8th May,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

USA Rice Domestic Promotion Delivers During Lockdown  

By Cameron Jacobs

ARLINGTON, VA -- With the majority of the country on lockdown over the last three months and schools and restaurants essentially closed, USA Rice has adapted domestic promotion programming to meet the needs of the changing foodservice and consumer landscapes.  The new reality of a much smaller foodservice footprint and a more engaged consumer audience has shifted focus to the at-home consumer.

"With dining out no longer an option for most, Americans are cooking more for themselves," said Robbie Trahan, a Louisiana rice miller and chair of the USA Rice Domestic Promotion Committee.  "We've shifted our focus to providing these home cooks with what they need to make use of all the U.S.-grown rice they are stocking up on -- recipes, tips, and inspiration." 

Trahan said that while total restaurant sales may have been off by as much as 70 percent in April, nationally rice retail sales are up 33 percent for March 2020 as compared to March 2019, with some retailers reporting a 60 percent increase in total rice sales for those times.  USA Rice promotions are responding appropriately.

James Beard-nominated chef and USA Rice foodservice consultant Hari Cameron, fresh off the debut of a series of inspirational rice cooking videos aimed at foodservice operators has also expanded his focus, appearing on local morning news programs to offer quarantine cooking tips that include rice dishes.

USA Rice social media campaigns have increased over the past three months with double the posts keeping followers supplied with nine new rice recipes:  Chicken Green Onion Fried Rice being the overwhelming favorite!  Regular USA Rice influencer and blogger programs hosted by TheFeedFeed and affiliated registered dietitians generated the new content to keep U.S.-grown rice top of mind for home cooks who are creating dishes using minimal ingredients and pantry staples.

In March and April, USA Rice distributed two new consumer newsletters packed with recipes, student activities, and other consumer resources including the online ThinkRice consumer recipe database.  USA Rice also distributed a school nutrition newsletter in April to a network of school foodservice professionals offering support, inexpensive to-go recipes for schools, and directing readers back to USA Rice online foodservice offerings.

"In no way are we abandoning foodservice," said Michael Klein USA Rice vice president of domestic promotion.  "We are encouraging consumers to get take-out, curbside service, or purchase gift certificates from their favorite restaurants to help those businesses weather this storm.  Foodservice is going to come roaring back, but we suspect things will look a little different.  We're working now to adapt our programs going forward to help restaurants stay profitable, keep customers and employees safe, and menu U.S.-grown rice."

"Nobody is certain what the future holds for any of us, but whether it's fine dining, quick casual, take-out, or a home cooked meal, U.S. rice can and should be a part of it, and we're going to do our best to make that happen," Trahan concluded.

ARS and university researchers are on the hunt for rice traits that can help the grain crop better cope with reduced water use or shortages.

Preparing U.S. Rice for a Parched Future

By Jan Suszkiw
May 7, 2020

Like people, some plants handle stress better than others.

Now, in a recent issue of Agronomy, a team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists report their identification of U.S. rice varieties with the right "genetic" stuff for coping with reduced water use.

Their efforts dovetail with a trend toward water-saving measures that some growers are implementing in not only Arkansas, which produces half the U.S. rice crop, but also other major rice-growing states, namely Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, Texas and California.

Rice is traditionally grown in leveed sections of fields called paddies that can be flooded with water pumped in from rivers, alluvial aquifers, on-farm reservoirs and other sources. Such flooding helps control weeds and ensures the rice crop can attain its maximum yield potential.

However, a number of factors have contributed to growers' increasing interest in alternatives to flooding, including competition for water from other sectors of society such as municipalities and the effects of global climate change such as erratic rainfall, according to two of the Agronomy journal authors, Jai Rohila and Anna McClung, both with ARS' Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Their co-authors on the paper are Christopher Henry with the University of Arkansas and Argelia Lorence with Arkansas State University.

"Reducing water use, which is currently about 30 inches per acre over the season for Arkansas-grown rice, is a necessary step toward sustainable production of rice and food security," added Rohila, an agronomist. "About 80 percent of the irrigation water for the Arkansas rice crop is pumped from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer."

Over the past four decades, however, the aquifer's water levels have dropped at the rate of 12 to 18 inches per year, Rohila added. Alternate wetting and drying, furrow irrigation, land leveling, tailwater recovery and multiple-inlet irrigation are some of the strategies that growers are investigating or already using to conserve water, in some cases by 20 percent. 

There's been a genetic hitch, though, that can lead to grain yield reductions under such measures.

"All current rice varieties in the United States were essentially developed for production under continuous flood irrigation management systems," explained McClung, a supervisory geneticist who directs the ARS center. "We conducted this research to determine what are the traits and genetic resources that can be used to develop new rice cultivars that will have high grain quality and yield under reduced irrigation inputs."

Toward that end, the team designed a series of field experiments in which they subjected 15 different rice cultivars (conventional medium- and long-grain varieties as well as specialty rice) to sub-surface drip irrigation regimens based on one of four soil-moisture scenarios, or "volumetric water contents" (VWCs).

The first scenario was comparable to conventionally flooded field conditions with a VWC of 30 percent. The fourth mimicked a severe water-deficit scenario (VWC 14 percent) capable of triggering catastrophic wilting from which the rice crop can't recover. In between these extremes were two moderate water-deficit scenarios with VWCs of 24 and 20 percent. "This gradient of soil moisture regimes in our study allowed us to assess how well the varieties can respond to varying degrees of water deficit," Rohila explained.

