Thursday, April 07, 2016

5 april 2016 Globalregional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

PHL may import more rice this year

·         Business
·         Agri-Commodities
by BusinessMirror - April 5, 2016
0 122
By Cai U. Ordinario & Mary Grace Padin
THE Philippines could buy an additional 500,000 metric tons (MT) of imported rice this year as El Niño continues to wreak havoc on rice-growing areas, the National Food Authority (NFA) said on Tuesday.
NFA Administrator Renan B. Dalisay said his agency has already been granted a standby authority to import an additional 500,000 MT for this year.
“The Philippines is still not self-sufficient in rice, so I cannot say that we will no longer import this year. The country has been importing 1.5 million to 1.7 million metric tons [MMT] of rice annually,” Dalisay told reporters on the sidelines of a news briefing held in Pasig City on Tuesday.
He said the government wants to ensure that the arrival of imports will not cause farm-gate prices of paddy rice to decline drastically and cause farmers to incur losses.
Dalisay added that the NFA council may come up with a decision on rice importation as early as this month or as late as next semester.
Using the standby authority of the NFA to import 500,000 MT would be the fastest way to ensure ample rice supply and stable prices, especially during the lean months, he said.
The government imported additional rice to prepare for the ill effects of El Niño. The El Niño Task Force recommended the importation of an additional 500,000 MT of rice in 2015, and 800,000 MT in the first semester of 2016.
However, due to the rains and early planting interventions in the last quarter of 2015, the government has held off on its decision to import more rice.
The NFA purchased the 500,000 MT of imported rice intended for 2016 in September last year via the government-to-government scheme. Vietnam and Thailand bagged the contract to supply imported rice to the Philippines.
The government has also allowed the private sector to import 505,627.90 MT of rice under the minimum-access volume scheme of the World Trade Organization.
El Niño caused paddy-rice output last year to decline by 4.31 percent to 18.15 MMT, from 18.97 MMT posted in 2014, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA also said unmilled rice production in the first half of 2016 could go down by 1.48 percent to 8.20 MMT, from 8.32 MMT posted in the same period last year.


Philippines can import extra 500,000 T rice: grains official


April 5, 2016
By Enrico dela Cruz, Reuters
MANILA, April 5 (Reuters) – The Philippines can import another 500,000 tonnes of rice to boost state reserve stocks, a grains agency official said on Tuesday, as the government sought to mitigate the impact of an El Nino-linked drought on food supply.
Fresh demand from the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice buyers, could underpin export prices in neighboring Vietnam and Thailand, traditionally Manila’s main suppliers. President Benigno Aquino has given the state grains procurement agency, National Food Authority (NFA), a “standby authority” to import up to half a million tonnes for this year’s requirements, NFA Administrator Renan Dalisay said.
Logo photo courtesy of pntr.gov.ph

With Aquino’s approval, the NFA can buy rice under a “government-to-government” deal, Dalisay said. Under such an arrangement, the agency can negotiate deals only with Vietnam, Thailand, or Cambodia. The new allowance would be on top of the 750,000 tonnes bought by the NFA and shipped within the past six months from Vietnam and Thailand. Dalisay said the timing of the additional purchases will still have to be decided by the NFA Council, a government panel composed of the country’s economic managers.
Rice trade in the top Asian producers – Vietnam and Thailand – was slim in recent days as high prices kept buyers at bay. Both countries have also been hit by severe droughts, putting more pressure on their limited supply. “The NFA Council is monitoring the supply and consumption on a month to month basis,” Dalisay said. “We will make sure that whatever we ship in will not arrive during the local harvest.” Crop losses in the Philippines due to El Nino, which since last year has caused droughts in several provinces, have ballooned to 6.5 billion pesos ($141 million), the Department of Agriculture said. Dalisay said the Philippines’ annual rice imports in recent years ranged from 1.5 million tonnes to 1.7 million tonnes. Purchases for this year’s requirement have so far reached 500,000 tonnes

http://www.mb.com.ph/philippines-can-import-extra-500000-t-rice-grains-official/Myanmar-Indonesia rice trade disrupted by pest infestation

Myanmar rice merchants exporting rice to Indonesia are struggling to receive payment for their shipments due to discoveries of pests in the rice, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation.

