USA Rice Retail
Partnerships Result in Strong Consumer Outreach
By Cameron Jacobs
ARLINGTON, VA -- In support of
National Rice Month (NRM), USA Rice is working with retail dietitians to remind
shoppers to Think Ricebefore, during, and after their shopping experience. By providing quality U.S. rice focused
content to retail dietitians that can be incorporated into supermarket
activities and communications, the partnerships have already yielded more than
10.3 million consumer impressions just halfway through the month.
"With ninety-five percent of
stores employing dietitians at the corporate, regional, and store levels, it
was imperative that USA Rice partner with, and supply content for, these
dietitians as they developed nutrition programs to help consumers make healthy
food choices, while supporting retail grocery sales," said Paul Galvani,
chairman of the USA Rice Retail Subcommittee.
Retail dietitians from six grocery
store chains have participated in the National Rice Month campaign, including
Big Y, Coborn's, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, Pyramid Foods, Redner's, and Weis.
"The results of these
partnerships speak for themselves," said Galvani. "With more than 10 million impressions
by the midpoint of National Rice Month, we know our message is being received
by consumers."
In addition to printed and digital
efforts by the dieticians, other unique U.S. rice focused planned promotions
include Coborn's Wednesday Lunch and Learn featuring National Rice Month, in
combination with National Family Meals Month, and Price Cutter's, a division of
Pyramid Foods, "Getting Fancy with USA Rice" Food Demonstration.
In addition to the impressions
stemming from supermarket outreach, coverage from local news and other
organizations have also garnered 754,351 impressions as of mid-month.
Galvani concluded, "With almost
half a month left of planned partner promotions, we are excited to see the
final outreach and retail sales figures.
USA Rice's NRM retail dietician program continues to be a success in
promoting U.S. rice awareness and consumption, while helping shoppers make
healthy food choices."
Sharon Schweitzer,
ContributorInternational Protocol Expert, Best Selling Author, Cross-Cultural
Consultant
One Grain At A Time:
Celebrating National Rice Month
September is National Rice Month celebrating the harvest
of rice, a staple consumed by
nearly half of the world’s population. Rice consumption is especially strong in
Asian and African countries, however is also common in the Americas.
Rice has important social,
religious, and cultural significance around the world. If you’re traveling
abroad during National Rice Month, learning about these facts can help you
start intelligent conversations with your colleagues and family members.
Asia
India and Thailand are the world’s
leading exporters of rice, with the U.S. ranking third, according to the 2016 rice exports. So it’s no surprise that rice
is an essential part of Asian cuisine. It is delicious steamed, stir-fried,
boiled, or mixed – the possibilities are endless. It can be served sweet,
savory, spicy, or salty. Numerous types of rice are available to accompany the
appropriate meal.
Rice has significant social
meaning. In Korea, rice is translated to ssal,
but once cooked it is referred to as bap. When Koreans greet each other,
they will often ask “Did you eat?” which may sound strange to Westerners
but bap, or
cooked rice connotes a meal and it is often used as a tool for socializing. In
Korean culture, people usually share food, or bap with each other, which
signifies friendship and fondness.
Rice also symbolizes fertility,
luck, and wealth in Chinese culture. During
Chinese New Year, there is a sticky rice cake called nian
gao. It is considered good luck to eat nian gao because
it symbolizes prosperity for the following year. The New Year greeting, Nian Gao
Sheng translates to wish people advancement toward higher
positions of prosperity.
Rice is considered highly sacred
throughout Asia. In India, rice has a
spiritual and ritual significance. It’s used in various Hindu rituals and also
in some of the Hindu samskaras, or ceremonies that mark
a major event in one’s life. Rice is also used in harvest festivals. In Southeast Asia, Dewi Sri is a rice goddess
referred to as “Rice Mother” or “Rice Maiden.” There are numerous rituals that
celebrate good harvest.
Africa
In sub-Saharan Africa, rice
is the fastest growing staple food. Rapid urbanization in West Africa has increased the demand for
rice instead of traditional staples. There are holidays such as “World Jollof
Day” that celebrates Jollof – a dish composed of
rice, tomatoes and onions – that you eat at parties, ceremonies, weddings and
even funerals.
North America
North American exports supplied 9.6 percent of global rice exports followed
by Europe and Latin America. The United States is a major exporter of rice, mainly produced in
the South and in California. Its main markets are focused in Canada, Haiti,
Japan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Rice is more than a simple
carbohydrate with a meal. In many parts of the world, rice embodies various
social, cultural, and religious traditions. Wherever you may be across the
globe, celebrate National Rice Month by understanding what goes behind the
small grain.
Sharon Schweitzer, J.D., is a cross-cultural
trainer, modern manners expert, and the founder of Access to Culture. In
addition to her accreditation in intercultural management from the HOFSTEDE
centre, she serves as a Chinese Ceremonial Dining Etiquette Specialist in the
documentary series Confucius was a Foodie, on Nat
Geo People. She is the resident etiquette expert on two popular
lifestyle shows: ABC Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend and CBS Austin’s We Are Austin. She is
regularly quoted by BBC Capital, Investor’s Business Daily, Fortune, and the
National Business Journals. Her Amazon #1 Best Selling book in International
Business, Access to Asia: Your
Multicultural Business Guide, now in its third printing, was named
to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2015. She’s a winner of the British Airways
International Trade Award at the 2016 Greater Austin Business Awards.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/one-grain-at-a-time-celebrating-national-rice-month_us_59c159c6e4b0f96732cbc99f
Pakistan awaiting US companies to invest in diverse fields: Abbasi
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shahid
Khaqan Abbasi says Pakistan is looking forward for more American companies to
invest in diverse fields in Pakistan.
Vice President of General Electric
(GE) John Rice called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in New York on
Tuesday. Rice said that Pakistan was a very important market for General
Electric. “We are committed to expanding our business in Pakistan,” the vice
president said. Rice expressed his desire for investment in locomotives
fabrication and health sector system delivery.
Appreciating the long association
of General Electric with Pakistan, the prime minister said that Pakistan had
been benefiting immensely from the expertise of the company. Abbasi said that
Pakistan was open to investment by foreign companies.
Premier Abbasi has arrived in New
York to attend the 72nd annual session of the United Nations.Meanwhile, Prime
Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that Pakistan-Turkey relations are based
on common faith, values, culture, history, mutual trust and support. He said
that the linkages between the people of the two countries had transformed into
a strategic partnership that is strengthening with each passing day.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
on Tuesday met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the
UNGA Session in New York. The two leaders had an in-depth exchange of views
about the strengthening of reviewed regional peace and security situation.
The two leaders emphasised that the
two countries should continue to attach special focus on enhancing economic
cooperation and work together for early finalization of the Free Trade
Agreement for boosting the bilateral trade.
Prime Minister Abbasi said that
Pakistan and Turkey extended support to each other on the issues of their vital
national interests. He thanked the Turkish president for Turkey’s unflinching
support to the struggle of the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
President Erdogan appreciated the
strengthening of the bilateral relations through concrete cooperation in
various fields and the commonality of views between the two countries on key international
and regional issues. He reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment for continued endeavours
for strengthening of the mutually beneficial strategic partnership.
The two leaders also exchanged
views on the regional situation. On the efforts for peace and stability in
Afghanistan they agreed that there was no military solution of the Afghan
conflict and the efforts should continue for a regional approach for an
internal political settlement in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned Afghan-led
peace process.
