Monday, August 24, 2020

24th August,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

 

Yes, You Can Safely Sanitize Masks In Your Rice Cooker

No washing machine? No problem.

BY COURTNEY LINDER

AUG 21, 2020

CHAMTEUT OH

·         If you don't have a washing machine, you can disinfect your face masks with a rice cooker or instant pot, according to a new study.

·         Researchers at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign found that these multipurpose cookers are efficient for disinfecting at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius, sustained for 50 minutes.

·         The scientists published their findings last month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters.


With face masks here to stay for the long haul, that means you'll have to wash them consistently like any other piece of clothing—and disinfect them, too. But if you don't have access to a washing machine to clean your cloth covering, now you have another option: rice cookers and instant pots.

Yes, seriously.

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Researchers from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign conducted a series of lab tests using the multipurpose appliances and found that as long as you "cook" the masks at a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 minutes, the method can inactivate four classes of virus, including a type of coronavirus.

The scientists published their results last month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters.

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What to Know Before Making and Wearing a DIY Mask

 

"There are many different ways to sterilize something, but most of them will destroy the filtration or the fit of an N95 respirator," Vishal Verma, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, said in a prepared statement. "Any sanitation method would need to decontaminate all surfaces of the respirator, but equally important is maintaining the filtration efficacy and the fit of the respirator to the face of the wearer. Otherwise, it will not offer the right protection."

In this case, the scientists used N-95 respirators, a type of personal protective equipment (PPE) that fits tightly to the face and filters out 95 percent of the particles in the air. Due to a shortage of PPE, health care workers have been reusing their masks and respirators, so a robust method for disinfecting them is vital.

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In washing machines, however, masks can become warped. That impacts a mask's fit, and therefore, filtration. The researchers hypothesized that the dry heat used in rice cookers and instant pots could hit a trifecta for fit, filtration, and decontamination.

To test their theory, the scientists put N-95 masks in an instant pot and set the cycle to a rice-cooking preset option that maintains the contents of the cooker at about 100 degrees Celsius, or 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintaining that heat for 50 minutes, the team was able to disinfect the masks of four different classes of viruses better than ultraviolet light, which inactivates the genetic material inside a virus, causing it to drop dead.

WEAR ONE.

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This Is the Most Badass Way To Prove Masks Work

 

The scientists built a special chamber in Verma's aerosol-testing lab to examine the filtration capability of the N-95 respirators after running them through the rice cooking cycle, measuring how many particles could get through them.

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"The respirators maintained their filtration capacity of more than 95 percent and kept their fit, still properly seated on the wearer’s face, even after 20 cycles of decontamination in the electric cooker," Verma said.

If you want to try out this method for yourself, keep these tips in mind:

 Dry heat is essential—you should not add any water to the cooker. You must maintain the temperature at a minimum of 100 degrees Celsius, for at least 50 minutes.

 Fold up a dry towel and place it along the bottom of the cooker to keep the mask from touching the sides of the dish. Because the surface of the pot is hotter than the melting point of the masks, you must keep them from coming into direct contact.

→ You may place multiple masks in the pot at the same time as long as they don't touch the sides and you can still fit the lid on top.

It's important to note the scientists only tested out this method on an instant pot and a rice cooker. If you want to use a similar household appliance—perhaps a crockpot or a pressure cooker—make sure you're meeting the criteria above.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a33598002/sanitize-mask-rice-cooker-instant-pot/

 

 

 

7 Impressive Health Benefits of Barley That Might Surprise You

If you're looking for lots of extra fiber, you're going to want to opt for this grain versus brown rice.

BY 

Aug 21, 2020

ANDREY ZHURAVLEVGETTY IMAGES

Who doesn’t love a thick, steamy bowl of mushroom-barley soup? There’s a good reason to slurp it down, besides the yum factor: Barley, one of those ancient grains we’ve been hearing so much about, has a host of health benefits.

You can find barley in a range of forms: not just the most-familiar pearled barley (made famous in that mushroom-barley soup), but also barley flourflakesgrits, and more. Like other whole grains, it’s super-good for you—in fact, epidemiological studies have linked eating barley with the potential to reduce the risk of certain diseases.

First, is barley better for you than rice?

Barley and brown rice both have their benefits. If you're avoiding gluten, then brown rice should be your go-to, because barley has gluten. When it comes to folate and vitamin E, brown rice wins; but barley takes the trophy for fiber (it has much, much more) and calcium.

Beyond this, what are the specific health powers of barley? More research is needed, but here’s what the science is showing about the benefits of barley:

Barley is a good source of fiber.

Barley is a delicious way to up your fiber content. “And fiber has a range of health benefits, from supporting healthy digestion to helping with weight loss by enhancing satiety to promoting better glycemic control,” says Stefani Sassos MS, RDN, the registered dietician with the Good Housekeeping Institute. Among whole grains, barley is one of the best sources of fiber, and it happens to be a type of fiber that’s especially healthy: just one cup of pearled barley has 6 grams of fiber, and only 193 calories. Along with that fiber, barley also has 3.5 grams of protein—not anywhere close to the amount in other whole grains like quinoa, kamut, or teff, but it’s something.

ISTETIANAGETTY IMAGES

Barley gives you a nice dose of vitamins and minerals.

Barley has a good amount of several different nutrients that help keep your body humming. It has niacin, a B vitamin that our body uses to turn food into energy; niacin is also key for our nervous and digestive systems and for the health of our skin. Barley is a good source of another B vitamin, B6, which helps our brains and our immune systems. The grain is mineral-rich, as well. Barley provides a big dose of manganese (an essential nutrient that helps to keep our body running), selenium (important for a healthy thyroid), and phospherous (for healthy bones and teeth, among other things), as well as a decent amount of iron.

