GIEWS Country Brief: Costa Rica
30-January-2020
REPORT
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
Rice production in 2019 expected at below‑average level
Cereal import requirements
anticipated at above‑average level in 2019/20 marketing year
Rice production in 2019 expected at below‑average level
Harvesting of the 2019 minor
season rice crop is nearing completion. Production of the minor season is
expected at below‑average level due to reduced rainfall at planting and
germination stages in the major producing Chorotega Region.
The 2019 aggregate rice output,
including the main season crop harvested in the August‑October period, is
anticipated at below‑average 150 000 tonnes, mainly reflecting the continuous
contraction in plantings as farmers shifted to more remunerative horticulture
crops. During the main season, adequate rains benefitted planting operations
and early development of crops in May, but rainfall amounts were below average
during the June‑August period, affecting yields in the key producing region.
Cereal import requirements anticipated at above‑average level in
2019/20 marketing year
Cereal imports in the 2019/20
marketing year (July/June) are anticipated at about 1.3 million tonnes, about 7
percent higher than the last five‑year average. Maize imports, accounting for
about 70 percent of the total cereal imports, are on the rise reflecting the
high demand by the domestic feed sector. Wheat grain and flour imports are
expected at an average level due to sustained demand for human consumption.
https://reliefweb.int/report/costa-rica/giews-country-brief-costa-rica-30-january-2020
GIEWS Country Brief: Panama 30-January-2020
REPORT
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
Rice production in 2019 expected
at above‑average level
Cereal imports anticipated to
remain high in 2019/20 marketing year
Prices of rice stable, while
those of beans declining due to good market supplies
Rice production in 2019 expected at above‑average level
Harvesting of the 2019 minor paddy crop is nearing completion
under favourable conditions. The 2019 aggregate rice production, including the
major crop harvested in the August‑October period, is expected at 315 000
tonnes, 5 percent higher than the last five‑year average, due to an increase in
area planted and beneficial rainfall during both seasons. The enlarged
plantings mainly reflect continued Government support, particularly official
purchases of rice at guaranteed floor prices.
Harvesting of the 2019 minor
season maize crop is ongoing. Aggregate production in 2019 is anticipated at a
below‑average level of 105 000 tonnes, following the decline in area sown as
farmers shifted to more remunerable crops, such as horticulture or rice.
Cereal imports anticipated to remain high in 2019/20 marketing
year
Cereal import requirements in the
2019/20 marketing year (September/August) are anticipated at about 740 000
tonnes, 6 percent above the previous five‑year average due to sustained demand
for yellow maize by the local feed industry and for wheat for human
consumption.
Prices of rice stable, while those of beans declining due to
good market supplies
Prices of rice were stable during
the last quarter of 2019 and were similar to a year earlier, reflecting adequate
domestic supplies. Prices of beans have been declining since October 2019, as
the main season harvest increased market supplies. In December 2019, prices
were lower, year on year, due to good outputs obtained in 2019.
Rice consumption dips to
all-time low in 2019
Published
: Jan 30, 2020 - 13:02 Updated : Jan 30,
2020 - 13:02
 |
|
(Yonhap)
|
South Korea's per capita annual rice consumption fell to a record low in 2019 amid changes in diet and eating habits, data showed Thursday.
Per capita average annual rice consumption hit a fresh low of 59.2 kilograms last year, down 3 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.
It marked the first time for the amount to fall below the 60-kilogram threshold.
Rice is a key staple food for Koreans, but its consumption has been on a steady decline since 1980, when per capita average annual rice consumption was 132.4 kg.
The latest figure indicates South Koreans consumed around 162 grams of rice on a daily basis.
Consumption of non-rice grains edged down 2.4 percent on-year to 8.2 kg in 2019 from 8.4 kg posted a year ago.
The amount of rice used by manufacturers also decreased 1.5 percent over the cited period to 744,000 tons, according to the data. (Yonhap)
RPT-Asia Rice-Indian
prices extend gains as Thailand battles drought
Shreyansi Singh
JANUARY 31, 2020 / 7:39 AM /
(Repeats earlier story for wider
readership with no change to text)
* Bangladesh steps up efforts to
stabilise domestic prices
* Thai prices ease slightly,
Vietnamese rates unchanged
* Vietnam’s January exports to fall
18.7% from year ago
By Shreyansi Singh
BENGALURU, Jan 30 (Reuters) -
India’s rice export prices scaled a near four-month peak this week on increased
demand from buyers in Africa, in anticipation of a further jump in rates in
Asia as a persistent drought in Thailand squeezes supply.
Prices of India’s 5-percent broken
parboiled variety RI-INBKN5-P1 rose to their highest since the first week of
October, around $369-$373 per tonne, from $366-$371 last week, also helped by a
depreciation of the rupee.
Buyers from Africa have been making
purchases fearing prices could rise further due to the drought in Thailand,
said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Second largest exporter Thailand’s
benchmark 5-percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 prices eased slightly to $432-$453
a tonne from $440-$460 last week, which was the highest level since June 2017.
Traders attributed the slight dip to
the fluctuation in the baht, the domestic currency, which has softened by 4% so
far this year after gaining more than 8% last year.
“(However) The prices remain high
due to concern over supply and that has put off many overseas buyers,” a
Bangkok-based trader said.
In Vietnam, markets reopened after
the Lunar New Year holiday, with rates for 5-percent broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1
unchanged from two weeks ago at $345 a tonne.
“There haven’t been any transactions
as traders have not returned to work after the Lunar New Year holiday,” a
trader based in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang said, adding activity
should pick up from next week.
Farmers in the Mekong Delta said
they have begun harvesting rice of the winter-spring crop, and that the harvest
will peak late February.
Vietnam’s rice exports in January
are forecast to fall 18.7% from a year earlier to 350,000 tonnes, official data
showed on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh undertook
measures to combat a spike in domestic prices. Seven monitoring committees have
been formed to keep prices stable in the domestic markets, the country’s food
ministry said this week.
