Missing foodgrain row: Millers owe Rs1300 crore: CA
Wed,20
Apr 2016
Summary:
Of this millers short delivered/misappropriated 0.48 lakh MT of rice valued at
Rs 120.82 crore during the crop years. "We observed that 1.36 lakh MT of
paddy of crop years 2010-11 to 2013-14 was stored with 20 millers in eight
districts. Chandigarh: At a time when RBI has warned banks against lending to
the Punjab government in the wake of the missing foodgrains, the Comptroller
and Auditor General's (CAG) report has revealed that the government is yet to
recover Rs 1,300 crore from rice millers. "Also, the Government of India
did not fix any separate rates of transportation charges within 8 kilometres and
these were already included in the milling charges. Audit of 7 selected
district offices of Punjab revealed that for transportation of paddy from
purchase centres to rice mills within 8 kms, expenditure of Rs 20.71 crore was
incurred for crop years 2010-14 and not recovered from millers."Chandigarh:
At a time when RBI has warned banks against lending to the Punjab government in
the wake of the missing foodgrains, the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG)
report has revealed that the government is yet to recover Rs 1,300 crore from
rice millers.
The millers
belong to Jalandhar, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib among
others.CAG has listed a number of reasons for the gap between the stock of
foodgrains and the cash credit limit (CCL) given by banks. These include undue
favour given to rice millers, payment made against non-delivery, not delivering
the requisite quantity and abnormal variation in transportation rates, among
others.TOI had on Tuesday reported that a part of the CCL was also being diverted
to "finance non-operational expenditure and losses" of the state's
four procurement agencies - Pungrain, PAFC, PSWC and Punsup. According to the
report, huge quantities of rice were misappropriated by these agencies,
violating the custom milling procedures (CMP) amid other irregularities.
The report said that state agencies like PAFC and the
millers were joint custodians of the paddy and both were responsible for
quality and quantity. However, it added that the agencies "failed to
conduct timely physical verification of paddy stocks in accordance with the CMP
during the years when paddy was stored"."We observed that 1.36 lakh
MT of paddy of crop years 2010-11 to 2013-14 was stored with 20 millers in
eight districts. Of this millers short delivered/misappropriated 0.48 lakh MT
of rice valued at Rs 120.82 crore during the crop years.
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Missing-foodgrain-row-Millers-owe-Rs1300-crore-CAG/articleshow/51901850.cms
Reviving exports
Reliance on improving competitiveness and quality, rather than a
cheaper rupee, will stand India in good stead
A combination of a slump in
petroleum prices and the continuing slowdown in global growth has wreaked havoc
with India’s merchandise exports. Merchandise export earnings slumped 16 per
cent in fiscal year 2015-16 to $261.14 billion. Exports have shrunk for 16
successive months, while earnings from petroleum product exports collapsed 47
per cent in the last fiscal year to $30.2 billion. Also, the share of petroleum
products in India’s export basket contracted to just about 12 per cent, from
over 18 per cent a year ago. Such devastation was not seen even in the midst of
an economic slowdown in 2009-10 triggered by the financial crisis of 2008, when
petroleum prices slumped from the peak of over $140 a barrel to about $32.
India’s exports had contracted a mere 3.5 per cent in 2009-10.
But this time it’s different. The
world is drowning in surplus oil with the US becoming a major oil producer
thanks to shale oil, and Iran returning to the global oil market following the
lifting of sanctions. The slowdown in China has also led to a softening of
demand for other commodities, including iron and steel.Oil production is
expected to remain in surplus for some time more, at least till many nations
find production unviable at prevailing prices. The low oil prices are widely
expected to force many producing nations to cut output, which is then expected
to trigger some increase in prices. But that recovery in oil prices is unlikely
to lead to anything like the 40 per cent jump in export earnings witnessed in
2011-12. Also, it is not petroleum products alone that are dragging down
India’s exports.
Gems and jewellery, iron and
steel, apparels and yarns, all are earning India fewer dollars than a year ago.
Even basmati rice has not managed to escape the slowdown.There are no ready
solutions to ensure a turnaround in India’s exports. Diversifying to new
markets is unlikely to yield increased earnings, given the structure of India’s
export basket. Exporters lament that the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India
have not done enough to make India’s exports more competitive. They want the
RBI to depreciate the rupee, like China has done with its currency, to gain
more markets. But RBI governor Raghuram Rajan is unwilling to go down that
path, and has turned down the commerce ministry’s plea to do so. He is right in
his stance that devaluing the rupee is not a good strategy to help exporters.
While a cheaper rupee will provide temporary respite to exporters, it will
create another problem that neither the Centre nor the RBI would want to deal
with — costlier imports putting upward pressure on prices. A sounder and more
long-term strategy would be to focus on becoming more competitive and quality
conscious, and strategically rework India’s trade agreements, particularly in
view of the mega trade pacts due to come into play shortly.
(This
article was published on April 19, 2016)
El Niño damage
in Cebu placed at P186 million
April 21, 2016
By Christopher M. Mahilum Jr. and
Rey Vincent Alison
ARGAO, CEBU – Initial estimate of the damage brought about by the
dry spell phenomenon El Niño to Cebu’s agriculture sector has reached P186
million, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office
(PDRRMO).In its report to the Provincial Board Monday, the PDRRMO said damage
to mango production in the province tops the list with P151 million, followed
by corn at P21.4 million.Damage to livestock reached P6 million, followed by
P5.6 million for vegetables; P769,100 for aqua products; P547,000 for rice;
P526,800 for bananas; P174,000 for root crops and P22,500 for cut
flowers.Cebu’s fifth district posted the highest damage with P172.5 million.