Barley is high in phytochemicals.

Phyto-whats?! These substances are, simply, chemicals found in plants (“phyto” means plant). There are thousands and thousands of different types, and scientists know less about them than they know about vitamins and minerals — but they have figured out that they may be one of the things in plants that help prevent diseases like heart disease and cancer. And researchers have found that barley is rich a few different types.

Barley may protect against heart disease.

Barley contains flavonoids, which are among the more highly-researched phytochemicals. Flavonoids are the substance in whole grains that's thought to help protect against heart disease, and even cancer. Blue and purple barley grains have the highest amount of flavonoids among the different barley varieties.

Barley might help protect against stroke.

More research is needed on this, but among whole grains, barley is one of the best sources of a phytochemical called tocols, which has been reported to have antioxidant properties, and has been found to potentially reduce the risk of stroke.

 OUR BEST BARLEY RECIPES

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Instant Pot Beef and Barley Stew

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Barley Minestrone

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Beef, Shiitake and Barley Soup

 

Barley may help reduce cholesterol.

Again, more research is needed, but barley has a phytochemical called phytosterols. These are found in other whole grains (barley has less of it than some other varieties). It’s thought to be responsible for whole grain’s potential for lowering cholesterol.

Barley may contain powerful lignons.

Lignons are a phytochemical that are thought to have a superhero’s level of effects: Scientists think they’re antioxidant, anti-tumor, antiviral, and antibacterial, and that they may protect against coronary heart disease. It’s not certain, but researchers think that barley contains this substance.

Overall, barley is a delicious way to boost your nutrition.

“Barley is an incredibly versatile grain with an impressive nutrient profile,” says Sassos. “At home, we often stuff peppers or tomatoes with barley instead of rice for extra nutritional benefits and fiber. Of course, it works great in both cold and warm grain salads, but if you only have a little left over, simply use it as garnish on salads or other dishes for a nutritious boost that adds great texture to any meal. Barley is great in stews, and if you really cook barley down, it can act as a risotto. I've also tried barley in porridge form, which is actually delicious! And when baking, consider barley flour—it has a sweet, nutty-flavor and is great when you use it in breads or even pancake batter.”

LISA BAIN Executive Director, Health Newsroom, Hearst Lifestyle GroupLisa heads up a team of editors who produce health, wellness, nutrition, and fitness content for Good Housekeeping, Prevention, and Woman’s Day.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a33667216/barley-health-benefits/

 

 

In Memory:  Dennis Lindberg 

 

USA Rice extends condolences to the family and friends of Dennis "Denny" Lindberg, who passed away August 14, at the age of 96 after a brief illness.  He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; daughter, Sherry; son, Gary; and their families. Description: C:\Users\abc\Downloads\unnamed.jpg

 

Denny was passionate about many things, including rice farming and his community of Richvale.  He grew rice for more than 75 consecutive seasons, chaired the group that wrote the book, "Richvale: A Legacy of Courage, Dedication and Perseverance," and provided written and video blogs for the California Rice Commission.  Denny was also well-known for his scrap metal animal sculptures, which can be seen throughout the Richvale area.  His civic work and love of community was evidenced by his being honored as "Outstanding Citizen of the 20th Century" by Lundberg Family Farms.

 

"It was always pleasurable to work with and interact with Denny," said Mark Kimmelshue of the Associated Rice Marketing Cooperative in Richvale.  "His support of and positive outlook for the California rice industry set an example for others and demonstrated his devotion to the industry and community he loved."

 

No services are planned beyond a private burial due to present restrictions.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Community Foundation of Richvale, care of Carl Hoff at BUCRA, P.O. Box 128, Richvale, California 95974; the Rice Research Trust, P.O. Box 3-6, Biggs, California 95917; or a favorite charity.

 

USA Rice Meets with Iraqi Trade Officials

By Jesica Kincaid

 

WASHINGTON, DC -- Yesterday, USA Rice joined representatives here from U.S. Wheat Associates, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service to meet with a contingent from Iraq's Ministry of Trade.

 

The Iraqi officials were part of a larger delegation visiting Washington for meetings with the U.S. government, including a meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and President Trump.  The visit came on the heels of last week's $450 million Export-Import financing announcement for the Trade Bank of Iraq to facilitate purchases of U.S. goods and services, including rice and wheat.

 

USA Rice Vice President of International Trade Policy Peter Bachmann participated in the meeting and shared USA Rice's appreciation of the strong partnership between the government of Iraq and the U.S. rice industry.

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"We look forward to working with the Iraq Grain Board in utilizing this new channel to finance the purchase of high quality, U.S. milled rice," said Bachmann.  "The U.S.-Iraq Memorandums of Understanding provide existing frameworks to maximize the use of the recently announced Ex-Im Bank loan."

 

Bachmann added:  "With shrinking grain supplies in Iraq further exacerbated by the logistical and pricing effects of COVID-19, it is perfect timing for the Iraqi Grain Board to take advantage of the 2020 U.S. rice crop coming off the fields right now."

 

The existing U.S.-Iraq Memorandum of Understanding for rice remains in effect through December

 

2021.

 

House panel OKs bill creating the Bataan Rice Research and Development Center

Published August 21, 2020, 8:57 AM

by Charissa Luci-Atienza 

The House Committee on Agriculture and Food has passed a bill seeking the creation of the Bataan Rice Research and Development Center, which seeks to assist rice farmers in producing and marketing rice-based products.

Description: https://mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1-6.jpgMANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO

The panel, chaired by Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga approved the amended House Bill No. 4626, principally authored by Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman during its recent virtual meeting.