“The measure has been taken to make
sure farmers get fair prices for their produce while customers can buy rice at
a tolerable rate,” the ministry said in a statement. (Reporting by Rajendra
Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok;
editing by Arpan Varghese and Elaine Hardcastle)
Govt announces
15pc cash incentive against rice export
|
Published: 22:20, Jan 30,2020
A file photo shows a man arranging rice at a shop in Dhaka. The
government has announced 15 per cent cash incentive against the export of rice
for the current fiscal year.— Focusbangla photo
The
government has announced 15 per cent cash incentive against the export of rice
for the current fiscal year 2019-20.
The
Bangladesh Bank on Thursday in a circular said that the government made the
decision to give cash incentive against rice export to encourage export
business of the country.
Agriculture
economists said that the government move would fuel further hike in the prices
of rice in the country’s local market.
The BB
circular said that the exporters who would ship rice after the issuance of the
BB circular and within the current fiscal year would be entitled for the cash
subsidy.
Millers
and exporter have been demanding cash subsidy as the country’s attempt to
export the grain failed as the India and Thailand exported rice at lower
prices.
The
millers and exporters demanded 28 per cent and 20 per cent cash subsidy
respectively against export of rice.
Last
year, the government approved export of 2 lakh tonnes of the staple food due to
the bumper production of boro crop in the year.
Farmers
were struggling as the prices of the staple food were lower on the local market
against their production cost.
As per
the government data, the country’s rice production increased to 3.73 crore
tonnes in the 2018-19 fiscal year against demand for 3.38 crore tonnes, leaving
35 lakh tonnes surplus production.
The
amount of cash subsidy at the rate of 15 per cent will be determined on the FOB
(freight on board) value, the BB circular said, adding that the exporters or
processing entities, who will process locally produced rice in their own mills,
would be entitled for the subsidy.
Subsidy
on the handling, quality improvement and processing costs along with local and
international transport, and freight charges would be determined under the WTO
rules, the BB circular said.
The exporters
will have to submit all the required documents to the banks along with proof of
exports and government’s approval on export to secure the benefit.
The
banks would verify the documents before forwarding the cash subsidy
applications to the central bank for approval, the BB said.
The
banks were also asked to verify whether or not the exporter’s or miller’s
export claim was consistent with its rice processing capacity.
The BB,
however, said that the entities located in the special zones including export
processing zones and economic zones would not be considered for the facility.
Besides,
the facility would not be applicable if duty drawback or bonded facilities are
taken by the millers against the rice packaging ingredients.
The BB
also cautioned the banks of regulatory measures and deduction of money from
their accounts with the BB if any irregularities in cash subsidy payments were
found.
An
agriculture economist cautioned a price hike on the local market as an impact
of rice export but the farmers would not be the beneficiaries.
‘It’s a
very basic theory that the prices of any goods will increase if its supply
reduces,’ he said.
The
millers would be the beneficiaries of the price hike as the government does not
purchase paddy from the farmers, they said, adding that the country’s food
security would be at risk if the production was hampered in the current year.
Reminding
the price hike of the country’s staple food in 2008-09, he said that there
would be no remedy if any such event occurred again.
He rejected
the government’s surplus rice production claim and mentioned the government’s
data as faulty.
The
prices of rice increased by Tk 7-8 a kilogram in the last one month in the city
markets.
Miniket
rice was selling for Tk 58-62 a kg while its coarse variety was retailing at Tk
54-55 a kg on January 24.
BR-28
rice was retailing at Tk 46-50 a kg while the coarse variety of rice (Sawrna)
was selling for Tk 35-40 a kg in the city markets.
The fine
variety of Najirshail rice was retailing at Tk 60-65 a kg and its standard
variety at Tk 55-58 a kg.
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Bioseed to launch 4-5 hybrids each year
M Somasekhar Hyderabad | Updated
on January 31, 2020 Published
on January 31, 2020
Dr Paresh Verma, Executive Director & Chief Executive-
Bioseed S-E Asia & Research Director- BRI
Bioseed, the hybrid seeds
business of DCM Shriram, plans to launch four to five new hybrid seeds every
year with focus on vegetable hybrids, while strengthening corn and rice, the
main drivers.
Eggplant, tomato, bitter gourd
and watermelon are some of the products in the pipeline. The company will
invest more on bioinformatics and molecular breeding capabilities as it
diversifies into newer crops.
At present, it is strong in corn,
cotton, hybrid rice and select vegetables with its R&D lab in Hyderabad
driving its developments, says Paresh Verma, Executive Director & Chief
Executive, Bioseed South East Asia, and Research Director BRI.
With the changing consumption
patterns the share of vegetables is growing. Hybrid technology helps in making
tailor-made changes in the produce and improve farmer incomes, he told BusinessLine.
The DCM Shriram group set up the
biotech lab at the ICRISAT about 12 years ago. Today, it is among the best,
fully-equipped and is being constantly upgraded. It has 20-25 researchers. It
provides expertise across R&D, field and lab testing, data analytics, seed
production, and farm extension, among others. Overall, the company has about 75
scientists, including 25 breeders and 30-35 agronomists.
DCM Shriram took over Bioseed in
2002 and since then they have expanded operations to many countries. It
strengthened its operations in the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand recently.
Dr Sharad Sharma, Executive Director& Chief Executive-
Bioseed South As
To accelerate its growth, Shriram
Bioseed and KeyGene entered into a multi-year strategic co-development research
program for development of improved rice hybrids last year.
According to the agreement,
KeyGene’s platforms will be exploited to boost important traits like higher
yields, tolerance to abiotic stresses and better grain quality in Bioseed’s
elite rice germplasm.
The partners agreed to make joint
investments and push the growth of hybrid rice markets in India and South East
Asian markets.
At the Hyderabad laboratory,
scientists use biotechnology to build resistance traits into crops by marrying
appropriate strains of seeds. These experiments undergo vigorous testing, first
in sterile conditions in laboratories, and then in breeding stations that
simulate farming conditions, Paresh explained.
On an average, the gestation
period of each Bioseed project is seven to 10 years, from experiments in the
laboratory to observation in the fields to commercialisation.
The company has breeding stations
in Bengaluru, Aurangabad, Alwar, Faizabad and Hissar. The main crops include
cotton, rice, wheat, paddy, mustard, tomato, and chilli.
A strong distribution network
also enables Bioseed to provide quality seeds to farmers across South and South
East Asia. It uses biotechnology-based solutions for the benefit of countries
with similar climatic and soil conditions, he added
“Bioseed is registering stable
growth in all verticals in India except cotton seed business, which continues
to suffer because of the government’s policy towards introduction of new
technologies and price controls. Internationally, the Philippines is
registering consistent growth,” according to its latest quarterly performance.
