Rice exporters
seek zero-rated tax regime
FEBRUARY 27, 2016 BY STAFF REPORT
In a statement, Patron-in-Chief of REAP Abdul Rahim Janoo said
that apart from textiles, rice exports were much ahead of other four
export-oriented sectors. He feared that neglecting this sector would discourage
rice exports and the country would lose its traditional markets.
Janoo said the government would have to go for “no payment no
tax” policy to ensure corruption-free export trade and encourage exporters.
“There is no logic in first paying taxed and then getting refunds of the same.
This results in corruption and blocks huge working capital of export trade.”As
exporters funds are held back by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), they had
to go for bank borrowing and pay extra amount towards mark-up, he said.
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/02/27/business/rice-exporters-seek-zero-rated-tax-regime/
Group seeks foreign partners to boost rice
production
ON FEBRUARY 28, 201611:49 AMIN NEWS0 COMMENTS
111 Shares3321 Yenagoa – The Bayelsa chapter of Rice Farmers Association of
Nigeria (RIFAN) says it is seeking foreign partners to produce rice in
commercial quantity in the state. The state Chairman of the association, Mr
Ezekiel-Simeon Ogbianko, disclosed this in Yenagoa on Sunday. Ogbianko said the
association had acquired 40,000 hectares of land in Yenagoa Local Government
Area for the commercial rice farming project. He said that the association also
acquired additional 5,000 hectares of land in each of the eight local
government areas of the state for rice cultivation. He said the acquisition of
land in the local government areas was to ensure that there was enough rice for
local consumption as well as export. “We want to launch our website very soon
and we need international partners. We have a large parcel of land for
commercial rice cultivation. “We need those with the technical knowhow and
those that know the value of agriculture to partner with us and produce rice in
commercial quantity in Bayelsa State,” he said. Ogbianko said that the
association was expecting a loan from the Bank of Agriculture to fully go into
the project. He explained that the state chapter of RIFAN faced the challenge
of non-accessibility of the acquired parcels of land because the areas were
characterised by thick vegetation and marshy soil. The chairman decried the
lack of rice mills in the state, and said that a large quantity of rice
produced in the state was unprocessed because of lack of milling machines. He
said, “if government can provide modern milling
Minister Suspects Rice Cartel Practice -
Tempo.Co
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.
TEMPO/Imam Sukamto
Monday, 29 February, 2016 | 14:38 WIB
Minister Suspects Rice Cartel Practice
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -
Agricultural Minister Amran Sulaiman predicted that certain parties have
intentionally manipulated rice prices to gain profits in exchange of public
interest. "These parties are middle men who often look for opportunities
to hoard rice and sell them to the market [at certain times]," Amran said
to the press on Monday, February 29, 2016.Amran said that these middle men have
less to no concern about the public needs and the government's effort to
stabilize rice prices. Amran added that the middle men will only sell their
rice stocks if commodity prices are climbing.Currently, Amran has noted an
indication of massive inflow of rice stocks in rice supply centers, causing
oversupply, in turn, dropping the price of rice. On the first week of February
2016, rice were sold at Rp 13,344 per kilogram while on the second week, the
price drops to Rp 7,500 to Rp 10,000 per kilogram.
"This
is an anomaly that has never happened within the last five to 10 years. This
also showed that the national rice production is increasing," Amran said.Minister
Amran said that the government will not giving up in eradicating middle men and
food commodity mafia who have disrupted Indonesia's agricultural pattern."We
will change the planting patter so that there will be no unused land, because
once a harvesting season ends, a planting season starts. This will resulted in
continuous rice production and eliminate rice scarcity," Amran concluded.
http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/02/29/056749162/Minister-Suspects-Rice-Cartel-Practice
Minister
launches premium 7,500 rice
Senin, 29 Februari 2016 21:34 WIB |
Cilacap, C Java (ANTARA News) - Agriculture
Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman launched a new rice product, labeled as Premium
7,500 Rice, in Cilacap, Central Java, on Monday, in an effort to reduce the
number of players in distribution channel.The minister launched the Premium
7,500 rice product after conducting a grand rice harvest, together with the
Indonesian Army Chief Gen Mulyono, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo,
Cilacap District Head Tatto Wuarto Pamuji and a number of government officials
in Mernek Village, Maos, Cilacap District, Central Java.Minister Sulaiman said
the Premium 7,500 rice was bought from farmers at a fair price and was sold to
consumers at a lower price.
"This means that we are creating a new market by shortening the distribution channel for rice," noted the minister.He said the rice was bought from farmers at a price of Rp4,000 per kilogram. The rice was bought in the unhusked form and was sold as hulled premium rice at Rp7,500 per kilogram.However, the minister said he did not rule out the possibility of the premium rice price increasing slightly in the future. "It can be raised slightly as long as it stays below the Rp8,000 per kilogram level," he said.On the distribution of Premium 7,500 rice, the minister explained that his ministry has prepared 1,000 farmer shops in provinces which are rice producing centers.
