Friday, February 03, 2017

3rd February ,2017 daily global,regional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

Hike in rice, sugar prices as edibles rates reviewed

February 01, 201

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

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/183158-Hike-in-rice-sugar-prices-as-edibles-rates-reviewed

Scientists of the soil

ANURADHA SENGUPTA

Anuradha SenguptaTo cap it all: Debal Deb grows 1,200 rice varieties at his farm ‘Basudha’ in Kerandiguda, Odisha; the agri expert also collects hats worn by paddy farmers around the world

Anuradha SenguptaFor all seasons: Varieties suited to every kind of climate, soil and water source are found at Deb’s farm

Anuradha SenguptaPurity matters: Cross-pollination is minimised by planting species with synchronous or overlapping flowering times

Debal Deb and an intrepid band of traditional farmers grow heirloom varieties of grains and cereals, thousands of which are on the brink of extinction

It is late afternoon when we arrive at Debal Deb’s farm, only to find him napping on a hammock next to his mud house. The sound of a gurgling stream punctuates our deliberations: Should we wake him? The thick forest around us glistens like green gold in the rays of the sun. Hills in different shades of green frame this landscape in Kerandiguda, Odisha. We had driven for 45 minutes, parked our car at a railway crossing and walked through hillsides and forest paths to get here. The nearest train station is Muniguda, a small town in Odisha’s mining belt near Lanjigarh, known for Vedanta’s bauxite mines. Deb’s home is close to the Niyamgiri hills, which Vedanta has been trying to mine. The company’s efforts have so far been thwarted by an active campaign led by tribals living on these hills.

Deb’s trusted aide, Debdulal Bhattacharya wakes him and asks us in. Soon, we are ensconced on a reed chatai, talking over tea and biscuits. The two-room abode is minimalistic with rugs made of reed, a small bed, a couple of framed pictures (made by people Deb encountered on his talks and workshops). In one corner are rows of labelled earthen pots. They hold a treasure trove of rice grains, some very rare, that are on the verge of extinction.

As a light drizzle falls over a long drawn-out sunset, Deb asks Bhattacharya to take out a few hats for us — these are all farmers’ hats he has collected on his travels across India and abroad. Jaunty in a reed hat from the Philippines, he walks us to the adjacent field — a 2.3-acre patch, helmed by hills, that’s pretty much like a Noah’s Ark for indigenous rice varieties. Deb grows over 1,200 varieties to conserve their germplasm in this place he has named Basudha, which means ‘Mother Earth’ in Bengali. All his seeds have come from small farmers across India. Thousands of rice varieties were found in India till the 1960s — over 70,000 were available before the Green Revolution. Today, fewer than 10 varieties make up most of India’s rice production. Deb says some of the species he had collected barely a few years ago can no longer be found. “Sometimes I try to go back to get seeds from a farmer and find that he has died and his son has stopped growing the old species.”

He walks us around the land, pointing out the 2x2m beds in which the seeds are grown and harvested. In order to preserve the genetic purity of the species growing next to each other, Deb has developed an intricate sowing plan. “I follow a spatial isolation of 110m between plots and plant each variety surrounded by ones with different flowering dates. No two neighbouring varieties flower at the same time. Cross-pollination can be minimised by planting species with synchronous or overlapping flowering times.” The label on the earthen pots used to store the seeds clearly mention the name, size and specific characteristics of each variety. There are varieties suited to every kind of climate, soil and water source and tolerant to adverse conditions like drought, flood and salinity. The seeds left over after storage for the next year’s crop go to a seed exchange programme he runs for farmers.

Basudha also serves as a demonstration farm and seed-exchange centre, where the small and wiry Deb holds workshops attended by people from across India and abroad. The topics range from characterising and evaluating different rice varieties to ecological agriculture, alternative energy use, low-cost housing and water harvesting. He teaches ways to maintain genetic parity over decades and prevent cross-pollination . “Farmers used to know all this,” he rues. “I have learnt everything from farmers.”

Deb’s efforts are part of a global movement to conserve agricultural biodiversity before it is entirely lost. Industrial agriculture is responsible for the disappearance of thousands of heirloom varieties of grains and cereals, fruits and vegetables, livestock et al. It is now widely acknowledged that genetic diversity of food systems is essential to grow crops that are resilient to climate change and extreme weather patterns. It is these indigenous varieties that can cope and adapt. Deb, who is also a member of the expert committee on agrobiodiversity at the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), is a proponent of the ‘food web theory’, which aims to establish scientific proof of an overwhelmingly positive relationship between all plant and animal life. He has the required academic chops to back up the ideas. A biologist with a doctorate in ecology from Calcutta University, his post-doctoral research included human ecology of marine and estuarine resource use at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and ecological economics at University of California, Berkeley.

His quest to save indigenous rice began in the ’90s when he set up base in Bengal’s Baliatore, Bankura district — a place that served his purpose perfectly as it was well-connected to areas where marginalised, tribal farmers grow rare varieties. Deb would sometimes travel on foot to remote areas in search of folk rice seeds. “These were un-irrigated fields, with no chemical inputs or market-bought seeds.” He shifted to Odisha in 2011 due to extreme and unpredictable weather, and for other reasons too.

In a Facebook post, he recounts an encounter with the forest department while documenting sacred groves and ponds in Bankura. “Amid the plantations of exotic monocultures protected by the State forest department, I discovered an old devatra forest patch surrounded by a tract of protected forest maintained by local Forest Protection Committees (FPCs). This patch of sacred forest was owned by a priest family, and contained about 300 hardwood trees, including a few rare species.” After returning from a trip, Deb discovered that the forest department had felled most of the trees, without informing the landowner. After about five months, when all his letters failed to elicit any response, Deb decided to file a PIL before the Calcutta High Court. The forest range officers were ordered to appear before the court and the media covered the issue. As a counter-move, the forest department filed a case against Deb and Bhattacharya, his assistant at Basudha, for the “illegal transit” of sal poles.

“The implication being that I had felled the trees and then tried to blame the innocent FD staff. Following this, the Calcutta High Court quashed our PIL on grounds that I had been implicated in a criminal suit. Our argument that the PIL preceded the suit, and should be tried on its own merit, fell on deaf ears.” Since then, for 11 years now, Deb has had to appear for the suit every month at the Bishnupur SDJM court, at his cost. Other unsavoury experiences include threats to his family from a multinational seed company and attempts by the Intelligence Bureau to raid his Kolkata home. But he remains undeterred in his work, thanks to teaching assignments in European and American universities, research grants, fellowships in the US, and donations from friends. Any money he gets is used to fuel his interests — farmers’ workshops, travels to collect seed species, fight against genetically modified seeds, and love for Baul music.

