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Riceplus
A Voice for Rice Community
Monday, August 31, 2020
FDA MedWatch: Harmonic Nature Hand Sanitizer by Harmonic Nature S. De R.L.M: Recall
THIS WEEK IN FOOD Aug. 31st,2020
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The role IoT has to play in green recovery
The role IoT has to play in green recovery
How IoT technology can aid a green recovery after Covid.
Covid-19 has undoubtedly caused major global disruption to both businesses
and the wider economy, but not all for the worse. There are, of course,
negative repercussions of the pandemic with long-term economic and employment
impacts forecast but there have also been some positive changes that have been
brought about by this disruption such as the need for the recovery to be
sustainable and green.
The various forms of lockdown across the world have had an extremely
positive impact on our surrounding environments. The first most notable impact
was perhaps a drop in air pollution levels in major cities globally as well as
an overall restoration of nature. LA can now see its skyline while in Venice
the lack of pollution in the canals has seen a return of wildlife such as swans
and dolphins. These events have caused many to realize the extent of the damage
that is being inflicted on the environment due to our everyday actions such as
commuting. However, as restrictions are beginning to ease there is a greater
pressure from consumers and public offices to build greener operations into
recovery plans to ensure that all the positive progress made in lockdown is not
lost within a matter of weeks of returning to ‘normal’.
In particular the internet of things (IoT) provides wider opportunities for
businesses to comply by social distancing measures, while also implementing
sustainable solutions. IoT allows data to flow easily from anything to anyone
and, although traditionally associated with smart home devices this technology
opens up a huge opportunity for a wide range of businesses to become greener as
they roll out their recovery plans.
31st August,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter
Value addition
equipment change farmer’s livelihoods
SATURDAY AUGUST 29 2020
Rice mill for
Noteeber farmer's group in Ogana village, Omoro Sub County in Alebtong
District. Photo by Charlotte Ninsiima
In Summary
·
A crusher machine to mill bone meal as an
organic fertilizer for their plants and nutritional supplement for the animals.
Eric Kihuluka, Chairman of the group asserts, also received a mixer that mixes
animal feeds and a pelting machine to reduce wastage of feeds.
·
Not only have they embraced vegetable growing
but supplemented their income to purchase a soya oil presser that has boosted
both cash inflow in terms of soya oil sales and, food plus manure from the soya
residuals.
By Charlotte
Ninsiima
Farmer groups
in the East and North rice growing regions confirm to improved livelihoods and
sustenance wellbeing after National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADs) doled
out value addition equipment worth Shs8 billion two years ago.
“A kilo of
husked rice is cheaper than a kilo of milled rice. Our local variety, Super
rice has both a local market and regional market, within East Africa, however,
our challenge has been produced. With the implementation of value addition
equipment, it means our production will go up, and will be able to produce more
than we can actually sell out. Also reduce on imported rice from the outside,”
Khadija Nakakande, Head of Communications and Public Relations NAADs
Secretariat, asserts.
The focus foods
include maize, poultry and rice for food security and income generation. NAADs
is supporting farmers with rice mills in order to mill their produce to
increase their production and reduce on the long treks in search of mills.
Alebtong District known to harbour war returnees found solace in growing rice
after getting numerous training from NARO. They were given a number of
varieties that they have been growing.
The government
spent Shs8 billion on procurement of the value addition equipment. The five
rice mills cost Shs198.2 million, 105 maize mills cost Shs55.1million, and 19
feed mills at Shs62million. Plans are underway to distribute more to farmers
organized under groups.
During 2014,
the mandate of NAADs was refocused to look at the distribution of agricultural inputs
mainly focusing on the seeds-planting materials and livestock, there have been
efforts to prove the ongoing works.
“Six years down
the road, we feel that there is an improvement in production of the commodities
supported like bananas, maize and cassava. The increased production came in
after the farmers’ outcry to access the market easily so as to avoid wastage
and produce from going bad.” Nakakande justifies, cases of matooke ripening,
and issues of aflatoxins in the maize and the cassava are no longer severe due
to improvised value chain addition.
At Bugiri
District Integrated Farmers and Agri-business Association that comprises of
2036 farmers clustered in six sub-counties that include Buhday, Nabukalu,
Iwemba, Bulidha, Bukeesa, and Buwung in Bugiri Municipality. Vero Kaudha, marketing
officer of the Association says, we grew rice but hardly got market until the
machines were introduced which opened a window of opportunities.
“Before the
pandemic, we exported rice to Kenya at a cost of Shs4200 per kilo compared to
the local market stationed at Shs3000. The citation has expanded the ness to
local rice seed distribution and acquired more acreage to increase production
for other foods like maize, soya beans, rice and cassava.”
On the on the
association is capable of milling 30 tons a week. The machine deselects dust or
any other dirt and grades rice in four levels.
However, the
lockdown has affected them greatly resorting to storing rice as seed and milled
until the storm is overdue to dropped prices of rice at Shs1700 from Shs3000.
Also, most
farmers are grappling with high maintenance costs of the machinery, low market
access during the crisis and unfair electricity bill policy administered to a
group of eight millers on one shared electric meter.
“One can’t
operate on power unless they have cleared the total bill of others. This policy
refrains us from doing business; that is why it was posed for a year,” one of
the Busowa traders and farmers’ cooperative society, speaks out.
In Kaliro
district, Mikwano EV Uganda, a 416 member group inclusive of the disabled
persons in Izinga village, Namuyiwa Sub County, gained more from the
intervention.
A crusher
machine to mill bone meal as an organic fertilizer for their plants and
nutritional supplement for the animals. Eric Kihuluka, Chairman of the group
asserts, also received a mixer that mixes animal feeds and a pelting machine to
reduce wastage of feeds.
Not only have
they embraced vegetable growing but supplemented their income to purchase a
soya oil presser that has boosted both cash inflow in terms of soya oil sales
and, food plus manure from the soya residuals.
DA gives aid to 2 groups of farmers
in Zamboanga Peninsula
ZAMBOANGA. The Department of
Agriculture provides some P36.5 million worth of farm equipment to boost the
production of rice farmers in Zamboanga Sibugay. A photo handout shows two
among the equipment the DA distributed to the farmer-beneficiaries. (SunStar
Zamboanga)
-
August 29, 2020
THE Department of Agriculture (DA)
has provided a boost to the livelihood of farmers associations in the provinces
of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay, a DA official announced.
DA Regional Executive Director Rad Donn Cedeño said the beneficiaries of the
DA’s assistance are the Pangian Farmers Association in Barangay Pangian,
Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte and 10 farmers associations and cooperatives from
seven rice-producing towns in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Cedeño said the Pangian Farmers Association, who is into Broiler Chicken
Raising Project, received Tuesday, August 25, two de-feathering machines to
hasten the removal of feathers from chickens.
Cedeño said the provision of the machines is part of the 2019 Special Area for
Agricultural Development (Saad) livelihood intervention program in the
municipality of Siocon.
He said that during the project visit from the Saad team of the DA regional
office, the 2,000 heads chickens on the association’s third rollover now weighs
an average of 500 grams.
Meanwhile, he said that the 10 farmers associations and cooperatives in
Zamboanga Sibugay received Monday some P36.5 million worth of agri-machineries
and technologies from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)
Mechanization Component.
He did not name the farmer associations and cooperatives except to say that
they are from seven rice-producing towns of Zamboanga Sibugay. The province has
a total of 12 towns.
He said the pieces of machinery include 10 units four-wheel tractor; 10 float
assist tillers, four walk-behind transplanters, two four-wheel riding type rice
planters, one reaper and seven rice combine harvesters.
He said the distribution of the pieces of machinery is to boost the rice
production of the farmers’ association-beneficiaries. (SunStar
Zamboanga)
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Scientists crack code of genes to accelerate, brake rice stem growth
By SHUNSUKE KIMURA/ Staff Writer
August 31, 2020 at 07:00 JST
Young Japanese rice, far left; its grown
counterpart, second from left; a young floating rice species, second from
right; and matured floating rice, far right. Their stems extend differently,
depending on the activities of certain genes and a hormone. (Provided by Nagoya
University)
NAGOYA--The growth of rice stems is controlled by two genes that
work like gas and brake pedals, researchers here have discovered, a finding
that could lead to the birth of a new flood-resistant, productive crop.
A team of scientists primarily from Nagoya University said the
gene-balanced growth mechanism is common among other grass families, including
wheat and sugar cane.
The stem of the japonica rice variety raised in Japan is only 1
meter tall, while the stem of the floating rice breed cultivated in Southeast
Asia stricken by flooding during the rainy season grows to 6 meters or so.
"The discovery never would have been made if we had studied
only domestic rice, and comparing it with the floating species made the finding
possible," said Motoyuki Ashikari, a plant molecular genetics professor at
the university. "Looking into the diversity of rice enabled ascertaining
the universal mechanism of stem growth."
A plant hormone called gibberellin is known to promote stem
growth, but the Japanese species doesn't extend further even though gibberellin
is added when it's young.
Keisuke Nagai, an assistant professor of plant molecular
genetics at the university, and his colleagues examined the genes of both
japonica and floating rice breeds, and identified differences in genes known as
ACE1 and DEC1.
ACE1 acts as an accelerator in stem development, while DEC1 provides
the brake, according to the researchers.
ACE1 doesn't function properly in the Japanese species, but a
gene with a similar ability to ACE1 is activated in the maturation period to
work with gibberellin to extend the stem. The activity of DEC1 is released as
rice grows.
In the floating rice, DEC1's braking function is released by
ACE1 and gibberellin in earlier stages, resulting in a rapid stem growth,
according to the team.
In Japan, rice with longer stems can't survive wind and other
elements, which leads to reduced production. The scientists believe that
farmers long selected only short-stem breeds with broken ACE1 for improvement.
The team's findings were published in the scientific journal
Nature. Readers can view them at (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2501-8).
