Basmati
rice overtakes buffalo meat to become India's top export
The basmati exports increased
from Rs 6,196 crore of last years April-June quarter to Rs 8168 crore in the
same quarter this year
Moneycontrol News
Basmati rice has regained its position as the top commodity
export from India. The famed rice variety replaced buffalo meat to become the
top most export for the April-June quarter.
Basmati rice had been countries key export commodity for years.
But since 2014-15 financial year, buffalo meat had surpassed the former, thus
becoming the top export commodity.
A report in
the Business Standard says, this happened after Iran, which consumes over a
quarter of India's Basmati exports to the world had suspended all new
orders earlier.
Iran usually suspends import orders during its harvesting
season. As per reports, this year the traders in Iran have continued importing
Basmati even during the harvesting season.
As per the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (Apeda) estimates, the Basmati exports increased
from Rs 6,196 crore from last year's April-June quarter to Rs 8168 crore in the
same quarter this year.
source: Insight 18
Another factor behind Basmati grabbing the top spot in exports
is the decline in the export of buffalo meat. Despite the decline in buffalo
meat exports, the revenue earned from its exports increased nominally from last
year’s Rs 5445 crore to Rs 5473 crore in present year’s April-June quarter.
While the short lived ban on the sale of cattle in mandis hit
the buffalo trade adversely the recent government actions in the export market
has had a contrary effect on basmati trade.
“Indian exporters used to execute orders on
'documents against acceptance', which was stopped by the government because
overseas buyers re-negotiated terms after shipments reached them. So there were
corrections in export of basmati rice over the last few years. Now
overseas buyers are purchasing commodities on spot cash,” said an official from
Apeda
Despite floods, rice output forecasts unchanged
Strong baht bigger obstacle for exporters
- 22 Aug 2017 at 07:55 3,823
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- NEWSPAPER
SECTION: BUSINESS
| WRITER: PHUSADEE
ARUNMAS
- +
Around 1 million rai of rice plantation in the Northeast
was destroyed by the recent flood, but it is unlikely to have any severe effect
on Thai rice production and export, with shippers and industry officials
keeping rice export forecasts unchanged at 10 million tonnes.
Flooding is expected to support Thai rice prices continuing to rise as
global demand remains strong.The Agriculture Ministry said that although rice plantation was hit by the flood, the annual production forecast remained unchanged at 28-30 million tonnes of paddy, or around 18 million tonnes of milled rice. This amount is sufficient for domestic consumption and abundant exports, the agency said.
Tropical depression Sonca has lashed the province of Sakon Nakhon over the past few weeks, bringing the worst floods that region has seen for two decades and briefly halting operations at Sakon Nakhon airport, inundating the city as well as agricultural areas.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said the flood would cause a slightly delay in the harvesting period of the major crop, which normally starts in late October, but it was unlikely to have any major impact on production, price or export outlook.
"The flooding would affect the production of glutinous rice, grown mostly in northeastern areas, but it would not hurt rice exports," Mr Chookiat said. Glutinous rice makes up 10-20% of total Thai rice production.
He said the major negative factor hurting rice exports was the strengthening baht, making Thai rice prices uncompetitive in the eyes of some buyers paying with US dollars.
But Mr Chookiat and the Thai Rice Exporters Association are keeping the Thai rice export forecast unchanged at 10 million tonnes in 2017.
In addition to the stronger baht, the slight dip in supply caused by flooding in the Northeast at a time when global demand remains strong is expected to keep Thai rice prices rising, said an industry official.
The psychological effect of the recent flood has pushed the paddy price up by 5% to 7,600 baht per tonne, up from 7,200 baht previously. That has pushed the offer price of Thai common grade white rice to $390 a tonne, free on board, higher than the $340 a tonne offered by other major exporting countries such as India, Vietnam and Pakistan.