Both the leaders agreed on the
revival of the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Turkey trilateral process for promoting
lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. Discussing the plight of Rohingya
Muslims President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi urged the
international community and the OIC to take urgent measures to alleviate the
suffering of these people.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/231171-Pakistan-awaiting-US-companies-to-invest-in-diverse-fields-Abbasi
China offers help in
boosting rice production
By APP
Published: September 19, 2017
LAHORE: Chinese scientists are ready to help Pakistan
in increasing rice production, head of a delegation of Chinese scientists Dr
Wang said during their visit to Rice Research Institute (RRI) at Kala Shah Kaku
on Monday.
RRI Director Muhammad Akhtar welcomed the
visitors. Both sides stressed the need for increasing liaison between the Rice
Research Institute and Chinese Long Ping Hi-tech for preparing rice varieties
with higher yield.
Muhammad Anjum Ali, a senior official of the
Punjab Agriculture Department, suggested promoting hybrid rice varieties to
increase per acre yield of paddy. He said that hybrid varieties will decrease
the cost of production of the rice crop and ultimately increase exports.
The delegation will visit all the rice
producing areas and give recommendations.
Published in The Express
Tribune, September 19th, 2017.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1510146/china-offers-help-boosting-rice-production/
Pakistan taking
major steps for ease of doing business: Canadian HC
Minister says JWG on Trade and Investment working on exploring ways to
promote trade
ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Commerce and
Textile, Mohammad Pervaiz Malik has said that trade between Pakistan and Canada
stood at $0.91 billion during the FY2016-17, saying that there is tremendous
potential between the two countries to increase the bilateral trade. He stated
this while talking to Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Perry John
Calderwood who called him here on Tuesday.
The minister welcomed the Canadian High
Commissioner and also thanked him for the letter of facilitation and invitation
to visit Canada, extended by Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canadian Commerce
Minister.
He also shared his intention to visit Canada
soon to discuss ways and means to bolster the already cordial trade relations
between the two countries.
Mohammad Pervaiz Malik said that Pakistan’s
major exports to the Canada include rice, made up articles of textiles
material, articles of apparel and major imports from Canada are grain oil seeds
and pulses, vegetable preparations machinery and its parts, pharmaceutical
products, oil-seed & chemicals.
The minister further said that Canada-Pakistan
Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment is working on exploring ways to
promote bilateral trade. He also asked Canadian side to come up with their
recommendations on proposal to conduct a Joint Study for promotion of bilateral
trade.
He informed the Canadian High Commissioner that
the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) agreed to adopt mutually agreed scientific solution to the
problem of fumigation of Canadian exports to Pakistan to ensure food safety
standards and said that with the support of CFIA the DPP has completed
technical and legal evaluation of the information provided by CFIA and now
await invitation from CFIA to DPP experts for on-the-spot inspection of
integrated measures employed in Canada to ascertain export of quarantine free
cargo to Pakistan.
Mohammad Pervaiz Malik further said that the
security situation in Pakistan has significantly improved & economic and
social indicators are on the rise in Pakistan and Pakistan offers a lucrative
market for investment.
Canadian High Commissioner, Perry John
Calderwood congratulated Mohammad Pervaiz Malik on becoming the Commerce
Minister and said that there has been a substantial improvement in the security
situation in Pakistan and Pakistan is also taking major steps for ease of doing
business which makes the Pakistani market very lucrative for Canadian
businesses and investors.
He informed the Commerce Minister that Canada
has already made significant investment in solar energy projects in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Canadian High Commissioner said that there has
been a solid foundation of Pakistan and Canada trade relations and now a
sustained effort is needed to build on that foundation and increase the
bilateral trade. He also expressed need to bring the Pakistani and Canadian
businesses together so that they get understanding of businesses in both
countries and explore new investment opportunities.
Later on, Erik Beishembiev, Kyrgyz Ambassador
to Pakistan called on the Federal Minister for Commerce and Textile Mohammad
Pervaiz Malik.
He asked the Commerce Minister for the support
of Pakistan in activation of Trade and Economic Council between the chambers of
the two countries and providing training to Kyrgyz officers on GSP Plus. The
Commerce minister welcomed the Kyrgyz ambassador to the ministry and assured
him of full support and facilitation. The minister also promised to speed up
the work on activation of Trade and Economic Council
http://nation.com.pk/business/20-Sep-2017/pakistan-taking-major-steps-for-ease-of-doing-business-canadian-hc
Rice traders pledge to curb prices as govt allows plastic sacks
for import
·
Published
at 07:37 PM September 19, 2017
·
Last
updated at 09:37 PM September 19, 2017
The prices of
almost all types of rice at most of the kitchen markets in Dhaka increased by
Tk10 per kg in the past week
Rice millers and importers have
assured that the hiked prices will go down by at least Tk2-3 per kg very soon
as the government has allowed using plastic sacks for packaging instead of jute
sacks.They made the pledge instantly after Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed
suspended for three months the 2014 government order that made use of jute
sacks mandatory for importing, transportation, preservation, stocking and
marketing of rice.Tofail’s decision came at a meeting, chaired by Food Minister
Qamrul Islam, with the traders at the Secretariat on Tuesday in a bid to bring
down the climbing prices of the food grain.
“The government has also promised
to take steps to remove the barriers in importing rice from other countries.
This will help us,” said KM Layek Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Auto,
Major and Husking Mill Owners’ Association.Encouraging the private traders, the
commerce minister said: “From now on, import and market rice in whatever
packaging you can. I’ll notify the NBR and Customs. No one will stop you. This
will remain effective for next three months.”“There is no food shortage in the
country. Even if there is any shortage, we’ll meet the demand through
government to government agreements and private sector will import the rest,”
he added.
Tofail said he also would talk to
the concerned authorities in getting rid of the hurdles in rice import.To meet
any shortage, Food Minister Qamrul said: “The government will soon launch open
market sell (OMS) of rice at upazila level while suspending programmes like
Food For Work immediately.”Meanwhile, the Food Directorate’s recent OMSs
witnessed lacklustre response as people are not habituated with unboiled (Atap)
rice, OMS representative Syed Bin Kawsar told the Dhaka Tribune.
After the latest price hike, the
OMSs were launched at Dhaka’s different points for the lower income people,
selling per kg unboiled rice at Tk30 and flour at Tk17 a kg.Kawsar said they
were suffering losses as most people were only buying flour.Millers and
importers on Tuesday also complained that using jute sacks when importing rice
raises their cost by Tk1 per kg. But plastic sacks cost just 15-16 paisa.
They claimed using plastic sacks
will curb the import cost by at least Tk2 per kg, and gradually bring the rice
prices in the local markets down.Prices of all types of rice at the kitchen
markets in Dhaka have increased by Tk10 per kg in the past week, due to several
reasons including floods and illegal storage by millers and traders.According
to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, the markets have seen Tk18-20 hike in per
kg rice from last month’s prices and Tk29-50 from last year’s prices.
On Tuesday, Najirshail rice was
sold at Tk70-72 per kg and different coarse rice (Swarna and Paijam) at Tk55.
Last week, coarse rice prices were between Tk42 and Tk44.Fine grain Miniket’s
price is also up to Tk65 from Tk55 per kg, and BR-28 is at Tk58-60 from Tk48-50
http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/commerce/2017/09/19/govt-allows-plastic-sacks-for-rice-import-to-tackle-price-hike/
Govt wasn't alert to depleting
stock
12:00
AM, September 20, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 02:40 AM, September 20, 2017
Allege rice traders over price spiral; ministers accuse them of
hiking price on fake news
Rice
traders, shop staff and workers gather at Chalpotti in Chittagong's Khatunganj
area yesterday afternoon after a mobile court of the district administration
jailed and fined the manager of a wholesale rice trader for hoarding and
charging a high price. Photo: Prabir Das
Staff
Correspondent
Following a blame game over volatility in the rice market, the
government and rice traders reached some decisions yesterday to help rein in
the price of the staple that has hit an all-time high.