Among the results, the researchers reported that:

• Of 10 total traits (e.g., plant height, flowering time/duration, and "grainfill") they examined, six traits accounted for 35 percent of the variability in the varieties' physiological responses to water stress, including their ability to produce grain.
• Plant height was generally greatest in the first soil-moisture scenario (mimicking flooded fields), except for five of the varieties tested. Grain yields were also highest in the first scenario, except for seven varieties, which performed better in scenarios two and three.
• Unexpectedly, varieties with higher leaf canopy temperatures tended to produce the most grain under water-stress conditions.
• Those same varieties also had genetic origins in tropical or subtropical regions of the world, where heat stress conditions are common, another form of physiological stress.

One top contender that performed well under water-stress conditions is a tropical japonica-type rice from the Philippines known as PI 312777. Other top performers were Francis and Mars from the United States and Zhe 733 from China. Among the cultivars tested, 10 have been used to develop populations of offspring displaying different stress-coping traits that can be used with genomic mapping techniques. This, in turn, can help identify the genes that control these traits and potentially use them in rice breeding and improvement programs.

McClung said they aim to provide rice breeders with DNA markers associated with the genes and alleles (alternate copies) for these traits so that they can be passed into elite rice varieties more quickly, efficiently and with less cost.

The researchers indicate that this is the first step in adapting rice varieties to production systems that use a minimum amount of irrigation, a pursuit that will become increasingly relevant as the world's population soars to nearly 10 billion individuals by 2050 amid finite arable land, water and other natural resources.

"We understand our vision is ambitious," Rohila said. "but the goal is to have both food and natural resource (water) security for society and our future generations."

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2020/preparing-us-rice-for-a-parched-future/

Lahore Chamber Of Commerce And Industry Congrats Chela Ram On Becoming Chairman Minorities Commission

  Wed 06th May 2020 | 09:48 PM

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday congratulated Chela Ram Kewlani on becoming Chairman Minorities Commission

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2020 ) :The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday congratulated Chela Ram Kewlani on becoming Chairman Minorities Commission.

According to spokesperson, LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, Senior Vice President and Vice President thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for appointing leading Rice Exporter of Pakistan Mr Chela Ram Kewlani as Chairman of MinoritiesCommission of Pakistan.

They hoped that Chela Ram would play a vital role in bridging interfaith harmony.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/lahore-chamber-of-commerce-and-industry-congr-913075.html

India stops 14,000 cusecs of water flowing into Pakistan

Photo: FILE

India has stopped 14,000 cusecs of water flowing into Pakistan via River Chenab, officials at the Pakistani Ministry of Water Resources said Wednesday.

The flow of water in Chenab has been reduced to 18,000 cusecs, the officials said. It was at 31,800 cusecs on Tuesday.

Due to this, the rice crop is feared to be affected in areas stretching from Marala to Panjnad headworks in Punjab.

India has diverted this water to Baglihar and Ratle dams, the officials added.

https://www.samaa.tv/news/pakistan/2020/05/india-stops-14000-cusecs-of-water-flowing-into-pakistan/

Drought tolerance of rice: research and recent advancements

 May 7, 2020  M.Atif Arslan advances, Drought, Drought Tolerance, research, rice, Rice Crop, tolerance

The crop of rice is affected by drought tolerance (below-average precipitation) in the areas where water shortage exists. But rice can bear the drought and can tolerate it.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is used as a staple food by billions of people around the world. Probably the oldest domestic grain (~10,000 years. Pakistan is the world’s 11^th largest producer of rice. Pakistan’s export makes up 8% of the world’s total rice trade. In the year 2016-17, Pakistan produced 6.7 million tons of rice.

In the last few decades, the researchers have worked on the drought and have given the possible ways of drought tolerance. Drought-tolerant varieties have been introduced by International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) in several countries and are now being planted by farmers.

Sahbhagi dhan in India, 5411 variety in the Philippine’s, sookha dhan variety by Nepal, BRRI dhan variety by Bangladesh has been introduced. Drought Degree Tolerance (DTD) is a new introduces technique in which the mean of the ratios of green leafs length to the total leaf of top three leaves in every rice seedling is taken after drought treatment.

This is an effective technique but it is avoided in drought tolerance of upland rice at late growth stages. Direct Seeded Rice is a technique in which rice seed is sown and sprouted directly in the field reducing the crop’s water requirement. Improving the photosynthesis in rice by inserting the c4 pathway is the latest drought tolerance technique.

In c3 plants like rice, CO₂ is assimilated into a 3-carbon compound by the photosynthetic enzyme ribolose1-5, bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco). At temperature above 30°C which is typical of rice-growing areas of the world rate of oxygenation increases substantially and this reduces the photosynthetic efficiency of C3 plans by up to 40%.

Thus photosynthesis of rice in the tropics and warm temperate regions becomes inefficient. The C4 plants which have CO₂ concentration mechanism within their leaves have very much reduced level of photorespiration. Rice with a photosynthetic mechanism would have increased photosynthetic efficiency while using scarce resources such as land water and fertilizer specifically nitrogen more effectively.

                                                                                              

https://www.technologytimes.pk/2020/05/07/drought-tolerance-of-rice-research-and-recent-advancements/

Rice crop likely to be affected after India stops water flow

BY NEWS DESK

India has stopped 14,000 cusecs of water flowing into Pakistan via River Chenab, the Pakistani Ministry of Water Resources said on Wednesday, fearing the reduced water flow could damage the rice crop.

The flow of water in Chenab has been reduced to 18,000 cusecs, the officials said. It was at 31,800 cusecs on Tuesday.

Due to this, the rice crop is feared to be affected in areas stretching from Marala to Panjnad headworks in Punjab.

