Iran Rice Imports Down 24.4%
GTC is a government-owned company specializing in the purchase,
import and distribution of essential foodstuff. It is the lever for enforcing
market controls.
The company is also in charge of maintaining a supply of wheat,
rice, cooking oil and meat as the country’s strategic reserve of essential
goods, IRNA reported.
According to Jamil Alizadeh Shayeq, the head of Iran Rice
Council, about 2.25 million tons of rice were produced in Iran in the last
Iranian year (March 2016-17) and this year’s output is expected to hit the same
level.
Iranians consume about 3.2 million tons of rice a year
https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/63566/iran-rice-imports-down-244
Rice millers balk at export fees
Wed, 3 May 2017
A woman works in a rice processing factory in Battambang
province. Heng Chivoan
Numerous members of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), the body
tasked with lobbying on the sectors behalf, have stopped paying membership dues
and export fees, claiming that they cannot afford to as the industry continues
to struggle with high production costs and regional export competition.
According to the terms of CRF membership, each miller is
required to pay $200 annually and an export fee of $0.50 per tonne on white
rice and $1 per tonne on fragrant rice.
Chray Son, deputy director of Capital Food Cambodia, said that
despite the CRF’s efforts to provide relief to its members, the body had
achieved little in lobbying the government and instead praised emergency
assistance provided by the state-owned Rural Development Bank.
Nevertheless, he added that with monthly losses during the
current harvest season amounting to $10,000 to $15,000, CRF fees were
exorbitant and exploited millers that were on the verge of bankruptcy.
“We cannot afford to pay the CRF’s required amount, and we
disagree with the current payment fee as we have already faced heavy losses,”
he said. “Rice millers are trying to reduce their production costs, and the CRF
must understand this and lower the fees, not just keep them at the same level,
otherwise we will go bankrupt by next year.”
However, he added that if members felt that the CRF was
operating transparently and actually achieved tangible results for its
beleaguered millers, members would happily comply.
“If the CRF can help us find new export markets and operate
transparently with its millers, we would be able to make a profit and pay the
fees,” he said.
According to his calculations, 90 percent of CRF’s members have
willfully decided not to pay export fees during the current harvest season.
Phuor Sokleang, marketing manager of Phour Kokky, a rice miller
in Pursat province, said the CRF should not demand the fee payments while it
had done nothing to support the sector and achieved none of its promises.
“It is not appropriate to take fees from rice millers when the
CRF has not done anything for us,” she said. “The government and relevant
ministries are the only ones that have provided support.”
She added that her anger with the CRF stemmed from being taken
off of the list of the 26 approved rice millers allowed to export to China.
“When I asked why I was not included in the list for approved
access to China, the CRF could not explain to me and told me to check with the
Ministry of Commerce,” she said.
“So in my opinion the CRF means nothing to me.”
Norng Veasna, director of sales and marketing at Nikoline Rice
Mill, said that the top 10 rice exporters would soon meet with CRF to demand
reduced export fees.
“We know the CRF plays an important role in helping the rice
industry, but right now we are not profitable,” he said.
“We hope the CRF will accept its members request and reduce
export fees to $0.25 per tonne for all kinds of rice.”
Hun Lak, vice president of the CRF, said the export and
membership fees had been in place since 2015 and that despite the
organisation’s best efforts, millers too often placed the blame on them.
“We work to help the whole rice industry,” he said. “And we
understand that we have not fulfilled all of the rice millers’ demands. But we
have documented our accomplishments to prove to them what we have done.”
He added that the CRF had successfully negotiated a reduction in
the cost of electricity for its members, provided an exemption from the
value-added tax (VAT), trimmed down logistical costs at the Kingdom’s ports and
helped millers receive international export certification.
“The CRF will discuss and talk with our members about these
issues again,” he said. “However, if we are going to achieve any of our goals
we need to be unified instead of just complaining.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rice-millers-balk-export-fees
Indonesia to create 80,000 hectares of new rice fields
Tuesday, 02 May 2017 07:16
The Ministry’s agricultural infrastructure director general
Pending Dadih Permana said the new rice fields would be created
outside Java, The Jakarta Post reported.
“Many plots of land have not been developed [by the owners]. We will
help them convert the land into rice fields. We
will prioritise owners who are ready to cultivate their land,” said
Pending during a hearing with members of the House of Representatives’
Commission IV overseeing agriculture affairs.
Ground work, including investigations and design surveys, will be
carried out in the areas to be used before the rice fields are created.
Flattening of land and construction of rice field paths, as well as the
development of roads and irrigation infrastructure will also be taken
up as part of the initiative.
The ministry has stated that the rice field construction will
involve the assistance of the Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel.
Last year, the ministry created 129, 096 hectares of new rice
fields in 27 provinces, slightly lower than the target of 132,167 hectares
http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/indonesia-to-create-80-000-hectares-of-new-rice-fields
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 02, 2017
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-May 2
Nagpur, May 2 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices reported down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) auction on lack of demand from local millers amid good supply from
producing belts. Fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh pulses and release of stock from stockists also
pulled down prices in thin trading activity.
About 3,000 bags of gram and 1,700 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to
sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties showed weak tendency in open market here on lack of demand from local
traders amid good supply from millers.
TUAR
* Tuar gavarani reported strong in open market on increased marriage season demand
from local traders amid thin arrival from producing belts.