Premium 7,500 rice venture is part of the efforts to stabilize rice prices. "We can see now that the rice prices have returned to normal, ranging from Rp7,500 to Rp8,000 per kilogram. So, we will go ahead with the program."
At a separate occasion, Head of the Food Resilience Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Gardjita Budi said the rice from which Premium Rice 7,500 is produced was bought from farmers at a price more than what is sanctioned by the government (HPP), so the farmers get the benefit. The unhusked rice is processed and sold to the farmer shops.
"The point is that the shops should not cause difficulties to the people while selling rice," he said. The farmer shops can sell the premium rice at Rp7,500 per kilogram directly because there is a shorter distribution channel.Budi said his side has set a target of opening 1,000 farmer shops in 2016. About 150 shops had been opened in 2015 but they were still on a trial basis.
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/103414/minister-launches-premium-7500-rice
Vietnam rice exports rebound; prices stay low
By Chi Nhan, Thanh Nien News
HO CHI
MINH CITY - Sunday, February 28, 2016 10:22
Workers load rice sacks at a seaport in Ho Chi
Minh City. Photo: Diep Duc Minh
Indonesia replaced China to become Vietnam's
biggest rice buyer, accounting for more than 25 percent of the shipments in
January. It was followed by China and the Philippines.
Vietnam, however, saw sharp declines in its
exports to Hong Kong and the US, both deemed as its high-ranking markets.
Shipments to these markets went down 25 and 23 percent, respectively.Rice
exports fell 2.9 percent last year to $2.85 billion.
http://www.thanhniennews.com/business/vietnam-rice-exports-rebound-prices-stay-low-59678.html
Chinese rice body to open
Yangon branch
NilarEleven Myanmar
SUN, 28 FEB, 2016 8:42 PM
The China Certification and Inspection Group (CCIG) will
open a branch in Yangon next month, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation
(MRF).It aimed to carry out quality inspection of rice due to be exported to
China, the MRF said.Lu Maw Myint Maung, joint secretary of the MRF, said:
"Officials from the CCIG held discussions this month to increase rice
exports. They feel the Myanmar rice market has potential to develop. The CCIG
is looking for an office and plans to open next month. I heard the Myanmar
Agribusiness Public Corporation has arranged an office for the CCIG and it is
looking for warehouses in Hlaingtharya and rice mills near industrial
zones."
The country could export more than 1.3 million tonnes of rice this fiscal year,
down more than four million tonnes compared with the last year, said Ye Min
Aung, general secretary of the MRF.The decline in rice exports was due to the
devastating floods during last year’s monsoon, he added. Around 90 per cent of
Myanmar’s exported rice passes through its land borders with 10 per cent
leaving by sea. Muse is the main centre for rice exports to China. "Muse
camp received about 5,000 tonnes of rice in previous years. But now we cannot
export more than 1,000 tonnes. CCIG is an independent, third-party
certification and inspection organisation dedicated to providing inspection,
verification, certification and testing services," he said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/Chinese-rice-body-to-open-Yangon-branch-30280426.html
02/29/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Rice
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Rice Comment
Rice futures
recovered Friday's losses, but didn't make much progress
in recouping most of what was lost last week. The market continues to absorb
disappointing export news. The loss of the Iraqi tender, which had originally
been for 90,000 tons US origin rice only, was the impetus for the negative
undertone this week. Weekly exports of 55,800 metric tons weren't enough to
spark much buying interest today. USDA pegged US acreage at 2.8 million acres,
up from last year's 2.6 million. Depending on the weather, though, that total
could be even higher.
Iraq Tender Falls Apart at Eleventh Hour
By Michael Klein
WASHINGTON, DC -- USA Rice has learned that the
most recent rice tender from the Grain Board of Iraq has been cancelled despite
on target and competitive bids from the United States, the extension of bids,
and intervention from the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq.After months of wrangling
with the Grain Board and the Ministry of Trade, direct involvement from the
U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and U.S.-sponsored technical seminars as recently as
three weeks ago, things appeared to be looking up in this once great market for
U.S rice when a U.S. specific tender was announced earlier this month.The
90,000 metric ton tender closed on February 21, with results expected to be
announced late last week.
As of today, the tender has been cancelled and
is being reoffered at 30,000 metric tons and including South America as an
origin. [Click on the video link above
to hear Carl Brothers, senior vice president and COO of Riceland Foods, explain
what's happening here.]USA Rice, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy, has
consistently encouraged Iraq to diversify its origins for rice to reduce the
risk of non-delivery and to ensure a reliable and timely supply of rice."We
certainly don't expect to get all the business, but with a U.S. origin tender
it seems we had a good shot at this one," Ward said. "We're extremely disappointed, and this
latest action by the government of Iraq is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of
U.S. rice farmers who stand ready to help feed the people of Iraq. We have a large, high-quality, safe crop, ready
to go. It's quite frustrating."