The decisions include allowing traders and millers to pack rice in
plastic bags instead of relatively pricey jute sacks, and expanding the Open
Market Sale programme from district to upazila level. Under the OMS, rice is
being sold at a subsidised rate of Tk 30.
Rice traders have assured the government of helping reduce the
prices by Tk 2 to 3 per kg at the earliest. But they accused the government of
pursuing wrong policies all along this season, which contributed to the price
spiral.
At a meeting with three ministers at the Secretariat, rice millers
and traders said the government was not mindful of its low food stock. It
retained a high import duty on rice even after huge crop loss in the haor areas
and failed to procure rice from farmers and millers for offering poor
price.
On the other hand, the ministers
accused rice traders of hiking prices arbitrarily following fake news that
India slapped a ban on rice export.Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury,
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Food Minister Qamrul Islam and food officials
sat with the traders represented by Bangladesh Rice Millers Association
President Abdur Rashid, its General Secretary Layek Ali and several others.
Former food minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque was also present.At the meeting,
Qamrul said his ministry postponed the Tk 10 a kg rice programme for 50 lakh
ultra-poor for the time being and would rather go for a wider OMS programme in
all upazilas from today.
This time, the government increased the subsidised price of rice
to Tk 30 a kg from Tk 15 last year. Yet, the new price is at least Tk 20 a kg
lower than the current market price of coarse rice.
Responding to a demand from the traders, Tofail told the meeting
that traders would be allowed to pack rice in plastic bags instead of jute
sacks.Traders said the decision would help them reduce rice price by at least
Tk 1.5 a kg. Matia spoke of higher Aus yield this season.Razzaque
said the crop loss this year would be much more than 20 lakh tonnes.He pointed
out that Boro crop was damaged not only by flash floods, but also by fungal
attack.The former food minister also said the government needs to give top
priority to the Public Food Distribution System.Millers' leader Layek Ali said
prices of the staple would come down by Tk 2 to 3 a kg very soon, as the
government has agreed to allow plastic bag packaging and facilitate transport
of imported rice on a priority basis.
Rice traders alleged that the food ministry didn't pay any
attention to a fast depleting government food stock and responded late to the
urgency of replenishing the rice reserve after the Haor deluge.
They blamed the government for the failure to raise its stock and
the delay in reducing the high import duty on rice.A rice miller from Dinajpur
said the government's domestic rice procurement programme in the Boro season
failed mainly due to its offer of low price."I incurred a loss of Tk 2
crore for providing the government with 7,500 tonnes of rice." Yet, the
government didn't increase the purchase price, he claimed.
Traders and millers told the meeting that the government refused
to give better price for homegrown rice but it later procured the staple from
abroad at much higher prices.Chitta Majumder, a leading private rice importer,
said that if the government had cut duty on rice right after the flash
flood-induced crop loss, a situation like this would not have arisen in the
first place.
A rice trader from Joypurhat was also critical of the government's
foot-dragging in reducing import duty.“Instead of slashing the import duty at
one go, the government did it in phases. And every time the government reduced
duty, Indian exporters hiked rice prices."
http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/govt-wasnt-alert-depleting-stock-1464646
Nduom to launch rice revolution
in Ghana
Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, President
of Groupe Nduom is set to launch a rice revolution in Ghana by October or early
November this year that will help reduce the importation of rice into the
country.
He believes in the next four years Ghana wouldn’t have to import rice again as the country will now produce its own rice which will cut down imports from countries like China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India estimated at $1.5 billion every year.
According to him, his vision of achieving that led him to Worawora in the Volta Region where he acquired a defunct rice mill factory which he refurbished and invested in to be operational again.Construction of a rice mill factory is also underway at Bereku in the Central Region and Karaga in the Northern Region. He intends to build two more of the rice factory in different regions.
Groupe Nduom last year in October officially opened the Worawora rice mill factory which will produce “Edwumawura” perfumed rice in an effort to promote made in Ghana products.
He believes in the next four years Ghana wouldn’t have to import rice again as the country will now produce its own rice which will cut down imports from countries like China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India estimated at $1.5 billion every year.
According to him, his vision of achieving that led him to Worawora in the Volta Region where he acquired a defunct rice mill factory which he refurbished and invested in to be operational again.Construction of a rice mill factory is also underway at Bereku in the Central Region and Karaga in the Northern Region. He intends to build two more of the rice factory in different regions.
Groupe Nduom last year in October officially opened the Worawora rice mill factory which will produce “Edwumawura” perfumed rice in an effort to promote made in Ghana products.
Strict monitoring of rice market
demanded
Staff
Correspondent
12:00
AM, September 20, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 11:55 PM, September 19, 2017
The government must launch a strict market monitoring system
across the country to control the hike of rice price, socio-political
organisations demanded at a press conference yesterday.
The organisations also recommended introducing a rationing system
for all citizens as many people with middle-income hesitate to buy essential
goods offered on open market sale (OMS).
Bangladesh Sadharon Nagarik Samaj, a civil society platform,
organised the conference at Jatiya Press Club.
Mohiuddin Ahmed, convenor of the platform, alleged that a
syndicate of rice mill owners created an “artificial” crisis in the rice market
on the pretext of the recent flood, bad weather, and Rohingya exodus into the
country.
“The government claims that the country has a surplus of rice
production. Then, where is the extra rice?” he asked.
Razekuzzaman Ratan, a central leader of Socialist Party of
Bangladesh; Prof Humayun Kabir Hiru, former lawmaker, and Delwar Hossain,
chairman of Bangladesh Karmasangsthan Andolon, also spoke at the conference.
http://www.thedailystar.net/city/strict-monitoring-rice-market-demanded-1464676
Foodgrain output may drop 2.5% in
Kharif season this year
NEW DELHI, SEP
21:
India’s foodgrain production may
decline by 3.5 million tonnes to around 135 million ton (MT) in the current
kharif season due to floods and dry spell in some parts of the country,
official sources said.The country had produced a record 138.52 mt in the kharif
season of 2016–17 crop year (July–June) on good monsoon rains.
According to the sources, the
overall production of Kharif foodgrains (comprising rice, pulses and coarse
cereals) is likely to be around 135 mt in the current season. Sowing for Kharif
crops begins around July and harvesting takes place from October.
“The fall is mainly due to less
acreage under paddy and pulses in the wake of poor rains and depressed prices
of lentils,” they added.
“Rice output is estimated to drop
to around 95 mt from 96.39 mt in last kharif season,” sources said, adding that
marginal fall is also expected in pulses. However, the output of coarse cereals
will be normal during the kharif season.This is the initial assessment of the
kharif crops and output may be revised upwards as farmers may go for late
sowing in flood-hit areas. Also, rains have revived in some states like
Karnataka which witnessed dry spell in June–July.Till September 8, area sown to
rice remained down at 371.46 lakh hectare (LH) as against 376.89 lh in the
year-ago period, as per the official data.
Similarly, pulses acreage is also
down at 139.17 lh from 144.84 lh, while that of coarse cereals area at 183.43
lh from 186.06 lh in the said period.