* Moong dal Chilka moved down in open market here on poor demand from local traders.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 3,800-4,000, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,100-6,400, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 9,500-10,900, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,100-7,400, Gram – 5,900-6,200, Gram Super best
bold – 8,100-8,400 for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and
settled at last levels in thin trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 5,300-5,765 5,350-5,790
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 3,500-3,900 3,500-4,020
Moong Auction n.a. 4,000-4,400
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,500-1,596 1,500-1,590
Gram Super Best Bold 8,500-8,800 8,500-9,000
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 7,800-8,200 7,800-8,300
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 5,800-5,900 5,800-5,900
Desi gram Raw 6,100-6,300 6,200-6,400
Gram Yellow 8,000-8,200 8,200-8,400
Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,500 12,400-13,500
Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,000-5,400 5,000-5,400
Tuar Gavarani New 4,000-4,200 3,750-3,950
Tuar Karnataka 4,200-4,300 4,200-4,300
Masoor dal best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500
Moong Mogar Medium 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000
Moong dal Chilka 5,800-6,600 6,000-6,900
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 6,900-7,800 6,900-7,800
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 9,900-11,000 9,900-11,000
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,800-9,000 7,800-9,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,400 5,800-6,400
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,500-3,800 3,500-3,800
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,500 3,300-3,500
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,400 3,900-4,400
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Wheat Lokwan new (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,800-2,000
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,250 2,100-2,250
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,500 3,200-3,500
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,400 2,800-3,400
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,000 3,500-4,000
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,400 2,250-2,400
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200
Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800
Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,300 6,000-6,300
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-14,000 10,000-14,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-7,000 5,500-7,000
Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,700-5,900 5,700-5,900
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 41.5 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 25.0 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 43 and 26
degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices)
http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL4N1I42LR
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 02, 2017
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-May 2
Nagpur, May 2 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices reported down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) auction on lack of demand from local millers amid good supply from
producing belts. Fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh pulses and release of stock from stockists also
pulled down prices in thin trading activity.
About 3,000 bags of gram and 1,700 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to
sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties showed weak tendency in open market here on lack of demand from local
traders amid good supply from millers.
TUAR
* Tuar gavarani reported strong in open market on increased marriage season demand
from local traders amid thin arrival from producing belts.
* Moong dal Chilka moved down in open market here on poor demand from local traders.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 3,800-4,000, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,100-6,400, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 9,500-10,900, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,100-7,400, Gram – 5,900-6,200, Gram Super best
bold – 8,100-8,400 for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and
settled at last levels in thin trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 5,300-5,765 5,350-5,790
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 3,500-3,900 3,500-4,020
Moong Auction n.a. 4,000-4,400
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,500-1,596 1,500-1,590
Gram Super Best Bold 8,500-8,800 8,500-9,000
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 7,800-8,200 7,800-8,300
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 5,800-5,900 5,800-5,900
Desi gram Raw 6,100-6,300 6,200-6,400
Gram Yellow 8,000-8,200 8,200-8,400
Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,500 12,400-13,500
Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,000-5,400 5,000-5,400
Tuar Gavarani New 4,000-4,200 3,750-3,950
Tuar Karnataka 4,200-4,300 4,200-4,300
Masoor dal best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500
Moong Mogar Medium 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000
Moong dal Chilka 5,800-6,600 6,000-6,900
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 6,900-7,800 6,900-7,800
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 9,900-11,000 9,900-11,000
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,800-9,000 7,800-9,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,400 5,800-6,400
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,500-3,800 3,500-3,800
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,500 3,300-3,500
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,400 3,900-4,400
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Wheat Lokwan new (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,800-2,000
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,250 2,100-2,250
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,500 3,200-3,500
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,400 2,800-3,400
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,000 3,500-4,000
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,400 2,250-2,400
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200
Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800
Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,300 6,000-6,300
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-14,000 10,000-14,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-7,000 5,500-7,000
Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,700-5,900 5,700-5,900
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 41.5 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 25.0 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 43 and 26
degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices
Millers shun
rice crisis loan fund
Rice millers have taken up less
than a quarter of a $27 million emergency loan fund to stabilise prices of the
grain, blaming late disbursement for the poor take up.Following a
price crash last year, the government told the Rural Development Bank (RDB) to
disburse the loans to millers to buy paddy rice from farmers at 840 riel
($0.21) per kg. The rice was to be stored in warehouses and processed for
export.But Kao Thach, chief executive of RDB, said few millers
applied for the loans.“Five rice millers asked for loans
totalling nearly $5 million,” Mr. Thach said.He said a drop in
world rice prices could have put millers off buying rice, despite having
sufficient capital.“Some rice millers didn’t want to take the
risk of buying rice for stocks,” he said.Of the five millers who
borrowed money, all but one has repaid the RDB. The annual interest rate is 7
percent.Mr. Thach said he was unsure if the loans would continue
to be available.“It depends on the government,” he said. “If the
government allows us, we could broaden the use of the fund to address other
problems.
However, there has not been any decision yet. It was designated
as an emergency loan for the rice crisis at that time.”Last June,
the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) announced that the government had agreed to
the $27 million fund to help rice millers purchase paddy from farmers.Loans
were to be made to CRF through the RDB, with the foundation acting as guarantor.The
CRF in turn would screen applicants and hand money to deserving rice millers,
who were reeling after a severe drought and facing stiff competition from
low-grade rice flowing into the country from Vietnam.Cambodia’s
milled rice exports only grew by 0.7 percent last year compared with 2015.