A philanthropist gifted him a much-needed lab in Kolkata for his research on local rice varieties. He has found traces of silver in a traditional Bengal variety that he got from a farmer in Birbhum district. “Ironically, it is called Garib Sal (poor man’s rice),” he laughs. “The silver is assimilated from the soil.” He says no other plant species has been found yet to assimilate silver from the soil.

Deb’s seed bank, Vrihi (Sanskrit for rice), is the country’s largest non-governmental folk rice gene bank with seeds from 13 states across north-eastern, eastern and southern India. The varieties embody centuries of accumulated knowledge and the farmers who can work with them are crucial for a sustainable ecological agriculture, says Deb. He gives the seeds free to any farmer who comes to Basudha. So far he has distributed rice varieties to over 1,200 farmers across Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

“They are the custodians of seeds, and not gene banks run by corporates and governments — those are like morgues! They neglect the process of life by freezing seeds. When you bring out these seeds after 30-40 years, they will have lost major traits of defence. Also, in the meantime, the pests would have evolved. The seeds need to stay in the soil.”

He mentions a flood-resistant rice variety, which he was given by farmers — it grows to 20 ft above the waters. Yet another can grow in submerged conditions. All this knowledge has been garnered from the small farmers who have held on to traditional methods, says Deb. “They are the unknown, unsung and greatly talented scientists of the past... true scientists who observed, recorded diligently and passed on their knowledge to generations.”

Anuradha Sengupta is a Kolkata-based freelance journalist

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/know/scientists-of-the-soil/article9517512.ece

Scientists plant seeds of research for growing rice on Mars

By MICHIKO NAKAMURA/ Staff Writer

February 3, 2017 at 09:00 JST

The interior of the experimental case to keep rice in space. A tube stores 24 laboratory dishes containing living creatures for experimental use. (Provided by the IBMP)

In a real-life survival situation, astronaut Mark Watney may not have to just grow potatoes if left stranded on the Red Planet as depicted in the best-selling novel and movie "The Martian."

Instead, scientists from Japan and Russia are conducting basic research to grow rice on Mars in the future.

Researchers at Okayama University studied correlations between exposure of rice seeds to the space environment and their germination rate at the International Space Station (ISS) to ascertain how storage in outer space could affect the crop.

Working with the Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Manabu Sugimoto, an associate professor of extreme environment breeding at the university’s Institute of Plant Science and Resources, and others sent 100 grains of brown rice to the ISS in April 2011.

The grains were then put in an experimental case made of metal. The container was installed on the outside of the ISS in August 2011.

While the case can block ultraviolet rays, other cosmic rays can pass through the container.

The temperature in the case hovered between 90 degrees and minus 20 degrees, and the gravity and the degree of vacuum were almost the same as in outer space. That means the rice seeds were exposed to extremely harsh conditions for plants on Earth.

Half of the 100 grains were recovered after they were stored in space for 13 months, while the other 50 were retrieved after 20 months. After storage in space, they were checked for the germination rate and genetic mutations on the planet.

The results showed the germination rate for brown rice kept in space for 13 months was 48 percent, while the ratio dropped to 7 percent for the grains stored for 20 months.

The researchers also kept brown rice for the same periods of time on Earth for comparison. The germination rates for grains kept for 13 months and 20 months were 96 percent and 76 percent, respectively.

Analysis of genes of brown rice grains stored in space for 20 months showed the amount of the mRNA associated with information on protein synthesis related to germination had declined more than 50 percent.

No genetic mutations were found in rice kept in space for 13 months.

The shoots and roots of both the 13-month and 20-month space grains that succeeded in sprouting showed no gene anomalies. They grew properly, and their yields were comparable to those for normal rice.

According to a past Okayama University study, neither changes in the germination rate nor genetic mutations were reported for barley, even when it had been stored for 18 months in outer space.

“The findings mean the effects of exposure to the space environment differ, depending on the species of plants,” said Sugimoto.

He also said he will work to develop crop seeds that can be stored and cultivated in space by surveying how to protect the mRNA in brown rice

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201702030005.html

Indonesia`s Rice Production Experiences Surplus after 9 Years

THURSDAY, 02 FEBRUARY, 2017 | 16:52 WIB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Agriculture Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman, claims that Indonesia has experienced a rice production surplus in 2016 after nine years past. “After nine years, 2016 was the moment when Central Java, East Java, and West Java, sent rice supplies to Kalimantan,” he said on Thursday, February 2, 2017.

Minister Amran explained that rice supply warehouses in Central Java and West Java are currently in full-stock. “Warehouses in Central Java and West Java are full. The supplies keep increasing while the warehouses are full, last year it was empty. This is great progress,” he said.

Other than rice supplies, according to Amran, garlic prices have also declined due to over stock. Therefore, the government plans to export garlic. “We’ll prepare the export earlier.”

Based on the report from farmer's association dubbed Kelompok Kontak Tani Nelayan Andalan, prices of rice in seven districts are below Rp3,700 per kilogram. “We had a coordination meeting until late at night, we’ll move quicker for the farmers. We won’t let them experience a loss,” the Minister said.

In May, the Agriculture Ministry will hold a National Week (Penas) for Farmers and Fishermen in Aceh for six days; on May 6-11, 2017. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will inaugurate the event and it will be participated by 35,000 participants consisting of farmers, researchers, instructors representatives, and other stakeholders.

A number of events will enliven the National Week which opens the opportunity to develop partnerships and open an agricultural product trade among ASEAN farmers

https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/02/02/056842334/Indonesias-Rice-Production-Experiences-Surplus-after-9-Years

Asia Rice-India market robust on African demand; Vietnam prices could fall

By Rajendra Jadhav and Mai Nguyen

HANOI/MUMBAI, Feb 2 Rice prices in India advanced this week on higher demand from African buyers, while prices of the Vietnamese grain could fall soon on the prospect of rising supply as farmers start harvesting the Winter-Spring paddy later this month.