The government of Iraq is experiencing a
significant financial crisis with no approved operating budget for the year,
however, it is well known that food stocks are running low and the 90,000 ton
tender was almost seen as an emergency measure to help with food rations for
the Iraqi people.
USA Rice Connects with Thousands at Farm &
Gin Show
By Michael Klein
MEMPHIS, TN -- The just concluded 64th Annual
Mid-South Farm & Gin Show attracted thousands of attendees and more than
400 exhibitors, one of which was USA Rice.USA Rice's popular booth featured an
exciting prize wheel that's become a show favorite. "Contestants" spin the wheel and
must answer a trivia question about rice to receive a prize. Topics include the nutritional value of rice,
where rice is grown, rice's sustainability record, and more, including some fun
facts and trick questions that you can see in the video above. Correct answers were rewarded withThinkRice
marshmallow rice treats, pens, colored pencils, and measuring cups.
"We like to have fun with the folks with
our trivia game," said Randy Jemison, USA Rice director of Louisiana Field
Services. "A lot of exhibitors just
give stuff away, but we make them work - and learn for it. They come back year after year, a lot of
times proud that they remember the question and answer we asked them last
year. And that's what this is all
about."Jemison said USA Rice attends to connect with rice growers and to
participate in the many educational seminars offered at the show.During his
annual presentation for the Outlook on Rice and Wheat, Carl Brothers, senior
vice president and COO of Riceland Foods, said that while the year started out
strong and rough rice exports are still strong, milled rice exports are down.
"I had hoped to come to Memphis a little
more upbeat than I am, but we've got some tenders going on that we're not sure
what's happening, and we are absolutely looking at other rice exporting
countries that are not complying with the WTO obligations, making it very
difficult for American rice farmers," he said.Brothers said a bright side
was a steady rise in U.S. domestic consumption that far outpaces population
growth. "Since 1980, ice
consumption is up 271 percent, but population is up only about 40
percent," he said. "The
upsurge is attributed to the rise in rice use in pet food and in the diet of
Americans as demographics shift."
Milo Hamilton, founder of FirstGrain, also gave
an interesting talk where he said water, and by extension, rice, are entering a
phase of what he termed "Empire Commodities." He believes the Fossil Fuel Empire
Commodities are declining in importance and water will be a new global
standard.
|
Global Rice Seed Consumption 2016
Market Research Report
The report provides a basic overview of Rice
Seed Consumption industry including definitions, applications and industry
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situation is also offered.Global Rice Seed Consumption Industry Research Report
2016 also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as
a consideration of a cost structure analysis. Capacity production, market share
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A key feature of this report is it focus on
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The report begins with a brief overview of the
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threats of the Global Rice Seed Consumption market have been analyzed in the
report. Moreover, the key segments and the sub-segments that constitutes the
market is also explained in the reporhttp://qwtjlive.com/2016/02/global-rice-seed-consumption-2016-market-research-report/4856/
US and China Agree to a Deal on US Rice
February 29, 2016 2:30 PM |
Categories: China, Commodities, Finance, Guest
Post, Price Forecast | Tags: General
News, Guest
Posts, Mintec
Spend Matters welcomes this
guest post from Loraine Hudson, of Mintec.
After roughly 10 years of
discussions, an agreement has been reached that will allow U.S. rice to be
exported to China, the largest rice producer, importer and consumer. Demand for
U.S. rice in China has been identified and the country could, in time, become
the largest market for U.S. rice exports.
In comparison with China, the
U.S. rice market is tiny. The U.S. produces 6 million to 7 million tonnes of
rice per year, compared to around 140 million tonnes per year for China. U.S.
consumption is around 4 million tonnes, whereas China’s is more than 142
million tonnes. China’s huge demand for rice is not completely covered by its
domestic production and so in the past few years China has become the world’s
largest rice importer too.In 2014/2015, China imported 4.3 million tonnes of
rice, and none of that was American. A lengthy discussion on the phytosanitary
aspects of the rice that China will allow into the country has been ongoing for
the best part of a decade and, until this was decided, no U.S. rice could be
exported to China. On Jan. 21, 2016, a representative from USA Rice announced
that an agreement had been reached with hopes that U.S. rice could be exported
to China as early as spring 2016.
