Thursday, May 24, 2018

24th May,2018 daily global regional local rice enewsletter


24th   May,2018  Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

Wanis Trade Day Cooks Up Success for U.S. Rice  
LONDON, ENGLAND -- The United Kingdom is a continuing and growing success story for U.S. rice thanks to creative promotions and valuable partnerships with brands and retailers here.  Both were on display recently during a twice annual Trade Day event at wholesaler Wanis.

Wanis is a leading wholesaler of quality foods from Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Far East, and U.S.-grown rice is popular with their customers for consistency and cooking quality.  

USA Rice was on hand at the most recent Trade Day to promote two U.S. rice brands, Peacock Easy Cook Rice from S&B Herba Foods and the Wanis store brand called Tropical Sun.

"These Trade Day promotions provide exposure opportunities for our brand in this competitive sector," said S&B Herba Foods Sales Manager Peter Walker.  "And this particular event was so successful we had to supply additional stock to cover the all the orders we took." 
 
Caribbean Chef Gayle Love, a crowd favorite with Wanis' 3,000+ customers, cooked a variety of dishes with both brands of U.S.-grown rice.

"The product samples prepared, cooked, and served by Chef Love were the perfect way to demonstrate the taste, quality, and consistency of our Tropical Sun Easy Cook rice," said Jagdeep Singh, marketing manager at Wanis.

While U.S. rice exports to the UK have been increasing steadily over the last several years, there is growing concern amid uncertainty in the region.  Many analysts believed Brexit, the UK departing the European Union, would present good opportunities for U.S. rice as the soon-to-be-independent UK is a loyal customer while keeping existing rice import quotas with the remaining EU would provide continuing access to the Continent.  However the brewing trade dispute between the U.S. and the EU over steel and aluminum could see a retaliatory 25 percent tariff on all U.S. milled and broken rice, including parboiled, destined for Europe.

USA Rice is participating in meetings today of the Association for the Administration of Rice Quotas where this and other topics will be covered.



Comprehensive Research Study and forecast for Global Wild Rice Products Market

May 22, 2018
Questale has shared a new market report on the Global Wild Rice Products market which talks about the emerging dynamics and status of the global business in 2018. The research document provides major details about the current competitive scenario, including the market hold, sales of units, and revenue distribution. Questale has provided a free sample report for all users to access through the following link
We will mention some of the details that the report contains in this article. The reserach report is a highly detailed factual piece conceived by skilled analysts of their respective industries and area of expertise. It would throw light on the following sections –
·       Market Standings – Provides the details for the market share distribution of a number of companies in the Global Wild Rice Products market. Along with overall market analysis, price and capacity details are also included in this research.
·       Product Details – The report also provides the differentaition on basis of major categories of products here. The categories are provided in the sample report which can be requested through the links above.
·       User Applications – Another useful information is the categorization of products on basis of the end user application. All broad level user profiles are covered, and others can be included on demand.
·       Countries/Geographies – The report also can be broken down on a regional level to get the revenue and sales figures. The same can be customised for various areas such as USA, China, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), India, or even for the whole Globe. A report specific to countires like Spain, France, Rest of Asia Pacific etc. can also shared.
·       Major Players – The report also covers Major Manufacturers of the Global Wild Rice Products market. The details include top as well as mid-level players in depth, including the company profiles, the prices they charge, probable gross margins and so on.
·       Added bonus – There is a lot of other useful information included in the report such as Suppliers, Traders or Distributors with Contact Information of Electric Recloser by Region, Product level pictures and specifications wherever relevant. Please refer to the sample report for a complete list of items.
Further mentioned are the various parameters that would be covered in the report
Geography – Following areas would be included in the full research document:
·       North America
·       China
·       Europe
·       Southeast Asia
·       Japan
·       India
Companies – While the below listed players provide a snapshot of the companies included, others can be added as needed:
·       Moose Lake Wild Rice
·       SunWest Foods
·       Amira Nature Foods
·       Lundberg
·       Nature’s Gourmet Foods
·       InHarvest, Inc
User Applications – For the Global Wild Rice Products market, the report shows division according to the following:
·       Ready-to-eat Wild Rice
·       Grains
Categorization – The document breaks down the revenue and sales based on the below listed parameters –
·       Food & Beverages
·       Pharmaceuticals
·       Pet Food
On an overall basis, following critical questions would be answered in the Global Wild Rice Products Market Report –
– Who are the Top rankers in the Global Wild Rice Products market?
– What are their respective sales, revenues, market share?
– Who are the major suppliers?
– What does the Market forecast look like?
– What are the upcoming trends in the market?
The Global Wild Rice Products market report ensures that the private players’ data is collected through proper interviews and the renowned subscription sources such as Neilson, Gartner, WeStat etc,  as well as other government approved agencies are referred to. The report analysts are always available for answering to all the report specific details. Questale boasts of Top F500 countries as their clients and provides solid after sales support for all their reports.

Article written by Clay Space

Clay is Storyteller, World Builder, Blockchain Entrepreneur. With an academic background in informatics and logistics, Clay spent years in software development and the blockchain industry. In 2012 he became involved in various cryptocurrency-related projects. To know more about Clay, follow him on Twitter.
Latest from this author

Rice variety developed by China's ‘father of hybrid rice’ sets record in Hainan(1/4)

2018-05-23 13:43:59Ecns.cnEditor :Yao Lan
Photo taken on May 22, 2018 shows experts examining and verifying a new hybrid rice variety (Chaoyou 1000), developed by Yuan Longping’s team, which has set a new yield record of 1,065.3 kg per mu (about 0.07 hectares) of farmland in a test field in Sanya City, South China’s Hainan Province. The field was jointly managed by the National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center and several companies. Yuan Longping, known as the "father of hybrid rice", and his team also broke records in a number of hybrid rice test fields with Chaoyou 1000. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Xiaobin)
http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2018-05-23/detail-ifyuqkxh5543827.shtml










Global Basmati Rice Market 2018 | CAGR, SWOT Analysis, Survey, Growth, Economic Impact and Forecast to 2023

FOOD AND BEVERAGESHEALTH BY NANCY PALMA ON MAY 21, 2018
The Global Basmati Rice Market Report By Marketdesk.org scrutinizes the overall market synopsis globally, their restraining factors, drivers, major challenges, opportunities, latest trends to stabilize the global Basmati Rice market situation, future developmental plans, and values pertaining to various marketing stats. This global Basmati Rice market report also enables users to make a decision and considering the overall market feasibility. It also offers thorough information on market size, product, key players, various application and major geographical regions. In addition, the report provides the pricing structure of raw materials, latest market updates, import and export information, consumption, and production stats. The Basmati Rice market is valued at USD XX million in 2018 and is projected to extend at USD XX million by 2023, with rising CAGR of XX% from 2018 to 2023. However, the Basmati Rice market is an outcome of a detailed investigation and also the report offers quality viewpoint related to this market.
Market analyst identifies the major market players of the global Basmati Rice industry that comprises various strategical plans implemented by the key players to withstand in the competitive market. Additionally, recent trends, upcoming developmental plans and obstacles in case any in the global Basmati Rice market are anticipated to boost the evolving market manufacturers to portray their approaches and plans in a well-regulated way. The examination covers the current market length of the Basmati Rice market and their development rates in moderate of 5-year record facts along employer profile of key players/manufacturers. The inclusive and exclusive statistics by using sections of global Basmati Rice market shows off and helps to display the future benefit and come to a decision major choices for improvement. The facts on improvements, facilities round commercial enterprise sectors and materials, limits, innovations, CAPEX pattern and the changing framework of the Basmati Rice market.
It offers information on patterns and enhancements, and spotlights on business industries and materials, limits and developments, including the changing situation of the Basmati Rice market. Also, numerous community and neighborhood dealers are positioning forth unique program objects for differed end-clients. The new vendor competitors in the market are enquiring that its challenging to manage the regular merchants in mild of value, dependability, and inclinations in innovation.
Major Market Manufacturers In Basmati Rice Market:
KRBL Limited
Amira Nature Foods
LT Foods
Best Foods
Kohinoor Rice
Aeroplane Rice
Tilda Basmati Rice
Matco Foods
Amar Singh Chawal Wala
Hanuman Rice Mills
Adani Wilmar
HAS Rice Pakistan
Galaxy Rice Mill
Dunar Foods
Sungold
Furthermore, the Global Basmati Rice Market report provides the market-segmentation in conditions of application/end users with consumption (sales), products type with development, CAGR (%), and historical and projected market.
Market Forecasts From 2018 to 2023 As Well As Market Volumes, Value Consumption Is Provided By Regions, By Types, And By Applications:
Regions including North America (Canada, Mexico, and the USA), Europe (Germany, France, Russia, UK, and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, South Korea, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan), South America (Argentina and Brazil), The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Nigeria).
Market By Product Type:
Indian Basmati Rice
Pakistani Basmati Rice
Kenya Basmati Rice
Other
Market Analysis By Applications:
Direct Edible
Deep Processing
In that case, the study covers market scale the global Basmati Rice market combined with the outlook of historical data with income, capacity, and production. The study not simply only provides basic information of company profiles of key manufacturers in the industry but also offers you with product pictures, their requirements, overall revenue, capacity, development, revenue, price, gross border market share, size, their competition and details of these key players.
Scope Of The Global Basmati Rice Market Report Is Defined:
To show a review of the Global Basmati Rice industry which consolidates definition, arrangement, and division of the Global Basmati Rice advertise
To survey the market size and offer concerning worth and volume
The report specifies producing price structure analysis with the data of material, suppliers, and downstream client data. Besides, producing plants analysis, capacity, producing plants distribution, R&D status, company profiles are further within the worldwide Basmati Rice market.
Key Queries Answered Within The Report Includes:
1. What are the key factors driving the worldwide Basmati Rice market?
2. What will the market size and also the rate be in 2023?
3. What is the competitive situation to promote growth?
4. What are the key market trends affecting the expansion of the worldwide Basmati Rice market?
5. Who are the key vendors within the global Basmati Rice market?
6. What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the manufacturers within the worldwide Basmati Rice market?
Looking in-depth at this report, supported the product, it’s clearly seen that the report displays the production speed, price, revenue, and market share additionally as of the product type. And the emphasis is ordered on the top users, additionally as on the applications of the merchandise. it is one report that hasn’t shied far from taking an essential inspect the present standing and future outlook for the consumption/sales of those products, by the top users and applications. Not forgetting the market share management and rate of growth of worldwide Basmati Rice market, per application.
Table of Contents:-
1. Industry Overview of Basmati Rice
2. Global Basmati Rice Size by Type and Application (2018-2023)
3. Manufacturers (Top Players) Profiles
4. Global Basmati Rice Competition Analysis by Players
5. United States Basmati Rice Development Status and Outlook
6. EU Basmati Rice Development Status and Outlook
7. Japan Basmati Rice Development Status and Outlook
8. China Basmati Rice Development Status and Outlook
9. India Basmati Rice Development Status and Outlook
10. Southeast Asia Basmati Rice Development Status and Outlook
11. Market Forecast by Regions, Types, and Applications (2018-2023)
12. Basmati Rice Dynamics
13. Market Effect Factors Analysis
14 Research Finding/Conclusion
15 Appendix
Browse Comprehensive Information, Detailed TOC, Tables, Figures, Charts, and Companies Mentioned Here: http://marketdesk.org/report/global-basmati-rice-market-2018-hc/8112/#toc
Thank you For Visiting This Report | Team Marketdesk.org

