USA Rice Engaged in
Productive Trade Conversation with Trump Administration
By William Mencer
WASHINGTON, DC --
USA Rice and other farm groups met on Wednesday at the White House with Trump
Administration officials that make up the National Economic Council to discuss
the importance of continued growth of agriculture exports and trade policy
concerns.
The commodity
groups expressed their eagerness to work with the Administration on preserving
the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and expanding
market access for agricultural goods in upcoming discussions with NAFTA
partners as well as countries in the Asia-Pacific region and the European Union
(EU).
Administration
officials laid out the President's priorities for agricultural trade and job
creation, and asked those in attendance to provide recommendations for
maintaining and improving trade relations with current and prospective
partners.
USA Rice and other
groups noted that the majority of their potential consumers live in countries
other than the United States. They also
emphasized that agriculture is actually America's largest manufacturing sector
providing more than 15 million U.S. jobs and $423 billion in domestic economic
activity.
Ben Mosely, vice
president of government affairs for USA Rice, was among those in attendance to
share insight on the rice industry's priorities. "The Administration officials were
gracious in not only inviting us out and hosting the meeting, but for truly
listening to agriculture's perspective on trade barriers and challenges
agriculture is facing," he said.
Knowing President
Trump has an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mosely said,
"It was important to take the opportunity to elevate one of USA Rice's
highest priorities, exporting U.S.-grown rice to China. I urged the Administration to finalize the phytosanitary
agreement for rice between our two countries that will pave the way for U.S.
rice exports to China, the largest importer of rice in the world."
"I left the
meeting with a sense of assurance that the Trump Administration understands
agriculture's needs and that they welcome our recommendations to increase U.S.
agriculture exports," said Mosely.
"If we continue to expand on our surplus of agricultural exports
around the globe, then our shared goal of increasing manufacturing, job
creation, and ultimately, economic growth are all achievable. And those are all things that people in rural
America desperately need to see."
Fortified Rice
Study Clears Way for More Rice in Food Aid as Administration Looks to Eliminate
Humanitarian Programs
By Rebecca Bratter
WASHINGTON, DC -- Last week the World Food Programme (WFP) released
a much-anticipated study on rice fortification that should pave the way for
greater use of fortified rice in U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and WFP food assistance
programs. The study demonstrated that
rinse-resistant coated fortified rice and extruded fortified rice perform the
same in terms of taste and impact on malnutrition. USDA is already using fortified rice in the
McGovern-Dole school feeding program but the tonnages have been limited by lack
of access to rinse resistant coating technology. The results of this study should lead to
greater use of all available fortification technologies in food aid programs
and help bolster the use of U.S.-grown rice.
"The study concludes that extrusion and rinse resistant
coating are both viable techniques for fortifying rice and that both
fortification technologies are effective delivery devices for key
nutrients" said Bobby Hanks, president of Louisiana Rice Mill and chairman
of the USA Rice Food Aid Subcommittee.
"This is welcome news for the U.S. rice industry, which should now
see benefits from greater programming of fortified rice and overall use of rice
in feeding programs."
USA Rice will be working closely with USAID on minor revisions to
the commodity specifications for fortified rice with the expectation that these
specifications will be released within the next few months. In addition, more work will be needed to
ensure that certain nutrients will be effectively absorbed and that the common
practice of pre-soaking rice in many recipient countries will not affect the
bioavailability of key micronutrients in fortified rice.
"USAID has made it clear that once this study was completed,
the agency would use all fortified rice in many of their feeding programs"
said Hanks. "With looming budget
cuts that may negatively impact U.S. food aid programs, including the
McGovern-Dole program that has provided more than 22 million meals to children
in 41 countries, it is heartening to see that U.S.-grown fortified rice has
received a positive evaluation from WFP in improving the nutritional quality of
food aid delivered to vulnerable populations."
|
Fortified
Rice Study Clears Way for More Rice in Food Aid as Administration Looks to
Eliminate Humanitarian Programs
WASHINGTON, DC -- Last week the World Food Programme
(WFP) released a much-anticipated study on rice fortification that should
pave the way for greater use of fortified rice in U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and
WFP food assistance programs. The study demonstrated that
rinse-resistant coated fortified rice and extruded fortified rice perform the
same in terms of taste and impact on malnutrition. USDA is already
using fortified rice in the McGovern-Dole school feeding program but the
tonnages have been limited by lack of access to rinse resistant coating
technology. The results of this study should lead to greater use of all
available fortification technologies in food aid programs and help bolster
the use of U.S.-grown rice.
