Qatar- Doors always open to Pakistani traders: Kuwari
MENAFN - The Peninsula - 28/07/2016
(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Muhammed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari, Vice Chairman of Qatar Chamber (second right) with Shahzad Ahmad (second left) Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar during the Pakistani Mangoes, Meat and Rice festival at Inter Continental Doha City, yesterday. Pic by: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
DOHA: Pakistan Embassy in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan has hosted senior officials from Qatar Chamber, ambassadors and local businessmen to introduce Pakistani food products during the event 'Tasting of delicious Pakistani Cuisine” held yesterday at Intercontinental Doha City. The event was all about testing the new Pakistani trader";s products - rice, red meat and different varieties of mangoes.
'We set up several stalls to introduce Pakistani traditional dishes made of rice and meat imported from Pakistan, said Ambassador of Pakistan,” Shahzad Ahmad. 'A separate stall for Pakistan mangoes, the king of the fruits is also available. People at the stations will intoduce products to the gusts and take feedback,” he added. Vice-Chairman, Qatar Chamber Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari opined that Pakistani cuisine is similar to Arabian cuisine.
'We, the chamber look forward to the quality products from Pakistan. Our doors are always open for the Pakistani traders, companies and business. We assist the Embassy. This event will enhance the relation between Qatar and Pakistan and gave a better look towards the food and tradition of Pakistan”, said Al Kuwari. Many ambassadors were present. A delegation from Pakistan was also present and it was was headed by Mehmood Arshad- Chairman Pak- Qatar business council. We have been exporting vegetables and fruits to Qatar far 15-years. We exported four tons of vegetables and three tons of fruits, said Saeed Khan, Vice Chairman of Pakistan fruit and vegetable exporters, importers and merchants Association
http://www.menafn.com/1094874573/Qatar--Doors-always-open-to-Pakistani-traders-Kuwari
Sowing of rice, pulses, oilseeds keeps kharif acreage on track
New Delhi, July 29:
Increased
sowing of rice, pulses, coarse cereals and oilseeds pushed the total area
covered under kharif crops till the end of July up by 6.3 per cent to 799.51
lakh hectares (lh) from a total acreage of 752.29 lh in the same period last
year.The acreage under pulses continued to expand with total sowing up to July
29 at 110.35 lh against 78.25 lh in the same period last year.
Karnataka
and Maharashtra witnessed the steepest increase in acreage during the period.
Pulses sowing increased to 10.01 lh (3.34 lh) in Karnataka and to 13.94 lh
(8.52 lh) in Maharashtra.
Transplanting
of paddy on 231.92 lh at the end of July was higher than 225.68 lh in the same
period last year, with States such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya
Pradesh and Punjab posting an increase.
Coarse
cereals sown increased to 150.76 lh (144.84 lh). While there was a rise in
acreage under maize, jowar, small millets and ragi, sowing of bajra declined.
Acreage
under oilseeds rose to 159.78 lh compared to 147.98 lh in the same period last
year with groundnut, soyabean and sunflower higher and sesamum, niger and
castor lower.
Cotton
sowing picked up slightly in the last week of July as rains progressed
throughout the country, with total acreage at 92.33 lh compared to last year’s
101.91 lh. The difference in acreage compared to last year narrowed to 9.6 lh
from about 13 lh a week ago.
Sugarcane
sowing till July 29, at 46.83 lh, marginally exceeded last year’s acreage of
47.40 lh, mainly due to a slight increase in acreage in Uttar Pradesh.
Cumulative rainfall this monsoon season has been normal at 436.9 mm. About 28
metrological sub-divisions accounting for 77 per cent of the geographical area
of the country have received normal-to-excess rains, while the remaining 8
sub-divisions have received deficient rainfall.
(This article was published on July 29, 2016)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/sowing-of-rice-pulses-oilseeds-keeps-kharif-acreage-on-track/article8918068.ece
Apex agriculture body sits on 'ambiguous' funds running into crores
Published:
30th July 2016 05:50 AM
Last Updated:
30th July 2016 05:50 AM
NEW DELHI: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), an autonomous
organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture, is facing a unique funds
problem.The apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture has been sitting on foreign funds received since 2014, but is unaware of which of its research unit is the real claimant of the foreign grant. It received Rs 16,50,000 from International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, but the purpose of the foreign fund is not available with the council.
Similarly, it received approximately Rs 14 lakh from International Potato Centre in Lima, Peru, on December 1, 2014 but the purpose is not known. An amount of Rs 5,70,000 was received from International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, on April 2, 2014 but council said that details regarding the purpose of the remittances were not mentioned.
A total 14 remittances worth over Rs 90 lakh were received in 2014-15. Of these, only 11 mentioned the purpose as research and development.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research in a letter to several directors of research units said information regarding implementing ICAR units was not known. “Therefore, all the DDGs/Directors of ICAR institutes/research centres/project directors are requested to send request for the grants, whichever pertains to them along with mandatory documents,” It said.
An amount of approximately Rs 7 lakh is also lying in the bank since November 27, 2013. The money was transferred through NEFT by International Food but no other information is available in the certificate of foreign inward remittance.
In 2015-16, approximately Rs 46 lakh was received by the council but research units for which it is intended have not claimed so far. At least Rs 25 lakh received in the last quarter of the financial year from Wien, Nairobi and Srilanka only mentioned ‘grant’ in purpose of remittance.