Pakistan- WHO issues Advisory for a Healthy Ramadan

Thursday, 24 May 2018 10:41 GMT

 (MENAFN - Tribal News Network) During the Holy month of Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims practice daily fasting from dawn until sunset. Traditionally, one breaks the fast at sunset with 'Iftar' and then eats again pre-dawn at 'Sehri'. Fasting in this Ramadan 2018 is expected to last over 16 hours on most days, making it all the more important to look after your health. There is ample evidence to suggest that fasting can have positive effects on your health.
While fasting is obligatory for all healthy Muslims, there are exemptions for those who are ill or who's health could be affected by fasting, for example, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with chronic illnesses such diabetes.
While iftar meals are often a time for celebration, with families and friends coming together to break their fasts, it is important to avoid weight gain. Ramadan can be a good time to make changes to improve the balance of your diet that you can sustain in the longer term. Smoking is bad for your health and Ramadan is also a great opportunity to change unhealthy lifestyle habits, including smoking.
Healthy Eating in Ramadan
A healthy diet should provide us with the right amount of energy (calories or kilojoules), from foods and drinks to maintain energy balance. How much energy you need from foods and drinks depends on many different things, such as how active you are. Eating only as many calories as you need will help to maintain a healthy weight. However, the foods and drinks you choose need to be the right ones, and in the right proportions to stay healthy.
Drink plenty of fluids, as well as consuming fluid-rich foods, such as fruit, vegetables, soups and stews. High temperatures can also make you sweat more, so it is important to drink fluids to replace what you lose during the day and to start the next day of fasting well hydrated (at least 10 glasses). Salt stimulates thirst and so it's a good idea to avoid consuming a lot of salty foods. Avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea and cola, because caffeine can make some people urinate more often, which may lead to dehydration. Try to curtail the consumption of fried, processed or fat-rich foods. The changes to eating habits and lack of fluids during the day may cause constipation, and this can be eased by consuming plenty of high fibre foods, such as wholegrains, high fibre cereals, fruit and vegetables, alongside plenty of fluids and light physical activity such as walking.
What to eat and drink at iftar and sehri
Iftar – when breaking the fast, go for plenty of fluids, low fat, fluid-rich foods and foods containing some natural sugars for energy. Below are some examples:
·       Drinks – water, milk, fruit juices or smoothies – water provides hydration without any extra calories or added sugars. Drinks based on milk and fruit provide some natural sugars and nutrients – these are also good to break the fast but avoid drinking a lot of drinks with added sugars after breaking the fast as these can high calorie content;
·       Dates – traditionally eaten to break the fast since the time of the Prophet Muhammad, dates are a great way to break the fast as they provide natural sugars for energy, provide minerals like potassium, copper and manganese and are a source of fibre. Other such sources of fibre are apricots, figs, raisins or prunes;
·       Vegetables- incorporate plenty of vegetables in your iftar to provide vital vitamins and nutrients, and green salads that contain plenty of hydrating cucumber and tomato;
·       Fruits- provide natural sugars for energy, fluid and some vitamins and mineral- adding watermelon to your meal ensures greater hydration;
·       Soup –a light way to break the fast and provides fluid. Traditional soups are based on a meat broth and often contain pulses, like lentils and beans, and starchy foods like pasta or grains, providing nutrients and energy.
After breaking the fast try to make sure the foods you eat provide a balance of starchy foods, fruit and vegetables, dairy foods and protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs and beans. For example you could have a range of curries including fish, meat, vegetables and pulses, served with rice, chapattis and yogurt. Try to limit the amount of fatty and sugary foods and sugary drinks as much as possible.
If you can, once you have had a chance to digest your food, you could try doing some light exercise such as going for a walk. If you attend Taraweeh prayers (special night-time prayers for Ramadan) in the evening, perhaps you could walk all or part of the way there.
Sehri – provides fluids and energy for the day of fasting ahead, so making healthy choices can help you to cope better with the fast. It is especially important for special groups such as the elderly, adolescents, pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as children who choose to fast. Drink plenty of fluids and choose fluid-rich foods to make sure you are well hydrated for the day ahead and go for starchy foods for energy, choosing high fibre or wholegrain varieties where possible as these tend to be digested more slowly. Below are some examples:
  Rice, high-fibre breakfast cereals, oats or muesli (usually consumed with milk or yogurt), provide plenty of fibre, vitamins and minerals,
  Yogurt –provides nutrients like protein, calcium, iodine and B vitamins and also contains fluid.
  Breads preferably wholegrain options as these provide more fibre, for example wholemeal toast or chapattis. Avoid combining bread with salty foods like hard cheese, or preserved meats. You could try nut butters (without added salt), soft cheese, or banana.Fasting with diabetes
People who are ill or have medical conditions do not have to fast. Those suffering from with Type 1 diabetes are generally advised not to fast as it puts them at higher risk of hypoglycaemia and dehydration. People who have their diabetes under control, either by their diet or using tablets, may be able fast. However, their doctors may require them to change their medication to help them take tablets outside fasting times. Those who need insulin to control their diabetes are generally advised not to fast. However, if you do choose to fast, then you must consult your doctor or healthcare team before Ramadan, to make sure that you are able to look after yourself properly. Failing to do so is in itself contrary to the Qur'an, which clearly states that you must not act in a way that harms your body.
If, after consulting with your doctor, you decide to fast, note that you will require less insulin before the start of the fast, and the type of insulin may also need to be changed (pre-mixed insulin is not recommended during fasting). Try to eat just before sunrise and include more slowly absorbed food such as basmati rice and dhal, in your meal, along with fruit and vegetables. Check your blood glucose levels more often than you normally would do. At the end of fasting you should drink plenty of sugar-free and decaffeinated fluids to avoid being dehydrated, and take small quantities food, avoiding sweet or fatty foods.
Fasting with Severe Migraines
People with uncontrolled migraines should not fast, but managing migraines is possible with the right medicine and certain lifestyle changes. Ask your doctor for further advice on controlling your migraines.
Fasting with Hypertension
People with well-controlled high blood pressure can fast. Your GP may advise you to change your medicine to help you take tablets outside fasting times. Someone with low blood pressure who is otherwise healthy may fast, but they must ensure they drink enough fluid and have enough salt.
Fasting during Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There's medical evidence to show that fasting while pregnant or breastfeeding isn't a good idea. If a pregnant or breastfeeding mother feels strong and healthy enough to fast, she may do so. However, if she doesn't feel well enough to fast, Islamic law gives her clear permission not to, and to make up the missed fasts later or perform fidyah.
http://menafn.com/1096893959/Pakistan-WHO-issues-Advisory-for-a-Healthy-Ramadan

Basmati Rice Market Segmentation 2023: Types, Applications, Regions, Market Share

Basmati Rice market report gives attention to market segmentation, market size, and forecast of 2018-2023 to help stakeholders in making a good decision for the future investments. Basmati Rice market report segmented into types, application, and regions with providing production, consumption, revenue, import/export.
Basmati Rice market is a comprehensive guide for size and shape of the market, recognize the sectors driving growth, new product progresses, consumption patterns and distribution data.
Geographically, the Basmati Rice market report contains an analysis of major regions like Americas, APAC, Europe, Africa which also contains important countries like USA, Europe, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia, South America, South Africa, and more.
Basmati Rice Market Segment by Manufacturers: LT Foods, Best Foods, Kohinoor Rice, Aeroplane Rice, Tilda Basmati Rice, Matco Foods, Amar Singh Chawal Wala, Hanuman Rice Mills, Adani Wilmar, HAS Rice Pakistan.
Basmati Rice Market by Types:
Indian Basmati Rice
Pakistani Basmati Rice
Kenya Basmati Rice
Other
Market Analysis by Applications:
Direct Edible
Deep Processing
Major Points from Table of Contents
·       Basmati Rice Market Overview
·       Competition by Players
·       Competitions by Types
·       Competitions by Applications
·       Global Basmati Rice Production Market Analysis by Regions
·       Global Basmati Rice Market Sales Analysis by Region
·       Imports and Exports Market Analysis
·       Basmati Rice Players Profiles and Sales Data
·       Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers
·       Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders
·       Global Basmati Rice Market Forecast
·       Research Findings and Conclusion
Price of Report: $ 3000 (Single User License)

