Rice Transplanter Machines Market Research Report 2023: Factors of Price Change, And Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products
Rice Transplanter Machines Market report proposes existing competitive situation of Rice Transplanter Machines industry with penetrating insights of dominating key players comprising market price analysis, value chain features and revenue forecast during 2018-2023.
The Rice Transplanter Machines market report analyse the manufacturing cost of the product, which is very important for the manufacturer and competitors, raw material price, manufacturing process cost, labour cost, energy cost, all these kinds of cost will affect the market trend, to know the manufacturing cost better, to know the Rice Transplanter Machines market better.
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Rice Transplanter Machines Market Segmented by Dominating Key Players
Yanmar
Iseki
Kubota
TYM
Jiangsu World Agriculture Machinery
CLAAS
Shandong Fuerwo Agricultural Equipment
Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery
Dongfeng Agricultural Machinery
Changfa Agricultural Equipment
Iseki
Kubota
TYM
Jiangsu World Agriculture Machinery
CLAAS
Shandong Fuerwo Agricultural Equipment
Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery
Dongfeng Agricultural Machinery
Changfa Agricultural Equipment
And More…
In this report, Rice Transplanter Machines market is valued at XX million USD in 2018 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2018 and 2023.
The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Rice Transplanter Machines by product, region and application, in addition, this report presents market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.
Products Type & technology analysed in this report are
Mechanical
Manual
Manual
And More…
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Applications analysed in this report are
Commercial
Household
Household
And More…
In addition, report analyses market size and forecast of Rice Transplanter Machines by product, region and application and other research essentials like type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries client’s information, which is very important for the manufacturers.
Regional Rice Transplanter Machines Market (Regional Output, Demand & Forecast by Countries):
- North America (United States, Canada, Mexico)
- South America ( Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile)
- Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Korea)
- Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy)
- Middle East Africa (Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran) And More
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There are Major Chapters to display in the Rice Transplanter Machines market.
Chapter 1: Rice Transplanter Machines Industry Overview
- 1 Market Definition
- 2 Market Development
- 3 ByType
- 4 By Function
- 5 By Application
- 6 By Region
Part 2 Global Market Status and Future Forecast
- 1 Global Market by Region
- 2 Global Market by Company
- 3 Global Market by Type
- 4 Global Market by Function
- 5 Global Market by Application
- 6 Global Market by Forecast
Chapter 2: Rice Transplanter Machines Market by Type
- Segment Overview by Market Size
- Market Forecast
Chapter 3: Market Competition
- Major Companies List
- Company Competition includes Company Profile and Sales Data
- Regional Market by Company
Chapter 4: Rice Transplanter Machines Market Demand
- Regional Demand Comparison of Situation and Applications
- Market Demand Forecast
Chapter 5: Region Operation
- Overview by Regions and by Country
- Regional Output and Forecast
Chapter 6: Marketing & Price
- Price Trends and Margin and Factors of Price Change
- Manufacturers Gross Margin Analysis by Value Chain and Marketing Channel
Chapter 7: Conclusion
Continued. . .
……And Many more
No of pages- 129
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Fact
check: Duterte says rice shortage 'artificial'
People
lining up at Pasig Mega Market for NFA rice sold at P32 per kilo with customers
limited to buying up to 5 kilos each on Sept. 9, 2018.
The STAR/Michael Varcas
(philstar.com)
- September 11, 2018 - 11:57pm
MANILA,
Philippines — In a televised interview with Chief Presidential Legal
Counsel Salvador Panelo, President Rodrigo Duterte said rice shortage is
"artificial" and blamed "man-made manipulation" for the
problem, which in some areas, prompted the public to line up in markets just to
secure their grains.
While
the government did apprehend some rice smugglers in recent months, the root
cause of the rice problem has been blamed on the failure of the government to
timely import rice.
Rice,
the country's main staple, accounts for nearly a tenth of the basket of basic
goods and commodities a Filipino purchases. As a result, high rice prices have
pushed inflation up to an over nine-year high of 6.4 percent in August.
The
problem began in February when the state-led National Food Authority announced
its buffer stock of cheap rice sold to the poor was only enough for two days,
below the 15-day requirement.
Since
then, Duterte has mandated imports of up to 500,000 metric tons, but nearly
nine months after, only 350,000 MT have arrived, while NFA's buffer stock
remains below minimum and ample only for four days.
Without
the cheaper alternative, the poor are forced to buy commercial rice,
together with the rest of the population. This drives demand and pushes prices
up.
Philippine
Statistics Authority data show average retail prices of regular-milled rice
rose 15.24 percent year-on-year in the last week of August. Those of
well-milled rice went up 11.63 percent. Both are the fastest so far this
year.
While
imports have indeed started to arrive, some of the shipments from Thailand were
infested by weevil. The government said the infested grains are safe to eat
after fumigation and no less than Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol cooked
and ate some of it before the media, to prove the point.
The
government has recently ordered importing more rice as it awaits other pending
deliveries as well as the passage of the rice tariffication bill, which would
remove annual limits on rice imports and replace them with tariffs on
shipments.
The
rice caps have been constantly set for more than two decades as a way to
protect local farmers from cheaper imports. Under the bill, tariff proceeds
will be used to fund local farmers to improve their harvests and allow them to
compete with grains abroad.
The
bill was approved at the House of Representatives and is in advanced stages at
the Senate.
In
a related development, Duterte also said on Tuesday that NFA Administrator
Jason Aquino has asked to be relieved amid calls for his resignation due to the
rice problem.
Duterte
said he would soon appoint a replacement to Aquino.
Rice supply still thinning; Duterte says lack artificial
The figure is 24 percent below the previous month’s
stock level of 1.99 million MT.
Michael Varcas/File
MANILA, Philippines — The
country’s rice inventory dropped to 1.52 million metric tons in August, down 25
percent from last year’s stock of 2.02 million MT, according to latest data
from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The figure is 24 percent below
the previous month’s stock level of 1.99 million MT.
The PSA did not specify for how
long the rice stock would be sufficient. But based on the average daily
consumption of Filipinos of 32,000 MT, the current inventory is enough for 48
days.
The National Food Authority (NFA)
still has limited inventory of three days from the mandated 30 days and even if
imports started arriving three months ago, the stocks were distributed to
markets to bring down prices of commercial rice.
So far, 385,000 MT out of the
500,000 MT of imported rice have arrived in the country.
Another 250,000 MT will be
imported for the fourth quarter, bringing total imports for the year to 750,000
MT.
The main harvest season will be
in full blast starting next month, which could help augment national inventory.
NFA administrator Jason Aquino
has instructed the agency’s field offices, especially in rice producing areas,
to be more aggressive in their palay buying strategies.
“We will not wait for the farmers
to bring their produce, but rather go out to the farthest and remotest
barangays to buy their harvest, especially in areas where the prices offered by
private traders are below the government support price,” Aquino said.
The grain agency reactivated its
mobile procurement teams, which are coordinating with farmers’ organizations
and local government units to inform them about the NFA’s procurement scheme
and incentives.
As of last month, NFA has only
procured a total of 75,753 bags, which is roughly three percent of its target
2.6 million bags for the whole year.
The agency’s low procurement
performance during the summer harvest was attributed to the high palay
farm-gate price offered by private traders ranging from P20 to P28 per
kilogram.
The buying support price of NFA
remains at P17 per kilo for clean and dry, with additional incentives of
P0.70-P1 per kilo for delivery, drying and cooperative incentive fee.
With the additional imports and
the start of the harvest season, the government is expecting rice prices to
stabilize by November but will unlikely reach below P40 per kilo.
Retail prices of rice ranged from
P44 to P48 per kilo.
P38/kilo in Bulacan
In Bulacan, a group of rice
traders agreed to sell P38 per kilo of imported rice in selected areas in the
province.
Roderico Sulit, spokesman for the
Rice Millers Association of Bulacan, said they would sell mixed grains imported
from Vietnam in coordination with the NFA.
The rice will be sold initially
in relocation sites in Balagtas, Bocaue, Marilao and Malolos. Each
relocation site will be allocated 150 sacks of rice.
Consumers can buy up to five
kilos of rice, Sulit said. – With Ramon Lazaro
Resource-short
Taiwan achieved rice self-sufficiency
Taiwan is generally regarded as a First World country
and is one of the world’s foremost industrial and trading nations. Yet, not so
long ago—more precisely, almost 70 years ago—that was not the case.
In September 1949, Taiwan—christened Formosa by the
colonizing Portuguese—was just one of the larger islands off the Chinese
mainland. Then in the following month, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shak and his
Nationalist army, beaten by the Communist troops led by Mao Tse-tung, crossed
the Formosa Strait and established a government on Taiwan. Thus was the
island-state born.
The Chiang group came to an island that was
relatively small and had minimal natural resources. Taiwan is largely
mountainous, and whatever cultivable land it has is found along the island’s
coastal areas. The total area available for agriculture is just over 200,000
hectares—that wasn’t much land by any standard.
Realizing that the first order of business was to
provide enough food for his beleaguered army, the Generalissimo decreed that
the highest priority, after the strengthening of Taiwan’s defenses, was the
development of the island’s agriculture. Whatever land and water existed were
to be used in the most efficient manner possible. All the necessary
agricultural production inputs besides water—especially credit, agricultural
extension and marketing assistance—were to be made available by the government
to ensure the highest possible yield per hectare of land. It was a case of,
literally, all hands to the flow, and the government was closely monitoring the
progress of the farmers. It is not out of place to mention here that some of
Taiwan’s agricultural officials and technicians were sent to this country to
enroll in courses at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
It was not long before the single-mindedness and
determination of the Nationalist government began to bear fruit.
Self-sufficiency in rice, corn, vegetables and other agricultural products was
soon attained, and Taiwan no longer needed food aid from friendly countries,
particularly the Communists’ arch-enemy, the US.
Not only that. Since it now had enough rice and other
agricultural products to feed the Taiwanese people, and because Taiwan badly
needed foreign exchange, the island-state embarked on export trade in
agricultural products, especially rice. Taiwan became, and remain, an important
exporter of rice.
That surely is not bad for a country that had very
little cultivable land, had limited water resources, had a start-from-scratch
administrative infrastructure and was short of foreign exchange. Since it first
attained rice self-sufficiency, Taiwan has not had to import a single grain of
that.
Comparisons are odious, but in view of what is
happening in this country today—and of how unstable the rice situation is—a
comparison between the agricultural experiences of Taiwan and the Philippine is
both inevitable and instinctive.
This country is one of the world’s biggest importers
of rice—total imports will probably be 500,000 metric tons in 2018—despite the
3,000,000 hectares of land devoted to the cultivation of rice and corn, this
country’s numerous rivers with large water volume, its centuries-long tradition
of rice culture, the existence in the Philippines of two pre-eminent rice
research institutions (UPLB and the International Rice Research Institute), a
favorable legislative environment, a broad administrative infrastructure and
sufficient foreign exchange.
If the government—Congress and the Executive
branch—applied to Philippine agriculture the same seriousness and consistency
that the authorities of Taiwan, with the island’s far more limited resources,
did, this country would have become (1) self-sufficient in rice, (2) not needed
to import that basic community and (3) quite possible have become an exporter.
The job can be done. In the seventies the government,
through its Masagana 99 program, demonstrated that an all-out effort pursued
with determination could give rise to rice self-sufficiency. There is no reason
why a Masagana-type program cannot be replicated at this juncture.
If Taiwanese, with far limited resources on their
agriculturally inhospitable island, could produce not only rice
self-sufficiency but also a rice export trade, so, definitely, can Filipinos.