"The study concludes that extrusion and rinse resistant coating are both viable techniques for fortifying rice and that both fortification technologies are effective delivery devices for key nutrients" said Bobby Hanks, president of Louisiana Rice Mill and chairman of the USA Rice Food Aid Subcommittee. "This is welcome news for the U.S. rice industry, which should now see benefits from greater programming of fortified rice and overall use of rice in feeding programs." USA Rice will be working closely with USAID on minor revisions to the commodity specifications for fortified rice with the expectation that these specifications will be released within the next few months. In addition, more work will be needed to ensure that certain nutrients will be effectively absorbed and that the common practice of pre-soaking rice in many recipient countries will not affect the bioavailability of key micronutrients in fortified rice. "USAID has made it clear that once this study was completed, the agency would use all fortified rice in many of their feeding programs" said Hanks. "With looming budget cuts that may negatively impact U.S. food aid programs, including the McGovern-Dole program that has provided more than 22 million meals to children in 41 countries, it is heartening to see that U.S.-grown fortified rice has received a positive evaluation from WFP in improving the nutritional quality of food aid delivered to vulnerable populations." |
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Good Taste Featured Dish of Week for March 13: Himalaya
Posted: 3:22 PM, March 16, 2017Updated: 3:22 PM, March 16, 2017
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Join
the conversation
Himalaya Restaurant & Catering -- It should be mandatory that every Houstonian eat at Himalaya at least once! Chef/Owner/Culinary Genius Kaiser
Lashkari’s Indian and Pakistani cuisine will leave your taste buds in awe.
More Food Headlines
Tender pieces of lamb cooked in a
magical blend of dry whole spices and layered with fragrant basmati rice
http://www.click2houston.com/food/good-taste-featured-dish-of-week-for-march-13-himalaya
The jackfruit
returns
Last Updated: 10th March 2017 05:10
PM | A+A A- |
Jaydeep Mukherjee, Corporate Executive Chef,
deGustibus Hospitality
For
Mumbai-based chef Conrad D'Souza, the quintessential Indian kathal brings in a
rush of childhood memories from Mangalore. “It was my father’s native place,
and each time he would return from there, the huge jackfruit consignment would
arrive with him,” smiles Conrad.
“So I
experimented a great deal with the kathal. From frying jackfruit chips served
up with a spicy, curd-based dip to jackfruit ice cream bursting with the
deliciously earthy flavours of the fruit.”
In his new
menu at his restaurant Out of the Blue in Mumbai, Conrad is perfecting his
grilled fish served with a side salad. “Sauting jackfruit with a hint of
garlic, then smoking it up a bit and tossing it up with chilli oil to complement
the fish,” he says. “The earthy, not-too-sweet complexion of jackfruit makes it
a great foil.”
Love the Taste, Loathe the Smell
The jackfruit is making a comeback, from being the staple ingredient in south Indian recipes to fusion specialities in restaurants in varying avatars.
Love the Taste, Loathe the Smell
The jackfruit is making a comeback, from being the staple ingredient in south Indian recipes to fusion specialities in restaurants in varying avatars.
Few know that
the humble, wholesome, unattractive fruit is a virtual powerhouse of nutrition.
Dubbed as the “vegetarian meat”, it packs a good amount of fibre and revs up
the glow on your face through the anti-oxidants in its soft, fleshy bulbs. Even
the seeds of the palakkai jump into dishes as fibrous, vitamin-enriched
warriors and are known to ward off constipation.
“Jackfruit is one of those fruits that people either hate or love. It’s like an Indian durian; the flavour is beautifully heady,” says Jaydeep Mukherjee, Corporate Executive Chef, deGustibus Hospitality (Indigo, Indigo Deli, Neel, Tote on the Turf, D:OH) in Mumbai.
“These
characteristics work very well in desserts and meat curries. Beer battered
sweet jackfruit fritters paired with a homemade jackfruit ice cream is a
popular summer dessert at Indigo Deli. I also have a mutton stew that brings in
the element of slow cooking. When the stew is nearing readiness, I add
chestnuts and raw jackfruit and cook further for an earthy, sweetish taste. It
accentuates the dish beautifully,” he says.