The phytosanitary protocol
agreement requires U.S. rice mills and storage facilities to comply with a
range of phytosanitary standards, which will be inspected by both U.S. and
Chinese authorities, and a certification issued by China before exports can be
made. Even then exports will only be allowed into eligible Chinese ports. Part
of the requirements is for traps to be laid to capture certain insects,
especially the Khapra beetle. The Khapra beetle is notoriously hard to kill but
very rare in the U.S., and exporters will need to prove traps are in place and
record anything found in them.Although the prospect of exporting to China is
seen as having huge potential for the U.S. rice industry, U.S. exporters are
aiming for the high-quality market rather than the mass-market. Consequently,
it is thought that exports will grow slowly, with China becoming the largest
importer of U.S. rice only after a few years.
https://spendmatters.com/2016/02/29/us-and-china-agree-to-a-deal-on-us-rice/
With a
reduced rice crop prices for farmers’ paddy might increase
Dear Editor,
Harvesting of the first rice crop for 2016,
will commence soon in Region Two, where farmers will be making full use of the
sunny weather. Farmers are expected to harvest an average of 40 bags per acre
without much difficulty; overall a bumper crop will result. It is a relatively
small crop considering that only about 25,000 acres out of the 35,500 acres
were sown due to the lack of irrigation water and the continuing dry weather.With
a lower projected yield from such a reduced crop, the signs are pointing in the
direction of increased competition for farmers’ paddy and a resultant increase
in price, which may be good for the farmers. I think it was a wise decision for
Guyana and Suriname rice millers to join forces considering the critical nature
of the current situation. It will be necessary to lobby for increased access to
the Colombia market.
This could be expedited and supported by
monitoring how paddy stocks are released into the market, thereby empowering
lobbyists with crucial information for decision-making. The need for
constructive dialogue between the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association
(GREMA) and the Suriname Rice Millers Association at this time cannot be
over-emphasized. Over the past year, there has been a general decline in the
sale of rice on the international market for both Guyana and Suriname.
This trend, which has been non-uniform, has had
more consequences for Guyana and Suriname than other rice-producing countries.
In the last few years they have faced a serious threat to their earning
position as other countries began offering more competitive prices. If rice
from outside sources enters the Caribbean and Colombia markets, regional
producers will have grave difficulties in competing. Guyana and Suriname
producers will have to pay greater attention to cost of production and
efficiency. We hear over and over that the world is becoming more
interdependent.
Much talk is going on about the global rice
trade. Asian countries are forming transnational corporations and they do not
allow differences of race, nationality or religion to affect their profits.
They will further add to the pressure on the low prices. For the third time
since 1995, drought has reduced rice crops in Guyana and Suriname. It is still
too early to make a definitive forecast of the 2016 production of Guyana’s
paddy and rice. International rice prices from most origins strengthened during
the month of March.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khanhttp://www.stabroeknews.com/2016/opinion/letters/02/29/reduced-rice-crop-prices-farmers-paddy-might-increase/
P.S.R. Das passes away
STAFF REPORTER
Amira Nature Foods Ltd Announces
New Partnership for UAE Market
* Reuters is not responsible for
the content in this press release.
Amira Nature Foods Ltd Announces New Partnership for UAE Market
Amira Forms Strategic Alliance with MAN Consumer, One of the
Fastest Growing FMCG Distributors in the United Arab Emirates
Amira Nature Foods Ltd (NYSE: ANFI), a leading global provider
of branded packaged Indian specialty rice, announced today that it has joined hands
with MAN Consumer, a wholly owned subsidiary of MAN Investments UAE, to form a
strategic alliance for the distribution of Amira products in the United Arab
Emirates. The agreement was formalized last week with an official signing
ceremony in Dubai at Gulfood 2016, the world’s largest annual food and
hospitality trade show. Amira was a gold sponsor for the event which drew
approximate 85,000 attendees over a five day period.
MAN Consumer, one of the fastest growing distribution companies
in the United Arab Emirates, is a wholly owned subsidiary of MAN Investments,
which is a part of Mohammed Juma Al Naboodah’s private office, a major Emirati
conglomerate. With a vision to be the largest FMCG distributor in the UAE and a
leading player in the broader MENA region, MAN Consumer presently distributes
30+ brands in the region, spread across diverse set of segments.Amira’s
Chairman Mr. Karan A. Chanana during the press meet stated, "We are
delighted to be working with MAN Consumer to strengthen our brand distribution.
This marks an exciting step for Amira in the UAE. We look forward to working
with the group to increase our product availability in the region, allowing
more Emirates consumers to discover the Amira brand and our excellent range of
quality rice."
MAN Consumer General Manager Mr.Taranjit Singh stated, “Amira’s
premium aged rice ranges intend to bring delight to consumers, like no other.
With our strong distribution strengths, MAN intend to ensure Amira’s
availability in every single corner of the country and make Amira a household
name.”
