Monday, August 17, 2020

17th August,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice Digital Edition

 

 Fiji Rice credits farmers for success

FIJI RICE LIMITED HAS ATTRIBUTED ITS HIGHEST PRODUCTION RECEIVED AFTER SEVEN YEARS TO FARMERS’ HARD WORK.
Fiji Rice Limited has attributed its highest production received after seven years to farmers’ hard work.
General Manager Ashrit Pratap says some of these farmers were initially landowners and their land has been cultivated by Fiji Rice Limited. Pratap says over the years the company gave the farmers their share who have thus reinvested in rice cultivation.
 
“We deduct cost after harvesting and the proceeds are given back to the farmers. The idea is basically for them to have the feel of rice farming and also profits in the end so that they can reinvest into rice farming, so the mechanism is working well and we are able to achieve that.” Fiji Rice Limited produced 221 tonnes of rice worth over $161, 216 for the financial year ending July 31st. Pratap says the unaudited profit for the year 2019-2020 is around $471,000. He says in a span of seven to eight years they have made a huge turnaround of close to half million dollars.
 


Costly inputs to affect Punjab’s rice crop
Overall, 52.2pc of the farmers reported an increase in the cost of farm inputs due to Covid-19. — APP/File ISLAMABAD: Farmers in Punjab have lost earnings during the pandemic and may not be able to buy inputs for rice production due to higher prices, according to survey carried out by the Asian Development Bank on ‘Covid-19 Impact on Farm Households in Punjab’. Rice is a major staple crop and an important export product, and increased input prices may cause significant problems for the country’s economy. ADB conducted a computer-assisted telephonic survey of 668 farmers across 10 districts of Punjab and interviewed over 400 farmers. About 62 per cent of total respondents reported financial difficulties in recent months because of the Covid-19. Nearly 89pc of respondents who did so indicated the purchase of inputs as their primary concern, while a minority cited liabilities, including loans from banks and non-bank lenders. Moreover, 33pc of respondents indicated that their households experienced losses in wages and non-farm earnings because of Covid-19, and 22pc reported that at least one family member had returned home from urban and other areas.Overall, 52.2pc of the farmers reported an increase in the cost of farm inputs due to Covid-19. Majority stated that the cost of seed had increased, while a sizable share noted higher prices for fertilisers and pesticides. Regarding labour availability, most responding farmers stated they did not have problems in finding workers for the next crop cycle. Most reported not having any trouble finding machines for preparing land or sowing crops.


Rice Export from India Increases by More Than 50%

Traders of non-basmati rice optimistic about exports as demand from countries increase to maintain food security. Rice export from India increases by more than 50%.

Increase in Non-Basmati Exports

The exports of non-basmati rice have registered a growth of 52% in the first two months of the current fiscal year. The quantity of exports has increased to 11.13 lakh tonnes in the April-May period of FY21 from 7.3 lakh tonnes in the same period of FY20. The export of non-basmati rice was declining from the last two years. 
Non-Basmati and Basmati Rice Exports to Increase in India by Over 50%
Non-Basmati and Basmati Rice Exports to Increase in India by Over 50%

Growth in Demand From Several Countries

The Rice Exporters Association President, BV Krishna Rao, said that the non-basmati exports have rebounded. He attributed to demand from traditional buyers in the African region owing to a surge in Thai rice prices for such an increase. Apart from this, the non-basmati rice shipments have picked up in Malaysia, Philippines, and Russia for food security reasons. Further, he said that competitive prices, abundant production, and favourable currency have contributed to the jump in exports. The country touched an all-time high in rice production to 117.94 mt in 2019-20 from 96 mt in 2010-11. Moreover, the current Kharif season has registered a 17% higher plantation, which will further aid the exports.

Drop in Exports of Non-Basmati Exports in 2018

Explaining the downward trend in non-basmati exports after 2018, Rao said that the drop was due to increased MSP provided by the government. Also, farmers lost interest in exports as the government procured huge quantities form them. However, he is optimistic that this year the exports will touch FY18 levels of 8.64 million tonnes. 

Increase in Demand From Bangladesh

Rao also mentioned prospects for an increase in demand from Bangladesh. Suraj Agarwal, CEO, Tirupati Agri Trade explained rice consumption in the country has risen as people are staying indoors owing to the pandemic. The Bangladesh government is considering imports amid the slow procurement.  In all, the export association is hoping a high volume of non-basmati exports this year. 
Pakistan, China to set up hybrid rice research centre
Joint centre will boost yield to improve domestic food security and supplement export  WUHAN: Academic institutes of Pakistan and China are working to jointly launch a research centre for hybrid rice. The Wuhan University-University of Punjab Joint Research Centre for Honglian Hybrid Rice is going to become operational this year, revealed official website of China Association for Science and Technology. This move will boost development of high-yield hybrid rice in Pakistan to improve domestic food security, in addition to supplementing rice export. Honglian hybrid rice is one of the three major types of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of rice (Oryza sativa L) that has been commercially used in hybrid rice seed production. The production of Honglian hybrid rice in Pakistan can reach around 7,500kg per hectare, nearly three times as much as that of many other rice varieties, said Zhu Renshan, professor-level senior engineer of Wuhan University who is in charge of the international cooperation on this type of rice. "A lot of hybrid rice varieties' high-yield performance is only confined to a specific area. In contrast, Honglian hybrid rice can create bumper harvest not only in China but also in many other countries like Pakistan," Zhu Renshan said. Honglian hybrid rice adapts well to Pakistan's climate. Even under extreme high temperature or changeable weather, the seed setting rate is still stable, much higher than that of other hybrid rice varieties. Moreover, Honglian rice seed production costs less therefore farmers can get higher income at the same investment. Punjab Agriculture Extension Director Shahzad Sabir and professors from the University of Punjab praised Honglian hybrid rice's feature of heat-tolerance and adaptability, which suits Pakistan's climate. Having seen Honglian hybrid rice do well in the six experimental plots in Pakistan, professionals of the two countries are confident in its future performance when sowed at a large scale. Next, besides lifting local cultivation, the research centre is planning a series of technical cooperation and scientific research. Seed production technologies will be gradually transferred to Pakistan. Furthermore, they will also provide technical support on pest control. Though the Covid-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc in the world, Pak-Sino cooperation related to Honglian hybrid rice keeps progressing. Earlier this year, the research team of Wuhan University delivered seeds from China to Pakistan via international logistics, and the rice will be harvested in October. THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON THE CHINA ECONOMIC NET Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2020.



RCCI holds webinar on ‘Pakistan-Hong Kong Trade’

APP

August 17, 2020

Description: RCCI holds webinar on ‘Pakistan-Hong Kong Trade’

 

 

RAWALPINDI          -         Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong Bilal Ahmed Butt has said that Hong Kong was the 7th largest trading economy with free trade policy and easy licensing for international trade. Pakistan has huge potential to increase its exports to Hong Kong in the sectors of Leather, Denim and Cottons, Swim and track suits, Rice, meat, seafood, gems & jewellery and surgical equipment.

Addressing a webinar on ‘Pakistan-Hong Kong Trade’ organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI), he suggested that more virtual trade forums should be conducted on frequent intervals to get connected with the business community for the rapid exchange of trade insights. He lauded RCCI’s efforts in launching the virtual edition of Rawal Expo and added that these webinars could play as business to business meetings among the exporters, counsellor office and the importers. Malik M Asim – Consul of Pakistan in Hong Kong in his address said that Hong Kong was the 2nd largest exporter of IT products in Asia and 7th largest in the world. He highlighted the scope of export of IT and ICT products of Pakistan to Hong Kong. Earlier, RCCI President Saboor Malik provided an update on RCCI current activities and shared key economic indicators with the participants. He said no doubt COVID- 19 had halted the trade activities in the region but also provided us an opportunity to think out of the box solutions.

High level meeting of National Command and Operation Centre

 

 Chairman Rawal Expo, Nasir Mirza gave a detailed briefing about the Virtual International Rawal Expo-2020. He also briefed about the VIRE 2020, which had provided an opportunity to connect the business community across the world. Moreover, the series of Virtual Trade Forums have provided a unique opportunity to get a detailed insight of trade potentials of Pakistani products in different countries.

https://nation.com.pk/17-Aug-2020/rcci-holds-webinar-on-pakistan-hong-kong-trade

 

Envoy stresses potential of Hong Kong as export destination for Pakistan

By

 TLTP

Description: https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Hong-Kong-economy-696x464.jpeg

RAWALPINDI: Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong Bilal Ahmed Butt on Sunday said that Hong Kong has a huge potential as an export destination for Pakistan due to its free trade policy and easy licensing procedures for international trade.

The envoy said that Pakistani leather, denim and cottons, swim and track suits, rice, meat, seafood, gems and jewelry and surgical equipment sectors have a great potential of increasing their exports to Hong Kong.

He said this while addressing a webinar related to Pakistan-Hong Kong trade organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).

He lauded RCCI’s efforts in launching the virtual edition of Rawal Expo and added that virtual trade forums should be conducted frequently to connect business communities of both the countries.

Consul of Pakistan in Hong Kong Malik Asim said that Hong Kong is the second largest exporter of Information Technology (IT) products in Asia and the seventh largest in the world. He highlighted that Pakistan has a good scope of exporting IT products to Hong Kong.

Earlier, RCCI President Saboor Malik provided an update on RCCI’s activities and shared key economic indicators with the participants.

He said that the spread of Covid-19 has halted trade activities in the region which provides an opportunity to look for out of the box solutions.

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/08/16/envoy-stresses-potential-of-hong-kong-as-export-destination-for-pakistan/

Why pinning hopes on US election is wrong

Ehsan Malik 17 Aug 2020

Joe Biden is leading President Trump in popularity polls. There is a growing likelihood that there will be a change in the White House on Jan 20, 2021. With that comes a misplaced expectation of radical change in US policy towards Pakistan.

The hope is that the United States will adopt an aggressive stance to outdo the Chinese influence through trade and investment.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, the most vocal candidate on trade during the Democratic primaries, outlined nine principles that aspirants for trade deals with the United States needed to meet. These covered labour and human rights, child labour, religious freedom, curbing bribery and corruption, climate change, transparency in taxation and currency movement (read the Financial Action Task Force. Given the country’s own record on some of these principles, the list indicated that for her trade deals per se were not a particularly high priority.

Unlike China’s, the US private sector is independent of the government. Only Pakistan’s investment fundamentals will influence the decision

Mr Biden believes that prior to entering into further trade deals, the United States needs to improve its ability to compete. He has spoken about creating 10 million new jobs in environment-friendly sectors.

The United States is Pakistan’s largest export destination. Nearly 80 per cent of its exports are textile products. Yet we rank seventh, with a mere 2.8pc share in the total textile imports of the United States. Thirty-two of the top 50 textile items that the United States imports are made from man-made fibres in which Pakistan has less than 1pc share. Also, most countries ahead of Pakistan in the US textile import league do not enjoy more favourable market access than Islamabad.

Thus, Pakistan needs to address productivity and product range. Of course, a limited preferential trade agreement covering (mainly) textiles and rice from Pakistan in exchange for cotton and soybean from the United States will help close the productivity gap but reduce the incentive to address it. A wider free trade agreement is not in Pakistan’s interest owing to its weak agriculture sector.

There are a number of reasons why the United States is unlikely to get into an investment race with China. Unlike China’s, the US private sector is independent of the government and will not take direction. Government guarantees can facilitate investment, but it is Pakistan’s investment fundamentals that will influence the decision.