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13635325
Call for continued border closure intensifies amid COVID-19
By Femi Ibirogba
31 August 2020 | 3:02 am
Rice paddies
One year on, major stakeholders in agriculture have intensified the
call for the continued closure of porous borders abused by smugglers for
sabotaging the economy of the country.
Before the closure of the land borders against
free movement goods and persons from Nigeria’s neigbhouring countries, out of
184 countries importing rice from Thailand, Benin Republic was consistently the
largest, doing great damage to Nigeria’s economy through smuggling.
With a population of about 12 million people,
it imported more rice than China, for instance. Benin Republic imported nearly
two million metric tonnes of rice in 2017 (1,814,014), while China imported
1,204,911. Also, data from the Thailand Rice Export Association indicated that
the Benin Republic was the largest importer of rice till May 2019, a few months
before the borders were closed.
In 2018, the country imported 1,603,285 tonnes
while China imported 1,003,062; and it imported 695,854 tonnes from January to
May 2019 while China imported 205,830. The tonnes of rice were allegedly
repacked and smuggled into the Nigerian cities through the land borders. This
posed threats to the efforts of Nigeria to become rice-sufficient.
Nigeria, which is larger than the Benin
Republic almost 20 times, officially imported 23,192 tonnes of rice in 2017,
6537 tonnes in 2018, and 2,380 tonnes so far in 2019.
The porous borders, stakeholders lament, filled
the demand gap in Nigeria from the Benin Republic.
“All goods, for now, are banned from being
exported or imported through our land borders and that is to ensure that we
have total control over what comes in,” Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of the
Nigerian Customs Service told reporters in Abuja a year ago.
The rice value chain and Agricultural
Transformation Agenda
Historically, a major component of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA)
of the Goodluck Jonathan administration was the Rice Transformation Agenda
(RTA), which led to two crops of commercial-scale rice yearly for the first
time in the country. Total output of paddy in the 2012 wet season and 2012/2013
dry season from RTA interventions was an additional 1.409 million tonnes of
paddies or 916,137 tonnes of milled rice from 403,222 hectares of land. By the
2013 wet season and 2013/2014 dry season, output more than doubled to 2.96
million tonnes of paddy or 1.92 MT of milled rice from 802,108 hectares.
Farmers in the 2012 wet season and 2012/2013
dry season were 403,222, and in the 2013 wet season and 2013/2014 dry season,
2,598,113 farmers participated in farming.
During the 2013 wet season and 2013/2014 dry
season, jobs created by local rice production doubled to 751,248 rural jobs,
while gross and net value doubled to N313,784,882,555 and N175,020,285,055
respectively.
The economic impact on the lives of farmers,
unemployed youths, agro-dealers, of an inflow of N254 billion obtained from the
2012 and 2013 wet and dry rice season farming was documented to have increased
household income, employment, and improved livelihoods.
At the beginning of RTA, there was only one
functional integrated rice mill with parboiling capacity. With interventions in
the rice value chains and the subsequent increase in paddy production, 19 new
integrated rice mills with parboiling capacity, and a total combined paddy
milling capacity of 780,000,000 tonnes came on board.
These investors were allowed to temporarily
import brown or finished rice to bridge the present gap in supply and demand.
They enjoyed a 10% tariff and 20% levy. On the other hand, mere rice traders
imported at 10% tariff and 60% levy. This policy encouraged a leap in
investment into a backward integration scheme aimed at phasing out rice
importation by 2017/2018. The policy attracted more than $1.6 billion in
private sector investments.
However, porous borders frustrated the efforts,
as relatively cheaper bags of rice find their ways through land borders,
discouraging home-grown rice, and avoiding tariffs and duty payable to the
government.
Views on Anchor Borrowers’ scheme and border closure
The green alternative of the Buhari Muhammadu
administration came up with the Anchor Borrowers’ scheme, specifically for rice
and maize interventions for small-scale farmers holding fewer than five
hectares of land. However, smuggling from the land borders flopped the
objectives, leading to the decision to close the borders.
Expressing their views, most farmers and
agricultural investors said though the impact of COVID-19 has been devastating
on food production system, it could have been worse than now if borders were
porous and the CBN had not intervened through the Anchor Borrowers’ scheme
before the pandemic.
Dr (Mrs) Nike Olagunju, a rice processor and
lecturer at Lead City University, Ibadan, said the statistics of rice farmers
in Nigeria in recent times had shown that the closure “is a decision taken in
the right direction. Suffice to say that it’s an indication that the growth of
our economy is in our hands.”
She said Nigerians are getting used to eating
locally produced rice, and farmers are now confident that there is a
steady market waiting for their produce unhindered and they could go
all the length in production of paddy rice.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has also taught us a
great lesson that we can look inwards and better our economy without foreign
interventions, even now that the whole world is in great crisis, economic and
food-wise. The border closure on rice importation has also
favoured employment of labour in the various rice production chain,
invariably enhancing the GDP of our nation,” she argued.
Local rice farmers are getting better by the
day and closing the quality gap between imported and Nigerian rice.
President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria
(AFAN), Mr Ibrahim Kabir, explained that when the border closure happened,
Nigeria did not know there would be a pandemic, but luckily, the border closure
prevented food items from going out of the country informally as they used to,
especially in Katsina.
Kabir added that as time goes on, the borders
will have to be reopened “because we have signed the African Continental Free
Trade Agreement (AFCTA), but the misbehavior of our neighbours indicated they
were not there for us. They were working with some unscrupulous Nigerians to
smuggle in what we have comparative advantages in. We were forced to close the
borders.”
Drought, COVID-19 and insecurity of farmers are
challenges preventing maximization of benefits of closing the borders, he said,
adding: “And these factors might not make it reasonable to open our borders
now. We need more discipline; we need to get more organised.”
Kabir added that if Nigeria does not increase
food production and productivity, prices will continue to soar because the
exchange rate is not friendly.
“Farmers,” he explained, “have not been getting
value for their labour and investments,” and this appears to the first time
chicken and rice producers get value for their investments.
“If you go to a restaurant in the US, you would
eat food worth about $100, and that is equivalent of a bag of rice in value
here in Nigeria. So, we have not been fair to farmers here,” the AFAN boss
said.
Regional Coordinator, Africa Rice Centre, Dr
Francis Nwilene, while analyzing the situation, said: “Despite COVID-19, the
policy has spurred farmers and agricultural investors to become proactive in
food production and processing, especially in rice and poultry.”
He added that it is left for the government to
emplace security either through vigilante or military forces for farmers during
farm operation periods so they can cultivate crops because Nigerians must eat
and so, must produce food.
He advocated irrigation facilities for farmers
in the southern zones to make food production possible throughout the year and
complement the irrigation farming in the north.
Rain-fed agriculture, he argued, is not
adequate to produce food demand of the growing population, and so south-west,
south-south and south-east state governments should make efforts to invest in
irrigation facilities.
The rice specialist Nwilene also objected to
reopening the land borders.
Mr Ajibola Adebutu, Managing Director, JB
Farms, Odogbolu (a processor of vegetable oil) in Ogun State, said: “Demand for
local palm oil and vegetable oil has gone up. Price has also gone up. Good
outcome from this is massive investment in plantation development at the
moment.”
He said the policy would, in the long run, pay
off for Nigeria in terms of a diversified economy, employment opportunities,
and improved gross domestic products.
“So either the borders remain closed or
importation of palm oil and vegetable oil should be stopped if smuggling can be
controlled. Please tell them not to open the borders,” the young Adebutu said.
Afiz Oladejo, Managing Director of Vertex Rice,
Lokoja, Kogi State, said the border closure is actually working for the
economy, not only the farmers because Nigerians are being forced to inward.
“The only challenge,” he added, “is that we have not been able to plan for
sustainability.”
Corroborating Dr Nwilene, Oladejo said: “Rains
we have this season have been staggering, which should clearly open our eyes to
irrigation farming that we are very poor at. So, this situation we experience
now will create a little discomfort, but the moment we get it right by investing
in the next dry season, the output we are going to get will be enormous.”
Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria
(RIFAN), Oyo State, Pa Akinade Samuel, said the CBN/Federal Government scheme
for rice farmers and border closure are forces driving rice production and
investments in the country. Though there are challenges, in the next few years,
Nigeria would become a major rice-producing hub exporting to, at least, other
African countries.
However, high production costs coming from
inputs, low-quality seeds, and poor infrastructure make domestic prices of
local rice brands uncompetitive for now.
https://guardian.ng/features/call-for-continued-border-closure-intensifies-amid-covid-19/
Vietnam’s Jan-Aug coffee
exports drop 1.3%, rice down 1.7%
Vietnam’s coffee exports in the first eight months of the year
probably fell 1.3% from a year earlier, to 1.16 million tonnes, while rice
exports are likely to have dropped 1.7%, government data released on Saturday
showed.
COFFEE
Coffee exports from Vietnam are expected to drop an estimated 1.3% in the first
eight months on the year to 1.16 million tonnes, or 19.3 million 60-kg bags,
the General Statistics Office (GSO) said.
Coffee export revenue for Vietnam, the world’s biggest producer
of the robusta bean, will probably be down 0.2% at $1.98 billion in the
eight-month period.
Its August coffee shipments are estimated at 110,000 tonnes,
valued at $197 million.
RICE
Rice exports in the period from January to August are forecast to drop 1.7%
from a year earlier, to 4.5 million tonnes.
Revenue from rice exports in the period is expected to increase
10.4% to $2.2 billion.
August rice exports from Vietnam, the world’s third-largest
shipper of the grain, probably totalled 500,000 tonnes, worth $251 million.
ENERGY
Vietnam’s January-August crude oil exports were seen rising 22.4% on the year,
to an estimated 3.35 million tonnes.
Crude oil export revenue in the period is expected to dive 21.2%
from a year earlier to $1.1 billion.
Oil product imports in the eight months were estimated at 8.1
million tonnes, up 46.9% over the corresponding period last year, while the
value of such imports rose 0.6% to $2.64 billion.
