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

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18th March,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

Call to fill posts in agriculture dept

LAHORE:Permanent merit-based appointments should be made in Punjab Agriculture Department to deliver and enhance productivity of this important sector coupled with achieving the goal of result-oriented research work, a farmer body demanded here on Tuesday.

Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) identified what it called a great anomaly in the agriculture research system of Punjab where incompetent junior officers are posted at higher position to please someone or simply due to political pressure, financial gain/corruption or on favoritism for years, said PKI president Khalid Mahmood Khokhar. Such arrangement is allowed only for stopgap arrangement for a period of 3 to 6 months, but officers on such postings for longer period aim to praise their boss or senior officer instead of proving their competence or delivering tangible results, he said.

As many as 21 posts of directors of important Research Institutes of Agriculture Department, Punjab are lying vacant since long and these are occupied by junior scientists on Additional/Look After/Own pay & scale in addition to their own responsibilities. These include post of Director Agri (Research), AARI, Faisalabad which lacks permanent posting since 30.06.2012, Director, Fodder Research Institute, Sargodha since 31.10.2016, Director, Vegetable Res. Institute, Faisalabad since 04.08.2015, Director, Maize and Millets Research Institute, Sahiwal since 04.05.2016, Director, Oilseeds Research Institute, Faisalabad since 26.01.2017, Director, Wheat Research Institute, Faisalabad since 30.09.2017, Director, Cotton Research Institute, Multan since 29.03.2016, Director, Potato Research Institute, Sahiwal since 23.12.2014, Director, Arid Zone Research Institute, Bhakkar since 31.10.2015, Director, Regional Agri. Research Institute, Bahawalpur since 20.04.2017, Director, Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad since 13.08.2016, Director, Agronomic Research Institute, Faisalabad since 14.03.2016, Director, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Faisalabad since 04.05.2015, Director, Institute of Soil Chemistry & Environment Sciences, Kala Shah Kaku since 01.11.2015, Director, Soil & Water Conservation Research Institute, Chakwal since 15.10.2015, Director, Soil Salinity Research Institute Pindi Bhattian since 24.05.2015, Director, Horticultural Research Institute, Faisalabad since 31.01.2018, Director, Mango Research Institute, Multan since 19.07.2016, Director, Post-Harvest Research Centre, Faisalabad since 26.08.2017, Director, Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku since 22.10.2018 and Director, Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal since 25.10.2018, he said.

These directors are considered leaders of professional teams and responsible for planning & execution of research programme and technology transfer of important research institutes including wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize, oilseed, vegetables. Our economy is agriculture-based and junior offices or irrelevant officers are appointed as directors of these important crops. This situation badly affecting R&D activities of these institutes, Khokhar lamented.

Further the post of Chief Executive, Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB), Lahore is vacant since 22.10.2018 and posts of Member of PARB are also vacant.

The PARB has an effective Competitive Grant System (CGS) for funding output oriented agricultural research projects. The unavailability of CE & Members is impeding ongoing activities of PARB funded projects and funding to new research proposals, he said.

Pakistan Kissan Ittehad demand that this anomaly be rectified immediately and right man for the right job strategy be prevailed by appointing the deserving scientists on the posts of directors in Punjab. Secondly, post of Chief Executive and members of PARB be appointed on regular basis. So that activities of these important Research Institutes and PARB may regain their pace, it said.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/630945-call-to-fill-posts-in-agriculture-dept

Scientists optimise prime editing for rice and wheat

Prime editing is a ‘search-and-replace’ genome editing technology in molecular biology by which the genome of living organisms may be modified to include desired traits.

Many genetic and breeding studies have shown that point mutations and indels (insertions and deletions) can alter elite traits in crop plants. Although nuclease-initiated homology-directed repair (HDR) can generate such changes, it is said to be limited by its low efficiency. Base editors are robust tools for creating base transitions, but not transversions, insertions or deletions. Thus, there is a pressing need for new genome engineering approaches in plants, according to researchers.

David R. Liu and his colleagues at Harvard University developed a new genome editing approach, prime editing, which uses engineered Cas9 nickase (H840A)-reverse transcriptase (RT) fusion proteins paired with a prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA) that encodes the desired edit in human cells.

Recently, a research team led by Professor GAO Caixia of the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported the optimisation of a prime editing system (PPE system) for creating desired point mutations, insertions and deletions in two major cereal crops, namely, rice and wheat. The main components of a PPE system are a Cas9 nickase-RT fusion protein and a pegRNA.

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Using the PPE system, these researchers produced all 12 kinds of single base substitutions, as well as multiple point mutations and small DNA insertions and deletions at nine rice and seven wheat sites in protoplasts, with efficiencies up to 19.2 percent. The efficiency of PPE was said to be strongly affected by the length of the primer binding site (PBS) and RT template.

Although byproducts (off-target effects) were generated by the PPE system, they can be reduced by optimising RT template length. Moreover, using a PPE system optimised for plants, they found that the original RT could be replaced by CaMV-RT (from the cauliflower mosaic virus) and retron-derived RT (from E. coli BL21). Prime editing efficiency was also improved at some targets by using their PPE-Ribozyme (PPE-R) and by incubating at 37°C.

Furthermore, GAO and her collaborators were able to create stable mutant rice plants carrying G-to-T point mutations, multinucleotide substitutions, and a number of desired 6-nt deletions, with a mutant production efficiency approaching 22 percent. The researchers stated that it is noteworthy that these three types of mutation are very difficult to produce with current editing tools.

“Although the efficiency of the PPE system is lower than that of base editors, it is still an appealing new tool for creating all 12 types of single-point mutation, mixtures of different substitutions, and insertions and deletions. The system thus has great potential for plant breeding and functional genomics research,” said Caixia.

https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/107419/scientists-optimise-prime-editing-for-rice-and-wheat/

Impact of regional food systems on Environment

By

 Sakthi Akshaya

 -Tuesday, 17 March 2020, 02:57 IST

Researchers of Princeton University have made efforts to find the relationships between food systems in the cities and climatic changes, water use, and land use.

They focus on urbanization, considering it a key driver for environmental changes. Anu Ramaswami, the co-author, and Professor of civil and environmental engineering says, “Our approach reveals differences between urban food systems both within and across countries. However,  we now have a common methodology to identify which policies would result in what levels of environmental mitigation.”

The study was carried out in two major cities in India and the US. The greenhouse gas emissions, the water and land use for food systems were analyzed in the cities of Delhi, Pondichery in India and New York and Minneapolis in the US.

In general, the researchers concluded that only dietary changes and waste management came out as the most effective ways to reduce the food leftovers of the city. This will be accompanied by slight differences among different cities.

The four cities were selected such that they provided contrasting population size, infrastructure, diet, and other characteristics between them, so that we could drive to general conclusions.

Besides, dietary changes and waste management, the study also analyzed the potential footprint reductions of policies to promote urban agriculture and change food preparation methods. The following three parameters were analyzed:

Meat consumption

New York and Minneapolis are large consumers of meat. so, when all their meat consumption was replaced by legumes and lentils the land use slid down by more than half, the greenhouse emissions went down by 34 percent and water use by 24 percent. This same reduction can also be brought about by replacing beef and mutton with poultry and pork, according to the report.

India consumes much lower meat than the US. The meat consumption of an average person in Delhi is 4 kilograms per year and that of a man in Pondichery is 11 kilograms whereas it is 59 kilograms per person in the US. However, rice is a significant contributor to greenhouse emissions. Replacing rice by wheat can bring down the footprint levels in India.

Food Waste Management

Improved food waste management will certainly lead to benefits in all four cities, according to the report. The most useful ways to reduce waste differed based on the nature of waste accumulation in the respective countries.

In the US, eliminating avoidable household food waste reduces both water use and land use by about 18 percent in Minneapolis and 11 percent in New York. It also could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 10 percent in both cities. In India, however, food wastes generated prior to consumption is by itself a larger problem, as techniques for harvesting, transportation, and food storage are not much efficient.

Food processing

Food processing is an integral part of food systems all over the world. This accounts for about 20 percent of the food system greenhouse gas emissions in the US cities. In India,  the emissions associated with food processing are relatively negligible.  But now that some policymakers have proposed increasing food processing as a way to decrease food waste, the effects will be nullified on the whole.

How to Implement the policies and reduce the environmental impact of food footprints?

The researchers are analyzing and working on the plans that easier to implement. For instance, switching diets from rice to wheat in Pondichery could achieve the same reduction in land use as that by reducing pre-consumer food waste.  However, the latter is much easy to bring into practice.

On the other hand, in the US, lowering meat consumption might be more realistic than reducing food waste.

“Our research gives us information on the environmental aspects of urban food system actions, but the food system is very multifaceted”, says one of the researchers. “There are cultural aspects, there’s health aspects, equity considerations. So, this is one tool that we can pair with other tools to inform a holistic food action plan.”

https://omfut.com/health/impact-of-regional-food-systems-on-environment/

Indo-Pak nuclear war could cause worst food losses in modern history: Study

17 MARCH 2020  Last Updated at 2:48 PM | SOURCE: PTI

Washington, Mar 17 (PTI) A limited nuclear war between India and Pakistan may lead to the worst global food losses in modern history, according to a first-of-its-kind study.