About Amira Nature Foods Ltd
Founded in 1915, Amira has evolved into a leading global
provider of branded packaged Indian specialty rice and other products, with
sales in over 60 countries. The Company primarily sells Basmati rice, which is
a premium long-grain rice grown only in certain regions of the Indian
sub-continent, under its flagship Amira brand as well as under other third
party brands. Amira sells its products through a broad distribution network in
both the developed and emerging markets. The Company’s global headquarters are
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and it also has offices in India, Malaysia,
Singapore, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Amira Nature
Foods Ltd is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker
symbol “ANFI.”For more information, please visit www.amira.net
“Discover. Create. Enjoy. - Amira!”
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking
nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the
U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these
forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “except,”
“anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely
to,” “future” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking
statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future
events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition,
results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. There is no
assurance that our current expectations and projections are accurate. These
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
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our goals and strategies;
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our expansion plans;
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our future business development, results of
operations, financial condition and audited financial statements;
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our ability to protect our intellectual
property rights;
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projected revenue, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA,
profits, adjusted profits, earnings, adjusted earnings and other estimated
financial information;
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our ability to maintain strong relationships
with our customers and suppliers;
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the continued application of the proceeds
from our initial public offering (“IPO”);
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governmental policies regarding our industry;
and
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the impact of legal proceedings.
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You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements and you should read these statements in conjunction with the risk
factors disclosed in “Risk Factors” appearing in Amira’s Annual Reports found
on the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov. Those risks are not exhaustive.
We operate in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time
to time, and it is impossible for our management to predict all risk factors,
nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to
which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ
from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We do not undertake any
obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as required
under applicable law.
View source version on
businesswire.com:http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160229005719/en/
Amira Nature Foods Ltd
Bruce Wacha, 646-779-1984
Chief Financial Officer
DRI
unearths over Rs 1,000 crore scam in rice export
By PTI |
Feb 28, 2016, 12.47 PM IST
Authorities have unearthed a massive scam in
export of high-quality
Basmati rice to Iran, running into over Rs 1,000 crore.
NEW DELHI:
Authorities have unearthed a massive scam in export of high-quality Basmati
rice to Iran, running into over Rs 1,000 crore, in which the
commodity was fraudulently diverted mid-sea to Dubai. According to a probe
being done by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), over two lakh
metric tonnes of Basmati rice was illegally offloaded in Dubai in the last over
a year instead of in Bandar Abbas in Iran, official sources said. Over 25 big
exporters from Haryana and Punjab are under the scanner of DRI and other agencies
for their involvement in the multi-crore scam, they said.
Explaining the modus operandi, the sources
said rice would be taken to Gujarat's Kandla Port by these exporters. They
would then file Shipping Bills--documents filed with customs authorities carrying
details of goods to be exported, consignor and consignee--for export to Iran,
they said. Instead of the consignment reaching Iranian shores, it would be
diverted mid-sea to Dubai allegedly with the connivance of cargo ship operators
carrying the goods. Surprisingly, payments were also made from Iran
to these exporters in India. Importers and port officials would allegedly
acknowledge the receipt of rice and allow payment to be made against it here,
the sources said. What is worrying for intelligence agencies here is that they
do not know the end-use of rice off-loaded in Dubai. They suspect use of rice
as barter system to fund some illegal activity like terror financing, the
sources said.
The DRI has red-flagged the scam at the
highest level and is in touch with authorities concerned in Dubai about the
scam. Prima facie, two lakh metric tonnes of rice valued at about Rs 1,000
crore has been off-loaded in Dubai instead of Iran, they said. While India lost
foreign exchange which it could have got from Dubai in case of genuine trade,
Iran was also deprived of customs duty it would have been entitled to if rice
was delivered at its shore, the sources said. The authorities suspect the
proceeds of the scam assumed the form of black money. The DRI has informed
Supreme Court- appointed Special Investigation Team on black money about the
case. It has also roped in the Enforcement Directorate to look into the matter,
they said. Legal export of rice from the country has risen in the past two
years. India had exported 2,77,880.22 kg of Basmati rice to United Arab
Emirates in 2014-15. About 4,11,776.06 kg of rice had been sent to the UAE
between April and November 2015, as per the latest data of export compiled by Directorate
General of Foreign Trade.
Only American on Amadeus Silver II cruise
February 28, 20165:38 PM MST
I’m the only American on this Amras cruise aboard the Amadeus Silver II. I’ll say it once more because it has never
happened before and most likely will never happen again – I am the only
American on this cruise.
