USA rice market research
focuses on El Salvador
Wednesday
"We learned that regardless
of the source, statistics and consumption figures show that there is a
stagnation in rice consumption in El Salvador, or at best, very timid
growth," Jose Alfonso Lainez of Praxis, the firm that conducted the
research, said.
USA Rice, El Salvador Association
of Rice Millers (ASALBAR) and USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service
representatives in San Salvador met earlier this month to discuss the results
of USA Rice market research into consumer behavior and preferences in El
Salvador.
"We learned that regardless of
the source, statistics and consumption figures show that there is a stagnation
in rice consumption in El Salvador, or at best, very timid growth," Jose
Alfonso Lainez of Praxis, the firm that conducted the research, said. "Consumers
see rice as a complement to the main dish, making it easy to replace with items
such as potatoes, vegetables, salad, and about 20 other options they name.
However, one of the changes in consumer behavior we noted was a migration from
purchases at traditional 'tiendas' and 'pulperÃas', (small shops), to
establishments that offer better conditions of safety and cleanliness."
This shift actually makes it easier
to reach consumers through in store demonstrations - something USA Rice began
last year.
Although rice is rich in vitamins
and minerals, and is an excellent source of energy, the research confirms not
many consumers are aware of its health benefits. Several means of communicating
these important facts, in an effort to increase rice consumption here, were discussed,
including a public relations campaign targeting health professionals, paid
media with nutrition and lifestyle journals and popular newspapers, and
educational outreach at local health clinics. Additionally, a large scale
cooking lesson for professional chefs will be held in a renowned culinary
school later this year.
USA Rice will use the results of
this study to fine tune promotional activities in this important and growing
market. From January through November 2016, U.S. rice exports to El Salvador
were 265,000 tons - up 636 percent over the same period in 2015
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/20170201/usa-rice-market-research-focuses-on-el-salvador
February
01, 2017
LAHORE
Deputy
Commissioner Sumair Ahmed Syed reviewed old prices of edibles and fixed new
rates with the consultation of traders, consumers and other district officials
concerned.
A
minor enhancement in prices of three edible items has been done which include
Rice Basmati Super (New) 5, Rice Basmati Super (Old) 5 and Sugar 3 Rupees while
the prices of Milk, Yogurt, Mutton, Beef, Roti and Nan were maintained as per
previously notified rates whose rates have already mentioned above.
The
decision was made in a meeting of District Price Committee on Tuesday, which
was participated by additional deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners,
representatives of traders and consumers.
DC
Sumair Ahmed Syed stressed the traders to sell standardised essential
commodities and directed them not to do overcharging of essential commodities.
He
directed the price control magistrates to visit markets to implement the new
notified rates of essential commodities.
The
new rates of the edibles are notified as under: Rice Basmati Super (New) Rs 95,
Rice Basmati Super (Old) Rs 105, Rice Basmati 386 (New) 32,Gram Daal (Bareek)
Rs 115, Garm Daal (Special) Rs 124, Masoor Daal (Moti) Rs 95, Masoor Daal
(Bareek) Rs 140, Mash Daal (Washed Imported) Rs 165, Mash Daal (Unwashed
Imported) Rs 145, Moong Daal (Washed) Rs 95, Moong Daal (Unwashed) Rs 105,
Black Chana (Mota) Rs 105, Black Chana (Bareek) Rs 105, White Chana (Mota) Rs
146, Red chilli Rs 195, Basin Rs 125, Sugar White Rs 65, milk Rs 70, Yogurt Rs
85, Mutton Rs 700, beef Rs 325 and Rs 6 of Roti. Moreover, Deputy Commissioner
Sumair Ahmed Syed has also issued notification of new prices of essential
commodities.
As
per notification issued on January 31, 2017 and notification issued on December
27 2016, a notification difference can be observed in the reduction of prices
of twelve essential commodities, which include Gram Daal 40 Rupees, Daal
Special 38, Masoor Daal (Moti) 20, Mash Daal Washed 20, Mash Daal Unwashed 15,
Black Chana Mota 45, Black Chana Bareek Local 35, White Cahna 6, Basin 35 and
Red Chilli 15 Rupees
Behold, Tahdig: How
Iranians Make Rice The Best Part Of Every Meal
“It’s the ultimate in crunchy golden goodness — somewhere between fried
chicken and popcorn.”
In response to the Muslim ban,
one way for us to navigate these times is to educate ourselves ― to learn what
we can about the cultures of the nations that are affected. We’re starting
small, with a simple dish from Iran that everyone can make at home. After all,
food is the distillation of community and culture to its most basic form. We
hope you’ll cook along with us in support.
JAMES RANSOM/FOOD52
A
perfect, crispy disk of tahdig that you won’t be able to stop eating. Check out Food52’s version of the recipe and step-by-step photos.Some of the best dishes are the
simplest, and that couldn’t be more true when talking about tahdig, Iran’s famous rice dish. If you
love the crunchy, well-cooked edge of a lasagna, you’ll adore tahdig.
