Govt to promote
pulses in rice fallow areas under NFSM
Press Trust of India | New Delhi Last Updated at September 12, 2017
20:07 IST
Secy-level reshuffle: Sanjay Mitra new defence secretaryTop BJP
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signed during Hasina's visitRaman Singh on tour of West Bengal
The government today allocated additional funds to promote pulses
cultivation in rice fallow areas of eastern states and for tackling wheat-blast
disease in West Bengal under a central scheme NFSM. A decision in this regard
was taken at the 13th General Council meeting of the National Food Security
Mission (NFSM), chaired by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.
The Council decided to extend all projects approved under the NFSM
till 2016-17, an official statement said. That apart, it also decided to
allocate funds by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes
for front-line demonstration of rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals through
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
That apart, it approved distribution of seeds mini-kits and assistance
to the central agencies for the production of certified seeds of pulses. It
gave nod for experimenting 'TL seeds' developed by the ICAR under seed-hub
program during 2016-17 and its implementation during frontline demonstration in
2017-18.
Under the NFSM pulse programme, it decided to promote beekeeping
with arhar dal during frontline demonstration and approved additional fund
allocation for production of breeder-seeds of pulses and creation of seed hubs.
Three junior agriculture ministers -- Parshottam Rupala, Gajendra
Singh Shekhawat, and Krishna Raj -- were also present in the meeting.(This
story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from
a syndicated feed.)
Harvey’s wind, rain leave large footprints in Delta rice, corn,
soybeans
The tropical depression that was Hurricane Harvey left its
footprints on Arkansas, flattening acres of harvest-ready rice, corn and soybeans,
and perhaps setting the stage for a mosquito boom.
The tropical depression that was
Hurricane Harvey left its footprints on Arkansas, flattening acres of
harvest-ready rice, corn and soybeans, and perhaps setting the stage for a
mosquito boom.
″Late season storms with driving wind and rain
aren’t beneficial this time of year,” Matthew Davis, Jackson County extension
agent with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said on
Friday.
Jason McGee, a crop consultant
and farmer in Cross County, said in looking at the forecasts before Harvey’s
arrival, “we went to bed that night expecting a half-inch of rain and ended up
with the most rainfall – 11 inches. That’s a lot of water and it’s going to be
here for longer than we need it to be.”
Southern Poinsett and northern
Cross County “caught most of it and they didn’t need to,” he said. “It’s pretty
tough for a lot of people here. We’re already on thin margins and already got a
lot of money spent on this crop.”
McGee and others were particularly
worried about soybeans.
Soybean threats
Jeremy Ross, extension soybean
agronomist for the Division of Agriculture said that most of Arkansas’ soybeans
are either in the filling pod or maturing stage, which means they have the
maximum number of leaves and pods. With Harvey’s arrival, his phone has been
blowing up with calls about lodging – where wind and rain cause the plants to
lean or fall flat to the ground – and flooding.
″There is a tremendous amount of weight and
surface area supported by the soybean stem,” he said. ” With the exceptional
weather conditions we have had so far this year, many of the soybean plants in
our fields are taller than normal. With the combination of a heavy soybean
canopy along with tall plants, any significant wind can cause lodging of the
plants.”
″In the last two days those calls and text
messages about lodged soybean plants have increased,” Ross said. “Depending on
the severity of the lodging, some plants will regain their upright posture, but
many will continue to lean at some negative angle from erect.”
He said that with lodged plants, “seed sprouting and pod decay is increased due
to excessive moisture within the canopy due to restricted air movement.
″Also, insecticides and fungicides are less
effective in lodged field because they will not penetrate as deep into the crop
canopy as they would with standing plants,” Ross said.
Then there’s the flooding.
″Ideally, if fields are only flooded for 12-24
hours, no significant yield loss should occur as long as the soybean plants are
not flattened with the receding water,” he said. With more than 24 hours and
depending on the water depth, growers could see “significant yield losses due
to seed sprouting and pod and seed rot.”