“HB 4626 aims to establish a Rice Research Development Centre in the first district of Bataan. The original idea is to establish it in a town of Dinalupihan, after consultations with the president and members of the College of Agriculture of the Bataan Peninsula State University, I have decided and I am proposing for your consideration to amend the bill to rename it as Bataan Rice Research and Development Center to be located in the Abucay campus of the Bataan Peninsula State University,” Roman said in her sponsorship speech.

She said the Abucay campus of the state university is solely dedicated to students of agriculture.

“The idea is basically there will be research on how to develop rice derivatives and also teach our farmers. We will have laboratories there,” the House leader said.

“Bataan Peninsula State University, through its president, has expressed its excitement over this recent development.”

During the virtual deliberation on the bill, Philippine Rice Research Institute ( PhilRice) Executive Director John de Leon said they do not have disagreement with Roman’s proposal, but he suggested that PhilRice be considered as one of the agencies that “will collaborate” with the proposed Center.

HB 4626 seeks to help rice farmers augment their income by promoting and assisting them in the manufacture and marketing of rice-based products.

Roman said among the duties and functions of the proposed Center are to integrate, collate, and support research, programs and studies on rice-based product development and marketing; conduct continuing research on rice-based product development; undertake research and generate relevant, efficient, cost effective and scientifically viable approaches to achieve greater sustainability in rice-based product development; impart technical knowledge and train rice farmers on rice-based product development; and upgrade the entrepreneurial skills of rice farmers through training courses, seminars, and workshops.

She said the Center is also expected to collaborate with national, regional, and international research institutions with knowledge and expertise on rice-based product research and development. It shall coordinate with local government units, non-government organisations, and private sector groups and interests involved in rice-based product development, she added.

Roman said the Center is also tasked to facilitate access to loans to establish and operate a rice-based product development business, and encourage the creation of farmer cooperatives to achieve efficiencies in rice-based product development, better qualify for business loans, and boost marketing initiatives.

“It shall also receive and manage grants, aid, donations, or any kind of assistance or gratuity from donors, foreign or domestic, to better achieve the Center’s objectives,” she said.

Under the bill, the Center will be headed by an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA)

The Executive Director shall be a recognized agriculturalist with extensive experience in rice-based product research and development or a highly regarded entrepreneur in the field.

HB 4626 provides that the amount necessary for the implementation of the proposed Act shall be charged affairs the appropriations of the DA. Thereafter, the required budget for the continued implementation of the proposed Act shall be submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The DA Secretary shall issue the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act within 60 days from its effectivity.

https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/21/house-panel-oks-bill-creating-the-bataan-rice-research-and-development-center/

 

Chipotle reveals the secret to its Cilantro Lime Rice

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

BY TRACY MORIN/AUG. 20, 2020 4:09 PM EDT

Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice has inspired a loyal following, plenty of copycat recipes, and even a low-carb cauliflower version for testing in select locations this summer. But now it's blowing up the internet with a new viral video on Chipotle's TikTok channel, which shows the process (albeit in fast-forward fashion — this is TikTok, after all) behind making the chain's beloved burrito-, taco-, and bowl-filler. And, despite the vocal group of cilantro haters out there, the recipe has received nearly 7 million views in mere days.

 

In the video, backed by borderline-creepy, singsongy instructions, an unseen Chipotle chef whips up a batch of white rice cooked in water and oil, then pours citrus juice into a bowl of cilantro and stirs with a spatula. The cooked rice is added to the cilantro-juice mix, sprinkled with a hefty dose of salt, and mixed together. Voilà!

 

Okay, so it's not exactly rocket science, but many TikTok users were feelin' it. One said, "This is my new favorite video," while another added, "Now I'm going to make this all the time." Even the video's quirky style and song received kudos for its "extremely TikTok" vibe that garnered cool-cred with the Gen Z crowd (via In the Know).

 

Is salt the real 'secret sauce' in Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice?

TikTok

On Chipotle's nutrition page, the rice's ingredients listed include a bay leaf (not seen in the video, but presumably added to the rice before cooking), cilantro, lemon and lime juices, rice bran oil, salt, water, and white rice. Need actual measurements? One TikTok reply came from a user, @fatalexistence97, who claimed to be an ex-employee and shares that the recipe requires a "deep pan" of white rice, a half-cup of citrus juice, two cups of cilantro, and two tablespoons of salt.

 

Yep, two tablespoons. The rice packs in 350 milligrams of sodium in the portion you'd receive in a standard Burrito Bowl or a taco, for example. To put that in perspective, the CDC recommends consuming less than 2,300 milligrams per day, so the rice will take up about 15 percent of the daily limit. And let's face it: Most people aren't hitting Chipotle for a scoop of rice alone.

 

It's not a huge surprise that the rice is salt-packed — despite the "health halo" it often evokes, Chipotle has been criticized for its sky-high sodium counts. LiveStrong notes that the chain's sodium stats "could be considered one of its biggest downsides," but that's not exactly unique in the fast food landscape.

 

The good news is, now that Chipotle has shared the method behind its famous Cilantro Lime Rice, when you're whipping it up at home, you can put in as little (or as much) salt as your heart desires — or can handle.

 

1.       

2.      News

3.      Increased global mortality linked to arsenic exposure in rice-based diets

Industry News: Increased global mortality linked to arsenic exposure in rice-based diets

Rice is the most widely consumed staple food source for a large part of the world’s population

04 Aug 2020

Rice is the most widely consumed staple food source for a large part of the world’s population. It has now been confirmed that rice can contribute to prolonged low-level arsenic exposure leading to thousands of avoidable premature deaths per year.