Issues such as the ease and cost of doing business and enforcement of intellectual property rights are major determinants in the investment decision, which Pakistan needs to address. A country that is unable to attract local investment (other than in guaranteed-return or protected sectors) cannot realistically hope to attract foreign investment. Not surprisingly, there is hardly any Chinese private-sector investment here.

Secondly, Pakistan’s foreign direct investment (FDI) policy has failed to guide foreign investment in sectors other than fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) that leverage the country’s demographic dividend. It has brought limited new technology and led to no meaningful exports. There are several US, UK, Dutch and other FMCG investors operating here already. However, Pakistan needs policies to attract investment in agriculture, horticulture, cold chain, tourism and fisheries. There isn’t even a single foreign investor of note in Pakistan’s major export sector — textiles. If the customer is (nearly) always right, the United States is our largest customer of textiles and can surely invest and help improve our range and sophisticate our offerings.

One of the core impediments to competitiveness of Pakistan’s industry is productivity which, in turn, is a function of education and training. The energy cost, other than for some export sectors, is also higher than that in the region. Per-acre productivity of all major crops is well below the global best. The cost of moving goods is high. Provinces don’t compete for investment. Special economic zones exist on paper only. The tax base is narrow. Industry carries a disproportionate fiscal burden. Pakistan has been de-industrialising. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), established to check public-sector corruption, keeps ‘nabbing’ private-sector investors. This is hardly an investment-friendly environment.

Whilst the United States and others can guide in improving the investment climate, we — the government, parliament and the private sector — need to address key issues. Let’s stop dreaming. Santa Claus isn’t coming anytime soon. Let’s fix our house.

The writer is the CEO of Pakistan Business Council

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, August 17th, 2020

https://www.dawn.com/news/15747636 good foods that blur differences between India & Pakistan

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Aug 15, 2020, 21:46 ISTShare fbsharetwsharepinshareComments (2)

01/8Foods that blur difference between Indian and Pakistani cuisine

Description: https://static.toiimg.com/thumb/77561335.cms?width=680&height=512&imgsize=438018

If you have just had a serving of steaming hot and spicy biryani, gulab jamun and a glass of chilled lassi, could you tell whether it was an Indian lunch or Pakistani? The two countries share a lot of commonalities ranging from history, culture, language and cuisine. Good food has the power to blur the differences between India and Pakistan and bring everyone together. In the spirit of unity in diversity, here are 6 foods that are made and loved by both countries.

02/8Samosa

Description: Samosa

Indian or Pakistani, nobody can resist the temptation of these yummy packets of flavours! Stuffed with spicy mashed potatoes with peas, crushed peanuts and sometimes even cottage cheese, samosa is loved equally in both the countries. Just like varieties of samosa exist in India, Pakistanis also experiment with different types of savoury fillings ranging from veggies to meat.

03/8Gol Gappe

Description: Gol Gappe

Gol gappe! Even the mention of these tangy balls of deliciousness makes the mouth water, no matter the nationality. Gol gappe filled with tasty mashed potatoes, zesty chutneys, tamarind or mint water, chickpeas and yoghurt are popular in both the countries. No matter where you are in India or Pakistan, you will have the choice to enjoy your gol gappe with sweet or tangy chutney (or both!).

04/8Kulfi Falooda

Description: Kulfi Falooda

The bowl of sinfully sweet kulfi falooda made with kulfi, fresh milk and silky noodles appeal equally to both Indian and Pakistani people. Varieties of the heavenly falooda are popular in Lahore just as it is in north Indian regions like Delhi or Lucknow and south Indian cities of Hyderabad or Bangalore. (And the entire country, for that matter!).

05/8Biryani

Description: Biryani

How can this list be complete without Biryani? From the online ordering trend of the last three years, we already know about India’s everlasting love for Biryani. A variety of this flavoursome dish made with aromatic rice, spices and juicy pieces of meat is also equally loved in Pakistan. Just like we experiment with the kinds of spices, vegetables and meats we use in our biryanis, they do too, and now countless versions of it exist in both the countries!

06/8Kebabs

Description: Kebabs

Seekh kebabs, shami kebabs, chapli kebabs and so many others succulent and spicy kebabs cause an explosion of flavours in the mouth. Who doesn’t want such a treat, no matter where they come from? Numerous varieties of soft and juicy kebabs are relished in both countries, even though they might look a little different from each other.

07/8Gushtaba

Description: Gushtaba

If you have not tasted this rich Pakistani dish made with balls of minced meat dipped in a tangy gravy of spices and yoghurt, you are missing out on a lot! Gushtaba is known as ‘dish of the kings’ and is famous especially in the Indian region of Kashmir. It melts in the mouth and washes the taste buds will pure deliciousness!

08/8Let cooking techniques be the only difference!

Description: Let cooking techniques be the only difference!

There are countless other dishes that are shared by both Indian and Pakistani cuisine such as Nahari, Haleem, Korma, Lassi, Dahi Bhalley, Pulao, Sheemal, and so many more! Variations remain, of course, in the choice of ingredients, meats, vegetables, spices and cooking style.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/6-good-foods-that-blur-differences-between-india-amp-pakistan/photostory/77561311.cms

Harmful bacteria lurk in Istanbul street food, says research

ISTANBUL

Description: Harmful bacteria lurk in Istanbul street food, says research

Many popular snacks sold by street vendors in Istanbul failed to clear safety tests, with lab reports of samples that showed the presence of harmful bacteria.

Pathogenic bacteria were detected in most of the foods sold on the street such as rice, chicken döner, sandwich and kokoreç (lamb intestine), reported in year-long research by a group of academics and scientists from Istanbul Gelişim University.

“Staphylococcus aureus” was found in 65 percent of the foods tested, while “e.coli” was detected in 25 percent of those products.

These bacteria are known to cause food poisoning, infections or serious illnesses.

Street foods were examined in a laboratory environment to measure their microbiological quality, then a survey was conducted to measure the food safety knowledge of street vendors, and finally, hand samples were taken from them in three stages of the research.

“We found salmonella in 10 percent of the foods tested. It is also a bacterium that causes typhoid,” said Murat Doğan from the research group.

“Since salmonella is a very risky bacterium, it may cause major problems in the human body when ingested. Millions of people died in the past from typhoid fever,” Doğan added.

Noting that the study was the first comprehensive research conducted in the country for the evaluation of street foods in terms of food safety, he pointed out the potential damage of microorganisms found in food.

Underlining that “staphylococcus aureus,” also known as staph, causes food poisoning in particular, the researcher noted that the biggest threat to public health is “e.coli.”

“This bacterium is fecal-borne, a major threat to public health. There is a major problem in terms of food safety in street foods. This situation should be taken under control as soon as possible,” Doğan stressed.

Among the list of street foods that contain bacteria of e.coli include chicken döner, rice with chicken, Albanian style fried diced liver, sandwich, and toast, according to the research.

Problematic results were obtained in terms of hygiene in nine out of 10 hand samples received from vendors within the scope of the research.

The research pointed out that sellers should wash their hands frequently rather than wear gloves, while the environment where the products are stored should also be disinfected.

Speaking to Demirören News Agency, many street vendors claimed that the results of the research are not correct and do not reflect the truth.

“We do not sell something that our customers wouldn’t like to eat. We must always give the best to get customers,” said Halil Ece, a kokoreç seller.

“We are careful to not work without wearing our masks and gloves,” he added.

Another rice seller noted he was careful not to work without his mask and gloves even before the outbreak of COVID-19.

“Whenever a customer comes, I disinfect the tables with a washcloth,” he said.

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/harmful-bacteria-lurk-in-istanbul-street-food-says-research-157452

 

DOST-PNRI scientists bag awards on NCRP scientific conference

Philippine Information Agency
17 Aug 2020, 00:38 GMT+10

Description: https://cdn.bignewsnetwork.com/pia1597588695.jpg

QUEZON CITY, August 16 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) scientists and researchers received several awards at the Annual Scientific Conference and 87th General Membership Assembly of the National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) held virtual last June 30.

Awardees were recognized for their significant contributions to their respective fields and research advancements that benefited the different sectors of the economy.

Dr. Lucille Abad (left) and Dr. Custer Deocaris (right) from DOST-PNRI were among the 10 awardees for Outstanding Filipino Researchers under the DOST-NRCP Achievement Awards.

Dr. Lucille Abad and Dr. Custer Deocaris of DOST-PNRI Atomic Research Division were among the awardees for Outstanding Filipino Researchers under the DOST-NRCP Achievement Awards.

Dr. Abad was awarded for her major research and development projects which are the Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter that increases the yield of rice and other crops and the Hydrogel Wound Dressing for burns, wounds, and bedsores. On the other hand, Dr. Deocaris is a multi-awarded science and technology broadcast journalist and also a DOST Balik Scientist with a wide range of postdoctoral work in neuroscience, sports science, and embryology.

DOST-NRCP is a collegial body of scientists and researchers that provides policy recommendations and invaluable support for the country's ever-growing R&D efforts which contribute to national development. (JLB/PIA-IDPD)

https://www.malaysiasun.com/news/266111359/dost-pnri-scientists-bag-awards-on-ncrp-scientific-conference

 

 

The expert explained how to get rid of arsenic in rice

Description: Greg Smitson by Greg Smitson

 

 August 17, 2020

Popular cereal can cause serious harm, if do not follow the rules of its preparation.

Description: Эксперт рассказала, как избавиться от мышьяка в рисе

 

British scientists recently were shocked by the message about elevated levels of arsenic in popular among the population cereal — rice. They even have established a link between increased mortality from cardiovascular disease and the amount of rice eaten. The poison contained in the product, enters the body and accumulates there, it is gradually poisoning and leading to premature death.

Famous Russian nutritionist Elena Solomatina did not deny the findings of foreign researchers.

British scientists at this time are largely correct, — quotes the words of an expert “KP”. The rice culture is hygroscopic, it grows in water and absorbs water from all sorts of toxins. By the way, on this property based rice and various cleansing programs that need fasting eat rice, boiled in seven waters. It acts like a sponge and absorbs toxins from our intestines. But just as the rice absorbs all the toxic substances from water, in which grows.

Infected with various salts of heavy metals and arsenic in ground water really saturate poisons plants, and then they deliver it to the body. Thus in brown rice that are considered diet, toxins even more than processed white.

Dietitian gave advice on how to best protect themselves from poisoning by poison contained in the rice, without abandoning its use.

It is best before cooking the rice soak for 12 hours. Moreover, after 6 hours drain the water and pour a new batch.

You can also double the amount of liquid in which cooked rice. Not take three parts water to one part rice, and pour one part rice to six parts water. After completely cooked, drain the water in the sink. Solomatin says that a large part of the toxins will go together with the liquid. Really and vitamins with trace elements too.

https://thesaxon.org/the-expert-explained-how-to-get-rid-of-arsenic-in-rice/25669/

 

Rice Export from India Increases by More Than 50%

August 17, 2020

Gurneel Kaur

Traders of non-basmati rice optimistic about exports as demand from countries increase to maintain food security. Rice export from India increases by more than 50%.

Increase in Non-Basmati Exports

The exports of non-basmati rice have registered a growth of 52% in the first two months of the current fiscal year. The quantity of exports has increased to 11.13 lakh tonnes in the April-May period of FY21 from 7.3 lakh tonnes in the same period of FY20. The export of non-basmati rice was declining from the last two years. 