Davis said that harvest-ready
crops will have to wait in his county, he said. “So far biggest impact looks
like delayed draining. There isn’t anywhere for field water to go because
ditches are full.”
There are “going to be a lot of
mudded fields when they go back to cutting because the heavier soil won’t be
dry enough when the fields get ready to cut again,” ’he said.
In some areas, roads were closed
by water.
″We have several
county roads that are flooded in areas, with one report of a washout passable
only by tractor,” said Rick Wimberley, Cross County extension staff chair for
the Division of Agriculture. “About a quarter mile of state highway 364 is
under water west of Brushy Creek. Thankfully it is not a heavily traveled
corridor.”
Lodging and harvest
Since harvesters are built to
catch plants that are standing upright, crops at the wrong angle or flattened
will be missed.
″Wind will cause rice to lodge by leaning it
over,” said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the Division of
Agriculture. “Rain will cause rice to lodge by weighing it down. The two
together do unbelievable damage.”
Photos taken by extension agents
through the Arkansas Delta on Thursday and Friday showed many acres of
flattened rice, though in many cases it was in field corners where seeding and
fertilizing runs tend to overlap from different directions. Robert Goodson,
Phillips County extension agent for the Division of Agriculture, estimated
1,000-2,000 acres of mature rice were knocked over near Marvell. He also said
there was some lint loss in cotton in his county and in some cases, wind on the
heavy bolls caused the plants to twist. That, Goodson said, could slow harvest.
Bill Robertson, extension cotton
agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said Harvey would be tougher on
early cotton. As a whole, “we just need sunshine,” he said.
″There are several corn fields in the Barton
area that have approximately 60-70 percent laying on the ground,” Goodson said.
“Corn fields in other parts of the county are not damaged as much, but for the
Barton area, there will be yield loss.”
Jason Kelley, extension wheat and
feed grains agronomist for the Division of Agriculture said that “this was not
what corn farmers needed. We were making good progress on harvest before Harvey
arrived.
″An estimated 50 percent of the state’s corn
has been harvested and yields have been above early-season expectations,” he
said. “The biggest issue we will face now is lodged corn from the winds and
rain. Most of the corn has been ready to harvest for some time, but previous
rains delayed harvest.
″The longer corn stands in the field waiting
on harvest, the greater the chance of lodging. We were already seeing some
lodging issues before Harvey, so assessment is still ongoing, but some areas
will likely see significant lodging,” he said.
Grain sorghum is in the same
boat, he said, with about half or more being harvested. He expected some
lodging in sorghum, but also sprouting grain, thanks to the rain and warm
temperatures.
Bumper crop of buzz
The high moisture could also
encourage disease development in maturing crops.
″This weather will also delay planting of
strawberries and may pose issue for the pumpkins we have planted in the county.
A lot of water standing in beds where large pumpkins are sitting can lead to
some damage or rot if it doesn’t soak down,” Davis said. “We also already have
had disease issues this year, especially downy and powdery mildew.”
The 2.5 inches that fell in
Calhoun County was just right for fall gardens since it fell over 48 hours and
wasn’t a torrential downpour, said Jaret Rushing, county extension staff chair.
″Folks were smart enough not to cut and lay
hay out to dry, so it’s just a matter of letting the ground dry a little,” he
said.
The rain might also produce a
bumper crop of buzzing bloodsuckers, he said.
″What we have to be wary of now is the
mosquito boom,” Rushing said. “Populations were already starting to replenish
and with this stagnant water, deer hunters will not be all too pleased in three
weeks when the season opens.
Arkansas: Milled Rice Is Having A Good Year
By Scott Stiles, Economist, University
of ArkansasSeptember 9, 2017
The Port of Rosedale - Rosedale, Mississippi -
Mississippi River ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography
In the latest weekly USDA Crop
Progress report, the U.S. rice crop was 29% harvested compared to the 5-year
average of 30% for the week ending September 3. Arkansas was estimated at 18%
harvested. With dry weather conditions this week Monday’s updated Crop Progress
may indicate Arkansas’ harvest is now closer to the historical average pace of
34% for the week ending September 10.