The study, published in the journal PNAS, found that sudden global cooling from a war using less than 1 per cent of nuclear weapons worldwide, along with less precipitation and sunlight, could disrupt food production and trade worldwide for about a decade.

This would be more than the impact from man-made climate change by late 21st century, according to the researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in the US.

While the impacts of global warming on agricultural productivity have been studied extensively, the implications of sudden cooling for global crop growth are little understood, they said.

"Our results add to the reasons that nuclear weapons must be eliminated because if they exist, they can be used with tragic consequences for the world," said study study co-author Alan Robock, a professor at Rutgers University.

"As horrible as the direct effects of nuclear weapons would be, more people could die outside the target areas due to famine,” he said.

Robock co-authored a recent study published in the journal Science Advances estimating that over 100 million people could die immediately if India and Pakistan wage a nuclear war, followed by global mass starvation.

For the latest study, scientists used a scenario of 5 million tonnes of black smoke from massive fires injected into the upper atmosphere that could result from using only 100 nuclear weapons.

That would cool the Earth by 1.8 degrees Celsius, and lead to 8 per cent lower precipitation and less sunlight for at least five years.

Scientists included those climate change scenarios in computer simulations for four major crops that account for 90 per cent of global cereal production in terms of calories.

The scientists found that corn calorie production would fall by 13 per cent, wheat by 11 per cent, rice by 3 per cent and soybeans by 17 per cent over five years.

Total first-year losses of 12 per cent would be four times larger than any food shortage in history, such as those caused by historic droughts and volcanic eruptions, the researchers said.

Analyses of food trade networks show that domestic reserves and global trade can largely buffer the loss of food production in the first year, they said.

However, the researchers noted that multi-year losses would reduce domestic food availability, especially in food-insecure countries.

By year five, corn and wheat availability would decrease by 13 per cent globally and by more than 20 per cent in 71 countries with a total of 1.3 billion people, the study found.

Corn production in the US and Canada -- representing more than 40 per cent of global production -- would drop by 17.5 per cent. Robock said the scenario with 5 million tonnes of smoke was developed more than a decade ago.

Scientists now think that 16 million tonness of smoke could arise from a nuclear war between India and Pakistan since they now have more and bigger weapons and their potential targets are larger.

This means the impacts could be three-fold larger, according to the researchers. PTI SAR SAR

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/indopak-nuclear-war-could-cause-worst-food-losses-in-modern-history-study/1768657

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USA Rice President & CEO Addresses Domestic Rice Supply Amidst COVID-19 

WASHINGTON, DC -- As the effects of COVID-19 are being felt in the U.S. and around the world, consumers are rushing to stockpile groceries and household supplies in fear of being quarantined or isolated in their homes for weeks.  This has led to a run on household cleaning products, paper products, and many canned and dried goods, including rice. 

Social media platforms are full of pictures of empty store shelves, fueling rumors of shortages, and potentially fueling additional panic and hoarding.

USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward issued the following statement:

"U.S. consumers need not be concerned about a shortage of U.S.-grown rice.  There is no shortage.  Rice is a nutritious and inexpensive staple that when kept under the right conditions can last almost indefinitely, so it makes sense consumers would want an ample supply on hand during this crisis. 

"If you see depleted rice shelves in your local grocery store, it is not a supply problem, it is a signifier of changing logistics in the retail market.  For a few years now, stores that used to keep one month or more of products on hand have largely shifted to a 'just-in-time' model to improve their efficiency.  When there is a surge in consumer interest for a particular product, supplies on hand may be depleted, but will be quickly replenished.  This is the case for U.S.-grown rice.

"Not only are shipments of sustainably-grown U.S. rice on the way to stores now, but this is also the time of year when our thousands of family farmers are out in the fields or preparing to be, planting the next crop to ensure our supply of delicious, safe rice never runs out."  

USA Rice Daily

Lahore-based B2B marketplace gets Y Combinator’s backing

By News Desk

March 16, 2020

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Tajir, a Lahore-based B2B marketplace for mom and pop stores, has finally made it to Y Combinator to capture local market.

The new start-up is part of Y Combinator’s ongoing (W20) batch and will graduate from the accelerator today (Monday) after the demo day. The Pakistani start-up has received $150,000 investment from Y Combinator as part of the programme.

Founded in 2018 by a brother duo, Babar Khan and Ismail Khan, Tajir makes it easy for the mom and pop store owners in the country to procure inventory for their stores through its marketplace. The startup currently sells fast moving consumer good (FMCG) products including soft drinks, biscuits, shampoo, and food staples like rice and wheat.

These stores (locally known as kiryana stores) are generally run by a single person who normally buys a large part of their inventory from multiple sources at the wholesale market by spending hours there. It means that whenever they do this, the store remains closed.

Tajir solves this and a few other very big problems for these stores by letting them buy through an Urdu-only mobile app that has over 1,000 SKUs with transparent pricing. The startup offers next-day delivery with its own fulfillment service Tajir Express.

It also has a third-party marketplace where the sellers handle fulfillment themselves. It claims to have over 15,000 stores currently using its services in Central Punjab (mainly Lahore). It is the only region where Tajir is available right now.

For the sellers (which include large FMCG companies and more), it makes it easy to sell to a large number of stores and also handle fulfillment if they choose to use Tajir Express. To put in simple words, they’re trying to bring order to this sector that is informal and fragmented.

There are hundreds of thousands of these stores in Pakistan but all of them suffer from similar issues and sellers always find it difficult to supply to stores.

The Khan brothers, who grew up in Lahore but studied and worked abroad, have known these issues from their young age as their father ran an FMCG retail business in Pakistan for 30 years, but decided to take them on less than two years ago.

Babar Khan, the co-founder of Tajir, speaking to a news outlet, said, “We’re building the infrastructure for commerce in Pakistan, which means Tajir should facilitate any store to increase their income. Right now, that means providing the largest selection, transparent prices, and next-day delivery. We are expanding our catalog continually with more brands and product categories.”

Tajir has raised capital from Y Combinator only. They haven’t confirmed but it is obvious that after their graduation from the programme, they would be looking to raise more to support their growth and expansion.

The Lahore-based startup makes money by collecting a take rate on each transaction. The margins in wholesale of groceries are usually very thin, but the founders, speaking to the media outlet, said that during Y Combinator, they were able to show that their unit economics work.

Ismail Khan, the co-founder of Tajir, said it has been phenomenal, “The mentorship and connections from the YC community are unparalleled.”

There have been two startups from Pakistan- Markhor and Cowlar- that have participated in Y Combinator’s previous batches, but Tajir is the first to target the Pakistani market.

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/03/16/lahore-based-b2b-marketplace-gets-y-combinators-backing/

Sindh, KP governments to provide ration for coronavirus patients' families

Geo.tv/Illustration

KARACHI/PESHAWAR: The governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday announced rations for families of people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed for ration packages — including 20 kilogrammes worth of flour, 10 kilos each of rice and sugar, a carton of one-litre milk, five kilos of pulses, and five boxes of tea — to be provided to the coronavirus affectees' families, a notification issued by the KP government's Relief Department read.

The provincial health department would collect information, including addresses, of the recipients and the relevant deputy commissioner would distribute the government's package. In this regard, records would be maintained by the home department as well.

Earlier today, KP Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra had confirmed that the government "received news that 15 of 19 individuals received in KP from Taftan have tested positive for Corona Virus" and that they were "the first positive cases in KP".

On the other hand, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed for rations to be provided to the families of people kept in the isolation centre in Sukkur.

"Your breadwinners are in isolation, you must be worried about daily income," Shah said. "Don't worry about those in isolation centre; focus on your health instead."

The Sindh leadership would not let you go hungry, he added, stressing to the local government minister that the rations should be delivered to the pilgrims' residences without any media coverage.

Roads From Pakistan Close, Food Prices Spike

The price of flour and other commodities doubled in Kabul over the last 24 hours.

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With reports of increasing cases of COVID-19 in Afghanistan, and Pakistan's closing of roadways from Afghanistan and Iran, the price of food and other supplies has doubled in Kabul markets over the past 24 hours, causing hundreds of residents to stockpile emergency food and supplies.

The Ministry of Interior acted immediately by sending a statement to businesspeople saying not to hoard goods (to sell at a higher price later), warning them that it was a crime and that perpetrators will be punished.

But prices had already skyrocketed.

In the last 24 hours, a 49kg bag of flour doubled from Afs900 ($11)  to Afs1,800 ($22) on Monday morning, and was even going for Afs2,500 (32) in some parts of the city.

This created panic among Kabul residents who in some areas stood in line to buy supplies for at least the next three months.

“If there is a government there should be control of the market,” said Zabihullah, a shopkeeper in Kabul. “I asked the price--it was Afs1,800 for one bag of flour-- and now (in the afternoon) they say they don’t have it.”