Non-Basmati and Basmati Rice Exports to Increase in India by Over 50%

Growth in Demand From Several Countries

The Rice Exporters Association President, BV Krishna Rao, said that the non-basmati exports have rebounded. He attributed to demand from traditional buyers in the African region owing to a surge in Thai rice prices for such an increase. Apart from this, the non-basmati rice shipments have picked up in Malaysia, Philippines, and Russia for food security reasons. Further, he said that competitive prices, abundant production, and favourable currency have contributed to the jump in exports. The country touched an all-time high in rice production to 117.94 mt in 2019-20 from 96 mt in 2010-11. Moreover, the current Kharif season has registered a 17% higher plantation, which will further aid the exports.

Drop in Exports of Non-Basmati Exports in 2018

Explaining the downward trend in non-basmati exports after 2018, Rao said that the drop was due to increased MSP provided by the government. Also, farmers lost interest in exports as the government procured huge quantities form them. However, he is optimistic that this year the exports will touch FY18 levels of 8.64 million tonnes. 

Increase in Demand From Bangladesh

Rao also mentioned prospects for an increase in demand from Bangladesh. Suraj Agarwal, CEO, Tirupati Agri Trade explained rice consumption in the country has risen as people are staying indoors owing to the pandemic. The Bangladesh government is considering imports amid the slow procurement. 

In all, the export association is hoping a high volume of non-basmati exports this year. 

Tags: Africabangladeshbasmati exportsfarmersFood securityFy18FY20kharifmalayasiamalaysianon-basmati exportsnon-basmati ricepandemicphilippinesplantationRaoRice Exporters Associationrice productionRussiaslow procurementtirupati Agri tradetraditional buyers

https://www.grainmart.in/news/rice-export-from-india-increases-by-more-than-50/

 

Border closure should be reviewed

 August 17, 2020

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ONE year after Nigeria’s land borders were closed to its West African neighbours, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), ought to undertake a critical review of the policy. Citing economic losses and illegal arms/drugs trade, Nigeria abruptly shut its borders with Benin Republic in August 2019. Not satisfied with the outcome, it extended the ban to the land trade with all its neighbours in October, a tactic that has reverberated around the sub-region. Additionally, it prohibited fuel supply to petrol filling stations within 20-kilometre radius of its borders. These decisions were rightly taken to protect the economy from the nefarious consequences of smuggling. Given however that no robust economy can be an island unto itself, the first anniversary of the closure is appropriate to accomplish a comprehensive re-evaluation of the painful closure.

Without doubt, Nigeria has strong reasons for its drastic action. Chief among them are the unchecked smuggling of petroleum products it pays a premium for and the persistent violation of the ECOWAS protocol on goods in transit. Neighbouring countries route goods destined for Nigeria through their ports, tamper with the seals of the containers and re-export such products to Nigeria through smuggling, making huge profits. Rice, palm oil, frozen poultry products, used vehicles and several other products under partial or outright ban in Nigeria, are widely smuggled into the country with tacit approval by neighbouring governments.

An obvious case is Benin Republic: its imports per capita are far too large for its 11 million population. After Nigeria raised its tariff on rice imports to 70 per cent in 2013, Benin crashed its own from 35 per cent to five per cent in 2014. A 2018 study found that Benin was the sixth largest importer of rice in the world from Thailand. The rice ends up mainly in Nigeria. This undermines the economy and efforts to revive domestic agriculture.

Nigeria also suffers hugely from fuel smuggling. Going by records from the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, between 10 and 20 per cent of Nigeria’s fuel, which it imports at the expense of its economy, is smuggled across the borders. It loses revenue from import duties on smuggled vehicles. Cattle-rustling is rampant in the northern outposts. Worst of all is the illicit arms trade. In this, terrorists and bandits exploit the loose and undermanned border routes to flood Nigeria with arms being deployed for their nefarious activities. Thus, Nigeria acted to end the subversion of its territorial integrity and security.

In retrospect, Nigeria has recorded some gains in the past 12 months. In particular, customs revenue jumped by 30 per cent to N8 billion daily, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated. The poultry industry rose in value by N50 billion. Buhari said, “Nigeria saved millions of dollars from rice imports.” Temporarily, smuggling of goods and arms reduced. In turn, genuine importers diverted their goods and raw materials to the congested seaports.

The measures have taken a dystopian turn as there are strong indications that Nigeria is losing more than the income it is gaining, particularly in export trade and jobs. Take inflation, it has climbed upward steadily since the border closure. The inflation rate, which was 11.2 per cent at the beginning of the partial border closure, climbed to 11.85 per cent in November, the highest rate since May 2018, the National Bureau of Statistics said. In January, it was 12.13 per cent and 12.40 per cent by May.

Although the NCS said it has seized rice consignments worth N3.5 billion during the closure, SBM Intelligence, an economic research firm, says that export-oriented firms are closing down. Beverage manufacturers, among others, reportedly lost trillions of naira of raw materials that have been stuck at the borders. “Nigerian authorities assume that a border closure works only one way – on the import side. But it bears reiterating that the country is actually a net exporter via the land borders and this closure affects these exporters,” SBM noted. “There is a net loss to the economy in terms of export revenue,” the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria added. This is not good enough.

It is just as hard on domestic jobs. The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents estimated that 1,000 customs brokers and 200,000 industry employees have lost their jobs to the ban. A study calculated that in the past 10 months, about three million Nigerians whose businesses depend on the cross-border trade, are jobless. As the borders in the North remained porous, not much was gained. Arms infiltration is evident, leading to the unusually high resurgence in banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and terrorism, mainly in the North. Although Nigeria claimed the moral high ground at the beginning of the closure, the table is turning: ECOWAS countries are now outraged. Having precipitately signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement deal three months before the closure, other African countries might soon follow suit.

Unfortunately, as Brookings Institution argues, “the region’s artificial and often porous borders, a long history of regional trade, weak border enforcement, corruption, and, perhaps most importantly, lack of coordination of economic policies among neighbouring countries” pose serious problems. It is argued that border closure should only be for a brief period to solve a particular problem. As cross-border trade is vital to the economic wellbeing of contiguous countries, lengthy border closures do not solve any real economic problems. Therefore, the Buhari regime should change tack and get down to the hard work of reviewing the effects of the closure in the past year. Partially, smuggling is thriving because Nigeria’s borders are porous and containment efforts inefficient. It has about 80 legal border outposts, but over 1,400 illegal crossings. This is overwhelming for the security agencies to guard, but by introducing technology, much can be achieved. Chips and tracking devices on containers are very effective. Modern scanners, which quicken the clearing of goods, are ready tools.

To revive exports, Nigeria could involve the multilateral organisations to oversee the implementation of the tripartite committee of Nigeria, Benin and Niger to curb the smuggling of goods, arms and illicit drugs.

Most importantly, the regime should do more to diversify the economy; bridge the wide gap between the official and black-market rates of the naira; end fuel subsidy and improve ports operations immediately.

.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

https://punchng.com/border-closure-should-be-reviewed/

Rice tariff collections top P11 billion — BoC

August 16, 2020 | 7:31 pm

Description: https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/rice-farmer-philstar.jpgPHILSTAR

RICE TARIFF collections totaled P11.036 billion in the seven months to July, up 4% year on year despite lower import volume, according to Customs data obtained by BusinessWorld.

The volume of imported rice dropped 26.2% from a year earlier to 1.705 million metric tons.

In mid-July, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) exceeded the P10 billion worth of tariffs that must by law go to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which will support farm mechanization and other measures to allow farmers to better compete against imports.

The RCEF is authorized by Republic Act (RA) No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law.

The BoC collected P12.1 billion from rice tariffs last year. Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar has asked the Budget department to release the P2 billion worth of excess revenue.

The Agriculture department wants to use the excess as follows: P1 billion for the crop diversification program and P1.1 billion to expand crop insurance.

RA 11203 was signed into law in February 2019, allowing unrestricted imports by private parties, who need to pay 35% tariffs on Southeast Asian grain. The tariffs fund the RCEF budget of P10 billion a year. — Beatrice M. Laforga

https://www.bworldonline.com/rice-tariff-collections-top-p11-billion-boc/

 

The reverent relationship of man and beast

In a bygone era, peasant farmers and their buffaloes tilled the fields and fed the world

PUBLISHED : 17 AUG 2020 AT 04:30

NEWSPAPER SECTION: LIFE

 

WRITER: SUTHON SUKPHISIT

Description: https://static.bangkokpost.com/media/content/dcx/2020/08/17/3722563.jpgphoto: PRASIT TANGPRASERT

In the old days, farmers considered buffaloes their best friends and they were deeply bonded. The animals were not just powerful, but were also very reliable helpers in rice fields. Nowadays, we rarely see the beasts working in the fields because they have been replaced by machines.

Peasants in the Central Plains were tightly connected to their buffaloes due to environmental and natural factors. Regretfully, the virtue of the peasants and their mighty yet obedient beasts belong to a bygone era.

Years ago, there were neither irrigation systems nor water gates to break the runoffs from rivers during rainy season. Rainwater flooded the fields, making the condition favourable to rice farming, the main occupation of people living in the region.

A cycle starts at the end of summer when farmers start tilling the ground. They would set off from their homes with buffaloes and start working before dawn. A plough is tied over the buffalo's shoulder and the beast drags it through the hard soil while its owner follows closely behind. When the Sun gets high, both farmer and buffalo take a break. The farmer eats the breakfast his wife had delivered to him while the buffaloes are released to feed themselves with weeds and grass. The chore restarts in the afternoon for a short period. Then the buffaloes are released again for resting and feeding.

In late afternoon, the owner herds the buffaloes back home to let them wallow in the swamp in front of the house. Some farmers even bath the ruminants before putting them in the pen under the house, pilled with freshly cut grass. The surrounding area is kept clean. Leaves and trash are burned to thwart mosquitos from disturbing the animals. More importantly, the smoke that seeps through the space between floor planks helps

At the onset of monsoon season, water runoff fills the rice fields. The peasants together with their beasts continue their work in the field doing the second tillage to make the soil friable and smooth, ready for sowing rice seeds. During breakfast and lunch breaks, buffaloes are released to munch the grass. Most often, the animals take to mud bathing to keep their bodies cool.

The same routine is followed in the evening. The farmer herds his buffaloes back home; lets them soak and wash in the canal before entering the pen; and burns the weeds and wood to create a smoke to drive the insects away.

Prior to the peak of rainy season, the pen is relocated to higher ground to avoid being flooded. Buffaloes are kept in the pen and eat straw their owner provides.

When water slowly floods rice fields, the Kor Khor rice adapts, growing higher above the water. Grass and morning glory also sprout in the rice field. The peasants have to row a boat to get rid of the weeds so they don't swarm over the rice plants. As a bonus, the removed weed becomes ideal fresh foliage for the buffaloes.

At the end of rainy season, the water begins to flow from the rice fields to rivers and canals. This is what the peasants have been waiting for. They cast fishing nets to trap the fish swimming out of the rice field. There are varieties of fish that can be preserved and kept for a long time.

When the cool season comes, water in the field dries up while rice seeds are ripe and ready for harvest. The peasants in the Central Plains would help each other harvest their crops, the tradition commonly known as long khak.

The harvested rice is loaded in the cart and pulled back by the buffaloes to the threshing area near the house. The smooth and soft threshing ground is called laan nuad khao in Thai. The animal is then made to walk in a circle on the piles of rice to remove the grains from the stalks.

The paddy grains are collected in a barn of which the inside of the wall is coated with a mixture of clay and buffalo droppings. This primitive technique effectively insulates the barn against volatile temperature and keeps the grain safe from insects.

Most of the grain is loaded into the boats to sell to rice millers, with some portion kept for consumption. After rice growing activities have wound down, tending the buffaloes will continue. The animals will be released to eat grass and rice stalks left over in the field or remaining straw after harvest.