India's 5 percent broken parboiled rice RI-INBKN5-P1 jumped $17 per tonne this week, to $371 to $376 per tonne, on robust exports demand.

"African buyers have increased buying over the last few weeks," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. "They are willing to pay a premium over Thai rice due to better quality."

India, the world's biggest rice exporter, mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East.

In Thailand, the world's second biggest rice exporter, markets stayed quiet with prices of 5-percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 unchanged from last week at $355-$360 per tonne.

Prices of Vietnam's 5-percent broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 stayed flat compared with last week's $335-$340 a tonne as traders returned to work after the country's biggest public holiday.

But prices are expected to ease shortly as farmers are due to start harvesting the Winter-Spring paddy later this month, boosting supply from the world's third largest exporter of the grain.

Vietnam's rice exports declined 26.5 percent last year with demand from China and Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia, falling sharply amid rising supplies from Thailand and India.

Shipments are estimated to have fallen to 325,000 tonnes in January, down 32.3 percent from a year earlier, data by the Vietnamese government showed.

Ghana was the second biggest Vietnamese rice buyer last year after China, but Vietnamese traders are still facing stiff competition from India in African markets, said a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader. "We still haven't seen a way out yet," the trader said. (Reporting by Mai Nguyen and Rajendra Jadhav; Additional reporting by Pairat Temphairojana; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

http://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice-idINL4N1FN22B

Why does Nigeria import so much rice?

2 February 2017

Rice is a big deal in Nigeria. People love eating it. So the BBC's Ijeoma Ndukwe asks: why don't they grow more of it instead of importing so much?

A long line of customers queue along a glass divide separating them from a rice food station at an eatery in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital. Diners can choose between white rice, fried rice and jollof at this popular local restaurant known as "The White House".

A steady flow of customers is served in the main hall, and in two packed adjoining rooms diners are enjoying Nigerian dishes.

Rice is the basis of the popular national dish jollof and a staple across the country.

The problem is not a lack of land, or that there are not enough people to grow it in Africa's most populous country.

During the grain market crisis eight years ago, Nigeria experienced shortages in rice that made the country rethink its food security and ability to supply the local market.

As a result, President Muhammadu Buhari has made rice farming a priority.

Nigerians' appetite for rice means that the country imported nearly 17 million tonnes of it over the past five years. Duties for imported rice are currently 60% and consumers have seen the price of a bag of rice double in the past 12 months.

Many domestic players have been entering the market. Olam, a multi-national agribusiness, set up a rice farm in 2012 in response to government calls for local players to help feed the 170 million Nigerians.

Nigeria's rice in numbers

It is a bumpy journey to Olam's farm in Rukubi village close to the Benue River in Nasarawa State. The lush green fields of the farm are an oasis among miles and miles of dusty red road and bushes.

Large metal silos carrying 228,000 tonnes of rice rise up from the ground, gleaming in the scorching afternoon sun. Manager Anil Nair, drives us around 4,500 hectares of the farm and mill.

Most of the farm hands have finished work for the day. They usually work in the rice paddies from 07:00, before the sun gets too hot. Only a few women remain, standing ankle deep in the paddies, planting rice seedlings.

This is one of the largest rice farms in Nigeria and although it grows 50,000 tonnes each year, that is still just a small fraction of the country's demand.

Media captionSince 2011 Nigeria has imported more than 17 million tonnes of rice

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the country imported 2.3 million tonnes in 2016, about half of the country's estimated requirements.

Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh says that the culture of importation has to stop.

"We can't afford $5m a day for rice shipments in this country. It's gone on for 40 years. And I assure you that it's our reckless policy of importation that's brought Nigeria down to where she is now.

Those who keep talking of imports either don't mean Nigeria well or simply refuse to recognise the fact that we can't afford the imports."

However, most farmers in Nigeria are small scale and struggle to get the financing they need to improve farming methods and boost their yield.

Members of the Rice Farming Association of Nigeria say they can only access high-interest loans from commercial banks.

Joseph Jatau Kudu has been farming near the town of Doma in Nasarawa State since 1982. He says the banks charge as much as 30% to lend money.

"It's too high. We end up earning nothing," he says.

Without the capital to mechanise, workers must do everything on his 15-hectare farm by hand.

"Sometimes the tractors are not available. So now I'm using manual labour. It's not as effective as in the case of using a tractor and it's one of the reasons I can't expand."

'Pipe dream'

The agriculture minister claims that Nigeria will become self-sufficient in rice production by the end of the year.

However, critics of government policy not only point to a lack of spending on agriculture, but also to an under-investment in the entire value-chain for rice, from field to cooking pot.

Ninety two billion naira ($302m; £240m) was assigned to the sector in the 2017 budget - only 1.26% of the entire budget for the year.

AgroNigeria's Managing Director Richard Mbaram says that achieving self-sufficiency in the next couple of years is merely a "pipe dream".

"Rice production isn't willed into existence. It is cultivated and systematically sown.

"There is research, there is mechanisation, there is warehousing and storage. There is market opening and market access.

"You cannot drive industrialisation or agro-industrialisation without connecting the farm gate where the production is happening. Do we have that? We're very far back in terms of achieving that."

In the meantime, Nigerians' appetite for rice shows no sign of slowing down.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38795673

Thai Rice Exports Seen Slipping on Greater Vietnam Competition

by Supunnabul Suwannakij

February 2, 2017, 7:39 AM GMT+5

Total shipments forecast at 9.5 million tons: Association

Government to detail 2.8 million ton food rice sale on Friday

Rice shipments from Thailand, the largest supplier after India, are likely to decline about 4 percent this year amid increased competition from Vietnam and other producers.Exports will total 9.5 million tons in 2017, Chookiat Ophaswongse, the honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said Wednesday in an interview. That compares with 9.88 million tons in 2016, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce. Competition from Vietnam may cut white rice exports by about 400,000 tons to 4.6 million tons even as sales of premium Jasmine grade rise climb about 9 percent to 2.5 million tons, Chookiat said.

The forecast drop in exports comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects global rice consumption to lag behind production for the 12th straight year, limiting any price upside. Prices of Thai white rice, a regional benchmark, have changed little over the past year and were at $375 a ton on Jan. 25. Vietnamese white rice is quoted at $434 a and ton and Indian rice at $370, according to data from the association’s website.

