Despite Floods, Rice Crop Expected to Produce Strong Yield
It's been five months
since historic floodwaters ravaged northeast Arkansas. Countless homes and
businesses were damaged, but area farms took the brunt of the storms'
devastation. While a total of 36 counties in the state were declared disaster
areas, Randolph and Clay gained national attention after the Black River
crested at a record 28.95 feet in Pocahontas.The University of Arkansas System
Division of Agriculture reported in mid-May that 361,650 crop acres were lost,
costing the state nearly $76 million in storm-damages. The estimated total loss
was $175 million, which included replanting and processing. Rice, Arkansas' top
export, accounted for 50 percent of lost acreage. This means that about 10
percent of Arkansas rice, 181,450 acres valued at nearly $35 million, was
inundated by heavy rains and flooding in May.
"I've been farming since 1982 and this year we were ahead
of the game," recalled Mitch Brown of B and B Farms in Corning. "I
thought it was going to be an easy year, but then the perfect storm hit."
Brown, like a majority of farmers in the state, planted early in
March. By the time flooding occurred in May, 89 percent of the state's rice was
already in the ground. Typically, young rice can remain submerged for 10 days.
Brown's rice was under for 14 days. Other rice fields in the area stayed under
water for much longer.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture reports, original
rice yield estimates dropped from 1.19 million acres planted to an expected
1.11 million acres harvested. That is a 27 percent decrease from the 1.52
million acres harvested in Arkansas in 2016. Though early agriculture outlook
reports were bleak, many farmers throughout northeast Arkansas were able to
salvage their rice and soybean crops due to the summer's cooler
temperatures.
According to County Extension Agent and Staff Chair Mike
Andrews, Randolph County has about 90 row crop farmers managing a total of
90,000 acres. This year they will harvest about 28,000 acres of rice, which is
down about 7,000 acres from the average yield amount. The storms in April and
May damaged or prevented the planting of about 10,000 acres. But yields will
range on average between from 165 bushels, or 7,245 pounds per acre, up to
about 230 bushels, or 10,350 pounds per acre, in Randolph County. That figure
is higher than the 2016 state average of 160 bushels per acre or 7,200 lbs per
acre for 2016.
"The flood delayed some of the planting of rice, but with
the weather we have had probably didn't affect yield as much if we had had our
typical hot weather during pollination of the grain," Andrews said via
email.
Brown, whose family farm resides in the neighboring Clay County,
said he was forced to replant about 50 acres of rice, but only 20 acres out of
the 750 planted didn't survive the season. He believes that once the harvest is
complete, his yields will be between 180-200 bushels per acre for rice.
"This is the best rice crop I've ever had on the
farm," Brown said. "The cooler August temperatures along with the
extra rain created the perfect scenario for growing a rice crop. We're making
great yields, which we needed because there were a lot of extra replanting and
fertilizer costs this year."
Andrews also commented on the extra costs involved in re-pulling
the levees, replanting as well as fertilizer costs. Official yield results
should be available for the state once the harvest is complete in early
October. But the historic flood does not seem to be as devastating for
Arkansas' top export as originally anticipated in northeast Arkansas.
"This year challenged all farmers on knowledge and
know-how," Brown said. "Part of it was luck and the weather but we
formed a game plan and went with it.
NFA rice
imports hit by delays
By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) | Updated October 3,
2017 - 12:00am
The Philippines suffered rice supply disruptions anew as only 68
percent of the expected 250,000 metric tons of rice imports have arrived. File
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines suffered rice supply
disruptions anew as only 68 percent of the expected 250,000 metric tons of rice
imports have arrived.As of Sept. 29, only 169,892 MT of rice have arrived in
the country.Rice should have been delivered on a staggered basis from August to
September, with a total of 120,000 MT expected in August and 130,000 MT last
month.
“We cannot really say when the remaining and the rest of the total
will arrive because it is the responsibility of the suppliers,” NFA
spokesperson Rebecca Olarte told The STAR.Meanwhile, in transit are 12,000 MT
of rice while at laycan are 53,600 MT of rice.Current NFA inventory can only
last five days compared to its mandated buffer stock of 15 days at any given
time.
Despite the delay and NFA’s dwindling buffer stock, the grain
agency assured there is still enough rice stocks at the national level good for
65 days.“Main harvest will already start this month so fresh stocks will
further augment the current volume,” Olarte said.
Four out of the six Southeast Asian suppliers sought an extension
of the delivery last August.To recall, Vietnamese company Hiep Loi Food Joint
Stock Co. requested for 10 days due to “delay in signing of contract due to
late release of certification” while Singaporean company Olam International
Ltd. asked for 15 days due to “delay in arranging formalities related to
contracting services.”
Thai Capital Cereals Co. Ltd. and Gia International Corp.,
meanwhile, sought for 10 days extension due to “time loss on official
procedure.”The rice imports (25 percent broken, well-milled, long grain white
rice) were divided into six lots of 25,000 MT each and two lots of 50,000 MT
each.Reference price for the importation was set at $451.08 per MT based on the
foreign exchange rate of P50 to $1.
The total amount of bids reached P$104.86 million or P5.2 billion,
translating to savings of around $8 million or P400 million.NFA collected close
to P12 million in fines from over 1,700 unlicensed retailers from January to
August this year amid intensified monitoring.
The amount is nine percent higher than the P11 million collected in the
same period last year.“Nationwide, the violations recorded by our enforcers
were mostly cases of unlicensed grains retailers or non-renewal of license,
improper display of price tags, use of un-calibrated weighing scale, and
re-bagging of NFA rice,” NFA administrator Jason Aquino said.
Majority of the cases was recorded in Ilocos Region, Cagayan
Valley, Zamboanga Peninsula, ARMM and Caraga.
Grains retailers who violated the NFA regulations were fined with
the corresponding amount under the law.
NFA-accredited rice retailers are covered by the agency’s “One
Strike Policy,” which means retailers proven to be in violation of the law will
be stripped of their accreditation even on their first offense.“NFA must
continue to perform its function of supply and price stabilization of our basic
food by ensuring that NFA rice is always available in the market to give the
low-income consumers the option for affordable but good quality rice,” Aquino
said.
Last year, 2,404 grains businessmen were found to have committed
3,155 violations, yielding P20 million in total collection of fines.Given NFA’s
dwindling stocks, Aquino has instructed regional offices to be more stringent
in the monitoring of any illegal activities in the market.
http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/10/03/1744868/nfa-rice-imports-hit-delays
Rice prices increase by 38% on production drop (Kenya)
By
Gerald Andae | Business Daily, KenyaOctober 3, 2017
A steep decline in rice production has pushed up the retail
price by 38 per cent, piling pressure on households that are already grappling
with the high cost of living in a sluggish economy.A kilogramme of Pishori rice
at Mwea Irrigation Scheme was Monday selling at more than Sh200 per kilogramme,
up from Sh145 in January.
Mwea is Kenya’s largest irrigation scheme, whose performance
impacts the volumes of the grain available in the market as well as the
pricing.
The National Irrigation Board (NIB) said rice production at Mwea
dropped from average yields of 830,000 bags in the season ended March last year
to 498,000 bags in the season ended March this year, a 40 per cent decline.
This has seen the value of rice imports increase to Sh15.89
billion in the six months to June, up from Sh6.6 billion in the same period
last year.
The volume of imported rice rose to 353,082 tonnes from 261,819
tonnes in the same period last year.
A kilo of Daawat Basmati rice was Monday selling at Sh237,
Daawat Aromati (Sh217), Sunrice Mwea Pishori (Sh200) and Pearl Kenya Pishori
(Sh249) at Nairobi supermarkets.
“The cost of rice has been increasing since January following a
drop in output at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in the wake of a severe drought
that affected the flow of water,” said Innocent Ariemba, a manager at the
scheme.
Mwea accounts for 80 per cent of Kenya’s rice production, making
it a major determinant of the country’s ability to meet annual demand.
Kenya produces 150,000 tonnes of rice a year, leaving a 250,000
tonnes deficit that is met through imports.
NIB said River Thiba, whose flow on a normal season is six cubic
meters per second, declined to two cubic meters per second late last year,
reducing the amount of water at the scheme.
Mwea Irrigation Scheme requires a total flow of seven cubic
meters for effective production, Mr Ariemba said.
NIB said it expected the situation to normalise from November
when the crop that is currently on the farm is harvested.