The timing coincides with summer school holidays and the kids are usually assigned to tend the buffaloes. They would let the animals graze in the field while they play with friends in the huts or shelters nearby. Late in the afternoon, the kids bring their animals back home and allow them to wallow in the dock in front of their homes as usual.

The peasants typically keep both male and female buffaloes. The newborn calves are raised to work on the farm, with some male calves sold.

When the buffaloes get very old and die the owner would ask their neighbours to dissect the meat and give to those who want some. Normally the owners do not eat the meat of their own buffaloes as they feel too attached to the animals that had tended their fields for a long time. But they would keep the skin to use as a leather thong and keep the skull with horns as a fond memory. No matter how long the time passes, the owner will always remember the name of each one of them.

This cycle of life is closely connected between a peasant and his buffalo. It is a natural bond so profound that is hard to put into words. Sadly, such sweet old days no longer exist and will never return.

Description: https://static.bangkokpost.com/media/content/dcx/2020/08/17/3722567.jpg

https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/1969499/the-reverent-relationship-of-man-and-beast

 

lean chit gives Haryana liquor scam political twist

Is the state’s coalition government heading for major showdown in the high-profile liquor scam? wonders Rajesh Moudgil

By

 Rajesh Moudgil

 -

Description: http://tehelka.com/media/2020/08/34-300x183.jpgThe first-time Bharatiya Janata Party-Jannayak Janta Party (BJP-JJP) coalition government in Haryana is heading for a major showdown with the deputy chief minister (Dy CM) and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala giving a clean chit to a senior excise and taxation department officer whose role has been questioned by the state government’s special enquiry team (SET) in the high profile liquor scam case.

It was about four months ago that the chief minister Manohar Lal had set up the SET findings of which were recently shared with media by home minister Anil Vij. He recommended action against excise and taxation commissioner Shekhar Vidyarthi — an IAS officer — on the basis of SET’ observations. Within a day after Vij recommended the action, Dushyant gave Vidyarthi a clean chit.

The SET which was formed in May this year following reports of large-scale smuggling and sale of liquor across the state during lockdown period due to Covid-19 – in its report has pointedly observed that Vidyarthi only gave verbal instructions to order the closure of liquor vends during the lockdown, delayed information to SET and also hampered the visit of the SET to a distillery.

Dushyant who also holds the excise and taxation portfolio, differed with the SET’s observations and defended Vidyarthi and said he was a senior officer who had done a good job. He went on to say that the SET did not take into account many aspects before making such observations.

Taking a swipe at SET and the police department functioning he added that SET talks about 14 FIRs majority of which were registered before he took over the excise department. Asking what action was taken in these FIRs, he categorically said that was it not the police’s inefficiency that they could not investigate beyond the driver of the vehicles carrying liquor. He further tore into the police department functioning and said it was more of the police which failed to perform. “The SET has not examined several issues properly’’, he held.

The SET was formed on May 11 which gave its report on July 30. Headed by additional chief secretary T C Gupta, it had another IAS officer Vijay Singh and IPS officer Subhash Yadav as its members, though after Yadav’s retirement, another IPS officer Muhammad Akil was included in the team.

The SET has observed that the excise and taxation commissioner Shekhar Vidyarthi attempted to block SET’s visit to a distillery that it wanted to visit. The SET also mentioned that despite instructions given by Dushyant Chautala on March 26 to shut down all the liquor vends in the state due to Covid lockdown, Vidyarthi did not issue any written instructions in this regard.

Govt for action

The chief minister Manohar Lal on being asked for his take on Dushyant’s reaction on SET findings, has held that “while one could agree or disagree with SET’s observations, the government would go ahead with its (SET’s) findings as per the law’’.

Aside from departmental action against Vidyarthi, Vij has also recommended transfer of the case to state vigilance bureau and written to the chief minister in the context. He has recommended a comprehensive probe into the role of all the officers and employees of both the department — excise and taxation and police in the said case, by the vigilance bureau.

Of the total 90 assembly seats the BJP could win only 40 seats and struck a post-election alliance with JJP which won 10 seats to form the coalition government. While Dushyant became the deputy chief minister another JJP MLA, was made a minister. The JJP is a splinter group of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

The case

The case pertains to smuggling of over one crore liquor bottles from distilleries and sale of the same on high premiums during the lockdown period in Haryana and other states. It was also alleged that some influential people having political connections were also involved.

The state police and SET have arrested among a few others, Satwinder Singh Rana, a former two-time MLA and JJP candidate from Kalayat assembly constituency in last assembly election. He was said to have been arrested in connection with liquor theft from a sealed godown in Panipat district’s Samalkha area. According to police, Rana was one of the partners in the godown and the excise department had sealed the liquor stock in the godown in 2016 for illegal liquor. Aside from Rana, a liquor trader Bhupinder Singh, who was also said to have political connections, was also already in police net.

Opposition’s stance

Meanwhile, leaders of the Congress, the main opposition party in Haryana have reacted sharply on the ongoing case.

Party state president Kumari Selja and AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala have alleged a collusion between liquor mafia and the state government. Demanding a high court judge monitored investigation to fix the real kingpin of the liquor scam, they said the SET has given a half cooked investigation putting only the small fries in the dock.

The Congress which had sought probe by special investigation team (SIT) had also objected the formation of SET as the SET was neither empowered to hold investigation nor had any legal validity.

The INLD leader Abhay Chautala also alleged involvement of home minister and excise minister in the case and sought a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

It is not the first instance when the differences between BJP and JJP leaders have come to the fore.

About a fortnight ago only, taking a note of alleged large scale corruption in revenue department and unscrupulous registration of property in the state especially in Gurugram, the chief minister’s flying squad had lodged several police cases. Subsequently one  tehsildar and six naib tehsildars were suspended in Gurugram.

Khattar who admitted that irregularities had been detected, immediately ordered to stop registration of property pan Haryana. He held that the registration of property would be done only after improving the system in which plans are afoot to integrate all the concerned departments such as revenue, urban local bodies, town and country, police and litigation.

Dushyant, who also holds revenue portfolio, however, on the other hand, later briefed media and said that there was no corruption in the department and that the registration of property was stopped so as the entire system for the same could be further improved.

Earlier also, while the government acted sternly against some of the rice millers in the dubious procurement case in the state, Dushyant held there were no irregularities. The government, has, however, slapped fines of 90 crore on some of the millers.

http://tehelka.com/clean-chit-gives-haryana-liquor-scam-political-twist/

 

ODDS AND ENDS: Vampire tongues and other offbeat offerings

Author of the article:

Eddie Chau

Publishing date:

Aug 15, 2020  •  Last Updated 1 day ago  •  4 minute read

Description: https://postmediatorontosun.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/gettyimages-637076474-e1597420593832.jpg?quality=100&strip=all&w=564

You could say these fishes’ tongues had minds of their own.

GIVE ME SHELTER: Reported spike in crime frustrates Yonge-Eg residents

 

Description: https://a.jsrdn.com/creatives/site_logos/dslogo_sm.png

Photos have surfaced online of a vampire parasite living in the mouth of a fish after it ate the animal’s tongue.

Scientist Kori Evans posted pictures of X-ray scans that show a tongue-eating louse known as an isopod living in the skull of a wrasse fish. This four-centimetre-long parasite invades a fish through its gills and attaches itself inside of the mouth via claws.

The isopod then drains the tongue of blood, so much so that the organ dies and falls off. In its place is the parasite.

“I found a tongue-eating isopod in one of our wrasse scans this morning while digitizing it,” Evans, a fish scientist at Rice University, said in a tweet.

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“These parasites attach themselves to the tongues of fishes and effectively become the new tongue … horrifying.”

The vampire parasite makes its home in the Gulf of California as well as in parts of the Atlantic Ocean, according to the U.K. Sun. While the parasite doesn’t kill the fish, the animal does use it as a substitute tongue.

It’s not known whether if the isopod is harmful to humans.

Description: https://postmediatorontosun.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/gettyimages-513689532-e1597422698688.jpg?quality=100&strip=all&w=564Backsides of organic beef cows standing in a row. FILE PHOTO/Getty Images

PAINTED EYES ON CATTLE BUTTS PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM LIONS

Eyes on your booty will keep the lions away.

In a study published in Communications Biology, researchers believe painting a pair of eyes on the backsides of livestock will scare off preying animals such as lions.  The study — entitled “Artificial eyespots on cattle reduce predation by large carnivores” — noted many large cats such as lions and tigers are ambush predators that rely on stalking their prey while having the element of surprise.

Researchers noted the cats will abandon the hunt if they are seen by their prey. According to website Science Alert, the experts tested this theory by painting eyes on the butts of cattle located in the Okavango delta region in Botswana.

Researchers determined lions were largely responsible for killing cattle in the area. After painting the eyes on the rears of cattle, they found lions were less likely to attack the animals.

The paint is a simple and low-cost initiative farmers can use to protect their livestock from ambush predators, stated the study’s authors.

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The researchers studied 2,061 cattle over a four-year period. The animals were kept within a predator-roof enclosure where one-third of the animals had eyes painted on their butts, one-third with painted cross-marks and the remaining were unmarked.

Of all the cows, researchers concluded none of the eye-painted cows were killed by predators while 13 of the unpainted and four of the cross-painted cattle were killed.

Description: https://postmediatorontosun.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/gettyimages-158329789-e1597424383464.jpg?quality=100&strip=all&w=564The Google Maps app is seen on an Apple iPhone 4S on December 13, 2012 in Fairfax, California. JUSTIN SULLIVAN/Getty Images

MAN DISCOVERS WIFE’S AFFAIR ON GOOGLE MAPS

If you’re going to participate in extra-marital affairs, try not to do it in plain view of Google cameras.

A heartbroken Peruvian man found out his wife was cheating on him after discovering an image of her and her new lover on Google Maps.

In images that went viral on social media, a Google Maps 360-degree camera had captured the image of the man’s wife with another man as they lounged on a bench along a pedestrian path in Lima, Peru.

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The image shows a woman wearing a black top and white shirt sitting on the bench and a man stretched out on the bench with his head on her lap.

While both of the lovers’ faces were blurred, the sleuthing man was able to recognize his wife by the clothes she was wearing, the Daily Express reported.

The brokenhearted man reportedly confronted his cheating wife, who admitted to the affair. The couple later divorced.

WOMAN STRIPPED OF PANTS BY OVER-PROTECTIVE BISON

Those attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota last week likely got an eyeful of a woman’s backside after she was attacked by a bison.

An unnamed 54-year-old Iowa woman was dragged and trashed by a bison after she reportedly got too close to a calf on Wednesday. In a video posted on Facebook by witness Jo Reed, the large animal can be seen grabbing the woman and dragging her across the street into a grassy area.

As people looked on, the bison then violently shook the woman, ripping her pants off in the process.

According to the Custer County Chronicle, about 500 bison blocked the roadway in Custer State Park when the incident occurred.

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Reed stated herds of bison appeared “everywhere we went,” noting they were frisky and “punchy with each other.”

“We came around a curve just behind a group of motorcyclists and there was a herd standing in the middle of the road, most noticeably a cow and her calf which was nursing,” Reed stated. “Initially one woman got off her bike and approached the herd and then more followed. It was a tense moment.”

The woman was flown to a nearby hospital but her injuries were not serious, the Chronicle reported.

https://torontosun.com/news/weird/odds-and-ends-vampire-tongues-and-other-offbeat-offerings

 

Japan Focus: Tea focus, Chupa Chups drinks, bottled water radiation and more feature in our round-up

By Pearly Neo 

14-Aug-2020 - Last updated on 14-Aug-2020 at 13:56 GMT

 

Tea focus, Chupa Chups drinks, bottle water radiation and more feature in this edition of Japan Focus. ©Getty Images

RELATED TAGS: Japan

Tea focus, Chupa Chups drinks, bottled water radiation and more feature in this edition of Japan Focus.

