Monday, September 14, 2020

14th September,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

 The UAE’s sustainable food plan involves growing rice & developing ‘soil’

By

 Matilda Coleman

 -

September 13, 2020

 

With the UAE almost wholly reliant on food imports, food security is a national priority.

In recent months, the Covid-19 pandemic has heightened domestic concerns as global supply chains of imports were disrupted.

The crisis also prompted renewed debate about how best to boost local agriculture and foster farming innovation.

Searing summer temperatures, little rainfall and a landscape dominated by arid desert, has meant that the UAE’s agricultural activities have been relatively restricted to small areas.

Grassroot thinking

That could soon change, however, say academics at Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University, who are developing ‘artificial soil’, made up of almost 90% desert sand.

Their goal is for the product to be used by local, and eventually regional farmers, to grow plants & vegetation.

The soil created in the laboratory resembles the texture, porosity & fertility of soils found in Thailand & Ukraine.

If patent approved, scientists in the capital are optimistic that it has the potential to transform the UAE’s burgeoning home-grown crops sector.

To dig deeper into the topic, Inspire Middle East’s Rebecca McLaughlin-Eastham caught up with Associate Professor, Dr. Saeed Alkhazraji, a passionate innovator who helped co-create the earth.

He began by explaining the soil’s unique qualities, which should be given extra consideration in light of the UAE’s extreme weather conditions.

“Farmers have to be aware that any crop they’re trying to grow [here] needs to be dealt with in a specific way, to allow them to maximize their yield,” he said. “For example, if they want to grow a plant that is difficult to grow in the UAE, perhaps you need to use a greenhouse along with the soil that we are making.”

The soil’s potential to contribute to the local food supply chain, is significant, the Professor went on to tell .

“There are many different crops that are challenging to grow in the UAE, crops that sustain human lives, like rice and wheat – because of their excessive need for water.” said Dr. Saeed Alkhazraji. “The soil that we developed can allow us to have better water management, because it allows us to have a higher water retention than typical soils around the UAE.”

Desert rice

With rice a food staple of the UAE, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment recently announced a joint research programme with the Republic of Korea, aimed at cultivating rice in the desert.

The seeds were sowed back in 2019, cultivated using a water-saving drip irrigation system, and the rice was recently harvested.

Preliminary results for the first project of its kind in the region, indicated a yield of 763kg of rice per 1,000 square metres.

This prompted the Ministry to say that, if successful on a large scale, the project had the potential to shape the future of agriculture and be replicated in other arid regions.

Sharjah’s organic growth

The location of the rice initiative was the emirate of Sharjah, which according to scientists, is an emerging hotbed of agricultural innovation in the UAE.

It is also home to the Sharjah Research Technology & Innovation Park, a place which supports famers & harnesses new technology to produce sustainable local food all year round.

The Park notably contains a 150-square metre farm, and an eco-friendly Merlin Agrotunnel, capable of producing a ton of organic fruits & vegetables each month.

In keeping with the country’s environmental and sustainable farming goals, all produce is irrigated with seawater desalinated via solar energy.

SRTI’s CEO, Hussain Al Mahmoudi, predicts that in the next 5 years at least 30 percent of the UAE’s food will be domestically produced.

He told Inspire that continuous research and development into new farming innovations & agricultural technology will accelerate the sector’s growth in the years ahead.

“Since the inception of the Park, we’ve started to promote things like hydroponics technology, aquaponics technology & tunnel farming. And they’ve all taken off,” he said. “At the moment, we are [also] using Artificial Intelligence to study how aquaponics works, with relation to fish. How the fish really move and how much food they eat.”

Sustainable agriculture

When asked about the economic feasibility of large-scale farming projects in the UAE, and how production and harvesting costs could be kept down, Al Mahmoudi had this to say:

“I think the feasibility is there, because the UAE has an abundant amount of land. A lot of farmers in the UAE, especially the national ones, get free land. If you couple this with the cost of doing business here, it is also relatively low compared to other parts of the world. There’s also the fantastic infrastructure – in terms of ports and airports and storage and other things.”

On the subject of the UAE being one of the world’s top rice importers, SRTI’s CEO is convinced that producing home-grown rice would be game-changing for the domestic market.

“I think we can play a strategic role in growing rice,” he said. “We have the infrastructure, both soft infrastructure and public sector, to really become a regional player in producing rice and ensuring food security.”

https://upnewsinfo.com/2020/09/13/the-uaes-sustainable-food-plan-involves-growing-rice-developing-soil/

 

 

 

Here are the latest news in the rice sector. Here are the important details you should know: 

 

NEWS

New, free fertilizer app for rice available on PlayStore: Derived from a four-stripped handy “ruler” called Leaf Color Chart (LCC), the PhilRice Leaf Color Computing Application (PhilRice LCC App), which can assess nitrogen status of the rice plant, is now available on Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ph.gov.philrice.lcc). Designed for farmers, extension workers, researchers, and students, the mobile app generates nitrogen recommendations in just under a minute based on the digital images of intact rice leaves photographed directly from the field.

 

Enough seeds benefit over 150k farmers in CAR, Region 2: More than 150,000 farmers in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Cagayan Valley (Region 2) benefitted from certified inbred seeds given by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program this wet season. Through partnership with the local government unit, the station had accomplished over 100 percent of its target delivery in said regions amidst community quarantine.

 

PhilRice Batac recognizes partners in seed distribution program: An official of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte lauded partner-agencies in implementing a government’s flagship program benefitting over 55,000 farmers in Region I. Executed amidst a health crisis, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program delivered more than 200,000 bags of free certified seeds of the region’s recommended rice varieties.

 

To read the full articles, please see the attached documents.   

 

-- 

Development Communication Division
Philippine Rice Research Institute (
www.philrice.gov.ph)
Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, PHILIPPINES
(044) 4560258 loc 512 (telefax)
0928-3703328
Be a rice fan: 
http://www.facebook.com/rice.matters
Follow rice: 
http://twitter.com/rice_matters

 

Enough seeds benefit over 150k farmers in CAR, Region 2

 

Description: PhilRice-Isabela-Ifugao-distribution

 

More than 150,000 farmers in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Cagayan Valley (Region 2) benefitted from certified inbred seeds given by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program this wet season.

 

“The program allocated almost 400,000 bags, which is enough for the rice farmers in CAR and Region 2. This allotment can be distributed anytime,” Engr. Leo C. Javier, Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research (DA-PhilRice) in San Mateo, Isabela, branch director, said.

 

Through partnership with the local government unit, the station had accomplished over 100 percent of its target delivery in said regions amidst community quarantine.

 

“We strictly followed physical distancing and wearing of masks to help ensure a safe environment for the farmers receiving seeds,” Javier said.

 

Farmer-beneficiaries planted the certified inbred rice seeds, distributed at 20kg/bag, in almost 200,000 ha or 92 percent of the target area.

 

Implementers of RCEF-Seed Program also established  10 technology demonstration farms with 60 farmer-partners from both regions. Called PalaySikatan, the technology demonstration farms showcase regional varieties, one location-specific technology, and newly released inbred rice varieties. Machines such as walk-behind and riding-type mechanical transplanters are also introduced to reduce production cost.

 

Furthermore, more than 90,000 farmers received Gabay sa Makabagong Pagpapalayan leaflet, which contains information about modern farming while trainers and farm schools will receive PalayCheck System booklet and primer, respectively.

 

The RCEF-Seed Program, which is a component of Republic Act 11203 or Rice Tariffication Law signed by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, allots P10 billion fund every year for the rice farmers. Sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Villar, the program is a six-year government initiative to help the farmers compete in the international rice market.

 

Bureau of Plant Industry, DA-regional offices, provincial and municipal government units, seed grower associations, and policymakers assisted in program implementation in CAR and Region 2.

 

PhilRice leads the RCEF-Seed Program and is the government’s lead agency on rice research and development mandated to help ensure a rice-secure Philippines. With eight stations across the country, its programs and projects are in line with the DA’s “Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita” battlecry. For more information about the Institute’s program, queries can be sent thru PhilRice Text Center (0917 111 7423) or email prri.mail@philrice.gov.ph.

 

PhilRice Batac recognizes partners in seed distribution program

 

Description: Sison-Pangasinan

 

An official of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte lauded partner-agencies in implementing a government’s flagship program benefitting over 55,000 farmers in Region I.

 

Executed amidst a health crisis, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program delivered more than 200,000 bags of free certified seeds of the region’s recommended rice varieties.

 

“Despite limitations and danger posed by the pandemic, we’re happy that we have provided farmers the needed seeds in time for the planting season. This is due to the cooperation, strong commitment, and partnership among concerned agencies and local government units. We’re also grateful to the support of our congressmen,” Dr. Reynaldo Castro, PhilRice Batac director said.

 

In Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, City Agriculturist Marilyn G. Martin shared that more than 1,000 bags were distributed to almost 1,000 farmers in two hours during Enhanced Community Quarantine without breaking health and safety protocols.

 

“We minimized contact and held the distribution in a wide venue so that physical distancing is observed,” she said.

 

The RCEF Seed Program, a six-year government initiative to help the farmers compete in the international rice market, also helped some cooperatives expand their memberships.

 

“Many women-farmers applied for membership in our cooperative after receiving the free high-quality seeds. They learned it’s easier for farmers to access government support if we’re organized,” Anita Benito, president of Nasalukag Women’s Multi-purpose Cooperative in Solsona, Ilocos Norte said. She added that their members expect higher yield from RCEF seeds based on the crop’s stand.

 

Lauding the effort, Sen. Cynthia Villar, author of the Rice Tariffication Law, in which the RCEF-Seed Program is a component, also cited the program implementers in a social media post. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signed the Rice Tariffication Law, which allots P10 billion fund every year for the rice farmers.

 

“Congratulations to PhilRice Batac, DA-Regional Field Office 1, provincial/municipal/city agriculture offices, and LGUs in implementing the RCEF- Seed Program in the Ilocos Region! Let’s continue to support our farmers,” she posted.

 

PhilRice leads the RCEF-Seed Program and is the government’s lead agency on rice research and development mandated to help ensure a rice-secure Philippines. With eight stations across the country, its programs and projects are in line with the DA’s “Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita” battlecry. For more information about the Institute’s program, queries can be sent thru PhilRice Text Center (0917 111 7423) or email prri.mail@philrice.gov.ph.

New, free fertilizer app for rice available on PlayStore

 

Description: 12345565455

 

Right amount of nitrogen fertilizer for rice can now be generated through a free android application developed by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice).

 

Derived from a four-stripped handy “ruler” called Leaf Color Chart (LCC), the PhilRice Leaf Color Computing Application (PhilRice LCC App), which can assess nitrogen status of the rice plant, is now available on Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ph.gov.philrice.lcc).

 

Designed for farmers, extension workers, researchers, and students, the mobile app generates nitrogen recommendations in just under a minute based on the digital images of intact rice leaves photographed directly from the field.

 

Ailon Oliver Capistrano, PhilRice senior researcher, said that app users only need to lay down the topmost, fully expanded rice leaf on smartphone’s front camera to capture its image with the surrounding light as source of luminance.

 

According to him, nitrogen levels of rice plants can be measured from a digital photo of its leaves, which is strongly correlated with actual leaf nitrogen concentrations.

 

“The app measures the intensity of green color based on the captured leaf images and converts this into values correlated with the amount of nitrogen in the leaf,” he explained.

 

Different camera-types are normally installed in smartphones with variations in terms of resolution. The research team found that regardless of brand, smartphone cameras will deliver an almost similar reading at 5MP.  This means that app users can install the app even in an inexpensive smartphone brand and benefit from its function.

 

“The app is more accurate than the LCC as it eliminates subjective perception of users, which is prone to variation or errors. The app is also handy for new users or adopters who have no training or experience in the use of the manual LCC,” Capistrano said.

 

Meanwhile, Dr.Karen Eloisa Barroga, PhilRice deputy executive director for development, said the app is useful for farmers who often apply too much nitrogen especially during wet season, which results in pest infestation.

 

“Many farmers are now online. They also have their children to assist them. I’m sure that the LCC app will quickly find its way to them to guide them in the accurate application of nitrogen,” Barroga said.

 

January-April 2020 data of the DA-PhilRice Facebook page showed that 75% of its clients are farmers who frequently use the Messenger. The rest are students, extensions workers, and researchers.

 

Recommendations derived from the LCC app will be showcased in field demonstration while farmers engaged through Facebook will be encouraged to download the LCC app.

 

Recently, Agriculture Secretary William Dar announced that the department will harness state-of-the-art tools, systems and technologies to modernize and industrialize Philippine agriculture to ensure food supply.

 

“By digitalizing agriculture, our farmers and fishers can achieve bigger yields of higher quality products, at a more cost-efficient and sustainable manner….,” he said.

 

 

 

Ensuring Food Security in Pakistan

A significant percentage of Pakistanis face food insecurity and it is not because food is not available but rather due to a lack of affordability and inequitable distribution. Pakistan’s agriculture sector faces complex challenges that hinder productivity and yields which are much lower than many regional countries.

Magazine Desk

 -

Description: food security

 

Over the last few years, Pakistan has seen a drastic decline in the production of staple crops, such as wheat, rice and cotton, due to natural disasters, volatile security situation and low economic growth. As a result, the national nutrition survey 2018 points out that an estimated 37 percent of the population faces food insecurity.