Arsenic is well known acute poison, but it can also contribute to health problems, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases, if consumed at even relatively low concentrations over an extended period of time.

Compared to other staple foods, rice tends to concentrate inorganic arsenic. Across the globe, over three billion people consume rice as their major staple and the inorganic arsenic in that rice has been estimated by some to give rise to over 50,000 avoidable premature deaths per year.

A collaborating group of cross-Manchester researchers from The University of Manchester and The University of Salford have published new research exploring the relationship, in England and Wales, between the consumption of rice and cardiovascular diseases caused by arsenic exposure.

Their findings, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, shows that - once corrected for the major factors known to contribute to cardiovascular disease (for example obesity, smoking, age, lack of income, lack of education) there is a significant association between elevated cardiovascular mortality, recorded at a local authority level, and the consumption of inorganic arsenic bearing rice.

Professor David Polya from The University of Manchester said: “The type of study undertaken, an ecological study, has many limitations, but is a relatively inexpensive way of determining if there is plausible link between increased consumption of inorganic arsenic bearing rice and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Professor Polya from The University of Manchester said: “The study suggests that the highest 25 % of rice consumers in England and Wales may plausibly be at greater risks of cardiovascular mortality due to inorganic arsenic exposure compared to the lowest 25 % of rice consumers.

“The modelled increased risk is around 6 % (with a confidence interval for this figure of 2 % to 11 %). The increased risk modelled might also reflect in part a combination of the susceptibility, behaviours and treatment of those communities in England and Wales with relatively high rice diets.”

While more robust types of study are required to confirm the result, given many of the beneficial effects otherwise of eating rice due to its high fibre content, the research team suggest that rather than avoid eating rice, people could consume rice varieties, such as basmati, and different types like polished rice (rather whole grain rice) which are known to typically have lower inorganic arsenic contents. Other positive behaviours would be to eat a balanced variety of staples, not just predominately rice.

The lead author, Ms Lingqian Xu, is a President's Doctoral Scholarship Award recipient from the University of Manchester and supervised by Professor David Polya (The University of Manchester) and Dr Debapriya Mondal (University of Salford). Mr Qian Li is a former Masters of Pollution and Environmental Control (MPEC) student from The University of Manchester.

 

 

 

Rice Fruit’s sustainable efforts add up over time

 

Amy Sowder

August 21, 2020 10:27 AM

Brenda Briggs, vice president of sales and marketing for Rice Fruit Co., and Ben Rice, president, check on some of the company’s apple trees. ( Courtesy Rice Fruit Co. )

The Packer's Sustainable Produce Summit will empower, enable and equip the fresh produce industry to grow fresh produce that cares for the life and planet. Click here to register for our free virtual event, September 2020.


Many sustainable changes and choices save businesses money.

Other changes require an upfront investment that may be hard to swallow, especially during this economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic.

But often the costs will decrease or your business can reap financial savings in the long term, said Brenda Briggs, vice president of sales and marketing at Rice Fruit Co., Gardners, Pa.

Other times, you do it because it’s the right thing to do, she said.

“Rice Fruit is adding sustainable packaging options that are available and new today, which often are more costly to implement, but in time, as the industry makes moves and more people make these packaging choices, the costs will come down. That’s the normal cycle of how things work,” Briggs said.

As the fall apple season ramps up, Rice Fruit will have a new tote bag for retail and farmers markets, which is 100% recyclable as always, but there’s now a label made of the same material as the bag.

“Matching up the materials of like product simplifies the process. You don’t have to separate them to remove the label or do extra steps at the recycling center that consumers might or might not be aware of,” Briggs said. 

“Of course, it comes at a cost, but we think it is worthwhile.”

Also, the company has taken several actions the past couple of years at its facility to reduce its carbon footprint.

Rice Fruit has made huge strides.

In 2018, the company installed on the roof of a controlled atmosphere storage building a 130-kilowatt DC solar array.

A solar array is a collection of multiple solar panels that generate electricity in DC form, converting it to AC form, which makes it usable for a building’s electrical outlets. For perspective, a 5-kilowatt array can power a typical household for a day.

Also, the company signed up for a Green/Renewable Energy Initiative addendum with its electricity supplier, which ensures that a 100% equivalent of its annual consumption is renewably generated.

That contract costs more than the standard electrical rate, Briggs said.

However, the company gets a break: Almost half of the cost of the solar array was covered by a grant of $140,000 from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing Authority and Pennsylvania Office of Economic and Community Development. 

Rice Fruit also has reduced its average electric lighting consumption annually by 75%, she said, by transitioning all facilities to LED lighting.

“We’ve been working on this several years. Each year we convert or upgrade several 100 fixtures,” Briggs said.

The company continues to install variable frequency drives that reduce the average consumption of packing machinery.

In 2020, the company deployed more than 40 drives over packing lines and machinery to help drive down electrical consumption.

https://www.thepacker.com/article/rice-fruits-sustainable-efforts-add-over-time

 

 

DA-Caraga vows to continue farm mechanization amid pandemic

By Alexander Lopez  August 21, 2020, 6:26 pm

 

FARM MECHANIZATION. Agusan del Norte Governor Dale B. Corvera (right) and Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo (2nd from right) of the Department of Agriculture in Caraga Region lead the distribution of over PHP79 million worth of farm machinery and equipment to different farmers’ association on Thursday (Aug. 20, 2020) in Taguibo, Butuan City. Monteagudo says DA-13 will continue the agency's farm mechanization program in Caraga Region even amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of the Agusan Up Facebook Page)

BUTUAN CITY – The threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will not hinder the implementation of the farm mechanization program in Caraga Region, according to the Department of Agriculture in Region 13 (DA-13).