Bumper
paddy production in yasangi
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s endeavour has been to
strengthen the rural economy and make farming not only a sustainable activity
but to convert it into a profit-making venture.
| Published: 1st May 2017 11:30 pm
Hyderabad: The various initiatives taken
up by the State government for strengthening the farm sector have begun
yielding results with paddy harvest during the yasangi season expected to touch
a whopping 60 to 70 lakh tonnes, almost 50 per cent higher than last year’s
yield.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar
Rao’s endeavour has been to strengthen the rural economy and make farming not
only a sustainable activity but to convert it into a profit-making venture.
Timely supply of irrigation water
from various projects, adequate supply of fertilizers and appropriate advice to
farmers by agronomists, among several initiatives and schemes, are being
attributed for the record bumper harvest during the summer season, a first
after the formation of the State.
Host of measures
Thanks to the measures taken by the State government to raise the production of paddy by introducing scores of measures, which include timely supply of irrigation water under various projects, appropriate supply of fertilizers, urea and suitable advice by widely recruited agronomists.
Thanks to the measures taken by the State government to raise the production of paddy by introducing scores of measures, which include timely supply of irrigation water under various projects, appropriate supply of fertilizers, urea and suitable advice by widely recruited agronomists.
Expressing happiness over the
bumper yield, Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas Reddy told Telangana Today that the all-out efforts of the government were now giving
tremendous results. “The Chief Minister is committed to bring prosperity to
farmers, and his vision is now bearing fruit,” Reddy said.
Water management
Farmers who used to cultivate only half of their total land extent during the yasangi season are now going for cultivation over their entire holding, thanks to availability of plenty of irrigation water. The government had released water to irrigate about six lakh acres under Nizamsagar, Alisagar, Sriramsagar and Kadem projects which prevented drying of standing crops, officials said.
Farmers who used to cultivate only half of their total land extent during the yasangi season are now going for cultivation over their entire holding, thanks to availability of plenty of irrigation water. The government had released water to irrigate about six lakh acres under Nizamsagar, Alisagar, Sriramsagar and Kadem projects which prevented drying of standing crops, officials said.
Of the total of 55 lakh acres of
cultivable area, paddy was sown in about 21.64 lakh acres. “Every year, we used
to cultivate paddy in 3-4 acres due to scarcity of water and fertilizers, but during
this yasangi, we are cultivating paddy in all the eight acres and have got
bumper harvest as the government supplied water from Nizamsagar project without
any break,” S Krishna Reddy, a farmer from Varni mandal in Nizamabad district,
said.
Groundwater factor
Farmers were also happy that borewells also supplied uninterrupted water as the groundwater was replenished following the implementation of Mission Kakatiya programme. “In a mission mode, the Irrigation Department has completed desiltation of 24,000 tanks out of 46,000 village tanks in phase I and II,” an official said.
Farmers were also happy that borewells also supplied uninterrupted water as the groundwater was replenished following the implementation of Mission Kakatiya programme. “In a mission mode, the Irrigation Department has completed desiltation of 24,000 tanks out of 46,000 village tanks in phase I and II,” an official said.
“Our village tank reached FTL after
several years, which has resulted in improved groundwater levels in our
village, and for this, the credit goes to Mission Kakatiya programme,” said M
Kishan Rao of China Adirala village of Balanagar mandal in Mahbubnagar
district. He too said he had reaped a good harvest of paddy.
The government has not only taken
care to improve production but also made elaborate arrangements for hassle-free
procurement and purchase of paddy. Indra Kranthi Patham (IKP) self-help groups
were pressed into action along with the Civil Supplies Department officials for
procurement of paddy.
Govt directives
The State government gave clear directions to the procurement agencies that stock should be weighed and shifted from the market yards within 24 hours to prevent damage from summer showers and payment to farmers will be credited within 48 hours. Civil Supplies Minister Etela Rajender has already alerted top officials and directed them to be on vigil during procurement to prevent middlemen from taking advantage besides ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers.
The State government gave clear directions to the procurement agencies that stock should be weighed and shifted from the market yards within 24 hours to prevent damage from summer showers and payment to farmers will be credited within 48 hours. Civil Supplies Minister Etela Rajender has already alerted top officials and directed them to be on vigil during procurement to prevent middlemen from taking advantage besides ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers.
Wheat, rice basmati slide on
reduced offtake
Press Trust of India | New
Delhi May 2, 2017 Last Updated at 14:28 IST
NGT orders closure of 13 industries violating
pollution normsMaha govt amends Contract Labour Act to boost industriesHalving
of LNG duty to save Rs 900 cr for consuming industriesNGT seeks UP govt's
figure of industries on Ganga banksANG Industries to hold board meeting
Weak conditions prevailed at the wholesale
grains market today as prices of wheat and rice basmati drifted lower by up to
Rs 300 per quintal due to reduced offtake by flour mills and stockists against
ample stocks position.
A few other bold grains also eased on lack of
demand from consuming industries.
Traders said reduced offtake by flour mills
against sufficient stocks position due to increased supplies from producing
belts mainly led to the decline in wheat prices.
They said tepid demand kept pressure on rice
basmati prices.