In Pakistan, food availability is not the real problem – the real issue lies in affordability and inequitable distribution across the country that leads to price distortions, supply chain losses and inadequate availability in some districts. The situation is exacerbated for the vulnerable groups of women and children, and two-thirds of the population who live in rural areas that lack market access.

In 2018, the government approved a comprehensive national food security policy, terming it the most critical element of national security. This policy aims to enhance food availability, improve food access, enable food utilization and ensure food stability by promoting a more sustainable food production and distribution system in Pakistan.

However, agriculture faces a complex set of challenges that limit its productivity and, thereby, hinder the goal of achieving food security. Some of these issues have been highlighted as follows:

Self-sufficiency in fertilizer production

Before 1980-81, Pakistan imported well over 50 percent of its annual fertilizer requirements. During the 1980s, the situation improved considerably after the expansion of the local industry; however, the country was still a net importer of urea till 2012. The Fertilizer Policy 2001 encouraged investments in new fertilizer plants by providing regionally competitive and fixed gas prices.

Description: food security

As a result, the local fertilizer players invested around PKR 162 billion in state-of-the-art production facilities, which led to an increase of around 1.9 metric tons per annum of urea production capacity.  These investments enabled the country in attaining self-sufficiency of urea through production from indigenous gases and reduced the reliance on imports which also resulted in significant foreign exchange savings for the national exchequer.

 

Against a subsidy of PKR180 billion on lower feed gas price, the fertilizer sector has passed on a benefit of Rs 600 billion over the last decade to the farmer community in the form of reduced urea rates compared to international prices. Furthermore, the fertilizer sector is committed to making continuous investments for the reliable operations of these plants and utilizing the idle capacities to allow stable production of urea and contribute towards ensuring national food security.

Read more: Ehsaas program for the needy

Going forward, the government must make commercially viable decisions which support the national interest and provide to small farmers. The recent GIDC decision by the Supreme Court could be a setback for the fertilizers industry, along with other industrial sectors such as textiles, as it would be liable to pay huge sums (PKR 111 billion on non-concessionary gas and PKR 69 billion on concessionary gas, if applicable) even though the impact of GIDC was not passed on due to price intervention by the government.

Further, the GIDC payment over two years would put an immense financial constraint on the industry and jeopardize future investment plans of the businesses. In case GIDC becomes payable on concessionary gas as well, it would make urea price increase imminent that would directly impact the farmer community and agriculture sector of Pakistan.

The need for smart subsidies

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), around 10 percent of large landowners hold 52 percent of the agricultural land in Pakistan. As part of its 100-day agenda, the PTI government had envisioned a smart subsidy program to provide cheaper agricultural inputs to 3 million small scale farmers that own up to 5 acres of land and ensure food security with affordable prices for the country.

Description: https://i0.wp.com/www.globalvillagespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screenshot_17-min-1024x500.jpg

Currently, the government provides an across-the-board subsidy on urea produced using imported RLNG that disproportionately benefits the large landowners rather than small farmers who need it the most. As per calculations, the large landowners get 52 percent of across the board national subsidy, while the smallest farmers only get 19% of the government subsidy.

By introducing a sticker-based mechanism to roll out smart subsidy, as being already successfully done for phosphates in Punjab, the government can ensure that small subsistence farmers earn more and catalyze the growth of the agriculture sector. Through the smart subsidy mechanism, much higher discounts on urea to small and medium-sized landowners can be made possible.

Low crop yield and use of nutrients

Crop yields in Pakistan have considerably lagged behind our regional peers primarily due to usage of non-certified/substandard seeds, improper nutrients application, lack of mechanization and low agricultural research & development expenditure.

To ensure the availability and accessibility of food, Pakistan needs to boost yield per acre of crops, modernize agricultural practices and promote public-private partnerships for greater investments into research and development in the sector. One of the primary reasons behind the country’s lackluster crop productivity is the lack of application of phosphorus and potash fertilizers.

Description: https://i0.wp.com/www.globalvillagespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screenshot_19-min-1024x485.jpg

Experts have forecasted that with the use of balanced fertilizers, wheat productivity can be enhanced by 35% and maize by 40%. A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights the over-application of ‘Nitrogen’ by Pakistani farmers (77 percent of the total nutrient application) against a recommended rate of 57 percent.

While manufacturers like Engro Fertilizers have introduced fertilizers comprising Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K) in a balanced blended product (NPK), which is an optimal combination of the key nutrients required for soil health, there is a need to create greater understanding among farmers about the impact on agricultural productivity of these nutrients.

Read more: Pakistan’s Unusual and Unprecedented Food Inflation – What is driving it?

The Punjab government has previously implemented a targeted subsidy scheme for small-scale farmers to encourage the application of Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K) fertilizers, which resulted in an increase in the use of these farm nutrients by 56 percent over the last couple of years. To promote balanced use of fertilizers and improve agricultural output, the subsidy should only be provided on Phosphate, Potassium and micro-nutrients products.

Description: https://i0.wp.com/www.globalvillagespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screenshot_20-min-1024x446.jpg

Earlier this year, the government had announced a subsidy package of PKR 37 billion on fertilizers. Based on the impact on agricultural productivity, the subsidy on Nitrogen-based products was rightly withdrawn, and it was decided to extend smart subsidy on Phosphatic (P) and Potassium (K) products only. However, the subsidy scheme is yet to be executed as there is a misalignment of provinces on the implementation mechanism.

Climate change

According to the latest Global Climate Risk Index ranking, Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change. Recent past serves as a good example of what is yet to come as temperatures are rising, rainfall and seasonal patterns are becoming increasingly unpredictable, and natural disasters of floods, droughts and heatwaves are now more common.

Description: food security

Climate change has increased water demand of crops by up to 30 percent while decreasing the yield by around 18 percent and pushing the prices of food higher. Small landholders, who account for more than 80 percent of the total farmers, are most susceptible to the way climate change is negatively impacting crops.

Therefore, policy measures by the government need to focus around limiting the impact of climate change as a foremost priority. While climate change is inevitable, adaptation strategies must be applied by bringing together knowledge and technology, developing institutional capacity and introducing policies that help sustain crop production.

Access to capital/credit

Small and medium-sized farmers in Pakistan have limited access to formalized agri-loans due to which they are encircled in a continuous debt trap at the hands of unorganized financing entities. Therefore, the issue of organized financial inclusion of small farmer needs to be looked at from a broader perspective because of its wider socio-economic implications.

Read more: Nestlé Pakistan’s report Creating Shared Value: Nestlé trains 220,000 children

The small farmers are heavily dependent on local arthis/middleman for credit availability due to reluctance of the formal sector and its cumbersome processes. However, it has been realized that without organized financial inclusion of these farmers, the agricultural sector of Pakistan will continue to experience low growth and this, in turn, would limit the country’s progress as well.

Description: food security

Financial inclusion and private sector participation in this endeavor must be based on financing across the entire ‘farm to fork’ value chain. There is a need for targeted, value chain aggregated projects and cooperatives to improve efficiencies and credit worthiness of small farmers, as seen from examples in Africa and India.

Collateral Management Companies (CMC) can help create an ecosystem that will improve warehousing and crop grading practices, provide credit access and price discovery mechanism to farmers and enable electronic trading of commodities. Technology should be leveraged to design e-credit and e-subsidies initiatives that can be supported by the private sector.

Description: https://i0.wp.com/www.globalvillagespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screenshot_18-min.jpg

The future of food security in Pakistan depends on how well the government achieves its objectives outlined in the national food security policy. However, this would require strong coordination and trust between the provincial and federal governments.

Read more: Putting rural women on the path out of poverty

At the same time, the need of the hour is to engage with all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain and take rational decisions that promote investment and public-private partnerships for the overall well-being of small and medium-sized farmers.

DAVAO CITY—Agriculture production areas in Mindanao have been prepped up to provide a continuous supply of basic food items to  quarantined cities and capital towns of Mindanao and beyond, while local governments have asked the national task force on Covid-19 to relax strict quarantine protocols in agricultural areas.

Mindanao regions such as the Caraga Region in the northeast and Soccsksargen Region in central south are given various forms of support, including seeds, farm inputs and financial assistance. Beneficiaries are mostly hard-up farmers and their families.

Description: https://businessmirror.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/top01a-091320.jpgCornfields on a hilltop in Bukidnon in the Northern Mindanao region.

Livestock and crops such as vegetables and corn, which are considered secondary products of the province, have also been given ample support in terms of research, marketing and a wider area for planting.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the government’s socioeconomic planning unit for this southern Philippine island, has pushed this program as one of the key initiatives for recovery in Mindanao in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The regions

In the first quarter of the year, all economic activities, including the wide areas of agriculture, were at a standstill due to the quarantine restrictions imposed by the various local government units (LGUs).

As food became scarce due to dwindling supplies, authorities eventually allowed the unrestricted passage of trucks and vehicles carrying vegetables, crops and meat from the production areas. The restriction on the movement of produce from farm to market was also lifted.

In Agusan del Sur in the Caraga Region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office provided rice seeds and fertilizer subsidies to farmers in time for the wet cropping season. Considered as the region’s rice-producing province, Agusan del Sur was allocated P125.8 million, or 60 percent, of the P207-million Rice Resiliency Project budget of the region.

Description: https://businessmirror.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/top01b-091320.jpg“With a coastline of 36,289 kilometers, the fifth-longest in the world, and surrounded by seas and ocean, it is unthinkable that the Philippines still imports fish from countries whose fishermen could be fishing in our waters.”—Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol

This move is seen to increase local rice production through the use of high-quality seeds and fertilizer given to an estimated 30,000 rice farmers covering 32,277 hectares.

The regional DA office also allocated P7.4 million under its Expanded SURE Aid Fund as cash assistance to 296 farmers and fishermen whose incomes were badly affected by the enhanced community quarantine since the early phase of the lockdown.

The  farmers and fishermen came from the municipalities of Las Nieves, Nasipit, Buenavista and Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, and Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. The financial assistance was released by Baug Carp Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative and the Bayugan Achievers Multipurpose Cooperative as partner conduits.

Sustained food production

OFFICER-IN-CHARGE Assistant Regional Director for Operations Rebecca Atega said the government wanted to ensure sustained food production despite the challenges and restrictions of the pandemic.

The rice hybridization program started two years ago in 2018, when hybrid seeds used by the farmers increased production by 17.11 percent in 2019, indicating the adaptability of hybrid seeds in the farms. The barangays of Lemon, Basag and Ampayon in Butuan City were chosen as the technology demonstration sites, covering 100 hectares.

The demonstration farm program would be supported by the SL Agritech Corp., SeedWorks, Bioseed, Ramgo, Bayer, Pioneer, Syngenta, Advanta and LongPing, alongside the DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and Phil-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT).

“As the country transitions to the so-called new normal, the Department of Agriculture-Caraga continues to come up with different interventions and advocacies to promote a sustainable and secure food production through the Plant Plant Plant program,” said Director Abel James I. Monteagudo.

Description: https://businessmirror.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/top01c-091320.jpgIn this September 5, 2015, file photo, fishermen line up to have their catch of tuna weighed at a fish port in General Santos City, nicknamed the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. The city is the regional center for commerce and industry of the Soccsksargen region.

Other interventions include the distribution of various vegetable seedlings and seeds given to nonfarmers who want to have their own vegetable gardens. Just in the first week since the program was introduced, no less than 200 individuals have availed themselves of this assistance.

In addition to vegetables, the DA-Caraga promoted backyard corn production and launched the Project Maisan sa Nataran, or Pro-Mais, as the latest addition to the integrated and diversified home food production program.

Corn has its health benefits, such as controlling diabetes, preventing heart ailment, and lowering of hypertension. Through the project, individuals who have available area of at least 100 square meters and were willing to plant corn were given one-fourth kilo corn seeds.

To further encourage people to patronize corn, free tasting of rice-corn blend—or cooked rice mixed with corn—was also conducted. To complement this food production initiative, the Organic Agriculture (OA) program also handed out organic concoctions that the people could use and apply on their vegetables to ensure these would be safe for them and their families to consume.

The World Bank-funded Philippine Rural Development Program also saw the construction of the warehouse, seedling production building and seedbed for rubber tree growers. This infrastructure support amounting to P8.4 million further re-energized the farming sector in the Caraga Region.

The collaboration between the regional DA, Department of Public Works and Highways and the various LGUs in Caraga made possible the completion of 121 farm roads costing P1.9 billion. From 2015 to 2019, a total of 185.6 kilometers of farm roads was constructed in the region.

Other initiatives included the turnover of 50 head of cattle to backyard raisers in Agusan del Norte, vegetable production by the Soccsksargen Police Regional Office, turnover of P3.7 million worth of farm inputs and tools to the farmers of Makilala and Tulunan towns in North Cotabato, and turnover of 100 bags of conventional hybrid corn seeds, 2,664 packs of pinakbet  seeds, 276 kilos of mungbean seeds, 200 bags of inorganic fertilizers, 70 rolls of laminated sacks, 76 rolls of high-density polyethylene pipes and 150 units of water plastic drums at Sitio Flortam, Barangay Batasan, Makilala.

Self-reliance

MinDA Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol has encouraged LGUs in Mindanao to be self-reliant, “as the country grapples with the effects of Covid-19.”

