrimental to both life and
property. Even the withdrawal was delayed, and rains continued till the first
week of October.
A total of 137 districts in 12
States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh) were affected by
excess rains that led to floods in many regions and 4.5 million hectares of
land was inundated out of which 3.2 million hectares was agricultural land.
Apart from the above 137 districts, there are several other districts that
experienced high soil moisture for the entire month of September which caused
heavy losses to the crop. On the other hand, there are a few pockets that
remained rain deficient and losses to crops are witnessed here due to low soil
moisture (than average), the report said.
Egypt studies
JICA's proposal to use surface irrigation
By: Samar Samir
Labourers
transplant rice seedlings in a paddy field in Qalyub, in the El-Kalubia
governorate, northeast of Cairo, Egypt June 1, 2016. Picture taken June 1,
2016. To match Interview EGYPT-WHEAT/ REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Sun, Dec. 1, 2019
CAIRO –1 December 2019: The Egyptian Government is studying a
proposal from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)to use the surface
irrigation system in cultivating rice, said the Ministry of Water Resources and
Irrigation in a statement on Saturday.
A meeting held by the state-owned National Water Research Center discussed the
Japanese proposal; it has been agreed that this irrigation systemwillbe applied
in two areas. The first place is Wadi el-Natroun, Beheria governorate (Delta)
where the cultivation would depend on underground water, while the second place
is in Sharqia's Enshas city where other crops besides Rice could be cultivated
by the surface irrigation system, the statement added.
On the sidelines of the Seventh Summit of Tokyo International Conference on
African Development (TICAD7) in August 2019, Egypt Today interviewed TICAD's
Ambassador Kiya Masahiko.
He talked about the Japanese experience in doubling the production of rice as
one of the solutions to rice cultivation problems in countries that suffer
water shortage.
Masahiko affirmed that one of the summit's outcomes is the Coalition for
African Rice Development (CARD) going from 14 million tons to 28 million tons,
and the goal was achieved last year.
Interview: TICAD ambassador hopes Egypt's AU chairmanship
advances Japan's contribution to Africa
TOKYO - 27 August 2019: Before the TICAD7 summit, the largest
international business forum in Japan, kick off, Egypt Today spoke with
Ambassador for TICAD Kiya Masahiko on Egypt's co-chairing of the summit, and
how it can enhance Japan's contribution to Africa.
Despite decisions of reducing the rice-planted areas nationwide due to the water shortage crisis that Egypt faces, the government has increased the areas of lands to be used in rice cultivation in 2019.Head of the Rice Division in the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) Rajab Shehata told the state-owned news agency MENA in September that the rice-cultivated area has been increased from 1.2 million acres to 724,000 acres to meet people’s needs.
In April 2018, Egypt's Parliament passed a law banning the cultivation of some crops that require a large amount of water amid fears that building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) would cut the country's share of the Nile. The Parliament also approved the government's request to amend some provisions in Agriculture Law No. 53 of 1966.
It is worth mentioning that one feddan of rice consumes 7,000 cubic meters of water.
Egypt needs at least 105 billion cubic meters of water annually to cover the needs of more than 90 million citizens. However, it currently has only 60 billion cubic meters, 55.5 billion cubic meters of which come from the Nile and less than 5 billion cubic meters come from non-renewable subterranean water in the desert. The remaining 80 billion cubic meters are covered by the reuse of wastewater.
The average per capita consumption of fresh water declined by 1.5 percent in 2015/2016 and it reached 103.4 cubic meters, compared to 105 cubic meters in 2015/2014, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) data.
Additional reporting by Nourhan Magdy
Government to ban
rice imports by 2022
Source:
graphic.com.gh
Mr Kennedy Osei Nyarko
A Deputy Minister of Food and
Agriculture, Mr Kennedy Osei Nyarko, says rice importers have welcomed the
government’s intention to ban rice importation by 2022.