Myanmar’s commerce ministry and the Indonesian trade ministry signed a bilateral agreement requiring Indonesia to buy 20,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar by the end of March.

Myanmar exported 13,775 tonnes of rice to Indonesian’s Surabaya port in five separate shipments. However, Indonesian authorities have prevented the rice from being unloaded, and Myanmar exporters have not received payment for the shipments.

One of the criteria for Myanmar exporters is for rice pest management to be done at labs approved by Indonesian authorities.

Vietnamese merchants faced similar issues in the past when they exported to Indonesia.

Myanmar authorities are now in talks with the Indonesian logistics company Perum Bulog about extending the shipping period until the end of this April.  They are also discussing strategies for pest management. However, the Indonesian company said its licence is expired and that it must get its licence extended by the Indonesian trade ministry in order to comply with Myanmar’s requests.

About two weeks ago, Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation (MAPCO) and Perum Bulog sent request letters various government departments in Indonesia to help solve the case, but they have received no response yet, according to merchants.

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/myanmar-indonesia-rice-trade-disrupted-pest-infestationEgypt to Ban Rice Exports as of April 4

 Finance   
Egyptian minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Tarek Qabil on Friday said the North African nation will ban rice exports as of April 4 in order to preserve stocks for the local market and price stability.
Rice exports were banned on Sept. 1 to satisfy domestic consumption. The agriculture ministry said at the time it expected white rice production to reach 2.7 million tons in the 2015-2016 season, less than the estimated annual consumption of 3.6 million tons.
But the banning decision was later cast in doubt after the agriculture minister resigned and was subsequently arrested on corruption charges.
Qabil said the new ban aims to meet the needs of the domestic market, which is growing significantly.
The ministry is coordinating with all the ministries and concerned entities to tighten controls at customs and borders to prevent rice smuggling out, Qabil said, adding that deterrent measures will be taken against violators.
The decision will positively contribute to rice prices stability, he said.
Egypt first imposed a ban on exports in 2008 saying it wanted to save rice for local consumption and also to discourage rice farmers from growing the crop to save water.
According to Bloomberg, food shortages and price jumps carry a political risk for Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as millions of Egyptians depend on state subsidies to eat.
Posted by Hafid El Fassy on April 3, 2016. Filed underFinance, Zoom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

·         http://medafricatimes.com/8827-egypt-to-ban-rice-exports-as-of-april-4.htmlDelta farmers assessing storm damage; Phillips County expected back in fields soon

·         Row crop farmers in the Arkansas Delta were assessing the damage after a Wednesday evening interrupted by tornado warnings. Thursday was no better, with a second round of thunderstorms with high winds and large hail blowing through parts of the Arkansas River Valley and the Delta.

·        
COMMENT
 0
 0
·          
·          
·          
·         By Mary Hightower/ U of A System Division of Agriculture

Posted Apr. 4, 2016 at 2:43 PM 


Row crop farmers in the Arkansas Delta were assessing the damage after a Wednesday evening interrupted by tornado warnings. Thursday was no better, with a second round of thunderstorms with high winds and large hail blowing through parts of the Arkansas River Valley and the Delta.
“Probably over 10 percent of Arkansas’ rice acreage has been planted to date,” said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “The areas where most of that has been planted received between 4 and 7 inches of rain over the past 24 hours.
“The biggest concern for those fields will be the potential for destruction of new levees that wouldn’t withstand the intense flooding brought on by the heavy rains,” he said. “The rice seed itself, as long as not exposed by erosion from moving water, will likely be fine and emerge normally for this time of year once the water recedes and warm temperatures set in.
“However, levees seeded with rice that are destroyed and have to be re-pulled will need to be re-seeded and that rice could potentially be out of sync with the rest of the rice in the field creating management and harvest issues,” Hardke said.
Rain hit a corn verification field hard in Lincoln County, said Kevin Lawson, extension area agronomist for corn and sorghum for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“We had 5 inches of rain and lost about a half-inch of soil on the beds,” he said Thursday afternoon.
In Phillips County, County Extension Agent Robert Goodson said that after 3-4 inches of rain, “there was some water on fields, but most drain fairly quickly.”
He anticipated Phillips County farmers being back in the field on Monday or Tuesday