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vhttps://thetechnicalprogress.com/2018/05/basmati-rice-market-segmentation-2023-types-applications-regions-market-share/

IFC Partners with Mars Food and its Local Supplier to Promotes Sustainable Rice Production in Cambodia

1

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – WEBWIRE – Wednesday, May 23, 2018
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Mars Food and Battambang Rice Investment Co., Ltd (BRICo), launched a partnership to promote sustainable development of Cambodia’s rice industry. Improving rice production and enhancing linkages with the global rice value chain will help Cambodia’s agri-sector expand market access, increase export value, and improve farmers’ livelihoods.Rice is Cambodia’s most important produce, engaging 80 percent of farmers. Cambodia’s rice exports have grown tenfold since 2010, thanks to raised industry standards, improved efficiency of rice millers and re-processors, and streamlining of export procedures, among others. However, the sector has scopes to further increase the rice export value by improving rice yield and quality, adopting sustainable farming and processing practices, and enhancing value chain linkages. In addition, with climate change threats, there is an urgent need to shift to a more sustainable way of growing rice.
IFC and Mars Food, owner of the world’s largest rice brand UNCLE BEN’S®, along with its local rice supplier Battambang Rice Investment Co., Ltd (BRICo) — a rice mill from Cambodia’s rice bowl of Battambang — kick-started the advisory project today. By helping farmers conform to agricultural standards and practices developed by the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) and improving famers’ adoption of technology and climate smart agriculture practices, the project is expected to result in a 20 percent increase in yield and a 25 percent increase in income by 2025. Over the next three years, about 9,000 smallholder farmers will benefit from exposure to sustainable farming practices, climate smart agriculture technologies and financial literacy training disseminated by the project.
“This partnership with IFC, and Mars’ commitment to sustainable sourcing, is a key part of Mars’ Sustainable in a Generation Plan. We strive for all of our high-quality rice to be sourced from farmers working toward the Sustainable Rice Platform standard. IFC’s work to advance sustainability in Cambodia’s rice sector, particularly among smallholder farmers, will make the country’s rice more attractive to international rice buyers like Mars Food in the future, said Luc Beerens, Global Sustainable Sourcing Director at Mars Food. “IFC’s global supply chain expertise make them a natural partner for us.”
The project further seeks to improve farmers’ adoption of climate smart agriculture including planting seeds, technologies, and services. It will build a sustainable rice supply chain, adopt better pesticide and fertilizer practices, and employ better post-harvest methods.
“The aim is to integrate small farmers and SMEs into a more effective rice value chain by providing them with better access to improved inputs, technology, knowledge and markets, better firm linkages and training,” said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC Country Manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR. “Building on our earlier support to Cambodia’s rice sector, this project will further help the industry achieve its full potential by boosting its export of traceable, sustainable, and high-quality rice products.”
IFC has been supporting Cambodia’s rice sector over the past few years by helping to add value along every step of the supply chain, with key interventions at the farming, milling and export stages. With IFC’s support, the country’s premium jasmine rice won the “World’s Best Rice” award in 2012 and 2013 at the Rice Trader World Rice Conference.
About IFC
IFC—a sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. In FY17, we delivered a record $19.3 billion in long-term financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to help end poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org
About Mars Food
Mars Food is a fast-growing dinnertime food business, making tastier, healthier, easier meals that bring the world to the dinner table.
Headquartered in London, Mars Food’s portfolio of leading brands includes: UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, SEEDS OF CHANGE®, MASTERFOODS®, MIRACOLI®, TASTY BITE®, SUZI WAN®, EBLY®, ROYCO®, KAN TONG®, ABU SIOUF®, RARIS®, and PAMESELLO®.  
Our Purpose – Better Food Today.  A Better World Tomorrow. – drives our business to be a leader in health & wellbeing and sustainability.
Mars Food is a segment of Mars, Incorporated.
About Mars, Incorporated 
Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.
For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Gov. Dayton handed new wild rice sulfate bill

 
(2007 file / News Tribune)
A bill that would establish a working group to identify ways to protect and enhance wild rice water quality standards awaits a decision from Gov. Mark Dayton. Passed in the closing hours of the Minnesota legislative session this weekend, the bill sets aside $500,000 for a broad coalition of appointed scientists and stakeholders to prepare a report by the end of 2019.
The bill also prevents the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency from making any wild rice water quality rules “until cost-effective treatment technology … is available.”
Dayton has two weeks to make a decision on the bill, which supporters say is an acceptable compromise after the governor vetoed an earlier measure that would have scrapped a largely unenforced sulfate pollution law in place since 1973.

FGene-Editing Technology Is About To Affect Your Shopping Cart
 Janelle / Emily Cho
Thanks to selective gene editing, scientists figured out how to grow a strain of rice with a significantly-enhanced yield without sacrificing the plant’s ability to survive. In two separate tests, the researchers found that the genetically-altered crops produced 25 percent and 31 percent more grain than a naturally-bred strain of rice.
In order to create the new mutant strain of rice, horticulturalists and molecular biologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Purdue University used CRISPR/Cas-9 gene editing techniques to remove specific genes known to suppress growth. They published their work in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) which sometimes accepts subpar research from NAS members’ friends or lab members, but in this case the research underwent the peer review process and stood up to academic scrutiny.
What remains unclear about this research is whether it will be used to help combat global hunger, which affects roughly one-ninth of the people on Earth, or if it will just lead to, you know, more rice. The next step for the researchers is to see if the same technique translates to the strains of rice that farmers actually grow.
If the same boost to crop yield happens, then the mutant strains could give rise to a new abundance of food that could potentially help a lot of people in need.
Whether or not it’s used to help the needy, that rice could just as readily end up on your plate. In late March, the US Department of Agriculture announced that it would not place additional regulations on plants that had been altered by selective gene editing techniques like Crispr/Cas-9 as long as those same mutations could hypothetically have occurred in nature. So while a bioluminescent rice/firefly hybrid would probably raise an eyebrow, this high-abundance rice is just fine as far as the USDA is concerned.
While the researchers who found the right combination of genes to edit out argue that expecting their new strain to emerge on its own is not feasible, that’s because of the highly-specific mutations that would need to randomly occur, not because they introduced any non-rice DNA or anything like that.
“It would have taken millions of plants. … This is a real accomplishment that could not have been done without CRISPR,” horticulturalist Ray Bressen of Purdue University said in a press release.

Researchers find rice grown in high carbon dioxide environments may be less nutritious

By North Asia correspondent Jake Sturmer
Scientists are warning that rice — one of the world's most important cereal crops and the primary food source for more than 2 billion people — may become less nutritious in the future.
Researchers in Japan and China have found that protein, iron and zinc levels in rice all fell significantly when grown in higher carbon dioxide environments.
For the experiments, scientists built 17-metre-wide octagons in Japanese and Chinese rice paddies that pumped carbon dioxide to simulate the kind of CO2 concentrations expected in the next 50 years (568-590 parts per million).
The research, published in the journal Science Advances, found on average from the varieties tested, protein levels fell by 10 per cent, zinc 8 per cent and iron 5 per cent.
Levels of vitamins B1, B2, B5, and B9 also fell — though results were far more varied.
"When we looked at vitamin B we looked at nine different varieties from Japan and China and they interestingly responded to high CO2 concentration in different ways," the University of Tokyo's Kazuhiko Kobayashi said.
"Some varieties showed a very large decline, some varieties much less a drop of vitamin contents."
Researchers are warning the nutritional changes could have significant health implications — especially in poorer countries.
"For some populations in the world, rice is a major source of protein and also vitamins and also some other minerals," Professor Kobayashi said.
"For those people, this is not very good news."
Director of the ARC's Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Professor Bob Furbank, said in theory higher CO2 levels were a good thing for growth — but the reality proved somewhat different.
"On one hand we have the view that there will be a fertilising effect of having the extra carbon dioxide that's available for photosynthesis — that's certainly the case," he said.
"But there's also the negative effects of climate change in terms of more frequent drought [and] higher temperatures, which can tend to negate the positive benefit of extra carbon dioxide from a photosynthetic perspective.
"This paper draws on the data they've produced to show there's a detrimental effect on the quality of the rice grain in high CO2."
Professor Furbank — based at the Australian National University — said researchers should now study and breed varieties that will yield quality — not just quantity in high CO2 environments.
"I think it's crucial and the work we do in [our Centre of Excellence] is more around improving yields — so we're looking more at how to boost the amount of food available to the global population," he said.
"But the nutritive quality of that food is equally as important."