On Thursday (August 20), DA-13 said a total of PHP79.7 million farm machinery and equipment were handed over to different rice-based farmers’ and irrigators’ associations in the province of Agusan del Norte in a ceremony held in Barangay Taguibo, Butuan City.

DA-13 Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo said the continuing implementation of the farm mechanization program of the agency is part of the priorities of DA Secretary William Dar.

“The advancement of farm equipment through mechanization will continue to help farmers increase their farm productivity,” Monteagudo said.

Farm mechanization is under the DA’s Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMec) with the support of the agency’s Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Among the recipients of the program in Agusan del Norte include the Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma Alang sa Lamdag nga Kaugmaon (Kamalaka) Irrigator’s Association from Barangay Sanghan, Cabadbaran City; the Tagbongabong Farmers Association (TFA) from Tagbongabong, Remedios T. Romualdez town; Sto. Nino Muti-Purpose Cooperative (SNMPC) from Sto. Nino, Butuan City; and the Taguibo IPM Irrigators Association (TIIA) from Barangay Taguibo, Butuan City.

Kamalaka received a four-wheel tractor with one riding-type trans-planter and one combined harvester.

Kamalaka president Ruenston Delalamon expressed thanks to the government, saying the equipment will greatly benefit their association and members.

“Before, our association just visualized having these pieces of machinery and equipment that could lessen the burden that we are facing during land preparation and harvesting season. We even hire laborers from other places for additional manpower during both seasons. We are very glad that through this, our vision for our farms will not be in vain anymore,” Delalamon said.

Another group, the TFA also received seven units of floating tillers, a four-wheel tractor, and a combined harvester.

“The months of waiting for the turnover of the machinery and equipment is over. This is a big boost to us in the organization. We express thanks to the government for the support we received despite the threat of the pandemic,” TFA chairperson Jimmy Loreno said.

A unit of a four-wheel tractor with one combined harvester was also given to TIIA while the SNMPC was given one unit of a precision seeder.

Agusan del Norte governor Dale B. Corvera, who witnessed the turn-over ceremony, thanked e DA-13 for its continued support to the farmers in Agusan del Norte and the rest of the region.

“I see this as a competition for the development of the economy of our region since we are blessed with an agri-based Caraga region,” Corvera, who also chairs the Regional Development Council (RDC) said.

He said the best thing the government can do to improve agriculture production is to invest in agriculture and to the farmers.

“I’m glad that the mindset of our farmers changed through the years. Before they go into farming to have some food in the table but now, we go into farming to develop our economy, to create a business,” Corvera said.

He also stressed the importance of education to strengthen the various agricultural programs in the region.

“I hope that our future generation here in Caraga will eye for a progressive agriculture sector by studying agriculture-related education. For our farmers who have experienced technological advancements, they should encourage their children to continue what had been started,” Corvera said. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1113024

 

 

Despite disasters, harvest expected to be successful

By WANG XIAOYU | China Daily | Updated: 2020-08-21 09:22

Description: http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202008/21/5f3f21d6a3108348fce6afda.jpegA farmer uses a shovel to separate grains of wheat from the husk in Zhangyao village of Erlang town in Xiping county, Central China's Henan province on May 26, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

Natural disasters this year - including the severe flooding along the Yangtze River - have not dented prospects for a bumper harvest in China, and the country's overall food security is guaranteed, Yu Kangzhen, vice-minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said on Thursday.

China's early rice output reached 27.3 million metric tons this year, up 1.03 million tons from last year, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.

While the year-on-year increase is modest, Yu said the uptick represented a significant landmark as this year's early rice production had reversed a seven-year trend of decline.

Meanwhile, the summer grain output this year was reported to have reached a historic high of 142.8 million tons this year, up by 1.21 million tons from last year, official data show.

With all eyes now set on autumn grain production-which accounts for 70 percent of the nation's total grain production annually-Yu said monitoring data show that areas used to grow autumn crops have registered a slight increase, and the growth of crops is positive.

"Local governments have taken active measures to prevent and mitigate the impact of natural disasters, and the resumption of production is timely and effective," he said.

This year, China has countered massive flooding in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze; serious drought in its northeastern provinces; and typhoons hitting some coastal areas in the south, according to Yu.

These disasters have exerted a toll on autumn grain planting in parts of Northeast China and rice production in some southern provinces, but most regions have witnessed a better growth of crops compared to last year, Yu said.

"Drought and flooding did not change the stable and positive trend of this year's grain production," Yu explained."We will witness a bumper harvest if no major disasters occur for the rest of the year."

He added that China's grain stocks have been maintained at a high level so far, further securing the country's food supply and contributing to stabilizing grain prices.

"There are about 40 days left before we will begin harvesting autumn grains on a large scale," he said. "Our work will be rooted in combating disasters step by step and aiming for a full harvest."

Yu said celebrations during the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, which falls on each year's autumn equinox and will be celebrated on Sept 22 this year, will demonstrate the stable footing of the country's agricultural and rural sector and will boost confidence in socioeconomic development.

The core festival event will be held in Yuncheng, Shanxi province. It will be the first time the event is held outside Beijing since the festival was created in June 2018.

http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202008/21/WS5f3f21bba310834817261c70.html

 

VinaSeed’s rice products conquer international market

 

Update: August, 21/2020 - 14:41

 

Description: https://image.vietnamnews.vn/uploadvnnews/Article/2020/8/21/107164_rice.jpg

Vinarice’s rice processing plant. Vinarice has received FSSC22000 certification from the UK’s Bureau Veritas after a strict and rigorous assessment process. — Photo courtesy of The PAN Group

HCM CITY — Vietnam Rice Company Limited (Vinarice) of Vinaseed – a member of The PAN Group, has obtained the certificate of food safety management systems (FSSC 22000) for processing, packaging and distribution by Bureau Veritas – the UK's leading independent organisation for certification.