Snacky Bites
So jostling for attention on the busy shelves of premium supermarts are the shredded avatars of the prickly pasha of fruits. “Apart from papad and chips, the jackfruit is selling in other forms such as canned versions and tacos to bring to you the goodness of the kathal without the mess of dissecting it,” says Swasti Aggarwal, food strategist with Foodhall. Even the history of Chinese medicine reflects the use of jackfruit in combating the effects of alcohol in the body.
Snacky Bites
So jostling for attention on the busy shelves of premium supermarts are the shredded avatars of the prickly pasha of fruits. “Apart from papad and chips, the jackfruit is selling in other forms such as canned versions and tacos to bring to you the goodness of the kathal without the mess of dissecting it,” says Swasti Aggarwal, food strategist with Foodhall. Even the history of Chinese medicine reflects the use of jackfruit in combating the effects of alcohol in the body.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/food/2017/mar/11/the-jackfruit-returns-1579636--1.html
Changes
to institutions urged to improve rice value chain
Hanoi (VNA) – Changes to management
institutions are needed to improve the rice value chain and Vietnamese rice’s
competitiveness, experts said at a workshop in Hanoi on March 17.
Speaking at the conference, Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) Nguyen Dinh Cung said the biggest challenge at the moment is to shift to quality management and promote cooperation and linkage in the chain.
He stressed that the role of farmers’ organizations and professional organizations in the rice value chain is very important.
Presenting research results on the existing rice value chain institutions, Dang Quang Vinh, researcher at the CIEM, said the rice cultivation area increased quickly from 2007 and the output rose by nearly 10 million tonnes in the 2005-2015 period.
Rice yield per hectare rose to 5.76 tonnes, the highest in Southeast Asia and rice export grew 14 percent annually on average in volume and 10 percent in value in the 1989-2012 period.
Nevertheless, production scale was relatively small with each household having an average 0.44 hectare of land, and rice quality was low and inconsistent.
According to experts, the rice sector will face a lot of difficulty in the upcoming years due to small scale production which makes it hard to apply scientific and technological advances, climate change, and bad farming practices such as the excessive use of chemicals.
The research recommended that in order to improve the value of rice production, it is necessary to clarify the right of property ownership, which will serve as the foundation for other activities such as investment, the development of an agricultural land market, and land accumulation for large-scale production.
Besides that, emphasis should be placed on quality, productivity and farmers’ income instead of quantity and supply.
A more comprehensive approach to food security is also needed, which pays more attention to nutrition than to rice quantity, according to the research.-VNA
Speaking at the conference, Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) Nguyen Dinh Cung said the biggest challenge at the moment is to shift to quality management and promote cooperation and linkage in the chain.
He stressed that the role of farmers’ organizations and professional organizations in the rice value chain is very important.
Presenting research results on the existing rice value chain institutions, Dang Quang Vinh, researcher at the CIEM, said the rice cultivation area increased quickly from 2007 and the output rose by nearly 10 million tonnes in the 2005-2015 period.
Rice yield per hectare rose to 5.76 tonnes, the highest in Southeast Asia and rice export grew 14 percent annually on average in volume and 10 percent in value in the 1989-2012 period.
Nevertheless, production scale was relatively small with each household having an average 0.44 hectare of land, and rice quality was low and inconsistent.
According to experts, the rice sector will face a lot of difficulty in the upcoming years due to small scale production which makes it hard to apply scientific and technological advances, climate change, and bad farming practices such as the excessive use of chemicals.
The research recommended that in order to improve the value of rice production, it is necessary to clarify the right of property ownership, which will serve as the foundation for other activities such as investment, the development of an agricultural land market, and land accumulation for large-scale production.
Besides that, emphasis should be placed on quality, productivity and farmers’ income instead of quantity and supply.
A more comprehensive approach to food security is also needed, which pays more attention to nutrition than to rice quantity, according to the research.-VNA
http://en.vietnamplus.vn/changes-to-institutions-urged-to-improve-rice-value-chain/108858.vnp
Iran makes first Thai rice buy in 10 years
·
WRITER: REUTERS
HAMBURG: Iran purchased about 40,000 tonnes of rice from
Thailand in an international tender this week, a deal which traders say shows
Iran's purchasing is returning to more normal patterns now that sanctions have
been lifted.
Thai authorities announced in late January that they had secured
a deal to sell rice to Iran for the first time in 10 years, with delivery of
50,000 to 100,000 tonnes of white rice due over the next one to two months.
About 300,000 tonnes in shipments would be made in total, they said.