Prices may also be pressured in the short term by the Thai government’s plan to sell its entire 8 million ton stockpile of food and animal feed grade rice this year. It will announce details on the timing of the sale 2.8 million tons of food grade rice on Friday. The effect of the sales will depend on their timing, the association’s Chookiat said.

If buyers of state reserves have to take delivery in the next few months, the sales could have a short-term negative impact on prices as it would coincide with the start of the minor crop harvest, Chookiat said. “In the longer term, it will lift negative pressure from the market and help boost global prices,” he said.

As much as 3 million tons of exports this year are likely to be old varieties from state reserves, according to Chookiat. Of the total state stockpile, 3 million tons is food grade and the balance is for animal feed and ethanol producers, according to government data.

World rice production will increase 1.6 percent to 480 million tons and consumption will rise 1.5 percent to 477.8 million tons, according to the USDA. Output from India, Thailand and Vietnam, the world’s top exporters, will increase this season, data shows.

https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-02-02/rare-public-outcry-prompts-vietnam-to-put-brakes-on-investment

Farmers demand that govt procure all their grains

Press Trust of India | Berhampur (Odisha) February 2, 2017 Last Updated at 18:57 IST

Different farmers' organisation today staged demonstration at Chhatrapur, Ganjam district headquarter town, protesting alleged distress sale of paddy in the district and demanded procurement of all grains from farmers, including the share croppers by the government agency. Though the farmers this time harvested bumper paddy due to good climatic condition, the government agencies refused to take paddy from them. The government has fixed lower procurement target for each district. This has forced the farmers to sell their products to middlemen and miller agents of Andhra Pradesh, alleged former Union minister Braja Kishore Tripathy.

In some areas of the district, the farmers, particularly the share-croppers have resorted to sell the paddy at distress due to non-opening of mandi (procurement centers), alleged Rabi Rath, convener, Odisha Chasi Surakshya Sangha.

Among others former minister Panchanana Kanungo, social activist Prafulla Samantara, former CPI MLA (Chhatrapur) N.Narayan Reddy, farmer leader Bibhuti Jena and secretary, Rushihulya Raita Mahasabha Simanchal Nahak addressed the protest meeting. They submitted a memorandum to the District Collector.

District administration, however, ruled out any distress sale of paddy in the district. "We have no report of distress sale of paddy anywhere", said civil supply officer (CSO) Ganjam Ajit Kumar Patra.

He said the mandi (procurement centers) were opened in 375 places across the district and over 7.19 lakh quintals of paddy have been procured from 19,300 farmers so far. The government has fixed a target to procure 26,000 quintal of paddy from the farmers this year. Last year, around 35 lakh quintals of paddy had procured in the district. "This is initial target and it may be revised" CSO said.

He said around 95,000 farmers have been registered so far to supply paddy this time. "The online registration is open and the farmers who wish to register will register now" he added.(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/farmers-demand-that-govt-procure-all-their-grains-117020200917_1.html

Egyptian invention cuts rice irrigation water by half

[Cairo] Experts and stakeholders in Egypt warn of imminent water poverty as a result of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is about to become operational. Meanwhile, agricultural production consumes about 85 per cent of the country’s water resources, half of which goes towards rice irrigation.

Rice cultivation consumes more than 10 billion cubic meters of water annually, or more than one-sixth of Egypt's share of Nile water, Khaled Ghanem, professor of Organic Farming in Al-Azhar University, told SciDev.Net. And this does not account for the water used for cultivation in unauthorized areas, estimated to be about a third of that used in authorized ones, he explained.

But there could be a solution, in the form of a machine that ploughs fields in a manner that saves about half the amount of water usually used for irrigation, and a quarter of fertilizers used in cultivation. A specially imported unit, which sows rice seedlings mechanically, is mounted on the machine.

The machine’s Egyptian inventor, Mohamed El-Sayyed El-Hagarey, a researcher at the Desert Research Center in Cairo, was granted the prestigious WatSave Award for Young Professionals from the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) during the Second World Irrigation Forum held in Thailand in mid-November.

In an interview with SciDev.Net, El-Hagarey explained his motivation for inventing the machine. He said that during cultivation, rice requires complete submersion in a layer of water 10-15 cm above the soil surface, which demands huge amounts of water and fertilizers.

He designed the soil and water management machine to tackle this. The machine makes ‛V’ shaped lines into the soil, at a depth and width of 20cm, and sows rice seedlings automatically. This operation maintains the water level necessary for rice to grow in the V-shaped troughs, which is less than the water used in conventional agriculture that requires the entire plot of land to be completely submerged.

The machine was tested in a field in Kafr el-Sheikh governorate, which is known for rice crop cultivation in Egypt, with good results. It reduced the amount of water used by half, and “the crop yield increased by 4.6 per cent,” Al-Hagary said.

“This machine will save a lot of irrigation water in Egypt each year, which will help the country face these challenges and direct the water saved towards cultivating other crops.”

Khaled Ghanem, Al-Azhar University

Atef Sweilem, water management and irrigation expert at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, (ICARDA), praised the machine, but added that “saving water and fertilizers would not tempt small farmers to buy it, as the increase in the yield was not huge”. He pointed out that the rice agricultural plots owned by most farmers do not exceed half an acre.

“Saving water and fertilizers does not mean much for farmers, who get water for free and fertilizers subsidized by the state,” Sweilem explained.

Therefore, he believes that Egypt’s ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources and Irrigation should play an important role in supporting farmers financially and with training in using the machine.

Al-Hagary said the machine costs about US$5000, but needs further development before it is ready for commercial production.

He intends to re-submit a proposal to the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Egypt, hoping it would support further development of the innovation. An earlier proposal made in 2014 went unanswered, and he had to design it at his own expense.

Ghanem believes that “Egypt needs to use this machine widely range for several reasons,” the most important of which is the implications of Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam on Egypt's share of water. He also referred to the effects of climate change including drought, desertification, and an increase in evaporation rates, as well as the water wasted along the Nile.

“This machine will save a lot of irrigation water in Egypt each year, which will help the country face these challenges and direct the water saved towards cultivating other crops,” Ghanem said.