The fifth district is composed of the towns of Borbon, Carmen,
Catmon, Compostela, Liloan, Pilar, Poro, San Francisco, Sogod, Tudela and the
city of Danao.During Monday’s session, PDRRMO head, Baltazar Tribunalo said the
province now has P135.862 in terms of calamity fund. He said that the allocation
of DRRM funds are divided into two groups – 30 percent for Quick Response Fund
(QRF) and 70 percent for Preparedness Mitigation Fund.“We have to be critically
analytic because after El Niño, La Niña might strike,” said Tribunalo,
stressing that they are only allocating P25 million for El Niño and the rest
would be in preparation for La Niña.
The entire province of Cebu is under a state of calamity due to
the prolonged El Niño phenomenon.
http://www.mb.com.ph/el-nino-damage-in-cebu-placed-at-p186-million/#Qr2vJxSReM8425he.99http://www.mb.com.ph/el-nino-damage-in-cebu-placed-at-p186-million/
Rice industry
issue a reminder to growers that inflicting smoke on residents 'isn't ok'
April 20, 2016, 11
a.m.
MOST afternoons in Leeton shire the sky is covered with a smoky
haze of late. The shire’s rice growers are in the process of burning off
their paddocks, but the annual ritual is causing some angst among the
community. Health concerns have been raised, with the Ricegrowers’
Association of Australia (RGA) calling on growers to burn
responsibly. Other industries have also been undertaking the practice.Rice
extension officer Gae Plunkett said it was important growers took all
possible steps to minimise the effects of smoke on neighbouring townships to their
property.“Rice growers are preparing for the planting of winter crops and many
will be burning stubble,” Mrs Plunkett said. “We ask them to
reduce the effects on those living nearby. Inflicting smoke on nearby
residents isn’t okay.
”Mrs Plunkett said improved understanding of how wind and air
conditions disperse smoke would lead to responsible decisions when
burning. “Growers should plan their burning strategy to avoid
inappropriate conditions for burning,” she said.“This means avoiding burning
wet stubble or burning when winds will blow smoke across roads or towards
towns.“Understanding how to avoid inversion layers is also critical to prevent
smoke settling over residential areas. “Growers should use the mixing
height tool on the Bureau of Meteorology website to avoid this situation when
planning stubble burns.” Mrs Plunkett said growers who were uncertain
about burning off should refer to the responsible stubble management fact sheet
on the RGA website.Murrumbidgee Local Health District advised people with chronic
respiratory conditions living in areas to stay indoors if levels of smoke
pollution increase.Director of public health Tracey Oakman warned the health
affects from breathing fire smoke varied between people.
“Asthma sufferers and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease should follow their action plans,” she said.
http://www.irrigator.com.au/story/3859559/consider-burning-impact/
Rice prices fall on
China’s weak demand
Source:
Saigon Times - 4/20/2016 8:32:51 AM
Since they rose to record highs two weeks ago, rice
prices in the Mekong Delta have fallen strongly due partly to weak import
demand of China.
In addition, as rice exporters have virtually completed their government-to-government contracts with Indonesia and the Philippines, the demand for rice processing has decreased. Therefore, domestic rice prices have ebbed again, said exporters.Despite the decline, local prices of rice and paddy are still VND200-300 per kilo higher than in the same period last year.A report by the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) showed its member enterprises had shipped abroad 1.43 million tons of rice at a free-on-board (FOB) value of more than US$577 million as of end-March, representing a year-on-year rise of 57% in volume and 51% in value.VFA forecast its member enterprises will export more than three million tons of rice in the first half of this year, up 12% year-on-year, excluding the volume of rice shipped abroad via border trade.
http://en.stockbiz.vn/News/2016/4/20/654253/rice-prices-fall-on-china-s-weak-demand.aspx
TABLE-THAI-VIETNAMESE
5 PCT GRADE RICE PRICES - APRIL 20
4/20/2016
BANGKOK, April 20 (Reuters) - Following is a table of Thai
and Vietnamese 5 percent broken grade supplied by traders.
(Bulk quotations in U.S. dollars per tonne FoB assessed by
Thomson Reuters)
and Vietnamese 5 percent broken grade supplied by traders.
(Bulk quotations in U.S. dollars per tonne FoB assessed by
Thomson Reuters)
Shipment Bid Ask Previous
Thai $382-$390 $380-$390 FoB Bangkok
Vietnam $365-$385 n/a FoB Saigon
Thai $382-$390 $380-$390 FoB Bangkok
Vietnam $365-$385 n/a FoB Saigon
(Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat in BANGKOK and Ho Binh
Minh in HANOI; Editing by Anupama Dwivedi)
Minh in HANOI; Editing by Anupama Dwivedi)
http://www.agriculture.com/content/table-thai-vietnamese-5-pct-grade-rice-prices-april-20
Push for value-added products from
rice
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION April 21, 2016 1:00 am
THE COMMERCE Ministry will ask for a budget allocation of Bt600
million for setting up a rice institute for commercial activities in a bid to
promote the development of rice into more value-added products.Permanent
secretary Chutima Boonyapraphasara said the ministry was planning to ask the
Rice Policy and Management Committee to approve the setting up of the country's
first rice institute for commercial operations."Thai rice can be developed
as a value-added 'super food' in the form of various products. The commercial
rice institute would contribute to adding value to Thai rice so that farmers
would receive more income," she said.