Piñol believes “that in order to restart the economy and bolster socioeconomic development in the island-region, every local government unit should rely on their own concerted efforts and abilities in this time of recovery since the national government, on the other hand, has been devoting its resources to the ongoing fight against the pandemic.”

“LGUs cannot expect a lot from the national government. The national government has no funds now. In fact, the funds of agencies have been sequestered [for Covid response]. So, there’s not much money to talk about right now,” Piñol said in a mix of English and Filipino, noting that majority of government funds were realigned to combat the pandemic.

He said MinDA must refocus its programs to help the economy regain its momentum once again and yield concrete results “that will be felt on the ground despite the presence of financial difficulties and limitations.”

Addressing his management team, he said: “Our objective is to really restart the economy of Mindanao. Here’s what we should consider in prioritizing our programs: what program will have immediate effect that can quickly benefit our people and restart the economy,” he said.

While efforts for economic restoration remain under way, he said it is also the right time for LGUs “to unleash their individual coping mechanisms and maximize resources under the new normal.”

“So, whatever we do in Mindanao right now will be guided by the philosophy of self-reliance. We will have to encourage LGUs to really invest,” Piñol added.

In his recent visits to Impasugong, Talakag, Sumilao and Lantapan (Imtasula) in Bukidnon, he urged the mayors to look for ways to prop up their local economies.

“You buy equipment. Don’t be scared to borrow. Buy the needed equipment because you have to build your own roads right now.”

Among the Covid-19 response programs that MinDA is actively taking on are the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa BP2 program, Sustainable Agriculture Project for Imtasula areas and MinDA Tienda.

It has also started to validate the different fish center sites to double Mindanao’s current aquaculture and fisheries production of two million metric tons annually by year 2025.

“With a coastline length of 36,289 kilometers, the fifth-longest in the world, and surrounded by seas and ocean, it is unthinkable that the Philippines still imports fish from countries whose fishermen could be fishing in our waters,” he said.

Piñol also asked local chief executives to urge lawmakers to review the rice importation law, Republic Act 11203, saying that farm-gate prices of palay had dropped from P22 a kilo two years ago to just P11 per kilo in many areas of the region during harvest season.

He reported also that the municipality of Kalawit in Zamboanga del Norte has earmarked a 200-hectare plantation area for the first 200 families coming home from Metro Manila under the BP2 program.

MinDA already turned over on August 18 a P500,000 support fund for the survey of the proposed BP2 site.

The province will give each family a house and the whole community of returning families will work as one in undertaking agricultural production.

“In contrast, the Kauswagan Model has a compact area of 6.3 hectares where the beneficiaries will undertake organic chicken and vegetable production,” he said.

This week, Piñol suggested that grains storage complexes with modern dryers and silos be established in at least four corn-producing regions of Mindanao to ensure food security on the island and propel the economy adversely affected by the pandemic.

“This problem is not new. As a farm boy who grew up among rice and corn farmers, I saw the frustration and disappointment in my late father and other farmers’ faces when their earnings after four months fell way below what they had expected. This trapped them in an endless cycle of poverty where they borrowed money to plant and paid back with what they harvested, oftentimes leaving them in deep debt,” Piñol stressed.

He likewise discussed the measures which are the salient features of the Mindanao Corn Development Program that MinDA is crafting, and which will be submitted as a priority project for inclusion in the Mindanao Peace and Development Program, or Rise Mindanao.

Image credits: Teoderico Decierdo | Dreamstime.comHugo Maes | Dreamstime.comminda.gov.phJamesbox | Dreamstime.com

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/09/13/southern-food-bowl/

 

 

 

The UAE’s sustainable food plan involves growing rice & developing ‘soil’

 

 

 11/09 - 16:00

Inspire middle east

With the UAE almost wholly reliant on food imports, food security is a national priority.

In recent months, the Covid-19 pandemic has heightened domestic concerns as global supply chains of imports were disrupted.

The crisis also prompted renewed debate about how best to boost local agriculture and foster farming innovation.

Searing summer temperatures, little rainfall and a landscape dominated by arid desert, has meant that the UAE’s agricultural activities have been relatively restricted to small areas.

Grassroot thinking

That could soon change, however, say academics at Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University, who are developing ‘artificial soil’, made up of almost 90% desert sand.

Their goal is for the product to be used by local, and eventually regional farmers, to grow plants & vegetation.

The soil created in the laboratory resembles the texture, porosity & fertility of soils found in Thailand & Ukraine.

If patent approved, scientists in the capital are optimistic that it has the potential to transform the UAE’s burgeoning home-grown crops sector.

To dig deeper into the topic, Inspire Middle East’s Rebecca McLaughlin-Eastham caught up with Associate Professor, Dr. Saeed Alkhazraji, a passionate innovator who helped co-create the earth.

Dr. Saeed Alkhazraji speaks to Inspire Middle East

He began by explaining the soil’s unique qualities, which should be given extra consideration in light of the UAE’s extreme weather conditions.

“Farmers have to be aware that any crop they're trying to grow [here] needs to be dealt with in a specific way, to allow them to maximize their yield,” he said. “For example, if they want to grow a plant that is difficult to grow in the UAE, perhaps you need to use a greenhouse along with the soil that we are making.”

The soil’s potential to contribute to the local food supply chain, is significant, the Professor went on to tell Euronews.

“There are many different crops that are challenging to grow in the UAE, crops that sustain human lives, like rice and wheat - because of their excessive need for water.” said Dr. Saeed Alkhazraji. “The soil that we developed can allow us to have better water management, because it allows us to have a higher water retention than typical soils around the UAE.”

Desert rice

With rice a food staple of the UAE, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment recently announced a joint research programme with the Republic of Korea, aimed at cultivating rice in the desert.

The seeds were sowed back in 2019, cultivated using a water-saving drip irrigation system, and the rice was recently harvested.

Preliminary results for the first project of its kind in the region, indicated a yield of 763kg of rice per 1,000 square metres.

This prompted the Ministry to say that, if successful on a large scale, the project had the potential to shape the future of agriculture and be replicated in other arid regions.

Sharjah’s organic growth

The location of the rice initiative was the emirate of Sharjah, which according to scientists, is an emerging hotbed of agricultural innovation in the UAE.

It is also home to the Sharjah Research Technology & Innovation Park, a place which supports famers & harnesses new technology to produce sustainable local food all year round.

The Park notably contains a 150-square metre farm, and an eco-friendly Merlin Agrotunnel, capable of producing a ton of organic fruits & vegetables each month.

In keeping with the country’s environmental and sustainable farming goals, all produce is irrigated with seawater desalinated via solar energy.

SRTI’s CEO, Hussain Al Mahmoudi, predicts that in the next 5 years at least 30 percent of the UAE’s food will be domestically produced.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi monitors the crops at SRTI

He told Inspire that continuous research and development into new farming innovations & agricultural technology will accelerate the sector’s growth in the years ahead.

“Since the inception of the Park, we've started to promote things like hydroponics technology, aquaponics technology & tunnel farming. And they've all taken off,” he said. “At the moment, we are [also] using Artificial Intelligence to study how aquaponics works, with relation to fish. How the fish really move and how much food they eat.”

Sustainable agriculture

When asked about the economic feasibility of large-scale farming projects in the UAE, and how production and harvesting costs could be kept down, Al Mahmoudi had this to say:

“I think the feasibility is there, because the UAE has an abundant amount of land. A lot of farmers in the UAE, especially the national ones, get free land. If you couple this with the cost of doing business here, it is also relatively low compared to other parts of the world. There’s also the fantastic infrastructure - in terms of ports and airports and storage and other things.”

On the subject of the UAE being one of the world’s top rice importers, SRTI’s CEO is convinced that producing home-grown rice would be game-changing for the domestic market.

“I think we can play a strategic role in growing rice,” he said. “We have the infrastructure, both soft infrastructure and public sector, to really become a regional player in producing rice and ensuring food security.”

https://www.africanews.com/2020/09/11/the-uaes-sustainable-food-plan-involves-growing-rice-developing-soil

 

 

 

 

DA gives P53.8-M agri-machinery to Davao rice farmers

 

ByRuth Palo

September 13, 2020

 

DAVAO CITY: The Department of Agriculture (DA) gave a total of P53.8-million worth of agri-machinery to rice farmers in the Davao Region under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund mechanization component held recently in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. DA Secretary William Dar, who led the distribution, highlighted the agency’s priority programs to help rice farmers reduce the cost of production and increase their income. Included among the agri-machinery were 32 floating tillers, 23 hand tractors, 13 combine harvesters, 13 four-wheel tractors, 8 riding-type transplanters, 4 walk-behind transplanters, one reaper and one precision seeder.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/09/13/news/regions/da-gives-p53-8-m-agri-machinery-to-davao-rice-farmers/767552/

 

 

Mindanao leaders ask Congress to review rice importation law

 

By: Jigger J. Jerusalem - @inquirerdotnet

Inquirer Mindanao / 02:51 PM September 13, 2020

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Mindanao leaders are asking Congress to revisit the Rice Tariffication Law, or Republic Act 11203, in a bid to address the sharp drop in the income of rice farmers whose production now competes with supply from abroad.

The call came through a resolution of the governing board of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) that counts among its members local and regional leaders of the government and private sector.

MinDA is the government’s chief coordinating agency for fostering development in Mindanao. Among the members of its governing board are Bangsamoro chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, MinDA chair, noted that the farm gate price of palay or unmilled rice in some parts of Mindanao has dropped to P11 per kilo, from P22 per kilo two years ago.

The price of P11 per kilo is below the average production cost of P12 per kilo, Piñol said.

Implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law began in March last year, doing away with quantitative limits to imports of the staple crop while also setting higher tariffs that would go into the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to support the local rice industry.

The law aims to provide affordable rice prices for consumers as well as raise the income of rice farmers.

However, Piñol, who used to be the country’s Agriculture chief, said there is “irrefutable evidence that the unimpeded rice importation has caused injury to the local rice industry and rice farmers of Mindanao.”

“The resolution was presented during the MinDA governing board meeting as among the issues and problems which could affect Mindanao’s economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic,” he explained.

Mindanao has about 1.2 million hectares of rice farms, generating over 350,000 jobs.

If left unchecked, Piñol said the worsening situation of rice farmers could adversely affect the economic recovery efforts of Mindanao.

Piñol cited studies conducted by the Federation of Free Farmers showing that while rice consumers benefited from the lower rice prices, at an estimated value of P6 billion, rice farmers lost about P80 billion because of reduced income from very low farm gate prices.

“Additional losses which have yet to be quantified were also reported in ancillary activities to rice production, including land preparation equipment utilization, milling and processing and by-products like rice bran and rice hulls,” he added.

He revealed that Sen. Zubiri, who voted for the Rice Tariffication Law, has expressed openness to revisiting the measure.

“If it is really causing injury to the rice industry and hardships to our farmers, then it is only fair that we review the law,” Piñol quoted Zubiri as saying.

JE



https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1334801/mindanao-leaders-ask-congress-to-review-rice-importation-law#ixzz6XzWWQaZm

 

State Tribal Museum Virtual Tour: Indigenous Methods of Food Preservation by ‘Paraja’ Community

STATE AT LARGE

 

On Sep 12, 2020

Description: State Tribal Museum

 14

Bhubaneswar: As a new initiative of the ST&SC Development Department, State Tribal Museum goes virtual. Visitors can visit the museum virtually by opening the Twitter pages @scstrti, @stscdev in every Sunday.

On 13th September visitors can visit the indigenous methods of food preservation by ‘Paraja’ community. Paraja are the agrarian tribe settled in the districts of Koraput, Nawarangapur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, and Rayagada in the Southern Odisha. For the vast majority of ‘Paraja’ who live in Odisha, life revolves around paddy cultivation.

To ensure food and seed security, the ‘Paraja’ follow traditional methods of food preservation. They preserve food grains like rice, finger millet, black gram, and green gram. They prefer to use organic pesticides and pest control techniques.

The ‘Paraja’ community of Koraput cultivates open-pollinated local varieties of rice. Indigenous traditional knowledge of ‘Paraja’ tribes reflect that they use leaves of the crown flower, neem, and bitter gourd. These leaves are mixed with cow dung and cow urine and the mixture is allowed to ferment for 15-20 days. The resultant liquid is filtered and used as pesticide spray.

If a pest attack is observed, interestingly ‘Paraja’ use spiders for natural pest control. An odd number of Sala Palm leaves (5,7,9) each bearing cobwebs is planted among the growing seedlings. The practice being a combination of traditional beliefs and scientific observance. The Goleki or Bamboo grain bin serves as the storehouse of the family’s rice. The grain beans are placed in a small room with the ‘Paraja House. The second way of preserving rice is in a wooden storage bin known as ‘Gaadia’.

Using traditional practices, the ‘Paraja’ preserves grain, pulses, and vegetables. The ‘Paraja’ maintain the biodiversity of the Koraput region favouring open pollination rather than hybrid seeds. Their traditional practices, the use of organic pesticides, and insecticides natural pest control, and indigenous methods of food preservation are studied by Agriculture Scientists.