The GSO trade data is subject to revision next month.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/vietnams-jan-aug-coffee-exports-drop-1-3-rice-down-1-7/
Price of Non-Basmati Parboiled
Rice Increases in India on Account of Huge Export Demand
The surging coronavirus cases and the dreadful floods
led to a shortage of supply and in turn, increase the export demand for rice.
Thus, the current scenario rises the price of Non- basmati parboiled rice in
India.
The pandemic outbreak and floods hindered supply and transportation
in the country. Ensuring that Indian rice export prices increased. Accordingly,
the prices for 5% broken Indian parboiled rice increased to $383-$389 per tonne
from $382-$387 last week. On the other hand, prices for Vietnam’s 5% broken
rice remained unchanged while Thailand saw an increase in prices for the same.
Indian Exports
Hindered
The Kakinada district in Andhra
Pradesh is the largest rice shipping port in India. Following the recent
events, they are facing labour issues as well as the limited availability of
containers. The President of the Rice Exporters’ Association, B.V Krishna Rao
worries that the vessel loading rate went done by 30% in Kakinada. Despite the
problematic situation, the demand for Indian rice remains high. However, the
exports are getting affected due to surging cases and floods in Andhra Pradesh,
according to Nitin Gupta, VP of Olam India’s rice business.
Andhra Pradesh alone is not facing
the problem. Ashwin Shah, an exporter based in Nagaland, also conveys that they
faced similar logistical issues. Nevertheless, as the demand for Indian rice is good due to prices, the
industry is optimistic that things will look up again shortly.
Bangladesh
Floods Affect Export Flow
India isn’t the only country facing
export issues in these challenging times. The neighbouring country of Bangladesh was also affected by heavy
floods. Due to this, 50,000 hectares of paddy fields submerged reports
Bangaladesh agricultural ministry. Further, the value of the damaged rice crops
came up to $4.29 billion on around 100,000 hectares, said Abdur Razzaque, the
agricultural minister. Thus, Bangladesh is facing the same plight in export.
Jump in
Exports of Non-Basmati Rice
India’s exports of non-basmati rice
varieties increased massively. In the first two months of the FY21, the exports
were 11.3 lakh tonnes- 52.5% more than the previous year.
Africa is the major importer of
this variety and, now Bangladesh is looking to import the same from India as
well. Mr BV Krishna Rao also said that Africa depends on India for its
rice demand as prices for the Thai variety
have shot up. Further, he also believes that the exports will touch FY18 levels
which were around 8.64 million tonnes. Bangladesh is looking to import rice
because of sluggish procurement rates and the surge in demand for rice.
In conclusion, there is a good
chance for India to export a good quantity of non-basmati varieties this year.
But, we’ll have to wait for the Bangladesh government’s official announcement
that is expected to arrive shortly.
Tags: Agricultural ministry, Andra Pradesh, bangladesh, Containers, coronavirus, coronavirus india, damaged rice crops, demand, export, floods, FY21, india, Nagaland, non basmati rice, non parboiled basmati rice, olam india rice, paddy
fields, procurement, shipping port, supply, thailand, Transportation, vietnamhttps://www.grainmart.in/news/price-of-non-basmati-parboiled-rice-increases-in-india-on-account-of-huge-export-demand/
‘Achieving Zero Hunger by 2030’:
SKUAST-K holds all-India training prog
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology,
Kashmir held an online all-India training programme on ‘Achieving Zero Hunger
by 2030’, in which renowned national and international agriculture and
development experts on the subject held sessions.
‘Achieving Zero Hunger’ is a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
set up by the UNDP to end hunger and malnutrition from the world by the year
2030.
The 10-day training was organised by SKUAST-K’s Faculty of
Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry with support of World Bank-ICAR funded
National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) was organised from
August 17-28. The training was part of a series of programmes being organised
under Institutional Development Plan (IDP) of NAHEP sanctioned to
SKUAST-Kashmir to transform agricultural education and make SKUAST-K a preferred
destination for agricultural higher education in the country.
More than 80 participants from the various agricultural university
from across the country participated in the programme. Prof Kadambot Siddique
from the University of Western Australia and Dr Nafees Meah, International Rice
Research Institute representative for South Asia, Dr Srinivsa Rao, Director
ICAR-NAARM, Dr Puja Thiel, Nelis Global Norway, Dr Sila Deb, Additional
Commissioner MoHFW, Prof AK Srivastava, Ex-Chairman ASRB, ICAR, Prof Nitya Rao,
University of Anglis United Kingdom, Dr Vara Prasad, Kansas State University,
Joseph George, UNESCAP, Dr ML Madan Former Vice-Chancellor DUVASU & DDG
Animal Sciences ICAR, and many more senior-level government functionaries
scientists of national and international repute as well as Deans, Directors and
Senior Professors of SKUAST-K delivered lectures and held training sessions.
Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-K Prof Nazeer Ahmed chaired the valedictory
function. Prof ZA Pampori, Course Director, presented the report of the
training, summarized the 10-day proceedings and outlined the road map for the
future. Prof NA Ganai Director Planning and Co-ordinator NAHEP complimented the
organisers for organizing the training programme and for roping in the national
and international experts. He also outlined the Human Resource Development
programmes being carried under Institutional Development Programmes of NAHEP.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazeer Ahmed expressed satisfaction over
conduct different online training programmes under NAHEP. He congratulated the
organizers and participants on successful completion of the training programme.
He expressed a hope that the Knowledge gained during the 10-day training shall
be put in practice and all the trainees shall contribute in their respective
fields to achieve the national goal of achieving zero hunger by 2030.
Achieving
Zero Hunger by 2030’: SKUAST-K holds all-India training programme
National, international experts conduct online
sessions
Srinagar: SK University of Agricultural
Sciences and Technology, Kashmir held an online all-India training programme on
‘Achieving Zero Hunger by 2030’, in which renowned national and international
agriculture and development experts on the subject held sessions.
‘Achieving Zero Hunger’ is a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) set up by the
UNDP to end hunger and malnutrition from the world by the year 2030.
The 10-day training was organised by SKUAST-K’s Faculty of Veterinary Sciences
and Animal Husbandry with support of World Bank-ICAR funded National Agricultural
Higher Education Project (NAHEP) was organised from August 17-28. The training
was part of a series of programmes being organised under Institutional
Development Plan (IDP) of NAHEPt sanctioned to SKUAST-Kashmir with an aim to
transform agricultural education and make SKUAST-K a preferred destination for
agricultural higher education in the country.
More than 80 participants from the various agricultural university from across
the country participated in the programme. Prof Kadambot Siddique from the
University of Western Australia and Dr Nafees Meah, International Rice Research
Institute representative for South Asia, Dr Srinivsa Rao, Director ICAR-NAARM,
Dr Puja Thiel, Nelis Global Norway, Dr Sila Deb, Additional Commissioner MoHFW,
Prof AK Srivastava, Ex-Chairman ASRB, ICAR, Prof Nitya Rao, University of
Anglis United Kingdom, Dr Vara Prasad, Kansas State University, Joseph George,
UNESCAP, Dr ML Madan Former Vice-Chancellor DUVASU & DDG Animal Sciences
ICAR, and many more senior-level government functionaries scientists of
national and international repute as well as Deans, Directors and Senior
Professors of SKUAST-K delivered lectures and held training sessions.
Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-K Prof Nazeer Ahmed chaired the valedictory function.
Prof ZA Pampori, Course Director, presented the report of the training,
summarized the 10-day proceedings and outlined the road map for the future.
Prof NA Ganai Director Planning and Co-ordinator NAHEP complimented the
organisers for organizing the training programme and for roping in the national
and international experts. He also outlined the Human Resource Development
programmes being carried under Institutional Development Programmes of NAHEP.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazeer Ahmed expressed satisfaction over conducting
different online training programmes under NAHEP. He congratulated the
organizers and participants on successful completion of the training programme.
He expressed a hope that the Knowledge gained during the 10-day training shall
be put in practice and all the trainees shall contribute in their respective
fields to achieve the national goal of achieving zero hunger by 2030.
‘Achieving Zero Hunger by 2030’:
SKUAST-K holds all-India training programme added by KR
Desk on 12:48 am August 30, 2020
View all posts by KR Desk →
State Of Agriculture And
Integrating ASEAN
August 29, 2020August 29, 2020 Agriculture, ASEAN, integrating, State
Agriculture remains a key driver of ASEAN economic development. As
of 2018, it accounts for more than a quarter of total exports of Cambodia and
Myanmar, whereas imports range from only 3% in Singapore to 15% in Brunei,
suggesting that this sector is relatively self-sufficient, profitable, and with
a large export market. Agriculture is also the biggest source of employment in
most ASEAN Member States (AMS), from 29% of the labor force in the Philippines
to 72% in Laos. However, agriculture makes up a disproportionately low 10% of
the entire ASEAN economy, necessitating a concerted effort from AMS to
prioritize its development.
Total agricultural production and
consumption have been increasing as corroborated by the drastic increase in
total agricultural trade reported by the ASEAN Statistics Data Portal. There is
a remarkable increase since the first ASEAN Free Trade Agreement with an
extramural partner, ASEAN-China FTA, which took effect
in 2005. According to ASEAN Food Security Information System, the stable rise
in rice, maize, sugar, soybean, and cassava production and trade is due to
improving productivity, better crop varieties, and supportive government
policy. This growth is slightly offset by unfavorable weather, disasters, and
decrease in planted areas; the latter due to decreasing demand and prices.
Although agricultural imports
increase consistently, exports dipped in specific time periods — years 2009,
2012, and 2015-2016; exports have also been lagging behind imports. Moreover,
using the Arkansas Global Rice Model, rice supply is predicted to grow by a
mere 1.37% annually, threatening staple food consumption in ASEAN coupled with
a growing population. This shows that although significant strides have been
made, several barriers remain. For instance, although tariffs have been
completely eliminated among ASEAN-6, and close to zero among CLMV, there remain
sensitive list exceptions. Non-tariff measures are increasing especially
in the more developed AMS. Although not necessarily trade-reducing, these
measures increase compliance costs and may act as trade barriers if not
implemented effectively.