Brown rice variety packs antioxidant punch
·
GEDrew is a brown rice with an odd kernel trait that
sidelined its commercial prospects. Now, Agricultural Research Service
scientists’ re-examination of the trait and its link to increased antioxidant
levels could give the rice variety a new commercial lease on life.
New specialty uses could be in store for GEDrew, a variety of
"giant embryo" brown rice whose
bran is packed with antioxidants and vitamin E forms. (Photo by Peggy Greb.)
GEDrew is the result of a
mutagenesis rice breeding program conducted more than a decade ago by rice
geneticist Neil Rutger (retired) at the ARS Dale Bumpers National Rice Research
Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas. The variety, a genetic mutant, didn’t make the
cut, however, and Rutger placed it in storage in the USDA-ARS World Rice
Collection, a repository of more than 19,000 accessions and 12 species
representing the genus Oryza.
And there GEDrew might have
remained today, were it not for the follow-up investigations of ARS chemist
Ming-Hsuan Chen and the center’s current director, Anna McClung. In 2007, they
began re-evaluating the collection’s specialty rice accessions for traits that
could contribute to improved grain yield or nutritional content. Such
collections, popularly known as gene banks, serve as a critical source of diversity
in the face of emerging pest and disease threats, environmental change, market
demands and other events.
Their investigation of GEDrew
focused on a single gene mutation that results in kernels with enlarged, or
“giant,” embryos. In addition to a higher proportion of bran to whole-kernel
weight, the researchers observed, the giant embryo trait also correlated to a
three-fold increase in alpha-tocopherol and a 20- and 29-percent increase in
total tocotrienols and gamma-oryzanol, respectively.
Tocopherols and tocotrienols are
forms of vitamin E with important biological activity in the human body. These
may include helping prevent unstable molecules called free radicals from
causing cellular damage and other associated harm, Chen said. Gamma-oryzanol, a
mixture of antioxidant compounds in the bran’s oil fraction, is thought to play
role in reducing blood cholesterol levels, among other health-promoting
benefits, she added.
Grain yield evaluations showed
that GEDrew compared well to Drew and Cocodrie, two commercial varieties the
researchers used for comparison in Texas and Arkansas trials. Even though
GEDrew produced slightly smaller grains, it was unmatched in terms of its yield
of bran, lipids and the three antioxidants. All are high-value ingredients for
specialty uses ranging from edible oil for cooking and salad dressings, to
breakfast cereals, nutrition bars, beverages and skin-care products, according
to McClung.
She credits the rice mutation
breeding efforts of Rutger, a 2009 ARS Hall of Fame inductee, with setting the
stage for their finding that the giant embryo trait leads to whole grain with
increased gamma-oryzanol levels and vitamin E—especially alpha-tocopherol (the
only form listed on the nutrition facts of food packaging labels).
At the time, “Rutger was looking
for any agronomically useful traits in his mutation breeding program, like
earlier flowering, male sterility, elongated internode and apomixis but had the
most success with semi-dwarfism,” McClung noted. “The giant embryo and a low phytic-acid
mutant were examples of mutations that resulted in a change in grain traits.”
In the case of GEDrew, additional
laboratory and field work revealed value in what initially appeared to be a
genetic kernel oddity.
“This is the only study on a
giant embryo rice mutant in the United States and one that’s a tropical
japonica-type rice adapted to the U.S. growing conditions,” noted Chen, who
co-authored a paper on the finding in the November 2019 issue of Cereal
Chemistry together with McClung, Casey Grimm at the ARS Southern Regional
Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Christine Bergman (formerly with
ARS) at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.
McClung said their research has a
two-fold purpose: to broaden the market opportunities for U.S. growers and to
enhance the nutritional value of rice, a staple food for more than half the
world’s population. In its whole-grain (unrefined) form, rice can provide a key
source of not only protein, vitamins and minerals, but also insoluble fiber,
essential fatty acids and bioactive compounds thought to contribute to dietary
health.
The Agricultural Research Service
is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research
agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting
America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of
economic impact.
Five-year plan to increase
rice output launched in Punjab
A five year programme under
Agriculture Emergency a national programme for enhancing profitability through
increasing productivity of rice has been lunched in 15 (fifteen )rice growing
districts of the Punjab costing Rs6.63 billion.
Sources in Agriculture department
told Business Recorder on Thursday that under the programme
special attention would be focused on promoting mechanized farming in these
districts. Under national agriculture emergency efforts would be made for
timely sowing of identified ecological best verities through the promotion of
direct seedling of rice drill in these districts.
The mechanized transplanting of
rice nurseries will replace the outdated manual transplanting. The project was
being carried out in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Okara, Hafizabad,
Nankana Sahib, Bahawalnager, Jhang, Narowal, Kasur, Mandi B.Din, Chiniot,
Gujrat, Lahore, and Faisalabad districts where area under rice both Basmati and
course verities would be brought under cultivation on 70,000 acres of land in
these areas. Under the programme government will provide riding type rice
transplanter, walk-after typerice transplanter, nursery raising machine, Direct
Seedling drill, rice straw chopper, water tight rotavator and knapsack power
sprayer.
The government will also provide
subsidy to the rice grower for the purchase of tested paddy seeds and
pesticides. The government will also provide subsidy amounting Rs1500 per acres
to the growers for encouraging combined harvesting. The concept of the
programme was to promote mechanized cultivation aimed at enhancing per acre
yield, In this regard government will provide agricultural machinery to the
growers on reduce rates for encouraging mechanized agriculture and ensure
economic benefits of the growers.
GIEWS Country Brief: Panama 30-January-2020
REPORT
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
Rice production in 2019 expected
at above‑average level
Cereal imports anticipated to
remain high in 2019/20 marketing year
Prices of rice stable, while
those of beans declining due to good market supplies
Rice production in 2019 expected at above‑average level
Harvesting of the 2019 minor paddy crop is nearing completion
under favourable conditions. The 2019 aggregate rice production, including the
major crop harvested in the August‑October period, is expected at 315 000
tonnes, 5 percent higher than the last five‑year average, due to an increase in
area planted and beneficial rainfall during both seasons. The enlarged
plantings mainly reflect continued Government support, particularly official
purchases of rice at guaranteed floor prices.
