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. WACHIRA: How to make
garbage power plan a success
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.
Bagudu: Comforting flood-hit Kebbi
farmers
YAHAYA SARKI writes on the
damaging effects of the recent flood that hit Kebbi state and the succour fast
coming their way.
Kebbi state is synonymous with food production, largely due to the
formidable revolutionary approaches of the state chief
executive, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in food production,
particularly rice production. Kebbi has the potency to produce myriad of agricultural
products, amongst which is rice. Indisputably, the state is fast becoming the
food basket of the nation.
Certainly, happy development has indeed attracted the
attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, prompting him to kick-start the
‘Anchor Borrowers loan Program’ in the state in 2015, to provide loans and
agricultural inputs such as cheap fertilizers, improved seeds, chemicals and
water pumping machines, among others. No fewer than 100,000 rice farmers in the
state had benefitted from this invaluable gesture.
The programme, a tripartite arrangement among the federal
government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has the rice millers as
the up takers and farmers on the other side as the producers.
Luckily, the president chose the state to launch his
diversification agenda to improve the nation’s economy through
agriculture in order to reduce over dependence on oil, bolster its food
security, by achieving self-sufficiency in rice production, curb importation of
rice and create more employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths
in the country.
It is interesting to note that, the federal government’s scheme in
the land of equity has largely been successful due to the political sagacity,
unwavering commitment and ceaseless support of Governor Bagudu.
Obviously, the governor had successfully and patriotically triggered rice
revolution, not only in his state, but across Nigeria as a whole .
Today, many people who were not hitherto rice farmers
but voracious consumers have happily and
willingly gone back to the farms, thus resulting in the
massive increase of rice production, stoppage of importation of rice and the
establishment of small and large scale rice mills.
Interestingly, Kebbi state has now become the darling of many states
and the investors ‘ destination, not only in Nigeria, but across Africa
and entire world.
Flood
But sadly enough, the state’s massive rice production
was hampered by the recent devastating floods. Although the state had hitherto
witnessed flood disasters, but none was as devastating as the 2020
floods. This is because it came when the diligent farmers of the state were
expecting bumper harvests and more people have embraced farming. The floods
came with a bang and regrettably dashed the hopes of many of the farmers.
Yes, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency had forecasted that Kebbi
would be among the states to be hit by flood this year, but not
many, including the authorities envisaged such colossal losses.
The floods that came were as a result of continuous rainfall,
making the dams to be filled to capacity and the subsequent release of the
water to farmlands. So, the disaster was caused by a culmination of
reasons that include the intensive rainfall and release of water from the
dams.
Colossal losses
The losses incurred by the farmers, especially rice farmers in the
state were colossal and immeasurable, they run into billions of
naira . Thousands of hectares of fadama rice farms in the state were
affected by the flood. Rice farms , other agricultural crops, livestock and
even communities were not spared by the raging floods.
The flood even caused the loss of eight lives in Tungar Gehuru
village of Jega local government area. The colossal damage to physical
infrastructure, such as roads and bridges across the state was also legendary
and it runs into billions of naira also. Many major roads and bridges
were washed away by the floods, with a host of communities completely cut off
from the remaining parts of the state. Preliminary reports revealed that over
six bridges had collapsed as a result of the floods.
More worrisome is that major rice producing local government areas
in the state were affected by the floods, including their farming communities.
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu had to cut off his official engagement in Abuja
and rushed back to Kebbi on Saturday.
The visibly agitated and disturbed governor, right from the Sir
Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Airport, Ambursa, embarked on assessment visits to
flood affected communities and farmlands across the state.
On Saturday , precisely, on 30th of August, 2020 , the governor
started his visit to flood ravaged local government areas areas in the state,
to assess the situation. The governor who was accompanied by officials of the
State Emergency Management Agency ( SEMA), led by its Chairman, Alhaji Sani
Dododo, visited Augie, Argungu and Arewa local government areas to assess rice
farmlands, roads and bridges affected by the flood.
Governor’s response
Bagudu, who defied the difficult terrains of the
hinterlands, took time to personally interact with the victims, commiserated
with them, diligently and patiently listened to their needs, with a view to
assisting them.
Speaking at Bakin Gada, in Argungu local government shortly after
inspecting rice farmlands submerged by the floods, Bagudu flanked by the
National President of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) , Alhaji
Aminu Goronyo, expressed utmost shock over the incident, describing it as
regrettable.
“Things like this happen, we are not unique in the world , it is
regrettable. We have seen in the hurricane laura and other hurricanes similar
and other worst problems. We are responding to disasters and supporting each
other, and i believe the FGN, the CBN and other associations will respond to
this effectively and timely too,” he assured.
While thanking the CBN and RIFAN for their concern over the flood
situation, the governor appreciated the Buhari administration’s derive to
making Nigeria self-sufficient in food production.
At Kwakkwashe village where the state’s relief agency distributed
relief materials to the displaced victims, the governor expressed his
administration’s worry over their plight.
Bagudu further charged them to cooperate with the authorities, as
they should temporarily relocate to a safe haven.
He urged them to continue to enrol their children in schools,
maintain clean environment and use facemasks to guard against the COVID-19
pandemic.
The governor also advised the community to organise their youths,
to form vigilante services, to boost security in the area.
Other places visited by the governor include Birnin
Tudu, Tiggi, Shaharma and Agoda communities in Augie local government, as well
as Matan Fada, Bakin Gada, Zanginawa and Yeldu in Argungu local
government area.
RIFAN boss
Commiserating with his fellow farmers, RIFAN national
president, Alhaji Goronyo, said he led the North-west
state chapters to Kebbi state for a self-assessment.
“I can say that the devastating effect of the flood to farms is
beyond comment. I don’t think in the most recent time,
this kind of flood has happened to this level, the only thing I can say is
that, the Almighty God is in control.
“Everything that we have seen is from God and we must thank Him
and I know He can replace whatever we lost, with what we can even imagine,”
Goronyo said.
Our losses –Farmers
At Sabon Gari community, Birnin Tudu, Magaji Amadu, the village
head, narrated their ordeals to the visiting governor.
He said the flood was a culmination of both the
continuous intensive rains being witnessed now, as well as the water released
from the dam.
Also, an elderly farmer, Alhaji Aliyu Soda, while appealing for
assistance from the government, said for over 11 years, they had
never seen a flood disaster as devastating as this.
He appealed to the government to assist them with farming inputs
such as assorted seeds and fertilizers, among others.
Succour to the people
Earlier, SEMA chair, Alhaji Dododo, had told the governor
that apart from the agency’s efforts at relocating the
victims and relief materials were donated to them.
They included 20 bags of rice,10 bags millet, 10 bags of guinea
corn, 5 bags of salt, 30 cartons of macaroni,5 cartons of tomatoes,50
bundles of Shadda(guinea brocade), 50 bundles of atampa and 7 jerricans of
groundnut oil. Others were 5 cooking pots, 100 plastic kettles,100
plastic buckets,100 plastic cups, 100 plastic plates, 100
mosquitoes nets, 5 cartons of bathing soaps, 100 plastic mats,100
blankets and truckload of firewood.
Appreciation
Appreciating the gesture, the district head of the area, Alhaji
Suleman Mera (Sarkin Gobir Lailaba), thanked the governor for the quick
response, and described the Bagudu administration as people-oriented .
In continuation of the visit, the governor was on
Sunday at Suru, Bunza, Kalgo and Birnin Kebbi local government areas as well as
Bunza local government to see the devastation caused by the floods.
In all the places visited, he assured that succour would come the
people’s way to mitigate the effect of the losses they suffered.
Buhari’s comforting words
Comforting the victims, President Buhari said: “I am
particularly sad over this incident because it’s a setback to our efforts to
boost local rice production as part of measures to stop food importation.
“Kebbi State is the focal point of our policy to produce rice
locally as part of this administration’s commitment to agricultural revival
which suffered relative neglect in favour of food importation.
“With the loss of six lives and still counting, thousands of
hectares flooded and estimated economic losses of more than one billion naira
by rice farmers, we face a major setback in our efforts to boost local food
production.
”This bad news couldn’t have come at a worse time for our farmers
and other Nigerians who looked forward to a bumper harvest this year
, in order to reduce the current astronomical rise in the costs of
food items.”
While sympathising with the bereaved families and farmers
affected, the president added, “we are going to work closely with the Kebbi
State Government in order to bring relief to the victims.”, he averred.
With the president’s words of succour, Kebbi farmers can rest be
assured that their losses would soon be mitigated in the fullness of time.
https://www.blueprint.ng/bagudu-comforting-flood-hit-kebbi-farmers/
Chouhan orders probe by EOW into supply of
poor-quality rice
03
September 2020 Last Updated at 6:49 Pm | Source: PTI
Bhopal, Sep 3 (PTI) Madhya
Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday termed supply of poor-
quality rice to consumers as a "serious" matter, and said the
state''s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) will probe it, an official said.
