Machinery needed to cut
post-harvest losses
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July, 30 2015 09:03:00
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Post-harvest losses of rice in Viet Nam are
estimated at more than VND20,000 billion (US$916,600). Much of it occurs
during harvesting, transporting, drying and preservation. — Photo VNA
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He said the implementation of the
policy was at a low level and focused mostly on rice.Post-harvest losses of
rice in Viet Nam are estimated at more than VND20,000 billion (US$916,600).
Much of it occurs during harvesting, transporting, drying and preservation.In
the past five years, the Government has issued several polices to support
farmers invest in machinery and equipment to reduce post-harvest losses.
However, An Van Khanh, deputy
director general of the Department of Processing and Trade's
Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Product and Salt Production, said the reductions only
focused on rice.He said no attention had been paid to other crops, farm animals
or fish and prawns. As a result, post-harvest losses of rice were limited,
while losses in orchards, fisheries and sugarcane industries were high.Prime
Ministerial decision 68 replaced two decisions (63/2010/QD-TTg and
65/2011/QD-TTg). The new regulation broadens the variety of produce from farms.
It does not include the old requirement that all machines under the scheme must
be mostly made in Viet Nam.Many rice farmers have been active in buying
machines and equipment for agriculture production thanks to these incentives.
However, the number of farmers who
can access loans is still limited.According to reports from the State Bank of
Viet Nam, loans for the policy so far totalled VND3,468 billion ($158.9
million).Doan Xuan Hoa, deputy chairman of Vietnamese Society of Agricultural
Engineering, said VND1,030 billion ($47 million) had so far been paid back, but
added that this was not enough.He suggested the Government raise the total
value of loans.
The Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development (MARD) wants to reduce post-harvest losses from the current
10 per cent to between 5 and 6 per cent for rice; from 15 per cent to 9 per
cent for maize; and from 20 per cent to below 10 per cent for fisheries by
2020.To achieve the target, participants at the conference proposed MARD to
work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to review the list of machines and
equipment that farmers can purchase under the scheme.They suggested the State
Bank of Viet Nam direct commercial banks to expand loans and help farmers get
them. — VNS
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/273753/machinery-needed-to-cut-post-harvest-losses.html
Help rice farmers,
Negrense consumers urged
MURCIA, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL -- The Department of
Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is urging
Negrenses to be responsible rice consumers amid the challenges of producing
more grains supply to feed the country’s growing population.Data from PhilRice
showed the Philippines has only around 2.4 million rice farmers for a
population of more than 90 million, each having an average per capita
consumption of 114 kilograms.Ev Angeles, senior science research specialist of
DA-PhilRice who spoke at the “Knowledge Sharing and Learning” activity held at
PhilRice Negros Occidental office on Tuesday said that as the population
increases, the challenge of producing more rice for the farmers also increases.
Angeles said rice farmers need the collective help of all
sectors especially the consumers in coping with other challenges such as more
and stronger typhoons, adverse effects of drought, smaller agricultural lands
due to urbanization, and few extension workers.“Ordinary consumers play a huge
role in achieving the rice sufficiency level of the country that is, through
responsible rice consumption,” she said.Data from PhilRice further showed that
the average age of Filipino farmers is up to 58 years old only, Angeles said,
adding that most of them have minimal income and capital.The DA-PhilRice also
raised concern on decreasing number of students getting agriculture-related
courses.
This is an important part in the chain especially in passing on
the knowledge and skills in agriculture to future generations, it added.As part
of addressing these challenges, DA-PhilRice together with the International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) through
their collaborative project called IPAD: Improving Performance and Delivery
conducted a two-day sharing and learning activity participated by students and
teachers, micro-finance sector representatives, seed producers, input
providers, and farmers.The activity is aimed at making all the sectors
especially the consumers realize what they can do to help farmers overcome the
challenges and inspire more people especially students to venture into and love
agriculture.
IRRI Junior Specialist Jerome Cayton Barradas said that through
the activity they are sharing with the participants various programs including
researches and new technologies that can help farmers boost their production.Barradas
presented and discussed the Rice Knowledge Bank and Rice Crop Management. These
are easy to access tools like downloadable applications and learning materials
about steps on rice production and other good agricultural practices, including
pest and nutrient management.*
Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on July 30, 2015.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/business/2015/07/29/help-rice-farmers-negrense-consumers-urged-421779
10 join tilt for higher
rice yield
BY PEACE S.FLORES
The fourth batch of Negrense farmers
participating in Palayabangan – the 10-5 Challenge of the Department of
Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are showcasing
their methods of producing 200 bags of rice per hectare with minimal costs at
PhilRice Negros in Murcia.The ten participants for the fourth batch Palayabangan
competition include private companies and individual farmers.
PhilRice Negros allotted 2,000 square meters
for each participant who will utilize any methodology, organic or otherwise, to
produce their maximum yield using a planting area of that size.The end goal is
to produce an equivalent of ten tons or 200 bags per hectare yield at only P5
input cost per kilogram of palay, considering that the current average input
cost is pegged at P11 per kilogram, Albert Christian Suñer, PhilRice Negros research
and development coordinator, said on Tuesday as he explained the mechanics of
the challenge.
Suñer said that Palayabangan is PhilRice's
way of supporting the government's Food Staples Sufficiency Program and of
boosting Negrense farmers' productivity.When the cropping period ends, a
P100,000 cash prize will be awarded to the winner who can produce 40 bags of
rice or more from the 2,000 square meter area, he said.The Palayabangan
challenge for the fourth batch of competitors will end in September, Suñer
said.Since 2014, when Palayabangan began, the equivalent maximum yield that
previous participants produced was only 170 bags of rice, which were 30 bags
short of Palayabangan's 200 bags goal, he said.However, we are optimistic that
this goal is attainable in the near future, if not right away, Suñen added.*PSF
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/July/30/businessnews4.htm
Lal
Bahadur ShastriAward for IIRR Scientist
July 30,2015, 11.46 AM IST | | THE HANS INDIA
The Hyderabad city based Senior Scientist Dr. ShaikN.Meera
bagged prestigious ‘Lal Bahadur Shastri Outstanding Young Scientist Award 2014’
of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Government of India. The
award was presented during the 87thFoundation Day Celebrations and Award
Ceremony of ICAR held at Patna. Honourable Prime Minister of India Sh. Narendra
Modi participated in the ICAR Foundation Day which was followed by the award
ceremony. The award was given by Dr. Sanjeev Balyan, Minister of State
for Agriculture, Government of India and Shri MohanbhaiKundaria, Union Minister
of State for Agriculture.