For instance in Karnataka, the
state official said that kharif foodgrain output could decline by about 25 per
cent to 7.5 million tonnes this year.“Due to lack of rains in crucial months of
June and July, sowing could not take place. Therefore, not much area was
covered under kharif crops. We expect 25 per cent drop in kharif output,” G S
Srinivasa Reddy, Director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre
told PTI.
Last year, the kharif output was
98.27 lakh tonnes. The production target for the current year is 100.80 lakh
tonnes, as per the state data.Assam, Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan witnessed
floods, while parts of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu faced dry spell.Earlier
this week,S K Pattanayak, Agriculture Secretary, had said that southwest
monsoon, which is key to kharif crops, has been “more or less normal, except in
a few pockets.”
“The situation in parts of
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Peninsular India, which witnessed less rain,
has improved in the last two weeks,” he added.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/foodgrain-output-may-drop-25-in-kharif-season-this-year/article9867228.ece
Government to ensure adequate protection for farmers in law
abolishing rice QR
September 20, 2017
Lawmakers and government
officials are keen on retaining the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to
issue import permits (IPs) as a measure to regulate the entry of imported rice
into the country.
This was evident during the House
Committee on Food and Agriculture Technical Working Group’s (TWG) deliberations
on the initial draft of the substitute bill amending Republic Act (RA) 8178, or
the Agricultural Tariffication Act, on September 19.
The amendment will abolish the
quantitive-restriction (QR) scheme on rice imports, as committed by the
Philippines to the World Trade Organization.
The chairman of the TWG,
Party-list Rep. Jose T. Panganiban Jr. of Anac-IP, said he is amenable to
retaining the power of the NFA to issue IPs, but not as the sole authority to
import rice.
“The permit shall come from the
NFA, but to give them the sole authority to import all rice requirement, in
fact, that is where I disagree,” said Panganiban, who also chairs the House
Committee on Food and Agriculture.
During the TWG, Rep. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo of the Second District of Pampanga proposed that the
government adopt an import-licensing regime that would ensure regulation of
rice imports in the country. Arroyo noted that this kind of measure would
shield local farmers from adverse effects caused by sudden influx of cheaper
rice from abroad.
Meanwhile, Agriculture
Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo R. Serrano supported the
proposal of maintaining the government’s authority to issue IPs, adding that a
set of guidelines should be developed in issuing such.
“There could be a multisectoral
[committee] tasked by law to develop guidelines in the issuance of import
licences. Whether the import licensing remains within the NFA or other
agencies, we do not have any problem with that,” he said.
“As for the proposal to confine
the NFA’s authority to buffer stocking and emergency importation, we can
conform with that as long as the import-licensing provision of the NFA is
retained with adequate guidelines,” he added. The agriculture official pointed
out that aside from higher tariffs, having an import-licensing regime would
also serve as mechanism to protect local farmers from cheaper rice imports.
Serrano pointed out that without
an import license or permit, a rice trader cannot bring in any imports.
“We propose in this bill that we
preserved the import licensing for rice. There’s no much higher protection than
import licensing…you can have a 1,000-percent tariff rate but if you do not
have an import licensing then you are just as open as everybody else. I think
the combination of applied tariffs that are not too high but pleasurable enough
and the administration of import licensing by the NFA, or whatever agency that
will administer it, will provide our farmers the protection,” he added.
The TWG later on included three
provisions relating to the NFA in the draft of the substitute bill after
no objection was made during the deliberations.
“So, we agree to confine the
power of the NFA to import only for buffer stocking and emergency. We also
maintain its current import-licensing power,” Panganiban said.
However, the TWG deferred other
discussions relating to other powers of the NFA, such as market interventions,
to a later meeting.
In its position paper submitted
to Panganiban, NFA Administrator Jason Aquino said the state-run food agency
should maintain its import-licensing authority even after the removal of the QR
on rice.
“The NFA will still monitor and
regulate all rice imports. During the transition period, the NFA should still
retain its present regulatory powers, i.e., issuance of import permits,” Aqunio
said in the position paper dated August 31, a copy of which was obtained by the
BusinessMirror.
“After the transition period, the
NFA should still be allowed to continue to license all those engaged in the
rice business, to properly monitor the volume and arrival of all rice imports,
and compliance to Food Safety Act,” Aquino added.
At present, the NFA regulates the
country’s rice importation by dividing the current import quota to licensed and
accredited traders and importers.
Any interested rice trader shall
comply with the requirements outlined by NFA’s minimum access volume (MAV)
guidelines.
For example, interested importers
should file their letter of intent, after which the NFA MAV prequalification
team will conduct the validation and authentication of all the requirements
submitted by the applicants.
The team will also verify if the
applicant is a party to any case or investigation for rice smuggling, hoarding,
unauthorized rebagging or resacking of government stocks to commercial sacks,
diversion and cornering activities. After this, a Certificate of Eligibility
shall be issued to qualified applicants.
Under the guidelines, all rice
importers are also required to register with the Bureau Plant Industry-National
Plant Quarantine Services Division prior to the conduct of negotiation and
actual importation.
Also, a private trader could only
secure an IP from the NFA upon payment of a P5,000 processing fee per bill of
lading, according to the agency’s MAV 2017 Guidelines.
The issuance of IP shall also be
on a per bill of lading basis, according to the MAV 2017 guidelines, which was
approved by the NFA Council. The NFA Council is the highest policy-making body
of the NFA, which is chaired by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/government-to-ensure-adequate-protection-for-farmers-in-law-abolishing-rice-qr/l
Rice
production seen hitting 3.36 MMT in Q3
September 20, 2017
Despite the projected reduction
in palay harvest area and yield, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said
paddy-rice output in the July-to-September period would still reach 3.36
million metric tons (MMT).
In its report published on September
20, titled “Updates on July-September 2017 Palay and Corn”, the PSA revised
downward its forecast for unmilled rice production to 3.36 MMT, from 3.39 MMT.
“The probable decrement in palay
production may be attributed to reduction in harvest area and yield caused by
flash floods in South and North Cotabato; lower yield in Sultan Kudarat, Lanao
Sur and Maguindanao,”the report read.
“[Also] late plantings due to
late release of irrigation water in Bulacan, rice blast infestation in Negros
Oriental, and occurrence of tungro in Aurora during vegetative stage of the
crop [would cut output],”it added.
The PSA also noted that harvest
area may contract by 0.10 percent to 851,757 hectares, from 852,610 hectares.
Yield per hectare could also fall to 3.95 MT, from 3.98 MT.
The projected harvest area in the
third quarter, however, is bigger than last year’s record of 745,140 hectares.
PSA data also showed that its
latest palay production forecast is still higher by 13.3 percent than the 2.969
MMT produced in the same period last year.
The report noted that about
123,930 hectares, or 15 percent, of the updated standing crop for the
July-to-September period have been harvested.
The PSA added that around 1.3
million hectares, or 70.7 percent, of the farmers’s planting intentions for the
fourth quarter have materialized.
“Of the [2.028 million] hectares
standing palay crop, 73 percent were at vegetative stage, 18.2 percent at
reproductive stage and 8.8 percent at maturing stage,” the report read.
The expected increase in the
country’s paddy-rice output this year prompted the United States Department of
Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to revise downward its
projection for Philippine rice imports this year to 1.1 MMT, from 1.6 MMT.