The state government on Wednesday
had terminated the services of two quality controllers (of Food and Civil
Supplies Corporation FCI) in Balaghat and Mandla districts and ordered filing
of an FIR against millers involved in the supply of poor quality rice at PDS
shops.
"The previous government has
not taken any action on the issue of supply of inferior-quality rice by millers
in Balaghat district. It is a serious matter. It smacks of collusion at
different levels and its probe will reveal many facts," the official
quoted Chouhan as saying in a high-level meeting.
In the meeting, the chief minister
directed that the EOW will initiate a probe in the matter, he said.
After inspection of godowns in
Mandla and Balaghat districts, the distribution and transportation of rice has
been stopped.
"As per the milling policy,
in place of inferior quality rice, standard high-grade food grain will be
procured and corruption will not be tolerated at any level in the matter,"
Chouhan had said in the meeting.
Meanwhile, a senior official said
as directed by Chouhan, inspections were carried out at three godowns in
Balaghat district, where 3,186 MT rice was found of poor standards.
Similarly, 1,686 MT rice was not
found of standard quality in Mandla district, he said, adding that supply has
been stopped from both the districts.
Apart from this, 51 teams have
collected more than 1,000 samples of rice from several districts and testing of
284 samples has already begun, the official said.
According to the FCI''s local
office, 72 samples are not worth distribution, while 57 are not as per the set
standards, he said.
Services of some quality
controllers will also be terminated and a FIR was also registered against a
miller for not supplying quality rice, the official added. PTI MAS ARU ARU
THAI RATES EASE ON BAHT SLIDE, LOW SUPPLY LIFTS VIETNAM RATES
* Demand for Thai rice still flat * India prices unchanged after
3-week long rally * Weak demand likely to cap Vietnamese rates - traders *
Bangladesh decision on imports pending- official By Arundhati Sarkar Sept 3
(Reuters) - Rice export prices in Thailand eased this week, snapping a
three-week-long rally as the baht slid following the exit of the country's
finance minister, while rates for the Vietnamese grain rose on waning supply.
Prices of second-biggest exporter Thailand's 5% broken rice <RI-THBKN5-P1>
slipped to $500-$513 per tonne on Thursday from $500-$520 last week. The baht
was hit by the sudden resignation of recently appointed finance minister,
Predee Daochai, on Tuesday, raising uncertainty in an economy already reeling
from the coronavirus.
"The day the finance minister resigned, the rice price
suddenly dropped by 0.20 baht, so it did have a psychological effect on rice
trade," a Bangkok-based trader said. Fresh supplies also contributed to
the lower prices. But another trader said the volume of Thailand's off-season
crop harvested this month has been underwhelming. Rates for Vietnam's 5% broken
rice <RI-VNBKN5-P1> rose to $490 a tonne on Thursday from $480-$490 last
week on thin supplies, but traders said weak demand should prevent a further
rise in coming weeks. Supplies aren't likely to build until the autumn-winter
harvest starting November, a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said.
Preliminary government data showed Vietnam's rice shipments in the
first eight months likely fell 1.7% to 4.5 million tonnes from last year. Top
exporter India's 5% broken parboiled rice rates <RI-INBKN5-P1> were
unchanged at $384-$390 per tonne. "Exporters haven't made any changes in
prices, but they have to raise prices if rupee rises further," said an
exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The rupee
has appreciated about 3% over the past two weeks. Neighbouring Bangladesh
continued to grapple with floods, which have destroyed rice crop worth $4.29
billion and led to a fresh price rise. "The decision on importing rice is
pending. There's no shortage at the moment," said Sarwar Mahmud, head of
the Directorate General of Food. (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok,
Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai and Ruma Paul in Dhaka; editing by
Arpan Varghese and Ramakrishnan M.)
Rice millers asked to deliver
processed rice to FCI by September
30 Hans News Service |
3 Sep 2020 11:22 PM IST x
District Collector Sruthi Ojha during a review meeting with rice millers, civil
supplies officials and FCI authorities at her chamber in Gadwal on Thursday
HIGHLIGHTS The rice millers in Gadwal district have been warned of severe
action if they failed to deliver the processed rice to Food Corporation of
India (FCI) and Civil Supplies department before September 30. Gadwal: The rice
millers in Gadwal district have been warned of severe action if they failed to
deliver the processed rice to Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Civil
Supplies department before September 30. While taking part in a review meeting
with rice millers, civil supplies department officials at the Collector's
chamber here on Thursday, District Collector Sruthi Ojha directed the rice
millers to take immediate measures to process the paddy, which was purchased by
the government during Rabi and handed over to them in July, and to deliver to
FCI and Civil supplies godowns by end of September. The Collector instructed
the civil supplies officials to issue notices to all those rice millers, who
are not meeting the deadline of the government to supply the processed rice in
the said time period. She said that about 27,218 metric tons of paddy was given
to rice millers in the district, of which they have to deliver 18,508 metric
tons of boiled rice to the civil supplies department at FCI gowdowns. However,
only 4,640 metric tons of boiled rice has been handed over, while the remaining
13,868 metric tons is yet to be received. She ordered the rice millers to
handover the remaining paddy by September 30, else action will be taken against
all the defaulting rice millers.
https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/gadwal-rice-millers-asked-to-deliver-processed-rice-to-fci-by-september-30-643577
Before
arrival of Basmati in mandis, farmers, exporters demand waiver of market fee,
rural development cess
They argued that the move will
help farmers get good price for their crop from exporters, who are the main
purchasers of the Basmati, adding that these taxes are otherwise also
refundable to the exporters.
Written
by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | September 3, 2020 9:38:09 am
Basmati
would hit the state’s mandis this month.
Ahead
of the arrival of early varieties of Basmati in mandi, Punjab farmers and
exporters are demanding a waiver of market fee and rural development fund (RDF)
cess charged from exporters when they purchase Basmati from the farmers at
Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) premises.
They
argue that this move will help farmers get good price for their crop from
exporters, who are the main purchasers of the Basmati, adding that these taxes
are otherwise also refundable to the exporters.
Basmati
would hit the state’s mandis this month.
Exporters
said they pay 6.5 per cent tax in total on purchase of Basmati which includes
market committee fee and RDF at the rate of 3 per cent each.
A
leading exporter said: “As per the norms, Basmati exporters are not supposed to
pay any tax and the RDF and market fee charged from them is also refundable.
But for the past 2-3 years, no refund was given to the exporters by the Mandi
Board and over Rs 200 crore of such funds are lying pending with the
government.”
“We
have written to the Punjab government to issue directions to the Mandi Board to
release our long pending Market Fee and RDF dues on priority basis,” said Ashok
Sethi, Director Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association, adding that if
exporters will not get this refund and they are asked to pay both RDF and
market fee then it would affect the farmers ultimately.
Another
leading exporter said that when exporter will be required to pay these heavy
taxes, he will certainly keep the price low at the time of purchase.
Other
exporters that spoke to The Indian Express also Centre’s recent ordinances have raised many important
issues which require immediate intervention of the state government.
“While
Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution against this ordinance, other Basmati
growing states like UP, Haryana, Himachal etc. have accepted the new ordinance
and issued new advisories like waiving off market fee and RDF while levying
‘user charges’ (To use the yard of state Mandis) at very low percentage like
Haryana would charge 1% use charges,” said Sethi, adding that taxes and levies
are much higher in Punjab at over 6.5 per cent and this huge disparity in taxes
and levies would affect the purchase from farmers.
“In
such a condition, exporters will purchase more from those states where user
charges are minimum and will pay less to the farmers here when they will have
to spend more on the taxes,” said an exporter.
They
demanded that the situation should be cleared before Basmati varieties like
1509 hit markets by the first week of September.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Dakaunda General Secretary Jagmohan Singh said that
Basmati is one of the best alternative against Paddy (Parmal rice). “We support
that taxes should not be levied on the traders or exporters when they purchase
it from the farmers in the mandis but certainly when traders sell it further
and make profits, a portion of the profit share must be charged by the
government to utilise that amount for the development of our rural area from
where farmers come to the mandis to sell their produce to the exporters,” he
said.
“When
exporters are free from such charges, government should not charge from them
because they assume that they will not get the refund of these taxes and pay
less to farmers and made big profits from farmers’ produce by exporting the
premium crop,” said a Basmati grower Devinder Singh of Tarn Taran, who grows
Basmati on 50 to 70 acres every year.
Nearly
2.5 Million Tonnes Basmati is brought to the markets of PMB every year by the
farmers.
With Laura past, Arkansas growers still bogged by week of rain
September
3, 2020
Although
Arkansas growers by and large escaped the worst of Tropical Storm Laura’s
destruction, the days of rain that followed have halted the burgeoning 2020
harvest in its tracks. (Image courtesy National Weather Service.)