He added: “The concerned ministries might not pay attention to this innovation. The solution is to establish major companies to market similar innovations that can be funded by low-priced stocks, making them available to a larger number of consumers.

https://www.scidev.net/global/design/news/egyptian-invention-rice-irrigation-water.html

Thai Rice Exports Seen Slipping on Greater Vietnam Competition

by Supunnabul Suwannakij

February 2, 2017, 7:39 AM GMT+5

Total shipments forecast at 9.5 million tons: Association
Government to detail 2.8 million ton food rice sale on Friday

Rice shipments from Thailand, the largest supplier after India, are likely to decline about 4 percent this year amid increased competition from Vietnam and other producers.
Exports will total 9.5 million tons in 2017, Chookiat Ophaswongse, the honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said Wednesday in an interview. That compares with 9.88 million tons in 2016, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce. Competition from Vietnam may cut white rice exports by about 400,000 tons to 4.6 million tons even as sales of premium Jasmine grade rise climb about 9 percent to 2.5 million tons, Chookiat said.

“Thai prices may hover around current levels as increasing demand is offset by ample supply from key suppliers,” said Kiattisak Kanlayasirivat, a Bangkok-based director at Ascend Commodities SA. The upcoming harvest in Vietnam may cause prices to drop by $5 to $10 a ton in the near term, he said.
Prices may also be pressured in the short term by the Thai government’s plan to sell its entire 8 million ton stockpile of food and animal feed grade rice this year. It will announce details on the timing of the sale 2.8 million tons of food grade rice on Friday. The effect of the sales will depend on their timing, the association’s Chookiat said.
If buyers of state reserves have to take delivery in the next few months, the sales could have a short-term negative impact on prices as it would coincide with the start of the minor crop harvest, Chookiat said. “In the longer term, it will lift negative pressure from the market and help boost global prices,” he said.
As much as 3 million tons of exports this year are likely to be old varieties from state reserves, according to Chookiat. Of the total state stockpile, 3 million tons is food grade and the balance is for animal feed and ethanol producers, according to government data.
World rice production will increase 1.6 percent to 480 million tons and consumption will rise 1.5 percent to 477.8 million tons, according to the USDA. Output from India, Thailand and Vietnam, the world’s top exporters, will increase this season, data shows.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-02/thai-rice-exports-seen-slipping-on-greater-vietnam-competition

Mexico May Move Forward with Viet Nam Trade Deal

By Marvin Lehrer

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- According to press reports, the government of Mexico (GOM) may move forward with implementing individual bi-lateral trade deals with many of the countries that participated in the now defunct Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). These countries include Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

"The President has given me instructions to convert the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreements into bi-lateral agreements with all of the countries with whom we do not already have free trade agreements," said Secretary of the Economy Ildefonso Guajardo.

Of these countries, the most sensitive to U.S. rice interests is Viet Nam, an unfairly low cost producer of long grain milled rice, and one from whom Mexico has imported rice in the past. Currently the Mexican import duty is 20 percent, but whether immediately phased out, or eliminated over time, its removal will give the Asian producer a huge advantage in Mexico. This past year, Viet Nam exported less than 5,000 MT of rice to Mexico; however when Mexico did not have a 20 percent duty (as in 2014), they exported nearly 70,000 MT.

"This news, along with the talk about renegotiating all or parts of NAFTA, is creating a great deal of uncertainty," said Brian King, Chairman of USA Rice and of USA Rice's Western Hemisphere Promotion Subcommittee. "To date nothing has changed or been affected, but the market is nervous as to what might happen in the future, and Mexico is the largest market for U.S. rice. We are in touch with the U.S. Embassy there and trade partners to get the very latest as this story develops, but I can tell you that anything that disrupts trade between the U.S. and Mexico gives the rice industry pause.

At 85 percent market share, the U.S. is the major supplier of rice to Mexico and Mexico is the largest market for U.S. rice taking some 800,000 metric tons valued at $260 million. Most of the rice exported is in rough form, but there is strong and growing demand for direct imports of long grain milled rice.

Pruitt Through Committee Following Rule Suspension

Chairman John Barrasso

By Michael Klein

WASHINGTON, DC -- Following the strategy of other Senate committees, today Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) suspended rules requiring members of the minority party to be present to establish a quorum so his committee could advance the nomination of President Trump's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt now moves to the full Senate for a vote. A simple majority is all that is required there, however, no date for the vote has been set yet.

Global Rice Milling Machinery Market 2017- Satake Manufacturing, BHler, Hunan Chenzhou, Hubei Yongxiang

By Parnika Paul -

February 2, 2017

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Worldwide Rice Milling Machinery Market 2017 Research report is an in-depth analysis of 2017 global Rice Milling Machinery market on the current state.First of all, the report (2017 Rice Milling Machinery Market) provides a basic overview of the Rice Milling Machinery industry 2017 including – definitions, classifications, Rice Milling Machinery market by applications and Rice Milling Machinery industry chain structure. The 2017’s report on Rice Milling Machinery Industry analysis is provided for the international Rice Milling Machinery market including development history, Rice Milling Machinery industry competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status on Rice Milling Machinery scenario.

After that, 2017 Worldwide Rice Milling Machinery Market report includes development policies and plans are discussed. Rice Milling Machinery market 2017 report also covers manufacturing processes and cost structures on Rice Milling Machinery Scenario. This report also states Rice Milling Machinery import/export, supply, Rice Milling Machinery consumption figures as well as cost, price, Rice Milling Machinery industry revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China, and Japan).

Then, the report focuses on global major leading Rice Milling Machinery industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, Rice Milling Machinery production, price, cost, Rice Milling Machinery Market revenue and contact information.

Top Manufacturers Analysis in Rice Milling Machinery market 2017:-

1 Satake Manufacturing
2 B?Hler
3 Hunan Chenzhou
4 Hubei Yongxiang
5 Zhejiang Qili Machinery
6 Hunan Xiangliang
7 Wufeng
8 Jiangsu Hexi Machinery

Click Here for Report Sample: https://market.biz/report/global-rice-milling-machinery-market-2017/40948/#inquiry

Global Rice Milling Machinery Market 2017 Analysis: By Product

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2017 Global Rice Milling Machinery Market report also covers – Upstream raw materials, equipment and Rice Milling Machinery downstream consumers analysis. Furthermore, the 2017 Rice Milling Machinery market development trends, and marketing channels are analyzed on Rice Milling Machinery scenario.