This certification will help Vietnamese rice products to the EU as one of the most comprehensive food safety standards established based on a combination of two certificates ISO 22000 and PAS 220.

From the beginning of Vinarice's establishment, Vinaseed chose the FSSC22000 management systems to follow, invested in modern facilities and applied Japanese technologies. Only less than eight months into operation, Vinarice has received FSSC22000 certification after a strict and rigorous assessment process. This has a special meaning in the context of the EU – Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which officially took effect from August 1.

According to the agreement, the EU will give Việt Nam an export quota of 80,000 tonnes of rice per year with a tariff of 0 per cent.

In July, Vinaseed exported VJ Pearl Rice and RVT fragrant rice to Netherlands and Czech Republic at a price of US$1,040 per tonne. This week, the company will export Ban Mai white rice and Phúc Thọ brown rice to Australia.

These are the first Vietnamese branded rice products which have imported officially to the European market. The high-quality products are used Vietnamese rice varieties, grown, harvested and processed in Việt Nam, meeting all strict standards and conditions covering from raw material development to final product quality control.

Nguyễn Quang Trường, CEO of Vinaseed, said: “Vinaseed has been prepared since the EVFTA was under discussion. It developed sustainable agricultural production areas according to VietGAP standards."

In 2019, Vinaseed's total export volume to the EU market reached 2,000 tonnes for a value of $2 million. The PAN Group member company aims to double its exports to about 5,000 tonnes in 2020 when new tariffs of zero per cent will make its products become more competitive, Trường added. — VNS

https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/771424/vinaseeds-rice-products-conquer-international-market.html

 

POSCO International signs MoU to support Myanmar rice industry

 

Created: Friday, 21 August 2020 10:14

South Korean POSCO International Corp has signed a MoU with the Rural Development Administration (RDA), a move that is set to boost Myanmar’s rice sector

The initiatove aims to train local farmers on the techniques of cultivation and post-harvest management. (Image source: Sasin Tipchai/Pixabay)

With the agreement, the two organisations aim to develop a public-private cooperative relationship. RDA is expected to share its rice production technological skills with Myanmar rice farms and POSCO will help in processing and distributing raw local rice.

Additionally, POSCO and RDA have promised to train local farmers on the techniques of cultivation as well as post-harvest management. As reported by The Korea Times, post-evaluation will be provided to help Myanmar rice farmers to improve rice quality. 

With the MoU, POSCO aims to expand its sales footprints in China, Africa and Europe with quality raw materials processed in Myanmar, the source further added.

POSCO operates rice processing and exporting business in Myanmar. In 2017, POSCO International acquired a rice processing plant with an annual capacity of 1.5 million tonnes in Myanmar. Last year, the company constructed a new one that can process 8.6 million tonnes yearly.

http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/posco-international-signs-mou-to-support-myanmar-rice-industry#:~:text=South%20Korean%20POSCO%20International%20Corp,to%20boost%20Myanmar's%20rice%20sector&text=RDA%20is%20expected%20to%20share,and%20distributing%20raw%20local%20rice.

 

 

Lagos mill will crash rice price – Govt

 August 21, 2020

 Samson Folarin

The Lagos State Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, on Thursday said there would be steady supply of paddy from local farmers for the 32 metric tonnes per hour Imota Rice Mill.

She spoke on the sidelines of an inspection tour of the rice mill by members of the state House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, led by its Chairman, Kehinde Joseph.

Olusanya, who assured that the mill would be completed in December 2020, explained that rice farmers in the state were getting the needed support of the state government to ensure that they had a hitch-free planting season.

 “On Tuesday, we kicked off the rice farmers’ sensitisation, training and empowerment programme for over 800 rice farmers in Lagos State.

 “The reason is even if we are going to source for paddy from other localities, we should start from our own Lagos farmers, our Eko rice farmers,” she added.

The acting commissioner noted that no fewer than 250,000 job opportunities would be created along the  value chains.

Joseph charged contractors handling the mill to hasten work on the project.

He said the committee was overseeing the project to ensure that percentage of work done so far was commensurate with the money released by the state government.

https://punchng.com/lagos-mill-will-crash-rice-price-govt/

Rice Prices

as on : 21-08-2020 08:29:39 PM

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

Arrivals

Price

Current

%
change

Season
cumulative

Modal

Prev.
Modal

Prev.Yr
%change

Rice

Bangalore(Kar)

1813.00

11.16

138527.00

4950

4950

10.00

Bangarpet(Kar)

330.00

-9.59

9451.00

2100

2200

-

Shahjahanpur(UP)

300.00

-9.09

8621.00

2605

2605

-0.38

Sultanpur(UP)

250.00

-16.67

8637.00

2300

2350

-16.36

Varanasi(Grain)(UP)

130.00

8.33

3029.00

2675

2700

12.16

Mandya(Kar)

122.00

-44.55

6934.00

2450

2100

-

Azamgarh(UP)

110.00

-8.33

6516.70

2565

2560

5.12

Barhaj(UP)

100.00

25

11315.00

2570

2570

7.08

Gorakhpur(UP)

87.50

4.79

1732.20

2560

2550

-

Dadri(UP)

70.00

-26.32

2635.00

5950

5950

-

Hardoi(UP)

60.00

-14.29

9227.80

2500

2450

NC

Kandi(WB)

60.00

-14.29

1945.50

2640

2700

3.53

Kopaganj(UP)

59.00

NC

1996.00

2570

2570

4.68

Ballia(UP)