Arborio Rice Market Size, Share, Growth and Analysis Report 2022: Research Corridor
Research Corridor has published a new research study titled “Arborio Rice Market – Growth, Share, Opportunities, Competitive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 – 2022”. The Arborio Rice market report studies current as well as future aspects of the Arborio Rice Market based upon factors such as market dynamics, key ongoing trends and segmentation analysis. Apart from the above elements, the Arborio Rice Market research report provides a 360-degree view of the Arborio Rice industry with geographic segmentation, statistical forecast and the competitive landscape.Browse the complete report at http://www.researchcorridor.com/arborio-rice-market/
Geographically, the Arborio Rice Market report comprises dedicated sections centering on the regional market revenue and trends. The Arborio Rice market has been segmented on the basis of geographic regions into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). The RoW segment consists Latin America and the Middle East & Africa. The Arborio Rice market has been extensively analyzed on the basis of various regional factors such as demographics, gross domestic product (GDP), inflation rate, acceptance and others. Arborio Rice Market estimates have also been provided for the historical years 2013 & 2014 along with forecast for the period from 2015 – 2022.
The research report also provides a comprehensive understanding of Arborio Rice market positioning of the major players wherein key strategies adopted by leading players has been discussed. The Arborio Rice industry report concludes with the Company Profiles section which includes information on major developments, strategic moves and financials of the key players operating in Arborio Rice market.
Key Takeaways:
- Market Dynamics in the Arborio Rice Market
- Key Ongoing Regional Trends
- Arborio Rice Market Estimates for Years 2013 – 2022
- Arborio Rice Market Positioning of Key Players
- Key Strategies Adopted by the Leading Players
- Attractive Investment Proposition
- Arborio Rice Market Inclination Insights
http://www.researchcorridor.com/arabic-gum-market/
http://www.researchcorridor.com/aqueous-metal-antirust-paint-emulsion-market/
http://www.researchcorridor.com/aquatic-products-market/
About Research Corridor
Research Corridor provides End to End Solution for Market Research Consulting and Custom Research Reports. Database of Over 10000 Global Market Reports Research Corridor is world leading company in syndicated market Research Reports.
For More Information, Visit Research Corridor
Media Contact
Company Name: Research Corridor
Contact Person: Vikram
Email: sales@researchcorridor.com
Sowing of rice, pulses, oilseeds keeps kharif acreage on track
New Delhi, July 29:
Increased
sowing of rice, pulses, coarse cereals and oilseeds pushed the total area
covered under kharif crops till the end of July up by 6.3 per cent to 799.51
lakh hectares (lh) from a total acreage of 752.29 lh in the same period last
year.
The
acreage under pulses continued to expand with total sowing up to July 29 at
110.35 lh against 78.25 lh in the same period last year.
Karnataka
and Maharashtra witnessed the steepest increase in acreage during the period.
Pulses sowing increased to 10.01 lh (3.34 lh) in Karnataka and to 13.94 lh
(8.52 lh) in Maharashtra.
Transplanting
of paddy on 231.92 lh at the end of July was higher than 225.68 lh in the same
period last year, with States such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya
Pradesh and Punjab posting an increase.
Coarse
cereals sown increased to 150.76 lh (144.84 lh). While there was a rise in
acreage under maize, jowar, small millets and ragi, sowing of bajra declined.
Acreage
under oilseeds rose to 159.78 lh compared to 147.98 lh in the same period last
year with groundnut, soyabean and sunflower higher and sesamum, niger and
castor lower.
Cotton
sowing picked up slightly in the last week of July as rains progressed
throughout the country, with total acreage at 92.33 lh compared to last year’s
101.91 lh. The difference in acreage compared to last year narrowed to 9.6 lh
from about 13 lh a week ago.
Sugarcane
sowing till July 29, at 46.83 lh, marginally exceeded last year’s acreage of
47.40 lh, mainly due to a slight increase in acreage in Uttar Pradesh.
Cumulative rainfall this monsoon season has been normal at 436.9 mm. About 28
metrological sub-divisions accounting for 77 per cent of the geographical area
of the country have received normal-to-excess rains, while the remaining 8
sub-divisions have received deficient rainfall
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/sowing-of-rice-pulses-oilseeds-keeps-kharif-acreage-on-track/article8918068.ece
Pakistan exports rice worth $1.86 billion in 2015/16
July 29, 2016
ISLAMABAD: The country earned $1.860 billion by
exporting rice during the financial year 2015/16 as compared to the exports in
the corresponding period of the last year.
Around
4,262,216 metric tons of rice was exported during the period from July-June
2015/16, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.However, rice exports witnessed decrease of 8.60 percent during the financial year 2015/16, as its exports were recorded at 3,861,406 metric tons, valuing $2.035 billion during the financial year 2014/15.
During the period under review, 503,037 metric tons of basmati worth $455.249 million was exported as compared to the export of 523.450 metric tons, valuing $601.268 million during the same period of the last year.
Meanwhile, besides basmati, around 3,759,179 metric tons of rice costing $1.405 billion was exported during the financial year 2015/16 as compared to the exports of 3,337,956 metric tons worth $1.433 billion during the financial year 2014/15.
At the same time, exports of spices from the country were recorded at $76.160 million during July-June (2015/16) as compared to the exports of $66.216 million in July-June (2014/15).
In terms of quantity, the exports increased by 8.29 percent by going up from 6,713 metric tons to 20,281 metric tons.