P300-m worth of
smuggled rice seized in Bulacan
The Bureau of Customs seized smuggled rice worth P300
million in a raid Tuesday by customs and police officers in seven warehouses in
Marilao, Bulacan, as the police nationwide were ordered to identify and arrest
rice hoarders blamed for the shortage of government grains in public and
private markets.
DISTURBING DISCOVERY. The Bureau of Customs, upfront in addressing the wrath of a
hungry population, has seized smuggled rice worth P300 million in a raid
Wednesday by Customs and police operatives, with authorities claiming at least
125,000 sacks of imported rice–from Thailand, China and India–discovered in
warehouses in one town alone in Bulacan. Customs Facebook
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said Wednesday at
least 125,000 sacks of imported rice, reportedly imported from Thailand, China,
and India, were discovered inside the warehouses located at the FedCor Compound
at Barangay Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan.
Representatives from the National Food Authority in
Bulacan were present when the BoC and Philippine National Police raided the
compound.
“Seven out of the total of 11 warehouses inside the
compound were being used to store the thousands of sacks of rice,” the BoC
chief said.
The customs chief said the warehouse owners, lessees
or the owners of the imported goods failed to present proof that payment of
duties and taxes had been made on the rice.
The bureau is stepping up its operations to thwart
rice smuggling given the price hike in the country’s staple grain.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier announced that the
government will go after rice hoarders who contribute to the increasing cost of
rice.
Lapeña instructed the bureau’s Intelligence and
Enforcement Groups to go after suspected rice smugglers and hoarders of
imported rice and other agricultural products.
PNP chief Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday ordered the
mobilization intelligence units across the country to identify and arrest rice
hoarders and manipulators.
Albayalde’s directive came after President Duterte
ordered the police to go after traders who were keeping rice out of the market.
“We intensify our intelligence gathering to identify
these warehouses that are hoarding rice blamed for the shortage of staple,”
Albayalde said.
The PNP is closely coordinating with the Department
of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture and National Food Authority
(DTI, DA, NFA) to discuss the anti-hoarding campaign.
Despite imports, NFA rice of different varieties,
priced at P27 and P32 a kilo remained scarce, sparking public outrage.
Albayalde said the prevailing rice shortage could be
attributed to illegal stockpiling in warehouses.
“If there’s a shortage, it could be because of
hoarding. The rice could be sitting in warehouses and will be released only
when the price goes up,” Albayalde said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“We have to figure out, that’s why we intensified our
intelligence gathering through the different intelligence officers of different
regions,” he said. “This is a matter of national interest.”
Meanwhile, quarantine officials on Wednesday cleared
132,400 bags of rice docked at the Subic Bay Freeport after they were fumigated
for weevils.
Plant Quarantine Service Regional Manager Ronnie M.
Manuel issued the certification that the rice shipment from Thailand is fit for
human consumption after it was treated by SSI Chemical Applications, Inc., a
Bureau of Plant Industry-accredited fumigator.Before the clearance was issued,
rice samples were randomly taken from the cargo holds of m/v Gazi for
inspection, examination and sensory evaluation. The samples passed the quality
specifications and standards.
If the weather permits, unloading of the rice
shipment is expected to resume on Sept. 13 for delivery to NFA warehouses.
The 132,400 bags rice shipment is part of the 160,000
bags allocated for distribution in Central Luzon to beef up the inventory of
NFA rice in the agency’s warehouses in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan,
Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan and Aurora.
Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros described the weevil
infestation involving over 100,000 sacks of imported rice languishing at the
Subic Bay Freeport Zone as the “single biggest hallmark of government
incompetence.”
“No matter how many cups of weevil-infested rice our
public officials eat, no matter how safe they all claim it to be, our people
shouldn’t have to endure eating this kind of food if only our government had
done its job in ensuring the country’s food security,” she said.
She said the government has thousands and thousands
of sacks of rice and just let it get infested.
“If this is not gross incompetence, I don’t know what
is,” she said.
The NFA on Wednesday assured the public that the
delivery of its services will continue even as administrator Jason Aquino has
requested to be relieved from his post.
In a statement, the NFA said Aquino, who is currently
on leave, will remain head of the food agency until a replacement is appointed
by Duterte.
During a meeting with NFA Regional Directors last
Sept. 5, Aquino had instructed them to further intensify rice distribution
activities, to reach 15 to 20 percent market participation, so that more
consumers, especially those living in remote barangays, island-provinces, the
poor and marginalized in highly populated urban areas, are able to benefit from
the government’s low-priced good quality rice at P27 and P32 per
kilogram. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and PNA
Rice imports from
Brazil raising concerns
U.S.
rice supplies expected to be up more than 8 percent in 2018-19. So why is the
U.S. importing more rice?
U.S. rice supplies are expected
to be up by more than 8 percent in 2018-19, mainly due to increased plantings
and average yields in Arkansas, according to USDA. So why is the U.S. importing
more rice?
Until the last few years, the U.S
imported very little rice aside from specialty rice for the Asian-American
market, according to Dr. Nathan Childs, senior agricultural rice economist with
USDA’s Economic Research Service. That situation is changing.
“Just a few years ago it looked like imports had leveled off;
that they were maybe starting to decline a little bit,” said Childs, a speaker
for the latest in the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
series of Food and Agribusiness Webinars. To see the webinar: https://bit.ly/2E2BEla.
“But we’ve seen something very
different in the last two years,” he said. “Very strong imports that will be a
record for sure. It is not due to brokens (kernels of rice). The U.S. does
import brokens, but it’s really due to milled rice.”
The bulk of U.S. rice
imports typically have come from Asia, Childs noted, with Thailand supplying about
60 percent and India and Pakistan at least 20 percent. Imports are expected to
reach about 28 million hundredweight for the second year in a row in 2018-19.
“I want to show you that, in recent years,
Brazil has accounted for more U.S. rice imports,” he said, referring to a slide
showing Brazil’s rice exports to the U.S. since 2006. “This is not a lot of
rice, maybe around 30,000 tons (in 2017-18). But it came from 4,000 or 5,000
tons.
“So that’s Brazil exporting into
the U.S., that’s milled rice. Again, as a share, it’s not real high. The U.S.
imports maybe a little over 800,000 tons annually. And 30,000 or 40,000 is not
a huge share by any means. But it came from a very low number previously.”
Puerto Rico
Another “odd” development
involves China and Puerto Rico, which is a part of the United States although
it has not achieved statehood.
“In years past, Puerto Rico
imported medium grain rice from China,” said Childs. “But for almost a decade,
it imported virtually zero. Now, the census is showing Puerto Rico’s back to
taking some rice from China. The bulk of U.S. rice from China is landing in
Puerto Rico.”
USDA’s World Agricultural Supply
and Demand estimates project U.S. rice supplies at roughly 280 million
hundredweight in 2018-19 or about 8 percent higher than in 2017-18. That’s
mainly due to increased plantings in Arkansas since the carry-in and imports
are roughly the same as last year. (Arkansas accounts for 61 percent of the
150,000-acre increase in the U.S. in 2018.)
“The crop is up,” he said.
“Carry-in is down a little. Imports about the same. So it’s driven by a much larger
crop. Notice that U.S. rice exports are projected to increase 13 percent.
Domestic use about the same. Why are exports expected to increase? More
supplies, more competitive prices, and they need to be more competitive to move
that rice.”
The need to increase exports is
coming at a time when the U.S. is facing increased competition for what, until
now, has been its primary exports market in the region of Mexico and Central
America.
“Latin America accounts for 60
percent of U.S. rice exports,” said Childs, referring to a slide depicting U.S.
rice shipments by country and region going back to the 1990s. “You can see that
Mexico, and then the rest of Latin America, are important to the U.S. rice
industry.”
On the other hand, Latin America
accounts for 80 percent of U.S. long-grain rice exports. “So it’s even more
important for the South, which primarily grows long-grain rice. California,
which primarily grows medium-grain rice, doesn’t ship much to Latin America.”
Uruguay and Guyana, two
relatively new rice exporters in South America, nearly doubled their shipments
to Mexico in 2017, said Childs, and they are making more inroads in 2018.
“But the most troubling development,” he said, “is the
significant increase in shipments of Brazil’s milled rice into the U.S.,
particularly along the East Coast, beginning in Florida and moving up through
the Southeast.”
San Miguel
plans to venture into rice importation
Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. said it plans to
venture into rice trading, once the proposed Rice Tariffication Law is approved
in a bid to help the government achieve food security.
San Miguel president and chief operating officer
Ramon Ang said in an interview at the sidelines of San Miguel Food and
Beverage’s special stockholders meeting the company was planning to engage in
rice importation using the existing grains terminals to handle the shipments.
“If there is a law allowing us to venture into this
business, we can get into that and quickly we can do it,” Ang said.
Ang said the company could put up an extra silo or
storage in existing grains facilities in Bataan and Batangas for rice imports.
He said the company could also use its feed mill and other food facilities in
Davao, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Pangasinan and Quezon.
“We can easily help in stabilizing the price of rice
in the country,” Ang said.
Ang said the Rice Tariffication bill could help local
farmers, as proceeds from the tariff collection could be plowed back to improve
the competitiveness of the sector and raise farmers’ incomes.
The proposed bill aims to amend Republic Act No.
8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996 to replace the quantitative
restrictions on rice imports with tariff.
Rice importation, which is currently being controlled
by state-run National Food Authority, will then be opened up to private
traders.
Meanwhile, Ang said he was confident SMFB would be
able to conduct its P142-billion share sale this year despite current market
conditions.
Ang said SMFB already started an international
roadshow for the planned follow-on offering and the feedback from investors was
positive.
“Investors like companies with stable cash slow with
big market share in food and beverage category. So even with the situation in
manila, we are confident that we can place out the shares,” Ang said.
Ang said the final terms of the planned share sale
would be revealed in the next few months.
Under the plan, SMFB will sell 887 million secondary
shares owned by parent company San Miguel Corp. and another 133 million shares
to cover over allotment at an offer price of up to P140 per share.
Ang said proceeds from the offering would be used to
create projects and generate jobs.
NFA administrator out; Duterte asks Congress: 'Abolish NFA
Council'
National Food Authority administrator Jason Aquino has
requested to be relieved, according to President Duterte.
Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) -
September 12, 2018 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — With the
country’s rice supply still dwindling, President Duterte is now in search of a
new head for the state-run National Food Authority (NFA) after his appointee
Jason Aquino requested to be relieved.
In a televised interview with
chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo yesterday, Duterte announced
that Aquino has requested to be removed after leading the agency for one year
and eight months.
“He says he’s tired and he cannot
cope with the dynamics inside, which is always ordinary happening, happening in
government because we cannot be in agreement all the time,” Duterte said,
referring to the NFA administrator.
Aquino is being blamed for the
lack of rice supply in the market, prompting prices to spike.
Aquino could not be reached for
comment while NFA special assistant to the administrator Rachel Miguel is
currently out of the country.
Even NFA spokesman Rex Estoperez,
who is on leave, has not responded to queries and clarifications.
A source from the NFA, however,
said the announcement from the President was unexpected as Aquino has not
mentioned any plan to resign from his post.
NFA deputy administrator Tomas
Escare told a recent House hearing that the grains agency asked the council
last October to allow the importation of one million metric tons of rice. He
claimed the council permitted the NFA to import rice only last May.
NFA Council member and Trade
Undersecretary Ruth Castelo countered Escare’s claim, saying the approval was
delayed because of the NFA’s failure to submit information about its inventory.
Duterte has claimed that the
Philippines has more than enough supply of rice and expressed readiness to
order the opening of warehouses to prevent hoarding.
Officials have said the
government would open stores selling cheap rice to stabilize prices.
The Chief Executive said he would
appoint someone who would implement the policies of the economic managers but
did not elaborate. He also did not say what position would be offered but
revealed he was just waiting for the person to retire.
