6th February 2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

Rice exports may fall by 20 per cent this fiscal

Rice exports from India is set to fall 18-20 per cent this fiscal because of weak demand from West Asian countries. Geopolitical issues and financial sanctions on Iran are restricting exports. This apart, tighter trade norms and higher MSP (minimum support price) offered by the government encouraged farmers to tap the domestic market more, rather than focusing on the daunting export markets.

Export potential

Rice contributes over two per cent of the overall exports from India. The sector had reported a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 14 per cent between FY '10 and FY '19. However, rice exports this year have seen a decline across the globe with a major dip coming from the West Asian countries amid heightened geopolitical tensions. It resulted in a sharp fall in prices and lower realisation for exporters, said a research report on India’s rice export, including that of basmati, by the US-based trade finance company Drip Capital. Being a kharif crop (August - November), rice shows a clear seasonal pattern in exports as well. The four months post-harvest (December - March) see over 40 per cent of annual exports. The current year’s (FY19-20) rice export figures have also been trending much below the previous years’ performance. Pushkar Mukewar, co-founder and co-CEO, Drip Capital, said exports so far this fiscal are looking bleak with Iran, the biggest export market, seeing a 22 per cent fall in shipments. Exports to other countries have fallen, including the UAE (33 per cent), Nepal (23 per cent), Yemen (2 per cent), Senegal (90 per cent) and Bangladesh (94 per cent), he said. On the other hand, exports to some countries such as Saudi Arabia (4 per cent), Iraq (10 per cent), Benin (8 per cent) and the USA (4 per cent) have increased.

Global market share

India is the world’s largest rice exporter with over 25 per cent share in global markets. Haryana, the top basmati rice exporting State, with a CAGR of 3 per cent between FY16-19, shipped rice worth $2.41 billion in FY19 alone. Gujarat is second with shipments of $1.10 billion in FY19. However, Gujarat has posted an impressive CAGR of 47 per cent over FY16-19. Other major contributing states are Delhi, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-exports-may-fall-by-20-per-cent-this-fiscal/article30743535.ece

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Vietnam - Drought and Saltwater Intrusion Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) DREF operation n° MDRVN019

REPORT

from International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies

Published on 05 Feb 2020

Download PDF (1.04 MB)

A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster

The Mekong River Delta is home to 13 provinces and cities: Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, An Giang, Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau and Can Tho city. Mekong delta has a total population of 19 million people accounting for 21 per cent of country’s population. The Delta is located amid a dynamic and developed economic region, adjacent to the Southern key economic region and next to Southeast Asian countries. Mekong Delta is the largest agricultural, fishery and fruit production hub in Vietnam.

Rice production of the region accounts for 50 per cent of the entire country. The region produces over 90 per cent of the country’s exported rice and more than 60 per cent of the country’s seafood production. Fruit trees hold an important position in the region in particular and in Vietnam in general.
GDP of the Mekong Delta as of June 2019 was 7.8 per cent (the highest in most recent four years).

Under the context of climate change and sea level rise, extreme climatic events occurred and caused adverse impacts of socioeconomic developments to Mekong upstream countries. Particularly, drought and saline intrusion phenomena have manifested. As forecasted (earlier forecast was shared on 20 December 2019), the Mekong Delta is entering its dry season 2019-2020, saltwater is intruding deeper and earlier than that of 2015-2016.

Specifically:

• Small upstream flow volume compared to recent years and annual average; Saline intrusion occurred in complicated manner (earlier, deeper intruding, and ranging), especially in combination with the sophisticated tidal flooding situation;

• Areas 30 - 40km away from the sea: From December 2019, salinity exceeds 4 g/l; from January 2020 onwards, these regions will be unable to get freshwater from estuaries and this will result in the shortage of water supply for domestic uses and production activities;

• Areas 45 - 65 km away from the sea: during January 2019 – April-May 2020; high salinity (> 4g/l) is likely to happen. If rain comes late, saline intrusion may last until June 2020. In this period, during high tide, saline intrusion will advance deeply into inland; when the tide recedes to a low level, freshwater is likely to happen (in one day, the tidal peak contains high salinity, yet at low level of tidal range has low salinity and freshwater can be taken);

• Areas 70-75 km away from the sea, the salinity of 4g/l is not likely to happen; however, cautions to high tides are necessary as this area is still prone to 4g/l salinity where production and domestic activities can be affected.