In the national capital, wheat MP (desi) and
wheat dara (for mills) fell by Rs 50 and Rs 40 to Rs 2,150-2,450 and Rs
1,695-1,700 per quintal, respectively. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and
traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,700 -1,705 per 90 kg. Atta flour
mills, maida and sooji also settled lower at Rs 940-950, Rs 955-965 and Rs
1,030-1,040 as compared to previous levels of Rs 960-970, Rs 1,000-1,020 and Rs
1,100-1,110 per 50 kg, respectively in line with wheat trend.
In the rice section, rice basmati common and
Pusa-1121 variety fell by Rs 300 each to Rs 8,000-8,100 and Rs 6,300- 7,400 per
quintal, respectively.
Non-basmati rice permal raw, wand, sela and
IR-8 were quoted lower at Rs 2,275-2,325, Rs 2,400-2,450, Rs 3,000-3,100 and Rs
2,000-2,025 against last close of Rs 2,300-2,350, Rs 2,450-2,500, Rs
3,100-3,200 and Rs 2,050-2,100 per quintal.
Other bold grains like, bajra, maize and barley
were down by Rs 20 each to Rs 1,370-1,380, Rs 1,500-1,510 and Rs 1,550-1,570
per quintal respectively. Jowar yellow and white too lost Rs 50 each at Rs
1,600-1,650 and Rs 3,300-3,500 per quintal, respectively.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per
quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,150-2,450, Wheat dara (for
mills) Rs 1,695-1,700, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,700-1,705, Atta Rajdhani (10
kg) Rs 240, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 240, Roller flour mill Rs 940-950 (50 kg),
Maida Rs 955-965 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,030-1,040 (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
8,000-8,100, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,300-7,400, Permal raw Rs 2,275-2,325, Permal
wand Rs 2,400-2,450, Sela Rs 3,000-3,100 and Rice IR-8 Rs 2,000-2,025, Bajra Rs
1,370-1,380, Jowar yellow Rs 1600-1650, white Rs 3,300-3,500, Maize Rs
1,500-1,510, Barley Rs 1,550-1,570.
(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/wheat-rice-basmati-slide-on-reduced-offtake-117050200474_1.html
UNISAME URGES
CHAIRMAN IPO FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF SINDH TRIBUNAL FOR EARLY DECISIONS
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) greeted
Shahid Rashid the chairman of Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) on'
World IPO Day' and complimented him on his dedicated work on the geographical
indications (GI) issue and invited his attention to the other issues faced by
the sector due to lack of prompt action on the part of the policy makers. The
basmati rice issue calls for the immediate attention of the IPO..
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver appreciated the efforts of the
Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) for celebrating World
IPO Day on 2nd May 2017 but was disheartened when the issues were not openly
discussed at the forum and no question and answers session was held. Much time
was spent on speeches and distribution of shields to the guest by the host and
by the guests to the host. This practice of distributing shields must end. The
shields must be given only for outstanding contribution to the cause of the
business community. The participants were expecting an update on the GI
approved draft which is on the threshold of becoming a law.
Thaver said the speech of the
chief guest the governor of. Sindh Muhammad Zubair was really encouraging and
inspiring. The governor assured his full support and expressed his availability
for the business community. He recognized the importance of IP rights as a tool
for promotion of entrepreneurship and foreign direct investment.
Thaver said there is no IPO tribunal operating in Sindh although
there are two operating in Punjab.The aggrieved have to go to the high court
which takes many years to conclude due to heavy burden of cases.
Secondly he said the basmati rice case is in the high court
under appeal as although the learned registrar gave an exhaustive 92 page order
on the subject of basmati trade mark ownership, the stakeholders were compelled
to move the high court and the matter is now in the high court. The basmati
issue demands an urgent decision as the HC will take time to decide. In the
meantime it is urged that all the cases need to be transferred to the tribunal,
which could decide faster.
Thirdly he said
the IPO needs to work closely with the trade associations and the different
chambers of commerce and industry to enlighten them on the subject of IP
rights, trademarks, copyrights, designs and patents. The associations must also
make efforts for the protection of the rights of their members and educate them
on the subjec
Storms Bring Disaster to Arkansas Rice Country
LITTLE ROCK,
ARKANSAS -- The storms that started Saturday night overflowed rain gauges up and down the
Arkansas Delta, and forecasts show another rain event coming through tomorrow to add to the area's already swollen waterways.
Jeff Rutledge, a rice farmer in Jackson County, whose farm is located where the surging Black and White Rivers merge, said, "As of now, the only way we can get to our farm shop is by boat. We are headed up in a plane later today to determine the scope of damage."
Governor Asa Hutchinson has declared a state of emergency as the powerful storms continue to wreak havoc, particularly in the northeast part of the state, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports rivers in that area, already well above flood stage, are expected to rise on into the coming weekend.
"At this point, it looks like we could lose 100,000 acres of rice in the state, but that could be lowballing it as the heaviest floodwaters are due later in the week," said Jarrod Hardke, an Extension rice agronomist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. "Similar to the 2011 flood, the Black River is expected to exceed historic levels. But unlike 2011 when only 45 percent of the rice had been planted, 89 percent of this year's crop is already in the ground. That loss on input costs will push the overall impact of this weather event even higher. In addition, downstream areas have not realized the full impact of flooding as waterways have yet to reach their projected flood levels."