India has diverted this water to Baglihar and Ratle dams

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/05/06/rice-crop-likely-affected-india-stops-water-flow/

Govt procuring Boro paddy at Tk 26 per kg

DHAKA

·     PUBLISH- MAY 07, 2020, 05:09 PM

·     UNB NEWS - UNB NEWS

·     278 VIEWS

·     UPDATE- MAY 07, 2020, 09:05 PM

The government has started procurement of paddy directly from farmers at Tk 26 per kg.

Boiled rice is being bought at the rate of Tk 36 and ‘Atap rice’ at Tk 35 per kg from the millers.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder inaugurated the programme through a video conference this afternoon attended by senior officials of Naogaon district administration, district food department officials and mill owners.

The minister said more paddy and rice would be procured than the target as there's enough space at government warehouses.

He called upon the farmers and millers to cooperate in this regard.

At the same time, the officials and staff were instructed to expedite the stocks by collecting paddy rice following hygiene rules.

The government will procure eight lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the current Boro season directly from farmers and 11.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice (boiled and non-boiled) from millers.

Besides, some 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat will be procured from the local markets in the season.

During the campaign, farmers will be able to go directly to the warehouse and sell paddy and wheat. Millers have contacted the food department to procure rice. The food minister instructed the officials and employees to keep a watchful eye so that the farmers do not face any kind of harassment while giving paddy to the warehouse.

http://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/govt-procuring-boro-paddy-at-tk-26-per-kg/51237

Farmers, watch out for viruses infecting the rice plant

Viruses are fatal as they may claim lives when infected. Did you know that rice plants can also be infected with viruses? Yes, and they can result in significant yield losses when not properly managed. Worst, rice plants infected by some of these viruses are not treatable.

Dr. Jennifer T. Niones, plant pathology expert of the Philippine Rice Research Institute of the Department of Agriculture (DA-PhilRice), said that there are four types of viruses, which farmers must be aware of to minimize farm threats. These viruses include tungro, dwarf, grassy stunt, and ragged stunt.

Tungro

Tungro virus is an extremely damaging rice disease in South and Southeast Asia bringing in 70-100% yield loss. Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) and rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) cause this disease.

RTBV symptoms include mild stunting and mild yellowing, while RTSV -infected plants are quite stunted. Rice plants with both RTBV and RTSV display mottled and yellow to orange leaves, and severe stunting. Rice plants infected during early growth stages will not produce panicles. If attacked in later stages, panicles may develop but with low grain fill.

Niones said tungro is transmitted by six leafhopper species with the rice green leafhopper (GLH) as the most important carrier. GLH, which is usually abundant in irrigated rice fields, transmits the virus more efficiently than other vectors.

“After feeding on an infected plant for 30min, GLH can immediately transmit the virus to a healthy plant. Leafhoppers transmit RTSV and RTBV for approximately 4 and 7 days, respectively,” Niones said.

As infected plants cannot be treated, farmers must consider preventive measures especially if their area had past incidences of tungro infestation.

The crop management expert recommended tungro-resistant varieties such as NSIC Rc 118 and Rc 120. Synchronous planting is also encouraged as this practice reduces the food sources available for insect pests to survive on and multiply. Farmers may also schedule their planting when GLH population is at its lowest.

“Farmers must not also spray in seedbed when no tungro and few GLH are present. Insecticides should not be used repeatedly over long periods to maintain the population of viruses’ natural enemies and preserve the natural balance of insect populations,” she said.

For previously infected fields, farmers must immediately plow the stubbles after harvest to destroy the eggs and breeding sites of GLH.

Dwarf virus

First observed in the rice fields of Midsayap, Cotabato, rice dwarf virus (RDV) reduces yield by 50-80%, especially when it strikes down at vegetative stage. Infected plants show pronounced stunting, increased tillering, and shortened darker green leaves  with fine chlorotic specks.

Infected plants usually survive until harvest time but rarely produce panicles. Panicles are usually of poor quality, and grains are unfilled. When damaged during seeding stage, rice plants do not produce grains.

RDV spread can be prevented through plowing of the fallowed rice field and synchronous planting. Applying insecticide to rice seedlings before transplanting can also be an option. Areas infected during the previous cropping season should be immediately plowed.

Grassy stunt virus

Rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV) gives headache to the rice farmers for it inhibits panicle production through stunting and yellowing of the plant. This virus is commonly spread by nymph and adult brown planthopper (BPH). However, BPH eggs do not transmit the virus. BPH  feeding on infected stubbles for at least 30min transmits the virus.

Symptoms of the virus develop from 10-12 days after infection. RGSV-infected hills manifest severely stunted plants, excessive tillering, very upright plant growth, and grassy and rosette appearance of plants.

Leaves are yellowish-green that are shorter and narrower than normal appearance, and have many small rusty spots or patches, which merge into blotches. Leaves that remain yellow even when applied with sufficient nitrogen fertilizers is also a symptom.

RGSV frequently affects field where year-round and continuous rice growing is practiced. Although plants can be infected in all growth stages, infection usually happens during tillering stage.

Occurrence of RGSV is not widespread, but it can be severe when BPH is present in the field. The virus can be managed through planting BPH-resistant rice varieties such as NSIC Rc 222, 298, and 308 and  synchronous planting. Populations of BPH should also be immediately managed. Infected fields should be plowed right after harvest to reduce the virus source. 

Ragged stunt

Rice ragged stunt (RRSV), also transmitted by BPH, can bring up to 80% yield losses by causing partially exerted panicles, unfilled grains, and plant density loss. The leaves of infected plants show ragged appearance.

BPH contacts the virus by feeding on an infected plant within 24 hours, which can be transmitted to other plants within 6 hours of infection. Early instar nymphs of BPH transmit the virus more efficiently than its older stages. However, BPH eggs cannot transmit the virus.

