COVID-19 Cancels Outlook 2020
ARLINGTON, VA -- The 2020 USA Rice
Outlook Conference, scheduled for December 9-11, in Austin, Texas, will not be
held in-person due to the impossibility of putting on a large trade show and
conference in compliance with public health safety guidelines and
regulations. Yesterday, the USA Rice Board of Directors met, via
conference call, to discuss other options including a full virtual conference,
but reluctantly decided the best plan for this was to not hold the conference
at all.
"No one is happy about this decision but
after looking at all possible scenarios, the Board felt it made the most sense
to forego the conference this year but still undertake some of the traditional
conference sessions and awards by other means. We will be announcing the
schedule for those events soon," said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy
Ward. "The next live, in-person Outlook will be in New Orleans next
year and we will be sure to include time to recognize 2020 award recipients
in-person. We will return to Austin for Outlook 2022." 
The annual USA Rice Outlook Conference brings
together rice farmers, millers, merchants, and representatives of allied
businesses from all rice-producing states and beyond for information and
interaction. The conference features exciting speakers, outstanding
learning sessions, and a trade show bringing the newest and most promising
innovations to attendees.
"Unprecedented times call for unprecedented
measures, and this is definitely one of those times," said Ward.
"We're certainly disappointed at having to cancel this year's event, but,
will conduct some of the Outlook Conference activities through other platforms
like podcasts, social media and webinars so watch this space for more
details."
SAVOR Travelle To Go
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times
2020-09-01
These days, when convenience seems
paramount, Travelle at The Langham ( 330 N. Wabash Ave.; TRAVELLECHICAGO.COM )
offers something that it hopes will draw lots of people: Travelle To Go.
And this concept should. Located
around the corner of the building at ground level ( between Wabash Avenue and
State Street ), Travelle To Go—available Wednesdays through Saturdays 12-6
p.m.—offers many delectable items.
They include small plates such as
burrata with raspberry and peaches served with honey comb, peach gastrique and
focaccia ( $18 ); meatballs with pomodoro, Grana Padano and country bread ( $16
); and summer solstice panzanella with prosciutto, tomato, melon, and raspberry
vinaigrette ( $16 ).
Main dishes include Grand "Maine
lobster roll" with Brown Buttered Hollandaise, Celery, and Pickled Peppers
( $27 )—a very delicious sandwich; Polish sausage with house sauerkraut,
grilled onions, and horseradish mustard ( $18 ); and a very well-made butter
chicken with basmati rice, naan, cumin crema, pea tendrils and cilantro ( $19
).
However, make room for dessert. The
key lime pie ( $8 ) I had was incredible, but there are also selections such as
the chocolate chip ice cream cookie sandwich ( $8 ) and the banana cream pudding
slice with white chocolate mousse and vanilla whipped cream ( $8 ).
But wait—there's more: Travelle's
beverage team has also launched a cocktail to-go menu featuring items such as
Piazza Bianca, with Ketel One vodka, Italicus, Luxardo Bitter Bianco and citrus
syrup ( $16 ).
And ( last but not least ) on
Saturdays at 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Pastry Chef Danielle Marelli and Pastry Sous Chef
Joyce Park present a rotating selection of enticing pastries such as cinnamon
rolls, croissants and Lamington squares ( sponge-cake squares filled with
raspberry and topped with coconut ). I'll have to return Labor Day weekend:
Strawberry-cheesecake pop tarts and various pies ( key lime white chocolate,
peach almond crumb and Michigan blueberry ) are on tap.
So if you can't check out the actual
Travelle restaurant in the building, I urge you to check out Travelle To Go—and
then head on over to the nearby Chicago River for a nice picnic. ( Speaking of
which, there are also picnic baskets for retail. )
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/SAVOR-Travelle-To-Go/69149.html
How Kenya can meet local demand
for rice
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 2:45 
Rice farmers. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Rice is the third most consumed staple in the country, yet we
are not self-sufficient to meet our demand. With a growing population and
increase in per capita rice consumption, the government and other policymakers
have been left with only a few options to meet future demand for rice; through
increased imports and increased productivity.
Our national rice consumption is estimated at 500,000 metric
tonnes a year. Despite this being a clear indication of Kenyans uptake of rice
as a principal food, our annual production of 100,000 metric tonnes pales in
comparison.
According to the National Rice Development Strategy-2,
2019-2030, the annual consumption of rice in Kenya is increasing at a rate of
over 12 percent owing to the progressive change in eating habits of Kenyans,
especially in urban areas.
This, together with a annual projected population growth rate of
2.7 percent, will mean that the estimated annual national need for rice is
expected to reach up to 1,290,000 tonnes by 2030.
Given that Food Security and Nutrition is one of the pillars of
the Big Four Agenda which our President is steadfast to implement, increasing
the productivity of rice shall form an important component in this pillar. In
addition to enhancing food security, it should also alleviate poverty by
raising farmer incomes and increase the prospects of creating new jobs in the
whole value chain from farm to fork. Investment in the rice sector should
therefore become a key priority in the agriculture sector.
The largest rice irrigation scheme in the country is the Mwea
Rice Scheme which was started in 1956 during the colonial times when a seed
variety from India called the Basmati was planted in the scheme and hence the
birth of what is famously known as the Kenya Pishori rice.
Over the years, the scheme has expanded to 30,000 acres. The
other rice schemes across the country are the West Kano and Ahero (in Nyanza)
and Bunyala. The much anticipated rice scheme in the Tana river under Tarda was
a failure from its onset.
So the key question is what has been ailing this sector to scale
up production?
The rice sector has always been overseen by the National
Irrigation Board (NIB) which falls under the Ministry of Water. This is because
of the provision of water under irrigation.
However, in essence the mandate of seed production, varietal
development, good farming practice and market linkage should technically be the
oversight of the Ministry of Agriculture.
This could possibly be one of the primary reasons why we lost
focus on prioritising rice as a strategic food crop. The constant squabbles
between the farmers and NIB in the late 1990s due to the political interference
of rice marketing in the scheme also created a lethargy in the development of
the sector.
To revive this sector, we need to take a multipronged approach
which revolves around agronomy and infrastructure development, farmer financing
and market linkages. Let us explore each one separately.
Research into new seed development shall remain crucial to
ensure farmers get optimal productivity and quality.
The choice of variety is based on its agronomical performance
and not economic reasons since varieties like the Pishori when grown in the
West Kano and Ahero have proven to be failures due to its microclimate.
In addition, to ensure efficiency, farmers should work in
co-operatives and find ways of aggregating their smaller pieces of land to farm
commercially as large tracts which can enable mechanisation.
Provision of farm extension services to educate farmers on best
farming practices including the appropriate use of farm inputs such as
fertiliser and pesticides shall also play a crucial role in productivity.
Finally, there should be a security of source of water for this
irrigated crop to perform well. This means that there should be adequate water
source from dams and one should not rely on just the river source which
frequently get affected by rainfall patterns.
A case in point is how the delay in building the Thiba dam which
would serve the Mwea Rice Scheme has greatly affected the growth of this
scheme.
Provision of affordable finance is very crucial for the security
of the farmer income. Due to the lack of access to this finance, farmers have
the tendency of borrowing from shylocks whose exorbitant finance costs makes it
prohibitive for farmers to earn anything for their hard work.
Abject poverty
Many farmers also find it more attractive to lease out their
pieces of land rather than farm for the same low income expectation.
In addition to finance, well-structured crop insurance can also
protect the farmer from the vagaries of weather and disease leading to crop
failures which wipes out the farmer’s income and sets them back into abject
poverty.
There’s need to work in co-operatives which will also improve
the bargaining of farmers to purchase farm inputs as well as obtaining finance
from banks.
The adoption of the warehouse receipting programme also ensures
farmers obtain finance for their produce once harvested in a formalised
structure and have the flexibility of trading in their produce at their free
will when the timing and pricing is right.
The third component is market linkages. Without a market for
their produce at the right price, it is an exercise in futility for the farmer.
Except for a portion of the crop which the farmer can keep for
their subsistence use, there has to be a surety of market for the remainder of
their produce.
Demand for Non-basmati Exports
from India Increases as Price Increases in Thailand and Vietnam
Indian non-basmati traders expect
robust exports this year. Demand for
non-basmati exports from India increases
owing to the price rise in Thailand and Vietnam.
Increase in
Demand for Non-basmati Rice
India benefits from a price difference of about $90 per tonne in
non-basmati rice from Vietnam and Thailand variety. BV Krishna Rao, president
of Rice Exporters Association, said that Indian rice had seen a demand increase
despite a 3-5% jump in price due to rupee depreciation. He added that the rice exports rose
by 35% in the first four months of FY21 as compared to the exports in
the same period last year. Indian non-basmati variety is available at $400
per tonne while the price for Thailand and Vietnam rice ranges between $490 to
$500 per tonne.
COVID Uncertainty Results in Rice Price in Vietnam
The increasing cases of COVID and
uncertainty over the pandemic have encouraged hoarding in Vietnam, which led to
price rise. Also, the increase in purchases by local traders at the end of harvest season
has contributed to the increased price. Experts say the costs will remain high
at least until the arrival of new harvest in October.
The majority of the world’s rice demand is met by Pakistan,
Myanmar, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. India supplies its rice to almost 170
countries in the world and accounts for 11 million tonnes out of 40-45 million
tonnes of rice traded globally.
Non-basmati
Exports to Touch FY18 Export Levels
September and October will witness a surge in demand for
non-basmati rice from India. Exporters expect the exports to touch FY18 levels
of 8.64 million tonnes. The quantity came down to 5.04 million tonnes in FY20
as farmers lacked
interest in exporting because of high MSP.
Shortage of
Containers
The exporters are facing a shortage of export containers. Rao said
that the supply of containers has slowed down on Kakinada (the biggest
non-basmati port ) after a decrease in imports from China.
In all, the demand for non-basmati rice has increased. However,
the container shortage will remain a problem for the exporters.
Syria issues tender to buy 39,400 tonnes of white rice - trade
HAMBURG - A Syrian state purchasing agency has
issued an international tender to purchase 39,400 tonnes of white rice,
European traders said on Wednesday.
The tender from Syria's General Foreign Trade
Organisation closes on Sept. 30, they said.
Short grain white rice of third or fourth class
was sought. Shipment is sought within three months of order confirmation.
(Reporting by Michael Hogan)
((michael.j.hogan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 172 671 36 54; Reuters Messaging:
michael.hogan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Related Topics:
From soy
to coffee, Brazil ag commodities rise to record prices
·
·
By Roberto Samora
SAO PAULO, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The price of Brazilian agricultural
commodities such as soybeans, corn,
coffee and rice has reached record levels as
strong demand and a weak currency
drove prices higher in local currency,
according to data from Cepea, a
research center linked to the São Paulo
University.
Brazil's soybean quotes are up by more than 50% in nominal terms
compared to
the same period last year, as China
continues to buy ever larger amounts of the
oilseeds from Brazil, Cepea data
showed. On Monday, Brazil's main export product
hit 137.76 reais per 60 kg bag,
less than 2 reais below an all-time high of 139
reais in 2012.