Comprehensive Research Study and forecast for Global Rice Noodle Market

May 22, 2018
Questale has shared a new market report on the Global Rice Noodle market which talks about the emerging dynamics and status of the global business in 2018. The research document provides major details about the current competitive scenario, including the market hold, sales of units, and revenue distribution. Questale has provided a free sample report for all users to access through the following link
We will mention some of the details that the report contains in this article. The reserach report is a highly detailed factual piece conceived by skilled analysts of their respective industries and area of expertise. It would throw light on the following sections –
·       Market Standings – Provides the details for the market share distribution of a number of companies in the Global Rice Noodle market. Along with overall market analysis, price and capacity details are also included in this research.
·       Product Details – The report also provides the differentaition on basis of major categories of products here. The categories are provided in the sample report which can be requested through the links above.
·       User Applications – Another useful information is the categorization of products on basis of the end user application. All broad level user profiles are covered, and others can be included on demand.
·       Countries/Geographies – The report also can be broken down on a regional level to get the revenue and sales figures. The same can be customised for various areas such as USA, China, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), India, or even for the whole Globe. A report specific to countires like Spain, France, Rest of Asia Pacific etc. can also shared.
·       Major Players – The report also covers Major Manufacturers of the Global Rice Noodle market. The details include top as well as mid-level players in depth, including the company profiles, the prices they charge, probable gross margins and so on.
·       Added bonus – There is a lot of other useful information included in the report such as Suppliers, Traders or Distributors with Contact Information of Electric Recloser by Region, Product level pictures and specifications wherever relevant. Please refer to the sample report for a complete list of items.
Further mentioned are the various parameters that would be covered in the report
Geography – Following areas would be included in the full research document:
·       North America
·       China
·       Europe
·       Southeast Asia
·       Japan
·       India
Companies – While the below listed players provide a snapshot of the companies included, others can be added as needed:
·       JFC International
·       American Roland Food Corp.
·       Eskal
·       Nan Shing Hsinchu
·       Cali Food
·       Nature soy
·       Mandarin Noodle Manufacturing
·       Ying Yong Food Products
·       J.D. Food Products
·       Leong Guan Food Manufacturer
User Applications – For the Global Rice Noodle market, the report shows division according to the following:
·       Chinese Style
·       Western Style
·       Other
Categorization – The document breaks down the revenue and sales based on the below listed parameters –
·       Direct Consumption
·       Processing Consumption
On an overall basis, following critical questions would be answered in the Global Rice Noodle Market Report –
– Who are the Top rankers in the Global Rice Noodle market?
– What are their respective sales, revenues, market share?
– Who are the major suppliers?
– What does the Market forecast look like?
– What are the upcoming trends in the market?
The Global Rice Noodle market report ensures that the private players’ data is collected through proper interviews and the renowned subscription sources such as Neilson, Gartner, WeStat etc,  as well as other government approved agencies are referred to. The report analysts are always available for answering to all the report specific details. Questale boasts of Top F500 countries as their clients and provides solid after sales support for all their reports. Access the full report here – https://questale.com/report/global-rice-noodle-market-professional-survey-report-2017/4005

Rice Transplanter Machine Market Report 2022: Present Scenario for Business Opportunities, Drivers and Trends

Rice Transplanter Machine Market Report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors. Rice Transplanter Machine Industry Report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the Rice Transplanter Machine Market for 2017-2022. The research was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the Rice Transplanter Machine industry.
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The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Rice Transplanter Machine manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the Rice Transplanter Machine Market.
Key players covered in this Rice Transplanter Machine market report are: Johnson & Johnson Services, Medtronic, Baxter, Changzhou Ankang Medical Instruments, Dextera Surgical, Grena, MID, Silex Medical 
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The report then estimates 2017-2022 market development trends of Rice Transplanter Machine market. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Rice Transplanter Machine market before evaluating its feasibility.
The Rice Transplanter Machine market report also presents the vendor landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendors operating in the market. Rice Transplanter Machine market report analyses the market potential for each geographical region based on the growth rate, macroeconomic parameters, consumer buying patterns, and market demand and supply scenarios.

Market Driver
Shift toward mechanization
For a full, detailed list, view our report
Market Challenge
Lack of finances for small farmers to replace old machinery
For a full, detailed list, view our report
Market Trend
Product innovation
For a full, detailed list, view our report
Geographical Segmentation of Rice Transplanter Machine Market:
  • Americas
  • APAC
  • EMEA
The report provides a basic overview of the Rice Transplanter Machine industry including definitions, segmentation, applications, key vendors, market drivers and market challenges. The Rice Transplanter Machine market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status
Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global Rice Transplanter Machine market including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis.
Major Key Points in Rice Transplanter Machine market research report:
  • Market Size and Growth Rate by 2022.
  • Key Market Trends.
  • Drivers Which Drive This Market.
  • Challenges to Market Growth.
  • Key Vendors in This Market Space.
  • Market Opportunities and Threats Faced by The Key Vendors.
  • Strengths and Weaknesses of the Key Vendors.
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List of Exhibits in Rice Transplanter Machine market report:
  • Exhibit 01: Product offerings
  • Exhibit 02: Impact of drivers
  • Exhibit 03: Impact of drivers and challenges
  • Exhibit 04: Key countries in each region
  • Exhibit 05: Global Rice Transplanter Machine market shares by geographies 2015
  • Exhibit 06: Global Rice Transplanter Machine market shares by geographies 2022
  • Exhibit 07: Geographical segmentation by revenue 2015
And continued….
Source: New feed

Rice Transplanter Machines Market Analysis, Growth, Vendors, Shares, Size, Trends, Challenges with Forecast to 2023

Rice Transplanter Machines Market Report speaks about the manufacturing process.major Types and Applications for the key players. Company Competition Regional Market by Company, Market Demand,Demand (Situation, Supermarket Others, Comparison, Forecast) and Sales Revenue, Sales Volume, Price, Cost, Gross Margin all information in Rice Transplanter Machines Market Report.
Short details about Rice Transplanter Machines Market: The global Rice Transplanter Machines market will reach xxx Million USD in 2018 and CAGR xx% 2018-2023. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Rice Transplanter Machines by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.,
Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversYanmar, Iseki, Kubota, TYM, Jiangsu World Agriculture Machinery, CLAAS, Shandong Fuerwo Agricultural Equipment, Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery, Dongfeng Agricultural Machinery, Changfa Agricultural Equipment
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Rice Transplanter Machines Market Segment by Type, covers: Mechanical, Manual,Company Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):, Yanmar, Iseki, Kubota, TYM, Jiangsu World Agriculture Machinery, CLAAS, Shandong Fuerwo Agricultural Equipment, Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery, Dongfeng Agricultural Machinery, Changfa Agricultural Equipment
Rice Transplanter Machines Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into: Commercial, Household
Rice Transplanter Machines Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers :
·       North America
·       Europe
·       Asia-Pacific
·       South America
·       Middle East & Africa
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Key questions answered in the report:
·       What will the market growth rate of Rice Transplanter Machines market in 2023?
·       What are the key factors driving the united states Rice Transplanter Machines market?
·       Who are the key manufacturers in Rice Transplanter Machines market space?
·       What are the market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Rice Transplanter Machines market?
·       What are sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Rice Transplanter Machines market?
·       Who are the distributors, traders and dealers of Rice Transplanter Machines market?
·       What are the Rice Transplanter Machines market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Rice Transplanter Machines market?
·       What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and applications of Rice Transplanter Machines market?
·       What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by regions of Rice Transplanter Machines market?
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Rice Transplanter Machines Market Outlook 2025: Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Analysis with Forecasts to 2025

Rice Transplanter Machines Market report analyses the entire production and supply chain of the Market and provides information as per different phases. Whereas, on the basis of sales, data related to sales volume, sales price, cost, sales income, and profit margin etc. of Rice Transplanter Machines Market used in different fields, sold in different regions and by different companies is provided in this report.
In this report, the Rice Transplanter Machines Market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.
Major Key Players are Analyzed in the Rice Transplanter Machines Market Report such as: Yanmar, Iseki, Kubota, TYM, Jiangsu World Agriculture Machinery, CLAAS, Shandong Fuerwo Agricultural Equipment, Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery, Dongfeng Agricultural Machinery, Changfa Agricultural Equipment
This Rice Transplanter Machines Market report also takes into account the past price of 2012-2017 and future price of 2018-2025 as per the supply-demand relation along with perspectives and Rice Transplanter Machines Market forecasts. Additionally, the Rice Transplanter Machines Market report also discusses the data on deals (distributors) and buyers, providing a holistic insight into the supply chain and sales details of Rice Transplanter Machines Market.
Rice Transplanter Machines Market By types:
Mechanical
Manual
Rice Transplanter Machines Market By applications:
Commercial
Household
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Market Segment by Regions, this Rice Transplanter Machines Market report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Rice Transplanter Machines Market from 2018 to 2025 (forecast), like: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa, Rest of World (ROW).
The Report Provides Insights on Major Rice Transplanter Machines Industry Points such as:
·       To analyze and study the global Rice Transplanter Machines Market capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2018) and forecast (2018-2025);
·       Focuses on the key Rice Transplanter Machines manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.
·       Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.
·       To describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.
·       To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.
·       To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.
·       To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.
·       To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market
·       To Describes competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market
·       To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies of Rice Transplanter Machines Market
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PH-PNG deal seen to employ 60,000 Filipinos

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ ON MAY 23, 2018
THE government is optimistic that the Joint Declaration on Agriculture Cooperation signed between the Philippines and Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently will provide more jobs for Filipinos.
According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, at least 60,000 Filipino agriculture graduates, machine operators, and rice farmers are expected to be employed in PNG as a result.
The effect of this, he said, may not be felt immediately, but it should serve as an assurance that the next generation of Filipinos will have something to eat.
“We have to do something, because our population is growing exponentially and our land area is finite,” Piñol added.

The declaration stipulates that both countries will work on developing PNG’s rice industry while ensuring food security in the Philippines.
To do this, the government, through the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, will provide technological and technical assistance, while a private Filipino corporation will invest in commercial production.
“We agreed that once the requirement of PNG on rice is satisfied, excess production will be imported to the Philippines,” Piñol said.
“To satisfy their requirement, PNG would only need 30,000 hectares to produce rice. In two to three years, they can expect a sufficient rice supply for their people if they plant rice three times a year,” he explained.
PNG has a land mass of 48 million ha. and a population of 8 million.
During the visit of PNG officials in Manila last week, Piñol led the agriculture department in showcasing various rice technologies that PNG can adopt.
These include farm machines, high-yielding and traditional varieties planted in the country, climate-smart technologies, and rice-based products.
PNG Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Benny Allen said they were excited to implement the partnership and learn from the Philippines.
“This is something new to us. We are happy to see these technologies, specifically the farm machines and rice varieties that the Filipino farmers are using,” Allen said.

Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker Market 2018 Research, Industry Trends, Supply, Sales, Demands, Analysis

Worldwide Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker Market Research Report gives bits of knowledge of Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker industry over recent years and an estimate until 2023.Report examinations the Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker Market status and future pattern in worldwide market, parts Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker by type and by applications, to completely and profoundly investigate and cover the market circumstance and future figure. Catchphrase Market report would prove to be useful to comprehend your rivals and give you a knowledge about deals; volumes, incomes in the Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker business, helps with settling on vital choices. It decreases the dangers associated with settling on choices and also procedures for organizations and people intrigued by the Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker business. Both set up and new players in industry can utilize answer to comprehend the market.
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Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker Market: Type wise segment: – Type1, Type2.
Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker Market: Applications wise segment: – Application1, Application2, Application3.
Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker Market report contains demonstrated investigation by areas, particularly for North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, cantering top makers in worldwide market, with Production, value, income and piece of the overall industry for every producer, covering Key players.
On competitive landscape, this report incorporates finish profiles of Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker Market key players. For every player contact data is given. Their product elements, limit, value, cost, gross and revenue are accommodated better understanding.
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Some key Highlights of Market research report: –
1.     A complete background analysis of Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker industry, which includes an assessment of the parental Market.
2.     Emerging trends by segments regional Markets.
3.     Significant changes in Market dynamics & Market overview.
4.     Market breakdown up to the second or third level.
5.     Market shares approaches of key players in Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker Market.
6.     Current predictable size of Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker Market from the perspective of both value volumes.
7.     Reporting estimation of recent industry developments.

Global Rice Market Summary 2018 – Thai Flour Industry and Burapa Prosper and More


The research study on global Rice market 2018 presents an pervasive analysis of current Rice market size, drivers, trends, opportunities, challenges, as well as key Rice market segments. Further, it explains various definitions and classification of the Rice industry, applications, and chain structure.
Continuing with above data, the Rice report gives different strategies of marketing pusue by distributors and key players. Then illustrates Rice potential buyers, marketing channels, and development history. The intention of global Rice industry report is to characterize the information to the readers related to Rice market forecast and dynamics for the forthcoming years.
The Rice study index the necessary aspect that impacts the developement of Rice market. Durable assessment of the worldwide Rice market share from distinct regions and countries is enclosed within the Rice report. In addition, it incloses Rice consumption figures of types and applications.
By the end of fundamental information, the worldwide Rice industry report highlights the Rice tie-ups, acquisition, technical expansion, inventive Rice business approach, new developement and Rice revenue. Additionally, Rice R&D status and the Rice market progress in apparent regions are roofed in the report.
Also, this study organizes new investment feasibility analysis of Rice market. The Rice report not only analyze the key micro markets strategically, but also focuses on Rice industry-specific restraints, opportunities, drivers, and challenges in the Rice market. Click here for more information http://emarkets.eu/global-rice-market/#inquiry
Global Rice Market Segmentation
Manufacturers
Types
Applications
Regions
Rose Brand, Pornkamon Rice Flour Mills, CHO HENG, Thai Flour Industry, BIF, Burapa Prosper, Bobs Red Mill Natural Foods, Koda Farms, Lieng Tong and HUANGGUO
Brown Rice Flour, Glutinous Rice Flour and Rice Flour
Thickening Agent, Sweets and Desserts, Bread, Snacks and Rice Noodle and Rice Pasta
Japan, USA, South East Asia, India, Europe and China
Global Rice Market Manufacturers Analysis:
Entire Rice market is categorized by the presence of popular global and local Rice players. These setteled Rice vendors have enormous imparative resources and funds for the research of Rice as well as developmental activities. Also, the Rice manufacturers focusing on the growth of new Rice feedstock and technologies. In fact, this will improve Rice industry competitive scenario.
Request Sample Rice Research Report at http://emarkets.eu/global-rice-market/#request-sample
Global Rice Industry Report Covers following Topics:
01: Rice Market Overview
02: Global Rice Sales, Revenue (value) and Market Share by Players
03: Rice Market Sales, Revenue (Value) by Regions, Type and Application (2012-2017)
04: Regionwise Top 5 Players Rice Sales, Revenue and Price
05: worldwide Rice industry Players Profiles/Analysis
06: Rice Manufacturing Cost Analysis
07: Industrial Chain, Rice Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers
08: Rice Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders
09: Rice Industry Effect Factors Analysis
10: Global Rice Market Forecast (2018-2023)
11: Rice Research Findings and Conclusion
12: Appendix
In short, Rice market innterested people will get a fair idea on the Rice market most affecting driving and restraining forces and its influence on the world Rice market. The report estimates the upcoming overview for Rice industry which might be helpful to the readers in taking convinient decisions regarding which Rice market segments to focus in the future years correspondingly.
Contact US:
Tel: +1(857)2390696
Email: inquiry@market.biz

All await the long grains of Cross River

 

The quest for food sufficiency and resort to agriculture is a mantra that is fast spreading across the country. In words and deeds, many leaders are preaching the need for agriculture. In Cross River, the world is waiting for the long grain rice, which the state promised. CLEMENT JAMES reports from Calabar

Last year, the Nigerian Customs Service in Cross River State impounded about 1,521 (50kg) bags of foreign parboiled rice which were ferried into the Cross River State through its borders with neigbouring countries.
The Customs Area Controller for the Calabar free trade zone and Akwa Ibom area command, Patience Nanbyen Burromvyat, who made this disclosure, identified the routes as Cameroun and Equatorial Guinea.
That same year, the Nigerian Navy arrested two boats, which entered the country through the eastern waterways with a total of 671 bags of rice and 22 people on board.
One of the boats carried 14 Nigerians with 550 bags of rice, while the other carried eight Cameroonians with 121 bags of rice.

According to the then Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, the boats were arrested by men of the Command on board of “Nigerian Navy Ship Makurdi” while on sea patrol.
Clearly, the motivation for this importation or in most cases, smuggling of rice into the country, even against national interest, is the huge profit that is associated with it. Indeed, before the Federal Government started waging war against importation of foreign rice into the country, billions of Naira was being frittered away in foreign exchange.
The lucrative nature of such business has however continued to serve as an alluring factor for those who care little or nothing about national interest.
Apart from the fact that foreign exchange is thrown away through importation of what can be safely and conveniently produced, the attendant job losses have contributed to the army of young Nigerians, who roam the streets in idleness.
To stimulate interest in made-in-Nigeria rice, the Federal Government initiated the Anchor Borrowers’ scheme with the aim of facilitating massive production of rice and its uptake by Nigerians.
In Cross River State, the Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, realizing that easy access to loan facility by rice farmers is key to the overall success of the rice revolution, caused the state to key into the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Scheme.
So far, not less than 12,415 farmers have benefited from the scheme in the state, according to the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Revenue, who is also in charge of the programme, Mr. Emmanuel Akwaji.
He said farmers in all the Local government areas were provided with improved variety of rice seedlings, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and cash to facilitate cultivation of the produce.
He explained that successful farmers were selected after a rigorous screening process which included the validation of Bank Verification Number (BVN), and visits to rice farms to ascertain the readiness of each farmer in order to ensure that the beneficiaries had all the requirements as laid down by the Central Bank.
“We went through the different stages of the programme; we started by enrolling the farmers and visiting their farm sites for inspection, validation of BVN numbers and so on. We thoroughly screened the list of pre-qualified farmers before arriving at the number of real beneficiaries to ensure that all those who benefited were genuine farmers and not portfolio ones,” Akwaji explained.
Perhaps, it was to contribute to the Federal Government’s initiative in rice production that the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade last year unveiled some bags of rice tagged; “Ayade rice,” which he claimed, was produced and packaged at the rice village in Ogoja.
In view of the huge interest in rice cultivation by many people in the state, the governor has since followed up this interest by constructing a multi-million dollar Rice City currently being undertaken in partnership with the Thai-Africa group.
The project, which covers over 3,000 hectares of land, is located along the Goodluck Jonathan bypass in Calabar.
According to the governor, when operational, the project is expected to produce specie of rice that is “highly vitaminized” and good for local consumption and export.
The effort of government to complement the Calabar Rice City and create its brand in the rice sector has resulted in the construction of the state of the art rice mill in Ogoja.
Our correspondent recently undertook a visit to the rice plant and discovered that it is set to commence business.
For instance, virtually all the equipments have been installed.
From the Intelligent DC series colour sorter of large capacities which helps in mass and high speed data transmission system with a strong anti-jamming power, to CCD colour  sorter which has high quality trough with an extra width of 300mm, the plant is merely awaiting commissioning.
This sorter has a special anodizing treatment technique which ensures high quality yield.

There is a combined structure of track transmissions and the colour sorting. The stable transmission of materials is able to effectively increase the take out ratio and the net sorting accuracy rate, and this, in turn, will effectively reduce the percentage of damages of the materials in the process of colour sorting.

Our correspondent noticed a rail-like facility which meanders through the expansive hall with the job of sieving the rice, making sure that no stone or any other external element is allowed into the long grain specie.

The rice milling machine consists of two chambers. The first one is the huller. This chamber removes the rice hull. When the hull is removed, the rice becomes brown rice. Brown rice is passed to the next chamber to polish. Polishing is the removal of the outer layer of the brown rice. This layer is also called bran.

When the bran is removed, the rice becomes polished rice and another machine is handed the responsibility of coating it with protein material to become coated rice like the imported rice.

The import of this sophisticated technology in rice production did not go unnoticed as the leadership of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, led by its national Vice President, Segun Atto, recently commended the governor for constructing a state-of-the-art mill which is regarded as the best in Africa with the capacity to generate N100 billion revenue annually.

Atto said:“What we have seen so far is very incredible because this is the first time I am seeing this type of thing in the whole country. We are so impressed with what we are seeing today. When we were invited to come and witness what is going to happen here, we never envisaged seeing this kind of facilities.”


While assuring that the group will partner the state, Atto said: “In terms of partnership with the state, we have a lot of areas to benefit from each other. The first benefit is that whatever they are producing here, we are ready to partner them and we will off-take some of them for our own multiplication so that it can be circulated around the country.”
For Chief Godswill Akpabio, the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom state and Minority Leader in the Senate, sheer technological sophistication of the rice seedlings plant signposts the vision of a great leader.