In event of good rains, Mwea is expected to produce up to 95 per
cent of the required yields in the current season that started in April and
ultimately bring down retail prices.
The drought, which took a toll on production early this year,
has affected hundreds of growers who rely on the crop as their economic
mainstay. With good rains, farmers in Mwea produce rice worth Sh7 billion a
year.
Kenya’s rice consumption has been growing at the rate of 10 per
cent a year to stand at 400,000 tonnes, according to the Ministry of
Agriculture.
The acute shortage of rice comes at a time when research
findings by Egerton University-based Tegemeo Research Institute indicate that rice
is becoming an important staple due to changing lifestyles and growth of the
middle income population.
The national rice development strategy had last year projected
that by 2017 the demand for rice would surpass the current estimates of 400,000
tonnes.
NIB is about to start construction of Sh16 billion Thiba Dam in
Mwea to create a reservoir that is expected to play a key role in addressing
the challenges of water shortage as it seeks to maintain a stable supply of the
produce.
Samee elected Reap new chairman
has elected Samee Ullah Chaudhry as its new chairman unopposed for the year 2017-18.Samee Ullah, who is former president of Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry and ex-senior vice chairman of the REAP, pledged to work for the cause of business community.
While addressing the AGM, he vowed to promote the association to new heights, thanking the members for
reposing confidence on him to lead the REAP. He said that it was an honour for
him to assume the office of the chairman for the year 2017-18.
The newly-elected chairman thanked the outgoing chairman and appreciated the work done by the
previous managing committee. The Reap new chairman said that the former chairman and his team had tried to resolve the
rice exporters issues to a great extent but challenges
still remain. He also spelt out his priorities for the coming year during the
Annual General Meeting. He said that the Reap would give priority to the issues
like shortage of energy, zero-rating, high cost of doing business and shortage
of skilled labour.
He also stressed the need to overcome the
numerous challenges faced by the rice industry and assured the members that the new
managing committee will continue working as a vibrant and active body, in spite
of a very difficult economic environment and many hurdles faced by the industry. He vowed to continue with his efforts for the
promotion of rice industry. He said that his top priority would be
uninterrupted energy supply to the rice mills, resolution of tax related
issues, and a favourable environment for the promotion of rice industry, especially in Punjab. He said that the REAP has
decided to devise a long-term aggressive strategy to enhance rice exports
http://nation.com.pk/business/03-Oct-2017/samee-elected-reap-new-chairman
Kharif output to be healthy, says
report
MUMBAI, OCT 3:
Despite the government estimating
a lower kharif production due to uneven distribution of rains, the summer crop
output is expected to be “healthy”, as last year was a bumper year in terms of
acreage and output.According to Crisil, the projected decline in kharif
production is due to a sharp increase in both the sowing area and production of
most crops last year.
As compared to last year, sowing
as of September 29, was lower for foodgrain and oilseeds, Crisil report said
today.
The government’s first advance
estimates suggest kharif production could be 2.8 per cent lower on-year for
foodgrain and as much as 7.7 per cent lower for oilseeds.
The flip side to a good monsoon
and a bumper crop of last year is that prices for most foodgrain have fallen
and consequently reduced farmers’ profits.
For pulses and oilseeds, prices
fell even below their minimum support prices and cost of cultivation, resulting
in a loss on the margins, the report said adding that for several crops, prices
and profit margins have continued to decline in recent months.
Many states are trying to assuage
distressed farmers by announcing loan waivers. However, this would increase the
pressure on the already-stretched fiscal deficits of these states, the report
said.
“We estimate that if other states
also announce loan waiver schemes the way UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and
Punjab did, the collective cost to the exchequer would be about Rs 2.5
trillion- or 0.5 per cent of GDP, assuming the waiver gets equally staggered
over the next three years,” Crisil noted.
The cost could be significantly
high for Tamil Nadu, which has the highest outstanding agricultural loans among
states. Kerala, MP and Rajasthan, too, could feel some pressure, it added.
Meanwhile, a report by another
rating agency Care also said the monsoon has been normal with 5 per cent
deficit.
The report said kharif output
will be lower than last year for some crops but still higher than that in 2015.
.
“Stocks of rice and pulses with
government should buffer this impact,” the report said.
Further, inflation impact could
be more from the minimum support price, which have been increased across the
board. Imports of edible oil will be critical from the point of view of
inflation and has to be monitored, the report said
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/kharif-output-to-be-healthy-says-report/article9885516.eceOCTOBER 4, 2017 / 1:27 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
Nagpur
Foodgrain Prices Open- October 4, 2017
Reuters
Staff
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-October 4
Nagpur, Oct 4 (Reuters) – Gram prices moved down in Nagpur
Agriculture Produce and Marketing
Committee (APMC) here on poor demand from local millers amid good
supply from producing regions.
Easy condition on NCDEX and downward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram
prices also affected
sentiment.
About 400 of gram bags were available for auctions, according to
sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties ruled
steady in open market here but demand was poor.
TUAR
* Tuar gavarani and tuar
Karnataka reported weak in open market here in absence of
buyers.
* Rice varieties reported
down in open market on poor buying support from local
traders amid good supply
from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar New –
4,100-4,175, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,800-6,200, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 7,500-8,200, Moong
Mogar (clean) 6,600-7,000, Gram – 5,500-5,625, Gram Super best
– 7,800-8,300
* Wheat and other
foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and
settled at last levels in limited deals.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC
auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 4,400-5,170 4,450-5,340
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 3,500-3,970
Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality
Auction 1,590-1,675 1,580-1,685
Gram Super Best
Bold 8,000-8,500 8,000-8,500
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 7,200-7,600 7,200-7,600
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 5,700-5,800 5,700-5,800
Desi gram Raw 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800
Gram Kabuli 12,500-13,200 12,500-13,200
Tuar Fataka
Best-New 6,100-6,400 6,100-6,400
Tuar Fataka
Medium-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Tuar Dal Best
Phod-New 5,700-6,000 5,700-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium
phod-New 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400
Tuar Gavarani New 3,850-3,950 3,900-4,000
Tuar Karnataka 4,250-4,550 4,300-4,600
Masoor dal best 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400
Masoor dal medium 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
(New) 6,800-7,500 6,800-7,500
Moong Mogar Medium 6,200-6,600 6,200-6,600
Moong dal Chilka 5,500-6,200 5,500-6,200
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Udid Mogar best (100
INR/KG) (New) 7,900-8,500
7,900-8,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100
INR/KG) 5,800-6,700 5,800-6,700
Udid Dal Black (100
INR/KG) 5,200-6,300 5,200-6,300
Batri dal (100
INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500
Lakhodi dal (100
INR/kg) 2,750-2,950 2,750-2,950
Watana Dal (100
INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000
Watana Green Best (100
INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400
Wheat 308 (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
Wheat Mill quality (100
INR/KG) 1,700-1,850 1,700-1,850
Wheat Filter (100
INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Wheat Lokwan best (100
INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100
INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100
INR/KG) 3,100-3,600 3,100-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100
INR/KG) 2,200-2,700 2,200-2,700
Rice BPT best (100
INR/KG) 3,000-3,400 3,100-3,400
Rice BPT medium (100
INR/KG) 2,700-2,900 2,800-3,100
Rice Luchai (100
INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,400-2,600
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 best (100
INR/KG) 3,650-4,050 3,700-4,100
Rice HMT medium (100
INR/KG) 3,300-3,600 3,400-3,700
Rice Shriram best(100
INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,800-5,000
Rice Shriram med (100
INR/KG) 4,200-4,400 4,400-4,600
Rice Basmati best (100
INR/KG) 9,500-13,500 9,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100
INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor best 100
INR/KG) 4,500-4,900 4,800-5,200
Rice Chinnor medium (100
INR/KG) 4,200-4,400 4,500-4,700
Jowar Gavarani (100
INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Jowar CH-5 (100
INR/KG) 1,700-2,000 1,700-2,000
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 34.2 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 20.1 degree
Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would
be around and 34 and 20
degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices,
butincluded in market prices)
https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-october-4-2017-idINL4N1MF1RK
Select paddy varieties fall below MSP
Oct 3, 2017, 12:36 AM; last updated: Oct 3, 2017, 12:36 AM
(IST)
Labourers clean paddy at the grain market in Karnal. Tribune photo; Sayeed Ahmed
Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 2
The arrival of paddy has been increasing by the
day in grain markets with government procurement having already started.