Given the early onset of saline intrusion which is expected to intrude further inland and last for a longer time, agriculture production in some areas can be affected such as Winter-Spring rice 2019-2020 which is greatly affected by the irrigation water shortage, especially in coastal areas from Jan 2020 onwards; Summer- Autumn rice 2020 shall be seriously affected by saline intrusion if early rains does not come. As a result, (i) production costs increase due to the use of connection pumps (2 to 3 levels) to take advantage of low water level in on-farm canals to control the drought; (ii) in some areas where freshwater supply is unavailable, aquaculture production can be reduced or damaged due to high salinity levels (An Minh, An Bien - Kien Giang province, South National Highway 1A-Bac Lieu province, Thanh Phu and Ba Tri-Ben Tre province); (iii) there is a possibility of freshwater shortage supply for people living in coastal areas, especially in estuary areas (Tan Phu Dong - Tien Giang province, Hoa Minh - Tra Vinh province, Cu Lao Dung - Soc Trang, coastal districts in Ben Tre province.

According to the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA) under the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD) that 10 of the 13 provinces with 74/137 districts, in Mekong River Delta are affected by drought and saltwater intrusion. More than 685,000 people across the Mekong Delta have their access to livelihoods and basic services disrupted. The drought and saltwater intrusion and its impacts affect agricultural production, with an estimated loss of production from about 460,000 hectares, limited access to safe water for 200,000 households, who do not have regular and sufficient access to water for drinking and other domestic use.
The conditions have resulted in a water shortage and significant damage to crops, threatening agricultural production, livelihoods, and access to safe water by local people. The situation is worsened, as these provinces are the country’s main rice growing regions.

Ongoing

https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/vietnam-drought-and-saltwater-intrusion-emergency-plan-action-epoa-dref-operation-n