Philippines can import extra 500,000 T rice: grains official


April 5, 2016
By Enrico dela Cruz, Reuters
MANILA, April 5 (Reuters) – The Philippines can import another 500,000 tonnes of rice to boost state reserve stocks, a grains agency official said on Tuesday, as the government sought to mitigate the impact of an El Nino-linked drought on food supply.
Fresh demand from the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice buyers, could underpin export prices in neighboring Vietnam and Thailand, traditionally Manila’s main suppliers. President Benigno Aquino has given the state grains procurement agency, National Food Authority (NFA), a “standby authority” to import up to half a million tonnes for this year’s requirements, NFA Administrator Renan Dalisay said.
Logo photo courtesy of pntr.gov.ph

With Aquino’s approval, the NFA can buy rice under a “government-to-government” deal, Dalisay said. Under such an arrangement, the agency can negotiate deals only with Vietnam, Thailand, or Cambodia. The new allowance would be on top of the 750,000 tonnes bought by the NFA and shipped within the past six months from Vietnam and Thailand. Dalisay said the timing of the additional purchases will still have to be decided by the NFA Council, a government panel composed of the country’s economic managers.
Rice trade in the top Asian producers – Vietnam and Thailand – was slim in recent days as high prices kept buyers at bay. Both countries have also been hit by severe droughts, putting more pressure on their limited supply. “The NFA Council is monitoring the supply and consumption on a month to month basis,” Dalisay said. “We will make sure that whatever we ship in will not arrive during the local harvest.” Crop losses in the Philippines due to El Nino, which since last year has caused droughts in several provinces, have ballooned to 6.5 billion pesos ($141 million), the Department of Agriculture said. Dalisay said the Philippines’ annual rice imports in recent years ranged from 1.5 million tonnes to 1.7 million tonnes. Purchases for this year’s requirement have so far reached 500,000 tonnes