If approved, it will take about five to six months to establish the
institute. Chutima said the institute could contribute to a doubling of income
from rice products. This would result in extra government revenue from
rice-product duties of about Bt700 million each year.
Normally, the government cannot collect value-added tax from rice
trading, but if it has been processed, VAT can be added.The ministry will
discuss with the Office of the Public Sector Development Commis-sion the
formation of the institute, as it will not be managed by the government but
should be a non-government organisation so it will be more efficient and
flexible.Chutima said the institute would also employ highly qualified people
for administration of research and development.She added that if this institute
could be set up, more than 60 per cent of Thais involved in rice farming should
have more income and better living conditions, since the rice price would be
increased.
High-nutrition food
According to the Commerce Ministry, rice is a high-nutrition food
and has low sugar. It could serve health-conscious people and be developed into
various kinds of food for babies, children, senior persons, and those watching
their weight. Rice could also be produced as cosmetics and other
products.Meanwhile, the ministry is considering a plan to continue releasing
the remaining 11.6 million tonnes of rice in the government stockpiles. Chutima
said the ministry would consider releasing rice every month through various
channels such as open bidding and government-to-government contracts.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Push-for-value-added-products-from-rice-30284369.html
Dal prices up 10-20% in a month;
rice and sugar also costlier
Rajesh Chandramouli & Rachel Chitra |
TNN | Apr 20, 2016, 07.08 AM IST
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Dal-prices-up-10-20-in-a-month-rice-and-sugar-also-costlier/articleshow/51903104.cms
Rice Prices
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
|
38.00
|
8.57
|
1452.00
|
3500
|
3500
|
-
|
|
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
|
22.00
|
10
|
625.50
|
1900
|
1900
|
-9.52
|
|
Kolaghat(WB)
|
18.00
|
NC
|
528.00
|
2300
|
2300
|
-8.00
|
|
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
|
18.00
|
5.88
|
544.00
|
2300
|
2300
|
9.52
|
|
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
17.30
|
96.59
|
1274.70
|
1900
|
1900
|
-
|
|
Muradabad(UP)
|
10.00
|
100
|
453.70
|
2275
|
2300
|
10.98
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
6.50
|
-19.75
|
1032.50
|
2450
|
2450
|
-
|
|
Chengannur(Ker)
|
5.00
|
-33.33
|
459.50
|
3000
|
2400
|
25.00
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
4.00
|
-20
|
1216.50
|
1950
|
1945
|
-1.52
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8497939.ece
04/20/2016 Farm
Bureau Market Report
Rice
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Long Grain Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
Long Grain New Crop
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice Comment
Rice futures were sharply higher on carryover
strength from other commodities and from weakness in the dollar. The market
will be watching crop progress closely. If farmers plant what they reported to
USDA in the survey, the large crop will limit the upside potential. Currently,
USDA says 48% of the crop in the ground and 19% emerged. In Arkansas, the
totals are 55% planted and 11% emerged. Demand is also a key factor. Last
week’s sale to Iraq gave the market a much needed boost, but won’t sustain a
rally long-term without better demand across the board. May completed a 38%
retracement today and now has an upside objective of $10.83.
Field Report: Texas
By Colleen Klemczewski
KATY, TEXAS -- Early Monday
morning rice farmers here and in other areas of southeast Texas awoke to find
their crops underwater after a historic rainfall devastated the area. Rice farmer and cattle rancher Raymond Dollins
reported the flooding is so severe that he and his wife can't use their
vehicles and are relying on their tractor just to get around their
property."Katy has been blessed in the past - we've missed the bullet
several times, but we didn't miss it this time," said Dollins. "We got 18 inches of rain here at the
farm overnight. Our rice was 6 inches
high and now it's completely covered by the rainwater along with the
levees. The water is starting to go
down. Depending on how fast the water goes down, I think we should be okay with
the crop."
Although the forecast in the area predicts more rainfall over the
next few days, rice growers in southeast Texas remain hopeful for the sake of
their crops that the worst of the storm has passed. Growers will most likely have to wait at
least a week for the flooding to subside and will then determine if it's
necessary to replant the crop.
Dollins stated that those in the Katy area who have to replant
their rice will miss out on optimal planting time that typically falls between
mid-March and mid-April and will most likely be unable to harvest a second crop
in November which will have negative economic implications for the entire area.
"We are really hoping
for better weather and a better market to turn things around," said
Dollins. "It's out of our
control. The only thing we can do right
now is wait it out, pray, and hope for the best. As a farmer, you have to be an
optimist."
Katy street view
At least the Farm Bill is
safe...for now
Agriculture Funding Bill Advances in House
By Peter Bachmann
WASHINGTON, DC -- On
Tuesday, the House Committee on Appropriations spent the majority of the day
debating amendments and eventually approving the Fiscal Year 2017 funding bill
for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and related
agencies.The $21.3 billion legislation contains a number of contentious
amendments on issues such as vaping/e-cigarettes and legal protection for
contract poultry growers that were introduced and narrowly passed during the
markup process, but there were no overt attempts to reopen the Farm Bill. The bill would reduce funding for FY 2017 by
$451 million when compared to the current fiscal year's level and total
spending would be $281 million below what was recommended in the President's
Budget.