Tahdig, which literally
translates to “bottom of the pot,” is a pan-fried layer of crunchy, crispy
white basmati rice. It can be served whole, maintaining the circular shape of
the vessel it was cooked in, or broken into pieces of irresistible crunchy
rice. It’s usually cooked in clarified butter (ghee) or oil, but to form a
better crust, you can add yogurt, or lavash, or sometimes ―- for a really special
treatment ― potatoes are used to line the bottom of the pan.
While tahdig refers to the burnt
crust of the rice, the preparation and serving of it also includes rice that is
perfectly steamed on top of this crisp layer, as you’ll find in the recipe
below. It’s pure and simple genius. It’s also an absolutely soul satisfying way
to eat rice.
Anyone who has anything to say
about tahdig will say this: when the dish is served at a feast, it is always
guaranteed to be finished. Everyone loves it. Louisa Shafia, author of The New Persian Kitchen, says it best when she suggests that we “think of tahdig as
Persian ‘soul food.’ It’s the ultimate in crunchy golden goodness ― somewhere
between fried chicken and popcorn ― and making it is a skill worth perfecting.”
While tahdig is almost always
part of a feast, it isn’t reserved for special occasions. In Iran, it is eaten whenever rice is part of a meal, which is often. Once
you try it, you’ll see why. We have a recipe for you. If you have rice, you can
easily make this dish happen tonight.
Here it is.
Reprinted with permission from The New Persian Kitchen, by Louisa Shafia (Ten Speed Press, 2013).
Basic Tahdig
makes 5-1/2 cups rice plus one
10-inch disk of tahdig
·
2 cups white basmati
rice
·
3 tablespoons refined
coconut oil, ghee, or grapeseed oil
·
1/4 teaspoon sea salt,
plus more for salting the water
Step 1: Parcook the rice
Soak the rice in cold water for
30 minutes. Swish the rice around a few times, then drain and rinse the rice in
cold water until the rinse water runs clear. In a stockpot, combine 8 cups
water and 2 heaping tablespoons salt and bring to a boil. Add the rice and
return to a boil, uncovered, as it can easily boil over. After 5 minutes, test
a grain of the rice by breaking it in half. The rice is ready when it’s soft
but the center is still opaque and not fully cooked. Drain and rinse the rice
under cold water to stop the cooking. Measure out 2 cups rice and set aside.
Step 2: Make the tahdig layer
Heat a deep 10-inch cast-iron
skillet or enamel paella pan over low heat for a few minutes. Add the oil (if
your skillet is bigger than 10 inches, add an additional 2 tablespoons oil),
followed by the 2 cups reserved rice. Spread the rice evenly over the bottom of
the pan, and pack it down tightly with an offset spatula or large wooden spoon.
Sprinkle the sea salt over the rice.
Step 3: Shape the rice into a
pyramid and cook
Add the rest of the rice to the
pan and shape it into a pyramid. Poke several holes in the rice with a
chopstick to let steam escape. Cover and turn the heat up to medium-high. Cook
the rice for 10 minutes, then turn down the heat to very low and place a clean
dish towel under the lid to catch condensation, and cover the pan tightly. If
you have a flame tamer, put it between the burner and the bottom of the skillet
to disperse the cooking heat. Cook for 50 minutes.
Step 4: Separate the rice from
the tahdig and serve
Lift the lid from the pan. There
will be condensation trapped under the lid, so avoid tilting it over the rice
and inadvertently pouring the steam water back in. Gently scoop the rice onto a
serving platter, making sure not to disturb the tahdig at the bottom. Loosen
the sides of the tahdig with a butter knife and flip it onto a plate, or remove
it from the pan with an offset spatula. Serve whole or broken in pieces.
The
National Assembly was informed Wednesday (today) that a number of dams are
under construction across the country which will be completed next year.
This
was stated by the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Chaudhary Jaffar Iqbal
while speaking during the question session.
He
said the under construction dams included 100 delay action dam in Balochistan,
20 small dams in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, small storage dams and delay action dams
in Sindh.
“Pakistan
is importing 74 MW of electricity from Iran. He said a contact has also been
signed with Iran for import of 100 MW electricity for Gwadar,” he added.
To a question, he said eight
percent decrease in export of Basmati Rice has been registered due to
non-competitiveness in prices. He said the exports have not been decreased due
to rice quality.
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/02/01/over-100-new-dams-to-be-completed-next-year/
REAP fetes Commerce Minister
By Webmaster -February
1, 2017
Lahore
Rice Exporters Association of
Pakistan (REAP) hosted a reception in honor of Engr. Khurram Dastigar Khan,
Federal Minister of Commerce which was participated by a large number of REAP
members.
Mr. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi, Chairman REAP said that rice export sector is the 2nd largest export commodity, but despite earning of about $2 billion valuable foreign exchange annually, rice exporters are not given the benefits like textile, leather, carpets, sports goods and surgical instruments exporters.
Chairman REAP said that we have already written letters to honorable Finance Minister as well as to your esteemed office to include Rice Export Sector in Zero Rated exporting sectors and exempt Rice Exporters from Sales Tax and Income Tax on utilities for their rice export.