‘Parajas’, much before the invention of refrigerators and other machinery, were trying to preserve using their own indigenous methods. Different kinds of vegetables mainly mushroom, Potato, ginger, cauliflower, and many other vegetables were preserved often pretty long time using their indigenous method and using organic materials, said Prof. Dr. Akhil Bihari Otta, Director, SCSTRTI.

https://pragativadi.com/state-tribal-museum-virtual-tour-indigenous-methods-of-food-preservation-by-paraja-community/

 

 

https://pragativadi.com/state-tribal-museum-virtual-tour-indigenous-methods-of-food-preservation-by-paraja-community/

 

 

Basmati rice tote bag is a real thing

Description: https://borneobulletin.com.bn/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/L7-A_12092020.jpg

NDTV – Next time you get Basmati rice, don’t throw the sack away – instead, try re-purposing it into a trendy tote bag. Sounds rather like a strange thing to do? Many on Twitter would agree with you if you answered yes. In fact, thousands of people on the microblogging platform were left stunned to discover that ‘Basmati rice tote bags’ are a thing that actually exist.

The bags came to light last week when a Twitter user wrote “I can’t believe this is real” while sharing a picture of a Basmati rice tote bag, which is exactly what it sounds like – a sack re-imagined into a bag.

More details on Weekend’s Borneo Bulletin

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/2020/09/basmati-rice-tote-bag-is-a-real-thing-2/

 

 

 

NESG vs CBN: A Battle of Wits?

 

 

Description: https://storage.googleapis.com/thisday-846548948316-wp-data/wp-media/2018/09/9b78467c-simon-kolawole-back-page.jpgSimonKolawolelive By Simon-Kolawole, Email: simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

 SIMONKOLAWOLE! BY  SIMON KOLAWOLE

Amidst the series of tough decisions rolled out by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Nigerian economy gasps for breath under the weight of low oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic, a mini-war broke out between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) last week. In a statement with the title “Matters of Urgent Attention”, NESG dished out subtle and not-so-subtle criticisms of the CBN over its development finance, and questioned the transparency and sustainability of the interventions. The CBN, in a reply dripping with fury, defended its record and called to question the intellectual authority of the NESG leadership.

As journalists, we love “two fighting” because it gives us a litany of headlines. But this is not a joke. We are discussing matters that affect the life of every Nigerian — rich and poor, high and low, northerners and southerners, schooled and unschooled. NESG was set up as a non-profit private sector organisation in 1996 with a mandate “to promote and champion the reform of the Nigerian economy into an open, private sector-led globally competitive economy”. Therefore, the face-off between NESG and CBN should be seen as a “contest of ideas” on the economic health of Nigeria and Nigerians rather than some media relief from the socio-economic tension.

Although NESG raised many issues, most were aimed at the CBN: the efficiency of the agriculture intervention under the anchor borrowers programme; transparency in foreign exchange transactions, disbursement of intervention funds, and price fixings “without appropriate policy clarity”; provision of “immunity” for CBN officials in the newly amended Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA); “distortions” in the liquidity and interest rate management; and the “quantitative easing” (what you and I would call pumping money into the economy) by the CBN to fund the large deficit caused by low oil prices and effects of the pandemic.

For one, NESG got it wrong when it said CBN was seeking immunity for its officials under the amended BOFIA. The provision, according to the CBN, “protects the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria and their respective officials against adverse claims for actions or omission in good faith exercise of powers under BOFIA and other specified statutes including the Central Bank of Nigeria Act and regulations…” In fact, the “immunity” has been there as far back as 1991. This error makes NESG vulnerable to accusations of pursuing an agenda and questions its credibility, given the calibre of professionals within its ranks. Some also find it a bit curious that the NESG chose to go to the media rather than utilise its communication channels with the CBN and federal government.

But immunity is the smallest issue, if you ask me. The NESG wants the government to re-open our borders “given its negative impact on trade and employment”. Our work in ECOWAS, it said, “must also effectively harness trade opportunities within the sub-region”. That is, allow trans-border trade to continue unhindered. In an ideal world, you cannot fault the logic. In fact, some will argue that shutting the borders is primitive. But what do you do when, in practice, free trade becomes an open invitation to the smuggling of rice, eggs, cars, fuel and even arms — thereby ruining your own economy and security? This was not the intention of those who wrote the ECOWAS treaty.

Ideally, you say “beef up security then”. But what do you do when the people beefing up the security are the ones facilitating the illegal trade? The incentives to be corrupt or to corrupt the system are so high. It’s a no-win situation. Open the borders, you are damned. Close the borders, you are damned. Yet we all know that the borders cannot be closed forever. But some will ask: what is CBN’s business with the borders? It’s a good question. The CBN has, for all intents and purposes, become a major stakeholder having financed agriculture extensively and feeling threatened that if the borders are re-opened so soon, the gains particularly in rice and poultry farming will go down the drain.

The issue of border closure as it affects the economy should ordinarily be addressed by the ministry of finance or presidency, rather than the CBN. The bank still ventured an opinion, though, stating: “Benin Republic imports as much rice as China and nearly as much frozen chicken as the UK… In which country does the NESG think all these rice and chicken end up? How then can a Nigerian rice farmer or poultry owner survive?” However, the border closure also comes with unintended consequences. I would love to suggest how to effectively curb the illegal trade but I have no idea. ECOWAS countries should sit down and develop the solution. For now, Nigeria is the biggest victim.

On the power sector, I was initially critical of Mr Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, for the apex bank’s intervention. I kept asking: why should the CBN be providing loans to the power sector? Today, I look back and conclude that but for the CBN, the sector would have collapsed long ago. The liquidity problem was grave. The fiscal authorities did not want to approve tariff increase for obvious reasons. You would be justified to argue that it was not CBN’s business to intervene. But doing nothing, especially when you have the leeway to provide the financial oxygen, also has dire consequences for the economy. Let’s now hope the industry will be saved with the new tariffs.

We can apply similar arguments to agriculture intervention. I wrote a sceptical article some years ago when Emefiele announced a forex ban on 41 import items, including rice. I argued then that what we really needed was a fiscal policy, not just a monetary one, to grow our agriculture and become self-sufficient. This is typically the position of free market economists. To them, restricting imports under any guise is a no-no. We could not legally ban rice import because of WTO rules, but we could stop funding rice imports. We could help our local industry grow and reduce the pressure on the exchange rate. That was what CBN did and we have clearly made progress in rice farming.

The NESG made a valid point, in my view, about the sustainability of CBN’s interventions, especially the deficit caused by minimising the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. Their argument is that the government should “consider a strong communicating (communication) strategy that engages the people and prepares them for tougher times ahead whilst the current reforms take effect”. It said that the “current business as usual disposition is not sustainable”. Except there is something unsaid here, I think this is a fair point. The CBN cannot afford to pump money into the system for too long; at some point, the bubble will burst. It’s going to be a painful journey to recovery.

Still, the CBN defended its “quantitative easing” by drawing parallels with how central banks across the world reacted to the pandemic by expanding their balance sheets through monetary measures that would otherwise be considered “unorthodox”. The US Federal Reserve Bank provided loans to non-banking institutions and bought corporate bonds usually classified as below investment grade. The bank pumped a stimulus of $3 trillion into the American economy, and there is no plan to stop until the economic impact of COVID-19 begins to ease significantly. We don’t know when. The European Central Bank also pumped in $1 trillion as the pandemic bit harder in the European Union.

Even the Bank of England that initially said it would resist “political influence” ended up opening its treasury to the UK government to save the economy. The UK government, in trying to save jobs, undertook to pay as much as 80 percent of staff salaries for certain businesses. It provided “bounce back” loans of maximum £50,000 to small businesses, repayable over five years after a one-year moratorium. The government also did an “eat out to help out” scheme to save the eateries and restaurants. In all, the Bank of England injected over £750 billion into the UK economy by buying government and corporate bonds. Nothing is cast is stone about economic theories.

By the way, I am not against this battle of ideas. We can have a decent debate devoid of rancour and ill will. For instance, some think we should re-open our borders; others think it is premature except we want to hurt the little progress we have made. Check both ideas. Neither is 100 percent right or wrong. In all policy decisions, there are always trade-offs. We left the border open for decades and suffered immense damage to the economy and security — but it also promoted legitimate trade and created legitimate jobs. We’ve now closed the border and have reduced smuggling and protected some sectors of the economy, but legitimate trade is also suffering! There must be a way out.

Emefiele has come under heavy criticism but the whole truth is that the economy is in a big mess. Fiscal mess. Monetary mess. We are in desperate times. We are taking desperate measures. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, we were living on borrowed time. Our overreliance on oil was bound to drown us one day. The severe distortions that come with poorly managed oil-powered economies have damaged the normal economic, social and political order. All the arguments about trade, agriculture and monetary policies, etc, are products of an economic and socio-political system built on a feeble petrodollar foundation. Let’s hope we have finally reached the turning point.

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…
HARDENED CRIMINALS
Kaduna state lawmakers have passed a law prescribing castration for rapists. For sure, we need to tackle the rape menace with all our might, but I’m not sure the lawmakers got medical advice. They would have discovered that castration (removal of the testes, except they are talking about cutting off the penis entirely) does not prevent rape. A castrated man can still have sex but he cannot father a child. Castration can affect the ability of a man to have an erection, but even that can be taken care of with aphrodisiacs and medication. We should also realise that rapists are perverts — they are not just interested in having sex, but having it without restraint. It is not that I have a better punishment for rapists, but castration is not it. Overrated.

NAKED ABUSE
Close to rape is sexual harassment. The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, organised a webinar on Wednesday inspired by Naked Abuse, a book by celebrated columnist and Ife alumnus, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, on sexual harassment in African universities. In his remarks, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo spoke my mind when he said: “The victim must always be seen as the victim. There cannot be an excuse, especially given the power configuration between students and lecturers, that the victim could have somehow invited the abuse upon themselves.” We only justify perfidy when we blame the victim. Imagine a robber accusing you of inviting robbery on yourself by having a car! Twisted.

GANA GONE
The death of Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, “the most wanted bandit in Benue state”, remains a mystery. Did soldiers kill him extra-judicially or was he really taken down in a gun fire exchange? It is scary, all the same, that he appeared to have enjoyed the sympathy of some politicians. I remember that in the early 2000s, some Niger Delta boys were bred as militias by one or two governors, only for them to become Frankenstein monsters that went completely out of control. Has it become a Nigerian culture now? The early growth of Boko Haram was fertilised by politicians who used and dumped the youth. Today, thugs and bandits operate fiefdoms all over the country. Terrifying.

OSHIOMHOLE VS OBASEKI
On Saturday, the governorship election will hold in Edo state. The key contest is a reverse of the 2016 poll: Mr Godwin Obaseki, then of APC now of PDP, squaring off with Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, then of PDP now of APC. After he got into office, Obaseki fell out with his Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, his benefactor. This governorship battle is, therefore, not an ordinary one. If it goes Obaseki’s way, that means he has taken out two heavyweights with one blow. If it goes Ize-Iyamu’s way, Oshiomhole would have made his point and Obaseki would likely fade into political oblivion. Clearly the stakes are extremely high. My plea to all: play well, play fair. Sportsmanship.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/09/13/nesg-vs-cbn-a-battle-of-wits/

 

 

 

Punjab govt committed to doing more for rice sector: minister

 

Recorder Report 12 Sep 2020

 

 

LAHORE: The Punjab government has been giving 50 percent subsidy on the micronutrients and is committed to introducing more measures to facilitate rice sector.

Under the Prime Minister's Agricultural Emergency Program, subsidy is being given to farmers for the approved varieties of paddy seeds, agricultural machinery, large and small components and herbicides with a hefty amount of Rs. 6.32 billion. Punjab Minister for Agriculture Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial stated this while speaking at a launching ceremony of Journal of the Rice Exporters Association Pakistan at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar, Chairman Rice Exporters Association Shahjahan Malik, Member Rice Exporters Association Captain Taimur Ahmed (retd), Pir Nazim Hussain Shah and Chief Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture Punjab Shahid Qadir were also present on the occasion.

Under the Prime Minister's Agricultural Emergency Program, various projects are being implemented worth Rs. 300 billion. In these projects, subsidy is being given to farmers for the approved varieties of paddy seeds, agricultural machinery, large and small components and herbicides with a hefty amount of Rs. 6.32 billion; the Minister said adding that rice crop is important for our nutritional needs as well as earning foreign exchange. Pakistani basmati rice is loved all over the world for its aroma and quality.

The Minister said the farmers will be given trans-planters and rice harvesters at 50 percent discount and rice choppers will also be given to the farmers on subsidy. He said that the LCCI will be given representation in the agriculture committee of the Punjab government. He said the government will coordinate with rice exporters in regard with the use of pesticides. Competitions should be held among the farmers to encourage production, adding that the government is working to develop long grain basmati which is internationally acceptable.

During the financial year 2018-19, rice was exported 2.19 million tonnes and country earned foreign exchange of $ 2.04 billion. Under the Prime Minister Agricultural Emergency Program, a plan to increase paddy production per acre has been launched in 15 districts of Punjab which will increase the average production of coarse, and basmati varieties of paddy by 20 and 10 men per acre respectively, he said.

The provincial government is striving to make the agricultural sector active and developed and for this purpose, despite financial constraints, priority is given to the agriculture sector by the federal and provincial governments, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Senior Vice President LCCI Ali Hussam Asghar said that there is a lack of Research & Development, especially in developing hybrid seed varieties for Basmati. Other countries, despite of the fact that we have most suitable soil for basmati cultivation, have developed more hybrid varieties of rice. He also said the most effective remedy for lowering the cost of production is increasing the per acre yield. This has been witnessed in case of coarse variety where hybrid rice replaced IRRI and took tremendous yield jump in Sindh. He was of the view that there is a need to work in collaboration with the private and public research institutes to introduce new varieties especially hybrid in Basmati rice, which could ensure quantum jump in its production thus leading to more export surplus as well as the economic well-being of the farmers.