In its Global Agriculture
Information Network report, FAS said Philippine rice harvest area in
marketing year 2016-2017 could expand to 4.705 million hectares, 2.28 percent
bigger than the FAS’s previous forecast of 4.6 million hectares.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/rice-production-seen-hitting-3-36-mmt-in-q3/
Mexican red rice
Serves 6
Mexican red rice
First published:Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 06:00
·
Serves:
6
·
Cooking
Time: 30 mins
·
Course:
Main Course
·
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
·
2tbs
olive oil
·
300g
carrots, peeled and diced
·
125g
spring onions, sliced including the green tops
·
1
clove garlic, crushed
·
2tsp
smoked sweet paprika
·
1tsp
ground cumin
·
400g
tinned chopped tomatoes
·
300g
brown basmati rice
·
450ml
water
·
230g
cooked kidney beans, drained
·
20g
fresh coriander, roughly chopped
·
·
TO
SERVE
·
Extra
fresh spring onion and coriander to garnish
·
Wedges
of lime
·
Jalapeno
peppers
·
Tomato
salsa
Method
Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pan. Add the spring
onions and carrot. Sauté for five minutes, stirring, before adding the garlic
and spices. Stir for another minute to toast the spices, then pour in the
tomatoes and water. Season well with salt. Bring to the boil, then add the
rice. Leave to simmer with the lid on for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add
the kidney beans and stir thoroughly with a fork. Place the lid back on and
leave to steam for a further 10 minutes. Gently stir through the fresh
coriander. Scatter with additional coriander and freshly sliced spring onions
before serving. Serve with wedges of lime, tomato salsa and sliced jalapeño
peppers.
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/recipes/mexican-red-rice-1.3226840?localLinksEnabled=false
Government
wants high tariff to replace rice QR
September 19, 2017
The Philippines could
impose a maximum tariff rate of 400 percent on rice imports to give the
government enough elbow room to balance the interest of farmers and consumers.
The bound tariff rate of 400
percent was adopted by a technical working group (TWG) of the House Committee
on Agriculture and Food and included in the draft of the substitute bill that
would amend Republic Act (RA) 8178. RA 8178 allowed the government to regulate
the entry of imported rice via the quantitative-restriction (QR) scheme.
During the TWG’s deliberations on
Tuesday at the House of Representatives, Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of
Pampanga said a high bound rate would afford the government flexibilities
in imposing tariffs on rice. “We should just specify in the law that it will be
a bound rate and just leave it to the President to determine the applied rate,”
Arroyo said.
The Pampanga lawmaker earlier
said the Philippines must interpret its agreements and commitments to its favor
and had made a pitch for a 700-percent bound tariff rate.
Some members of the TWG, however,
expressed apprehension that imposing a high tariff rate could encourage
smuggling, which could harm rice farmers.
Officials from the National
Economic and Development Authority, (Neda) Department of Agriculture (DA),
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Tariff Commission and representatives from
the private sector attended the meeting of the TWG.
The TWG, chaired by Party-list
Rep. Jose T. Panganiban Jr. of ANAC-IP, said the maximum tariff rate should
only be slapped on rice imports outside of Manila’s minimum access volume (MAV)
of 350,000 metric tons (MT).
Agriculture Undersecretary for
Policy and Planning Segfredo R. Serrano said the government should slap a
tariff of 35 percent on rice imports from Asean, regardless of volume. Serrano
added that a 40-percent tariff rate should serve as the country’s most favored
nation (MFN) rate for rice imports within the MAV.
“The MAV will revert back to its
2012 level at 350,000 MT, because under the terms of the waiver of the World
Trade Organization [WTO], we can revert back to the original volume as
indiciated in the Philippines’s commitment to the WTO,” Serrano said.
“So, we proposed a 35-percent
tariff for rice imports from Asean member-states pursuant to the Asean Trade in
Goods Agreement and 40-percent MFN rate for imports within the 350,000 MT MAV
for WTO member-countries,” he added.
Serrano disclosed the DA’s
proposed bound rate for rice imports outside of the MAV was 150 percent, which
was calculated based on the formula stipulated under the special-treatment
provision of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).
The 150-percent bound rate shall
only apply to rice imports from other countries that are not members of Asean,
according to Serrano.
“We used the formula to calculate
for this 150 percent, so it is something that we can support with data. You can
go higher than that but we are supporting 150 percent with evidence,” he said.
Annex 5 of the AoA states that the
tariff equivalent of converting any nontariff measures shall be based on the
difference between the domestic price and international price (cost, insurance
and freight unit value, or CIF) of the commodity for 1986 to 1988.
Paragraph 10 of the Annex 5 states
that the tariff equivalent coming from the formula “shall be bound in the
schedule of the member concerned”. Bound tariffs are maximum tariff rates that
a WTO member-country could impose on a certain commodity.
The authority to set bound
tariffs is vested in Congress. But under the Customs Modernization and Tariff
Act, the President, upon the recommendation of the Neda, has the power to
modify the tariffs applied on Philippine imports. The Philippines is now under
pressure to convert its QR on rice into ordinary customs duties after its
waiver on the special treatment on rice expired on June 30.
The WTO General Council approved
the waiver, which allowed Manila to keep its rice QR until June 30, on the
condition that the Philippines will subject its rice imports to ordinary custom
duties by July 1.
“At the expiration of this
waiver, and no later than June 30, the importation of rice shall be subject to
ordinary customs duties in accordance with paragraph 10 of Annex 5, Section B,
of the Agreement on Agriculture,” the WTO General Council decision read.
In March the Philippines informed
WTO members that it is facing delays in converting the QR due to the
nonamendment of RA 8178, which imposed the import caps on rice indefinitely. As
a sign of “goodwill” to its trading partners, Duterte signed Executive
Order 23 in July, extending the concessions made by the Philippines in securing
the waiver in 2014.
The temporary modification of
most-favored nation-tariff rates is effective until June 30, 2020, or until
such time a law amending certain provisions relating to rice in RA 8178 is
enacted, whichever comes first. Panganiban said the TWG is eyeing to conduct
its last hearing on October 3 to approve the draft of the substitute bill,
which will later be submitted to the House Committee on Food and Agriculture
for deliberations.
“I only want one hearing in the
committee so that the bill will be ready for plenary debates after the
[Halloween break which will start on October 14 and end on November 12],”
Panganiban told the BusinessMirror after the TWG meeting.
He said the House of
Representatives is planning to approve the bill on third and final reading
before the year ends.
With Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
https://businessmirror.com.ph/government-wants-high-tariff-to-replace-rice-qr/
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Septmember 20, 2017
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-September 20
Nagpur, Sept 20 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar price reported storng in
Nagpur Agriculture Produce
and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on increased demand from local
millers amid weak arrival
from producing belts because of rains in parts of Vidarbha. Notable
rise in Madhya Pradesh gram
prices and reported demand from South-based millers also jacked up
prices.
About 500 of gram and 150 bags of tuar were available for auctions,
according to sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties ruled
steady in open market here but demand was poor.
TUAR
* Tuar gavarani firmed up
in open market on renewed demand from local traders amid
tight supply from
producing regions.