Harvest is coming to a close in
Louisiana and Texas with harvest now estimated to be over 90% complete.
Long-Grain Export Sales:
Export activity for the week ending August 31 was
mixed. Sales recovered for both rough and milled rice to the 2nd highest weekly
totals for the marketing year. Haiti was in for 22,250 metric tons of milled
rice. As expected, rice shipments were very low last week due to recent weather
events and dipped to marketing year lows for both classes.
|
|
|
|
·
All
ports in the Houston region are now open. The USDA-AMS reported this week that
some ports are open with draft restrictions still in place. Comments from Union
Pacific this week indicated that railroads have made significant progress to
restore service. Reroutes are in place around areas still flooded or sections
that require extended time to repair.
·
By
class, cumulative long-grain rough rice sales are down 22% from a year ago.
However, milled rice sales are up 119%. Due to stronger milled rice sales to date,
total long-grain exports are running 14% ahead of last year’s pace as of August
31.
Rough Rice Futures:
·
With
a week of dry weather in the Midsouth and Hurricane Irma staying out of the
Gulf of Mexico, the rice market found it hard to sustain its’ upward momentum
this week. November rice futures have erased all of last week’s gains and look
poised to finish the week near $12.71—basically where prices were the day
Hurricane Harvey made landfall.
·
As
of Friday morning (9/8), Hurricane Irma’s path has been shifted slightly
westward, with the Florida peninsula now in the crosshairs. Beyond this
weekend, the remnants of the storm are likely impact Georgia and South Carolina
with high wind and heavy rain.
·
By
Tuesday night, northeast Arkansas may get some rain from Irma as the storm
remnants move in a north westerly direction. Bottom line for the rice market,
the Gulf will be spared from tropical activity through the latter part of
September.
·
Plus,
temperatures are expected to warm noticeably toward the end of next week. This
is certainly the outlook needed to move harvest along. The potential downside
could come in the form of softer prices as price support from weather concerns
starts to fade.
·
As
trading resumes Sunday night, the grain markets will be waiting for USDA’s
revised yield and production figures next week. The USDA will release its
September WASDE report on Tuesday the 12th. Traders will generally keep to the
sidelines ahead of key monthly USDA reports.
Hybrid
rice scientists from China arrive to train local scientists
ISLAMABAD
(APP): A group of Chinese agriculture experts, comprising 12 hybrid rice
scientists, arrived here Tuesday to train local scientists and farmers on
hybrid rice cultivation technologies to improve per acre crop productivity. The
Chinese scientists are scheduled to train 30 Pakistani agriculture scientists,
selected from all the four provinces. Besides, they will also impart training
to the members of the provincial field extension departments on hybrid rice
cultivation. They would also organize road-shows and field visits across the
rice-growing areas to address the issues and challenges in promotion of hybrid
rice seed. In this regard, a ceremony was held at National Agriculture Research
Center, which was attended by the Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Nasir
Iqbal Bosal, Agriculture and Economic Councilor of Chinese Embassy Dr Wang and
Chief Executive Officer of Yaun Longping Hi-tech Company limited China.
The
Ministry of Commerce Peoples Republic of China is the main sponsor of the
initiative, where as Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and
Agriculture Innovation Programme are also collaborating in promoting the hybrid
seed technologies.
Addressing
the event, Chinese Agriculture and Economic Councilor said that it was the
first bilateral initiative, aiming to enhance per acre rice yield by promoting
hybrid rice techniques in Pakistan.
Under
the programme, he said that private sector companies of both the countries
would cooperate to promote the hybrid rice production that would almost double
the per acre crop yield.
He
further said that hybrid rice technologies would help to enhance per acre crop
output, besides increasing farm income and reduce the poverty.
The
hybrid rice technology would also bring revolution in Pakistani Basmati rice
production, which was famous all over the world for it taste and aroma.
Addressing
the event CEO of Yaun longping High-Tech Agriculture Company Limited China said
that the training course was designed in accordance with the requirements of
local farmers. She said that the training course would include lectures and
field visits for active participation of local farming community for the better
results.