LITTLE ROCK — Although Arkansas growers by and large escaped the
worst of Tropical Storm Laura’s destruction, the days of rain that followed
have halted the burgeoning 2020 harvest in its tracks.
The storm, which was briefly upgraded by the National Weather
Service to a Category 4 hurricane as it came ashore in Louisiana on Aug. 27,
then downgraded later the same day, brought as much as 10 inches of rain to
some areas of Arkansas, and winds as high as 50 mph.
Waves of storms since Laura have set rainfall records for the
month of August in southwestern Arkansas, including new state record at Big
Fork in Polk County which saw 19.70 inches of precipitation, according to the
National Weather Service.
While some counties in the southwestern part of the state saw
limited structural damage, growers in most areas of the state reported some
degree of crop damage. The most common complaint was saturated fields and
scattered instances of lodging in corn, rice and soybeans.
The days that have followed, however, have allowed little to no
sunshine to dry those areas and several inches of rain have continued to
saturate most of the state. According to a weekly crop progress report from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 14 percent of the state’s corn crop had
been harvested as of Aug. 30 — less than half of the five-year average for this
point in the season.
Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist for the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said most operations had
come to a halt as of this week.
“There’s not too much happening,” Kelley said. “We’re waiting
for some sunshine and dry weather. Heard one combine was running in south
Arkansas yesterday, but it doesn’t look like any harvest today for the north
half of the state and likely not much in the south, either. We need some
dry weather!”
Rice harvest has also stalled, with 5 percent of the state’s
crop harvested as of Aug. 30 — about a third of the five-year average,
according to USDA.
Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the Division of
Agriculture, said that while Laura did direct damage to a relatively small
percentage of Arkansas rice acreage, greater economic impact is likely to stem
from the ongoing delays.
“The issue is larger than just the 5 percent of acreage that was
actually damaged in the storm, as subsequent rain and wind in the days since
have only increased lodging in the fields,” Hardke said.
“The longer it takes for the ground to dry out, the longer
harvest will take,” he said. “The thing to remember is that the crops that were
ready for harvest a week ago are now a week overdue. The longer a crop that’s
ready for harvest sits in a field, the higher potential you have for loss of
quality, and declining yield potential.”
As of Thursday morning, the National Weather Service was
forecasting heavy rains throughout the entire state through Friday.
https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/with-laura-past-arkansas-growers-still-bogged-by-week-of-rain/
Wanbao
Rice Farm leads the way in taking Chinese rice-growing to Mozambique
China’s interest in investing in Africa is well documented;
however the practical implications and benefits to local people may be less
appreciated. This is where a video, produced by the People’s Daily about the
Wanbao Rice Farm project in the southern Mozambique province of Gaza, is
insightful.
Chinese infrastructure development and knowledge transfer in
Mozambique is mainly directed to the agricultural sector, and the video takes
viewers to the fertile Lower Limpopo River Valley, where a rice production project
is changing the fortunes of local farmers.
In 2011, Chinese company Wanbao Africa Agriculture Development
Limited (WAADL) received a concession of 20 000 hectares for a period of 50
years, the most significant example of Chinese investment in Mozambique to
date. Wanbao's increase of the production of quality rice is based on its
successful experience in Hubei province, China’s traditional rice-farming area.
In the video - produced by Zhao Dantong and He Jieqiong (Lily He)
- reporter Lily He explains how it works. Investment covers the agrifood
chain—from production to processing and distribution—and adopts two models,
both of which offer training to local farmers in modern Chinese rice-growing
techniques.
In the out-grower scheme, the company has a contract with local
smallholder farmers, providing technical and other assistance, and it
guarantees the purchase of output from the farmers after harvest, deducting
costs from income. In the second model, Wanbao subcontracts land to
Chinese-owned agribusiness companies which work with local farmers, increasing
productivity, and passing on their knowledge and best practices.
He interviews the Minister of Agriculture in Mozambique, Higino de
Marrule, who applauds the Wanbao project as having raised productivity in rice
production seven-fold, and lowering the level of rice imports significantly.
Celso Tamele, a program director at TechnoServe, an NGO which
provides assistance to the agricultural sector, says that the project has had
an impact on small farmers of the Xai-Xai region, and he believes the model can
be replicated in other regions of Mozambique, one of the world’s poorest
countries.
Ghana to
stop importing rice by 2022-2023 crop season – Deputy Agric Minister
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, George Boahen
Deputy
Minister of Agriculture, George
Boahen Oduro,
has promised that Government of Ghana will stop the importation of rice into
the country by the end of the 2022/2023 crop season.
“Since the lockdown, we have not imported any rice, we are only consuming our
local rice and the ones that were locked up in the system…the government bought
the 600,000 metric tonnes of Ghana rice, we are now giving a seed of 11000
tonnes to our farmers…,” he said.
Speaking on Angel 102.9FM’s Morning Show, Mr Oduro was confident the country
will achieve this because of the huge investments that the Nana Akufo-Addo
government has made in that sector.
“I can assure you that by 2022/2023 crop year, Ghana will not be importing rice
into the country again…,” he said on the show hosted by Captain Smart.
He said the government under the Planting for Food and Jobs Porgramme (PFJ) has
initiated several policies that are helping rice farmers a lot.
The policies he added, include helping with the packaging of Ghana rice to make
it more attractive.
“The country from now till then will still be importing rice but at a reduced
number…,” he said.
He said that the government as part of measures to achieve this aim has
increased the number of seeds that it gives to farmers in the sector.
Demand for
Non-basmati Exports from India Increases as Price Increases in Thailand and
Vietnam
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.
High
Demand for Indian Non-basmati Rice Exports Due to Price Rise in Vietnam and
Thailand
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.
Punjab rice traders ask for clarity on Centre’s agriculture ordinance
CHANDIGARH:, SEPTEMBER 03, 2020
17:21 IST
Image for representational purpose
only. | Photo Credit: AFP
Fresh basmati rice crop is
expected in market by mid-September
With Punjab opposing the Centre’s
agriculture-related ordinance, rice exporters in Punjab are in quandary as
fresh rice crop is about to arrive in the market but there is no clarity on
issues surrounding the market fee and rural development fund (RDF), according
to a trade body.
The Punjab Rice Millers and
Exporters Association has asked the State government to clarify its stand on
the issue of levying fees as neighbouring States, including Haryana, Uttar
Pradesh, Uttrakhand, and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, have
already accepted the new ordinance.
“We are in a total state of
confusion. The Central government’s ordinance [Farmers’ Produce Trade and
Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance] has created a parallel system,
allowing farmers to sell their produce directly to exporters, while the Punjab
government has opposed the ordinance. The basmati (rice) growing States
including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Jammu-Kashmir (UT) have
notified that they would be levying only 1% user charges on the produce brought
to their mandi yards while adhering to
the new norms under the ordinance. On the other hand, Punjab, which had been
levying 2% market fees and 2% RDF, needs to immediately take a decision on the
issue,” said Mr. Ashok Sethi, director, Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association.
Mr. Sethi said that they had
written to the State government for a quick decision on the issue since the new
basmati rice crop will start arriving in the mandis by the second week of
September. “If Punjab continues to levy 4% fees, these taxes will leave our
trade uneconomical and render our rice export unviable as we would not be able
compete with exporters based in other States given the disparity in taxes,”
said Mr. Sethi.
“We appeal to Chief Minister
Amarinder Singh to kindly exempt basmati rice from market fee and RDF. The
State government needs to work out modalities on fees, etc., in tune with the
prevailing situation,” he added.
World
food price index rises for third month running in August: FAO
SEPTEMBER
3, 2020 / 1:21 PM / 2 DAYS AGO
ROME (Reuters) - World food
prices rose for a third month running in August, led by coarse grains,
vegetable oils and sugar, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday.
FILE PHOTO: People shop at a
vegetable market in Sirte, Libya August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
The Food and Agriculture
Organization’s food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of
cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 96.1 points last
month versus 94.3 in July.
The Rome-based FAO also said in a
statement that worldwide cereal harvests remained on course to hit an annual
record in 2020.
The agency’s cereal price
index rose 1.9% in August from the month before and 7% above its value a
year earlier.
Among
the major cereals, sorghum, barley and rice prices rose the most, FAO said.
Maize also climbed strongly, pushed up by concerns over U.S. production
prospects following recent crop damage in Iowa.
The vegetable oil price index
climbed 5.9% month-on-month, returning to around the levels registered when the
coronavirus crisis hit the world at the start of the year.
Palm oil was buoyed by expected
output slowdowns in major producing countries, which, combined with firm global
import demand, were expected to result in lower inventory levels.
Average sugar prices rose 6.7%
from July, reflecting forecasts of a reduction in production due to
unfavourable weather conditions in the European Union and Thailand. Strong
import demand in China also helped push prices higher.