Singapore scientists see future in ‘functional food’ for those with chronic diseases - See more at: A team of food scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has successfully formulated a recipe for making healthier, diabetic-friendly bread by adding a natural plant pigment, called anthocyanin, extracted from black rice. — Picture by National University of Singapore via TODAYSINGAPORE, April 6 — From diabetic-friendly bread to cake suitable for kidney patients on haemodialysis, new food products have been developed by scientists here in recent years to make it easier for the health-conscious and those with chronic diseases to boost their nutrition.
While the products are no substitute for regular balanced meals and do not cure health problems, they offer more choices to help individuals with various health conditions meet their nutritional needs.
There is significant potential for innovation in functional food as Singaporeans are now more aware and concerned about their health and are taking a more pro-active approach to eating well, said Lau Kum Yee, Singapore Polytechnic’s course chair for its Diploma in Food Science and Technology. Functional food refers to food that has added ingredients that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
Food scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) recently developed a recipe for diabetic-friendly bread by adding an antioxidant-rich plant pigment called anthocyanin, which is extracted from black rice. The scientists took an alternative approach to producing functional bread that is digested more slowly, said Dr Sui Xiaonan, a recent PhD graduate from the Food Science Technology Programme at NUS, who was part of the study. Instead of adding whole grains and fibres in bread, their study was the first to use anthocyanin to fortify a bread product to reduce its digestion rate, thereby improving blood glucose control.
The bread can also help reduce over-eating and therefore obesity, said Professor Zhou Weibiao, director of the Food Science and Technology Programme at NUS’ Faculty of Science.
“Our results demonstrate that it is indeed feasible to create functional food products through anthocyanin fortification, using bread as an example. We hope to conduct further studies to incorporate anthocyanins into other food items, such as biscuits.
“Our team is also keen to explore opportunities to work with industry partners to introduce the anthocyanin-fortified bread to the market,” said Prof Zhou.
The NUS programme has developed a variety of food ingredients with anti-diabetes, anti-ageing and other health-promoting properties in recent years.
Over at Singapore Polytechnic’s School of Chemical and Life Sciences, at least eight functional food products suitable for people with various health conditions have been developed in the past decade. They include a low-glycaemic index (GI) banana chocolate cupcake and a low-GI brownie, which are currently available at The Diabetic Shop, which has a retail outlet at Square 2 in Novena.
Dr Loke Wai Mun, a lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Chemical and Life Sciences, expects functional food to be the focus of the “next level of food production”, especially in Asia, due in part to the wide variety of food options and ingredients available in the region.
Fuelled by an ageing population and an increasing incidence of chronic diseases, functional food is already a multi-billion-dollar market in the Asia-Pacific, reportedly worth some US$70 billion (RM280 billion) in 2014.
According to market research firm Euromonitor International, global sales of functional food and health and wellness food products are estimated to hit US$1 trillion by next year.
Some products that can be found on supermarket shelves include low-GI bread and cereals with added fibre and omega-3s or omega-6s, eggs with added vitamins and dairy products with added probiotics and calcium. Low-GI food is generally more suitable for diabetic patients as it is digested more slowly, keeping blood sugar levels in control.
Flavours with a local spin
The demand for variety and palatability of functional food has spurred companies and researchers to tailor products to suit local taste preferences.
A Singapore Polytechnic team of students and lecturers recently developed a range of local snacks including a layered jam cake and kueh bahulu (traditional mini sponge cakes) in various flavours for patients on haemodialysis. The products are undergoing licensing.
“Haemodialysis patients need to restrict their water, sodium, potassium and phosphorus intake. After their dialysis sessions, they are given a snack that is high in protein. Both the kueh bahulu and layered cake fit the requirements. With a wider variety of snacks available, these patients now have more choices to meet their nutritional needs,” said Lau.
Other healthier versions of local fare developed by Singapore Polytechnic include kaya (egg jam) with reduced sugar, fat and cholesterol, and which has a lower GI.
Besides developing health-enhancing food products, some tertiary education institutions, such as the Centre for Functional Food and Human Nutrition at Nanyang Polytechnic, work with commercial enterprises in the area of functional food research.
Established in 2013, the centre recently collaborated with food enterprise Defu Foodstuff to examine the potential of using black garlic to maintain overall health. Dr Loke led the study to compare the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of black garlic and white garlic supplements. Results showed while both helped to lower inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, black garlic had a higher antioxidant content.
Such research projects provide scientific evidence to validate health claims of functional food products, which would help consumers differentiate among the vast choices available in the market, said Dr Loke.
But while functional food products and ingredients may help enhance one’s health in certain ways, NUS’ Prof Zhou said they are not drugs and do not cure health problems.
“Without getting the foundations of eating well right, functional food may not provide additional benefits,” said senior dietician Fahma Sunarja of Parkway Cancer Centre at Gleneagles Hospital.
“For instance, a low-GI rice or bread is insufficient to regulate blood sugar levels if a person with diabetes does not take regular balanced meals, while plant sterols (cholesterol-lowering substances occurring in small amounts in many grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds) are unlikely to benefit a person with high cholesterol if he continues to eat a lot of high-fat meats,” she said. — TODAY
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/singapore-scientists-see-future-in-functional-food-for-those-with-chronic-d#sthash.11Ere6l3.dpuf

Arkansas Rice Depot and Arkansas Foodbank Merge
By Chuck Wilson

             
            Arkansas Foodbank CEO Rhonda Sanders and Senator Boozman 

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Last week, board members, volunteers, donors, and guests gathered here at an event held to recognize the momentous partnership between the Arkansas Rice Depot and Arkansas Foodbank. The two organizations celebrated their merger and debuted a new logo and mission statement: "United to Fight Hunger."
U.S. Senator John Boozman attended the event and called the merger a "tremendous" bipartisan effort to "work together for the greater good." Boozman added, "Arkansas is a leader in agriculture, but our citizens continue to suffer from hunger. As Arkansans we need to make sure our neighbors are getting the food they need and are eating healthy. Our state is rightfully proud of the proactive efforts of the Arkansas Foodbank and Arkansas Rice Depot to fight hunger in our state."
The combined organization will use the former Rice Depot building as the primary point for volunteer activities, food sorting and the Food For Kids backpack program. The Foodbank location will serve as the food distribution center to all its partner agencies.
Last year, the Arkansas Rice Depot and Arkansas Foodbank distributed about 25 million pounds of food to agencies that help feed the hungry.