Dr. Meera is presently working at Indian Institute of Rice
Research, Hyderabad. The award is given every year in order to recognize the
talented young scientists who have shown extraordinary originality and
dedication in their research programmes. With this award he gets an award
amount of ₹ 1.00 lakh in cash and a citation
and a challenge project for three years with budgetary provision of ₹ 30.00 lakh and ₹ 5.00 lakh for foreign training.
Dr. Meera has made outstanding contributions in Indian rice
sector with innovative extension methods and practical ICT approaches
benefitting rice farmers and extension agencies. The Rice Knowledge Management
Portal developed by him is acclaimed as one of the finest ICT applications in
agriculture by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Rice Portal has
made significant impacts across the country by improving the farmers’ access to
rice knowledge. He has contributed to the introduction of several new rice
varieties/ hybrids/ technologies by coordinating more than 7000 Frontline
Demonstrations in last 6 years, benefitting 18318 rice farmers directly.
He introduced impact acceleration concepts such as ‘India Rice
Check’, ‘Sustainable Livelihoods’, ‘e-learning’ for extension systems’. From
extension research to extension service, he struck an effective balance to
blend Information and Communication Technologies with traditional extension methods
that resulted in improving the livelihoods of thousands of Indian rice farmers. Dr.
Meera is currently working on Mobile applications for Indian Rice farmers in
several local languages. If this project is successful, Indian farmers can get
reliable and time critical information directly from the research stations that
may revolutionise rice farming in the country
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2015-07-30/Lal-Bahadur-ShastriAward-for-IIRR-Scientist-166794
Health Guide: 7 Foods That
Should Not Be Reheated
Opening your fridge and remembering that you have pizza left over
from the night before is the best feeling especially when you are starving.
Leftovers can make a quick lunch or give you an
excuse to skip cooking dinner. All in all, they’re great. That is, until you
have to reheat them.Some foods reheat quickly and nicely in the microwave,
while others require the stove top and a little added oil. And then there are
some foods that should absolutely under no circumstance be reheated ever.
We’ve
outlined the foods that you shouldn’t reheat you. Have a look!
Coffee:
Just drink it hot the first time around,
please. If you absolutely must, you can give coffee a couple seconds in the
microwave but it will never taste the same.
Potato:
Potatoes are nutritious but they lose their
nutritional value if you let them be at room temperature for long. They can
actually become toxic and cause illnesses, such as food-poisoning.
Eggs:
You should never ever reheat your eggs. Eat
them cold as they’re really good like that. Don’t eat them at all.
Baked Green Vegetables:
If it was cooked in the oven, it should be
reheated in the oven and when it comes to roasted veggies, only the oven will
bring them back to their former glory.
Pizza:
When you want to reheat pizza, the worst thing
you can do is stick it in the microwave. Putting it in the oven on a pizza
stone or baking sheet is a better option. To crisp the bottom of the crust in
the skillet for a few minutes, and then add a few drops of water, cover, and
allow the steam to melt the cheese.
Chicken:
Chicken is one of the most commonly reheated
foods but also the most dangerous to due to the high content of protein in it.
Reheating it after a day or two can cause digestive problems. If it has to be
eaten after a few days, it’s best to be consumed alone.
Rice:
Uncooked rice can contain spores of Bacillus
cereus, a bacterium that can cause the illness. When the rice is cooked, the
spores can survive but if left at room temperature, the spores can grow into
bacteria. These bacteria can multiply and may produce toxins that cause
vomiting and/or diarrhoea. The longer the cooked rice is left at room
temperature, the more likely it is that the bacteria or toxins could make it
unsafe to eat.
http://www.pakistantribe.com/story/42477/health-guide-7-foods-that-should-not-be-reheated/
APEDA INDI News
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NFA
eyes 1.3 million metric tons of rice import
July 30, 2015
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The National Food Authority (NFA) is set to
import 1.3 million metric tons (MMT) of rice this year, according to NFA
Administrator Renan B. Dalisay who visited the NFA-Pampanga office here on
Thursday.“The importation will be between 1.3 MMT to 1.5 MMT based on our
assessment,” Dalisay said.He explained the importation is expected to meet the
annual local consumption of about 12.5 MMT of rice. He added that the NFA needs
to have 14 MMT of rice in 2015, including at least 1.5 MMT as “buffer” supply.Dalisay
stressed that the Aquino administration had “only” shipped in some 4 MMT of
rice from 2010 to 2014.
He added that from 2004 to 2010, the Arroyo government bought
some 12 MMT of rice, mostly coming from Vietnam and Thailand.That’s only about
23 percent compared to the importation of the previous [Estrada]
administration, according to Dalisay.Saying his marching orders is to stabilize
the prices of rice, Dalisay said “the only way to do it is to ensure there is
enough production.” “We have to be sure that the rice supplies are distributed
well in the entire country.”Dalisay claims the NFA had successfully stabilized
rice prices because “we can see many fancy rice varieties cost less than P40
per kilo.
”The NFA, as of July 23, has a national inventory recorded at
15,503,242 bags, or 775,165 metric tons, which can last for 25 days based on
the national daily consumption requirement.NFA-Pampanga Manager
Elvira Obana showed to Dalisay the two warehouses of the NFA main office
in Pampanga. He was impressed when informed by Obana that they have “30 days of
buffer supply.”“We are required to have at least 15 days of buffer supply. We
can supply Metro Manila in case a strong earthquake will happen there,” Obana
said
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/nfa-eyes-additional-1-3-million-metric-tons-of-rice-import/
RPT-Global rice
prices to surge by year-end as El Nino hits Asian supply
Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:49am GMT
(Repeats with no changes to
text)
* Rice prices likely to rise 10-20 percent by year end
* Lower overall stocks at top exporters to fuel price rise
* Demand to perk up on signs rice prices have reached floor
By Rajendra Jadhav
MUMBAI, July 29 (Reuters) - Global rice prices are likely to surge
by 10 percent to 20 percent in the next few months as an El Nino weather
pattern grips top producers in Asia, baking the region's croplands and
whittling down stocks of the grain to multi-year lows.While higher prices of a
key staple would be bad news for impoverished countries in Asia and Africa,
lower output will help No.2 exporter Thailand offload its bulging stockpiles
that have weighed on the rice market and pushed benchmark prices RI-THBKN5-P1 down
to 7-1/2-year lows of $367.50 per tonne in June.Below-average rainfall linked
to El Nino has already disrupted rice transplantation in India, led to a
drought in seven out of 67 Thai provinces during what should be the wet season
and cut Vietnam's output expectations.