In the case of coffee, the rise in Arabica prices was more than 45% in
12
months, also in nominal terms,
despite the fact that Brazil is wrapping up a
record harvest, the data showed.
Even as Brazilian farmers collect more than 100 million tonnes of corn
this
season, the price of the cereal,
which is used to make livestock feed, rose more
than 65% in 12 months, to a new
nominal record above 60 reais per 60-kg bag,
according to data from Cepea.
"This year, all price records come from a demand shock," said
Lucílio Alves,
an official from Cepea. He said
that a demand shock occurs when structural and
political factors lead to a rise of
the dollar against the local currency.
Rice prices, another example, rose more than 100% in 12 months in real
terms.
COMMODITY Price in Reais August % change 12-month % change
Crystal sugar (60 kg 85.13 8.50% 39%
bag)
Rice (60 kg bag) 94.02 38.2% 110%
Cattle (15 kg/arroba) 237.60 4% 51%
Cotton 331.10 (cent.) 16% 34%
Coffee (60-kg bag) 610.57 8.76% 46.35%
Corn (60-kg bag) 61.25 20.59% 66.7%
Soy (60-kg bag) 137.63 15.65% 55.5%
Wheat (tonne) 1,185.87 -4% 33.8%
($1 = 5.3893 reais)
(Reporting by Roberto Samora
Writing by Ana Mano)
Our Standards:The Thomson
Reuters Trust Principles.
Syria issues tender to buy 39,400 tonnes of white rice - trade
HAMBURG - A Syrian state purchasing agency has
issued an international tender to purchase 39,400 tonnes of white rice,
European traders said on Wednesday.
The tender from Syria's General Foreign Trade
Organisation closes on Sept. 30, they said.
Short grain white rice of third or fourth class
was sought. Shipment is sought within three months of order confirmation.
(Reporting by Michael Hogan)
((michael.j.hogan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 172 671 36 54; Reuters Messaging:
michael.hogan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
January-August
milled-rice exports see 31 per cent spurt
Hin Pisei |
Publication date 01 September 2020 | 22:30 ICT
The Kingdom exported 448,203 tonnes of milled rice
worth nearly $300 million in the January-August period. Heng Chivoan
Cambodia exported 448,203 tonnes of milled rice to international
markets in the first eight months of this year, an increase of more than 31.04
per cent compared to 342,045 tonnes in the same period last year.
The General Directorate of Agriculture reported this, citing
data from the General Department of Customs and Excise that was extracted from
phytosanitary certificates.
Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) secretary-general Lun Yeng said
the exports were worth between $298 and $300 million.
The directorate said jasmine and fragrant rice accounted for
352,802 tonnes, equivalent to 78.71 per cent of total milled-rice exports,
while white long-grain rice accounted for 89,699 tonnes (20.01 per cent).
Long-grain parboiled rice accounted for 5,679 tonnes (1.27 per
cent) and red rice 23 tonnes (0.01 per cent).
China topped the list of 59 destination markets for Cambodian
milled rice with 159,253 tonnes imported (up 19.79 year-on-year), accounting
for a 35.53 per cent market share.
Exports to Europe, ASEAN countries and other destinations
reached 149,848 tonnes, 60,933 tonnes and 78,169 tonnes, up 24.81, 42.49 and
68.92 per cent year-on-year, accounting for 33.43, 13.59 and 17.44 per cent of
total milled-rice exports for the period.
But milled-rice shipments slipped 34.97 per cent to 22,130
tonnes last month, from 34,032 tonnes in August last year.
The CRF’s Yeng told The Post that last month’s exports failed to
live up to expectations and chalked it up to adverse weather. “The prolonged
drought in July damaged some crops, requiring replanting in some areas.”
CRF president Song Saran on August 26 met with the State-owned
Agricultural and Rural Development Bank of Cambodia and requested that it
increase the scope of its special loan scheme for rice millers to purchase
paddy during the harvest season starting next month.
He told The Post that CRF members are lacking the funds needed
to purchase paddy from farmers to hit this year’s export target.
“With the harvest season approaching, we proposed that the ARDB
increase the amount of special government loans this year as we plan to export
around 800,000 tonnes, which requires us to have between $80 and $100 million,”
Saran said.
At the same time, the CRF has asked the ARDB to extend its loan
repayment period to 12 months to help rice millers buy paddy, he said, adding
that the current period is too short and could hinder its members’ ability to
purchase paddy from farmers.
Though Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries data show
that Cambodia exported 387,000 tonnes of milled rice in 2014, 538,396 tonnes in
2015, 542,144 tonnes in 2016, 635,679 tonnes in 2017, 626,225 tonnes in 2018
and 620,106 tonnes last year, it remains optimistic that exports will hit the
800,000 tonne-milestone this year.
The CRF’s Yeng wasn’t so sure. “We are unable to assess whether
the rice export volume will meet the forecast or not at the present time. We’ll
have to wait for the reassessment, which could be made in mid- to late
September.”
Ministry data show that 2019 milled-rice exports generated
revenue to the tune of $501 million, down 4.3 per cent from $524 million in
2018.
Contact author: Hin Pisei
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/january-august-milled-rice-exports-see-31-cent-spurt
Big drop in rice exports
Sok Chan / Khmer Times
Cambodia’s rice
exports in August dropped drastically. KT/Chor
Sokunthea
Cambodia’s rice exports to international markets in August
dropped drastically to 22,130 tonnes, according to the National Phytosanitary
database of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Compared with
August last year, they fell nearly 35 percent from 34, 032 tonnes.
However, in total Cambodia’s rice exports increased in the first
eight months of the year saw a 31.05 percent rise in exports, reaching 448,203
tonnes from 342,045 tonnes in 2019.
Among the total rice exports, 352,802 tonnes were fragrant rice,
white rice, 89,699 tonnes, parboiled rice 5,679 tonnes and the rest was 23
tonnes.
China is still the top market for Cambodian rice exports.
Cambodia exported to China around 159,253 tonnes in the first eight months,
followed by France at 56,964 tonnes. Among Asean countries, Malaysia imported
about 23,201 tonnes from Cambodia, Vietnam 12,836 tonnes and Brunei
10,500 tonnes.
Song Saran, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF),
said floods and drought are now the major problems hitting farmers and
affecting the Kingdom’s food security and exports after drought left much land
in the northwest dry and cracked.
“September would likely drop 20 percent. It is because of
climate change affecting our main fragrant rice export (Sen Kra Ob Jasmine
rice). But our target of 800,000 tonnes in exports is still in place. We will
strongly rebound in October if the harvest is good. The CRF will conduct
another review on rice exports again by mid-September,” Saran said.
He added that generally the Sen Kro Ob variety was harvested in
mid-July, but now fewer farmers are harvesting because their crops were damaged
or some can be harvested but the quality and yield are lower.
He said that the harvest will be delayed for about two months
because farmers now have to replant the paddy, so they will harvest it in
October and November. “In August, our exports dropped around 30 percent and 20
percent in September,” he said. “We found flooding in September and October is
also a major issue for farmers. It is a concern because we have a market but no
paddy for processing to export,” he added.
Saran said that the lower reaches of the Mekong River are also a
concern for the farmers along Tonle Sap Lake.
The CRF has also asked the Agriculture and Rural Development
Bank (ARDB) to release more funds and requested an extension to the loan cycle
repayments, blaming an adjustment in the harvest season.
“We are now facing climate change and that is making us miss the
harvest seasonal target, so we need a longer loan cycle that will make it
easier for rice millers to have time to collect rice paddy at a fair price,”
Saran said.
Kao Thach, general director of the state-run ARDB, said the bank
has yet to make a decision. “Because it is a government fund, we need to submit
the request to the government for approval,” he said. Thach said previously the
private sector that provided loans needed them paid back during May and June
each year.
Rice exports at decade high
Hin Pisei |
Publication date 03 May 2020 | 21:58 ICT
Cambodia exported 300,252 tonnes of rice to the
international market in the first four months of this year, up 40.46 per cent
over the 213,763 tonnes reported in the same period last year. HONG MENEA
Cambodia exported 300,252 tonnes of rice to the international
market in the first four months of this year – equivalent to $210 million – the
highest export volume in the past decade, the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF)
said in a report.
The export volume is 40.46 per cent over the 213,763 tonnes
reported in the same period last year, it said.
China accounted for 41 per cent of exports or 122,094 tonnes,
the EU and the UK 32 per cent or 97,337 tonnes, ASEAN countries 13 per cent or
37,428 tonnes and other countries 14 per cent or 43,339 tonnes.
CRF secretary-general Lun Yeng told The Post on Sunday that rice
exports have reached 48.41 per cent of last year’s total exports. The spread of
Covid-19 has led to a higher demand for food and storage in all countries, he
said.
“It is a great source of pride for the Cambodian rice sector to
achieve such growth,” said Yeng.
Early last month, the government suspended the export of paddy
and white rice on the grounds of securing domestic supplies while Covid-19 is
continuing to spread in Cambodia.
This, Yeng said, did not have a significant impact on the Kingdom’s
rice exports to international markets during the period as nearly 100 per cent
of the exports were fragrant rice, as of last month.
“The ban will not hurt exports, but it is very important to
maintain food security to serve the needs of local people who would prefer to
eat white rice,” he said.
Chan Sokheang, chairman and CEO of Signatures of Asia Co Ltd, an
international rice exporter, told The Post that concerns over the spread of
Covid-19 have been increasing demand for rice worldwide – an opportunity for
Cambodian rice exporters.
However, everything depends on the quality and yield produced by
farmers, he said.
“We are confident that exports this year will be higher than in
2019, but everything also depends on the weather and the rainwater,” said Sokheang.
Increased demand has caused the price of rice on international
markets to rise by about 30 per cent year-on-year, he said, adding that: “The
price of rice on the international market may have risen, but for Cambodians
there is no price increase.”
CRF president Song Saran told local media on Saturday: “The rise
in exports and earnings over the period was due to a rebound in demand from the
EU and a number of other countries, especially Hong Kong and Australia.
“The new markets we have developed want quality – and fragrant
rice is popular. We hope to expand fragrant rice exports in the near future,”
said Saran.
Cambodia’s rice exports to international markets amounted to
620,106 tonnes last year, slightly down 0.97 per cent from 626,225 tonnes in
2018. Revenue was $501 million, down 4.3 per cent from $524 million in 2018.
Contact author: Hin Pisei
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rice-exports-decade-high
؎
Downed trees have been a common sight over the past week in
Richland Parish as people work to clean up and repair wind damage.
(Beacon-News/Darryl Riser)
This canopy was toppled by winds along US 425 on Thursday.