Best option
Several lawmakers and agriculture
industry groups have been calling for Aquino’s resignation because of his
supposed failure to address rice supply issues.
The Samahang Industriya ng
Agrikultura (Sinag) welcomed the decision, saying voluntary exit is the best
option for Aquino.
“I don’t think he could solve the
situation right now so it is better that he just leave,” Sinag chairman Rosendo
So told The STAR in a phone interview.
“He has to be accountable to the
farmers and to the people for the rice shortage in the market,” he added.
The group will also review the
graft charges it filed against Aquino on Aug. 29, saying there is a chance that
the Office of the Ombudsman may just dismiss it given that he will be out of
office anytime soon.
As to the next NFA chief, So said
stakeholders trust the President to choose the right person to replace Aquino.
“The person to replace him should
be pro-farmer and who will buy and protect our local farmers and not just think
of importation,” he said.
“Someone who will help the local
farmers and not the other countries,” So added.
NFA Council abolition
The industry also lauded the
administration’s plan to scrap the interagency NFA Council, echoing the
President’s sentiments that it is useless and has supposedly failed to perform
its function.
Duterte revealed his plan amid
the increase in prices of rice in the market.
“I will recommend to Congress the
abolition of the (council). It has not done any purpose; it only hinders the
operation,” he said.
The NFA Council, which formulates
policy on rice and food security, like importation, was formed by Presidential
Decree No. 4, later amended by Presidential Decree No. 1770. It consists of
representatives from the finance department, National Economic and Development
Authority, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Landbank and the farming sector.
Duterte reiterated the need to
remove rice quotas and to just allow anyone to import rice to ensure that the
country has enough supply.
“I have been advocating
tariffication... anybody can import,” he added.
Presidential spokesman Harry
Roque Jr. previously said the bill that imposes tariffs on rice imports could
lead to the abolition of the NFA. The measure was approved by the House of
Representatives last month.
The entire council, which used to
be led by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, has been in disagreement with
Aquino in particular since last year due to opposing decisions on the extension
of import arrivals.
The issue worsened with several
deferments and non-approval of importation as well as rejection of the increase
in the buying price of palay.
Rice from Sabah
Meanwhile, Duterte said he was
considering buying rice from Sabah to address the country’s rice supply
issues.
“Shortages are always there...
The economic life of a country cannot be all bed of roses. I have several
options. The importation did not stop. If worse comes to worst, I will open
Sabah,” the President said.
“The rice from Sabah is cheap. If
we let the authorities, those from Basilan, those from Jolo or Zamboanga to buy
rice there, they can get it at a very low price,” he added.
Duterte also expressed
willingness to set up barter trade in the area, which is now being administered
by Malaysia. – With Louise Maureen Simeon
Health dangers
of Nigeria’s rice revolution
WHENEVER I see my son load up on white rice for lunch or dinner,
I am unable to restrain myself from warning him that he is playing with
‘‘fire”. Many parents tell me their children are like him…. White rice
gobblers. I used to shout or scream to no avail until he caught the bug,
hitting the ceiling of pre-obesity in a bodymass index (BMI) test. He is
luckier than most other children of his age who, hooked on white rice, develop
such diseases as Type 2 diabetes, heart problems, obesity, beri-beri, muscle
and nerve degeneration, eye and kidney challenges, to mention a few of the
problems which can arise from the consumption of mountains of white rice every
day.
I become more concerned about the
health of voracious Nigerian rice eaters when I heard the good news about
Nigeria’s RICE REVOLUTION in only three years of the Buhari Administration in
which many of his pathological haters do not see anything good. Before Buhari
came to power in 2015, Nigeria depended almost 100 percent on rice imports to
feed itself, rice having become one of its staple foods. But about three years
on by last year, Nigeria was growing about 85 percent of the rice it consumed
every year. Rice price is crashing. Farm output is growing. And there are indications
that the rice fields will balloon more next year, leaving no gap between need
and production to be filled with imports. In fact, Nigeria is looking forward
to becoming a rice exporting nation with rice price so down at home that it
would be tempting to eat it three times a day. That is where nutrition
specialists are likely to have sleepless nights and professional headaches.
Nigeria’s rice history
When I was a boy in the 1950s, we
ate rice only on special days such as during Easter Monday picnic, Christmas,
birthdays or when a child was ill and the mother wished to pamper him or her.
Even then, the rice was native rice, grown organically and unmilled. Women had
a hell of a time destoning it in the kitchen, and it may not be totally free of
stones in the rice pot or in the lunch or dinner plate. That was why Uncle
Ben’s Rice, sparkling white from the rice mills and stone free, made an instant
market success, although it was less nutritious and more hazardous to health
than Nigerian native rice. How Nigeria became a heavy eater of factory
processed rice over the decades is mind boggling, from data provided by www.indexmundi.com.
1968-50,000 metric tonnes/1969-258,000 tonnes/1970-285,000
tonnes/1971-313,000
tonnes/1972-321,000
tonnes/1973-344,000
tonnes/1974-352,000
tonnes/1975-396,000
tonnes/ 1976-500,000 tonnes/1977-750,000
tonnes/1978-950,000
tonnes/1979-845,000
tonnes/1980-850,000
tonnes/1981-1,227,000
tonnes/1982-1,337,000
tonnes/1983-1,648,000
tonnes/1984-1,220,000
tonnes/1985-1,249,000
tonnes/1986-1,042,000
tonnes/1987-1,152,000
tonnes/1988-1,350,000
tonnes/1989-1,550,000
tonnes/1990-2,757,000
tonnes/1991-2,207,000
tonnes/1992-2,436,000
tonnes/1993-2,221,000
tonnes/1994-2,136,000
tonnes/1995-2,000,000
tonnes/1996-2,175,000
tonnes/1997-2,712,000
tonnes/1998-2,815,000
tonnes/1999-2,866,000
tonnes/2000-3,029,000
tonnes/2001-3,051,000
tonnes/2002-3,307,000
tonnes/2003-3,670,000
tonnes/2004-3,750,000
tonnes/2005-3,800,000
tonnes/2006-4,040,000
tonnes/2007-4,100,000
tonnes/2008-4,220,000
tonnes/2009-4,353,000
tonnes/2010-4,800,000
tonnes/2011-5,600,000
tonnes/2012-5,700,000
tonnes/2013-5,800,000
tonnes/2014-6,100,000
tonnes/2015-6,400,000
tonnes/2016-6,500,000
tonnes/2017-6,700,000
tonnes and in 2018, it is 6,900,000 tonnes.
Of the 6,700,000 metric tonnes
consumed in 2017, Nigeria was able to produce 5,800,000 metric tonnes, which
meant that import accounted for a mere 900,000 metric tonnes. This must have
been bad news and bad business for Nigeria’s suppliers of rice such as Thailand
where unemployment in the rice fields must be causing social problems by now.
The politics of rice
Nigeria’s rice revolution caused
political storms in and outside the country. The government wished to stop
spending money to import rice, to create employment not for citizens of other
countries while Nigerians could be employed in their own country growing rice
to feed themselves. Thailand and the other exporters wished to keep their
citizens employed growing rice to feed Nigerians and earning foreign exchange
from Nigeria in the process. It would be prepared to sell at even half of cost
price if that would make its rice cheaper than Nigeria’s and more desirable by
Nigerian consumers. With the Nigerian government ban on rice importation
bitting and frustrating Thailand Benin Republic became a beneficiary. The
economy of Benin Republic, Nigeria’s western neighbour, thrives on smuggling of
banned goods into Nigeria. And the smuggling of petroleum products outside
Nigeria. Thus, mountains of rice are imported into Benin Republic by Nigeria
importers, Benin Republic benefits from tariff income and look the other way
despite bilateral agreement between both countries to fight smuggling. In
desperation, the Buhari Administration instructed border closure with dire
economic consequences for both countries.
Nigeria winning the war
From all indications, the war is
only about one year away from ending. The government public relations machinery
is poor. It is third parties who have been calming nerves frayed by high rice
price with soothing reminders that laughter follows the screams of a woman in
having a baby in the labour room. That laughter on the dining table can be seen
already in the flicker of hope or silver lining presented by two rice projects
in southern Nigeria. These are the rice seedling plant in Cross River State and
the rice mill of the Lagos State government. Cross River State’s rice seedling
mill, the biggest in Africa, will employ about 500 workers and earn a N70
billion naira revenue every year. The rice mills in Imota, Lagos State, the
biggest in sub-Saharan Africa, will employ 200,000 workers in the rice chain
and process 32 metric tonnes of rice per hour. That means that this plant can
mill the 5,800,000 metric tonnes of rice produced in Nigerian last year in 181,250
hours or 7,552 hours or 315 days. This must be unable to handle Nigeria’s
rice consumption with dispatch. Happily, many rice mills are being built all
over the country. The one at Imota will mill rice produced in south-western
Nigeria.
Havocs of the mills
We do not know the brands of Nigeria’s rice mills. So, we
cannot talk as yet about the nutritional defects of the rice
which would come out of them. But we do know that the rice which goes into any rice meal doesn’t come out at the other end in one whole or good piece. For it emerges as prece work. The virgin rice, that is rice before it goes into the mills, has a covering known as the hull. This is the first part of it the machines remove. The de-hulled rice is brown rice. The brown part, called the bran, is where the grains nutrients are most concentrated.
cannot talk as yet about the nutritional defects of the rice
which would come out of them. But we do know that the rice which goes into any rice meal doesn’t come out at the other end in one whole or good piece. For it emerges as prece work. The virgin rice, that is rice before it goes into the mills, has a covering known as the hull. This is the first part of it the machines remove. The de-hulled rice is brown rice. The brown part, called the bran, is where the grains nutrients are most concentrated.
The average rice business man
does not wish to sell this brand of milled rice for various reasons. First, he
may need to store his stocks for months or transport them overseas. For
example, Thailand, Nigeria’s major rice supplier, is reputed to be the biggest
rice growing ration on earth, accounting for about 30 percent of the worlds
output. The rice with bran is so nutrient dense that weevils and other insects
like to feast on it. This will be bad business for the rice merchant. So, he
asks the machines to scrapes off the bran. Scraping it off reveals the white
part of the rice grain we are all familiar with. It contains the germ or the
embrayo which the plant in Calabar, Cross River State, will be extracting to
grow into seedlings for about N70 billion revenue every year, under the
watchful care of Chinese magers.
The white rice is pleasing to the
rice merchant because, deprived of nutrients which can be easily oxidized or
spoiled, it can keep for about one week after cooking, whereas the brown rice
spoils about the day after. More harm is done to white rice when it is sent for
parboiling in boilers to further extract nutrients which stubbornly cling to it
after the bran layer has been scraped off. Polishing, another phase of rice
processing, adds more insult to the injury by removing more nutrients. The
Nigerian man and woman or child who gleefully enjoys a meal of appetising white
rice does not know what harmful or devitalised food the rice miller and the
rice merchant have brought to his or her lunch or dinner or even breakfast
plate.
On the plate is an almost pure
carbonhydrate meal, which is far from the intention of Mother Nature, the
provider. Mother Nature provides rice as a balance food which comprises
carbonhydrate, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and lots more.
Among these vitamins, for
example, is Thiamin (Vitamin B1) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3).
Among its many uses in the body,
Thiamine is a vitamin for the nerve and for the muscles and the digestion of
carbonhydrates. If nature formulated thiamine into the carbonhydrate stuff of
rice and man removes it, it means a rice meal may not be digested or well
digested and, if it has to be well digested, the body would have to release
some of its thiamine stocks for this purpose. This goes on most of the time
because most foods today are processed and, in Nigeria, we eat mainly
carbonhydrate foods. Imagine your heart, a muscle, releasing their thiamine
stock for digestion. They would become weak and flabby as most people’s hearts
are, enlarging sooner than later.
