Farmers, buyers
celebrate Kaleshwaram inauguration
HYDERABAD, JUNE 22,
2019 00:16 IST
Kharif output expected to go up thanks to the irrigation
project, say Civil Supplies officials
Farmers in various districts across the State celebrated the
inauguration of Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project by bursting fire crackers
and distributing sweets near godowns and ration shops decorated by the
employees of Civil Supplies Department and ration shop dealers in respective
districts.
The IKP women worshipped Paddy weighing machines and played
‘Bathukamma’ and took out ‘Bonalu’ in market yards and purchase centres on
Friday. They also performed milk ‘Abhishekam’ to the portraits of Chief
Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at every godown.
With the inauguration of Kaleswaram project, Agriculture
Department would become important followed by the Civil Supplies Department.
With increase in ayacut and yield of food grains under the Kaleswaram project,
the responsibility of Civil Supplies too would increase. The Department is
estimating that the yield in kharif would be double than that of last kharif. This
would benefit farmers, organisers of purchase centres, rice millers, hamalis
and others.
The rice millers who will be benefited under the Kaleswaram
project celebrated the occasion and offered prayers at Kanyaka Parameswari
temples in many areas. In the last two years, about 200 to 300 new rice mills
were set up and with the inauguration of Kaleswaram more rice mills might be
opened and it would give employment opportunities to many Telangana people,
said Rice Millers Association president Gampa Nagender, general secretary Mohan
Reddy and treasurer Chandrapal.
Meanwhile Civil Supplies Corporation Commissioner Akun Sabarwal
said that the Kaleswaram project would become a model to the country. In the
coming days, area of cultivation and food grains yield would increase. This
year a target was set to purchase 200 % more paddy than that of last year and
they were preparing plans for this. Thanks to the project, employment
opportunities would increase for several sections of people particularly rice
millers, IKP women and Hamalis.
Southern
States Share Ag Strategies
FORT WORTH, TX --
USA Rice was a sponsor of the Southern Association of State Departments of
Agriculture (SASDA) conference hosted by the Texas Department of Agriculture
here last week. SASDA is comprised of the Commissioners, Secretaries, and
Directors of Agriculture from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Virgin Islands.
Keynote speakers at the conference included the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach, and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Mary Walker, acting regional administrator for EPA Region 4.
Another guest speaker, Li Qiangmin, consul general for the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Houston, talked about the ongoing friction between the U.S. and China and the effect it is having on trade between the two countries.
SASDA members also broke up into small groups to discuss issues that matter most to their respective state's agriculture industries, and then came together to figure out ways the separate regions can work together to have a greater impact on ag policy.
"This SASDA conference is an invaluable opportunity for regional sharing of ideas to better the agriculture industry through relationships with other states and partners, such as USA Rice," said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. "We appreciate the warm welcome in Texas and look forward to returning the hospitality when the conference comes to Arkansas in 2021."
In addition to the business meetings, attendees toured the Fort Worth stockyards, the Whiskey Ranch Distillery, AT&T Stadium, and Eden Green Technologies, and were entertained by local recording artist and TV personality Red Steagall, and Austin Wayne and Tim Self, the father-son professional stock car racing driver and owner duo.
"We had fruitful conversations with ag commissioners from all the rice-producing states represented, but we also got to talk to the folks from South Carolina and Florida, where rice is a growing component of their states' ag industries," said Kane Webb, USA Rice director of field services in Louisiana.
Keynote speakers at the conference included the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach, and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Mary Walker, acting regional administrator for EPA Region 4.
Another guest speaker, Li Qiangmin, consul general for the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Houston, talked about the ongoing friction between the U.S. and China and the effect it is having on trade between the two countries.
SASDA members also broke up into small groups to discuss issues that matter most to their respective state's agriculture industries, and then came together to figure out ways the separate regions can work together to have a greater impact on ag policy.
"This SASDA conference is an invaluable opportunity for regional sharing of ideas to better the agriculture industry through relationships with other states and partners, such as USA Rice," said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. "We appreciate the warm welcome in Texas and look forward to returning the hospitality when the conference comes to Arkansas in 2021."
In addition to the business meetings, attendees toured the Fort Worth stockyards, the Whiskey Ranch Distillery, AT&T Stadium, and Eden Green Technologies, and were entertained by local recording artist and TV personality Red Steagall, and Austin Wayne and Tim Self, the father-son professional stock car racing driver and owner duo.
"We had fruitful conversations with ag commissioners from all the rice-producing states represented, but we also got to talk to the folks from South Carolina and Florida, where rice is a growing component of their states' ag industries," said Kane Webb, USA Rice director of field services in Louisiana.
High pesticide content a drag on rice
exports
Exporters’ association launches campaign from Karnal to
educate farmers about right use of pesticides
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Workers pack rice for export at a
mill in Karnal. Tribune photo: Sayeed Ahmed
Parveen Arora
Even though rice
exports from India have been rising year after year, a high content of
pesticides in the grain is still a major challenge for exporters. The haphazard
use of pesticides in basmati leads to rejection of the product in the
international market as well as extra burden on farmers, as several countries
have strict norms regarding the permissible amount of pesticides in rice. The
All India Rice Exporters’ Association, which has big exporters of Karnal
district as members, has decided to continue with its campaign to make farmers
aware about the right use of pesticides this season also. It started the
campaign from Karnal last week and held two meetings with farmers.
Vijay Setia,
president, All India Rice Exporters' Association and a Karnal-based rice
exporter, says that they started the campaign from Karnal three years ago
following the rejection of several basmati consignments in the international
market. They again started the campaign in Karnal last week.In coming days,
they will educate farmers in basmati growing districts of Haryana and also in
Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. With the
help of experts from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA) and state agriculture departments, they will
inform farmers about the proper use of pesticides.
This paddy season, the exporters have set a target to educate
around 10 lakh farmers in the rice belt states. They will also approach one
lakh farmers in Haryana. The exporters will hold seminars and distribute
literature to make farmers aware about the judicious use of pesticides in their
fields.
Last season,
they had made aware around one lakh farmers in the rice belt states of Haryana,
Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
“Basmati is one of the major cash crops of Punjab and
Haryana. They account for around 75 per cent of the basmati exports of the
country, while other major basmati growing states such as Uttar Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi account for around
25 per cent exports. Despite this, the farmers of these states are still not
much aware about the judicious use of pesticides, leading to rejection of
Indian rice consignments in various countries. We will make one lakh farmers of
Haryana and nine lakh farmers of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu
and Kashmir, Delhi and other states aware about the issue to promote rice
exports as well as the health of citizens,” says Setia.
Besides, the
exporters will also adopt a bonus scheme for farmers to promote a judicious use
of pesticides. “We will give a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal to farmers for
producing good quality rice with a judicious use of pesticides. It will
motivate them also,” adds Setia.
“This season our
main motive is healthy seeds and a healthy nursery. For a healthy nursery, we
are requesting farmers to leave little space for walking after every 16 feet in
their fields, which will help in disease control,” he says.
“We will also
distribute literature, which has been compiled by the experts of the exporters’
association, among farmers during the campaign,” says Ajay Sharma, MD, Lama
Rice, one of the big exporters of the country. He says that the association is
developing an app, which will have the mobile phone numbers of basmati farmers,
to keep them updated about new initiatives. “We will also organise farmers’
interaction programmes with scientists,” Sharma adds.
“The export of
basmati is increasing and for the last five years India has been at the top
position. Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Yamen Arab Republic, USA, Oman, Qatar,
and Jordan are among the top buyers of our rice. In the last financial year,
India exported 14,62,234.74 metric tonnes (MT) of basmati to Iran; 902,996.69
MT to Saudi Arabia; 441,713.50 MT to UAE; 315,797.23 MT to Iraq; 206,953.83 MT
to Yemen; 139,006.34 MT to the USA, 82,389.68 MT to Oman, 68,052.30 MT to Qatar
and 49,486.94 MT to Jordan,” says Sharma.
About the
Haryana Government’s new initiative of crop diversification to promote maize
and ‘arhar’ instead of paddy, Setia and Sharma say that it will not have a big
impact on the basmati crop that is cultivated in June end and the monsoons
contribute a lot to its production.
Aditya Dabas,
Deputy Director Agriculture, says Haryana cultivates paddy in around 13.5 lakh
hectares and produces around 50 lakh quintals of it. Paddy is cultivated in
around 1.70 lakh hectares in Karnal and around 9 lakh quintals of rice is
produced. Basmati accounts for around 50 per cent of the total rice production
in the state while in Karnal it accounts for 40 per cent of the rice
production. Karnal has around one lakh landholding farmers.