Exports from the three countries, which account for 68 percent of
the world rice trade, are seen at 27.2 million tonnes this year, down 6.2
percent from a year ago, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO)."The market has not yet factored in prospects of lower
production in key producing countries," B.V. Krishna Rao, managing
director of leading Indian rice shipper Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd, told
Reuters."Prices could jump 10 percent by the year end," Rao said, reversing
similar losses seen in the past five months.
In fact prices could rise even more, given that weather bureaus
from across the world are predicting a strong El Nino, which typically leads to
crop-damaging scorching weather across Asia and east Africa but heavy rains and
floods in South America."If August rains remain patchy, like July, then
rice prices could rise up to 20 percent in a few months," said a New
Delhi-based dealer with a global grains trading company.Lower overall
inventories at key exporters after stellar exports in 2014 will further fuel
the price gain, traders said.
DEPLETED STOCKS
The FAO estimates the stock-to-use ratio, the level of inventories
relative to domestic consumption and exports, at the world's top five rice
exporting countries will drop to 19 percent in 2015/16, the lowest since
2007/08.Rice stocks in the five - India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and the
United States - were drawn down in 2014 when world trade in rice rose to a
record 42.8 million tonnes.Industry sources say the impact of Thailand's
inventory, built up under the previous government's rice-buying programme, is
also waning as only 60 percent of it, or about 9 million tonnes, is fit for
human consumption after prolonged storage.
Demand, however, is expected to pick up as buyers rush in to stock
up on the grain on fears El Nino will eat into supply.The Philippines, one of
the world's biggest rice importers, indicated last week that it could ship in
more rice to boost buffer stocks and keep local prices stable.Traders are
expecting top importer China, as well as Nigeria, to react similarly in the
coming months.China's 2014/15 imports could rise 8 percent to 4 million tonnes,
while overseas purchases by Nigeria could jump to 3.7 million tonnes, up 9
percent from last year, according to International Grains Council estimates."Importers
haven't built inventory since prices were continuously falling. Once prices
start rising, they will increase purchases" to avoid having to buy at even
higher rates later, said a Bangkok-based rice exporter.
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav, Additional reporting by Ho Binh
Minh in HANOI; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFL3N10A1WD20150730?sp=true
Drought threatens RI food security target
Suherdjoko and Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Semarang/Jambi |
Headlines | Thu, July 30 2015, 4:28 PM
The government’s efforts to
improve food security are facing a tough road ahead after several regions
across the archipelago have reported massive harvest failure over the past few
months caused by the long dry season. In Central Java, one of the country’s
largest rice-producing regions, 6,578 hectares of paddy fields in several
regencies, including Grobogan, Blora and Pati, have experienced crop failure
this year due to severe drought, according to the Central Java Agriculture
Agency’s food crop cultivation head Nuswantoro SP.Nuswantoro said that almost
27,000 ha of paddy fields in the province, along with 294 ha of corn fields and
237 ha of soybean fields, were on the verge of crop failure as well, as they
were yet to be sufficiently irrigated.
“Out of the 35 regencies and
municipalities in Central Java, 29 of them have been struggling with the impact
of the drought,” he said on Wednesday. Meanwhile the local Disaster
Mitigation Agency (BPBD) in Jambi declared emergency standby status for drought
in the province on Monday after eight out of the province’s 11 regions
experienced severe drought in the midst of a long dry season. The province’s Agriculture Agency also reported that 68 ha of
paddy fields have experienced crop failure.“One hectare of paddy field can
produce an average of 5 tons of rice. This means that we have lost a potential
of 340 tons of rice during this year’s harvest season,” agency head Amrin Aziz
said. Indonesia imported at least 425,000 tons of rice from Thailand
and Vietnam last year.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
has previously pledged to lead the country to become self-sufficient in rice
production within three years.However, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency
(BNPB) revealed on Tuesday that 25,000 ha of crop fields across the archipelago
have experienced harvest failure due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which
affects temperatures and rainfall patterns. It also revealed that 77 regencies
and municipalities in 12 provinces, including West Java, Central Java, South
Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara and Papua, have also been struggling with a water
crisis due to the long absence of rain.
The Indonesian Meteorology,
Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted that the El Niño effect
will extend Indonesia’s dry season, which normally occurs between April and
September, until November.In Boyolali, Central Java, the local BPBD has
reported that thousands of residents over 42 sub-districts in the regency have
been struggling with a water crisis.Residents in Kalimati sub-district, Juwangi
district, for example, must dig up soil near a dried-up river in search of
water. They have to wait around an hour until murky and smelly water emerges
from the holes.“The water can be directly used for showers or washing clothes.
But we must allow the water to settle for at least one day before boiling it
[for drinking water],” said 37-year-old Suyekti, a local resident.
- Ganug Nugroho Adi in Boyolali and Lita Aruperes in Manado contributed to the article.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/30/drought-threatens-ri-food-security-target.html#sthash.6OvymKAy.dpuf
Rice
farmers in Bontanga and Golinga double yields
Category: General News JULY 30, 2015 30
Farmers who cultivated rice under a new
fertilizer application method called Urea Deep
Placement (UDP) during the dry season at both
the Bontanga and Golinga Irrigation Schemes in the Northern Region recorded
between 100 to 350 per cent yield increase.The farmers told the GNA on
Wednesday that the traditional method of applying fertilizer by broadcasting
was more expensive and environmentally unfriendly compared to the new method by
which the fertilizer is compressed and inserted between four rice plants to
enable it absorb the nutrient gradually and directly.Aside the UDP technology,
farmers were also introduced to good land preparation, effective water
management and transplanting by the Feed the Future Ghana Agriculture
Technology Transfer project at the two irrigation schemes during the dry
season.
Speaking at the sidelines of a ceremony to
celebrate the increase in yield,
Dalung-Naa Alhaji Adam Amidu, Chief of Dalung, advised rice farmers to
adopt the new technology due to its good yields.The occasion was organized by
the chief in Dalung for women UDP applicators and farmers in the area and to
encourage other farmers to adopt the technology to complement government’s
efforts to ensure food security.