RRSV symptoms include severe stunting during early crop stages, green leaves with darker than the normal color that appears to have jagged uneven edges, and appearance of yellow to yellow-brown leaves that twist into spiral shapes at the base of leaf blades. The veins that develop on leaf blades and sheathes are usually swollen, pale yellow, or white to dark brown. The underside of leaf blades and the outer surface of leaf sheaths have galls. Infected crops will also display delayed flowering and incomplete panicle emergence.

Like the tungro virus, RRSV-infected plants cannot be treated so preventive rather than direct-control measures should be implemented. Planting BPH-resistant varieties such as NSIC Rc 222, 298, and 308 is the most defensive measure. Synchronous planting and plowing of infected stubbles under the field after harvest are also encouraged.

Niones noted that to manage the four types of viruses, infected plants should be immediately removed once the disease is detected. They can be prevented by practicing fallow period at least one month between each cropping to reduce the pests’ food supply; reducing their populations. Resistant varieties should also be considered but insecticide should only be applied when needed.

Rice specialists train farmers in Visayas, Mindanao

In an effort to mold more new generation of rice specialists, graduates of the Rice Specialists Training Course (RSTC) spearheaded by the Philippine Rice Research Institute of the Department of Agriculture (DA-PhilRice) conduct training courses among partners and stakeholders in their areas.

In Visayas and Mindanao, RSTC trainees who graduated in Oct. 2019, cascaded down their technical competency to the local agriculture technicians and extensionists.

As part of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Extension Program, the RSTC graduates are encouraged to extend their acquired skills and knowledge to agriculture workers especially that the shift in the rice trade system has posed more challenges among farmers.

“After finishing the RSTC, it is now our responsibility to share the learning to our farmers and seed growers,” said Dax Gabrielle D. Morfe, assistant seed coordinator of DA -Regional Field Office 8.

Morfe, who works under the seed and seeds component section, has already trained more than 90 potential seed growers.  Seed growers play a vital role under the RCEF seed program, which aims to provide seed assistance to farmers. 

“The new seed growers were thankful as they were able to upgrade their practices especially on crop management,” Morfe said.

He said that the training is relevant as sources of high-quality seeds in their area are limited.

“Hopefully, this training will produce more seed growers in Eastern Visayas and will increase the supply of certified seeds,” Morfe said.

The season-long RSTC training is divided into three modules that aims to strengthen field problem diagnosis and decision-making skills based on the concepts and principles of the PalayCheck and Palayamanan Systems.

For Junalyn Palco, training assistant at the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) in Region 8, working in the training and extension arm of DA gives her the avenue to help more farmers become more competitive.

“As an RSTC graduate, I am tasked to equip farmers with knowledge about rice production technology that will help them reduce cost and produce more yield. Most of our trainees, who are farmer-leaders, local agriculture technicians, or extensionists, have become more open to the new rice farming technologies including the shift to mechanization,” she said.

In Mindanao, Rejane Ata, technical staff at ATI-RTC in Caraga, noted that the training had helped them gain more confidence in handling large groups of farmers.

“I have gained more exposure, particularly in the field, that helped me gain knowledge. Since our job involves training farmers, it is very essential that we don’t just learn the theories, but be hands-on as well, especially that most farmers believe what they see,” Ata, who had trained about 120 agriculture workers said.

The Extension Services Program under RCEF enhances knowledge of extension workers for them to effectively train rice farmers and improves farmers’ skills on yield-enhancing and cost-reducing rice production practices and technologies.

Fifty simple, delicious three-ingredient recipes

From latkes to teriyaki chicken, you can still rustle up great food with just a few supplies

Dale Berning Sawa

Potato latkes. Photograph: iStock.

Most easy recipes are not easy. Achieving simplicity is never actually that simple, but in the kitchen it is usually also contingent on a well-trained hand and a very well-stocked pantry. This makes the genuinely easy three-ingredient recipe a holy grail of sorts.

Here, then, the mother lode: 50 three-ingredient beauties. Some are meals in themselves. Some are a good base to build upon. Others still are a sweet something for afters. They run the gamut from “blink and it’s ready” to a long, slow cook, but none will break the bank. Crucially, all use only three things other than oil, butter, salt, pepper and water. As simple as ready, steady … cook!

Green frittata

Jacob Kenedy, Bocca di Lupo
Roughly chop some green veg (spinach, chard, artichoke, chard, kale, asparagus…), and pan-fry with a little oil until slightly browned and properly hot. Beat 5-10 room-temperature eggs (depending on pan size) with whichever grated cheese you have (parmesan, pecorino, feta …), then stir the hot veg into the eggs, and reheat the pan over a medium-high flame.

Run a dash of oil round the edge of the pan and add the mixture, lower the heat and cook for eight minutes or so, until half set. Turn out on to a plate (this takes confidence and grace), reheat the pan to medium-high, slide the frittata back in and tuck in the edges with a spoon. Reduce the heat to low and cook for a further eight minutes, until just firm, or you have a hunch it might have just a little seductive ooze in the centre. Turn out again and let cool a little before serving, warmish.

Puff pastry pizza. Photograph: iStock.

Puff-pastry ‘pizza’

Miguel Barclay
Cut a square of puff pastry, score a 1cm border and scatter over cheese, then tomatoes. Season with salt, pepper and oregano (optional), then bake for about 25 minutes at 180C (160C fan)/350F/gas mark 4.

Jerk and maple cauliflower florets

Denai Moore, Dee’s Table
Heat your oven to 200C (180C fan)/375F/gas mark 5. In a big bowl, mix two tablespoons of shop-bought jerk seasoning, two tablespoons of maple syrup and two tablespoons of olive oil. Add in half a cauliflower, broken up into florets. Season with salt and pepper and mix together to coat, taking care not to break the florets.