By contrast, the dairy index was
little changed on the month, with falls in cheese and whole milk powder offset
by stronger butter and skim milk quotations.
The meat index was also largely
steady, with bovine and poultry prices in retreat while pig meat prices rose
after four consecutive months of declines, as Chinese imports jumped.
FAO revised down its forecast for
the 2020 cereal season by 25 million tonnes, largely due to expectations of a
lower maize production in the United States.
However, despite this reduction,
the agency still expected a record harvest this year of almost 2.765 billion
tonnes, up 3% on 2019 levels.
“Record maize harvests are
forecast for Argentina and Brazil, while global sorghum production is expected
to grow by 6% from the previous year. Worldwide rice production in 2020 is also
expected to reach a new record of 509 million tonnes,” FAO said.
The forecast for world cereal
utilisation in 2020/21 hit 2.746 billion tonnes, up 2% on the 2019/20 level.
The estimate for world cereal stocks by the close of seasons in 2021 was 895.5
million tonnes, down 33.4 million tonnes since July.
S. Korea mulls redeeming money
given to WFP for stalled NK rice provision project
Published :
Sept 3, 2020 - 13:51 Updated : Sept 3, 2020
- 13:51
·
|
(Yonhap) |
The unification ministry said
Thursday that it is considering redeeming the money it sent to the World Food
Programme (WFP) for a plan to provide rice assistance to North Korea if there
is no progress in the stalled project by the end of this year.
In June last year, the ministry announced the plan to provide 50,000 tons of
rice to North Korea through the WFP and sent the organization 13.8 billion won
($11.6 million) to cover transportation, equipment and monitoring costs.
The plan, however, has since been stalled as the North rejected the assistance
offer in protest over joint military exercises between South Korea and the
United States.
"We are making efforts to get the project off the ground with a plan to
seek cooperation with North Korea through the WFP until the end of this
year," a ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
"In case the project is terminated without any progress this year, we will
have consultations with the WFP in a way to redeem the money sent to the
organization," he added.
Observers said that it is unlikely for North Korea to respond to Seoul's
assistance offer given that inter-Korean relations chilled further recently
since the North blew up a liaison office in its border town of Kaesong in June in
anger over the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by activists in the South.
North Korea is presumed to face chronic food shortage problems caused by
extreme weather conditions and global sanctions. Last week's typhoon and recent
heavy downpours are feared to make things worse as they hit hard the
southwestern province of Hwanghae know as its key rice-producing zone. (Yonhap)
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200903000720
Rice Prices
as on : 04-09-2020 01:38:07 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in
Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals |
Price |
|||||
|
Current |
% |
Season |
Modal |
Prev. |
Prev.Yr |
|
|
Rice |
||||||
|
Sultanpur(UP) |
200.00 |
-20 |
8837.00 |
2350 |
2300 |
-13.76 |
|
Gondal(UP) |
115.50 |
10 |
9825.50 |
2400 |
2400 |
-3.23 |
|
Dadri(UP) |
100.00 |
17.65 |
3005.00 |
5950 |
5950 |
- |
|
Barhaj(UP) |
90.00 |
-18.18 |
11985.00 |
2520 |
2570 |
4.13 |
|
Kalipur(WB) |
84.00 |
16.67 |
3823.00 |
2400 |
2400 |
2.13 |
|
Mandya(Kar) |
74.00 |
-71.76 |
8099.00 |
2500 |
2400 |
- |
|
Kopaganj(UP) |
62.00 |
NC |
2120.00 |
2550 |
2575 |
3.87 |
|
Choubepur(UP) |
45.00 |
16.88 |
2778.95 |
2400 |
2450 |
-10.11 |
|
Aligarh(UP) |
40.00 |
14.29 |
5007.00 |
2550 |
2540 |
NC |
|
Raibareilly(UP) |
39.50 |
618.18 |
1798.00 |
2300 |
2300 |
-2.13 |
|
Jhargram(WB) |
37.00 |
2.78 |
1052.00 |
2900 |
3000 |
NC |
|
Lalitpur(UP) |
36.00 |
-5.26 |
1931.50 |
2475 |
2460 |
-5.89 |
|
Mainpuri(UP) |
36.00 |
2.86 |
4463.50 |
2500 |
2650 |
-3.47 |
|
Allahabad(UP) |
35.00 |
NC |
2902.50 |
2550 |
2500 |
NC |
|
Bharwari(UP) |
35.00 |
-12.5 |
310.50 |
1700 |
1700 |
- |
|
Saharanpur(UP) |
34.00 |
36 |
3179.50 |
2820 |
2800 |
-1.40 |
|
Lakhimpur(UP) |
30.00 |
-14.29 |
3333.00 |
2440 |
2430 |
1.67 |
|
Beldanga(WB) |
30.00 |
NC |
1835.00 |
2700 |
2700 |
3.85 |
|
Firozabad(UP) |
28.50 |
14 |
2094.60 |
2600 |
2590 |
- |
|
Muradabad(UP) |
28.00 |
-6.67 |
2180.00 |
2610 |
2600 |
1.95 |
|
Madhoganj(UP) |
27.00 |
28.57 |
3904.00 |
2430 |
2425 |
5.19 |
|
Balrampur(UP) |
26.00 |
4 |
1355.00 |
2400 |
2400 |
4.35 |
|
Sahiyapur(UP) |
21.50 |
7.5 |
2855.50 |
2530 |
2530 |
3.48 |
|
Vilaspur(UP) |
21.00 |
NC |
1957.20 |
2585 |
2580 |
2.99 |
|
Paliakala(UP) |
20.00 |
NC |
941.00 |
2420 |
2400 |
4.09 |
|
Champadanga(WB) |
18.00 |
28.57 |
892.00 |
3250 |
3250 |
10.17 |
|
Sirsaganj(UP) |
16.00 |
-3.03 |
1381.50 |
2610 |
2600 |
-1.88 |
|
Rasda(UP) |
16.00 |
6.67 |
714.50 |
2550 |
2560 |
1059.09 |
|
Medinipur(West)(WB) |
16.00 |
-11.11 |
241.00 |
2900 |
2900 |
1.75 |
|
Gazipur(UP) |
15.50 |
3.33 |
2321.50 |
3260 |
3260 |
0.93 |
|
Islampur(WB) |
15.00 |
NC |
799.80 |
3400 |
3400 |
-5.56 |
|
Raiganj(WB) |
15.00 |
NC |
700.50 |
3300 |
3300 |
-5.71 |
|
Unnao(UP) |
14.00 |
211.11 |
335.50 |
2450 |
2450 |
-7.55 |
|
Soharatgarh(UP) |
13.50 |
-15.62 |
1774.70 |
2520 |
2510 |
3.28 |
|
Sindhanur(Kar) |
13.00 |
- |
13.00 |
2800 |
- |
- |
|
Farukhabad(UP) |
13.00 |
4 |
1383.50 |
2450 |
2460 |
-7.55 |
|
Utraula(UP) |
12.50 |
-34.21 |
799.70 |
2400 |
2420 |
- |
|
Mawana(UP) |
11.00 |
57.14 |
464.20 |
2800 |
2850 |
- |
|
Vishalpur(UP) |
10.00 |
-37.5 |
548.20 |
2650 |
2550 |
0.57 |
|
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB) |
10.00 |
-16.67 |
1279.00 |
2800 |
2800 |
1.82 |
|
Badayoun(UP) |
8.00 |
100 |
1195.50 |
2600 |
2620 |
1.56 |
|
Etah(UP) |
8.00 |
33.33 |
557.00 |
2600 |
2610 |
1.56 |
|
Mahoba(UP) |
7.80 |
-13.33 |
509.60 |
2430 |
2460 |
7.28 |
|
Mohamadabad(UP) |
6.80 |
13.33 |
963.10 |
2450 |
2470 |
- |
|
Fatehpur(UP) |
6.50 |
16.07 |
2433.10 |
2510 |
2500 |
5.46 |
|
Devariya(UP) |
6.50 |
8.33 |
1189.50 |
2535 |
2530 |
3.47 |
|
Amroha(UP) |
5.50 |
22.22 |
142.50 |
2590 |
2570 |
-0.38 |
|
Kasganj(UP) |
5.00 |
25 |
571.50 |
2610 |
2620 |
1.95 |
|
Mirzapur(UP) |
5.00 |
25 |
358.50 |
2665 |
2675 |
10.12 |
|
Kayamganj(UP) |
5.00 |
-28.57 |
2149.00 |
2470 |
2480 |
-6.79 |
|
Nadia(WB) |
5.00 |
66.67 |
303.00 |
3200 |
3350 |
-15.79 |
|
Lucknow(UP) |
4.30 |
19.44 |
5013.20 |
2410 |
2400 |
-13.93 |
|
Jhijhank(UP) |
4.00 |
-20 |
515.50 |
2500 |
2475 |
- |
|
Jahangirabad(UP) |
3.50 |
-12.5 |
344.50 |
2640 |
2640 |
2.52 |
|
Chitwadagaon(UP) |
3.50 |
-22.22 |
508.30 |
2620 |
2640 |
24.76 |
|
Kalyani(WB) |
3.50 |
NC |
113.00 |
3400 |
3400 |
NC |
|
Fatehpur Sikri(UP) |
3.40 |
6.25 |
182.70 |
2590 |
2585 |
-0.96 |
|
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP) |
3.40 |
3.03 |
667.70 |
2460 |
2450 |
-7.52 |
|
Buland Shahr(UP) |
2.50 |
108.33 |
166.60 |
2665 |
2650 |
0.57 |
|
Chandoli(UP) |
2.20 |
10 |
112.60 |
2590 |
2580 |
11.16 |
|
Khurja(UP) |
2.20 |
83.33 |
217.00 |
2666 |
2650 |
-0.34 |
|
Charra(UP) |
1.70 |
-5.56 |
145.70 |
2560 |
2560 |
0.79 |
|
Jhansi(UP) |
1.60 |
-20 |
171.00 |
2505 |
2490 |
5.47 |
|
Melaghar(Tri) |
1.50 |
87.5 |
81.70 |
2800 |
2800 |
3.70 |
|
Lalganj(UP) |
1.50 |
50 |
293.00 |
2300 |
2300 |
31.43 |
|
Pilibhit(UP) |
1.50 |
-94.64 |
46986.00 |
2585 |
2605 |
-1.71 |
|
Muskara(UP) |
1.50 |
NC |
100.50 |
2400 |
2360 |
0.84 |
|
Wazirganj(UP) |
1.50 |
-25 |
56.00 |
2590 |
2590 |
- |
|
Alibagh(Mah) |
1.00 |
NC |
111.00 |
2200 |
2200 |
NC |
|
Murud(Mah) |
1.00 |
NC |
109.00 |
2200 |
2200 |
NC |
|
Anandnagar(UP) |
1.00 |
-28.57 |
237.90 |
2515 |
2510 |
4.79 |
|
Bangarmau(UP) |
0.80 |
-77.14 |
223.00 |