Farmers with PR-13 and PR-21 varieties are not
even getting the minimum support price (MSP) while PR-14 and Pusa-1509
varieties are getting a good response.
Around 3.7 lakh quintal of paddy arrived at the
Karnal grain market till yesterday, of which 56,000 quintal had been procured
by government agencies.
The arrival was 2.23 lakh quintal during the
corresponding period last year, of which 1.33 lakh quintal had been procured.
This year, the PR-13 variety was being procured
at Rs 1,520 per quintal while the MSP was Rs 1,550. The PR-21 variety was being
procured at Rs 1,550 per quintal compared to MSP of Rs 1,590.
“I brought the PR-21 variety from two acres,
which fetched me Rs 1,550 per quintal. I have not been told the reason for a
rate below the MSP,” said Rajinder Kumar, a farmer.
Puran Singh’s PR-21 variety was procured at Rs
1,570 a quintal due to high moisture content. He said the government should
develop a mechanism for transparency.
Rajbir, who brought the PR-13 variety from four
acres, said his produce was procured at Rs 1,520 while the MSP was Rs 1,550.
He claimed that farmers were being cheated on the
pretext of moisture. This should be stopped and farmers should be given the
price of their produce.
On the other hand, the PR-14 variety had been
getting a good response. It was being sold at Rs 1,650 per quintal with Rs
1,590 as its MSP.
“My PR-14 variety was procured at Rs 1,650.
Last year, I had received Rs 1,450 for this variety,” said Joginder Kumar, a
farmer.
Pusa-1509 was also fetching good returns for
farmers than the past two years. It was being sold at between Rs 2,600 and Rs
2,700 per quintal. It was sold at between Rs 1,700 and Rs 1,800 last year.
Sumit Kumar, a farmer, said his Pusa-1509 variety was procured at Rs 2,650
while it was sold at around Rs 1,700 last year.
When contacted, market committee
secretary Asha Rani she she was not aware about this. “If you give me names of
farmers and commission agents, I will get it checked,” she stated
Vietnam eyes exporting rice, shrimp to Iran
TEHRAN,
Oct. 02 (MNA) – Vietnam intends to export rice and shrimp to Iran, and has
voiced readiness to purchase fish powder, bone powder and meat from Iran.According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Iran’s Deputy
Agriculture Minister Hassan Salehi met with the head of Iran-Vietnam Trade
Council to discuss the ways to expand bilateral trade cooperation in the area
of agriculture.
During the meeting, Hassan Salehi elaborated on the
actions taken to develop the relations between the two countries and voiced the
readiness of Iran’s Fisheries Organization for cooperation with Vietnam. He
also announced the Vietnamese’ cooperative activities in Qeshm and Bandar
Abbas. Salehi invited Vietnamese companies to participate in the international
fisheries exhibition of Iran which was welcomed by them. The head of
Iran-Vietnam Trade Council referred to the establishment of an office in Qeshm,
and announced their intention to purchase shrimp, Caviar and salmon eggs from
Iran and build a factory for fish sauce production. He also called for removal
of obstacles to banking transaction as well as rice and shrimp exports to Iran.
Eye on China
By Jim Guinn
ARLINGTON,
VA -- China, the world's largest producer and consumer of rice, is focused on
increasing its already large share of rice cultivation and exports. In
2016/17, China's milled rice exports nearly tripled from the previous year
driven by large shipments to many African countries on commercial terms as well
as for donations. Ending stocks are forecast to increase to 6.1 million
tons to 75.53 million tons (milled rice basis) more than 52 percent of annual
usage and about 13 times the size of the projected 2017 U.S. rice harvest.
China also is expanding rice production beyond its borders. China has invested in a hybrid rice research center in Pakistan to enhance Pakistani rice production and exports to China via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The State Council's think tank, the China Center for International Economic Exchange, has recommended investments in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and additional investments in Pakistan to improve rice production and trade under the One Belt One Road initiative, China's global trading strategy. This increase in production could become a direct competition for U.S. long grain exports to China.
While the U.S. rice industry awaits access to this important market, there are additional issues that present challenges in China. The state guaranteed minimum purchase prices for paddy rice from farmers is set at above world market prices, as shown in the table below. With an ongoing strengthening of the RMB against the U.S. dollar, those prices, in dollar terms, continue to rise.
China also is expanding rice production beyond its borders. China has invested in a hybrid rice research center in Pakistan to enhance Pakistani rice production and exports to China via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The State Council's think tank, the China Center for International Economic Exchange, has recommended investments in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and additional investments in Pakistan to improve rice production and trade under the One Belt One Road initiative, China's global trading strategy. This increase in production could become a direct competition for U.S. long grain exports to China.
While the U.S. rice industry awaits access to this important market, there are additional issues that present challenges in China. The state guaranteed minimum purchase prices for paddy rice from farmers is set at above world market prices, as shown in the table below. With an ongoing strengthening of the RMB against the U.S. dollar, those prices, in dollar terms, continue to rise.
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is challenging China's high levels of support for producers of rice, wheat, and corn in the World Trade Organization (WTO), and legal arguments before a WTO dispute settlement are expected early next year. Additionally, USTR is also challenging the way that China administers tariff rate quotas for grain imports.
Although China has signed a protocol to allow imports of U.S. rice, they first have to inspect U.S. export facilities before rice exports are a reality. In the meantime, USA Rice strongly believes there is a market for U.S. rice in China and thus is exhibiting at the Global Food & Hospitality Expo (HOFEX) in Shanghai this November to showcase the various types and forms
of U.S. rice.
Welfare card users stock up on rice, eggs, sauce and oil
Welfare card users stock
up on rice, eggs, sauce and oilKINGDOM GRIEVES
national October 04,
2017 01:00
By THE NATION
New system has proven
popular with low-income earners despite some early queues and minor hitches.
RICE, EGGS, cooking oil
and fish sauce were the most popular items being purchased with the new welfare
cash cards, according to Deputy Commerce Minister Sonthirat Sonthijirawong. But
the Commerce Ministry has also found that there have been delays in some places
because some registered users did not know the amount of credit on their cards,
he said. The ministry has submitted a list of 15,489 participating shops for
approval by the Comptroller General’s Department, 5,000 of which are already
equipped with devices to read the cards. 
Sonthirat
also said the ministry would dispatch teams to organise Blue Flag product fairs
at various sites later this week to accommodate demand.
On Sunday,
110,000 people – or 1 per cent of the 11.4 million registered low-income
earners – used the cards to buy goods worth Bt90 million.
There were
also between 200 and 300 purchases of bus tickets under the scheme on the same
day.
Finance
Ministry permanent secretary Somchai Sujjapongse said he would propose this
month that the National e-Payment Committee give welfare-card holders entry
into a monthly lucky draw featuring prizes worth Bt1 million, which would begin
in November.
Meanwhile,
Nakhon Ratchasima commerce official Thawatchai Laowiroon said the past two days
had seen problems with the card-reading devices, including machine malfunctions
and unstable Internet connections.
He said he
had also heard reports that some shops that did not yet have card-reading
devices had seized people’s cards in exchange for goods, or had allowed people
to take goods and owe them the money. These actions could potentially cause the
shops to be cut from the scheme, he said.
Meanwhile,
in the northeastern province of Buri Ram, a large number of registered
low-income earners crowded a Taweekit mall branch in Prakhon Chai district to
buy commodities yesterday. Many were there for hours before the mall’s opening
time of 9.30am, according to a reporter who saw a long queue.
The mall,
which is equipped with two card readers, is the only shop in the district
participating in the scheme so far, and it has reportedly received at least
1,000 registered low-income customers per day since the card went into effect
on Sunday.
The scheme
is meant to help people registered as earning no more than Bt100,000 a year to
cope with living costs.
People
earning less than Bt30,000 a year get a Bt300 monthly allowance to buy
commodities from Blue Flag or other participating shops, while those earning
more than Bt30,000 but less than Bt100,000 a year get a Bt200 monthly allowance
While
registered people nationwide started to reap benefits of the card on October 1,
those in Bangkok and seven nearby provinces will be able to use an additional
chip in their cards for city bus transport starting on October 17.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30328377
Farmers accuse
rice millers of exploitation
By Express News
Service | Published: 04th October 2017 02:34
AM |
Last Updated: 04th October 2017 07:36
AM
JEYPORE:Farmers
of Koraput district have demanded the Civil Supply and Consumer Welfare
Department to test the quality of paddy produced by them before handing it over
to millers for custom milling.The demand comes in the wake of millers refusing
to provide custom milled rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) stating
that paddy procured from farmers is of inferior quality. Despite a State
Government directive to submit the milled rice with FCI, millers have refused
to do so stating that it would not meet the quality and quantity parameters set
by the corporation.