Dabas says that
residual pesticides and chemical fertilisers are entering the food-chain due to
the cultivation of wheat and paddy without any gap.
We launched the
campaign from Karnal three years ago following the rejection of several basmati
consignments in the international market. We again started the campaign in
Karnal last week. In coming days, we will educate farmers in basmati growing
districts of Haryana and also in Punjab, Himachal, J&K, Uttar Pradesh and
Delhi. With the help of experts from the Agricultural and Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority and state agriculture departments, we
will inform farmers about the proper use of pesticides. —Vijay Setia,
President, All India Rice Exporters’ Association
We will also
distribute literature, which has been compiled by the experts of the exporters’
association, among farmers during the campaign. The association is developing
an app, which will have the mobile phone numbers of basmati farmers, to keep
them updated about new initiatives. We will also organise farmers’ interactions
with scientists. —Ajay Sharma, MD, Lama Rice
PHL is top destination for wheat, soybean
June 21, 2019 | 7:04 pm
THE PHILIPPINES is one of the top
destinations for exported wheat, soybean cake and meal for market year (MY)
2019/2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a report.
In its export sales report for
the week ending June 13, the USDA noted that exported wheat to the Philippines
for the next MY will be at 65,900 metric tons (MT). The country is second to
Indonesia with 84,500 MT.
As for soybean cake and meal, the
country is the top destination with 55,300 MT, followed by Mexico with 21,900
MT.
In a separate report, the agency
said the importation of agricultural commodities like wheat, corn, and rice has
helped ease inflation.
“Philippine inflation continued
to decline in 2019, mainly because of considerable food and feed grain imports.
Although inflation slightly increased to 3.2 percent in May 2019 due to food
price adjustments brought about by a mild El Niño, Philippine government
planners expect full year inflation to settle within the 2-4 percent target for
2019,” it said.
After peaking at 6.7% in
September to October in 2018, inflation eased to 6% in November and 5.1% in
December with the arrival of food and feed grain imports.
It further declined to 4.4% in
January, 3.8% in February, 3.3% in March, and 3% in April before inching up to
3.2% in May.
The Philippine Statistics
Authority said wheat imports in the first quarter grew 21.6% to $543.58
million; corn imports declined 45.7% to $43.09 million; and rice imports
increased 165.3% to $473.47 million.
The government has implemented
the Rice Tariffication law to help the rice industry by removing quantitative
restrictions to imported rice and replacing it with tariffs, which will be used
to improve rice production.
The USDA recently noted that the
Southeast Asia is expected to be the top wheat importing region in 2018/2019
driven by demand from Philippines, due to typhoons, and Indonesia due to higher
food and feed demand. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang
Agriculture trade deficit widens in Q1
June 21, 2019 | 7:04 pm
PHILSTAR/JOVEN CAGANDE
By Carmina Angelica V.
Olano, Researcher
THE trade deficit in agriculture
commodities widened in the first quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA) said.
Data from the PSA released Friday
showed outbound shipments of agricultural goods totalled $1.5 billion in the
first quarter, up 0.57% year-on-year.
Meanwhile, around $3.56-billion
worth of farm products were shipped into the country during the period, up
14.35% from a year earlier.
As a result, the first-quarter
deficit in agriculture trade was $2.06 billion, up 26.95% from the
$1.63-billion gap a year earlier.
Total agricultural trade, which
is the sum of imports and exports, was valued at $5.06 billion in the first
quarter, up 9.9% from $4.6 billion in the same period of 2018.
Agriculture accounted for 11.5%
or $5.06 billion of total trade, which was $44.05 billion in the first quarter.
The Philippine incurred its
biggest agriculture deficit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) at $1.03 billion followed by the United States ($489.81 million),
Australia ($177.18 million), and the European Union ($165.25 million).
On the other hand, trade in farm
goods with Japan was in surplus by $230.59 million.
Edible fruit and nuts were the
country’s top agricultural export at $611.57 million, or 40.89% of the value
worth of total goods shipped.
Other top farm goods exports
include animal or vegetable fats and oils ($231.75 million); tobacco and
manufactured tobacco substitutes ($107.09 million); preparations of meat, of
fish or of crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates ($103.34
million); fish and crustaceans ($90.81 million); and preparations of cereals,
flour, starch, or milk ($75.66 million).
Meanwhile, the country’s top
imports were cereals at $969.14 million, followed by miscellaneous edible
preparations ($402.31 million); residues and waste from the food industries
($393.24 million); dairy produce ($320.57 million); and meat and edible meat
offal ($296.51 million).
UnionBank of the Philippines,
Inc. chief economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said although a trade deficit in
agriculture is expected, it still implies weakness in the sector.
“Having more agriculture
commodity imports than exports describe a rather weak productivity of the
agriculture sector. It is not new, however, that Philippine agriculture has
been a laggard contributor to general economic growth of the country,” he said
in an e-mail.
Mr. Asuncion also noted that
agriculture trade was driven by imports amid increasing local demand for food.
“With increasing economic growth
is increasing demand for food and other agriculture products. Aside from higher
demand, changes and easing in domestic policy particularly relating to
agriculture commodity imports can be another reason for the growth in
agriculture growth,” he said.
Michael L. Ricafort, head of
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.’s (RCBC) economics research division, had a
similar assessment.
“The faster growth in the imports
of agricultural products also partly reflect the increased requirements of the
local economy, which remains to be among the fastest growing in ASEAN,” he said
in a separate e-mail.
Mr. Ricafort also noted that the
increased importation of agricultural products may be attributed to the impact
of the government’s efforts to manage inflation last year.
“The wider agricultural trade
deficit in the first quarter may reflect the increased importation of
rice/food, fish, sugar, and other agricultural products…to increase the local
supply…to lower their prices and better manage overall inflation,” he said.
Headline inflation slowed to 3.8%
in the first quarter compared to 5.9% in the fourth quarter of 2018 according
to PSA data. The slowdown was mostly broad-based with much of the downtrend
seen in the heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index at 4.6% in
the first quarter versus the 8% in the fourth quarter last year. Food alone
averaged 4.1% in the first three months of the year against the 7.7% average in
the preceding quarter.
Mr. Ricafort said the flat growth
in the country’s agriculture exports may be attributed to the global economic
slowdown largely due to ongoing trade tensions between the US and China since
July of last year.
“Economic growth in China, which
is the world’s second biggest economy and the biggest importer/buyer of various
agricultural commodities, has been among the slowest in nearly 30 years,” he
said.
TRADE SEEN PICKING UP
Both economists expect agriculture trade to pick up in the coming months.
Both economists expect agriculture trade to pick up in the coming months.
“At the end of this year, robust
growth is expected because of the policy changes in agriculture commodities
importation,” UnionBank’s Mr. Asuncion said, adding that risks to this outlook
“usually come from perennial weather disturbances.”
RCBC’s Mr. Ricafort had the same
view: “Agricultural imports could continue to increase in the coming months in
view of the full implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, which removes
the volume limits on rice imports in able to increase local supply of rice (to
address any risk of shortage in the supply of cheaper rice just like what
happened earlier in 2018), as well as increased imports of fish, corn, sugar
and other food/agriculture items to increase local supply and lower local
prices of these agricultural commodities in the local market…,” he said.
Mr. Ricafort likewise noted
“improved trade and diplomatic relations” with major markets for the country’s
agriculture exports, particularly in huge markets such as China, Japan, and
South Korea.
Revival of basmati
brand: Rice exporters seek government’s help to develop
Revival of basmati brand: Rice exporters seek government’s help to
develop Kalar Belt Rice exporters sought the government's assistance to develop
Kalar Belt to produce more of the crop to help the country grow the commodity
export to $5 billion annually, as Federal Economic Adviser, Dr Abdul Hafeez
Shaikh, has affirmed his support to the sector. A meeting on Thursday with
Hafeez Shaikh, convener FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice, Rafique Suleman
sought a certain help from the government to develop Kalar Belt in a bid to
revive the basmati brand. Rafiq Suleman, who is also the former Chairman of
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap), said that the basmati has the
potential to fetch alone $2 billion, as its existing export stands at $750
million. He told the adviser that the export of rice is over $2 billion a year,
which makes it second largest sector following hosiery sector's export, saying
that it, however, showed restrained while reacting on fiscal budget 2019-20.