He stressed upon the need of participation of private sector in seed development; the current MNFSRD regime for seed certification needs to be shifted to truth-in-labelling regime. He pointed out the areas that need intensive work including seed development, Better farm practices and higher yields through water management and mechanical transplanting and Research and Development.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40018169/punjab-govt-committed-to-doing-more-for-rice-sector-minister

 

 

 

IMF in 'initial stages' of Argentina loan talks: official

 

The IMF is in the early phase of talks with Argentina over a new financing programme, and is gathering information on how best to help the country, confirms spokesperson.

 

IMF SPOKESMAN GERRY RICE. | IMF

The International Monetary Fund is in the early phase of talks with Argentina over a new rescue package, and is gathering information on how best to help the crisis-hit nation, a fund official said Thursday. 

"We are in the initial stages of the process," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters, noting that fund officials are focused on "fact finding" and "listening to the Argentine authorities for their sense of priorities."

After defaulting on its debt in May for the ninth time in history, the government of President Alberto Fernández in late August reached a deal with foreign creditors to restructure US$66 billion in debt after months of tense negotiations, giving it US$37.7 billion in debt relief.

Once a deal seemed assured, Buenos Aires formally opened consultations with the IMF to agree new terms on the repayment of a US$44 billion bailout loan agreed in 2018 (the original credit line was worth US$57 billion, though not all of it was received by Argentina).

 

The talks with the Washington-based crisis lender are "taking place in what I would characterise as a very constructive climate," Rice said at a press conference, but there is no date yet for a sending a mission to Argentina to further the discussions.

Key topics in the talks include the government's "plans to strengthen macroeconomic stability, kick start growth and job creation and reduce poverty, unemployment and, of course, to help Argentina fight the pandemic, which is an additional serious challenge," the official said. 

Argentina's troubles have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, with more than a third of the country's population of 44 million living in poverty. 

Inflation stands at 40 percent and the IMF expects Latin America's third largest economy to shrink by 10 percent this year.

https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/economy/imf-in-initial-stages-of-argentina-loan-talks-official.phtml

 

 

 

Pb Govt Gives 50 Pc Subsidy On Micronutrients: Langrial

 

 

Description: Pb govt gives 50 pc subsidy on micronutrients: Langrial

Punjab government was giving 50 percent subsidy on the micronutrients and also committed to introduce more measures to facilitate rice sector

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Sep, 2020 ) :Punjab government was giving 50 percent subsidy on the micronutrients and also committed to introduce more measures to facilitate rice sector.

These views were expressed by Minister for Agriculture Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial during the launching ceremony of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Journal at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Friday.

The minister said that the farmers would be given transplanters and rice harvesters at 50 percent discount,a dding that rice choppers would also be given to the farmers on subsidy.

He said that the LCCI would be given representation in the agriculture committee of the Punjab government.

Speaking about the measures which government had planned to implement, the minister said that government would coordinate with rice exporters in regard with the use of pesticides.

He said that competitions should be held among the farmers to encourage production, adding that the government was working to develop long grain Basmati which was internationally acceptable.

Speaking on the occasion LCCI Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar said that there was a lack of Research & Development, especially in developing hybrid seed varieties for Basmati. Other countries, despite of the fact that we had most suitable soil for Basmati cultivation, have developed more hybrid varieties of rice.

He said the most effective remedy for lowering the cost of production was increasing the per acre yield.

Ali Hussam Asgahr was of the view that there was a need to work in collaboration with the private and public research institutes to introduce new varieties especially hybrid in Basmati rice, which could ensure quantum jump in its production thus leading to more export surplus as well as the economic well-being of the farmers.

LCCI Vice President Mian Zahid Jawaid Ahmed, Chairman REAP Shahjahan Malik, Pir Syed Nazim Hussain Shah and LCCI executive committee members were also present on the occasion.


https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/pb-govt-gives-50-pc-subsidy-on-micronutrients-1027311.html

 

 

 

Funding options for agriculture in Nigeria expands with N50 bln scheme

 14 SEP 2020

NEWS

THE NATION


Published 14 Sep,2020 via The Nation - The Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGSF) Amendment Act assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari increased the share capital of the fund from N3 billion to N50 billion. The new scheme is in line with Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) move to increase lending to the agricultural sector and support increased food production. The fund provides a guarantee for bank loans for agriculture and boost lending to agriculture. Financing of production farm machinery, production equipment, processing, storage and transportation are now allowed under the amended ACGSF Act, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

Before now, farmers were the least that banks would consider for loans. Such loans, if approved, were deemed lost from the outset, especially when advanced to smallholder farmers.

Today, the story is different. Both the smallholder farmers and established ones can take a shot at bank loans. Also, lenders, which previously saw agricultural loans as high risk, are now seeing the potential of how much a well-priced credit can add to their balance sheets and profitability. The amendment of the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGSF) Bill raised share capital of the fund from N3 billion to N50 billion, a step that allowed more farmers to access agricultural loans.

A breakdown of the ACGSF Amendment Act 2019 shows that the sharing ratio is Federal Ministry of Finance (60 per cent) and Central Bank of Nigeria (40 per cent). The maximum for a non-collaterised loan under the scheme is now N100,000.00, the maximum amount for collaterised loan granted to individuals, cooperative societies and corporate entities is now N50 million, up from N10 million.

Also, complete Agricultural Value Chain financing is now allowed as well as the financing of production farm machinery, production equipment, processing, storage and transportation.

This Act amends the ACGS Fund Act Cpa. A11, Laws of the Federation Nigeria 2004, to enhance capital base, expand coverage of the scheme, increase the size of the loanable fund, increase membership and give more powers to the board.

Further details of the ACGSF showed that the amended section 2 of the Principal Act enacted by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, now requires that the Minister shall appoint a chairman, a representative of the Nigerian farmers, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and a representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The fund was increased from N100 million to N50 billion, which may be increased by such amount the Board may determine and that amount shall be contributed in a proportion as the board may prescribe. President Buhari signed and certified the ACGSF Bill into law.

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele identified agriculture financing as the way forward for the economy. He explained that part of its developmental role, the CBN has in collaboration with the Federal Government established the ACGSF for promoting agricultural enterprises in Nigeria.

The fund, he added, will complement other special initiatives of the apex bank in providing concessionary funding for agriculture.

According to Emefiele, “there was no need to allocate scarce forex to rice importers when vast amounts of paddy rice of comparable quality produced by poor hard-working local farmers across the rice belts of Nigeria are wasted, and farmers are falling deeper into poverty at a time the government exports their jobs and income to rice-producing in overseas countries.

“A few decades ago, Nigeria was one of the world’s largest producers of palm oil but, today, we import nearly 600,000 metric tonnes while Indonesia and Malaysia combine to export over 90 per cent of global demand.

“Under these circumstances, I believe it is appropriate, and in fact, expected, that the CBN contributes to protecting the jobs and incomes of local farmers, using some of the same principles Western economies use to justify the protection of their farmers through huge subsidies.”

Noting that agriculture remained the largest employer of labour, the CBN chief said the sector contributes about 24.2 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Emefiele described as unacceptable that the greatest share of the demand for forex goes directly to importing agricultural produce.

He said: “So, the CBN has both a direct and indirect rationale to ensure that this sector is revived in a significant way. In this regard, we are gratified that the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), together with other initiatives like the CACS and Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), are proving to be successful in several states.”

He explained that in Kebbi State alone, over 78,000 smallholder farmers cultivate about 100,000 hectares of rice farms. It is expected that over one million metric tonnes of rice will be produced in that state alone this year.

Bankers’ Committee and Agric Financing

The CBN and commercial banks, under the aegis of the Bankers’ Committee, restated their commitment to expanding bank lending in agro-business to discourage importation of goods that can be produced locally.

The bankers also stated their resolve to explore large corporates as anchors to lend to participants across the value chain to improve the capacity of Nigeria’s agro-businesses to create sustainable jobs and inclusive growth.

The bankers affirmed their commitment to financial deepening of the economy, improving financial access to key sectors of the economy, innovative solutions for the critical finance of generation, provide finance for small and medium enterprises, among others.

“We note that four basic commodities that are consumed by Nigerians – rice, wheat, fish and sugar jointly account for a significant amount of the country’s annual import bill. We are convinced that the nation can produce these consumables in required amounts to meet our domestic consumption needs. With its attendant impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and job creation, agriculture remains a critical focus sector of the financial system,” the Committee added.

Stakeholders speak on agricultural potential in the economy

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Ade Ayeyemi, has said Nigeria can feed Africa’s estimated 1.2 billion people if it harnesses the gains of the agricultural value chain.

According to him, success in Nigeria’s agricultural sector means the reduction in the demand for foreign exchange to import food items into the country and the development of the agribusiness value-chain with a resultant effect in the creation of a new breed of entrepreneurs as well as jobs for the teeming population.

Ayeyemi spoke at the Ecobank Agribusiness Summit in Lagos. The summit had its theme “Unlocking Productivity and Investment Opportunities Across Nigeria’s Agribusiness Value Chain”

Also speaking, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Nanono affirmed that the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari is committed to finding a lasting solution to issues bothering on food security affecting the country.

He stressed on the need for viable synergy and collaboration between relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector, to further promote its contribution to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the country.

“Nigeria’s potentials and prospects make the agricultural sector a pilot for economic stabilisation, diversification and growth in the country. Indeed, the sector is a major contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), contributing about 27 per cent to the GDP and the biggest in job creation in the non-oil sector”.

Nanono disclosed that the Federal Government has also earmarked N600 billion to enhance farmer access to agricultural financing in the country. He said that about 2.4 million farmers were targeted to benefit from the interest-free facility, designed to encourage the application of modern technologies in rice and cash crop cultivation.

Nanono said the initiative would support farmers to achieve improved productivity, enhance self-sufficiency and food security in the country. He said: “We have commenced farmer registration exercise to capture their information, number of farmlands and locations.

“Also, the beneficiaries will be monitor to ensure effective utilisation of the facility, and mobilise participation in subsequent programmes.”

ACGSF’s Linkage Banking Initiative

Through the ACGSF Self-Help Group Linkage programme, farmers are encouraged to form themselves into groups of between five and 15 based on common purpose (informal and informal). The groups are encouraged to undertake regular savings with a partner bank of their choice. After operating such savings for six months, they could then apply to the partner bank for a loan. The amount saved provides part cash security for loans to saving groups.

Bank loans to the groups are normally in multiples of the balance in their savings account at the time of the application for the loan. The group savings security would not be drawn on until the loans are fully repaid. The aim of the Self-Help Group Linkage Banking is to inculcate the culture of savings and banking habit in-group members as well enable them to build up resources for financing their farm projects without recourse to bank borrowing on the long run.

Understanding the ACGSF Amendment Bill

The ACGSF Amendment Bill, sponsored by Senator Andy Uba, a representing Anambra South senatorial district, was targeted at improving the prospects of commercial agriculture as an integral contributor to the Nigerian economy. This it seeks to do by expanding the capacity to guarantee credit facilities extended to Nigerian farmers, and making the regulation of such finances in consonance with international best practices.

Furthermore, the new Act will facilitate better management of agricultural funds, enhance greater transparency, promote export business and safeguard the delivery of dividends to Nigerian farmers.

Uba disclosed that the law would drive the course of Nigeria’s economic diversification.

Analysts said that with the signing of the ACGSF bill into law, the Federal Government is reiterating its commitment towards repositioning the agricultural sector and enhancing its overall contributions to the government’s overall earnings.

Copyright © 2020 Vintage Press Limited. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

https://www.salaamgateway.com/story/funding-options-for-agriculture-in-nigeria-expands-with-n50-bln-scheme

 

 

Rice, Sugar, and Pulses Lead India’s Agricultural Exports

September 14, 2020

Gurneel Kaur

India assures UNFAO for an undisrupted supply of agricultural commodities as it sees a surge of 23% in agricultural exports. Rice, Sugar, and Pulses lead India’s agricultural exports.

Increase in India’s Agricultural Exports

While several countries witnessed disruption in trade, India’s agricultural exports increased 23.24% to Rs 25,553 crore during March-June this year, 4,818.2 crores more than the previous year. Also, India’s agrarian GDP has registered an increase of 0.5% from 2017-18 to 2018-19. Data released by WTO reveals that India’s agricultural exports and imports in the world agriculture trade in 2017 stood at 2.27% and 1.90%, respectively.

While basmati rice worth Rs 8,591 crore tops the list of farm exports, non-basmati rice contributed the highest rise of Rs 2,392 crore to the Agri exports. Non-basmati rice and sugar together account for more than a 95% increase in the Agri commodities export.

India has Enough Stocks to Meet Global Demand 

Agriculture commissioner S K Malhotra, in FAO’s 35th Asia-Pacific regional Conference, assured that India has enough stock not only for domestic needs but also for global supply. Further, he added that the government is focusing on penetrating wellness food under the “Brand India” campaign into foreign markets. Agriculture ministry officials stated that India’s agricultural export basket has a limited scope. Though India’s rice is demanded globally, wheat is still not competitive at the international level. Besides, India produces pulses to meet domestic requirements.