Traders said Iran in past years largely purchased rice through
lengthy direct negotiations as western sanctions imposed over the country's
disputed nuclear programme had curtailed international payments via banks.
"I think this sale in a tender shows Iran is starting to
return to more traditional purchasing patterns after the relaxation of western
sanctions," one European trader said on Friday. "The sale was made by
a US multinational trading house."
The Iranian state grains buyer GTC bought Hom Mali grade A
rice from Thailand at about €600 (US$645) a tonne, they said. Prices had been
sought in euros in the tender that closed on March 14.
The rice was for shipment between April 15 and May 15 to Bandar
Imam Khomeini or Bandar Abbas ports.
Asia Golden Rice Co said in January that it had reached an
agreement to sell rice to the Iranian government after Iran’s Health and
Medical Education Ministry inspected the company's operations late last year.
Iran makes first Thai rice buy in 10 years
·
WRITER: REUTERS
HAMBURG: Iran purchased about 40,000 tonnes of rice from
Thailand in an international tender this week, a deal which traders say shows
Iran's purchasing is returning to more normal patterns now that sanctions have
been lifted.
Thai authorities announced in late January that they had secured
a deal to sell rice to Iran for the first time in 10 years, with delivery of
50,000 to 100,000 tonnes of white rice due over the next one to two months.
About 300,000 tonnes in shipments would be made in total, they said.
Traders said Iran in past years largely purchased rice through
lengthy direct negotiations as western sanctions imposed over the country's
disputed nuclear programme had curtailed international payments via banks.
"I think this sale in a tender shows Iran is starting to
return to more traditional purchasing patterns after the relaxation of western
sanctions," one European trader said on Friday. "The sale was made by
a US multinational trading house."
The Iranian state grains buyer GTC bought Hom Mali grade A
rice from Thailand at about €600 (US$645) a tonne, they said. Prices had been
sought in euros in the tender that closed on March 14.
The rice was for shipment between April 15 and May 15 to Bandar
Imam Khomeini or Bandar Abbas ports.
Asia Golden Rice Co said in January that it had reached an
agreement to sell rice to the Iranian government after Iran’s Health and
Medical Education Ministry inspected the company's operations late last year.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1216597/iran-makes-first-thai-rice-buy-in-10-years
WACOT’s N10bn mill excites Kebbi rice
communities
By
Ismail Adebayo, Birnin Kebbi | Publish Date: Mar 16 2017 2:00AM
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image:
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/Image/like.png
image:
http://images.dailytrust.com.ng/cms/gall_content/2017/3/2017_3$large_PG_21_A.jpg
WACOT’s rice mill in Argungu, Kebbi State.
The
Anchor Borrowers programme on dry season rice and wheat farming, launched a
year ago by President Muhammadu Buhari in Kebbi State, has seen an increase in
the number of millers and traders trooping to the state.
Come
April this year, WACOT will commission its Rice Mill located on the Argungu-Sokoto
road, about 55km from Birnin Kebbi and 90 kilometres from Sokoto. The mill was
built on 10 hectares of land.
The
N10 billion rice mill has a production capacity of 100,000 tonnes annually;
silos for storing 18,000 tonnes of paddy and a warehouse for storing additional
12,000 tonnes of paddy. When operational, it is expected to generate direct and
indirect employment for 3,500 people and its procurement will reach out to
50,000 farmers.
Expressing
joy for getting a rice mill in Argungu, his hometown, a retired Justice of the
Supreme Court and patron of Kebbi State Rice Farmers Association, Uthman
Mohammed, said, “Before the coming of WACOT, the rice companies simply came
here to purchase our rice and take it to mill elsewhere. We discussed with the
emir that we would appreciate a company to be set up in Argungu for milling our
rice, and we are ready to feed such mill.
“Now
that WACOT is here, we have gone round to tell our farmers that we now have a
rice mill. We urged them to grow more rice so that the mill will produce round
the clock. When our people heard about it they were very excited. Many
are happy that they no longer have to go seeking for jobs elsewhere because of
the job opportunities created in Argungu. It is an interesting thing for me to
be a rice farmer.
“I
have over 50 hectares of rice field. I harvested over 1,000 bags of rice last
year. People come on excursion to my farm to see what I have done there.
Last
year, a bag of paddy was sold for N10,000 and because of that, most of the
young men and farmers have gone into rice farming. If you go to the FADAMA area
in Argungu, you will be amazed.”