Mr. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi said that rice export from Pakistan are generally affected due to improper branding, poor packing and non compliance to SPS measures. He requested the Ministry of Commerce to encourage establishment of Brand and give subsidy to those exporters who are exporting rice under their brand name
Mr. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi, Chairman REAP said that rice export sector is the 2nd largest export commodity, but despite earning of about $2 billion valuable foreign exchange annually, rice exporters are not given the benefits like textile, leather, carpets, sports goods and surgical instruments exporters.
Chairman REAP said that we have already written letters to honorable Finance Minister as well as to your esteemed office to include Rice Export Sector in Zero Rated exporting sectors and exempt Rice Exporters from Sales Tax and Income Tax on utilities for their rice export.
Mr. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi said that rice export from Pakistan are generally affected due to improper branding, poor packing and non compliance to SPS measures. He requested the Ministry of Commerce to encourage establishment of Brand and give subsidy to those exporters who are exporting rice under their brand name
Bulog allocates Rp 37 trillion to buy
commodities from farmers
Stefani Ribka
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Wed, February 1, 2017 | 11:03 am
Farmers carry paddy stalks to be milled at a factory
in Ngawi, East Java. (Antara/Ari Bowo Sucipto)
The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has
allocated Rp 37 trillion (US$2.7 billion) from bank loans to buy several
commodities, including rice, soybeans, corn and sugar, from local farmers and
other countries in an effort to stabilize prices.“As of today, we’ve got
commitments from banks for a total of Rp 37 trillion to buy several
commodities,” Bulog chairman Djarot Kusumayakti told a press conference on
Tuesday.
The state enterprise aims to increase local
rice purchases to 3.7 million tons this year from 2.9 million tons last year.
Of the 3.7 million tons, 3.2 million tons will be provided for free to 14
million low-income households, while the remaining 500,000 tons will go to the
commercial market.
Djarot said with subsidized rice and sufficient
rice supplies last year, the rice price remained stable at around Rp 8,000 per
kilogram.
The agency hopes to repeat its success to also
stabilize prices for sugar, soybeans and meat. However, it needs improved
cooperation with private stakeholders that agree to sell the commodities at the
prices set by Bulog.
“Today we have good cooperation with private
stakeholders to buy meat and corn. We want to have better cooperation. Only
with good cooperation can we create stable prices,” Djarot added.
Bulog has also allocated Rp 2.3 trillion to invest
in post-harvest infrastructure, from rice storage to mills and corn dryers, to
ensure that the agency can buy more commodities from local harvests at better
quality. (bbn
Rice basmati weakens on muted demand
New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) In restricted activity, rice
basmati prices dropped by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market
today on tepid demand.
Wed,
1 Feb 2017-02:53pm , PTI
In
restricted activity, rice basmati prices dropped by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale
grains market today on tepid demand.
However,
other grains held steady in thin trade.
Traders
said fall in demand at prevailing levels mainly led to decline in rice basmati
prices.
In
the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety eased to Rs
7,200-7,400 and Rs 5,900-7,200 against last close of Rs 7,300-7,400 and Rs
6,000-7,200 per quintal, respectively.
Following
are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,850-3,150,
Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 2,090-2,100, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 2,110-2,140,
Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 285, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 285, Roller flour mill Rs
1,140-1,150 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,200-1,210 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,270-1,275 (50
kg).
Basmati
rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs
9,700, Basmati common new Rs 7,200-7,400, Rice Pusa (1,121) Rs 5,900-7,200,
Permal raw Rs 2,200-2,250, Permal wand Rs 2,300-2,400, Sela Rs 3,000-3,100 and
Rice IR-8 Rs 2,000-2,025, Bajra Rs 1,460-1,500, Jowar yellow Rs 1750-1800, white
Rs 3,500-3,700, Maize Rs 1,610-1,620, Barley Rs 1,800-1,820.
(This article has not been edited
by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.
http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-rice-basmati-weakens-on-muted-demand-2305772
Government to procure 4 lakh tonnes of paddy this year
PTI | Updated:
Feb 1, 2017, 08.27 AM IST
RANCHI: State consumer affairs minister Saryu
Roy on Tuesday said the government has set a target of procuring four lakh
tonnes of paddy this kharif year.He said two lakh tonnes of paddy has already been purchased. "The state has saved Rs 700 crore in different schemes and programmes of the department," he added.
Roy, also the state's food and public distribution system minister, was replying on the discussion of demands for grants for his ministries at the assembly. "A total of 66,000 farmers have been registered and out of that 44,000 got SMSes for the sale of their produce," Roy said, adding, "So far only 5,500 farmers have approached the sale centres."
He said technical difficulties had come during the purchase of paddy and efforts were on to ease them.Roy said an estimated Rs 700 crore had been saved by following transparency in different schemes of the department in the last two years.
Later, the House rejected the cut motion moved by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha(Prajatantrik) MLA Pradip Yadav and through voice vote passed demands for Rs 1391.18 crore.
\
REAP fetes
Commerce Minister
Staff Reporte
Lahore
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) hosted a reception
in honor of Engr. Khurram Dastigar Khan, Federal Minister of Commerce which was
participated by a large number of REAP members.r. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi, Chairman
REAP said that rice export sector is the 2nd largest export commodity, but
despite earning of about $2 billion valuable foreign exchange annually, rice
exporters are not given the benefits like textile, leather, carpets, sports
goods and surgical instruments exporters.