Rice Prices

as on : 05-02-2020 03:55:19 PM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Bangalore(Kar)	1693.00	22.77	76358.00	4450	4350	3.49
Sultanpur(UP)	400.00	-33.33	4570.00	2365	2380	-0.84
Manjeri(Ker)	290.00	NC	5800.00	3500	3500	NC
Kanpur(Grain)(UP)	200.00	11.11	3235.00	2180	2340	3.07
Barhaj(UP)	160.00	14.29	5755.00	2380	2400	5.78
Gondal(UP)	152.50	-2.87	3444.50	2450	2450	-3.16
Azamgarh(UP)	120.00	-7.69	1879.00	2490	2490	10.67
Mainpuri(UP)	108.00	-3.57	2927.50	2550	2560	-3.77
Agra(UP)	105.00	29.63	2343.00	2560	2550	0.79
Lucknow(UP)	100.00	-5.66	2653.00	2500	2550	6.38
Bindki(UP)	100.00	-16.67	4039.00	2430	2400	7.52
Kalipur(WB)	88.00	7.32	1736.00	2400	2400	2.13
Kasimbazar(WB)	82.50	1.85	776.50	2700	2700	-0.92
Madhoganj(UP)	82.00	26.15	2392.00	2350	2350	15.76
Pilibhit(UP)	80.00	77.78	46336.00	2575	2540	8.65
Mathura(UP)	80.00	33.33	1770.00	2550	2570	-5.56
Aligarh(UP)	75.00	NC	2290.00	2540	2550	0.79
Thodupuzha(Ker)	70.00	NC	1610.00	2900	2900	-3.33
Fatehpur(UP)	68.50	24.55	1329.60	2380	2380	4.85
Chintamani(Kar)	67.00	63.41	991.00	2200	2200	15.79
Jangipur(WB)	66.50	-	132.00	2965	-	-
Muzzafarnagar(UP)	65.00	8.33	3238.00	2690	2730	-0.37
Bankura Sadar(WB)	54.00	20	1250.00	2600	2600	-
Kayamganj(UP)	45.00	NC	1322.00	2560	2560	-1.92
Atarra(UP)	40.00	5.26	517.00	2350	2300	11.90
Etawah(UP)	40.00	14.29	2074.50	2700	2710	16.88
Faizabad(UP)	40.00	-6.98	495.50	2475	2450	11.24
Ghaziabad(UP)	40.00	185.71	551.00	2800	2800	3.70
Khalilabad(UP)	40.00	-20	755.00	2525	2525	17.44
Pandua(WB)	40.00	-4.76	1290.00	3400	3250	17.24
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)	40.00	33.33	831.00	2800	2800	1.82
Lalitpur(UP)	38.00	5.56	975.00	2470	2480	-6.26
Bareilly(UP)	37.50	-21.88	1170.50	2625	2585	9.83
Egra/contai(WB)	36.50	-	219.00	2500	-	4.17
Jhargram(WB)	36.00	NC	525.00	3000	2900	3.45
Basti(UP)	31.50	36.96	779.50	2500	2475	10.13
Jaunpur(UP)	30.00	3.45	644.20	2400	2385	3.23
Muradabad(UP)	30.00	NC	691.00	2610	2610	9.66
Puranpur(UP)	30.00	20	1476.00	2545	2540	6.04
Bidar(Kar)	28.00	3.7	55.00	2500	2500	-
Nawabganj(UP)	28.00	16.67	319.00	2450	2445	42.44
Asansol(WB)	26.00	NC	533.09	2800	2800	-6.67
Lakhimpur(UP)	25.00	-10.71	1065.00	2480	2480	6.90
Ulhasnagar(Mah)	24.00	4.35	325.00	3500	4000	NC
Sahiyapur(UP)	24.00	-71.76	1512.00	2490	2475	9.45
Balrampur(UP)	23.00	15	286.00	2140	2150	-10.08
Firozabad(UP)	21.50	-14	388.60	2825	2810	-
Durgapur(WB)	21.00	10.53	476.25	2700	2700	-
Naanpara(UP)	20.40	33.33	484.40	2290	2275	-2.55
Badayoun(UP)	20.00	-25.93	776.50	2620	2600	8.04
Sitapur(UP)	20.00	-16.67	620.50	2470	2487	8.57
Devariya(UP)	20.00	-6.98	481.50	2455	2550	4.69
Falakata(WB)	20.00	NC	420.00	2600	2600	NC
Alipurduar(WB)	20.00	NC	380.00	2600	2600	NC
Pratapgarh(UP)	19.00	11.76	256.00	2435	2450	9.19
Shamli(UP)	19.00	-5	354.50	2725	2730	-
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP)	19.00	-26.92	460.00	2560	2600	14.80
Kolar(Kar)	18.00	-30.77	271.00	5116	5193	-
Paliakala(UP)	18.00	44	200.50	2380	2365	5.08
Sirsaganj(UP)	17.00	17.24	366.00	2640	2650	-4.00
Ghatal(WB)	16.00	23.08	243.00	2750	2750	5.77
Champadanga(WB)	16.00	NC	396.00	3400	3300	7.94
Jhansi(UP)	15.00	66.67	112.00	2360	2365	-0.21
Farukhabad(UP)	13.00	-7.14	549.00	2550	2550	-3.77
Palghar(Mah)	12.00	-	47.00	3700	-	-
Etah(UP)	12.00	140	195.50	2560	2580	1.19
Utraula(UP)	12.00	-17.24	49.50	2140	2150	-
Kannauj(UP)	12.00	9.09	324.20	2610	2550	0.38
Mahoba(UP)	11.50	-14.81	229.60	2340	2285	7.09
Tamkuhi Road(UP)	11.50	53.33	308.30	2150	2150	NC
Karvi(UP)	11.50	-39.47	319.00	2320	2310	3.57
Akbarpur(UP)	11.00	4.76	303.30	2455	2460	10.09
Choubepur(UP)	10.25	-0.49	978.70	2300	2400	-11.20
T. Narasipura(Kar)	10.00	-	10.00	1550	-	-
Bangarmau(UP)	10.00	-9.09	150.10	2530	2550	11.21
Jhijhank(UP)	10.00	100	89.00	2220	2250	-
Vilthararoad(UP)	9.00	12.5	25.00	2100	2000	-
Ajuha(UP)	8.00	NC	101.00	2565	2560	11.52
Bharwari(UP)	7.50	15.38	20.60	2510	2530	-
Mirzapur(UP)	7.00	-6.67	139.50	2485	2490	9.96
Lalganj(UP)	6.50	-7.14	192.00	2015	2015	-
Auraiya(UP)	6.00	20	179.30	2690	2700	25.12
Vishalpur(UP)	6.00	114.29	255.20	2540	2480	5.83
Anandnagar(UP)	5.50	120	118.60	2555	2540	13.56
Mawana(UP)	5.00	-16.67	55.50	2730	2740	-
Achalda(UP)	5.00	25	104.10	2650	2550	19.91
Risia(UP)	5.00	NC	44.40	2450	2450	-
Tundla(UP)	5.00	100	119.50	2550	2560	-0.20
Dahod(Guj)	4.80	-52	409.30	4000	4000	-4.76
Sonamura(Tri)	4.10	156.25	32.60	2700	2700	-
Gadaura(UP)	4.00	166.67	163.30	2300	2300	21.05
Jahangirabad(UP)	4.00	NC	108.00	2625	2600	-1.32
Puwaha(UP)	4.00	-50	151.70	2550	2600	10.87
Kosikalan(UP)	3.80	2.7	123.30	2545	2560	-2.12
Charra(UP)	3.50	6.06	55.80	2530	2550	NC
Holenarsipura(Kar)	3.00	-	3.00	3000	-	-
Buland Shahr(UP)	3.00	20	105.50	2650	2630	-0.38
Hardoi(UP)	2.80	-99.39	5682.80	2500	2460	4.17
Ranaghat(WB)	2.80	NC	51.20	3900	3900	8.33
Khurja(UP)	2.50	25	171.20	2640	2640	0.38
Fatehabad(UP)	2.20	NC	137.70	2320	2320	3.11
Tulsipur(UP)	2.00	-55.56	15.20	2430	2400	-
Safdarganj(UP)	2.00	-33.33	355.00	2470	2465	7.39
Muskara(UP)	1.90	18.75	33.40	2360	2250	4.42
Maudaha(UP)	1.50	-25	14.60	2300	2280	6.48
Wazirganj(UP)	1.20	20	22.30	2570	2570	-
Boxonagar(Tri)	1.10	37.5	5.50	2700	2700	-
Penugonda(Mah)	1.00	NC	18.00	4090	4090	0.25
Alibagh(Mah)	1.00	NC	52.00	4200	4200	-41.67
Murud(Mah)	1.00	NC	52.00	4200	4200	-41.67
Jasra(UP)	1.00	-16.67	2.20	2650	2650	10.42
Dasda(Tri)	0.80	NC	2.90	2500	2500	-
Achnera(UP)	0.80	NC	16.40	2550	2550	NC