According to
reports, the Civil Supply Department procured 21 lakh quintals of paddy in the
current crop season from the district and the stock was provided to 93 millers
for producing rice. However, millers allegedly collected three to five kgs of
paddy extra on every quintal from farmers in mandis citing that paddy is below
fair average quality (FAQ) and the rice output would be much less. Farmers
alleged that many millers collected extra paddy from them citing that this is
the only way they could meet the FAQ and quantity norms. On the other hand,
millers clarified that they are able to produce 61 to 62 kgs rice after milling
a quintal paddy but the Civil Supply Department has asked them to provide FCI
with 67 kgs rice from every quintal of paddy milled as a result of which, they
are forced to collect extra paddy from farmers.
As the row
between farmers and millers continues, the former have now sought intervention
of the department to do a quality check of the paddy procured before sending
the stock for milling. In a memorandum to the department, the Koraput farmers’
body has alleged that they are facing a loss of three to five kgs of paddy on
every quintal during procurement.The members stated that only after a quality
test, the exact rice output after milling can be known and this will prevent
exploitation of farmers at the hands of millers. Alleging that millers are
making profits at their cost, farmers warned of hitting the streets if their
demand is not met before the ensuing kharif season.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2017/oct/04/farmers-accuse-rice-millers-of-exploitation-1666527.html
Market fee hike: Millers not to purchase
basmati for 2 days
TNN | Oct 4, 2017, 07:37 IST
Bathinda: Upset over 1% hike each in market fee
and rural development fund (RDF) charges, the Punjab Basmati Rice Millers
Association (PBRMA) has decided not to make purchases of the aromatic crop on
Wednesday and Thursday. The market fee and RDF now has been increased to 3%
each.
Basmati varieties -- Pusa 1121, Pusa 1509, 1401, Sunanghi and Sharbati -- have been sown in over 4.51 lakh hectares in the state this season.
Basmati varieties -- Pusa 1121, Pusa 1509, 1401, Sunanghi and Sharbati -- have been sown in over 4.51 lakh hectares in the state this season.
Millers said nearly 20 lakh tonnes basmati was
expected to reach mandis and at an average price of Rs 3,000 per quintal, the
crop would fetch nearly Rs 6,000 crore.
They said with the increase in fees, millers
have to pay approximately Rs 120 crore more in taxes and would be forced to
realise the money from the farmers.
PBRMA
president Bal Krishan and general secretary Aashish Kathuria said, "Punjab
government has meted out injustice with basmati millers and farmers by
increasing market fee and RDF fee. In neighbouring Haryana, millers have to pay
2% each as market fee and RDF fee and in Rajasthan there is only 1.6% market
fee and no RDF. By paying more taxes we can never compete with millers of other
states and have decided not to make any purchases on October 4 and 5 in protest
against hike in taxes."
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/market-fee-hike-millers-not-to-purchase-basmati-for-2-days/articleshow/60931510.cms
Palledars, transporters meet admn officials over pending payments
Oct 4, 2017, 12:32 AM; last updated:
Oct 4, 2017, 12:32 AM (IST
Tribune
News Service
Bathinda,
October 3
For
better lifting and proper arrangements, the district administration today
organised a meeting with palledars (porters) and transporters of
the grain market. During the meeting, palledars warned the district administration
that if their old pending bills were not cleared and if they were not given
unloading wages, they would be left with no option but to stop the work.
Bathinda
Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra attended the meeting with palledars, transporters and other officials.
During
the meeting, sheller owners and transporters asked for clearance of their
pending bills towards purchase agencies.
Depu
Shiv Lal, local president of the Punjab Pardesh Palledars’ Union, Bathinda, said he had a contract
and after June 1, he had not received any payment of loading, which is close to
Rs 1.25 crore.
Shiv
Lal said he had a contract of unloading in sheller and according to the new
milling policy work of unloading had been given to sheller owners and due to
this they would also be left with no option but to stop work.
DC
Diprava Lakra told palledars that he would contact Chandigarh
for the clearance of bills and he would also contact the director for revision
of the milling policy.
During
the meeting, a question was also raised that according to the policy, aarhtiyas
would do the work of loading and sheller owners responsible for unloading, but
officials were saying that work of unloading would be done by contractors of
purchase agencies and administration would have to clear this.
District
president of the Rice Millers’ Association Purshotam Garg and local president
Narayan Garg told to officials that this year quantity of paddy would be
decreased, but lifting had been going with the increase of 10 per cent in
sheller and due to this they will face lose.
They
also demanded that administration should arrange paddy from outer districts to
complete the loos to 10 per cent.
During
the meeting DC Lakra told to officials that make sure about the government
parameters of moisture. During the meeting, SDM Sakshi Sawney, ADC Shena
Aggarwal and District Food Controller Amarjeet Singh were also present.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/bathinda/palledars-transporters-meet-admn-officials-over-pending-payments/476860.html
Engro Foundation
Established in 2009, Engro Foundation is the social
investment arm of Engro Corporation - a large conglomerate active in the
fertilizers, foods, energy, and petro-chemicals businesses. Engro Foundation is
committed to the growth of sustainable communities in which people have
opportunities for development. Since its inception, Engro Foundation has
received continued support from the people of Germany through multiple German
development organizations, including Deutsche Investitions- und
Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) - which translates to German Investment and
Development Corporation, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) - a German development agency that provides services in
the field of international development cooperation.
Engro Foundation has collaborated with DEG for skills development and livelihood projects in the province of Sindh. These projects are co-financed by DEG from public funds of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The initiatives include training of female farmers and micro-entrepreneurs in the dairy value chain through the Strengthening Entrepreneurs and Dairy Stakeholders Network (SEaDS Net) Project. The project is being implemented in the Khairpur district, and has helped accelerate 50 women-led micro-enterprises. Through support, these women entrepreneurs have experienced an income increase of up to 100%. More than 7,000 dairy farmers have also received training in better livestock management practices under the SEaDS Net project.
With the help of DEG, another farmer training project called Farmer Connect is also being implemented within Engro Fertilizer's value chain. The program aims at enhancing farm productivity of small farmers in rice-wheat crop areas of Punjab and Sindh through value-added farm advisory services. A grant by DEG is being used to train farmers on subjects like better crop management, zero tillage, water conservation, balanced nutrition, and ICT information. These training are being conducted in the district of Tando Mohammad Khan, and have resulted in improvement for farmers by way of enhanced knowledge, yield, and profitability. DEG has also co-financed establishment of a mechanical laboratory at the Technical Training Center (TTC) in Daharki. TTC is a state of the art training facility located near the Engro Fertilizer plant. It was established to provide skills training to the local youth and focus on developing the local labor pool by training underprivileged youth in Diplomas of Associate Engineering.
Engro has also been involved in the crop agriculture value chain through its rice and fertilizer businesses. Given the farming sector's low level of productivity, Engro, together with GIZ, implemented the System Productivity Innovative Rice Trainings (SPIRIT) Project to improve yields and reduce the usage of water, as well as other resources. The SPIRIT project successfully improved agricultural productivity, efficiency, and livelihoods for 10,000 farmers & 1,200 agri-farm support persons by training them in the areas of resource conservation, water saving, plant population management, improved harvesting, and best crop management practices in the rice and wheat cropping system.
I am the Change (IATC) is another initiative of Engro Foundation, intended to pay tribute to and assist in the endeavors of local change agents who work tirelessly to bring betterment for Pakistan's most impoverished.
Engro Foundation has collaborated with DEG for skills development and livelihood projects in the province of Sindh. These projects are co-financed by DEG from public funds of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The initiatives include training of female farmers and micro-entrepreneurs in the dairy value chain through the Strengthening Entrepreneurs and Dairy Stakeholders Network (SEaDS Net) Project. The project is being implemented in the Khairpur district, and has helped accelerate 50 women-led micro-enterprises. Through support, these women entrepreneurs have experienced an income increase of up to 100%. More than 7,000 dairy farmers have also received training in better livestock management practices under the SEaDS Net project.