“I asked the shopkeeper--he said they do not have flour--but he did have it in his shop. The price is increasing rapidly,” said Saif-Ur-Rahman, a Kabul resident.

The prices of other foods, including rice and ghee, also increased by 50%, according to Kabul residents.

“People should be patient. The imports are on their way. People should not panic,” said Sayed Kamal Farid Sapai, the head of the commodities sellers union in Kabul.

Pakistan and some other countries, including Uzbekistan, cut supply lines with Afghanistan, but according to the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, the import of supplies--including flour--has not been affected by this restriction.

Afghanistan imports its flour mostly from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan. 

“The Turkmenistan border is open normally… There is no problem. The trucks are coming and are carrying commodities. The Uzbekistan border is also open,” said Yunus Mohmand, deputy head of the chamber.

https://tolonews.com/business/roads-pakistan-close-food-prices-spike

Panic buying hits select commodities in Karachi

Aamir Shafaat KhanUpdated March 17, 2020

Consumers are mainly making a beeline at super stores rather than retail markets. — Dawn/File

KARACHI: Panic buying in some markets has created shortage of key commodities like branded flour bags besides pushing up demand for items including pulses, ghee/cooking oil, sugar and rice by 20-30 per cent.

Ashrafi fine flour bag have disappeared from the markets while stocks of Bake Parlour flour left in shops are hardly 20pc. Shopkeepers were seen insisting that buyers pick loose fine flour or chakki flour for themselves.

Some retailers who have stocks of Bake Parlour brand made windfall by charging Rs310-350 per five kg bag as compared to Rs270-280 prior to the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan. Similarly, the10kg bag of this brand is being sold for Rs600-620 as compared to Rs540-550 earlier.

Producer of Ashrafi brand has not supplied flour bags for the past one week while available stocks have sold out in view of panic buying by consumers who fear lockdowns and food shortage in coming days, retailers said. A similar account was given by retailers of Bake Parlour flour.

Citing a reason of flour shortage, a miller said factories have not received wheat from the Sindh government for last eight to 10 days. We have been running our mills on new wheat crop which is available in open market at Rs3,850 per 100 kg bag, he added.

Chairman Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Sindh Zone, Khalid Masood said people had indulged in panic buying mainly at super stores and retail markets, “thereby exhausting all stocks.”

“We are working on normal production,” he said while ruling out any shortage of wheat and flour in the city in coming days.

“New wheat stock has already hit the markets while the grain from Passco is also arriving at the mills. Flour is available in abundance,” he further claimed.

General Secretary Karachi Retail Grocers Group (KRGG) Farid Qureishi said barring massive sales of flour, other commodities including ghee/cooking oil, pulses, rice and sugar saw a buying surge of 20pc in the last four to five days.

He said consumers are mainly making a beeline at super stores rather than retail markets. “At super stores, they are actually buying goods using credit card instead of cash,” he claimed.

Patron-in-Chief Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA) Anis Majeed said wholesale market have seen revival in sales of essential commodities from retailers in the last three to four days owing to 25-30pc rise in sale of goods at retail markets.

Despite soaring demand, he said, the wholesale market would not witness any food items shortage owing to ample stocks.

Ghee/Cooking oil

Stakeholders in edible oil industry gave different view. President IMGC Group and former chairman Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA), Sheikh Amjad Rasheed, said he had to increase production capacity at three of his mills. “There is an additional demand triggered by panic of coronavirus outbreak as well as meeting the needs of utility stores and retail markets.

“Our Multan factory is producing 150 tonnes per day of ghee and cooking oil as compared to 100 tonnes per day two months ago. Similarly, 200 tonnes per day of ghee and oil is being produced at Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa factories from 100 tonnes per day earlier on.”

Amjad said in times of food crisis, ghee and cooking oil comes at last spot after major demand of flour, pulses, sugar and rice.

Former Chairman PVMA, Abdul Majeed Haji Mohammad said demand of ghee and cooking oil had definitely gone up by 20pc in the last few days.

However, he said, he has not increased production capacity at his factory despite upcoming demand in Ramazan starting from third week of next month. “I think we have time to think on demand situation as consumption of oil and ghee also slows down in summer and people may come in the market for Ramazan buying after April 10.”

He said many people had lifted ghee and cooking oil earlier this month and then made a second attempt in the last few days to cover up stocks of current month and next month in case of serious food crisis. If coronavirus epidemic subsides by end of March or first week of April, then many people would already have ghee and cooking oil stocks at home.

Former Vice Chairman PVMA and President Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Sheikh Umer Rehan said only 1pc of highly panicked elite class thronged super stores and markets in Karachi to lift bulk quantities of ghee and cooking oil while cash hit buyers are just watching the situation. He claimed that buyers in Punjab had still not resorted to panic buying.

“I have not increased production of ghee and cooking oil on paltry jump in demand,” he said, stressing the country still has 400,000 tonnes of palm oil stocks which are enough for two months.

“Wholesalers are not lifting ghee and cooking oil as they anticipate drop in prices in view of falling palm oil prices in world markets after coronavirus,” he added.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1541498/panic-buying-hits-select-commodities-in-karachi

PML Daily CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: Rwanda fixes food prices as coronavirus cases rise to seven

 BY GEORGE OKELLO | PML DAILY SENIOR CORRESPONDENT

 March 17, 2020

Rwanda Trade minister, Ms Soraya Hakuziyaremye highlighted on country’s food price fixation (PHOTO/File).

KIGALI – Rwanda’s Trade Ministry has fixed food prices in order to prevent markets from hiking them during the coronavirus outbreak.

Ms Soraya Hakuziyaremye, the Rwanda Trade minister, said there is no reason why many companies and traders should take advantage of the emergency situation over coronavirus to increase food prices.

Some of the food prices whose prices have been fixed increase maize, beans, bananas, sugar, rice, cooking oil. For instance, for a 25kg bag of rice, the Trade Ministry has fixed at Rw18,000 and a kilogramme at between Rw750 and 800. For Pakistan rice, a 25kg bag has been fixed at Rw20,500 or 900 a kilo.

A kilo of sugar has been fixed at between Rw850 and Rw1,000. Cooking oil has been fixed at between Rw1500-2000 per litre.

The measures come after the Rwanda government on Saturday suspended learning in schools until further notice after reporting a coronavirus case. Two more people tested positive on Sunday. The number of the novel coronavirus cases in Rwanda rose to seven on Monday following two more people who tested positive on Monday.

The recent cases include that of a Rwandan woman whose husband tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday with recent travel history in Fiji, United States and Qatar. The other is a 61-year old German native who arrived in Rwanda on March 13, from Germany via Istanbul.

The government also requires all taxi-moto operators to remove the helmet screens for passengers to limit the possibility of spreading the virus.

The East African Community has suspended with immediate effect all meetings (statutory and otherwise) due to the novel coronavirus #Covid_19 outbreak.

Other African countries with coronavirus cases include Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Nigeria, https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2020/03/16/even-limited-india-pakistan-nuclear-war-would-bring-global-famine/

Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Somalia.

https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2020/03/pml-daily-coronavirus-update-rwanda-fixes-food-prices-as-coronavirus-cases-rise-to-seven.html

Even a Limited India-Pakistan Nuclear War Would Bring Global Famine, Says Study

Soot From Firestorms Would Reduce Faraway Crop Production for Years

BY KEVIN KRAJICK |MARCH 16, 2020

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The concept of nuclear winter—a years-long planetary freeze brought on by airborne soot generated by nuclear bombs—has been around for decades. But such speculations have been based largely on back-of-the-envelope calculations involving a total war between Russia and the United States. Now, a new multinational study incorporating the latest models of global climate, crop production and trade examines the possible effects of a less gargantuan but perhaps more likely exchange between two longtime nuclear-armed enemies: India and Pakistan. It suggests that even a limited war between the two would cause unprecedented planet-wide food shortages and probable starvation lasting more than a decade. The study appears this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Of an estimated 14,000 nuclear warheads worldwide, close to 95 percent belong to the United States and Russia. India and Pakistan are thought to have about 150 each. The study examines the potential effects if they were to each set off 50 Hiroshima-size bombs—less than 1 percent of the estimated world arsenal.

Average changes in maize yield in the five years following a nuclear war between Pakistan and India. (Adapted from Jägermeyr et al., 2020)

In addition to direct death and destruction, the authors say that firestorms following the bombings would launch some 5 million tons of soot toward the stratosphere. There, it would spread globally and remain, absorbing sunlight and lowering global mean temperatures by about 1.8 degrees C (3.25 F) for at least five years. The scientists project that this would in turn cause production of the world’s four main cereal crops—maize, wheat, soybeans and rice—to plummet an average 11 percent over that period, with tapering effects lasting another five to 10 years.

“Even this regional, limited war would have devastating indirect implications worldwide,” said Jonas Jägermeyr, a postdoctoral scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies who led the study. “It would exceed the largest famine in documented history.”