Negativi-tea: Decline in Japan’s domestic tea leaf consumption continues as RTD and coffee grow

Japan’s domestic tea leaf consumption shows no sign of reversing its longstanding decline​ with ready-to-drink beverages and coffee continuing to gain popularity at its expense across the nation.

According to the latest data from the National Tea Producing Federation, domestic tea consumption fell from 811g per person in 2000 to 680g in 2018.

Founder and president of Kyoto-based Global Japanese Tea Association (GJTA), Simona Zavadckyte told FoodNavigator-Asi​a the traditional way of preparing and consuming Japanese tea in a teapot may be perceived as old-fashioned, especially among younger consumers.

Ayurvedic tea in Japan: Start-up adds two new blends as sales reach the boil

Japanese start-up eatreat.tea has formulated two Ayurvedic tea blends​, touted for its relaxation and refreshing functions.

The first new blend is a chai-based tea (Japanese name: karada ga pokapoka) which claims to relieve anxiety, warm the body, and help consumers feel calmer. It contains cassia, roasted Japanese green tea, ginger roots, cardamom, cloves, and licorice.

The second blend (Japanese name: kibun ga sawayaka) is a tea said to provide refreshing functions.

‘Fun and nostalgic’: Chupa Chups launches first milk-based beverages in Japan market

Confectionery giant Perfetti Van Melle has collaborated with Toyo Beverage to introduce its first range of drinks in Japan under the Chupa Chups brand​.

The products include a strawberry cream milk drink launched in July, and a cola jelly drink scheduled to release in August.

Global parity: Radiation levels in Japanese bottled water assessed nine years after nuclear accident

Radiation levels in Japan’s bottled water – which soared in popularity following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident – have been found to be in line with levels across the world​.

According to the Mineral Water Association of Japan, bottled water consumption increased from 19.7 L/y per capita in 2010 to 31.7 L/y per capita in 2019.

On average, people typically ingest 0.3 mSv/y of radiation from bottled water due to naturally occurring radionuclides such as 238​U, 232​Th, 40​K in their diet. Drinking water contributes about 0.01 mSv/y.

Go fast or go home: Why food and beverage firms need to innovate quickly to meet consumer needs amid COVID-19

Brands and suppliers need to innovate with speed and agility​ to meet the meet changing demands from APAC’s consumers amid the Covid-19 pandemic, an expert panel featuring a raft of top firms has concluded.

The discussion was held during the second FoodNavigator-Asia Unlocking Innovation Online Series webinar, on the topic of ‘New Product Development and the Evolving Consumer Landscape’. 

The five-person panel consisted of Lars Bredmose, senior director of dairy health at Chr. Hansen, Eric Weisser, senior director of growth platforms at Ingredion APAC, Dr Ana San Gabriel, associate general manager at Ajinomoto, Brad Burgess, consultant and former head of international corporate affairs at JD.com and Sarah Maddock, marketing transformation director at Heineken APAC.

RELATED TOPICS: MarketsEast AsiaAsian tastesJapanBeverages

https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2020/08/14/Japan-Focus-Tea-focus-Chupa-Chups-drinks-bottled-water-radiation-and-more-feature-in-our-round-up+&c

 

Bangladesh a South Asian miracle, ToI says citing World Development Indicators

 FE ONLINE DESK | Published:  August 16, 2020 14:08:55 | Updated:  August 16, 2020 17:59:22


Description: Representational image: A farmer examines rice in a paddy field near a farm house in Dhaka, April 21, 2010 —Reuters/FilesRepresentational image: A farmer examines rice in a paddy field near a farm house in Dhaka, April 21, 2010 —Reiles

To paint a picture of how India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have fared so far on living standards of people, Times of India in an article says Bangladesh is a South Asian miracle.

The Indian media published the article titled India vs Pakistan vs Bangladesh, marking India’s Independence Day yesterday (Saturday), August 15.

ToI presented 14 World Development Indicators (WDIs) in the article to portray the picture of the living standards of people in these three South Asian countries having the same lineage.

According to the article, Bangladesh has outshone India and Pakistan in seven WDIs while India did it in six and Pakistan in the remaining one.

The WDIs in which Bangladesh has outranked India and Pakistan are Gross Savings, Infant Mortality Rate, Safe Childhood, Primary School Enrollment, Fertility Rate, Life Expectancy and Military Expenditure.

The WDIs in which India has outshone Bangladesh and Pakistan are GDP Per Capita, GDP, Ease of Doing Business, % Population Below Poverty Line, Literacy Rate and Access to Electricity.

The only WDI, out of the 14, in which Pakistan has done better than India and Bangladesh is Air Pollution.

Judging the countries by WDIs, TOI said in its article, “India towers over its neighbours on all economic and some socio-economic factors; it needs to do better on other key factors.”

As for Bangladesh, it said, “Despite its violent and late start in 1971, Bangladesh outshines others on health, education and other social factors; it’s a South Asian miracle”

And as regards Pakistan, the Indian media said, “Pakistan, which started the best socio-economic life, has slipped on all parameters. Unlike Bangladesh, it chose to spend too much on military and too little on social good.”

India and Pakistan turned 73 respectively on Saturday, August 15, and on Friday, August 14, while Bangladesh, the youngest South Asian country, turned 49 on 26 March of this year.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/bangladesh-a-south-asian-miracle-toi-says-citing-world-development-indicators-1597565559

 

Aboitiz firm using ash waste from burned rice husks to make cement

Published August 15, 2020, 8:00 PM

by Madelaine B. Miraflor

Pilmico Foods Corporation (Pilmico), the food and agribusiness arm of Aboitiz Group, has started to use ash waste from burned rice husks as cement for its construction needs.

Description: https://mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PILMICO-300x200.jpgWaste ash, a by-product of the rice husks used in the biomass boiler, is now used by Pilmico to augment concrete mixtures used in concrete slabs, curbs and gutters, perimeter fences, and concrete slats in swine pens. The mix is composed of 20% waste ash and 80% cement, together with necessary aggregates for concrete mixtures.
(Pilmico photo)

In a statement, Pilmico said that civil engineers of the Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation (PANC) discovered that ash wastes from burned rice husks can be used as an alternative mix for cement for the facilities’ construction needs.

This was after PANC’s engineers conducted research to explore other supplemental uses of waste ash from the biomass boiler to minimize cost and further reduce wastes from Pilmico’s Tarlac feeds and farms facility.

After a series of experiments, they were able to establish a concrete mix from waste ash that would reduce actual cement usage by 20 percent.

It was in 2018 when Pilmico started using a biomass boiler that utilized rice husks as an alternative to bunker fuel for its feed production process.

The boiler generates steam to cook and sanitize the feeds by burning rice husks which are by-products of rice production sourced from the company’s partner rice mills.

The biomass boiler is part of Pilmico’s efforts to reduce production cost and carbon footprint. Through the use of rice husks, Pilmico was able to cut more than 60 percent of its bunker fuel use.

Meanwhile, Pilmico said the waste ash is already being used in Pilmico’s Slaughterhouse and Meat Cutting facility in Tarlac.

The waste ash mixture supplemented the concrete mix for road perimeters including curb and gutter that controls water flow by coursing it to specific drainages. This helps avoid flooding around the facility.

The perimeter fence that surrounds the entire facility is also made of the same waste ash and cement mixture, the company said.

“When we started using the biomass boiler almost two years ago, we saw process improvement and reduced costs. But in Pilmico, we know that the challenge does not stop there,” Maintenance Mechanical Supervisor for PANC’s Central Maintenance Department (CMD) Michael Cayabyab said.

“If you find a solution for something, you continue to improve that to ensure that it stays relevant,” he added.

https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/15/aboitiz-firm-using-ash-waste-from-burned-rice-husks-to-make-cement/

Wuhan And Punjab University Soon Will Launch Joint Research Centre For Honglian Hybrid Rice

August 15, 2020August 15, 2020 Kaleem Naqvi CentreHonglianHybridHybrid riceJointlaunchPunjabresearchriceUniversityWuhan

Academic institutes of Pakistan and China are working to jointly launch a research centre for hybrid rice.

Description: Wuhan and Punjab University soon will launch Joint Research Centre for Honglian Hybrid Rice

The Wuhan University-University of Punjab Joint Research Centre for Honglian Hybrid Rice is going to become operational this year, revealed official website of China Association for Science and Technology.

This move will boost development of high-yield hybrid rice in Pakistan to improve domestic food security, in addition to supplementing rice export.

interesting reading:  Coronavirus contact tracing app to launch nationally in early July

 

Honglian rice is one of the three major types of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of rice (Oryza sativa L) that has been commercially used in hybrid rice seed production.

The production of Honglian hybrid rice in Pakistan can reach around 7,500kg per hectare, nearly three times as much as that of many other rice varieties, said Zhu Renshan, professor-level senior engineer of Wuhan University who is in charge of the international cooperation on this type of rice.

“A lot of hybrid rice varieties’ high-yield performance is only confined to a specific area. In contrast, Honglian rice can create bumper harvest not only in China but also in many other countries like Pakistan,” Zhu Renshan said.

 

Honglian rice adapts well to Pakistan’s climate. Even under extreme high temperature or changeable weather, the seed setting rate is still stable, much higher than that of other hybrid rice varieties.

Moreover, Honglian rice seed production costs less therefore farmers can get higher income at the same investment.

Punjab Agriculture Extension Director Shahzad Sabir and professors from the University of Punjab praised Honglian rice’s feature of heat-tolerance and adaptability, which suits Pakistan’s climate.

Having seen Honglian hybrid rice do well in the six experimental plots in Pakistan, professionals of the two countries are confident in its future performance when sowed at a large scale.

 

Next, besides lifting local cultivation, the research centre is planning a series of technical cooperation and scientific research. Seed production technologies will be gradually transferred to Pakistan. Furthermore, they will also provide technical support on pest control.

Though the Covid-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc in the world, Pak-Sino cooperation related to Honglian rice keeps progressing.

Earlier this year, the research team of Wuhan University delivered seeds from China to Pakistan via international logistics, and the rice will be harvested in October.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:GtKr-L7vEWwJ:https://www.technologytimes.pk/2020/08/15/wuhan-and-punjab-university-soon-will-launch-joint-research-centre-for-honglian-hybrid-rice/+&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk

Nigerian fried rice taught me to love being like my mother

August 15, 2020

Bottom of Form

Iam my mother. In every line I speak, no, every word. Every sway of the hips. Every pot of fried rice hurriedly spooned into red Freezinhot coolers with flower motifs, full of blackened pieces of beef — not burnt, just colored by hot oil — and chicken, fried in groundnut oil so the fragrance of freshly roasted peanuts lingers sweet. Every bottle of Limca and Goldspot packed into a yellow Thermocool cooler, and every packet of apple or orange Capri Sonne. Growing up, I thought her 'wahala' — her penchant for fussing and worrying — was too much. I didn't know what it meant then, to be responsible for children.

I do now.

My parents loved food. My mum was the collector-crafter who brought in recipes and made them heirlooms. Like the prawn cocktail learned from her friends at the Lions Club, which got me top grades in food and nutrition classes, and the fried rice recipe that Auntie E., her chef younger sister taught her. My dad was the explorer, who bought every gadget and device he could find — a popcorn maker, yam pounder, and a rotisserie oven and grill in which he made us sole and lemon on Saturday mornings.