Speaking
on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Food Security
said that government was determined to promote agri sector of the country. He
informed that rice crop was cultivated over 2.7 million hectares and was the
second major staple food crop of the country, adding that the Chinese expertise
would help to enhance the local crop output significantly.
He
hoped that the bilateral cooperation in agri-sector would bring the positive
results and further enhance the crop output by minimizing the inputs.
Chairman
PARC stressed the need for bringing innovation and introducing mechanized farming
to make the local produces more competitive in international markets.
Meanwhile,
Member Plant Sciences Dr Anjum Ali informed that the aim of the training course
on hybrid rice was to educate the local farming community about the hybrid
technology and seed selection for achieving maximum per acre yield
http://nation.com.pk/business/13-Sep-2017/news-brief
Pakistan’s
looming water crisis
In 1947 Pakistan was
affluent in water. It had 5,000 cubic meters per capita renewable water that is
now down to 1,000 cubic meters per capita Population boom, is a major
contributing factor. But there are others. Out dated irrigation system being
one. In a country where 90pc of water in used in irrigation of crops using
maximum water are two other reasons. Sugar cane, rice and wheat all use
extensive water.
Many water scarce countries have
opted for better water management systems like sprinkler systems and drip
irrigation system. Whereas we use the method of flooding the crops. Water
leading to areas of irrigation from rivers lack lining, this in turn reportedly
causes a loss of 40pc of water en route. Pakistan has also over decades worked
at increasing her water reservoirs.
Pakistan is dependent for water
from a single source: the Indus River basin. Indian building of hydroelectric
power project at Sawalkot can only cause further water stress to
Pakistan. The project of Sawalkot is on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The article III of the Indus
Water treaty, binds the Government of India not to hinder the flow of the
western rivers, i.e. Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, to Pakistan, and India cannot
store any water or construct any storage works, on the above cited rivers, having
been given total rights since march 1973,of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, we get flood
surplus of these rivers which is released in case of excessive rains, which
helps in recharging our ground waters levels, but that too will cease after the
second Ravi-Beas Link is made.
Today while we slumber, India has
started works on, the following projects; Pakal Dul 1000MW, Kiru 600MW,Karwar
520 MW, Baglihar (eventual 900MW),Sawalkot 1200MW (two 600mw units), Salal 390
MW, Sewa-II 120 MW, and finally the Bursur project on the Marusudar river,
which, is a major tributary of Chenab river, here the Foxland intends to build
a massive water storage dam, which will control and regulate the flow to
maintain levels of Pakal dul, Dul Hasti, Rattle, Baglihar, Sawalkot and Salal
Hydro-projects, on the Chenab.” (Naveed Tajammal, March 6, 2012)
Climate change is another factor
contributing to decline of water provision as glaciers of the Hindu
Kush-Karakorum-Himalaya mountains are lost and do not flow into the Indus
Water basin. This decline has to be balanced against an increase in water
demand owing to hotter season. Water will evaporate quicker leading to
increasing water demand by irrigation sector. This will be coupled with
decreased levels of soil moisture.
Pakistan’s thermal sector is
responsible for roughly 60 to 65pc of energy provision. Thermal energy depends
largely on steams and their cooling. “As higher air temperatures decrease the
efficiency of the thermal conversion process (Makky & Kalash, 2013),
greater volumes of water will be required by this sector to maintain production
levels.” (IISD Blog)
Diminished water levels can lead
to greater difficulty in clean drinking water to the populace in quantity.
Water quality is yet another
issue. According to a recent research more than 50m people across Pakistan are
in danger of poisoning from contaminated water containing high levels of
arsenic. The study was conducted on samples from 12,000 wells across the
country.
The flow of water varies widely
in summers and winters. 84pc in summer with a mere 16pc in winter. “According
to the report, with a Kharif to Rabi ratio of two to one, the seasonal needs
were about 66pc in summer and 34pc in winter, showing surpluses of 18pc in
summer and shortages of 18pc in winter.” Local newspaper Feb, 6, 2017)
Also, due of a high degree of
groundwater mining a high risk exists of the wells running dry.