In June 2016, the total exports of spices were recorded at 4.551 million as compared to the exports of 6.276 million in June 2015.
The overall food exports from the country during FY16 decreased by 12.56 percent as compared to FY15. The food exports during FY16 were recorded at $3.990 billion as compared to the exports of $4.563 billion in FY15.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/138363-Pakistan-exports-rice-worth-186-billion-in-201516
Rice exports fetched $1.86bn in last fiscal
29-Jul-16
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan earned $1.86 billion by exporting rice in last fiscal year.About 4,262,216 metric tonnes of rice were exported during the period from July-June, 2015-16, according to the data of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. However, rice export witnesses 8.6 percent decrease as its export was recorded at 3,861,406 metric tonnes valuing $2.035 billion in financial year 2014-15.
During the period under review, export of 503,037 metric tonnes of basmati rice earned Pakistan $ 455.24 million as compared to the export that fetched $601.268 million last year. About 3,759,179 metric tonnes of rice other then basmati valuing $1.405 billion were exported during financial year 2015-16 as compared to the export of 3,337,956 metric tonnes valuing $ 1.43 billion in financial year 2014-15. Similarly, export of spices was recorded at $ 76.16 million during July-June (2015-16), compared to the export of spices worth $ 66.216 million in July-June (2014-15). In terms of quantity, the exports increased by 8.29 percent by going up from 6,713 metric tonnes to 20,281 metric tonnes. In June this year, total exports of spices were recorded at $4.551 million compared to the exports worth $6.276 million in June 2015. It may be recalled that overall food exports during the FY 2016 decreased by 12.56 percent compared to FY15. Food exports during the FY16 were recorded at $3.99 billion as compared to $4.56 billion in FY15.
07/29/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Soybeans
Riceland Foods
Soybean Comment
Soybeans saw sharp gains today after the USDA
reported another large export sale. With today's lower dollar, the market is
getting even more bullish on demand with prices being near 12-week lows.
Wheat Comment
Wheat prices continued to decline as the
market continues to reel from lackluster demand. Even today's lower dollar
was not enough to spur Bulls back into the market. With more than 1 billion
bu forecast in 2016/17 stocks wheat continues to face a bearish fundamental
outlook.
Corn Comment
Corn prices closed higher today as the market
gained support from a lower dollar. While US corn remains lower priced than
Brazilian, we have yet to see significant demand develop. Corn needs new demand,
as the market expects a 15 billion bu plus crop.
Cotton Comment
Cotton futures were higher today. December
found support yesterday at the recent low of 71.54 Bu continues to bump up
against resistance at 75 cents.The market is finding some support in
continued hot weather conditions through the major cotton growing areas. This
week's export report was supportive as it brought all cotton committments to
108% of USDA's projections and shipments are at 98%.
Rice Comment
Both September and November rice charted a
bullish key reversal in today's trade, potentially signaling that the market
has found a bottom for the time being. Large carryover stocks and large
acreage with a lack of significant crop problems are limiting the upside
potential. Weekly exports of only 17,400 metric tons were disappointing to
say the least. 67% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, and the
crop is ahead of schedule, at 57% headed. That's compared with a 5 year
average of 41%.
Cattle Comment
Cattle prices continued thier slide today as
the market faces lackluster cattle demand. While beef prices were mixed, the
market continues to search for additional demand to help pull prices higher.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USA Rice News
WASHINGTON, DC -- USA Rice
completed its first-ever global evaluation, where a third party assessed the
effectiveness, validity, and importance of our international promotion
programs. A combination of consumer and trade surveys were conducted in
order to gain a holistic view of some of our export markets.
Nearly 1,000 consumer surveys were
conducted in nine countries (Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Japan, Mexico,
South Korea, Turkey and the UK) and dozens of trade interviews were conducted
via phone.
While there were specific
observations and recommendations for each country, on a global basis the
findings illustrated the importance of rice in the consumer diet, as at least
three-fifths of the respondents in each country indicated that they eat rice on
a weekly basis. The data indicates, however, that consumer
knowledge of different ways in which rice can be used could be
strengthened.
Accordingly, when asked how many
rice recipes they knew how to prepare at home, aside from Japan and Canada, the
target market participants only knew about 3 to 6 ways in which to use
rice. These findings suggest that USA Rice should continue to conduct
in-store demonstrations and cooking classes in order to educate consumers on
the various ways in which rice can "easily/conveniently" be used in
everyday meals, reinforcing the "versatility" message.
The evaluation found that
"health" messaging is very weak internationally and would be a great
opportunity for the industry, as a means of fostering long-term growth.
"More information should be
given to us and to consumers about the health benefits of rice," said a
rice importer from Guatemala. "We don't know a lot of them and
because rice is such a staple or basic product, it's just something that people
buy often. They don't think much about it because it's a need."
Also in line with global trends,
professionals interviewed in most every country discussed the importance of
"convenience," as consumers are looking for "ready to eat"
solutions such as microwave-ready packaging.
"This very extensive document
is a great way for us to get an outsiders view of our international promotion
programs and validate many of our promotion activities," said John Valpey,
chairman of the USA Rice International Promotion Committee. "This
global evaluation will be available to all International Promotion Committees
and Subcommittees for the purpose of considering relevant changes to our
international activities as well as our Unified Export Strategy, a document we
annually submit to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service outlining our programs
in detail."