Sunday dinner was my mum's great act of love. She always made such a huge effort that you'd assume Mondays were tough on her. I think back to me just a few years ago — when I worked full-time — and how Sundays scared me because 3 p.m. always came too soon, and before you knew it, Monday was upon you. Not my mother, who seemed totally unfazed by it all. There was no angst, no desire to curl up on the couch on Sunday evening bemoaning the last hours of her weekend. If anything, there was excitement for the week that lay ahead.

Some nights we had Jollof rice, but most times it was Nigerian fried rice. We rarely had plain white rice, which was considered regular fare. Sundays were far from regular — they were special, and made for love.

While my favorite part about Sunday was the food — after church there was brunch or lunch with pounded yam and egusi, or okro, and of course, the fried rice — there were other things to look forward to. Like Daddy opening the mirror-lined sideboard full of treasures. You could map the journeys they — my parents — had taken from the odds and ends that stood out: British red and green soda streams, the Dutch Bols ballerina twirling in gin and gold flakes. The best part? Getting our weekly treat of Treetop powder (think Kool-Aid minus the metallic taste) or Treetop cordial, which came in bottles that later inspired the design of the Astro Baby lava lamp.

Sundays were also for playing suwe, a game like hopscotch with chalk boxes and stones for markers. It always seemed like we hadn't played enough when the call came for siesta. We resisted, but the parents offered us no wiggle room. The truth is, once our heads hit the pillow, we were out. It's funny how our parents knew exactly what we needed, and how convinced we were that they didn't.

An hour later, we'd be up, refreshed and waiting for the television to come on. In those days, there was no 24-hour TV — no cable, certainly no streaming, and we weren't sad for it, either. If you turned on the television before 4 p.m., all you'd get was a long, shrill sound and SMPTE color bars. We knew, though, that once programming resumed there'd be Tales by Moonlight, with 'Aunty' retelling Nigerian folktales.

Rice is beloved in Nigeria: Jollof and fried rice are inarguably the favorites. In general, Jollof — less flaky, and not as involved — is more commonly prepared, but there are days when my craving for fried rice with liver and shrimp will not settle until I have cooked a pot.

Nigerian fried rice consists of long-grain, parboiled (converted) rice or (Golden Sella) basmati, cooked in a fragrant yellow stock — thank you, turmeric — redolent with the flavors of warming curry powder and dried thyme, with mixed chopped vegetables folded in. If you wanted to take it up a notch, tiny pink shrimp (or prawns) and cooked, diced liver were the way to go.

I'm not sure when Nigerian fried rice became a thing, but I'll bet it walked in the shoes of Chinese fried rice, which is a very popular second in Nigeria.

A 1930s census records exactly four Chinese residents in Nigeria. By the 1950s and 60s, that number had increased to 200, a sign of China's growing investments in Nigeria, one of which was the hospitality industry (many of the hotels built then remain to this day).

In 1971, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and The People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations, and this was possibly the impetus that triggered the rapid spread of Chinese restaurants around the country in the '70s and '80s, from the Golden Crown and Shangri-la in Lagos to Eastern Garden in Port Harcourt, and Jade Garden in Warri where we lived.

That's the short story of how dishes like sweetcorn soup, sweet and sour sauce, beef in green pepper, spring rolls, butterflied prawns, and fried rice became deeply embedded in Nigerian cuisine.

The similarities between Chinese and Nigerian fried rice, other than the name, are few. Woks are great but they didn't feature in my mum's cooking. Her pots did, and in them, she cooked the rice in stock. Stock is what principally defines the flavor of Nigerian fried rice, but also does limit the rice's shelf-life, so leaving it to cool overnight, refrigerated — often recommended for Chinese fried rice — isn't ideal.

The seasoning is another differentiator: curry powder and dried thyme feature prominently, instead of soy or oyster sauces, sesame oil, or other Chinese condiments. And then there's the vegetables — carrots, peas, green beans, red onions, sweetcorn, and bell peppers. I'm not sure where the combination of shrimp and iron-rich liver came from, but I know them as the gold standard of Nigerian fried rice.

My mother knows what she wants, and always has. I grew up hearing stories about how she always had her mind set on teaching, then owning her own schools. In the early '80s, she left her job teaching English at a federal government college and put a down payment on a building for Twin Fountain schools, private schools that were birthed in the back of our house with my siblings and I, and our friends, playing and learning together.

As she did all that — built the life she dreamed of — she kept crafting and refining her fried rice.

Each week, there was a new technique added, from par-cooking the rice then adding the meat stock and medley of fresh (never frozen) vegetables; to frying the vegetables first, then the rice, before cooking in a stock; to frying washed, raw rice in oil before adding the stock — a surefire way, she said, to keep the grains firm and separate. Whatever method she chose, two things were certain: she added the chopped bell peppers last so they kept their vibrant color and crunch, and the end result was always sunny yellow rice, a reflection of her joy for cooking.

 

When the fried rice was ready, we sat down to eat. I would always eat the rice first, picking out every single vegetable (except the carrots), just like one of my daughters does now. As the years passed, I did that less and less till I could eat a whole bowl, vegetables and all. Now, I make Nigerian fried rice for my children, often on Sundays. I use basmati, add a splash of coconut milk, and skip the green beans. They love it when I get it right. And when I don't, which isn't as rare as I'd hope, I miss my mum and her cooking — both continents away from us.

Each day, I'm learning. I'm learning that I don't have to resist being like my mother. It can be uplifting and inspiring. I hope my children will want to remember the things I do well, like I do now, and forgive the times I came up short, and love me nonetheless.

But yes, I am my mother, in every line and every word, every sway of my hips, every pot of fried rice. With every trip I plan with my sometimes unwilling children, every climb of a rockface, every scream and call to "be careful," "hold the handrail," "don't run/jump/chase him," "don't scream/shout/cry." In spite of all my teenage rebellion and vehement denial, I am her.

I see it now and it no longer surprises me — after all, she was one of my earliest teachers. I feel her force in many ways and I suspect that from the very minute I was born, I was of her blood through and through. No one tells you any of this, though...it's what you discover for yourself. What you live into being.

Nigerian fried rice


(Ty Mecham/Courtesy Food52)

 

https://theweek.com/articles/928121/nigerian-fried-rice-taught-love-being-like-mother

 

 

Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's Waitrose, and Iceland recall milk, chicken, fish, rice and dog food

Some products have undeclared ingredients with others may have possible microbiological contamination, salmonella or pieces of glass

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Major supermarkets in the UK are recalling several popular household products over safety and contamination fears.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a series of alerts for food and other consumables available at Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Iceland.

Semi-skimmed UHT milk, scallops, rice, chicken and dog food are among the new products being taken off the shelves.

Some have undeclared ingredients with others may have possible microbiological contamination, salmonella or pieces of glass.

Anyone who has bought the items listed below should not eat or use them.

They should instead return them to their local supermarket or online provider as part of their next shop in exchange for a full refund.

Here are the details of all the items being recalled and still active on the FSA website:

Waitrose

Description: https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article18775411.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_satay.png

Waitrose is recalling Waitrose and Partners chicken satay with sweet chilli sauce.

This is because an incorrect dip has been packed in the product resulting in fish and peanuts not being mentioned on the label.

The presence of fish and peanuts has posed a possible health risk of anyone with these allergies.

Pack size: 85g

Best before: August 17, 2020

Waitrose & Partners Slow Cooked Beef and Ale Pie is being recalled because it contains hazelnuts and milk which are not mentioned on the label.

This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to nuts (hazelnuts) and/or an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.

Product details

Pack size: 400g

Batch code: L0125

Best before: November 2021

Sainsbury's

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/tesco-asda-waitrose-iceland-aldi-18775493

 

Food review: Curries rule supreme at The Vine

By Andy Richardson | Sandwell restaurant reviews | Published: 23 hours ago

Andy Richardson visits a restaurant that serves up pleasing mix of Indian, Chinese and pub grub as well as an efficient ordering service.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/b1oHO5cPG4b-PqZ5fU7JKtdjeRc=/1000x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/FNS3Z5WEXZE7FKNNWFH7L2TJ3I.jpgChicken Biryani, Chicken Tikka Massala, Chicken Balti, Chicken Dopiaza. From The grill Chicken Tikka, Methi Tikka and Sheesh Kebab

It used to be a pub. The Vine would have been like so many backstreet Black Country boozers back in the day.

It is tucked away in a heavily industrialised area where a motorway junction, factories and terraced housing collide, mixing commerce and community. Workers would have gathered to drink away their troubles.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/PlZ-3vizgPoDMEKOgF1JMDD-SIk=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/P3G7HGVBDNEQRJSNZ3HCP2TY6A.jpgCovid-secure bar

The death of the pub, however, led to a change and The Vine has long been a popular, casual restaurant in this bustling part of West Brom.

Not far from the town’s Premiership Football Stadium, it’s a hub for good times, mid-week sustenance and a place of celebration after Chris Brunt has scored the winning goal against a team of also-rans.

Run as a family business since 1978, it has weathered all manner of storms; the desolation of Thatcher’s 1980s, the hard times brought about by the financial crash and a decade of austerity. And then came Covid-19.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/UDnYcfKx8kRQ9U3f7r0LvHPz0Oo=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/V2QYZFZ5XZHXZDQLFTVVOKWOAI.jpgCovid-secure

The Vine, however, is resilient.

Like so many well-run businesses that embed themselves in a community, it has that most important of ingredients on its daily menu: trust.

Locals know they’re not going to get ripped off, that standards are high, staff are friendly and they can relax and switch off as though they were at home.

It keeps up appearances, too. The Vine is nicely furnished, a mix of modernity and tradition.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/ZpfgW4U4RIMiLHriqB_93b71NnU=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/ZJWXSUSMFBB2FNQXHHX7HCPWPM.jpgCovid secure dining at The Vine

A neat website and fresh branding give it a contemporary edge but inside there are plenty of nooks and crannies in which to hide.

Once upon a backstreet boozer, drinkers would have gathered there for mild and scratchings. Not it’s sheesh kebab and rice.

The Vine is smart enough to avoid slavishly attaching itself to a particular type of food.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/jmXvv9oCOGYRO1DfnRMiwCnKLWw=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/X7BTVIRUEZCYLOFIUL7EFU5AQA.jpgLunch time mixed platter

Though it markets itself as an Indian grill and curry pub, the menu is the acme of diversity. There are few things as stolid and English as fish and chips or jacket potatoes.

Both feature in a tucked-away corner labelled Pub Grub.

Then there’s a Chinese menu, though The Vine calls it fusion. Assorted stir fry dishes, honey-chilli numbers and variations on a sweet and sour theme are given an Indian twist as the venue positions itself as an everyman, catering to all people and all tastes.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/jyCicZbcu94Goqr6SDKwfMdywow=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/HEVXY3JWZ5GTLALDYNPGU5ICXY.jpgChicken Methi Curry with Boiled Rice

Curry, however is the dominant theme and a nicely designed, no frills menu provides a list of classics, from saag, korma, dopiaza and bhuna, to madras, jalfrezi, balti and rogan josh.

You pick a sauce, decided on a protein – chicken, paneer, goat, lamb or prawn – and Robert is your mother’s brother.

The onset of Covid-19 has changed the way restaurants operate – and diners dine. So while eating at home might once have been a last resort, in the summer of 2020, it’s been normalised.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/ugrGgaVa-GOuxSvMBZcAKgHw-qU=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/BYLFCMCQENHV5MXQHLXQTLQH5M.jpgChicken Madras and Bullet Naan Bread (spicy)

The smartest operators have adapted to that paradigm shift by making it easy for people to click and collect, providing efficient, utilitarian web pages that allow you to browse, click and buy with consummate ease.