Chairman REAP said that we have already written letters to honorable Finance Minister as well as to your esteemed office to include Rice Export Sector in Zero Rated exporting sectors and exempt Rice Exporters from Sales Tax and Income Tax on utilities for their rice export.
Mr. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi said that rice export from Pakistan are generally affected due to improper branding, poor packing and non compliance to SPS measures. He requested the Ministry of Commerce to encourage establishment of Brand and give subsidy to those exporters who are exporting rice under their brand name.
31,000 rice
farmers to benefit from Fed. Govt’s GES in Bauchi
FEBRUARY 1ST, 2017 KAY
UGWUEDE
The Bauchi State Director ,
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Yusuf, said on
Wednesday that 31,000 dry season rice farmers in the state are to receive
fertlizer and other inputs at subsidized rate under the Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Scheme(GES) .Yusuf told
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi that beneficiaries had already
received notifications of their allocation through text messages (E-wallet). 
According to him, distribution will commence on Monday, Feb. 6,
adding that the exercise had to be stopped as a result of some communication
gap with beneficiaries.
Yusuf said that the rescheduling of the distribution was a result
of the refusal by some of the beneficiaries to accept liquid fertiliser.“The
distribution was to have started earlier than now but some of the beneficiaries
refused to accept the available product because the text messages sent to them
indicated Granular Urea fertilizer.“The
one we received from the Federal Government was liquid urea, and so they
rejected it.
“Some were willing to collect the liquid while some rejected and
even allegedly said that we diverted the granular fertilizer,” he said.
He said that as a result of the hitch, distribution had been
suspended and that a ceremony would be held to invite Government officials to
brief beneficiaries on the fertilizer.He said that the liquid fertilizer was
recommended by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Farmers may lose 84,000 rai of off-season crops
- 1 Feb 2017 at 18:18 4,243
- WRITER: SUNTHON
PONGPAO
Farmers in two central provinces are facing the
loss of more than 80,000 rai of off-season rice after irrigation authorities
announced there would not be enough water for their farms during the dry
season.
More
than 500 representatives of affected farmers from Pachi and Nakhon Luang
districts in Ayutthaya and Nong Khae district in Saraburi on Wednesday thronged
Pachi district hall to hear explanations from irrigation officials about water
shortages during the dry season.The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) had recently announced there might not be enough water for agricultural purposes during the dry season, starting this month to May.
Irrigation officials, local officials and soldiers held a meeting to explain the water situation and listen to the farmers' problems.
Sumon Khongsamrit, 63, a representative of farmers who use water from Rapheepat canal, said farmers in the two provinces grew first-round off-season crops after the RID told them that there would be enough water for farming from November last year to April 30 this year. The rice was now one to two months old.
But farmers were shocked after learning that there would not be enough water for off-season rice farming during the dry season, said Mr Sumon.More than 84,000 rai of off-season crops in three districts of the two provinces were facing shortages of water as the Rapheepat canal and other water sources run dry.
About 50% of paddy fields would die if water was not supplied to the canal in 1-2 weeks, said the farmers’ representative.Thong-in Srinuan, 75, another farmer in Pachi district, expressed concern that if there was no water to feed his paddy field this week, his 20-rai of off-season crops would die.
Prasert Lekrungruangkit, director of the Pasak Tai water supply and maintenance project, said water in the Pasak River was not enough to supply the Rapheepat canal.
If the river supplied water to the canal as requested by the farmers, doing so would be against the RID’s water management committee’s resolution, he explained.
To tackle the pressing problem, his agency would propose the committee increase water supply to the canal to every two weeks, Mr Prasert said. After hearing the explanations for over five hours, most farmers returned home in desperation. They said they would have to pin their hopes on summer storms to bring water to their farms.
Representatives of off-season rice farmers in Ayutthaya and Saraburi listen to explanations from irrigation officials about water shortages during a meeting in Pachi district, Ayutthaya on Wednesday. (Photo by Sunthon Pongpao)
The Bangkok Post
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1190861/farmers-may-lose-84-000-rai-of-off-season-crops
USA rice market research focuses
on El Salvador
Wednesday
"We learned that regardless
of the source, statistics and consumption figures show that there is a
stagnation in rice consumption in El Salvador, or at best, very timid
growth," Jose Alfonso Lainez of Praxis, the firm that conducted the
research, said.
USA Rice, El Salvador Association
of Rice Millers (ASALBAR) and USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service
representatives in San Salvador met earlier this month to discuss the results
of USA Rice market research into consumer behavior and preferences in El Salvador.
"We learned that regardless of
the source, statistics and consumption figures show that there is a stagnation
in rice consumption in El Salvador, or at best, very timid growth," Jose
Alfonso Lainez of Praxis, the firm that conducted the research, said.
"Consumers see rice as a complement to the main dish, making it easy to
replace with items such as potatoes, vegetables, salad, and about 20 other
options they name. However, one of the changes in consumer behavior we noted
was a migration from purchases at traditional 'tiendas' and 'pulperÃas',
(small shops), to establishments that offer better conditions of safety and
cleanliness."