The flow of surplus water in
summers cause floods causing damage to our crops and as a result thereof to the
economy.
Water is back bone of our economy.
“The role of regional politics too cannot be denied in aggravating Pakistan’s
water woes as the relationship dynamic with India determines the flow in the
western rivers since the source lies in disputed territory Kashmir and as a
corollary, has implications for internal politics vis-Ã -vis distribution of
water within the provinces. With the once mighty Indus delta now reduced to a
mere canal, there is more cause to worry as the inland flow of sea water can
render cultivable land unfit for cultivation and hence, completely useless.”
(Spearhead Research Special Report)
Unfortunately our policy makers
have not focused on this looming disaster. Water scarcity can have severe
economic and social backlash. We need immediately multifaceted water based policies
dealing with a) conservation and storage of excess water in summers b) a smart
updated irrigation policy for water carriage, new methods and lining the path
from the river to area of use c) new dams, many small ones and d) a vigorous
presence to deflect India’s steps at violation of Indus Treaty d) Upgrading the
old and dated irrigation system that causes water wastage owing to seepage.
One hopes the policy makers’ wake
up to the need of the hour!
Yasmeen Aftab Ali
The writer is a lawyer, academic and political analyst. She has
authored a book titled ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media & Media Laws in
Pakistan.’ She can be contacted at: yasmeenali62@gmail.comand tweets at
@yasmeen_9.
Govt
considers importing two million tons of rice
11.09.2017
| UkrAgroConsult
Up
to eight million tons of Boro paddy had been destroyed by the latest bout of
monsoon floods that inundated several districts
The
government is thinking of importing two million tons of rice, to compensate for
the shortage caused by the recent rain and flood in various parts of the
country.Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal announced it during a meeting at
the National Economic Council conference room in Agargaon, Dhaka on Sunday.He
further mentioned that up to eight million tons of Boro paddy had been
destroyed by the latest bout of monsoon floods that inundated several
districts.
He
estimated that a total of 12-14 million tons of rice had been damaged as well,
causing a rather significant deficiency.As the flood has dispersed many
families out of their homes, the demand for food and shelter has increased.
The
government is aware of this situation and hopes to make up for the shortage of
food, sources in the Ministry of Planning said.
Government moves to crash price of local rice
By Joke Falaju, Abuja
| 11 September 2017 | 4:13 am
PHOTO:
KEMI FILANI
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Audu Ogbeh, has hinted of plans to reduce the price of 50kg bag of
local rice from N18,000 to N13,000.In this respect, he said talks were ongoing
with the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria to crash the N150,000 per ton
price tag of paddy rice to N120,000 to enable millers sell the commodity at
N13,000 per bag.Ogbeh, who was speaking at the weekend in Abuja on the upcoming
national conference on the transformation of the country’s livestock industry,
lamented that local rice were becoming costlier thatn imported ones.
Hybrid rice scientists from China arrives to train 30 local
scientists
ISLAMABAD: A group of Chinese agriculture experts, comprising 12
hybrid rice scientists, arrived here Tuesday to train local scientist and
farmers on hybrid rice cultivation technologies to improve per acre crop
productivity.
The Chinese scientists are
scheduled to train 30 Pakistani agriculture scientists, selected from all the
four provinces.
Besides, they will also impart
training to the members of the provincial field extension departments on hybrid
rice cultivation.
They would also organize road-shows
and field visits across the rice-growing areas to address the issues and
challenges in promotion of hybrid rice seed.
In this regard an inaugural
ceremony was held at National Agriculture Research Center, which was attended
by the Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Nasir Iqbal Bosal, Agriculture and
Economic Councilor of Chinese Embassy Dr Wang and Chief Executive Officer of
Yaun Longping Hi-tech Company limited China.
The Ministry of Commerce Peoples
Republic of China is the main sponsor of the initiative, where as Pakistan
Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and Agriculture Innovation Programme are
also collaborating in promoting the hybrid seed technologies.