According to the study, crops would be hardest hit in the northerly breadbasket regions of the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia and China. But paradoxically, southerly regions would suffer much more hunger. That is because many developed nations in the north produce huge surpluses, which are largely exported to nations in the Global South that are barely able to feed themselves. If these surpluses were to dry up, the effects would ripple out through the global trade system. The authors estimate that some 70 largely poor countries with a cumulative population of 1.3 billion people would then see food supplies drop more than 20 percent.

Some adverse effects on crops would come from shifts in precipitation and solar radiation, but the great majority would stem from drops in temperature, according to the study. Crops would suffer most in countries north of 30 degrees simply because temperatures there are lower and growing seasons shorter to begin with. Even modest declines in growing-season warmth could leave crops struggling to mature, and susceptible to deadly cold snaps. As a result, harvests of maize, the world’s main cereal crop, could drop by nearly 20 percent in the United States, and an astonishing 50 percent in Russia. Wheat and soybeans, the second and third most important cereals, would also see steep declines. In southerly latitudes, rice might not suffer as badly, and cooler temperatures might even increase maize harvests in parts of South America and Africa. But this would do little to offset the much larger declines in other regions, according to the study.

Farmers in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh separate rice from chaff. (Kevin Krajick/Earth Institute)

Since many developed countries produce surpluses for export, their excess production and reserves might tide them over for at least a few years before shortages set in. But this would come at the expense of countries in the Global South. Developed nations almost certainly would impose export bans in order to protect their own populations, and by year four or five, many nations that today already struggle with malnutrition would see catastrophic drops in food availability. Among those the authors list as the hardest hit: Somalia, Niger, Rwanda, Honduras, Syria, Yemen and Bangladesh.

If nuclear weapons continue to exist, “they can be used with tragic consequences for the world,” said study coauthor Alan Robock, a climatologist at Rutgers University who has long studied the potential effects of nuclear war. “As horrible as the direct effects of nuclear weapons would be, more people could die outside the target areas due to famine.”

Previously, Jägermeyr has studied the potential effects of global warming on agriculture, which most scientists agree will suffer badly. But, he said, a sudden nuclear-caused cooling would hit food systems far worse.  And, looking backward, the the effects on food availability would be four times worse than any previously recorded global agriculture upsets caused by droughts, floods, or volcanic eruptions, he said.

The study might be erring on the conservative side. For one, India and Pakistan may well have bombs far bigger than the ones the scientists use in their assumptions. For another, the study leaves India and Pakistan themselves out of the crop analyses, in order to avoid mixing up the direct effects of a war with the indirect ones. That aside, Jägermeyr said that one could reasonably assume that food production in the remnants of the two countries would drop essentially to zero. The scientists also did not factor in the possible effects of radioactive fallout, nor the probability that floating soot would cause the stratosphere to heat up at the same time the surface was cooling. This would in turn cause stratospheric ozone to dissipate, and similar to the effects of now-banned refrigerants, this would admit more ultraviolet rays to the earth’s surface, damaging humans and agriculture even more.

Much attention has been focused recently on North Korea’s nuclear program, and the potential for Iran or other countries to start up their own arsenals. But many experts have long regarded Pakistan and India as the most dangerous players, because of their history of near-continuous conflict over territory and other issues. India tested its first nuclear weapon in 1974, and when Pakistan followed in 1998, the stakes grew. The two countries have already had four full-scale conventional wars, in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999, along with many substantial skirmishes in between. Recently, tensions over the disputed region of Kashmir have flared again.

“We’re not saying a nuclear conflict is around the corner. But it is important to understand what could happen,” said  Jägermeyr.

The paper was coauthored by a total of 19 scientists from five countries, including three others from Goddard, which is affiliated with Columbia University’s Earth Institute: Michael Puma, Alison Heslin and Cynthia Rosenzweig. Jägermeyr also has affiliations with the University of Chicago and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

The official Trader Joe’s frozen food power rankings

Trader Joe’s frozen food, ranked.

(Martina Ibáñez-Baldor and Lucas Kwan Peterson / Los Angeles Times)

By LUCAS KWAN PETERSONFOOD COLUMNIST 

MARCH 17, 2020

5 AM

2020, if you haven’t noticed, isn’t going particularly well. Social distancing and self-quarantining are two gerunds we’ve all become very familiar with over the last weeks, and as far as food goes, it means one thing: You’re eating at home more. Whether you’re getting takeout from your favorite restaurants or scouring the CVS shelves for beans and hand sanitizer, we’re all eating more meals on the couch.

Which brings us to Trader Joe’s, the place for millennials who don’t like to cook but do like to drink. Joe Coulombe, who died last month at 89, ingeniously created a chain where each branch somehow seems as friendly as a small-town grocery store. Hand-written signs, the signature Aloha-shirt uniform, the fact that employees are actually, you know, reasonably helpful and friendly. Their little Fearless Flyer newsletter, looking cribbed straight from the Farmers’ Almanac, as old-timey as a shop that spells the word “shoppe,” might distract you from the fact that the chain was sold in 1979 to the Albrecht family, founders of the multibillion-dollar German behemoth Aldi.

I have a Martin Luther-esque list of grievances about the store: Why is it Trader Joe’s-branded everything? Do you expect me to believe that yogurt and those peanut butter pretzels and that fried rice all came out of one magical factory in Monrovia? Why can’t you buy, like, normal grocery store things like aluminum foil? But those are for another time. People are stressed out, and people gotta eat.

Here are the scientifically proven and totally correct Trader Joe’s Frozen Food Power Rankings, freshly wiped down this morning with the last can of Clorox wipes on earth. I have tried no fewer than 37 different Trader Joe’s frozen food products (Did I omit your favorite? I’m sure I did!), which I have ranked based on two metrics: 1) Taste and 2) Laziness Factor — how easy was the prep and cleanup? (Factors in oven time if that’s recommended. A higher ranking means it’s easier.) As Trader Ming would say, 慢慢吃!

1) Maître Pierre Tarte d’Alsace

This very good take on an Alsatian tarte flambée or a flammkuchen will make you feel like you’re a kid in eastern France, getting annexed all over again. It’s a crispy, buttery dough base layer smeared with crème fraîche and sprinkled with Gruyere cheese and little batons of ham.

This has been a staple of the T.J. frozen food pantheon for as long as I can remember, and for good reason: The flaky crust combines impeccably with the delicate onions, nutty cheese and sweet-smoky ham. Also: Maître Pierre? Where’s Trader Jacques?

2) Korma fish curry

Hey. This is a winner. Are those mustard seeds in that rice? Is the fish — a swai (a freshwater shark catfish) fillet — flaky and tender? Is that just the right balance of heat in the creamy, coconut-ty, tamarind-tinged sauce? The answer to all of these is a resounding “yes,” as is my response to the question, “should I buy this?”

3) Korean-style beef short ribs

These marinated flaps of “L.A. galbi” (so-named because Koreans who moved to Los Angeles had to adjust to how meat was butchered in the U.S. and brought that flanken-style across-the-bone cut back to Korea) compellingly balance sweet and savory. The brown sugar in the marinade helps with the caramelization to the meat, offsetting the funky rice wine and garlicky thrust, but without getting into sticky teriyaki territory. The prep and cleanup is a little tough, but it’s worth it to feel like you’ve landed a seat at a totally decent Hawaiian lunch counter somewhere.

4) Cauliflower gnocchi

Slow clap. Count me as a member of the Sarcastic Clapping Family of Southampton, because I’m duly impressed. I had my doubts about this product because of its popularity (one of the bestselling items, according to the Trader Joe’s crew leader I spoke to at my local store), but I was surprised how good these are.

Unlike the prep of other frozen T.J. gnocchi, wherein you just toss the little suckers into a hot pan, these cauliflower gnocchi are steamed back to life first before they get crisped up in the pan. The extra step results in a mouthfeel that could nearly convince you that they weren’t from the freezer.

If you’re generally a fan of the bitter pepperiness of Brassica oleracea, which includes cabbage and Brussels sprouts, you’re going to like these. Served with cheese sprinkled on top, they conjure broccoli, but you’ll probably be happier dousing them in sauce — TJ’s jarred arrabiata or its frozen turkey bolognese aren’t bad choices.

5) Butter chicken with basmati rice

Butter chicken isn’t as complex or interesting as some (many?) other Indian dishes, but it, like kung pao chicken, has broad appeal. And this is an earthy, satisfying, faithful representation of the dish.

Butter chicken was supposedly created in the kitchen of Moti Mahal, a Delhi restaurant that opened in 1947. The sauce in this rendition has a tomato-inflected creaminess and some slight smokiness to give it depth. Would I like it if the sauce weren’t quite so thin? I would, but I can’t carp about the flavor. The rice holds up well, even after half an hour in the oven.

(Martina Ibáñez-Baldor and Lucas Kwan Peterson / Los Angeles Times)

6) Chicken & mushroom pelmeni

I enjoyed these — but I am a fan of pelmeni. These cute, aural Russian dumplings — pelmeni comes from a word that translates to “ear bread” — are stuffed with a bouncy-textured filling that almost crosses the line into rubbery but manages not to go too far. There’s a nice dill flavor to the dish, which cuts the salt and umami of the chicken and mushroom filling. на здоровье!