Harvesting of the 2019 minor
season maize crop is ongoing. Aggregate production in 2019 is anticipated at a
below‑average level of 105 000 tonnes, following the decline in area sown as
farmers shifted to more remunerable crops, such as horticulture or rice.
Cereal imports anticipated to remain high in 2019/20 marketing
year
Cereal import requirements in the
2019/20 marketing year (September/August) are anticipated at about 740 000
tonnes, 6 percent above the previous five‑year average due to sustained demand
for yellow maize by the local feed industry and for wheat for human
consumption.
Prices of rice stable, while those of beans declining due to
good market supplies
Prices of rice were stable during
the last quarter of 2019 and were similar to a year earlier, reflecting
adequate domestic supplies. Prices of beans have been declining since October
2019, as the main season harvest increased market supplies. In December 2019,
prices were lower, year on year, due to good outputs obtained in 2019.
https://reliefweb.int/report/panama/giews-country-brief-panama-30-january-2020
GIEWS Country Brief: Panama 30-January-2020
REPORT
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
Rice production in 2019 expected at above‑average level
Cereal imports anticipated to
remain high in 2019/20 marketing year
Prices of rice stable, while
those of beans declining due to good market supplies
Rice production in 2019 expected at above‑average level
Harvesting of the 2019 minor
paddy crop is nearing completion under favourable conditions. The 2019
aggregate rice production, including the major crop harvested in the August‑October
period, is expected at 315 000 tonnes, 5 percent higher than the last five‑year
average, due to an increase in area planted and beneficial rainfall during both
seasons. The enlarged plantings mainly reflect continued Government support,
particularly official purchases of rice at guaranteed floor prices.
Harvesting of the 2019 minor
season maize crop is ongoing. Aggregate production in 2019 is anticipated at a
below‑average level of 105 000 tonnes, following the decline in area sown as
farmers shifted to more remunerable crops, such as horticulture or rice.
Cereal imports anticipated to remain high in 2019/20 marketing
year
Cereal import requirements in the
2019/20 marketing year (September/August) are anticipated at about 740 000
tonnes, 6 percent above the previous five‑year average due to sustained demand
for yellow maize by the local feed industry and for wheat for human
consumption.
Prices of rice stable, while those of beans declining due to
good market supplies
Prices of rice were stable during
the last quarter of 2019 and were similar to a year earlier, reflecting
adequate domestic supplies. Prices of beans have been declining since October
2019, as the main season harvest increased market supplies. In December 2019,
prices were lower, year on year, due to good outputs obtained in 2019.
https://reliefweb.int/report/panama/giews-country-brief-panama-30-january-2020
Investing in
Commercial Rice Farm, Milling Plant
January 31, 2020 2:48 am
The Federal Government of Nigeria
has proposed to ban importation of rice to encourage local rice production.
Nigerians can start now to prepare grounds to take over the market as soon as
the policy takes off.
IT may not be easy for Nigerians
but banning of those items that can be produced in the country and encouraging
the local production of those items is one the ways to come out of our economic
problems. It will generate employment; self-sufficiency in food production;
development of rural areas,
Rice has become a stable food in
Nigeria. Every household both rich and poor consumes a great quantity of rice
every day.
Of the total projected population figure of 150million, about 80% feed on rice, hence the huge amount of money spent on importation of rice annually.
Of the total projected population figure of 150million, about 80% feed on rice, hence the huge amount of money spent on importation of rice annually.
From publications made by the
federal office of statistics and Federal ministry of finance, of the total
foreign debts and importation figures amount to billions of naira, rice
importation has the greatest figure of over 60%.
The Federal Government of Nigeria must therefore have to do something about this. It is not advisable to impose a total ban on importation without first assuring that the country can produce at least 70% of what is needed in this country.
It is based on the above decision, that the Government has entered into agreement with world Bank & ADB to increase the production of Rice in the country. As a result substantial amount are being worked out by the bodies to commence massive production of rice in the country.
The Federal Government of Nigeria must therefore have to do something about this. It is not advisable to impose a total ban on importation without first assuring that the country can produce at least 70% of what is needed in this country.
It is based on the above decision, that the Government has entered into agreement with world Bank & ADB to increase the production of Rice in the country. As a result substantial amount are being worked out by the bodies to commence massive production of rice in the country.
Some individuals are to be
encouraged by the Government to ensure that private sector participated in the
venture.
In Nigeria today, some states produce paddy rice in abundance due to favorable climatic condition for rice production. Some of these states are Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Kwara, Edo, Ogun, Ondo, and some Northern States such as Sokoto etc.
Rice milling project will best be sited in these areas where rice is grown in order to reduce cost of transportation of the paddy.
To set up this project, a large space is required to dry paddy rice after harvesting.
In Nigeria today, some states produce paddy rice in abundance due to favorable climatic condition for rice production. Some of these states are Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Kwara, Edo, Ogun, Ondo, and some Northern States such as Sokoto etc.
Rice milling project will best be sited in these areas where rice is grown in order to reduce cost of transportation of the paddy.
To set up this project, a large space is required to dry paddy rice after harvesting.
The components of machines
required to set up this project are cleaning facilities, Dehuller, Boiling
tank, Polisher, Bagger and other miscellaneous equipments such as wheel
barrows, weighing scales.
Also pickup vans and generating
sets are essential for smooth running of this project.
These machines can be fabricated locally. They can also be imported from Europe and some known Asian companies that specialize in the area. Prospective investors would be given details on these machine produces and specialists.
Rice milling could be done on cottage, small, medium and large scale bases depending on availability of capital and the raw materials- paddy rice.
These machines can be fabricated locally. They can also be imported from Europe and some known Asian companies that specialize in the area. Prospective investors would be given details on these machine produces and specialists.
Rice milling could be done on cottage, small, medium and large scale bases depending on availability of capital and the raw materials- paddy rice.
Output could be from 2MT to 150MT
per day. Generally one metric tonne of paddy rice yields about 60kg- 70kg of
milled rice, depending on milling efficiency company management practice and
the variety of rice purchased.