“When we communicated plans to
ban the rice importation by 2022, the importers were happy. Their main
challenge however is whether our current production capacity can meet demand to
avoid going back,” he said.
Tour
Mr Nyarko made this known during a working visit to the rice processing unit of the Global Agricultural Development Company (GADCO), producers of Aduahene and Copa Jasmine brands of rice at Fievie, near Sogakope in the Volta Region.
The deputy minister visited last Tuesday to acquaint himself with the operations of the company.
Tour
Mr Nyarko made this known during a working visit to the rice processing unit of the Global Agricultural Development Company (GADCO), producers of Aduahene and Copa Jasmine brands of rice at Fievie, near Sogakope in the Volta Region.
The deputy minister visited last Tuesday to acquaint himself with the operations of the company.
The visit also took him to Wheta
in the Anlo District in the Volta Region where he assured rice farmers of the
government’s commitment to promote the production and marketing of Ghana
rice.
Ban on importation of rice
After inspecting the facilities
of GADCO, Mr Nyarko said the intention of the government to ban rice
importation was to support local rice farmers to gain access to a market for
their produce.
He said it would become a mirage if efforts were not made to scale up the production capacity of rice farmers in the country to meet the high demand for the commodity.
According to him, the country consumed about 940,000 tonnes of rice every month as against the country’s production capacity of about 400,000 tonnes.
Increase in paddy production
Mr Nyarko said the country had witnessed an increase in the production of paddy rice over the past two years.
“In 2018, we recorded a total rice production level of about 769,400 tonnes. We are inching this year to about 900,000 tonnes and we have given ourselves up to about 2022 to meet the average per capita consumption rate of rice in the country to about 1,135 tonnes,” he said.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture added that the rice consumption rate kept going high so “we should be able to produce enough to meet consumption before we can say we want to ban rice importation.”
Rice mill cottages
He disclosed that as part of efforts to increase rice production in the country, the government intended setting up rice mill cottages in rice growing areas where the farmers would mill their rice.
“When this is done, the farmer would not be worried about his paddy rice getting rotten,” he said.
Subsidy
After the deputy minister’s address to the Copa Connect Farmers in Wheta, the Chairman of the Ghana Rice Interprofessional Body (GRIB), Mr Anthony Yaw Anyidoho, appealed to the government to further lower subsidies on farming inputs.
According to him, the cost of production of rice in the country was higher than the cost of importing rice.
“It is a challenge to sell our produce at a competitive price compared to the price of imported rice. If we want to eat rice that we grow in our country, then we need subsidy that is lower than the normal farming subsidy,” he said.
Sustainability of agricultural ventures
For his part, the Commodities and Procurement Manager of Wienco and fertiliser dealer, Mr Abdul Razak Sania, reiterated the company’s commitment to ensure that agricultural ventures in the country were sustainable.
He said it would become a mirage if efforts were not made to scale up the production capacity of rice farmers in the country to meet the high demand for the commodity.
According to him, the country consumed about 940,000 tonnes of rice every month as against the country’s production capacity of about 400,000 tonnes.
Increase in paddy production
Mr Nyarko said the country had witnessed an increase in the production of paddy rice over the past two years.
“In 2018, we recorded a total rice production level of about 769,400 tonnes. We are inching this year to about 900,000 tonnes and we have given ourselves up to about 2022 to meet the average per capita consumption rate of rice in the country to about 1,135 tonnes,” he said.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture added that the rice consumption rate kept going high so “we should be able to produce enough to meet consumption before we can say we want to ban rice importation.”
Rice mill cottages
He disclosed that as part of efforts to increase rice production in the country, the government intended setting up rice mill cottages in rice growing areas where the farmers would mill their rice.
“When this is done, the farmer would not be worried about his paddy rice getting rotten,” he said.
Subsidy
After the deputy minister’s address to the Copa Connect Farmers in Wheta, the Chairman of the Ghana Rice Interprofessional Body (GRIB), Mr Anthony Yaw Anyidoho, appealed to the government to further lower subsidies on farming inputs.