This shift actually makes it easier
to reach consumers through in store demonstrations - something USA Rice began
last year.
Although rice is rich in vitamins
and minerals, and is an excellent source of energy, the research confirms not
many consumers are aware of its health benefits. Several means of communicating
these important facts, in an effort to increase rice consumption here, were
discussed, including a public relations campaign targeting health
professionals, paid media with nutrition and lifestyle journals and popular
newspapers, and educational outreach at local health clinics. Additionally, a
large scale cooking lesson for professional chefs will be held in a renowned
culinary school later this year.
USA Rice will use the results of
this study to fine tune promotional activities in this important and growing
market. From January through November 2016, U.S. rice exports to El Salvador
were 265,000 tons - up 636 percent over the same period in 2015
Rice Growers Step Up Production, As Local Demand Increases
By Chika Izuora
Feb 2, 2017 2:54 am | Leave a comment
If there were still doubts about the fact that there has been a
significant increase in the volume of rice produced in the country in recent
years, the impressive number of bags of
Made-in-Nigeria rice that were in the market during the festive season would
certainly have dispelled them.
Indeed, during the yuletide, a lot of corporate bodies, especially
banks, gave out Made-in-Nigeria rice as gifts instead of the usual imported
varieties.Findings show that the rising volume of local rice production is due
to increased demand for the commodity by Nigerians. The demand is said to be fuelled by growing
awareness among Nigerians that locally-produced rice is much more nutritious
than the imported variety especially given that many of the country’s leading
rice millers now process Paddy rice as proficiently as their foreign
counterparts.
Analysts have said that another factor driving local demand of
locally-made rice is the campaign by the federal government, through the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as well as the state governments, to encourage
local production in the face of dwindling oil revenue.
For instance, the minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, was so
impressed during a visit to a rice farm in the eastern part of the country that
he predicted that Nigeria could end rice importation in the next one year
thereby drastically reducing its annual food importation bill which currently
stands at between $2 and $3 billion.
However, analysts point out that the surge in Nigeria’s local rice
production has been primarily due to the massive investment in the production
of the staple food by leading
agri-business firm, Olam Nigeria Limited.
According to analysts, although there are several companies now
involved in rice production in the country, there is no doubt that Olam’s
pioneering role in this aspect of the agric sector is responsible for the
impressive volume of rice currently produced in Nigeria.
Specifically, the company set up a multi-million dollar integrated
rice mill in Nasarawa State, North-central Nigeria, fitted with the capacity to
produce 65,000 metric tonnes of milled rice per annum.
Speaking during the commissioning of the facility in 2013 by former
President Goodluck Jonathan, Olam’s managing director for Africa and Middle
East, VenkataramaniSrivathsan, said 3,000 hectares of land was already under
cultivation on the 6,000 hectares of mechanised paddy farm where the rice mill
is located.
Srivathsan said Olam planned to increase acreage in Nasarawa to
10,000 hectares. “This will bring Olam’s total investment in the integrated
farm and milling facility to over $111 million,” he said.
He also noted that the mill demonstrates how large-scale commercial
farms can work hand in hand with smallholders to boost Nigeria’s agric sector,
generating rural prosperity through local processing.
Also in his remarks, Olam Nigeria country head, Mukul Mathur
expressed the company’s pride to have been part of Nigeria’s development of its
export chains, noting that the Singapore-headquartered firm was the first to
export sesame from Nigeria.
“We hope that the success of our rice model will kick-start
domestic production in a similar manner, unlocking the opportunity for
businesses and smallholders alike, and reducing Nigeria’s need to import 1.9
million tonnes of rice each year,” said Mathur.
Olam, which in the last 10 years has been the largest non-oil
exporter in the country- a feat that has won it several awards both locally and
internationally- started in Nigeria 27 years ago and employs more than 2,500
direct workers and over 6,000 workers on contract.
The company which was one of the few big global players that saw
the promise of the Nigerian rice market developed an innovative approach to
rice production. Its model combines a commercial farm with a programme that
works with nearby farmers, called out-growers, allowing Olam greater control
over its product while still leaving room to foster and train local small-scale
farmers in rice production.
With the use of aircraft to plant rice, apply fertiliser,
insecticides, herbicides and bird control, together with nine giant tractors
for land preparation and eleven(11)combined harvesters for harvesting and
threshing rice, the company is currently
developing a 10,000-hectare, fully-mechanised and irrigated paddy farm
at Rukubi, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The farm is expected
to yield 10 metric tonnes per hectare (average yield of local farmers is 2 –
4MT) in two annual crop cycles, based on four varieties of high-yield rice
tested with the West African Rice Development Association, which are FARO 44, FARO
52, L34 and L19, all developed and released by Africa Rice. 4,400 hectares are
already under cultivation, with a further 2,000 hectares on target for 2018,
recording, for now, six tonnes per hectare. Up to 1,000 workers are employed on
the farm depending on the season.
Significantly, at the heart of the rice farm is a
105,000MT-capacity rice milling facility which incorporates Satake milling
technology and Italian par boiling technology. This is expected to provide
105,000 metric tonnes (MT) of milled rice per annum to the domestic market.