Some farmers the GNA spoke to attested that
most rice farmers under the scheme, after comparing the yield of farmer
learning centers cultivated under UDP technology and those of the traditional
method, were convinced about the improved technologies.Mr Abu Alhassan, a
farmer, observed that due to the positive results, many farmers were cultivating
rice under rain fed which was not usually the case.
Source: GNA
Rice exports can
still recover from floods
By Htin Lynn Aung | Thursday,
30 July 2015
Though more than 60,000 acres of monsoon paddy may have been
destroyed by recent flooding, not all is lost, said U Ye Min Aung, general
secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation.
A farmer plows
his field.Heavy rains hsve caused problems for local farmers.Photo:AFP
”“We can’t help them now because the flooding is still taking
place, but we will act according to the situation when the floodwater
subsides.”Heavy rainfall since mid-July has caused flooding particularly in
parts of Sagaing Region, Shan State and Kachin State. U Ye Min Aung said this
has flooded out tens of thousands of acres of paddy field.Fortunate for the
affected farmers, the rice harvest generally occurs later in the year in Upper
Myanmar than it does in the delta.U Myo Myint, a prominent farmer based in
Sagaing Region, said there is still time to replant this year.“There’s still
time to plant again.
This can be done until the start of September,” he said.A larger
concern is the need to purchase more fertiliser and paddy, which will hit the
pocketbooks of farmers. Fields that had not been harvested from the smaller
summer crop could also be damaged.A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture
and Irrigation said that as of July 19, 2453 acres of summer paddy fields,
36,689 acres of monsoon paddy fields and more than 3100 acres of seedling
fields have been flooded. These figures were released earlier in the month.Some
looked at the bright side. “We can say it is a good point that there are not
many flooded fields in lower Myanmar, where they always flood every year,” he
said.Myanmar Rice Traders Association vice chair U Aung Than Oo said that with
the large quantity of rice fields that are flooded each year, it is necessary
to start crop insurance.
“Paddy fields in some townships in Bago and Ayeyarwady regions
flood each year,” he said. “There should be comprehensive crop insurance plans
in these regions’ farmland, as well as Rakhine State, when the weather is
rough, organised by the government.”Previous figures from the Myanmar Rice
Federation say it hopes to have an annual paddy yield of over 14 million
tonnes, though about 2 million tonnes of rice can be exported.
Translation by Thiri Min Htun
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/15749-rice-exports-can-still-recover-from-floods.html
Government
aims to procure millions of tons of rice
Thursday, 30 July 2015 - 7:22pm IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency:
PTI
The government has fixed rice procurement target of 30 million
tonnes for the 2015-16 marketing year starting October and while directing
States to open adequate number of purchasing centres.The government has fixed riceprocurement
target of 30 million tonnes for the 2015-16 marketing year starting October and
while directing States to open adequate number of purchasing centres.Rice
procurement has already surpassed the target of 30 million tonnes set for the
ongoing 2014-15 marketing year (October September).
The Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for
foodgrain procurement and distribution, has so far purchased 31.51 million
tonnes."The procurement target for the 2015-16 marketing season has been
finalised 30 million tonnes," an official statement said. India is
estimated to have produced over 102 million tonnes of rice in 2014-15 crop year
(July-June).Target for Chhattisgarh has been kept at 3.6 million tonnes,
Haryana (2.34 million tonnes), Andhra Pradesh and Bihar (2 million tonnes
each), Jharkhand (3,00,000 tonnes), Kerala (1,00,000 tonnes), Karnataka (95,000
tonnes) and Assam (50,000 tonnes), it said.Rice procurement target was fixed at
the meeting of the state food secretaries chaired by Union Food Secretary
Vrinda Sarup.
The meeting also reviewed arrangements for procurement of paddy
and coarse grains for 2015-16.To ensure smooth procurement operation, the
states have been asked to open adequate purchase centres and deploy sufficient
manpower. States have also been advised to make arrangements to publicise
about minimum support price (MSP) as well as about procurement centres both in
print and audio-visual media and pamphlets in local languages.On storage front,
the state governments have also been asked to give details of storage plan for
the ensuing kharif marketing season and prepare action plan to meet the deficit
in storage requirement.
Regarding packaging material, states have been told to place
indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid last minute shortage of
packaging material. The states have also been directed to furnish, on
daily basis, the district-wise procurement details of previous day for Online
Procurement Monitoring System (OPMS).
http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-government-aims-to-procure-millions-of-tons-of-rice-2109611
Government aims to
procure 30 million tons of rice in 2015-16
By PTI | 30 Jul, 2015, 07.59PM IST
"The
procurement target for the 2015-16 marketing season has been finalised 30
million tonnes," an official statement said. India is estimated to have
produced over 102 million tonnes of rice in 2014-15 crop year (July-June). Target
for Chhattisgarh has been kept at 3.6 million tonnes, Haryana (2.34 million
tonnes), Andhra Pradesh and Bihar (2 million tonnes each), Jharkhand (3,00,000
tonnes), Kerala (1,00,000 tonnes), Karnataka (95,000 tonnes) and Assam (50,000
tonnes), it said. Rice procurement target was fixed at the meeting of the state
food secretaries chaired by Union Food Secretary Vrinda Sarup. The meeting also
reviewed arrangements for procurement of paddy
and coarse grains for 2015-16.
To ensure smooth procurement operation, the
states have been asked to open adequate purchase centres and deploy sufficient
manpower. States have also been advised to make arrangements to publicise about
minimum support price (MSP) as well as about procurement centres both in print
and audio-visual media and pamphlets in local languages. On storage front, the
state governments have also been asked to give details of storage plan for the
ensuing kharif marketing season and prepare action plan to meet the deficit in
storage requirement. Regarding packaging material, states have been told to
place indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid last minute shortage
of packaging material.
The states have also been directed to furnish, on daily basis, the district-wise procurement details of previous day for Online Procurement Monitoring System (OPMS).
The states have also been directed to furnish, on daily basis, the district-wise procurement details of previous day for Online Procurement Monitoring System (OPMS).