04/05/2016 Farm Bureau Market ReportRice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High
Low
Last
Change
May '16
983.5
967.0
979.0
-1.0
Jul '16
1006.0
995.0
1005.0
-1.5
Sep '16
1024.5
+1.0
Nov '16
1040.5
1040.0
1042.5
+2.5
Jan '17
1061.0
+2.5
Mar '17
1079.0
+2.5
May '17
1079.0
+2.5
   

Rice Comment

Rice futures ended mixed after trading in a narrow range. The market charted a huge bearish reversalon Thursday in reaction to USDA's planting intentions report. Rice acres are expected to be up 17% from 2015 at 3.064 million acres. All of that gain and then some will be in long grain rice, while medium grain acreage will actually be down 17% across the country. Arkansas is expected to plant 1.581 million acres of rice consisting of 1.43 million acres of long grain and 150,000 acres of medium grain. The crop progress report showed 16% of the rice in the ground nationwide, with Arkansas coming in at 11% planted. Technically, the first level of support for May is Thursday's low of $9.42 1/2. A close below that level could send the market headed for a retest of support at $9.22 on the continuation chart

 

 

Commodity Report-April 5

Published 

Today’s commodity report: National Weekly Rice Summary, California F.O.B. Price for Extra Grade and Grade A Nonfat Dry Milk, California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report, Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market and other commodity end of the day market numbers.

National Weekly Rice Summary

In California, medium grain milled rice prices steady to 1.00 lower on white and steady to 2.00 lower on brown. Second heads and Brewers steady to weak. Rice by-products: Rice Bran prices steady. Rice hulls spot trade not well tested. March 31th Prospective Plantings was as follows: MG 103% and SG 83% of pervious year. Federal officials say farmers in Northern California can expect to receive all of their requested water deliveries this year, while those to the south of the Delta will likely receive a fraction.
CME Rough Rice settlements for Friday 1st, May 16 closed .065 higher at 9.755; Jul 16 closed .06 higher at 10.025; Sep 16 closed .04 higher at 10.19. US dollar index on Thursday settled at 94.61.

California F.O.B. Price for Extra Grade and Grade A Nonfat Dry Milk

Week Ending
Avg. Price($/lb.)
Total Sales (lb.)
April 1, 2016
$0.7634
7,682,719
March 25, 2016
$0.7511
13,183,836

California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report

Prices are unchanged. The undertone is steady. Offerings and supplies are moderate. Retail and warehouse demand is moderate to fairly good as lower prices create feature opportunities in many locations. Food service movement is mostly moderate. Market activity is moderate. Monday’s shell egg inventories declined 8.1% in the Southwest and increased 6.6% in the Northwest.
Shell egg marketer’s benchmark price for negotiated egg sales of USDA Grade AA and Grade AA in cartons, cents per dozen. This price does not reflect discounts or other contract terms.
RANGE
JUMBO
130
EXTRA LARGE
121
LARGE
115
MEDIUM
99

Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market

Prices in New York, California and the regions are steady. The bundertone is steady to barely steady. Demand is light to moderate in the Northeast and South Central regions, while in the remaining areas demand ranges light to instances good and best where feature activity provides the best movement. Offerings are moderate to heavy in the Midwest and South Central, generally moderate elsewhere. Supplies are mostly moderate to heavy for trading purposes. When compared to the previous week, the total shell egg inventory is 3.9 percent higher. Market activity is slow to moderate. Breaking stock supplies are moderate to heavy; breaking schedules are full-time to extended. Light type fowl offerings are at least adequate for the light to moderate demand.
Check the April USDA Commodity Report Calendar for today’s commodity reports released by USDA.

Tuesday’s Commodity Market ending market numbers:

Corn
May Corn ended at $3.55 3/4 increasing 2 1/4 cents, July ended at $3.60 gaining 2 1/4 cents.
Soybeans
May Soybeans ended at 9.04 3/4 down 8 3/4 cents, July ended at 9.12 3/4 decreasing 8 3/4 cents.
Wheat
May Wheat ended at $4.74, losing 3/4 cent, July Wheat ended at $4.80 3/4 down 1/2 cent.
Rough Rice
May Rough Rice ended at 9.79 down 0.01, July ended at 10.05 decreasing 0.015.
Live Cattle
April Live Cattle ended at $130.20 decreasing $3.00 and June ended at $120.675 down $3.00 and August ended at $116.70 losing $2.90.
Feeder Cattle
April Feeder Cattle ended at $152.425 dropping $4.25 and May ended at $150.20 losing $4.50 and August ended at $150.60 down $4.50.
Lean Hogs
April Lean Hogs ended at $67.40 decreasing $0.275, May ended at $75.10 up $0.10
Class III Milk
April Class III Milk ended at $13.73 down $0.02, May ended at $13.74 decreasing $0.06 and June ended at $13.84 gaining $0.01.
#2 Cotton
May #2 Cotton ending at 58.90 losing 0.06, July ended at 58.62 down 0.03.
Sugar #11
May sugar #11 ended at 14.64 unchanged and July ended at 14.79 decreasing $0.03.
Orange Juice
May Orange Juice ended at 143.25 losing $0.45, July ending at 143.25 down $1.00.
http://agnetwest.com/2016/04/05/commodity-report-april-5/