Justice
Uthman also said: “When the federal government asked Governor Atiku Bagudu if
they could get a million metric tons of rice from Kebbi last year, I told him
we would achieve the target and we did. There is no reason for us to import
what we can grow in our country and I am happy the farmers have taken up the
challenge very seriously, particularly now that we have a rice mill in Argungu.”
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Ismaila Muhammad
Mera, also a rice farmer, expressed delight over the development of rice
production in Kebbi State.
“For a very long time, Argungu has always been
known for its rice farming. When you talk about agriculture here, it is rice
first and other crops follow.
“The late emir of Argungu started the dry season
farming in the state.
“It would be good for our farmers to have
available markets for their produce and with WACOT, this feat can now be
guaranteed. A 100kg bag of rice previously cost N3,000 to N4,000. People simply
farmed to feed their families and sell what little they have left.
“However, for two years now, rice farming has
become a profitable endeavour,” he said.
He said these days, they see company
directors closing their offices and coming into the farm business because there
is a guaranteed market for the produce.
“This is because of the presence of companies
like WACOT in the state.
In the future I see every able person in this
country going back to the farm. I had a discussion with the governor on land
distribution for farming where he told me to reserve land for the state for
redistribution to those that might be rehabilitated from drug addiction and go
into farming. This is happening because there now exists a conducive market for
the farm produce.
“With WACOT’s presence and its proposed plans
for farming, I see a big change in our society soon,” he said.
The general manager, WACOT Rice Limited, Mr Amit
Gupta, while assuring on his company’s commitment to rice production in the
country, said the Argungu rice mill project was initiated in 2016 to actualize
some of the federal government’s economic objectives.
“We plan to complete it within 16 months and
when completed, it would be bigger than any rice mill that have been set up in
the country,” he said.
It is the first rice mill to be conceptualized
and executed with an expectation of being commissioned within the Buhari
administration.
“Initially, we were faced with the
challenges of getting the piece of land to set up the factory because of the
type of soil required. We were also faced with the consideration of getting
enough paddies to sustain our production and the need for a place that is
economically viable. Kebbi is a remote location with no access to many
contractors, as compared to Lagos and Abuja, for the building of our heavy
machines and equipment. We were, however lucky to get partnership with a number
of good engineering contractors.
“The government has been very supportive about
the whole process. Our patron is the Emir of Argungu, he is extremely up and
doing in mobilizing public opinion and giving us guidance on how to go about
getting people and the resources needed.
“Like I said, we had operational challenges but
we were able to overcome them, perhaps because of the dynamism of our
management team,” he said.
Expressing his optimism about the major role his
company aims to play in the effort to boost rice production in the country, he
said, “This country consumes an average of five million tons of rice per year.
What we as a company are excited about is the fact that we already have
farmers. We started the outgrowers in 2015. We have been working all along with
over 5,000 farmers in Kebbi State.
“We trained about 5,000 farmers on good agricultural
practices. We engaged them on multiple levels such as the field and
demonstration farms. We also set up farmers’ business school to teach them
financial management, cost of production, and best ways of investing money.
“We have also worked with a lot of female-led
organisations to create self-sustainable groups and make them economically
viable.”
On quality, Mr. Gupta said WACOT has the
capacity to produce world class rice that could be compared with those produced
in Thailand and India because it has the required machines, boilers and other
equipment needed to produce high quality rice.
“We need to change the impression that Nigerian
rice is inferior to Thai rice. Our rice has passed through food safety
standards and control and we are set to meet our targets.
“We need 100,000 tons of paddy to produce 16,000
tons of finished rice per year. With the capacity of our equipment and the
interactions built over the years with farmers, this would not be difficult for
us to meet. The rice mill cost us N10 billion to set up. We are confident of
our entry into the market,” he said.
When fully operational, he said, WACOT would
employ over 600 full time workers in the mill. In addition, there would be over
400 labourers. He said the company aims to also create about 3,500 indirect
workers.
“The mill will have a parking lot, which is
expected to attract mechanics, auto electricians, drivers, off loaders,
vulcanisers, food sellers and others. Anyone who wants to make or sell
polythene bag already has a market here. Our objective is to set up a
self-sustaining factory with freedom that will give rise to other initiatives,”
he said.
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/agriculture/wacot-s-n10bn-mill-excites-kebbi-rice-communities/189376.html#LWqH2TAd5UvrQtRG.99
Thailand to increase rice export to Mexico
By NNT
March 17, 2017
370
BANGKOK,(NNT)
– The Ministry of Commerce is determined to increase the export of Thai rice to
Mexico by 10,000 tons before the end of this year.