Grease a baking tray with one tablespoon of olive oil and lay out the florets in a single layer. Cover with a piece of baking paper and put another baking tray on top to weigh down on the cauliflower. Bake for 30 minutes, turning the florets over after 15 minutes, until caramelised and sticky.

Feta-filled potato pops

Sabrina Ghayour, cookbook author
Peel and quarter two medium potatoes, then simmer for 20-25 minutes, until soft. Mash finely, then set aside to cool and refrigerate for a couple of hours. In another bowl, mash up 100g feta with black pepper. Shape the potato mash into ping-pong ball-sized portions and flatten in the palm of your hand to approximately ¾cm thickness. Pile a compressed teaspoon of the feta mixture into the centre of the mash disc and then bring the edges over the filling to seal the ball, filling any cracks with more mash. Lightly dust each ball with flour (you’ll need 3-4 tablespoons in total) and repeat.

Heat some oil in a frying pan. When nice and hot, fry the pops until golden brown on both sides, removing with a slotted spoon and draining on kitchen paper when ready. Serve with your favourite sauces or chutneys.

Latkes

Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer, Honey & Co
Grate two or three potatoes, place in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Leave in the sink to release some moisture for a few minutes, then squeeze out the rest of the moisture with your hands, place the potato in a bowl and add an egg and a tablespoon or two of self-raising flour (plain flour will do if that is what you have) and more black pepper than you think you need, then mix. If the mix is very loose, add more flour. Heat oil in a pan, about 1cm deep, and drop in little mounds of the mix. Turn when crisp and brown on one side, then take out and place on absorbent paper. Optional extras in the mix include thinly sliced onions or spring onions, anchovies, oregano, feta and smoked paprika.

Jacket potato with kimchi

Judy Joo, Jinjuu
Slit open a baked potato, stuff with some chopped-up kimchi, cover with grated cheese and place under a grill until melted and browning.

Gnocchi

Roberta d’Elia, Pasta Evangelists
Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Peel 1kg potatoes (red if possible) and cook over a low heat until tender, but still firm, taking care that the skin doesn’t break (so they don’t absorb too much water). This will take 15-20 minutes. Drain, cool down and mash with a fork. Mix in 300g flour (plain, bread or gluten-free will work) and one egg, then knead until a dough forms.

Divide into four portions and shape into long snakes, about 1.5cm in diameter, then cut into 1cm-long pieces. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the gnocchi for 2-3 minutes, or until they rise to the surface. Drain and serve with your favourite sauce: butter and sage, gorgonzola and cream with parma ham and walnuts, beef ragu, caprese sauce, basil pesto.

Chickpea and carrot crepes

Anna Jones
Jones puts caraway seeds in her batter and serves the crepes with vegetables, leaves, cheese and eggs. Adapt as you see fit: the basic recipe is a keeper.

Mix together 250g of chickpea flour, 250g of grated carrots and 350ml of milk to obtain a thin, smooth pancake batter. Heat one teaspoon of olive oil in a medium, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add a small ladle of the batter to the pan. Work quickly to swirl it around so the batter covers the base of the pan. Cook for a couple of minutes, then flip over and cook on the other side for another 30 seconds. Repeat with the rest of the batter, adding a little more oil each time. Stack the crepes on a plate with greaseproof paper in between each; keep warm in a low oven.

Tomato with strawberries and basil

Massimiliano Alajmo, Le Calandre
Make a salad of ripe tomatoes and strawberry, sliced, with fresh basil leaves. Season with extra virgin olive oil and flaky salt.

Tomatoes with cottage cheese

Rui Silvestre, Vistas
Blitz 200g of plum tomatoes with a pinch of salt and strain through a sieve. Blitz 50g basil leaves with 100g olive oil, then add to the tomato juice, season to taste and chill in the fridge. Blanche another 300g tomatoes in boiling water for 5-10 seconds then chill in iced water and remove the skin. Blitz 50g cottage cheese with flaky salt, olive oil and ground black pepper until smooth. Serve the skinned tomatoes on a bed of cottage cheese cream, drizzled with the basil oil juice mixture.

Tomato and orange soup

Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer, Honey & Co
Peel and slice 10 (yes, 10) cloves of garlic. Slice one orange (skin and all, removing the pips). Place 60ml of olive oil in a pot and gently fry the garlic until fragrant. Add in the orange slices and fry until they start to brown a bit, then add a tin of chopped tomatoes and the same amount of water. Simmer for 20 minutes, then blitz with a stick blender until very smooth. Adjust the seasoning with salt and, if necessary, sugar as well, depending on how sweet the orange is. Delicious served with sourdough toast and goat’s cheese; the addition of some thyme or oregano works, too.

Sweet potato flatbreads

Mandy Mazliah, sneakyveg.com
Peel and chop a large sweet potato and steam or boil until soft. Blend until smooth or mash by hand. Place 200g of plain flour in a large mixing bowl and rub in 200g of the sweet potato mash (reserving the rest) with your fingertips, until it resembles breadcrumbs.

Season to taste and add in a little water to make a smooth dough. Divide into six small balls and roll out on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin dusted with flour. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over a medium heat and fry the flatbreads one at a time, for two minutes on each side. Serve immediately, or wrap in a clean tea towel or foil to keep soft while you cook the rest.

Chicken thighs with teriyaki sauce

Simon Wood, BBC MasterChef champion
In a hot frying pan, cook 1kg of chicken thighs in vegetable oil until golden all over. Add 220ml of soy sauce and 100g of brown sugar and stir to bring to a boil. Continue stirring until the chicken it cooked and the sauce has reduced; it should evenly coat the chicken, making it sticky.