According to him, the cost of production of rice in the country was higher than the cost of importing rice.
“It is a challenge to sell our produce at a competitive price compared to the price of imported rice. If we want to eat rice that we grow in our country, then we need subsidy that is lower than the normal farming subsidy,” he said.
Sustainability of agricultural ventures
For his part, the Commodities and Procurement Manager of Wienco and fertiliser dealer, Mr Abdul Razak Sania, reiterated the company’s commitment to ensure that agricultural ventures in the country were sustainable.
Rice to feed the world given a funding boost
The
next phase of what is known as the C4 Rice Project has been given the green
light for a further five years during which time scientists believe they will
develop a prototype for a strain of rice which would give higher yields and
endure harsher environmental conditions.
Put simply, it could help to feed
a world which is already struggling to provide for its expanding population,
particularly in South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently over 3
billion people in Asia depend on rice for survival, and, owing to predicted
population increases and a general trend towards urbanisation, the same area of
land that provided enough rice to feed 27 people in 2010 will need to support
43 by 2050.
Professor Jane Langdale, from the
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, who leads the consortium,
said: 'This is an extremely challenging long-term project and we are grateful
to the foundation for backing the team for a further five years. This new award
will get us closer to delivering rice lines that will have real impact for
smallholder farmers'.
Rice uses the C3 photosynthetic
pathway, which in hot dry environments is much less efficient than the C4
pathway used in other plants such as maize and sorghum. The C4 Rice project
aims to 'switch' rice to use C4 photosynthesis, with transformational
potential.
The C4 photosynthetic pathway,
which has evolved over 60 times independently, accounts for around a quarter of
terrestrial primary productivity on the planet despite being used by only 3% of
species. In most C4 plants, photosynthetic reactions happen in two types of
cell arranged in 'wreaths' around closely spaced veins - an arrangement
referred to as Kranz anatomy. One of the major challenges of the C4 Rice
Project is to convert rice leaf anatomy to this form. Working out which genes
need to be modified to achieve this switch will be a major focus of the team's
research over the next five years.
The most recent phase of the
project has seen a leap in progress by harnessing a synthetic approach towards
engineering the photosynthetic pathway. The highly promising direction of this
research is confirmed in today's announcement, and this funding boost now makes
the C4 Rice project one of the longest running projects in the foundation's
agriculture portfolio.
Professor Julian Hibberd from the
Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge, who is a member of
the C4 consortium, said: 'We are excited to be able to build on the significant
progress to date, and move closer to our ultimate goal of generating a higher
yielding rice'.
Professor Steve Long, who runs
the Gates Foundation-funded RIPE Project from the University of Illinois, and
was a Visiting Professor at Oxford's Department of Plant Sciences, said: 'This
is wonderful news. The C4 rice team have made outstanding progress toward
cracking the code as to how to make a C4 crop. This will bring the world one
step closer to obtaining C4 rice, and to gaining extra productivity without
needing more water or nitrogen."
By the end of the next phase of
research in 2024 scientists hope to have experimental field plots up and
running in Taiwan.
The scale and reach of the
project means that this is a trans-generational project.
Professor Langdale said: 'This is
about being custodians of something that's bigger than our individual
scientific interests'
A condition of Gates Foundation
funding for the project is a Global Access Commitment to ensure that the
knowledge and advancements made will be made available and accessible at an
affordable price to people most in need in developing countries.
The C4 Rice Project consortium
comprises the University of Oxford (lead), Academia Sinica, Australian National
University, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Leibniz
Institute of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge and Washington State
University.
###
For more information or to
request interviews and images, please contact the University of Oxford press
office at chris.mcintyre@admin.ox.ac.uk /
01865 270 046.
Notes to editors
About the University of Oxford
Oxford University has been placed
number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the third
year running, and at the heart of this success is our ground-breaking research
and innovation.
Oxford is world-famous for
research excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across
the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems
through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and
interdisciplinary nature of our research sparks imaginative and inventive
insights and solutions.