Published on February 05, 2020

 ‘Use quality seeds’

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

TIRUCHI, FEBRUARY 05, 2020 20:46 IST

UPDATED: FEBRUARY 05, 2020 20:46 IST

Seed Day was observed by agricultural institutions here on Tuesday to raise awareness among farmers on the importance of using quality seeds.

More than 50 seed producers from various parts of the district participated and interacted with scientists at an event hosted by the Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute (ADAC&RI). They visited seed production fields.

S.Sundareswaran, Director (Seeds), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, explained how farmers can become entrepreneurs by producing seeds so as to double their income. K.Sivasubramaniyam, Dean, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Kudimiyanmalai, said maintaining quality parameters in seed production will result in higher yield.

P.Masilamani, Dean, ADAC&RI, spoke.

The Sugarcane Research Station, Sirugamani. observed Seed Day in association with TNAU. Mr. Sundareswaran presided over the event held at Sirugamani and urged farmers to use quality seeds to get assured yield. S. Sundaralingam, Professor (seeds), elaborated the procedure to be followed in seed processing. V. Ramakrishnan, Seed Certification Officer, spoke on seed registration and inspection fees for seed production among farmers.

More than 70 farmers witnessed an exhibition hosted by Sugarcane Research Station and private companies. V. Ambethgar, Director, Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, L. Chithra, Professor and Head, Sugarcane Research Station, and R. Nageswari, Assistant Professor (Agronomy), participated.

ICRISAT unearths State’s agriculture heritage

Serish Nanisetti

HYDERABAD, FEBRUARY 06, 2020 00:27 IST

UPDATED: FEBRUARY 06, 2020 00:28 IST

·      

·        

Researchers are trying to understand the impact of soil scooped from tank beds and used as topsoil in fields as part of Mission Kakatiya.  

Prior to the Kakatiyas, tanks were built by elites and kings: Cambridge University researcher

Archaeologists from Cambridge University and scientists from the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have teamed up to discover the archaeological heritage of agriculture in Telangana and Punjab.

The study is part of a larger project (TIGR2ESS) Transforming India’s Green Revolution by Research and Empowerment for Sustainable Food Supplies. “We are looking at the archaeological and historical evidence over a 5000-year period to understand water use in the region and diversity of crops and cropping patterns,” informs Cameron A. Petrie of Cambridge University.

“We have discovered that the tank irrigation system predates the Kakatiya rule. Prior to the Kakatiyas, tanks were built by elites and kings in the region. The Kakatiyas just scaled up the enterprise,” says Adam Green, another researcher for the project, who uses historical cartography and GIS information for the research.

The study is an important facet of food security as mono-cropping of water intensive crops like wheat and rice are being blamed for extreme water depletion in most parts of India. “The research will help us understand aspects of the archaeological and agronomy evidence over the historical period to a more modern period. Wheat, barley, millets and pulses were cultivated earlier but now there is a reduction in crop diversity,” says Mr. Petrie.

The researchers discovered that the control and management of tanks was left to the community though the water bodies were commissioned by the rulers. “We have noticed a huge reduction in the number of tanks and water bodies over the past 100 years. We are trying to find maps and archaeological evidence to find out the location of those water bodies. Late 19th century maps have information about including maximum tank size and minimum tank size,” says Mr. Green. “We are trying to create a systematic map of all the tanks, different types, sizes, chronology and locations. We want to put a number to how many tanks might have been lost. We want to understand the scope of rejuvenation of these tanks which is the goal of Mission Kakatiya,” he adds.