In the process of milling well
parboiled rice free from sand, stones, unpleasant odour with less breakages,
etc from purchased paddy, whole rice broken rice and bran are obtained. Whole
rice are packed and sold for human consumption. Broken rice is further milled
into ‘’Tuwo Shinkafa’’ (a flour meal) while bran is very important input for
manufacturing dietary products like rice bran bread which has been acclaimed
good for the decrease of blood cholesterol, rice bran oil and livestock feeds.
From rice can also be obtained puffed rice, rice cakes, rice pudding etc.
The husks are used for the
production of potassium Hydroxide solution or as fuel for milling plants. It
can be seen that virtually all parts of paddy rice is useful.
From market analysis, the market
for rice is National. With the estimated national population growth rate of
2.9% and population figure estimated at over 130million, Nigeria is a large
market and demand is so high and local supply, so low that rice importation
into the country is a very big business. Hoarding, rationing and smuggling and
sharp black market practices were the profitability associated with the
business.
This situation should not be
allowed to continue forever.
Those importers must channel their huge returns to establishment of such producing firms in Nigeria instead of fastening the growth of some foreign countries.
Those importers must channel their huge returns to establishment of such producing firms in Nigeria instead of fastening the growth of some foreign countries.
The huge demand for rice is
further accentuated by increasing and expanding urbanization, endless social
parties where rice is the main menu, Nigerians eating habits (preference for
foreign rice). The preference for foreign rice should be stopped.
The likely cost of total project
will not actually be stated safely unless one knows the scope (whether cottage,
small, medium or large scale) a proposed investor would like to embark upon,
the capacity to produce, the source(s) of the machinery, whether to construct
his own building or rent one, the location etc.
Therefore to embark upon this
project, one needs a business plan (feasibility studies), with detailed costing
for all the aspects of inputs, and before he can obtain the likely total
estimated cost.
To do otherwise is to take a leap
in the dark or take our characteristics short-cut to distinction that is always
ruinous.
In conclusion, rice milling, an agro based business is profitable (35-45% on sales), and sustainable. It has low capital requirement, technical knowhow is complicated. The machinery and equipment are 100% locally available. The project has a short pay –back period.
In conclusion, rice milling, an agro based business is profitable (35-45% on sales), and sustainable. It has low capital requirement, technical knowhow is complicated. The machinery and equipment are 100% locally available. The project has a short pay –back period.
It is highly recommended for
serious and aggressive promoters, local and state Governments and private
investors particularly those that are thinking good for this country.
For details on comprehensive and
bankable feasibility studies, investment Advisory services, funding
arrangements, please contact the writer.
Uba can be reached through 08034494437
Uba can be reached through 08034494437
12:00
AM, January 31, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:48 AM, January 31, 2020
Govt now pushing for rice exports
Announces 15pc cash subsidy
Star Business Report
The government will provide 15 per
cent cash subsidy to rice exporters for the first time in the country’s history
with the view to encouraging shipment of the surplus grain.
Millers, who process rice from
locally grown paddy, will be eligible for the cash subsidy on their earnings
from export, according to a Bangladesh Bank notice yesterday.
“This subsidy will be instrumental
in making locally grown rice competitive in the global market,” said Anup Kumar
Saha, deputy executive director of consumer brands at ACI, which has four
automatic rice mills.
The announcement comes at a time
when the prices of the staple are rising, prompting the food ministry to form
seven committees to monitor the market and stave off unusual price hike.
The teams will visit wholesale
markets in the Dhaka metropolitan area to check prices of rice and flour and
submit reports in this regard, the food ministry said on Wednesday.
The prices of all varieties of rice
have been on the rise since January 26, according to data compiled by the
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
For instance, the average prices of
coarse rice consumed mainly by low-income people rose 3 per cent to Tk 33.5
each kilogram in the markets of Dhaka from Tk 32.5 a week earlier.
However, the prices still remain
below last year’s levels, according to the state-run TCB.
The cash subsidy has been declared
upon recommendations from the finance and commerce ministries, said a central
bank official.
Earlier, a commerce ministry report
had suggested incentive for rice export against the backdrop of higher production
than local demand in fiscal 2018-19.
Bangladesh had surplus rice of
34.95 lakh tonnes last fiscal year after production hit 3.73 crore tonnes,
according to the report.
Amid the production glut, rice
millers had been demanding export subsidy. But the government imposed 62.50 per
cent import duty in a bid to help farmers offset losses caused by price
decline.
Exporters who want to get the cash
subsidy will have to take prior permission from the commerce ministry and
obtain certificates from the customs department, said the Bangladesh Bank
notice.
Millers using duty-free packaging
materials for rice export will not be entitled to the subsidy.
Banks will have to preserve all
subsidy-related documents for three years so that the BB or other authorities
can verify the export if necessary.
The central bank will debit the
amounts from banks if the subsidy is provided illegally. Stern actions also
will be taken against officials involved in malpractice, according to the
notice.
KM Layek Ali, general secretary of
the Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mills Association, welcomed the
government move as exports have become necessary as production now exceeds
demand.
“Due to the subsidy, we will become
competitive in the international market,” he said.
Locally grown rice has so far been
uncompetitive in the international market because of low prices from India, a
leading exporter, according to Saha.
The incentive will encourage
millers to buy paddy, which will also help raise prices at the farm gates, Ali
said, adding that the export subsidy will not lead to abnormal spiral in
prices.
The government had earlier slapped
a ban on the export of parboiled rice but softened the stance last year, when
it gave private operators the go-ahead to ship nearly one lakh tonnes abroad in
the face of falling prices in the local market.
However, the private sector has
long been exporting aromatic rice based on approvals from the commerce
ministry.
The government move will help
increase the overall export earnings that are now witnessing sluggish growth,
the BB official said.
Export earnings fell 5.84 per cent
year-on-year to $19.3 billion in the first six months of the fiscal year.
The receipts between the months of
July and December last year were also 12.77 per cent lower than the half-yearly
target of $22.12 billion, according to data from the Export Promotion
Bureau.
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Nigeria: Strengthening Local Rice
Production
30 JANUARY 2020
The decision of the federal government to close the country's
land borders has resulted to increased local rice production, writes Oluchi
Chibuzor
The volume of rice produced locally has soared to eight million
metric tonnes with the federal government aiming to achieve 18 million tonnes
by 2023.