Global Survey Validates USA Rice
Programs, Provides Road Map
By Sarah Moran
Taking stock
Upcoming Rice Field Days: Mark Your Calendar
Aug. 3 - RiceTec Arkansas Field Day
15329 Hwy 1, Harrisburg, AR
Contact: Dr. Brian Ottis, (573) 391-0366
bottis@ricetec.com
Aug. 10 -- Arkansas AgExpo (Rice Field Day)
University of Arkansas Rice Research and
Extension Center, 2900 Hwy 130 East, Stuttgart, AR
Contact: Dr. Chuck Wilson, (870) 673-2661
cwilson@uaex.edu
Aug. 31 -- California Rice Field Day
8:30 a.m. -- General session (registration from
7:30-8:30 a.m.). Field tours start at
9:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon
California Rice Experiment Station, 955 Butte
City Hwy, Biggs, CA
Contact: Dr. Kent McKenzie, (530) 868-5481
ksmckenzie@crrf.org
Sept. 2 -- Missouri Rice Field Day
Jake Fisher Delta Research Center,
Portageville, MO
Contact: Tina Clark, (573) 379-5431
clarktr@missouri.edu
Plan to attend the event in your area.
USA Rice Daily
|
|
|
Missouri’s cotton, rice crops look good
July 28, 2016 5:33 pm
• By
Benjamin Herrold, Missouri Farmer Today
Farmers
and University of Missouri Extension personnel are optimistic about that
state’s cotton and rice crops, although some key weeks and months remain for
crop development.In 2015, Missouri ranked fifth nationally in rice production and eighth in cotton production, despite only raising those crops in one corner of the state, Southeast Missouri.
South of Cape Girardeau, the terrain flattens out into the Mississippi Embayment region, also called the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Aided by irrigation, it is one of the most fertile regions in the country.
Clint Stephens farms there, in Stoddard County.
“The rice is looking good,” he said July 18. “It’ll probably be heading in another week or so.”
Stephens said the cotton was also looking good, but it was running a couple of weeks behind the normal development pace.
“Normally you’re supposed to see blooms by the Fourth of July,” he said. “I think it’s a little behind, but it’s looking good.”
Home stretch for cotton
Andrea Jones, a University of Missouri Extension cotton specialist based in Portageville, says the Missouri cotton crop has recovered after a slow start.
“It’s looking really well,” she says. “We kind of had a rough start with lots of rains and cool weather.”
Jones says this year’s crop is paralleling last year’s to this point, and last year was Missouri’s second biggest cotton crop ever. Like last year, square retention is good, meaning bugs have not been as big of an issue.
“Square retention is phenomenal this year,” she says. “It was last year, too. We’re usually fighting bugs.”
Jones says most farmers in her area had only sprayed cotton twice, with some spraying it a third time. Usually they have sprayed it five times by now, she says.
The first 40 days are especially important for cotton, and Jones says the cold, wet weather set the cotton crop back. But the weather down the stretch will determine how good this cotton crop is.
“It all depends on the fall,” she says. “If the fall stays warm longer, it’ll have more time to develop.”
Jones says she recommends rotating cotton ground, and most farmers grow cotton as part of a crop rotation.
Some go with cotton year after year, and she notes one field at MU’s Delta Research Center in Portageville has grown cotton every year for 53 years and still has pretty good average yields. But the rotation is the ideal, she says.
Still, lower grain prices have led to more farmers going with cotton, Jones says.
“Cotton prices have not necessarily increased, but with grain prices low, cotton is where you can make money,” she says.
Jones says preliminary reports had predicted a 14 percent increase in Missouri’s cotton acreage for 2016, but it actually turned out to be a 62 percent increase.
Rice growers cut costs
Sam Atwell, an MU Extension agronomy specialist based in New Madrid County, is optimistic about the rice crop.“We’ve got a good crop,” he says.Atwell does say lower rice prices have led to cost-cutting in a few fields.
“It’s probably because of economics, we’ve got a little bit more weeds in a few fields because of not using the technology that’s available to keep it clean,” he says. “...We’ve seen some farmers go a little more conventional.”
Atwell says this means farmers have chosen in some fields to not use Clearfield rice, which is herbicide-tolerant rice that helps with weed control. It’s similar to “Roundup ready” soybeans, but it is not a GMO product.
“Rice has got (economic) problems like anything else,” he says, “and the cost of production is right on the edge. The farmers are doing whatever they can to cut costs.”
Atwell says this isn’t in a huge percentage of fields, just a little more than usual. He says most people grow rice in a rotation with soybeans, and soil type usually drives crop planting decisions.
“We have some very specific soils here that are very good for rice production,” he says. “Those soils generally are not good for corn and cotton. Our rice land is primarily the heavy clay soils that are wet and low.”
There is some rice grown in the sandier, loamy soils, but it doesn’t fare as well.
Atwell says the irrigation in Southeast Missouri means the state’s rice crop is usually pretty good.“The rice looks good,” he says. “It’s generally always good.
http://www.missourifarmertoday.com/news/crop/missouri-s-cotton-rice-crops-look-good/article_541f5c08-5513-11e6-99d7-073e99417075.html
Can flooded rice fields be a solution in California water war?
July 28, 2016 Updated: July 28, 2016 12:00pm
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
Jacob Katz, California Trout senior scientist,
walks on a check between rice fields in Woodland, (Yolo County).