The researchers are also trying to understand impact of soil scooped from the tank beds and used as topsoil in agricultural fields as part of Mission Kakatiya. “Though we are getting reports about positive impact on agricultural output, we are carrying out soil or silt analysis to find a scientific explanation for rise in productivity,” say the researchers at ICRISAT.

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‘Why our rice is poorly processed’ By Idowu Isamatu | 

Published Date Feb 6, 2020 4:50 AM TwitterFacebookWhatsAppTelegram Dr Abiso Kabir is the CEO/MD, Wal-Wanne Group, a leading agro-allied company in Borno State, with its head office in Lagos. In this interview with Daily Trust in Abuja, he said the company collaborates with government to diversify the country’s economy from total reliance on oil.  You operate in Borno State despite the insurgency…cuts in? We cultivate vast hectares of farmland across seven local government areas in the state; Jere, Mafa, Biu, Chibok, Konduga, Ganbuwa and Monguno. Of course, the success of the federal government’s Anchor Borrower Programme cannot be told without the measure of expertise injected into it in order to have better harvest.   ADVERTISEMENT HOW OVER 5000 NIGERIA MEN HAVE PERMANENTLY OVERCOME TERRIBLE BEDROOM PERFORMANCE DUE TO THIS RECENT DISCOVERY BY MEDICAL CONSULTANTS  What’s your farm capacity and how many hectares are you cultivating? ADVERTISEMENT SURULERE MAN REVEALS NEW HERBAL SOLUTION THAT REVERSES WEAK ERECTION AND HELPS LAST UPTO 48 MINUTES IN BED WITH NO SIDE EFFECTS The farm has capacity to accommodate over 13,000 farmers which means, a farmer is allocated to one hectare. Currently, about 705 farm owners are listed to participate in the Anchor Borrowers Programme on the platform of Wal-Wanne and Sons Limited regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).    How do you source your rice seeds and how many tons of rice do you produce? We source our rice seeds from accredited and certified input suppliers by the Bank of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria respectively. Our expected yield per season is about 7,800 tons. However, due to natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances, we perform far below expectations actually.    Do you source additional paddy from other farms? Yes, we do. This is another alternative we use to complement our failure (due to natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances). We also empower other farmers that became stranded with their goods in the competitive local rice market.    

As a rice miller, what would you say about the poorly processed local rice we have in the markets? Most of the poorly processed local rice you see in the market today are as a result of low budget by rice processing mills and lack of technical knowhow as well. In this regard, there is need for the federal government to come in. Rice millers need serious support from government to improve their companies and enhance their production as well. Since government banned the importation of most agricultural products which we produced here at home, it should make more effort in supporting agric investors to cope with the situation and to meet up with need for processed product.    As an exporter, what challenges do you face? The major limitation associated with exporting products from Nigeria is lack of government support in the whole process. Therefore, we want government to come up with policy strategies to enhance exportation, especially in the area of agricultural products.    What is your take on the current border closure? Closing border is the right decision taken by the government. One can now see clearly how the border closure has boosted agricultural productivity and encouraged construction of industries related to processing local rice and other agricultural produce to substitute what we used to import.    What’s your target in the next five years? Our target in the next five years is to be one of the leading exporters in Nigeria and indeed in West Africa. We are targeting Asian, Middle East, some European countries and America. In fact, within five years, we want to reach the whole world with our goods from Nigeria.: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-our-rice-is-poorly-processed.html

Coronavirus – will it penetrate Pakistan’s economy?

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

China is the epicenter of a deadly virus that has already spread to more than 20 countries and continues to grab people in its fatal arms. The death toll has reached 362 in the capital of Hubei province, Wuhan. Hubei province serves as a base for crucial economic zones, with Wuhan being the heart of the Chinese industry. It is no myth that recent changes in foreign policies of Pakistan have strengthened relations with China, paired with the constant influx of Chinese engineers and experts in Pakistan to facilitate industrial projects undertaken with the collaboration of both states.