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http://dailycommercenews.com/2017/02/02/global-rice-milling-machinery-market-2017-satake-manufacturing-bhler-hunan-chenzhou-hubei-yongxiang/

NY-style chicken and rice, almost, at Madina

Chicken over rice at Madina. (Andrew Galarneau/Buffalo News)

· By Andrew Z. Galarneau

· Published Wed, Feb 1, 2017

One of the problems with enjoying the tasty specialties of far-off places is that memory is unforgiving. When you get a hankering for a taste that doesn't exist in your city, it can be most inconvenient to scratch that itch.

In New York City, one of the standard street-food specialties is "chicken and rice," usually offered in lamb as well. Its epicenter is 53rd and 6th Ave. in Manhattan, where it started on the southeast corner, and has been so successful that copycat operations have set up shop on other corners.

The dish is deceptively simple. Marinated meat is cooked on a griddle, chopped into pieces and served over rice. A white sauce, often made with mayonnaise and garlic, is applied to everything. Then there's hot sauce, usually custom-made, to add a warming touch.

After hearing about Madina from a co-worker, I headed over to check it out. The restaurant, 125 Mills St. (752-6311), looks like it was once a corner tavern, and it's a couple blocks from R & L Lounge, one of the irreplaceable old-school Buffalo taverns. It's beat up, but I wasn't there for the decor

http://buffalonews.com/2017/02/01/ny-style-lamb-rice-almost-madina/

Solon wants higher tariffs on agriculture imports

By Jovee Marie de la Cruz

FEBRUARY 2, 2017

The vice chairman of the House Committee on Economic Affairs is keen on filing a bill to increase tariffs on imported agricultural products, particularly rice, to protect Filipino farmers.In a statement, Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato of Occidental Mindoro said the measure is aimed at protecting farmers from a “rice crisis” after the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice is lifted on July 1. The QR on rice or quotas on rice import will expire on June 30, 2017.

Sato’s office, however, told the BusinessMirror that the lawmaker is still working out the details of the bill with the Department of Agriculture (DA), saying the measure will be filed “as soon as possible” or before Congress goes on break on March 17.

She added that she would consult various stakeholders and review existing laws to come up with a proposed measure imposing higher tariffs on agricultural imports.Sato said a measure is needed to protect farmers from “liberal trade policies”, including that imposed by the World Trade Organization.

She added that her agricultural tariff bill will help shield farmers from the “excessive” purchase of imported rice.

Sato said she is wary of the possibility of cheap, imported rice flooding the Philippine market once the rice-import quota is removed. She added that rice farmers, particularly those with small landholdings and no capital, will be the first to take the “fatal blow”.According to Sato, Republic Act 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, needs to be amended, otherwise, the Philippines may not even be able to impose duties or tariffs on rice once the rice QR is lifted.

Meanwhile, Sato asked Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol to take up the cudgels for rice farmers.

She said she moved for the committee confirmation of Piñol after he submitted a letter outlining his response to the issues raised during his first confirmation hearing held by the Commission on Appointments (CA) last December.The CA eventually confirmed Piñol’s appointment during a hearing on Wednesday.She also urged the DA to come up with plans and programs to make rice farming profitable, to encourage more farmers to venture into rice production and increase the country’s riceself-sufficiency level.

The government has targeted to increase farm production by 2.5 percent this year. Earlier, economists from the Ateneo de Manila University said the government may not be able to hit its goal.The damages caused by typhoons Lawin and Karen caused the country’s farm-sector output to contract by 1.41 percent in 2016

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/solon-wants-higher-tariffs-on-agriculture-imports/

Heitkamp, Boozman reintroduce bill to expand exports to Cuba

By Agweek Wire Report on Feb 2, 2017 at 10:29 a.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) on Thursday reintroduced their bipartisan bill to help American farmers and support good-paying jobs in North Dakota, Arkansas and across the country by lifting restrictions on private financing for U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba.

The biggest barrier for producers in North Dakota, Arkansas, and beyond as they seek access to Cuba—a market with high demand for U.S. crops like beans and rice—is a prohibition on providing private credit for those exports. Heitkamp and Boozman first introduced their bipartisan Agricultural Export Expansion Act in April 2015 to lift the ban on private banks and companies offering credit for agricultural exports to Cuba, and to help level the playing field for exporters across the country and support American jobs.

“Our farmers rely on exports, and exports help create more American jobs. Any North Dakota farmer or rancher could tell you that,” said Heitkamp. “Financing restrictions are the number one barrier facing North Dakota farmers who want to sell their crops to Cuba, and this bill would do away with that obstacle. Cuba is a natural market for North Dakota crops like dry beans, peas, and lentils, and there’s no good reason for us to restrict farmers’ export opportunities—which support good-paying American jobs—by continuing this outdated policy.”

“It’s time for Washington to enact commonsense reforms so Arkansas farmers and agriculture producers across the country can compete fairly for the Cuban marketplace,” said Boozman. “Current law prohibits the financing of agricultural exports to Cuba and requires cash payment up front, essentially preventing U.S. farmers from being able to export their products to Cuba. Lifting the ban would allow private banks and companies to offer credit for the sale of U.S. agricultural commodities to Cuba. This small step would help level the playing field for American farmers and exporters while simultaneously exposing Cubans to American ideals, values and products. This bill is a win-win for American farmers and the Cuban people.”

“North Dakota farmers rely on exports to make ends meet. This bipartisan bill would make it easier for us to sell our top-notch black beans and pinto beans to Cuba—a market with high demand for North Dakota crops,” said Dan Fuglesten, of Central Valley Bean Cooperative in Buxton, N.D. “Lifting these outdated and self-imposed restrictions will open a critical market for American farmers and support good jobs right here in North Dakota—and it’s time Congress acted. With commodity prices what they are, we appreciate Senator Heitkamp’s work to expand market access and help American farmers.”

“Being able to sell our commodities to Cuba just as easily as we sell to other markets like Mexico and Canada would be huge, especially for U.S.-grown rice,” said Jeff Rutledge, of Newport, Ark., a rice farmer and president of the Arkansas Rice Council. “Senator Boozman’s bill would strip away the regulatory red tape and allow us to compete in the Cuban market just like we do everywhere else.”

U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angus King (I-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) joined in cosponsoring the bill.

In January 2016, the previous administration loosened export restrictions to allow companies to sell non-agricultural products to Cuba on credit, but statutory restrictions on financing agricultural products are still in place.