This development can only be sustained if farmers are motivated
towards increasing yield per hectares across the federation to meet the
Agricultural Policy Programme.
This would ensure food security and increase agro-export to
boost the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Reports have it that Nigeria has about 12 million rice farmers,
and the number is expected to keep growing.
Global rice consumption remains strong. It is driven by both
population and economic growth in many Asian and African countries, as Nigerian
rice value chain is characterised by yields that are far below what would be
possible with improved management, improved market information and structure,
and sufficient and updated rice-processing capacity.
Consolidating Achievement
World rice production statistics revealed that in 2018, out of
the 14.6 million metric tonnes of paddy produced annually on 7.3 million
hectares of land in Africa, Nigeria's production rose from 3.7 million tonnes
in 2017 to 4.0 million metric tonnes. Through the anchor borrower's scheme,
reports on rice production in Nigeria said it has hit eight million metric
tonnes, with the nation aiming at 18 million tonnes by 2023.
According to Cyril Okonkwo, a rice seller at Mile 12 market,
Lagos, although the margin of profit between foreign to Nigerian rice is still
high, it is pertinent that the nation support home grown rice producers to
encourage local farmers in various states.
He said government should discourage importation with heavy duty
to aid local farmers.
He also said, since he started selling his product in the
market, there has never been a period that demand for local rice was high
compared to what is obtainable now, noting that people have adjusted to the
reality that the local rice farmers can close the gap.
"By this time last year when we started selling rice in
this market, we were not displaying the produced locally, but now it has
replaced foreign rice. As a compatriot Nigerian I fully support Nigerian
government on the closure of the border, to encourage local farmers who are
producing what we are selling now," he said.
Another rice dealer pleaded to remain anonymous, said,
"local rice is good for consumption and local farmers should be encouraged
to produce more as we have some quality rice in the market."
In its Food Price Index report released in November, Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated that world rice production was likely to
reach 515 million tonnes, a mere 0.5 percent drop from the record set in 2018,
"with Egypt, Madagascar and Nigeria all poised to spearhead a rebound for
African rice production this season."
Up-scaling Small-holders
Farmers
According to Rice Almanac, a publication of Global Rice Science
Partnership (GRiSP), Policies and conditions that offer opportunities for
developing the rice sector in the country, includes zero tariffs on
agricultural machinery and equipment, a large domestic market for rice products
and by-products, government subsidies on fertilizer, seed, and tractors and
implements, and guaranteed minimum price support for farmers.
Igbo Obianuju, a rice farmer in Saminaka, Lere Local Government
Area in Kaduna state, who cultivates the commodity on four hectares of land,
highlighted her challenges to include high cost of machines for processing and
fertilizers, and low yield per hectares.
She said rice cultivation was good, but the returns on
investment since the border closure is being gained by the middle men.
She also added that farmers bought NPK last year at the rate of
N 8,000 before it went up to N12,000, thus reducing the level of profit.
"Am in Kaduna, I have to travel down to Kano for me to get
atleast a machine that can de-stoning for me, because if I sell my rice at the
rate of N8000 to N 9000 am at a great lost.
"But the border closure is helping farmers who are also in
processing. To plant and harvest is one thing, but to process is also another
thing," she explained.
She, however, was optimistic that considering the quantity of
local rice in circulation, with support to over 12 million rice farmers, the
nation would close its domestic gaps.
"On our rice farm in different locations, when we harvested
we got about 10.7 tonnages of rice on approximately four hectares of land. And
my plan is to go into processing if government can boost my capacities.
"As a farmer you do not gain money if you are not into
processing. Then secondly the machine for good finishing is not available and
is a major problem we are having here," she lamented.
Meanwhile, the State Deputy-Chairman, All Farmers Association of
Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, Shakin Abgayewa, was of the opinion that inclination to
imported rice consumption should be discourage by all stakeholders to attract
enough investment to improve the quality of rice.
"Our local farmers have the capacities to produce our own
rice, but because of the orientation our people that foreign rice is better
than the local one, so we have that issue of increase of rice during the
festive period," he reiterated.
Increasing Patronage
The market value of the current quantity of local rice produced
in Nigeria, according to analysts, is about N684 billion, thus making the
country the 16th top producer of rice in the world.
According to the General Manager, Elephant Group, a rice milling
company, Dr. Rotimi Fashola, "Since the boarder closure, the number of
rice millers has actually doubled and that is because people can now see the
light after the tunnel-commercially value of it.
"If I have an investment in rice milling and they are
flooding the market with imported rice, then I do need incentives to put money
in rice milling."
Demand for rice is expected to continue to increase in coming
years, at least up until 2035. According to a comprehensive study conducted by
the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (or FAPRI), the world's
demand for milled rice could be expected to rise to 496 million tons in 2020,
from 439 million tons in 2010.
By 2035, this requirement would likely further rise to an
estimated 555 million tons.
According to the report, "Not surprisingly, rice will
account for almost half of these countries food expenditures, not only for the
extreme poor, but also for those of mid-level and high income statuses."
Fashola, said on improving quality of the local rice which has
always been major complains from local consumers, he noted categorically that,
"the quality of rice keeps increasing with more people patronising.
"But if I can have a breakthrough in my investment then
more and more people would come. We started with just 20 now we are hitting
almost 40, so more millers are coming and the quality is improving," he
stated.
Bracing for global rice export
During a courtesy visit to Nestle
Nigeria Plc. in Lagos, the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono,
revealed that plans were afoot by the Federal Government to commence export of
locally produced rice in the next two years. Taiwo
Hassan reports
Indeed, the commencement of the
Federal Government’s rice policy in the country’s agric sector by President
Muhammadu Buhari has today made the country a leading producer of rice in
Africa following recent statistics released by United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Africa Rice Center.
The statistics showed that
Nigeria was now the numero uno in Africa in terms of rice production with
capacity storage of four million tonnes, surpassing Egypt and Madagascar
respectively.
For stakeholders in rice value
chain, attaining the continent’s new position did not come easily. The success
is attributable to hard work, conducive clime and support of the Federal
Government in ensuring that the non-oil sector of the economy becomes the lead
in GDP contribution.
At the beginning
In 2015, the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) introduced the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) targeted at
boosting agric and manufacturing value chains in line with Federal Government’s
economic agenda to improve revenue earnings for the economy.