"The excessive rainfall hit us hard and then the lack of drainage due to flooding rivers only compounds the problem," said Jennifer James, another rice farmer in Jackson County. "We were off to a really good start on this crop year and Mother Nature had other plans. In the end, it will likely be weeks before the extent of the damage and losses can accurately be determined."
Assistance from the Federal government that takes the form of low interest loans from either the Small Business Administration or the Farm Service Agency at USDA requires a federal disaster declaration.
"At the moment, the best the rice industry can hope for is quickly receding waters, but the rain hasn't even stopped yet," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. "Private crop insurance assistance, in the form of replanting or preventative planting coverage can't begin to be calculated until June 10 - the last day of potential planting."
Jeff Rutledge, a rice farmer in Jackson County, whose farm is located where the surging Black and White Rivers merge, said, "As of now, the only way we can get to our farm shop is by boat. We are headed up in a plane later today to determine the scope of damage."
Governor Asa Hutchinson has declared a state of emergency as the powerful storms continue to wreak havoc, particularly in the northeast part of the state, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports rivers in that area, already well above flood stage, are expected to rise on into the coming weekend.
"At this point, it looks like we could lose 100,000 acres of rice in the state, but that could be lowballing it as the heaviest floodwaters are due later in the week," said Jarrod Hardke, an Extension rice agronomist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. "Similar to the 2011 flood, the Black River is expected to exceed historic levels. But unlike 2011 when only 45 percent of the rice had been planted, 89 percent of this year's crop is already in the ground. That loss on input costs will push the overall impact of this weather event even higher. In addition, downstream areas have not realized the full impact of flooding as waterways have yet to reach their projected flood levels."
"The excessive rainfall hit us hard and then the lack of drainage due to flooding rivers only compounds the problem," said Jennifer James, another rice farmer in Jackson County. "We were off to a really good start on this crop year and Mother Nature had other plans. In the end, it will likely be weeks before the extent of the damage and losses can accurately be determined."
Assistance from the Federal government that takes the form of low interest loans from either the Small Business Administration or the Farm Service Agency at USDA requires a federal disaster declaration.
"At the moment, the best the rice industry can hope for is quickly receding waters, but the rain hasn't even stopped yet," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. "Private crop insurance assistance, in the form of replanting or preventative planting coverage can't begin to be calculated until June 10 - the last day of potential planting."
Soggy fields slow start of rice
planting
Share5
Issue Date: May 3, 2017
By Ching Lee
Yuba County rice farmer Keith Davis
examines a chunk of wet soil from a field in Marysville he was trying to
prepare for planting last week. Soggy weather in April kept many Sacramento
Valley farmers from working their ground, resulting in a late start to the
planting season.
Photo/Ching Lee
Photo/Ching Lee
planting.
All last month, the Sacramento Valley should have been buzzing
with tractors working the ground in preparation for seeding. Instead, soggy
weather kept many farmers twiddling their thumbs or biting their nails as they
waited for their fields to dry out.
"It's really getting nerve-racking at this point," Yuba
County farmer Keith Davis said.
Most of the ground he farms on the east side of the valley was
"still too wet to do anything with," he said, so he's focusing on a
small area where the soil is lighter and he can begin turning it. But his
fields with red clay dirt in the lower foothills were "extremely wet"
and needed more drying time.
Spring rains have caused planting delays in the past, Davis noted,
but they were usually followed by drying periods long enough for farmers to get
in the field. This year, fields were so saturated that growers didn't have that
opportunity, he added.
Typically, his fields would have been planted by May 15, but Davis
said that date is "almost unreachable now." The final planting date
for California rice is June 1, after which farmers with crop insurance could
seek compensation for prevented planting. Trying to plant after June 1 is
considered risky because it pushes harvest into the rainy fall season, which
could hurt yield and quality if the crop gets soaked.
Mike DeWit, who farms rice in Yolo and Sutter counties, said he's
tried planting as late as June and "got burned," so he won't take
that gamble again. Without crop insurance, he said he'd be "real stressed
out and a mess right now," as the indemnity helps pay the rent when he
can't grow a crop. In a down market year such as this, he said "it's not a
bad option to have."
He already knows he won't be able to plant 50 percent of his
acreage—land in the Yolo Bypass that's still underwater. On his drier ground,
he started some field work last week; normally, he would have started on April
1. If weather cooperates, he said he hopes to get his first field planted by
the week of May 22.
"We're going to be under the gun and may bunch the planting
up more than we'd like to," he said.
The bunching could result in other delays. Irrigation districts
with small canals and outlets are not able to deliver water to fields all at
once, Davis said, noting that it could take 20 to 30 days to put water in
fields before they could be seeded. Farmers may also be standing in line for
agricultural planes that seed their fields. On the back end, DeWit said delayed
planting could result in a logjam at rice dryers in the fall if farmers try to
harvest at the same time.
California farmers are expected to plant 539,000 acres of rice
this year, down from 541,000 in 2016, according to a prospective plantings
report released in March by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The department
reported that zero acres had been planted in the state as of the week ending
April 30.
With the adobe clay soil he farms in Butte County, grower Matt
Tennis said he'll be lucky to get 50 percent of his crop planted this year.
He's already made the decision to switch to growing a short-season variety
because of the narrow planting window he has left. As of last week, his ground
was still too wet to do any work and he said he likely wouldn't start until the
end of this week.
Field preparation takes time and patience, he said, as several
passes are needed to work up the soil, level the ground and produce a good seed
bed.