With the help of DEG, another farmer training project called Farmer Connect is also being implemented within Engro Fertilizer's value chain. The program aims at enhancing farm productivity of small farmers in rice-wheat crop areas of Punjab and Sindh through value-added farm advisory services. A grant by DEG is being used to train farmers on subjects like better crop management, zero tillage, water conservation, balanced nutrition, and ICT information. These training are being conducted in the district of Tando Mohammad Khan, and have resulted in improvement for farmers by way of enhanced knowledge, yield, and profitability. DEG has also co-financed establishment of a mechanical laboratory at the Technical Training Center (TTC) in Daharki. TTC is a state of the art training facility located near the Engro Fertilizer plant. It was established to provide skills training to the local youth and focus on developing the local labor pool by training underprivileged youth in Diplomas of Associate Engineering.
Engro has also been involved in the crop agriculture value chain through its rice and fertilizer businesses. Given the farming sector's low level of productivity, Engro, together with GIZ, implemented the System Productivity Innovative Rice Trainings (SPIRIT) Project to improve yields and reduce the usage of water, as well as other resources. The SPIRIT project successfully improved agricultural productivity, efficiency, and livelihoods for 10,000 farmers & 1,200 agri-farm support persons by training them in the areas of resource conservation, water saving, plant population management, improved harvesting, and best crop management practices in the rice and wheat cropping system.
I am the Change (IATC) is another initiative of Engro Foundation, intended to pay tribute to and assist in the endeavors of local change agents who work tirelessly to bring betterment for Pakistan's most impoverished.
Engro Foundation's mission is to include the
underprivileged in Engro's value chains, enhance the lives of people in its
communities, and engage with relevant stakeholders on skills training and
community development for a sustainable Pakistan. To this end, each Engro Group
company allocates 1% of its annual profit before tax to Engro Foundation. Engro
Corporation passionately pursues value creation for all stakeholders, with its
numerous investments designed to deploy inclusive business models in pursuit of
integrated and inclusive growth for all who interact with our businesses.
Engro is grateful to German development agencies like DEG and GIZ, which have shown their commitment towards positively impacting lives in Pakistan. Continued partnership with these organizations is a testament to Engro Foundation's standing as a partner of choice for implementation of inclusive business projects in the agri value chain. With a firm belief that the relationship between the people of Pakistan and Germany will continue to grow stronger, Engro Foundation sends its best wishes to the People of Germany on this German National Day
http://fp.brecorder.com/2017/10/20171003223149/
DA to build
P302-million biotech center in Nueva Ecija
October 3, 2017
The Department of Agriculture
(DA) will construct a P302-million biotechnology center in Nueva Ecija, which
will allow the government to improve crop productivity and create new crop
varieties.
Philippine Rice Research
Institute (PhilRice), an attached agency of the DA, said the bulk of the
funding, or about P277 million, would be sourced from the Public Law (PL) 480
of the United States. The remaining P25 million would be shouldered by the
PhilRice.
“The goal of constructing this
center is to generate improved technologies, increase productivity and enhance
commercial value of the DA’s priority crops, such as rice, abaca, coconut,
white and yellow corn, cotton, cassava, sweet potato, yam, tomato and
eggplant,” Roel R. Suralta, head of the DA’s Crop Biotechnology Center, said in
a statement on October 3.
“Our submitted proposal was
recommended by the DA and we were able to get P277 million for this project
from the US food-aid program. The remaining P25 million came from PhilRice,”
Suralta added, saying the Nueva Ecija facility would be the DA’s biggest
biotechnology center.
Suralta, who is also the
team leader of the Golden Rice project, added the budget will cover the
construction of new buildings, purchase of state-of-the-art biotechnology
equipment and laboratory furniture, and monitoring and evaluation of the
project in coordination with the Philippine Council for Agriculture and
Fisheries.
“The center will not only provide
equipment and facilities, but also training and support to Filipino researchers
who will venture in the field of biotechnology. It also aims to build a network
among local and international researchers to sustain and continually advance
biotechnology in the Philippines,” he said.
Enacted in 1954, the PL 480
refers to a US legislation, which mandates the US to use its agricultural
productivity to enhance the food security of developing
countries.
countries.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/da-to-build-p302-million-biotech-center-in-nueva-ecija/
Chinese experts hold awareness sessions for hybrid rice
cultivation
October 03, 2017
ISLAMABAD: A group of Chinese hybrid-rice researchers and experts
along with local scientists has visited more than 100 rice farms across the
country under the ‘Travelling Rice Seminar’ initiative.The travelling seminar
was designed by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and Chinese Yuan
Longping High-tech Agriculture Company and aims to boost hybrid rice
cultivation in the country.
According to Programme Coordinator and Member Plant Science PARC
Dr Anjum Ali, the experts also visited research stations, agricultural
universities and seed outlets of different companies to exploit the cultivation
of hybrid rice.
The Chinese experts travelled to Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Punjab,
Sindh and Balochistan in order to create awareness about the cultivation of
hybrid rice among growers.
“This was a month-long activity in which a group of hybrid rice
researchers from China comprising 12 scientists trained the local scientists,
seed producers and field extension departments of the provincial governments,”
he added.
He said the main aim of this joint initiative is to enhance per
acre crop productivity, increase profitability and produce surplus commodity
for exports enhancement.
“In order to further enhance the local rice output, China and
Pakistan have decided to work together for conducting joint awareness
programmes to adopt hybrid rice seeds,” he added.
The Chinese scientists trained 30 Pakistani agriculture scientists
who were selected from across the country.Dr Ali said the Chinese experts will
also impart training to the members of the provincial field extension
departments on hybrid rice cultivation.In addition, the activity will also help
in capacity building of local experts from all over the country in order to
promote hybrid rice techniques.
Road-shows and field visits were organised across rice-growing
areas to address issues and challenges faced in promotion of hybrid rice seed,
he added.He further said a revolutionary hybrid rice seed has been developed
recently by the Chinese researchers, which would help Pakistani farmers to
enhance significantly their per acre yield, hence the country would be able to
export more rice, he added.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1361298
A multitude of reasons for the fall in exports
The government has finally conceded that the conflict between its
trade and monetary policies was one of the key reasons behind the continuously
declining exports, as nearly 45 products lost competitiveness in the
international market since 2013.In a comprehensive report to parliament, the
Ministry of Commerce candidly explained what went wrong with exports during the
tenure of the current government.
There is a long list of endogenous
and exogenous factors that are affecting Pakistan’s export competitiveness in
the region.On the endogenous side the most important factor is the conflict
between the tariff policy and monetary policy. Currency appreciation in
relation to competitors like India and Bangladesh is affecting competitiveness.
Moreover, import tariff on the export inputs has further added to the cost of
production.
Secondly, Pakistan’s exports are
highly concentrated in limited items like cotton and cotton manufacturers,
leather, rice and a few more products. These constitute more than 72 per cent
of total exports during 2016-17 with cotton and cotton manufacturers alone
contributing 60.1pc.
Besides this narrow export basket,
exports are also dominated by primary and intermediate goods rather than
value-added finished products; for instance 74pc of food items and 40pc textile
exports are primary commodities.
In a comprehensive report to
parliament, the Ministry of Commerce candidly explained what went wrong with
exports during the tenure of the current government.There are also multiple
supply side cons traints — severe shortage of energy supply, poor quality of
infrastructure, outdated technology, lack of export culture, and weak contract
enforcements.
Investment in export sectors has
remained disturbingly low, as a cut-throat competition with emerging players
such as Bangladesh and Vietnam has made margins fairly unattractive.
As a result of low levels of
investment, exporters are not geared to position themselves against changing
consumer preferences in partner countries.
Diversifying the export market is a
major irritant in the enhancement of export proceeds. More than 50pc exports
rely on only six markets — the United States, China, Afghanistan, United Arab
Emirates, Britain and Germany.
Trade potential in regional markets
remained highly under-exploited. These markets are the natural extension of the
domestic market due to similarity of consumption patterns, short lead time and
low delivery costs.
A third factor is the low production
of certain commodities that have a high local demand. For instance, local
demand for cement has increased while its availability as surpluses reduced for
exports purposes.
At a World Bank seminar on export
competitiveness, Secretary Commerce Younus Dagha — while admitting that
Pakistan’s competitiveness has been under immense pressure for some time — said
the government was taking all possible measures to transform the export-related
challenges into opportunities.“Investment in human resource and agriculture is
imperative to make our products more competitive in international markets”, he
said.