Wichai Phochanakij, deputy permanent secretary in the Commerce Ministry, said he expected the price of glutinous rice to be slightly higher because of falling supply caused by the recent flood, and that would help reduce pressure on prices during the harvesting period, when prices are typically weighed down by increasing supply.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1310707/despite-floods-rice-output-forecasts-unchanged
U.S. Rice
Finds a Home in Locally Made Saké
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON -- Japan's saké-making tradition is more
than 2,000 years old, but with the growing demand for premium saké combined
with the current taste for craft beverages here in the U.S., there is an
increase in locally-produced saké - with U.S.-grown rice leading the way.
Mistakenly called "rice wine," saké's brewing process is actually similar to beer. Rice varieties most suitable for saké production, including Calrose, Koshihikari, and Yamada Nishiki, have a pure starch component that is separate from the protein and fat, making it possible to isolate the starch for brewing.
Jeff James, owner and brewer of Cedar River Brewing Company in Seattle, uses Calrose from California that he purchases milled or "polished" to 60 percent. Recently, however, James started experimenting with Yamada Nishiki rice from Arkansas. Yamada Nishiki is considered the king of saké rice because it absorbs water easily, at a fast, predictable rate that is extremely important for the exacting science of saké brewing. It's also a sweeter variety that is structurally round and plump, making it easy to mill.
As one of the smaller saké producers in the U.S., James only uses a single ton of rice per year, although larger artisanal producers use up to 33,000 pounds. He says using local ingredients is very important. "If I knew of a rice grower in Washington, I'd love to have that so I could say my saké is super local."
Most U.S. producers use Calrose or Yamada Nishiki, as James does, but he and other brewers are interested in trying one of the other 100+ saké rice varieties not currently available. While he would love to experiment with such varieties as Omachi, the oldest pure rice variety grown in Japan that is known to impart wild, full-bodied flavor to saké, he would need someone in the U.S. to grow it for him, so for now he is very happy with the Calrose and Yamada Nishiki he is currently using.
Mistakenly called "rice wine," saké's brewing process is actually similar to beer. Rice varieties most suitable for saké production, including Calrose, Koshihikari, and Yamada Nishiki, have a pure starch component that is separate from the protein and fat, making it possible to isolate the starch for brewing.
Jeff James, owner and brewer of Cedar River Brewing Company in Seattle, uses Calrose from California that he purchases milled or "polished" to 60 percent. Recently, however, James started experimenting with Yamada Nishiki rice from Arkansas. Yamada Nishiki is considered the king of saké rice because it absorbs water easily, at a fast, predictable rate that is extremely important for the exacting science of saké brewing. It's also a sweeter variety that is structurally round and plump, making it easy to mill.
As one of the smaller saké producers in the U.S., James only uses a single ton of rice per year, although larger artisanal producers use up to 33,000 pounds. He says using local ingredients is very important. "If I knew of a rice grower in Washington, I'd love to have that so I could say my saké is super local."
Most U.S. producers use Calrose or Yamada Nishiki, as James does, but he and other brewers are interested in trying one of the other 100+ saké rice varieties not currently available. While he would love to experiment with such varieties as Omachi, the oldest pure rice variety grown in Japan that is known to impart wild, full-bodied flavor to saké, he would need someone in the U.S. to grow it for him, so for now he is very happy with the Calrose and Yamada Nishiki he is currently using.
Drones to be "the next best
thing" for Louisiana farmers
Posted: Aug
22, 2017 8:28 AM PSTUpdated: Aug 22, 2017 8:28 AM PST
buffering
Drones aren't just the cool new
toy for kids, they are now also being used by farmers.
It's an eye in the sky and some
of the latest in farming technology.
The LSU Ag Center has been
researching how drones are revolutionizing the agriculture industry, especially
in rice crops.
"It will take consulting
and scouting fields to the next level," said Jimmy Flanagan, the St. Mary
parish county agent with the Ag Center.
Flanagan said there are two
types of drones that can be helpful for Louisiana farmers. One is a larger,
more expensive unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that uses infrared technology to
take photos of its "mission."
"Well this one's measuring
wave lengths we cannot see with the naked eye, such as infrared. So what it is
when the plant gets to unhealthy conditions such as disease or fertility problems
you're catching it early on and usually it would be two weeks later that you
catch it with the naked eye.