Rice PricesPRINT   ·   T+  

as on : 05-04-2016 02:35:49 PM
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Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season 
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Gadarpur(Utr)
2305.00
-23.29
99292.00
2237
1945
11.02
Siliguri(WB)
675.00
-0.74
3897.00
2600
2600
-
Sainthia(WB)
177.00
1.14
1199.20
1765
1770
-
Bazpur(Utr)
163.80
48.91
38387.21
1480
1900
-20.00
Birbhum(WB)
151.00
0.67
2180.00
1770
1780
-10.15
Memari(WB)
148.00
0.68
2746.00
1700
1700
-4.49
Mathabhanga(WB)
130.00
30
3350.00
1950
1950
NC
Gondal(UP)
75.00
-38.02
11272.10
2050
2050
1.99
Goalpara(ASM)
55.60
-4.47
559.70
1800
1800
-
Fatehpur(UP)
55.00
-8.33
250.50
2145
2150
-1.38
Pandua(WB)
46.00
-11.54
1521.00
2500
2500
-7.41
Kasimbazar(WB)
43.50
NC
1495.50
2280
2280
-8.80
Tanakpur(Utr)
30.00
200
211.10
1950
2100
-7.14
Jorhat(ASM)
27.00
-22.86
1292.00
2700
2700
-3.57
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
24.50
NC
975.80
2300
2300
-11.54
Purulia(WB)
24.00
-20
1651.00
2120
2120
-10.17
Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB)
22.00
NC
765.00
2750
2750
1.85
Robertsganj(UP)
21.50
-
21.50
1860
-
NC
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
20.20
129.55
1226.30
1900
1900
-
Cachar(ASM)
20.00
-33.33
1430.00
2700
2700
NC
Dibrugarh(ASM)
18.00
-5.26
982.30
2400
2400
-
Jeypore(Ori)
14.50
-6.45
53.90
3250
3250
-12.16
Kasganj(UP)
10.00
66.67
518.00
1940
1950
-4.90
Deogarh(Ori)
9.00
NC
333.50
2500
2500
NC
Bolangir(Ori)
8.00
14.29
186.00
2200
2300
-8.33
Nilagiri(Ori)
8.00
NC
350.00
2300
2400
NC
Chengannur(Ker)
7.50
7.14
447.00
2400
2400
-4.00
Tusura(Ori)
7.00
7.69
181.50
2200
2200
-8.33
Ramanagara(Kar)
6.00
-57.14
20.00
5000
5300
7.99
Karanjia(Ori)
6.00
9.09
212.80
2600
2600
4.00
Mirzapur(UP)
6.00
-14.29
1195.00
1945
1945
-1.02
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)
5.00
-9.09
82.50
2600
2600
-
Tileibani(Ori)
3.00
NC
16.00
2500
2500
NC
Melaghar(Tri)
3.00
NC
101.80
2100
2250
-10.64
Islampur(WB)
3.00
-11.76
241.30
2150
2150
-
Siyana(UP)
1.50
-25
65.50
2050
2060
NC
Punalur(Ker)
1.00
NC
14.50
1600
1600
-
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8437292.ece