Courtesy of the free trade agreement, many products found in local Pakistani markets bear the “made in China” tag. China has continued to invest in economic, technological, hydropower, and infrastructural projects within Pakistan. Over the years, China’s involvement in Pakistan’s affairs has become significantly important; China’s “belt and road initiative” has transformed Gwadar from a deserted land to an industrial area supported by advanced infrastructure, blooming with trade opportunities. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), inaugurated by President Xi Jinping, has been a significant development in strengthening economic ties between the two countries, providing opportunities and immunities to both sides. CPEC also focuses on agricultural development; China provides promising technology that will help improve agricultural production. Consequentially, production levels will rise and also increase exports in products, including cotton and rice. The Chinese government also issues long term visas to Pakistani exporters, assisting them in exploring the Chinese market and then producing goods with a higher demand to boost profit. For example, there is a market for sugar imports abroad, Pakistan is rich in raw materials required for sugar production. China imports relevant equipment and technology to Pakistan to improve the sugar produced. Such joint ventures with Chinese partners help Pakistan improve its international competitiveness.

CPEC has benefited a large number of unemployed youth by creating jobs and opportunities for acquiring skills. According to the United Nations Comtrade database on international trade, Pakistan imports from China were US$14.54 Billion during 2018, and the number has continued to increase in recent years. Pakistan mainly imports electrical equipment, iron, steel, and organic chemicals, etcetera. As stated in The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Pakistan is China’s biggest arms buyer, making up nearly 47% of Chinese arms exports. Duties and taxes on imported items are also waived off.

Moreover, since 2010 China has focused on strengthening its soft power, especially in the education sector. Many students have been inclined to learning Mandarin in order to seek jobs and degrees. China has devised policies to attract students from all over the world, including Pakistan, there are nearly 30’000 Pakistanis in China at the moment, and a massive chunk of these are students. Prime Minister has announced an evacuation program, and some of these students have arrived in Islamabad from China via Bangkok. These students will be kept under observation for 14 days to screen for the virus, and their luggage will be examined for any remnants of the virus it may contain. The outbreak of coronavirus is likely to discourage Pakistanis from traveling to China in search of degrees and opportunities in the future. With limitations on Chinese flying in and out, the development projects have more chances of coming to a halt.

Since the lunar new year and the outbreak of the virus, the Chinese economy has gone in a supposed “hibernation.” Corporate offices, factories, outlets have faced staff disruptions and closures throughout this period as the epidemic continues to get worst. International companies are devising plans to evacuate their workforce from China, which has become difficult due to border restrictions and airline companies refusing to operate within China. It is uncertain whether normal life will resume due to the virus’s aggressively contagious nature. World Health Organization has strongly recommended wearing a mask and avoiding contact with patients. Looking at the situation from Pakistan’s lens, there are essential things to consider, like the treatment of evacuated Pakistanis from China. However, it is also evident that the economy will suffer a huge blow. The border restrictions paired with increased caution will hamper developmental projects, causing losses to both states.

The writer is a junior year law student at LUMS. She enjoys books, coffee and cocomo

https://dailytimes.com.pk/553325/coronavirus-will-it-penetrate-pakistans-economy/

Pakistan may receive higher orders for rice export

By Salman Siddiqui

Published: February 6, 2020

Pakistan’s rice exports increased over 27% in volumetric term to 20.02 million ton and over 26% in dollar-denomination to $1.03 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. PHOTO: APP

KARACHI: Pakistan is anticipating receiving higher rice export orders as the two leading global consumers and exporters of the grain; China and Thailand, are stuck in different crises these days.

China is currently battling against an outbreak of the coronavirus for around a month now. The Chinese virus, which has spread to over two dozen counties, has taken around 450 lives and affected another 17,000 people around the world. “The virus is feared to impact Chinese rice crop as well,” Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) former chairman Rafique Suleman told The Express Tribune.

Thailand, which used to be the single largest exporter of rice, is facing the worst drought of the decade. “The situation is expected to impact Thailand’s rice crop as well,” he said.

The two developments have pushed up rice export price. “We are exporting rice (irri-6 which is widely consumed in the world) at over $370 per ton these days compared to around $350 per ton in December 2019,” he said.

Rice exports stagnant as traders unable to meet SPS conditions

Pakistan is the fifth largest exporter of rice in the world. It exports the grain to around 100 countries around the globe.

Pakistan’s rice exports increased over 27% in volumetric terms to 20.02 million ton and over 26% in dollar-denomination to $1.03 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 compared to what it exported in the same period of last year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). “The trend shows a notable growth in rice exports in the second half of the ongoing fiscal year as well,” said Suleman.

He said that rice remained a staple crop for China which is the single largest consumer of the grain. It may resort to importing of rice to meet the local requirement as the virus is feared to impact its crop since Beijing has extended the period of ongoing annual holidays to protect people from the virus, Suleman added.

Besides, buyers of Chinese rice in world markets may also consider importing rice from Pakistan as Pakistani rice is known for high quality and the best aroma, he said.