Allen Lawson, a rice farmer in
Crowley, said that is just what he needs.
"It's always better to
catch it earlier rather than later. The thing with the drones is the infrared
photography I mean that's going to come in handy when it finally gets
perfected, so we can see the nutrient deficiencies way before they would show up
and you can go over the top of the crop and get a bird's eye view," said
Lawson.
The other type can give an
aerial view that would otherwise be impossible to see.
"You can get a much better
view of the field as opposed to riding along the edges of the field. It will
give you a more accurate view of damages say in crops for example for insurance
purposes," said Flanagan while controlling the drone from a small device.
It has taken years to develop
but will soon be the next best thing for farmers and consultants.
"We're always looking or
the next best thing so if that infrared technology works on the drones and we
can get it to where we can use it in real time it will for sure help us
out," said Lawson.
But there is still a lot of
responsibility with these and the Federal Aviation Administration requires a
UAV pilot's test.
"This is just the
beginning of what you will see as far as robots in agriculture, this just
happens to be a flying robot."
http://www.katc.com/story/36185517/drones-to-be-the-next-best-thing-for-louisiana-farmers
Pakistan
has a strong cultural 'taste', here's proof
August 21, 2017, 10:54 pm
Muhammad
Rahim Khan
There’s
no true love except the love of food. When it comes to Pakistani people, the
thing for which they are famous is their love for food. These people can do
anything for food. Our country consists of four provinces and each of the
provinces has different types of their traditional cuisines, either it’s their
way of cooking or specifically the spices they use; they are totally different
from each other. Each of the provinces has their own specialties in food due to
which people love to have this food throughout Pakistan and abroad.
PUNJAB
Tikka/Kebab
Now
this is one of those thing without which Punjabis feel incomplete, either it is
Chicken Tikka, Beef Tikka, Chicken Kebab, Mutton Kebab, Chicken Boti, Mutton
Boti or Champain, Punjabis are ever ready to have one of these. Not only in
Punjab but this cuisine is loved throughout Pakistan.
Batair
(Quails)
Now
this is one of the specialties of Punjabis, you can have it any way you like it
either as Pulao or as Barbeque. These are more like tiny chickens, which
Punjabis like a lot.
Karahi
One
of the all time favourites of Punjabis is Chicken Karahi. If you don’t have any
idea what you want to cook for the night, this option always works. There’s
never a no for Chicken Karahi.
Keema
Now
this seems more like an all-rounder you can have it any way you like it either
with Aloo, Matar or Shimla.
Shami Kebab
This
one is more like a snack for most of the people and they really enjoy eating it
either with ketchup or with mint chutney.
Gosht
Make
Aloo Gosht, Gobbi Gosht, Shaljum Gosht or take any vegetable to add with
Gosht to make a mouthwatering meal.
Biryani
Now
this the only thing that comes to your mind whenever your mom asks what to cook
today? The only answer is BIRYANI! This is one of the all time favourites
and people love to have it throughout Pakistan.
Halwa Puri
This
is the typical nashta whiich punjabis love to have on Sundays or any other day
of the week. Puris are served along Channay, Halwa and Achaar and you can have
it any day you want to.
Khichri
The
only support system whenever your stomach is upset, you can have this mixture
of daal and rice along dahi to feel a little better.
Sarson ka
Saag
The
never ending combination of Sarson ka Saag and Makai ki roti along with a piece
of butter. Unfortunately, it's only prepared during winter season due to
availability.
Paratha/Naan/Roti
There
are several kinds of chapati/roti and people have come up with different
variations of Naan and Paratha. Most loved flavours are: Nutella Naan,
Cheese Naan, Zeera Naan, Kalwanji Naan, Aloo ka Paratha, Mooli ka Paratha,
Balon wala Paratha, Meetha Paratha, Besan ki roti, Khameri roti, Normal
roti.
Daal Chawal
The
best and effortless meal on this earth.