50.00

NC

3443.00

2650

2620

10.42

Ghaziabad(UP)

50.00

-16.67

3120.00

2850

5990

-2.40

Kanpur(Grain)(UP)

50.00

25

6110.00

2150

2350

-12.24

Sehjanwa(UP)

50.00

11.11

3012.50

2570

2575

18.98

Bindki(UP)

50.00

-28.57

6320.00

2500

2500

5.04

Chintamani(Kar)

46.00

84

656.00

2500

2500

11.11

Saharanpur(UP)

42.00

-2.33

3075.50

2785

2780

-5.27

Khalilabad(UP)

40.00

14.29

2225.00

2550

2550

13.33

Jaunpur(UP)

39.00

95

1729.50

2675

2650

13.35

Raibareilly(UP)

38.50

413.33

1748.50

2430

2450

8.00

Aligarh(UP)

35.00

-12.5

4847.00

2550

2550

NC

Allahabad(UP)

35.00

-36.36

2832.50

2500

2555

-3.85

Mainpuri(UP)

35.00

18.64

4316.50

2620

2620

-0.38

Chorichora(UP)

33.00

10

1696.50

2555

2550

7.13

Meerut(UP)

32.50

18.18

1173.50

2830

2830

-4.71

Faizabad(UP)

32.00

1.59

1832.50

2420

2425

1.89

Muradabad(UP)

30.00

-14.29

2027.00

2620

2600

2.75

Firozabad(UP)

27.50

-1.79

1981.10

2630

2620

-

Balrampur(UP)

27.00

3.85

1286.00

2420

2410

5.22

Bidar(Kar)

26.00

NC

219.00

2400

2400

-4.00

Mathura(UP)

26.00

-7.14

3327.50

2550

2550

-0.78

Sindhanur(Kar)

25.00

-3.85

614.00

1700

1840

-5.56

Badayoun(UP)

25.00

212.5

1145.50

2600

2650

3.17

Basti(UP)

25.00

11.11

2007.50

2565

2565

5.34

Choubepur(UP)

25.00

-16.67

2672.45

2480

2500

-7.29

Agra(UP)

24.00

33.33

3674.00

2650

2640

-0.38

Bahraich(UP)

23.60

1.72

1293.80

2415

2415

-0.62

Muzzafarnagar(UP)

22.00

120

4726.00

2790

2785

-5.58

Paliakala(UP)

21.00

-16

901.00

2400

2430

5.96

Partaval(UP)

20.00

-27.27

927.00

2545

2540

11.38

Vilaspur(UP)

20.00

-9.09

1853.20

2600

2605

3.59

Shamli(UP)

19.00

18.75

1530.40

2785

2780

0.91

Utraula(UP)

19.00

2.7

787.20

2420

2420

-

Banda(UP)

18.00

20

444.50

2410

2400

2.99

Rampur(UP)

17.00

-10.53

821.50

2625

2620

2.54

Etawah(UP)

16.00

-11.11

2706.50

2515

2520

-3.27

Karvi(UP)

15.00

87.5

744.00

2400

2440

1.48

Rasda(UP)

15.00

-6.25

668.50

2575

2550

1070.45

Robertsganj(UP)

14.00

-12.5

374.10

2490

2490

5.51

Unnao(UP)

13.50

-12.9

44.00

6650

6675

95.59

Raath(UP)

13.50

73.08

322.20

2350

2350

-

Pratapgarh(UP)

13.00

NC

557.50

2415

2410

8.05

Sahiyapur(UP)

13.00

-23.53

2782.00

2560

2560

5.79

Bharthna(UP)

13.00

-7.14

2431.50

2550

2560

-3.41

Mawana(UP)

12.00

9.09

414.20

2800

2810

-

Devariya(UP)

11.00

57.14

1159.50

2570

2570

6.20

Soharatgarh(UP)

10.50

-19.23

1668.20

2560

2565

4.92

Kayamganj(UP)

10.00

25

2119.00

2500

2490

-6.02

Shimoga(Kar)

9.00

-10

168.00

2075

2075

-

Etah(UP)

8.50

-29.17

534.00

2590

2580

1.17

Bijnaur(UP)

8.00

14.29

296.00

2600

2600

9.70

Pukhrayan(UP)

8.00

-46.67

708.00

2460

2470

4.68

Ajuha(UP)

8.00

14.29

491.00

2520

2520

2.86

Fatehpur(UP)

7.70

-18.95

2382.60

2485

2490

5.74

Kannauj(UP)

7.00

-6.67

511.10

2450

2460

-7.20

Mohamadabad(UP)

5.50

-15.38

936.80

2470

2480

-

Atarra(UP)

5.00

-50

931.00

2400

2430

1.69

Mirzapur(UP)

5.00

25

344.50

2675

2675

10.77

Jahangirabad(UP)

4.00

14.29

333.00

2650

2660

-1.12

Kasganj(UP)

4.00

-20

548.50

2580

2570

0.39

Tundla(UP)

4.00

NC

330.50

2630

2630

1.94

Bangarmau(UP)

3.50

40

222.20

2450

2465

6.52

Chitwadagaon(UP)

3.50

16.67

500.30

2640

2580

25.71

Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP)

3.30

10

649.80

2480

2460

-4.62

Fatehpur Sikri(UP)

3.20

-23.81

176.10

2580

2550

0.39

Naanpara(UP)

3.20

-27.27

718.60

2410

2405

2.12

Achalda(UP)

3.00

NC

389.90

2500

2500

13.12

Lucknow(UP)

3.00

-18.92

5000.80

2460

2475

-11.35

Jhijhank(UP)

3.00

-85

500.50

2500

2485

-

Jayas(UP)