THE REAL CO TEAMS UP WITH WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION SOCIETY FOR EARTH DAY
FESTIVAL AT WCS’s BRONX ZOO - April 23rd and 24th, 2016
NEW YORK, NEW YORK , UNITED STATES, April 19, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The
Real Co, the first certifiable 100% Single
Origin product company to pioneer Single Origin food products in the United
States, has teamed up with the Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS)
for an Earth Day celebration to honor the efforts that create an Earth where
both people and wildlife can thrive. As part of the WCS’s “Healthy Planet,
Healthy People” theme, the weekend-long Earth Day event activities take place
at WCS’s Bronx Zoo, Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, 24th from 11 a.m to 4 p.m.
The Bronx Zoo is located at 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY.
On Earth Day Weekend, April 23-24, the WCS Bronx Zoo will offer activities, events, and educational opportunities for the general public relating to a celebration of the Planet in the NY area. Activities include:
Earth Fair on Astor Court -- Sustainable Companies Tabling Exhibition-11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Organizations and companies that produce recycled, sustainable and energy efficient products will table and demonstrate their products/services. Exhibitors include: The Real Co (www.thereal.co) 100 % Single Origin food products at affordable prices with full transparency of where the food comes from and how it was grown. Current products include Himalayan Pink Rock Salt, Organic Raw Cane Sugar, and organically grown White Basmati Rice. The Real Co will give out free samples of the Sugar and Salt in stylish reusable bags. Other companies include Cloud Farms; Green Mustache; Emerald Brand; Dolphin Organics; Mama Chia; Grandy Oats; The Bronx Greenmarket Hot Sauce and the NY State of Health Exchange – Providing information on how to get health care coverage in NY State.
“Love Your Earth” Station on Astor Court - 11 a.m. to 3p.m.
Visitors will discover fun and interactive ways to better preserve our natural resources for current and future generations. Guests can use a special Carbon Footprint app to figure out their own carbon footprint, based on the daily actions they take.
Nature Walks at Northern Ponds – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Visitors can explore this area frequented by birds and local wildlife and discover the wonders and healing power of nature. Each session is approximately 30 minutes long.
“We are delighted to team up and support the efforts of the WCS for Earth Day and every day,” says Belal Elbanna, CEO of The Real Co. “We hope this is the start of a long, ongoing relationship.”
About the Real Co
The Real co has developed an exciting and transparent new food category and method of sourcing products globally and delivering it at a local level. The Real Co enters partnerships with farmers and growers around the world that don't have an established route to distribute their products and creates a way to share their commodity with the world. The company brings full transparency and sustainability to the U.S. food industry. The Real Co products are carefully inspected and sourced by company representatives, and go straight from farm to shelf, eliminating the need for any middlemen. This unique 100% Single Origin method allows everyone in the world to enjoy what is usually impossible to experience: unique, tasty, freshly farmed/mined products at affordable prices.www.thereal.co The Real Co offers transparency to the consumer, and is developing the first Certification of 100% Single Origin Foods in the U.S. The Real Co pays fair wages and reinvests in both the land and the community that grows our products. The Real Co is available nationwide in numerous stores in every state; The Market in California, Natural Grocers ShopRite, Fairway Market, Westerly Natural Market, Kings, Balducci, and Healthy Goodness. You can also find it online at www.vitacost.com For more information and for a full list state by state is available at www.TheReal.co
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 5:30 p.m. weekends from April to October; 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m November to March. Adult admission is $19.95, children (3-12 years old) $12.95, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $17.95. Parking is $15 for cars and $18 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010.
WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)
MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242.
On Earth Day Weekend, April 23-24, the WCS Bronx Zoo will offer activities, events, and educational opportunities for the general public relating to a celebration of the Planet in the NY area. Activities include:
Earth Fair on Astor Court -- Sustainable Companies Tabling Exhibition-11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Organizations and companies that produce recycled, sustainable and energy efficient products will table and demonstrate their products/services. Exhibitors include: The Real Co (www.thereal.co) 100 % Single Origin food products at affordable prices with full transparency of where the food comes from and how it was grown. Current products include Himalayan Pink Rock Salt, Organic Raw Cane Sugar, and organically grown White Basmati Rice. The Real Co will give out free samples of the Sugar and Salt in stylish reusable bags. Other companies include Cloud Farms; Green Mustache; Emerald Brand; Dolphin Organics; Mama Chia; Grandy Oats; The Bronx Greenmarket Hot Sauce and the NY State of Health Exchange – Providing information on how to get health care coverage in NY State.
“Love Your Earth” Station on Astor Court - 11 a.m. to 3p.m.
Visitors will discover fun and interactive ways to better preserve our natural resources for current and future generations. Guests can use a special Carbon Footprint app to figure out their own carbon footprint, based on the daily actions they take.
Nature Walks at Northern Ponds – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Visitors can explore this area frequented by birds and local wildlife and discover the wonders and healing power of nature. Each session is approximately 30 minutes long.
“We are delighted to team up and support the efforts of the WCS for Earth Day and every day,” says Belal Elbanna, CEO of The Real Co. “We hope this is the start of a long, ongoing relationship.”
About the Real Co
The Real co has developed an exciting and transparent new food category and method of sourcing products globally and delivering it at a local level. The Real Co enters partnerships with farmers and growers around the world that don't have an established route to distribute their products and creates a way to share their commodity with the world. The company brings full transparency and sustainability to the U.S. food industry. The Real Co products are carefully inspected and sourced by company representatives, and go straight from farm to shelf, eliminating the need for any middlemen. This unique 100% Single Origin method allows everyone in the world to enjoy what is usually impossible to experience: unique, tasty, freshly farmed/mined products at affordable prices.www.thereal.co The Real Co offers transparency to the consumer, and is developing the first Certification of 100% Single Origin Foods in the U.S. The Real Co pays fair wages and reinvests in both the land and the community that grows our products. The Real Co is available nationwide in numerous stores in every state; The Market in California, Natural Grocers ShopRite, Fairway Market, Westerly Natural Market, Kings, Balducci, and Healthy Goodness. You can also find it online at www.vitacost.com For more information and for a full list state by state is available at www.TheReal.co
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 5:30 p.m. weekends from April to October; 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m November to March. Adult admission is $19.95, children (3-12 years old) $12.95, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $17.95. Parking is $15 for cars and $18 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010.
WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)
MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242.
The
pride of Persia
Wednesday April 20, 2016
01:09 PM GMT+8
LOS ANGELES, April 20 — The scents of Nowruz hit me from the
moment I walked in the door of Naz Deravian’s house in Inglewood, California.
Wafts of floral hyacinth, pungent vinegar, earthy wheatgrass and perfumey rose
water: It’s a particular mingling that comes together every spring during the
Persian New Year.As I stopped to take it all in, Deravian, an Iranian-Canadian
actress and food blogger who has lived in the Los Angeles area for the last 20
years, ushered me into the kitchen where new aromas were waiting: browning
butter, musky saffron, sharp herbs and smoked fish, all in various stages of
preparation for the feast she was cooking.“Food is at the center of Persian
culture,” she said as she lifted the lid on a pot of rice fragrant with herbs.
“It’s integral to everything.”
At the bottom of the rice pot were thin pieces of lavash that
would, Deravian hoped, crisp into tahdig — the golden, crunchy and buttery
crust prized at Persian meals.Getting a perfect tahdig, which can also be made
from yogurt, thinly sliced onions or potatoes (or the rice itself), is one of
the most challenging techniques in all of Persian cooking. Deravian was
fretting over hers, worried that the flatbread would burn or the rice turn mushy.Persian
cuisine is one of the world’s great gastronomies, flourishing for centuries
across an area that, at the height of the ancient Persian Empire (circa 550 to
330 B.C.), included modern-day Iran, along with parts of Iraq, Macedonia,
Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia.
The repertoire of dishes is fragrant, diverse and highly
refined, based on complex culinary techniques. They are imbued with fresh
flowers and herbs like rose petals, fenugreek and mint; spices like saffron,
sumac and cardamom; fruits like pomegranate and barberry; all kinds of citrus;
and nuts, including pistachios and almonds.If this roster of ingredients sounds
familiar, it’s because Persian cooking influenced Middle Eastern, Moroccan,
Northern Indian and Turkish cuisines, yet itself remains somewhat below the
radar.
Part of the recognition problem in the United States, Deravian
said, is that even with a robust Iranian-American population (estimated to be 1
million to 2 million), there’s a stunning lack of Persian
restaurants. Southern California — home to the vast majority of
Iranian-Americans and the groceries, bakeries and ice cream shops that cater to
them — has a handful. But for the most part, they’re not making the exalted,
intricate dishes for which the culture is famous.
“Even in Los Angeles, most people’s Persian food experience
starts and ends with kebabs,” she said. “The real Persian cooking happens in
people’s houses.”Luckily, hospitality is another hallmark of Persian
culture. In late March, Deravian invited me into her home for Nowruz,
which signifies the beginning of the 13-day Persian New Year celebration. The
holiday, with its menu of classic and symbolic Persian dishes, is an excellent
lens through which to explore the rarefied cuisine.Nowruz, an ancient
Zoroastrian festival of the spring equinox, has been celebrated continuously
for at least 3,000 years, more than a thousand years before the region’s Muslim
conquest. It predates most of the holidays Americans celebrate today yet shares
many of the same traditions.This is particularly the case with Easter and
Passover, which fall around the same time in early spring. During Nowruz,
a celebration of rebirth and renewal, people color eggs, scrub their houses
from top to bottom and eat copious amounts of fresh herbs.
Unlike Easter and Passover, though, Nowruz is not a religious
holiday. Persian Muslims, Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians — in the
global diaspora and in Iran — all celebrate it.Pouria Abbassi, a board member
of Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, which has sponsored Nowruz
celebrations on Capitol Hill, said that the ancient customs of Nowruz are an
important link to Persian heritage.“Since it is a nonreligious, nonpolitical
celebration; it is the single most important event that brings all Iranians
together with great pride,” he said. “In our culture, Nowruz is the only
powerful common denominator.”
Nilou Motamed, the editor of Food & Wine magazine, who
is Iranian, described it as a time when families gather to feast and bond over
an overabundant meal.“Nowruz is like Thanksgiving in that everyone celebrates
it, and everyone cooks the same foods, though with their own family spin on
it,” she said.The traditions and meaning of Nowruz run deep in the Iranian psyche,
Motamed added.“Iran has had a complicated political relationship with the West
for the last 40 years,” she said. “For us émigrés, Nowruz is a great way
for us to share some of the richness of our culture through food.”Like
Thanksgiving, having too much food at a Nowruz meal is part of the deal.“We are
a culture that likes to overfeed,” she said. “We would never have just one main
course. Excess is essential to our DNA. It provides a sense of welcoming bounty
and joy.”