He said that Pakistan is expected to make higher export of rice to Kenya, which is also a big consumer of the grain, after a Pakistani delegation consisting of high officials and rice exporters from private sector met Kenyan government representative about a week ago.

PTI govt intends to lift rice exports to highest-ever level

“We are expected to export around 500,000-ton rice to Kenya this year (FY20) compared to around 380,000 tons last year,” he said.

“Approximately 25% of total Pakistani rice exports go to African countries and Kenya is the single largest buyer of Pakistani rice in the region, whereas other 75% exports go to the rest of the world.”

Pakistan is the tenth largest rice producing country in the world. Its annual rice crop stands in the range of 7-7.5 million ton. “Pakistan is the homeland of world’s best basmati & non-basmati rice,” said Suleman. Currently, rates of rice are increasing in international markets, while Pakistani rice remains a preferred grain in many countries around the globe.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2020.

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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2150931/2-pakistan-may-receive-higher-orders-rice-export/

Basmati Rice Genome Assemblies Generated Using Nanopore Sequencing

Feb 05, 2020

staff reporter

NEW YORK – A new basmati rice genome assembly using nanopore sequencing reads gives insight into the crop's origins. 

Oryza sativa is a key agricultural crop that provides about 20 percent of people's caloric intake, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. While O. sativa is typically split into two major varieties — japonica and indica — two other genetically distinct variety groups — aus/circum-aus and aromatic/circum-basmati — have recently been recognized.

Researchers from New York University used nanopore sequencing to generate the genomes of two basmati rice landraces, the drought-tolerant Basmati 334 from Pakistan and the expensive Dom Sufid from Iran. By analyzing these genomes, the researchers identified variants not found in japonica rice, found evidence of admixture between the circum-basmati and circum-aus varieties, and uncovered three geographic groups among the basmati varieties, as they reported Wednesday in Genome Biology. The assemblies could further help develop rice with desired traits such as drought or disease resistance.

"Rice is one of the most important staple crops worldwide, and the varieties in the basmati group are some of the most iconic and prized rice varieties," first author Jae Young Choi, a postdoc at New York University, said in a statement.

The researchers sequenced the two basmati rice varieties using Oxford Nanopore Technologies' long-read sequencing platform to about 62X coverage for the Basmati 334 genome and about 51X coverage for the Dom Sufid genome. After polishing the genome assemblies using nanopore and short Illumina sequencing reads, the researchers generated a 386.5 Mb assembly across 188 contigs for Basmati 334 and 383.6 Mb across 116 contigs for Dom Sufid. 

Aligning these draft genome assemblies to the japonica reference genome — a rice from East Asia — uncovered a high level of macrosynteny among the three rice varieties, with the exception of an inversion on chromosome six among the basmati varieties. However, they also found single nucleotide changes, insertions and deletions, and repeat expansions that varied among the rice. For instance, the Dom Sufid variety carried an eight-base-pair deletion affecting the BADH2 sequence region, an alteration associated with fragrance among rice varieties. Basmati 334 and the japonica reference, both non-fragrant varieties, did not have this deletion.

By comparing the rice genomes, the researchers traced the origins of the basmati variety. Through their modeling, the researchers found that the origins of circum-basmati rice was primarily rooted to japonica rice, but with gene flow from circum-aus rice, a rice from Bangladesh. In particular, their analysis suggests there was a period of time during which the circum-aus, circum-basmati, and japonica rice varieties were isolated, but then with gene flow occurring after the split. 

They noted, though, that the history of chromosome 10 differed. In basmati rice, this chromosome appears to have had higher levels of circum-aus introgression, but it is unclear why this occurred, the researchers noted.

Within basmati rice, the analysis indicated there were three genetic sub-groups that largely aligned with geography: Bhutan/Nepal, Iran/Pakistan, and India/Bangladesh/Myanmar. Both the Bhutan/Nepal and Iran/Pakistan groups had genetic signature indicative of an admixed population, but the India/Bangladesh/Myanmar group was more distinct and may have experienced more gene flow from circum-aus rice, the researchers noted.

Following their sequencing of these two basmati rice strains, the researchers plan to work with breeders and others to identify key genes and molecular markers to aid in the development of new rice varieties.