The commerce ministry report also
listed exogenous factors that contribute in declining exports. A major factor
constraining export growth has been the slowdown in the economies of Pakistan’s
major importing partners— China, and the EU. Stagnation in these economies led
to low demand for Pakistani goods.
According to the WTO, total world
exports declined by 3.3pc in 2016. In a few of Pakistan’s major importing
partners’ economies, a shift in demand has been noticed.
Secretary Commerce Younus Dagha said
the government was taking all possible measures to transform export-related
challenges into opportunities
China has continued to reduce its
demand for Pakistani yarn and fabric as competing countries are undercutting
their prices significantly. Moreover, China is now more inclined towards
high-tech products instead of low-tech products like textiles and footwear.
A change in taste and preferences in
global demand has also been seen. The market for man-made fibre products is
expanding at a fast pace whereas Pakistan’s textile exports remain
predominately based on cotton.
Another factor hurting exports is
the depreciation in major currencies. The Euro is approaching parity with the
dollar and has depreciated 11pc since the start of 2015. As a result of this
depreciation, Pakistan’s exports competitiveness has been affected in the
European market.
On the other hand, export of basmati
and non-basmati rice varieties declined mainly because of a shift in demand
from key markets like Saudi Arabia and UAE, away from Pakistani rice to other
countries. The demand for cement also dropped mainly due to low demand from
South Africa and Afghanistan.
But contrary to these factors, SDPI
Deputy Executive Director, Dr Vaqar Ahmad, explained the different dynamics of
export competitiveness in Pakistan and said that to improve, both the public
and private sector would need to collectively find solutions.
“These may include regulatory
constraints faced by businesses, rising cost of doing business in several key
sectors and anti-export bias seen in the prevalent tax and tariff structure”,
he said.
The limited entry of Pakistani
enterprises in the global value and supply chains, insufficient trade
facilitation measures as well as a lack of synchronised support from various
government bodies at federal and provincial level, uncertain availability of
export credit for small and medium enterprises, and an exchange rate regime —
which is not based on economic fundamentals — were the key areas that needed
work, Dr Vaqar said
http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/multitude-reasons-fall-exports/
NATIONAL NEWS
Plans To Cut
Down Rice Imports
It will take at least five years
for Papua New Guinea to start producing its own rice for export and feed for
its eight million people.
This is according to Agriculture
and Livestock Minister, Benny Allan.He noted that at present, the PNG
Government spends about K600 million a year on rice imports, and there are now
plans to cut down on this despite consumption of rice increasing five percent
every year.
Mr Allan, in his response to
Menyamya MP, Thomas Pelika, said there are at least five companies that are in
the process of producing rice locally – one of which is Naime Rice.Mr Allan was
taken to task by Mr Pelika during Question Time in Parliament last week about
the government’s plans to have rice grown locally and help with job creation
for provinces like Menyamya.Mr Allan said that there are still some legal
issues to sort out before the K7 billion Naime Rice takes its place and starts
full operation, especially the quota and tax concession.
“Rice has become a staple food
for Papua New Guineans, and PNG’s biggest importer of rice is Trukai Industries
Ltd, which is a big player,” he said.“There are 300,000 tons a year, and we
spend more than K500 million on rice annually, and this government since last
year is trying to have rice grown locally in PNG,” he said.
“In the rice industry in PNG,
Trukai has been in the country for more than 47 years and holds more than 80
percent of the market. Trukai has started planting rice in the Markham Valley –
400 hectares involving the local people there, with support of the local member
and will expand from 2000 hectares, and we expect to harvest about 20,000
tons,” Mr Allan said.
“We want to encourage all players
to grow rice locally. We have other players coming on board – there’s one,
Homestate, and we have new interest also from Naime, which is trying to do rice
production in Central. We have an agreement in place, and we are looking at
that agreement closely.
“There are two issues raised,
quota and tax concession, that we are looking at. Once done, we will have Naime
on board. We want to encourage more local production. In terms of rice, we are
already getting growers with an aim to increase local production.”
http://postcourier.com.pg/plans-cut-rice-imports/
TOP STOIES
Agency To Place
Emphasis On Native Food Crops
October
4, 2017
BY LEIAO GEREGA
Increased reliance on foreign
produce has led Fresh Produce Development Agency to place emphasis on native
crops.One of the primary concerns is high rice imports and its local
consumption.Speaking at the opening of the new FPDA building recently general
manager, Mark Worinu said five per cent rice consumption annually suggests an
approach to control the importation and the need to localise the product.
At least K600 million is spent
yearly on rice import.Mr Worinu encouraged people to support locally grown
produce to help local farmers and save money spent on imports so that income
can be generated within.He said cancelling rice imports or any other imported
good for that matter should also come with a huge awareness on local food
production with emphasis on its nutritive and economic value.
“We have been taking things for
granted, but in fact they (local foods) are fundamental component of our
livelihood and what FPDA is doing with the Australian government support, one
of the projects that we are supporting is the indigenous crops in PNG, and
that’s the time we will like to really develope.Everyone is jumping onto the
bandwagon on rice, and if we can’t stop the trend it will be really bad for the
country.”
Mr Woruni said FPDA with the help
of the Australian Government is looking at sweet potato as one of the biggest
crop projects at K10 million.“We have to go out in a big way by making the
awareness and the importance of having kaukau and other local food.”Meanwhile,
he said technologies and planting materials have been developed to do away with
pesticides so that people can get good productivity out of small portions of
land.
The project is being promoted in
the highlands and FPDA is looking at expanding into Alotau and other coastal areas.Earlier
in April, Independent Consumer and Competition Commission said they are fully
aware that PNG has been relying too much and spending a lot of money on
imported rice.In the report, he said the decision to monitor rice prices was to
support any incentives for domestic cultivation and production of rice to
create jobs and generate income for local rice farmers and the economy.
http://postcourier.com.pg/agency-place-emphasis-native-food-crops/
Zim splashes $107m on
maize imports
ZIMBABWE splashed $107 million on maize imports in the first eight months
of the year at a time the country is boasting of a bumper harvest, latest trade
data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) has shown.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
This came as government indicated it had stopped issuing grain
import permits in February and that no maize imports were allowed at the
borders following a bumper harvest realised this year.However, data released by
ZimStat showed that the country imported maize worth $107 million in the first
eight months to August this year.The imports came despite government praising
command agriculture, which was seen as an import substitution exercise.Command
agriculture was unveiled last year to ensure food security and to reduce
dependency on imports. It had a budget of $500 million under which it aimed to
produce 2 million tonnes of maize from 400 000 hectares of land.
Contacted for comment, Agriculture deputy minister (cropping),
Davis Marapira, said if those figures were not from his ministry, he would not
take them seriously.“Zimbabwe stopped importation of maize in February 2017.
Any delivery or deliveries that came after three or so months later were
already paid for. We can’t import maize because all Grain Marketing Board
depots are full now,” Marapira said.
“There is no reason for the country to continue importing maize. If
those figures are not from my ministry, we don’t take them seriously.”Zimstat
is the national statistics agency and a source of reliable data.The country is
projected to harvest more than 2 million metric tonnes of grain, including
small grains such as sorghum and millet, following good rains received this
year.
On average, Zimbabwe needs about 1,8 million metric tonnes for
consumption, including small grains such as millet and sorghum annually.During
the period under review, the country also imported durum wheat and rice worth
$63 million and $62 million, respectively.Most of the imports in the period
under review were consumptive products such as bottled water, soap, mobile
phone handsets, electronics, vehicle spares, vehicles, generators and
second-hand vehicles.
In total, Zimbabwe’s trade deficit narrowed by 27% to $1,4bn after
imports amounted to $3,6bn, while exports trailed at $2,2bn.During the same
period last year, the country’s imports were $3,3bn against exports of $1,5bn,
giving trade deficit of $1,8bn.For 2017, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa has
forecast a $1,5bn trade deficit
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/10/zim-splashes-107m-maize-imports/
SUMMARY
o A kilogramme of Pishori rice at Mwea Irrigation Scheme was Monday selling at more
than Sh200 per kilogramme, up from Sh145 in January.
o Rice production at Mwea dropped from average yields of 830,000
bags in the season ended March last year to 498,000 bags in the season ended
March this year, a 40 per cent decline.
o This has seen the value of rice imports increase to Sh15.89
billion in the six months to June, up from Sh6.6 billion in the same period
last year.