Evidence of such excess was certainly found in Deravian’s
kitchen. There were the symbolic dishes crucial for any Nowruz dinner. There
was the sabzi polo mahi, an herbed rice with smoked fish that represents life
(fish), renewal and rebirth (fresh green herbs) and prosperity (rice). There
was the kuku sabzi, a brilliant green
herb-stuffed frittata meant to represent fertility (eggs).Fresh spring herbs,
which can also represent the earth, made another appearance with feta and a
homemade paneer cheese, along with juicy radishes from the farmers’ market and
tart, fuzzy-skinned fresh green almonds that Deravian picked up at a Persian
shop on Westwood Avenue the day before.And for dessert, there was toot,
rose-water-flavoured almond paste representing a life full of sweetness and a
heart full of love. Deravian’s daughters, Luna, 9, and Soleil, 6, formed
the almond paste into both the traditional white mulberry shapes and into cute
little bunnies.“Persians are always looking for meaning in everything we eat,”
Deravian said.
“It’s never just food. There’s mythology and tradition that goes
back thousands of years behind every bite.”She turned her attention back to the
herbed rice, which was ready to serve. First, she scooped the green-flecked
grains onto a platter. Next, she mixed saffron butter into a portion of the
rice to stain it bright orange.Then, the moment of truth. It was time to lift
the tahdig — that crispy bottom crust — out of the pan. (If it were a rice
tahdig, they may have turned it out, but with a lavash tahdig, lifting is
easier.) If it burned or stuck, not only would all the guests be disappointed,
but it could also cast a symbolic pall over the year to come, whereas a perfect
tahdig indicates good things ahead.Deravian nudged it nervously with her spoon
to loosen it, then let out a whoop. The guests cheered as the burnished crust
of tahdig slipped out of the pan and onto the rice; it was a perfect golden
disk.“There’s an art to making tahdig,” Deravian said as she and her father
hooked arms to do a little dance of joy.
“But there’s also a little bit of magic.”
Fresh Herb Kuku
Total time: 50 minutes
½ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
6 eggs
1 ½ teaspoons coarse sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground rose petal (optional)
1 cup finely chopped parsley
1 cup finely chopped cilantro
1 cup finely chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves (optional)
½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
½ cup finely chopped romaine lettuce
½ cup finely chopped spring onions, white and green parts
2 garlic cloves, grated on a Microplane or minced
1 tablespoon rice flour
1/3 cup dried barberries or cranberries, soaked in cold water
for 15 minutes, rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon grape molasses, or substitute sugar
Lavash, for serving (optional)
Yogurt, for serving (optional)
1. Heat ¼ cup of the oil in a large skillet over medium
heat. Add onions and cook until lightly golden all over, 15 to 20 minutes.
Transfer onions to a medium bowl and cool to room temperature; reserve skillet.
2. Heat oven to 400 degrees and line a 9x12-inch baking
dish with parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl, lightly whisk to combine eggs, salt,
pepper, baking powder, all of the spices and the rose petal, if using. Add
caramelized onions, all of the herbs, walnuts, lettuce, spring onion, garlic
and rice flour. Fold just to combine; do not overmix.
4. Brush prepared baking dish with ¼ cup oil. (It may look
like a lot, but it gets absorbed into the batter.) Add batter, smoothing out
the top and pushing it to the sides. Bake until center is set, about 20
minutes, and transfer to a cooling rack.
5. Meanwhile, place the skillet used to cook the onion
over medium heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the barberries, grape
molasses or sugar and 2 tablespoons water. Simmer, stirring, until liquid is
reduced and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
6. Top cooked kuku with caramelized barberries and cut
into six equal pieces. Serve hot or room temperature, with lavash and yogurt,
if desired
Rice farming for profit in 2016
Apr 19, 2016
After a 2015 season that left many Arkansas rice producers
feeling kicked in the gut, 2016 doesn’t look to offer much relief. Rice looks
to be the best smelling pig in the pen in terms of penciling out profitability,
but margins are tight there as well. This year we’ll need to make every
penny count. That means managing risk. We’re not looking for a homerun this
year; we’re looking to cover all the bases and keep the game going.
Weather
To manage risk we need to get back to basics. Try to spread out
planting dates -- planting earlier does produce higher yields but often carries
increased input costs along with it. Last season many didn’t get a chance to
spread anything out, you either planted in that 10-14 day window or you didn’t
plant. Yes those situations happen, but that window happened at the end of
April when it was clear we needed to plant and not wait. Right now, while it’s
early, you still have to stick with Plan A; don’t jump to Plan B before we even
get to A. Reflective of the truly odd year that 2015 was, those who were
delayed until almost May in planting frequently had higher yields than those
who planted weeks earlier; however, this should be considered a great exception
and not the rule. Let’s start by trying to spread out our planting dates a
little – especially if you’re going to try and plant some really early.
Determine the maximum acres that you would consider planting early and then
stick with that number. Remember that the optimum recommended planting window
has two boundaries for a reason.
Seed
Speaking of seed – just treat it. The use of insecticide
and fungicide seed treatments may provide one of the greatest returns on
investment in rice production. Based on 200-plus observations since 2008,
insecticide seed treatments provide a positive return 80 percent of the time
with an average yield increase of over 8 bushels per acre. The average
cost of the insecticide is equivalent to a little over 2 bushels – that’s an
average return on investment of 6 bushels.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/rice-farming-profit-2016
Make a scarecrow
at Kedah Padi Heritage festival
The festival will kick off with
The Art of Padi Heritage Workshop from April 22-25. Some 150 students from Keat
Hwa High School in Alor Setar will take part in this art, music and drama
workshop. They will learn how to make a scarecrow and create artworks inspired
by padi planting.
On April 29, the Tradition of Padi Seedling, a public talk (and
padi seedling rehearsal) will be held from 9am to 7pm. Three padi farmers of
Thai, Chinese and Malay origin will share their knowledge on old farming
traditions. Kedah And Perlis Rice Millers Association’s chairman Ong Soon Thye
and padi researcher Ong Ching Zhong will talk about the rice mill, types of
rice as well as tradition and modern farming techniques.