For years, Heitkamp and Boozman have pushed to improve agricultural export opportunities to Cuba and make it easier for farmers to sell their crops to this high-demand market. Currently, all U.S. exports to Cuba require cash up front, while other nations around the world offer credit to Cuban importers, in effect preventing farmers and ranchers from being able to ship their products to Cuba. The change in U.S.-Cuba policy would provide at least some relief from low American commodity prices by opening new markets.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill as an amendment to a financial services spending bill last year, as well as in July 2015.

http://www.agweek.com/policy-and-politics/4210568-heitkamp-boozman-reintroduce-bill-expand-exports-cuba

Executive director talks rice

Ben Noble, guest speaker of the the Stuttgart Lions Club, speaks about rice in Arkansas and across the country while Glen Beedle looks on and listens.

Dawn Teer/Stuttgart Daily Leader

Thursday

Posted Feb 2, 2017 at 2:53 PM

Noble spoke about how important rice farming and milling is not only to Stuttgart, because "We are truly feeding the world."

By Dawn Teer / Stuttgart Daily Leader

"It's critical in this day and age to be involved in your community," Ben Noble, president of Noble Strategies and executive director of Arkansas Rice, told the Stuttgart Lions Club and their guests Wednesday. He encouraged the Lions and Leo members to, "Stay civic minded and plugged into the community."

Noble spoke about how important rice farming and milling is not only to Stuttgart, because "We are truly feeding the world."

In addition to his roles with Arkansas Rice, Noble also has a public relations arm of Noble Strategies called Arch Communications, which is led by Matt DeCample, who used to work for Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, as well as Channel 7 KATV news.

"What keeps us busiest day-to-day is what keeps this community thriving and moving forward economically, and that's rice. We not only represent Arkansas rice, but we manage their trade association," Noble said.

This means that they have an umbrella organization that represents everything it takes to get rice from the farm to the plate.

"There are four distinct organizations that have their own board, their own by-laws, they are their own corporate entity and we serve as the umbrella that tries to make sure we represent all of them in policy matters and promotional activity," Noble explained.

The Rice Council is the promotional arm. The Rice Millers Association is the oldest trade association in the nation, it's been around since the late 1800s. The Rice Merchants work with the Rice Millers to promote rice.

Noble said he is amazed when people think Texas and Louisiana grow more rice then Arkansas.

"You probably grow more rice in Arkansas County than Texas or Louisiana do," he said.

Noble went on to talk about the license plate the Rice Council is promoting. The proceeds of this plate will go to the endowment of a scholarship fund for future scholarships. He encouraged audience members to buy those license plates to support the endowment.

"It literally took an act of the legislature to get this done," he said.

It has gone over better than they anticipated and hopes it will be fully funded soon.

Noble told the Lions about an upcoming Anheuser-Busch commercial to be shown at the Super Bowl this weekend featuring rice.

"At the end of the day we are in this together and we are all from somewhere," Noble said as he closed and answered questions.

http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/20170202/executive-director-talks-rice

How to eat any takeaway and still lose weight

Louise Daniel

By Neil_Shaw Exeter Express and Echo | Tue 24 Jan 2017

Love them or loathe them, takeaways are here to stay.

For some they are the cornerstone of their weekly diet (not recommended) while most of us see ordered-in food as an occasional treat.

The truth is we KNOW takeaway food isn't good for us, they just taste so good.

It's easy to push the calories we are racking up to the back of our hungry minds while tuck in to our takeaways. But here's a stark reminder - the average Indian chicken tikka masala, pilau rice and a plain naan takeaway contains a whopping 1,338 calories and 55g of fat.

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Watch: An Amazing 360 Experience Of Abu Dhabi's Sights And SoundsCNN for Abu Dhabi Tourism

image: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276351/binaries/takawayg.png

That's two-thirds of the calories and almost 80 per cent of the fat the average woman should have in a whole day. A whole day! How depressing.

Nothing is sacred with Chinese sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice and vegetable spring rolls cramming in a massive 1,436 calories and 60g of fat. BOOOOO!

Department of Health guidelines say that women should have no more than 2,000 calories and 70g of fat a day, and men no more than 2,500 calories and 95g fat in total which means eat any of your spicy favourites for tea and you're pretty much done - and that's before starting on the cocktails.

But don't fret, we've come up with some savvy ways of ordering takeaways which can halve the fat and calorie content of your favourites so you don't feel too deprived. Or guilty.

Chinese

There is a lot of oil is used in Chinese cooking and many dishes are deep-fried. But it's not dishes like beef in oyster sauce, chicken chop suey and prawns in black bean sauce you need to worry about - they contain a respectable 350 to 450 calories and 10 to 15g of fat per portion. It's fried rice, starters and side orders that turn a Chinese takeout into a calorie busting feast.

image: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276351/binaries/healthy%20take%20chinese.png

Top swaps

Choose boiled not fried rice: A standard carton of egg fried rice contains 625 calories and 32g of fat while boiled has just 370 calories and 1g of fat.

Skip crispy duck: The bad news is three filled pancakes contain a massive 560 calories and 21g of fat as the duck is served with its fatty skin. Stop sulking - this is our favourite too

Choose soup: Soups are usually low in fat, containing around 3g for a pot so have them instead of deep-fried starters like wontons, spring rolls, sesame toast and crispy seaweed - just one piece of sesame prawn toast contains 70 calories and 7g of fat.

Avoid prawn crackers: They may be free but at 400 calories and 30g of fat per bag, they'll add pounds.

Get stuck in

Don't do it: Half a portion of Peking duck, crispy shredded beef with egg fried rice, and half a bag of prawn crackers: 1,925 calories, 86g fat

Instead try: Crab and sweetcorn soup and chicken in oyster sauce with boiled rice: 865 calories, 12g fat

Fish & chips

Chippy portions are usually huge and nearly everything is deep fried. Batter adds more calories to fish, chicken and sausages so ditch some of it or opt for healthier, unbattered alternatives such as grilled fish or roast chicken.

image: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276351/binaries/healthy%20take%20fish%20.png

Top swaps

Halve your portions: A large portion of battered cod and chips contains a massive 1,385 calories and 77g of fat, whereas a small portion contains 685 calories and 38g of fat.

Choose cod or haddock: Don't go for plaice or rock as they're higher in calories and fat - a small battered haddock is 280 calories; cod, 295 calories; plaice, 385 calories; and rock, 445.