Almost 1,000 workers are employed at the mill during peak seasons.
According to the plant manager, MrJayane Jagtap, the mill is
designed to process paddies into finest rice comparable with best brands around
the world. Speaking to a team of
journalists who visited the facility, he explained that paddies are fed through
the feeder (intake unit of the mill), conveyed into the cleaner where paddies
are cleaned and de-stoned, conveyed into a dryer where moisture content is
reduced from 22 per cent to about 12 per cent, and to another cleaner, from
where paddies are conveyed into parboiling tanks, where paddies are watered and
parboiled at 60 degree centigrade. The
paddies are then conveyed from
parboiling tanks into coolers and into the drying tanks, from where they are
transferred to the larger silos, which feed the mills where husks are separated
from rice.
After further polishing and grading, the rice is packaged into
five, 25 and 50KG bags and moved unto the store, all within the farm.
The company’s ‘nucleus’ model combines the quality control of a
large scale commercial farm with the cost and scalability benefits of
smallholder ‘out-grower’ networks. Over 3,000 surrounding rice-growing farmers
are supported by Olam with training, pre-finance and inputs in order to improve
their own paddy yields. The 3,000 farmers, who produce about 4,000 metric
tonnes of paddies per annum, are currently engaged in the programme, with a
target of 16,000 by 2018, ultimately moving up to 20,000 and supplying 30-40
per cent of the mill’s capacity.
Interestingly, the company attributes its success to its commitment
to developing Nigeria’s agric sector as well as delivering value to farmers and
customers. As it put it in a statement, “Success has been based on delivering
value to both customers and farmers through first class operational
capabilities and a long term commitment to develop Nigeria’s agricultural
supply chains.“With offices and operational units across all geopolitical zones
of the Nigerian Federation, Olam Nigeria has a wide and growing network of
farmers, suppliers, wholesalers, Local Buying Agents (LBAs), customers and
service providers. Today, these networks encompass approximately 500,000
farmers and have created tens of thousands of jobs in direct employment.https://leadership.ng/features/569678/rice-growers-step-up-production-as-local-demand-increases
February
01, 2017
LAHORE:
Ministry of commerce is aggressively working to get the draft geographical bill
passed in order to protect local brands and fetch fair prices of products in
the international market, a minister said on Tuesday.
Commerce
minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, at a meeting of the Rice Exporters Association
of Pakistan (Reap), said the ministry is working on geographical indication
law, “and it will soon be implemented.”
Khan
acknowledged the problems related to brand recognition raised by the Reap
office bearers. “Half of the subsidy is available for those rice exporters who
are exporting their rice under their brand names.”
State-owned
Intellectual Property Organisation Pakistan drafted Geographical Indication
Bill 2016 to protect the products, originating from a specific area, whose
quality or reputation is attributable to its place of origin. Currently,
geographical indications are being protected under collective mark system of
Trademark Ordinance, 2001.
Industry
experts said an effective local law is imperative to protect the GI interests
of indigenous products. They said India has managed to place GI logos on its
more than 200 products, which mean that they belong to the country and which
also entail good prices in the international market.
“Unfortunately,
not a single product in Pakistan has a GI logo despite the country boasts of
Sindhi Ajrak, Multani Halwa and a variety of mangoes,” an expert said.
Ironically, the most popular rice variety is cultivated on fields in India and
Pakistan in a very close proximity.
Pakistani
basmati growers have been strenuously fighting at an Indian court in order to
protect their geographical indication against infringements in aromatic rice
since 2004. GI tag protects the legal rights of agricultural,
manufactured and natural goods in a specific geographical territory, according
to the World Trade Organization. That means the rice produced in areas other
than the specified cannot be called Basmati.
Mahmood
Baqi Moulvi, chairman of Reap said rice is the second biggest exportable
commodity in Pakistan. “Despite earning around two billion dollars in valuable
foreign exchange annually, rice exporters are not given the benefits, which are
available for textile, leather, carpet, sports goods and surgical instruments
sectors,” Moulvi said. ”We have already written letters to Finance Minister as
well as to your esteemed office to include rice export sector in zero-rated
exporting sectors and exempt rice exports from sales and income tax on
utilities.”
Reap
chairman said rice exporters have been facing unprecedented challenges for
years and, “consequently, their capacity has severely been
impaired.” “For the international marketing of rice and to get high
price of the commodity, it is necessary for rice exporters to establish their
own brands,” he added. “Rice export from Pakistan is generally affected due to
improper branding, poor packing and non-compliance to sanitary and
phytosanitary measures.” The State Bank of Pakistan granted relaxation in
payback time by three months to rice exporters owing to decline in
exports.
“We
request to the ministry of commerce to extend the relaxation payback period for
another three months and withhold imposing more penalties on rice exporters,”
Moulvi said. Rice exports fell 18 percent to $713 million in the first half of
the current fiscal year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/183047-Commerce-minister-says-geographical-indication-bill-to-be-passed-soon
Rice exporters: Commerce minister promises 50% subsidy for brand
promotion
Published: February 1, 2017
LAHORE: Commerce
Minister Khurram Dastgir has stated that the government is willing to give a
50% subsidy to those rice exporters who are exporting rice under their own brand
name.