(Beacon-News/Darryl Riser)
Hurricane Laura takes toll on rice crop by damaging storage
facilities, driers, transfer systems
·
BY TIMOTHY BOONE | STAFF WRITER
·
SEP
1, 2020 - 1:15 PM
A worker from the Supreme Rice Mill uses a lift to inspect a set
of bins owned by Sweet Lake Land Co. of Calcasieu Parish that were damaged by
Hurricane Laura. Farmers scrambled to get much of their rice crop harvested
ahead of the storm, but damage to storage facilities, driers and transfer
systems across the region are threatening their harvest.
·
Farmer Paul Johnson photographs a load of his rice leaving a
dryer at Thornwell. Hurricane Laura blew some of the building’s roof off,
exposing his rice. Johnson is moving his grain from inside the structure to
prevent it from spoiling.
·
rice farmers hustled and helped each other get their crops
harvested before Hurricane Laura hit the state last week, but much of that hard
work may have gone for naught.
The devastating storm hit rice storage facilities and driers,
exposing the crop to rain.
“It’s frustrating, to be perfectly honest,” said Paul Johnson, a
rice farmer from the Jefferson Davis Parish community of Thornwell. “This year
has gone really well, with a great growing season, a dry harvest and good
yields.”
Johnson wrapped up his harvest about two weeks ago and was
feeling pretty safe because his crops were in storage and in the process of
being dried. “You always feel you have it, once the crop goes in the bins,” he
said.
But Laura damaged the roof at one facility, allowing rainwater
to come into contact with the 2.9 million pounds of Jazzman rice he had
harvested. At a separate facility, where Johnson had about 4.8 million pounds
of rice, the transfer system was destroyed, meaning that there’s no way to get
the rice out of the bin.
“There’s no way to move it,” he said.
Right now, Johnson said he’s trying to save as much of his wet
crop as possible. If he can salvage 75% of the crop, he said he will feel good
about it. He’s getting help from the Supreme Rice Mill in Crowley, which has
put the rice it had in storage onto a barge, in order to provide drying space
for farmers like Johnson.
“At this point, it’s all about small victories,” he said.
Dustin Harrell, a rice specialist with the LSU AgCenter, said
farmers managed to harvest 95% of the first rice crop in advance of Laura. Now
they’re dealing with drying facilities that don’t have roofs, damaged transfer
systems and no electricity to power rice driers.
Harrell said he spoke to one farmer who had about 4 million
pounds of specialty rice exposed to the weather. The farmer put the value of those
crops at $712,000.
This year’s rice crop was shaping up to be one of the best in
the past six years, Harrell said. It was on track to have the second-highest
yield ever, with a high-quality crop.
“Now, this changes everything,” he said. “One day can change
everything.”
While 75% of Louisiana’s rice crop is grown in the southwestern
part of the state, about 25% is harvested in the northeastern part of the
state. While as much as 95% of the crop had been harvested in Acadia Parish,
for example, only about 5% of the crop had been harvested in the northern part
of the state, Harrell said.
One Morehouse Parish rice farmer flew over his 50,000 acres of
farmland and estimates that 30% of his crop was knocked over, Harrell said.
Sugar cane also was knocked over by Laura. Jim Simon, general
manager of the American Sugar Cane League, which represents Louisiana sugar
cane growers and processors, said despite all of the stalks of cane that got
knocked over, the crop came out of Laura “much, much better shape than we
anticipated.”
“If we have a nice, dry harvest season, the impact of the
hurricane will be minimal,” he said.
Because sugar cane is a hearty, tropical plant, it’s easy for
the crop to right itself.
“Crooked stalks, the harvesters pick that up pretty easily,”
Simon said.
In the southern parts of Vermilion and St. Mary parishes, some
sugar cane fields were inundated with water from the Gulf. Farmers are working
to get the water out of the fields and clean up marsh debris. The good thing is
there’s a lot less of this and a lot less debris than what was generated by
Hurricane Rita, which struck the same area 15 years ago.
Right now, about 480,000 acres of sugar cane have been planted
in Louisiana.
“We expect to harvest close to a record number of acres in Louisiana
this year,” Simon said.
David Moseley, a soybean specialist with the AgCenter, said the
state’s crop “looks OK” in the aftermath of Laura. The biggest issue is
lodging, when plants are leaning to some degree. About 61% of the 1 million
acres of soybeans planted in Louisiana has been harvested, according to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Even if crops are leaning, Moseley said, they will still be
harvested. The problem is that farmers won’t be able to harvest all of their
beans. And if the soybean pods end up sitting in water, that could be
devastating, he said.
“If everything works right, we shouldn’t see too much in the way
of problems,” Moseley said. “But if there’s too much rain, there will be more
flooding.”
Entergy crews worked all week to restore electricity.
(Beacon-News/Shari Welch)
Crews have been hard at work repairing downed power lines and
clearing trees in the aftermath of Laura. (Beacon-News/Shari Welch)
RICHLAND PARISH CLEANING UP AFTER LAURA PASSES
Tue, 09/01/2020 - 2:05pm
Richland Parish took less damage than neighboring parishes from
Hurricane Laura, the high winds created by the storms kept emergency workers
busy throughout the weekend.
“We suffered extensive damage all over the parish,” RPSO Deputy
Neal Harwell said. “Fortunately, no injuries were reported.”
Emergency responders were kept busy dealing with fallen trees
which downed power lines and blocked roadways.
“The people who really deserve the credit are the volunteer
firemen and other volunteers who turned out to help clear the roads and clean
up the damage,” Richland Parish Sheriff Gary Gilley said. “It’s the wonderful
thing about living in a place like Richland Parish. When people saw someone
needing help, they did what they could.”
Richland Parish County Agent Keith Collins said damage to crops
is still being assessed.
“ Very little to no acres of cotton, beans and rice have
harvested,” he said. “If it will stay dry, impact will be less.”
Collins said 90 percent corn harvest complete. Damage ranges
from standing to laying flat and losses on remaining corn blown down will vary.
Much of the cotton is blown down with heavy boll
load which will make for a slow harvest, may increase boll rot and will make it
difficult to get all bolls. Dry will weather will help reduce losses
Soybeans losses are less extensive than cotton with
taller beans blown down and waist high beans or so standing better.
Lodging is erratic from field to field for rice. Taller rice and rice
along tree lines have more lodging.
Entergy estimated about 3,500 Richland
Parish residents were left without power during the storms beginning Aug. 27.
However, crews had repaired much of the damage and restored power to almost all
of the parish by Tuesday afternoon.
“ I can tell you across the state we had peak outages of 270,900
due to Laura and as of 8:30 a.m. today (Monday) we’ve restored 114,097, so
closing in on half restored,” Entergy Senior Communications Specialist Brandon
Scardigli said.
Approximately 26,000 people were still without power in
neighboring Ouachita Parish Monday morning.
Rayville Police Chief Willie Robinson also commended his
officers as well a emergency responders and volunteers for coming together
to help the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.
“The response by the entire community has been very uplifting
and heartwarming,” Robinson said. “At times like this, we need to know that we
can depend on our neighbors and other members of our community in times of
trial. Small town pride has been shown throughout the last several days in
dealing with the destruction from Hurricane Laura.”
Chief Robinson also reminded the community that should you see a
downed power line, always treat it as if it was a live line.
“Do not attempt to pick up the line, drive over the line or walk
on the line,” he said. “This could result in death.”
Chief Robinson would also like to remind the community
that if you are driving and a traffic light is out, you are to treat the
intersection as a four way stop.
“Please keep this in mind,” he said. “Be mindful of your
surroundings, there are still areas without power. Should you see any
suspicious activity, please report it to the Rayville Police Department
immediately. We do not want anyone in our community to become a victim of crime
during the cleanup.”
Delhi Police Chief Roy Williams said he also appreciated
the work of his officers, the Delhi Fire Department and other volunteers and
first responders who turned out to help with traffic, downed power lines and
trees.
“We also want to send our prayers to the people of South
Louisiana as they continue to recover from Laura and we hope they are able to
get back to normal quickly,” Williams said.
FROM SOY TO COFFEE, BRAZIL AG
COMMODITIES RISE TO RECORD PRICES
9/1/2020
By Roberto Samora SAO PAULO,
Sept 1 (Reuters) - The price of Brazilian
agricultural commodities such as soybeans, corn, coffee and rice has reached
record levels as strong demand and a weak currency drove prices higher in local
currency, according to data from Cepea, a research center linked to the São
Paulo University. Brazil's soybean quotes are up by more than 50% in nominal
terms compared to the same period last year, as China continues to buy ever
larger amounts of the oilseeds from Brazil, Cepea data showed. On Monday,
Brazil's main export product hit 137.76 reais per 60 kg bag, less than 2 reais
below an all-time high of 139 reais in 2012. In the case of coffee, the rise in
Arabica prices was more than 45% in 12 months, also in nominal terms, despite
the fact that Brazil is wrapping up a record harvest, the data showed. Even as
Brazilian farmers collect more than 100 million tonnes of corn this season, the
price of the cereal, which is used to make livestock feed, rose more than 65%
in 12 months, to a new nominal record above 60 reais per 60-kg bag, according
to data from Cepea. "This year, all price records come from a demand
shock," said Lucílio Alves, an official from Cepea. He said that a demand
shock occurs when structural and political factors lead to a rise of the dollar
against the local currency. Rice prices, another example, rose more than 100%
in 12 months in real terms. COMMODITY Price in Reais August % change 12-month %
change Crystal sugar (60 kg 85.13 8.50% 39% bag) Rice (60 kg bag) 94.02 38.2%
110% Cattle (15 kg/arroba) 237.60 4% 51% Cotton 331.10 (cent.) 16% 34% Coffee
(60-kg bag) 610.57 8.76% 46.35% Corn (60-kg bag) 61.25 20.59% 66.7% Soy (60-kg
bag) 137.63 15.65% 55.5% Wheat (tonne) 1,185.87 -4% 33.8% ($1 = 5.3893 reais)
(Reporting by Roberto Samora Writing by Ana Mano)
© Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020.
Click For Restrictions Print
Pesticide-free crop protection yields sizable
economic benefits in Asia-Pacificeconomic
benefits in Asia-Pacific
Scientists have estimated for the
first time how nature-based solutions for agricultural pest control deliver
US$14.6 to US$19.5 billion annually across 23 countries in the Asia-Pacific
region.
The new research, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, suggests that
non-chemical crop protection (or biological control) delivers economic
dividends that far surpass those attained through improved “Green Revolution”
rice germplasm (estimated at US$ 4.3 billion a year).
The study, led by Dr. Kris Wyckhuys with contributions on the data
collection from Dr. Matthew Cock and Dr. Frances Williams of
the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), unveils
the magnitude and macro-economic relevance of biodiversity-based contributions
to productivity growth in non-rice crops over a 100-year period between 1918
and 2018.
Scientifically-guided biological control of 43 exotic invertebrate
pests allowed for between 73 percent to 100 percent yield loss recovery in
critical food, feed and fiber crops including banana, breadfruit, cassava and
coconut.