Rice procurement target set at 30 million tonnes for 2015-16
New Delhi, July 30:
The procurement target for rice was set at 30 million
tonnes (mt) for the 2015-16 marketing year for the 2015-16 Kharif marketing
season. The decision was taken at meeting of State Food Secretaries chaired by
Union Food Secretary Vrinda Sarup held here on Thursday. Arrangements for
procurement of paddy and coarse grains in producing States were reviewed with a
focus “particularly in decentralised procurement States and other non-traditional
States to maximise procurement of paddy/rice and coarse grains during 2015-16
season,” according to an official statement. “States have also been advised to
make arrangements for publicising MSP (minimum support price) fixed,
procurement centres opened through print and audio-visual media as well as
through pamphlets in local languages,” the statement said. The secretaries were
also requested to place indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid
last-minute shortages and were also requested to furnish, on a daily basis, the
district-wise procurement revenue details of the previous day for the Online
Procurement Monitoring System. Punjab (8.2 mt) has the highest target, followed
by Chhattisgarh (3.6 mt), Odisha (2.8 mt), Uttar Pradesh (2.75 mt), Haryana
(2.35 mt), Andhra Pradesh and Bihar (2 mt each), Telangana and West Bengal (1.8
mt each).
(This article was
published on July 30, 2015)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/rice-procurement-target-set-at-30-million-tonnes-for-201516/article7481993.ece
Scientists Discover
New GMO Rice That Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Even though rice is the staple food of a majority of the
world's population, it has also led to an increase in atmospheric methane, a
greenhouse gas. In an attempt to provide a solution to the problem, an
international team of scientists has created a new variety of genetically
modified rice that can help reduce the methane emissions from rice paddies.A
team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Sweden's
University of Agricultural Sciences, and China's Hunan Agricultural
University and Fujian Academy collaborated develop the GMO rice by
introducing a new gene. The researchers claim that cultivation of the new
variety will produce rice paddies that yield no methane.
During development of the genetically modified rice,
named SUSIBA2, the researchers introduced a single barley gene
into the genome of the common rice. According to the researchers, the resultant
rice starves off methane-producing bacteria in the soil. Therefore, when grown,
it is able to better feed its leaves, stems and grains, resulting in a
superior-quality rice variety.In addition to not emitting the greenhouse
gas, researchers say that the new rice variety will be packed with other
properties when grown, such as increased starch and biomass.
The complete details of the study have been published in the journal Nature.
"The need to increase starch content and lower methane
emissions from rice production is widely recognized, but the ability to do both
simultaneously has eluded researchers," said DOE scientist Christer
Jansson."As the world's population grows, so will rice production. And as
the Earth warms, so will rice paddies, resulting in even more methane
emissions. It's an issue that must be addressed."The press release states
that nearly 17 percent of global methane emissions, or 100 million
tons, come from rice paddies. Even though the percentage is small when
compared to the total annual emissions of carbon dioxide, the contribution is
still worth discussing since methane is 20 times more effective in trapping
heat than carbon dioxide.
http://www.ibtimes.com/scientists-discover-new-gmo-rice-can-help-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2031106
Government
aims to procure millions of tons of rice
Thursday, 30 July 2015 - 7:22pm IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency:
PTI
The government has fixed rice procurement target of 30 million
tonnes for the 2015-16 marketing year starting October and while directing
States to open adequate number of purchasing centres.
The government has fixed riceprocurement
target of 30 million tonnes for the 2015-16 marketing year starting October and
while directing States to open adequate number of purchasing centres.Rice
procurement has already surpassed the target of 30 million tonnes set for the
ongoing 2014-15 marketing year (October September). The Food Corporation
of India (FCI), the nodal agency for foodgrain procurement and distribution,
has so far purchased 31.51 million tonnes."The procurement target for the
2015-16 marketing season has been finalised 30 million tonnes," an
official statement said. India is estimated to have produced over 102
million tonnes of rice in 2014-15 crop year (July-June).
Target for Chhattisgarh has
been kept at 3.6 million tonnes, Haryana (2.34 million tonnes), Andhra Pradesh
and Bihar (2 million tonnes each), Jharkhand (3,00,000 tonnes), Kerala
(1,00,000 tonnes), Karnataka (95,000 tonnes) and Assam (50,000 tonnes), it
said.Rice procurement target was fixed at the meeting of the state food
secretaries chaired by Union Food Secretary Vrinda Sarup. The meeting also
reviewed arrangements for procurement of paddy and coarse grains for 2015-16.To
ensure smooth procurement operation, the states have been asked to open adequate
purchase centres and deploy sufficient manpower. States have also been
advised to make arrangements to publicise about minimum support price (MSP) as
well as about procurement centres both in print and audio-visual media and
pamphlets in local languages.
On storage front, the state
governments have also been asked to give details of storage plan for the
ensuing kharif marketing season and prepare action plan to meet the deficit in
storage requirement.Regarding packaging material, states have been told to
place indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid last minute shortage
of packaging material. The states have also been directed to furnish, on
daily basis, the district-wise procurement details of previous day for Online
Procurement Monitoring System (OPMS).
Intercontinental Hotels
risks forceful closure by Customs over rice import debt
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
said it may be forced to shut-down the famous Intercontinental Hotels Lagos,
following the alleged refusal of the hotel’s parent company, Milan Group, to
pay rice duty.Speaking during a phone interview this morning on a radio
programme by Ships and Ports, Wale Adeniyi, National Public Relations Officer
of Customs said this was because Milan Group which has refused to pay rice
subsidy after exceeding its rice quota for 2014 is housed in the same premises
as Intercontinental Hotel and shares the same owners.“We are not unmindful that
they have guests in the hotel.
We are making representations to
them to ensure that they either pay Customs duty or they evacuate their guests
before we seal the hotel premises because it is the hotel that houses Milan
Group” Adeniyi said.Continuing, he said: “The owner of the companies is the
same. So, we’ve given them options; either to make do their payment or we have
no choice but to stop them from operating. We don’t want to create unnecessary
scenes so we are going to be civil in our approach to the Intercontinental issue.
The planned operation was due to government directives that the premises of all
defaulting importers be sealed off.”Customs has been given a directive to seal
the business premises of all defaulting importers.