Palpitations and hypertensions
may not be too distant. All the time, we search too far away from the causes of
these ailments, sometimes blaming other people for it if we are under the
influence of spiritual or religious acrobats who call themselves Pastors or
Alfas, without realsing the causes are in our kitchens and dining tables! .
The Japanese who discovered the
disease called Beri-bere are not like us
in this regard. In www.healthline.com, we learn:
Beri-beri is a disease caused by
vitamin B1 deficiency also known as Thimine deficiency. There are two types of
the disease, wet beriberi and dry beriberi. Wet beriberi affects the heart and
the circulatory system. In extreme cases, wet beriberi can cause heart failure.
Dry beri-beri damages the nerves and can lead to decreased multi strength and
eventually paralysis. Beri-beri can be life threatening if it isn’t treated. If
you have access to foods rich in thiamine, our chances of developing beriberi
are low. Today, beriberi mostly occurs in people with an alcohol use disorder.
…Wet beriberi symptoms include
shortness of breath among physical activity, waking up short of breath, rapid
heart rate, swollen lower legs. Dry beriberi symptoms include decreased muscle
function, particularly in the lower legs, tingling or loss of feeling in the
feet and hands, pain, mental infusion, difficulty speaking, vomiting,
involuntary eye movement, paralysis. In extreme cases, Beriberi is associated
with wernicke korsakoff syndrome. Wernicke encephalopathy and korsakoff
syndrome are two forms of brain damage caused by thiamine deficiency. Weenicke
encephalopathy damage regions of the brain called the thalamus and
Hypothalamus. This condition can cause; (a) Confusion
(b) Memory loss (c) Loss of muscle
co-ordination (d) Usual problems such as rapid eye movement and double
vision.
Korsakoff syndrome is the result
of permanent damage to the region of the brain where memory is formed. It can
cause;
(a)
Loss of memory (b) Inability to form new memory (c) Hallu- cinations
Beriberi is most common in region of the world where the
diet includes unenriched processed white rice which only
has a tenth of the amount of thiamine as brown rice. Other factors may cause thiamine deficiency as well. These include; (a) Alcohol abuse which can make it hard for your body to absorb and store thiamine (b) Genetic beriberi is a rare condition that prevents the body from absorbing thiamine (c) Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) (d) Extreme nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (e) Bariatric surgery (f) AIDS (g) Prolonged diarrhea or use of diuretics (medications that make you urinate)
diet includes unenriched processed white rice which only
has a tenth of the amount of thiamine as brown rice. Other factors may cause thiamine deficiency as well. These include; (a) Alcohol abuse which can make it hard for your body to absorb and store thiamine (b) Genetic beriberi is a rare condition that prevents the body from absorbing thiamine (c) Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) (d) Extreme nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (e) Bariatric surgery (f) AIDS (g) Prolonged diarrhea or use of diuretics (medications that make you urinate)
More). Breast feeding mother need
daily thiamine in their diet. Infant drinking Breast milk or formula low in
thiamine are at risk, for thiamine deficiency.
Thank a million, www.healthline.com.
Thanks, also, Mr. S.O. Kolade (S.O.K.), my Health Science teacher at Olivet
Baptist High School, Oyo (1964-68), a born teacher who taught his class many
ramifications of this disease that , in 1970, I diagnosed it easily in an uncle
sick and bedridden at home , took him to KETU CLINIC in Lagos, where a doctor
confirmed the diagnosis. I have seen it presented in many cases since then and,
all too often, the challenged people are on a heavy white rice diet. To such
people, I always suggest the inclusion in the daily diet of a good dosage of
Vitamin B1 and a Vitamin B-50 procured from a reputable health food store.
As you settle before the next
meal of white rice, think of the following facts. In the milling of the bran,
the bran part, 8o percent of the thiamine is lost. Iron and Riboflabin losses
occur as well. Iron deficiency may cause anemia. Deficiency of Riboflabin (Vitamin
B2) may cause cataracts of the eye lens. The symptoms of a deficiency may also
include sore threat, redness and swelling of the mucus lining in the mouth,
cracks on the lips and those breaks in the corners of the mouth, reddish, in
flame tongue, scaly and moist skin. As proteins and Vitamin E are lost as well
in the milling of rice, deficiencies of these food substances cannot be ruled
out in populations where milled and polished rice has being a staple food for
decades.
Protein deficiency means the body
will not be well maintained in terms of the repair of cellular damage, and old,
tired or worn out molecules will not be quickly and regularly replaced. This
may hasten the aging process. Vitamin E deficiency is a serious nutritional
sin. We need it for maximum oxygen utilisation, as an antioxidant, for heart,
eye and muscle health, to prevent the blood from clotting and for reproductive
health, among its many other benefits. The devitalisation of rice by the rice
mills, to classify it among the foodless foods i.e. processed foods, is
incomplete. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium are also lost at the mills.
In the home or industrial kitchen, there is a final touch to tantalization
when, either when, either before cooking rice or half- way through cooking, the
rice is washed and the cooking water drained to remove dirt, dust and farm
chemical such as pesticides or herbicides.
The water drained off the pots
takes away lot of potassium and minerals. Potassium is needed by the muscles,
including the heart, a bundle of muscles. It is needed to neutralise
poisons and acids, to prevent the blood cell from becoming acidic and
toxic. It is needed at the cellular level to extract oxygen from the plasma for
use in the cells. Potassium shows us how important it is when we are sore
or a ching all over and we consume potassium rich foods and vegetables, and the
soreness and a ching disappear. Dr. Mat Gerson, that Germen doctor who cured
his perenal migraines with vegetable and fruit juices was among the first doctors
and researchers & to teach our generation to respect potassium. He cured
many cases of terrible cancers, including those complicated by chemotherapy and
radiation, by including generous amounts of potassium- rich juices in the diets
of his patient.
And he left us with the
theory that …beny and malignant tumours such as uterine fibroids or
cancer occur when the cell loses potassium and sodium fills the gap. A
potassium – rich cell is oxidative (oxygen using) while one deficient in
potassium is fermentative (non-oxygen dependant). If potassium is scarce in the
cell and oxygen cannot be extracted from the plasma, the cell would change its
living mode to fermentative lifestyle, which is the lifestyle of all cancers.
This is why cancer patients fare better when they improve the oxygen content of
their tissues either by consuming potassium-rich foods, infusing oxygen to
their diets through green foods (Spirulina, Kale, Wheat grass, Barley grass,
Lemon grass, Pawpaw leaf, Chlorella, Cilantro etc), through the hyperbaric
oxygen chamber or by taking Ozone injections regularly.
A staple processed rice diet over
time may also cause constipation, diabetes, obesity fatigue, high blood
pressure and related conditions, including stroke and heart attack. Lest I
forget, I would like to add a last note on beriberi. It was discovered in a
Japanese prison. The inmate were fed with polished rice about three times
a day. Soon, they began to develop muscle weakness and were unable to stand
unaided without falling. No one suspected the processed rice diet. Whenever
doctor came around and asked the afflicted ones to raise their legs, they tried
and screamed beriberi, beriberi in their language, that meant “I can’t, I
can’t”. But, thank goodness remnants of the prisoners food was thrown out to
chickens which foraged around the waste bins. Soon, the chickens, too, were
unable to stand or walk. The link thus established, the nutritional value of
whole grain rice was compared with those of milled, polished or processed rice
and … the differences were crystal clear.
Makabayan bloc backs P10 billion extra NFA budget for use in rice
procurement only
September 12, 2018 | 9:10 pm
PHILSTAR/MICHAEL
VARCAS
THE MAKABAYAN bloc of legislators
on Wednesday filed a resolution backing a P10-billion supplemental budget for
the National Food Authority (NFA) for domestic rice procurement between
September and January.
House Joint Resolution 28, hopes
to ease the rice crisis by directing the NFA to acquire at least 500,000 metric
tons (MTs) of rice from local farmers at P20 per kilogram.
According to the resolution, the
NFA’s preference to service its debt hindered it from fulfilling its mission to
buy rice from farmers, thereby creating “a need to provide the agency a
supplemental budget so it can resume procuring palay from
local production in order to (ease) the shortage of NFA rice.”
The Makabayan bloc, a coalition
of party list representatives, noted that NFA’s reliance on rice imports
hindered it from meeting its procurement target.
“In 2017, with its reliance on
importation, it only procured 28,344 metric tons of palayout of a
target of 153,483 metric tons,” according to the resolution.
The NFA, without approval of the
NFA Council, used its P5.1 billion Food Security budget under the General
Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2017, to pay down maturing loans, according to the
resolution.
In 2018, the agency also used
much of its budget for Buffer Stocking on debt service.
“It again used P6.1 billion of
its P7 billion allocated in the 2018 GAA for Buffer Stocking Program to pay for
its maturing loans,” the Makabayan bloc said. This resulted to the procurement
of only 334 MT of rice in January 2018.
The bloc’s legislators proposed
to direct the NFA to exclusively utilize the proposed additional P10-billion in
funding on procurement. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
Changing NFA
leadership not enough to solve rice woes, say groups
ABS-CBN News
MANILA - Peasant and consumer
groups on Wednesday urged authorities to implement concrete measures to ease
the rising prices of rice, saying that changing the leadership of the National
Food Authority (NFA) won't be enough to solve the problem.
Instead of resorting to rice
imports, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said one of the things the
officials concerned could do is to raise the NFA's buying price for palay
(unmilled rice) to P20 from the current P17.
The group Bantay Bigas,
meanwhile, urged the government to put a P38 price ceiling on commercial rice
to prevent traders from abusing or taking advantage of the supposed lean supply
in the market.
In a live interview with Chief
Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Tuesday, President Rodrigo
Duterte said he has started looking for someone new to lead the NFA after its
current head Jason Aquino requested to be relieved amid rice supply woes.
He also urged Congress to abolish
the NFA Council, saying "it only hinders" the agency's operations
with too many involved.
But both KMP and Bantay Bigas
said there is no need to abolish the council. The President, they said, only
has to make sure that the farmers are well-represented in the body because they
know the real issues in agriculture.
The groups hope that Aquino's
replacement will have a heart for farmers and the will to uphold the NFA's
mandate. They also said Aquino must be held accountable for the country's rice
supply problems.
ABS-CBN News tried to get the
comment of NFA Council President Jun Evasco on Duterte's recommendation to
abolish the body on Wednesday but was told that the official will not be
available for an interview. -- report from April Rafales, ABS-CBN News
Governor
appoints Brainerd man to wild rice council
1
Gov. Mark Dayton announced his
appointments to the Governor's Task Force on Wild Rice.
Among those appointed was Gary
Drotts of Brainerd, who will serve as a non-native wild rice harvester on the
task force. The terms for all those appoint begins Wednesday, Sept. 12, and
will continue through April 7, 2019.
Established in June 2018 through
Executive Orders 18-08 and 18-09, the task force will work toward the
restoration and protection of wild rice habitats to preserve the cultural,
environmental and economic interests many Minnesotans have for this complex
issue.
"Wild rice is vitally
important to many Minnesotans and, especially, to our state's Native
Americans," stated Dayton in a news release. "We must find a
sustainable solution that will protect both wild rice and its waters and
economic growth and jobs. I thank the members of this task force for their
efforts to find a solution that benefits all Minnesotans."
The task force is comprised of
representatives from tribal nations, industry, environmental advocacy groups,
scientists, state government agencies and other stakeholders.
Over the coming months, the task
force will work to review existing peer-reviewed scientific literature and
existing wild rice conditions. The task force will also help develop
recommendations on funding for additional data collection, best management
practices for protecting and restoring wild rice, sulfate minimization plans
and the development and installation of cost-effective sulfate treatment
technologies.
By Dec. 15, the Governor's Task
Force on Wild Rice will recommend specific policy proposals and actions that
can be taken by the executive and legislative branches of state government and
the private sector to protect wild rice in Minnesota, while supporting
continued economic development and job creation across the state.
Also appointed to the task force:
Kurt Anderson of Brookston, electric utility representative; Paul Austin of
Minneapolis, environmental nongovernmental organization representative; Chrissy
Bartovich of Mountain Iron, ferrous mining industry representative; Leya
Charles of Welch, Minnesota Dakota tribal representative; Kathryn Hoffman of
St. Paul, environmental nongovernmental organization representative; Emi Ito of
St. Paul, independent scientist with expertise in wild rice research,
plant-based aquatic toxicity; Peter Lee of Kakabeka Falls, Ontario, Canada,
independent scientist with expertise in wild rice research, plant-based aquatic
toxicity; Norman Miranda of Deer River, municipal wastewater discharger
representative; Brad Moore of Mahtomedi, non-ferrous mining industry
representative; Al Pemberton of Red Lake; Red Lake Nation representative; and
John Rebrovich of Eveleth, statewide labor organization representative.
Ex-officio members of the task
force are Ann Pierce with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and
Catherine Neuschler with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Cheap rice
available in Bulacan markets
By Inquirer Northern Luzon / 05:32 AM September
13, 2018
NO MORE NFA RICE A woman is forced to buy
commercial rice after the stock of cheaper rice from the National Food
Authority (NFA) is sold out at the Sangitan public market in Cabanatuan
City.—ARMAND GALANG
CITY OF
MALOLOS — Rice millers in Bulacan said they were selling rice at P38 a kilogram
at local markets in urban poor areas in the province starting on Thursday.
Roderico
Sulit, vice president of the Bulacan Rice Millers Association, said they would
distribute a minimum of 150 bags in the towns of Bocaue, Marilao and Balagtas,
and the City of Malolos.
Echoing
assurances made by the government, Marianne Pualenco, an official of the
millers’ group, said they expected rice prices to stabilize before Christmas,
with the harvest season this month and in October, and the expected arrival of
imported rice that would soon flood the market.
The millers
sent cheap rice to Metro Manila markets in June when rice stocks of the National
Food Authority (NFA) ran out.
Augmenting
supply
Sulit said
more millers had volunteered to join the group’s project to augment the supply
of cheap rice, focusing on poor families.
“We urge
those who can afford the more expensive varieties not to line up, and give way
to the poor,” he said during the launching of the project on Tuesday at the NFA
Malolos office.
Elvira
Obama, NFA Bulacan manager, said more than 120,000 cavans of rice would be
delivered to the province from Subic Bay Freeport.
‘Bigasang
Bayan’
Once the
Subic stock reached NFA warehouses, the agency would put up “Bigasang Bayan”
(public rice markets) which would sell the grains at P32 a kilo, she said.
In Pampanga,
the NFA stopped its rice allocations for 243 accredited retailers in the
province, to reserve its supply of 1,998 bags as a food security measure,
according to NFA provincial coordinator Roberto Mariano Jr.
He said NFA
would resume the allocations when it received 4,500 bags from the NFA central
office and 80,000 bags from the agency’s imported stocks that arrived in two
vessels at the Subic Bay Freeport.
In Nueva Ecija province, stores accredited
to sell government subsidized rice in Cabanatuan City received only 25 bags a
week from NFA. —Reports from Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Tonette
Orejas and Armand Galang
Europe's
Largest Street Festival Features U.S. Rice
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- Two local U.S. rice brands, Peacock
and Tropical Sun, participated in a billboard campaign set up by USA Rice for
the carnival season, which concludes here at the Notting Hill Carnival the last
weekend of August.
The Carnival started in 1966 and is now recognized as Europe's largest street festival attracting more than one million attendees each year and featuring music, dancing, theater, and, of course, food, including rice - a lot of rice! Reports suggest that as much as 18 MT of rice is eaten over that one carnival weekend.
Both Peacock and Tropical Sun sponsored billboards at specific sites around London prior to and during the Carnival to ensure that U.S. rice was the preferred rice eaten at the street festival.
"We always order extra rice for the carnival season, which covers multiple cities, but culminates at the Notting Hill Carnival," said Tropical Sun's Marketing Manager Jag Singh. "The love that we receive for Tropical Sun USA rice is measured by the additional volume we sell in the run up to, and over Carnival weekend." Tropical Sun also had its own branded tent set up at the Carnival.
"This was the first time we participated in a billboard campaign prior to the Carnival, and the early results show that it was successful in driving volume for our brand," said Peter Walker, sales manager of Peacock USA rice. "We'd like to do this again."
The U.S. exports about 30,000 MT (over $15 million) of rice to the UK each year, most of which is exported under tariff rate quota (TRQ) certificates. U.S. exports to the UK are up 9 percent in the first six months of this year compared with last year.
The Carnival started in 1966 and is now recognized as Europe's largest street festival attracting more than one million attendees each year and featuring music, dancing, theater, and, of course, food, including rice - a lot of rice! Reports suggest that as much as 18 MT of rice is eaten over that one carnival weekend.
Both Peacock and Tropical Sun sponsored billboards at specific sites around London prior to and during the Carnival to ensure that U.S. rice was the preferred rice eaten at the street festival.
"We always order extra rice for the carnival season, which covers multiple cities, but culminates at the Notting Hill Carnival," said Tropical Sun's Marketing Manager Jag Singh. "The love that we receive for Tropical Sun USA rice is measured by the additional volume we sell in the run up to, and over Carnival weekend." Tropical Sun also had its own branded tent set up at the Carnival.
"This was the first time we participated in a billboard campaign prior to the Carnival, and the early results show that it was successful in driving volume for our brand," said Peter Walker, sales manager of Peacock USA rice. "We'd like to do this again."
The U.S. exports about 30,000 MT (over $15 million) of rice to the UK each year, most of which is exported under tariff rate quota (TRQ) certificates. U.S. exports to the UK are up 9 percent in the first six months of this year compared with last year.
Drumming up business
|
WASDE
Report Released
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S.
2018/19 all rice supplies are raised 3.3 million cwt this month to 275.9
million as higher production more than offsets lower beginning stocks.
The August 24 NASS Rice Stocks report indicated lower 2017/18 ending stocks
than previously forecast thereby reducing 2018/19 beginning stocks by 5.4
million cwt. In the September Crop Production report, NASS increased
the 2018/19 U.S. crop by 8.6 million cwt to 219.5 million on increased
harvested acreage and yields. NASS incorporated FSA certified acreage
data this month.
The average all rice yield increased 40 pounds to 7,563 pounds per acre with forecast yields higher in California, Louisiana, and Texas. Long grain production is raised by 5.8 million cwt and combined medium and short grain is increased by 2.8 million. Total projected domestic and residual usage is increased by 2 million cwt to 133 million on larger supplies. The all rice export forecast is unchanged at 98 million as a 1-million-cwt increase in long grain on more competitive prices is offset by an equivalent reduction in medium and short grain on lower expected exports to Turkey. All rice ending stocks are increased 1.3 million cwt to 44.9 million and are 53 percent higher than 2017/18. The projected 2018/19 all-rice season-average farm price is lowered $0.20 per cwt at the midpoint to a range of $11.20 to $12.20 with reductions in all rice class prices. Global 2018/19 rice supplies are increased to 632.8 million tons, primarily on higher production and beginning stocks for India. World production is fractionally lower as reductions in China and Bangladesh more than offset India's increased production. Global consumption is increased by 600,000 tons to 488.4 million, led by India. World trade is raised to a record 49.5 million tons on higher India exports. Global ending stocks increase 800,000 tons to 144.4 million as higher projected stocks for India, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burma more than offset reduced stocks for China. Read the complete report here. |
|
Cheap rice
available in Bulacan markets
By Inquirer Northern Luzon / 05:32 AM September
13, 2018
NO MORE NFA RICE A woman is forced to buy
commercial rice after the stock of cheaper rice from the National Food
Authority (NFA) is sold out at the Sangitan public market in Cabanatuan
City.—ARMAND GALANG
CITY OF MALOLOS — Rice millers in Bulacan
said they were selling rice at P38 a kilogram at local markets in urban poor
areas in the province starting on Thursday.
Roderico Sulit, vice president of the
Bulacan Rice Millers Association, said they would distribute a minimum of 150
bags in the towns of Bocaue, Marilao and Balagtas, and the City of Malolos.
Echoing assurances made by the government,
Marianne Pualenco, an official of the millers’ group, said they expected rice
prices to stabilize before Christmas, with the harvest season this month and in
October, and the expected arrival of imported rice that would soon flood the
market.
The millers sent cheap rice to Metro Manila
markets in June when rice stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA) ran out.
Augmenting supply
Sulit said more millers had volunteered to
join the group’s project to augment the supply of cheap rice, focusing on poor
families.
“We urge those who can afford the more
expensive varieties not to line up, and give way to the poor,” he said during
the launching of the project on Tuesday at the NFA Malolos office.
Elvira Obama, NFA Bulacan manager, said
more than 120,000 cavans of rice would be delivered to the province from Subic
Bay Freeport.
‘Bigasang Bayan’
Once the Subic stock reached NFA
warehouses, the agency would put up “Bigasang Bayan” (public rice markets)
which would sell the grains at P32 a kilo, she said.
In Pampanga, the NFA stopped its rice
allocations for 243 accredited retailers in the province, to reserve its supply
of 1,998 bags as a food security measure, according to NFA provincial
coordinator Roberto Mariano Jr.
He said NFA would resume the allocations
when it received 4,500 bags from the NFA central office and 80,000 bags from
the agency’s imported stocks that arrived in two vessels at the Subic Bay
Freeport.
In Nueva
Ecija province, stores accredited to sell government subsidized rice in
Cabanatuan City received only 25 bags a week from NFA. —Reports from Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Tonette
Orejas and Armand Galang
Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1031509/cheap-rice-available-in-bulacan-markets#ixzz5QydVjEqP
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Gordon prompts accelerated rice
harvest; wet conditions prompt cotton boll rot fret
Rice harvest in Arkansas
accelerated last week, spurred by the approach of Tropical Storm Gordon’s
remnants, and this week, farmers are hoping for dry weather to get cotton bolls
open and combines into the soybean fields.
“Rice harvest progress jumped from 20 percent to 33 percent last
week with only a few days of real harvest opportunity,” Jarrod Hardke,
extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of
Agriculture, said Tuesday. (See crop progress report: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Arkansas/Publications/Crop_Progress_&_Condition/index.php )
“Progress was mixed as south of
I-40 rain stopped everyone on Wednesday, but scattered showers across the north
allowed some to keep going through Friday,” he said. “The continued overcast
weather is concerning, but the wind is helping to dry things out.”
Hardke said he hadn’t received
any reports of rice sprouting in the field, “but that may change as downed rice
waits to be harvested. With the cooler temperatures and a slight breeze, many
growers were back in the fields yesterday and today ‘mudding’ the crop out.”
The continued moisture is a
concern for the state’s cotton growers.
“We just need sunshine and dry
weather,” said Bill Robertson, extension cotton agronomist for the University
of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Boll rot is moving up the plant.
We are losing ground now, trading our bottom crop for the top crop.”
Robertson said he was surprised
to find growers south of McGehee in sodden southeastern Arkansas, applying
harvest aids. Further north, “in areas where up to 3 inches were received like
Forrest City, they hope to get ground rigs in field on Wednesday or Thursday.”
According to Tuesday’s Crop
Report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the state’s cotton
harvest has not yet begun.
Soybean harvest is just getting
started, Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the Division of
Agriculture said.
He’d gotten “some calls on
splitting pods with sprouting seed, but it’s a very low percentage in fields
affected,” Ross said. “Just need some dry weather to continue harvesting.
Another two weeks and we will be rolling.”
Robert Goodson, a Phillips County
extension agent for the Division of Agriculture, said his county saw between 2
to 3.5 inches from Gordon with some rice downed and soy and corn harvest
delayed by cool, wet weather and some worry about boll rot in cotton.
For more information on crop production, contact a county
extension office or visit www.uaex.edu.
The University of Arkansas System
Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all
eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual
orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran
status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
— Mary Hightower is director of Communication Services at the U
of A System Division of Agriculture.
Governor
appoints Brainerd man to wild rice council
Gov. Mark Dayton announced his appointments to the Governor's
Task Force on Wild Rice.
Among those appointed was Gary Drotts of Brainerd, who will
serve as a non-native wild rice harvester on the task force. The terms for all
those appoint begins Wednesday, Sept. 12, and will continue through April 7,
2019.
Established in June 2018 through Executive Orders 18-08 and
18-09, the task force will work toward the restoration and protection of wild
rice habitats to preserve the cultural, environmental and economic interests
many Minnesotans have for this complex issue.
"Wild rice is vitally important to many Minnesotans and,
especially, to our state's Native Americans," stated Dayton in a news
release. "We must find a sustainable solution that will protect both wild
rice and its waters and economic growth and jobs. I thank the members of this
task force for their efforts to find a solution that benefits all
Minnesotans."
The task force is comprised of representatives from tribal
nations, industry, environmental advocacy groups, scientists, state government
agencies and other stakeholders.
Over the coming months, the task force will work to review
existing peer-reviewed scientific literature and existing wild rice conditions.
The task force will also help develop recommendations on funding for additional
data collection, best management practices for protecting and restoring wild
rice, sulfate minimization plans and the development and installation of
cost-effective sulfate treatment technologies.
By Dec. 15, the Governor's Task Force on Wild Rice will
recommend specific policy proposals and actions that can be taken by the
executive and legislative branches of state government and the private sector
to protect wild rice in Minnesota, while supporting continued economic
development and job creation across the state.
Also appointed to the task force: Kurt Anderson of Brookston,
electric utility representative; Paul Austin of Minneapolis, environmental
nongovernmental organization representative; Chrissy Bartovich of Mountain
Iron, ferrous mining industry representative; Leya Charles of Welch, Minnesota
Dakota tribal representative; Kathryn Hoffman of St. Paul, environmental
nongovernmental organization representative; Emi Ito of St. Paul, independent
scientist with expertise in wild rice research, plant-based aquatic toxicity; Peter
Lee of Kakabeka Falls, Ontario, Canada, independent scientist with expertise in
wild rice research, plant-based aquatic toxicity; Norman Miranda of Deer River,
municipal wastewater discharger representative; Brad Moore of Mahtomedi,
non-ferrous mining industry representative; Al Pemberton of Red Lake; Red Lake
Nation representative; and John Rebrovich of Eveleth, statewide labor
organization representative.
Ex-officio members of the task force are Ann Pierce with the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Catherine Neuschler with the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Rice remains
atop list of items smuggled into Nigeria
ON SEPTEMBER 12, 201812:56 AMIN MARITIME REPORT, NEWS3 COMMENTS
By Godwin Oritse
Against the backdrop of the Nigerian
government’s policy on domestication of the rice industry and the war against
its illegal importation, sea ports of West African countries are still
receiving large quantities of the commodity, apparently for onward shipment to
Nigeria through land borders. Rice Consequently the commodity still tops the
smuggling chart and seized items by the recent records of the Nigeria Customs
Service, NCS, with a total of 124,407 bags of rice seized in the first half of
2018, H1’18. Statistical data made available to
Vanguard Maritime Report, showed
that the NCS recorded a total of 2,354 seizure incidences with the Federal
Operations Unit, FOU, Zone ‘A’ of the Service recording the highest number of
558 seizure incidences in H1’18. The smuggling-seizure data also indicated that
while 34,139 bags of rice was intercepted in Zone ‘A’, 8,915 bags were seized
in Zone ‘D’, and Zones ‘C’ and ‘B’ recorded 7,501 and 941 bags respectively.
While Kaduna-Katsina command recorded seizure of 4,085 bags of rice, a total of
2,917 bags of rice was seized by the Oyo-Osun command, and 2,833 bags of rice
was seized by Sokoto-Kebbi-Zamfara command. Western Marine recorded a total
seizure of 1,443 bags of rice, while Niger-Kwara-Kogi seized 1,133 bags of
rice. All other commands recorded less than a thousand bags of rice seizures.
Instructively the most popular ports, Apapa and Tin Can Island, did not record
any rice seizure, indicating that the illegal shipments avoided Nigeria’s sea
ports. Other big seizures of banned items coming into Nigeria through sea ports
of neighbouring countries have poultry products in second position after rice,
with a total of 11,319 cartons of chicken and turkey seized and destroyed
during the period. While 8,011 of cartons of poultry were seized in Zone ‘A’,
while Zone ‘C’ recorded 1,088 cartons seized, but there was no seizure recorded
of the item in Zones ‘B’ and ‘D’. The third position in smuggled items is
occupied by vehicle. But the item came in through neighbouring countries’ sea
ports as well as Nigeria’s major sea ports. For vehicle seizures, all the four
zones recorded incidences as zone ‘A’ again recorded the highest number of 132,
while zones ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ recorded 128, 35 and 13 respectively. The seizure
report also noted that 135 suspected smugglers were arrested within the period.
While no suspect was arrested in Zones ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’, 98 suspected smugglers
were taken in zone ‘A’, the rest were arrested in other customs commands across
the country. Revenue For revenue
generation, Zone ‘A’ raked in the highest amount of revenue at a total of
N3.9billion representing the Duty Payable Value and import Duty inflows. While
N2.8billion was recorded as value of the goods, the import duty was put at
N991.4million. While N982.2million was raked from Zone ‘C’, Zones ‘B’ and ‘D’
recorded N457.4million each as revenue during the period. At the command level,
all the 27 customs commands recorded the seizure of one item or the other. For
the nation’s premier port in Apapa customs command, no seizure of any kind was
recorded but Seme, Idiroko-Ogun, Oyo-Osun, Delta-Edo commands recorded seizures
of various items.
For the Murtala Mohammed Airport
customs command, 18 seizures were recorded, two suspects arrested. The command
however raked in a total of N13.6million from seized items. Why rice? Reacting
to the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Seme border Command of
the NCS, Mr. Nurudeen Saidu, told Vanguard
Maritime Report that apart from being a
staple food for Nigerians, rice is the most profitable for smugglers as there
are also always ready buyers for smuggled rice. “Rice is the most profitable
for smugglers, which is why smugglers will always engage in the smuggling of
the commodity” he said. Similarly, the National President of the National
Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, Mr. Lucky
Amiwero, also told Vanguard Maritime
Report, that the smuggling of foreign rice will continue to thrive because they
are cheaper and more available than the locally produced rice. Amiwero
suggested that the government needs to go beyond its policy on rice by way of
intervening with subsidy on the local rice production and making it more
available. He said: “The volume of locally produced rice cannot meet the demand
of Nigerians; the local is also more expensive than the foreign one”.
Gordon prompts accelerated rice
harvest; wet conditions prompt cotton boll rot fret
Staff at the Rice Research and Extension Center at Stuttgart
pull out all available combines to harvest foundation seed ahead of Tropical
Storm Gordon. This Sept. 4 photo shows an aging combine harvesting 1099, a
sushi rice variety. Special to The Commercial/U of A System Division of
Agriculture, Bob Scott
Rice harvest in Arkansas accelerated last week, spurred by the
approach of Tropical Storm Gordon’s remnants, and this week, farmers are hoping
for dry weather to get cotton bolls open and combines into the soybean fields.
“Rice harvest progress jumped from 20 percent to 33 percent last
week with only a few days of real harvest opportunity,” Jarrod Hardke,
extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of
Agriculture, said Tuesday. (See crop progress report: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Arkansas/Publications/Crop_Progress_&_Condition/index.php )
“Progress was mixed as south of I-40 rain stopped everyone on
Wednesday, but scattered showers across the north allowed some to keep going
through Friday,” he said. “The continued overcast weather is concerning, but
the wind is helping to dry things out.”
Hardke said he hadn’t received any reports of rice sprouting in
the field, “but that may change as downed rice waits to be harvested. With the
cooler temperatures and a slight breeze, many growers were back in the fields
yesterday and today ‘mudding’ the crop out.”
The continued moisture is a concern for the state’s cotton
growers.
“We just need sunshine and dry weather,” said Bill Robertson,
extension cotton agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of
Agriculture. “Boll rot is moving up the plant. We are losing ground now,
trading our bottom crop for the top crop.”
Robertson said he was surprised to find growers south of McGehee
in sodden southeastern Arkansas, applying harvest aids. Further north, “in
areas where up to 3 inches were received like Forrest City, they hope to get
ground rigs in field on Wednesday or Thursday.”
According to Tuesday’s Crop Report from the National
Agricultural Statistics Service, the state’s cotton harvest has not yet begun.
Soybean harvest is just getting started, Jeremy Ross, extension
soybean agronomist for the Division of Agriculture said.
He’d gotten “some calls on splitting pods with sprouting seed,
but it’s a very low percentage in fields affected,” Ross said. “Just need some
dry weather to continue harvesting. Another two weeks and we will be rolling.”
Robert Goodson, a Phillips County extension agent for the
Division of Agriculture, said his county saw between 2 to 3.5 inches from
Gordon with some rice downed and soy and corn harvest delayed by cool, wet
weather and some worry about boll rot in cotton.
For more information on crop production, contact a county
extension office or visit www.uaex.edu.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers
all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard
to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin,
religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or
any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal
Opportunity Employer.
— Mary Hightower is director of Communication Services at the U
of A System Division of Agriculture.
Gordon accelerates Arkansas 2018
rice harvest
A big Arkansas rice harvest in 2018 could mean lower prices.
Rice
harvest in Arkansas accelerated, spurred by Tropical Storm Gordon. Farmers hope
for dry weather to get cotton bolls open and combines into the soybean fields.
Rice harvest in Arkansas
accelerated last week, spurred by the approach of Tropical Storm Gordon’s
remnants, and this week, farmers are hoping for dry weather to get cotton bolls
open and combines into the soybean fields.
“Rice harvest progress jumped
from 20 percent to 33 percent last week with only a few days of real harvest
opportunity,” Jarrod Hardke, Extension rice agronomist for the University of
Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said on Tuesday (Sept. 11).
“Progress was mixed as south of I-40
rain stopped everyone on Wednesday, but scattered showers across the north
allowed some to keep going through Friday,” he said. “The continued overcast
weather is concerning, but the wind is helping to dry things out.”
Hardke said he hadn’t received any
reports of rice sprouting in the field, “but that may change as downed rice
waits to be harvested. With the cooler temperatures and a slight breeze, many
growers are back in the fields yesterday and today ‘mudding’ the crop
out.”The continued moisture is a concern for the state’s cotton growers.
Cotton
“We just need sunshine and dry
weather,” said Bill Robertson, Extension cotton agronomist for the University
of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Boll rot is moving up the plant.
We are losing ground now, trading our bottom crop for the top crop.”
Robertson said he was surprised
to find growers south of McGehee in sodden southeastern Arkansas, applying
harvest aids. Further north, “in areas where up to 3 inches were received like
Forrest City, they hope to get ground rigs in field on Wednesday or Thursday.”
According to Tuesday’s Crop
Report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the state’s cotton
harvest has not yet begun.
Soybeans
Soybean harvest is just getting
started, Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the Division of
Agriculture said.
He’d gotten “some calls on
splitting pods with sprouting seed, but it’s a very low percentage in fields
affected,” Ross said. “Just need some dry weather to continue harvesting.
Another two weeks and we will be rolling.”
Robert Goodson, a Phillips County
Extension agent for the Division of Agriculture, said his county saw between 2
to 3.5 inches from Gordon with some rice downed and soy and corn harvest
delayed by cool, wet weather and some worry about boll rot in cotton.
Changing NFA leadership not enough to solve rice woes, say groups
ABS-CBN News
MANILA - Peasant and consumer groups on Wednesday urged authorities
to implement concrete measures to ease the rising prices of rice, saying that
changing the leadership of the National Food Authority (NFA) won't be enough to
solve the problem.
Instead of resorting to rice imports, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng
Pilipinas (KMP) said one of the things the officials concerned could do is to
raise the NFA's buying price for palay (unmilled rice) to P20 from the current
P17.
The group Bantay Bigas, meanwhile, urged the government to put a
P38 price ceiling on commercial rice to prevent traders from abusing or taking
advantage of the supposed lean supply in the market.
In a live interview with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
Salvador Panelo on Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he has started
looking for someone new to lead the NFA after its current head Jason Aquino
requested to be relieved amid rice supply woes.
He also urged Congress to abolish the NFA Council, saying
"it only hinders" the agency's operations with too many
involved.
But both KMP and Bantay Bigas said there is no need to abolish
the council. The President, they said, only has to make sure that the farmers
are well-represented in the body because they know the real issues in
agriculture.
The groups hope that Aquino's replacement will have a heart for
farmers and the will to uphold the NFA's mandate. They also said Aquino must be
held accountable for the country's rice supply problems.
ABS-CBN News tried to get the comment of NFA Council President
Jun Evasco on Duterte's recommendation to abolish the body on Wednesday but was
told that the official will not be available for an interview. -- report from April Rafales, ABS-CBN News
DA: Mangkhut may cause P7B rice crop damage
April Rafales,
ABS-CBN News
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said given Mangkhut's
strength, potential damage to rice crops may reach P7 billion covering the
Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera, under a worst-case scenario.
Damage to corn crops could hit P6.2 billion, Piñol said.
But Pinol said Mangkhut will not
adversely affect rice supply because the country has already imported 1.3
miilion metric tons of rice, while some areas in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija have
already started harvesting.
“With the ongoing harvest now and with the arrival of the
imported rice medyo stable na tayo October, November," Piñol said.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said
typhoon will also affect the supply of fish in wet markets in areas affected by
the typhoon.
“If there is typhoon, if there is rain, there’s no fish to be
caught," said BFAR director Eduardo Gongona.
Meanwhile, Gongona said that they are now processing the
importation of 17,000 tons of galunggong or round scad from China and Vietnam,
which are expected to arrive this month.
The BFAR expects fish supply to remain tight until February
because of the lean months and the closed fishing season, which is meant to
allow fish stocks to recover.
NFA has 4.6M rice stocks, 2M
sacks arriving soon — Palace
Published
By Genalyn Kabiling
Outgoing National Food Authority
(NFA) Jason Aquino could still be held accountable for the reported rice supply
problems despite his intention to leave his post.
“It’s without prejudice, kung
mayroong basehan para sa pananagutan [It’s without prejudice, if there is basis
for accountability],” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said when asked if
Aquino will be held liable for the rice shortage reported in some parts of the
country.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque
(RESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
(RESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Pero sa ngayong po, abala ang
Presidente na naghahanap ng kapalit ni Jason Aquino [But for now, the President
is busy looking for a replacement of Jason Aquino],” he said during a Palace
press briefing.
The President earlier announced
that Aquino has offered to be relieved from his post because he was tired.
Duterte said Aquino claimed he could no longer cope with the workings inside
the NFA.“I will scout for a new one,” Duterte said.
Some lawmakers recently called
for the removal of Aquino following the shortage of government rice in the market
that led to the price hikes of the commodity in the market. The government
earlier decided to allow the importation of more rice to boost NFA stocks in
the country.
Roque, meantime, said there was
adequate supply of rice in the country, citing the addition of more stocks from
local harvest as well as importation in the coming months.
“We assure the public that we
have sufficient rice. We have 4.6 million sacks of rice available in NFA
warehouses which will be released immediately,” he said.
He said around 2 million sacks of
rice are scheduled to arrive in the country before the end of the month.
He said the National Food
Authority Council has likewise approved the importation of 5 million sacks that
will arrive over the next one and a half months. “Now, 2.7 million sacks will
be allocated to ZAMBASULTA – Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi,” he said.
He said the government was also
projecting a local harvest amounting to12.6 million metric tons or around 252
million sacks of rice this year.
“Another 5 million sacks of rice
will be imported early next year,” he said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/09/12/nfa-has-4-6m-rice-stocks-2m-sacks-arriving-soon-palace/
Indonesia's
2018 unhusked rice production forecast at 83 mln T - official
JAKARTA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Indonesia’s unhusked rice
production is forecast to be about 83 million tonnes this year, up from 81
million tonnes in 2017, an agriculture ministry official said on Wednesday.
The boost in production is due to
an “intensification of planting area”, said Sumarjo Gatot Irianto, director
general of food crops at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Southeast Asian country is
targeting production of 84 million tonnes of unhusked rice in 2019, Irianto
added. (Reporting by Bernadette Christina Munthe; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor;
Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Research aims to boost rice production in Africa
Published 13
Sep 2018
Press release number PR-AGR-18-96
Guy Kirk, Professor of Soil Systems at Cranfield University, is
leading a £1 million research project to overcome a soil health problem
affecting rice production in sub-Saharan Africa.
Rice is a major staple food across sub-Saharan Africa and demand
for it is increasing rapidly with
urbanisation and changes in consumer preferences. Domestic production accounts for only 60% of
the rice consumed which means there is a heavy reliance on imports - the import
of rice into sub-Saharan Africa accounts for a third of the global rice trade.
There is therefore mounting pressure to greatly increase sub-Saharan rice
production.
One of the main barriers to increasing production is the soil
disorder known as iron toxicity. This is a particular problem in flooded paddy
soils, and particularly the highly
weathered and nutrient-depleted soils that typify sub-Saharan Africa. In affected areas, rice yields are reduced by
up to 90%. Traditional, indigenous African rice varieties can tolerate the
toxicity, but are low yielding. That means large areas of land are needed to
meet the demand for more rice, and this is driving unsustainable development of
new lands, typically in fragile wetlands in inland valleys to the cost of
biodiversity and other vital ecosystem services.
The
Cranfield-led study will examine the traits that allow indigenous African rice
varieties to tolerate the toxicity, with the aim of incorporating these traits
into more high-yielding varieties through plant breeding. It will also seek to
map areas where new rice varieties and crop management to tackle iron toxicity
will be most beneficial. The project will use a combination of soil
chemistry, plant physiology and molecular genetics, in partnership with plant
breeders and agronomists based in West Africa and Madagascar.
Professor
Kirk said: “There is widespread recognition of the need to increase sub-Saharan
rice production to meet projected increases in demand for rice. Less than 10% of the total inland valley area in
sub-Saharan Africa could be sufficient to meet the demand for rice in Africa if
we can overcome iron toxicity. But
currently, increased production with low-yielding varieties and poor management
is destroying large swathes of natural ecosystems in inward valleys. With
realistic improvements in varieties and management, we can greatly reduce the
amount of land needed and therefore safeguard the vital biodiversity of the
African inward valleys.”
Partners
in the three-year study include AfricaRice, the University of Antananarivo and
the Japan International
Research Center for Agricultural Sciences.
Funding for the project comes from BBSRC,
part of UK Research and Innovation, through its Global Challenges Research Fund.
Announcing
the funding for the project as part of its Sustainable
Agriculture for Sub-Saharan Africa programme, Professor Sir Mark Walport, Chief
Executive of UK Research and Innovation, said: “Stresses such as drought, and
the restriction of vital resources including nutrients and water are among the
challenges affecting the development of sustainable agriculture in Sub-Saharan
Africa.
“By
bringing together UK researchers with partners in the region, these projects
will play an important role in addressing these challenges and unlocking the
potential of sustainable agriculture to transform food production and improve
lives.”
Notes for editors
Iron toxicity is a set of severely
yield-limiting disorders associated with high concentrations of reduced ferrous
iron (Fe(II)) in flooded paddy soils. It is exclusively a problem of paddy
rice, linked to the biogeochemistry of flooded, anaerobic soil. It is a
particular problem in African rice systems because of the nature of the soils,
which are highly weathered, nutrient-depleted and rich in Fe oxides, in
contrast to the young alluvial rice soils of the Asian lowlands. It affects a
large part of the existing and potential rice area in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
(estimates vary from 20-60% of the area) and causes large yield losses (up to
90%). There are currently efforts to exploit tolerance of it in the indigenous
African rice germplasm in breeding and management programmes at AfricaRice and
elsewhere. But this is constrained by the complexity of the disorder and by
poor understanding of the underlying mechanisms and genetics of tolerance,
which reflects its relative unimportance in Asian rice systems where most rice
research has been focused.
In
this project we aim to (a) elucidate the mechanisms and genetics of tolerance
to Fe toxicity in indigenous African germplasm, in support of rice breeding and
management programmes, and (b) assess the potential of improved germplasm and
management to raise the productivity of existing and new rice-based farming
systems across SSA. We will especially focus on Oryza glaberrima (‘African’
rice) species, indigenous to West Africa, and sub-species of Oryza sativa (‘Asian’
rice) particular to Madagascar. We will use a combination of soil chemistry,
plant physiology and molecular genetics approaches with field work in West
Africa and Madagascar, supported by controlled-environment and laboratory work
at Cranfield. We will also map the spatial extent of different types of Fe
toxicity in existing and potential rice areas across SSA, and we will develop
GIS tools for assessing the potential for improved germplasm and nutrient and
water management to raise the productivity of rice-based farming systems in
these areas.
About the Global Challenges Research Fund
The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) is a
£1.5 billion fund announced by the UK government in late 2015 to support
cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges faced by developing
countries.
Alongside the other GCRF delivery partners, BBSRC is creating
complementary programmes that:
·
Promote
challenge-led disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, including the
participation of researchers who may not previously have considered the
applicability of their work to development issues
·
Strengthen
capacity for research, innovation and knowledge exchange in the UK and
developing countries through partnership with excellent UK research and
researchers
·
Provide
an agile response to emergencies where there is an urgent research need.
GCRF is part of the government’s
commitment to allocate 0.7% of the UK’s Gross National Income to Official
Development Assistance (ODA) for promoting the welfare and economic development
of developing countries. As well as being scientifically excellent, research
supported by GCRF must meet the criteria for classification of expenditure as
ODA. For further information see: UK Research and Innovation:
Global Challenges Research Fund.
About BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by
a grant-in-aid from the UK government.
BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on
behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote
economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the
UK and beyond.
Funded by government, BBSRC invested £498 million in world-class
bioscience in 2017-18. We support research and training in universities and
strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are
helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy
and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic
sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
Greenhouse gas emissions from
rice farms in Indian paddy fields very high: Reserach
It was earlier estimated that Rice farming around the world
could be responsible for up to twice the level of climate impact in India. But,
the researchers have found that Intermittently flooded rice farms can emit
almost 45 times more nitrous oxide as compared to the relentlessly flooded rice
farms that predominantly emit methane.
The analysis conducted by the Environmental Defense Fund in the
US, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice farm could have the same
long-term warming impact as about 600 coal plants.
“The full climate impact of rice farming has been significantly
underestimated because up to this point, nitrous dioxide emissions from
intermittently flooded farms have not been included,” Kritee Kritee from
EDF, who led the study quoted as saying to news agency PTI.
But, the researchers have found that nitrous oxide
emissions from rice farm can also contribute up to 99 per cent of the total
climate impact of rice cultivation at a variety of intermittently flooded
farms. These greenhouse emissions contributed substantially to global warming pollution — which is much more
than the estimate of 10% previously suggested by multiple global rice research
organizations.
“An inverse correlation between Methane and nitrous oxide
emission from rice farming. Water and organic matter management techniques that
reduce methane emissions can increase nitrous oxide emissions,” the study says.
Kritee further said, “Increasing pressure on limited water
resources under a changing climate could make additional rice-farming regions
look to intermittent flooding to address water limitations and concerns about
methane emissions.”
Rice is a critical source of nutrition for the world’s speedily
growing population, to provide more calories to humans than any other food, researchers
said. However, growing rice is also resource-intensive: rice cultivation covers
11 % of the Earth’s arable land, consumes one-third of irrigation water.
Philippines,
Papua New Guinea begin farming cooperation
Papua
New Guinea imports around 98 percent of the nearly 400,000 kilos of rice the
country consumes each year. It is said that only 50,000 hectares of its two
million hectares of suitable agricultural lands are required to meet its rice
needs.
Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) -
September 13, 2018 - 12:00am
MANILA,
Philippines — Amid a rice shortage the country is facing, the Philippines sent
19 farm technicians to Papua New Guinea to train local farmers under a rice
cooperation agreement between the two countries.
Papua
New Guinea imports around 98 percent of the nearly 400,000 kilos of rice the
country consumes each year. It is said that only 50,000 hectares of its two
million hectares of suitable agricultural lands are required to meet its rice
needs.
The
Philippines and Papua New Guinea held a successful groundbreaking of a
25-hectare rice demonstration farm on the grounds of the Pacific Adventist
University (PAU) on Aug. 24.
The
Philippines’ Departments of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs, through the
Philippine embassy in Port Moresby, enabled the sending of 19 Filipino farm
technicians and tax-free supplies and equipment to Port Moresby for the
clearing, ploughing, irrigation and planting of the initial rice seeds of the
demo farm.
The
research of appropriate rice varieties for Papua New Guinea and the training of
local farmers are intended to start larger scale projects and investments. It
is being readied for showcase during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Port Moresby in November 2018.
Papua
New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel, Department of Agriculture and
Livestock Minister Benny Allen, Central Provincial Governor Robert Agarobe, and
Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Bienvenido Tejano delivered their
remarks before proceeding together to the rice paddies for the ribbon-cutting
and ceremonial planting of rice seeds.
In
Papua New Guinea’s Vision 2050, rice imports are projected to triple as the
country reaches 22 million in population. Its government is now focusing
policies towards rice sufficiency and the overall strengthening of its
agricultural sector for food security.
The
Philippines joined the European Union, Australia and Israel in supporting Papua
New Guinea’s agricultural policy with assistance targeted at training and
production of specific crops such as rice, cacao and high-value
vegetables.
Southeast
Asian countries sent students to the International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) and the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, and these countries
are now exporting rice to the Philippines.
Read more at https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/09/13/1851140/philippines-papua-new-guinea-begin-farming-cooperation#TiE1Z6sEozzz5VXL.99 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/09/13/1851140/philippines-papua-new-guinea-begin-farming-cooperation
Organic
Rice Vinegar Market | Industry Research Report (Key Players- Muso, Gallettisnc,
Marukan) And More…
8Leave A CommentOn Organic Rice
Vinegar Market | Industry Research Report (Key Players- Muso, Gallettisnc,
Marukan) And More…
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Regions
|
Sub-Regions
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North America:
|
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Governor
appoints Brainerd man to wild rice council
Gov. Mark Dayton announced his appointments to the Governor's
Task Force on Wild Rice.
Among those appointed was Gary Drotts of Brainerd, who will
serve as a non-native wild rice harvester on the task force. The terms for all
those appoint begins Wednesday, Sept. 12, and will continue through April 7,
2019.
Established in June 2018 through Executive Orders 18-08 and
18-09, the task force will work toward the restoration and protection of wild
rice habitats to preserve the cultural, environmental and economic interests
many Minnesotans have for this complex issue.
"Wild rice is vitally important to many Minnesotans and,
especially, to our state's Native Americans," stated Dayton in a news
release. "We must find a sustainable solution that will protect both wild
rice and its waters and economic growth and jobs. I thank the members of this
task force for their efforts to find a solution that benefits all
Minnesotans."
The task force is comprised of representatives from tribal
nations, industry, environmental advocacy groups, scientists, state government
agencies and other stakeholders.
Over the coming months, the task force will work to review
existing peer-reviewed scientific literature and existing wild rice conditions.
The task force will also help develop recommendations on funding for additional
data collection, best management practices for protecting and restoring wild
rice, sulfate minimization plans and the development and installation of
cost-effective sulfate treatment technologies.
By Dec. 15, the Governor's Task Force on Wild Rice will
recommend specific policy proposals and actions that can be taken by the
executive and legislative branches of state government and the private sector
to protect wild rice in Minnesota, while supporting continued economic
development and job creation across the state.
Also appointed to the task force: Kurt Anderson of Brookston,
electric utility representative; Paul Austin of Minneapolis, environmental
nongovernmental organization representative; Chrissy Bartovich of Mountain
Iron, ferrous mining industry representative; Leya Charles of Welch, Minnesota
Dakota tribal representative; Kathryn Hoffman of St. Paul, environmental
nongovernmental organization representative; Emi Ito of St. Paul, independent
scientist with expertise in wild rice research, plant-based aquatic toxicity;
Peter Lee of Kakabeka Falls, Ontario, Canada, independent scientist with
expertise in wild rice research, plant-based aquatic toxicity; Norman Miranda
of Deer River, municipal wastewater discharger representative; Brad Moore of
Mahtomedi, non-ferrous mining industry representative; Al Pemberton of Red
Lake; Red Lake Nation representative; and John Rebrovich of Eveleth, statewide
labor organization representative.
Ex-officio members of the task force are Ann Pierce with the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Catherine Neuschler with the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Rice basmati
softens on low demand
PTI | Sep 12, 2018,
14:52 IST
However, maize edged up on uptick in demand from consuming industries.
Traders said besides easing demand, ample stocks position on increased
supplies from growing regions mainly attributed the slide in rice basmati
prices.
In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety slipped
by Rs 100 each to Rs 7,800-7,900 and Rs 6,750-6,850 per quintal, respectively.
Non-basmati permal raw, wand, sela and IR-8 also settled lower at Rs
2,375-2,400, Rs 2,500-2,525, Rs 3,000-3,100 and Rs 2,000-2,050 as compared to
previous levels of Rs 2,425-2,450, Rs 2,525-2,575, Rs 3,050-3,150 and Rs
2,025-2075 per quintal, respectively.
On the other hand, maize went up by Rs 40 to Rs 1,400-1,405 per quintal.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,335-2,435, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 2,015-2,020, Atta
Chakki(delivery) Rs 2,025-2,030, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 250-280, Shakti Bhog
(10 kg) Rs 275-310, Roller flour mill Rs 1,070-1,090 (50 kg), Maida Rs
1,170-1,180 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,220-1,230 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati
rice Rs 9,900, Basmati common new Rs 7,800-7,900, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs
6,750-6,850, Permal raw Rs 2,375-2,400, Permal wand Rs 2,500-2,550, Sela Rs
3,000-3,100 and rice IR-8 Rs 2,000-2,050.
Bajra
Rs 1,350-1,355, Jowar yellow Rs 1,650-1,700, white Rs 2,850-2,900, Maize Rs
1,400-1,405,Barley Rs 1,570-1,580. SUN KPS SHW ADI ADI
‘Full-blown
food crisis’: Philippines president denies rice shortage amidst calls for state
of calamity
- Last updated on GMT
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Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has denied that there is any rice
shortage in the country despite senators calling it a ‘full-blown food crisis’
and urging him to declare a state of calamity. ©iStock
“They [keep]
saying there is rice shortage. We have lots of rice. Some of them are set to
arrive. Now there’s even an excess,” said Duterte.
“You know,
those are politics. But I would like to remind you that I won because of the
vote of the Filipino.”
A lack of
supply also forced the Zamboanga City local government to declare a ‘state of
calamity’ after rice prices soared to US$ 1.31 (PHP 70 per kilo).
However, food
firms in the country have been reluctant to make public statements.
Monde Nissin
Corp, producer of rice crisps brand Peckish, at first mentioned a brief
impact. This was retracted in a later statement, saying the company “does not
have any rice-based products”.
Monde Nissin
Corp commanded a 42% retail value sales share for rice, pasta and noodles in
2017.
Meanwhile
Sunnywood, producer of the popular Harvester’s, Jordan Farms and Farmboy rice
brands, also declined to elaborate.
This
declaration comes on the heels of Duterte’s warning to rice traders who are
hoarding supply.
The president
declared he “will not hesitate” to order warehouse raids as an
emergency measure to address rice shortages.
“I will not
allow Filipinos to go hungry. Do not force me to resort to emergency measures,” said Duterte.
“If I see
something amiss, I will not hesitate to exercise the powers of the
President. And I will ask the military and police to raid your warehouses,
bodegas, and I will just subject (you) of course to just compensation.”
Presidential
spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said that an expected 152,000 metric tons of rice is
to be imported. Along with local rice harvest, this is projected to flood the
market with supply.
Opposing
voices in the country
Several
Philippines senators have voiced discontent about the handling of the entire
situation, and predict worse outcomes.
Speaking to PhilStar, Senator
Francis Escudero opined that Philippines is heading towards a “full-blown
food crisis”, and that a state of calamity should be declared to
impose price controls and contain abusive rice traders.
“What if we
declare a state of calamity and impose price controls lest the situation
worsens and the people suffer more?” he said.
Failing this,
Senator Cynthia Villar has suggested setting a price ceiling on rice, such that
violators can by punished acccordingly.
Senator
Francis Pangilinan criticised warehouse raids as a band-aid measure instead of
a solution to the country’s problems.
“[These]
raids will just be for show,” he said.
“The rice
supply situation is a result of incompetence and corruption in the National
Food Authority (NFA) that at this point cannot be solved by raiding
warehouses.”
“The solution
is more than just going after traders when the NFA itself, through corruption
and incompetence, caused the problem in the first place.”
Food as the
main driver of nine-year high inflation rate in August
Inflation
rates in Philippines hit 6.4% in August, a new nine-year high. Albay 2nd
District Representative Joey Salceda lay the blame for this square on the
shoulders of the government.
"Ultimately,
the 6.4% was really due to the fact that we did little or nothing. We can no
longer blame market opportunists, profiteers, and rice hoarders," said
Salceda.
Identifying
the main driver of inflation as food, he added: "[W]hat is more worrisome
is that [government action thus far will take time to gain traction].”
“[This] would
reverse gains in poverty reduction and hunger mitigation since the main culprit
is food inflation, which surged by 8.5%. Thus, the inflation of the poor
(lowest 30%) is estimated at 7.4%."
Rice supply
issue affecting rice-based products industry
Rice-based
products in the country are seeing negative impacts. Because rice is the
nation’s staple food, the lack of supply makes the development of the
rice-based products manufacturing industry a non-starter.
According to
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) researcher Dr Marissa V. Romero, “Since there
is not enough rice to feed the population, the argument of not utilising rice
for purposes other than table rice remains.”
“This makes
value-adding difficult because of the competition for the availability of raw
materials and high cost.”