“The Green Revolution is credited with alleviating famine,
mitigating poverty and driving aggregate economic growth since the 1960s —
enabled through a tripling of rice output. Cornerstone of the Green Revolution
were the ‘packaged’ seed x agro-chemical technologies and biological
innovations such as high-yielding, disease-resistant cereal varieties,”
said Wyckhuys, who is affiliated with academic institutions in China,
Vietnam and Australia.
“Our research is the first to gauge the financial benefit of using
biological control to fight crop pests in the Asia-Pacific region and
demonstrates how these ecologically-based approaches promoted rural growth and
prosperity in marginal, poorly-endowed, non-rice environments,” Wyckhuys
continued.
“By thus placing agro-ecological innovations on equal footing with
input-intensive measures, our work provides lessons for future efforts to
mitigate invasive species, restore ecological resilience and sustainably raise
output of global agri-food systems,” Wyckhuys said.
The scientists, who show how 75 different biological control
agents mitigated 43 pests over a 100-year range, outline how
biodiversity-driven ecosystem services underpin food systems and societal
wellbeing in the face of environmental change.
“Biological control delivered durable pest control in myriad
Asia-Pacific agriculture sectors, permitting yield-loss recoveries up to 73
percent, 81 percent and 100 percent in cassava, banana and coconut crops
respectively,” added co-author Dr. Michael Furlong of the University of
Queensland in Australia.
“The ensuing economic dividends are substantial, as pest-induced
losses up to US$6.8, $4.3 and $8.2 billion annually for the above crops were
offset (at respective values of $5.4-6.8 billion, $1.4-2.2 billion and $3.8-5.5
billion/year, for a conservative to high impact scenario range). As many
of the underlying programs were run on a shoestring, the rate of return on
biological control science is extraordinary,” Furlong continued.
“Our work constitutes an empirical demonstration of how insect
biological control helped solidify the agrarian foundation of several
Asia-Pacific economies and in doing so, places biological control on an
equal footing with other biological innovations, such as Green Revolution
germplasm.
“Not only does it spotlight its transformative impacts —
especially in light of increasing global reliance on chemical pesticides — but
it also celebrates the century-long achievements of dedicated, yet often,
un-acclaimed insect explorers and biological control pioneers,” he noted.
Interns Find
Links Between Climate and Arsenic Levels in Rice
|SEPTEMBER
2, 2020
By Harrison Gerson, Daniel Shneider, Patryk Dabek, Mia
Dominguez, Alexander Raftopoulos, Brian Zhang and Benjamin Bostick
A local rice farmer in a recently harvested rice field,
collecting wild herbs that are growing amongst the stubble. Photo: Ben Bostick
Rice makes up 20 percent of
caloric intake worldwide. Although this staple crop is inexpensive and filling,
rice tends to contain large amounts of arsenic. The greatest problem is in
Southeast Asia, especially Cambodia, where rice can make up more than 70
percent of the calories in typical diets. Many Cambodians live in regions that
are affected by high arsenic levels in
drinking water, exposure to which is linked to cardiovascular
disease, cancer and other deadly diseases. Recent evidence suggests rice also
is a significant source of arsenic to humans, particularly for people who
consume large quantities of rice. Rice often contains arsenic because the
biochemical processes associated with the annual flooding of rice paddies
(soils where rice is grown) produce dissolved arsenic that is mistakenly
incorporated into rice plants as they take in nutrients.
This summer, as interns in the Center for Climate and Life at the
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, we have worked to
quantify the complex effects of climate on arsenic accumulation in rice. The
idea is simple: Climate affects flooding and biological processes in flooded
soils, and thus can affect the chemical cycling of arsenic in soils and its
uptake into rice. However, it is not straightforward to test our thesis because
there are many other factors that can impact rice arsenic levels. For example,
agricultural systems are constantly affected by farming practices such as
irrigation, choice of rice variety and fertilizer use, most of which are not
reported in studies measuring arsenic in rice. The information we obtain will
help understand the processes that regulate arsenic levels, but our main goal
is to use that knowledge to educate farmers and policymakers about adaptations
that would help make rice production more sustainable and healthier into the
future. Hopefully, our presented research will also raise awareness about the
effects of arsenic in rice, and empower people to address this problem from the
roots up (pun intended).
Whole rice grains collected in a metal bowl used to measure out
rice for daily consumption. This rice contains elevated arsenic levels. Photo:
Ben Bostick
Our first discussions revolved
around the processes that affect arsenic releases from soils into water in the
soil’s pores, the necessary step in getting arsenic into rice. It was possible
to identify two climate variables where data are readily available: the amount
of water (which controls how much oxygen is in the system, which determines how
much arsenic is released from the soil), and temperature (which affects the
rates of the reactions that release arsenic). Next, we established that there
are distinct kinds of variation in temperature and precipitation: short-term
changes on daily, monthly, or seasonal scales, and long-term changes over
decades or longer. Short-term climate variation includes monsoonal or other
seasonal-scale changes in climate, while long-term climate variability reflects
gradual changes and trends such as sustained droughts, or the effects of
anthropogenic climate change.
To examine the relationship
between arsenic levels in Cambodia and long- and short-term effects of climate
variance, we linked remotely sensed climate data from specific years to rice
yield and arsenic levels.
Our data indicates that increases
in seasonal monsoonal rainfall in Cambodia lead to direct increases in mean
arsenic concentrations in rice grown during that season. Determining this
relationship was not easy during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had to depend on
rice arsenic concentrations reported in the literature, and a variety of
climate records of widely variable density and quality. Most research papers to
date have focused on single field locations for detailed investigations that do
not report growing season, or compared samples between locations with little or
no attention given to the effects of growing conditions on that arsenic level.
As a result, those studies are difficult to incorporate into a larger dataset
that includes relevant climate data, which could be a significant source of
variation between areas or years. Our study synthesized data reporting rice arsenic
levels for rice produced in the 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017, and 2018 climate years,
over which rainfall varied considerably. By comparing yearly levels of arsenic
and rainfall changes, the direct relationship we found is more reliable.
Graph depicting the relationship between seasonal/annual
increases in precipitation and increased arsenic concentrations for rice grown
in Kandal Province, Cambodia. Data is assembled from a variety of scientific
sources, with precipitation data based on PERSIANN (Precipitation Estimation
from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks) system
estimates.
How Climate Affects Arsenic in Rice
To understand why climate change
has such a consequential impact on arsenic in rice, we had to first understand
the relationship between the climate and the microbes present in soil.
Fundamentally, the microbial community is interconnected with its environment.
As conditions change, so do the metabolic processes of the microbes. Water
covering the soil critically slows the delivery of oxygen into the soil and
causes conditions to become anaerobic (also called anoxic). Notably, under
anoxic conditions, microbes utilize arsenic as terminal electron acceptors. As
the microbes reduce (add electrons to) iron oxides (rust) where arsenic
typically attaches, it changes to reduced and soluble iron. At the same time,
arsenate (As+5) is reduced to arsenite (As+3). Both iron and arsenic reduction
cause As to enter the soil solution, where it can be taken up by plants or
contaminate drinking water.
Principally, changes in
precipitation due to climate change influence flooding and drought cycles,
which greatly affect the reduction of iron and arsenic by the microbes. Climate
change also influences temperature, which can affect the rates of biological or
chemical processes, and the concentrations of bioavailable organic matter
needed for those microbes to thrive. In particular, soluble organic matter
(SOM) plays many important roles. Most importantly, it takes part in the metabolic
process that reduces iron and arsenic, making it bioavailable for uptake in
rice. Changes in temperature are important because they affect the rates of
organic matter production, and its decomposition. As temperature increases,
reactive SOM concentrations increase in the rice patties, causing more
reduction. Oscillations in conditions also can affect SOM availability.
Frequent oscillations between flooded and dry conditions, which are the norm
for rice production, deplete SOM and decrease arsenic mobility, lowering
arsenic in rice.
Potential Pathways for Managing Arsenic Levels
The data suggested that both rice
yield and arsenic levels were impacted primarily by short-term climate
variation. These short-term (annual) changes could be predicted along with
predictions of monsoon intensity. In SE Asia, the most significant variable to
predict short-term climate variation is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
climate pattern, which affects climate throughout the world. El Niño and La
Niña describe weather patterns that are due to temperature fluctuations in
surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. In Cambodia, El Niño years
(corresponding to a warm Pacific ocean) tend to be drier, and La Niñas result
in less rain. Scientists measure the intensity of an El Niño / La Niña event
based on the extent of the temperature anomaly in the equatorial Pacific. We
compared their intensity (anomaly) values to rain and discovered a lag of about
eight months from the onset of El Niño / La Niña to their maximal effect on
local rainfall. Although this relationship is not perfect, it may be possible
to use ENSO intensities to predict the following growing year’s rainfall in
advance, and thus whether there will be higher or lower arsenic in the rice.
This data can advise farmers and policymakers about how to manage rice
production in a way that minimizes rice-arsenic levels and maximizes yields.
With more research about specific techniques of growing rice, our predictions
may be used to efficiently grow rice with low arsenic levels.
Cambodia is a particularly good
place to study the effect of climate on rice arsenic, because small-scale
farmers still cultivate using traditional methods. Cambodians depend on rice,
and grow it with less human manipulation of water, rice variety, and other
factors. They depend on local rainfall rather than irrigation and do not often
use large quantities of commercial fertilizer in their soil to increase yield.
Without these interventions, the chemical conditions controlling arsenic levels
in soil and rice are more directly affected by climate and, thus, easier to compare.
For the same reasons, agricultural practices can potentially be adapted to
prevent high arsenic exposure in rice.
Our results are promising but
limited by having few available measurements of rice arsenic levels, most of
which are not accompanied by information about the rice variety or growing
conditions like fertilizer addition, making it hard to control for their
effects. In fact, there was really only enough data available for one small
portion of Cambodia near Phnom Penh that indicated harvest date and could be
included. To further validate our conclusion, studies examining arsenic levels
in rice should be collected yearly under the same conditions and at the same
location. Given the harmful effects of arsenic poisoning, we also need to
expand our work to cover other regions and countries where rice arsenic has
been studied more extensively, such as Bangladesh.
Distribution of arsenic data sites and hydrological stations in
Cambodia.
Human interventions, for example
adding fertilizer and irrigation water, have played key roles in increasing
yields. In Cambodia, rice yields have consistently grown since the 1960s,
likely due to increased fertilizer usage (albeit still in small amounts) and an
increased use of improved rice varieties (hardier crops with improved nutrient
uptake). These and other human practices can potentially also affect arsenic levels
in rice. Given the key role of precipitation and flooding in controlling rice
arsenic levels, controlling flooding through irrigation and drainage could
potentially be an important means of preventing arsenic uptake into rice.
Controlling flooding during the growing season also can maximize nutrient
availability. Of course, external factors also affect flooding and rice
production. Among them, the Mekong river is increasingly regulated by dams. New
dams, most constructed far upstream of the floodplain, have decreased flooding
and soil nutrient supply. Unfortunately, with this construction, irrigation and
fertilizer have become more vital, yet most farmers still do without, and as a
result grow less rice and potentially, rice with more arsenic.