* Wheat mill quality and Sharbati
varieties reported down in open market on poor
demand from local
traders amid good supply from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar New –
4,200-4,400, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,200-6,400, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 7,700-8,700, Moong
Mogar (clean) 7,000-7,400, Gram – 5,700-5,900, Gram Super best
– 8,300-8,700
* Other varieties of
wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and
settled at last levels in weak trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC
auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 4,800-5,710 4,800-5,700
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 3,800-4,070 3,600-4,070
Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality
Auction 1,600-1,682 1,572-1,614
Gram Super Best
Bold 8,500-9,000 8,500-9,000
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 7,600-8,000 7,600-8,000
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Desi gram Raw 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Kabuli 12,000-13,000 12,000-13,000
Tuar Fataka
Best-New 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800
Tuar Fataka
Medium-New 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Tuar Dal Best
Phod-New 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Tuar Dal Medium
phod-New 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800
Tuar Gavarani New 4,500-4,600 4,500-4,600
Tuar Karnataka 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Masoor dal best 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500
Masoor dal medium 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
(New) 7,200-7,800 7,200-7,800
Moong Mogar Medium 6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000
Moong dal Chilka 5,500-6,400 5,500-6,400
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Udid Mogar best (100
INR/KG) (New) 8,000-9,000
8,000-9,000
Udid Mogar Medium (100
INR/KG) 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000
Udid Dal Black (100
INR/KG) 5,500-6,500 5,500-6,500
Batri dal (100
INR/KG) 5,200-5,800 5,200-5,800
Lakhodi dal (100
INR/kg) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200
Watana Dal (100
INR/KG) 2,900-3,100 2,900-3,100
Watana Green Best (100
INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400
Wheat 308 (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
Wheat Mill quality (100
INR/KG) 1,700-1,850 1,800-1,900
Wheat Filter (100
INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Wheat Lokwan best (100
INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100
INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100
INR/KG) 3,100-3,600 3,300-3,800
MP Sharbati Medium (100
INR/KG) 2,200-2,700 2,200-2,800
Rice BPT best (100
INR/KG) 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400
Rice BPT medium (100
INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200
Rice Luchai (100
INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,400-2,600
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Rice Swarna medium (100
INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT best (100
INR/KG) 3,800-4,000 3,800-4,000
Rice HMT medium (100
INR/KG) 3,500-3,800 3,500-3,800
Rice Shriram best(100
INR/KG) 4,800-5,200 4,800-5,200
Rice Shriram med (100
INR/KG) 4,500-4,700 4,500-4,700
Rice Basmati best (100
INR/KG) 9,500-13,500 9,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100
INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor best 100
INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Rice Chinnor medium (100
INR/KG) 4,300-4,500 4,300-4,500
Jowar Gavarani (100
INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Jowar CH-5 (100
INR/KG) 1,700-2,000 1,700-2,000
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 34.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 24.3 degree
Celsius
Rainfall : 7.5 mm
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with one or few spells of rains or
thunder-showers. Maximum and
minimum temperature would be around and 31 and 23 degree Celsius
respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices,
butincluded in market prices)
https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-septmember-20-2017-idINL4N1M12T3
Govt to procure 50,000 tons of rice from Thailand
·
Published
at 02:17 AM September 20, 2017
·
Last
updated at 02:22 AM September 20, 2017
Last month,
the government signed two deals with Vietnam and Cambodia to import 2.5 million
tons of rice from each of the countries
The government will procure
50,000 tons of non-bashmoti and parboiled rice from Thailand through an
international tender, official sources have said.The Ministry of Food proposal
to purchase the rice from M/S Sima Trading Company will be placed at today’s
cabinet committee meeting on public purchase, which will be presided over by
Finance Minister AMA Muhith.
The proposal signed by Food
Secretary Md Kaikobad Hossain fixes the cost per metric ton of the staple at
$438, while the total cost of the import stands at $21.9m (Tk181 crore).
According to a recent report of
the Food Ministry, the government has previously failed to import 300,000 tons
of rice from Thailand and India due to price differences between the two
countries and the international market.The proposal put the per unit cost of
import from Thailand at $464 and from India at $454 under the
government-to-government purchases.The Food Ministry had aimed to procure one
million tons of rice from international markets to meet the current shortage in
rice, which fell to a five-year low of 345,000 tons on September 14.
Last month, the government signed
two deals with Vietnam and Cambodia to import 2.5 million tons of rice from
each of the countries.
Earlier, Food Minister Md Qamrul
Islam visited Myanmar to pave the way for 10 million tons of rice to be
imported over the next three years. On Sunday and Monday, a visiting Myanmar
delegate held talks over the issue and decided on supplying 100,000 tons of
non-boiled rice under the current government-to-government purchase at a per
ton cost of $442.The Food Ministry’s recent report reveals that Bangladesh has
become a surplus state in rice production, but this year is an exception due to
natural disasters like flooding.
Qamrul Islam also acknowledged on
Tuesday the failure of internal collection campaign, which he also blamed on
the floods.According to the ministry source, the minister set a target of
800,000 tons of rice collection internally in the current Boro season but by
September 10, only 250,000 tons had been collected.The minister earlier announced
that the government will procure 1.6 million tons of paddy, rice and wheat, of
which 78% was not achieved.After the inter-ministerial meeting of Food and
Expenditure Committee on August 16, Qamrul told reporters that the target of
harvesting 19.1 million tons of Boro paddy was not achieved due to floods in
haor and other areas.
“I did not buy the plan to
procure 700,000 tons of rice and 800,000 tons of wheat,” he said.
Former food secretary Abdul Latif
Mondal told the Dhaka Tribune that the Ministry of Food made a “big mistake” by
not taking necessary steps at the beginning of the crisis.He said it was too
late when the import initiative was taken, and by that time the reserves ended.“The
Food Ministry depends heavily on paper information about the production,” Latif
said, adding that this situation is associated with other issues that have been
brought together at a time.He added that rice price might come down a little by
Tk5 in November, which will still affect the lower-income groups
http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/commerce/2017/09/20/govt-procure-50000-tons-rice-thailand/
Saving paddy
crop amid deficient rain hits groundwater table in Punjab
According to the Met department
around 55 per cent of the total area of the state faced a ‘rain drought’ with
scanty and deficient rainfall
Deficient
rainfall in almost a dozen out of Punjab’s 22 districts has led to
over-exploitation of ground water to irrigate paddy fields in the state.
Groundwater had to be used extensively to save paddy crop on nearly 25 lakh
hectares out of total 29 lakh hectares of area under the ‘rice crop varieties’
in state this year. This area is divided into total 141 agricultural blocks in
the state, out of which 102 agricultural blocks fall under the ‘Dark Zone’.
A
‘Dark Zone’ is an area where groundwater table has sharply declined and the
recharging process is slow. According to the Met department around 55 per cent
of the total area of the state faced a ‘rain drought’ with scanty and deficient
rainfall. Agriculture Department experts said that due to less rain, farmers
only got sufficient water for crop by running their tubewells. Paddy is highly
water intensive crop and to grow one kg of rice one needs 4000 to 4500 litre of
water.
“Punjab
is gearing up for the a bumper ‘paddy crop’ this season with expected yield of
165 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) paddy production, so one can imagine that even if
little less 50 per cent crop was irrigated with groundwater then how much
burden it put on the groundwater table,” said a senior Punjab Agriculture
University (PAU) scientist. JS Bains, Director Punjab Agricultural Department,
said: “There may be rain drought in half of Punjab, but it hardly comes to
‘agricultural drought’ here as our farmers save their crop by spending money
and arranging ground water.”
Govt to stock up on 900,000 tons of rice by Nov
Government has decided to store 900,000 tons of rice by November
12 to rein the rising price of the staple food in local markets File Photo
Coarse rice is now selling at Tk64 in local markets - a record
high for the country. This same rice was sold at Tk38 at the beginning of the
year
The government will stockpile 900,000 tons of rice by November 12
to stem the rising price of the staple food in local markets.