“It is a directive from federal government and
we are going to carry out. So we’ll give them one or two days notice to get
their guests and their customers informed so that we don’t end up embarrassing
anybody.”According to Adeniyi, some of the companies have falsely claimed that
the quotas given to them were to be carried over to 2015. “The documents
conveying the quotas were explicit. The quotas were meant to bridge supply gap
of 1.3 metric tonnes, estimated to be the volume needed by Nigeria to bridge
the supply gap in 2014, and that it should be imported in a concessionary way.
Also, stated that any company that exceeded the quota will have to pay what
others who didn’t get concessions would pay, and that is 70 percent duty.”In
this case, he stated, Milan imported 750,000 metric tonnes in excess. Recall on
28 of June published the names of four rice importers, which owes the service
over N23 billion debts for importing rice in excess of the government approved
quota.
http://businessdayonline.com/2015/07/intercontinental-hotels-risks-forceful-closure-by-customs-over-rice-import-debt/#.VbtJoflVikp
Senate urges FG to stop waivers on rice importation
It noted that the government had
a policy to encourage agriculture, and agriculture business as a deliberate
policy to diversify the economy, but observed that the policy had become
significantly eroded and gradually rendered useless by the indiscriminate
granting of waivers, concessions and grants, especially on rice importation.
The senate also observed that the abuse of the waiver scheme had severely
eroded the government’s rice production policy by importing huge quantities of
the commodity in excess of the approved quota. It
lamented that the government “loses annually N71 billion on duty waivers,
especially to importers of rice, palm oil, energy equipment, steel and
vegetable oil,” and observed that “in 2011, the government gave import waivers
to 10 rice and palm oil importing companies alone, amounting to N150 billion.
” In a motion moved by Adebayo
Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara south), the senate also noted that “the tax incentives
offered to encourage foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country were now
doing more harm than good to the economy, as funds which could have been
invested in public schools, hospitals, roads and other social infrastructure
are lost mindlessly without consequences.” It, therefore, asked the government
to stop waivers on all agricultural products forthwith. To ensure that due
diligence was done to the matter, Bukola Saraki, senate president, set up an ad
hoc committee to look into all waivers and grants and to carry out holistic
review to determine the full recovery of all government revenues. Chairman of
the committee is Adamu Ailero while some members are Sam Egwu, Stella Oduah and
Taiwo Alasoadura. Follow us on twitter @thecableng Copyright 2015 TheCable.
Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to
appropriate credit being given to www.thecable.ng as the source.
https://www.thecable.ng/senate-urges-fg-stop-waivers-rice-importation
Nigerian senate
wants all waivers on rice import revoked
Jul
30 2015 - 4:35pm
PDP’s bags of rice imported for the
March election
He, therefore, charged members of the committee to be relentless
in discharging their function.Earlier, some senators who made contribution
advocated complete removal of all waivers, concessions, and grants on all
products and commodities that could be manufactured locally.Sen. Philip Aduda
(PDP FCT), gave example with cement production in the country and said that for
any local production to thrive, importation of such products must be stopped.He
argued that waivers should only be given on products that were required but not
produced locally.“There is an urgent need to review the granting of waivers,
especially on finished goods, whatever is produced in Nigeria should not be
granted waivers.Sen. Eyinaya Abaraibe (PDP Abia-South) supported the motion,
and noted that waivers were good at the inception but should have long been
stopped.
He said that the removal of waiver should serve as a starting
point in doing away with all government policies that had hampered local
manufacturing.Abaribe recalled that when the Federal Government banned
importation of furniture, there was huge investment in the local industry but regretted
that ban was lifted shortly after.“We should task all our committees to look
inward and see to it that all policies that are inimical to the economy of
Nigeria are reversed.Sen. Dino Melaye (APC Kogi-West) advocated a drastic
measure on the motion, alleging that there was collaboration between the
Customs Officials, Ministry of Finance and importers.He said importers
currently owing the government should not be allowed to clear their goods in
the ports until they paid in full what they owed.Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (APC Sokoto
East) expressed fear that if allowed to continue, waiver on rice import alone
would cost Nigeria N2.4 trillion by 2015.
Gobir argued that the money saved from the waivers could be used
to establish industries in the country to employ over 5,000 Nigerians in every
state.He also advocated that waivers should only be granted on products that
were not being produced locally.Sen. Ali Wakili (APC Bauchi South), a former
Comptroller of Customs Service, vindicated the service on the alleged
collaboration, saying that the service merely implement the policies on
waivers.He alleged that issuance of waivers, which began in the 80s became
rampant under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when party faithful were
flagrantly issues waivers.The Senate thereafter adjourned plenary to Tuesday,
Aug. 4 after which it proceeded to inaugurate all committees that had been set
up during the week.The committees are Senate Selection Committee, Rules and
Business Committee, Ethics and Privileges Committee, ad-hoc Committee on
Publicity and ad-hoc committee on waivers.
http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2015/07/30/nigerian-senate-wants-all-waivers-on-rice-import-revoked/
Only 25 pc rice bran being used to produce edible oil
Yasir Wardad
"Within 2021, demand for edible oil will
be nearly 2.47 million tonnes from 1.5 million tonnes presently. This means
local producers will be able to produce 30 per cent of the then demand,"
he said.The BTC report also recommended increasing awareness of consuming rice
bran oil for its market promotion.The Tariff Commission report also found a
positive trend that export of rice barn is on the wane.Bangladeshi exporters
shipped rice bran to the tune of 90,781 tonnes worth Tk1.29 billion in
financial year 2012-13 (FY'13) which declined to 27,076 tonnes worth Tk371
million in FY'14.Some refiners and feed companies also imported the same from
India as BTC found a small import of 382 tonnes worth Tk11.3 million in 2013.
Secretary of Bangladesh Rice Bran Oil Mills
Association and a leading rice miller Md Abdur Rashid told the FE:
"Fifteen local companies have capacity of producing maximum 7,000 tonnes
per day but we are making less than 500 tonnes now."Mr Rashid, also
president of the Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mills Owners Association
expressed his optimism that rice bran oil will be in great most demand within
next five years in Bangladesh with
rising health consciousness.
Md
Arman Habib, executive director of Nilsagor Agro Industries Ltd, distributor of
Spondon rice bran oil in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, said the demand for
the oil was increasing but in a slower pace.He said 52 tonnes of Spondon oil is
now sold per month in the 16 districts of the two northern divisions against a
total demand of 100 tonnes. He said
apart from the private sector, the government will have to take steps to raise
awareness on consuming rice bran.Health-related programmes on government and
private media should focus the usefulness of the oil.