As we finalize our research, we
want to ensure that rice farmers are educated about the drastic effects of
arsenic in their produce. After our research is completed and presented, we
hope to create a user-friendly website to share our findings and recommend best
practices to minimize arsenic exposure. We will specifically include a section
intended just for farmers, including a section translated into Khmer for
Cambodians. We hope to create this site with our Cambodian colleagues and
partners, many of whom grow rice, to get the results out.
Professor Benjamin Bostick under a mango tree with a group of
children outside a local rice farmer’s home. Photo: Ben Bostick
Throughout the project, we
greatly increased our understanding of real world data science research. We
learned how to use the R programming language, Google Earth, and Excel.
Moreover, we strengthened our teamwork and creativity skills, as we all
collaborated on the same goal using different methods. Over four weeks, we
bridged climate science with various arsenic reports to explain how arsenic in
rice changes. We plan to publish our research paper and present our work at the
American Geophysical Union Conference in December.
Please stay safe and enjoy your
rice!
Photo of the authors
https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2020/09/02/climate-arsenic-levels-rice/
Pesticide-free crop protection
yields sizable economic benefits in Asia-Pacific
Cornell
Alliance for Science | September 3, 2020
This article or excerpt is included in the GLP’s daily curated
selection of ideologically diverse news, opinion and analysis of biotechnology
innovation.
The new research, published
in the journal Nature Ecology &
Evolution, suggests that non-chemical crop protection (or
biological control) delivers economic dividends that far surpass those attained
through improved “Green Revolution” rice germplasm (estimated at US$ 4.3
billion a year).
The study, led by Dr. Kris Wyckhuys with contributions on the
data collection from Dr. Matthew Cock and Dr. Frances Williams of the
Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), unveils the
magnitude and macro-economic relevance of biodiversity-based contributions to
productivity growth in non-rice crops over a 100-year period between 1918 and
2018.
Scientifically-guided biological control of 43
exotic invertebrate pests allowed for between 73 percent to 100 percent yield
loss recovery in critical food, feed and fiber crops including banana,
breadfruit, cassava and coconut.
“The Green Revolution is credited with alleviating famine,
mitigating poverty and driving aggregate economic growth since the 1960s —
enabled through a tripling of rice output. Cornerstone of the Green Revolution
were the ‘packaged’ seed x agro-chemical technologies and biological
innovations such as high-yielding, disease-resistant cereal varieties,”
said Wyckhuys, who is affiliated with academic institutions in China,
Vietnam and Australia.
“Our research is the first to gauge the financial benefit of
using biological control to fight crop pests in the Asia-Pacific region and
demonstrates how these ecologically-based approaches promoted rural growth and
prosperity in marginal, poorly-endowed, non-rice environments,” Wyckhuys
continued.
“By thus placing agro-ecological innovations on equal footing
with input-intensive measures, our work provides lessons for future efforts to
mitigate invasive species, restore ecological resilience and sustainably raise
output of global agri-food systems,” Wyckhuys said.
Related article: Tequila-powered cars:
Will biofuel from agave plants help avert energy shortages?
The scientists, who show how 75 different biological control
agents mitigated 43 pests over a 100-year range, outline how
biodiversity-driven ecosystem services underpin food systems and societal
wellbeing in the face of environmental change.
“Biological control delivered durable pest
control in myriad Asia-Pacific agriculture sectors, permitting yield-loss
recoveries up to 73 percent, 81 percent and 100 percent in cassava, banana and
coconut crops respectively,” added co-author Dr. Michael Furlong of the
University of Queensland in Australia.
“The ensuing economic dividends are substantial, as pest-induced
losses up to US$6.8, $4.3 and $8.2 billion annually for the above crops were
offset (at respective values of $5.4-6.8 billion, $1.4-2.2 billion and $3.8-5.5
billion/year, for a conservative to high impact scenario range). As many
of the underlying programs were run on a shoestring, the rate of return on
biological control science is extraordinary,” Furlong continued.
“Our work constitutes an empirical demonstration of how insect
biological control helped solidify the agrarian foundation of several
Asia-Pacific economies and in doing so, places biological control on an
equal footing with other biological innovations, such as Green Revolution germplasm.
“Not only does it spotlight its transformative impacts —
especially in light of increasing global reliance on chemical pesticides — but
it also celebrates the century-long achievements of dedicated, yet often,
un-acclaimed insect explorers and biological control pioneers,” he noted.
This article originally ran at
the Cornell
Alliance for Science and has been republished here with
permission. Follow
the Alliance for Science on Twitter @ScienceAlly
Low quality rice: MP govt sacks two food corporation employees
Bhopal, Sep 2 (PTI) After the Congress''s attack over
the distribution of rice "unfit" for human consumption in the PDS
shops, the Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday terminated the services of
two quality controllers and ordered filing of an FIR against the millers
involved in it.
The services of quality controllers (of Food and Civil Supplies
Corporation) responsible for the quality work of rice in Balaghat and Mandla
districts have been terminated, MP Public Relations Department said in a
statement.
"The district manager of Balaghat has been suspended.
Action is being taken against the rice millers concerned after registration of
an FIR," it said.
Fifty-one joint teams of the Food Corporation of India and Food
and Civil Supplies Corporation were formed. They have collected 1,021 samples
of rice from both the districts.
In the preliminary investigation, 57 of these samples were found
to be of inferior quality.
The action was taken after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
issued directives to take strict action in this regard.
Earlier in the day, former chief minister Kamal Nath claimed
that a central government probe has revealed that rice provided to people under
the PDS in the state was not fit for human consumption.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Nath said, "The rice distributed
under the public distribution system during the coronavirus epidemic in Madhya
Pradesh was not fit for human consumption. This fact has come out in a letter
written after the Central Government''s investigation. It is a criminal act
against humanity."
However, the ruling BJP refuted Nath''s allegation, saying that
the rice found unfit for human consumption was purchased during the the
previous Congress-led government, and demanded an apology from him for such a
thing happening under his leadership.
Reacting to the Congress leader''s tweet, state BJP media
in-charge Lokendra Parashar said the rice which the central team found unfit
for human consumption in Mandla and Balaghat districts was purchased by the
Kamal Nath government. PTI ADU MAS NP NP
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/india-ranks-48th-in-global-innovation-index/1928255?scroll
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> News > State > Telangana PDS rice
scams on rise in Ranga Reddy Srinivas Gudipalli Hans News Service | 3 Sep 2020
12:02 AM IST x PDS rice scams on rise in Ranga Reddy HIGHLIGHTS As lockdown
norms ease, PDS rice smugglers intensify attempts to resume their illegal
business Ranga Reddy: The district has been facing a rapid growth in PDS rice
scam cases since the lockdown began. Recently, the PDS rice being illegally
stored and transported to different parts of the country has been seized in
several places. With the lockdown easing in the district, PDS rice smugglers
have intensified their attempts to resume their illegal business. There have been
several incidents that have taken place recently. Commissioner's South task
force team raided a house where the rice meant for distribution under PDS was
illegally stored with the team seizing 100 quintals of rice from the place.
Other incidents include officials seizing a total of 90 quintals of PDS rice
from a rice mill in Keshampet; seizing 30 quintals of illegally stored PDS rice
in Shadnagar on August 23. Police caught at least five gangs in yet another
incident in Chandrayangutta on June 13 who were involved in procuring the rice
meant to be distributed or already dispensed under the PDS.
Rachakonda Police in another incident on
August 13 arrested 11 persons on charges of illegally procuring PDS rice from
beneficiaries and selling them to dealers in Maharashtra at higher rates.
Officials seized 180 quintals of rice from the possession of those who
purchased the PDS rice from poor persons at Rs 8 per kg and transported it to
Maharashtra and Karnataka to sell it at Rs 14 per kg. The government purchases rice
from the farmers and sends it to rice-mills for converting it to CMR rice. For
that the government gives some commission to the rice-millers. This rice
supplied through PDS that is supposed to be supplied to the hostels and ration
dealers is diverted with the nexus of rice millers, ration shop dealers and
businessmen denting the district exchequer to the tune of hundreds of crores of
rupees. Flattering the beneficiaries, the ration dealers purchase the rice from
them and send it back to the rice-mills. It is said that in spite of being
aware about this, higher officials are not taking any action.
https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/pds-rice-scams-on-rise-in-ranga-reddy-643401
Agriculture sector’s resilience on
the wane: What to do?
12:00 AM, September 03, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 02:59 AM,
September 03, 2020
Incessant rains and floods have delayed the plantation
of aman paddy, which, experts believe, would have a negative impact on rice
production this year. The photo was taken from Charakhali village under
Indurkani upazila in Pirojpur on August 27. Photo: Habibur Rahman
Although Bangladesh economy has been confronting multiple
challenges since March 2020 in view of Covid-19 pandemic, the resilience of the
agriculture sector mainly in rice production was a major relief for the
country.
A number of positive intervention of the Ministry of Agriculture
had ensured timely harvesting of Boro rice from major rice producing regions
such as haor areas. Despite that production of non-crop agricultural products
such as vegetables, poultry, dairy, livestock and partly fisheries have been
badly affected.
And the government's policy intervention (Tk 9,000 crore for
farmers and Tk 3,000 crore for livestock, fisheries and agro-based rural
enterprises) would not be of significant positive contribution.
Even the agriculture sector has been badly affected afterwards --
first by cyclone Amphan in the south-western Part of Bangladesh and later by
three consecutive floods, which caused significant damages in 33 districts,
inundating one-third of the country.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the flood caused a total
damage of Tk 1,323 crore. The damage was mostly caused to the production of Aus
rice, vegetables, fisheries, livestock and poultry etc.
Because of the flood, cultivation of Aman, which comprises the
second highest share of rice production, would be delayed. Shortages of
seedlings and delay in cultivation would affect the rice yield.
It is to be noted that every monsoon season, a large part of
domestic supply of vegetables are largely dependent on import particularly from
India. Because of floods in many states in India, production of vegetables and
other essential food items has been partly damaged there as well. Thus, supply
from India became pricier.
Overall, domestic supply of agricultural products—particularly
essential products—are in pressure. This is reflected in food inflation data of
the last two months (July and August, 2020).
Unless proper measures are not taken into account, the food
inflation is likely to be increased further. Given the pressure of limited/no
employment opportunities and low/no income of a large section of people, an
inflationary pressure is there. A higher level of inflation would force people
to further downgrade their daily consumption which would ultimately affect
their nutritional status.
The monthly food inflation during April-August period was higher
in most of the months in 2020 compared to that in the previous year. Food
inflation has crossed the 6 per cent mark in two months of this year – 6.54 per
cent in June and 6.08 per cent in August.