"By having the sequence of rice varieties like Basmati 334, which can withstand drought conditions and resist bacterial blight, we can start to identify genes that give rise to these valuable traits," senior author Michael Purugganan, a biology professor at NYU, said in a statement. "Drought tolerance is something we are particularly interested in, given the challenges we face due to climate change and the implications for food security worldwide."

https://www.genomeweb.com/sequencing/basmati-rice-genome-assemblies-generated-using-nanopore-sequencing#.XjwT-zIzbm4

NYU Scientists Sequence the Genome of Basmati Rice

Feb 5, 2020

Feb 5, 2020

New York City

Reading the Basmati Genome Provides Clues for Growing Drought-Tolerant and Bacteria-Resistant Rice

© Getty Images

Using an innovative genome sequencing technology, researchers assembled the complete genetic blueprint of two basmati rice varieties, including one that is drought-tolerant and resistant to bacterial disease. The findings, published in Genome Biology, also show that basmati rice is a hybrid of two other rice groups.

Basmati—derived from the Hindi word for “fragrant”—is a type of aromatic long-grain rice grown in southern Asia. Despite the economic and cultural importance of basmati and related aromatic rice varieties, their evolutionary history is not fully understood.

“Rice is one of the most important staple crops worldwide, and the varieties in the basmati group are some of the most iconic and prized rice varieties. However, until recently, a high-quality reference genome for basmati rice did not exist,” said Jae Young Choi, a postdoctoral scholar at NYU and the Genome Biology study’s lead author.

Whole-genome sequencing—which determines an organism’s complete DNA sequence—is an important tool for studying plants and improving crop varieties. Prior research assembled the genome for basmati rice using short-read sequencing—in which DNA is broken into tiny fragments and then reassembled—but there were missing sequences and gaps in the data.

The researchers in NYU’s Center for Genomics and Systems Biology sequenced the genome of two members of the basmati rice group using nanopore sequencing technology. Developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, a collaborator on this project, nanopore sequencing is a third-generation sequencing technology that allows long single molecules of DNA to be sequenced quickly, improving on the completeness and efficiency of earlier genome sequencing.

The researchers focused on two basmati rice varieties: Basmati 334 from Pakistan, known to be drought tolerant and resistant to rice-killing bacterial blight, and Dom Sufid from Iran, an aromatic long-grain rice that is one of the most expensive on the market. Using long reads from nanopore sequencing, the researchers assembled high-quality, complete genomes of the two basmati rice varieties that were a significant improvement over earlier genome sequences assembled using short reads.

The sequencing also confirmed that basmati rice is a hybrid of two other rice groups. Most genetic material in basmati comes from japonica (a rice group found in East Asia), followed by the rice group aus (found in Bangladesh).

Now that the genome sequences of basmati rice have been established, the researchers aim to work with the scientific and rice breeding communities to identify important genes, see what makes the basmati group unique, and even develop molecular markers to help breed new varieties.

“By having the sequence of rice varieties like Basmati 334, which can withstand drought conditions and resist bacterial blight, we can start to identify genes that give rise to these valuable traits,” said Michael Purugganan, the Silver Professor of Biology at NYU and the study’s senior author. “Drought tolerance is something we are particularly interested in, given the challenges we face due to climate change and the implications for food security worldwide.”

In addition to Choi and Purugganan, the study authors are Zoe N. Lye and Simon C. Groen of NYU’s Center for Genomics and Systems Biology; Xiaoguang Dai, Priyesh Rughani, Eoghan D. Harrington, and Sissel Juul of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, and Sophie Zaaijer of the New York Genome Center. The work was supported by grants from the Zegar Family Foundation (A16-0051), National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program (IOS-1546218), Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF2550.06), and NYU Abu Dhabi Research Institute.

http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2020/february/basmati-rice-genome.html

Indonesia, Pakistan aim to increase bilateral trade and cooperation

Web Desk

6:32 PM | February 05, 2020

Indonesia and Pakistan are strengthening mutual relations in order to potentially deal in different sectors of the economy and the bilateral trade is also growing on a annual basis, said Consul General of Indonesia Totok Prianamto. “Being an official representative of Indonesia, one of the tasks given to me is to further strengthen the economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries,” he said. “Karachi is a very important port for Indonesia especially for trade and investment sectors.”

Addressing a group of journalists, he said that major import items of his country from Pakistan included rice, chemical, raw cotton, wheat, paper, fruits, garments, leather, plastic materials, cotton yarn, cloth, other textile products, sports and surgical goods.

He emphasised the potential that since Karachi was the largest city operating two large sea port, it serves as the main entry point for Indonesian products to potentially access the Pakistani market. “Several trade associations, chambers and businessmen from Pakistan participate in various exhibitions and trade shows in Indonesia,” he added.

The Indonesian Consul General said that the business community of Karachi metropolitan were actively trading and consulting meetings with the Indonesian counterparts to boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation as well as to establishing strong people-to-people contacts.  

https://nation.com.pk/05-Feb-2020/indonesia-pakistan-aim-to-increase-bilateral-trade-and-cooperation