Prompt Action Amid the Pandemic Ensured Timely Procurement and Eliminated Wastage

Experts attribute this surge to the abundant availability of stocks of rice, sugar, and wheat. Besides, India has also been quick in providing support to farmers during harvesting season amid the pandemic. Moreover, India has also gained from the rise in Thai and Vietnamese rice prices owing to poor weather conditions. Besides, the depreciation of Indian rupee against the dollar facilitated exporters to quote lower prices. Not only has this but carryover stocks of sugar also facilitated more significant shipments to Indonesia and Brazil. The country had also supplied its excess wheat stocks to Lebanon and Afghanistan.  Shipments to the African region, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Russia have increased this year.

In all, India has the prospects of gaining immensely due to the mentioned reasons. It will need to continue providing quality products in the international market to sustain the rise in agricultural exports.

Tags: afghanistanafrican regionagricultural commoditiesagricultural exportsagriculture ministryagriculture tradeBasmati Ricebrand indiafarm exportsforeign marketglobal supplyimportsindiaIndia agricultural GDPindonesiainternational marketmalaysianon basmati ricephilippinesPulsesRussiastocksugartrade disruptionUNFAOwheat

https://www.grainmart.in/news/rice-sugar-and-pulses-lead-indias-agricultural-exports/

 

 

 

The UAE’s sustainable food plan involves growing rice & developing ‘soil’

By

 Matilda Coleman

 -

0

24

Share

 

With the UAE almost wholly reliant on food imports, food security is a national priority.

In recent months, the Covid-19 pandemic has heightened domestic concerns as global supply chains of imports were disrupted.

The crisis also prompted renewed debate about how best to boost local agriculture and foster farming innovation.

Searing summer temperatures, little rainfall and a landscape dominated by arid desert, has meant that the UAE’s agricultural activities have been relatively restricted to small areas.

Grassroot thinking

That could soon change, however, say academics at Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University, who are developing ‘artificial soil’, made up of almost 90% desert sand.

Their goal is for the product to be used by local, and eventually regional farmers, to grow plants & vegetation.

The soil created in the laboratory resembles the texture, porosity & fertility of soils found in Thailand & Ukraine.

If patent approved, scientists in the capital are optimistic that it has the potential to transform the UAE’s burgeoning home-grown crops sector.

To dig deeper into the topic, Inspire Middle East’s Rebecca McLaughlin-Eastham caught up with Associate Professor, Dr. Saeed Alkhazraji, a passionate innovator who helped co-create the earth.

He began by explaining the soil’s unique qualities, which should be given extra consideration in light of the UAE’s extreme weather conditions.

“Farmers have to be aware that any crop they’re trying to grow [here] needs to be dealt with in a specific way, to allow them to maximize their yield,” he said. “For example, if they want to grow a plant that is difficult to grow in the UAE, perhaps you need to use a greenhouse along with the soil that we are making.”

The soil’s potential to contribute to the local food supply chain, is significant, the Professor went on to tell .

“There are many different crops that are challenging to grow in the UAE, crops that sustain human lives, like rice and wheat – because of their excessive need for water.” said Dr. Saeed Alkhazraji. “The soil that we developed can allow us to have better water management, because it allows us to have a higher water retention than typical soils around the UAE.”

Desert rice

With rice a food staple of the UAE, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment recently announced a joint research programme with the Republic of Korea, aimed at cultivating rice in the desert.

The seeds were sowed back in 2019, cultivated using a water-saving drip irrigation system, and the rice was recently harvested.

Preliminary results for the first project of its kind in the region, indicated a yield of 763kg of rice per 1,000 square metres.

This prompted the Ministry to say that, if successful on a large scale, the project had the potential to shape the future of agriculture and be replicated in other arid regions.

Sharjah’s organic growth

The location of the rice initiative was the emirate of Sharjah, which according to scientists, is an emerging hotbed of agricultural innovation in the UAE.

It is also home to the Sharjah Research Technology & Innovation Park, a place which supports famers & harnesses new technology to produce sustainable local food all year round.

The Park notably contains a 150-square metre farm, and an eco-friendly Merlin Agrotunnel, capable of producing a ton of organic fruits & vegetables each month.

In keeping with the country’s environmental and sustainable farming goals, all produce is irrigated with seawater desalinated via solar energy.

SRTI’s CEO, Hussain Al Mahmoudi, predicts that in the next 5 years at least 30 percent of the UAE’s food will be domestically produced.

He told Inspire that continuous research and development into new farming innovations & agricultural technology will accelerate the sector’s growth in the years ahead.

“Since the inception of the Park, we’ve started to promote things like hydroponics technology, aquaponics technology & tunnel farming. And they’ve all taken off,” he said. “At the moment, we are [also] using Artificial Intelligence to study how aquaponics works, with relation to fish. How the fish really move and how much food they eat.”

Sustainable agriculture

When asked about the economic feasibility of large-scale farming projects in the UAE, and how production and harvesting costs could be kept down, Al Mahmoudi had this to say:

“I think the feasibility is there, because the UAE has an abundant amount of land. A lot of farmers in the UAE, especially the national ones, get free land. If you couple this with the cost of doing business here, it is also relatively low compared to other parts of the world. There’s also the fantastic infrastructure – in terms of ports and airports and storage and other things.”

On the subject of the UAE being one of the world’s top rice importers, SRTI’s CEO is convinced that producing home-grown rice would be game-changing for the domestic market.

“I think we can play a strategic role in growing rice,” he said. “We have the infrastructure, both soft infrastructure and public sector, to really become a regional player in producing rice and ensuring food security.”

https://upnewsinfo.com/2020/09/13/the-uaes-sustainable-food-plan-involves-growing-rice-developing-soil/

 

 

NFA still has P10-B for palay procurement

 

Published September 14, 2020, 3:03 PM

by Madelaine Miraflor

For the remainder of the year, the National Food Authority (NFA) still has more than P10 billion budget to buy as much as 10 million bags of locally produced unhusked rice, a top official of the state-run grains agency said.

In a text exchange, NFA Administrator Judy Dansal said NFA is still set to buy 10 million bags of palay from rice farmers for the remaining part of 2020. If this isn’t enough, she said, the agency could still buy more since it has “credit lines available.” 

“For this year, we have P7 billion from subsidy, P5.5 billion from corporate receipts that include our sales of rice, and P2.5 billion from cash and credit lines. So far, we already used P3 billion for procurement,” Dansal said on Monday.

“Yes [we can buy more palay because] we have credit lines available and the DOF [Department of Finance] supports us,” she added. 

She said this amid calls by some groups for the Philippine government to buy more palay from farmers so they wouldn’t be forced to sell their produce at current farmgate price of about P11 per kilogram (/kg) to P12/kg.

In the Philippines, the cost to produce rice is about P12/kg, while NFA, whose sole mandate has been reduced to buffer stocking for calamities and emergencies after the passage of Rice Tariffication Law, buys palay at P19/kg. 

Every year, NFA gets an annual budget of P7 billion to procure palay, which it sells to local government units (LGUs) and other government agencies like Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to support their relief efforts.

Dansal told Business Bulletin that while NFA could increase the amount of palay it could buy for this year, the agency couldn’t buy it all because some farmers would still choose to sell to traders.

“We don’t buy everything. The private traders of course will also buy because they have clients requiring local rice too,” she said.

At present, NFA procures 33,775 bags of palay per day nationwide in different provinces.

In August, Dansal said it is not the supply, but the lack of rice milling facilities and low buying price that impedes the agency’s palay procurement.

According to her, NFA’s rice milling warehouse could only cater to 25 percent of its palay inventory, forcing the agency to keep its contract with private millers, while farmers sometimes opt to sell their produce to traders when the farm-gate price of palay is higher than the government buying price.

“The market dictates the price. So if the farm-gate price of palay is high, higher than the P19/kg buying price of the government, the farmers sell their produce to the private traders,” she said.

Also on Monday, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) pointed to the unabated entry and unpredictable pattern of rice imports as the main cause for the current drop in palay farmgate prices.  

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that palay prices have been on a downward trend, averaging P18.39/kg in late August, down about 5 percent from their peak in May 2020.

Field reports, on the other hand, showed that buying prices, as of September, have already gone down to as low as P16/kg on a dry basis and to P11/kg to P13/kg for wet or freshly harvested palay.  

The FFF noted that the decline in farmgate prices is surprising considering that imports from January to August 2020 totaled only 1.66 million tons, or about 25 percent lower than in the same period last year.

In turn, national rice inventories as of August 1 were about 16 percent lower than in the previous year, which should also help push the price of palay higher. 
FFF National Manager Raul Montemayor attributed the declining prices to speculative behavior of traders arising from the lack of a clear rice import policy from the DA.  

“Many traders are playing safe and buying low because they fear that imports will continue to come in and flood the market again in the coming months. Last year, they bought palay from farmers during the first half of the year at relatively high prices and were caught flatfooted by the massive inflow of imports in the second half of the year. Many of them could not unload their stocks at a profit and some had to suspend their operations,” he said.

Normally, palay buying prices really go up in September because of the scarce supply of palay and then go down only during the peak harvest season in October and November.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2020/09/14/nfa-still-has-p10-b-for-palay-procurement/

 

 

India could lose basmati rice market in Iran to Pakistan as US sanctions disrupt payments

 

Tehran and New Delhi explore barter trading options even as Iran has stepped up importing basmati rice from Pakistan. 

NAYANIMA BASU 14 September, 2020 12:04 pm IST

 

 

Description: File image of India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (left) with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif | Photo: ANIFile image of India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (left) with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif | Photo: ANI

Text Size: A- A+

New Delhi: India could lose its position as the leading exporter of basmati rice to Iran, with Tehran now beginning to procure the produce from Pakistan, ThePrint has learnt. 

For the first time in decades, basmati rice exports from India to Iran have fallen drastically in the first half of 2020-21 fiscal owing to disruption in payments, a result of the US-led sanctions. New Delhi and Tehran are now exploring a conventional barter trading system to address the rising concerns. 

The matter was discussed between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif during the former’s recent visit to that country. Jaishankar had made a stopover in Tehran while on his way to Moscow last week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s foreign ministers’ meeting . 

India and Iran have been discussing the barter trading system for nearly a year now, ever since the Donald Trump administration began imposing tough economic sanctions on Tehran. 

Iran has said it will buy basmati rice, sugar and medicines from India in lieu of fertilisers. New Delhi, however, is yet to firm up its decision, Iranian government sources told ThePrint. 

Iran is now importing basmati rice from Pakistan while Indian consignments worth Rs 1,500 crore are stuck owing to payment issues, the sources said, adding that Tehran has now asked New Delhi to quickly move on this decision by utilising the banking channels of UCO Bank and IDBI Bank that continue to maintain a presence there. 


 


Sanctions and the barter system 

Due to the US sanctions on Iran, it has become difficult for Indian banks to operate the payment mechanism, while exporters are finding it increasingly difficult to sell rice in that market. 

Some of the exporters, who used to ship their basmati rice consignments through Dubai, have now come under the scanner of investigating agencies. 

The Indian government believes a traditional barter trading system with Iran will be difficult since India has stopped buying crude oil from that country. This is because India exports basmati rice worth $1 billion to that market, and hence buying fertilisers worth that amount will not be cost-effective, according to Indian government sources.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is exploring the options of extending a limited line of credit to Iran via the EXIM Bank so that the payments issue for Indian exports can be sorted out until the sanctions are lifted. 

“Exporters are concerned that rice exports can also come under sanctions and payments have become a huge issue,” said Ajay Sahai, DG and CEO, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO). “Basmati rice exports to Iran have taken a hit this year. Getting the market back will be difficult if we lose it to other countries, if and when the sanctions are lifted.”

Owing to the US’ unilateral sanctions, India brought down its crude imports from Iran to zero in May last year. In 2019, India was the top exporter of basmati rice to that country, shipping nearly 1.6 million tonnes. 

China eyeing massive investments in Iran

While India has made it clear to Iran that it will not be able to make much progress in the next phase of the Chabahar Port project as long as the US sanctions are there, Tehran has asked New Delhi to invest in some of the affiliated projects such as free trade zones, economic enclaves and other logistical infrastructure.

Even though the Chabahar port project was spared from American sanctions, Indian players have shied away from participating in the next phase, which entails constructing a rail link from the port to Zahedan in the Sistan-Baluchistan province and a 218-km road from Zaranj to Delaram. 

“India has to see these projects from the perspective of its own national interest and not through the prism of other countries,” said a top Iranian official, who refused to be named. “We are telling India to at least invest in the ancillary projects that will feed into the larger Chabahar project. Many countries are waiting to invest in these projects but we want India to come in but it should not be too late.”  

According to the official, India should “utilise this opportunity to be a major partner in the lucrative project” even as China is planning investments of billions of dollars under the new and updated Iran-China strategic partnership deal. 

“Wish India also did the same… To be close to China does not mean we are against India,” the official said. 

The China-Iran agreement is expected to overshadow even the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Under this deal, China is also expected to build a major port development project on the Strait of Hormuz. 


 

You are reading this because you value good, intelligent and objective journalism. We thank you for your time and your trust.

You also know that the news media is facing an unprecedented crisis. It is likely that you are also hearing of the brutal layoffs and pay-cuts hitting the industry. There are many reasons why the media’s economics is broken. But a big one is that good people are not yet paying enough for good journalism.