Besides, the timing to
aggressively invest in rice cultivation by the present administration came with
challenges because it was the period oil prices at the international market
crashed to all-time low.
That same year, the CBN launched
the ABP in 14 states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano,
Zamfara, Adamawa, Plateau, Lagos, Ogun, Cross-Rivers and Ebonyi for rice and
wheat farmers to advance their status from small holder farmers to commercial
or large growers of the commodity.
During the flag-off in
Birni-Kebbi, Kebbi State, the CBN set aside N40 billion out of the N220 billion
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund (MSMEDF) for local farmers
at single digit interest rate of maximum nine per cent per annum under the ABP
so as to encourage intensive rice production in the country.
As history would have it, the
country’s rice industry has never been the same again as the Federal
Government’s decision on rice policy gave new vista for the country’s non-oil
sector to overtake the oil sector as the leading revenue earner to the GDP
However, in the space of four
years, the rebirth of the country’s rice value chain through the APB has
brought recognition to Nigeria at both continental and global levels with the
United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organisation affirming the impact of
inclusive growth in rice production under the Buhari’s administration to ensure
food sufficiency in rice production.
Border closure
Following the intention to ban
rice importation into the country in favour of local rice production, there has
been aggressive move by private sector –led firms to invest in rice mills in
order to boost rice production in the country.
Particularly, many rice millers
have commenced rice cultivation, in line with government’s rice policy to
ensure sufficiency in the country to boost production.
Similarly, the border closure has
also seen hundreds of rice mills spring up, while those that were moribund are
now being activated in many rice-producing states of the federation. It has
been reported that the border closure drastically brought down rice smuggling,
which has affected farmers, processors and investors positively.
Potential exporter
To prove how good the country has
gone, during a recent visit to Lagos, the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo
Nanono, revealed that locally produced rice would be exported to other
countries in the next two years.
In fact, this is cheering news
for Nigeria as many rice merchants are already bracing to commence export to
neighbouring countries and beyond with the tag ‘Proudly Made in Nigeria.’
According to Nanono, Federal
Government’s move on border closure boosted the productivity of milling plants
in Nigeria, which were formerly operating below capacities.
Affirming there has been a great
improvement in the production of rice in the country, he said “if we maintain
the momentum in the next two years, we may export rice to other countries.
“Nanono also said that the increased production of rice in the country had
stirred the expansion of local rice value chains and pave way for job creation.
“As at today, we have 11 rice
milling plants with the capacity to produce from 180 tonnes to 350 tonnes of
rice per day.
“In a few months, another mill
with a capacity to produce 400 tonnes of rice per day is going to be opened,
with another upcoming 34 smaller mills; then, we have clusters in different
areas,” Nanono disclosed.
Processing challenges
The minister also hinted that to
avoid challenges in processing, the country would cultivate rice in a
nine-month cycle, stressing that from November to January, rice is not being
grown in Nigeria. He, however, hopes that the cycle will widen to upscale
production.
He said: “I was worried in terms
of the production of rice, but what I have found out is that most rice
producers have stocked rice for the next six months.
“This means that before the stock is finished, dry season rice will
be harvested, and before that finishes, the rainy season will come back.”
Rice clusters
He further noted that local rice
farmers were being engaged fully in clusters and they use between 200 and 300
farmlands directly to achieve the targeted output.
Last line
With Federal Government’s
projection of rice export in two years’ time, Nigeria is on the verge of
earning more foreign exchange (forex) to boost her revenue profile. However,
despite the ambition, Nigerians are yet to feel adequate presence of local rice
even as the price remains
McDonald’s creates its first-ever burger bun made
from rice
·
29 Jan 2020,
·
Updated: 30 Jan 2020,
THE MCDONALD’S menu is breaking exciting new ground in Japan
with the addition of its first ever burger bun made with rice.
McDonald’s Japan’s
seasonal offerings never cease to amaze their international audience but the
latest all-rice addition has truly sent the Japanese internet into a frenzy.
The rice burger bun, or 'gohan' burger in Japanese,
arrives February 5Credit: McDonalds
5
The buns are made from homegrown rice and are glazed
with a savory soy sauceCredit: McDonalds
The rice burger bun , or “gohan”
burger in Japanese, arrives February 5 and "offers a new taste by changing
the bun into a specially made rice bun while keeping the ingredients and
seasoning of the classic burger," according to McDonald's Japan.
The new series of rice burgers is
being promoted with the phrase “gohan, dekita yo!”, which is used to say
“dinner is served” – but literally translates to “the rice is ready”.
The “gohan” replaces buns with
100% domestic rice thickly packed and cooked in savory soy sauce, allowing
consumers to "enjoy the usual burger taste while enjoying the exquisite
harmony of a new flavor stemming from an unexpected combination."
The burger will come in three
varieties: rice teriyaki, rice bacon lettuce and rice fried chicken.
The announcement of the rice burger buns on Twitter
has already had over 27,000 retweets and 54,000 likesCredit: McDonalds
They will be sold nationwide for
a limited time as part of a "Night Mac" menu that's available between
5 p.m. and closing.
While other rice burgers, notably
Mos Burger’s, have been available in Japan, this is McDonald’s Japan’s first
crack at the delicacy.
The fast food giant previously
teased the menu item release on Twitter, posting that they were “craving rice”.
That post alone has had over
233,000 likes and 56,000 retweets, with excited social media users predicting
the new arrival and praising the fast food chain.
Kokoro Toyama, McDonald's Japan
rice burger representative, told CNN Business: "The reaction was huge.
People didn't know there was going to be a new product so it created a lot of
suspense. Everyone had a lot of hope for what it would be.”
Toyama said the decision to
launch the rice burger bun was based on customer feedback and on market
research that showed that people in Japan in their 30s and 40s preferred rice
over bread for dinner, while still being fond of the staple teriyaki and fried
chicken burgers they'd eaten as teenagers and young adults.
USA Rice International Trade Team Plans for the Future
By Sarah Moran
BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA -- Each January,
leadership from the USA Rice Council and the USA Rice International Promotion
Committee meet to discuss promotional activities and budgets for the upcoming
year at the International Promotion Planning Conference (IPPC). Prior to
the IPPC, these members met with the trade in Colombia to learn about rice
production here, U.S. rice imports, and prospects for the future.