According
to Commerce Minister Aphiradee Tantraporn, The federal government of Mexico has
given its rice importers a privilege to import a total of 150,000 tons of rice
without having to pay import duties this year.
To
qualify for tax exemption, each domestic company must import fewer or
equivalent to 10,000 tons of rice. Aphiradee said it was seen as an attempt to
lower prices of rice in Mexico and cater to domestic demand.
Thailand
is among rice exporters Mexican importers are to order the grains from. Out of
all rice varieties in Thailand, only the long-grain rice has been chosen by the
Mexican government.
The
Ministry of Commerce is going to ask Mexican importers to buy Thai long grain
rice so as to increase the popularity of Thai rice in other Latin American
nations. In addition to the long-grain rice, jasmine rice has been marketed at
37 Costco retail stores across Mexico through a rice market expansion program.
Mexico is
the fourth largest importer of Thai rice after the United States, Uruguay, and
Argentina. In 2016, around 7,000 tons of rice was exported to Mexico, a 50%
decrease from a year before. Aphiradee attributed the decline to higher
logistics costs and tariffs
http://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-increase-rice-export-mexico-167655
The price of growing rice
Can Nepal regain self-sufficiency in paddy
production? Experts say yes.
Sahina Shrestha
Eighty per cent of Nepalis live off the farm. Agri-culture
accounts for one-third of Nepal’s GDP, but the country has turned from a net
exporter to importer of rice.
Investment in irrigation, high-yield seeds, mechanisation, and
pricing incentives can easily boost rice production and
create jobs on the farm for Nepalis. All it needs is for agriculture to have
more government priority than it currently receives.
The food balance sheet for 2015-16 shows a deficit of 1,106,892
tons in rice as production plummeted to 4.3 million tons. Things are looking
better this year as harvests are up by 21 per cent to 5.23 million tons because
of a good monsoon. The Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project, if
properly implemented, could decrease dependency on food imports, especially
rice from India.
Since most farms are rain-fed, the single most important
contribution to boosting productivity would be irrigation. Only 1.3 hectares of farms in Nepal get
year-round irrigation – 18 per cent of the total arable land. Monsoon rice is
planted in 1,450,000 hectares, while only 112,000 hectares grow spring rice
because of the lack of irrigation.
Says Mukunda Bhusal, Crop Production Officer at Department of
Agriculture: “Rice imports will go down if we can increase the production of
spring rice, but that needs irrigation.”
However, Nepalis are moving away from the land or migrating
overseas for work as soon as they leave school. Booming real estate prices and
urban expansion have reduced total cultivated area. And cheap rice from India
does not make it worthwhile for Nepali farmers to grow paddy.
“The other way is to change the food habits of Nepalis and
replace rice with other grains,” says Bhusal. But that may be easier said than
done in a country where “Have you eaten rice today?” is a form of greeting, and
people in the mountains are turning to rice from traditional millet and
buckwheat.
The trend is most visible in Morang, once Nepal’s grain basket.
Out-migration of young men and the economics of agriculture has meant that it
does not make sense to invest labour in paddy farming.
“In Morang alone, 10,000 hectares of land has gone fallow in the
past decade,” says Rajendra Uprety of the Regional Directorate of Agriculture
in Biratnagar, “land that was previously farmed is now used for
non-agricultural purposes.”
Along the border, Indian businessmen often come to Nepal to buy
harvested paddy in bulk, dehusk it in their mills and sell the rice back to
Nepal. Farmers are also forced to sell paddy at a lower rate to rice mills when
there is a surplus in India and the excess rice dumped in Nepal.
Government apathy, lack of support and subsidies mean that there
is little cushion for farmers if the crops don’t do well, or don’t
sell. There is no minimum price for food grain, although the Department of
Agriculture has asked the Nepal Food Corporation to buy paddy, spring paddy and
wheat at a minimum cost if sales are down.
Economist Rajendra Pradhan of the Department of Agriculture says
there is little Nepal can do to stop cheap imports from
across the open border. But boosting productivity would enhance food security so
that with the spreading road network domestic supply can meet demand in remote
areas.
Pradhan explains, “For national food security, production is not
enough. People should have access to food and there should be opportunities of
employment in agriculture as well.
http://nepalitimes.com/article/nation/can-nepal-be-self-sufficient-in-rice,3598