The food inflation is like to rise further in the coming months
unless proper measures are not taken. The retail market price of essential
consumer goods has significantly increased.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, retail price
of coarse rice has increased by Tk 3 and onion by Tk 12 within a month
(July-August, 2020). Similarly, price of other essential commodities such as
green chilli rose by Tk 300-400 per kg, leafy vegetables and other vegetables
around Tk 60-100 per kg. The people in every quarter has difficulty in
purchasing those essential items as per requirement. Low earning people have
already changed their food habit – by shifting from consumption of fish, let
alone meat, to vegetables by taking less amount of food every time and even in
extreme cases, sacrificing one meal of the day.
Under any circumstances, the prices of rice and essential food
items need to be stable. Given the damage caused to domestic production, supply
in the local market would not be increased unless sufficient amount of those
products are imported from neighbouring countries. Without adequate supply in
the local market, food inflation is likely to be higher in September-November,
2020 period particularly till the next crop is harvested.
The government should encourage the private sector as well as
itself to go for import of rice, onion, soybean and even vegetables from
neighbouring countries at the earliest to give a signal to the market for
increased supply of food.
There is always a significant time-gap observed in taking policy
decisions. This gap is meant to be between the demand for imported food in the
local market and public policy response in this regard.
Similar is true in opposite direction as well - controlling of
import of food against good harvest at the local level. Failure to take timely
decision leaves negative impact on consumers (in first case as mentioned above)
as well as on producers (in second case).
It is expected that the Ministry of Commerce should be more
proactive in taking decisions with regard to maintaining stable supply in the
domestic market and thereby ensuring the interest of both consumers and
producers.
The Commerce ministry should take into cognizance of three issues
with regard to facilitate/control import of essential food products – a) timely
announcement of the decision to import (with import duty structure), b)
specific period for allowing import (should not be 'until further notice' type)
and c) specific amount of allowable import (should not be non-specified).
Given the current state, the Ministry of Commerce should encourage
the private sector to import different essential food items. The government may
consider import of rice for increasing its public food stock.
Public food stock is not at a healthy state at present. According
to the stock data, there was 10 lakh tonnes of rice available during July this
year, which was much lower compared to that of the last year's 14 lakh tonnes.
The government has successfully utilised the food stock during
Covid-19 and has continued supplying rice to flood-affected people. However,
there is further demand for distribution of rice and other essential food items
among the flood affected people and coronavirus-affected people.
According to the CPD this year, the government should not use the
list of poor people for distribution of relief in the flood affected areas. The
list should be widened to cover non-poor flood victims as well. Most
importantly, the rising food inflation has created demand for supply of rice
and other essentials among the poor people at subsidized rates.
The government should increase its open market sales and other
social support scheme activities particularly in flood affected areas. To
pursue such schemes efficiently, the government needs to increase the food
stock. It is important to note that public food stock has important positive
market-signalling effect in the private market. Since procurement of boro paddy
was not successful—only 22 per cent was procured—and higher market price made
rice millers less interested to sell to government, it is important to import
rice by the government to increase its food stock immediately considering the
demand for September-November 2020.
The stability in the rice market in the coming months would
largely depend on the acreage of Aman rice cultivation finally to be made by
the farmers and its harvest afterwards.
It is usually noted that the post-flood rice cultivation ensures
higher yield compared to the normal period. However, delay in cultivation this
year due to flood in most part of the country may have adverse effect in the
Aman yield.
The government should immediately ensure sufficient supply of
seedlings for farmers across the countries so that cultivation of Aman is not
affected badly.
Given the consecutive adverse impacts on the agriculture sector, a
large portion of farmers and farm labourers would be affected in terms of
production, revenue, employment and wages. A large number of people have
returned to villages from urban areas in search jobs in view of Covid-19
pandemic.
Over 96,000 migrant workers have returned to Bangladesh and are
now staying mainly in villages and rural areas. These people are also without
job. The public policy support in the form of subsidised credit is largely
undistributed among the farmers, agro-based entrepreneurs, informal sector
workers and returnee migrants.
The conditions attached to get those loans is difficult to comply
with by these people. Hence, these people are largely without jobs, with low/no
income and are in need of jobs.
The inflationary pressure has worsened their life further. The
government may consider undertaking large scale project in rural areas such as
rural infrastructure development project to renovate roads, bridges, culverts
in flood affected areas as per the national budget 2021.
It may also consider a specific component of development of
infrastructure in rural areas such as development of sewerage and sanitation
system at thana and upazilla levels under its 'Amar Gram Amar Shahar'
programme. Those income generating programmes would hugely benefit the rural
people in getting employment and to earn their minimum subsistence income.
2 MP officials cleared sale of grain unfit for humans at govt
shops, sacked
Demanding
an apology from the BJP government, leader Opposition in the state assembly and
former chief minister Kamal Nath called the distribution of such rice among
people ‘a criminal act against humanity’.
INDIA Updated: Sep 03, 2020 07:45 IST
Hindustan Times, Bhopal
The state government in Madhya
Pradesh on Wednesday night terminated the services of two officers of Food and
Civil Supplies department, suspended another officer while FIRs were filed with
police against eight millers in two districts on the ground of a central
government’s report that found that rice distributed through public distributed
system (PDS) in these districts was unfit for human consumption and meant to be
suitable for livestock and poultry, as per government officials.
Earlier in the day, demanding an
apology from the BJP government, leader Opposition in the state assembly and
former chief minister Kamal Nath called the distribution of such rice among
people ‘a criminal act against humanity’.
An official communique from the
state government released on Wednesday night said, “The services of quality
controllers responsible for ensuring quality of rice in Balaghat and Mandla
districts have been terminated, while the district manager of Balaghat has been
suspended in the case. Action is being taken against the concerned millers by
registering FIR against them.”
Principal secretary Food, Civil
Supplies and Consumer Protection, Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, said, “So far FIRs have
been lodged against eight millers. If we identify more millers responsible for
distribution of such rice we will lodge FIRs against them too.”
The state government’s official
communique said, “Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given strict
instructions against the guilty while taking the issue seriously of supply of
poor quality rice in some places in Balaghat and Mandla districts. He clearly
warned that those involved in irregularities and black marketing of ration,
fertilizer etc. will not be spared and stern action will be taken by
registering a criminal case against them.”
As per the official information, as
many as 51 joint teams of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Food & Civil
Supplies Corporation, constituted to test the quality of rice, took 1021
samples of rice from both the districts. As a result of preliminary
investigation, 57 of these samples were found to be sub-standard.
As per the provision of the State
Custom Milling Policy, sub-standard rice given by the millers after custom
milling will be returned and rice of standard quality will be obtained from
him, said the government in a statement.
State Congress spokesperson Bhupendra
Gupta released a letter dated August 21 of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food
and Public Distribution System written to the principal secretary of Department
of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Madhya Pradesh which stated,
“..in total 32 samples (31 from depots and one from ration shop) were
collected. The samples were analysed in the NABL accredited Central Grain
Analysis Laboratory (CGAL), Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi….”
“The analysis report of all the
total 32 samples were found to be not just below the rejection limit as per the
uniform specifications issued by the ministry but also beyond the PFA standards
as per FSSAI. The stocks are found to be unfit for human consumption and in the
categories of Feed-I which is meant to be suitable for livestock feed (such as
goat, horse, sheep), Feed-II which is suitable for cattle feed and Feed-III
which is suitable for poultry feed as per the guidelines for the
issuance/disposal of the stocks.”
MP shocker: Rice fit for goat, cattle found in ration shop,
depots at tribal belts
The Union ministry was of the view
that old and expired rice were supplied to the depots and godowns for
distribution to consumers while on paper fresh stock was shown to have been
procured.
Published: 03rd September 2020 03:49
AM | Last Updated: 03rd September 2020 10:20
Representational Image
Express News Service
BHOPAL: The Centre has asked the Madhya Pradesh government to stop
distribution of rice in the state through fair price shops and the targeted
public distribution system after rice stocks in four depots and one fair price
shop in tribal dominated and Maoist-affected Mandla and Balaghat districts were
found to be “unfit for human consumption.”
In a letter sent to the MP principal secretary (food and civil
supplies), accessed by this newspaper, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution said after inspection, the quality of rice was
found to fall in three categories: category 1 was fit for goat, horse and
sheep, category 2 was fit for cattle, and category 3 was fit for poultry.
The Union ministry was of the view that old and expired rice were
supplied to the depots and godowns for distribution to consumers while on paper
fresh stock was shown to have been procured.
“As per the records of the godowns, the receipt of the stocks from
where the samples were drawn were procured in the months May to July 2020 while
the condition of the stock represents a different picture altogether. The
stocks are 100% recycled old stock and the gunnies used for storage are also at
least 2-3 years old,” the Union ministry pointed out.
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In a late evening action, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
announced that a criminal case would be filed against those involved in
irregularities and black marketing of rations.
While the services of quality controllers in the two districts
were terminated, the Balaghat district manager was suspended in the case.
Action is being taken against the concerned millers by registering FIR against
them.
Earlier, former rural development minister Kamleshwar Patel and
Congress MLA said “instead of posing for the camera in the name of meeting
flood-affected people”, the CM and the state government should act against the
erring officials.
Teams of the storage and research division of the department of
food & public distribution of the union ministry had inspected four depots
of state agencies and one fair price shop in the two districts between July 30
and August 2.
In total 32 samples, 31 from the depots and one from the ration
shop, were collected and they were analysed at the NABL-accredited Central
Grain Analysis Lab, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
“The analysis reports of the total 32 samples were found to be not
just beyond below rejection limit as per the uniform specifications issued by
the Union ministry, but also beyond the PFA standards as per the FSSAI. The
stocks are found to be unfit for human consumption,” Union ministry said.
The ministry said the stocks were “in the categories of Feed-I,
which is meant to be suitable for livestock feed such as goat, horse and sheep,
Feed-II, which is suitable for cattle feed, and Feed-III, which is suitable for
poultry feed.”
“In this context, concern has arisen regarding the other stock
also in Madhya Pradesh. Therefore, it is requested to withhold the rice stock
available in the depots for further investigation and recategorisation,” the
Union ministry told the state government.
The Union ministry said there were “grave lapses by the district
officers, officials and authorities” and asked the state government to identify
the personnel concerned and initiate action against them.
“Besides, the rice millers associated in delivery of such ‘human
unfit’ stock should be blacklisted with immediate effect,” the ministry said in
its letter to the MP government.
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Navy arrest 8 for smuggling foreign
rice, impound 2 wooden boats in C’River
Judex Okoro, Calabar
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS)
Victory, Calabar, has arrested eight persons for smuggling in 1, 522 bags of
foreign rice.
The command also impounded two wooden boats along Tom
Shott Island.
Parading the suspects in Calabar on Wednesday, the
Commander, NNS Victory, Commodore Idi Abbas, said the smugglers were
intercepted in two batches including 1, 522 bags of foreign
bags of rice.
Abbas said the first group of four men were arrested
on Sunday around Tom Short Island with a large wooden boat containing 1482 bags
of foreign parboiled rice.
He said that the second group of four persons were
arrested with two fibre boats containing 40 bags of foreign rice, suspected to
have been smuggled from Cameroon.