Speaking at ceremony held by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), he said that
the ministry is working on geographical indication law, which will be
implemented soon.
“Rice exporters should work on branding and marketing
Pakistani rice in order to compete with Indian rice in international market,”
said Dastgir.
REAP Chairman Mahmood Baqi in his speech
demanded that the government include rice exporters in zero rated sales tax regime on utility
bills and withholding tax on supply of electricity.
The chairman said that rice exporters have been facing unprecedented challenges
for years and consequently, their capacity has been severely impaired.
“Exports, both in quantity and value terms, could not pick up pace and have
stood below targets. Withdrawal of the zero rating facility and imposition of
sales tax would be detrimental to business activities.”
We request
the government to declare rice exports as an industry and include it in the
zero rated regimes, said Baqi.
Rice export sector is the second largest
export commodity, but despite earnings of about $2 billion in foreign exchange
annually, rice exporters are not given the benefits extended to
textile, leather, carpets, sports goods and surgical instruments sectors, he
said.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on
Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1313170/rice-exporters-commerce-minister-promises-50-subsidy-brand-promotion/
Helping Indonesia keep its rice bowl full
Grant Singleton and Reianne Quilloy | Feb 1, 2017
One of the biggest rice consumers in the world aims to develop a
long-term strategy for rice self-sufficiency to meet the continuing increase in
population.
Pak Subarjo proudly shares his field, which harvested its third
cropping in January 2017. (Photo by Budi Raharjo, AIAT, Indonesia)
Indonesia is the world’s fourth
most populous country and one of the largest rice consumers. To feed the
country, its present rice production of 75 million tons must increase by 2.3%
per year through 2019. As the demand to produce more grains increases, the
country has always depended on Java—where nearly 60% of the total rice
production comes from—to fill the country’s rice bowls. Although the yields in
Java are relatively high compared with those of other areas of Indonesia, the
rice productions areas on the island are under pressure from urban and
industrial development.
Efforts to increase national production have led the government of
Indonesia to craft a long-term strategy for rice self-sufficiency. A key pillar
of this strategy is intensifying rice production on the outer islands,
including South Sumatra. The government also developed a policy of GP-PTT (Gerakan
Penerapan Pengelolaan Tanaman Terpadu or Implementation Action of Integrated Crop Management) to deploy
best management practices in rice-farming communities. This created an opportunity in South Sumatra to forge
collaboration between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Assessment Institute of Agricultural
Technologies (AIAT) through the Closing rice yield gaps with reduced
environmental footprints (CORIGAP), a project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). In the tidal deltas of South Sumatra, the two institutes
are conducting validation of yield gaps to establish solutions that will help
farmers sustainably intensify their rice production.
“CORIGAP is fully in line with
Indonesia’s national program,” says Dr. Hasil Sembiring, director general of
the Directorate of Food Crops in Indonesia. “Due to increasing population and
demand for rice, innovation in CORIGAP is needed to increase rice productivity
in Indonesia. Thus, we appreciate any innovation introduced to increase our
rice production. This year, South Sumatra contributes about 1 million tons of
rice.”
Expanding the rice granary to the outer islands
Of the 780,000 hectares of land in South Sumatra, 260,000 hectares situated in the coastal plain and deltas are seen as potential rice-growing areas. However, productivity in these areas is relatively low because most farmers plant rice only once a year.
Of the 780,000 hectares of land in South Sumatra, 260,000 hectares situated in the coastal plain and deltas are seen as potential rice-growing areas. However, productivity in these areas is relatively low because most farmers plant rice only once a year.
“I used to harvest only 2–3 tons of rice per year, and was able to
plant only during the wet season,” said Pak Subarjo, who has been farming for 35 years. Their rice productivity is impeded by expensive
labor and severe pest problems during the dry season when weeds and rodents
cause huge losses, he added.
In 2012, more than 250,000 hectares were planted for monsoon rice
in the tidal deltas but dry-season rice was planted on only 30 hectares. In
2013, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) scientists and AIAT staff worked together through
to develop and demonstrate best crop and pest management practices. This
approach helped farmers in the tidal deltas increase their rice production in
2014 as double cropping expanded to 300 hectares.
Based on this strong evidence of progress, a large-scale rollout
of crop management recommendations from the CORIGAP project was conducted in
selected rice-farming villages in South Sumatra. A range of technical options was
introduced to farmers that helped them close their rice yield gaps:
water-saving techniques, legowo drum seeders to optimize labor productivity,
ecologically based rodent and weed management, and improved postharvest
management of rice. IRRI scientists and AIAT worked hand-in-hand with about 50
farmer groups to promote the adoption of these technologies.
“The AIAT staff and IRRI scientists
conducted regular meetings with the farmers,” said Director Harmanto, former
director of AIAT, who contributed significantly to the program. “We worked
closely with the farmers. We regularly monitored the fields and the farmers and
they could easily reach us if they encountered problems. Others, such as
university staff members and army personnel, helped expand our reach.”