Nevertheless, there are notable
efforts towards further liberalisation. The Philippines enforced the Rice
Tariffication Law which effectively removes rice from the list of exceptions,
allowing importation without quota, but instead with tariffs. However, this was
immediately met with opposition from farmers, NGOs, and urban poor who cite the
negative social impact and lack of economic safety nets for those affected.
This polarisation is a grim reminder of the disconnected
regionalism in ASEAN led only by state leaders. Nevertheless,
the active participation of non-state stakeholders by lending their voices
should be a welcome development for an integrated ASEAN community.
However, there are more fundamental
challenges that threaten not just stakeholder participation but the very goals
of the ASEAN Economic Community. Firstly, although total agriculture volume is
expanding, its share in ASEAN GDP is fast shrinking. This is mostly due to the
increasing shares of the manufacturing and services sectors. This shift is inevitable,
given a number of AMS such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are
rapidly industrialising. However, ASEAN must ensure that the gains in
agriculture must be seamlessly transferred to the agriculture
economies. For instance, engendering inclusive and
equitable growth for Myanmar means translating the dynamic shifts in
comparative advantage of agricultural production from AMS into the rice fields
of Myanmar.
Factors that promote
de-globalisation and protectionism also dampen regional agricultural development.
ASEAN-led RCEP has been delayed due to failure of India to commit in an attempt
to protect its vulnerable agriculture sector. Thus, ASEAN’s organisational
maturity in accommodating flexibilities, potentially through ASEAN Minus X,
will be critical to salvage the multilateral arrangement. More importantly,
protectionism still exists especially in the lesser developed economies of
ASEAN, a remnant of ASEAN’s competing agricultural economies as well as a
consequence of opening up to cheaper products outside. However, the established
macroeconomic model for the international flow of capital and goods presents
the most compelling case against protectionism as it ultimately leads to
decreased overall trade, without having any long-term impact on trade balance
or net exports; the loss of export demand means lower production, thus lower
revenues.
The good news is in the proactive
vision of ASEAN to push for the agriculture sector. To this end, there have
been many initiatives undertaken by different ASEAN organisations. The
Initiative for ASEAN Integration is funded by ASEAN-6 to aid the development of
CLMV states through infrastructure, human resource development and regional
integration projects aimed at narrowing the development gap. Similarly, the ASEAN
Development Fund finances short-term projects especially in poorer regions to
alleviate income disparity. Both these are utilised in the agriculture sector
of CLMV to expedite their economic development.
Furthermore, ASEAN has implemented
initiatives around sustainability and increasing the overall competitiveness of
the agriculture sector including the ASEAN Public-Private Partnership Regional
Framework for Technology in Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectors and the
ASEAN Roadmap for Enhancing the Role of Agricultural Cooperatives in Global
Agricultural Chains. The latter, in particular, will further integrate ASEAN
agricultural products in global value chains and establish forward and backward
linkages in domestic production lines. Aside from ensuring equitable growth and
enhancing access to global markets, these initiatives also aim to eradicate
poverty, deepen regional integration, improve sustainability, nutrition, and
food security. The work plan around these covers standardisation of product
quality and quantity,
resource sustainability, trade
facilitation, economic integration and market access within and outside ASEAN.
Best practices and SOPs in animal husbandry, agriculture, aquaculture, and
sanitation have likewise been finalised. All these will hasten the growth of
the agriculture sector while mitigating the impact of adverse events such as
disasters and economic shocks such as Malaysia’s oil and rubber trade decline.
The fate of ASEAN’s agriculture
sector lies in the prudent implementation of the vision for an integrated,
competitive, and equitable ASEAN Economic Community. Without a strong
commitment, ASEAN development will be relegated to persistent delays, as seen
in the current development gap, thwarted liberalisation, and trade protectionism
rampant among AMS economies. Nevertheless, ASEAN’s proactive initiatives have
served to hasten the realisation of an economic community, which will in turn,
further strengthen ASEAN’s primary sector.
Originally published by Modern Diplomacy
https://www.technologytimes.pk/2020/08/29/state-of-agriculture-and-integrating-asean/+
Study found plastic in every
seafood sample it analyzed
New research suggests microplastics have invaded the food chain
to a greater extent than previously documented.
Share on
PinterestNew research indicates
the prevalence of microplastics in seafood is greater than initially thought.
Image credit: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images
Millions of metric tons of
plastic enter the oceans every year. Some of it is highly visible in the
Pacific trash vortex, also known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch,
which lies between North America and Japan.
However, the most prevalent type of debris found in our
oceans — microplastics — are less visible.
Microplastics are tiny bits of
plastic less than 5 millimeters in length, which is about the size of a sesame
seed. Nanoplastics, which are less than 100 nanometers in size, are also present
in the marine environment.
A new study from scientists at
the QUEX Institute, a research partnership between
the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom and the University of Queensland
in Australia, analyzed seafood from an Australian market for microplastics.
The scientists found
microplastics in every sample of commercial seafood they tested.
Francisca Ribeiro, lead author of
the study, says, “Considering an average serving, a seafood eater could be
exposed to approximately 0.7 milligrams (mg) of plastic when ingesting an
average serving of oysters or squid, and up to 30 mg of plastic when eating
sardines.”
The authors recently published
their study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Analysis of the seafood samples
The researchers purchased five
varieties of seafood: five wild blue crabs, 10 oysters, 10 farmed tiger prawns,
10 wild squid, and 10 wild sardines.
Before dissection, each sample
was weighed and washed to remove any residue of plastic packaging. Only the
edible part of each species was tested.
To extract any plastic present,
the scientists placed each sample into a flask with an alkaline solvent and
agitated it at 60 degrees Celsius in a shaker incubator. Once the solvent had
completely digested the sample, the solution was analyzed for plastic.
The researchers then used a
technique called pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry to identify the
presence of five types of plastics: polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinyl
chloride, polypropylene, and poly(methyl methacrylate).
These plastics commonly appear in
packaging, synthetic textiles, and marine debris.
Plastics found
While the team found plastic in
all samples, Ribeiro says: “Our findings show that the amount of plastics
present varies greatly among species, and differs between individuals of the
same species.” The authors explain:
“Each of the analyzed seafood species of this study has
different biological, physiological, and anatomic features and lives in
different compartments of the marine environment, which influences the uptake
and potential accumulation of microplastics.”
The study found:
- 0.04
mg of plastic per gram of tissue in squid
- 0.07
mg in prawns
- 0.1
mg in oysters
- 0.3
mg in crabs
- 2.9
mg in sardines.
All the samples contained
polyvinyl chloride. The largest concentrations of plastic were composed of
polyethylene.
“From the seafood species tested,
sardines had the highest plastic content, which was a surprising result,” says
Ribeiro. A grain of rice weighs about 30 mg, roughly the amount of plastic
found in a sardine.
Co-author Tamara Galloway, from
Exeter University, said, “We do not fully understand the risks to human health
of ingesting plastic, but this new method will make it easier for us to find
out.”
Roughly 17% of the protein humans consume
worldwide is seafood. The findings, therefore, suggest people who regularly eat
seafood are also regularly eating plastic.
Scientists have previously found
microplastics and nanoplastics in sea salt, beer, honey, and bottled water.
They can also deposit on food as dust particles.
How the plastic got there
The study describes how species
differently consume food as a possible explanation of the varying amount of
plastic they contain. It also suggests other potential sources.
The researchers say plastic may
make its way from an animal’s gastrointestinal tract to its edible parts during
processing — which includes gutting if performed incorrectly — and general
handling. Plastics may also attach themselves to seafood via “airborne
particles, machinery, equipment and textiles, handling, and from fish
transport.”
Regarding the high concentration
of plastic in sardines, the authors note the fish were purchased in bags made
of low-density polyethylene.
Citing recent research that shows
opening such a bag can result in the shedding of microplastics, they predict
these types of packaging may be an additional and significant polluting mechanism
for seafood.
:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/study-found-plastic-in-every-seafood-sample-it-analyz
Willmar honors Andreen for his
decades of service, including to those nearing the end of life
Earlier this year the Minnesota Network of Hospice
and Palliative Care named retired Lt. Col. Ronald Andreen as its Veteran
Volunteer of the Year for Andreen's years of assisting veterans in hospice care.
The original conference and award ceremony were called off due to coronavirus
concerns, but on Thursday, friends, family and the city of Willmar celebrated
Andreen and thanked him for his service.
Written By: Shelby Lindrud | Aug
28th 2020 - 7pm.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Ronald D. Andreen, 88, was
named the Veteran Volunteer of the Year by the Minnesota Network of Hospice and
Palliative Care for his years of helping fellow veterans through their final
days. A celebration of Andreen was held Thursday at Willmar's Flags of Honor.
The day was also proclaimed Ron Andreen Day by Willmar Mayor Marv Calvin.
Shelby Lindrud / West Central Tribune
WILLMAR — As final preparations
were being made Thursday afternoon for a ceremony in his honor, retired Army
Lt. Col. Ronald Andreen found it difficult to put into words how it felt to
have such recognition bestowed upon him. He has volunteered for decades but not
for any chance of personal gain.
"That is impossible to
answer, I am awed," Andreen, 88, of Willmar, said.
At the Flags of Honor in Willmar,
a large crowd of family, friends and representatives from the organizations for
which Andreen has volunteered gathered to praise Andreen for his service,
specifically as a Rice Hospice veteran volunteer.
Volume 90%
In recognition of that service,
the Minnesota Network of Hospice and Palliative Care named Andreen its 2020
Veteran Volunteer of the Year.
"You have had a really deep
impact on your community, fellow veterans and most importantly on those hospice
patients and their families," said Jessica Hausauer, Minnesota Network of
Hospice and Palliative Care executive director. "Thank you, Ron. Thank you
for showing up and thank you for answering that call to service. Your
commitment and dedication is very inspiring."