California
is the country’s second-largest rice producer, after Arkansas, and the $5
billion crop is particularly well suited to the Sacramento Valley’s clay soil
http://www.sfchronicle.com/recipes/article/Can-flooded-rice-fields-be-a-solution-in-8473915.php
Singapore scientists take big lead in growing 'mini-brains' the size of a rice grain for research
Professors (from left) Tan Eng King, Ng Huck
Hui and Shawn Je helped lead the research that is a world first in creating midbrain
tissue. The resultant "mini-brains" are a much simpler version of the
human midbrain.PHOTO: A*STAR'S GENOME INSTITUTE OF SINGAPORE.
Published
Jul 30, 2016, 5:00 am SGT
Tissue mass, the size of a rice grain, will be used to develop treatments for ageing-linked diseases such as Parkinson's
Singaporean scientists have taken a big leap forward in studying the human brain by growing "mini- brains" for research.Measuring about 2mm to 3mm long, they are no bigger than a grain of rice and it is hoped they will be able to help researchers develop treatments for, and conduct studies into, Parkinson's disease and other ageing-related brain diseases.
They are composed of a mass of tissues that have been grown in a laboratory and are a much simpler version of the human midbrain.The tissue contains functionally active neurons, its cells can divide, cluster together in layers, and become electrically and chemically active in a three-dimensional environment - like the human brain.
While other researchers have successfully grown other parts of the brain, this research is a world first in creating midbrain tissue.
SCIENTIFIC LANDMARK
The human brain is arguably the most complex organ, and chronic brain diseases pose considerable challenges to doctors and patients. This achievement by our Singapore team represents an initial, but momentous, scientific landmark, as we continue to strive for better therapies for our patients.
PROF TAN ENG KING, research director and senior consultant at the National Neuroscience Institute's department of neurology.
Importantly, the local team's midbrain tissue created neuromelanin, a pigment found in the human midbrain. It has been associated with protecting cells from dying, and is diminished in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease.
The midbrain is termed the information superhighway of the human body, and controls a person's hearing, vision and body movements. Problems with the midbrain are often linked to disorders such as Parkinson's.
Prior to this discovery, researchers studying Parkinson's often relied on simulations or studies on animals. Studies on the mini-brains can be conducted in the laboratory on cells that mimic the functions of the section of the brain that is affected by the disease.
'Game-changer for drug research'
Said Professor Tan Eng King, research director and senior consultant at the Department of Neurology at the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI): "Chronic brain diseases pose considerable challenges to doctors and patients. This achievement by our Singapore team represents an initial but momentous scientific landmark."Parkinson's is a gradually progressive neuro-degenerative disorder which affects a person's control of movement, including speech. According to the Health Ministry, three in every 1,000 Singaporeans aged over 50 are afflicted by the disease.
Prof Ng Huck Hui, executive director of A*Star's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), who led the effort, said: "Considering that one of the biggest challenges we face in Parkinson's... research is the lack of accessibility to the human brain, we have achieved a significant step."
Another project leader, Assistant Professor Shawn Je from Duke-NUS Medical School, said: "Now we can really test how these mini-brains react to existing or newly developed drugs before treating patients - which will be a game changer for drug development."
Associate Professor Wang Hongyan, interim director of the Neuroscience and Behavioural Disorders Programme at Duke-NUS, who was not involved in the research, said "the midbrain organoid will... bring our findings from basic research much closer to the bedside".
The research was done by GIS, Duke-NUS and NNI with the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the United States and Nanyang Technological University. The findings have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell Stem Cell
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-scientists-grow-mini-brains
Friday, July 29, 2016
(Masahiko Kumagai)
OXFORD,
ENGLAND—It had been previously believed that the first rice grown in northern
China, Japan, and on the Korean peninsula was only of the sticky japonica
variety, which requires cultivation in dry fields. But a team led by Masahiko
Kumagai of the University of Tokyo obtained DNA from carbonized rice ranging in
age from 900 to 2,800 years old found at archaeological sites in Japan and
Korea.
The scientists then compared the genomes of the
ancient rice samples to a database of more than 200 cultivated and wild rice
DNA samples from around the world. They found that some of the ancient grains
seemed to be more similar to the indica variety of rice, which has a long
grain, grows submerged in water, and is usually associated with the tropics.
This suggests that the crops were moved long distances. Michael Purugganan of
New York University told The Christian Science Monitor that early
farmers may have tried to grow “everything they could get their hands on,”
until they developed a crop that adapted well to the environment. To read about
the earliest evidence for tea drinking in China, go to "The
Price of Tea in China."
http://www.archaeology.org/news/4689-160729-rice-japonica-indica
Nigerians Criticize Ban On Rice Importation
As the
economic downturn and recession continue to bite harder with prices of goods,
especially food items rising daily, Nigerians have called on the Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS) to lift the ban on importation of rice through the land
borders to ease the current hardship.A market survey indicated a sharp
increase in the price of rice as a bag now sells between N17,000.00 and
N18,000.00 from N9,000.00 and N10,000.00 last year.
In separate interviews, some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, appealed to NCS re-consider the ban because rice remains one of the stable foods Nigerians eat and that the high cost of purchasing it has further affected their well-being negatively.
In separate interviews, some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, appealed to NCS re-consider the ban because rice remains one of the stable foods Nigerians eat and that the high cost of purchasing it has further affected their well-being negatively.
“Rice has become gold, one mudu now sells at N500, you have not talk of the ingredients to cook it. This is too much suffer, let Customs lift the ban on rice importation through the lands borders, we are suffering, most families cannot afford this increase,” Mrs. Betty Okoro, a primary school teacher lamented.Another resident, Mr. Bisi Adegboyega, who works in a private firm, urged NCS to think of the plight of the average Nigerians and lift the ban.