Ditch the fat: Before eating, empty your fish and chips on to kitchen paper and dab to remove excess grease.

image: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276351/binaries/healthy%20take%20beans%201.png

Fill up: Serve your fish and chips with mushy peas or baked beans - they're low in fat and packed with fibre to help fill you up.

Skip extras: Curry sauce, gravy and white bread and butter rack up plenty of extra calories to a meal that's already loaded with them.

Get stuck in

Don't do it: Large battered rock with large chips, gravy and 2 slices of bread and butter: 1,920 calories, 115g fat

Instead try: Small battered haddock with small chips and mushy peas: 770 calories, 39g fat

Pizza

Pizzas vary in their calorie and fat content, depending on size, base and toppings which is good news because you can tailor make your own pizza, giving you more control over the nutritonal content of your meal. Pizza Hut and Dominos also provide nutrition information on their websites ( www.pizzahut.co.uk and www.dominos.co.uk ). Two slices of garlic bread with cheese and half a large Stuffed Crust Meat Feast pizza: 2,040 calories, 91g fat

image: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276351/binaries/healthy%20take%20pizza.png

Top swaps

Choose toppings wisely: Pepperoni, salami, spicy sausage, bacon and extra cheese will pile on the calories and fat. Opt for onions, chillies, mushrooms, tuna, peppers, spinach, olives, pineapple, sweetcorn, chicken and tomato.

Ditch side dishes: Garlic bread, chicken wings or dippers, wedges and stuffed potato skins push up the calorie and fat content considerably. A portion of four pieces of garlic bread contains around 400 calories and 17g of fat. Alternatively, order a salad with dressing on the side.

image: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276351/binaries/healthy%20take%20pizza%202.png

Beware of meal deals: Sound tempting but you are probably going to over order which means you are likely to overeat

Back off from cheese: Ask for your pizza to be made with half the usual amount of cheese.

Get stuck in

Don't do it: 2 slices of garlic bread with cheese and half a large Stuffed Crust Meat Feast pizza: 2,040 calories, 91g fat

Instead try: Half a medium Hawaiian pizza and salad with dressing on the side: 765 calories, 25g fat

Indian

Many dishes include lots of oil and with pilau rice, starters and side dishes, Indian takeouts can be a waistline disaster. Hot curries may also leave you downing high calorie lager to cool your mouth. Instead, stir in a spoonful of low-fat natural yogurt to cool your curry down.

image: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276351/binaries/healthy%20take%20indian.png

Top swaps

Ditch creamy curries: Creamy curries like masala, pasanda and korma are loaded with calories and fat. Instead, choose those with tomato sauces like jalfrezi, rogan or madras, or opt for dry dishes like tandoori chicken.

Push away pilau: Get boiled not pilau rice - you'll save 280 calories and 34g of fat per carton.

Heat prevents eating: Choose a really hot curry like vindaloo or madras - you'll it's hard to eat too much and the levels of spice are more satisfying. Go for chicken, prawn or vegetable, too, as they're lower calorie than beef or lamb.

image: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276351/binaries/Healthy%20take%20indian%202.png

“It’s the ultimate in crunchy golden goodness — somewhere between fried chicken and popcorn.”

01/31/2017 02:57 pm ET

Julie R. ThomsonSenior Editor, Taste, The Huffington Post

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

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tahdig-iranian-rice_us_588f3b41e4b08a14f7e6f3ee?ir=Taste&utm_hp_ref=taste

Market Research on Organic Rice Protein Market 2016 and Analysis to 2026

Submit the press release

Rice is an important staple cereal which is consumed throughout the world. Organic rice protein is the protein derived from the organically grown rice which has a high content of methionine and cystine. The rice grown is free from genetically modified organisms (GMO) and thus doesn’t contain any type of toxins and allergens in the organic rice protein powder. Organic rice protein is very rich in amino acids which are essential for body muscles, immune system and building of body tissues. It also supplements the amino acids which are not synthesized in the body and need to be taken by dietary supply. Among various amino acid, the ones high in content are Glutamic acid, Arginine, Aspartic acid, Leucine. The organic rice protein extraction methods include hexane-free extraction and low -temperature extraction. Organic rice protein is available in flavors which contain stevia as a sugar substitute and are easily digested. The protein content is approximately 80% in the organic rice protein powder and can be consumed in hot or cold recipes.

The organic rice protein is an important dietary source and most importantly it is made without the use of preservatives, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which are organic pollutants and other chemicals. The organic rice protein market is mostly driven by high demand in sport and athletics segment. Also, it is good protein alternative to whey, soy proteins which otherwise cause allergies thus drives the global organic rice protein market. Besides, increase in penetration of health awareness and also consumer’s attraction towards products of health benefits assists in the growth of global organic rice protein market. The global organic rice protein market is anticipated to grow significantly at a higher pace during the forecast period.

Request Free Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2191

The global organic rice protein market is segmented on the basis of the extraction process, type, and application.

Based on the extraction process, global organic rice protein market is segmented into:

· Hexane free protein extraction

· Low-temperature protein extraction

Based on the type, global organic rice protein market is segmented into:

· Concentrates

· Isolates

Based on the application, the global organic rice protein market is segmented into:

· General applications

· Nutritional Supplements

· Baking

· Flavor Enhancements & Savory Flavors

· General Foods

· Others

· Functional applications

· Dispersibility

· Emulsification

· Others

Based on the end user, the global organic rice protein market is segmented into:

· Sports and Energy

· Dairy

· Bakery

· Beverages

· Other

The global organic rice protein market is geographically divided in to five key regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa.Europe, especially Germany holds the signifcant share of organic rice protein market due to the increased importance of healthier lifestyle. Followed by Europe is North America and Asia Pacific, Latin America and MEA. The global organic rice protein market will show an increasing trend of consumption due to increasing penetration of health awareness during the forecast period.

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Key Players

Some of the key players identified in the global urease market are NewGen Direct Ltd, Axiom Foods, Inc., Hill Pharma, Inc., AIDP Inc, RiceBran Technologies, Golden Grain Group Limited etc.

http://www.satprnews.com/2017/02/03/market-research-on-organic-rice-protein-market-2016-and-analysis-to-2026/

Scientists plant seeds of research for growing rice on Mars

By MICHIKO NAKAMURA/ Staff Writer

February 3, 2017 at 09:00 JST

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