For eight years, Andreen helped
care for veterans in hospice care, part of the We Honor Veterans program at
Rice Hospice.
"It is the most powerful and
meaningful thing that Rice Hospice does for a veteran hospice client, as we
acknowledge, honor and thank our veteran patients, some for the first time
since their active military service," said Debbie Gillis, Rice Hospice
volunteer and former Rice Hospice social worker.
The first veteran Andreen with
whom he met in an end-of-life setting wasn't a hospice patient, and it was
prior to Andreen becoming a hospice volunteer. The individual was a Korean War
veteran who just wanted to talk to someone and Andreen stepped up. Andreen
remembered the man couldn't speak, so Andreen held his hand as Andreen and the
man's family talked with him. Two days after Andreen's visit, the veteran died.
"I felt when I left, I had
given him what he really needed at the time," Andreen said.
Shortly afterward, Andreen became
an official Rice Hospice veteran volunteer. He helped 25 patients and made more
than 400 patient and family visits during his time with Rice Hospice.
As a veteran with 38 years in
both National Guard and active duty service, Andreen had common experiences
with the patients and he was able to relate in ways other people might not.
"I am a good listener, that
makes a big difference," Andreen said. ""You try to do anything
we can to comfort them. They like to reminisce, (military service) is a big
part of their life."
Helping with hospice is only one
of the many volunteering hats Andreen has worn over the years. He was a
volunteer at the Willmar Area Food Shelf, now the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf,
for 25 years, served in various capacities at his church and has been an active
member of the American Legion for more than 60 years. In addition to being a
past post commander at Willmar's Post 167, Andreen was also part of the honor
guard. During his time he participated in more than 500 military funerals and ceremonies,
an impact the American Legion also recognized on Thursday.
"It is our privilege to
present you with this award for your honorable, faithful and dedicated
service," said Wayne Emberland, captain of the Willmar American Legion
Honor Guard.
As part of the celebration for
Andreen, Willmar Mayor Marv Calvin had proclaimed Thursday, Aug. 27, as Ron
Andreen Day in the city of Willmar. Mayor Pro Tem Rick Fagerlie read the
proclamation at the ceremony Thursday.
"This award is well-deserved
and Ron has served our community and our people very, very well," Calvin
said at the Aug. 17 Willmar City Council meeting when he made the proclamation.
Andreen said he volunteers to
give back for all the blessings he has had in his life, both professionally and
personally.
"I get the satisfaction of
being able to help someone else," Andreen said.
While he never sought personal
recognition for his military or volunteer service, those close to Andreen and
those touched by him were more than willing to give it.
"What a day it has been.
Ron, all I can say is I am overwhelmed by you. You are a true American
hero," said Deb Van Buren, Carris Health volunteer services manager.
"You are an example of patriotism in action. We can't thank you enough for
the difference you made in the lives of many of us."
Make in Pakistan'
ARTICLE: Prime Minister Imran Khan this week pledged to promote
the local industry and pursue the policy of "Make in Pakistan" so
that people rely on local products that will help curtail the country's import
bill. "Our government is vigorously pursuing 'Make in Pakistan' policy to
promote export-led industrialisation in the country and our efforts in the last
two years have been to further this objective through various interventions,
particularly in ease-of-doing-business," the prime minister said during a
meeting with a delegation of leading exporters from various sectors, including
poultry, rice, fruits, information technology, pharmaceuticals and textile.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, in the first two years of its
tenure, did take some steps towards 'Ease of Doing Business', but towards the
'Cost of Doing Business' nothing significant has been achieved except that the
import tariffs on some of the raw materials consumed in local produce have been
curtailed. To comprehend what really went wrong with 'Make in Pakistan' in the
short history of Pakistan, one has to go back a bit in its history and turn of
events.
Pakistan, in early 1950s, embarked on an ambitious plan to go for
'Make in Pakistan'. Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) was
established to motivate and support the private sector's induction into
industry. WAPDA was established for electrification of the country in general
and industry in particular. Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (PCSIR) was set up to conduct research and development to facilitate
local production and entrepreneurs.
Consequently, the 1960s was a decade of remarkable industrial
growth, when apart from local entrepreneurs multinational corporations also
stepped in. The 1970s was an era when all good done by the local private sector
was nationalised and replaced by State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). The 1980s was
an era where nepotism, corruption and inefficiencies in the system started to
creep in. The 1990s and thereafter was an era when vested interests, avarice
and utter disdain for the rule of law replaced nationalism and all what was in
the interest of the state leadership and their elite cronies was considered
good for the country.
A liberal import policy regime coupled with a skewed fiscal policy
crippled the local industry as did the random induction of IPPs while
sidelining other viable options like hydropower, nuclear, etc. As matters stand
today, our local industry is all but crippled, SOE losses bleed the exchequer,
cost of electric power and fuel is unaffordable for the industry or trade and
incompetence combined with corruption in state machinery creates obstacles at
every step.
A combination of all above resulted in shying away of investment
by local and foreign investors alike. There was a time when multinationals
considered Pakistan an ideal market to be in. Phillips had one of its largest
manufacturing facilities in the region in Pakistan, producing electronic items,
white goods, bulbs, etc. Siemens, too, had a strong industrial base in Pakistan
producing high-tech power transformers. So was the case with Areva of France
and many others. Not being provided a level playing field they all packed up
and left Pakistan. With them also went away the transfer of technology and high
end training of local engineers and professionals in marketing and management.
For the same reason our once flourishing ceramics and tile manufacturing
industry collapsed. And many more met the same fate.
The strategy of the incumbent government to go for 'Make in
Pakistan' is the right strategy to generate the much-needed employment, limit
imports and enhance exports. To achieve it, the government has to do far more
than a few steps taken towards Ease of Doing Business. Equally, if not more,
important is the need to devise ways to reduce the cost of doing business.
Presently, our products are neither competitive against imported goods nor in
the international markets.
(The writer is former President, Overseas Investors Chambers of
Commerce and Industry)
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40015204
Rice Exporter's
Organizes First Aid Training For Rice Agri-women Families
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Aug, 2020
) :Rice exporter's and philanthropic organizations organized the first aid
training for rice transplanter's planter's women and their families in different district
of Punjab province.
The organization including Rice Partners Ltd (RPL) in collaboration with Helvetas Pakistan organized the "One Day First Aid
Training" for rice transplanter's families in four villages namely Qila
Bhattian Wala, Saikham, Miana Thatha and Bhoye Pur of district Sheikhupura of the Punjab province.
Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rice Partners Pvt, Muhammad Ali Tariq while concluding the firt phase
of training session of agri-women families said approximately 300 women rice transplater's and their family members attended these trainings in
different district of the Punjab province, said a news release here on Saturday.
Authorized Trainers of Rescue 1122 Muridke Station, Muhammad Imran Sherazi and
Muhammad Tahir provided training to the rice transplanters and their children
on different techniques of first aid.
The trainers explained about Basic Life Support i.e fracture
management, bleeding control, burn emergency management, snake biting emergency
management, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Foreign Body Airway
Obstruction (FBAO).
They also gave awareness to the participants about
prevention from Corona Virus and trained them about use of
hand sanitizer and face mask.
Muhammad Ali Tariq said RPL is working for the wellbeing of farmers and
farm laborers from past many years through provision of laser
land leveling on 50 per cent cost sharing basis.
He said, "We are also conducting trainings on water saving techniques, and ensuring decent
working conditions for rice transplanters and their children by establishing
Community Child care Centres, distribution of food packs and backpack canopy kits from past few decades.
Tariq said RPL prioritized to improve the livelihood of the
farmers and so far about 28,000 farmers are trained by RPL in different trades for improving their skills
and shaping future.
COO of RPL said key objective of the trainings was to
train ice transplanters to handle the medical emergency during work or any
other place.
Project Officer RPL Rizwan Ali said First Aid Trainings are the
component of ensuring decent working conditions for rice transplanters and
their children.
The response of the participants was appreciable and they made
commitment to disseminate the knowledge to other people of their localities.
Zafar Iqbal (Head Sustainability RPL) and Rizwan Ali (Project Officer RPL) distributed first aid boxes at the end.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/rice-exporters-organizes-first-aid-training-1014746.html
Raising the bar in rice production in Lagos
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Rice production is a huge
industry, employing thousands of people. The United States (US) Department of
Agriculture says Africa’s rice demand this year may hit 15.7 million tonnes.
Lagos State is strengthening the rice sector by helping to add to the supply
chain, with key interventions at the farming, milling and distribution stages,
writes DANIEL ESSIET.
Rice is the most popular staple
food for more than half the world’s population. In Africa alone, the United
States (US) Department of Agriculture estimated that rice demand this year
stands at 15. 7 million tonnes. Nigeria is a top market for rice.
KPMG’s Rice Industry Review last
October stated that only 57 per cent of the 6.7 million metric tonnes of rice
consumed in Nigeria yearly is locally produced, leading to a supply deficit of
about three million metric tonnes.
In addition, the report stated
that with rapid growth in the country’s population, estimated to exceed 200
million, it is expected that the demand for rice would be sustained and
increased in the future.
In Nigeria, Lagos is one of the
largest markets for rice.The presence of a large consumer base has helped to
create a fertile ground for agro businesses selling grains and there are
significant opportunities for them.
The large population, however,
makes possible the heavy reliant on the external supply of certain food
produce, including rice. Worse still, is the scarcity of land for their
cultivation. However, the rice production capacity still needs to be developed.
The state’s experience with distributing rice brought from North and other
places in recent times has been an eye opener.COVID-19 restriction created
unexpected opportunities for domestic rice market, but exposed supply and
demand imbalances.
For analysts, a revolution in
staple food value chains in Lagos would always have heavy impact on the food
economy of the rest of Nigeria.
This has led to efforts to
upgrade the food value chains in the Centre of Excelence to increase growth.
One of such is construction of
the 33-tonne multibillion Imota Rice Mill, Ikorodu, one of biggest public
investments in the sector and largest in Sub-Sahara Africa, which the
government is hastening its completion and inauguration billed for the end of
year.