Addressing the event, Chinese
Agriculture and Economic Councilor said that it was the first bilateral
initiative, aiming to enhance per acre rice yield by promoting hybrid rice
techniques in Pakistan.
Under the programme, he said that
private sector companies of both the countries would cooperate to promote the
hybrid rice production that would almost double the per acre crop yield.
He further said that hybrid rice
technologies would help to enhance per acre crop output, besides increasing
farm income and reduce the poverty.
The hybrid rice technology would
also bring revolution in Pakistani Basmati rice production, which was famous
all over the world for its taste and aroma.
Addressing the event, CEO of Yaun
longping High-Tech Agriculture Company said that the training course was designed
in accordance with the requirements of local farmers.
She said that the training course
would include lectures and field visits for active participation of local
farming community for the better results.
Speaking on the occasion, Special
Assistant to Prime Minister on National Food Security said that government was
determined to promote agri-sector of the country.
He informed that rice crop was
cultivated over 2.7 million hectares and was the second major staple food crop
of the country, adding that the Chinese expertise would help to enhance the
local crop output significantly.
He hoped that the bilateral
cooperation in agri-sector would bring the positive results and further enhance
the crop output by minimizing the inputs.
Speaking on the occasion Chairman
PARC stressed the need for bringing innovation and introducing mechanized
farming to make the local produces more competitive in international markets.
He said currently Pakistan was
surplus wheat, rice, sugarcane, maize and potato, adding that these products
were comparatively costly due to use of conventional agri-technologies.
Meanwhile, Member Plant Sciences Dr
Anjum Ali informed that the aim of the training course on hybrid rice was to
educate the local farming community about the hybrid technology and seed
selection for achieving maximum per acre yield.
Rice storage loans call renewed
Chea Vannak / Khmer Times
The deadline of the second call will be on September 22 before
screening and evaluating the applications, according to the RDB.
The second call came after only four rice millers applied in the
first call which had a deadline on Friday last week.
RDB CEO Kao Thach hoped the last call would push other mills to
apply for loans. He was not sure why only four rice millers sought financial
support from the RDB, because the bank had tried to broadcast the announcement
via the mass media.
“We decided to make a second round of calls to rice millers to
apply for loans because we were afraid that in the first call, they might have
missed or not received any information about the announcement,” he said.
Hun Lak, vice-president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF),
said the loan announcement had reached the targeted rice millers, but he said
the low price in the markets meant there was not a high demand among rice
millers for storage.
“Some mills are waiting for a big amount of rice orders. When
there is a surge in the international price, they would need capital to expand
their capacity,” Mr Lak said.
Song Saran, CEO of AMRU Rice Cambodia, one of the four companies
which applied to RDB in the first round, said that the bank reciprocated to the
demand of his company, which had specific plans.
RDB’s criteria were in line with plans to develop the Cambodian
Agriculture Cooperative Cooperation in Kampong Thom province, which would
store, process and export rice, Mr Saran said.
“We need funds to build the agriculture centre in Kampong Thom,”
he said.
“Products from Preah Vihear and Siem Reap will benefit from the
centre. So we see the criteria from RDB are well suited with our plans,” Mr
Saran said, adding that building a huge storage capacity was costly.
“It is to expand the project over the existing one. The
government’s plans have the same direction, so we can walk on the same path,”
Mr Saran said.
The government through RDB has approved $30 million for loans to
build rice warehouses and silos at five percent interest and repayments over
ten years.
The first $15 million was disbursed in April to the Rice Bank to
build a storage facility and silo in Battambang province.
Another $15 million is for building warehouses and silos in
Kampong Thom, Prey Veng, and Takeo provinces. Two of these are in Kampong Thom,
one is in Prey Veng, and the last is in Takeo.
The limited amount of money for building warehouses and silos
has made mills seek financial support from foreign investors, according to Mr
Lak
Rice prices go up again
| Update: 08:31,
Sep 13, 2017
Commemorating National Rice Month, Arkansas Rice Industry
Donates More Than One Million Servings of Rice to Local Food Bank
By Lauren Ward
LITTLE ROCK - ARKANSAS - The Arkansas rice industry donated
152,600 pounds of rice to the Arkansas Foodbank in honor of National Rice Month
today. The donation from six mills will provide more than one million
servings of rice to help feed families, children, and seniors all across the
state.