"We don't have an unlimited number of tractors sitting in a
barn ready to go out and get it all done," he said. "By the time we
can get in the ground, we would've lost one month."
With the late start, Tennis said he wants to plant as much as he
can, but conditions must be right so he could do a good job.
"If you cut corners and slam your crop in, you're going to
have greater weed pressure and undesirable yield," he said. "This is
not the kind of year where I'd want to cut corners in planting my rice
crop."
Not all areas of the valley were as sopping wet. In Colusa County,
farmer Mark Sutton has made some progress, having started working his fields
early last week. He said he expects to be finished planting by the second week
of June, as long as he doesn't have any more rain. Unlike growers farming along
the river bypass and dealing with floodwaters, Sutton said his biggest problem
has been with spring rains, but he noted most of his fields are now dry enough.
"We're a week behind, but it's not the end of the
world," he said. "Farmers who plant earlier varieties are in a lot
worse spot than we are, because their planting window is right now."
Because a late-planted crop is usually also smaller, Sutton said
he hopes prices will improve to counter what may be lower yields this fall.
If the weather warms up and stays dry from here on out, Glenn
County grower Larry Maben said he thinks he can have everything planted by June
1. His fields are drying slowly and he's about two weeks behind schedule.
"It will definitely affect the yield, but it's not
necessarily going to be a tragedy," he said. "I've gotten good yields
planted late in the season."
With the current weak market, Maben said farmers are "pretty
close to break-even" at this point. Those who watch their production costs
"should be able to perhaps turn a profit," he said, but much will
depend on whether they have reduced yields.
Because it's so late, Maben said he expects some farmers will skip
a step or two to try to save fuel and time.
Rather than waiting for one field to dry out, Davis, who also
grows wild rice in Yuba County, is allowing wild-rice volunteers to establish
in that field as an experiment. He said he's never done this before and is not
sure it will produce a viable crop, but with his planting window closing, he
said if the experiment works, he will be better off than planting nothing on
that ground.
Despite their early struggles, farmers agree their year may still
turn out fine. Get some 75- to 80-degree temperatures and some north winds
blowing, and fields will dry out quickly, Davis said.
"We could have an ideal growing season from today until the
middle of September and have perfect harvesting conditions, and then nobody
will even think about the planting date," DeWit said.
Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the
California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item
http://agalert.com/story/?id=10824
Rice monopoly on hold
May 2,
2017
A controversial deal involving the importation and distribution
of bulk rice and sugar has been halted on the intervention of Prime Minister
Gaston Browne.
The Central Marketing Corporation (CMC) was expected to become
the sole importer of both commodities through a partnership with a private
company, BOAD Aggregates Limited, with which the son of the country’s attorney
general is affiliated.
Sparks flared on the weekend when details of the agreement were
disclosed via the media.
Browne acknowledged the concern indicating the management of the
corporation has been advised to not go forward with the deal until the concerns
are addressed.
“I understand that there are some concerns and we have
since placed the deal on hold until we can get further and better particulars,”
he said.
“The intent here is not to preclude existing suppliers of
rice and other products from importing. My understanding of the intent was to
deal specifically with basmati rice and to have the unfinished product imported
to Antigua and to have the polishing take place here …,” the PM said.
Based on documents obtained by OBSERVER media, BOAD has proposed
to supply CMC with a minimum of 100 tonnes of rice each month — the equivalent
of four 20-foot containers — and 100 tonnes of sugar.
However, CMC indicated in the draft document that it would not
be able to achieve the feat without a full monopoly on the importation of rice
in Antigua.
CMC also presented similar concerns over the quantity of sugar,
which BOAD presented in its draft agreement.
The statutory corporation also warned that there would be
serious negative political implications for the current administration
“especially at this critical stage of its tenure, should a monopoly be
granted”.
Both parties had agreed to have follow-up talks to address the
concerns.
http://antiguaobserver.com/rice-monopoly-on-hold/
World's
best: 10 rice dishes you need in your life
To celebrate Chinese week on #TheChefsLine we're rounding up
some of our favourite rice recipes from around the globe.
2
MAY 2017 - 2:34 PM
UPDATED YESTERDAY 5:36 PM
Coming in various shades and
sizes, this globetrotting grain goes from sweet to savoury, rich to wholesome
and everywhere in between.
1. Malaysia: Nasi lemak
While traditionally eaten at breakfast, you'll find nasi lemak available
in Malaysia all throughout the day. Considered the country's national dish,
this banana leaf-wrapped package contains a plethora of flavours and textures.
First, there's the fragrant coconut and pandan-scented rice, beside which
you'll find sambal ikan bilis, toasted peanuts, hard-boiled egg and slices of
cucumber for freshness. Curry rendang and fried chicken may also come as an
acco
mpaniment to this street food classic.
2. Iran: Persian steamed
saffron rice (chelo)
Best served as part of a Persian banquet, this rich, crusted rice is not your average side. The grains
are soaked in water for 2 hours or, ideally, overnight, before being mixed with
saffron natural yoghurt, saffron threads and a healthy serving of ghee. For a
decorative centrepiece, scatter your chello with pomegranate or
barberries.
3. Morocco: Chicken pumpkin
tagine with almond pilaf
Rather than serve simple steamed rice, jazz up your basmati into
a Moroccan-style pilaf.