SINDH
Sai Bhaji
Chawal
Not
many people throughout Pakistan know a lot about this dish because this is one
of the specialties of Sindhis. It is comprised of a portion of white
steamed rice served along spinach curry.
You
can have it either on its own or as sheer khurma, it really very sweet and is
also one of the specialties of Sindhi cuisine. Many of us have it on Eid after
our Eid prayers.
Mitho Lolo
This
is also normal flat bread but this time it’s a sweet one. This is usually
served with Lassi, you can enjoy it in hot summer days.
Sindhi
Biryani
Again
this is the first opinion of everyone when we discuss about what we shall have
for food today, now in this case there’s a slight change this sindhi biryani
has a lot of aloos in it which sindhis love to eat. All day everyday there’s
never a NO to Biryani.
Pallo Machi
Pallo
Machi is the Hilsha fish cooked in Sindhi style, this is considered as a
delicacy throughout Sindh. These Sindhi people usually garnish it with their
traditional spices and deep fry it. Whereas in different areas of Sindh people
cook it in various ways such as barbeque or cook it with onions and potates
etc.
Taryal
Patata
If
you like potatoes, then this is your thing this is the sindhi version of aloo
ki bhujia. These are thin sliced potatoes which are cooked in the traditional
spices and are enjoyed with roti.
Koki
Koki
is a form of flat bread made in Sindh. People usually like to have it as a
paratha with a lil dip of some sort here and there or just on it’s on.
Thadal
Now
this is white sweet drink made up of almonds and khashkhaash, typical sindhi
mother usually offer this to their kids in summers.
BALOCHISTAN
Sajji
Sajji
is the native and most famous dish of Balochistan.It is made up of a whole
chicken in skewers (fat and meat intact), marinated only in salt, then roasted
over coals. The roasting time takes many hours but it’s worth the wait as it
comes out along with that special rice which people would love to have.
Khaadi
Kebab
In
regard of this cuisine the whole lamb or goat is barbecued, not only this
but there’s a treat for people inside it; the stomach of the goat is filled
with rice and the whole lamb or goat is cooked in its own fats.
Dumpukht
This
dish usually takes a lot of preparation time as the meat is cooked in its own
fats slowly in an oven; the meat is enclosed to give it a DUM so that it is
completely cooked.
Kaak
These
are round bangle shaped bread covered in sesame seed, which you can enjoy
having with tea or kahwa.
Lahandi
It’s
our own type of bacon, in Balochistan the meat of sheeps is specially flattened
and dried so that this meat can be consumed in winters. After all of this hard
work now this meat is suitable to make lahandi.
KPK
Chapli
Kebab
These
Chapli Kebabs are made from beef or chicken mince, onions, tomatoes, green
chilies, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, etc. These are a type of patty for those
people who don’t know about these and are almost the size of your hand. These
tempting chapli kebabs are the speciality of Peshawar.
Kabuli
Pulao
This
Pulao is a Specialty of the Peshawari people which they would always offer you
whenever you visit Peshawar. This Pulao is usually made with lamb and consists
of steamed rice but because it’s mixed with raisins and carrots giving it a
sugary taste it might not crave everyone.
Kahwa
This
is a traditional type of green tea, which most of the people like to enjoy in
summers along with gur, dates, dry fruit etc.
Dumba/ Lamb
Karahi
The
people of KPK love to have this lamb Karahi, this is mostly made up of salts
and is one of the delicacies of KPK.
Mantu/
Mamtu
These
are small meatballs covered with yoghurt like white sauce, these meatball
usually melt in your mouth.
Naan
(Doday)
Doday
is the name for Naans in Pahto, these pakhtun people usually have these type of
naans which are different from the typical ones. These are mostly ovals and
they come in different shapes and sizes consisting of differen designs.
Bonjan
This
is a tangy eggplant curry, cooked in tomatoes and onions with oil. This is
totally different from the way they are cooked in Punjab
Dumba/ Lamb
Tikka
Now
again for the sake of love of lamb, the people of KPK put on meat of lamb on
skewers to make juicy and tender tikkas and kebabs of it.
http://nation.com.pk/snippets/21-Aug-2017/pakistan-has-a-strong-cultural-taste-here-s-proof
The value and
challenges of a pop-up installation
Who doesn’t love the summer months? The
sun is shining (some of the time), pub gardens we had forgotten existed are
unearthed and, everywhere you look, brands conjure up fun and
attention-grabbing pop-ups.
These experiential pop-ups aim to capture
the eye of the consumer. In the hospitality world, temporary structures can
enhance a summer event, providing guests with a unique and stand-out experience
as part of their conference, meeting, summer party, dinner or reception.
This year, we have launched our own
summer hospitality pop-up situated on our fourth floor terrace at RIBA’s
headquarters, 66 Portland Place. Available for exclusive use for up to 40
people our brightly coloured pop-up, the Befriending Project, will serve as a
unique outdoor space for clients to entertain their teams on a summers evening,
either as a standalone event or as a part of a meeting or conference.
Setting up a seasonal pop-up can present
certain challenges to venues. However, working hard to overcome these initial
trials, the RIBA team has found that this type of project is ultimately a
valuable way to enhance delegates’ experience of the spaces we have to offer.
Here are few of the challenges we’ve
needed to consider before launching our pop-up:
How will the pop-up fit in with
your venue?
The Befriending Project pop up, was
designed by Merrett Houmøller Architects Peter Merrett and Robert Houmøller and
was selected from entries to the RIBA Architecture Open 2017, which was driven
by the theme ‘Beyond Borders’. The initiative behind the Befriending Project is
to encourage individuals to gather together to cook and eat a meal, with the
aim of promoting a sense of togetherness, while breaking down boundaries.
What type of experience will
satisfy wide ranging audiences?
RIBA receives enquiries from many
different business sectors including fashion, media, technology and corporate.
Therefore, it was important for us to offer a pop-up that would suit the ideals
of all types of companies. The theme of social dining is something we
considered apt as a summer experience for all delegates.
What food fits with the
concept?
Bearing this message in mind, it was
important to create a food offering that encouraged sharing and aimed to open
up discussion and break down barriers to conversation. Event caterer Harbour
& Jones have designed a menu that embraces the theme of social dining. The
food stations feature dishes from around the world and offer an interactive and
original take on popular street food. Guests can choose from a range of
options, including light and fresh summer rolls filled with rice noodles and
pickled vegetables, topped with hot freshly cooked chicken or Japanese omelette,
on trend tacos and burritos with peppers, guacamole, cheese and sour cream,
beef or black beans, or steamed buns and dim sum with chicken, mushrooms,
noodles and traditional broth.
What to do when the pop-up is
taken down?
Rather than being put into storage, our
Befriending Project pop-up will be donated to the British Red Cross who will
move the mobile unit between different communities in London to bring together
vulnerable young people who have crossed borders to get to the UK.
Since its July launch, the Befriending
Project has already been a popular addition to our events offering. We hope to
see plenty of friendly faces enjoying our pop-up for the remainder of the
summer, until it is donated to the British Red Cross in September.
·
Home
Rice crop faces further setback
| Update: 12:57, Aug 22, 2017
http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/157117/Rice-crop-faces-further-setback
Rice
Imports at 760,000 Tons Last Year
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Around
760,000 tons of rice were imported into Iran during the last fiscal year that
ended on March 20, 2017, a deputy minister of agriculture said.
“This
is a remarkable achievement, as four years ago when President Hassan Rouhani
took office, rice imports stood at 2 million tons [per year],” Yazdan Seif was
also quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.
Iranians
consume about 3.2 million tons of rice every year.
The
government periodically places a ban on imports during the harvest season to
support local farmers
https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/70861/rice-imports-at-760000-tons-last-yearSouth Asia faces flood fury
Farid Ahmed
Inter Press Service
Inter Press Service
Aid agencies warn of a serious
unfolding humanitarian crisis as floodwaters continue to inundate new areas of
three South Asian countries, forcing millions of people to flee their homes for
shelters.
The death toll from drowning,
snakebite, house collapse and landslide triggered by monsoon rains and floods
rose to over 600 people, officials said on Aug. 19.
More than 16 million have been
affected by monsoon floods in Nepal, Bangladesh and India, with many of them
either displaced or marooned without food or electricity.
In many areas, although the
floodwater has started receding, rivers are still swelling.
A large number of displaced
have taken refuge in squalid makeshift camps and are staying in extremely
unhygienic conditions, according to aid agencies.
Road and rail communications in
the affected areas have been also severely disrupted. Thousands of educational
institutions have been forced to close, while submerged hospitals are unable to
assist flood victims even as water-borne diseases are spreading.
“This is fast becoming one of
the most serious humanitarian crises this region has seen in many years and
urgent action is needed to meet the growing needs of millions of people
affected by these devastating floods,” said Martin Faller, Deputy Regional Director
for Asia Pacific, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC).
“Millions of people across
Nepal, Bangladesh and India face severe food shortages and disease caused by
polluted flood waters,” Faller said in a statement.
The aid agency Oxfam said there
was urgent need for supplies like drinking water, food, shelter, blankets,
hygiene kits and solar lights.
Bangladesh authorities said
more than a third of the country was submerged, and water levels in major
rivers were still rising, inundating new areas every day.
In Bangladesh, flooding by
major rivers has surpassed the levels set in 1988, the deadliest floods the
country had seen to date.
According to the disaster
management department control room of the Bangladesh government, at least 98
people died in August.
The Ministry of Disaster
Management and Relief estimated that more than half a million people in
Bangladesh were affected by flooding.
In Bangladesh, farmers are
bearing the brunt of the ongoing flooding as the country’s agriculture
department estimated rice and other crops cultivated in half a million hectares
of land in 34 districts were washed away.
Abdul Hamid, a farmer in
Rangpur district, said he had cultivated rice in 10 bighas of land, but it was
completely ruined by floods. “I don’t know how to recover the loss,” he said,
adding that his house was also destroyed.
In India, over 11 million
people have been affected by floods in four states across the north of the
country. India’s meteorological department is forecasting more heavy rain for
the region in the coming days.
The flood situation in parts of
India’s northern West Bengal remained grim until August 18, with many rivers
still flowing well above the extreme danger level despite improvement in the
overall situation in the region, Rajib Banerjee, West Bengal’s minister for
irrigation and waterways, told IPS on Aug. 19.
“The situation in Malda still
looks grim and remains as a matter of concern as the water of the River
Mahananda continues to rise,” he said.
The situation in villages in
the Indian state of Assam is very serious, as embankments of rivers in many
areas have been breached, forcing hundreds of families to flee their houses.
Poor people, mostly farmers, were the chief victims and many took refuge on
roadsides and embankments.
Thousands of people in northern
Uttar Pradesh in India, where the authorities sought military help, were also
badly affected and many of them still remained marooned.
Bihar, the worst-hit district
in India, also estimated over 150 dead and half a million displaced in the past
couple of weeks.
“In Nepal, government recorded
134 dead and 30 missing in flood-affected areas,” a senior journalist and
director of news and current affairs of Nepal’s ABC News TV, Dr. Suresh Achaya,
told IPS.
Some 14 districts out of 75,
mostly located along the border with India, were badly affected, Acharya said.
In Nepal, many areas remain cut
off after the most recent destructive floods and landslides on Aug. 11 and 12.
Villagers and communities are stranded without food, water and electricity
though the government said it had been providing the victims with foods and
other support.
In the flood-hit areas,
thousands of people had taken shelter in schools, temples and sides of roads
and embankments.
The Nepalese ministry of
agricultural development estimated that floodwaters had washed away rice and
other crops worth Rs. 8.11 billion (77 million dollars) and feared the crop
damage could cast a long shadow on the economy.
The Nepalese government, at a
meeting with chief secretary Rajendra Kishore in the chair on Aug. 18, decided
to accept foreign support and aid to meet the need.
Scientists attribute the deadly
floods in South Asia to a changing climate, which they believe increased the magnitude
of the current flooding many-fold.
“The untimely floods being
experienced in Nepal, India and Bangladesh can definitely be attributed to
climate change-induced changes in the South Asian monsoon system,” Dr Saleemul
Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development
(ICCCAD), told IPS.
The countries in the region
have already been taking the brunt of changing climate that caused extreme
weather patterns increasing the daily rainfall amount, droughts, untimely
flooding and frequent tropical storms
http://morungexpress.com/south-asia-faces-flood-fury/
Rice crop faces further setback
Farmers
in Borno expect bountiful harvest
Aug
21 2017 - 7:55pm
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|
Tagged as
Borno state
map,
Some farmers
in Maiduguri say they expect bumper harvest this cropping season, in spite of
the Boko Haram insurgents’ attacks. They also expressed joy over abundant
rainfall recorded so far in the state.
The News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that thousands of farmers have cultivated
their farmlands in Maiduguri and other liberated communities in the
state. However, the insurgents had recently killed two tractor
drivers, three farmers and abducted another, while working on their farms
on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
A cross
section of the farmers told NAN in separate interviews in Maiduguri and
Konduga that they were happy to return to their farms in spite of the
incessant attacks by the insurgents.
Buba Idris
said he was anticipating bumper harvest this planting season in view of
the volume of rainfall and favourable weather condition in the area. Idris
said that he had cultivated rice at the Konduga rice plantation
and expressed hope for a bumper harvest.
“I am happy
now that I have returned to my farm after I abandoned it for many years
due to the insurgency.
“We recorded
appreciable level of rainfall and no pests’ infestation. The only problem
is the insurgents who attack farmers,” he said.
Miss Halima
Kachalla, a beans grower, said that she planted beans and
peanut on
her farm at Dalori village in Konduga Local Government Area.
Kachalla
said she engaged labourers to manage the plantation,
adding that
she often visited the farm in defiance of the insurgents’ threat.
“The crops
are doing well and we are hoping to get high yields at harvest”.
Another
farmer, Modu Audu, said that he was preparing to harvest his
crops at a
farm in Jekete village of Konduga local government area.
Audu, who is
still taking shelter at an Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) camp
in Konduga, added that he usually visited the farm during
the day.
“My village
is deserted and I get bored of staying idle.
“Farmers can
only work on the farms during the day for fear of the insurgents.
“I planted
millet and sorghum, and in few weeks to come I will be
harvesting
my crops,” he said.
However,
Yusuf Makinta expressed concern over high cost of
fertilisers,
seeds and other inputs.
Makinta said
that most farmers could not return to the farm due to exorbitant prices of
the inputs. He said that a bag of fertiliser was sold for between N8, 500
and N10, 000, while a measure of bean seeds sold at N1, 200.
“A lot of
people wanted to return to the farms but they are constraints due high
cost of fertilisers,” he said.
The state
Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources , Alhaji Muhammad Dilli,
disclosed
that the state government had spent over N700 million on procurement and
distribution of fertilisers, seeds and chemicals for displaced farmers.
Dilli also
said that the government had procured 15,000 tones of fertilisers and
improved seeds such as maize, rice and cowpea for distribution to farmers.
“We also
procured 84 units of sprinkler rice engagement plant and one million
cashew seeds to encourage cash crops Production.
“The state
government has so far distributed 95 large tractors to farmers at
subsidised rate, in addition to the construction of 17 earth dams in
liberated Communities.
“The
government also procured modern farm implements such as plough, Harrow,
cultivators, harvesters and other inputs,” he said. Dilli noted that the
gesture was to assist displaced farmers and encourage them to go back to
the farms.
Similarly,
the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it had distributed
fertilisers, seeds and inputs to 5, 000, rice farmers in the state.
Mr Mahmud Nyako, the CBN’s Development Financial Officer, said the
apex bank had earmarked N10.4 billion for agriculture development and
farmer support services in Borno.
Nyako said that the amounts were provided under the Anchor Borrower
programme initiated by the Federal Government.
He said the bank targeted about 40,000 farmers who were
expected to cultivate rice and other cash crops.