Akpabio said: “This seeds multiplication plant is the first in Sub-Saharan Africa and with a very high yield producing seedlings, fully vitaminized that when cultivated, will not only feed the people of Cross River State and Akwa Ibom, but the whole of Nigeria. I am really amazed and I say bravo to Governor Ayade.”
Meanwhile, a group of farmers in the state have been falling over themselves to identify with the state government in order to be the first to benefit from the rice plant.

Our correspondent spoke to a farmer in Akpabuyo, who is coordinating farmers in that local government area, Asuquo Nyong and he said rather than wait for the plant to kick-start production and let off its long grain produce to people outside the state, farmers in the state were willing to follow up progress of work to its conclusion.

Nyong said; “We are looking forward to being the beneficiaries of the special variety of this rice. We have brought farmers from other parts of the country to come and assess this plant and what it can produce and they are willing to do everything to benefit from it. We are not going to sleep and allow this opportunity to pass us by.”
He said apart from accessing the seedlings, the finishing product from the Ogoja mill would also be bought and packaged for both national and international consumption. According to him, the state would witness a revolution in the agricultural sector, especially in rice production in no distant time because of the activities at the plant.

“Don’t forget that apart the seedlings, there is the value chain aspect of it and we in the agricultural sector will liaise with the plant management to explore other areas of usage. Believe me, this rice plant is the best thing that has happened to our state in particular and the country in general,” Nyong posited.

There is no doubt that the current struggle by the Federal Government to keep smugglers of rice out of market can only be made easier with the production of best quality rice in the country, comparable not only to the Thai rice, but the Basmati rice, the Chinese Black rice, Jasmine rice, Paella rice, Risotto rice and the Sushi rice of this world which seems to be the intention behind Ayade’s innovative rice plant.

Telecoms’ GDP leaps to 1.8% growth


 

From a decline of -3.28 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate in Nigeria’s telecommunications sub-sector jumped to 1.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year, New Telegraph has learnt.This, according to latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), shows a general improvement in the Information and Communication sector.
The telecoms and information services, which come under the Information and Communication sector in the NBS’ categorisation of economic activities, had in the last three quarters recorded negative growth rate as it fell by 1.9 per cent in second quarter 2017. In the third quarter of same year, it also went down by -5.68 per cent. By fourth quarter, the sector still went down by -3.28, even at the time when the overall GDP growth rate of the country looked positive.
However, the telecoms sector has shown remarkable signs of growth since the beginning of this year as subscriber data continue to surge.
Analysis of active mobile subscriptions in the first three months of the year shows that the telecom operators added 4.2 million subscribers within the period. Data subscriptions on the four GSM networks also crossed the 100 million mark in January and have maintained a steady growth.
The Information and Communication sector is composed of the four activities of Telecommunications and Information Services; Publishing; Motion Picture, Sound Recording and Music Production and Broadcasting. In nominal terms, the first quarter of 2018 saw the sector grow by 1.79 per cent (year-on-year) , a 7.25 per cent points decrease from the rate of 9.04 per cent recorded in the same quarter of 2017. However, it is 2.34 per cent points higher than rate recorded in the preceding quarter. The quarter-on-quarter growth rate was 3.58 per cent. The Information and Communications sector contributed 10.64 per cent to total Nominal GDP in the 2018 first quarter, lower than the rate of 11.43 per cent recorded in the same quarter of 2017 but higher than the 10.04 per cent it contributed in the preceding quarter.
The sector, in the first quarter of 2018, recorded a growth rate of 1.58 per cent in real terms, year-on-year. From the rate recorded in the corresponding period of 2017, there was a decline by 1.15 per cent points. Quarter on quarter, the sector exhibited a growth of –4.15 per cent in real terms. Of total real GDP, the sector contributed 12.41 per cent in 2018 first quarter, lower than in the same quarter of the previous year in which it represented 12.46 per cent but higher than the preceding quarter, in which it represented 11.35 per cent.
Analysts see the growth rate as a positive sign of more economic activities in the sector, leading to job creations and increased contribution to the economy.
Citing the NBS statistics, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta recently disclosed that the telecoms sector in the first quarter of 2017 contributed N1.45 trillion to the GDP, adding that in the second quarter, the figure rose to N1.549 trillion.
“This performance at a period of recession is very remarkable,” he said. “We are keeping dates with the NBS to identify and track how these trends progress. On the aggregate, the telecoms industry’s contribution to GDP in Nigeria stands at 10 per cent.
“But the figures may not tell the entire story. Investments in the sector, in human and material resources, have continued to soar. In 2001, the telecom sector could boast of a mere $50 million worth of investments but as at September 2017, we have investments worth $70 billion. The Value Added Services (VAS), segment of the telecom market in Nigeria today is worth $200 million and is estimated to grow to $500 million by 2021. The industry has provided both direct and indirect employment opportunities, accentuated growth and expansion.”

Reps probe Pencom over alleged financial mismanagement

 
By  Philip Nyam 

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) over alleged reckless financial management of retirees’ funds and infraction on the public procurement Law. The House has consequently mandated its committee on public procurement and pensions to carry out a comprehensive investigation on alleged monumental fraud ongoing at the commission.

The decision followed the passage of a motion sponsored by Hon. Zakariya Galadima on the “need to investigate the alleged violation of provisions of the public procurement Act and financial mismanagement by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM)” During debate, the legislators faulted the commission over several financial infractions as against the principles and objectives of the provisions of the Pension Reform Act, which required the commission to collect and utilize fees, levies and penalties prudently in accordance with its regulatory and compliance roles. For instance, part of the 2014 Act authorizes PENCOM to invest the retiree funds in order to generate revenue but the lawmakers are worried that such investments powers of the agency have been grossly eroded by financial abuses.

In his lead debate, Galadima faulted the agency over several financial mismanagement while expressing worry that PENCOM engaged in fraudulent practice by investing N1billion into Aso Savings and Loans Plc under its investments portfolio at a ridiculously low interest rates and further directed Aso to lend the money to MGSL Mortgage Bank Limited where a top PENCOM management staff has interest.

Amira, Please Don't Ghost Us - Let's Talk

May.23.18 | About: Amira Nature (ANFI)
Long/short equity, latam focus, medium-term horizon, contrarian

Summary

Good operational results with double-digit revenue growth of 12% and flat gross margin of 12%.
Working capital still consuming all the cash, I believe current financing strategy is not sustainable.
Share exchange for the remaining stake in Amira India seems beneficial for ANFI shareholders.
Mixed messages through CEO actions, on one side he guarantees the 239MM USD debt, on the other he eliminates the compensation committee.
The lack of communication with the market makes ANFI an even riskier and more volatile investment but with a very attractive risk/reward profile (1:4-5) with a target price of $11.00/share.
Source: Thrillist
Note: Please read my initiation report for further details about the company and the valuation.
To my surprise, Amira Nature Foods (ANFI) reported 3Q17 results. I have tried several times to contact the company unsuccessfully. Regardless, in this article, I will discuss four relevant items that investors should question themselves before considering investing in ANFI stock. Those are:
·       The operational results
·       The share exchange for the remaining 19.6% of Amira India
·       The CEO debt guarantees
·       The shares compensation plan

Operational Results

The Income Statement
You can read the full company report in this link. But in a nutshell, the results seem good. Revenues increased by 12% or 17MM USD QoQ. The increase in revenue is due to an increase in institutional sales and prices of Basmati rice and Specialty rice both in India and Internationally. International sales increase was mainly due to increase in institutional sales and prices of Basmati rice and specialty rice. In India, the increase was largely driven by increased industry-wide selling prices and the positive impact of the appreciation of the Indian rupee against the USD.

CRISPR gene therapy produce rice with 25-31% higher yield

brian wang | May 23, 2018 

A team of scientists from Purdue University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to develop a variety of rice that produces 25-31 percent more grain and would have been virtually impossible to create through traditional breeding methods.
Above – Jian-Kang Zhu’s research team used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to silence a suite of genes in rice, leading to a variety that yields as much as 31 percent more grain.
The team, led by Jian-Kang Zhu, a distinguished professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue and director of the Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made mutations to 13 genes associated with the phytohormone abscisic acid, known to play roles in plant stress tolerance and suppression of growth. Of several varieties created, one produced a plant that had little change in stress tolerance but produced 25 percent more grain in a field test in Shanghai, China, and 31 percent more in a field test conducted on China’s Hainan Island.
Zhu’s team, which includes Purdue’s Ray A. Bressan, a distinguished professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, and researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, silenced suites of pyrabactin resistance 1 (PYR1)/PYR1-like (PYL)/regulatory components of ABA receptor (ACAR) genes, or simply, PYL genes. These genes enhance tolerance of abiotic stresses, such as drought, soil salinity and other environmental factors, but also inhibit growth.
Since plants have evolved to create genetic redundancies, especially for traits required for survival, knocking out one gene in the PYL family might not have much effect on stress tolerance or growth since redundant genes can kick in to provide a similar function. Crafting the right knockout combination, however, led to a plant that uses just the right redundancies to hold onto its stress-tolerance characteristics but reduces the growth inhibition.
“There is lots of evidence that although each PYL gene may have an individual specialty in function, by and large they also share some common functions,” Zhu said. “When you remove one, others will function as a replacement.”
The CRISPR/Cas9 technology allows plant breeders to quickly and accurately snip portions of DNA out of a sequence, editing the DNA code. The method allowed Zhu’s team to modify multiple genes at one time, something that would have taken decades to do with traditional methods without a guarantee that the resulting plants would have the desired characteristics.
“You couldn’t do targeted mutations like that with traditional plant breeding. You’d do random mutations and try to screen out the ones you don’t want,” Bressan said. “It would have taken millions of plants. Basically, it’s not feasible. This is a real accomplishment that could not have been done without CRISPR.”
The improved rice plants created in these experiments come from a common research line. The next step is to use CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the same genes in elite varieties of rice to determine if those will also show similarly improved yield.
“If this holds true for the varieties that farmers currently use, this big increase in yield would be very important,” Zhu said. “It would really help produce a lot more grains to feed more people.”
Significance
Climate change is challenging plant agriculture and our ability to manage food security. Crop growth and yield are controlled by several phytohormones and their overlapping signal networks. We report here an unexpected aspect of the abscisic acid (ABA) signal network that directly impacts rice productivity. Simultaneously mutating the genes encoding the ABA receptors pyrabactin resistance 1-like 1 (PYL1), PYL4, and PYL6 causes improved growth and increased grain yield in rice. Our work thus reveals an important role of these ABA receptors in growth control and a genetic strategy to improve rice yield.
Abstract
Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key phytohormone that controls plant growth and stress responses. It is sensed by the pyrabactin resistance 1 (PYR1)/PYR1-like (PYL)/regulatory components of the ABA receptor (RCAR) family of proteins. Here, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to edit group I (PYL1–PYL6 and PYL12) and group II (PYL7–PYL11 and PYL13) PYL genes in rice. Characterization of the combinatorial mutants suggested that genes in group I have more important roles in stomatal movement, seed dormancy, and growth regulation than those in group II. Among all of the single pyl mutants, only pyl1 and pyl12 exhibited significant defects in seed dormancy. Interestingly, high-order group I mutants, but not any group II mutants, displayed enhanced growth. Among group I mutants, pyl1/4/6 exhibited the best growth and improved grain productivity in natural paddy field conditions, while maintaining nearly normal seed dormancy. Our results suggest that a subfamily of rice PYLs has evolved to have particularly important roles in regulating plant growth and reveal a genetic strategy to improve rice productivity.