Advising to the exporting sectors, he said that business community should act
responsibly and shun escalating the negativity on the country's already ailing
economy. "While we have our reservations the rice export sector
represented by Reap continues to work on possible solutions which should come
out as a win-win solution for rice sector and the government," the
convener of the FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice said, showing a full trust and
faith in the PTI's government and its Mincom Team and Finance Team. He hoped
the government's endeavor will help it succeed against all the economic
challenges. Showing satisfaction, Rafiq Suleman said that the Mincom and Hafiz
Shaikh with his team are making headways to stabilize the economy through
multiple PTAs and FTAs with different nations. "PTAs and FTAs with
Indonesia and China have immediately starting bearing results," he said,
adding that in the long-run, the efforts of Mincom will start yielding results
in a span of three years. However, he asked the Mincom to set up a stage for
fair-play for all private sectors through correct policy decisions in consultation
with the Federal Finance Ministry. He also demanded of the government to set up
technical institutes on a full time basis to equip manpower with skills through
professionals. He said that the private sectors should remain only as
consultative bodies to extend their feedback and advisories to the government
in this connection. The former Reap head also highlighted the energy crisis in
the meeting that the rice producing sector is faced with, saying that
"this remains the most neglected area by all governments including the
incumbent PTI one". He said that from a small rice miller in Gujranwala to
those endeavoring in Shadadkot and Larkana are faced with extremely poor
supplies of utilities and this continues to grip the entire agriculture value
chain of the country. He said that the agriculture value chain continues to
face the pre-and-post harvest losses between 3 times and 10 times. He demanded
of the government to step up working on a war footing to revive the basmati
heritage, saying that the development of Kalar Belt is expected to grow the
country's export of this variety of rice to $2 billion from $750 million at
present. "We are glad both Federal and Provincial Departments have given
positive response and implementation has already started," he added.
Showing disappointment, he said that the 80 percent of the KPT and PQA
infrastructure is focused on import oriented as the exports suffer from lack of
a priority. He said that the Ports and Shipping Ministry needs to work close
with the Mincom to ensure the priority for exports in every planning that it
undertakes. He said that all the country's container terminals operating with
the world class infrastructure has brought excessive costs to trade in general
and exports in particular. The Federal Finance Ministry, Mincom and Ports and
Shipping should review all the existing agreements with the container terminals
since the exorbitant tariffs they charge to have been hurting trade and the
economy, Rafique Suleman said. He also recommended to Hafeez Shaikh to have the
federal government to work with the provincial governments to promote
agri-clusters to ensure developing plug and play facility for the stakeholders.
He also pleaded to the associations protesting against the budget
announcements, saying that such an act is self-destructive to the businesses
and exports besides to the country's economy. "I request all our business
association brothers to please stop publicly issuing statements against the
government or budget 2019-20 as it only causes more uncertainties and damage
the market, which brings more loss to the business and economy as well,"
Rafique Suleman added.
Lifestyle with Sakwaba: Yes, rice water can do magic to your hair
Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | E:
faustine.akwa@myjoyonline.com
Date: 21-06-2019 Time: 01:06:33:pm
Raquel has been chronicling her
rice water journey
Rice. Yes Rice – it can do
such wonders for your hair.
Beyond being a staple for millions
around the world, beyond feeding families, its fibre can be fabulous for your
hair.
The benefit is irrespective of hair
type, colour or texture, research has found. Rice is one of the greatest
beautifying aids for women.
A secret Asian women have found as
they have used rice water to enhance their face,
body and hair – for centuries.
Female rice
farmers in China, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries bathed and washed
with water used to clean rice.
Women from the
Yao ethnic group in China authenticate this tradition. With an average hair
length of 6 feet, these women made it to the
Guinness Book of World Records as having the “world’s longest hair village”.
And guess
what, they do not grey until their 80s.
Photo: Raquel
has a channel on Youtube where she shares her rice water hair care journey.
This image was culled from her very first video before using the rice water
treatment
The Yao women
believe that the fermented rice water, which they use to cleanse their hair, is
what helps to keep their hair long, dark and clean. Rice water enables
these women to de-tangle and manage their long hair, which they wrap around
their heads in an elaborate high bun that is often described with names such as
‘gazing god’s bun’ or the ‘cloud bun’.
Here is why
you should use rice water on your hair
Rice water is
the starchy water left over after rice is cooked or left to soak. It is thought
to make the hair smooth and shiny, as well as help it grow faster. Aside
from its 75-80 percent starch content, rice water also contains many vitamins
and minerals: amino acids, vitamin B, E and antioxidants.
Video: Raquel
provides a detailed account of her rice water treatment journey
Advocates for
the rice water treatment believe it detangles the hair, makes hair smoother,
increases shine, strengthens and helps in long hair growth.
However,
because this sounds unbelievable yet, the trend is increasing in popularity,
some researchers looked into it. According to
a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Chemists, when you apply
rice water to your hair, it can reduce friction between the hair strands as
well as improve hair elasticity. It means combing and detangling will be so
much easier, and hair breakage a thing of the past.
Photo: After
some weeks, Raquel posted another video, from which this image was taken
Another
amazing thing about rice water is that it has inositol, a carbohydrate, which
repairs damaged hair. Specialised imaging technique shows that inositol
stays inside the hair even after rinsing, offering continuing hair
protection.
This sounds
amazing…I mean, just amazing!
Video: Raquel
makes another video after a couple of months showing off her amazing
transformation
How to prepare
your rice water
It is
easy. All you need is rice – brown, white, basmati, long grain, short
grain, jasmine, Thai – as long as it is rice and a spray bottle. Any quantity
of your choosing works.
To make rice
water, first, rinse the rice with about a cup of water to remove any dirt or
impurities.
Photo:
Raquel’s hair after a couple of months, also shared in a video on her channel
Then, place
the rice in a bowl and cover with water. Let the rice soak for 15 to 30
minutes. Swirl it around or lightly knead it until the water turns cloudy. This
will help the vitamins and minerals seep into the water, creating a nourishing
rinse for your hair and skin.
Now strain out
the rice water into a clean bowl. Your rice water is ready to use. This is
a quick method to make rice water.
For effectiveness,
however, it is advised to keep the rice in the water overnight. At least 24
hours.
How to apply
rice water in your hair
§ wash hair with shampoo
§ rinse thoroughly with water
§ part hair and apply rice water from the roots to the tips
§ massage the rice water into the hair and scalp
§ leave on for up to 20 minutes
§ rinse hair thoroughly using warm water
§ deep condition
§ rinse off as you normally would and then voilà , you’re good
to go
The video
below provides more information on how this should be done so that in case
you’re like me and cannot wash your hair at home, your hair stylist will
appreciate some directions on how to go about in case they are unaware.
Lifestyle with Sakwaba: Yes, rice water can do magic to your hair
Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | E:
faustine.akwa@myjoyonline.com
Date: 21-06-2019 Time: 01:06:33:pm
Raquel has been chronicling her
rice water journey
Rice. Yes Rice – it can do
such wonders for your hair.
Beyond being a staple for millions
around the world, beyond feeding families, its fibre can be fabulous for your
hair.
The benefit is irrespective of hair
type, colour or texture, research has found. Rice is one of the greatest
beautifying aids for women.
A secret Asian women have found as
they have used rice water to enhance their face,
body and hair – for centuries.
Female rice
farmers in China, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries bathed and washed
with water used to clean rice.
Women from the
Yao ethnic group in China authenticate this tradition. With an average hair
length of 6 feet, these women made it to the
Guinness Book of World Records as having the “world’s longest hair village”.
And guess
what, they do not grey until their 80s.
Photo: Raquel
has a channel on Youtube where she shares her rice water hair care journey.
This image was culled from her very first video before using the rice water
treatment
The Yao women
believe that the fermented rice water, which they use to cleanse their hair, is
what helps to keep their hair long, dark and clean. Rice water enables
these women to de-tangle and manage their long hair, which they wrap around
their heads in an elaborate high bun that is often described with names such as
‘gazing god’s bun’ or the ‘cloud bun’.
Here is why
you should use rice water on your hair
Rice water is
the starchy water left over after rice is cooked or left to soak. It is thought
to make the hair smooth and shiny, as well as help it grow faster. Aside
from its 75-80 percent starch content, rice water also contains many vitamins
and minerals: amino acids, vitamin B, E and antioxidants.
Video: Raquel
provides a detailed account of her rice water treatment journey
Advocates for
the rice water treatment believe it detangles the hair, makes hair smoother,
increases shine, strengthens and helps in long hair growth.
However,
because this sounds unbelievable yet, the trend is increasing in popularity,
some researchers looked into it. According to
a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Chemists, when you apply
rice water to your hair, it can reduce friction between the hair strands as
well as improve hair elasticity. It means combing and detangling will be so
much easier, and hair breakage a thing of the past.