The hard work paid off. In 2015,
the package of CORIGAP best practices was promoted in the villages of South
Sumatra. This approach was instrumental in helping farmers implement crop and
pest management for rice intensification. Using the CORIGAP approach, around
1,500 hectares of rice fields were planted in the project’s villages. Also, the
total dry-season rice crop covered 17,000 hectares in South Sumatra.
South Sumatra, which predominantly consists of marshlands and
coastal areas, historically produced rice once a year. (Photo: IRRI)
This includes Mr. Subarjo’s
2-hectare rice field. Mr. Subarjo said that the training on good rice
cultivation practices conducted by AIAT enabled him to grow two crops in one
year: producing more than 7 tons per hectare in the wet season and 4 tons per
hectare in the dry season.
“Now that I’ve seen the benefits of
the technologies introduced to me, I reduced the amount of pesticide in my
field and used the correct herbicide,” said Pak Subarjo. “I also found the drum
seeder very useful.
“After attending training
activities from AIAT, I immediately shared my learnings with my son, who helps
me tend our rice field,” he added. “I also share my learnings with my fellow
farmers here in Sumber Mulyo Village. I also feel confident about planting rice
thrice a year.”
CORIGAP sites
Building on this confidence, he
participated in the third cropping of the rice-cropping program of three crops
a year, locally called IP 300. His demonstration plot will soon be ready for
harvesting. Mr. Subarjo is willing to talk to farmers, extension workers,
researchers, and local government staff about his experience.“The rapid
increase in planting area was a combination of innovative extension strategies
of AIAT and the promotion of CORIGAP nationally and provincially under the
banner of GP-PTT,” said Dr. Harmanto. According to Dr. Harmanto, the strong
progress of the CORIGAP approach in South Sumatra can be traced from evidence
drawn from the CORIGAP farmer-participatory field trials, its alignment with
Indonesia’s national policy for food security, and the innovative approaches in
disseminating the crop management recommendations. These encouraged more
farmers to increase their cropping intensity, such that the planting area for
rice in the dry season expanded impressively to 93,000 hectares in 2016.
The next step: CORIGAP-PRO
Based on the impressive progress of the project, the team aims to reach half a million farmers in six major rice-growing countries, including Indonesia. Through the ongoing support of SDC, IRRI scientists and its national partners in Asia (China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam) are gearing up for the next phase of the project, CORIGAP-PRO.
Building on the success of CORIGAP,
CORIGAP-PRO will continue to chart the pathways to increase farmers’
profitability using best management practices for lowland rice production. In
the next four years, CORIGAP-PRO will focus on the effective and widespread
dissemination of best management practices, which in turn will increase the
profitability of rice production and improve the livelihoods of smallholder
farmers.
______________________________________
Dr. Singleton is a principal scientist and project leader of CORIGAP at IRRI. Ms. Quilloy is a communication and outreach specialist at IRRI.
Dr. Singleton is a principal scientist and project leader of CORIGAP at IRRI. Ms. Quilloy is a communication and outreach specialist at IRRI.
http://ricetoday.irri.org/helping-indonesia-keep-its-rice-bowl-full/
Amidst
Senate Drama, Trump EPA Designee Remains in Limbo
By Lydia Holmes
WASHINGTON,
DC - As decorum breaks down in the Capitol over President Trump's designees and
nominees for cabinet, sub-cabinet posts, and now the Supreme Court, his pick
for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oklahoma
Attorney General Scott Pruitt, was once again, put on hold, by the
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee during a hearing that was
boycotted by Democrat Members of the Committee.
Arkansas
Senator John Boozman and Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker attended the hearing
and spoke in support of AG Pruitt's nomination and decried the Democrat boycott
of the hearing. Without a minimum of two Members of the minority party
present, Committees are unable to achieve a quorum to advance nominees to the
full Senate. (Earlier today, the Senate Finance Committee waived those rules to
pass out of Committee the nominations of Congressman Tom Price for Secretary of
Health and Human Services and Steve Mnuchin for Treasury Secretary.)
Two
weeks ago, at a sometimes contentious hearing on his nomination, AG Pruitt was
grilled by a bipartisan group of Senators on his views regarding climate
change, ties to "Big Oil" and "Big Gas," ongoing lawsuits
against the EPA, and what his agenda as Administrator would look like.
Today,
Committee Chairman Barrasso (R-WY) added that "Pruitt was required to
answer more questions than any EPA Administrator nominee in recent
history." In total, Pruitt responded to more than 1,200 questions during
and after his hearing was initially held.
Frank
Lucas (R-OK), the former chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, said,
"Scott Pruitt is a terrific choice to restore common sense and rule of law
to the Environmental Protection Agency. [Pruitt] has stood up to
Washington time after time to fight for the conservation of our country's
natural resources while protecting the jobs and well-being of American families
and workers. I look forward to working with him on a number of issues to
ensure science - not political agendas - guides our nation's environmental
policy."
Last
month, USA Rice, along with a number of other agriculture and commodity trade
associations and companies, signed a letter of support for Pruitt's
confirmation as the EPA Administrator. He is expected to be approved for
the job by the Environment and Public Works Committee and the full
Senate, though no schedule for either vote has been announced.
USA Rice