2450 |
2450 |
3.16 |
|
Atrauli(UP) |
0.60 |
NC |
17.10 |
2555 |
2560 |
|
Japan's
appetite for rice takes biggest plunge in 7 years
Besides tax hike and economic
downturn, Tokyo's farm policy also blamed for drop
Children scoop rice
into their bowls during lunch time at a Japanese nursery school. ©
Reuters
HARUKI KITAGAWA,
Nikkei staff writer
TOKYO -- Demand for Japan's
signature crop, rice, has wilted under the triple whammy of the consumption tax
hike, the pandemic-induced economic downturn, and high prices due to government
policies that have restrained production.
The country's demand for
domestically produced rice has plunged by 220,000 tons during the agricultural year
that ended in June, according to government statistics, a far steeper decrease
than previously estimated.
The sharpest drop in seven years
comes as Japan raised its consumption tax last fall and consumers tighten
spending during an economic downturn brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
Rising prices for rice also seem to have depressed demand.
"The fact that [rice] prices
have been relatively high for about three years could have impacted consumer
behavior," an official at the agriculture ministry reluctantly admitted
during a ministry meeting in July.
Demand for rice stood at 7.13
million tons in the 12 months through June, down 220,000 tons. The industry had
anticipated demand sinking by 100,000 tons per year.
For the year ended June, the
average wholesale price for rice was 15,725 yen ($148) for a 60 kg sack, rising
for five straight years to its second-highest point in the past decade,
industry data indicates.
The higher prices were mainly
driven by generous government subsidies to farmers to diversify production
implemented after the policy to reduce the amount of land under cultivation was
scrapped. As a result, farmers enjoyed more income, but because they produced
less rice, retail prices rose and there were shortages of cheap rice for commercial
use.
The agriculture ministry has
rarely considered the relationship between rice price and demand. But the steep
drop in demand -- which undershot last fall's projections by 140,000 tons --
forced it to take a look, and now says demand does fall when prices rise.
A consumption tax
hike and a coronavirus-hit economy hurt Japan's demand for rice. (Photo by
Keita Takano)
The Central Union of Agricultural
Co-operatives, also known as JA-Zenchu, was quick to object to the findings. A
representative of the group told the agriculture ministry that the drop in
demand can be explained by several factors, such as the graying population or
the shift in eating habits to meat.
The assumption that rice
consumption would drop by 100,000 tons a year is based on the shrinking
population and changing eating habits. Low-carb diets have also been cited as a
factor.
However, "the rise in rice
prices and the consumption tax increase last fall have dampened consumer
sentiment, and the novel coronavirus added further downward pressure,"
said Mitsuo Fujio, president of Shinmei, Japan's largest rice wholesaler.
That the consumption tax was
raised to 10% from 8% in October, during peak selling season of new rice, also
dealt a blow, said an industry source.
Rice purchases by volume
decreased 11% in October 2019 compared with a year earlier, according to an
official household survey. At the same time, purchases of bread and noodles
climbed 2%. Consumers tend to feel that purchasing rice is more expensive than
buying other foods.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic,
people are eating more meals at home. But fewer people eat out.
Agriculture ministry data shows
that between March and June, purchases of rice for household use jumped 77,000
tons on the year, but sales of rice for commercial use dropped 86,000 tons
during the same period.
The types of rice that have
become strong sellers have also shifted, said Fujio. Blended rice, which costs
20% to 30% less than single-variety rice, have grown in sales. Because of the
rise in costs, some operators that cook rice for commercial establishments have
closed up shop.
Japan has upheld a policy of
acreage reduction in one form or another until 2018. But both the ruling
Liberal Democratic Party and the farm lobby remain wary of falling rice prices.
Farmers continue to collect subsidies to plant other crops, and financial
support is set to increase in fiscal 2020.
The restraints placed on farming
staple rice will lead to an increase in prices, producing a vicious cycle of
decreased demand.
Demand for rice this growing year
"could fall below 7 million tons," said Fujio. The subsidy program is
poised to make the situation worse.
"Forcibly maintaining rice
prices through crop diversification subsidies is no longer feasible," said
Shoichi Fukuhara, president of agribusiness Fukuhara Farm. The company's main
product is rice for commercial use.
"If the government is going
to think about farmers, they should seriously think about who wants what type
of rice," Fukuhara said. "Large farmers will be the ones who will
take the biggest brunt from the shift away from rice."
Wind Rain deal below harvested rice
bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu(link sends e-mail)
THORNWELL
—
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. (Photo by Bruce
Schultz/LSU AgCenter)
WIND, RAIN DEAL BLOW TO HARVESTED RICE
Wed, 09/02/2020 - 2:32pm
BRUCE SCHULTZ
Rice farmers without electricity across southwest Louisiana are
struggling to save their rice crop in storage.
Farmer Paul Johnson, of Bell City, had a good rice crop harvested long before
Hurricane Laura hit the Louisiana coast on Aug. 27.
He stored his grain at a dryer facility in Thornwell, but the storm blew parts
of the roof away, exposing his rice to rain. Without electricity, he was not
able to dry the grain.
“This old dryer has withstood a lot of storms, but not this one,” Johnson said.
Like many farmers, he had one of his best crops in several years.
But the Supreme Rice Mill, of Crowley, was prepared for this catastrophe,
renting generators for farmers in anticipation of the disaster and providing
workers to help farmers make repairs on their bins and get the generators
connected to their electrical system.
“You’re talking a class operation there,” Johnson said. “I don’t know what I’d
do without Supreme. The first call I made was to them, and they handled it from
there.”
Johnson said Supreme has sent trucks to get his rice, and company
representative John Morgan was onsite helping set up the generator.
LSU AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell said Johnson is not alone in the
hard-hit area around Lake Charles in the struggle to save the harvested rice.
“They’re all trying to get that rice dried and moved,” he said.
Jeremy Hebert, AgCenter agent in Acadia Parish, said rice with high moisture
will generate heat and ruin. “The farmers finally had a good crop, and now
they’re faced with this,” he said.
Farmer Jordan Aguillard, of Grand Lake, finished harvesting his rice crop the
day before storm hit.
But his challenges were not over. Not only was his house damaged by Hurricane
Laura; the tops of three bins full of rice were blown off by the storm. And the
grain needed to be dried to prevent it from spoiling.
Aguillard had stored some of his rice in bins owned by Rick Hoffpauir, and the
tops of three of the bins were blown off, exposing the rice to the weather. As
Aguillard was waiting on an insurance adjuster and electrician to blow air into
the rice, storm clouds threatened overhead. Aguillard said one option may be to
move the rice to other storage facilities.
Hoffpauir said Aguillard eventually got his generator connected, and he was
able to move the exposed rice to the bins that were intact.