We have a newsroom filled with talented young reporters. We also have the country’s most robust editing and fact-checking team, finest news photographers and video professionals. We are building India’s most ambitious and energetic news platform. And have just turned three.

At ThePrint, we invest in quality journalists. We pay them fairly. As you may have noticed, we do not flinch from spending whatever it takes to make sure our reporters reach where the story is.

This comes with a sizable cost. For us to continue bringing quality journalism, we need readers like you to pay for it.

If you think we deserve your support, do join us in this endeavour to strengthen fair, free, courageous and questioning journalism. Please click on the link below. Your support will define ThePrint’s future.

https://theprint.in/india/india-could-lose-basmati-rice-market-in-iran-to-pakistan-as-us-sanctions-disrupt-payments/501818/

 

 

As low prices beset local farmers, PH expected to import

more rice

 

 

By: Karl R. Ocampo - Reporter / @kocampoINQ

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:10 AM September 14, 2020

The Philippines is expected to produce less and import more rice this year, according to an international report.

Based on a report by the United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Services (USDA-FAS), the Philippines would likely increase its rice imports this year to 3 million metric tons (MT) from 2.9 million MT in 2019.

Milled rice production, on the other hand, was expected to decrease to 11 million MT from 11.9 million MT last year.

The projections ran counter to USDA-FAS’s report last month, where it stated that the country’s rice imports could decline to 2.2 million MT amid improving local production.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar had also said they were gunning for a record high palay production of 22.12 million MT this year, which may translate to 13.72 million MT of rice.

Amid the conflicting estimates provided by the USDA and the Department of Agriculture on rice production and imports, industry groups were more worried about another issue—the low farm gate prices of palay.

According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, the average farm gate price of palay is currently at P14 a kilo on average and not P18 a kilo as stated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The group said data from the PSA was inaccurate, noting there were no surveys conducted in rice-producing areas.

They said it was a worrying trend for farmers given that the harvest season is still a month away. Low prices are a major disincentive for palay producers. INQ



Read more: https://business.inquirer.net/307260/as-low-prices-beset-local-farmers-ph-expected-to-import-more-rice#ixzz6Y0YOuQaR
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

 

 

Rice imports lowest in 20 years, agric exports drive foreign trade

 

By Femi Ibirogba, Head, Agro-Economy

14 September 2020   |   3:06 am

 

Description: https://guardian.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Rice-paddies-1062x598.jpg

Rice paddies produced in Taraba State last year


• Cocoa beans, sesame seeds lead exports
• Experts harp on standards, value chain infrastructure
• ‘1m tonnes of smuggled chicken prevented’

Despite multifarious challenges facing the agricultural sector of the economy, indications have emerged that Nigeria’s strength truly lies in the sector if obstacles are removed and necessary infrastructure is emplaced.

This follows as Nigeria’s rice importation data in 2020 has been described as the lowest in 20 years as a result of total land border control, disincentives to neighbouring countries (which imported rice to re-export), and home-grown Anchor Borrowers’ scheme in the rice value chain.

The Foreign Affairs Service (FAS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicated this in its August 2020 report. Similarly, the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS’) Top Products by Imports and Exports for the first quarter (Q1) 2020 recent report showed that though Nigeria’s total export value decreased by 14.42% in Q1, 2020 compared to the value recorded in Q4, 2019, the value of agricultural goods exports grew 85.36% in Q1, 2020 compared to Q4, 2019 and 46.76% compared to Q1, 2019.

“The value of raw material exports,” NBS data said, “increased 60.17% in Q1,2020, relative to last quarter but decreased by 7.08% year on year.”Solid minerals exports were 16.31%, lower in Q1,2020 relative to Q4 2019 and 82.17% less than the value recorded in Q1, 2019; manufactured goods exports decreased by 12.72% in value in Q1,2020 compared to Q4,2019 and 3.86% compared to Q1, 2019.

Also, crude oil exports decreased by 18.86% in Q1, 2020 compared to Q4, 2019 and 12.80% compared to Q1, 2019. Other oil products exports decreased by 1.47% in value in Q1,2020, compared to Q4, 2019 and 4.89% compared to Q1, 2019.

By implication, only agricultural exports and raw materials (which were mostly semi-finished agricultural products) drove the export sector of the country’s international trade in the first quarter.

This buttresses the persistent calls for emplacement of farm infrastructure, such as irrigation facilities, rural road upgrade, and farm mechanization for productivity as part efforts to entrench agriculture as a major employer of labour and biggest foreign exchange earner for the country of the year.

During the quarter, total trade in agricultural goods stood at N387.7 billion (or 4.67% of the overall trade), of which exported agricultural goods accounted for N126.3 billion.

Key drivers of agricultural product exports were sesame seeds, whether or not broken (N49.1billion), good fermented Nigerian cocoa beans (N35.2billion) and superior quality cocoa beans (N16.8 billion).

Sesame seeds worth N9.8 billion, N9.5 billion and N9.3 billion were exported to Japan, Turkey and China respectively, while good fermented cocoa beans were exported mainly to The Netherlands (valued at N16.5 billion) and Germany (valued at N6.6 billion). Superior raw cocoa beans were also exported mainly to The Netherlands at a value of N11.2 billion.

In another development, the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) has disclosed that over one million tonnes of chicken was prevented from being smuggled into the country, translating into about 100,000 jobs along the broiler and turkey value chains, while about N50 billion was saved in the poultry sector.

The FAS of the USDA said neighboring countries served as ports of entry for parboiled rice, and arrivals through these neighboring countries largely offset the decline in rice shipped directly to Nigeria over the past couple of years.

“However, rice arriving in Nigeria and surrounding ports both began to sharply decline beginning in October 2019.

“The combination of various trade policies, economic conditions stemming from lower oil prices, and more intense border checks …, have led to lower imports through the nearby countries and ultimately on to Nigeria. As a result, Nigerian rice imports are forecast at the lowest level in about 20 years,” the USDA report said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria produced 4,536 million tonnes in 2017; 4,470m tonnes in 2018; 4,538m tonnes in 2019; 5,040m tonnes as of July, 2020, while it consumed 6,700 million tonnes in 2017; 6,750m tonnes in 2018; 6,800m tonnes in 2019; 6,550m tonnes as of July, 2020, according to the USDA production and consumption database.

Prof. Eustace Iyayi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), explained that Nigeria consumes about 2 million tonnes of poultry meat yearly, and 70% of this was smuggled into the country before the border closure.

According to the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), the closure of the border significantly reduced the smuggling of chicken into the country, saving the poultry industry about N50 billion.

Prof Iyayi added: “According to PAN, production activities in the broiler meat industry has increased to 70% from the previous 45% capacity utilisation due to the border closure. The poultry sub-sector is the most commercialised sub-sector in the agricultural sector worth about 1.6 trillion.”

He added that the government/CBN could do more to boost the sub-sector by giving support for input supply, especially maize, which constitutes about 70% of the poultry diet. “Poultry farmers should be given subsidy for day-old chicks,” he suggested, “the starting material for any poultry enterprise. Eggs should be incorporated into the School Feeding Programme and poultry farmers should be compensated in periods of adversity.”

A professor and former Dean of Agriculture at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Funso Sonaiya, commented that the government policy had promoted the export of agricultural products.

“We all remember that the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has been working with various potential exporters, particularly in the area of standards and this certainly is one outcome….”

Prof. Sonaiya said agriculture could replace oil as number one foreign exchange earner, saying, “Agriculture should be the basis for our economic and industrial development in Nigeria if we pay the necessary attention to its development in terms of ensuring that the right seeds are produced by breeders; that the right husbandry methods are used for crops and animals; that the right harvesting techniques and storage environments are provided.”

He added that Nigerians should realise that with agriculture, because it is renewable, food and raw materials could be produced two-three times in a year.

He recommended that first, the results of agricultural research need to be properly studied and implemented, saying, “So, we need to go back to those shelves and get all the results and use them to develop agriculture and agricultural policies. We should all put our hands on deck to develop our country through agriculture.”

Vice President, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr Emmanuel Ijewere, admitted that though there are many challenges in the sector, policies of the government appear to be making an impact, and there are some more fundamental things that are evolving.

He said: “During the time of Dr Akinwumi Adesina, when he was Minister of Agriculture, he revolutionised the thinking in agriculture and started bringing people’s minds to the opportunities that exist in the space. More and more educated people are coming into the sector. And what is more interesting is the fact that those various factors negated people’s attitude towards agriculture are beginning to sort themselves out.”

Ijewere explained that oil in particular was the biggest and most destructive blow to agriculture, and forces beyond Nigeria are now changing the entire outlook in the oil sector.

The blow on the oil sector, he added, is making it dawn on Nigerians that the future is not in oil, but in agriculture.

“Monthly state allocations are no longer what they were, whereas, their various expenditures are increasing. That translates to state governments being more favorably disposed to agriculture. What we have seen is a tip of the iceberg.

“And the Ministry of Trade and Investment is now playing a positive role. Over and above that is the attitude of the CBN that has been extremely positive to agriculture. They are identifying those various obstacles and removing them. We are just beginning to see a turn-around,” he said.

Also commenting, Executive Director, Agriculture and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Dr Olufemi Oladunni, said the government efforts, policies and CBN injection of funds into the agricultural value chain have been commendable.

But, he added: “What the country needs to do is to further step it up by providing international standards for the entire value chain so that we will not have a rejection of our products at the international market as a result of poor quality.”

 

https://guardian.ng/features/agro-care/rice-imports-lowest-in-20-years-agric-exports-drive-foreign-trade/

 

 

 

 

 

China's impact on poor Brazilians: prices of staples skyrocket, black beans 30%, rice 20%

 

Monday, September 14th 2020 - 08:27 UTC

 

 Inflation (IPCA) measured by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) has been 0.7% since the beginning of the year, but food has shot up 6.10%.

Black beans are up nearly 30%, beef about 40% – Brazilians are facing a skyrocketing rise in food prices, caused by record exports to China and strong domestic demand. This rebound, amid the economic and social crisis caused by the new coronavirus pandemic, has led the president, Jair Bolsonaro, to ask the owners of supermarkets to show “patriotism” and “keep their profit margin as low as possible”.

Inflation (IPCA index) measured by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) has been only 0.7% since the beginning of the year, but the food item has shot up 6.10%.

Among the staples of the daily diet in Brazil, the price of rice has risen 19.3%, black beans 28.9%, corn flour 8.1% and soybean oil 18.6%.

Regarding animal proteins, according to the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV), beef increased by 38%, chicken and eggs by 7.5% and pork by 19.4% between September 2019 and August 2020.

The rise is mainly explained by the growing appetite of foreign buyers, and in particular China, in a context of strong depreciation of the Brazilian real against the dollar (-36% in one year) and the trade war between Beijing and Washington , which leads the Asian giant to buy more in Brazil.

The soybean and corn harvest, of which Brazil is the first and third world producer respectively, is expected to reach historic levels this year, but that will not alleviate the situation in the domestic market.

Strong external demand “reduced the supply of these foods in the Brazilian market” because farmers prefer to export them, André Braz, an economist at FGV, told ..

Brazilian soybean exports to China increased 29.5% between January and August compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of Economy. The harvest of that grain should have an increase of 4.3% this year.

At the same time, the rise in prices of grains and oilseeds has led to higher production costs for ranchers, who feed their cows, chickens and pigs with soy and corn flour.

“The decline of the Brazilian cattle herd in the last two years” and the growing demand from China have also put pressure on the prices of this animal protein, explains Thiago Bernadino, from the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics of the University of Sao Paulo (Cepea) .

Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Wednesday attributed the increase in food prices to the rise in domestic consumption, due to the emergency aid of 600 reais (about US$ 115) that the government gave since April to the poorest to deal with the pandemic, halved in September.

«The money that the government injected into the economy was much more than what people are used to, » he said.

“The problem is that the government is abandoning its policy of regulatory reserves, which allow it to intervene in the event of a sharp increase in inflation,” says Enori Barbieri, vice president of the Agrarian Federation of the State of Santa Catarina (south).

Barbieri believes that the tax exemption on rice imports, announced on Thursday, will not have much impact on the price in supermarkets, because the devaluation of the real has made purchases abroad more expensive.

J:https://en.mercopress.com/2020/09/14/china-s-impact-on-poor-brazilians-prices-of-staples-skyrocket-black-beans-30-rice-20+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk

 

 

PhilRice mobile app to help optimize fertilizer dosages

September 14, 2020 | 12:03 am

Description: https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/rice-farmer-2.jpg

THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said it has developed a mobile application that will help farmers determine the right amounts of nitrogen fertilizer to use for rice.

The application, PhilRice Leaf Color Computing App (PhilRice LCC App), checks the nitrogen status of the rice plant and is based on an older tool, a leaf color chart.

“Designed for farmers, extension workers, researchers, and students, the mobile app generates nitrogen recommendations in just under a minute based on the digital images of intact rice leaves photographed directly from the field,” PhilRice said.

According to PhilRice senior researcher Ailon Oliver V. Capistrano, the users must photograph the topmost, fully expanded rice leaf on a smartphone using available light.

Mr. Capistrano said the nitrogen levels can be determined from photographs, guiding decisions on fertilizer use.