Photo: After
some weeks, Raquel posted another video, from which this image was taken
Another
amazing thing about rice water is that it has inositol, a carbohydrate, which
repairs damaged hair. Specialised imaging technique shows that
inositol stays inside the hair even after rinsing, offering continuing hair
protection.
This sounds
amazing…I mean, just amazing!
Video: Raquel
makes another video after a couple of months showing off her amazing
transformation
How to prepare
your rice water
It is
easy. All you need is rice – brown, white, basmati, long grain, short
grain, jasmine, Thai – as long as it is rice and a spray bottle. Any quantity
of your choosing works.
To make rice
water, first, rinse the rice with about a cup of water to remove any dirt or
impurities.
Photo:
Raquel’s hair after a couple of months, also shared in a video on her channel
Then, place
the rice in a bowl and cover with water. Let the rice soak for 15 to 30
minutes. Swirl it around or lightly knead it until the water turns cloudy. This
will help the vitamins and minerals seep into the water, creating a nourishing
rinse for your hair and skin.
Now strain out
the rice water into a clean bowl. Your rice water is ready to use. This is
a quick method to make rice water.
For
effectiveness, however, it is advised to keep the rice in the water overnight.
At least 24 hours.
How to apply
rice water in your hair
§ wash hair with shampoo
§ rinse thoroughly with water
§ part hair and apply rice water from the roots to the tips
§ massage the rice water into the hair and scalp
§ leave on for up to 20 minutes
§ rinse hair thoroughly using warm water
§ deep condition
§ rinse off as you normally would and then voilà , you’re good
to go
The video
below provides more information on how this should be done so that in case
you’re like me and cannot wash your hair at home, your hair stylist will
appreciate some directions on how to go about in case they are unaware.
CRI develops new rice varieties
Date: Jun 21 , 2019 , 09:52
BY: Joshua Bediako Koomson
Dr Kofi Ayirebi Dartey briefing the media on the new varieties of
rice
The Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed three new varieties of rice to help
boost the production of the cereal in the country.
The new varieties — AG-CRI-UPL-1-2,
AG-CRI-UPL-4-13 and AG-CRI-UPL-1-18 — have long, slender, white, aromatic
grains which take between 90 and 100 days to mature.
At a press briefing at the CSIR Head Office in Accra last Wednesday, a rice breeder at the CRI, Dr Kofi Ayirebi Dartey, said over the years, rice production had been a major challenge to farmers due to the difficulties they faced in acquiring suitable land and the number of days rice took to mature.
He said the challenges had caused many farmers to frown on rice production, with the accompanying negative consequences for the nation.
Dr Dartey said the development had contributed to the high importation of rice into the country.
Addressing challenges
He stated that Ghana could not afford to continue to spend huge amounts of money to import rice when the opportunity existed to maximise production locally.
It was in that context that the institute went the extra mile to develop the rice varieties, he explained.
Dr Dartey said the development of the varieties was sponsored by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), while the Korean Africa Food and Agricultural Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) sponsored the testing of the varieties.
Method
Giving further explanation on the new rice varieties, Dr Dartey said some of the best varieties of rice across the world were selected and inter-bred to achieve the positive results.
He said the new varieties were very resistant to diseases and could be cultivated on highlands.
“Unlike the ordinary varieties of rice which can only flourish at lowland areas, especially where the land has enough water, these new varieties grow in highland areas and, therefore, people can even cultivate them in their gardens and at any ordinary place where maize or cowpea can grow,” he declared.
“These types of rice will relieve farmers of the stress they usually go through during rice production.
They take a few weeks to mature and since they grow on highlands, it will be easier for farmers to use tractors to cultivate without fear of the tractors getting stuck,” he added.
Dr Dartey announced that with sponsorship from the Korea Programme for International Agriculture (KOPIA), the CRI would cultivate 2,000 hectares with the new varieties within the next three years.
Appeal
He appealed to farmers to adopt the new varieties and promote them to help improve rice production for local consumption and also for export.
“This country spends millions of dollars to import rice each year, so if farmers adopt these new varieties which mature very fast and start cultivating them, within a short period the country will produce a lot of rice and that will enable us to reduce the high importation.
“We are aiming to reduce rice importation by 50 per cent this year and this should be the best solution,” Dr Dartey added.
Last year, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, disclosed that Ghana had been spending over a billion dollars on rice imports into the country annually since 2015.
Describing the situation as “a disaster and worrying”, the minister said statistics indicated that from 2007 to 2015, the importation of rice, a leading import commodity in the country, rose from about $151 million to $1,162 million.
At a press briefing at the CSIR Head Office in Accra last Wednesday, a rice breeder at the CRI, Dr Kofi Ayirebi Dartey, said over the years, rice production had been a major challenge to farmers due to the difficulties they faced in acquiring suitable land and the number of days rice took to mature.
He said the challenges had caused many farmers to frown on rice production, with the accompanying negative consequences for the nation.
Dr Dartey said the development had contributed to the high importation of rice into the country.
Addressing challenges
He stated that Ghana could not afford to continue to spend huge amounts of money to import rice when the opportunity existed to maximise production locally.
It was in that context that the institute went the extra mile to develop the rice varieties, he explained.
Dr Dartey said the development of the varieties was sponsored by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), while the Korean Africa Food and Agricultural Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) sponsored the testing of the varieties.
Method
Giving further explanation on the new rice varieties, Dr Dartey said some of the best varieties of rice across the world were selected and inter-bred to achieve the positive results.
He said the new varieties were very resistant to diseases and could be cultivated on highlands.
“Unlike the ordinary varieties of rice which can only flourish at lowland areas, especially where the land has enough water, these new varieties grow in highland areas and, therefore, people can even cultivate them in their gardens and at any ordinary place where maize or cowpea can grow,” he declared.
“These types of rice will relieve farmers of the stress they usually go through during rice production.
They take a few weeks to mature and since they grow on highlands, it will be easier for farmers to use tractors to cultivate without fear of the tractors getting stuck,” he added.
Dr Dartey announced that with sponsorship from the Korea Programme for International Agriculture (KOPIA), the CRI would cultivate 2,000 hectares with the new varieties within the next three years.
Appeal
He appealed to farmers to adopt the new varieties and promote them to help improve rice production for local consumption and also for export.
“This country spends millions of dollars to import rice each year, so if farmers adopt these new varieties which mature very fast and start cultivating them, within a short period the country will produce a lot of rice and that will enable us to reduce the high importation.
“We are aiming to reduce rice importation by 50 per cent this year and this should be the best solution,” Dr Dartey added.
Last year, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, disclosed that Ghana had been spending over a billion dollars on rice imports into the country annually since 2015.
Describing the situation as “a disaster and worrying”, the minister said statistics indicated that from 2007 to 2015, the importation of rice, a leading import commodity in the country, rose from about $151 million to $1,162 million.
Fine rice through PDS
from September 1 Hans News Service |
22 Jun 2019 3:31 AM
HIGHLIGHTS Cabinet sub-committee, which discussed essentials distributed under
Public Distribution System, observes that poor quality of rice currently being
distributed to the beneficiaries is not being consumed by them The distribution
of fine quality rice is estimated to impose an additional burden of Rs 1,000 cr
on State exchequer Amaravati: Come September 1, beneficiaries of Public
Distribution System (PDS) will get fine rice through ration shops. Civil
supplies minister Kodali Venkateswara Rao alias Nani made this announcement
after a meeting of Cabinet sub-committee at the Secretariat on Friday. The
brands like Kurnool Sona Masoori and others are under consideration for
purchase to be distributed to people under the PDS. The officials estimated
that at least 6 lakh metric tonnes of rice is required to supply under the PDS.
This is expected to cost an extra Rs 1000 crore on public exchequer, said the
minister. Advertise With Us The quality of rice being distributed under PDS
became a major cause for concern, observed the sub-committee comprising minister
for civil supplies Nani, agriculture minister Kannababu and housing minister
Sriranganatha Raju, which discussed the issues pertaining to civil supplies.
The ministers also opined that some of the rice being supplied under the PDS
was not consumable and hence the people were selling it away to traders for
recycling. They also opined that the rice thus recycled is again being supplied
to the people through PDS. Advertise With Us "The government has been
purchasing the rice and supplying to the public. Then the people are not
consuming it. They have been purchasing at Rs 1 per kg and reselling the same
rice to millers or middlemen at Rs 7 or Rs 8. Then the same rice is being
processed in the mills. Again the government is buying the processed rice and supplying
it to people through PDS. This system of recycling of the rice is visible
everywhere in the state. This illegal practice is going on because of poor
quality of the rice,'' said the ministers. On the other hand, the ministers
also found that about 25 per cent of the rice being supplied by the Central
government to the state under the PDS was not of good quality.