2.70

17.39

746.40

1770

1780

-15.71

Mahoba(UP)

2.70

-10

492.80

2450

2440

8.17

Mugrabaadshahpur(UP)

2.30

15

89.60

2610

2610

16.52

Auraiya(UP)

2.00

NC

279.10

2520

2550

-3.82

Bareilly(UP)

2.00

-83.33

2047.00

2610

2600

3.16

Kosikalan(UP)

2.00

-42.86

276.00

2560

2560

1.99

Wazirganj(UP)

2.00

33.33

54.50

2590

2610

-

Chandoli(UP)

1.70

-15

108.40

2600

2600

11.83

Bharuasumerpur(UP)

1.60

-20

43.70

2400

2500

23.08

Melaghar(Tri)

1.50

114.29

76.70

2700

2700

NC

Baberu(UP)

1.50

-31.82

102.40

2400

2430

7.87

Panichowki(Kumarghat)(Tri)

1.30

-7.14

76.60

2900

2900

-

Tanda Urmur(UP)

1.30

44.44

19.00

2440

2410

-

Gandacharra(Tri)

1.20

20

11.10

2860

2860

-

Jhansi(UP)

1.20

-25

164.40

2490

2480

4.84

Lalganj(UP)

1.20

20

288.90

2350

2350

34.29

Akbarpur(UP)

1.20

NC

424.20

2425

2420

-0.21

Alibagh(Mah)

1.00

NC

104.00

2200

2200

NC

Murud(Mah)

1.00

NC

102.00

2200

2200

NC

Champaknagar(Tri)

1.00

66.67

3.40

2900

3000

-

Anandnagar(UP)

1.00

-16.67

231.70

2535

2555

10.22

Tulsipur(UP)

1.00

-75

114.10

2420

2400

-

Khair(UP)

0.80

-20

84.60

2590

2590

-0.38

Risia(UP)

0.80

33.33

79.20

2430

2430

-

Pabiacherra(Tri)

0.60

-66.67

23.50

2760

2760

-

Achnera(UP)

0.60

NC

45.20

2640

2600

3.53

Khatra(WB)

0.60

-40

112.00

2600

2600

NC

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https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article3241

 

Chipotle reveals the secret to its Cilantro Lime Rice

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

 Tracy Morin

Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice has inspired a loyal following, plenty of copycat recipes, and even a low-carb cauliflower version for testing in select locations this summer. But now it's blowing up the internet with a new viral video on Chipotle's TikTok channel, which shows the process (albeit in fast-forward fashion — this is TikTok, after all) behind making the chain's beloved burrito-, taco-, and bowl-filler. And, despite the vocal group of cilantro haters out there, the recipe has received nearly 7 million views in mere days.

In the video, backed by borderline-creepy, singsongy instructions, an unseen Chipotle chef whips up a batch of white rice cooked in water and oil, then pours citrus juice into a bowl of cilantro and stirs with a spatula. The cooked rice is added to the cilantro-juice mix, sprinkled with a hefty dose of salt, and mixed together. Voilà!

Okay, so it's not exactly rocket science, but many TikTok users were feelin' it. One said, "This is my new favorite video," while another added, "Now I'm going to make this all the time." Even the video's quirky style and song received kudos for its "extremely TikTok" vibe that garnered cool-cred with the Gen Z crowd (via In the Know).

Is salt the real 'secret sauce' in Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice?

TikTok

On Chipotle's nutrition page, the rice's ingredients listed include a bay leaf (not seen in the video, but presumably added to the rice before cooking), cilantro, lemon and lime juices, rice bran oil, salt, water, and white rice. Need actual measurements? One TikTok reply came from a user, @fatalexistence97, who claimed to be an ex-employee and shares that the recipe requires a "deep pan" of white rice, a half-cup of citrus juice, two cups of cilantro, and two tablespoons of salt.

Yep, two tablespoons. The rice packs in 350 milligrams of sodium in the portion you'd receive in a standard Burrito Bowl or a taco, for example. To put that in perspective, the CDC recommends consuming less than 2,300 milligrams per day, so the rice will take up about 15 percent of the daily limit. And let's face it: Most people aren't hitting Chipotle for a scoop of rice alone.

It's not a huge surprise that the rice is salt-packed — despite the "health halo" it often evokes, Chipotle has been criticized for its sky-high sodium counts. LiveStrong notes that the chain's sodium stats "could be considered one of its biggest downsides," but that's not exactly unique in the fast food landscape.

The good news is, now that Chipotle has shared the method behind its famous Cilantro Lime Rice, when you're whipping it up at home, you can put in as little (or as much) salt as your heart desires — or can handle.

Rice prices rise as exporters grapple with floods, coronavirus

Reuters | Aug 20, 2020, 21:04 IST

TimesPoints

(Representative image)

BENGALURU: Rice export prices in top-hub India edged higher this week as floods and surging coronavirus cases hammered supply and export logistics.
India’s 5% broken parboiled variety rose to $383-$389 per tonne from last week’s $382-$387, with exporters struggling to fulfil orders due to limited availability of containers and workers at the country’s biggest rice handling port, Kakinada, in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

“Demand is huge for Indian rice due to lower prices, but exports are getting affected by floods and the coronavirus outbreak in Andhra Pradesh,” said Nitin Gupta, vice president for Olam India’s rice business.
With 2.84 million total COVID-19 cases, India is the worst-hit country in Asia and third only behind the US and Brazil in terms of the number of cases.

 

 

 

 

“The most important thing in the world is family and love.” –John Wooden

 

Rs 1750

 https://urdu.arynews.tv/new-concerns-have-been-raised-about-the-corona-vaccine/

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