According to him, “in line with the extant
regulations, the confiscated items and eight suspected smugglers are hereby
handed over to the Team Leader of Operation Border Drill for further
investigation and prosecution.
“We have been up and doing as part of our patrol
effort not only to check smuggling but also curb all forms of criminality
within our waterways.
“We are aware that most times when kidnapping is
carried out, the fastest way for them to escape is through the creeks, so we
have placed our boats at vantage positions that you cannot go into the sea
without being seen.
“We all know that times are hard but no matter how
hard times are, there are other ways of earning a living legitimately,” he
said.
Speaking to journalists during the parade in Calabar,
the Commander, NNS Victory, Commodore Idi Abbas,
disclosed that the smugglers were intercepted in two batches.
Speaking shortly after receiving the suspects and
items, the Superintendent of the Nigerian Customs Service, Chuks Ofilli, said
the procedure of the service was to take the items confiscated to the government
warehouse while the suspects would be handed over to the legal unit.
Nigerians Kick As Discos Hike
Electricity Tariff
2 SEPTEMBER 2020
By Simon
Echewofun Sunday, Umar Shehu Usman, Zara Idris, Sunday Michael Ogwu, Christiana
T. Alabi, Abdullateef Aliyu and Risikat Ramoni
Nigerians are outraged over
Monday's 50 percent unceremonious hike in the price of electricity, saying it
is an additional burden on them.
Citizens including artisans,
technicians, teachers, manufacturers and industrialists described the increase
as ill-timed, insensitive and a deliberate attempt to further increase the
difficulties they are passing through at a time they were trying to pick their
pieces following months of COVID-19 lockdown.
The new tariff regime would
affect customers having power supply for 12 hours and above; those on estimated
billing and or without meters and residential, commercial and industrial
customers as well as special-purpose uses like street lights and others.
The increase did not, however,
affect poor or lifeline customers as they would continue to pay N4
kilowatt-hour (kwh).
It will also not affect customers
receiving 50 kWh per month and customers having below 12-hour power supply
daily.
However, low-income earners
interviewed on Tuesday said it would be difficult to ascertain the people
receiving less than 12 hours power supply while owners of some small scale
industries, including rice millers said the increase would have a direct effect
on the cost of production.
- How NERC approved tariff hike for DisCos -
Daily Trust learnt that the new
tariff hike was endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari after an ad-hoc
committee was set up to review the tariff in June.
A member of the committee, which
had Fola Adeola, the Chairman of GT Bank; former CBN governor, Prof. Charles
Soludo, among others, said fearing the looming recession, the committee
submitted that there was a need to raise the power tariff because there was no
budgetary provision to subsidise the power sector in the 2020 revised budget.
"Should we stay and allow
the economy to collapse?" a member of the ad hoc committee asked.
"We cannot...
"What we insisted at the
meetings is that the poor who are mostly in Residential 1 (R1) and R2 should
not have any increase.
"We also got assurances from
the highest level that the poor are not going to be affected by this tariff;
the government has not closed the door for an engagement," he said.
According to series of the tariff
hike notices from the DisCos, the hikes in the different electricity rates were
duly approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for the
next four months.
NERC had recently okayed tariff
hike but said the DisCos must consult with customers first.
"Following consultations and
directions on tariff policy, the Commission (NERC) hereby approves a deferment
of the applicable tariffs for customers in service band D and E (that is
customers with a service commitment of less than an average of 12 hours of
supply per day over a period of one month) for the period 1st September 2020 to
1st January 2021," the commission said.
NERC stated that the new tariff
order will end on January 1, 2021, when sources in the power industry said the
Commission is expected to approve another hike for the power firms.
- 'Increase marks another chapter
of difficulties' -
John Garba is a barbershop
operator at Kado Estate in Abuja who recently battled and cleared his tenement
rate.
He said besides struggling to buy
fuel for his power generator after a fuel price hike; he is now faced with a
hike in electricity bill by over 50 percent.
"From the bills of Abuja
Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Kado area is said to have over 12-hour
power supply and so the tariff is rising by nearly 50 percent.
"This is unbearable during
the COVID-19 period as businesses are slow," Garba said.
The struggling entrepreneur is
not the only one facing this challenge as there is a general outcry by
customers of the 11 DisCos.
Bello Olagoke at the Mararaba
part of Nasarawa State, near Abuja, expressed doubt if there would be any
difference when he was told that areas with power supply below 12 hours have
not been included in the latest hike.
He said; "Who will monitor
the DisCos if they decide to bill everyone where there is epileptic power
supply?
"Even now our bills are
outrageous despite the frequent outages."
A lecturer at the Department of
Political Science at the University of Lagos, Dr Isiaka Adams, said the tariff
increase was an indication that the Nigerian government was not sensitive to
the plight of the masses.
"This is not the appropriate
time to increase the tariff regardless of the excuses or pressure from Gencos
and Discos.
"As we speak, the majority
of Nigerians have not been metered.
"People are asked to pay
N38, 800 for a single-phase meter and the minimum wage in Nigeria is N33,000
and many states are yet to pay and even the federal government is yet to
implement it.
"Some tertiary institutions
have not started paying the minimum wage until now.
"The government is burdening
people unnecessarily with various taxes," he said.
Citing recent statistics by the
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), he said many Nigerians were out of job and
the unemployment rate had increased.
Mr Tajudeen Gbadamosi said the
increase would further deepened the woes of consumers whom he said were already
paying through their nose since the beginning of this year.
A rice miller in Kano, Saminu
Ya'u Kangon Kaloma in Kano said the cost of processing rice will skyrocket.
"You must use electricity to
process rice and therefore the price in the market will definitely rise,"
he said.
"A 50 kg cost N23, 000 and
it will most likely go up.
"We would have to increase
the wholesale price," he said.
Musa Malami Sakatare at Dakata
also in Kano said they were shocked by the sudden increase.
"I am into vegetable oil
production and we use electricity all the time.
"I am afraid we would have
to increase what we collect from our customers," he said.
- How DisCos will shine to the banks
-
Residential customers under the
Ikeja DisCo have been grouped as R2SP and R2TP to be paying N21.30 and N21.80
per kilowatt-hour (kwh).
In a similar NERC Tariff Order
for Eko DisCo, it grouped the customers as A to E with the C to E customers
having 12 hour supply down to four hours daily, and charged them not to hike
tariff for those below 12 hour power daily supply.
The Kaduna Electric also hiked
its electricity tariff.
Its Tariff Order approved by NERC
showed that while there was no increase for Band D and E customers, the
schedule showed that the tariff for Band A rose to as high as N56.31/kwh from
about N40 previously.
"The above tariff is from
September to December, 2020," Kaduna DisCo noted.
Chairman of NERC, Prof. James
Momoh, on Wednesday last week hinted that the new model is known as
Service-Based Tariff (SBT).
"Under these service-based
principles, DisCos will only be able to review tariff rates for customers when
they consult with customers, commit to increasing the number of hours of supply
per day and quality of service."
The DisCos recently submitted
their amended Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) to NERC for approval as a
basis to raise their rates after the July 1, 2020 increment timeline was
suspended by members of the National Assembly.
- Manufacturers, labour, others
reject hike -
Among the stakeholders rejecting
the latest tariff hike is the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
The group said the proposed
increase was coming at a time that manufacturing was groaning because of deep
injuries already inflicted on the sector by the prevailing harsh operating
environment, the increasing burden of taxes, and self-generated electricity.
The Acting Director-General of
MAN, Mr Ambrose Oruche, said most of MAN-member companies were classified in
the 'D' categorisation (D1, D2 and D3), meaning 'Industrial Consumers' where
tariff is the highest.
"A tariff increase will take
its toll, having a drastic negative effect on the Gross National Product (GNP);
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), disposable income, consumption, consumer price
index, employment, government revenue from corporate taxation etc.
"Electricity tariff even if
it cannot be reduced should not be increased; any increase on the tariff will
reinforce the already high cost manufacturing environment," Oruche said.
The leadership of the Organised
Private Sector in Nigeria (OPSN) in a reaction said various projections for
generation capacities for different years were made but not attained, yet
tariff kept increasing.
"The pertinent questions
are, therefore; wouldn't they have been accomplished?
"Wouldn't it be better to
think more about how to improve generation capacity hence transmission and
distribution rather than squeezing the mere 4000 megawatts (MW) to meet all
revenue needs of key sharing stakeholders?"
The General Secretary of the
Federation of Informal Workers' Organisation of Nigeria (FIWON), Comrade Gbenga
Komolafe described the tariff increase as "absolutely insensitive,
thoughtless and disdain for the people."
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The Director-General of Lagos
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said for investments
to thrive in the power sector cost-reflective tariff was inevitable.
He said the alternative was for
the government to subsidise it.
"Cost reflective tariff is a
difficult option, especially given the prevailing economic conditions.
But it is the most sustainable
option that would salvage the power sector and attract investment.
It is important to fix the
numerous inefficiencies that characterise the entire power sector value
chain," he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC) yesterday rejected the approved tariff hike by NERC.
In a statement, its president,
Comrade Ayuba Wabba said labour frowned at the increase and completely
condemned any plan to inflict further pain on Nigerians at this very time of
great economic distress.
"The NLC is also deeply
concerned on the deaf and the dumb posture of the electricity regulator.
"It is important to put on
record the fact that NERC would be putting its name on the wrong side of
history if it continues to play the ostrich while a group of portfolio
investors make a blood meal of Nigerians," he said.
The Chairman, Nigeria Electricity
Consumers Advocacy Network (NECAN), Tomi Akingbogun, said electricity consumers
were simply ignorant of what was going on saying members of the public have not
been adequately educated on the new billing system.
In his response, Adetayo
Adegbemle, the Executive Director of Power Up Initiatives said the Service
Reflective Tariff (SRT) was unfortunately another blind walk on the alley.
"We have decided to reward
mediocrity from the DisCos and make poor Nigerians pay for the inefficiency and
ineffectiveness of the power system.
"No amount of money thrown
at the system would solve anything," he said.
On his part, the President of the
Nigeria Consumer Protection Network (NCPN), Kunle Kola Olubiyo, said his group
and other electricity consumers will hold the DisCos to improve the networks as
they have committed to do in the next three months.
Read the original article on Daily Trust.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202009020323.html
Mining firms donate P5.29 million, rice to Masbate townsfolk
after quake
Filminera Resources Corp.
(Filminera) and Phil Gold Processing & Refining Corp. (PGPRC) turned over
P5.29 million in cash, plus 100 sacks of rice and 50 folding beds to the
Municipality of Cataingan, following an earthquake in Masbate.
The donations were received by
Cataingan Mayor Felipe Cabatana, Vice Mayor Thelma Ang and Sangguniang
Bayan members.
Also, Filminera and PGPRC donated
P1 million worth of relief goods and building materials to adjoining Masbate
municipalities whose communities and households were severely affected by the
earthquake.
Cataingan was hardest-hit by the
quake, 6.6 on the Richter scale, last August 18, which shook the entire
Masbate province. The earthquake’s epicenter is 7 kilometers off
Cataingan. The Filminera mine site in Aroroy is 150 kilometers away from
Cataingan.