No action against defaulting rice millers
Post New Network
Updated: June 22nd, 2019, 10:16 IST
Jajpur: As the Assembly’s monsoon session is starting June 25, the
public here is eager to know whether issues like the distress sale of paddy and
the recycling of rice in Jajpur will be raised by legislators this time.
MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati and MLA Bhupinder Singh have readied
their questions on paddy procurement and rice recycling.
Earlier, legislators had not asked questions regarding the
quantity of paddy procured and the rice to be supplied by millers and whether
action was taken against the defaulting millers or not.
There were rumours that during elections the millers had helped
politicians, and this is the reason why the leaders were protecting the millers
by not asking questions.
Reports said in the 2018-19 paddy procurement season, 26,295.564
tonnes of rice will have to be delivered by 12 millers in Jajpur amid allegations
of rampant rice recycling.
Eastern Foods Pvt Ltd (Rangidaspur) has not delivered 4916.505
tonnes of rice to the Civil Supplies Department. Similarly, 2791.327 tonnes of
rice is pending with Sahantuuka Foods (Barchana), 7193.229 tonnes with Krupalu
Rice Mills (Patharpada), 3075.966 tonnes of rice with Mahabali Modern Rice
Mills and 6489.837 tonnes with Ashirbad Rice Mills (Panikoili).
There are suspicions that these millers are waiting to buy the
rice being supplied for MDM, BPL and Antyodaya schemes from racketeers who get
it diverted.
Racketeers grab the rice supplied under these programmes and
sell them in the black market. Some millers buy it and deliver it to the
government without milling paddy.
The Civil Supplies Corporation has been insisting on checking
the stock position of millers. But this is not being done.
The district has five godowns with adequate space for stocking
rice, but it is surprising why the 12 millers have not delivered their rice. It
has become a cause of concern for the civil supplies department.
The district civil supplies officer had provided details of
paddy procurement at various mandis (procurement centres).
By June 15, the government had purchased 11,45,778 quintals of
paddy from the district’s farmers. Fifteen cooperative societies were told to
procure rabi paddy.
Now the question is why the legislators did not want to know
which millers have defaulted, and why the civil supplies department has not
taken action against them.
District civil supplies officer Surendra Kumar Hota has denied
irregularities in paddy procurement. He said action will be taken against
defaulting millers
JUNE 21,
2019 / 1:09 PM / A DAY AGO
Nagpur
Foodgrain Prices Open- JUNE 21, 2019
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices –
APMC/Open Market-June 21, 2018 Nagpur, June 21 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices
firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) on
good seasonal demand from local millers amid tight supply from producing
regions. Reports about delay in monsoon arrival in the regions, fresh hike on
NCDEX and good recovery in Madhya Pradesh pulses also helped to push up prices.
About 800 bags of gram and 250 bags of tuar reported for auction, according to
sources.
GRAM
* Desi gram reported higher in
open market on good buying support from local traders.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in
open market here but demand was poor.
* Wheat mill quality reported
down in open market on lack of demand from local
traders amid good supply from
producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar New –
5,900-6,100, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,400-8,600, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 6,700-7,600, Moong Mogar
(clean) 7,700-8,400, Gram – 4,500-4,600, Gram Super best
– 6,200-6,400 * Wheat, rice and
other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at
last levels in thin trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC
auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices
Previous close
Gram Auction 4,000-4,215
3,900-4,180
Gram Pink Auction n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 5,000-5,585
5,000-5,550
Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500
Wheat Lokwan Auction 1,850-1,948
1,800-1,895
Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a.
2,900-3,000
Gram Super Best Bold 6,400-6,600
6,400-6,600
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 6,000-6,200
6,000-6,200
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,300-4,400
4,300-4,400
Desi gram Raw 4,450-4,550
4,400-4,500
Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000
8,300-10,000
Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,700-8,800
8,700-8,800
Tuar Fataka Medium-New
8,300-8,500 8,300-8,500
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New
8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New
7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800
Tuar Gavarani New 5,750-5,950
5,750-5,950
Tuar Karnataka 6,050-6,250
6,100-6,300
Masoor dal best 5,400-5,600
5,400-5,600
Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,300
5,200-5,300
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New)
7,800-8,500 7,800-8,500
Moong Mogar Medium 6,800-7,200
6,800-7,200
Moong dal Chilka New 6,500-7,600
6,500-7,600
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,000-9,000
8,100-9,000
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG)
(New) 7,000-7,800 7,000-7,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)
5,600-6,500 5,600-6,500
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400
Mot (100 INR/KG) 5,100-6,600
5,100-6,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)
6,700-6,900 6,700-6,900
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)
2,000-2,100 2,100-2,200
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)
2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)
n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)
3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)
2,700-2,900 2,700-2,900
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)
3,000-3,500 3,100-3,500
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)
2,400-2,900 2,500-3,000
Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG)
2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)
2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)
2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)
4,100-4,600 4,100-4,600
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)
3,600-3,900 3,600-3,900
Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG)
4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)
5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000
4,600-5,000
Rice Shriram New (100 INR/KG)
5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)
8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)
5,000-7,000 5,000-7,000
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)
6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)
6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Rice Chinnor New (100 INR/KG)
4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 40.6 degree Celsius,
minimum temp. 26.1 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky.
One or two spells of rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum
temperature likely to be around 40 degree Celsius and 26 degree Celsius
respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded
from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)
Our Standards:The Thomson
Reuters Trust Principles.
The
shortfall in rains is the worst in South India and it will affect rice and
oilseeds production as well as tractor sales
§ The
total rain from south west monsoon has been 40% less than the average.
§ The
deficit is as high as 56% in south India and farmers have been asked to avoid
sowing for crops like rice that need a lot of water.
§ Central
India comes a close second with a rain deficit of 41% until June 19.
§ The
crisis in rural India may become a significant factor in the upcoming budget.
India is already suffering from a severe water shortage in many parts of the country and the rain Gods have not been merciful yet. That would put pressure on the Narendra Modi government, particularly on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ahead of the upcoming budget to ensure the rural distress in the country does not worsen any further.
The total rain from south west monsoon has been 40% less than the average. The deficit is as high as 56% in the southern peninsula --Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Goa. The central parts of the country, states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhatisgarh, come a close second with a rain deficit of 41% until June 19.
The shortage is therefore the
worst in the rice growing areas and therefore the farmers have either delayed
or reduced the sowing of crops like rice, sugarcane and cotton, all of which
need a lot of water, according to government data. This is part of the
government's contingency plan in the 648 worst-hit districts of the country.
What's worse, farmers have to pay up to 10% more for fertilisers this sowing season, than what they paid last winter, thanks to a rise in global prices for potash due to stronger demand, the key raw material, and a weaker rupee.
Tractor sales
Expectations of a poor monsoon also affect the purchase of farm equipment like tractors. The impact has been visible already in the 15% fall in tractor sales in May compared to the same time last year. That's bad news for Mahindra and Mahindra, which makes nearly 31% of its revenue from tractors alone and things have been far from rosy for a while now.
What's worse, farmers have to pay up to 10% more for fertilisers this sowing season, than what they paid last winter, thanks to a rise in global prices for potash due to stronger demand, the key raw material, and a weaker rupee.
Tractor sales
Expectations of a poor monsoon also affect the purchase of farm equipment like tractors. The impact has been visible already in the 15% fall in tractor sales in May compared to the same time last year. That's bad news for Mahindra and Mahindra, which makes nearly 31% of its revenue from tractors alone and things have been far from rosy for a while now.
The gloomy expectations have been evident in the share price too, which has lost over 31% in the last one year.
All eyes are now on the budget,
and both the country's millions of farmers as well as companies like M&M
hope for some sort of relief package that soften nature's blow on the rural
economy.
There are some encouraging signs with the President Ram Nath Kovind announcing a ₹25 trillion fund to protect the rural economy. The income guarantee scheme of ₹6,000 a year has been extended to the country's 145 million farmers. India has also appealed to China to lower tariffs on agricultural exports from India.
Rural consumption has already slumped sharply and a poor monsoon may only worsen it. The government will have to think of other measures to support the economic recovery.
Bühler Group plans to up rice
processing in Kingdom
Chhut Bunthoeun / Khmer Times Share:
Switzerland-based Bühler Group, a
tech company providing solutions to food, mobility and communication needs, is
seeking to invest into rice processing facilities in Cambodia.
According to a Commerce Ministry
press release, the plan was announced on Wednesday during a meeting between
Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak and Bühler Asia president David Wang.