7) Fiery chicken curry

Described as a “Goan-inspired recipe with turmeric rice” the fiery chicken mostly delivers. The sweet and sour tomato-based sauce, flavored with tamarind, lulls you into satiation before a sneaky heat comes over and backhands you. It’s slightly more herbal and bitter than some of the other T.J. curries and good if you want a little extra kick.

8) Chicken cilantro mini wontons

Cute is an operable descriptor for these tiny, adorable little meat pockets. They’re not that different than most of the other T.J. dumpling offerings, but there’s an added herbal tanginess to the filling imparted by the cilantro. You do, of course, have to not be one of those people who thinks cilantro tastes like soap.

9) Palak paneer

What’s with the Indian food at Trader Joe’s? It’s better than any other category of frozen food in the store by, like, a metric ton. This palak paneer, spiced with fenugreek and turmeric, has the right amount of heat in the creamy, slightly grassy spinach. Cheese cubes, swimming in the sea of green, add a pleasing squeak.

10) Burrata, prosciutto & arugula flatbread

In an interesting prep experience, you completely remove the prosciutto package before backing the flatbread, then add the somewhat skimpy meat portion to the completed product. The cheese mixture is sharp and tangy, but the arugula, after sitting in a hot oven, essentially has all the oomph of spinach, totally lacking any peppery sharpness. The ham imparts needed salt and the overall flavor is good, with an above-average crust, but Tombstone isn’t quaking in their boots over it.

11) Spanikopita

In the “hard to mess up” category, it’s still important to acknowledge when something is done right. Frozen phyllo dough crisps up awesomely in the oven, and the slick, cheesy spinach filling is no better or worse than we need it to be. Serve these up at a little dinner party for your friends and make them think you’re fancier and more skilled in the kitchen than you are. (Actually, they won’t be fooled and will 100% know you got these from Trader Joe’s but hey, it’s not like they invited you over!)

12) Joe’s Diner Mac ’N Cheese

This doesn’t look like much going into the oven, and it doesn’t look like much coming out, either: a tray of lumpy, alabaster slop. But it has the pleasing graininess that only thiamine mononitrate has, as well as satisfying gooey stretchiness. It’s souped-up cafeteria fare, better than Kraft or Velveeta, but not quite “Diner” in its quality or evocation of warmth and comfort.

13) Trader Giotto’s gnocchi al gorgonzola

To Trader Giotto I ask this: Perché? Perché non dai più sapore? This gnocchi gets a passing grade, barely, because the combination of cheesy-creamy-salty is rarely a bad one. But it lacks teeth — and the punch and funk — that the word “gorgonzola” promises.

Speaking of teeth, the bite on these frozen gnocchi is off. They are bouncy and squeaky, like a dog chew toy or a racquetball. Thankfully the prep on these, like a lot of the pastas, is easy: Dump the contents of the bag in a pan and stir.

(Martina Ibáñez-Baldor and Lucas Kwan Peterson / Los Angeles Times)

14) Channa masala

This version of the Indian chickpea dish is heavy-handed with the cumin and a little too sweet, but it’s filling and robustly spiced. It’s one of the weaker entries in the (extremely strong) Indian food lineup at T.J., though the chickpeas don’t reconstitute as nicely as they should. Instead of tender, the texture is mealy and grainy, like an old French fry. Opt instead for one of the comparably excellent fish or chicken curries.

15) Trader Giotto’s authentic Italian penne arrabiata

“If your foodie fantasies tend to be spicy,” reads the packaging, “Trader Giotto’s Italian penne arrabiata may just be the pasta of your dreams!” “May” is the operative word here, and it’s doing an awful lot of lifting in this sentence. Are we so lazy as a society that we can’t boil pasta, open a jar of marinara and throw some chile flakes in it? Apparently so. The sauce is bright and a little spicy but I’m slightly afraid of the greater societal implications of this frozen dinner.

16) Chicken gyoza potstickers

“The La Brea Tar Pits” literally translates to “The The Tar Tar Pits.” I mention this because gyoza are dumplings and potstickers are dumplings and so the name of this product is, effectively, chicken dumplings dumplings. Why the redundancy? Are they trying to cover their SEO bases by name-checking both Japanese and Chinese foodstuffs?

Like the Beatles album “Yellow Submarine” these are not going to be anyone’s favorite, but they’ll do in a pinch when nothing else is around. And they stay together in the pan, which is a win for any bag of frozen dumplings. Fry for best results.

17) Yellow jackfruit curry with jasmine rice

A reasonable vegan option — coconut-ty, creamy and somewhat spicy — but the eggplant in the mix dominates and it could use a little more of the meaty jackfruit.

18) Trader Giotto’s linguine with pesto & tomatoes

I’m slightly shocked by the look of most of T.J.’s pasta dishes while they’re still in frozen form: The sauce is frozen separately into about a dozen silver-dollar-sized discs and scattered throughout the icy pasta. The effect is that it looks like play food, something that would be scattered around the floor of a child’s toy kitchen.

The pesto has an aggressive basil flavor and a slight grassiness. It needs more of another ingredient to balance that out — more cheese? Butter? Pine nuts? Giotto could have done better with this one, but it’ll do in a pinch.

19) Tempura shrimp with soy dipping sauce

Ten little shrimp soldiers come lined up side-by-side in plastic foam packs. Heated, they lack the delicate, intricate structure and lightness of better-battered tempura. The sauce is overly gloppy and sweet.

Is it unrealistic to expect more from Trader Joe’s freezer case? Probably, but if we can’t put high standards on our multibillion-dollar conglomerates, where can we?

20) Trader Giotto’s linguine with clam sauce

While not sharp or garlicky enough, it doesn’t overtly offend. Like many of the T.J. pastas, they come in frozen pasta “nests” that are cooked and slowly unravel in the pan. There are a few springy clams in there, but this pasta alle vongole misses any of the rich brininess you want from the dish. When the linguini hits your plate and it don’t taste too great, that’s a-disappointment!

(Martina Ibáñez-Baldor and Lucas Kwan Peterson / Los Angeles Times)

21) Scallion pancakes (pa jeon)

There’s a lot that’s wrong here, the main thing being that these conflate the Chinese cong you bing, scallion pancake, with the Korean pajeon. Pajeon are made with a batter, not dough, so they’re a lot different than most Westerners’ ideas of what scallion pancakes are and will probably lead to a lot of confused shoppers.

This doesn’t taste terrible, but it suffers the problem most undistinguished pajeons suffer: too bready and not enough green onion. The batter should serve the veggies and not the other way around; give me a pancake that’s completely green and lousy with scallions, and I’ll show you a happy man.

22) Peruvian style chimichurri rice

I’m not sure why chimichurri, a condiment most typically seen alongside Argentine food, is attributed to Peru in this frozen offering. Then again, I’m not sure why they use the wrong accents on “crème fraîche” on the packaging either. (“Créme fraiche,” or CRAY-m fresh, is how Trader Joe’s spells it).

Is that overly pedantic? Sure, but I am a man who just ate 37 frozen dinners. The chimichurri in question isn’t particularly chimichurri-like, totally lacking in any allium wallop. Instead, it leans mild, peppery and cilantro-y — more of a mild, creamy aji sauce. The prep is easy and the overall tomato flavor doesn’t offend, but it tastes like someone dumped too much citric acid into this, giving the dish a punchy but unconvincing feel.

23) Cuisine Adventures French onion soup

I was psyched to see that this was even an option — frozen French onion soup? The greatest of all soups with none of the work? My next reaction was to wonder exactly how this was going to work. It turns out you get a frozen cylinder of soup, vacuum-packed in plastic. You unwrap the soup lump and place it directly into a cup or bowl, and then bake.

In theory, this is ingenious. In practice, it falls short. The cheese is rubbery, the broth is so-so, and the croutons are practically nonexistent, having almost completely disintegrated in the soup after 40 minutes in the oven. Is disappointing French onion soup better than none at all?

24) Trader Joe’s potato pancakes

I love a good latke, but I want to actively feel the shreds of potato breaking between my teeth — not the mushiness of bready batter. They crisp up promisingly in the pan, but the mealiness inside is real.

25) Trader Ming’s Mandarin Orange Chicken

One of the crew members at my local store asserted that this is the most popular item it sells. But why? It’s not awful, but it lacks the appeal and craveability of its cooler cousin at Panda Express, to which comparisons will inevitably be drawn. The sauce on this dark meat chicken is a little too tangy, a little too sharp — It almost crosses the line into stomach acid territory. The breading on the meat is, thankfully, not overly thick, but that’s not enough to get this into my reusable bag.

Oh, and one more thing: The name of this product can go straight to hell. Trader Ming’s? The racism is less offensive than the inaccuracy. Anyone with a modicum of knowledge of Chinese knows that the name clearly should be, if anything, Trader Zhou’s.