As a post-earthquake response, a
team from Filminera and PGPRC joined Cataingan Mayor Cabatana, the municipal
engineer and administrator, to inspect and assess the damaged public structures
in the municipality.
In a recent weekend inspection,
environmental experts from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources, visited Filminera’s mine site in
Aroroy and reported in an exit conference that there were no cases of
damage to property, or injury to people at the mine site. Community stakeholders,
the local government units, and Filminera and PGPRC representatives attended
the conference.
Filminera President Cris Acosta
pointed out that inspection results simply confirmed the earlier findings of
in-house technical experts and third-party international consultant GHD that
there was no damage to structures and equipment.
GHD has been an advisor of the
Masbate Gold Project since 2007. GHD was initially engaged to carry out the
detailed design of the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) and has been providing
detailed design and construction supervision services for the TSF development.
GHD also provides geotechnical assessments, deposition modelling, embankment
design and analysis, mine site water balance modelling, and design of the water
treatment plant.
The management of Filminera and
PGPRC temporarily stopped mining in August 21 to give way to the inspection
team, and has since resumed normal operations in August 27.
New
Look, New Sponsor, and Better Prizes for Annual Scholarship Video Contest
ARLINGTON, VA — The annual
National Rice Month Scholarship Video Contest is up and running with a new
sponsor, American Commodity Company (ACC), and a revamped website full of information and tips on
making a great video.
Open to graduating high school
students from Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, or Texas,
the contest asks students to create a video that in three minutes or less,
shines a light on this versatile, tasty, home-grown grain. “Educate,
entertain, and tell us why you think rice is special — to you, to your state,
or to the world,” says the website.
Three guaranteed scholarship
prizes, sponsored by ACC, totaling $10,000 will be awarded. The
grand-prize winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship and a trip with a
chaperone to the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference, the second-place winner
receives a $3,000 scholarship, and third place receives $2,000.
“The scope of the video contest has grown each year, not just in the number of
participants but also in the quality and inventiveness of the entries,” said
ACC President & CEO Chris Crutchfield. “We’re impressed with how this
promotion broadens the reach of the U.S. rice story to these young consumers
and storytellers, and we were happy to step up as sponsors to help make them
achieve their higher education goals. One of ACC’s core values as a
company is to inspire young leaders, and this program is a perfect fit.”
Last year’s grand prize winner, Kyle Voong, graduated from Brandon High School
in Brandon, Mississippi, and is headed to the University of Southern California
this fall to study neuroscience. His video was a musical take on all
things U.S. rice that included a cooking demonstration of a favorite family
rice recipe.
“I was by no means an expert on rice before my participation in the
competition, but the NRM video contest gave me an opportunity to immerse myself
in a new subject,” said Voong. “I not only learned facts about rice, but
I was also able to refine my skills in editing, research, and video production.”
Entries are judged on creativity, quality, and effectiveness in telling a story
about U.S.-grown rice, and are due by October 31.
Based in Williams, California, American Commodity Company (ACC) is a
full-service handler and marketer of milled and paddy rice, including all types
and varieties of short and medium grain rice produced in California.
COVID-19 Cancels Outlook 2020
ARLINGTON, VA -- The 2020 USA Rice Outlook Conference,
scheduled for December 9-11, in Austin, Texas, will not be held in-person due
to the impossibility of putting on a large trade show and conference in
compliance with public health safety guidelines and regulations.
Yesterday, the USA Rice Board of Directors met, via conference call, to discuss
other options including a full virtual conference, but reluctantly decided the
best plan for this was to not hold the conference at all.
"No one is happy about this decision but
after looking at all possible scenarios, the Board felt it made the most sense
to forego the conference this year but still undertake some of the traditional
conference sessions and awards by other means. We will be announcing the
schedule for those events soon," said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy
Ward. "The next live, in-person Outlook will be in New Orleans next
year and we will be sure to include time to recognize 2020 award recipients
in-person. We will return to Austin for Outlook 2022." 
The annual USA Rice Outlook Conference brings
together rice farmers, millers, merchants, and representatives of allied
businesses from all rice-producing states and beyond for information and
interaction. The conference features exciting speakers, outstanding
learning sessions, and a trade show bringing the newest and most promising
innovations to attendees.
"Unprecedented times call for unprecedented
measures, and this is definitely one of those times," said Ward.
"We're certainly disappointed at having to cancel this year's event, but,
will conduct some of the Outlook Conference activities through other platforms
like podcasts, social media and webinars so watch this space for more details."
SAVOR Travelle To Go
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And this concept should. Located
around the corner of the building at ground level ( between Wabash Avenue and
State Street ), Travelle To Go—available Wednesdays through Saturdays 12-6
p.m.—offers many delectable items. They include small plates such as
burrata with raspberry and peaches served with honey comb, peach gastrique
and focaccia ( $18 ); meatballs with pomodoro, Grana Padano and country bread
( $16 ); and summer solstice panzanella with prosciutto, tomato, melon, and
raspberry vinaigrette ( $16 ). Main dishes include Grand
"Maine lobster roll" with Brown Buttered Hollandaise, Celery, and
Pickled Peppers ( $27 )—a very delicious sandwich; Polish sausage with house
sauerkraut, grilled onions, and horseradish mustard ( $18 ); and a very well-made
butter chicken with basmati rice, naan, cumin crema, pea tendrils and
cilantro ( $19 ). However, make room for dessert.
The key lime pie ( $8 ) I had was incredible, but there are also selections
such as the chocolate chip ice cream cookie sandwich ( $8 ) and the banana
cream pudding slice with white chocolate mousse and vanilla whipped cream (
$8 ). But wait—there's more: Travelle's
beverage team has also launched a cocktail to-go menu featuring items such as
Piazza Bianca, with Ketel One vodka, Italicus, Luxardo Bitter Bianco and
citrus syrup ( $16 ). And ( last but not least ) on
Saturdays at 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Pastry Chef Danielle Marelli and Pastry Sous
Chef Joyce Park present a rotating selection of enticing pastries such as
cinnamon rolls, croissants and Lamington squares ( sponge-cake squares filled
with raspberry and topped with coconut ). I'll have to return Labor Day
weekend: Strawberry-cheesecake pop tarts and various pies ( key lime white
chocolate, peach almond crumb and Michigan blueberry ) are on tap. So if you can't check out the
actual Travelle restaurant in the building, I urge you to check out Travelle
To Go—and then head on over to the nearby Chicago River for a nice picnic. (
Speaking of which, there are also picnic baskets for retail. ) |
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http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/SAVOR-Travelle-To-Go/69149.html
How Kenya can meet local demand
for rice
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 2:45
Rice farmers. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Rice is the third most consumed
staple in the country, yet we are not self-sufficient to meet our demand. With
a growing population and increase in per capita rice consumption, the
government and other policymakers have been left with only a few options to
meet future demand for rice; through increased imports and increased
productivity.
Our national rice consumption is
estimated at 500,000 metric tonnes a year. Despite this being a clear
indication of Kenyans uptake of rice as a principal food, our annual production
of 100,000 metric tonnes pales in comparison.
According to the National Rice
Development Strategy-2, 2019-2030, the annual consumption of rice in Kenya is
increasing at a rate of over 12 percent owing to the progressive change in
eating habits of Kenyans, especially in urban areas.
This, together with a annual
projected population growth rate of 2.7 percent, will mean that the estimated
annual national need for rice is expected to reach up to 1,290,000 tonnes by 2030.
Given that Food Security and
Nutrition is one of the pillars of the Big Four Agenda which our President is
steadfast to implement, increasing the productivity of rice shall form an
important component in this pillar. In addition to enhancing food security, it
should also alleviate poverty by raising farmer incomes and increase the
prospects of creating new jobs in the whole value chain from farm to fork.
Investment in the rice sector should therefore become a key priority in the
agriculture sector.
The largest rice irrigation scheme in the country is the Mwea
Rice Scheme which was started in 1956 during the colonial times when a seed
variety from India called the Basmati was planted in the scheme and hence the
birth of what is famously known as the Kenya Pishori rice.
Over the years, the scheme has
expanded to 30,000 acres. The other rice schemes across the country are the
West Kano and Ahero (in Nyanza) and Bunyala. The much anticipated rice scheme
in the Tana river under Tarda was a failure from its onset.
So the key question is what has
been ailing this sector to scale up production?
The rice sector has always been
overseen by the National Irrigation Board (NIB) which falls under the Ministry
of Water. This is because of the provision of water under irrigation.
However, in essence the mandate
of seed production, varietal development, good farming practice and market
linkage should technically be the oversight of the Ministry of Agriculture.
This could possibly be one of the
primary reasons why we lost focus on prioritising rice as a strategic food
crop. The constant squabbles between the farmers and NIB in the late 1990s due
to the political interference of rice marketing in the scheme also created a
lethargy in the development of the sector.
To revive this sector, we need to
take a multipronged approach which revolves around agronomy and infrastructure
development, farmer financing and market linkages. Let us explore each one
separately.
Research into new seed
development shall remain crucial to ensure farmers get optimal productivity and
quality.
The choice of variety is based on
its agronomical performance and not economic reasons since varieties like the
Pishori when grown in the West Kano and Ahero have proven to be failures due to
its microclimate.
In addition, to ensure
efficiency, farmers should work in co-operatives and find ways of aggregating
their smaller pieces of land to farm commercially as large tracts which can
enable mechanisation.
Provision of farm extension
services to educate farmers on best farming practices including the appropriate
use of farm inputs such as fertiliser and pesticides shall also play a crucial
role in productivity.
Finally, there should be a
security of source of water for this irrigated crop to perform well. This means
that there should be adequate water source from dams and one should not rely on
just the river source which frequently get affected by rainfall patterns.
A case in point is how the delay
in building the Thiba dam which would serve the Mwea Rice Scheme has greatly
affected the growth of this scheme.
Provision of affordable finance
is very crucial for the security of the farmer income. Due to the lack of
access to this finance, farmers have the tendency of borrowing from shylocks
whose exorbitant finance costs makes it prohibitive for farmers to earn
anything for their hard work.
Abject poverty
Many farmers also find it more
attractive to lease out their pieces of land rather than farm for the same low
income expectation.
In addition to finance,
well-structured crop insurance can also protect the farmer from the vagaries of
weather and disease leading to crop failures which wipes out the farmer’s
income and sets them back into abject poverty.
There’s need to work in
co-operatives which will also improve the bargaining of farmers to purchase
farm inputs as well as obtaining finance from banks.
The adoption of the warehouse
receipting programme also ensures farmers obtain finance for their produce once
harvested in a formalised structure and have the flexibility of trading in
their produce at their free will when the timing and pricing is right.
The third component is market
linkages. Without a market for their produce at the right price, it is an
exercise in futility for the farmer.
Except for a portion of the crop
which the farmer can keep for their subsistence use, there has to be a surety
of market for the remainder of their produce.
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