It said the company plans to
invest ten rice drying facilities within ten provinces across the Kingdom.
. .
The press release did not mention
which provinces the company is interested in, but it said the company aims to
store up to one million tonnes of rice, with the target to dry about 13,000
tonnes per day.
It noted that the finish product
would be further processed before it is exported to international markets.
“The facilities will be equipped
with a high-end technology […], with the promise of increasing the value of the
rice value chain and diversify finished goods for global market export,” Mr
David said, according to the ministry press release.
It noted that Bühler’s presence
in the Kingdom will primarily focus on using cutting edge technology in order
to process agricultural products and strengthening sustainable production in
Cambodia
Mr Sorasak said in the press
release that he supports the move, noting that the investment plan is in line
with the Kingdom’s industrial development policy and the government’s
rectangular strategy phase IV.
. .
“Once facilities are ready for
operations, they will help strengthen to stabilise the prices of domestic
agriculture products,” he said. “It will also help to curb the flow of paddy
rice exported to neighbouring countries.”
It noted that according to an
Agriculture Ministry report last year, Cambodia produced 7.4 million tonnes of
paddy rice, a 3.5 percent hike when compared to 2017’s 3.07 tonnes of rice.
Paddy procured 12pc but rice 42pc, JS told
Staff Correspondent | Published: 00:48,
Jun 21,2019 | Updated: 01:20, Jun 21,2019
The government has procured 12 per cent of the paddy in two
months targeted for the current boro season as the collection will end in
August while the boiled rice collection is 42 per cent of the target during the
same period.
Responding to a question from treasury bench lawmaker Abul Kalam Md Ahasanul Hoque Chowdhury, food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder disclosed the information in the Jatiya Sangsad, saying that the government started the procurement in April.
He said that the government had primarily decided to purchase 1.5 lakh tonnes of paddy in this boro season but later revised the target to be 2.5 lakh tonnes more.
Considering the bumper production of the crop, he said, the government has a plan to collect paddy directly from the farmers in future, though it has no such plan for rice.
Replaying to a starred question placed by Jatiya Party lawmaker Salma Islam, the food minister also said that the construction of 162 warehouses having the capacity of 1.05 lakh tonnes of food grains is underway as part of increasing the storage capacity of food grains.
He further said that the construction of eight steel silos with the capacity of 5.18 tonnes, too, continued under a modern food grain storage project.
Besides, he said, the government has planned to take a new project to build 200 silos with the capacity of 5,000 tonnes each across the country to store paddy collected from marginal farmers in helping them to get fair price for the crop.
In response to a question from ruling party lawmaker Nasimul Alam Chowdhury, state minister for disaster management and relief Md Enamur Rahman told parliament that the government had planned to construct 152 new cyclone shelters in the country’s coastal and cyclone-prone areas.
‘On April 24, 2008, the planning commission instructed the disaster management and relief ministry to build 1,072 cyclone shelters in the country,’ he said.
Enamur further said that the government had already constructed 100 multipurpose cyclone shelters in the coastal and cyclone-prone areas in the first phase.
He informed the House that 220 more such shelters were being built in the second phase.
His ministry has also a plan to build 752 more multipurpose cyclone shelters in the next phases, Enamur added.
Responding to a question from treasury bench lawmaker Abul Kalam Md Ahasanul Hoque Chowdhury, food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder disclosed the information in the Jatiya Sangsad, saying that the government started the procurement in April.
He said that the government had primarily decided to purchase 1.5 lakh tonnes of paddy in this boro season but later revised the target to be 2.5 lakh tonnes more.
Considering the bumper production of the crop, he said, the government has a plan to collect paddy directly from the farmers in future, though it has no such plan for rice.
Replaying to a starred question placed by Jatiya Party lawmaker Salma Islam, the food minister also said that the construction of 162 warehouses having the capacity of 1.05 lakh tonnes of food grains is underway as part of increasing the storage capacity of food grains.
He further said that the construction of eight steel silos with the capacity of 5.18 tonnes, too, continued under a modern food grain storage project.
Besides, he said, the government has planned to take a new project to build 200 silos with the capacity of 5,000 tonnes each across the country to store paddy collected from marginal farmers in helping them to get fair price for the crop.
In response to a question from ruling party lawmaker Nasimul Alam Chowdhury, state minister for disaster management and relief Md Enamur Rahman told parliament that the government had planned to construct 152 new cyclone shelters in the country’s coastal and cyclone-prone areas.
‘On April 24, 2008, the planning commission instructed the disaster management and relief ministry to build 1,072 cyclone shelters in the country,’ he said.
Enamur further said that the government had already constructed 100 multipurpose cyclone shelters in the coastal and cyclone-prone areas in the first phase.
He informed the House that 220 more such shelters were being built in the second phase.
His ministry has also a plan to build 752 more multipurpose cyclone shelters in the next phases, Enamur added.
Cambodia awards Chinese firm to build rice
warehouses, drying machines in 11 provinces
Source:
Xinhua| 2019-06-20 22:39:33|Editor: yan
PHNOM PENH, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Thursday awarded
China's state-owned CITIC Construction, to build rice warehouses and drying
machines in 11 provinces, according to a statement from the country's Ministry
of Economy and Finance.
The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract was
inked here between Cambodian Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak and CITIC
Construction's Chairman Chen Xiaojia, the statement said.
The project is made possible under the concessional loan from
the Chinese government, it said.
Under the contract, the Chinse firm would construct 12 rice
storage facilities with a total capacity of 827,000 tons and 10 rice drying
machines with a total capacity of 13,000 tons per day in 11 Cambodian
provinces, the statement said.
Those provinces include Pursat, Battambang, Takeo, Banteay
Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Kandal, Kampong
Speu, and Preah Sihanouk, it said.
"With this project, the government hopes that Cambodia will
have enough capacity to increase its rice export to the international markets
and to enhance Cambodian rice's reputation," the statement said.
It added that the construction of rice warehouses and drying
machines would help Cambodia to achieve its target of exporting at least one
million tons of milled rice a year in the future.
Cambodia exported a total of 250,172 tons of milled rice in the
first five months of 2019, in which 109,234 tons, or 43.6 percent, were shipped
to China, according to Cambodian government data.
The Southeast Asian country produced 10.8 million tons of paddy
rice last year, up 3.3 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of
Agriculture.
REAP Ex-chairman Advises Business Community To Cooperate With Govt
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Thursday advised the
business community to react responsibly and abstain from issuing statements
criticizing the federal budget or the government as it creates unnecessary
uncertainty in the market
KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - APP - 20th
Jun, 2019 ) :Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Thursday advised the business community to react responsibly and
abstain from issuing statements criticizing the Federal budget or the government as it creates unnecessary uncertainty
in the market.
" As I believe the business community needs to act responsibly and
not accelerate the already difficult economic conditions country is
facing," former chairman Rafiq Suleman said in a statement issued here.
He said rice is the only sector
which earns over Dollar two billion through exports per annum and after hosiery's exports of $ 2.6 billion. But, he added, it has not protested or gone
for any public statements.
"We have certain reservations
on the budget, the rice export sector represented by REAP
continued to work on possible solutions that should come out as a win-win
solution for rice sector and the Government.
" We have full trust and
confidence in the government and its Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Finance teams," he
said.
FPCCI Brings Out Report On Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Trade
Relations
The Research and Policy Division of the Federation of Pakistan
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has prepared a report on the Economic
and Trade Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
Karachi (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point
News / Online - 20th June, 2019) The Research and Policy Division of the
Federation of PakistanChambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has prepared a report on the
Economic and Trade Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The report indicates that Saudi Arabia is an important country for Pakistan and both countries enjoying geographical
proximity, historical relations and religious affinity. Bilateral trade between
both nations is below potential and stands at US$ 3.5 billion.
Pakistan mainly imports petroleum
products, plastic goods, organic chemical and fertilizer from Saudi Arabia and exports cereals, meat, textile, beverages, edible fruit and vegetable to Saudi Arabia, the report stated.The report further reveals
that there are huge potential available for enhancement of bilateral trade and
investment relations.
The enhancement of bilateral
relations with Saudi Arabia is also the priority for the Government which reflects from the visits of Prime Ministerof Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Prince's visit to Pakistan and signing of various MoUs for
enhancement of relations in trade, energy, commerce, investment and other fields.
The report indicates that Pakistan has potentials to enhance its exports to Saudi Arabia in textile, pharmaceutical, rice, sea food, meat, edible
fruits and vegetable, dairy products, leather goods and information technology.The report also identifies trade barriers
that create hindrance in exports to Saudi Arabia related to compliance of standards,
lack of information, lack of commercial activities etc between both nations.