Chicken thighs with tandoori masala and lime

Romy Gill, Ready Steady Cook chef and cookbook author
Stab six chicken thighs all over with a fork, then place in a bowl with six teaspoons of tandoori masala, the juice of one lime (lemon works, too), six teaspoons of oil and 20ml of cold water. Leave it to marinate for 20-30 minutes and heat an oven to 180C (160C fan)/350F/gas mark 4. Place a baking sheet on a baking tray and, when ready, place the marinated chicken on the sheet and cook for about an hour, or until the juices run clear.

Alternatively, use four teaspoons of harissa (rose harissa, if you can find any), the juice of one lemon and one teaspoon of salt.

Tofu with soy sauce and minced ginger

Anna Thomson
Cut two packs of silken tofu into quarters. Gently slip into a pan of boiling water to heat through. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in four bowls, two pieces per person. Top with soy sauce and minced ginger. Also good topped with toasted sesame seeds and chopped spring onion.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/fifty-simple-delicious-three-ingredient-recipes-1.4242794

Rice crop likely to be affected after India stops water flow

BY NEWS DESK , (LAST UPDATED 1 DAY AGO)

India has stopped 14,000 cusecs of water flowing into Pakistan via River Chenab, the Pakistani Ministry of Water Resources said on Wednesday, fearing the reduced water flow could damage the rice crop.

The flow of water in Chenab has been reduced to 18,000 cusecs, the officials said. It was at 31,800 cusecs on Tuesday.

Due to this, the rice crop is feared to be affected in areas stretching from Marala to Panjnad headworks in Punjab.

India has diverted this water to Baglihar and Ratle dams, the officials added.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/05/06/rice-crop-likely-affected-india-stops-water-flow/

FCI currently has 276.61 LMT rice and 353.49 LMT wheat, says Paswan Thursday, 07 May, 2020, 13 : 00 PM [IST] Our Bureau, New Delhi Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan has given detailed information about the various steps taken by the government and the total stocks of food grains and pulses available with the government and sent to the states till now. The minister said that as per the report dated May 4, 2020, FCI currently has 276.61 LMT rice and 353.49 LMT wheat. Hence a total of 630.10 LMT food grain stock is available. About 60 LMT food grains are required for a month under NFSA and other welfare schemes. The minister informed that since the lockdown, about 69.52 LMT food grains have been lifted and transported through 2483 rail rakes. Apart from the rail route, transportation was also done through roads and waterways. A total of 137.62 LMT has been transported. Total 5.92 LMT grains have been transported to the North-Eastern States. During the lockdown, NGOs and social institutions running relief camps can purchase wheat and rice directly from FCI Depots at Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS) rate. The State Governments can also purchase food grains directly from FCI. State governments can also provide rice / wheat to non-NFSA families who have been issued ration cards by the state governments, for the next three months. A letter regarding OMSS has been sent to the Chief Ministers of all the states/ administrators of UTs with request to provide ration to the needy non-NFSA families. Under the OMSS, the rates of rice are fixed at Rs.22/kg and wheat- Rs.21/kg. FCI has sold 4.50 LMT wheat and 5.61 LMT rice through OMSS during the lockdown period. Under the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana”, for next three months a total of 104.4 LMT rice and 15.6 LMT wheat is required of which 59.50 LMT rice and 8.14 LMT wheat have been lifted by various states and UTs. Wheat has been allocated to six states/UTs, - Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi and Gujarat and rice has been provided to the remaining states/UTs. The Government of India is bearing 100% financial burden of approximately Rs. 46,000 crore under this scheme. As regards pulses, the total requirement for the next three months is 5.82 LMT. So far, 220727 MT pulses have been dispatched while 147165 MT pulses have reached the states/UTs and 47490 MT has been delivered. A total of 12.54 LMT pulses (Toor-5.16 LMT, Moong-1.26 LMT, Urad-2.55 LMT, Bengal Gram-2.72 LMT and Masur-0.84 LMT) is available in the buffer stock as on May 5, 2020. Meanwhile, the Department of Consumer Affairs has notified face masks and sanitisers under the Essential Commodities Act in view of their increased demand due to Covid-19. Prices of masks, sanitisers and ingredients used in their manufacturing have also been capped. States have been given guidelines to ensure there is no obstruction in supply-chain management due to lockdown and check prices of all essential items. The Centre has delegated all powers to the state governments to take decisions under the EC Act.

http://www.fnbnews.com/Top-News/fci-currently-has-27661-lmt-rice-and-35349-lmt-wheat-says-paswan-55822

Vietnam's rice export ban not to affect Mongolia: Ambassador

AKIPRESS.COM - Ambassador of Vietnam to Mongolia Nguyen Thi Doan told the Mongolian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry that Mongolia will not be subject to rice export restrictions imposed by the Government of Vietnam until the end of June and handed over the letter from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Cuong.

Mongolia's main food product, rice, is 100 percent dependent on imports. Mongolia consumes an average of 50,000 tons of rice a year, about 50 percent of which is imported from Vietnam, Montsame reports. 

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries have begun to take measures to restrict exports of some food products in accordance with their economic characteristics and there is a potential risk of rice shortages and price rise in Mongolia. Accordingly, the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry and Head of Mongolia-Vietnam Intergovernmental Commission Ch.Ulaan conveyed a request to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam on maintaining the stability of rice export.

Sides also agreed to develop recommendations for the export of heat-processed meat and meat products to Vietnam, and to grant International Veterinary Certificate for deep-frozen meat electronically.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry will continue to focus on policy measures to stabilize the supply of key food items during the pandemic.

https://akipress.com/news:641068:Vietnam_s_rice_export_ban_not_to_affect_Mongolia__Ambassador/

Riverina rice grower investigates water use efficiency in overseas systems

MAY 7 2020 - 8:03AM

 EFFICIENCY: Rice grower and 2017 Nuffield Scholar Mark Groat, who with support from AgriFutures Australia travelled across the United States, South America, China and India. Picture: Supplied

Making the most out of every drop of water is key to the survival and growth of the Australian rice industry and an urgent step-change is required for the industry to thrive into the future.