Aguillard said his house is badly damaged. “It’s still standing. The shingles
are all gone, and I think the ceiling is going to fall in,” he said. Many other
houses in the Grand Lake area where he lives are in similar condition.
Aguillard also has cattle, but he said they survived the storm, although
fencing will need to be replaced. “I’ve got a lot of fence down, and it’s
mostly from debris from houses,” he said.
Hoffpauir said it appears the wind damage is much worse than from Hurricane
Rita in 2005. Hoffpauir said his house is badly damaged as well as his son’s
next door, along with a shed full of farm equipment. “I haven’t even seen my
lawnmower yet,” he said.
Proof of the wind’s power is obvious just a quarter mile away from Hoffpauir’s
place. A train of dozens of empty rail cars is laying on its side.
Neighboring farmer Johnny Hensgens had a bin destroyed. Talking from Ft. Worth,
Texas, where he had evacuated, Hensgens said his house was also badly damaged.
“The roof split open. My son’s house’s roof is off, and it’s getting wet when
it’s raining,” he said.
David Bertrand, of Elton, who buys and sells rice, was picking up a generator
in Lake Charles to supply power for his rice bins. He said many farmers are
dealing with the same problems of drying their rice.
“It’s a fight. It’s disastrous,” Bertrand said. “Several farms’ bins are
missing roofs, or they have collapsed roofs. I don’t see how some of these guys
are going to survive.”
To the east, the impact on rice farmers was minimal. Farmer Jeffrey Sylvester,
of Whiteville in St. Landry Parish, had about half of his rice harvested, and
he borrowed a generator from another farm to run his dryer system. The rice
remaining in the field went through the storm in good shape with some downed
areas, but Sylvester was relieved that much of the crop survived intact, along
with his soybeans.
Adam Habetz, who farms west of Lake Charles, has one generator that he has to
rotate between two sets of bins. He’s also trying to fix his leaking roof and
tend to cattle. “It’s all got to be done. You just have to pick your battles,”
he said.
Habetz said he finished harvesting his rice crop Sunday night, but its moisture
level was high, at 22% to 23%, and it required drying.
His electric provider told him it will be at least six weeks before power is
restored. In the meantime, Habetz is paying $200 a day for generator rental in
addition to the fuel cost. “That’s better than losing your whole crop,” he
said.
All but six of his cattle have been located, but fencing is inadequate now.
“The fences are a mess. There’s no patching it. It’s got to be replaced,” he
said.
Todd Fontenot, AgCenter agent for rice in Evangeline and Allen parishes, said
power was restored in Evangeline Parish, but Allen Parish farmers remain
without power unless they have generators.
A thunderstorm came through Evangeline Parish du
https://www.eunicetoday.com/news/wind-rain-deal-blow-harvested-rice
Laura deals below harvested lousiaiana rice
Bruce Schultz/LSU AgCenter
Rice
is exposed in one of three bins holding the rice crop of farmer Jordan Aguillard
of Calcasieu Parish, La. In the distance is a train of rail cars knocked over
by Hurricane Laura.
Laura deals blow to harvested
Louisiana rice
Without electricity, Louisiana farmers struggle to
save rice crop in storage.
Rice farmers without electricity across southwest Louisiana are
struggling to save their rice crop in storage.
Farmer Paul Johnson of Bell City, La., had a good rice crop
harvested long before Hurricane Laura hit the Louisiana coast on Aug. 27.
He stored his grain at a dryer facility in Thornwell, La., but the
storm blew parts of the roof away, exposing his rice to rain. Without
electricity, he was not able to dry the grain.
“This old dryer has withstood a lot of storms, but not this one,”
Johnson said.
Like many farmers, he had one of his best crops in several years.
But the Supreme Rice Mill of Crowley, La., was prepared for the
catastrophe, renting generators for farmers in anticipation of the disaster and
providing workers to help farmers make repairs on their bins and get the
generators connected to their electrical system.
“You’re talking a class operation there,” Johnson said. “I
don’t know what I’d do without Supreme. The first call I made was to them, and
they handled it from there.”
Setting up generator
Johnson said Supreme has sent trucks to get his rice, and company
representative John Morgan was onsite helping set up the generator.
LSU AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell said Johnson is not alone in
the hard-hit area around Lake Charles, La., in the struggle to save the
harvested rice. “They’re all trying to get that rice dried and moved,” he said.
Jeremy Hebert, AgCenter agent in Acadia Parish,
said rice with high moisture will generate heat and ruin. “The farmers finally
had a good crop, and now they’re faced with this,” he said.
Farmer Jordan Aguillard of Grand Lake, La. finished harvesting his
rice crop the day before storm hit.
Photos: Laura
hits stored Louisiana rice
But his challenges were not over. Not only was his house damaged
by Hurricane Laura; the tops of three bins full of rice were blown off by the
storm. And the grain needed to be dried to prevent it from spoiling.
Aguillard had stored some of his rice in bins owned by Rick
Hoffpauir, and the tops of three of the bins were blown off, exposing the rice
to the weather. As Aguillard was waiting on an insurance adjuster and
electrician to blow air into the rice, storm clouds threatened overhead.
Aguillard said one option may be to move the rice to other storage facilities.
Hoffpauir said Aguillard eventually got his generator connected,
and he was able to move the exposed rice to the bins that were intact.
House badly damaged
Aguillard said his house is badly damaged. “It’s still standing.
The shingles are all gone, and I think the ceiling is going to fall in,” he
said. Many other houses in the Grand Lake area where he lives are in similar
condition.
Aguillard also has cattle, but he said they survived the storm,
although fencing will need to be replaced. “I’ve got a lot of fence down, and
it’s mostly from debris from houses,” he said.
Hoffpauir said it appears the wind damage is much worse than from
Hurricane Rita in 2005. Hoffpauir said his house is badly damaged as well as
his son’s next door, along with a shed full of farm equipment. “I haven’t even
seen my lawnmower yet,” he said.
Proof of the wind’s power is obvious just a quarter mile away from
Hoffpauir’s place. A train of dozens of empty rail cars is laying on its side.
Neighboring farmer Johnny Hensgens had a bin destroyed. Talking
from Ft. Worth, Texas, where he had evacuated, Hensgens said his house was also
badly damaged. “The roof split open. My son’s house’s roof is off, and it’s
getting wet when it’s raining,” he said.
David Bertrand of Elton, La., who buys and sells rice, was picking
up a generator in Lake Charles to supply power for his rice bins. He said many
farmers are dealing with the same problems of drying their rice.
“It’s a fight. It’s disastrous,” Bertrand said. “Several farms’
bins are missing roofs, or they have collapsed roofs. I don’t see how some of
these guys are going to survive.”
To the east
To the east, the impact on rice farmers was minimal. Farmer
Jeffrey Sylvester of Whiteville in St. Landry Parish, La., had about half of
his rice harvested, and he borrowed a generator from another farm to run his
dryer system. The rice remaining in the field went through the storm in good
shape with some downed areas, but Sylvester was relieved that much of the crop
survived intact, along with his soybeans.
Adam Habetz, who farms west of Lake Charles, La., has one
generator that he has to rotate between two sets of bins. He’s also trying to
fix his leaking roof and tend to cattle. “It’s all got to be done. You just
have to pick your battles,” he said.
Habetz said he finished harvesting his rice crop Sunday (Aug. 30)
night, but its moisture level was high, at 22% to 23%, and it required drying.
His electric provider told him it will be at least six weeks
before power is restored. In the meantime, Habetz is paying $200 a day for
generator rental in addition to the fuel cost. “That’s better than losing your
whole crop,” he said.
All but six of his cattle have been located, but fencing is
inadequate now. “The fences are a mess. There’s no patching it. It’s got to be
replaced,” he said.
Todd Fontenot, AgCenter agent for rice in
Evangeline and Allen parishes, said power was restored in Evangeline Parish,
but Allen Parish farmers remain without power unless they have generators.
A thunderstorm came through Evangeline Parish during the weekend
and flattened some rice that had withstood Laura.
Source: LSU AgCenter, which is solely responsible for
the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business
Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content
contained in this information asset.
https://www.farmprogress.com/rice/laura-deals-blow-harvested-louisiana-rice
Natural pest control is
saving billions
Researchers assess the impact in Asia and the
Pacific.
Chadchai
Ra-ngubpai / Getty Images
Biological control, where natural enemies keep
insect pests at bay, is saving farmers in Asia and the Pacific billions of
dollars, according to research led by Australia’s University of Queensland.
Kris Wyckhuys
and colleagues reviewed the use of 75 different biological control agents against
43 pest targets over the period 1918–2018 and found they promoted rural growth
and prosperity even in marginal, poorly endowed, non-rice environments.
Scientists
meticulously choose co-evolved beneficial insects that are the most effective
and least likely to pose ecological upsets, Wyckhuys says.