“The app measures the intensity of green color based on the captured leaf images and converts this into values correlated with the amount of nitrogen in the leaf,” Mr. Capistrano said.

PhilRice Deputy Executive Director for Development Karen Eloisa T. Barroga said the app will keep farmers from using excessive nitrogen fertilizer during the wet season and also cut down on pest infestation.

PhilRice said in its Facebook page that 75% of the clients are farmers, while the rest are students, extension workers, and researchers.

“Many farmers are now online. They also have their children to assist them. I’m sure that the app will quickly find its way to them to guide them in the accurate application of nitrogen,” Ms. Barroga said.

PhilRice said its mobile app can be downloaded for free via the Google Play Store. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/7744424141239132414

 

 

 

Bengaluru: Re-exam to be held for NLAT candidates who faced glitches

 

TNN | Sep 14, 2020, 10:56 IST

TimesPoints

 

 

NLSIU informed some of the affected candidates that they will get another chance to write the exam on Monday a...Read More

BENGALURU: After complaints from several students who faced technical glitches during the National Law Aptitude Test held on Saturday, the National Law School of India University informed some of the affected candidates that they will get another chance to write the exam on Monday at 12.30pm.
Some students received a message on Sunday night that a technical review committee reviewed their queries and recommended that they write a re-exam the next day. The message said the final slot will begin at noon; after verification, the exam will begin at 12.30pm. If a student chooses to log in, the previous exam score will be erased. If not, the September 12 score will be considered.
However, students continued to be anxious about the re-exam announced at such a short notice. We are not aware of the criteria used by NLSIU to determine who gets this second chance,” said a student.

 

 

Buhari laments devastation of over 450,000 hectares of rice farms ON

 

 

Kebbi Floods: Buhari laments devastation of over 450,000 hectares of rice farms ON SEPTEMBER 13, 20206:36 PMIN NEWS Kindly Share This Story:FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsAppPinterestShare Promises to assist affected farmers soon By Gabriel Ewepu – Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, at the weekend, lamented the devastation of over 450, 000 hectares of rice farms caused by floods in Kebbi State. The Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Nanono, on a visit to assess the situation and commiserate with the State Government and affected farmers pledged assistance to mitigate the effects of the losses incurred. This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Theodore Ogaziechi, where Nanono described the floods as one of the worst disasters ever witnessed in recent times. The Minister who was accompanied by the Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Baguda, said his visit was “to restore hope and build up confidence for the farmers in the State.” READ ALSO: Kebbi flooding a national tragedy, requires urgent attention ― Gov Bagudu Hundreds of villages are said to be affected and many homelands washed away by the floods. Affected places the Minister visited include Argungu, Natsimi Gada of Argungu , and communities along the Dukku- Makera Road that were completely washed off, where he promised that seeds will be made available to the farmers to commence planting after the raining season and floods recede. According to him Kebbi State being one of the major producers of the commodity in the country including other crops like maize, groundnuts, wheat, sweet potatoes, sorghum, and millet, and this huge loss will affect other states in the country. He, therefore, promised that the Ministry will immediately set up a special committee to mitigate the situation and ensure that the dry season farming will be boosted He said the ministry will also encourage the farmers to explore the innovative early harvesting of their products as is done with other crops and promised to assist them with improved seeds. He said: “What I have seen here today is very devastating, my coming here is at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari who has sent me to commiserate with the people of Kebbi state over the flood and to give you hope and assurance that the government is concerned about your plight and will do something. “Meanwhile, affected farmers not to despair, the Federal Government will address the situation. Also lamenting the unprecedented loss by farmers in the State, the Governor,  Abubakar Bagudu, while explaining that it is not only the rice farms that were affected, but also animals, crops, and fishing grounds including human lives. Bagudu also commended the resilience of affected farmers and encouraged them to do more not only to compensate for lost grounds but also to generate more support. According to him, 2020 flooding in the State is worst after the 2012 experience, which over 450, 000 hectares of farmland stretching more than 270km of farmlands. Meanwhile, he commended the Federal Government’s proactive steps taken to embark on an immediate assessment visit to the state and promised that the state will remain focused and consistent with its agricultural programmes. READ ALSO: FG promises speedy intervention to Kebbi flood victims The Minister also visited Sarki Kebbi Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mohammed Mera, and the Emir of Gwandu who is also Chairman, Kebbi State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji  Ilyasu Bashar. Description: Kebbi Floods: Buhari laments devastation of over 450,000 hectares of rice farmsThey both expressed appreciation for the speedy visit of the Federal Government to commiserate with the State. The Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Bashar said, the flooding affected many communities who had no option than to relocate. Bashar said the disaster came just when the people were recovering from the shock of COVID-19, which he mentioned crops lost to the flood, including rice, millet, sorghum, others. The traditional ruler also called on the people to be patient and appealed to the media to assist in sensitizing them on the government’s efforts.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/09/kebbi-floods-buhari-laments-devastation-of-over-450000-hectares-of-rice-farms/

 

 

 

NFA still has P10-B for palay procurement

 

Published September 14, 2020, 3:03 PM

by Madelaine Miraflor

For the remainder of the year, the National Food Authority (NFA) still has more than P10 billion budget to buy as much as 10 million bags of locally produced unhusked rice, a top official of the state-run grains agency said.

In a text exchange, NFA Administrator Judy Dansal said NFA is still set to buy 10 million bags of palay from rice farmers for the remaining part of 2020. If this isn’t enough, she said, the agency could still buy more since it has “credit lines available.” 

“For this year, we have P7 billion from subsidy, P5.5 billion from corporate receipts that include our sales of rice, and P2.5 billion from cash and credit lines. So far, we already used P3 billion for procurement,” Dansal said on Monday.

“Yes [we can buy more palay because] we have credit lines available and the DOF [Department of Finance] supports us,” she added. 

She said this amid calls by some groups for the Philippine government to buy more palay from farmers so they wouldn’t be forced to sell their produce at current farmgate price of about P11 per kilogram (/kg) to P12/kg.

In the Philippines, the cost to produce rice is about P12/kg, while NFA, whose sole mandate has been reduced to buffer stocking for calamities and emergencies after the passage of Rice Tariffication Law, buys palay at P19/kg. 

Every year, NFA gets an annual budget of P7 billion to procure palay, which it sells to local government units (LGUs) and other government agencies like Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to support their relief efforts.

Dansal told Business Bulletin that while NFA could increase the amount of palay it could buy for this year, the agency couldn’t buy it all because some farmers would still choose to sell to traders.

“We don’t buy everything. The private traders of course will also buy because they have clients requiring local rice too,” she said.

At present, NFA procures 33,775 bags of palay per day nationwide in different provinces.

In August, Dansal said it is not the supply, but the lack of rice milling facilities and low buying price that impedes the agency’s palay procurement.

According to her, NFA’s rice milling warehouse could only cater to 25 percent of its palay inventory, forcing the agency to keep its contract with private millers, while farmers sometimes opt to sell their produce to traders when the farm-gate price of palay is higher than the government buying price.

“The market dictates the price. So if the farm-gate price of palay is high, higher than the P19/kg buying price of the government, the farmers sell their produce to the private traders,” she said.

Also on Monday, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) pointed to the unabated entry and unpredictable pattern of rice imports as the main cause for the current drop in palay farmgate prices.  

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that palay prices have been on a downward trend, averaging P18.39/kg in late August, down about 5 percent from their peak in May 2020.

Field reports, on the other hand, showed that buying prices, as of September, have already gone down to as low as P16/kg on a dry basis and to P11/kg to P13/kg for wet or freshly harvested palay.  

The FFF noted that the decline in farmgate prices is surprising considering that imports from January to August 2020 totaled only 1.66 million tons, or about 25 percent lower than in the same period last year.

In turn, national rice inventories as of August 1 were about 16 percent lower than in the previous year, which should also help push the price of palay higher. 
FFF National Manager Raul Montemayor attributed the declining prices to speculative behavior of traders arising from the lack of a clear rice import policy from the DA.  

“Many traders are playing safe and buying low because they fear that imports will continue to come in and flood the market again in the coming months. Last year, they bought palay from farmers during the first half of the year at relatively high prices and were caught flatfooted by the massive inflow of imports in the second half of the year. Many of them could not unload their stocks at a profit and some had to suspend their operations,” he said.

Normally, palay buying prices really go up in September because of the scarce supply of palay and then go down only during the peak harvest season in October and November.

 

SIGN UP TO DAILY NEWSLETTER

https://mb.com.ph/2020/09/14/nfa-still-has-p10-b-for-palay-procurement/

 

 

 

PhilRice mobile app to help optimize fertilizer dosages

FacebookTwitterLinkedIn

Description: https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/rice-farmer-2.jpg

THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said it has developed a mobile application that will help farmers determine the right amounts of nitrogen fertilizer to use for rice.

The application, PhilRice Leaf Color Computing App (PhilRice LCC App), checks the nitrogen status of the rice plant and is based on an older tool, a leaf color chart.

“Designed for farmers, extension workers, researchers, and students, the mobile app generates nitrogen recommendations in just under a minute based on the digital images of intact rice leaves photographed directly from the field,” PhilRice said.

According to PhilRice senior researcher Ailon Oliver V. Capistrano, the users must photograph the topmost, fully expanded rice leaf on a smartphone using available light.

Mr. Capistrano said the nitrogen levels can be determined from photographs, guiding decisions on fertilizer use.

“The app measures the intensity of green color based on the captured leaf images and converts this into values correlated with the amount of nitrogen in the leaf,” Mr. Capistrano said.

PhilRice Deputy Executive Director for Development Karen Eloisa T. Barroga said the app will keep farmers from using excessive nitrogen fertilizer during the wet season and also cut down on pest infestation.

PhilRice said in its Facebook page that 75% of the clients are farmers, while the rest are students, extension workers, and researchers.

“Many farmers are now online. They also have their children to assist them. I’m sure that the app will quickly find its way to them to guide them in the accurate application of nitrogen,” Ms. Barroga said.

PhilRice said its mobile app can be downloaded for free via the Google Play Store. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochavehttps://www.bworldonline.com/philrice-mobile-app-to-help-optimize-fertilizer-dosages/

 

 

Rice Milling Machines Market Size foreseen to grow exponentially over Forecast 2020 – 2025

 

 

UN-backed label launched to help shoppers choose environmentally friendly rice

Pixabay

Bangkok, 14 September 2020 – A new ecolabel launched today by the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) will help shoppers reduce their environmental impact by identifying rice that has been sustainably produced. The SRP – a grouping of over 100 public, private, research, financial institutions and civil society organizations led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)  and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)– has developed the “SRP-Verified” Label to reduce the environmental impact of one of the largest food crops in the world.

"SRP-Verified" ecolabel

Over 3.5 billion people rely on rice as a daily staple, but the crop has an undeniable environmental impact. Rice farming consumes up to one-third of the world’s developed freshwater resources and generates up to 20% of global anthropogenic emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This life-giving crop will also be the victim of rising global temperatures, with production expected to fall by 15% by 2050 due to climate change, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute.

The new Assurance Scheme is based on the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation, the world’s first voluntary sustainability standard for rice. It is underpinned by proven best practices and provides a science-based process to assess compliance. Employing best practices in rice farming can reduce water use by some 20% and methane emissions from flooded rice fields by up to 50%.

The scheme will be managed by Germany-based GLOBALG.A.P., which will oversee approval of qualified verification bodies that will be responsible for inspection of producers according to the SRP Standard. NEPCon-Preferred by Nature, a Denmark-based non-profit organization that supports better land management and business practices, is the first to be approved to perform SRP verification audits, with several others expected to be approved soon.

“SRP was established to address global environmental and social challenges in rice production. The Assurance Scheme offers supply chain actors a robust, cost-effective and transparent path to sustainable procurement. Consumers are increasingly demanding that food is produced sustainably, and now they have a reliable way to choose environmentally friendly rice,” said Wyn Ellis, SRP Executive Director.

With the new label, consumers will be able to trace the rice back to its origin country. The scheme will also benefit an entire industry. By stocking SRP-verified rice, retailers can make significant and measurable contributions to sustainability commitments and climate change targets. Industry actors will also be able to de-risk their supply chains and ensure stability by sourcing through SRP-verified suppliers.

Farmers also benefit - switching to SRP practices can boost farmers’ net incomes by 10-20%. With 90% of the world’s 144 million rice producers living on or near the poverty line, this can make the difference between a secure livelihood and a family going hungry.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Sustainable Rice Platform

The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) is a global multi-stakeholder alliance led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), together with over 100 public, private, research, financial institutions and civil society organizations. SRP, whose Secretariat is hosted by UNEP, works with partners to transform the global rice sector by improving smallholder livelihoods in developing countries, reducing the social, environmental and climate footprint of rice production; and by offering the global rice market an assured supply of sustainably produced rice

About GLOBALG.A.P.

GLOBALG.A.P. is a global organization with a crucial objective: safe, sustainable agriculture worldwide. GLOBALG.A.P. sets and operates voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe – and more and more producers, suppliers, and buyers are harmonizing their certification standards to match our Company’s Purpose: the right of every generation to safe food.

About the UN Environment Programme

UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

For more information, please contact:

Keishamaza Rukikaire, Head of News & Media, UNEP
Adam Hodge, Asia-Pacific Regional Information Officer, UNEP

https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-backed-label-launched-help-shoppers-choose-environmentally-0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment