As rains grow erratic, Pakistan taps irrigation to protect Punjab
crops
LAHORE: Most of Tajammul Abbas’s 17
acres of farmland produces nothing but fodder for his buffalo and three
goats. His land, and that around him in Punjab , depends on rain to grow
crops and rainfall has become much more uncertain as climate change takes hold,
leading to lost harvests.
But things are now looking more
promising for him and for about 384,000 other people living in the Pind Dadan
Khan-Khushab area, three hours drive from Lahore, after the government on
Friday announced plans to build an irrigation system for the area.
The effort is expected to convert
68,000 hectares of minimally productive farmland to full production, using
water from the Jhelum River.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on
Friday approved a $275 million loan for the project, which is supported by the
Indus River System Authority (IRSA), a government agency that oversees water
sharing between provinces.
“Having a sufficient and effective
irrigation system is fundamental in the development of Pakistan’s agriculture
sector, a significant driver of the country’s economy,” said Ryutaro Takaku, a
water specialist at the bank’s Central and West Asia Department.
The project ”will help increase
agricultural production and improve food security in Pakistan”, he noted in a
press release.
Agriculture contributes 20 percent
of Pakistan’s gross domestic product and employs 42 percent of the labor force,
with Punjab producing more than 80 percent of agricultural output, according
to Pakistan Economic Survey data.
Pakistan’s semi-arid climate means
more than 90 percent of harvests depend on irrigation through the Indus Basin
Irrigation System, which draws water from the Indus River.
However, about 20 percent of the
country’s cultivable area – including the project area, bounded by salt hills
on the northwest and the Jhelum River in the southwest – is outside the system.
Making end meets
Abbas, who farms in the area, said
a growing lack of water for crops has made surviving on the land increasingly
difficult.“We are barely making ends meet. We have had only 2,800 kilograms of
wheat from two acres of land. The rest of our land remained uncultivated. We
have a small stock of animals, some of whom we sell whenever we can,” Abbas
told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview from Soduwall, his
village.
The 40-year-old said one of his
brothers has joined the army and another has gone abroad for work, thanks to a
lack of income from the farm. His wife, he said, has to walk two hours each day
to fetch water in the arid area.
Officials said the irrigation
project will involve building a 117-kilometre canal to carry water diverted
from the Jhelum River, 97 kilometers of secondary canals, and a range of other
structures – some of which may require those now living on the land to
relocate.The system aims to catch floodwater and monsoon runoff at heavy
rainfall times of the year and channel it into the irrigation network.“There
are about 128 structures that would need to be dismantled and land will have to
be bought from people for the irrigation system. But there is no other option,”
said Muhammad Javed Iqbal Goraya, a water expert with South Asian Conservation
Network, a non-governmental organization.In an area with poor rainfall,
“irrigation (is) essential for crop production. The irrigation network will
help the farmers in the area to adapt to climate changes and have more crops,”
he said.
The area, if irrigated, could grow
wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize, and other crops, said Goraya.The project
will introduce advanced technologies such as laser land leveling and
high-efficiency irrigation, according to the ADB press release. About
6,000 farmers also will have the opportunity to learn climate-smart agriculture
practices and more profitable farm management, the release said.
Goraya said that managing the new
water resource and existing water with care will be key to ensuring the
sustainability of agriculture in the area.
The project envisions 485 water
user associations being formed to have a say in planning, designing and
constructing the new irrigation system.
“Such associations and committees
have been very helpful in some other areas of the country in managing
watercourses and collecting water charges from users,” Goraya said.For
landholders such as Abbas the new irrigation system offers promising new
opportunities.“Water through this system will be like gold,” Abbas predicted.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/248720-as-rains-grow-erratic-pakistan-taps-irrigation-to-protect-punjab-crops
Senators for review of FTAs with
China
The lawmakers in Senate on Friday called for immediate review of
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with China, saying any delay in this regard may
turn Pakistan into an industrial zone of China like Kashghar. They insisted
that businessmen and traders should be taken onboard while reviewing the FTAs
and these agreements must be presented in the Parliament, particularly in
Senate, for consideration and approval.
Some of the senators contended that China had signed CPEC with Pakistan because of Gwadar but the entire Balochistan province was being overlooked which needs to be addressed. The senators were discussing an admitted adjournment motion by Atique Sheikh of MQM-P for non-profitability of FTAs with China as well as non-utilization of concessions granted by China under the first phase of these agreements in order to promote local industry.
They regretted that it was not the job of federal secretaries to thrash out and sign such agreements as there is a dire need to involve all the stakeholders and take them onboard before finalizing such agreements. The senators from Balochistan including PkMAP's Usman Khan Kakar and Sardar Azam Musakhail and Kulsoom Parveen of PML-N, were particularly upset over the way their province was being overlooked with regards to CPEC and developing Gwadar port.
"In the given scene of FTAs, Pakistan will become a market of capitalist and imperialist forces for dumping their products," cautioned Senator Kakar, adding it will be disastrous for the country and the Parliament must step in to rectify the flaws in these FTAs. He said that labor class of the country must not be punished as there is nothing for the laborers despite billions of rupees projects being undertaken in the country.
Senator Mohsin Leghari pointed out that at present, the total volume of Pakistan-China trade was $12.2 billion: Islamabad's share in it was merely $1.6 billion and the rest belongs to Beijing. "It is a matter of serious concern and under these circumstances, we cannot compete with China when there is such a meager trade margin in our favor," he maintained.
He said it is good that Pakistan-China friendship is so strong and time-tested but it might be noted that despite having signed an FTA, on Pakistan's main export ie cotton-related items, China had imposed 3.7 percent regulatory duty while for ASEAN states, it was just 0.4 percent and 3.5 percent for India's such exports, with which it had no such agreement.
For Pakistan's rice, he said that there was 65 percent duty imposed by China but for ASEAN countries, it was just 33 percent, which he warned, may further increase the trade deficit after inception of the CPEC. He proposed that in $43 billion investment from China, Pakistan should focus on engaging its local industry and laborers, adding there is a need to produce electricity towers and cables to feed local industry instead of relying on import.
Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak of PTI wondered why Pakistan signed 7-8 FTAs and PTAs when it was turning out to be the loser and the other side as winner. "There are a total of 7550 tariff lines of which Pakistan used only 335...is there anything wrong with these agreements or with our exporters and businessmen?" he questioned.
He wondered how the widening trade gap can be bridged if cost of production, particularly of energy, remains high. He also called for keeping the rupee floating against dollar and opposed restricting it to Rs 104-05 against one dollar and wanted it to be jacked up to Rs 120 to boost exports and curtail imports. He also wanted to know that China had been offered tax holiday but locals have been deprived of this.
Senator Mohsin Aziz, who also belongs to PTI, strongly opposed devaluing of rupee and said it would benefit a few, cautioning such a step would be very dangerous for the rest of the people. He said how Pakistan could reverse the trend of its falling exports if it fails to manage trade surplus and bring down cost of production which is very high.
He pointed out that India had given the status of Most Favored Nation to Pakistan yet it had been dominating the bilateral trade and one of the reasons is imposing of non-trade barriers. PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar complained that information on CPEC-related projects is not being shared with the CPEC committee.
He said the committee was to leave for China to seek answer to the questions that were not answered during the committee meetings by the government but the visit was postponed as Senate was to take up the 24th constitutional amendment bill. To this, Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani asked Senate Secretariat to inform him who is denying information to senators.
Senator Babar said they came to know that 91 per cent of the revenue from Gwadar port would go to China and 9 percent to Pakistan and added they were not informed when they had asked about Balochistan's share. He complained going beyond its powers, Nepra had included in electricity bills the cost of CPEC security. "But no one knows how much is the cost and when one looks at the economic side of the Gwadar project, where it costs half a dollar to desalinate 264 gallons of water but the local population of 0.2 million is looking for drinking water," he lamented.
Similarly, the toll tax collection contract would go to FWO on roads, connecting Gwadar but again no one knows how much would be the share of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as these would pass through these provinces. He called for transparency in security-related matters pertaining to CPEC and safeguarding Pakistan's interests.
PkMAP Senator Azam Musakhail claimed the two chairmen of CPEC-related committees - one of the parliamentary committee and the other of the Senate - favored China. Senator Kulsoom feared the future generations might face consequences of CPEC and insisted on strengthening Pakistan by exploiting this opportunity.
Some of the senators contended that China had signed CPEC with Pakistan because of Gwadar but the entire Balochistan province was being overlooked which needs to be addressed. The senators were discussing an admitted adjournment motion by Atique Sheikh of MQM-P for non-profitability of FTAs with China as well as non-utilization of concessions granted by China under the first phase of these agreements in order to promote local industry.
They regretted that it was not the job of federal secretaries to thrash out and sign such agreements as there is a dire need to involve all the stakeholders and take them onboard before finalizing such agreements. The senators from Balochistan including PkMAP's Usman Khan Kakar and Sardar Azam Musakhail and Kulsoom Parveen of PML-N, were particularly upset over the way their province was being overlooked with regards to CPEC and developing Gwadar port.
"In the given scene of FTAs, Pakistan will become a market of capitalist and imperialist forces for dumping their products," cautioned Senator Kakar, adding it will be disastrous for the country and the Parliament must step in to rectify the flaws in these FTAs. He said that labor class of the country must not be punished as there is nothing for the laborers despite billions of rupees projects being undertaken in the country.
Senator Mohsin Leghari pointed out that at present, the total volume of Pakistan-China trade was $12.2 billion: Islamabad's share in it was merely $1.6 billion and the rest belongs to Beijing. "It is a matter of serious concern and under these circumstances, we cannot compete with China when there is such a meager trade margin in our favor," he maintained.
He said it is good that Pakistan-China friendship is so strong and time-tested but it might be noted that despite having signed an FTA, on Pakistan's main export ie cotton-related items, China had imposed 3.7 percent regulatory duty while for ASEAN states, it was just 0.4 percent and 3.5 percent for India's such exports, with which it had no such agreement.
For Pakistan's rice, he said that there was 65 percent duty imposed by China but for ASEAN countries, it was just 33 percent, which he warned, may further increase the trade deficit after inception of the CPEC. He proposed that in $43 billion investment from China, Pakistan should focus on engaging its local industry and laborers, adding there is a need to produce electricity towers and cables to feed local industry instead of relying on import.
Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak of PTI wondered why Pakistan signed 7-8 FTAs and PTAs when it was turning out to be the loser and the other side as winner. "There are a total of 7550 tariff lines of which Pakistan used only 335...is there anything wrong with these agreements or with our exporters and businessmen?" he questioned.
He wondered how the widening trade gap can be bridged if cost of production, particularly of energy, remains high. He also called for keeping the rupee floating against dollar and opposed restricting it to Rs 104-05 against one dollar and wanted it to be jacked up to Rs 120 to boost exports and curtail imports. He also wanted to know that China had been offered tax holiday but locals have been deprived of this.
Senator Mohsin Aziz, who also belongs to PTI, strongly opposed devaluing of rupee and said it would benefit a few, cautioning such a step would be very dangerous for the rest of the people. He said how Pakistan could reverse the trend of its falling exports if it fails to manage trade surplus and bring down cost of production which is very high.
He pointed out that India had given the status of Most Favored Nation to Pakistan yet it had been dominating the bilateral trade and one of the reasons is imposing of non-trade barriers. PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar complained that information on CPEC-related projects is not being shared with the CPEC committee.
He said the committee was to leave for China to seek answer to the questions that were not answered during the committee meetings by the government but the visit was postponed as Senate was to take up the 24th constitutional amendment bill. To this, Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani asked Senate Secretariat to inform him who is denying information to senators.
Senator Babar said they came to know that 91 per cent of the revenue from Gwadar port would go to China and 9 percent to Pakistan and added they were not informed when they had asked about Balochistan's share. He complained going beyond its powers, Nepra had included in electricity bills the cost of CPEC security. "But no one knows how much is the cost and when one looks at the economic side of the Gwadar project, where it costs half a dollar to desalinate 264 gallons of water but the local population of 0.2 million is looking for drinking water," he lamented.
Similarly, the toll tax collection contract would go to FWO on roads, connecting Gwadar but again no one knows how much would be the share of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as these would pass through these provinces. He called for transparency in security-related matters pertaining to CPEC and safeguarding Pakistan's interests.
PkMAP Senator Azam Musakhail claimed the two chairmen of CPEC-related committees - one of the parliamentary committee and the other of the Senate - favored China. Senator Kulsoom feared the future generations might face consequences of CPEC and insisted on strengthening Pakistan by exploiting this opportunity.
Australia provides $500,000 to improve access for Punjab farmers
to quality seed
11:07
PM, November 25, 2017
The
Australian Government announces an AUD500,000 program to train around 4,000
smallholder farmers from Sheikhupura and
Gujranwala, Punjab , to produce quality seed ,
improve crop yield and gain better access to the market.The initiative is part
of the Australian Government’s Business Partnership Platform support to Engro
Corporation Limited Pakistan and Mennonite Economic Development Associates
(MEDA) Australia and aims to connect around 4,000
smallholder farmersfrom villages in Sheikhupura and Gujranwala
into a larger seed supply chain. The project will also
train and support farmers to produce their own quality seed and
register as seed suppliers.
The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Margaret Adamson said that engaging with the private sector is the cornerstone of Australia’s modernised aid program in Pakistan, supporting economic growth, incomes and jobs.
"The partnership lays the foundation to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmersand enable them, for the first time, to become part of Pakistan’s large seed supply chain for rice, wheat and vegetable. It will also benefit from MEDA’s expertise as an international economic development organisation that creates business solutions to tackle poverty in developing regions around the world,” Ms Adamson said.
The Business Partnership Platform aims to accelerate Australia’s collaboration with businesses in addressing development challenges around the world. The platform recently expanded to include 19 private sector partnerships around the world with the conclusion of the second round of submissions.
Engro Corporation Limited is one of Pakistan’s largest corporations and works in a range of agriculture commodities including seeds, fertilizers and food
The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Margaret Adamson said that engaging with the private sector is the cornerstone of Australia’s modernised aid program in Pakistan, supporting economic growth, incomes and jobs.
"The partnership lays the foundation to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmersand enable them, for the first time, to become part of Pakistan’s large seed supply chain for rice, wheat and vegetable. It will also benefit from MEDA’s expertise as an international economic development organisation that creates business solutions to tackle poverty in developing regions around the world,” Ms Adamson said.
The Business Partnership Platform aims to accelerate Australia’s collaboration with businesses in addressing development challenges around the world. The platform recently expanded to include 19 private sector partnerships around the world with the conclusion of the second round of submissions.
Engro Corporation Limited is one of Pakistan’s largest corporations and works in a range of agriculture commodities including seeds, fertilizers and food
IRRI scientist
develops BPH pest resistant gene
By Hemant Rout | Express News
Service | Published: 26th November 2017 02:06
AM |
Last Updated: 26th November 2017 08:16
AM | A+A A- |
BHUBANESWAR:
Odia agriculture scientist and a plant breeder at the Philippines-based
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Kshirod Jena has developed a high
potential resistance gene for protection against Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) which
is a cause of concern for Odisha farmers.Jena recently drew the attention of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during ASEAN Summit for his salinity resistant
rice varieties.A native of Kendrapara district, Jena has developed the Near
Isogenic Lines (NILs) of the IR24 rice variety. It is a short duration (about
100 days) variant with medium slender grain and good quality.
The NILs are
the first in the world and those have 10 different resistance genes inserted
into the susceptible variety IR24 by conventional breeding.As extensive use of
pesticides proved to be more harmful for environment and made the insects
pesticide resistance, Jena said his team started working on host-plant
resistance as an effective and environment-friendly approach to reducing insect
damage and increasing rice yield.“We have developed the NILs with different
high potential resistance genes for protection against BPH. I am helping the
Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) at Cuttack to use this in Odisha. Some
very good resistant lines are now in the pipeline. I have also cloned a new
resistance gene for BPH and I am sure my work will help to solve the problem in
future,” he told ‘The Express’ in an e-mail conversation.
Though earlier
agro scientists had discovered 30 genes linked to the plants’ resistance to the
BPH insects, those were not properly identified. Jena has successfully isolated
the actual genes and pinpointed their location in the rice chromosome. His team
has studied how these genes interact with the insects and understood the vector
protein and receptor protein interaction.He said these can be tested in the
fields against BPH population in Odisha and looked for the lines showing
resistance to the insects. The agronomic characteristics such as yield
potential of the lines in those areas also can be tested, Jena said and
suggested that part of his work can be taken up by CRRI and the lines put to
tests in the institute if they have those insects collected this season.
Since the BPH
infestations have intensified in many areas as the insects developed resistance
to widely used pesticides to overcome genetic resistance in plants, the
researchers at IRRI are combining different resistance genes that have been
identified through gene cloning. Instead of producing one kind of receptor
protein, the plant with cloned gene can produce three types of receptor
proteins to fight off the vector protein.
“We are making
a package of resistance genes and developing BPH resistant IRRI breeding lines
using IR24 variety. These genes can be transferred into other lines of Odisha
for cultivation in the affected areas. If the State Government seeks any
support, we are ready to extend help from IRRI. We can also provide seeds to
look for solutions to the current problem,” Jena added.
Hold off on pledge to
Saudis, Senate tells govt
By Irfan Ghauri
Published: November 24, 2017
The Gwadar Port, an integral part
of CPEC. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday asked the government
not to make any commitment on the terms of the Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism
Coalition (IMCTC) without bringing it to its notice.The matter was raised in
the upper house of parliament just two days before Defence Minister Khurram
Dastgir Khan’s sojourn to the Saudi capital for the formal launch of the
alliance.
On Sunday, Khan will attend the first
meeting of defence ministers of coalition countries, which will also outline
the coalition’s “strategy, governance, activities and future plans”.Speaking
during points of public importance segment, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator
Farhatullah Babar said a few months ago, then defence minister Khawaja Asif had
assured the house that the terms of reference for participation in the alliance
would be placed before the Senate before taking any decision.
Babar said the military commander of the
coalition has also been quoted as saying that the coalition encompasses four
key areas – ideology, communications, counterterrorism financing and military
to fight terrorism and to join other international security and peacekeeping
efforts.
Each of these areas, particularly the one
relating to ideology, would have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan, Babar
said. He demanded clarity on the issues involved and laying of facts before
Parliament.
Endorsing Babar’s contention, Senate
Chairman Raza Rabbani said that then defence minister Khawaja Asif, who is now
the foreign minister, had assured that the Senate would be taken on board
before joining any venture with the Saudi-led military alliance.
The alliance was announced in December 2015
and has 41 members. Pakistan was part of the initial list of 34 countries to
join the coalition. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will inaugurate
Sunday’s defence ministers’ meeting.
FTAs with China
During discussion on an adjournment motion
by Atique Sheikh of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), senators
belonging to different parties demanded of the government to review the
free-trade agreements (FTAs) with China.
Lamenting the non-profitability of the FTAs
and non-utilisation of concessions granted by China, the senators said that it
was not the job of federal secretaries to thrash out these deals, rather the
real stakeholders should be taken on board before finalising such agreements.
At present, Senator Mohsin Leghari pointed
out, the Pakistan-China trade is worth $12.2 billion but Islamabad’s share in
it is merely $1.6 billion.
He noted that despite an FTA, China has
imposed 3.7% regulatory duty on Pakistan’s main export –cotton-related items.
He added that for the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) the duty
is just 0.4% and 3.5% for India, which has no such agreement.
For Pakistan’s rice, he continued, the duty
is 65% but for Asean countries, it is just 33%. He warned that the duties might
increase trade deficit after inception of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC).
Senators Azam Musakhail, Kalsoom Parven,
Atique Sheikh, Javed Abbasi, Farhatullah Babar and others also spoke on the
matter. The relevant minister will give the policy statement on the issue on
Monday.
FIA report on PECA
The Senate chairman ordered the government
that a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) report on implementation of Pakistan
Electronic Crimes Act 2016 be laid in the house and thereafter referred to the
relevant committee for an in-camera discussion.
He directed the government to provide
complete information during the in-camera proceedings of the committee. The
ruling also directed the government to formulate rules for preparing the report
and present in the house in 30 days.
The ruling came after discussion that the
FIA report could be laid in open house or treated as classified document to be
discussed in an in-camera meeting of the I&T committee of the Senate.
Earlier the chairman sought opinion of
opposition leader Aitzaz Ahsan and senators Javed Abbasi, Barrister Saif and
Farhatullah Babar on how to deal with the report in view of the ambiguity in
the language of the act.
Delimitation bill
The lawmakers, belonging to both sides
expressed dismay over the absence of senators, during voting on the
delimitation bill, which is pending before the house for more than a week. They
were unanimous that the parliament may lose the opportunity of holding
elections on time the lawmakers continued with the attitude.
Faizabad lockdown
Chairman Raza Rabbani evaded a request from
some members to play a role to help end the sit-in staged by clerics at one of
the most import junctions of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for
around three weeks.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator
Najma Hameed and Sheikh Atique of MQM-P said people from all walks of life face
serious hardships due to the protest sit-in and requested the chairman Senate
to use his office to find a solution to the problems.
Senator Hameed said that she had to leave
Rawalpindi for Islamabad too early to attend the Senate session on time.
A visibly helpless Rabbani read out an
adjournment order with a smile, saying: “Just for Najma Hameed, the house is
adjourned to meet again on Monday at 4pm instead of 3pm so that she could
attend the session on time”.
Improving the
position of Vietnam’s rice
Sunday, 2017-11-26 00:04:25
Vietnam's ST24 rice variety was
ranked second among the three most delicious rice varieties in the world.NDO -
The country’s rice exports in the first ten months of this year increased in
comparison to the same period in 2016, both in volume and value, thanks to the
growth of exports to key markets including China, Malaysia, the Philippines and
Bangladesh.
Strong growth of rice exports
In 2015, the rice variety AGPPS 103,
developed by Loc Troi Corporation, was listed among the world’s three most
delicious rice varieties. Immediately after receiving the title, the group
continuously received export orders for this type of rice, a good sign in the
context of rice exports facing numerous difficulties a few years ago.
Currently, it is more important to enhance the export of high quality rice.
According to statistics released by
the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam exported five million tonnes of
rice in the first ten months of this year, an annual increase of 21.6%, earning
US$2.23 billion (up 20.3% over the same period last year). The structure of
Vietnam's export rice has shifted positively, with a sharp decline in the
middle and low-grade rice segment and a strong increase in the volume of rice
varieties with high quality and value (such as sticky rice, japonica and brown
rice). The change has been also consistent with the directions for the
development of export markets.
The country’s rice exports in the
first ten months of this year increased in comparison to the same period in
2016, both in volume and value, thanks to the growth of exports to key markets
including China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Bangladesh.
Specifically, China is now the
largest market, accounting for nearly 40% of the total rice export turnover of
Vietnam, with 2.03 million tonnes (equivalent to US$909.04 million), an
increase of 35% in volume and 34% in turnover over the same period last year.
Over the past few years, types of high quality rice, including fragrant and
glutinous rice, have been the main commodities exported to this market.
Following China, the Philippines,
Malaysia, Ghana and ASEAN are the main export markets of Vietnamese rice. In
addition, in the first ten months of the year, the exports of rice to Senegal
and Iraq saw a sharp increase. Vietnam exported 98,000 tonnes of rice to Iraq
(up 91 times over the same period in 2016), worth US$51.45 million (up 108
times); meanwhile the exports to Senegal increased 178 times in volume and
nearly 90 times in turnover (reaching nearly 25,000 tonnes, worth US$8.18
million).
In addition to the advantages in the
markets, the prices of exported Vietnamese rice have increased sharply from
US$360 per tonne in early June to US$509 per tonne by October. The average rice
exports price reached US$448.6 per tonne in the first ten months of the year,
the highest price level in recent years.
There are many opportunities for the
growth of rice exports, particularly in China where Vietnamese 5% broken white
rice is cheaper than domestic rice. In addition the 23 Vietnamese enterprises
that have been checked and granted permission for exports, nine more rice
enterprises are undergoing the evaluation process for the license from the
Chinese side to export their products to this market. Other markets, including
Sri Lanka and the Philippines have also launched many rice import packages in
the last few months of the year. Africa and Iraq have a great demand for rice,
opening more opportunities for the growth of this commodity.
Grasping the demand of the markets,
many Vietnamese enterprises have paid greater attention to the production of
high quality rice varieties and specialty rice. Provinces in the Mekong River
Delta have increased the cultivation of jasmine rice varieties, including
Jasmine 85, Tai Nguyen (natural resources), VD 20, and OM 4900. The enterprises
have also enhanced the use of the latest rice varieties from the Mekong River
Delta Rice Institute, Southern Seed Centre and Soc Trang Rice Research Team to
improve the quality of rice. As a result, the short-life ST24 rice variety,
which can yield over five tonnes per hectare and has the aroma of pineapple,
has been successfully produced. ST24 has become an honour to Vietnam’s rice as
it was recognised as one of the three most delicious rice varieties in the
world.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade
is actively implementing the strategy for developing the country's rice export
market towards a reduction in the volume and an increase in the value of
exported rice. The Ministry will develop plans and solutions to develop each
rice export market and respond to market changes, as well as building a
database of rice market information.
The localities also reorganised
their production towards the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification,
strictly controlling the production process to ensure hygiene and food safety
and meet the criteria and standards of importing countries. For example, Dong
Thap province has planned and built large-scale raw material areas, in
association with developing the brand of the local rice. The province has also
focused on the investment for essential infrastructure and techniques that can
create favourable condtions for the application of VietGAP and GlobalGAP
procedures. In addition, Dong Thap is actively popularising the information on
the strategy for developing the country's rice export market to enterprises,
aiming to gradually improve the efficiency of rice exports.
With the satisfactory results of
rice exports, the Vietnam Food Association has raised the target of rice
exports to 5.6 million tonnes, instead of 5.2 million tonnes this year. To
date, the country has reached 91% of the target.
Organic farming: Perceptions and reality (Part I)
November 25, 2017, 10:00 PM
By Dr. Emil Q. Javier
‘There are those who look at
things the way they are, and ask why… I dream
of things that never were, and
ask why not?’– Robert Kennedy
Last week’s issue of Manila
Bulletin’s Panorama magazine was dedicated to organic farming. The weekly
featured the experiences of individuals who appeared to be fairly affluent and
who have “discovered” the happiness of shifting from their stress-filled urban
lifestyles to the romantic idyll of healthy living in the farm growing crops,
poultry and livestock in a “natural” or organic way.Indeed, this kind of
farming is growing worldwide as people from developed countries, and
increasingly the urban elite in the developing countries, willingly pay a
premium for food grown in this manner.
But organically grown foods are
not cheap. Because of the lower yields and higher costs of production, organic
food have to be sold at a premium for the farmers and retailers to keep their
margins.Consumers are willing to pay higher food prices in exchange for the
perceived benefits of organic produce being more nutritious, safer, more
palatable, and more benign to the environment.The impression one gets is that
organic agriculture is the way to go as far as meeting the world’s future food
needs and saving the environment.
However the reality is not as
rosy as organic farming advocates would make us to believe. The claimed
benefits from organic farming are more perceptions than reality.
In the same Panorama magazine,
one of the authors, Bulletin regular columnist Cheshire Que, a registered
nurse, articulated her misgivings and posed the question: Is organic really
worth it? The following articulates more clearly the background to the pros and
cons of organic farming.
Organic farming – what it is not
It is important that we define
organic farming in contrast with conventional farming for which it is claimed
to be a better alternative.Actually organic farming embraces a number of
traditional, broadly accepted but scientifically proven agronomic practices and
techniques. Among these are minimum tillage; legumes cover cropping; land
fallowing (resting); application of animal manures and compost; multiple
cropping and crop rotation; use of improved resistant varieties; deployment of
biological control agents to suppress pests and diseases, etc.
However, these agronomic
practices are not unique to organic farming. Conventional farmers adopt them as
well to varying degrees depending upon local soil, climate, labor and market
conditions.
But what really set organic apart
are the growing methods it prohibits.Organic farming under international
convention, and as defined by law under Republic Act 10068, prohibits the
application of chemical fertilizers, use of synthetic pesticides and use of
genetically modified organisms (GMOs), whether crops, animals and
microorganisms.
Total ban on chemical fertilizers
devoid of scientific bases
The Rothamsted plots in England,
the widely recognized longest running crop experiments of their kind, had been
continuously sown to wheat, potatoes and beans and fertilized with chemicals
since 1843 and these fields are still around.The Morrow plots continuously
planted to maize and chemically fertilized since 1876 are still there in the
center of the University of Illinois campus in Midwest America when I last
visited my Alma Mater.
And closer to home, the rice
plots at the gate of the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños
started by the late Dr. Robert Chandler in 1963 and continuously planted to
three crops of rice a year, look as green and as productive as ever.
Continuous fertilization with
chemical fertilizers will not render soils unfit for growing crops, provided
the fertilizers are not applied in excess, and the nutrients appropriately
balanced and some of the plant residues retained to preserve soil organic
matter.
The real problem is excessive
fertilization. But this problem applies as well to excessive application of
manures, like the massive environmental and aquifer problems created by
unregulated, excessive spreading of hog and dairy farm manures in pastures in
Holland (where I lived for three years). And closer to home, excessive
application of chicken manure on vegetables in Benguet.
In the first place, the plant
roots cannot distinguish nutrients coming from composts from those out of a
chemical fertilizer bag.
Neither will gastric juices in
our stomachs discriminate between plant proteins from organic versus
conventional farm products. All proteins regardless of source are digested into
amino acids which our bodies need.
Reality of lower yield And
higher food prices
But what are real are that the
yields from organic farms are less than conventional farms. And prices of
organic produce in the market are higher to compensate for the lower yields and
generally higher costs of production.Meta-analyses of hundreds of studies
worldwide have consistently affirmed that organic produce are not any more
nutritious nor tastier than conventionally grown food.
Claims of superiority of organic
foods over conventional foods are therefore for the most part just perceptions
— not reality.However, published data as reported by US and Canadian scientists
show that organic crops consistently lag behind their conventional counterparts
by 10 to 35 percent in a yield per acre basis.
The yield penalty on organic
crops is worst on annual row crops. In 2014, a United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) scientist reported that organic corn, organic soybean and
organic cotton yields were 35 percent, 31 percent and 45 percent lower than
their conventional counterparts.
Imagine how much more forestlands
and grasslands have to be plowed under worldwide to grow the same amount of
food if all these crops were organically produced. That much more native
vegetation plowed under will have massive consequences to soil erosion and loss
of biodiversity on a global scale. Besides for a land-poor country like the
Philippines, we do not have that luxury.
Why the yield penalty?
The yield penalty on organic
farming especially on short maturing row crops is associated with the low
concentration of nutrients and the slow rate of nutrient release from manure
decomposition and their lack of synchrony with the nutrient demand at different
stages of the life cycle of plants.
In addition to being short of the
major nutrients, particularly nitrogen which crops demand in the large amounts,
the rate of release of nutrients from manures is more of less uniform throughout
the year. But the nutrient demand of crops is not even and surges at the rapid
vegetative, flowering and fruit development stages. The plants run out of
nutrients when they are most needed. Hence, the need to supplement with
nutrient-dense chemical fertilizers at these crucial stages for high yields.
Because of their low nutrient
density, crops would require tons and tons of manure and compost per hectare to
meet the crop nutrient requirements. A few hundred kilos of manure to fertilize
small vegetables plots or gardens is manageable but not if we grow crops
commercially by the hectare.
Manures if at all available are
bulky and expensive to assemble and spread.
Merits of manures and composts
Nevertheless, the application of
more animal manure and compost is meritorious for two reasons: The organic
matter in manures and composts improve soil aggregation and allow for better
aeration and supply of oxygen to the roots of crops for healthier plant growth.
Moreover, the complex micro-biota
in manures and composts replenish/enhance the proliferation of beneficial soil
microorganisms which crops need. Chemical fertilizers which are inert and
devoid of soil microorganisms are not helpful at all.
Hence, the ideal is the judicious
balanced application of manures as basal fertilizers and chemical fertilizers
as nutrient-rich supplements.Not the total ban of chemical fertilizers as
organic purists prescribe.
To be continued… (Part II)
*****
Dr. Emil Q. Javier is a Member of
the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and also Chair of the
Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP). For any
feedback, email eqjavier@yahoo.com
Viable price
eludes ryots
HYDERABAD
, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 23:11
File photo of a farmer drying paddy
produce at the market yard. | Photo
Credit: Singam venkataramana
A few get higher than MSP, others
struggle to meet costs
Agriculture Secretary C.
Parthasarathi, however, contends that the government had no control over prices
beyond MSP as they were ruled by market forces. The government will step in
only if the MSP was not assured.
Procurement centres
Sriram was purchased by millers from
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu at ₹
1,800 to ₹1,900 a quintal
while the MSP was only ₹
1,590 a quintal for ‘A’ grade rice. Nizamabad, Kamareddy and adjoining Jagtial
together were expected to deliver 6.5 lakh tonnes of rice produced in recent
Kharif to the Civil Supplies Corporation. The total paddy proposed to be
procured this season by Corporation is 27.68 lakh tonnes, of which 9.4 lakh
tonnes is already with the Corporation.
Last year, the Corporation purchased
a record 53.66 lakh tonnes from 10.93 lakh farmers in both Kharif and rabi. The
MSP then was only ₹
1,510 for grade ‘A’ variety and ₹1,470 for common variety. Telangana stood fourth behind Punjab,
Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh in paddy procurement.
Though the MSP has been hiked by ₹80 up to ₹1,590
now, farmers said that the rate was far less than the cost of production which
worked out to ₹ 2,100 a
quintal. The brown plant hopper pest which attacked the crop, particularly in
Jagtial, further dashed their hopes of a good price.
Meanwhile, the State government has
written to the Centre to be allowed to implement price support scheme for
procurement of red gram which will arrive at market yards from December to
March. About 1.65 lakh tonnes of red gram was expected to be produced at 633
kgs per hectare. The government has also sought permission from Centre to
extend time for procurement of black gram by 30 days and also enhance ceiling
from 66,800 quintals to 1.5 lakh quintals.
Select edible oils up on rising demand
New Delhi, Nov 25 Select edible
oil prices firmed up at the wholesale oil and oilseeds market during the week
on increased offtake by vanaspati millers, driven by rising demand from
retailers against tight supplies.Firm trend overseas also influenced sentiment.Castor
oil in the non-edible section showed some strength on increased offtake by
consuming industries.Traders said increased buying by vanaspati millers to meet
rising demand from retailers in view of the ongoing wedding season against
tight stocks position on fall in supplies from producing regions mainly led to
rise in edible oil prices.Positive leads from overseas markets also influenced
sentiment, they said.In the national capital, groundnut mill delivery (Gujarat)
oil rose by Rs 200 to Rs ,8,900 per quintal.Mustard expeller (Dadri) and
cottonseed mill delivery (Haryana) oils moved up by Rs 150 each to Rs 7,950 and
Rs 6,450 per quintal respectively.
Sesame mill delivery also jumped
up by Rs 500 to Rs 8,400 per quintal.Tracking a firm trend overseas, palmolein
(RBD) and palmolein (Kandla) oils too shot up by Rs 350 each to Rs 6,450 and Rs
6,500 per quintal respectively. Crude palm oil (ex- kandla) went up by Rs 150
to Rs 5,000 per quintal.
Soyabean refined mill delivery
(Indore) and soyabean degum (Kandla) oils followed suit and enquired higher by
Rs 200 each to Rs 7,400 and Rs 7,000 per quintal respectively.Coconut oil quoted
higher at Rs 2,650-2,700 instead of Rs 2,550-2,600 per tin.In the non-edible
section, castor oil got fresh buying support from consuming industries and
ended higher by Rs 100 to Rs 8,600-8,700 per quintal.(MORE)
Bajra and maize also ended higher
on pick up in demand from consuming industries.
However, wheat eased further on
reduced offtake by flour mills against sufficient stocks position on increased
arrivals from producing belts.
Traders said rising demand from
stockists and rice mills against tight stocks position on fall in arrivals from
producing regions mainly kept rice basmati prices higher.
In the national capital, rice
basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety edged higher to Rs 7,900-8,000 and Rs
6,400-6,500 from previous levels of Rs 7,800-7,900 and Rs 6,300-6,400 per
quintal, respectively.
Non-basmati rice permal raw, wand
and IR-8 also settled higher at Rs 2,300-2,350, Rs 2,350-2,400 and Rs
1,950-1,975 per quintal respectively in line with rice basmati trend.
Other bold grains like bajra
edged up by Rs 10 to Rs 1,200-1,205 per quintal. Maize rose by Rs 20 to Rs
1,320-1,325 per quintal.
On the other hand, wheat dara
(for mills) fell by Rs 20 to Rs 1,820-1,825 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery
followed suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,825-1,830 per 90 kg.
Atta flour mills, maida and sooji
also shed Rs 10 each to Rs 990-1,000, Rs 1,030-1,040 and Rs 1,060-1070 per 50
kg respectively. (MORE)
mills amid adequate stocks.
However, masoor and malka found
some buying support and managed to closed higher.
Marketmen said easing demand from
retailers and dal mills against sufficient stocks position on increased
supplies from producing regions mainly affected kabuli gram other pulses
prices.
In the national capital, kabuli
gram small variety suffered the most by tumbling to Rs 8,000-9,000 from
previous level of Rs 8,500-9,700 per quintal.
Urad eased to Rs 3,800-5,650
against last close of Rs 4,100-5,850 per quintal. Its dal chilka local, best
quality and dhoya were down by Rs 300 each to Rs 5,000-5,100, Rs 5,100-5,600
and Rs 5,500-5,700 per quintal respectively.
Moong and its dal chilka local
also weakened by Rs 100 each to Rs 4,500-5,200 and Rs 5,200-5,400 per quintal.
Its dal dhoya local and best quality enquired lower by a similar margin to Rs 5,800-6,300
and Rs 6,300-6,500 per quintal.
Arhar and its dal dara variety
fell by Rs 100 and Rs 200 to Rs 3,850 and Rs 5,600-7,500 per quintal
respectively. Moth shed Rs 100 to Rs 3,500-3,900 per quintal.
On the other hand, masoor small
and bold rose by Rs 50 each to Rs 3,650-3,750 and Rs 3,700-3,850 per quintal
respectively. Its dal local and best quality traded higher by Rs 200 each to Rs
3,800-4,300 and Rs 3,900-4,400 per quintal.
Malka local and best quality
quoted higher by Rs 100 each to Rs 4,100-4,300 and Rs 4,200-4,500 per quintal,
respectively.(MORE)
osition amid higher output reports.
Marketmen said besides easing
demand from bulk consumers such as ice-cream and cold drinks makers, ample
stocks position on increased supplies from mills mainly kept the sweetener
prices lower.
The country's sugar production
has touched 13.73 lakh tonne (LT) till November 15 of the ongoing 2017-18
season, up 79 per cent from the year-ago period, the Indian Sugar Mills
Association (ISMA) said.
ISMA has pegged the output at
25.1 million tonne in 2017 -18 season as against 20.2 million tonne in the last
sugar season (October-September).
In a statement, ISMA said higher
output so far was on account of early crushing operation.
Sugar ready M-30 and S-30
weakened to Rs 3,740-3,940 and Rs 3,730-3,930 from previous levels of Rs
3,780-3,980 and Rs 3,770-3,970 per quintal, respectively.
Mill delivery M-30 and S-30
followed suit and slipped to Rs 3,445-3,690 and Rs 3,435-3,680 instead of Rs
3,500-3,750 and Rs 3,490-3,740 per quintal, respectively.
A similar trend extended to
millgate section as most prices finished with losses.
Sugar Mawana, Kinnoni, Asmoli,
Dorala and Budhana settled lower at Rs 3,600, Rs 3,690, Rs 3,665, Rs 3,595 and
Rs 3,610 as compared to previous week's levels of Rs 3,650, Rs 3,750, Rs
3,695,Rs 3,650 and Rs 3,660 per quintal, respectively.
Thanabhavan, Dhanora, Simbholi,
Khatauli, Dhampur and Ramala also eased to Rs 3,610, Rs 3,645, Rs 3,665, 3,670,
Rs 3,560 and Rs 3,445 against previous levels of Rs 3,655, Rs 3,655, Rs 3,695,
Rs 3,740, Rs 3,620 and Rs 3,500 per quintal, respectively.
Anupshaher, Baghpat, Morna,
Sakoti, Chandpur, Nazibabad, Modingar, Shamli and Nanota too finished down at
Rs 3,465, Rs 3,475, Rs 3,465, Rs 3,580, Rs 3,580, Rs 3,460, Rs 3,580, Rs 3,575
and Rs 3,440 from previous levels of Rs 3,510, Rs 3,530, Rs 3,525, Rs 3,615, Rs
3,610,Rs 3,515, Rs 3,635, Rs 3,625 and Rs 3,500 per quintal, respectively.
(MORE)
Muzzafarnagar and Muradnagar
mandis also displayed a similar trend.
Marketmen attributed the fall to
muted demand from local parties as well as stockists against ample stocks
position on increased arrivals from producing regions.
Weak trend in sugar prices also
weighed on prices, they said.
At Delhi, gur chakku, pedi and
dhayaa slipped to Rs 2,800-2,900, Rs 2,950-3,100 and Rs 3,100-3,200 from
previous week's close of Rs 2,900-3,000, Rs 3,100-3,200 and Rs 3,200- 3,300 per
quintal respectively.
In Muzzfarnagar, gur chakku and
khurpa also drifted lower to Rs 2,500-2,800 and Rs 2,400-2,500 as compared to
last levels of Rs 2,500-2,900 and Rs 2,600-2,650 per quintal respectively.
At Muradnagar, gur pedi and
dhayya too finished lower at Rs 2,650-2,700 and Rs 2,700-2,750 against last
close of Rs 2,900-2,950 and Rs 2,950-3,000 per quintal respectively. (MORE)
dryfruits market during the week
with almond and pistachio prices rising, supported by uptick in demand from
retailers and stockists, driven by ongoing wedding and winter season.
Tight stock positions following
restricted arrivals from producing regions and overseas markets also influenced
prices.
Trading sentiment improved mostly
on increased offtake by stockists and retailers to meet ongoing marriage and
winter season demand.
Almond (California) prices rose
by Rs 200 to Rs 17,300- 17,500 per 40 kg, while its kernel went up by Rs 5 to
settle at Rs 620-630 per kg.
Almond gurbandi and girdhi also
increased up to Rs 200 to conclude at Rs 11,800-12,400 and Rs 4,800-5,000 per
40 kg, respectively.
Chilgoza-roasted rose by Rs 200
to settle at Rs 2,700- 2,800 per kg.
Cashew kernel No 180, No 210, No
240 and No 320 increased up to Rs 15 to finish at Rs 1,085-1,095, Rs 985-995 Rs
920-930 and Rs 820-830 and its kernel broken (2, 4 and 8 pieces) also rose by
Rs 10 to settle at Rs 665-770, Rs 640-760 and Rs 540-660 per kg, respectively.
Kishmish Indian (yellow and
green) prices were up by Rs 100 each to conclude at Rs 3,400-4,000 and Rs
6,000-10,000 per 40 kg, respectively.
Pistachio hairati and peshwari
prices also rose by Rs 10 each to end at Rs 1,405-1,480 and Rs 1,580-1,655 per
kg, respectively. (MORE)
jeera prices ended higher in the
national capital during the week on increased buying by stockists and retailers
driven by domestic and export demand, while a few others remained weak owing to
slackened demand against adequate stocks.
Traders said increased offtake by
stockists and retailers against tight arrivals from producing regions mainly
pushed up coriander and jeera prices.
Adequate stocks position against
lack of buying support kept other spices weak, they said.
Coriander prices increased by Rs
100 to conclude at Rs 6,100-12,700 per quintal.
Mace-red and nutmeg traded higher
at Rs 700-930 and Rs 400-410 against previous week's closing of Rs 640-850 and
Rs 390-400 per kg.
Poppyseed (China, UP and MP-Raj)
increased by Rs 20 each to finish at Rs 480-500, Rs 470-490 and Rs 510-520 per
kg, respectively.
Turmeric prices rose by Rs 100 to
finish at Rs 8,600- 11,700 per quintal.
Jeera common and jeera best also
traded higher at Rs 19,500-19,700 and Rs 21,800-22,100 against previous week's
closing of Rs 19,100-19,300 and Rs 21,500-21,800 per quintal, respectively.
On the other hand, black pepper
prices declined by Rs 10 to conclude at Rs 440-620 per kg.
Cardamom brown-jhuindiwali and
kanchicut prices eased by Rs 20 each to settle at Rs 520-530 and Rs 580-900 per
kg.
Cardamom small varieties such as
chitridar, colour robin, bold and extra bold drifted lower up to Rs 50 to close
at Rs 975-1,075, Rs 880-900, Rs 900-920 and Rs 990-1,050 per kg, respectively.
Red chilli prices also declined
to Rs 6,000-12,500 against previous closing of Rs 6,100-12,600 per quintal.
(MORE)
Bullion: Both gold and silver prices slipped for the week at the
bullion market owing to muted demand from local jewellers and retailers at
prevailing levels amid a weak global trend.
Traders said sentiment was
downbeat, largely in tandem with a weak global trend as the dollar surged
against a basket of currencies that eroded the metals' appeal as safe-haven
assets coupled with fall in demand from local jewellers and retailers at the
domestic spot markets.
Globally, gold slipped from USD
1,293.40 to settle the week lower at USD 1,287.90 while silver fell to USD
17.01 an ounce in New York, from USD 17.28.
In the national capital, gold of
99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity commenced the week lower at Rs 30,700 and Rs
30,550 per 10 grams respectively on sluggish demand and slipped further to a
low of Rs 30,400 and Rs 30,250, respectively.
Later, the precious metal
recovered to hit a high of Rs 30,550 and Rs 30,400 before settling the week at
Rs 30,450 and Rs 30,300, still showing a steep fall of Rs 325 each.
Sovereign, however, moved in a
narrow range in limited deal and settled at previous level of Rs 24,700 per
piece of eight gram.
Silver ready remained under
pressure throughout the week due to absence of demand from coin makers and
other consuming industries and ended lower by Rs 850 at Rs 40,300 per kg, while
silver weekly delivery lost Rs 910 at Rs 39,240.
On the other hand, silver coins
remained steady at Rs 74,000 for buying and Rs 75,000 for selling of 100 pieces
during the period.
A passion for home-grown science
12:00
AM, November 27, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:43 AM, November 27, 2017
Khulna farmer hopes to create a beneficial new paddy variety
Aruni
Mondal in his paddy field. The photo was taken recently. Photo: Star
To see deep green paddy as it sways to a gentle breeze is
anybody's delight. The paddy fields of Aruni Mondal, 42, from Gangarampur
village in Khulna's Batiaghata upazila are no less picturesque. But this farmer
finds in his fields another type of beauty: the beauty of science. He has no
academic qualifications or journal publications to show, yet when it comes to
developing rice plant hybrids, always-inquisitive Aruni is a long-term enthusiast.
He's a scientist of that most natural kind. “My father used to send me to
plough the fields,” says Aruni, who in addition to being a farmer works as a
day labourer. “He grew different rice varieties. My curiosity for paddy stems
from my boyhood.” Aruni dropped out of high school to tend the farm full-time.
Friends and neighbours knew of his interest to cross-breed rice strains. They
shared what knowledge they had.
“Then in 2010, local non-government organisation LOCOS,
which has as one of its goals the preservation of native seeds,” Aruni recalls,
“chose me to attend a three-day workshop in Pirojpur led by a Filipino expert,
on rice hybridisation. With some practical knowledge in hand I decided to
dedicate my life to this activity.”
Aruni's dream is to create a high-yield climate-adaptable paddy
for farmers like him that can reduce poverty. Since 2010, on his modest
landholdings he has been experimenting, drawing on ten plants each of two local
varieties, namely the Shaheb Kochi and Kanchra strains of Aman paddy, as
'mother' and 'father' donors for his hybrid. He believes these varieties have a
lot to offer the Khulna region due to their tolerance for saline soils. He also
hopes his hybrid will be fast growing. “To create a new variety takes at a minimum
eight years,” he says.
To ask Aruni to describe the process is to open the floodgates of
a broad passion. “What about pollination?” he poses. “It has to be done with
care. At the time of flowering pollen samples from the father variety might
optimally be taken in the afternoon, but the prime time for pollinating the
mother variety might be in the morning hours.” He also needs to emasculate the
chosen mother flower by removing its stamens such that it cannot
self-pollinate.
With the work on seven generations of paddy already completed,
Aruni is currently on the eighth and final stage. When this season's
cross-pollination is done, he will have created his new strain. “At stage seven
I observed that this new variety has high productivity and fast growth, as well
as climate endurance qualities” the farmer-scientist says. “I have high hopes
for it.”
“It's true that the main agro-scientists in our country are
the farmers,” says Dr Monirul Islam Ripon, an agriculture technology
professor at Khulna University. “What Aruni is doing is cross-breeding, and
he's on the right track. But he has to maintain the characteristics of the new
variety, and to prove them clearly if he wishes to submit it to the National
Seed Board for recognition. It's a long process. After eight years we call it a
'pure line'. It will take ten to twelve years to create what we call a
'regional line'. Finally the new hybrid is tested for its suitability for
widespread cultivation.”
Aruni likewise thinks farmers are true scientists. “Farmers need
to experiment with new ideas in their work lives,” he explains. “They need to
keenly observe their surroundings and engage in growing their crops with
enthusiasm. Farmers are the ones who spend all day with their crops. They
should be aware if a new variety is desirable, if cross-breeding is suitable.” “And
beyond that,” he continues philosophically, “every man has his inclination for
creativity. He'd best nurture it, for the benefit of humankind.”
http://www.thedailystar.net/city/passion-home-grown-science-1497010
Kingdom Rice to help fill Uganda’s 200,000
tonnes deficit
Museveni at the FOL rice farm in Nwoya. FOL produces the Kingdom
Rice brand. PHOTOS PPU
Nwoya, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has called upon Ugandans to
adapt commercial agriculture. Speaking at the commissioning of the FOL Rice
Farm in Lamoki village, Anaka Sub- County, Nwoya district in Acholi Sub-Region
on Saturday, the President said that Ugandans needed to understand the
difference between modern and local farming.He observed that commercial
agriculture is good because it uses modern farming methods, which create a
number of employment opportunities for the local population.
“When you are involved in small
scale farming, you do all the labour as a family but when you are involved in
commercial agriculture you cannot do all the work yourself and, therefore, you
must hire people,” he explained.
He said that Ugandans should not
only stop at importing rice for eating but also start growing and exporting it.
“Rice is not only for eating. You can get animal feeds, rice oil and
electricity from the husks,” he advised. President Museveni criticized the
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for not taking action to help farmers. He
called upon UWA to put up control measures around the Murchison Falls National
Park boundaries so that animals do not disturb the people and destroy their
crops.
“In Kanungu, they grow tea on the
boundary of the Park and farms so that elephants fear crossing into gardens. I
do not know the explanation for how tea stops elephants but they cannot pass
near it,” he explained.
The President also warned cattle
farmers who do not fence their land and leave their animals to destroy other
people’s crops. He, therefore, called upon the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal
Industry and Fisheries, to pass a law making it criminal for someone’s animals
causing destruction to other people’s crops.
Museveni applauded Nwoya district
administration for the initiative to identify land for investment.
“I am glad that Nwoya is becoming
a center for commercial farming and that you are offering me land for
Industrial Parks. We need to replace towns of shops with factories,” he said.
The contamination accumulates on crops and grains when there
are high moisture levels in the atmosphere
By Munene Kamau and Rael Jelimo | Published
Mon, November 27th 2017 at 00:00, Updated November 26th 2017 at 23:23 GMT +3
SHARE THIS ARTICLE Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Sorghum on a farm in the
Kano plains in Kisumu County. Scientists are developing crop varieties that are
not susceptibility to aflatoxin. [Photo:Denish Ochieng|Standard] Crop
researchers are in the process of developing a maize variety that cannot
be easily harmed by aflatoxin. John
Kimani
said aflatoxin was more prevalent in maize, rice, wheat and groundnuts but
other similar crops were susceptible if not properly dried before storage. Kenya
shifts attention to Sh200b fish export market “The research is more biased
towards the development of a maize variety that has low aflatoxin
susceptibility since the crop is the country’s staple food,” he said. Dr Kimani
said the recent harvesting of rice at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme before the
grains could attain the optimum 14 per cent moisture content was a classic
example of high susceptibility to aflatoxin.
“Any crop harvested before attaining the
optimal moisture content, whether to be dried or not before storage, is exposed
to bacterial infection that is harmful to human beings when consumed,” said the
researcher. Kimani, who is the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research
Organisation (Kalro) Mwea centre manager, said the less the moisture content at
the harvesting and storage period, the lower the level of aflatoxin. He said
depending on the grain type, aflatoxin cases could be diminished and save
consumers from poisoning and other ailments. High risk “Some maize varieties
are soft while others are hard at the harvesting stage. Those with the soft
cover are highly susceptible to aflatoxin, “he said.
Kimani said once the maize variety currently on
trial was certified and approved by the relevant biosafety bodies, farmers
would no longer have to be concerned much about aflatoxin in their crops. ALSO
READ: Vet: I made my first million from these tomatoes Meanwhile, it has
emerged that consumers of maize products are at high risk of aflatoxin exposure
following the heavy rainfall that has affected the harvesting season. Tests
conducted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in
collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and maize producing counties
found high moisture content of up to 18 per cent above the recommended 13 per
cent in maize produced in the North Rift region. FAO reports that the country’s
grain basket region now risks aflatoxin contamination if measures are not taken
to ensure that all harvested grains are properly dried before storage.
Sumayya Usmani:
'I've always been guided by the Urdu concept of "andaza", which I
define as the art of sensory c
26th November
MY Nani (maternal grandmother) always used to say: "A
recipe is but a recipe, flavour is in your hands, and no-one else’s flavour is
the same." In a world where many guard their recipes, others share theirs
openly and some are handed down – what is it that makes a recipe special? Is it
the set of ingredients or is it the story the method tells? Or can we make any
recipe our own, through the way we make it?
I've always been guided by the Urdu concept of
"andaza" which literally translates as "estimation", but
which I define as the art of sensory cooking. It is when you work through
recollection, using your hands as tools and creating remembered flavours by
trusting your mind and heart. Cooking something to eat is in essence an act of
relying on your senses; touching, tasting and breathing in the scents at every
stage.
Ultimately, the big question is, do we learn this instinctual
cooking, or does it just come naturally? Many people are crippled by the very
thought of deviating from a written recipe, lest it blow up in their faces and
I have met many of such people while teaching cookery, but there are others who
breeze effortlessly through the concept of trusting their intuition.
Is it because it comes naturally to them, because they grew up
experiencing it around them, or is it because they are talented? Some people
are born with the flair of adding magic to anything they touch, but others can
learn to trust their hand. It comes from feeling that, rather than being a slave
to a recipe, you are simply using it as a guide, a lesson, concentrating less
on its rigidity and more on it’s ethereal nuance. A recipe tells a story. Read
it. Absorb it. Imagine what it will taste like from the memory of the sum of
its parts. And then cook it, trusting you will know when you stop or start any
process. The worst that can happen is that it won’t taste perfect this time.
But there is always next time.
Understanding flavour isn’t learned forcefully, it is a
combination of different personal exposure. It is a path we are put on from the
moment we are born. Those first smells, flavours, textures and sounds we
experience as babies, are imprinted in our minds and hearts, creating a memory.
This is probably why we either find comfort in certain reassuring food memories
or close our minds to ones that did not have a positive connotation.
We can learn to understand flavour at any time in our lives of
course, and many people come to it later in life, finding a passion for
different cuisines through travel, or merely a desire to cook good food at
home, and that is fine. But without wanting to sound preachy, I believe it is
important we encourage our children to learn to observe, listen, hear, taste
and feel the food that is put before them. It means, trying to take at least
one day a week to cook with them, or have them around while you’re cooking,
letting them touch and understand where food comes from. Not everyone has this
much time, but not making it is a shame. It is, in effect, robbing children of
memories that will guide them to trust their hands in making the food on their
table taste of happiness, love and comfort.
When I think back to my most treasured childhood memories, I am
taken back to weekend lunches at either of my grandmothers' homes. The energy
in the kitchen, an assembly of five aunts and my grandmother, each with their
own job cutting, chopping, making pastes on the "sil bata" (large
flat stone mortar and pestle). I can almost smell the fresh herbs, the haunting
spices infusing in oil or the sharp tang of tamarind paste being squeezed. Each
person in my family had their own flavour; using the same recipes, no two
dishes every tasted the same.
Maybe it is still not too late for anyone to learn to use
instinct. Taste curiously and hear the story – instinct will find its way
through your hands and into the pot you’re cooking in. Use your cookbooks, but
let their methods and not merely the ingredients, act as a guide; let them hold
your hand on your journey towards trusting your own hands with flavour.
Sumayya’s mother’s Aaloo Ki Teyri (turmeric rice with potatoes)
I always make this recipe using "andaza", when I can
smell the deep rich warmth or turmeric exuding from the pan as I lift the lid –
I am transported back to Sunday lunches with my parents, growing up in Karachi.
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
1 small red onion, finely sliced
½ tsp grated ginger
½ tsp crushed garlic
2 tomatoes, chopped finely
1 teaspoon turmeric
3-4 baby potatoes, par-boiled, cut into two
80 grams basmati rice, washed and soaked for 1 hour before
cooking
1 tablespoon dill or coriander leaves
Method
Heat the oil in a saucepan (which has a lid). Once hot add cumin
seeds, allow to splutter.
Add the red onion slices and soften, add ginger and garlic and
cook until the raw smell leaves the pan.
If the garlic sticks to the pan, add a splash of water. Add
tomatoes and allow to soften.
Next, add the turmeric and potatoes.
Stir and then add rice, add the dill leaves, toss, add enough
water to lightly cover the rice. Then lower heat and cover the pan for 5-7
minutes, checking once or twice. If the water has been completely absorbed and
the rice isn’t done, add a tiny bit more water. Do the same until rice and
potatoes are totally cooked and water is completely absorbed (about 10
minutes).
Turn off heat and add remaining dill. Cover. Serve hot with a
simple raita or yoghurt
http://files.heraldscotland.com/life_style/15684517.Sumayya_Usmani__39_s_culinary_journey__My_mother__39_s_Aaloo_Ki_Teyri__turmeric_rice_with_potatoes_/?ref=rss
Improving the position of Vietnam’s rice
The structure of Vietnam's export rice has shifted
positively, with a sharp decline in the middle and low-grade rice segment and a
strong increase in the volume of rice varieties with high quality and value
(such as sticky rice, japonica and brown rice). The change has been also
consistent with the directions for the development of export markets. The
country’s rice exports in the first ten months of this year increased iin
comparison to the same period in 2016, both in volume and value, thanks to the
growth of exports to key markets including China, Malaysia, the Philippines and
Bangladesh. Specifically, China is now the largest market, accounting for nearly
40% of the total rice export turnover of Vietnam, with 2.03 million tonnes
(equivalent to US$909.04 million), an increase of 35% in volume and 34% in
turnover over the same period last year.
Over the past few years, types of high quality rice,
including fragrant and glutinous rice, have been the main commodities exported
to this market. Following China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Ghana and ASEAN are
the main export markets of Vietnamese rice. In addition, in the first ten
months of the year, the exports of rice to Senegal and Iraq saw a sharp
increase. Vietnam exported 98,000 tonnes of rice to Iraq (up 91 times over the
same period in 2016), worth US$51.45 million (up 108 times); meanwhile the
exports to Senegal increased 178 times in volume and nearly 90 times in
turnover (reaching nearly 25,000 tonnes, worth US$8.18 million). In addition to
the advantages in the markets, the prices of exported Vietnamese rice have
increased sharply from US$360 per tonne in early June to US$509 per tonne by
October.
The average rice
exports price reached US$448.6 per tonne in the first ten months of the year,
the highest price level in recent years. There are many opportunities for the
growth of rice exports, particularly in China where Vietnamese 5% broken white
rice is cheaper than domestic rice. In addition the 23 Vietnamese enterprises
that have been checked and granted permission for exports, nine more rice
enterprises are undergoing the evaluation process for the license from the
Chinese side to export their products to this market. Other markets, including
Sri Lanka and the Philippines have also launched many rice import packages in
the last few months of the year. Africa and Iraq have a great demand for rice,
opening more opportunities for the growth of this commodity. Grasping the
demand of the markets, many Vietnamese enterprises have paid greater attention
to the production of high quality rice varieties and specialty rice. Provinces
in the Mekong River Delta have increased the cultivation of jasmine rice varieties,
including Jasmine 85, Tai Nguyen (natural resources), VD 20, and OM 4900.
The enterprises have also enhanced the use of the
latest rice varieties from the Mekong River Delta Rice Institute, Southern Seed
Centre and Soc Trang Rice Research Team to improve the quality of rice. As a
result, the short-life ST24 rice variety, which can yield over five tonnes per
hectare and has the aroma of pineapple, has been successfully produced. ST24
has become an honour to Vietnam’s rice as it was recognised as one of the three
most delicious rice varieties in the world. The Ministry of Industry and Trade
is actively implementing the strategy for developing the country's rice export
market towards a reduction in the volume and an increase in the value of
exported rice.
The Ministry will develop plans and solutions to
develop each rice export market and respond to market changes, as well as
building a database of rice market information. The localities also reorganised
their production towards the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification,
strictly controlling the production process to ensure hygiene and food safety
and meet the criteria and standards of importing countries. For example, Dong
Thap province has planned and built large-scale raw material areas, in association
with developing the brand of the local rice. The province has also focused on
the investment for essential infrastructure and techniques that can create
favourable condtions for the application of VietGAP and GlobalGAP procedures.
In addition, Dong Thap is actively popularising the information on the strategy
for developing the country's rice export market to enterprises, aiming to
gradually improve the efficiency of rice exports. With the
satisfactory results of rice exports, the Vietnam Food Association has raised
the target of rice exports to 5.6 million tonnes, instead of 5.2 million tonnes
this year. To date, the country has reached 91% of the target.