According to the sources in
the Ministry of Food, the per kg rice price has risen by 39% over the last nine
months in Bangladesh’s markets, but by only 6% on the international market. Coarse rice is now
selling at Tk64 in local markets – a record high for the country. This same
rice was sold at Tk38 at the beginning of the year. “We have already taken
steps to import 900,000 tons of rice to ease the upward price pressure,” Food
Secretary Md Kaikobad Hossain told reporters after a cabinet meeting on
Wednesday. “A total of 200,000 tons of rice is now in government storage while
150,000 tons is at the Chittagong port now,” he said. “The remaining 550,000
tons will arrive at Chittagong by November 12.” Finance Minister AMA Muhith
chaired Wednesday’s cabinet committee meeting, which also approved the Food
Ministry’s proposal to import 50,000 tons of non-bashmoti and parboiled rice
from Thailand through an international tender. In local currency, the per kg
price of this rice has been fixed at Tk36. Food Secretary Kaikobad added that
the total import of more than 900,000 tons of rice will be made entirely
through Government-to-Government agreements. “The private sector has no role to
play in this regard,” he said. “It is true that the import cost through
international tender is lower than that of the Government-to-Government
purchase scheme, but the G-to-G initiative ensures product quality.” The food
secretary said sometimes it so happens that awarded firms do not intend to
import rice and do not provide guarantee money to the government, which creates
uncertainty in the local market. This is not seen in G-to-G scheme. The food
ministry aimed to procure 1,000,000 tons of rice from international markets to
meet the rice shortage. Stocks had fallen to a five-year low of 345,000 tons as
at September 14. According to a report of the ministry, the government failed
to import 300,000 metric tons of rice from Thailand and India due to price
differences between the two countries and the international market. The per
unit cost of importing from Thailand was $464 under the
Government-to-Government purchase while that from India was $454. Last month
the government signed two deals with Vietnam and Cambodia respectively to
import two and a half million tons of rice from each of the two countries.
According to the ministry source, food Minister Md Qamrul Islam set the target
of 8,00,000 tons of rice collection internally in the current Boro season. By
September 10, only 250,000 tons had been collected. The minister earlier
announced that the government would procure 1,600,000 tons of paddy, rice and
wheat, 78% of which was not achieved. After the inter-ministerial meeting of
Food and Expenditure Committee on August 16, Qamrul told reporters that the
target of harvesting 19,100,000 tons of Boro paddy was not achieved due to
flood in haor and other areas. “I did not buy the plan to procure 700,000 tons
of rice and 800,000 tons of wheat,” he said, when asked about procurement.
http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/commerce/2017/09/21/govt-stock-900000-tons-rice-nov/
Bangladesh buys 50,000 tonnes rice in tender
DHAKA/HAMBURG:
Bangladesh's state grains buyer has purchased 50,000 tonnes of rice at $438.00
a tonne CIF liner out which was offered in a tender on Sept. 12, officials said
on Wednesday. The proposal received
approval from Bangladesh's cabinet purchase committee on Wednesday, officials
at the state grains buyer said. European
traders said the non-basmati, parboiled rice was likely to be sourced from
Thailand. The rice should be shipped 40
days after the contract signing.
The
seller was Thai-based company Siam Rice Trading. Bangladesh, the world's fourth-biggest rice
producer, has emerged as a major importer this year due to depleted stocks and
record local prices following floods which damaged crops.
The
government is making major efforts to build state reserves. Bangladesh is to buy 100,000 tonnes of rice
from Myanmar, putting aside worsening relations over the Rohingya refugee
crisis as the government seeks to overcome the shortage of Bangladesh's staple
food. Bangladesh's government has
already secured deals to buy rice from Vietnam and Cambodia as domestic stocks
diminished.
http://www.brecorder.com/2017/09/21/370457/bangladesh-buys-50000-tonnes-rice-in-tender/
Abanga farms cultivates 1,200
acre rice farm
A 1,200 acre rice farm has been cultivated at Guo in the North Gonja District
of the Northern Region as part of efforts to increase domestic rice production
as well as ensure food security in the country.
AGRA Rice, which is being promoted by AfricaRice under the Rice Seed Scaling project, is the variety planted on the field, and it is already at booting stage (about to flower).
Abanga Farms, a subsidiary of A&G Agro Mechanical Industries, employs modern mechanized techniques as well as good agronomic practices to ensure high yields.
Mr Thomas Abanga, Director of Abanga Farms, who led a team of agricultural experts to tour the farm, said he invested in commercial rice production to reduce rice importation into the country as well as ensure that agriculture contributed more to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
It is estimated that about 400,000 metric tonnes of milled rice are imported into the country annually.
Mr Abanga said he ventured into commercial rice production to change the dynamics of agriculture in the country to prove “it can be done in Ghana” whiles bringing dignity to agriculture as well as the farming community.
Abanga Farms has earmarked a 4000-acre land for cultivation next year taking advantage of the White Volta at Daboya for irrigation as well as expand its livestock production to use their droppings as organic manure for vegetable production for export.
Mr William Boakye-Acheampong, Northern Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture, commended Abanga Farms for the initiative saying it would contribute to high rice harvest in the country this year.
Dr Wilson Dogbe, Senior Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, described the farm as one of the most impressive large scale rice farms in the country saying it was being managed according to good agronomic practices to guarantee high yields.
Mr Boubakary Cissé, Seed Expert and Country Coordinator of the USAID-Rice Seed Scaling Project, advised rice farmers to emulate the example of Abanga Farms because it used good farming methods to clear the land as well as planted quality seeds, which are key for good harvest
AGRA Rice, which is being promoted by AfricaRice under the Rice Seed Scaling project, is the variety planted on the field, and it is already at booting stage (about to flower).
Abanga Farms, a subsidiary of A&G Agro Mechanical Industries, employs modern mechanized techniques as well as good agronomic practices to ensure high yields.
Mr Thomas Abanga, Director of Abanga Farms, who led a team of agricultural experts to tour the farm, said he invested in commercial rice production to reduce rice importation into the country as well as ensure that agriculture contributed more to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
It is estimated that about 400,000 metric tonnes of milled rice are imported into the country annually.
Mr Abanga said he ventured into commercial rice production to change the dynamics of agriculture in the country to prove “it can be done in Ghana” whiles bringing dignity to agriculture as well as the farming community.
Abanga Farms has earmarked a 4000-acre land for cultivation next year taking advantage of the White Volta at Daboya for irrigation as well as expand its livestock production to use their droppings as organic manure for vegetable production for export.
Mr William Boakye-Acheampong, Northern Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture, commended Abanga Farms for the initiative saying it would contribute to high rice harvest in the country this year.
Dr Wilson Dogbe, Senior Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, described the farm as one of the most impressive large scale rice farms in the country saying it was being managed according to good agronomic practices to guarantee high yields.
Mr Boubakary Cissé, Seed Expert and Country Coordinator of the USAID-Rice Seed Scaling Project, advised rice farmers to emulate the example of Abanga Farms because it used good farming methods to clear the land as well as planted quality seeds, which are key for good harvest
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Abanga-farms-cultivates-1-200-acre-rice-farm-583142
First Chancellor's Fund Research
Grants Awarded for 10 U of A Faculty Proposals
Sep. 21, 2017
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –
More than 30 University of Arkansas faculty have been awarded the first 10
research grants from the Chancellor’s Discovery, Creativity, Innovation and
Collaboration Fund.