IRRI MULLS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME WITH IGAU

Tuesday, 05 April 2016 | Sumedha Chaudhury | Raipur | in Raipur
1
2
3
4
5
0
Staff and students of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University (IGAU), Raipur may soon get a chance to visit International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Manila, Philippines.
The issue was part of the discussion between IRRI Director General Matthew Morell, IGAU Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr SK Patil and Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday.
Later, talking to The Pioneer, Morell who was invited to the 51st Annual Rice Research Group conference at the agricultural university said, “We are looking forward for some staff and student exchange programme with IGAU.
Many of the Indian universities are carrying out such exchange programmes with us. Also, we want to focus on the capacity building and developing paddy production system of Chhattisgarh.”
Patil informed that IGAU would be the first in the State to step for a close tie with IRRI. Asked on the reason of the bonding, Morell said global support is required to promote the paddy scientists of India. “In future, there would be a strong domain for rice scientists,” he said.
Earlier, IGAU had sent its staff to IRRI for training but it was different from Exchange Programme.
Notably, a few days back, State Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal had urged for reducing the paddy production of the State. Giving an alternate solution to this reduction, Patil suggested of exporting the excess paddy produced  to other States. For instance, broken rice of Chhattisgarh is purchased by Africa,” said IGAU VC Dr Patil.
Morell felt Chhattisgarh has high potential for paddy production in future as well. “The number of highly scented indigenous paddy varieties can help in value addition supporting the farmer’s livelihood and utilise the genetic resources,” said the Director General

Re-igniting the green revolution with wild crops

Our hungry world relies on a small army of crop varieties that have been developed over the past few decades. They have been bred to grow faster, sweeter and bigger, often at the expense of their nutritional value. Looking into the history of these crops could provide a solution.

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http://www.nature.com/articles/nplants201648 For Your Own Good! Embedding Transnational Agribusiness and GMOs into African Agriculture

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The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has just released the report For your own good!, which outlines the GMO industry’s expansion across Africa. The report focusses on non-commercial traditional crops, such as cassava, sorghum, sweet potato, pigeon pea, cowpea, banana and rice, which corporations are attempting to genetically modify and roll out under the guise of philanthropy.
The report reveals that a great deal of research and development is currently underway into the genetic modification (GM) of these crops. Most of the on-going trials concentrate on drought and salt tolerance, nitrogen use efficiency, resistance to tropical pests and diseases and nutritional enhancement (biofortification). The key countries that have been targeted include Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi.
The genesis of GM research into these crops can be found in royalty-free donations of various patented GM traits by several transnational companies to experimental programmes undertaken by African scientists employed by government ministries. These companies include Monsanto, Dupont and Pioneer Hi-bred.
Mariam Mayet, Director of the ACB, says:
This indicates that the GM industry, under the veil of technology donations and public financing, is effectively managing to make further inroads into imposing GM on the African continent. By focusing the research on traits meant to ‘benefit’ farmers and malnourished populations, through inter alia, biofortification, the industry is intent on giving a humanitarian face to the real involvement, vested interests and expanding influence of these MNCs in African agriculture.
The main players involved include the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF), which is on the receiving end of many of the technological property rights donations, the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program (ABSP) and the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS). The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and USAID fund the latter organisations.
US-based research institutions such as the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (DDPSC) (for cassava) and universities (notably Michigan State University and Kansas State University) play a major role in this ‘philanthropic’ research.
The ACB report notes there is a dearth of literature that critically addresses biosafety issues and socio-economic aspects relating to the biofortification of indigenous crops through GM. According to the authors, this is especially important given the need to move away from an over-emphasis on food fortification strategies towards a permanent solution: diet diversification through locally available foods, which was recognised as early as 1992 by the UN International Conference on Nutrition.
As is the case with the controversial Golden Rice research and development project, the report argues these GM projects are diverting financial and human resources and policies and practices away from implementing the real solutions that can be found within the diversity of natural foods and farming.
Zakiyya Ismail, Consumer Campaigner with the ACB argues:
The real solutions to address vitamin and mineral deficiencies can be found in ecological farming systems, and traditional kitchen and home gardens, which can better contribute to healthy and diverse diets and empower people to access and produce their own healthy and varied food.
ACB stresses that smallholder farmers must be given the right to choose their means of production and survival. It adds even if gene sequences and constructs are donated, the accompanying requisite GM inputs will be expensive for farmers. GM crops are highly likely to increase the costs of production for farmers and lead them into indebtedness and dependency.
The report by ACB follows a Global Justice Now report that outlines the role of BMFG in spearheading a drive into Africa on behalf of ‘corporate America’ to facilitate a GMO/green revolution.
With assets of $43.5 billion, BMGF is the largest charitable foundation in the world and distributes more aid for global health than any government. Its strategy is intended to deepen the role of multinational companies, even though these corporations are responsible for much of the poverty and injustice that already plagues the Global South. The foundation’s programmes have a specific ideological strategy that promotes neo-liberal economic policies, corporate globalisation, GMOs and an outdated (colonialist) view of role of aid in ‘helping’ the poor.
Global Justice Now shows that the senior staff of BMGF’s programmes are overwhelmingly drawn from ‘corporate America’. As a result, the question is: whose interests are being promoted – those of corporate America or those of ordinary people who seek social and economic justice rather than charity?
Hardly a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist, Peter Buffet is the son of the billionaire investor Warren Buffet. He recently argued that philanthropy only serves to end up perpetuating systems of oppression.
Writing in the NewYork Times, Buffett criticised “philanthropic colonialism,” where rich people get involved with issues they understand very little about. In the meantime, the wealthy get to feel good for “solving” the problems that they or the system they benefitted from caused in the first place.
Buffet wrote:
As more lives and communities are destroyed by the system that creates vast amounts of wealth for the few, the more heroic it sounds to “give back.” It’s what I would call “conscience laundering” — feeling better about accumulating more than any one person could possibly need to live on by sprinkling a little around as an act of charity.
He went on to say that this just keeps the existing structure of inequality in place:
Nearly every time someone feels better by doing good, on the other side of the world (or street), someone else is further locked into a system that will not allow the true flourishing of his or her nature or the opportunity to live a joyful and fulfilled life.
Conscience laundering may be all well and good for individuals, but corporations are legally obliged to maximise profits for their shareholders, and ‘philanthropy’ can be regarded as part of a long-term strategy. Getting GMOs into Africa by any means makes hard-headed business sense.
And as if to underline this, according to ACB, it is highly likely that GM varieties will be subject to plant breeders’ rights and GM certified seed will be sold to farmers by local seed companies who will expect a profit or royalty payments from farmers. This scenario is of vital importance because the traditional crops in question are the common heritage of African farmers and often the last defence against hunger in poor communities.
Mariam Mayet concludes:
There is no such thing as a free lunch for African farmers. And to add insult to injury, these farmers will be precluded from saving any farm-saved propagating material. In this way, they will be expected to give away their age old farmers’ rights to freely reuse, exchange and sell seed and propagating materials in their farming and seed systems.
The ‘philanthropy’ currently being dished out in Africa does not empower local farmers but is aimed at getting GMOs (with all of the associated problems) into agriculture, sucking farmers into the prevailing power structures of US capitalism and marginalising credible,alternative approaches based on self-sufficiency, sustainability and sound ecological practices