“There is no food, nothing is working, yet the prices of food and goods are sky-rocketing, only the rich now afford rice, Customs should not just think of revenue for government alone, but what people go through daily to eat rice. I want the policy to be re-visited because it has made living more difficult,” he posited.Also speaking, another respondent, who gave his name as Abubakar and works as a civil servant spoke in the same vein.
He argued the need for Customs to revise the policy since it has further impoverished Nigerians.
“In an era when salaries are being owed workers, Customs placed a ban on rice through land borders, everyday, we hear of seizures and Nigerians are groaning buying a mudu of rice at N500. How do they want us to survive?” He queried.
It would be recalled that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, had urged Customs to consider lifting the ban on rice importation through the land borders when the Comptroller-General of the Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), visited him in his palace in Sokoto.
”The policy should be revisited with a view to make amends and ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians.
“There is no food in the country hence the need for the borders to be reopened for rice importation,” he was quoted as saying.The sultan had said that he had been receiving “cries’’ from the masses on their plight over hardship in the land, and appealed to the service to address the issue urgently
NCS had re-introduced the restriction order across the country in March, 2016.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Retd) gave the approval for the reversal of an earlier policy in October 2015 which allowed rice imports through the land borders, once appropriate duty and charges were paid.
NCS spokesperson, Wale Adeniyi, had said that at a review session with comptrollers of border commands and FOUs held in Abuja, the service noted that dwindling revenue from rice imports through the land borders do not match the volume rice landed in neighboring ports. Rather, reports from border commands indicated an upsurge in the tempo of rice smuggling.
He had noted that implementation of the restriction order got off to a smooth start, with a high level of compliance in October 2015, but revenue started dwindling from January 2016, with importers blaming access to forex as major impediments.
https://www.informationng.com/2016/07/nigerians-criticise-ban-on-rice-importation.html
India to buy 6.7 percent more summer-sown rice for welfare schemes
A labourer stacks sacks of flattened rice on a
handcart at a wholesale market in Kolkata, India, April 18, 2016.
Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri/Files
India is
planning to buy 33 million tonnes of summer-sown rice from farmers in the
2016/17 season for its food welfare programmes and meet emergency needs, it
said in a statement on Friday.The world's second biggest rice producer had
bought 30.93 million tonnes of rice a year before.The government agencies usually start paddy rice procurement in September and buy mainly non-basmati rice. The purchases help farmers in avoiding distress sales.
As on July 29, farmers have cultivated rice on 23.19 million hectares, slightly higher than 22.56 million hectares during the same period a year ago.
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Sunil Nair
Singapore: market, gateway for Thai rice
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION
SINGAPORE July 29, 2016 1:00
am
Various kinds of Thai rice
are on sale at a Singapore modern-trade outlet. Health-conscious Singaporeans
favour speciality grains such as brown rice.SINGAPOREAN traders are ready to
import more Thai rice, including for re-export to third countries, as long as
its quality is good, its prices are stable, and the Thai government does not
implement any more farmer-subsidy programmes, according to Commerce Minister
Apiradi Tantraporn.After leading a mission to promote Thai rice in Singapore
this week, she said the island republic could be a strategic partner as a major
market for Thailand's Hom Mali (jasmine) rice and speciality rice grains.
Singaporean consumers have good purchasing power and prefer healthy food like
Thailand's brown rice, red rice, Riceberry and unpolished rice.
Moreover, as Singapore is a
centre of regional trading, it could help Thailand distribute its rice to third
countries.For all these reasons, the ministry will continue to promote rice
exports to this market, she said.Each year, Singapore imports about 420,000
tonnes of rice for domestic consumption, of which Thailand is a major supplier,
exporting about 130,000 tonnes to the country each year. Singapore also has
many international traders, shipping about 10 million tonnes of rice to many
countries, mostly in Africa and the Middle East.
Apiradi said that after
hearing opinions from Singaporean traders, she found that they wanted the Thai
government to ensure good-quality rice for export and not return to a subsidy
project that would damage the market mechanism and make the rice harder to
sell.
She said her ministry would
cooperate with exporters to promote the sale of Thai rice in Singapore,
focusing on Hom Mali and speciality rice grains and value-added products made
from rice.
In an attempt to increase the
value of rice export, the government has a strategy to promote rice in various
markets. Singapore is one of the targeted markets for increasing sales of Thai
rice as it is a main staple there, while its consumers have high purchasing
power.
During the mission, Apiradi
met with seven key rice traders in Singapore, while also surveying modern
traders and restaurants in the country on the feasibility of getting them to
sell Thai rice.
Besides Hom Mali rice,
Thailand is promoting other speciality grains such as Riceberry, Sung Yod rice
(which is a geographical-indication product) and organic brown rice.
Products made from rice have
also been promoted, such as cooked rice for senior people, vitamin-added rice
for children, cosmetics, snacks and supplements.
In 2014, Thailand exported
162,977 tonnes of rice to Singapore worth Bt4.3 billion. The volume dropped to
128,941 tonnes worth Bt3.63 billion last year. In the first five months of this
year, export volume dropped 7.9 per cent to 51,194 tonnes, while value dropped
11 per cent to Bt1.34 billion.
Thailand is expected to
export about 130,000 tonnes of rice to Singapore this year.