That's a key research finding of NSW rice grower and 2017 Nuffield Scholar Mark Groat, who with support from AgriFutures Australia travelled across the United States, South America, China and India drawing comparisons and insights for rice production back in Australia.

Mr Groat's report outlines that with lower water allocations and higher water prices posing major challenges for the rice industry, increasing water use efficiency both in terms of production per megalitre and return per megalitre must be a critical focus.

"It's about gaining a greater return for the water used, whether that's in terms of yield, quality, consumer demand, or company reputation," Mr Groat said.

Exploring the role of genetic enhancement of rice, the report looks at the successes of both short-season rice varieties and a system of stubble management implemented in North-West India.

"Shortening the season by developing 110-day rice varieties (instead of the conventional 140-day variety) enables planting to be delayed by a month, avoiding extreme heat during the mid-May to June period," he said.

"The added benefit of bringing planting closer to monsoonal rains of late June allows water use to be decreased by 35 percent without compromising yield.

"Winter crop rotation and stubble management has also dramatically increased WUE while enhancing soil characteristics in the region.

"As is the case in Australia, looking at the system as a whole, rather than the individual crop, is key."

Mr Groat's report features a series of comparative case studies from international rice growing regions with similar geographic and climatic traits as Australia, such as the USA's Mississippi Delta, Uruguay, North-East China and North-West India.

"We are world leaders in terms of rice yield per hectare, but I wanted to better understand how we compare to the rest of the world in terms of our water use efficiency," he said.

"In the Mississippi Delta, the majority of water is pumped from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer with no regulation on extraction, and no charge for water," he said.

"This has led to largely inefficient water usage and aquifer depletion by between 0.15 and 0.45 metres per year. "Efforts in the region to address aquifer overdraft are aimed at irrigation efficiency, however uptake has been very low."

A number of case study comparisons reveal Australia to be a leader in efficient and sustainable rice production, but the report concludes that the free market system of water in southern rice growing regions means rice is just another crop competing for a finite resource.

"Benchmarking of Australian data shows an identifiable yield gap of two tonnes per hectare between the average and top 20 percent of growers," Mr Groat said.

"Identifying and addressing causes of this gap, decreasing evaporation and increasing marketability are key components to increasing water use efficiency in terms of dollars per megalitre."

Ultimately, the report recommends the industry re-focus on benchmarking, extension and research into in-situ stubble management. "This is an extremely challenging time for the Australian rice industry, but it's also a time of immense opportunity," he said.

"The combination of technology, irrigation design, crop protection products and rice genetics has opened the door to maximising water use efficiency like never before. "If as an industry we can focus on effective in-situ stubble management, identify and prioritise extension services on yield gaps, re-evaluate our research priorities and better tell our story, then we will be better placed to seize the opportunities before us."

https://www.therural.com.au/story/6748450/riverina-rice-grower-investigates-water-use-efficiency-in-overseas-systems/

Govt suspends Boro rice procurement through app amid coronavirus crisis

  Staff Correspondent,  bdnews24.com

Published: 07 May 2020 02:10 PM BdST Updated: 07 May 2020 02:10 PM BdST

·      

The government has backtracked on its decision to buy Boro rice from farmers this year in 18 Upazilas through a mobile app amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Ministry of Food sent a letter to the Directorate General of Food instructing the state agency to procure rice digitally next season instead.

The government usually buys rice from mill owners to stockpile it.

https://bdnews24.com/business/2020/05/07/govt-suspends-boro-rice-procurement-through-app-amid-coronavirus-crisis

India rice prices gain, expensive Thai offers lose out

Nakul Iyer

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice export prices from India held near a nine-month high this week on strong demand from buyers in both Asia and Africa, with Thailand losing out to cheaper grain from the top exporter.

A farmer carries saplings to plant in a rice field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Amit Dave/Files

India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $378-$383 per tonne, unchanged from last week.

Demand for Indian rice from Asian and African buyers has been slowly improving as New Delhi is offering more competitive prices than Thailand, said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

A weak rupee also helped, raising exporters’ margin from overseas sales, the exporter said.

Thailand’s benchmark 5% broken rice prices were quoted at $515–$546, down from $535-$557 the week before, on easing concerns over domestic supply even as overseas demand remained unchanged, traders said.

“Prices have been high because mills were concerned about possible shortages, but after a spell of rainfall, the mills are starting to sell their stock again,” a Bangkok-based rice trader said.

One of the worst droughts in decades earlier this year had put a strain on supply and pushed Thai rice prices to their highest in about seven years in early April. 

But the supply concerns have now eased due to recent rains and forecasts for more in the country’s rice growing regions.

Lower domestic supplies, meanwhile, pushed rates for 5% broken rice from Vietnam to a fresh two-year peak of $450 per tonne on Thursday, but activity on the export market remained quiet.

“Not many new contracts have been signed recently as domestic supplies are running low,” a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.

“Many local firms are focusing on their rice purchase from farmers for the national stockpiling program.”

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc last week agreed to fully resume the country’s rice exports from this month, after banning exports in March and limiting shipments for April to 500,000 tonnes to make sure the country had sufficient food during the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s food ministry said on Thursday the country would buy 1.15 million tonnes of rice and 800,000 tonnes of paddy from local farmers in the current harvesting season to secure supplies.