26) Chicken chilaquiles rojo

The sauce is average, the chicken in these has a forcemeat quality, but the real issue is with the chips that are crumbled to bits right out of the package and dissolve to practically nothing in the cooking process. I also enjoy how the cooking instructions tell you to cook this “until an internal temperature of 165 F has been reached,” which is a sneaky bit of legalese. If you’re eating frozen chilaquiles, what are the chances you’re using a reliable instant-read thermometer?

27) Stacked eggplant Parmesan

The box on this “stacked” eggplant parm makes a lot of promises and doesn’t deliver on any of them. The eggplant is cut far too thick — I don’t need to feel like I’m eating a steak. The eggplant should be thin enough to nicely caramelize and almost (but not quite) fall apart. Instead, this eggplant is stacked like a Big Mac in a soup of tomato-bread mush. There’s not nearly enough cheese and a sharp, reedy basil flavor overpowers everything.

28) Chicken Chile Verde Burritos

I usually use the oven over a microwave but I went the radioactive route on this dish because, 30 minutes to heat up a burrito? Do I look like Methuselah?

But I fear no appliance would have helped these burritos, which are filled with a slurry that has the taste and consistency of turkey jook. That’s not a problem per se, but it isn’t what I signed up for. I don’t get much chili flavor, and the gummy tortilla is far too thick and dominates the proceedings.

(Martina Ibáñez-Baldor and Lucas Kwan Peterson / Los Angeles Times)

29) Mini vegetable samosas

“Cumin mush” are the two operative words in this, the sole disappointing T.J. Indian food I tried during this tasting. They crisp up somewhat decently in the oven, but are filled with an over-cuminated pulp that’s hard to get excited about.

30) Beef shepherd’s pie

The shepherd has sheep, which is why their pies are usually filled with lamb. I imagine the people from TJ’s corporate probably felt a gamier meat like lamb would be a hard sell, so they went with beef instead. Does it help? Not really. There’s an Armed Forces-like chipped beef quality to meat, the veggies aren’t substantial enough to get anyone’s attention and the mashed potato covering the top has a funny, grainy texture. You hate to see it.

31) Chipotle vegetable quesadillas

While not overtly offensive, the casing of these quesadillas is about five times thicker than it needs to be, more pita than tortilla. The insides are an uninspiring glop of queso mixed with vegetables, and the chipotle is AWOL.

32) Mushroom & black truffle flatbread

Truffles AND mushrooms? Why? The truffle taste is ... so powerful. I was curious as to how anything containing more than a modicum of truffle could cost just $4.49, so I checked the ingredient list. They sneakily list Latin fungus names on the back without explaining what all of them are — Tuber aestivum (summer truffle), but also Agaricus bisporus (portobellos) and Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushrooms).

There’s none of the sweet nutty aroma you want from a truffle, and the overall flavor is one of old porcinis. Get a rich aunt to take you out to a fancy restaurant where they have the real deal.

33) Trader Giotto’s pizza margherita

This screams “bad buffet” or “subpar 7-Eleven.” While there’s only a seven-minute bake time, you end up with a stiff crust covered in a pasty sauce and plasticky discs of cheese that don’t melt properly. Pass.

34) Creamy spinach & artichoke dip

The dip comes in a cylinder, much like the French onion soup, and, much like the French onion soup, it misses the mark. It’s far too thin and runny, and tastes like a weak cream of spinach soup from Corner Bakery. Where’s the cheese? Where’s the heft? This subpar offering limps along and coasts on name alone, a little like the Biden campaign thus far.

35) BBQ chicken pizza

An institutional foam cracker covered in sad ketchup and some stray chicken. There’s absolutely none of the zing or brightness you need in a good BBQ chicken pizza. Next!

36) Honey walnut shrimp

Oh, these are bad. These are real bad. Think pineapple, sour milk and shellfish. Imagine a big bowl of church-basement ambrosia. Now imagine someone spiked that with a bunch of warm shrimp. HARD PASS.

37) Philly cheesesteak bao buns

“Marry an ancient bao bun recipe with one of America’s favorite foods,” it says on the package. “The fluffy bao bun is the perfect vehicle for every beefy, cheesy bite,” it says on the package. ALL LIES. The bao is as stiff and humorless as Mitch McConnell, and the insides filled with a slick, vile concoction that looks like the inside of a newborn’s diaper and only passingly resembles food.

Any resemblance to a cheesesteak is purely coincidental. Let this be a lesson to those who like to throw darts at a board, pick two random names, and combine them into some sort of “fusion”-esque food — sometimes two rights make a wrong!

https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2020-03-17/official-trader-joes-frozen-food-power-rankings

Relief as trade and irrigation plans back on track in Nyanza

·        Harold Odhiambo  17th Mar 2020 09:15:00 GMT +0300

Mamboleo Junction-Guba road in Kisumu county being constructed by Kajulu Residents Association on November 10, 2019. [Denish Ochieng/ Standard]  

Residents of Nyanza are set to benefit as multi-billion-shilling projects earmarked by the national government and private firms to transform the region’s economy begin to take shape.

As money is invested in trade, infrastructure and agricultural projects, it is hoped that the region’s economy, which has stagnated in the past few years, will witness a much-needed upswing.

The opening of a Sh3 billion port would be the icing on the cake should the national government resolve the controversies that have dogged its operationalisation.

Some of the projects that have started to take shape are establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), construction of the Koru-Soin Dam and expansion of the West Kano Irrigation Scheme.

Last week, government officials tasked with delivering the SEZ held a public participation forum in Kisumu as they began fast-tracking implementation of the initiative.

Special Economic Zone Authority acting CEO Meshack Kimeu said a feasibility study for the project is underway and is expected to be completed in the next three months.

The SEZ, which will be established in the Nyando sugar belt in Miwani, is tipped to provide employment for thousands of residents and turn the local economy around.

The National Irrigation Board also has a presence in the region where it has intensified efforts to boost food production by increasing the acreage under rice from 11,000 to 16,000 hectares.

The NIB hopes that by adopting improved mechanisation, it will ensure long-term food security.

The board is also buying rice from farmers in line with a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta aimed at cushioning farmers from exploitation.

Nyanza NIB Regional Manager Joel Tanui said the government is purchasing Basmati rice at Sh85 per kilogramme while the Sindano variety is retailing at Sh40 per kilogramme.

Rice harvest

“We have asked farmers to bring their rice harvest to us so that we can purchase it at good prices,” said Mr Tanui.

Another ongoing project by the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority is aimed at improving food production through irrigation as well as controlling perennial flooding in the region.

The authority’s CEO Geoffrey Sang told The Standard that they would fast-track construction of the Sh40 billion Koru-Soin Dam.

Mr Sang said they had started engaging various stakeholders on delivery of the project. “We are on track and are planning the process of public participation because the exercise will also involve the displacement of people to pave way for construction of the multi-purpose dam.”

Sang described the project as “a game-changer in the quest to boost food production in the region” and urged locals to throw their weight behind it.

Another project that has already taken shape is the Sh15 billion Kenya Breweries Limited plant in Kisumu, which has seen the brewer contract farmers to grow sorghum.

The company constructed a brewery where farmers from western Kenya supply specific white sorghum grain varieties to be used as the main raw materials in brewing keg beer.

Early this year, the brewer announced that nearly 50,000 women had directly benefited from the initiative.

There is hope that a road project, which had slowed business for almost three years, will be completed after the contractor moved back to the stretch between Kondele and Mamboleo in Kisumu.

Stakeholders in the sugar industry are also optimistic after the struggling State-owned Chemelil sugar factory resumed operations following a government bail-out.

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kisumu branch chairman Israel Agina expressed optimism that the economy would pick up in the coming months. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001364504/relief-as-trade-and-irrigation-plans-back-on-track-in-nyanza

Call to fill posts in agriculture dept

18 march,2020

LAHORE:Permanent merit-based appointments should be made in Punjab Agriculture Department to deliver and enhance productivity of this important sector coupled with achieving the goal of result-oriented research work, a farmer body demanded here on Tuesday.

Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) identified what it called a great anomaly in the agriculture research system of Punjab where incompetent junior officers are posted at higher position to please someone or simply due to political pressure, financial gain/corruption or on favoritism for years, said PKI president Khalid Mahmood Khokhar. Such arrangement is allowed only for stopgap arrangement for a period of 3 to 6 months, but officers on such postings for longer period aim to praise their boss or senior officer instead of proving their competence or delivering tangible results, he said.