He explained that about 20, 000 farmers had so far registered, while
5, 000 of them had been screened to participate under the first phase
of the programme.
“The programme will be run in two phases, some 20, 000 farmers will be
supported under the first phase, while 20, 000, others or more would
be captured under the second phase.
“It is a soft a loan revolving scheme, the bank has worked out
effective modalities to ensure its sustainability,” he said.
Nyako said farmers were provided with fertilisers; seeds,
chemicals, water pumps, knapsack sprayers and money to settle labour
activities such as ploughing, harrowing, packaging and transportation.
The United Nations (UN) said it had so far
distributed fertilisers and seeds to 1.2 million displaced farmers in
the North-East region.
Mr Edward Kallon, the Country Coordinator, UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), disclosed that about 140, 000 households benefited from the exercise.
Kallon noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FOA) was
working to assist farmers in liberated communities to return to the
farm
fertilisers, seeds and inputs to 5, 000, rice farmers in the state.
Mr Mahmud Nyako, the CBN’s Development Financial Officer, said the
apex bank had earmarked N10.4 billion for agriculture development and
farmer support services in Borno.
Nyako said that the amounts were provided under the Anchor Borrower
programme initiated by the Federal Government.
He said the bank targeted about 40,000 farmers who were
expected to cultivate rice and other cash crops.
He explained that about 20, 000 farmers had so far registered, while
5, 000 of them had been screened to participate under the first phase
of the programme.
“The programme will be run in two phases, some 20, 000 farmers will be
supported under the first phase, while 20, 000, others or more would
be captured under the second phase.
“It is a soft a loan revolving scheme, the bank has worked out
effective modalities to ensure its sustainability,” he said.
Nyako said farmers were provided with fertilisers; seeds,
chemicals, water pumps, knapsack sprayers and money to settle labour
activities such as ploughing, harrowing, packaging and transportation.
The United Nations (UN) said it had so far
distributed fertilisers and seeds to 1.2 million displaced farmers in
the North-East region.
Mr Edward Kallon, the Country Coordinator, UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), disclosed that about 140, 000 households benefited from the exercise.
Kallon noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FOA) was
working to assist farmers in liberated communities to return to the
farm
Sri Lanka expects Yala rice harvest
to be down 35-pct
ECONOMYNEXT - Sri Lanka expects to
harvest 988,000 metric tonnes of paddy (rough rice) during the ongoing drought
stricken Yala minor cultivation season, down 35 percent from a year earlier,
the lowest in a decade, data from the state agriculture agency showed.
The latest forecast based on
cultivation progress up to June, has been upped from 789,000 tonnes based on
May data.Farmers had already been advised to use water sparingly and plant less
water intensive crops than rice this season due to a drought. Though Sri
Lanka's wet zone had received rains and floods from rains, the rest of the
country is still dry until the North East monsoon in September and many
irrigation tanks are dry or low in water as a result of last year's drought.
The Department of Irrigation said up to June, 254,967 hectares out of a target
of 400,020 had been sown. In 2016, also a drought year, 386,000 hectares were
sown. Floods and droughts had fully or partially damaged 5,539 hectares of rice
which will result in 16,122 metric tonnes of crop losses, leaving an estimated
988,329 metric tonnes to be harvested. After adjusting for wastage and seed
paddy, about 870,000 metric tonnes are expected to be available for milling
which will result in 590,000 metric tonnes of milled rice from the 2017 Yala
season. Sri Lanka's main Maha season was estimated to have produced a harvest
of 1.48 million tonnes of rough rice, generating 920,000 metric tonnes of
milled rice. The estimated deficit based on usual consumption patterns is
851,000 metric tonnes for 2017. However accurate estimates of stock held by
large millers is not available according industry estimates. Rice prices have
already moved up, and some consumers will shift a part of their consumption to
substitutes like wheat flour, reducing total demand. The government has cut
import taxes to make it easier to import rice and is also expected to stop enforcing
price controls, which distorts the market. (Colombo/Aug23/2017)