Ho Siang Ow, manager of Wee
Tiong, a major Singaporean rice-trading company, said traders wanted Thai rice
to be stable in quality and price so that they could continue to sell it in the
home market as well as to other countries.
He said that as Myanmar and
Vietnam have fragrant rice and very competitive prices, if the price of Thai
rice fluctuated and its quality were not stable, traders might not be able to
sell it in the future. Moreover, Thailand should no longer subsidise the rice
price as that interferes with the market price and causes low-quality
production as farmers are concerned only with yield.
He added that Singaporeans
now favoured healthy foods. Thai rice could serve that demand, but promoting
new varieties could take time, and quality needed to be maintained.
Charoen Laothamatas,
president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said Singapore was a
high-potential market for high-quality rice because of its citizens' high
purchasing power, while it has more than 30 modern traders to help distribute
Thai rice to consumers.
Exporters need to promote
Thai rice under brands that are already trusted by consumers, he said.
Chookiat Ophaswongse,
honorary president of the association, said exporters foresaw Asia as an
increasingly bright market as consumers' purchasing power rises while they
favour rice as a main food.
Thailand's rice shipments to
Asian markets could surge from 20 per cent of the total export volume of
between 9 million and 10 million tonnes to 30 per cent in the near future, he
said.
Currently, Africa is a major
export market for Thai rice.
Chookiat called for the
government to continue promoting rice in Asian, European and Middle Eastern
countries, while ensuring stable prices and good production quality.
Land Borders Opened For Rice Importation
Effective August 1
The Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Parliamentary
Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism have reviewed the ban on the
importation of rice through the land borders.In view of this, ELUBO, SAMPA and
NKRANKWANTA borders will be opened for importation of rice with effect from 1st
AUGUST, 2016.
Read below the full
statement:
OPENING OF ELUBO, SAMPA AND
NKRANKWANTA ENTRY POINTS FOR OVERLAND IMPORTATION OF RICE.
The Ministry of Trade and
Industry, and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism
have reviewed the ban on the importation of rice through the land borders.
In view of this, ELUBO, SAMPA
and NKRANKWANTA borders will be opened for importation of rice with effect from
1st AUGUST, 2016.
It would be recalled that the
Ministry of Trade and Industry on 4th October, 2013 issued a directive that all
imports of rice should be done through only Kotoka International Airport,
Takoradi and Tema ports which became effective from 1st November, 2013.
The directive was to institute
administrative procedures to curb the numerous unfair trade practices like
evasion of import duties and other taxes, under-invoicing, infringement of
trademarks and smuggling.
Importers of rice through the
designated entry posts such as KOTOKA International
Airort, Tema and Takoradi ports, ELUBO, SAMPA and NKRANKWANTA are therefore
requested to play according to the laid down procedures.
|
http://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/news/201607/286926.php
Rice crops that can save farmers money and cut pollution
July 29, 2016
U of T Scarborough Professor Herbert Kronzucker
has helped identify "superstar" varieties of rice that can reduce
fertilizer loss and cut down on environmental pollution in the process. Credit:
Ken Jones
A new U
of T Scarborough study has identified "superstar" varieties of rice
that can reduce fertilizer loss and cut down on environmental pollution in the
process. The study, authored by U of T Scarborough Professor Herbert Kronzucker in collaboration with a team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, looked at 19 varieties of rice to see which ones were more efficient at using nitrogen.
"We have this bucolic idea of agriculture - animals grazing or vast fields of majestic crops - but the global reality is it's one of the biggest drivers of environmental pollution and climate change," says Kronzucker.
Nitrogen, when applied as fertilizer, is taken up inefficiently by most crops. In tropical rice fields, as much as 50 to 70 per cent can be lost. The problem is that nitrogen negatively impacts water quality by contaminating nearby watersheds or leaching into ground water. It's also a significant source of gases such as ammonia and nitrogen oxide, which are not only harmful to aquatic life but also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.
While nitrogen is one of three main nutrients required for crops to grow, it also costs the most to produce, adds Kronzucker.
"Anything we can do to reduce demand for nitrogen, both environmentally and for farmers in the developing world struggling to pay for it, is a significant contribution."
Kronzucker's study for the first time identifies a novel class of chemicals produced and released by the roots of rice crops that directly influence the metabolism of soil microbes. They found that key microbial reactions that lead to an inefficiency in nitrogen capture can be significantly reduced in certain varieties of rice plants through the action of those specific chemicals released from root cells.
One of the main reasons crops waste so much fertilizer is that they were bred that way. In the past fertilizers were relatively inexpensive to produce because fossil fuels were abundant and cheap. As a result, plant geneticists bred crops that responded to high fertilizer use regardless of how efficient they were at using nitrogen.
"These inefficiencies used to be of little interest, but now, with fluctuating fuel prices and growing concerns over climate change, it's a much bigger issue," says Kronzucker, who is the Director of the Canadian Centre for World Hunger Research at U of T Scarborough.
There are more than 120,000 varieties of rice stored at the germplasm bank at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, but Kronzucker's team only focused on varieties that met important criteria. For one they concentrated only on Japonica (the rice used in sushi) and Indica, the world's most popular rice type commonly grown in China, India and Southeast Asia. The varieties also had to be currently grown by farmers, have a high yield potential, be disease and pest-resistant, grow to the right size and have strong enough roots to withstand monsoon-force winds.
"They had to be proven in the field as viable options. It's not practical if a rice farmer isn't going to touch it," adds Kronzucker.