The bigger picture
With 250,000 jobs projection, the
mill is expected to lead to a robust performance in future.
The state Acting Commissioner for
Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, noted that opportunities would be created
along the entire value chains in addition to the ripple effects of the project
on the locality, among others.
“This mill is going to be a job
generator and a wealth generator. We believe that with the partnership of
everyone in this locality and the state at large, we will start reaching our
food security status goal of making sure that no Lagosian is hungry, zero
poverty and also to ensure that there is gender equality and everyone is
happy,” Ms. Olusanya added.
Reason for the mill
Demand for sale, nutritious and
high quality rice is rising in the country.
Analysts said Lagos consumes one
million metric tonnes of rice yearly.
For analysts, the viability of
the nation’s rice industry depends greatly, not only on infrastructure such as
irrigation systems and input, but also on quality production and milling
outcome.
Lagos is ready to guarantee this
by ensuring that the rice milling plant produces quality milled rice, thanks to
state-of-the-art technologies.
The facility provides an
integrated paddy separator and rice whitening machinery.
Besides, the future, the
commissioner added, was also about explosion in the number of farmers, traders,
millers, cold storage facility managers, and modern and traditional retailers.
The facility is expected to bring
about the cultivation of 32,000 hectares of farm land for rice paddy.
Supply of Paddy
Most analysts reason that there
is limited scope for more extensive cultivation of rice in Lagos, with the
state heavily populated. But rice farmers in the state would not agree.
Some of them maintained that with large pieces of land in Epe and Badagry, and
given incentives, Lagos farmers are capable of making huge volume to the rice
output.
One of them is the National
Deputy President, Rice Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, and (RIFAN), Segun
Atho. What they want from the Lagos government is empowerment to enable
them adopt better rice farming practices, expand market share for
the state’s agriculture, increase the sector’s profitability and improve
farmers’ livelihoods, he said. To achieve this however, he added, would require
massive investment in complementary infrastructure and extension services.
The commissioner shares their
views and is backing them to vie for a larger pie of the state’s rice market,
which has seen demand surge almost yearly.
Ms. Abisola Olusanya
Ms Olusanya explained that rice
farmers are getting the needed support of the government to ensure that
they have a hitch-free planting season to ensure a steady and sustained supply
of paddy for the mill.
“We kicked off the rice farmers’
sensitisation, training and empowerment programme for over 800 rice farmers in
Lagos State. That is just a kick-off as a back up to the Imota Rice Mill
Project.
“The reason is even if we are
going to source for paddy from other localities, we should start from our own
Lagos farmers, our Eko rice farmers, which is why we are giving them the
support and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is committed to ensure that this mill
runs sustainably,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary, the
state Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Shakirudeen Olayiwole Onasanya, said the
government is working with researchers to supply farmers with improved rice
varieties. He said the performance of rice in Lagos was important. This,
according to him, justifies the focus on the domestic market as the rice value
chain’s end point.
He said the goal of the Lagos
government is to raise many rice farmers that would be trained in farming
techniques that would lead to higher productivity. For maximum impact, he said
Lagos has identified farmers with interest in efficient and productive
rice supply and is ready to work with them to deliver reach,
inclusion, and impact.
Business model
Chairman, the state House of
Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Kehinde Joseph, stressed that to unlock
the potential of rice production and overcome the threats, stakeholders must
collaborate to find innovative solutions that would sustain the sector and
transform.
Joseph wants production to kick
off at the mill to help curtail the rising price domestic of rice.
According to him, recent
challenges to the self-sufficiency of the rice industry have highlighted the
need for innovative solutions.
She pointed out that a good
operating model has been put in place to ensure that the mill is efficiently
and effectively managed to ensure the sustainability of the mill upon
completion.
”Also, one of the issues that
they have raised is around the management of this mill to ensure that tax
payers’ money does not go down the drain which is why from the very onset of
this administration, we had employed the services of one of the World’s leading
Consultancy Firms, Ernst& Young (E.Y), to ensure that we get the right
operating model in place. We do not want issues around the sustainability of
this mill.
“We do not want it to be another white
elephant project. This is why we have taken our time to develop the adequate
business and management models, not leaving out the financial analysis around
how and how soon we can recoup our investment back.
“As a result, we have come up
with a standard operating model that we believe looking at the terrain globally
of what is tenable in other countries and in other milling operations to get
what will make this mill sustainable.
“I want to assure Lagosians that
Mr. Governor is doing all he can to ensure that this project is successful,”
she said.
Connecting the mill
As it is movement to the mill
from Ikorodu axis is not smooth. While transporters cannot complain about
congested space, there are various reasons for traffic delays, which is not
unconnected to bad direct access road to the mill.
For analysts, rail and inland
ferry link to the mill will make a very credible business opportunity for
freight forwarders as the plant is poised to support small and big
businesses.
But the plant’s infrastructure,
and environment have incentives that will make it an attractive site for
new developments.
Apart from installing milling
machines and milled rice storage, farmers want road improvements.
Ms Olusanya explained that
already her ministry is working with the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure
as well as its Physical Planning and Urban Development counterpart to ease
traffic movement, among others.
“We have in this axis, the Imota
Rice Mill, the Imota Regional Market and at the Agbowa axis, the Housing Development
Scheme coming up around here; therefore, a triangulation is being done to see
if another access road can be constructed to ensure that we do not impede the
flow and movement of people on the roads that we have already.
“We will also explore the waterways
as well as ensure that going forward, we do not put so much pressure on our
roads. A lot also is being done by the Ministry of Water Front Infrastructure
on how we can increase the use of our waterways,” the Acting Commissioner said.
Agro industrial zones
The sprawling facility will host
agro industrial zones. The primary purpose is to draw investments in
agriculture to the area. Earlier, a Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ) for rice
processing is proposed for the area. The Lagos government is working with
the African Development Bank (AfDB) on building agro industrial parks to
support agric processing growth. For analysts, there is a huge
potential for growth in various sectors of food processing. These include
dairy, fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry.
Ms Olusanya said there are
opportunities for value-addition and that the processing industry is of
significance to the state’s development because of the synergies that it
promotes between industry and agriculture.
According to her, promoting agro
industrialisation is predicated upon infrastructure, policy support and
technology.This, she added, would be achieved through the parks, including
road, transport, electricity and digital facilities.
Prospect
Lagos is a powerhouse across
numerous industries. The state boasts of fertile land and ample water
resources.
Against this backdrop,
opportunities are available for the state to change the trajectory of its
agricultural sector using the Imota Rice project.
For analysts, businesses have
many reasons to pitch tent near the mill. The area has a favourable climate,
competitively priced land. Being a future logistics hub, it will
attract hundreds of small and mid-size logistics firms that are
responsive to market and demand shifts.
Given these strengths, Imota is
well-positioned for success.
https://thenationonlineng.net/raising-the-bar-in-rice-production-in-lagos/
Brazil plans to nix import tariffs on soyabeans, corn, rice
29 Aug 2020
SAO PAULO: The Brazilian government is mulling temporarily
removing import tariffs on rice, corn and soyabeans, the Agriculture Ministry
said in a statement on Thursday. The move is aimed at staving off inflation,
the statement added. Prices for rice, soyabean and corn have risen recently in
the domestic market. While the ministry said there is no sign of a potential
shortage of these products, Brazil has exported almost all its soyabeans, and
imports are expected to rise this year.
Brazil's partners in South America's Mercosur trade bloc, which
are already exempt from import taxes, were taken by surprise by Brazil's move
and said it could not be carried out unilaterally.
Argentina and Paraguay stand to gain from higher Brazilian soya
imports, and Uruguay from rice imports, but they will lose out, mainly to the
United States, if Brazil lowers its tariffs for other countries.
"Brazil cannot unilaterally change its tariffs. It has to do
it through talks with the other Mercosur countries," Paraguay's Deputy
Agriculture Minister Santiago Bertoni told Reuters.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40015167/brazil-plans-to-nix-import-tariffs-on-soyabeans-corn-rice
Lower diabetes, obesity risks seen
with diet rich in vegetables, fruits
Adults in China who consumed the most vegetables and fruits had
reduced risks for insulin resistance, diabetes and central obesity, whereas
those who ate the most sweets and fast food had increased risks for these
outcomes.
In a cross-sectional study, published in Nutrition and
Diabetes, researchers administered a food frequency questionnaire to
1,432 residents of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, aged 40 to 65 years (857
women). Participants reported intake of 81 food items during the previous 4
weeks. Participants also underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and whole
body imaging. Body measurements were recorded.
Source:
Adobe Stock
The researchers derived four major dietary patterns from the
questionnaire data: vegetables-fruits (high consumption of vegetables, beans,
mushrooms, fruits and nuts); rice-meat (high consumption of red meat, white
rice, poultry, eggs, beans); seafood-eggs (high consumption of eggs, seafood,
dairy, nuts, fruits); and sweet-fast food (high consumption of fast foods,
alcoholic beverages, desserts).
The vegetables-fruits dietary pattern was negatively associated
with insulin resistance determined by homeostasis model of insulin resistance (P <
0.001 in men and women), whereas the sweet-fast food dietary pattern was
significantly associated with greater insulin resistance (P = .002
for men; P < .001 for women).
Participants who followed a vegetables-fruits diet had significantly
lower risk for diabetes (men: OR = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.13-0.70; women: OR = 0.28;
95% CI, 0.11-0.72); risk for central obesity was lower with this dietary
pattern only among men (OR=0.50; 95% CI, 0.29-0.86).
Risks for diabetes (OR = 2.58; 95% CI, 1.23-5.88) and central
obesity (OR = 2.85; 95% CI, 1.67-4.86) were increased for men who consumed the
most sweets and fast food.
The researchers saw no association with the rice-meat or
seafood-eggs dietary patterns for insulin resistance, visceral fat area, diabetes
or central obesity.