21 firms join open tender rice bidding

BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ ON MAY 23, 2018
TWENTY-ONE Asian trading companies on Tuesday vied to supply the National Food Authority (NFA) with rice to boost its stock of the staple for the coming lean months.Those that complied with the state-run food agency’s terms of reference (TOR) for the open tender rice bidding for 250,000 metric tons (MT) of 25-percent broken long and well-milled white rice grains, or “brokens,” in Quezon City included Thailand’s Asia Golden Rice, Capital Cereals Co. Ltd., CP Intertrade, Gentraco Corp., Ponglarp Co. Ltd., Thai Capital Corps Co. Ltd., and Thai Hua Co. Ltd.; and Vietnam’s Gia International Corp., Hiep Loi Joint Stock Co., Khiem Thanh Co. Ltd., Phan Minh Investment Production Trading Services, Tan Long Group Joint Stock Co., Vietnam Northern Food Corp. (Vinafood 1), and Vietnam Southern Food Corp. (Vinafood 2).
Hong Kong’s Singsong (HK) Ltd.; India’s Louis Dreyfus Co. Asia Pte. Ltd.; Singapore’s Olam International Ltd.; and the United Arab Emirates’ Phoenix Global DMCC completed the list.
Phoenix Global, Vinafood 1, and Vinafood 2 withdrew from the actual bidding, while CP Intertrade and Phan Minh failed to submit price offers.
Pakistan’s Meskay & Femtee Trading Co. (PVT) Ltd., and Singapore’s ADM Asia Pacific Trading Pte Ltd. and Orion Link Pte Ltd. were unable to join the bidding after they failed to submit proof of payment for their application to register with the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (Philgeps).

All three, however, plan to send letters requesting reconsideration, according to NFA Deputy Administrator Judy Carol Dansal, who leads the Special Bids and Awards Committee.
Winners of the bidding will be announced once the agency finalizes the results, she said without disclosing the date for it.
The TOR initially required 200,00 MT of 25-percent brokens and 50,000 MT of 15-percent brokens, but a recent NFA-issued bulletin revised it to 250,000 MT of 25-percent brokens.
The agency also reduced the lots from nine to seven and increased the volume specified in some of them.
Of the total volume, 75,000 MT will be discharged in the Port of Manila; 25,000 MT in Subic; 24,000 MT in Cebu; 23,500 MT in Batangas; 20,000 MT in Tabaco; 15,000 MT in Davao; 14,000 in La Union; 12,000 MT in Tacloban; 10,000 MT in General Santos; 7,000 MT each in Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro; 6,500 MT in Bacolod; 6,000 MT in Zamboanga; and 5,000 MT in Surigao.
The first 200,000 MT are expected to arrive not later than July 31; the rest, August 31.
The new budget for the imports is P19.7 million lower than the P6.52 billion approved earlier, the NFA said.

PH needs to import more rice this year

To maintain 60-day buffer

Updated May 23, 2018, 10:24 PM
By Madelaine B. Miraflor
Even if President Rodrigo Duterte wants the National Food Authority (NFA) to maintain a 60-day buffer stock or “fill its warehouses to the roof,” the reality that the state-run grains agency can’t even sustain inventory level good for 15 days still remains.
An NFA official said what Duterte wants the agency to do will not happen anytime soon, as even the officials of Department of Agriculture (DA) are still discussing how to implement it more than a month since the order was made.
“It can be done but you have to consider a lot of factors like budget, logistics, people,” the official said. “And you have to have a combination of local procurement and importation and right now, we can’t even procure locally [because of low buying price of palay].”
He emphasized that if the government will push for 60-day buffer stocking, it would need to maintain 1.9 million metric tons (MT) of rice at any given time.
Meanwhile, the NFA announced yesterday that rice imports will start arriving on or before the end of this month that will enable the agency to flood the market with rice priced at between P27 and P32 per kilogram.
The expected arrivals are part of the 250,000 metric tons (MT) contracted with Thailand and Vietnam under a government-to-government procurement scheme, the fastest way to replenish NFA buffer stocks that had been depleted to a very low level.
Right now, the law only requires NFA to maintain a rice buffer stock good to last for 15 days at any given time and for 30 days at the onset of the lean months.
NFA is currently looking to import more rice this year as the expected supply of 500,000 metric tons (MT) — which the country will purchase through government to government (G2G) and government to private (G2P) importation — will not be enough to permanently stabilize the price of rice in the local market.
Also, the expected supply is only going to be good for 15 days or less.
At this point, NFA still sees the need to import more for the lean months which will start in July until September, NFA Spokesperson Rex Estoperez said.
However, he said that NFA Council — the highest policy-making body of NFA — has not yet taken up this issue.
Another NFA official, who refused to be named, said that if NFA Council were to follow the instruction of NFA Administrator Jason Aquino, who also serves as the vice chair of the Council, another importation should happen by September this year or just in time when the world prices have already gone down.
In the meantime, Estoperez said the NFA will prioritize distribution over buffer stocking despite its mandate to maintain rice buffer stock.
NFA’s inventory remains at zero level despite the agency’s efforts to procure palay from local farmers.
Philippine Grains Agency Needs Extra Rice Imports This Year for Lean Months
The Philippines' state grains agency needs to import rice again this year to continue rebuilding its depleted buffer stock, a spokesman said on Tuesday (22/05), as it sought offers in an open tender for an additional 250,000 tons. (Reuters Photo/Janis Alano)
By : Enrico dela Cruz | on 9:00 PM May 23, 2018
Category : InternationalSE Asia
Manila. The Philippines' state grains agency needs to import rice again this year to continue rebuilding its depleted buffer stock, a spokesman said on Tuesday (22/05), as it sought offers in an open tender for an additional 250,000 tons.
There is no final volume and timing yet for additional rice purchases by the National Food Authority (NFA), which need approval by its council, said the spokesman, Rex Estoperez.
"We need to import more this year for the lean months," he told reporters, referring to the July to September period when the domestic harvest is very low or almost none. "It needs planning and the budget."
The NFA this month accepted supply offers from Vietnam and Thailand for a total volume of 250,000 tons in government-to-government deals, before Tuesday's second tender.
The Philippines, a frequent rice buyer, may import as much as 1.4 million tons of the staple this year, among the largest rice purchases expected, based on a projection by the United States Department of Agriculture. President Rodrigo Duterte wants the NFA to build up its rice buffer stock to the equivalent of 60 days of national consumption, or as much as 1.92 million tons, from less than 2 days of consumption in March.
The NFA sought supply of 25 percent broken rice variety at the open tender, with 13 suppliers and traders, mostly from Thailand and Vietnam, making valid offers, the NFA said.
Bids ranged from $461.75 to $465.04 per ton, below the agency's budget of $498.25 per ton.
Delivery of the additional 250,000 tons should be completed before September, while shipments of the first 250,000 tons are expected to arrive from next week and should help ease upward pressure on domestic prices, Estoperez said.
The dwindling supply of cheap NFA rice, partly caused by delays in import approvals, spurred spikes in domestic prices. That fed into inflation, which accelerated at its fastest pace in at least five years in April.



Wide door for Vietnamese rice export
With improved product quality and consecutive win of export contracts, doors are wide open for Vietnamese rice. 