Rice prices increase by 38 per cent on production drop
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2017 6:00
MARGARET WANGU AND JUDY WARUGURU PLANT RICE ON THEIR
PADDY AT MWEA IRRIGATION SCHEME. PHOTO | BONIFACE MWANGI
A steep decline in rice
production has pushed up the retail price by 38 per cent, piling pressure on
households that are already grappling with the high cost of living in a
sluggish economy.
A kilogramme of Pishori rice
at Mwea Irrigation Scheme was Monday selling at more
than Sh200 per kilogramme, up from Sh145 in January.Mwea is Kenya’s largest
irrigation scheme, whose performance impacts the volumes of the grain available
in the market as well as the pricing.
The National Irrigation Board
(NIB) said rice production at Mwea dropped from average yields of 830,000 bags
in the season ended March last year to 498,000 bags in the season ended March
this year, a 40 per cent decline.
This has seen the value of rice
imports increase to Sh15.89 billion in the six months to June, up from Sh6.6 billion
in the same period last year.The volume of imported rice rose to 353,082 tonnes
from 261,819 tonnes in the same period last year.A kilo of Daawat Basmati rice
was Monday selling at Sh237, Daawat Aromati (Sh217), Sunrice Mwea Pishori
(Sh200) and Pearl Kenya Pishori (Sh249) at Nairobi supermarkets.
Also Read
“The cost of rice has been increasing
since January following a drop in output at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in the wake of a severe
drought that affected the flow of water,” said Innocent Ariemba, a manager at
the scheme.
Mwea accounts for 80 per cent of
Kenya’s rice production, making it a major determinant of the country’s ability
to meet annual demand.Kenya produces 150,000 tonnes of rice a year, leaving a
250,000 tonnes deficit that is met through imports.
NIB said River Thiba, whose flow
on a normal season is six cubic meters per second, declined to two cubic meters
per second late last year, reducing the amount of water at the scheme.
Mwea Irrigation Scheme requires a total flow of
seven cubic meters for effective production, Mr Ariemba said.
NIB said it expected the
situation to normalise from November when the crop that is currently on the
farm is harvested.
In event of good rains, Mwea is
expected to produce up to 95 per cent of the required yields in the current
season that started in April and ultimately bring down retail prices.
The drought, which took a toll on
production early this year, has affected hundreds of growers who rely on the
crop as their economic mainstay. With good rains, farmers in Mwea produce rice
worth Sh7 billion a year.
Kenya’s rice consumption has been
growing at the rate of 10 per cent a year to stand at 400,000 tonnes, according
to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The acute shortage of rice comes
at a time when research findings by Egerton University-based Tegemeo Research
Institute indicate that rice is becoming an important staple due to changing lifestyles
and growth of the middle income population.
The national rice development
strategy had last year projected that by 2017 the demand for rice would surpass
the current estimates of 400,000 tonnes.
NIB is about to start
construction of Sh16 billion Thiba Dam in Mwea to create a reservoir that is
expected to play a key role in addressing the challenges of water shortage as
it seeks to maintain a stable supply of the produce
Rice
hulls, fatty acid combo may help flush PEDv from feed mills
By Aerin Einstein-Curtis
03-Oct-2017 - Last updated on
03-Oct-2017 at 11:12 GMT
PEDv has the potential to spread in
feed or dust, but the use of a rice hull and medium chain fatty acid flush may
help reduce disease presence in a feed mill, says a researcher. A team of
researchers at Kansas State University has been examining the potential role
for the flushing process when the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) has
been found in a feed mill/
Jordan Gebhardt. corresponding
researcher for the project, reported the team's findings at the American
Association of Swine Veterinarians meeting in Denver, Colorado.The research is
currently, however, being pulled together for peer review and publication, he
said.
The team wanted to see if there was
anything that could be done to reduce infection once a virus has got into a
feed facility, he said.“Once [it is there] in a feed mill, what do we do about
it?” he told FeedNavigator.
“Is there anything we can do to get
it out [of the mill] or make the risk as low as possible?”
Project details
The project looked at the production
process switch already in use in feed mills, such as the changeover to
production of a medicated feed from a non-medicated feed run, said Gebhardt.
One technique used in that process
is to flush feed or run another batch of feed between the medicated feed and
the non-medicated feed.“A lot of the background and thought process is
similar,” he said. “We decided on rice hulls because it’s a fairly low-cost
ingredient, it’s a carrier ingredient and [used in] vitamin premixes – and it’s
abrasive – potentially there’s a level of abrasiveness when it runs through the
equipment.”Using a flush of treated rice hulls is also a more practical process
than using wet decontamination in a commercial size mill, the researchers said.
The team ran a batch of feed that
did not include the PEDv virus through its laboratory-size feed mixer to
establish that the feed and equipment did not carry the virus, Gebhardt said.
Then a batch of feed was inoculated with the virus and run through the machine,
he said.That contaminated feed was followed by the rice hull flushes. The hulls
used included regular rice hulls, hulls that been mixed with a commercial
formaldehyde product and hulls mixed with a 2% or 10% medium-chain fatty acid
blend (MCFA).
Samples of the dust generated by
running feed and the rice hulls through the feed mill were taken multiple
times, he said.
Dust contamination findings
After the feed inoculated with PEDv
went through the equipment, a following flush of untreated rice hulls was found
to yield several samples that contained PEDv material, the researchers said.
Three of six samples taken had indications of the virus.
For samples of the rice hulls mixed
with the formaldehyde product and collected, one in six was found to carry a
presence of PEDv, they said. Two of six samples taken of rice hulls with 2% of
the medium chain fatty acid mixture also showed PEDv traces.However, no PEDv
RNA was found in the samples of rice hulls mixed with 10% MCFA solution, they
said.
After the small-scale trial, a batch
of feed inoculated with PEDv was run through a production-scale feed mixer and
bucket elevator followed by a batch of rice hulls with 10% MCFA solution.
No PEDv RNA was found in samples of
feed or rice hulls that were run through the system after the
chemically-treated rice hulls, they said. But one of the samples taken from the
rice hull and MCFA mixture used to flush the inoculated feed carried detectable
amounts of PEDv.
Additionally, dust collected from
the equipment after the inoculated feed went through the system contained a
large amount of PEDv RNA, they said. When given to pigs, it was found to be
infective.
Although there was an expectation
that the dust generated by the contaminated feed would contain the pathogen, it
was a surprise to see how much was present, said Gebhardt. “In the dust we
collected, the ct value was slightly lower, meaning the presence of more
genetic material in the dust than was in the feed,” he added.Dust samples
collected following the MCFA rice hull flush carried a smaller amount of the
disease RNA, the researchers said. That dust was not found to be infective.
However, it is too soon to say if
the flushing process could be part of a process established to help
decontaminate the facility, said Gebhardt.
“That’s the million-dollar question
– the way we collected the samples, all we can say is that the feed didn’t
contain genetic material,” he said. “But we can’t say that the equipment was
decontaminated.” Additionally, more work
would need to be done to refine the process, he said. “At this point we don’t
have any definitive recommendations to how much to use, or how frequently, but
there could be some benefit,” he added.
There are a lot of unanswered questions
that remain, he said. “But what it showed was that using rice hulls or other
materials – potentially there is something we can do to minimize the chance of
disease.” However, Gebhardt said another
area for attention would be on improving feed mill biosecurity to prevent a
biological agent, like PEDv, from entering.
“Once a pathogen enters a feed mill
it’s very hard to get out,” he said. “Potentially a solution to minimizing the
risk is to implement procedures to keep it out in the first place. Veterinarians
have been practicing biosecurity for decades – how to keep pathogens out at a
farm level – it may be some of those thought processes in terms of keeping
disease out that we could start to adopt.”
Global Organic
Rice Market Report Analysis (Years 2011-2017) and Market Forecast (Years
2018-2023)
By
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Global Organic
Rice Market Report Analysis and Forecast up to 2023
Global Organic
Rice market research report highlights vital frameworks of
Organic Rice industry that includes market favourable circumstances,
objectives, tendencies, drivers, and concerns. It also throws a light on growth
rate, current and fresh news of the Organic Rice market along with different
crucial industrial developments, top leading Organic Rice industry players, and
product modernization. Global Organic Rice report covers different provisions
and regions and gives the market share of Organic Rice industry covering each
region. Correlation between the current market tendencies and competing regions
along with leading market players are covered in the Organic Rice report.