When asked, he said prices of different brands
are now nearly the same like soybean oil."Different qualities of rice bran
oil per litre, made in Bangladesh, are being sold at between Tk80 and
Tk112," he said.Prof Dr Golam Maula of the Institute of Nutrition and Food
Science, Dhaka University said rice bran oil contains a high level of gamma
oryzanol which increases HDL (good) cholesterol and lowers LDL (bad)
cholesterol and triglycerides.He said rice bran oil is much healthier than that
of soybean, palm oil or mustard oil.He said it also contains the relatively
high fractions of tocopherols and tocotrienols, together known as vitamin E
which is powerful antioxidant and has antimutagenic properties which prevent
cancer.Vitamin E also helps boost immunity in body, he added.The nutrition
specialist also echoed the need for raising awareness on the use of rice bran
oil for better health of the people.However, the BTC study and recommendation
will be made public within a few days, said officials.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/07/31/102170
Only
if the rice millers face competition will the environment for paddy farmers
improve
Dear Editor,
The stranglehold rice millers have over paddy
farmers is a perpetual problem that has been around for decades. Paddy farmers
deliver their paddy to millers with the expectation of being paid in full
within the shortest possible time, but this outcome may never materialize. The
reason being that paddy farmers do not have an enforceable contract with
millers that specifies spot-payment terms for paddy delivered to the mill.
Without such a contract in this unbalanced relationship, millers will continue
to have a significant advantage over paddy farmers, where it is likely that
lower than expected grades are given for paddy sold, resulting in relatively
low paddy prices and less than expected income for paddy farmers.
The miller’s advantage is based on the notion
that there are many small paddy farmers who have no alternative but to
indirectly compete with each other in order to sell their paddy to a few
millers. Simultaneously, the few millers in any location can in turn pick and
choose which farmers they will accommodate in the milling season, given that
millers would prefer to pay farmers from the money they receive from rice
sales, instead of paying paddy farmers from their own capital which has an
opportunity cost, or from interest bearing loans sourced from the banking
system.Consequently, the manifestation of the rice millers’ power is observed
in delayed payments and perhaps in concerns raised about grading that can run
counter to paddy farmers’ expectations.
In a
competitive environment, where millers would have had to compete with each
other to procure paddy for their mills, the power play by millers would have
been reduced. Specifically, millers in this environment would of necessity have
to pay paddy farmers on the spot, using their own working capital or loan
financing obtained from banking institutions. Regrettably, this is not the norm
observed in the industry and paddy farmers are burdened with the interest cost
from the time they deliver their paddy to the miller to the time when the
miller in turn takes many weeks or months to complete the full payment for the
paddy.During this interregnum, paddy farmers suffer a cash flow squeeze that
curtails replanting; it reduces paddy profitability; and it increases loan
default through the power play by rice millers at the expense of the paddy
farmer.
Furthermore, as noted by many others, including
the CEO of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Mr John Tracy (SN, July 27),
the Rice Factory Act is useless in such an environment, even as commercial
banks avoid the task of taking on the risk associated with agriculture for a
number of reasons. In previous letters I covered this topic on the absence of
commercial banks in high risk agriculture, and I need not present those
arguments again; but changing the dynamics between paddy farmers and millers is
a topic that requires a brief presentation. This can be explored through small
farmers pooling their resources to acquire their own rice mill; and in turn
managing the rice milling and marketing operations in a transparent, efficient
and profitable manner. This is the way forward for paddy producers, for only
competition with private millers will improve the environment. Policy-makers
and paddy farmers need to seriously examine this approach aimed at rebalancing
the market for buying paddy.
Yours faithfully,
C Kenrick Hunte
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/07/30/only-if-the-rice-millers-face-competition-will-the-environment-for-paddy-farmers-improve/
News from USA Rice Daily
USA Rice Producers' Group Grows into USA Rice Farmers
Members of the almost 60-member Board of
Directors discussed the change at their recent annual business meeting in
Dallas, Texas and concluded that on Capitol Hill and amongst the
non-agricultural sector, 'farmers' was more universally recognized than the
term 'producers.'
Missouri rice farmer and incoming chairman of
USA Rice Farmers, Blake Gerard, said, "This change is appropriate because
it will help identify exactly who we are and what we do and help us clearly and
effectively tell our story."USA Rice's Vice President of Marketing and
Communications Michael Klein, added that the Producers' Group name change
coincides with the umbrella organization, USA Rice Federation, dropping the
word "Federation" from their logo and common usage."It's all
about communicating clearly and as succinctly as possible with our
audiences," Klein said. "The
words 'Federation' and 'producers' did neither and so we're retiring
them."
Contact:
Peter Bachmann (703) 236-1475
At A Glance: Indian Export
Market
Data Source: FAS Global Agricultural
Trade System; United Nations
ARLINGTON, VA -- Over the past several years,
Asian exporters have looked to diversify their export markets and with
relatively low prices, have grown their market share in many areas in Africa,
the Western Hemisphere and in developing countries. India has had phenomenal growth in their
exports, particularly to developing countries which now account for nearly 80
percent of their exports. In particular,
least developed countries (LDCs) have become increasingly important markets for
Indian exporters and the Indian agricultural trade surplus with these markets
has soared. India is now the world's
seventh-largest agricultural exporter, up from 13th a decade ago. In 2013, India became the top agricultural
supplier to LDCs, with overall sales of $5.2 billion. This is nearly $1 billion more than the
European Union, which is the second largest supplier.
Rapidly increasing government support for both
production and exports has contributed to India's surge in exports. India's public stockholding program has been
especially instrumental in increasing rice exports to LDCs. As noted in the recent Section 332 study on
Rice: the Global Competitiveness of the U.S. Industry, the Indian government
purchases rice at minimum support prices that are announced well before the
planting seasons. There are also several
types of subsidies for inputs, including fertilizer, irrigation, electricity,
seeds, and machinery.
"Ensuring that there is a level playing
field is becoming more important as many of our competitors are ramping up
production and increasing their market share in our export markets," says
Jim Guinn, USA Rice vice president for international promotion. "That is why research which monitors our
competitors, such as this Section 332 study, and a constant reevaluation of
potentially new or growing markets is an important part of what we do."