The report suggests that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should formulate a strategy for
mutual recognition of standards for exports of surgical instrument, food items and pharmaceutical goods as there is a
huge demand of these products in Saudi Arabia.
Both the nations should formulate a
mechanism to reduce non-tariff measures which are faced by Pakistan in exporting agriculture products to Saudi Arabia. The report added that Pakistan may negotiate to initiate formal trade pack
or agreement in terms of tariff concession for
enhancement of trade.
The report suggests that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should sign bilateral investment
treaty in view of removal of complex investment procedures and avoid of
taxation complicationsIt has suggested activation of Joint Business Council of both countries and holding
of businesspeople to people contact, formulation of trade
delegations and participation in trade fairs.
The Trade Mission of both nations should also play their due role
in enhancement of bilateral trade.
The report also suggests signing of
an agreement with Saudi Arabia related to exchange of skilled workers and promotion of
tourism as the process of economic development in Saudi Arabia is going on which indicates an
increasing demand of skilled labor force in Saudi Arabia.Ends/OnlindeRT/TR============ICCI calls
for removal of anomalies in Budget 2019-20Islamabad, June 20(Online): The IslamabadChamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said that Budget 2019-20 carried many anomalies related to
steel sector that could be disastrous for steel industry and called upon the government to take urgent measures to remove such
anomalies before passage of Finance Bill 2019-20 from the parliament in order to save the steel industry from further problems.President, ICCI , Ahmed Hassan Moughal said that wrong PCT Code of
raw material was included in the 1st schedule of Customs Act as one of the three Primary raw materials for steel making, HMS Scrap
under PCT Code 7204.4990 was left out of the 1st Schedule whereas the other two
primary raw materials (PCT Code 7204.4100 and 7204.3000) were rightly included
in the 1st Schedule.
They said that this anomaly was
needed to be fixed so that all primary raw materials for steel manufacturing
could attract zero rate of CD, ACD and RD.He said that it seemed that wrong PCT
Code 7204.4910 (Re-RollableScrap) was mistakenly included in the 1st Schedule
and emphasized that this PCT Code was required to be removed from the 1st Schedule because it was an
intermediate good.
He said the highlighted anomaly
could be disastrous for the local melting industry if an intermediate good attracted
the same duties as the primary raw material. He said
that double taxation (ST) on raw material and finished goods as on June 30, 2019also required to be removed since
finished goods stock as on June 30, 2019 will have already accrued sales tax via
electrical consumption as per Sales Tax Special Procedures.
He said the sale of such goods under FED regime should not
attract further FED as it will be double taxation.ICCI President said that as
per Sales Tax Special Procedures, companies will have valid adjustment
certificates for advanced sales tax paid at port on import of scrap.
He said such adjustment
certificates should be utilized as inputs to adjust the FED liability from July 1st, 2019 onwards. He further said that a price notification mechanism for FED liability for
steel billets, bars, and angles should be developed to ensure uniformity of
collection across the sector.
He stressed that government should develop a consensus formula
for price mechanism in consultation with steel sector
industrialists
Thai Rice Nutrition Improves People's Health
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Jun 21, 2019, 07:18 ET
BANGKOK, June 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- The Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand has
introduced a project called "Think RICE, Think THAILAND" to
encourage international community to pay attention to consumer health and to
raise awareness on the national crop by providing a wider range of knowledge,
ranging from national agricultural history, standards and Thai rice quality.
Russell Reinke, Outcome Theme Leader -
Improving Health through Safe and Nutritionally Enhanced Rice at the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Nese Sreenivasulu, Outcome
Theme Leader - Facilitating Rice Research through Enabling Technologies; Head
of Grain Quality and Nutrition Center at the IRRI
Rice is central to the diets, communities
and cultural identity of more than 1.6 people across
the world - particularly in Asia. The Thai verb "to
eat" (kin khao) literally means to "eat rice". "Rice
is an incredibly important global crop. More than half of the world's
population depends on rice as its primary source of calories,"
says Russell Reinke, Outcome Theme
Leader - Improving Health through Safe and Nutritionally
Enhanced Rice at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), an
establishment that focuses on nutritional security and supports innovations
that will improve health benefits of eating rice.
Speaking of health benefits, red, black and
brown strains of rice may be less well known than their white
counterparts, but they are extremely nutritious. "Red and black rice
are immense sources of antioxidants. Red rice possesses flavonoids, as
well as proanthocyanidin, which are good sources of antioxidants. Brown
rice is also a good source of dietary fibre and is rich in rice bran oil,"
says Nese Sreenivasulu, Outcome Theme
Leader - Facilitating Rice Research through Enabling Technologies;
Head of Grain Quality and Nutrition Center at the IRRI.
"Lately, Thailand has been looking into developing healthy
rice, like red jasmine rice. Red jasmine rice is aromatic and offers
antioxidant properties, which provide benefits like antidiabetic and
anti-cancer properties."
Thai's red, black and brown strains includes Red Hom Mali Rice, a much lower glycaemic index (GI) than
other strains of rice, is suitable for diabetics as it keeps blood sugar
levels low.
Riceberry Rice is rich in antioxidants and fiber, which aids
digestion and lessens the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Khao Hom Nil Rice contains antioxidants, anti-diabetic and
anticancer properties, not to mention how it is also used to make
shampoo - as it is claimed to help prevent premature grey hair and
hair loss.
View full VDO: http://www.thinkricethinkthailand.com/media/view/51
Think Rice, Think Thailand.
Visit us: www.thinkricethinkthailand.com
SOURCE Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of
Commerce, Thailand
Texas Rice Field Day set July 11
in Beaumont
Contact: Brandy Morace,
409-752-3045, bmorace@aesrg.tamu.edu
BEAUMONT – “Texas Rice –
Embracing Innovation,” is the theme for the 72nd annual Texas Rice Field Day to
be held July 11 at the Texas A&M AgriLife
Research and Extension Center, 1509 Aggie Drive in Beaumont.
The event is free and open to
the public. Field tours begin at 8 a.m., followed by an indoor program at 10:45
a.m and a noon barbecue luncheon.
Morning field tours will
showcase recent developments in hybrid rice breeding, plant physiology, and
nutrient, disease and insect management.
Dr. Ted Wilson, center
director, will open the indoor program with a brief overview of the center’s
research, followed by three keynote speakers. The speakers and their topics
will be:
– Dr. Bruce
Linquist, Cooperative Extension specialist, University of California-Davis –
Narrowing the Yield Gap in Rice.
– Dr. Jarrod
Hardke, Extension rice agronomist, University of Arkansas – Furrow Irrigated
Rice.
– Dr. James
Campbell, supervisory research entomologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture –
Post-Harvest Grain Management.
Licensed private, commercial
and non-commercial pesticide applicators participating in this field day may
obtain Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education credit for recertification.
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From plows to tractors, rice farms to be
mechanized under tariffs law
By
-
MANILA – Rice farmers will benefit
from the Rice Tariffication Act by getting modern mechanized equipment that is
expected to improve farm yields, an agency attached to the Department of
Agriculture said on Wednesday.
The Philippine Center for
Postharvest Development and Mechanization, or Philmech, said it has already
identified an initial 1,200 major rice-producing municipalities in the
Philippines that will receive farm machinery once funds from rice tariffs are
collected.
Philmech is set to get P30 billion
from 2019 to 2024 for distribution of mechanized farming equipment such as
tractors, transplanters, harvesters, threshers, mechanical dryers and other
machinery.
“Depende sa needs noong mga farmers
associations or organizations at
ito yung basehan ng pagbibigay o pagdi-distribute ng mgamachinery,” said Dr.
Rod Estigoy, chief science research specialist of Philmech.
Tariffs collected from imported
rice are supposed to be channeled to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund
to help local farmers compete with cheaper imports.
Local farmers had opposed the rice
tariffs law, fearing it would flood the market with cheaper rice from abroad,
and kill the local rice industry.
Estigoy noted that a kilo of
palay, or unmilled rice, costs just P6 per kilo in Vietnam, and P8 in Thailand.
While a kilo of palay in the
Philippines currently costs around P12 per kilo, farm mechanization is expected
to reduce this to at least P10 per kilo, Estigoy said.
He added that modern equipment
will also minimize postharvest losses from inefficient drying and milling
methods.
The Philmech official added that
the machinery will be given for free to farmers’ associations, who will also be
asked to maintain them.