Jackie Sheckler Finch
Jackie Sheckler Finch
So far,
it has been a breeze. A driver was waiting holding a card with my name when I
exited the airport in Basel. My Amras contact had already told me to exit on
the French side of the airport, rather than the German one. Many people make a
mistake and go out the wrong side so I was glad to be forewarned by Amras. On
my previous arrivals in Basel, I needed to exit on the German side so this was
a bit different.I was the only Silver
II passenger arriving on this flight so I had the
plush taxi all to myself. The driver didn’t speak English but he smiled a lot
and insisted on carrying my one suitcase.It was only about a 20-minute ride
from the airport to the ship. Even though I arrived at the ship around 11 a.m.,
my stateroom was ready. I was happy to be able to unpack, take a shower and get
ready for a wonderful five-day cruise on the Rhine.As I said in my first
preview blog about the cruise, I am taking two back-to-back cruises on the Silver II. Since it is such a long flight from
Indianapolis to Europe, I am combining two cruises for an 11-day river journey.
The second six-day cruise is also on the Rhine.
Sleek and silvery ship
The average age of passengers seems to be about
60 although there is a young New Zealand couple taking their first river cruise
and their first trip to Germany and France. The cruise will be going from Basel
to Cologne, Germany. We mostly have two shore excursions each day, one in the
morning and one in the afternoon.
Since this is embarkation day, our program is
shorter than usual. This first day we had tea time from 4 to 5 p.m. in the
Panorama Bar. Along with tea and coffee, the welcoming buffet had bunches of
little sandwiches and sweets. We will be having dinner in a couple of hours so
I tried to steer clear of the delicious fresh pastries. Took will power not to
eat more than one strudel.
At 6 p.m., we had the obligatory safety and
ship briefing, followed at 6:30 by the captain’s welcome with an introduction
of ship officers and a champagne toast.
First dinner aboard Silver II
Dinner was served at 7 p.m. in the restaurant.
It doesn’t have a fancy name – just The Restaurant. Dinner is one seating and
seats are assigned. The Israeli tour group, of course, was seated together at
several tables. Germans also were seated together or as couples at individual
tables as were the Japanese. Since the cruise is only half full, it is possible
for couples to have tables all to themselves.
I was assigned to sit at a table with a 40ish
man named Alex from the United Kingdom. Maître d' Roman said we had been seated
together because we both speak English. Alex is on a business cruise. He
arranges tours for clients, especially for travelers with disabilities and is
on the Silver II to learn more about the ship.
It is interesting to see the ship through
Alex’s eyes looking for disability access and I think I will learn quite a bit
from him in the next few days. Alex is stubborn and uses crutches, although he
said he could easily be a wheelchair user. He also told me that he has outlived
his projected lifespan and greets each day as a gift. That is a good attitude
for everyone to keep in mind.
The dining room is beautiful as is the whole
ship. The décor is very appealing to me – light and open, elegant but simple.
Floor-to-ceiling windows are everywhere. The dominant colors are deep mauve and
ivory. Lighting fixtures are sparkly crystal.
Cuisine is considered international with an
accent on Viennese. Judging from the afternoon tea and first dinner, I am going
to be quite happy with whatever label is given the food served aboard Silver
II.
Here is the Welcome
Dinner Menu. It is quite a lot to type in but look at it
and consider what you would order if you were here:
Beef Carpaccio Marinated with Truffle Oil, Old
Aceto Balsamico and Ruccola Salad
Or
Caesar’s Salad
Or
Caesar’s Salad
Beef Consumme with Sherry and Puff Pastry
Or
Chili Corn Cream Soup
Or
Chili Corn Cream Soup
Tortellini Pasta with Truffle Sauce and
Parmesan (appetizer for everyone)
Roasted Lamb Shank with Fresh Vegetables,
Creamy Polenta, Lamb Jus and Gremolata
Or
Grilled Fillet of Salmon with Potato Carrot Crust, Curry Sauce, Sautéed Savoy Cabbage, Snow Peas and Basmati Rice
Or
Steamed Chinese Cabbage with Basmati Rice, Lemon-Soja Sauce and Asian Vegetables.
Or
Grilled Fillet of Salmon with Potato Carrot Crust, Curry Sauce, Sautéed Savoy Cabbage, Snow Peas and Basmati Rice
Or
Steamed Chinese Cabbage with Basmati Rice, Lemon-Soja Sauce and Asian Vegetables.
Stuffed Macaroon and Caramel Parfait
Or
Vanilla Ice Cream with Fresh Strawberries and Grand Marnier
Or
Vanilla Ice Cream with Fresh Strawberries and Grand Marnier
Quiz:
What’s the right diet for you?
Are you a feaster, emotional eater or constant craver? Take our
quiz to find out what kind of eater you are and how that impacts your ideal
diet.
By Siobhan Hegarty
22
JUL 2015 - 11:35 AM
UPDATED 24 FEB 2016 - 12:53 PM
The three-part documentary What's the right diet for you? starts 8.30pm Thursday 3 March on SBS.