A wayang kulit master and his
puppet.Festival director Chong Keat Aun says the festival is the first of its
kind in Malaysia.“There are plans to rotate the event venue to other rice mills
in Kedah and Perlis,” says Chong, an Alor Setar-born arts practitioner.The
festival’s slogan is Sesuap
Nasi, Warisan Padi (A Mouthful Of Rice, Padi Heritage). From April
30 to May 1, 8am to 10pm, there will be a free concert involving 150
performers. Shows include manora dance, padi field drum performance (a
combination of gendang
silat drums and
Chinese drums), Chinese opera, and wayang kulit. There will also be lion and dragon
dance performances.
A highlight of the festival is
Rumah Padi (Padi House) which is erected at edge of a padi field at the
festival site.“Two modified steel containers, timber and bamboo structures are
used to set up this temporary structure which will remain until Sept 17,” says
Alan Teh, curator of the art exhibition.
Alan Teh, curator of the art
exhibition at Kedah Padi Heritage Festival with a miniature model of Rumah Padi
(Padi House), a temporary structure erected near a padi field. Exhibits including
artworks on the theme of padi will be shown to visitors. Photo: The
Star/Majorie ChiewVisitors will be taken on a tour of the artworks by 15 local
artists. Teh says the goal of the festival is to raise awareness to the
hardships of padi farmers, especially to the younger generation.“At the same
time, it is also to bring attention to the rapid urbanisation of Alor Setar,
where many tracts of agriculture lands are being converted for housing and
commercial purposes. This is quite alarming as Kedah is the rice bowl of
Malaysia,” says Teh.The closing ceremony will be the Harvest Festival from Sept
15-17 at the same venue.
More details: www.facebook.com/warisanpadikedah
Festival director Chong Keat Aun
posing in a padi field at the foothill of Gunung Jerai, Kedah. Photos: Warisan
Padi Kedah Festival
http://www.star2.com/culture/arts/2016/04/21/make-a-scarecrow-at-kedah-padi-heritage-festival/
China Looks to Rice Cookers to Pep
Up Economy
BEIJING — The Chinese
government's latest plan to perk up its slowing economy is based on the humble
rice cooker and luxury toilet seats.The development plan issued this week
strikes a blow for China's consumers, calling for better products to help
create an economy driven by domestic consumption instead of trade and
investment.
The Cabinet document lays out an
unusually detailed wish list: better electric rice cookers, kitchen appliances,
"smart toilet seats" and smartphones.China makes most of the world's
consumer electronics, furniture and toys but domestic brands available at the
prices its poor majority can afford are of uneven quality. The country has been
plagued by repeated scandals over shoddy or fake food, medicine and other
goods.The latest plan says its goals are part the ruling Communist Party's
campaign to make the state-dominated economy more productive by shrinking
bloated companies in steel and other industries.
Until now, official development
plans have ignored deficiencies in products for the local market, treating the
Chinese public as a source of labor rather than the rightful beneficiaries of
economic growth.The party is trying to shore up growth that decelerated to a
seven-year low of 6.7 percent in the latest quarter. Forecasters see signs
economic activity is improving but say overall growth could fall further this
year.The week's announcement is a departure from the Chinese leadership's usual
development exhortations about farming, heavy industry and technology.
The prominent mention of
"smart toilet seats" reflects the rising importance of Chinese
consumers and a house-proud public that is spending heavily to make drab homes
more pleasant and comfortable.Until now, state media have ridiculed toilet
seats equipped with heaters, water jets and other features as a frivolous fad
imported from Japan.But Chinese tourists have taken advantage of a weaker
Japanese yen to embark on shopping sprees in Tokyo, where stores have
refashioned their displays to attract them, hiring Chinese-speaking staff and
expanding duty free services for tourists.The latest plan calls for better goods
ranging from air purifiers and toys to paint and children's clothing.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/04/20/world/asia/ap-as-china-cooking-up-growth.html?_r=1
Wes Ward to Delve Into Cuban Relations at Agriculture Law
Conference
Wes Ward
Arkansas Business: How will you approach the topic of Cuba in your
Friday address?
Wes Ward:
We’re going to be talking about
Cuba, so my approach is going to be talking a little bit about the history and
how agricultural exports have changed over the history of our relationship with
Cuba. Starting with 1959 — when the revolution started — and kind of looking at
what U.S. and Arkansas exports were to Cuba prior to the Cuban revolution.
Then, how that changed with the embargo and the different legal aspects of the
embargo.
Moving forward from there, in
October 2000, when the trade sanctions were formed, and how that started to
shift things and the history with that.Some of [the speech] may be a
legal-nuanced and sort of a legal background of some of the issues with Cuba to
a degree. We’ll also talk about Cuba in general – an overview of some of the
most recent efforts. I’ll talk about the governor’s trip to Cuba last year that
I got to participate in with the World Trade Center of Arkansas, the work that
Sen. [John] Boozman has done, and a couple of different groups: the Cuba
Consortium, Engage Cuba Coalition. I’m going to kind of give a history of
our relationship with Cuba and what’s changed and some of the recent efforts.
AB: What opportunities does Arkansas have as the U.S. tries to
jump-start trade with Cuba?