Panic buying has driven domestic rice prices to a two-year high in Bangladesh as the number of coronavirus cases in the country surpassed 10,000 as of Monday.

https://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice/india-rice-prices-gain-expensive-thai-offers-lose-out-idINKBN22J27U

Rice Prices

as on : 07-05-2020 03:25:42 PM

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

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Gadarpur(Utr)	4555.00	344.39	87886.00	2670	3225	-20.89
Mandya(Kar)	660.00	20.66	2089.00	2510	2480	-
Manjeri(Ker)	290.00	NC	8410.00	3500	3500	NC
Bangarpet(Kar)	225.00	99.12	3577.00	2100	2200	-
Bindki(UP)	170.00	-5.56	4734.00	2430	2400	4.29
Azamgarh(UP)	150.00	-25	3470.00	2550	2535	4.08
Lucknow(UP)	87.00	-10.31	3802.00	2460	2460	-6.82
Ghaziabad(UP)	80.00	14.29	1256.00	2700	2700	NC
Naugarh(UP)	60.00	7.14	3050.00	2520	2530	5.00
Kandi(WB)	60.00	-14.29	1029.50	2650	2650	6.00
Mathura(UP)	41.00	2.5	2396.00	2580	2590	-5.49
Aligarh(UP)	40.00	NC	3195.00	2550	2550	1.19
Firozabad(UP)	35.00	-4.11	902.60	2610	2600	-
Guskara(Burdwan)(WB)	34.00	NC	260.00	2600	2500	-
Honnali(Kar)	32.00	166.67	211.00	3140	3000	-
Partaval(UP)	31.50	57.5	482.50	2470	2475	8.10
Jafarganj(UP)	30.00	36.36	728.00	2380	2360	10.19
Beldanga(WB)	30.00	-14.29	970.00	3000	3000	11.11
Khalilabad(UP)	25.00	-16.67	1130.00	2550	2525	13.33
Agra(UP)	25.00	4.17	2988.00	2580	2565	-3.37
Haridwar Union(Utr)	25.00	-28.57	107.00	4625	5100	-
Asansol(WB)	25.00	1.63	718.19	2850	2850	-6.56
Durgapur(WB)	23.50	2.17	632.75	2850	2850	NC
Bharthna(UP)	20.00	566.67	2098.00	2550	2500	12.33
Choubepur(UP)	20.00	-27.27	1225.65	2570	2550	-3.93
Egra/contai(WB)	20.00	42.86	388.50	2700	2800	17.39
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)	19.50	1.56	559.30	5000	5000	66.67
Katwa(WB)	18.40	-1.6	197.00	2600	2600	-
Jaunpur(UP)	18.00	-34.55	985.20	2460	2450	5.13
Mainpuri(UP)	18.00	-5.26	3283.50	2620	2610	8.26
Basti(UP)	16.00	-23.81	1003.50	2550	2550	8.51
Rampur(UP)	16.00	-11.11	332.00	2590	2590	1.57
Sirsaganj(UP)	15.00	-6.25	594.50	2610	2600	-5.09
Devariya(UP)	14.00	-6.67	814.50	2585	2575	5.08
Soharatgarh(UP)	11.50	-11.54	1333.70	2540	2535	5.83
Sheoraphuly(WB)	11.20	-0.88	117.20	3100	3100	3.33
Holenarsipura(Kar)	10.00	-72.22	49.00	2200	2000	-
Arakalgud(Kar)	10.00	-	10.00	2500	-	-
Ajuha(UP)	9.00	28.57	210.00	2500	2500	5.26
Jhijhank(UP)	8.00	77.78	171.50	2530	2520	-
Dahod(Guj)	7.50	-62.5	658.20	4400	4400	4.76
Unnao(UP)	7.20	-20	118.00	2450	2450	7.22
Chandoli(UP)	7.00	-6.67	35.20	2475	2475	7.14
Etah(UP)	7.00	-22.22	267.50	2570	2580	0.39
Kasganj(UP)	5.00	25	371.50	2540	2550	-0.78
Shikohabad(UP)	5.00	400	253.00	2600	2600	6.12
Fatehpur Sikri(UP)	3.80	5.56	78.30	2570	2590	-0.19
Mahoba(UP)	3.10	-11.43	298.40	2450	2465	8.17
Sindhanur(Kar)	3.00	-81.25	19.00	3800	4000	-
Achalda(UP)	3.00	-25	202.10	2450	2460	10.86
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB)	3.00	NC	179.50	2650	2650	NC
Perinthalmanna(Ker)	2.90	-	14.50	3200	-	14.29
Uluberia(WB)	2.80	NC	35.50	3100	3300	6.90
Kosikalan(UP)	2.70	-10	176.00	2550	2600	2.00
Yusufpur(UP)	2.40	-	2.40	2150	-	-4.87
Auraiya(UP)	2.00	11.11	201.10	2550	2500	8.51
Khair(UP)	2.00	150	52.50	2560	2560	-1.54
Mawana(UP)	2.00	-37.5	100.20	2620	2625	-
Nadia(WB)	2.00	-33.33	202.00	4200	4200	10.53
Charra(UP)	1.60	-5.88	74.60	2550	2550	0.20
Khatra(WB)	1.60	6.67	93.60	2650	2650	NC
Panichowki(Kumarghat)(Tri)	1.30	-27.78	21.50	2950	2960	-
Anandnagar(UP)	1.30	-23.53	177.90	2515	2500	7.02
Jumpuijala(Tri)	1.20	-65.71	115.50	3100	3100	-
Melaghar(Tri)	1.00	NC	37.70	2800	2800	3.70
Manubazar(Tri)	0.75	-	0.75	2500	-	-

Published on May 07, 2020

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article31525392.ece