What type
of eater am I?
·
a)
Once I start, I can't stop.
·
b)
I want to eat all day, every day.
·
c)
It's my go-to when anxious or sad.
·
a) Once I start, I can't stop.36.5%
·
b) I want to eat all day, every day.32.2%
·
c) It's my go-to when anxious or sad.31.3%
Answered a)? You’re a ‘Feaster’
Recent scientific studies show gut hormones can have a strong
influence on our appetite. If you’re a feaster, you’re likely to possess low
levels of a gut hormone that tells you when you’re full.
What does this mean? Once you start eating you’re unlikely to feel the satisfaction
of fullness, so you keep on munching.
What’s the best diet? Seeing as you find it hard to stop eating, it’s best to choose
foods that reach your gut hormone and make you feel fuller for longer. These
are foods that are high in protein, such as fish and chicken, and low in
glycemic index (GI) – pasta, lentils and basmati rice are great examples.
What not to eat? Be careful with your carbs!
Potatoes along with most rice varieties and breads are carbohydrates that are
quickly processed by the gut and, hence, won’t keep you sated.
Answered b)? You’re a ‘Constant craver’
For most people, when our fat stores reach a sufficient level,
our brains receive signals telling us we no longer need to eat. If you’re a
constant craver, you possess genes which disrupt the way these signals are
received, tricking the brain into thinking the fat stores constantly need
replenishing.
What does this mean? You’re hungry all of the gosh darn time!
What’s the best diet? Because you’re constantly craving food, dieting seven days a
week will be a serious struggle. Instead, try dramatically reducing your
calories on two days of the week. This is known as ‘intermittent fasting’.
Severely limiting your calorie intake should shock your body into burning
carlories.
So how many calories are we talking? It’s best to seek guidance from a medical professional before
starting your fast as it’s not recommended for all body types. Most contestants
on What’s The Right Diet For You? fit into the obese category, so they were given a limit of 800
calories on fasting days, however, other programs, such as Michael Mosley: Eat, Fast & Live Longer suggest 500 calories for women and 600 for men will be
sufficient.
What can I eat? The good news is, five days per
week you can eat whatever you like! Try to keep it healthy. For the two fasting
days, it’s best to stick to small portions of meat, fish, eggs and vegetables.
Some fasting programs, such as those showcased on the Michael Mosley
documentary, say you can eat whatever foods you like on a fasting day, while What’s The Right Diet For You? argues you should avoid carbohydrates, like bread, pasta and
fruit.
Answered c)? You’re an ‘Emotional eater’
In stressful situations, our brains are primed to seek out
rewards. Everyone is programmed differently: some people seek out
alcohol, while others prefer a jog. If you’re an emotional eater, you supress
negative feelings with food.
What does this mean? When you’re experiencing stress, anxiety, anger or sadness you
seek comfort in foods that are high in sugar and fat.
What’s the best diet? Stick to a low-calorie diet.
Is that all? No. Your unhealthy relationship
with food is less about your physiology and more about your emotions. People
cannot will themselves to lose weight, but they can develop healthy eating
habits.
Do you have any tips? One established way to creatie healthy habits is to seek out
group support. Attend weight loss meetings and reach out to online groups that
can offer a 24/7 touch point. It’s also a great idea to start a dieting diary
and look at cognitive behavioural therapy.
Quiz inspired by What’s The Right Diet For You? starts 8.30pm Thursday 3 March on SBS.
MORE
EATING INTEL
Eat well: Can you be addicted to
food?
Are you a “carb craver” or
“chocaholic”? We often use language associated with addiction to describe our
relationships with food. But is it really possible to be addicted to certain
types of food?
10 meaty truths you need to know
From the journalist who brought
us the truth about fasting, comes food doco Should I Eat Meat?. Britain's
Michael Mosley looks at the pros, cons and potentially dangerous aspects of red
and processed meat. Here, we get down to the science-y details so you can
separate the saturated fat from the L-Carnitine.
Eat well: How to work out how
much food you should eat
Whether you prefer a mathematical
or instinctive approach to kilojule counting, it's essential to consider all
the variables. And remember, if your clothes are getting tighter, you’re
probably consuming more kilojoules than your body needs.
APEDA RICE COMMODITY NEWS
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Rice leftovers
bring ‘bird blizzard’ to Sacramento Valley, sandhill crane bonanza
POSTED: 02/27/16, 6:33 PM PST | UPDATED: 2 DAYS AGO
Nelson >> Seeing birds — a lot of birds —
is nothing new nor surprising for residents of the Sacramento Valley. However,
there’s a hotspot for Sandhill cranes that is causing excitement among even the
most savvy local bird enthusiasts.
Four hundred... 1,000... 3,000 sandhill cranes
in one spot? Birds come and go and the estimates vary. All agree, it’s a lot of
birds.