“Biological
control delivered durable pest control in myriad Asia-Pacific agriculture
sectors, permitting yield-loss recoveries up to 73%, 81% and 100% in cassava,
banana and coconut crops respectively,” the authors write in a paper in the journal Nature Ecology and
Evolution.
“The ensuing
economic dividends are substantial, as pest-induced losses up to US$6.8
billion, US$4.3 billion and US$8.2 billion annually for the above crops were
offset (at respective values of US$5.4-6.8 billion, US$1.4-2.2 billion and
US$3.8-5.5 billion yr, for a conservative to high-impact scenario range).”
Nations such as
Indonesia that prioritised biological control enjoyed productivity gains in
pest-afflicted banana (1222%) and cassava (322%) far surpassing those of paddy
rice (303%).
“That’s a
phenomenal amount of money and benefit, particularly when compared to other
innovations in the agricultural sector,” says Wyckhuys about the overall
results.
“A good point
of comparison is the Green
Revolution in Asia
during the late 1960s, which tripled the output of local rice production but
also saw a rise of chemical fertilisers, agrochemicals and newer methods of
cultivation.”
The researchers
say their findings are consistent with a recent
global synthesis that
demonstrated the economic value of biological control for arthropod pest
management on the basis of 44 published studies from across the globe.
However, values
in the new study “dwarf those from this recent synthesis largely because they
are founded on a much larger pest complex, more crops, an expansive geographic
coverage and broader underlying assumptions”.
The new
findings, they say, highlight that technological change and its associated
productivity gains are “not exclusively due to improved genetics, mechanisation
or synthesised chemicals, but also involve agro-ecological measures”.
And yet, they
suggest, the discipline of biological control finds itself at a crossroads.
“As
pest–natural enemy interactions are tied to global environmental change,
habitat loss, agrochemical pollution and insect biodiversity decline are
causing net negative impacts,” they write.
“Biological
control equally suffers from declining institutional capacity, a lack of public
recognition, fading attention by the [Consortium of International Agricultural
Research Centres] and increasingly stringent regulations.
“Yet, modern
biological control explicitly balances ecological risks with multifaceted
benefits, and its judicious use can safely reduce invasive species impacts,
ease vector-borne disease burden and exert stabilising effects on commodity
markets.”
Read science facts, not fiction...
https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/agriculture/natural-pest-control-is-saving-billions/
Natural pest
control saving billions
Date:
September 3, 2020
Source:
University of Queensland
Summary:
Biological
control of insect pests - where 'natural enemies' keep pests at bay - is saving
farmers in Asia and the Pacific billions of dollars, according to new research.
Biological control involved the careful release of an exotic natural enemy from
a pest's native habitat.
Share:
FULL STORY
Biological control of insect
pests -- where 'natural enemies' keep pests at bay -- is saving farmers in Asia
and the Pacific billions of dollars, according to University of Queensland-led
research.
Dr Kris Wyckhuys from UQ's School
of Biological Sciences said biological control involved the careful release of
an exotic natural enemy from a pest's native habitat.
"Scientists meticulously
choose co-evolved beneficial insects that are the most effective and least
likely to pose ecological upsets," Dr Wyckhuys said.
"We've reviewed how
biological control introductions have effectively managed 43 insect pests in
food, feed and fibre crops in the Asia-Pacific region over a century."
The team found that biological
control has helped regulate invasive pest threats in multiple key food crops
such as banana, breadfruit and coconut.
"Our work shows these
techniques are saving farmers in Asia around $20.1 billion to $26.8 billion
(US$14.6-19.5 billion) per year," Dr Wyckhuys said.
"That's a phenomenal amount
of money and benefit, particularly when compared to other innovations in the
agricultural sector.
"A good point of comparison
is the Green Revolution in Asia during the late 1960s, which tripled the output
of local rice production but also saw a rise of chemical fertilisers,
agrochemicals and newer methods of cultivation.
"A large part of the Green
Revolution impacts can be ascribed to double-yielding rice varieties, which
generated $4.8 billion (US$4.3 billion) per year in Asia."
UQ's Associate Professor Michael
Furlong said recognition of the success of biological control might lead to
greater uptake and more resilient, prosperous farming globally.
"Biological control offers
great opportunities for some of the world's poorest farmers," Dr Furlong
said.
"It's promoted rural growth
and prosperity even in marginal, poorly endowed, non-rice environments.
"A great example is the
coconut scale (Aspidiotus destructor), which jeopardised the economic
prosperity and food security of entire nations.
"This coconut scale posed a
serious problem to crops like coconut, bananas and copra industries in Fiji at
the start of the Twentieth Century.
"In 1928, lady beetles from
Trinidad and millimetre-long parasitic wasps were introduced, and the results
were almost immediate.
"Coconut scale ceased to be
an economic issue on all of the main Fijian islands within nine months, and
after 18 months, the scale was so rare it was difficult to find.
"These innovative
approaches, with increasingly better science, are helping feed the world,
safeguard on-farm biodiversity and increase farmers' quality of life.
"We're hoping this research
provides lessons for future efforts to mitigate invasive species, restore
ecological resilience, and sustainably increase the output of our global food
system."
Story Source:
Materials provided by University of Queensland. Note: Content may be edited for style and
length.
Journal Reference:
1.
Kris
A. G. Wyckhuys, Yanhui Lu, Wenwu Zhou, Matthew J. W. Cock, Steven E. Naranjo,
Atumurirava Fereti, Frances E. Williams, Michael J. Furlong. Ecological
pest control fortifies agricultural growth in Asia–Pacific economies. Nature
Ecology & Evolution, 2020; DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-01294-y
Cite This Page:
University of Queensland. "Natural pest control saving
billions." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 September 2020.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200903095607.htm>.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200903095607.htm
One
Week Later, Laura's Damage Report Still Unfolding
By Kane Webb
LOCATIONS IN
LOUISIANA, TEXAS, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, & MISSOURI -- It's been a week
since Hurricane Laura made landfall in the rice country of southwest Louisiana,
carving a path of destruction with winds and rain that then moved on through neighboring
states to the north. Effects on the 2020 rice crop are still being
assessed to determine the extent of damage.
"Things are slowly improving, but we've got
a long way to go before we get back to a place we feel comfortable," said
Paul Johnson, who grows rice near Thornwell, in Jeff Davis Parish.
"We will probably feel the effects of this storm for years to come on a
crop that was shaping up to be one of the best we'd seen in several
years."
By the time Laura hit last Thursday, a majority
of the crop in the southern Louisiana parishes had been harvested.
Post-storm, growers are dealing with damage to bins plus extended power outages
that preclude the operation of drying facilities. Power is being restored
in some areas, allowing growers to switch from generators and aeration to full
drying functions, but many dryers may be on backup power for some time.
|
|
|
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Rice farmer Paul
Johnson surveys storm damage (photo by Bruce
Schultz) |
|
Johnson added,
"Rice farmers are resilient, and for those familiar with this industry,
you know we're in it together. Communication and assistance between
fellow growers, millers, and merchants have been coordinated for access to
generators, available storage, and equipment for repairs to those with resources
and those in need."
If there are any positive aspects from the storm
in this region, it is that the storm surge was less than initially expected,
sparing southern parishes from complete destruction of the ratoon crop, and
rainfall amounts have stayed at manageable levels.
Further north, in central and northeast
Louisiana, harvest was just getting underway last week. Damage reports of
down rice across those regions is common. "We feared that the storm
would lodge virtually all of the rice in northeast Louisiana," said Scott
Franklin in Holly Ridge. "It was a pleasant surprise to find that
only about a third of the rice blew over, though we still feel horrible for our
friends in the Acadiana rice region."
Some of the north Louisiana rice crop was just
heading when the storm swept through there and Laura's high winds caused severe
damage to rice in this region.
Following Hurricane Laura's path across
Arkansas, additional thunderstorms have hit the state every day through
Wednesday. East Arkansas, in particular, has no shortage of water due to
rain.
|
|
|
|
|
Aerial view of crop damage at Brantley operation in England, AR |
In central
Arkansas, the Brantley operation has received a total of 8 to 9 inches of rain
in the past week. "We harvested two fields of rice before the storms
hit and as soon as the sun comes out for a few days and dries out our turnrows,
we'll be back in the fields harvesting," said Dow Brantley. "We
were lucky to have less than 5 percent downed rice in our community."
Jeremy Jones and his crew in England were able
to harvest 30 percent of their crop a week before Laura hit. "Most
of our rice is still standing so we're pumping water off a few fields and just
waiting for the fields to dry out. I expect that once we get back in the
fields, we'll harvest straight through. We were hoping for a short break
between harvesting the early and later planted rice but with this week-long
delay, by the time we harvest all of our early rice, the later planted fields
will be ready."