http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/04/05/for-your-own-good-embedding-transnational-agribusiness-and-gmos-into-african-agriculture/ IRRI MULLS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME WITH IGAU

Tuesday, 05 April 2016 | Sumedha Chaudhury | Raipur | in Raipur1

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Staff and students of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University (IGAU), Raipur may soon get a chance to visit International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Manila, Philippines.The issue was part of the discussion between IRRI Director General Matthew Morell, IGAU Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr SK Patil and Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday.Later, talking to The Pioneer, Morell who was invited to the 51st Annual Rice Research Group conference at the agricultural university said, “We are looking forward for some staff and student exchange programme with IGAU.Many of the Indian universities are carrying out such exchange programmes with us. Also, we want to focus on the capacity building and developing paddy production system of Chhattisgarh.”Patil informed that IGAU would be the first in the State to step for a close tie with IRRI.
Asked on the reason of the bonding, Morell said global support is required to promote the paddy scientists of India. “In future, there would be a strong domain for rice scientists,” he said.Earlier, IGAU had sent its staff to IRRI for training but it was different from Exchange Programme.Notably, a few days back, State Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal had urged for reducing the paddy production of the State. Giving an alternate solution to this reduction, Patil suggested of exporting the excess paddy produced  to other States. For instance, broken rice of Chhattisgarh is purchased by Africa,” said IGAU VC Dr Patil.Morell felt Chhattisgarh has high potential for paddy production in future as well. “The number of highly scented indigenous paddy varieties can help in value addition supporting the farmer’s livelihood and utilise the genetic resources,” said the Director General. 

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/irri-mulls-exchange-programme-with-igau.html