BIRD
SPOT
The hotspot is very close to the west side of
Highway 99, across the roadway from Schlaf Drive. If traveling south from
Chico, continue onto Highway 99 instead of taking Highway 149 toward Oroville.
The location is behind a cyclone fence just before reaching the rendering
plant. You’ll know you’ve reached the rendering plant because you can smell it.
BIRD
MYSTERY
The reason for the large congregation of birds
has been a mystery to some local birders, including Scott Huber, a
knowledgeable bird enthusiast who said he saw 1,000 birds at this location last
month.
“People have been coming from all over to see
the gathering,” Huber said.
This same spot has been a favorite for the big
birds for a few years now.
Sandhill cranes are a large migratory bird with gray feather
and a crimson cap. They begin to arrive in the Sacramento Valley in September
or October, then return to spring nesting spots in Alaska, Siberia and Northern
Canada. They will also nest in Modoc and Lassen counties, in tules and
marshland, explained Jay Bogiatto, who works in the Biological Sciences
Department at Chico State University.
The Cornell
Lab of Ornithology explains
that sandhill cranes prefer moist, open land. Rice fields fit that description,
particularly when they are only partially flooded. Sandhill cranes are fun to
watch, and during courtship they hop along the field, unfurling their wings in
a gangly dance.
BIRD
MYSTERY SOLVED
Bob Brown, who loves birds, owns the land where
what some folks have described as a “bird blizzard” is happening. He bought the
property in 1992 and is more than thrilled that cranes and other birds are
seasonal guests.
For decades, Brown has made choices to enhance
wildlife, including placing bird boxes along the fence and providing piles of
brush for birds.
A few years ago, Butte County Rice Growers Association in Richvale asked him if he would be willing to
take some rice byproducts onto his land.
This
material is really the end-of-the-end for rice. The rice hulls have already
been separated for use in Santa Rosa as chicken bedding, Brown said. The
truckloads of material he receives are literally rice industry dust (a lot of
it) and bits of the rice plants. In bulk, the material is spread over the land.
Rains help turn the material into mulch. This particular area of land does not have rich
soil, he explained. His goal was to add nutrients to the soil. What happened
was a bird bonanza.WHAT BIRDS WANT
Most likely, the mulch is a hotbed for worms and other insects, which are a favorite of many types of birds. Brown said cranes will nibble at leftover rice in rice fields. However, he knows the material he receives does not contain very much leftover rice.
When the Enterprise-Record stopped at the cyclone fence along Highway 99 last week, most of the birds were rooting around in the soil.
Brown said a biologist from The Nature Conservancy recently visited the land, and at that point there were about 2,000 cranes at the location.
The state of California might host 9,000-15,000 Sandhill cranes each year, Bogiatto said.
From the numbers spotted by Brown and Huber, that would mean 10-20 percent of all the cranes in California landed at Brown’s field covered with rotting rice dust.
That’s the kind of bird sighting bird watchers talk about.
Brown said birders have shared the location on their web pages and blogs. However, if you’re thinking about racing out there this weekend, prepare for disappointment. As of last week, the cranes were leaving in large numbers. Brown said they might now be gone for the season. Although other resident birds are probably still in the area.
LISTEN AND LEARN
Brown knows the birds well and has literally spent entire days watching the cranes be cranes.
The birds make a move about midday, he learned after many hours of observation.
“When the temperatures get just right they start circling around,” in the sky.
At this point, the cranes start making a lot of noise, Brown said. He can see the birds are high in the sky, but the sound is as if the birds are right next to you. The chatter attracts more birds, which join the circle in the sky. After time passes, the birds fly off.
Last week, the Enterprise-Record spotted about 400 cranes at this particular location, and hundreds of geese, duck and blackbirds.
Huber clarified that these were American wigeons and red-winged blackbirds. He also spotted swans when he peered through the fence earlier in the season.
FLOCK OF BIRD WATCHERS
“My original intention was that the soil quality would be improved,” Brown said. “It turned out better than I thought, attracting wildlife like crazy.”
Brown is clearly enjoying the experience, as are others.
One day he talked with a member of the Audubon Society who was peering through the cyclone fence with a high-powered scope. The Audubon bird watcher said some of the cranes wore bird bands places on the birds in 1996.
Fish and Wildlife officials have been in contact with Brown as well. It would be preferred that the birds not be disturbed, Brown said.
In previous years, the rice mulch was spread further from the road, Brown said. The birds flocked to this land, but were not visible by people driving along Highway 99.
Brown said this location is better because the land is flat. Bird experts are hoping people are respectful if they stop to view the birds.
Contact reporter Heather Hacking at 896-7758.
http://www.orovillemr.com/article/NB/20160227/NEWS/160229781