Different challenging market segments of Organic Rice industry are also
highlighted in the report.
The report titled ‘Global Organic Rice market’ quotes out basic
propulsive enforcements of the Organic Rice industry that will be fruitful for
the end-users. Different business patterns, cautions, and the sector
structures, its purchasing benchmarks and adversities faced are also cited in
the Organic Rice research report. Further, it covers the scope of the Organic
Rice industry, its magnitude, and application in different areas. The overall
revenue produced all over the globe and division of basic products according to
their types determines the entire market size of the Organic Rice industry.
Global Organic Rice market is principally divided into dominant
marketing players, applications, product types, and leading geographical zones.
Vital company details such as company profiles, product specifications, price
and sale of the product, product description, and contact information of also
mentioned in the report.
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Organic Rice
market separation on the basis of geographical zones:
The Organic Rice market is escalated over the globe which
includes Latin America (Middle and Africa), North America (Mexico, Canada, and
the USA), Asia-Pacific (Korea, Japan, China and India). Asia-Pacific countries
such as India and China will show advancement in the Organic Rice market thus
increasing the number of job opportunities. North America has shown a
tremendous increase and technological expansion in Organic Rice industry over
last few decades. Other European countries including Russia, France, Germany,
Italy and the UK is also covered in the Organic Rice market research report.
Global Organic
Rice market Company Coverage (Main Products,Price, Sales Revenue, Gross
Margin):
Doguets Rice
Randallorganic
Sanjeevani Organics
Kahang Organic Rice
RiceSelect
Texas Best Organics
CAPITAL RICE
YINCHUAN
URMATT
Vien Phu
SUNRISE foodstuff JSC
KHAOKHO TALAYPU
BEIDAHUANG
Yanbiangaoli
Jinjian
HUICHUN FILED RICE
Dingxiang
Heilongjiang Taifeng
Heilongjiang Julong
Randallorganic
Sanjeevani Organics
Kahang Organic Rice
RiceSelect
Texas Best Organics
CAPITAL RICE
YINCHUAN
URMATT
Vien Phu
SUNRISE foodstuff JSC
KHAOKHO TALAYPU
BEIDAHUANG
Yanbiangaoli
Jinjian
HUICHUN FILED RICE
Dingxiang
Heilongjiang Taifeng
Heilongjiang Julong
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Global Organic
Rice market separation on the basis of Applications Coverage (Market Size &
Forecast, Different Demand Market, Consumer Profile etc.):
Direct edible
Deep processing
Deep processing
Global Organic
Rice market separation on the basis of Product Types Coverage (Market Size
& Forecast, Major Vendors of Type etc.):
Polished glutinous rice(sticky rice)
Indica(long-shaped rice)
Polished round-grained rice
Indica(long-shaped rice)
Polished round-grained rice
https://hitechexaminer.com/2017/10/global-organic-rice-market-report-analysis-years-2011-2017-and-market-forecast-years-2018-2023/
Agricultural research
examines environmentally-conscious practices
By Emily Moore
Oct 4, 2017
No-till farming, an agricultural
technique being studied at K-State — combined with other practices — has the
potential to help reduce agricultural impacts on carbon emissions by as much as
one gigaton, Chuck Rice, distinguished professor in agronomy, said. Carbon
emissions contribute to the greenhouse gases that warm the planet.
“A combination of no-till, cover
crops, crop rotations could sequester one gigaton of (carbon), which is the
equivalent to 800 million cars,” Rice said.
An almost 30-year research
project conducted at K-State finds agricultural practices that help to offset
carbon emissions. One practice is no-till farming, and the research on it was
spearheaded by Rice.
Rice said the research began in
1989. The idea behind no-till agriculture is to not disturb the soil.The
remains of old crops and vegetation are left on the field, helping hold in more
moisture.
The additional moisture promotes
microbial growth within the soil. These microbes will help the soil be more
capable of absorbing carbon, which is part of the idea of carbon sequestration.
Much of this idea is present in Rice’s research, and he said it can help with
water erosion as well.
“Managing the soils, even a small
change can make a huge benefit to the atmosphere,” Rice said. “Plus, then you
get the benefits of water retention, and when it’s covered, there’s less
erosion, so it’s actually better for soil quality by less disturbance or by
increasing carbon in the soil.”
Rice said this research —
partnered with other projects also being done at K-State, such as research on
grazing systems — could show ways for agriculture to become carbon neutral, or
close to it. This means the agricultural system would be taking in at least
close to as much carbon as it is putting out.
“A combination of reducing
nitrogen oxide emissions in ag cropland and grazing systems by promoting carbon
storage in soil, [then] ag could almost be carbon neutral,” Rice said.
One reason this particular
project is noteworthy is its unusual length within its field. Rice said having
a study spanning almost 30 years is rare. The length of the project has allowed
Rice and his colleagues to examine factors such as yield rates.Results like
this are part of what Johanie Rivera-Zayas, graduate student in agronomy, said
she loves about the job.
“At the end of the year, you can
get a lot of results that go to the field,” Rivera-Zayas said. “It’s results
that go to extension are results that we can apply, that people use, and we can
see the changes in the farm. We can see the changes in the food security of our
town or our city. It’s very rewarding.”
K-State is involved in several
research projects involving the environment. These projects range from water
quality and quantity to research on grazing system effects. Rice said climate
change research even spans across colleges, and many different departments are taking
part.
“K-State is actively engaged in
climate change research, both here in agronomy [and] biology with the Konza
Prairie,” Rice said. “Both these projects I described, we are looking at the
social components as well. We have faculty in sociology that are working on
this issue. It really takes a multidisciplinary team to look at these issues
from agronomy, ag economics, sociology, biology.”
In fact, both Rice and Daniel
Devlin, director of the Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the
Environment and the Kansas Water Resources Institute, said K-State is a key
player in climate change research.“We play a major role in the state on
environmental protection, conservation,” Devlin said. “Recommendations come out
of K-State for a lot of these, for environmental protection around
agriculture.”Rice said the end results of these practices are still positive,
even from the point of view of those who do not believe in climate change.
“Working in ag, you don’t have to
agree with the concept of climate change, but by improving soil and increasing
water availability, it’s still a good thing,” Rice said.Devlin said he has a
dream in which students who are majoring in agriculture now take the elements
of preserving the Earth and put them to regular practice.
“I hope that when [K-State
students] become the leaders, that they just look at environmental protection
as just another part of their business, just like choosing a seed or choosing
what variety they’re going to plant of crop or how much fertilizer they’re
going to apply or what kind of tillage they have,” Devlin said. “They look at
the environment as just another one of those things and not so much as a
challenge, just another part of it.”
http://www.kstatecollegian.com/2017/10/04/agricultural-research-examines-environmentally-conscious-practices/
DA to build
P302-million biotech center in Nueva Ecija
October 3, 2017
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will construct a P302-million
biotechnology center in Nueva Ecija, which will allow the government to improve
crop productivity and create new crop varieties.Philippine Rice Research
Institute (PhilRice), an attached agency of the DA, said the bulk of the
funding, or about P277 million, would be sourced from the Public Law (PL) 480
of the United States. The remaining P25 million would be shouldered by the
PhilRice.“The goal of constructing this center is to generate improved
technologies, increase productivity and enhance commercial value of the DA’s
priority crops, such as rice, abaca, coconut, white and yellow corn, cotton,
cassava, sweet potato, yam, tomato and eggplant,” Roel R. Suralta, head of the
DA’s Crop Biotechnology Center, said in a statement on October 3.
“Our submitted proposal was recommended by the DA and we were
able to get P277 million for this project from the US food-aid program. The
remaining P25 million came from PhilRice,” Suralta added, saying the Nueva
Ecija facility would be the DA’s biggest biotechnology center.
Suralta, who is also the team leader of the Golden Rice
project, added the budget will cover the construction of new buildings,
purchase of state-of-the-art biotechnology equipment and laboratory furniture,
and monitoring and evaluation of the project in coordination with the
Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries.
“The center will not only provide equipment and facilities, but
also training and support to Filipino researchers who will venture in the field
of biotechnology. It also aims to build a network among local and international
researchers to sustain and continually advance biotechnology in the
Philippines,” he said.
Enacted in 1954, the PL 480 refers to a US legislation, which
mandates the US to use its agricultural productivity to enhance the food
security of developing
countries.
countries.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/da-to-build-p302-million-biotech-center-in-nueva-ecija/