This recipe uses chicken stock to imbue the grains with richness, while fresh
ginger, garlic and coriander leaves add a touch of zing. A generous sprinkling
of toasted almonds will take the pilaf to new heights. Oh and marinated chicken
cooked with pumpkin, raisins and spices is rather decent, too.
4. Greece: Zucchini flowers
stuffed with herbs and rice
From vine leaves to
capsicums, the Greeks adore stuffing edible vestibules with herbaceous rice and
tomato mixtures. In this gorgeous dish, zucchini flowers are paired with a dill, mint and
cumin-spiced mixture then baked to perfection.
5. Vietnam: black sticky rice
creams
Sticky rice is adored across Vietnam, where it is commonly
boiled, sweetened and turned into a pudding. Upon cooking, the black-ish grains
turn deep purple and develop a delightfully yielding bite. This creamy version is adorned with palm sugar and
shavings of coconut.
6. Senegal: Jollof rice (Senegalese
ceebu jen)
One of West Africa's best known dishes, jollof rice can be somewhat compared to Spain's
paella. Featuring firm fish fillets, vegetables and parboiled long-grain rice,
the dish is jazzed up with obe ata (African sauce), a
sofrito of sorts.
7. Albania: Baked lamb and rice
with yoghurt (tave kosi)
Carrying a decidedly Mediterranean vibe, this Albanian classic is comfort food to a tee. Picture
chunks of tender, garlicky lamb, oregano-spiked rice and a cheese-like yoghurt
crust.
8. Korea: Mixed rice
(bibimbap)
Served in a hotpot this all-in-one dish can contain any number
of ingredients, but julienned vegetables, crispy rice and marinated meat are
the usual suspects. Korean for "mixed meal", bibimbap is meant to be stirred about before
eating.
9. China: Healthy sweet congee
A classic breakfast dish, this wholesome congee can
be enjoyed warm or cold. Harnessing the goodness of fungus, goji berries and
gingko nuts, it's thought to boost health and vitality.
10. India: Hyderabadi-style
chicken biryani
Biryani is enjoyed across India, but this version blends Mughal
and Andhra Pradesh cuisines. It's said the key to this biryani is cooking your chicken and rice in an
airtight pot over a very low flame. This will ensure the grains, which should
remain separate and in tact, absorb the rich flavours.
Bonus round: Barbecue pork with
prawn fried rice
China Doll apprentice chef Wing took home the trophy for 'best
char sui' on Monday night's The Chefs' Line, but it's that
sambal-spiced fried rice we're loco about. Find the recipe here and, if
you missed the episode, catch it on On Demand.
AG distances himself from ‘rice
monopoly’ controversy
May 3,
2017 Observer
Attorney General Steadroy Cutie Benjamin (file photo)
The country’s Attorney General
Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin has disassociated himself from a sugar and rice
monopoly business proposal between a private entity and the Central Marketing
Corporation (CMC).
The AG said, yesterday, that his
office is not being used and will not be used to push the negotiations as he
decided to keep out of it.
He also said he was not part of
the discussions in the Cabinet nor the negotiations between BOAD Aggregates
Limited and CMC.
Benjamin said his son is the one
advising the investors.
This was confirmed in documents
that Damien Benjamin is the legal advisor for the company.
Damien Benjamin also declined to
comment on the matter, saying this would be a breach of the expected confidentiality
and legal privilege between an attorney and client.
OBSERVER media tried to secure
details about the company and its directors but the documents were not
immediately available from the Intellectual Property Office.
According to documents, BOAD has
proposed to supply CMC with a minimum of 100 tonnes of rice each month as well
as 100 tonnes of sugar.
However, CMC expressed concern
about the proposal, saying it had serious negative political implications for
the administration in face of the request for a monopoly.
The proposal has been placed on
hold amidst heightened concern from the public
http://antiguaobserver.com/ag-distances-himself-from-rice-monopoly-controversy/
Projects Boost Food Security in Arab Countries,
Improve Rice Production and Address Plant Health
UN Photo/Isaac Billy
An ICARDA-led project increased wheat yields in
Arab countries, reducing reliance on food imports.
The World Bank released a report on how to
improve public spending on agriculture in Africa.
FAO, ITPGR and IRRI enhanced collaboration on
sustainable rice production and on the exchange of rice genetic resources.The
IPPC adopted an International Standard on Phytosanitary Measures addressing the
international movement of seeds.
April 2017: Developments in food production in
Arab countries, research on public spending for agriculture in Africa,
collaboration to support sustainable rice production, and a new standard to
safeguard plant health in international seed trade have recently contributed to
global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on zero hunger (SDG
2).
Improving Food Production in the Arab Region
Producing food in the Arab region is
challenging as many countries face variable weather patterns, water scarcity,
degraded land resources and pests and diseases. To ensure food security for
their populations, many Arab countries rely on importing staple crops,
especially wheat, which makes them vulnerable to swings in international food
prices. Several international projects therefore work towards improving crop
production within the Arab region to reduce the need for food imports. Two of
these projects reported on their progress.
The ‘Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries’
initiative of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry
Areas (ICARDA) aims to enhance agricultural productivity across the region
focusing on wheat production. ICARDA reported that during the initiative’s
first phase (2011-2014) an average yield increase of 28% was achieved across
all demonstration sites, noting that the trend continued during the second
phase (2014-2018).