Estigoy however, also said
introducing modern farm equipment faced challenges in the Philippines because
the country’s small landholdings needed to be “consolidated” to allow them to
benefit from the efficiency of mechanization. (ABS-CBN News)
Rice production in India to shrink due to late monsoon
The world’s second-largest producer of the cereal has
seen a harsh summer this year.
By
, ET Bureau|
Jun 21, 2019, 01.28 PM IST
0Comments
BCCL
A further delay
in rains would also curtail acreage in UP, the country’s largest producer of
rice.
CHANDIGARH: India’s rice
production is likely to shrink this kharif season due to delayed monsoon rains and
farmers’ shift to alternative crops.
The world’s second-largest producer of the cereal has seen a harsh summer this year. Scanty summer rain and heatwave has forced farmers in large areas of the rice-growing states to defer transplantation of paddy.
To tackle the dry weather, these farmers are opting for early-maturing varieties of rice and most have delayed transplantation of paddy, according to experts. In Uttar Pradesh and Punjab—the major rice-growing states—transplantation has been carried out on less than half of the area covered last year.
Scanty rainfall has affected sowing of paddy in south India, where the season sets in early. The area of cultivation has come down by 5-7% in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh where sowing commences in April-May.
Normally, monsoon arrives by June 1 in India in Kerala, but this year it has been late by a week. Cyclonic storm ‘Vayu’ has further subdued the weather, restricting precipitation to less than half in most states.
“Farmers in Uttar Pradesh have delayed sowing of paddy in light of the forecast of delayed monsoon and many are opting for early maturing varieties,” said Soraaj Singh, director of agriculture in the Uttar Pradesh government. He said farmers could delay paddy transplantation by up to two weeks before deciding to cultivate alternative crops in the state.
Other experts said farmers are likely to turn to crops like pulses, oilseed, pearl millet and maize to cope with late arrival of rains, while a dry weather and fall in acreage is likely to shrink the output of rice in the current season.
Although India has a surplus buffer stock for food security following a record rice harvest of 115.6 million tonnes in 2018-19, a severe drought could spike prices and hurt exports from the country. Rice is one of the major export items.
“Rains have been below normal at the start of summer season and it reduced acreage of paddy by 7-8% in districts where sowing commences in April-May,” said a senior agriculture official of Tamil Nadu. Paddy is the key kharif crop in nine states—Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Assam.
Although Punjab, the largest contributor of the cereal for public distribution system, had advanced transplantation of paddy from the usual date of June 15, recommended under the Soil Water Conservation Act 2009, the prevailing dry weather has not allowed many farmers to expedite sowing. Farmers in Punjab are expected to bring down the area under regular rice to 28 lakh hectares, compared with 31.4 lakh hectares last year, opting mainly for cotton.
“We have urged farmers to delay sowing, wherever it is possible, as the monsoon forecast has indicated late arrival of rains,” Punjab agriculture director Swatantar Kumar Airy said.
Also diversification of crops drive is likely to reduce the acreage under normal rice cultivation in Punjab and Haryana. “We are running a pilot project to shift area from paddy to maize and other crops to check exploitation of underground water,” deputy director of agriculture Anil Sherawat said.
A further delay in rains would also curtail acreage in UP, the country’s largest producer of rice. “Even though most of the 60 lakh hectares usually covered under paddy is irrigated by canals and groundwater in Uttar Pradesh, the prevailing high temperature is not conducive for rice cultivation and increases the input cost for farmers,” said Ram Shabad Jaswara, deputy director to the Uttar Pradesh agriculture department. Lack of rain traditionally shrinks the area of paddy cultivation by 1 lakh hectares, he said.
Monsoon usually arrives by June 20 in UP—the second-largest producer of the commodity. “Rains cut cost of cultivation for farmers and also save water,” said Ramesh Yadav, a resident of Ambala who plans to sow paddy on 4 acres.
The world’s second-largest producer of the cereal has seen a harsh summer this year. Scanty summer rain and heatwave has forced farmers in large areas of the rice-growing states to defer transplantation of paddy.
To tackle the dry weather, these farmers are opting for early-maturing varieties of rice and most have delayed transplantation of paddy, according to experts. In Uttar Pradesh and Punjab—the major rice-growing states—transplantation has been carried out on less than half of the area covered last year.
Scanty rainfall has affected sowing of paddy in south India, where the season sets in early. The area of cultivation has come down by 5-7% in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh where sowing commences in April-May.
Normally, monsoon arrives by June 1 in India in Kerala, but this year it has been late by a week. Cyclonic storm ‘Vayu’ has further subdued the weather, restricting precipitation to less than half in most states.
“Farmers in Uttar Pradesh have delayed sowing of paddy in light of the forecast of delayed monsoon and many are opting for early maturing varieties,” said Soraaj Singh, director of agriculture in the Uttar Pradesh government. He said farmers could delay paddy transplantation by up to two weeks before deciding to cultivate alternative crops in the state.
Other experts said farmers are likely to turn to crops like pulses, oilseed, pearl millet and maize to cope with late arrival of rains, while a dry weather and fall in acreage is likely to shrink the output of rice in the current season.
Although India has a surplus buffer stock for food security following a record rice harvest of 115.6 million tonnes in 2018-19, a severe drought could spike prices and hurt exports from the country. Rice is one of the major export items.
“Rains have been below normal at the start of summer season and it reduced acreage of paddy by 7-8% in districts where sowing commences in April-May,” said a senior agriculture official of Tamil Nadu. Paddy is the key kharif crop in nine states—Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Assam.
Although Punjab, the largest contributor of the cereal for public distribution system, had advanced transplantation of paddy from the usual date of June 15, recommended under the Soil Water Conservation Act 2009, the prevailing dry weather has not allowed many farmers to expedite sowing. Farmers in Punjab are expected to bring down the area under regular rice to 28 lakh hectares, compared with 31.4 lakh hectares last year, opting mainly for cotton.
“We have urged farmers to delay sowing, wherever it is possible, as the monsoon forecast has indicated late arrival of rains,” Punjab agriculture director Swatantar Kumar Airy said.
Also diversification of crops drive is likely to reduce the acreage under normal rice cultivation in Punjab and Haryana. “We are running a pilot project to shift area from paddy to maize and other crops to check exploitation of underground water,” deputy director of agriculture Anil Sherawat said.
A further delay in rains would also curtail acreage in UP, the country’s largest producer of rice. “Even though most of the 60 lakh hectares usually covered under paddy is irrigated by canals and groundwater in Uttar Pradesh, the prevailing high temperature is not conducive for rice cultivation and increases the input cost for farmers,” said Ram Shabad Jaswara, deputy director to the Uttar Pradesh agriculture department. Lack of rain traditionally shrinks the area of paddy cultivation by 1 lakh hectares, he said.
Monsoon usually arrives by June 20 in UP—the second-largest producer of the commodity. “Rains cut cost of cultivation for farmers and also save water,” said Ramesh Yadav, a resident of Ambala who plans to sow paddy on 4 acres.
0Comments
From plows to tractors, rice farms to
be mechanized under tariffs law
By
-
MANILA –
Rice farmers will benefit from the Rice Tariffication Act by getting modern
mechanized equipment that is expected to improve farm yields, an agency
attached to the Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday.
The
Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, or Philmech,
said it has already identified an initial 1,200 major rice-producing
municipalities in the Philippines that will receive farm machinery once funds
from rice tariffs are collected.
Philmech
is set to get P30 billion from 2019 to 2024 for distribution of mechanized
farming equipment such as tractors, transplanters, harvesters, threshers,
mechanical dryers and other machinery.
“Depende
sa needs noong mga farmers
associations or organizations at ito yung basehan ng pagbibigay o
pagdi-distribute ng mga machinery,”
said Dr. Rod Estigoy, chief science research specialist of Philmech.
Tariffs
collected from imported rice are supposed to be channeled to the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to help local farmers compete with cheaper
imports.
Local
farmers had opposed the rice tariffs law, fearing it would flood the market
with cheaper rice from abroad, and kill the local rice industry.
Estigoy
noted that a kilo of palay, or unmilled rice, costs just P6 per kilo in
Vietnam, and P8 in Thailand.
While a
kilo of palay in the Philippines currently costs around P12 per kilo, farm
mechanization is expected to reduce this to at least P10 per kilo, Estigoy
said.
He added
that modern equipment will also minimize postharvest losses from inefficient
drying and milling methods.
The
Philmech official added that the machinery will be given for free to farmers’
associations, who will also be asked to maintain them.
Estigoy
however, also said introducing modern farm equipment faced challenges in the
Philippines because the country’s small landholdings needed to be “consolidated”
to allow them to benefit from the efficiency of mechanization. (ABS-CBN
News)