The Vine scores top marks for the way it engages with people online. Ordering a takeaway is easier than picking up a box of chicken from Nando’s.

A neat time-keeper tells you how long you’ll have to wait – in my case, 18 minutes – so you can judge your journey and literally arrive as the food comes from the kitchen.

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There is one slight problem, of course, and it’s this.

If you place an order and the kitchen gets it wrong, as happened when I bought a midweek blow-out, it’s hard to make amends later on.

So when I endeavoured to sample The Vine’s much-trumpeted BBQ Grill by buying a chicken tikka, I ended up with a half-full plastic tub of tikka sauce – and no chicken.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/EGA8p6Qih6h-qbWM76t7ZxnBWeE=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/7GPC6JLG2FFXRD5QJVKU6J64HE.jpgMixed Wrap – Chicken Tikka and Sheesh Kebab

Gremlins, I’m sure, were to blame. The sauce, incidentally, was fine, though the flame-grilled pieces of tikka has become an itch that remains unscratched.

Covid-19 is neatly tucked away in The Vine experience.

While there are plastic screens, address cards for customers to fill out and plenty of hand sanitisers, visiting this particular corner of West Bromwich doesn’t feel like a visit to A&E.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/ZjH_g4Tz6b7dkTIMzwSZCMbFXx8=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/XBTPIHZGT5DSXI4TB7K7AZ2CT4.jpgKashmiri Tikka

The precautions necessary to maintain social distancing and prevent the spread of the disease are all in place without ever being overwhelming or interfering with the enjoyment of the restaurant.

The food was decent-to-good – with the exception of the missing chunks of chicken tikka.

A claypot chicken was the highlight. A spicy, slow-cooked dish was a flavour bomb primed to explode. Subtle and with pleasant heat – like a warm day at the beach, rather than a day to get sun burned – it comprised gently cooked pieces of moist and tender chicken with a fabulous coriander chutney.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/85sAuB78sbpqlHbqaQ6GiTUOHtU=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/N64GNM5ED5H5PCHSRIO22VLXBY.jpgChicken Rogan Josh with Pilau Rice

Aromatic and light, it was served with fluffy basmati rice and was a stand-out dish. A peshwari naan was fine, filled with sweetness and fluffy like a pillow, it acted as a scoop for the claypot dish.

A king prawn biryani was equally fabulous. Generously filled with prawns, the rice was lightly spiced and seasoned while the curry was a treat.

We finished with a taste of The Vine’s fusion menu: chicken Manchurian.

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By any other name, it was sweet and sour chicken balls with a slightly hot finish; the much-vaunted Indian twist. They were delicious, crisp on the outer and with bags full of flavour, they made for a pleasant ending to dinner.

Service was good – and very, very quick. I’d used their booking system to arrive dead on time and the food had literally just arrived from the kitchen to the counter.

Having sanitised hands, filled out an address form and already made pre-payment, there was nothing left to do but acknowledge the smiles of the front of house staff and take it home.

Description: https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/Fnxgu5uUYBDs06h0CIx1Ip9MmwI=/600x0/filters:quality(100)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/expressandstar.mna/2LHRJ2UY75GLLE424O33TZ36I4.jpgChicken Biryani, Chicken Tikka Massala, Chicken Balti, Chicken Dopiaza. From The grill Chicken Tikka, Methi Tikka and Sheesh Kebab

The Vine impressed on pretty much all counts.

Competitively-priced, generously-proportioned food that’s easy to order from a warm and helpful team help to explain why it’s been a fixture for so many years.

The Baggies are back in the Premiership next year and business should be booming. Boing Boing.

Sample menu

Starters

Chicken wings, £4.25

Spare ribs, £5.75

Methi tikka, £4.95

Mains

Claypot chicken curry, £7.95

Goat curry, £8.50

Lamb dhansak, £8.50

Sides

Boiled rice, £2

Cheese naan, £2.95

Chips, £2.50

http://agriculture.einnews.com/article/524115574/soadXeIK--wY86PW

 

Govt must first intervene in market to keep rice prices stable

 

Published: 00:00, Aug 16,2020

THERE has been an increase in rice prices on the city market although government authorities think that there would be more than 5.5 million tonnes of surplus rice after meeting the domestic demand after November. Rice prices went up in June after a bumper production of the boro crop, which grows in March–May, and have remained high since then. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute says, as New Age reported on Saturday, that there is no chance for rice shortage as the harvest of the aus crop, which grows in July–August, is going on and the aman crop, which grows in November–December, would arrive at the market in time. In such a situation, a further increase in rice prices would be a burden for all, but especially for poor, and middle- and fixed-income people, when a large number of them are reported to have lost their income because of a growing joblessness and spent their savings because of restricted economic activities so far for about five months caused by COVID-19. A situation like this leaves the government to shore up a couple of issues.

With more than 1 million tonnes of rice having been in government stock, as food ministry data of early August show, and 29 per cent of the boro crop still having been in the stock of growers, as the Rice Research Institute is reported to have claimed, the government hardly appears to be in control of the rice market. Experts say that rice prices have been unusually high for a few months as a group of profit-mongers have manipulated the rice market on the excuse of flooding. They have also started blaming the government for lack of an efficient market monitoring, which is essential in controlling rice prices especially amidst the COVID-19 emergency so that people do not face further hardship. This having been the case, the government has had plans to import rice to keep the market stable amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. The food ministry in July announced the plan and the food minister on August 13 said that they were working on the import quantity and the procedure, which could be a government-to-government affair, with reduced duties and in a process not warranting international tender. Without making any market intervention to stop the hoarding of rice and any price manipulation, a decision to import rice could put growers in further jeopardy as growers are said to get the highest of 40 of the price while the rest goes to traders and rice mill owners. With a bumper production of the boro crop and almost no foreseeable problem with the aus and the aman production, rice growers stand the chance of not getting fair prices if rice is imported without any stocktaking.

The government will certainly import rice if it needs to. But it must first look into if the market is manipulated and stop any profiteering motive of traders on the excuse of flooding and bad weather. It must also take stock of rice in and out of hand and then make informed decision on rice import so that growers are not deprived of fair prices.

https://www.newagebd.net/article/113558/govt-must-first-intervene-in-market-to-keep-rice-prices-stable

 

 

Checking the country's fast-shrinking arable land  

 Shahiduzzaman Khan     | Published:  August 15, 2020 22:36:23


Description: Checking the country's fast-shrinking arable land

There is a need for working out an effective plan to check the country's fast-shrinking arable land and thus maintain the momentum in its food grain production.

Such view was expressed by some agricultural experts at a seminar in the city recently. They say loss of agricultural land would not help boost production, and we must find out a proper solution to deal with the problem.

The fact remains that the government alone can not put an end to unplanned construction of dwelling houses on arable land. In such a situation, experts say, we have to find out a way on how more crops could be produced from a small land. In this regard they opine that non-government organisations (NGOs) operating in the countryside need to supplement government efforts to develop the agricultural sector as the country's 16 per cent GDP comes from agriculture.

It is hard to believe that nearly 69,000 hectares of agricultural land have been shrinking annually due to rapid industrialisation, unplanned urbanisation and increase in rural settlements. Such a situation is pushing the country's food security at risk.

A study carried out in this regard indicated a regular and increasingly declining trend in land available for agriculture. Between 1976 and 2000, around 13,412 hectares of agricultural land was lost. In contrast, in the subsequent period from 2000 to 2010 - 10 years - over 30,000 hectares of land was lost. Rapid urbanisation with new roads and highways is occupying a vast tract of agricultural land every year.

However, through the efforts of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC), the country' crop production per unit of land has considerably increased year by year. This has helped to negate the effect of the continuing decline in availability of arable land all over country.

As urban areas worldwide continue to grow, the population spreads to the surrounding rural and suburban areas. This puts pressure on farmers to give up their croplands and fields so that houses in the countryside can be 'grown'. The loss of agricultural land to urbanisation means an increase in environmental problems such as air quality, transportation problems, loss of critical habitat and green space, and a degradation of water quality.

Another reason that agricultural land is lost is because of soil degradation, which is the loss of a soil's natural fertility. When this occurs, the productivity of the land decreases, without added use of fertilizers and other chemicals.

Urbanisation affects food production in two ways - by removing agricultural land from cultivation, as cities expand, and by reducing the number of family farms, as more farmers move to cities. The spread of cities alone consumes enormous tracts of farmland in much of the world.

As for Bangladesh, long-term outlook appears to be bleak as unplanned growth of population is complicating the process of meeting the demand for food, basic health requirements and educational facilities - triggering unemployment and social unrest.

The prospect is really discouraging as resources are outrunning habitants. Trees are being chopped down for fuel. Climatic disruption in recent times, followed by salinity intrusion, shrinking farmlands and crop losses, has added much to the woes of the people of the country.

What is alarming is that the country, with the world's highest density of population, is fast losing arable land due to growing industrialisation and rapid encroachment of human habitat on farming areas. The country's fast growing population is now looking for new land to build homes while entrepreneurs are going to the remote areas of the countryside to set up factories.

There will be no cultivable land left in Bangladesh in 50 years if lands are taken away for non-farm purposes at the current annual rate. If the trend is not reversed now, the country would permanently lose its food security, making its poor population more vulnerable to volatile international commodity prices.

In order to reverse this trend, the government has taken some steps including banning use of arable land for purposes other than agriculture. This is no doubt a laudable step. A high-level committee suggested that factories and educational institutions that have already been built should now go vertical, instead of grabbing more arable land.

The dwindling size of farms, rise in landlessness and constant depletion of farmland are posing formidable threats to Bangladesh's agriculture, increasing poverty and trapping many ultra-poor people in a vicious circle. The average farm size has been reduced to less than 0.6 hectares and the percentage of landless people stands at 58 in a country where nearly 80 per cent of the ultra-poor live in rural areas.

Worries about farmland depletion at an alarming rate have fallen into deaf ears, while calls for ensuring optimum utilisation of arable land and bringing fallow land under cultivation remain in rhetoric alone. Successive governments concentrated all their focus on higher production of rice, while import bills for fuel, cooking oils and pulses continued to inflate.

Agricultural land loss is a growing problem for Bangladesh with the increase in population. The ironic thing about agricultural land loss is that the land is going away because of a growing population that will require more agricultural products to sustain it. A long-pending suggestion to bring changes in crop pattern for diversifying agriculture remains unattended by the policymakers.

The causes of agricultural land loss are often rooted in the growth strategies of urban areas and are facilitated by politics and economics. The mitigation strategy for the problem can be found in the same places.

Such decline in arable land is worrisome. The authorities concerned should go for regular surveys of arable land to present an accurate figure so that necessary steps can be taken to save this land. It is quite a gigantic task, but it should be done at regular intervals with minute attention.

szkhanfe@gmail.com

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/columns/checking-the-countrys-fast-shrinking-arable-land-1597509383

Border Closure Now Useless, Hurting Economy –Experts

Posted on August 16, 2020AuthorPAUL OGBUOKIRI reports Comments Offon Border closure now useless, hurting economy –Experts

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as Nigeria loses over N1trn export revenue

 

On August 20, it will be one year since the Federal Government ‘partially’ closed the nation’s land borders. Manufacturers, importers and freight forwarders are calling for its reopening, saying the seeming indefinite border closure is now hurting more than it has healed the economy. PAUL OGBUOKIRI reports

 

Dynamics of border closure

 

In August last year when the Federal Government took the drastic step to close the land borders with its neighbours, not only were the Boko Haram insurgents wrecking havoc in the North East and alleged Fulani herdsmen killings being reported across the country, another dimension of criminality, banditry and upsurge in kidnapping was sweeping across the North West through the North Central towards the Southern Nigeria. All those were blamed on the nation’s porous borders.