Dr. Jarrod Hardke, state rice specialist at the
Rice Extension Research Station in Stuttgart, said, "The biggest concerns
of producers right now are one, a delay in harvesting rice that is mature and
pushing back overall harvest; two, reduced grain quality from harvest delays;
and three, reduced yield and quality from lodged rice that continues to fall
down worse with additional rains this week. Rutting of fields is also a
concern, more so if we fall into a wet winter again that prohibits early field
work to prepare for next season. Some of the later maturing rice that was
just heading when the hurricane arrived are seeing varying degrees of blanking
due to wind damage, with some experiencing substantial loss." 
The Texas crop was spared, although there was
temporary loss of power to some rice drying facilities. "I have only
seen a very small percentage of main crop rice "down" and honestly
most of that was just squatted and not completely flat," said Dorsey Jones,
branch manager of the Helena facility in Raywood. "Our second crop
rice took no damage either. Farm buildings and grain bins were all still
in good shape with only one farmer south of Beaumont reporting power outages at
his on-farm grain bins. We are currently overall about 85-90 percent
harvested in Liberty, Chambers, and Jefferson Counties."
|
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Laura's aftermath continuesin Arkansas (photo by Harrison
Jones) |
|
Mississippi and Missouri rice farmers also report minimal
damage due to Hurricane Laura. Austin Davis, who farms near Cleveland had
a little rice go down, but it was a small enough amount to be considered
negligible. Zach Tanner, from the Missouri Bootheel, said, "We were
thankful not to have large lodged rice areas, just small spots. However,
it has rained here every day since Thursday last week."
Steve Linscombe, Josh Hankins, and Emily
Woodall contributed to
Before
arrival of Basmati in mandis, farmers, exporters demand waiver of market fee,
rural development cess
They
argued that the move will help farmers get good price for their crop from
exporters, who are the main purchasers of the Basmati, adding that these taxes
are otherwise also refundable to the exporters.
Written
by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | September 3, 2020 9:38:09 am
Basmati
would hit the state’s mandis this month.
Ahead
of the arrival of early varieties of Basmati in mandi, Punjab farmers and
exporters are demanding a waiver of market fee and rural development fund (RDF)
cess charged from exporters when they purchase Basmati from the farmers at
Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) premises.
They
argue that this move will help farmers get good price for their crop from
exporters, who are the main purchasers of the Basmati, adding that these taxes
are otherwise also refundable to the exporters.
Basmati
would hit the state’s mandis this month.
Exporters
said they pay 6.5 per cent tax in total on purchase of Basmati which includes
market committee fee and RDF at the rate of 3 per cent each.
A
leading exporter said: “As per the norms, Basmati exporters are not supposed to
pay any tax and the RDF and market fee charged from them is also refundable.
But for the past 2-3 years, no refund was given to the exporters by the Mandi
Board and over Rs 200 crore of such funds are lying pending with the
government.”
“We
have written to the Punjab government to issue directions to the Mandi Board to
release our long pending Market Fee and RDF dues on priority basis,” said Ashok
Sethi, Director Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association, adding that if
exporters will not get this refund and they are asked to pay both RDF and
market fee then it would affect the farmers ultimately.
Another
leading exporter said that when exporter will be required to pay these heavy
taxes, he will certainly keep the price low at the time of purchase.
Other
exporters that spoke to The Indian Express also Centre’s recent ordinances have raised many important
issues which require immediate intervention of the state government.
“While
Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution against this ordinance, other Basmati
growing states like UP, Haryana, Himachal etc. have accepted the new ordinance
and issued new advisories like waiving off market fee and RDF while levying
‘user charges’ (To use the yard of state Mandis) at very low percentage like
Haryana would charge 1% use charges,” said Sethi, adding that taxes and levies
are much higher in Punjab at over 6.5 per cent and this huge disparity in taxes
and levies would affect the purchase from farmers.
“In
such a condition, exporters will purchase more from those states where user
charges are minimum and will pay less to the farmers here when they will have
to spend more on the taxes,” said an exporter.
They
demanded that the situation should be cleared before Basmati varieties like
1509 hit markets by the first week of September.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Dakaunda General Secretary Jagmohan Singh said that
Basmati is one of the best alternative against Paddy (Parmal rice). “We support
that taxes should not be levied on the traders or exporters when they purchase
it from the farmers in the mandis but certainly when traders sell it further
and make profits, a portion of the profit share must be charged by the
government to utilise that amount for the development of our rural area from
where farmers come to the mandis to sell their produce to the exporters,” he
said.
“When
exporters are free from such charges, government should not charge from them
because they assume that they will not get the refund of these taxes and pay
less to farmers and made big profits from farmers’ produce by exporting the
premium crop,” said a Basmati grower Devinder Singh of Tarn Taran, who grows
Basmati on 50 to 70 acres every year.
Nearly 2.5 Million Tonnes Basmati
is brought to the markets of PMB every year by the farmers.
MP CM orders EOW probe into
low-grade rice
Bhopal,
Sep 3 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday
directed an Economic Offences Wing inquiry into supply of sub-standard rice to
consumers, it was officially learnt.
“No action was initiated by
the predecessor dispensation in the context of rice procured from millers in
Balaghat under the Public Distribution System in February. Connivance at
various levels is suspected. Subsequent to inspection of Balaghat and Mandla
districts, transport from warehouses plus distribution have been discontinued.
As per the milling policy, the second-rate rice will be replaced with that of
satisfactory quality. Inconsistencies perpetrated in the past shall also be
investigated. It is imperative to break the vicious cycle of black-marketeers,”
he averred during a meeting.
http://www.uniindia.com/mp-cm-orders-eow-probe-into-low-grade-rice/north/news/2148355.html
Before arrival of Basmati in mandis, farmers, exporters demand
Before arrival of Basmati in mandis, farmers, exporters demand
waiver of market fee, rural development cess
They argued that the move will help farmers get good price for
their crop from exporters, who are the main purchasers of the Basmati, adding
that these taxes are otherwise also refundable to the exporters.
Ahead
of the arrival of early varieties of Basmati in mandi, Punjab farmers and
exporters are demanding a waiver of market fee and rural development fund (RDF)
cess charged from exporters when they purchase Basmati from the farmers at
Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) premises. They argue that this move will help farmers
get good price for their crop from exporters, who are the main purchasers of
the Basmati, adding that these taxes are otherwise also refundable to the
exporters. Basmati would hit the state’s mandis this month. Exporters said they
pay 6.5 per cent tax in total on purchase of Basmati which includes market
committee fee and RDF at the rate of 3 per cent each.
A leading exporter said: “As per the norms, Basmati exporters are
not supposed to pay any tax and the RDF and market fee charged from them is
also refundable. But for the past 2-3 years, no refund was given to the
exporters by the Mandi Board and over Rs 200 crore of such funds are lying
pending with the government.” “We have written to the Punjab government to
issue directions to the Mandi Board to release our long pending Market Fee and
RDF dues on priority basis,” said Ashok Sethi, Director Punjab Rice Millers and
Exporters Association, adding that if exporters will not get this refund and
they are asked to pay both RDF and market fee then it would affect the farmers
ultimately. Another leading exporter said that when exporter will be required
to pay these heavy taxes, he will certainly keep the price low at the time of purchase.
Other exporters that spoke to The Indian Express also
Centre’s recent ordinances have raised many important issues which require
immediate intervention of the state government. “While Punjab Assembly has
passed a resolution against this ordinance, other Basmati growing states like
UP, Haryana, Himachal etc. have accepted the new ordinance and issued new
advisories like waiving off market fee and RDF while levying ‘user charges’ (To
use the yard of state Mandis) at very low percentage like Haryana would charge
1% use charges,” said Sethi, adding that taxes and levies are much higher in
Punjab at over 6.5 per cent and this huge disparity in taxes and levies would
affect the purchase from farmers. “In such a condition, exporters will purchase
more from those states where user charges are minimum and will pay less to the
farmers here when they will have to spend more on the taxes,” said an exporter.
They demanded that the situation should be cleared before Basmati varieties
like 1509 hit markets by the first week of September. Bhartiya Kisan Union
(BKU) Dakaunda General Secretary Jagmohan Singh said that Basmati is one of the
best alternative against Paddy (Parmal rice). “We support that taxes should not
be levied on the traders or exporters when they purchase it from the farmers in
the mandis but certainly when traders sell it further and make profits, a
portion of the profit share must be charged by the government to utilise that
amount for the development of our rural area from where farmers come to the
mandis to sell their produce to the exporters,” he said. “When exporters are
free from such charges, government should not charge from them because they
assume that they will not get the refund of these taxes and pay less to farmers
and made big profits from farmers’ produce by exporting the premium crop,” said
a Basmati grower Devinder Singh of Tarn Taran, who grows Basmati on 50 to 70
acres every year. Nearly 2.5 Million Tonnes Basmati is brought to the markets
of PMB every year by the farmers.
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