No associations with diabetes or obesity were observed for the
rice-meat or seafood-eggs dietary patterns.
“The effect of food patterns might be greater in males than in
females for [diabetes] and central obesity. Difference between the genders in
the physiological response to different food patterns is uncertain, one
plausible explanation is the different anatomy and physiology between males and
females,” the researchers wrote.
Govt
considering extention of Boro paddy, rice procurement deadline
TALHA BIN HABIB | Published: August 29, 2020
10:51:04 | Updated: August 29, 2020 15:50:19
The government is seriously considering to
extend the deadline for Boro paddy and rice procurement drive following the
requests made by the millers, an official said.
Earlier, the government set the deadline for
completing the procurement drive on August 31.
But sources at the Directorate General of
Food (DG Food) said that the total procurement (paddy, boiled and non-boiled
rice) until August 25 was still below half of its total procurement targets due
to the ongoing floods, rains and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The government has set a target to procure a
total of two million tonnes of Boro paddy and rice during the current
procurement drive. It started to procure Boro paddy on April 26 while rice on
May 7.
Of the total two-millions-tonne target, 0.8
million tonnes are paddy while one million tonnes boiled rice and 0.15 million
tonnes (1,50,000 tonnes) non-boiled rice.
The procurement price for one kilogram paddy
was fixed at Tk 26 while boiled rice at Tk 36 and non-boiled rice Tk 35.
"We (the government) are seriously
considering to extend the deadline for completing the Boro rice and paddy
procurement," Director General of the DG Food Sarwar Mahmud told the FE on
Friday.
He said the amount of procured Boro rice and
paddy until August 25 was insignificant compared to that of the corresponding
period of last year due to inclement weather such as floods and rains this
year.
Until August 25 the DG Food procured only
1,99,654 tonnes of paddy, 5,26279 tonnes boiled rice and 75,143 tonnes
non-boiled rice.
The DG Food office has asked the regional and
district food controllers to prepare the lists of errant millers who have
failed or were not supplying rice (both boiled and non-boiled) timely to the
government as per agreements.
Mr Mahmud said that the government is also
considering to take legal action against the millers who have failed to supply
paddy or rice to the government despite signing contract with the latter.
He said that they have already conveyed the
millers' demand for extending procurement deadline to the ministry of food.
"There will be a meeting soon to decide
on the extension of Boro procurement deadline," he said, hinting that the
extension may be until second week of the next month or September 15.
He mentioned that there are around 1.3
million tonnes of foodgrains stocked at government silos. Out of the 1.3
million tonnes, over one million tonnes are rice and the rest are wheat.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
Thailand adopts market-led
approach to rice farming
By Pattaya Mail
August 29, 2020
The
5-year rice farming strategy will focus on both domestic and international
markets.
The Ministry of Commerce has
joined private firms to create a 5-year plan for rice production enhancement,
focusing on the promotion of production efficiency, cost reduction, yield
increases, variety improvements, processing and marketing.
The Minister of Commerce, Jurin Laksanawisit, has chaired a Thai Rice Strategy
drafting subcommittee meeting, to discuss the 2020-2024 rice strategy, which
will adopt the market-led approach to cultivation planning.
The
Minister of Commerce, Jurin Laksanawisit, has chaired a Thai Rice Strategy
drafting subcommittee meeting, to discuss the 2020-2024 rice strategy.
The 5-year strategy will focus on
both domestic and international markets, aiming to strike a demand and supply
balance in the domestic market, while producing more varieties of rice to meet
more diverse demands in international markets.
On the cultivation side, the new
strategy aims to help farmers cut down manufacturing costs to less than 3,000
baht per 0.16 hectares, which is about half the current average of 6,000 baht.
Better farming techniques will be promoted to help increase the yield from the
current 460 kilograms of rice grain per 0.16 hectares to 600 kilograms.
By the year 2024, the new
strategy should ensure no less than 12 varieties of rice are farmed in
Thailand, with the yield no less than 1 ton per 0.16 hectares.
Innovative processing of rice will be promoted to meet market demands, along
with updates to regulations to streamline bureaucratic processes for
researchers and business owners. These initiatives will come alongside
financial support, to provide businesses with better access to capital.
The plan, currently being
drafted, will be concluded and submitted to the Rice Policy and Management
Committee and the Cabinet for consideration. The plan will be implemented as a
guideline, with real world outcomes expected within 5 years.
On the target to reclaim the
world’s No.1 rice exporter spot, the Rice Exporters Association of Thailand
President, Pol Lt Charoen Laothammatas, said it is not necessary for the
country to reclaim that position, as it is now more important to find ways to
increase yield, improve pricing at farms and prevent an excess of domestic
supply, which would push down the price. (NNT)
https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-adopts-market-led-approach-to-rice-farming-312838
Hurricane Laura Hits Hard, Damage Reports Vary
By Kane Webb
LOCATIONS IN LOUISIANA, TEXAS, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, &
MISSOURI -- Since September 2005, Hurricane Rita has been southwest Louisiana's
reference for measuring the severity of weather events. Yesterday, thanks to Hurricane Laura, this
area received a new reference point and a wound from which it will take some
time to recover.
The city of Lake Charles felt the brunt of the storm although the
port and the rail facility there appear to have been spared but Farmers Rice
Milling Company reported some roof damage.
In addition to the devastation directly beneath the eye of Laura in
Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, farmers in Vermillion, Jeff Davis, Allen,
Beauregard, Evangeline, and Avoyelles Parishes are dealing with flooding and
power outages in the aftermath of the storm's strong, hurricane-force winds and
rain.
While a majority of southwest Louisiana's rice crop was out of the
field prior to Wednesday, some rice remains to be harvested. Growers are focusing on recovering from
damages to their operations, standing water, and full capacity in the bins and
drying facilities. The most critical
need at this point is restoration of electrical power to maintain the quality
of rice in their bins.
Late yesterday, Sammy Noel, a rice grower south of Abbeville in
Vermilion Parish, said, "We have a
generator to help at the house, and we're working to clean up and get things
back in order around the farm, but we don't have the ability to power up the
bins." This morning, there are
reports that power in that area has been restored so some bins already are up
and running.
Dryer damage near Thornwell (photo by Kevin Berken)
Near Thornwell, in southern Jeff Davis Parish, rice farmer Paul
Johnson said damages to the roof of some bins had them "scrambling to get
tarps and make temporary repairs to protect the rice before any rain
fell."
In the western part of Calcasieu Parish, near Laura's landfall,
Ronald Habetz said they lost several shop structures and one of their 36-foot
bins.
In central Louisiana, Phillip Lamartiniere, who farms in Avoyelles
Parish, echoed the plea for power.
"Guys were cutting up until the rain started, and they need power
to get air moving on that rice. It was
higher in moisture than we typically harvest and it needs air to dry
out." He added, "While we had
minimal structural damage, the rice that's in the field is flat. The flag leaves on our younger rice are damaged
which will decrease quality and yield potential."
"The storm damage is considerable, especially in southwest
Louisiana," said Bobby Hanks, CEO of Supreme Rice Mill in Crowley and
chair of USA Rice. "Even with time
to prepare, you can never lock down everything.
Our main concern at the moment I think is to get power restored to farms
and dryers so we can maintain the quality of what was harvested."
Meryl Kennedy-Farr, CEO at Kennedy Rice Mill in Mer Rouge, said,
"We're ok here but the winds were tough!
Most of our team is without power and internet but, thankfully, the
plants are still running."
The storm had a minimal impact on the Texas rice crop. LG Raun, who farms near El Campo in Wharton
County, reported that less than 5 percent of the rice in his area has not been
harvested and they received no rain or wind from Laura. Raun also said that a high percentage of rice
there is being ratooned and most of it looks very good.
Dr. Mo Way, research entomologist at the Texas A&M AgriLife
Beaumont Research Center, said that most of the main crop was harvested prior
to the storm. "Our area received
some gusty winds, but I don't expect it to have an effect on the ratoon
crop." 
As in Louisiana, there are major power outages in the region which
could impact the ability to dry recently harvested rice. It is also likely that any unharvested rice
in the eastern rice zone was lodged by the winds associated with the hurricane. 
Lodged rice near Stuttgart, AR (photo by Jarrod Hardke)
As Hurricane Laura traveled across Arkansas rice country yesterday,
it brought an average of 3 inches of rain and winds that reached speeds of 55
mph. 
By yesterday afternoon, southeast Arkansas had received less than
an inch of rain. Twenty-four hours
later, Joe Mencer, in Lake Village, reported, "The wind was our real
worry. My weather station in the field
recorded gusts up to 44 miles per hour.
Happy to say the crop held up. We
were harvesting rice the last three days ahead of the storm at higher moisture
levels than we like in anticipation of high winds. The yields are good on what's been harvested
so far."
In McGehee today, rice farmer Jim Whitaker said, "Twenty-five
percent of our rice is down. Our power
is out and the wind was strong enough that it blew a lot of limbs down and
there is debris everywhere. It also
caused some damage to our bins and personal property."
High winds also caused downed rice around Stuttgart and Pine
Bluff. Some south Arkansas producers
were able to get in the field last week and start harvesting. However, with more rain expected through
early next week, it's still uncertain when fields will be dry enough to get
back in.
Twisted metal in Laura's wake at one of Jennifer James'
bean fields
By the time the storm reached northeast Arkansas, Laura had added
tornadoes to her repertoire. "On
our farm in Newport we had tornadoes pop up around us and one tornado took out
a field of corn and mangled one of our center pivots," said Jennifer
James. "The storm actually caused
more damage to our corn and beans than to our rice."
Mike Sullivan, who farms in Burdette, reported little downed rice
on his operation and only an inch and a half of rain. "Fortunately, the wind here wasn't as
bad as predicted. The heavy rain and
wind was between our farm and Jonesboro and down towards Little Rock."
In Mississippi, Marvin Cochran in Washington County reported heavy
wind and some rain but no significant damage.
Kirk Satterfield in Bolivar County said they saw rain and strong winds,
but that late planting and draining just beginning had much of their rice
green, which helped it withstand the storm.