Participating rice mills are Cormier Rice Mill of DeWitt;
Windmill Rice Company of Jonesboro; Riceland Foods, Inc. of Stuttgart;
Producers Rice Mill of Stuttgart; Riviana Foods of Carlisle; and Specialty
Rice, Inc. of Brinkley.
"The Arkansas rice industry is committed to being
good stewards of our resources and helping to alleviate hunger in our
state," Arkansas Rice Council President Jeff Rutledge said. "We take
great pride in our partnership with the Arkansas Foodbank and appreciate their
efforts to feed our hungry neighbors."
In addition to National Rice Month, September is also
Hunger Action Month. More than 549,000 Arkansans struggle with hunger and may
not know where they'll find their next meal. That number includes one in
four children who may not have enough to eat. This rice donation will go
in to weekend backpacks for children, food boxes for home-bound seniors and will
fill the shelves at food pantries for families in need.The rice will be
distributed across the state to five Feeding America food banks.
"During
National Rice Month, not only do we recognize the amazing work the rice
industry does for our state's economy but also the pivotal role Arkansas rice
farmers play in the fight against hunger," said Rhonda Sanders, Arkansas
Foodbank CEO. "We are so pleased to continue to have this great
partnership to give nutritious rice grown right here in Arkansas."Earlier
in the day, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson visited with rice industry
representatives about the crop, floods, and officially proclaimed September
"Rice Month." USA RICE Daily
WASDE
Report Released
|
WASHINGTON, DC --
Total U.S. rice supplies are reduced 6.6 million cwt from last month due to a
lower production forecast. In the September Crop Production report, NASS
reduced the 2017/18 U.S. crop size by 6.7 million
cwt to 179.7 million, primarily on lower area. NASS incorporated FSA
certified acreage data this month in adjusting forecast acreage lower. The
average all rice yield also declined by 9 pounds to 7,504 pounds per acre.
Long-grain production is reduced by 5.3 million cwt and combined medium-short
is decreased by 1.4 million. The reduction in 2017/18 supplies results in
both lower projected domestic use and residual and exports. All rice ending
stocks are reduced 1.1 million cwt to 29.0 million, the lowest level since
2007/08. The 2017/18 all rice season-average farm price is raised $0.50 per
cwt at the midpoint to a range of $12.70 to $13.70. Prices for all rice
classes are increased this month.
Global 2017/18 rice
supplies are increased to 603.7 million tons, primarily on higher production
and beginning stocks for India. Production increases are partly offset by
reductions in China and Bangladesh. World 2017/18 consumption is increased by
1.1 million tons to 480.2 million. Global 2017/18 trade is raised to a record
44.2 million tons on higher exports from Burma and India.
Read the full report here.
USA RICE Daily
China donates another 1,200 tonnes of rice to South Sudan
Source:
Xinhua | 2017-09-12 19:42:06 | Editor: huaxia
After
clarity from GST Council, food brands likely to reappear on shelves
|
BENGALURU: Food
brands which had disappeared from markets after the Goods and Services
Tax rollout are likely to make a comeback, with the GST
Council deciding to tax unregistered brands too.
According to the GST law that came into force on July 1, packaged food items with a registered trademark on the packet attracted a 5% levy. As the law didn't specify anything about unregistered products, hundreds of brands applied for deregistration and many replaced registered logos with unregistered ones.
However, the GST Council that met on Saturday issued a clarification, saying even unregistered food brands are to be taxed at 5%.
"Since it's clear that all packaged food products, irrespective of the logos, will attract tax, there's no point in printing an unregistered trademark on the packet. Authentic logos of brands will add to the product's credibility, forcing brands which had vanished to return," said Rameshchandra Lahoti, president, Bengaluru Foodgrains and Pulses Merchants Association. Lahoti, a wholesale dealer himself, said 25 of the 35 registered brands sold at his outlet had changed their logos.