As many as 21 posts of directors of important Research Institutes of Agriculture Department, Punjab are lying vacant since long and these are occupied by junior scientists on Additional/Look After/Own pay & scale in addition to their own responsibilities. These include post of Director Agri (Research), AARI, Faisalabad which lacks permanent posting since 30.06.2012, Director, Fodder Research Institute, Sargodha since 31.10.2016, Director, Vegetable Res. Institute, Faisalabad since 04.08.2015, Director, Maize and Millets Research Institute, Sahiwal since 04.05.2016, Director, Oilseeds Research Institute, Faisalabad since 26.01.2017, Director, Wheat Research Institute, Faisalabad since 30.09.2017, Director, Cotton Research Institute, Multan since 29.03.2016, Director, Potato Research Institute, Sahiwal since 23.12.2014, Director, Arid Zone Research Institute, Bhakkar since 31.10.2015, Director, Regional Agri. Research Institute, Bahawalpur since 20.04.2017, Director, Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad since 13.08.2016, Director, Agronomic Research Institute, Faisalabad since 14.03.2016, Director, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Faisalabad since 04.05.2015, Director, Institute of Soil Chemistry & Environment Sciences, Kala Shah Kaku since 01.11.2015, Director, Soil & Water Conservation Research Institute, Chakwal since 15.10.2015, Director, Soil Salinity Research Institute Pindi Bhattian since 24.05.2015, Director, Horticultural Research Institute, Faisalabad since 31.01.2018, Director, Mango Research Institute, Multan since 19.07.2016, Director, Post-Harvest Research Centre, Faisalabad since 26.08.2017, Director, Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku since 22.10.2018 and Director, Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal since 25.10.2018, he said.

These directors are considered leaders of professional teams and responsible for planning & execution of research programme and technology transfer of important research institutes including wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize, oilseed, vegetables. Our economy is agriculture-based and junior offices or irrelevant officers are appointed as directors of these important crops. This situation badly affecting R&D activities of these institutes, Khokhar lamented.

Further the post of Chief Executive, Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB), Lahore is vacant since 22.10.2018 and posts of Member of PARB are also vacant.

The PARB has an effective Competitive Grant System (CGS) for funding output oriented agricultural research projects. The unavailability of CE & Members is impeding ongoing activities of PARB funded projects and funding to new research proposals, he said.

Pakistan Kissan Ittehad demand that this anomaly be rectified immediately and right man for the right job strategy be prevailed by appointing the deserving scientists on the posts of directors in Punjab. Secondly, post of Chief Executive and members of PARB be appointed on regular basis. So that activities of these important Research Institutes and PARB may regain their pace, it said.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/630945-call-to-fill-posts-in-agriculture-dept

Mujib Borsho Event: 3 schools defy govt directive, call in all students

12:00 AM, March 18, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 10:21 AM, March 18, 2020

Star Report

Defying government instructions, at least three schools in Gazipur and Narayanganj yesterday held programmes marking Bangabandhu's birth centenary with the participation of almost all their students and also guardians amid coronavirus scare.   

The education ministry on Monday asked all secondary schools to celebrate the day by planting 100 trees on and around school campuses with maximum 25 people taking part in each programme.

Earlier on that day, the government had announced that all educational institutions would remain closed till March 31 as part of measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Yesterday morning, the authorities of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute High School and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Pragati Primary School cut a 100-pound cake in the presence of several hundred students and their guardians, marking Bangabandhu's birth centenary.

"All students and many of their guardians were asked to join the cake-cutting ceremony though the government instructed them to keep the schools closed," one of the guardians told our Gazipur correspondent.

"There were no hand washing arrangements and many of the students were without masks," added the guardian.

Asked, Belayat Hossain, head teacher of Pragati Primary School, said the programme was chalked out much before the government announcement.

"We concluded the programme within a short time." he added.

Gazipur District Education Officer Rebeka Sultana said the school authorities held the programme as they received the instructions on school closure late.

"But they didn't do the right thing. We will take action after investigating the matter," she added.

Meanwhile, the authorities of Narayanganj High School and College held programmes, cut a cake and planted trees with the participation of several hundred students, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.

The guardian of a student alleged that teachers at the school had asked all the students to join the programme, and warned that 10 marks would be deducted in their next exams if they didn't do so.

Kamal Kanti Sarkar, head teacher of the school, however, refuted the allegation.

"The programme had been scheduled much earlier. We did not have time to cancel it," he claimed.

Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Jashim Uddin, who attended the programme, said he had asked the school authorities why students were there.

"The school authorities told me that some over-enthusiastic people went there to join the programme," he said.

https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/mujib-borsho-event-3-schools-defy-govt-direcive-call-all-their-pupils-1882138

Challenges compels restructuring in agriculture

Update: March, 17/2020 - 09:05

Farmers in An Giang Province harvest rice. Current challenges provide an opportunity for the agricultural sector to speed up the value chain restructuring and innovating the growth model. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ  NỘI — Trade conflicts, climate change and epidemics may at first glance appear to be a hindrance to Việt Nam’s agricultural sector.
But some see it as an opportunity to speed up the value chain restructuring and innovating the growth model.
In the early months of this year, Việt Nam’s agriculture faced many challenges, not only from the spread of COVID-19 pandemic but also trade tensions and worsening climate change.
These alone put the production and export of key agricultural products at high risk, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Xuân Cường said.
According to the initial assessment of the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MAR), fisheries along with fruit and vegetable products will be directly affected by the fast and prolonged pandemic.
This is forcing companies to change production and business methods and seek more exporting markets.
“Order delays for seafood products will lead to the development of processed products such as canned and frozen foods,” Cường said.
A lesson was learned from fruit and vegetable export market because when the outbreak of COVID-19 occurred, the Chinese market stalled, causing a consumption disruption of high-yielding agricultural products which were rarely put into processing such as watermelon and dragon fruit.
The head of the agricultural sector said localities must proactively adjust their production and harvest seasons to suit the market need and be prepared to move quickly when the pandemic is over, while at the same time promoting domestic consumption and export to key markets such as the United States, EU and ASEAN.
The ministry is also negotiating to expand markets to minimise dependence on certain markets by planning fact-finding missions to the Middle East, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.
It is quickly completing the technical documents for export permits of durians, passion fruit, avocados, grapefruits and custard apples to China; grapefruits to the US; and longans, grapefruits and passion fruit to Japan.
Better preparation, lower risks
Meanwhile in the Mekong Delta region, salinity intrusion came earlier this year with higher severity. Saltwater has covered nearly 100km from the estuary, threatening the agricultural production and livelihoods in the region.
In a recent field trip to this area, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc highlighted the success of the region in changing crop structure in drought and salinity areas, so the damaged rice area was just 39,000ha, equalling just 9.6 per cent of the damage in the worst-hit year 2016.
According to MARD, this achievement was attributable to early planning and preparation. Since September last year, the ministry requested localities and its departments accelerate construction and repair irrigation works to cope with saltwater and diversity crops.
To avoid salinity in rice production, the ministry has instructed localities to sow the 2019-20 winter-spring crop 10 to 20 days earlier compared to the previous crops. The localities also changed the plantation areas with drought risk and proactively cut and extend crops.
The ministry forecasts the weather will be more predictable and natural disasters such as drought and salinity may not follow the repeat rule of five years. Therefore, people need to adapt, mitigate losses and even exploit changing ecological conditions to regulate the plantation.
Deputy Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp said the ministry was coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and other relevant ministries and agencies to build a master plan for the Mekong Delta region.
After 2020, it will rotate the agricultural production model from rice-fruit-fishery to fishery-fruit-rice, aiming towards reducing rice plantations and increasing areas for fruit and seafood products.
“To rotate this axis, we must identify fresh water, brackish water and salt water are all resources. At the same time, agricultural infrastructure must be built to serve this task,” Hiệp said.
Regarding animal husbandry, although epidemics have caused great economic losses, it also provides an opportunity to promote the restructuring of production, focusing on the application of advanced technology and building closed chain, from inputs to production, processing and consumption.
According to Trần Công Thắng, director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, the restructuring process has decreased the number of small farms, but to avoid the "left behind" situation, the Government should have policies to train and support safe livestock households.
“There are still many niche markets for small- and medium-sized animal husbandry households to develop such as organic farming, high-quality specialty products thanks to great domestic demand,” he said.
Large enterprises are encouraged to continue working together with localities to develop disease-free poultry production chains and areas in compliance with the Vietnamese regulations and recommendations of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for domestic consumption and export, Thắng said.
According to Minister Cường, business plays a very important role in establishing the value chain of production-processing-consumption.
“At present, we have about 12,000 enterprises directly producing in the agricultural sector, only about 1 per cent of the total businesses in the country, in which, small and micro enterprises account for 95 per cent,” Cường said, noting enterprises are mainly processing, preserving and trading agricultural products while the number of enterprises investing in mechanisation and research of seed is small.
Attributing the "absence" of enterprises in stages requiring large financial investment, technology and human resources to high risk in the sector, the minister urged localities to effectively implement the issued policies on enterprise development, supporting industries, credit for high-tech agriculture, along with creating favourable investment and business environment for businesses. — VNS

https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/653688/challenges-compels-restructuring-in-agriculture.html

Rosy signs show bright prospect for rice export

16/03/2020    13:07 GMT+7

Vietnam is enjoying strong growth in both rice export volume and value, and more export chances are still ahead as some FTAs have come into force and consumers around the globe are boosting purchase to ensure food security.

Winter-spring rice is harvested in Tan An commune of Tan Hiep district, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang

In the first two months of 2020, about 900,000 tonnes of rice worth 410 million USD were shipped abroad, up 27 percent in volume and 32 percent in value year on year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Export prices averaged 478 USD per tonne in January, rising 7 percent from the same period last year. The Philippines was the biggest importer, accounting for 31 percent of total rice shipments. Meanwhile, Mozambique and Angola were among the markets with biggest growth rates.