Contact:
Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457
Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported
|
WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 8,400 MT for 2014/2015 were down 11 percent
from the previous week and 82 percent from the prior four-week average,
according to today's Export Sales Highlights report. Increases were reported for Japan (3,000 MT),
unknown destinations (2,000 MT), Canada (1,200 MT), the United Kingdom (600
MT), and Mexico (400 MT). Net sales of 49,000 MT for 2015/2016 were
reported for Venezuela (30,000 MT), unknown destinations (5,900 MT), El Salvador
(5,500 MT), and South Korea (5,000 MT). Exports of 105,900 MT were up 15
percent from the previous week and 60 percent from the prior four-week
average. The primary destinations were Japan (31,800 MT), Venezuela
(29,900 MT), South Korea (17,800 MT), Mexico (12,000 MT), and Haiti (10,000
MT). This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period
July 17-23, 2015.
|
|
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
|
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|
Rice price hike
forecast due to El Nino
Global rice prices are likely to surge by
10-20% in the next few months as an El Nino weather pattern grips top producers
in Asia, baking the region’s croplands and whittling down stocks of the grain
to multi-year lows.While higher prices of a key staple would be bad news for
impoverished countries in Asia and Africa, lower output will help No 2 exporter
Thailand offload its bulging stockpiles that have weighed on the rice market
and pushed benchmark prices down to 7½-year lows of US$367.50 (RM1,398) per
tonne in June.Below-average rainfall linked to El Nino has already disrupted
rice transplantation in India, led to a drought in seven out of 67 Thai
provinces during what should be the wet season and cut Vietnam’s output
expectations.
Exports from the three countries, which account
for 68% of the world rice trade, are seen at 27.2 million tonnes this year,
down 6.2% from a year ago, according to the UN Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO).“The market has not yet factored in prospects of lower
production in key producing countries,” said B.V. Krishna Rao, managing
director of leading Indian rice shipper Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd.“Prices
could jump 10% by the year end,” Rao said, reversing similar losses seen in the
past five months.
In fact prices could rise even more, given that
weather bureaus from across the world are predicting a strong El Nino, which
typically leads to crop-damaging scorching weather across Asia and east Africa
but heavy rains and floods in South America.“If August rains remain patchy,
like July, then rice prices could rise up to 20% in a few months,” said a New
Delhi-based dealer with a global grains trading company.Lower overall
inventories at key exporters after stellar exports in 2014 will further fuel
the price gain, traders said.
The FAO estimates the stock-to-use ratio, the
level of inventories relative to domestic consumption and exports, at the
world’s top five rice exporting countries will drop to 19% in 2015/16, the
lowest since 2007/08.Rice stocks in the five – India, Thailand, Vietnam,
Pakistan and the US – were drawn down in 2014 when world trade in rice rose to
a record 42.8 million tonnes.Industry sources say the impact of Thailand’s
inventory, built up under the previous government’s rice-buying programme, is
also waning as only 60% of it, or about nine million tonnes, is fit for human
consumption after prolonged storage.
Demand, however, is expected to pick up as
buyers rush in to stock up on the grain on fears El Nino will eat into supply.The
Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice importers, indicated last week
that it could ship in more rice to boost buffer stocks and keep local prices
stable.Traders are expecting top importer China, as well as Nigeria, to react
similarly in the coming months.China’s 2014/15 imports could rise 8% to four
million tonnes, while overseas purchases by Nigeria could jump to 3.7 million
tonnes, up 9% from last year, according to International Grains Council
estimates.“Importers haven’t built inventory since prices were continuously
falling. Once prices start rising, they will increase purchases” to avoid
having to buy at even higher rates later, said a Bangkok-based rice exporter.
http://www.therakyatpost.com/business/2015/07/30/rice-price-hike-forecast-due-to-el-nino/?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+July+30%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email
Water bill gets thumbs up from locals
Public to get bigger say in management
30 Jul 2015 at 06:47 2,187 viewed2 comments
Rice growers pump water in a bid to save their
paddy fields from drought in Ayutthaya province in July. (Photo by Patipat
Janthong)
Civil networks across 25 river basins have lent
their support for the National Reform Council (NRC) water resource management
bill empowering people to manage their own water resources.Prachern Khondhet,
chairman of the Thachin River Basin Foundation in Nakhon Pathom, said his
alliance of networks from 28 provinces in the lower Chao Phraya River basin
will talk to local people about how they can benefit from the bill.Mr Prachern
said the networks are in favour of the bill as the NRC had based it on an
earlier draft prepared by the alliance, which said water resources are a public
asset and do not belong to the state.This means the government will not be the
sole manager of water resources and will be required to listen to people who
live in the river basins, he said."We will see a new dimension of water
resource management," Mr Prachern said."It will not be manipulated by
politicians who see water as a significant source of political power.
Representatives from the river basins will play a more active role in water
management."The chairman was speaking at a seminar titled "The Right
Time for Water Resource Management Reform", organised by the NRC's
committee on natural resources and environment reform.
The NRC took around eight months to draft the
bill, based on a version that had been drafted by the public under the old
constitution, which was voided by the coup d'etat last year. Under the new bill
comprising 106 sections, a river basin committee will be set up composed of
representatives from state agencies, local people and academics, increasing
public power in decision-making over water resources.During any water crisis
the committee will play a key role in coming up with an action plan for water
management.Ethanol Alumroot, a representative from the lower Chao Phraya River
basin in Pathum Thani, said the bill is a significant step as people will be
able to participate in more dimensions of the country's water resource
management.
The bill also provides for a water resource
fund from which people would get compensation if they are affected by any
aspects of water management.The fund will be partly financed by the government
as well as a fee collected from major water users such as industry.Pramote
Maiklad, chairman of the NRC's committee on natural resources and environment
reform, said the bill has been approved by the NRC and will be forwarded for
cabinet approval, and then on to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).He
agreed the state should not continue to be the sole arbiter on water management
as many errors in water management had arisen during the drought and flooding
crises. It was time to give the public a say.
Proper management should be carried out based
on close cooperation by all stakeholders, especially locals who have lived in
the river basins throughout their lives.Surachit Chiravej, a former senator
from Samut Songkram, said the bill should be considered by the NLA in the next
couple of months, as water management was an urgent issue needing proper legal
steps.He said his alliance will try its best to push it through during the term
of the current military government, as the bill might face tough passage under
an elected government.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/638280/water-bill-gets-thumbs-up-from-locals