According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, rice export grew 23.8 percent in volume to over 2.2 million tonnes, earning 1.11 billion USD, up 39.7 percent in value in the first four months of this year, a high figure over the past five years. 
It was partly attributable to Vietnam’s winning of rice export contracts, including 141,000 tonnes in January and 300,000 tonnes in April to Indonesia, which will be delivered from May – July. 
In early May, Vietnam won another contract of shipping 130,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines. 
Apart from traditional markets, new markets such as Bangladesh, Turkey and Iraq also posted Vietnamese rice import growth, increasing from 11to 91 times in volume and from 16 to 61 times in value. 
During May, a number of export contracts from the private sector are expected to be signed with hundreds of thousands of tonnes in volume. They also seek opportunities in markets signing free trade deals with Vietnam such as the Republic of Korea and Australia, said the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). 
Compared to 2017, Vietnam’s rice export prices moved up nearly 15 percent to over 500 USD per tonne. 
The Ministry of Industry and Trade said demand for high-quality products such as glutinous rice, japonica and broken rice is rising. Last year, low and medium-quality white rice export only accounted for 3.88 percent and 8.24 percent of the total. 
The VFA suggested the government, ministries and agencies diversify markets to facilitate rice export, which should be responsibility of not only the Ministry of Industry and Trade but the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also.
VNA

Subsidized rice back by next week, says NFA

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:02 AM May 23, 2018
The National Food Authority (NFA) has assured consumers that subsidized rice would be back in the market starting next week.Subsidized NFA rice varieties, priced at P27 and P32 per kilogram, respectively, have not been available in the market since the first week of April in view of the depletion of the agency’s stocks.
In an interview during the agency’s open tender bidding for rice importation yesterday, NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said consumers could expect NFA rice in public markets upon the arrival of rice procured by the agency under a government-to-government arrangement.
The 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice from Vietnam and Thailand are expected to come in starting next week in various ports nationwide.
Estoperez said the presence of NFA rice in the markets would lower the prices of the staple. In the latest price monitoring report of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the average retail prices of regular-milled and well-milled rice have reached P40 and P43 per kg, respectively.
“The priority is to stabilize the supply and prices of rice first before we go to buffer stocking,” he said.
On Tuesday, the NFA held an open tender bidding for the procurement of another 250,000 MT of rice. The shipments are expected to start coming in by July.
The NFA council approved the importation of a total of 500,000 MT of rice this year, although Estoperez said there had been proposals for additional importation. The proposals are yet to be tackled by the NFA policy-making body, he said.
At present, Estoperez said the agency’s rice inventory was still zero, noting that the NFA did not have the capacity to procure palay (unmilled rice) from local farmers especially now that its farmgate price had climbed to P20.96 per kg.
The agency’s palay procurement price still stands at P17 per kg. Without the approval of the NFA Council, the NFA cannot increase its buying price and has to resort to importation to replenish its stocks.

Lowest rice production in years

Published: 
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Ameer Ramos at work at a rice mill in Caroni, yesterday. PICTURE AYANNA KINSALE
Grappling with millions of dollars in debts, local rice farmers say they have experienced their lowest yields ever and are blaming the government and the National Flour Mills.
Figures from NFM show that farmers produced only 126 tonnes of rice for 2018, compared to 2,800 tonnes in 2014. At present there are 30 rice farmers in T&T compared to more than 10,000 in the 1970’s and 80’s.
Richard Singh who cultivates lands in central Trinidad said the farmers are so frustrated that many of them were abandoning their estates. They have scheduled an emergency meeting at Warrenville today to discuss the productivity crisis,.
“Every quarter we have to pay ADB (Agricultural Development Bank). Flour Mills (NFM) supposed to pay us but they have not done so. The government owes us and they jamming us with heavy interest. I am owing $2.7 million to ADB but I have paid back $1.3 million. I never had loans before,” Singh said.
Another farmer from southeast Trinidad, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was able to plant only 350 acres out of 647 acres.
“I just did not have money to do full-scale cultivation. Our loans are accruing interest. For this year I paid $600,000 in interest and I am still owing $1.7 million to the ADB,” he said, adding that the last time rice farmers got seeds from the government was in 2014.
“Back then the seeds did not germinate successfully. Because of seed quality, we are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. We cannot see our way because of late payment by the NFM,” the farmer added.
Agricultural economist Omardath Maharaj said according to UN ComTrade statistics, T&T imported 37,843 tons of rice in 2014 at a value of approximately$ 143 million.
“In that year, total exports of the commodity was estimated at 336 tons at a value of $ 0.767 million. Annual paddy production averaged 2,569 tons per annum between 2007 and 2014,” jr said.
Maharaj said there was a need for revitalization, as farmers had invested downstream by bringing three of the more popular rice brands to market—Island Grain, Moruga Hill Rice, and Navet Lagoon Rice.
He called on the government to support production, milling, packaging, and marketing of locally-grown rice. One of the main challenges is the ability of the NFM to efficiently mill and convert all locally cultivated paddy into a finished rice product, he said.
Maharaj said there should be the development of a niche market for local rice.
“Trinidad and Tobago may not be able to compete with regional rice producers such as Guyana and Suriname in terms of volume, parboiled and white rice,” he said.
“However, we can develop and service a regional niche market for healthy, natural foods such as our brown rice. We can also bring more arable and currently idle and under-performing land assets into production with new rice varieties, methodologies, and extension support to increase productivity and income at the farm level.”
Data for Govt`s Decree on Rice Import Not Accurate, says CIPS
 THURSDAY, 24 MAY, 2018 | 08:58 WIB
 Rice. TEMPO/Eko Siswono Toyudho

TEMPO.COJakarta - The government’s plan to import 500,000 tons of rice sparked debates among the public. Agriculture Ministry said the import was not necessary considering the rice stock was at 1.2 million tons and sufficient until Eid al-Fitr (Lebaran).
In fact, the rice price increased in the market from Rp9,450 to Rp11,700 per kilogram. Head of Research Center of Indonesia Policy Studies (CIPS) Hizkia Respatiadi argued the import restriction on rice is not followed by the management of distribution chain and the synchronization of food data.
"The distribution chain greatly affects the price of medium rice," said Hizki in a written statement on Wednesday, May 22. He considered the long-way distribution likely boost the rice prices and detrimental for several parties including farmers and retailers.
Hizki explained the rice must go through four to six distribution points before reaching the distribution hand. "In every point, the middlemen, rice millers, or wholesalers got the biggest profit margin," he added.
Thus, CIPS considered the policy on the Highest Retail Price (HET) is not effective as it forced the retailers reducing the selling price.
He further suggested that the food data should be collected from one reliable source and updated regularly. Hizki asserted the food data is very important to be used by the government in determining the policy. The food data also aimed at measuring food productivity and identifying regions as the commodity producers and knowing the condition of farmers.
"If the government only rely on data to issue an import decree on rice, thus logically it has failed because the data is not accurate," Hizki noted.
https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2018/05/24/056918707/Data-for-Govts-Decree-on-Rice-Import-Not-Accurate-says-CIPS

NFA expects rice prices to stabilize next week

A RICE MER­CHANT re­plen­ishes a sack at the Ka­muning Pub­lic Mar­ket in Que­zon City.
THE Na­tional Food Au­thor­ity (NFA) said it ex­pects rice prices to sta­bi­lize with sub­si­dized rice sell­ing for be­tween P27 to P32 per kilo­gram to be made avail­able to the pub­lic by next week.
THE Na­tional Food Au­thor­ity (NFA) said it ex­pects rice prices to sta­bi­lize with sub­si­dized rice sell­ing for be­tween P27 to P32 per kilo­gram to be made avail­able to the pub­lic by next week.
In a state­ment on Wed­nes­day, NFA Ad­min­is­tra­tor Ja­son Lau­re­ano Y. Aquino said: “With the ex­pected ar­rival of fresh stocks for our food se­cu­rity and sta­bi­liza­tion func­tions, the pub­lic will be watch­ing us on how we can ef­fec­tively sta­bi­lize, and pos­si­bly pull down rice prices.”
In a state­ment on Wed­nes­day, NFA Ad­min­is­tra­tor Ja­son Lau­re­ano Y. Aquino said: “With the ex­pected ar­rival of fresh stocks for our food se­cu­rity and sta­bi­liza­tion func­tions, the pub­lic will be watch­ing us on how we can ef­fec­tively sta­bi­lize, and pos­si­bly pull down rice prices.”
A to­tal of 250,000 met­ric tons (MT) of rice from Thai­land and Viet­nam pro­cured through a gov­ern­ment-to-gov­erne­ment (G2G) scheme is set to ar­rive start­ing in late May, which will help re­plen­ish the NFA’s buf­fer stocks.
A to­tal of 250,000 met­ric tons (MT) of rice from Thai­land and Viet­nam pro­cured through a gov­ern­ment-to-gov­erne­ment (G2G) scheme is set to ar­rive start­ing in late May, which will help re­plen­ish the NFA’s buf­fer stocks.
A to­tal of 250,000 met­ric tons (MT) of rice from Thai­land and Viet­nam pro­cured through a gov­ern­ment-to-gov­erne­ment (G2G) scheme is set to ar­rive start­ing in late May, which will help re­plen­ish the NFA’s buf­fer stocks.
On Tues­day, the NFA also bid out an­other or­der for 250,000 MT from 13 pri­vate traders to re­in­force in­ven­to­ries dur­ing the lean months.
Reuters has re­ported that pri­vate Thai sup­pli­ers won 212,500 MT of the or­der at be­tween $465,04 and $461.75 per MT.
Reuters has re­ported that pri­vate Thai sup­pli­ers won 212,500 MT of the or­der at be­tween $465,04 and $461.75 per MT.
Mr. Aquino also cau­tioned that the sub­si­dized rice “should go di­rectly to its in­tended ben­e­fi­cia­ries.”
Aside from in­ject­ing cheap rice into the mar­ket to sta­bi­lize prices, the NFA also pro­vides rice to ar­eas hit by calami­ties, prov­inces that are un­able to pro­duce enough rice and to poor ben­e­fi­cia­ries sup­ported by the Depart­ment of So­cial Wel­fare and Devel­op­ment. —
Aside from in­ject­ing cheap rice into the mar­ket to sta­bi­lize prices, the NFA also pro­vides rice to ar­eas hit by calami­ties, prov­inces that are un­able to pro­duce enough rice and to poor ben­e­fi­cia­ries sup­ported by the Depart­ment of So­cial Wel­fare and Devel­op­ment. —
https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/business-world/20180524/281590946228515