Phan Xuan Que, General Director of the Vietnam Northern Food Corporation (VINAFOOD 1), said after the Lunar New Year holiday in late January, the rice market has been very vibrant. Prices set for both export and domestic sale surged by 30 – 50 USD per tonne, depending on varieties and quality.

He noted rice prices are usually adjusted on the quarterly or yearly basis, but they have been changed week by week in the first months of this year, which is a very rare situation, especially when the Mekong Delta – the country’s largest agricultural production hub – is currently in the harvest period of the winter-spring crop.

These positive signs show Vietnam is likely to achieve the rice export target of 6.7 million tonnes worth over 3 billion USD this year, according to him.

Explaining the reason for good prices in all segments, Que said as countries opened their markets for rice imports early, businesses have inked big contracts and stepped up purchase of inputs. Besides, China, which previously dominated the African market with about 3 million tonnes of rice annually, has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, creating a chance for Vietnamese rice in this market.

Strong demand from the Philippines and Malaysia has also helped raise prices of Vietnamese rice, thus helping the grain to narrow the price gap with the Thai counterpart and surpass the Myanmar and Indian rivals.

The MARD’s Agro Processing and Market Development Authority said demand for Thai rice stays flat as drought in this country has driven concerns about supply sources.

Export prices of Vietnamese rice are likely to rise further since they are still much lower than those of other producers’ rice, the authority noted, adding that global consumers are boosting purchase while China doesn’t increase its shipments in order to ensure food security to cope with the COVID-19 epidemic.

Que attributed the rosy export signs partly to the agricultural restructuring, which in turn has helped restructure export markets to reduce dependence on certain markets. Moreover, the competitiveness of Vietnamese rice, including that of components in the rice value chain from production, supply, processing and transportation, has been improved.

However, he said the agricultural sectors as well as businesses should continue to keep a close watch on changes in the market to concurrently attain food security and export targets.

According to the MARD, the COVID-19 outbreak has little impact on Vietnam’s rice sector, and there are likely more opportunities for export to East Africa. Besides, companies should also gear up to capitalise on advantages generated the FTA between the EU and Vietnam when this deal takes effect./. VNA

https://vietnamnet.vn/en/business/rosy-signs-show-bright-prospect-for-rice-export-624560.html

Thai rice exports get boost from global COVID-19 fear

10:49 17/03/2020

 

Exports of Thai rice have been on the rise as many countries are stocking up on food supplies due to the rampant COVID-19 outbreak, said President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) Chookiat Ophaswongse.

Sacks of rice at a mall in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: VNA)

The spurt in demand has been a boon for rice producing countries, and also increased the rice price in the global market. The price of Thai rice rose to between 450 USD and 460 USD per tonne from 410 USD per tonne.

In 2019, Thailand shipped 7.58 million tonnes of rice abroad, raking in 131 billion THB (over 4 billion USD), down 32 percent in volume and 25 percent in value compared to the previous year.

This year, the TREA has set a target to export 7.5 million tonnes of rice for 4.2 billion USD, similar to that of the country’s Ministry of Commerce. It is the lowest target in the last seven year after 2013, in which Thailand exported only 6.6 million tonnes of rice./.

http://en.dangcongsan.vn/world-events-and-comments/news/thai-rice-exports-get-boost-from-global-covid-19-fear-548709.html

Rice farmers caution FG against lifting ban on foreign rice

Yesterday at 12:56 PM

Rice farmers in Bauchi State have urged the Federal Government to sustain current ban on importation of foreign rice into the country.
Rice farmers caution FG against lifting ban on foreign rice/Illustration. [abcnewsgh]

A cross section of farmers in the state interview by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday said that the ban had helped in boosting local production of the commodity.

Malam Suleiman Dauda, a member of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), said that lifting the ban on foreign rice would spell doom for local farmers.

Dauda urged government no ignore calls for the lifting of the ban as it was not in the best interest of the country.

He said that such action would negate current efforts by local rice farmers to go into full scale production of rice across the country.

Malam Ibrahim Sule, another farmer supported the claim and noted that government at both federal and state levels had supported local farmers along rice value chain through various interventions.

He observed that the interventions had revived moribund rice mills which had correspondingly bridged the insufficient gap earlier experienced in the production of the commodity in the country.

He said that the total ban on importation of foodstuffs had also jerked up government Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and wondered why the clamour for the lifting of the ban by some Nigerians.

Mrs Dorothy Samuel another rice farmer urged government to impose high import duty on imported rice should the ban be lifted.

Samuel lauded government for spurning import duties on agricultural implements but implored it to scale up its intervention programmes for local farmers.

She particularly urged government to enhance its assistance to farmers on inputs and loans to further boost agricultural production in the country.

Samuel called on agricultural and commercial banks to grant sufficient services to local farmers to enable them further boost production.

She, however, cautioned against granting such loans and assistance to white collar farmers who were not real farmers.

https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/rice-farmers-caution-fg-against-lifting-ban-on-foreign-rice/nwl0s3x

The rice and fall: Vietnam eyes more global opportunities as Thai supply totters

By Pearly Neo

17-Mar-2020 - Last updated on 17-Mar-2020 at 02:27 GMT

Thailand’s position as the largest exporter of rice from the South East Asian region is at risk as the country struggles to handle weather, economical and quality changes. ©iStock

Related tags: Rice, Vietnam, Thailand

Thailand’s position as the largest exporter of rice from the South East Asian region is at risk as the country struggles to handle weather, economical and quality changes, whereas Vietnam looks to be going from strength to strength.

In 2019, Thailand was the world’s second-largest exporter of rice and the top in South East Asia. Previously it was beaten globally only by India but this year the country is expected to fall behind Vietnam within the region as well.
According to data from the Thai Foreign Trade Department, rice production in 2020 is expected to fall a whopping 9% to 18.5 million tonnes from around 20.34 million tonnes in 2019, whereas Vietnam is predicted to grow by almost 2% to produce 28.3 million tonnes, from 27.77 million tonnes last year.
In terms of exports, the Thai Rice Exporters Association has set a target of 7.5 million tonnes for 2020, its lowest since 2013.
“Thailand has shipped the same rice varieties for 30 years and lacks rice variety development to deal with changing market demand and consumer behaviour,”​ the association’s President Charoen Laothamatas told Bangkok Post​.
“Because of the labour shortage, farmers opt to use machinery and chemicals that affect Thai rice's aromatic quality and good taste, while other exporters such as Vietnam have developed their own varieties every year to serve consumer demand.​
“Vietnam now has seven or eight rice types for export to serve global demand.”​
Apart from innovation, a severe drought in the country has also led to serious supply shortages. USDA Global Agricultural Information Network analysis described the drought as the ‘second most severe in a decade’​ and estimated total agricultural at approximately THB26bn (US$840mn) with rice taking the bulk of the damage at THB25.2bn (US$801mn).
“Vietnamese and Indian rice prices were also [found to be] US$70 to US$80 cheaper per MT, making Thai rice less competitive in the international market. [This] will likely cause a further reduction in Thai rice exports to 7.5 million metric tons in 2020, down 1% from 2019,” ​said the USDA report.

The rice of Vietnam​

Meanwhile, Vietnam rice prices (for its benchmark 5% broken rice variety) rose to a record high since December 2018 benchmark at US$380 per tonne, and the local industry expects both demand and prices to continue to grow.
“Demand is seen rising this year as Vietnamese rice is more competitive in terms of prices,”​ Vietnam Food Association Vice Chairman Do Ha Nam told Reuters​.
"Vietnam is [also] producing more fragrant rice to tap new markets, such as South Korea and Africa."​
Vietnamese rice is priced at roughly THB5,600 per tonne (US$178), as opposed to Thailand’s THB7,500 (US$238.44) to THB7,800 (US$247.98). The association expects that Vietnam will export 6.75 million tonnes of rice in 2020, a 6% rise from 2019.
That said, virus-stricken China is one of the country’s largest importers, and so Vietnam is also looking to widen its scope to other countries worldwide, such as in South America.

Fragrance failure​

Thai fragrant rice is renowned worldwide for its aroma, but failure to secure the top spot as the World’s Best Fragrant Rice both in 2018 and 2019 has also placed a damper on its reputation.
The Rice Trader World Conference crowned Vietnam’s ST25 rice variant as champion last year, and Cambodia’s Jasmine in 2018. Thailand’s Hom Mali variant had won the award for two years in a row before that, in 2016 and 2017.
Laothamatas attributed the loss to too little innovation and too much politics.
“[Policies set by politicians competing to win farmer support only through price incentives] have failed to give any incentive for research and development into new varieties,”​ he told New Straits Times​.
“As farmers are satisfied with these price intervention policies, they are no longer interested in improving the quality or yield.​
"If nothing is done to improve this problem, Thai Hom Mali rice will soon become a thing of the past.”​

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