WW: Cuba has the highest per capita
consumption of rice in the Western Hemisphere. Arkansas produces 50 percent of
the nation’s rice, so when you look at the potential relationship between
Arkansas and Cuba specifically, rice tends to benefit more than anybody
else. Once some of those restrictions have been lifted, we would see
potentially about a $36 million economic impact on the agriculture side in
Arkansas, and about $30 million of that would be for the rice industry. The
rice industry in Arkansas would be the greatest benefactor of the restrictions
being lifted
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/110699/wes-ward-to-delve-into-cuban-relations-at-agriculture-law-conference
APEDA AgriExchange
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Late Rabi crop may be spoiled by heat wave; intense
heat may disturb pollination
By Sutanuka
Ghosal, ET Bureau | 21 Apr, 2016, 02.01AM IST
"In
early rabi paddy variety, pollination is over. Maybe in some cases in late
variety, paddy pollination may get disturbed due to the high temperature. If
the temperature is above 37 degree during pollination, then the process gets
affected." Nayak said at the ripening stage, if temperature is high
'packing of starch' in the grain gets affected and it develops chalkiness.
"In simple words, productivity may not be affected but quality
suffers," he said. Scientists said in a temperature range of 22-31degrees,
the growth rate of paddy increases linearly. But higher temperature adversely
affects growth and productivity.
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Odisha,
West Bengal and parts of Assam
produce 5.5 million tonne of rice from the rabi paddy crop. Besides the high
temperature, these rice producing states are also worried over the availability
of funds under the Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI)
initiative. BGREI, a scheme introduced by the previous UPA government, aims at
increasing rice and wheat production in eastern India. The scheme covers seven
states — Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha,
eastern UP and West Bengal. "All the seven states are ready with their
plan. The central government has to approve our plans and allocate funds. We
hope that funds come before the beginning of the kharif season," a senior
official with the West Bengal agriculture department said.
El Niño creates untold havoc
posted April
20, 2016 at 11:15 pm by Ray S. Eñano
Parched lands caused by the long dry spell
have altered the lives of many Filipino farmers and those in other parts of
Asia as well. The Kidapawan incident in Cotabato province where farmer took to
the streets on April 1 to protest government’s inaction against El Niño bears
testimony to the damage wreaked by the weather phenomenon.Over in Vietnam, one
farmer saw her land turn into a wasteland from what used to double as rice
paddy and shrimp pond. Nguyen Thi Tam’s family, according to a Bloomberg report,
had no income for two harvests because the rice crop failed and the shrimp
died. They piled $8,000 in debt, or more than twice her earnings in a typical
year. She now plans to leave her village to work at a factory hundreds of miles
away to make ends meet.
Here in the Philippines, the El Niño
phenomenon has so far ruined 237,000 hectares of agriculture areas with damage
estimated at P5.32 billion as of March, according to the Department of
Agriculture. Farmers in the rural areas have turned to the government for
help and assistance after key commodities, including rice and corn as well as
high value crops and livestock, were affected by the drought that has
intensified with the onset of the dry season.What can be done to mitigate the
impact of a natural phenomenon like El Niño or La Niña on the country’s food
supply? Will imports suffice to fill up the supply gap?
The International Rice Research Institute
has already warned of supply crises amid the most damaging drought.Science and
technology and regional and global cooperation are the key tasks at hand for
countries like the Philippines to temper the changing climate pattern.The
Philippines and the rest of the world are now confronted with a
global food crisis similar to the 2007-08 situation as a result of the current
El Niño episode. Close cooperation, thus, should be secured among the biggest
rice-producing and -consuming nations to stem the crisis should it worsen.IRRI
director general Matthew Morell, in a communication sent to the secretaries general
of the Asean member-countries last week, called for a joint action to forestall
an impending crisis.
Morell notes that for maximum impact,
cooperation would have to involve not only Asean member-countries (Brunei
Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) but also China, Japan, and South Korea
(Asean+3) and India—collectively the world’s biggest producers and consumers of
rice. About 90 percent of the world’s rice production come from Asia.
Rice research key
IRRI is one of the first non-government
institutions to issue a warning on the food crisis amid the drought, which
Department of Agriculture, unfortunately, does not share.IRRI sparked the Green
Revolution in Asia, which saved the continent from famine in the 1960s to the
1970s, through its sturdy high-yielding rice varieties. IRRI recently made
available climate-smart rice varieties, or those tolerant of submergence,
drought, salinity and other environmental stresses, that have made unproductive
areas in India and Bangladesh and parts of Southeast Asia bloom.Working with
hundreds of partners across the world, IRRI has developed and offers the
improved and resilient rice varieties, crop management technologies and
expertise to rice-growing countries.
Upon
request of the governments of some of these countries, IRRI had helped develop
national rice sector strategies, providing policy advice and technical
assistance.Bruce Tolentino, deputy director general for communication and
partnerships at IRRI, says in a recent press conference “the way to handle
another crisis is for the Asean+3 and India to come together as a region with
shared concerns and interests, and take advantage of IRRI as a regional and
neutral resource.”IRRI’s call for action also includes an appeal for serious
investment in rice research, which has borne the brunt of decreasing support in
agriculture globally. Rice research has historically been supported mainly
by Western donor countries, and to a much lesser degree by rice-growing
countries. IRRI seeks to push this dynamic to a more appropriate balance, that
is, for the biggest rice stakeholders to invest the most in the research.The
Philippines, the eighth largest producer of rice in the world in 2015 and one
of the most at-risk countries from climate change, has risen to the challenge
and is now IRRI’s fourth biggest donor. Other Asian countries, such as Vietnam,
Thailand, Taiwan, India,and Indonesia, are also increasing investment in rice
research.