 

And to nib those in the bud the Federal Government on August 20, 2019, introduced a joint military operation code named ‘Ex-Swift Response.’

 

Also, despite government’s ban on rice imports from the land borders and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s listing of rice as one of the items it will no longer allocate foreign exchange for its import; imported rice smuggled into the country through the land borders continued to flood the country, rubbishing the government’s backward integration programme on rice.

 

An attempt to assess the performance of the border closure which was a technical ban on imports and exports across the land borders, shows that positive result has been achieved on rice smuggling into the country with the recent report of a drastic fall in the quantity of rice the Asian countries were able to export to Benin Republic, Niger, and Cameroon in the last quarter of 2019 and first half of 2020.

 

Those three African countries are Nigeria’s next door neighbours that have over the years acted as transit points for smuggled foreign goods (including rice) into the continent’s largest economy.

 

However, not only has the impact of the border closure yet to been felt on the nation’s security challenges, manufactures, freight forwarders, imports and economists have called for the reopening of the borders, saying it is hurting the economy more than it has healed it.

 

Economic repercussions of border closure

 

The continued closure of Nigeria’s borders to neighboring countries will exacerbate the stagnation of the economy, Nigerian financial experts have warned.

 

Titus Okunrounmu, a former Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said that the closure would stifle economic growth of the country. Okunrounmu, who served as a Director in the department of budgetary of the apex bank, said shutting down of borders will further complicate economic challenges as the nation is still importing a lot of goods into the country. “Closing the nation’s borders is not the solution to our economic under-development,” he added.

 

 

The economy will continue to be stagnant because the smugglers would find alternative means of bringing their goods into the country and warned that the trend would negatively affect revenue generation, the former banker said.

 

He urged the government to take steps to develop the economy by looking inwards to proffer solutions to the immediate problems affecting the economy. Meanwhile, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents said those 500 trucks loaded with perishable goods that were stranded at Seme following the partial closure of the border have wasted.

 

Bisiriyu Fanu, a senior member of the association, told reporters in Lagos that the stranded goods belonged to genuine importers who had paid government duties but got stuck by the partial border closure. According to him, the partial border closure is impacting negatively on the nation’s economy.

 

“The impact of the closure is enormous, if you go to some markets in Lagos like Balogun, Idumagbo, Idumota and Oyingbo, people from neighboring countries who always patronize them are no more coming,” he added.

 

Manufacturers count losses

 

According to the Acting Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Paul Oruche, his members have in the last one year lost over N1 trillion in export revenue to the African countries due to the closure of the land borders. He said the seeming indefinite border closure has disrupted trade between Nigeria and other Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries with severe economic impacts as volume of trade within ECOWAS has declined from 12 to seven per cent.

 

Oruche explained that the border closure is severely affecting shipment of Nigerian manufactured goods to the ECOWAS countries as Nigerian goods are still facing rejections in neighbouring countries due to acrimony over the Federal Government’s refusal to reopen the borders.

 

He said: “Closure of the land borders has enormous implications for cross border economic activities around the country. “The indications are now that the closure is indefinite.

 

While we share the concern of government on issues of security and smuggling, we believe that the indefinite closure of land borders is not the solution to the problem.”

 

Oruche insisted that it was unacceptable for the Federal Government to shutdown the all the borders in the name of smuggling of agric produce and ammunitions at the detriment of trade promotion and facilitation along the ECOWAS trade corridor for one year now without reviewing the adverse effects on businesses and the country’s economy in general.

 

He noted that there was no country in the world where smuggling of products does not take place but that it is the responsibility of government to control smuggling like other countries are doing without shutting down the borders in a bid to encourage trading among states. The border closure has sent danger signals to other ECOWAS countries in the region as it is taking more than expected.

 

Oruche said: “What we are saying is to find a way of encouraging trade among ourselves in sub- Sahara Africa. We are saying that trade among ECOWAS countries is very low, it’s just 11 per cent or 12 per cent in terms of volume in the region and the border closure has brought it to seven per cent.

 

He further said that the result of a survey of the impact of the border closure on Nigerian manufacturers indicate that “it has been a huge challenge to them and many of them are scaling down jobs, reducing costs because that the aspect of the export market is no longer feasible, attractive and profitable.”

 

The Chairman, MAN Export Promotion Group (MANEG), Ede Dafinone, said due to the current border situation, many companies are in dire problems, saying that significant losses and many businesses are about to collapse.

 

He stressed that there are companies who rely on the West African market for additional sales to make profits, while some manufacture locally in Nigeria for export, but have had their warehouse filled with unsold inventory.

 

“From the government side, there may have be an increase in revenue from payable duty but Customs should be trade facilitating agency rather than a revenue-generating agency.”

 

Economy of border communities crippled Meanwhile, the economy of the border communities may have been the most badly hit by the indefinite border closure as an estimated three million people formerly engaged in legitimate businesses have lost their jobs with about 90 per cent of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) either grounded or relocated.

 

Since its launch, those living in the communities who had relied on border activities for their survival are now living in abject poverty leaving many with no option than to embrace illegal businesses (including smuggling) around the border corridors to put food on the table for families. Ironically, since the closure of the border posts most of border communities now rely on aiding smugglers who always invade Customs duty.

 

This is because villagers involved in haulage of goods from one location to another for traders and importers are now left with no legitimate means of livelihood than smuggling of petroleum products and other movable goods.

 

Investigations revealed that even bank branches operating around the border corridors have lost both their Nigerians and neigbouring countries’ customers as no clearing agents go into the banking halls to do transactions with no imported goods coming into the border for clearing.

 

Last line

 

There are concerns about the continued closure of the land borders and its possible impact on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) expected to kick off next year, having being delayed for implementation in July. Also, unilateral border closures go against all commercial and freedom of movement treaties signed under ECOWAS.

 

Besides, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the nation’s inflation rate has maintained a steady rise from 11.98 per cent recorded in December 2019 to 12.56 per cent in June 2020. Food inflation equally rose to 15.18 per cent.

 

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/border-closure-now-useless-hurting-economy-experts/

 

The Philippines remains the world’s largest rice importer

by Ritchel Mendiola

August 15, 2020

 

A farmer spreads fertilizer granules as he walks through his rice field in Bambang town, Nueva Vizcaya province. Rice farmers in the country, many of them still relying on manual labor to produce the staple, worry about competition from cheaper imported rice flooding local markets. | Inquirer.net photo by Karlston Lapniten

THE Philippines will continue to be the world’s largest rice importer until 2021 with the expected decline in local production, the United States Department of Agriculture projected this week.

In its latest report entitled “Grain: World Markets and Trade,” the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said that this year’s imports will decline by 10%, reaching 2.6 million metric tons (MT).

However, it will increase by 15% next year, with a projection of three million MT.

The USDA also said rice imports of the Philippines in 2021 could decline to 3 million metric tons from its earlier 3.3 million MT projection due to reduced exportable supplies from Thailand and Vietnam, two of the country’s top sources for the commodity.

“Global trade is expected to contract with reduced imports by the Philippines, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire as major exporters Thailand, China and Vietnam face tighter supplies,” said the agency.

The USDA projected a 0.5% decrease in global production next year, reaching 500.049 million MT.

However, it pointed out that the latest projection is still higher than its 2020 rice imports estimated at 2.6 million MT.

The Philippines was also seen replacing China as the world’s top importer as China is expected to buy 2.3 million MT for this year, and 2.2 million MT for next year.

The implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law in March made imports more available in the market, depressing overall milled rice prices.

The USDA said farmers might shift to other crops amid the trend of converting lands into other commercial purposes.

Rice farmers also continue to struggle in competing with affordable imports from Southeast Asia.

However, the Philippines’ rice production this year is expected to increase by 1.5%, improving from 11.7 million MT last year to 11.9 million MT.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:BBvZiwOjvD8J:https://www.asianjournal.com/philippines/across-the-islands/the-philippines-remains-the-worlds-largest-rice-importer/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk

 

 

Buffalo power reaps record rice harvest at Laguna Golf Lang Co

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Description: Buffalo power reaps record rice harvest at Laguna Golf Lang Co

Laguna Golf Lang Co’s world famous family of water buffalo greenskeepers have helped the club reap a record rice harvest: the fruits of which are going towards feeding members of the local community in Central Vietnam.

The bovine brood has been bolstered by the birth of Lulu, a new baby daughter, who joins fellow recent arrival Luna, eldest calf Bao and father and mother Tu Phat and Chi Chi in the workforce.

And the extra sets of hooves have dramatically boosted productivity with the club gathering 28 tonnes of rice from the seven-hectares of fields right in the middle of the Sir Nick Faldo Signature layout — a record harvest-time haul.

The buffalo “bio-mowers” have been vital in helping to maintain the elevated status of the layout, which winds its way through tropical jungle, ocean sand dunes and ancient rice paddies and was ranked as the best in Vietnam at the 2019 Vietnam Golf Awards.

They help to manage the seven-hectares of rice fields located right in the middle of the course by eating excess weeds, crops while tilling the soil in the area that would otherwise require machinery and additional manpower to maintain.

The rice-fields, though, are not just for show. Harvested twice a year, they have previously yielded up to 20 tons of rice that are used to support the organic farm at Laguna Lang Co and donated to families and seniors in the area who are in need of extra support.

This winter’s record haul, however, surpassed previous harvests by some way. Additionally, the bumper crop could not have come at a timely juncture, with Vietnam’s economy taking a hit on tourism as the international borders remain closed to combat the spread of the global pandemic.

“The communities that have limited economic means have been hit the hardest by the economic downturn that has resulted from the global pandemic,” said Adam Calver, Director of Golf at Laguna Lang Co. “The fact that we are able to donate even more rice to locals who need it most this year was a really positive outcome for our edible golf course.”

The utilization of water buffalo as greenkeepers is part of a wider push by Laguna Golf Lang Co to be the most sustainable course in Vietnam. It has completely eradicated the use of single-use plastics in almost all aspects of its operations, scrapping items made of plastic such as on course garbage bags, locker room accessories, plastic cups and straws and replacing them with ones made from materials such as bamboo, paper, steel or natural grass.

Laguna Lang Co Resort has just finalized the installation of its own water bottling plant to allow the resort to completely eliminate plastic water bottles and utilize reusable glass bottles.

The club is also one of only three golf courses in the world to achieve EarthCheck Gold certification, a status it earned at the end of 2019.

“Continually mowing the fields to maintain vast rice terraces can consume a large amount of labour and fuel,” added Calver. “The water buffalo act as bio-mowers and help us protect the natural feel of the landscape; they give a true sense of place.

“Since we introduced the buffalo we have seen a number of birds such as egrets, moving in as they feast on the insects as the buffalo till the soil. We are currently building a new home for our family of ducks which will be used next year as part of our ‘Integrated Rice-Duck Farming Program’.”

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As well as being visually evocative, the seven hectares or rice fields at Laguna Lang Co serve a practical purpose in feeding the community 

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Baby Lulu (right) is the latest addition to the now five-strong family of water buffalo at Laguna Golf Lang Co

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The expanded family helped harvest a record harvest haul of 28 tonnes of rice this winter

Buffalo power reaps record rice harvest at Laguna Golf Lang Co added by HEFFX Australia on 

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