According to ICRADA, the success was in part
due to the use of new communication technologies for extension and the
dissemination of modern production technologies. The Institute also stated that
the US$5.3 million invested during the initiative generated “in-pocket gains”
of US$54.2 million thus far. During the remainder of the second phase, the
initiative will focus on expanding the reach of the project to ensure the
widest possible uptake of technologies and innovations. The initiative is
supported by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Kuwait Fund
for Arab Economic Development, the Islamic Development Bank, the Organization
of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development,
and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ICARDA is a member of the CGIAR
Consortium. [ICARDA Press Release] [Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries
website]
To assess whether projects are effective in
improving food security it is necessary to develop a regional food security
monitoring system. This was the objective of the first consultative meeting
‘Food Security Assessment in the Arab Region’ held by the UN Economic and
Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) the 11-12 April in Beirut, Lebanon.
The meeting reviewed the results of a regional exercise to map national food
security policies and strategies as well as indicators of food security used in
Arab countries. Participants also considered how the regional food security
monitoring system can be linked with the 2030 Agenda at national and regional
levels.
The meeting was held as part of a project
titled ‘Promoting Food and Water Security through Cooperation and Capacity
Development in the Arab Region,’ which aims to enhance food security in Arab
countries through, among other activities, improved policy design and
coordination, capacity building and strengthening of the regional knowledge
base. [UNESCWA Press Release] [Meeting Concept Note] [Project Website:
Promoting Food and Water Security Through Cooperation and Capacity Development
in the Arab region]
Improving Public Spending for Food Security in
Africa
The World Bank released a report that assesses
the performance of public agricultural spending. Titled ‘Reaping Richer
Returns: Public Spending Priorities for African Agriculture Productivity and
Growth,’ the study reviews the trends and composition of public spending in
African countries and how it impacts agriculture, including long-term returns.
The analysis shows that public spending on agriculture in Africa is not only
lower than in other countries, but its effectiveness is also hampered by the
focus on subsidy and transfer programmes that benefit elites rather than poor
people and agricultural producers. The report recommends addressing not only
the quantity of public spending, but also its quality by implementing reforms
that favor smart subsidies, support research and development, eliminate
barriers to the uptake of innovative technologies, and improve market access
and land governance. The study suggests that more efficient use of public funds
will lay the foundation for agricultural transformation as it has done in other
regions.
[World
Bank Press Release][Report Abstract] [Reaping Richer Returns: Public Spending
Priorities for African Agriculture Productivity Growth]
In related news, the World Bank announced that
Madagascar will receive US$78.7 million for a project aiming to improve access
to irrigation services, agricultural inputs and service delivery for rice
farmers, while reducing natural resource degradation. The funding includes a
World Bank credit of US$65 million and a US$13.7 million grant provided by the
Global Environment Facility (GEF).[World Bank Press Release]
Improving Rice Production
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of
the UN and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a member of the
CGIAR Consortium, entered into a partnership to support sustainable rice
production in poor countries and improve food security and livelihoods. The
partnership focuses on building the capacity of governments to develop and
implement policies and strategies that benefit small-scale farmers, especially
women. The two organizations will assist countries in their efforts to, among
other objectives, enhance the availability of certified seed, adopt improved
rice varieties, improve knowledge transfer, strengthen post-harvest handling
and develop value-added rice by-products.
IRRI also recently hosted a workshop on the
mutually supportive implementation of two international agreements governing
the exchange of plant genetic resources, including rice genetic resources
managed by IRRI. The workshop provided an opportunity for national focal points
from Asian countries to discuss complementary policies and procedures to
jointly implement the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and
Benefit-sharing of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Participants
considered national challenges in the coordinated implementation of these
agreements to support access and benefit sharing, while also enhancing exchange
of genetic materials for research. [FAO Press Release on Sustainable Rice] [FAO
Press Release on ABS]
Ensuring Plant Health in International Seed
Trade
Another aspect of international exchange of
plants and seeds for agriculture is plant health. International trade in seeds
and materials for planting represents a greater risk of introducing pathogens
and pests than trade in food crops destined for consumption. Pathogens and
pests introduced via seeds can establish themselves and spread after planting
and devastate crops, creating a risk for food security.
To address the risk of such introductions, the
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) adopted an International
Phytosanitary Standard (ISPM) on the International Movement of Seeds’ during
the twelfth session of its Governing Body, the Commission of Phytosanitary
Measures (CPM 12). The standard harmonizes approaches to addressing
phytosanitary risks associated with international seed trade, including, for
example, risk analysis, laboratory testing, planting under restricted
conditions, and pest management in seed production. This harmonization is
expected to facilitate international trade in seeds, while safeguarding plant
health and preventing international outbreaks of plant pests that result in
crop failures.
Aside from this standard, CPM 12, adopted or
updated 14 phytosanitary ISPMs, established an Implementation and Capacity
Development Committee, initiated the development of its 2020-2030 Strategic
Framework, and agreed on the need for a long-term sustainable and predictable
finding mechanism for implementing its Work Programme. CPM 12 also marked the
Commission’s 65th anniversary with a series of dedicated events highlighting
IPPC achievements. [IPPC Press Release CPM 12] [IPPC Press Release 65th anniversary]
[FAO Press Release] [UN Press Release] [International Standard on Phytosanitary
Measures (ISPM) on the International Movement of Seeds]
http://sdg.iisd.org/news/projects-boost-food-security-in-arab-countries-improve-rice-production-and-address-plant-health/