Going forward the hope is for this study to inform rice-growing strategies throughout Asia. One option could be to provide farmers with government incentives like tax credits, to switch to a more nitrogen-friendly variety. Another outcome could be better breeding programs where even better species of crops can be produced.
"There's no reason a crop can't result in less pollution while also saving farmers money; the two aren't incompatible," says Kronzucker. "If we can produce more responsible plants that don't waste fertilizer needlessly, everyone wins."
http://phys.org/news/2016-07-rice-crops-farmers-money-pollution.html
Rice importation ban reviewed: 3 borders re-opened
Jul 29, 2016 at 11:39am
The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the
parliamentary select committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism have reviewed the
ban on the importation of rice through the land borders.
Consequently, the Elubo, Sampa and Nkrankwanta entry points have been re-opened for overland importation of rice, a statement from the Ministry of Trade and Industry signed by Nana Akrasi-Sarpong, Acting Director in charge of Communications and Public Affairs, said.
The Ministry said the three borders will be open for importation of rice with effect from 1 August 2016.
It would be recalled that the Ministry of Trade and Industry, on 4 October 2013, issued a directive that all rice imports should be done through only the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as well as Takoradi and Tema ports. The ban took effect on 1 November 2013.
The Ministry said the directive was part of measures to institute administrative procedures to curb “numerous unfair trade practices like evasion of import duties and other taxes, under-invoicing, infringement on trademarks and smuggling”.
In view of the re-opening of the three borders, the Ministry said importers of rice, through designated entry posts such as KIA, Tema and Takoradi ports, as well as Elubo, Sampa and Nkrankwanta are, therefore, requested to play according to the laid down procedures”.
Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3FM/https://news.ayekoo.com/1.9615256
Consequently, the Elubo, Sampa and Nkrankwanta entry points have been re-opened for overland importation of rice, a statement from the Ministry of Trade and Industry signed by Nana Akrasi-Sarpong, Acting Director in charge of Communications and Public Affairs, said.
The Ministry said the three borders will be open for importation of rice with effect from 1 August 2016.
It would be recalled that the Ministry of Trade and Industry, on 4 October 2013, issued a directive that all rice imports should be done through only the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as well as Takoradi and Tema ports. The ban took effect on 1 November 2013.
The Ministry said the directive was part of measures to institute administrative procedures to curb “numerous unfair trade practices like evasion of import duties and other taxes, under-invoicing, infringement on trademarks and smuggling”.
In view of the re-opening of the three borders, the Ministry said importers of rice, through designated entry posts such as KIA, Tema and Takoradi ports, as well as Elubo, Sampa and Nkrankwanta are, therefore, requested to play according to the laid down procedures”.
Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3FM/https://news.ayekoo.com/1.9615256
Ricegrowers Association of Australia annual conference at Deniliquin looks to the future to keep industry viable
“In order to remain competitive and harness opportunities these changes may present, we all need to be able to adapt to change quickly and effectively.”
Guest speakers at the conference, to be held at the Deniliquin RSL Club, include former Queensland premier Campbell Newman, who now is a director and board chairman at Swarm Farm Robotics.
Country Women’s Association’s NSW chief executive Danica Leys and Mike Wade, Californian Farm Water Coalitio, will also speak at the conference
http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4054768/eyes-on-future-for-rice-industry/
Will tax cuts on agriculture machinery spur sector?
By Billy RwothungeyoAdded 29th July 2016 09:09 AM
Male Joe, a farmer in Gayaza says such a move is long overdue, and that government needs to start taking agro-processing seriously if Uganda is to achieve middle income status.
Government removed 18% Value Added Tax (VAT) on the supply of machinery used for the processing of agricultural or dairy products
To encourage more people to get into agribusiness, government in the financial
year that started on July 1st decided to strike down 18% Value Added Tax (VAT)
on the supply of machinery used for the processing of agricultural or dairy
products such as hullers; oil press; tillers, grain dryers, manure spreaders
among others.
What kind of impact will this move have on the agriculture sector?
Male Joe, a farmer in Gayaza says such a move is long overdue, and that government needs to start taking agro-processing seriously if Uganda is to achieve middle income status.
“I honestly believe this will have a great positive impact on general development. Definitely, machinery prices may lower a little down such that even smallholder famers can afford. Remember these are the biggest population of the farming community. For example: I deal with Power tiller tractors and Rice De-stoner machines with this tax exempt I am seeing many farmers groups potentially showing interest to buy these machinery,” he reasons.
Importers will also not pay any VAT on fertilizer distributor, trans planters, juice presses and rushers, seed and grain shellers, silage chopper machines; color sorters for coffee, and coffee roasters.Orwothwun Charles, the manager credit and portfolio management at the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) says as much as the changes on VAT are a good thing, a lot more needs to be done to transform agriculture in this country.
“When you slash the taxes on agricultural inputs, what does this mean for the common man? If you slash VAT on tractors, how many farmers in Uganda use tractors?”
One of the sectors that UDB is heavily involved in is agriculture. Orwothwun says stakeholders should first focus on re-organising farmers through cooperatives.
“We emphasize that as a country, we need to go into agro processing, but how many people have that capacity? We have not addressed the fundamental question which is who is doing agro-processing? The same people doing agro-processing are the middle-men milling maize, processing coffee.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1431125/tax-cuts-agriculture-machinery-spur-sector
APEDA Agri Exchange Newsletter - Volume 1526
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