While a few brands, including Bul let rice, Kesarkali rice, Lal Qilla basmati rice, Double Horse urad dal and Shivling tur dal re Shivling tur dal retained their registered trademarks as they didn't want to lose the reputation earned over the years, many had applied for deregistration. Trade bodies said manufacturers were thinking of withdrawing deregistration applications.
"Not just GST, even food regula tions bring manufacturers under the tax net if they sell packaged products. Hence, we will get to see more authentic brands in the market in the coming days," said J R Bangera, former president, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI).
According to the Food Safety and Security Act, it is mandatory to print details, including name of the manufacturer (refining mill) and date of manufacturing on the pack. The GST Council has made it clear that food packets with anything printed on them will attract tax.
Food merchants, however, are not happy with the Centre's move to tax packaged food, which was exempted under the Value Added Tax (VAT) regimen. "We are demanding that food items be exempted from tax. Another option is to put them under a special slab of 1%. When it can be done in the case of gold (2%), why not for food, which is more essential," said Lahoti.
Chutney won't be dear anymore
According to the GST law that came into force on July 1, packaged food items with a registered trademark on the packet attracted a 5% levy. As the law didn't specify anything about unregistered products, hundreds of brands applied for deregistration and many replaced registered logos with unregistered ones.
However, the GST Council that met on Saturday issued a clarification, saying even unregistered food brands are to be taxed at 5%.
"Since it's clear that all packaged food products, irrespective of the logos, will attract tax, there's no point in printing an unregistered trademark on the packet. Authentic logos of brands will add to the product's credibility, forcing brands which had vanished to return," said Rameshchandra Lahoti, president, Bengaluru Foodgrains and Pulses Merchants Association. Lahoti, a wholesale dealer himself, said 25 of the 35 registered brands sold at his outlet had changed their logos.
While a few brands, including Bul let rice, Kesarkali rice, Lal Qilla basmati rice, Double Horse urad dal and Shivling tur dal re Shivling tur dal retained their registered trademarks as they didn't want to lose the reputation earned over the years, many had applied for deregistration. Trade bodies said manufacturers were thinking of withdrawing deregistration applications.
"Not just GST, even food regula tions bring manufacturers under the tax net if they sell packaged products. Hence, we will get to see more authentic brands in the market in the coming days," said J R Bangera, former president, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI).
According to the Food Safety and Security Act, it is mandatory to print details, including name of the manufacturer (refining mill) and date of manufacturing on the pack. The GST Council has made it clear that food packets with anything printed on them will attract tax.
Food merchants, however, are not happy with the Centre's move to tax packaged food, which was exempted under the Value Added Tax (VAT) regimen. "We are demanding that food items be exempted from tax. Another option is to put them under a special slab of 1%. When it can be done in the case of gold (2%), why not for food, which is more essential," said Lahoti.
Chutney won't be dear anymore
The GST Council has reduced tax on fried gram and dried tamarind from 12% to 5%. This is expected to pacify hoteliers who had threatened to charge tax on chutney separately. Their grouse -the input cost of chutney had gone up with the imposition of 2% GST on fried gram.
Fix GSTN portal, say traders
While the trader community has welcomed the Centre's move to extend the deadline for filing of tax returns to t October 10, they urged the government to rectify glitches in the GSTN portal. "The government should focus on d encouraging timely compliance by providing proper infrastructure rather than extending deadlines. They must ensure the portal is d working properly," said B T Manohar, chairman, taxation committee, FKCCI. The Centre has appointed a group of n ministers to look into the technical snag.
Handmade, khadi products exempted from tax
The tax denial satyagraha observed by artisans has yielded partial results. The council had agreed to exempt handicrafts and khadi garments from GST.But handloom products continue to attract tax. While fabrics and garments priced less than Rs 1,000 are taxed at 5%, those priced more than Rs 1,000 attact a levy of 12%.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/after-clarity-from-gst-council-food-brands-likely-to-reappear-on-shelves/articleshow/60472819.cms