Thailand’s fragrant
rice falls behind peers’
By Zi Liang Wee
-
Failure to
win the World’s Best Rice award for two consecutive years has jolted Thailand
– the home of the Hom Mali (jasmine) rice – to overhaul its research
and development to catch up with the changing global demand for
fragrant rice.
Having previously won the World’s Best Rice Contest for five
years, Thailand’s signature Hom Mali rice was beaten last year by Cambodia’s
fragrant rice and this year by Vietnam’s
ST24 variety.
“It’s about time that both the government and the private sector
joined hands in a more serious effort to improve the quality of Thai rice to
meet the global market’s expectations,” said Charoen
Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
“The country’s reputation for producing quality rice is
suffering due to a lack of effective research and development to create better
varieties of Thai Hom Mali rice,” he added.
The strong baht has also worsened the rice export situation,
pushing the price of Thai rice to US$1,100 higher per tonne than its
competitors.
The yield of Thai rice is about 400 kilograms per 0.16 hectares,
which is fairly low when compared with Vietnam’s rice yield at 1,000 kg per
0.16 hectares or China’s at 2,000 kg per 0.16 hectares.
Despite new softer varieties, the promotion of these among
growers leaves much to be desired. Thus, exporters have been unable to meet the
demand for rice with a soft texture.
Nipon Poapongsakorn, a distinguished fellow at the Thailand
Development Research Institute, proposed to slash production costs by
increasing the yield, albeit with a less fragrant rice variety.
Meanwhile, Charoen blamed Thailand’s lack of rice variety
development on politicians vying for farmers’ support only through price
interventions.
“These policies have failed to give any incentive for research
and development into new varieties. As farmers are satisfied with these price
intervention policies, they are no longer interested in improving the quality
or yield.”
Further, Nipon said that the current 200-300 million baht
(US$6.61-9.91 million) annual budget for research is insufficient to attract
capable researchers.
“Thailand’s competitors are spending far more money on their
rice research,” he added.
Now, Thai Hom Mali rice’s popularity in the global rice market
remains high despite its losses in the rice contest.
And, as of August 2019, Thailand was the second-largest exporter
of rice in the world, ranked only behind India, but far ahead of all of its
Southeast Asian competitors.
This couple of facts translate into some time for Thailand if it
intends to speed up its research and development on rice.
Plentex approves
issuance of shares to ANI
LISTED AgriNurture Inc. (ANI) took one step closer in expanding
its business in Australia after Australian firm Plentex Ltd. approved the
issuance of shares to the fruit and vegetable grower.
In a disclosure on Monday, ANI said Plentex shareholders
granted the issuance, which paved the way for both companies to enter into
definitive agreements to make the acquisition effective.
The move comes after the ANI board of directors gave on
Oct. 25, 2018 the go-signal for
its acquisition of Plentex, which owns a subsidiary in the Philippines and is into agricultural development.
its acquisition of Plentex, which owns a subsidiary in the Philippines and is into agricultural development.
That subsidiary, Plentex Philippines Inc., is currently
working on an integrated manufacturing plant for local crops and for the
production of feedstock for a proposed aquafeed plant.
ANI said it would expand its business operations in
Australia by acquiring existing companies.
Plentex’s Australian operations involve a large-scale
feed manufacturing plant in Victoria for the supply of premium aquatic and pet
foods for both the local and international market.
Incorporated in 1997, ANI began as an importer, trader
and fabricator of postharvest agricultural machinery aimed at improving the
productivity and income of Filipino farmers.
It was the first to bring into the Philippine market the
Mega-Sun brand of grain dryers and established itself as a supplier and
manufacturer of conveyor systems and other rice mill equipment.
ANI currently supplies homegrown fruits such as mango,
banana and pineapple to customers in Hong Kong, China, the Middle East and
Europe.
ANI shares slipped by 6 centavos or 0.43 percent to close
at P13.90 each on Monday.
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