The Chancellor’s Fund was established last year to promote
faculty research that addresses several of the U of A’s guiding priorities: to
enhance the university’s research and discovery mission; build a collaborative
and innovative campus; promote innovation in teaching and learning; and
strengthen graduate education. The university is investing up to $1 million a
year in the research grants, the bulk of that money coming from SEC Network and
television revenues allocated by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
There were 75 proposals submitted to the competition, which were reviewed by a panel of
20 faculty and administrators, chaired by Provost and Executive Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jim Coleman.
The Chancellor’s Fund projects that were selected cover a broad
range of research: from finding a way to improve Arkansas’ rice crop to
determining if broccoli can strengthen an infant’s immune system; from
developing a new way to study the brain to bringing greater public attention to
the work of Arkansas architect Fay Jones; from bringing food to those who need
it to establishing the link between smartphone use and neck pain. Several of
the projects use “big data” analysis or the latest in technological and
research developments, but all have practical applications and benefits for
people in Arkansas.
“The panelists and I were impressed with the quality of the
proposals we received,” said Coleman. “Some of these proposals were the crucial
first steps for potentially ground-breaking work, others were collaborations
that would not happen without this particular funding, and all of them showed
the talent and resources of the University of Arkansas and our faculty. It
seemed the only real limitation we faced was the amount of money we had
available.”
The winning grant proposals came from faculty representing 24
academic departments in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences,
the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, the College
of Engineering, the College of Education and Health Professions, the Sam M.
Walton College of Business and the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design.
Researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the
Arkansas Children’s Research Institute are also collaborating on two of the
projects.
These are the research teams that are receiving Chancellor’s
Fund grants, listed in alphabetical order by the lead investigator’s name, with
a brief summary of their proposals. The full abstracts for each of the
proposals are available online.
RECIPIENTS
Bob Beitle Jr., professor of chemical engineering. The research team
includes: Hanna K. Jensen, research assistant professor of biomedical
engineering; Brinck Kerr III, professor of political science; Jeff Amerine,
adjunct instructor of management and founder of Start Up Junkie Consulting.
Project summary: The researchers will develop and assess a new
way of treating a rare disease and determine if a non-profit or start up
business can bring the treatment to market.
Walter G. Bottje, physiologist in poultry science. The research team includes:
Byung-Whi Kong, functional genomics and molecular virologist in poultry
science; Sami Dridi, avian endocrinology and molecular genetics in poultry
science; Doug Rhoades, University Professor of biological sciences; Nicholas P.
Greene, assistant professor of exercise science; Reza Hakkak, professor of
dietetics and nutrition, UAMS and researcher at Arkansas Children’s Research
Institute.
Project summary: The researchers will pursue a joint project
with UAMS and ACRI, using big data analysis to understand fundamental
mechanisms of obesity, while offering training opportunities for students and
faculty at all three institutions to analyze big data.
Jia Di, professor, 21st Century Research Leadership Chair in computer
science and computer engineering. The research team includes: Alan Mantooth,
Distinguished Professor and the Twenty-First Century Research Leadership Chair
in Engineering in electrical engineering; Simon S. Ang, professor of electrical
engineering; Jie Xiao, associate professor and Arkansas Research Alliance
Scholar in Inorganic Chemistry, in chemistry and biochemistry; Trenton L.
Roberts, research assistant professor of soil fertility/soil testing in crop,
soil and environmental sciences.
Project summary: The researchers will develop sensors that can
be placed inside of plants’ stems to determine when they need more, or less,
water and fertilizer, to reduce waste and increase crop yield.
Kevin M. Fitzpatrick, University Professor and Jones Chair in Community, in
sociology. The research team includes: Xuan Shi, assistant professor of
geosciences; Matthew L. Spialek, assistant professor of communication.
Proposal summary: The researchers will develop a comprehensive
database to connect local food recovery efforts with the food insecure in an
effort to increase access, reduce hunger, and develop a mobile food network in
Northwest Arkansas.
Kaitlin Gallagher, assistant professor of health, human performance and
recreation and John Jefferson, associate professor of physical therapy, UAMS.
Proposal summary: The researchers will study how smartphone use
causes neck pain and develop strategies to reduce this pain.
Greg Herman, associate professor of architecture, and David Frederick,
associate professor of classical studies and director of the Tessaract Center.
Proposal summary: The researchers will develop a prototype
website and public-access kiosks to make the homes designed by Arkansas
architect Fay Jones accessible to a wide public audience.
Jae Kyeom Kim, assistant professor of human environmental science. The
research team includes Sabrina P. Trudo, associate professor of human
environmental sciences; Mechelle Bailey, clinical instructor of human
environmental sciences; Jiangchao Ziao, assistant professor of animal sciences;
Allison L. Scott, assistant professor of nursing; Marilou D. Shreve, instructor
of nursing.
Proposal summary: The researchers want to find how diets rich in
broccoli-family vegetables can transform microbes living in infants’ intestines
and strengthen the infants’ immune systems.
Clemencia Rojas, assistant professor of plant pathology and Andy Pereira,
professor of crop, soil and environmental sciences.
Proposal summary: The researchers will analyze large genomic
data to discover genes responsible for resistance to high temperatures and a
bacterial disease in rice, information that they could later use for crop
improvement.
Woodrow L. Shew, associate professor of physics, and Nathan Parks, assistant
professor of psychology.
Proposal summary: The researchers will develop a new way to
measure changes inside the brain from outside the skull, which may be key for
diagnosing and treating disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke and
autism.
Xintao Wu, professor and the Charles D. Morgan/Acxiom Graduate
Research Chair in computer science and computer engineering, and Anna Zajicek,
professor of sociology.
Proposal summary: The researchers will determine ways that big
data, as well as predictive models built with the data, may discriminate or
lead to discrimination against certain groups of people, and develop ways of
preventing this discrimination.
About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally
competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200
academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic
development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also
providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie
Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of
universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks
the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities.
Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools
and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention
and close mentoring.
CONTACTS
Stev Voorhies, manager of media
relations
University Relations
479-575-3583, voorhies@uark.edu
University Relations
479-575-3583, voorhies@uark.edu
http://news.uark.edu/articles/39671/first-chancellor-s-fund-research-grants-awarded-for-10-u-of-a-faculty-proposals
Leaders Gather to Develop Sustainable Solutions in Asia-Pacific
The inaugural EAT Asia-Pacific Food
Forum will be held on October 30 and 31, 2017, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Organized
by the EAT Foundation in partnership with the Indonesian Ministry
of Health, the event aims to address the challenges facing the Asia-Pacific
food system, such as how to sustainably feed the most populous region in the
world.
Speakers at the EAT Asia-Pacific Food Forum include Joko Widodo,
President of the Republic of Indonesia; Dr. Bruce Tolentino, Deputy Director
General of the International Rice Research Institute; Peter Bakker, President
of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development; and Dr. Gunhild
Stordalen, Founder and President of the EAT Foundation.
EAT seeks to find and promote
sustainable food production solutions that increase health and adequately
provide for the world’s growing population. It brings together stakeholders in
science, policy, civil society, and business to share knowledge about the
interconnections between food and agriculture, health and nutrition,
environmental sustainability, and socio-economic factors. The organization
believes that productive food systems, global health, and a sustainable
environment are prerequisites for human development.
Click here to
register for the event. Food
Tank members receive a $150 early bird discount.
https://foodtank.com/news/2017/09/eat-asia-pacific-food-forum/
Did GMO connection prompt Gates
Foundation to halt support for corn-aflatoxin breakthrough?
September 20, 2017
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