Dr. Bobby Golden at Mississippi State University said he heard reports
of lodging around field edges, but no horror stories.
Reports from Missouri's Bootheel also are encouraging. "We were fortunate," said Rance
Daniels, from Hornersville. "People
I talked to had less than an inch or so of rain with no wind damage to speak
of. Everyone here is pleased to have
dodged the bullet of Laura."
Steve Linscombe and Emily Woodall contributed to this report.
Todd Fitchette
California
rice growers are eligible to apply for funding to help cover the cost of
flooding rice fields in the winter under a state plan to enhance winter habitat
for waterfowl and other wildlife in the Sacramento Valley.
Combating acid reflux with a few lifestyle modifications
LifestyleHealth
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition in
which the liquid contents of the stomach regurgitate back into the oesophagus.
Since these contents are highly acidic and may at times contain bile, a typical
burning sensation behind the breastbone or the upper abdomen is felt.
Gravity, swallowing and saliva are important protective
mechanisms for the oesophagus but they are effective only when individuals are
in the upright position. During sleep, gravity has no effect, swallowing stops
and the secretion of saliva is reduced. Therefore, reflux that occurs during
the night is more likely to cause greater damage to the oesophageal lining.
The causes of GERD are quite complex and tend to vary in
different individuals. However, several contributing factors that may increase
the susceptibility of a person to develop this condition include abdominal
obesity, multiple pregnancies, hiatus hernia, connective tissue diseases, as well
as lower oesophageal sphincter abnormalities or delayed gastric emptying.
The diagnosis of GERD is usually suspected by a doctor when the
typical symptoms associated with this condition are present over a prolonged
period of time. These may include heartburn, acid or bile regurgitation,
increased salivation, as well as nausea and vomiting. However, these symptoms
are non-specific.
Thus, the current gold standard for the definite diagnosis of
GERD is 24-hour oesophageal pH monitoring. Endoscopy, gastric emptying and
oesophageal motility studies are recommended in those individuals who do not
respond well to treatment or present with more alarming symptoms such as
difficulty in swallowing, anaemia, blood in the stool, wheezing, weight loss or
voice changes.
The primary treatment of GERD typically revolves around simple
lifestyle modifications as well as prescribed medications to neutralise the
acid reflux as well as preventing the formation of excess acid in the
stomach.
As a general guideline, coffee, caffeinated drinks, citrus,
tomato juice, alcohol, spicy and fatty foods should be avoided. Red meat,
wholegrains and foods that are rich in fibre should be reserved for the earlier
parts of the day as they are more difficult to digest and may remain in the stomach
beyond bedtime if they are consumed late.
Moreover, smoking and alcohol intake should be minimised.
Mindfulness and breathing techniques may also help in controlling excessive
stress which may also be a contributing factor to GERD.
Several changes in eating habits, such as eating smaller
portions of food and earlier evening meals are recommended. The consumption of
chewing gum, milk, as well as elevation of the head and the upper body while
sleeping may also improve the symptoms.
The modifications that have been described above usually are
effective in treating the symptoms of GERD. Nevertheless, sometimes they are
not enough. In these cases, the standard surgical treatment for severe GERD is
fundoplication. In this procedure, the upper part of the stomach is wrapped
around the lower oesophageal sphincter to strengthen it.
In Western populations, GERD affects approximately 10 to 20 per
cent of individuals. The prevalence rate of GERD in developed nations is also
tightly linked with age, with adults aged 55 to 65 being the most commonly
affected.
Complications of unresolved GERD may include gastric ulcers,
oesophageal strictures, Barrett’s oesophagus as well as iron deficiency and
inflammation of the oesophagus. Thus, it is vital to seek medical advice if the
symptoms persist.
Recipe
The following light and digestible chicken broth recipe is ideal
for dinner time as its ingredients do not take long to be digested.
Ingredients
(makes 2 portions)
2 skinless chicken breasts
1 cup (120g) carrots, peeled and sliced
1 cup (100g) chopped zucchini
½ cup celery, whole or chopped
1 litre water
1 tsp coarse sea salt (optional)
1 cup cooked jasmine or basmati rice
1-2 tbsp of fresh chopped parsley
Method
Bring the water to a boil. Add the carrots, zucchini, celery,
chicken and salt. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the chicken is well
cooked.
While the soup is simmering, cook the rice in a separate pot.
Drain and set aside.
Remove the chicken from the pot and shred by hand or using a
fork. Add the shredded chicken back into the soup. Add the cooked rice and the
fresh chopped parsley to the soup and enjoy.
Nutritional
information
• Chicken breast has a low-fat content when compared to whole
chicken or red meat. Cooking it well also separates the muscle fibres and makes
them easier to digest. It is thus ideal for avoiding acid reflux. Other
stomach- friendly meats include white fish and turkey.
• Peeled, chopped and well-cooked vegetables like carrots,
zucchini, potatoes and cauliflower take a short while to digest and add
nutrients to our meals. Heavier vegetables like legumes, aubergines, onions,
mushrooms and bell peppers are more difficult to digest and are best reserved
for lunchtime and are to be eaten in moderation. Moreover, vegetables are rich
in fibre and anti-inflammatory nutrients that aid in digestion, improve bowel
movements and strengthen gut health. In order to minimise acid reflux, one
should avoid tomatoes or tomato concentrates and base any sauces on other
vegetables that are less acidic.
• Finer grains like basmati or jasmine rice, couscous or millet
are more easily broken down by the stomach acids when compared to wholegrains
and glutinous grains such as wheat which is found in bread, pizza or pasta. If
one intends to consume grains later during the day, it is recommended to
include a smaller portion of these lighter grains rather than having a large
plate of pasta or pizza as the latter may result in poor digestion and the
production of acid reflux during the night.
Georgiana Farrugia Bonnici is a former diagnostic radiographer and
medical doctor. Antonella Grima is a public health specialist and state
registered nutritionist. One may follow their blogs on www.facebook.com/be.heart.healthy and www.facebook.com/antonella.grima.nutritionist/.
Farm sector sees
spike in private investment after reforms: Agri secy
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection)
Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 was brought in
to legalise contract farming
Topics
Private companies have
began investing in farm sector spurred by the recent reforms that
will help increase farmers' income, according to Agriculture Secretary Sanjay
Agarwal.
The government recently brought three major reforms via
Ordinances.
It amended the Essential Commodities Act to deregulate food items,
and introduced a new law -- The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion
and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 -- to allow farmers to sell their produce
outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC).
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price
Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 was brought in to legalise contract
farming.
"These reforms are applicable pan-India. They are moving in
the right direction and will help increase the income of farmers," Agarwal
told PTI.
The government has already held one round of discussion with the
industry on implementation of agri-reforms.
"Large number of industries are planning investments, while
some have already invested," he said.
"Lot of things are happening. I was told that a rice company
has already entered into contract farming with basmati rice growers in 1,000
acres, while another company has opened a private mandi," he said without
disclosing investment amount.
On the ongoing kharif (summer) sowing, Agarwal said India has
already set a new record in sowing of kharif crops.
"Good rains have improved the prospects of kharif crops. Total area sown to kharif crops has reached 1,08.2 million hectares
till August 28, surpassing the 2016 record," he said.
In 2016, farmers had sown kharif crops in a total area of 1,07.57
million hectare.
Total sown area under kharif crops stood at 1,00.99 million
hectares during the corresponding period last year. Even in the current
Covid-19 crisis, farmers have worked very hard, he said.
"Overall, there has been good sowing till date. All required
steps for risk mitigation have also been taken," Agarwal said, adding that
reports on status of crops in states that faced floods and heavy rains are
awaited.
Sowing of kharif crop begins with the onset of southwest monsoon
and harvesting starts from October. Rice is the main kharif crop.
Read our full coverage on farm sector
Pandemic gives fillip to demand
for cereals; 200 per cent rise in exports in July
DECCAN CHRONICLE. | SANGEETHA G
PublishedAug
29, 2020, 12:49 pm IST
UpdatedAug
29, 2020, 12:49 pm IST
Cereals have witnessed increased demand from African
countries and the Gulf region during the lock-down.
Representational image.
Chennai: Cereals,
other than wheat and rice, have seen a jump in demand in the overseas market
due to the pandemic with their exports growing over 200 per cent in July.
In the
month of July, exports of cereals like bajra, oats, corn, ragi, quinoa, yellow
maize, sorghum and their seeds collectively grew 226 per cent to Rs 330 crore
against Rs 101 crore in the same month last year. Between April and July,
exports grew 32 per cent to Rs 673 crore against Rs 509 crore in the same
period last year.
Among
the cereals, certain varieties of popcorn fetched export revenues of Rs 190
crore in July against nil exports in July 2019. Yellow maize and another
variety of maize too saw an emerging demand in the overseas market this July.
According
to K Unnikrishnan, deputy director general, Federation of Indian Export
Organisations, cereals have witnessed increased demand from African countries
and the Gulf region during the lock-down.
“Many of
the exporting nations had imposed restrictions on shipments to ensure food
security during the lock-down. On the other hand, India had excess production
and there were no restrictions on exports. This made countries in Africa and
the Gulf region increasingly buy from India,” he said.
Further,
the Gulf region was seen stocking up commodities fearing scarcity.
In case
of maize, Vietnam, one of the largest producers, had a lower output and
importing countries turned to India. Countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri
Lanka have been buyers of cereal seeds from India.
Apart
from higher volumes, rise in the price of cereals also has helped higher export
earnings. Except for basmati rice, most of the cereals have seen prices going
up during the past few months.
Rice
other than basmati saw exports surging 115 per cent to Rs 3050 crore in July.
Demand for durum wheat too was robust.
However,
this surge in demand is likely to be short-lived. “Probably we will see this
demand for one or two months more till the situation normalises,” said
Unnikrishnan. However, if exporters utilize this opportunity to build business
overseas, India can become a leading exporter of cereals as well.
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