The meetings began in Barranquilla where a small advance team, led by International Promotion Committee Chair Terry Harris, met with three importers: Inversiones Lache, Farid Cure, and Granos y Cereales de Colombia. Representatives from each company also participated in the USA Rice reverse trade mission through Louisiana and Arkansas last September. The companies shared their perspectives of the 2020 market in Colombia and how continued collaborations with USA Rice can strengthen the future rice industry as a whole.
The advance team later joined the rest of the IPPC team for additional meetings with importers based in the capital city of Bogotá including Diana Corporación, Best Choice, and Organización Roa Florhuila, to learn about their views of U.S. rice and that from other countries where they source their rice, such as Peru and Ecuador. The U.S. benefits from tariff free access for 112,346 MT of rice in 2020; each year, the U.S. quota is fully utilized. Not only is there still an obvious demand for long grain, but also a growing market for U.S. medium and short grain to supply sushi restaurants and ethnic markets.
The IPPC team also met with Fedearroz, the National Rice Federation comprised of rice producers, and Induarroz, the Rice Industry Federation comprised of rice millers. Due in large part to the increase of Venezuelan refugees in Colombia, rice consumption here rose 8 percent in 2019 and prices are currently 30 percent higher than this time last year. Prices are expected to drop over the next few months likely due to the increase in U.S. imports.
"It was good to meet with the importers and the trade here in Colombia, one of our top ten export markets, and hear about ways we can improve our trading relationship," said Harris. "The interest in U.S. rice here is strong and we are working to grow that interest."
The meetings began in Barranquilla where a small advance team, led by International Promotion Committee Chair Terry Harris, met with three importers: Inversiones Lache, Farid Cure, and Granos y Cereales de Colombia. Representatives from each company also participated in the USA Rice reverse trade mission through Louisiana and Arkansas last September. The companies shared their perspectives of the 2020 market in Colombia and how continued collaborations with USA Rice can strengthen the future rice industry as a whole.
The advance team later joined the rest of the IPPC team for additional meetings with importers based in the capital city of Bogotá including Diana Corporación, Best Choice, and Organización Roa Florhuila, to learn about their views of U.S. rice and that from other countries where they source their rice, such as Peru and Ecuador. The U.S. benefits from tariff free access for 112,346 MT of rice in 2020; each year, the U.S. quota is fully utilized. Not only is there still an obvious demand for long grain, but also a growing market for U.S. medium and short grain to supply sushi restaurants and ethnic markets.
The IPPC team also met with Fedearroz, the National Rice Federation comprised of rice producers, and Induarroz, the Rice Industry Federation comprised of rice millers. Due in large part to the increase of Venezuelan refugees in Colombia, rice consumption here rose 8 percent in 2019 and prices are currently 30 percent higher than this time last year. Prices are expected to drop over the next few months likely due to the increase in U.S. imports.
"It was good to meet with the importers and the trade here in Colombia, one of our top ten export markets, and hear about ways we can improve our trading relationship," said Harris. "The interest in U.S. rice here is strong and we are working to grow that interest."
USA RICE DAILY
Kenya, Pakistan mull direct flights
to improve trade ties
Currently,
Pakistan is the fourth-leading destination for Kenya’s goods after Uganda,
Tanzania and Britain.
In Summary
- The two
countries are also negotiating a linkage between the Port of Mombasa and
Karachi that will see cargo ships take less than 14 days.
- Pakistan
has been a top export market for Kenya, buying at least 40 per cent of
Kenya's tea.
Kenya and Pakistan are working on direct flights among other measures to open
up trade opportunities.
In an interview with the Star, Pakistan's Foreign Affairs
minister Shah Mahmood Quresh who is Nairobi for the ongoing first-ever Pakistan-Africa Trade Development
Conference said his country will
soon invite Kenya to commence plans for direct flights.
''I have come with an invitation for President Uhuru Kenyatta to
come to Pakistan with his delegation so that we start plans for direct flights,
port linkages among other incentives to boost trade between the two
countries,'' Qureshi said.
The inaugural Pakistan-Africa
Trade meet has brought 100 top Pakistani business leaders to identify
investment opportunities in the region.
The two countries are
negotiating a linkage between the Port of Mombasa and Karachi that will see
cargo ships take less than 14 days. This is expected to help businesses cut on time
wastage and reduce export/import costs.
It currently takes a cargo ship almost 20 days to dock in
Mombasa or Karachi.
He also indicated that his country will soon reciprocate Kenya's
good will to issue visa on arrival for Pakistanis arriving in Nairobi to ease movement of Kenyans seeking
opportunities in the Asian nation.
Kenya allows visa on arrival for
Pakistanis in 2015.
Export market for Kenya
Pakistan has been a top export market for Kenya, buying at least
40 per cent of Kenya's tea.
Even so, data from the Central
Bank of Kenya show the value of exports to the world’s sixth most populous
country registered the largest drop of 38.94 per cent to Sh8.75 billion
compared to the same period in
2018, with tea exports slipping almost 40 per cent.
According to the Tea Directorate, Pakistan purchased 15.2
million kilos of the tea
worth Sh3.5 billion representing
32 percent of the total volume that was exported during the period.
Currently, Pakistan is the fourth-leading destination for
Kenya’s goods after Uganda, Tanzania and Britain.
The two countries have tax treaties that cut on trade transfer costs, easing the burden
especially on food imports. For instance, 80
per cent of the rice imported into Kenya comes from Pakistan.
The South Asian country also sell
pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment, textiles, farm machinery and sports goods
to Kenya at favourable terms.
Pakistan's top diplomat said investors from his country are expected to explore investment
opportunities focused on President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four Agendas of
affordable housing, universal health, food security and manufacturing.
Foreign Minister Meets Kenya Counterpart In Nairobi; Signs MoU For
Cooperation In Training Of Diplomats
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs
of Pakistan and Kenya on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
for cooperation in training of diplomats
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jan, 2020
):The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Kenya on Thursday signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in training of diplomats.
The MoU pertaining to the two countries' Foreign Service Academies
was signed by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Kenyan counterpart
Ambssador Ray Chellea Omamo in Nairobi.
The MoU will enable diplomats from the two countries to benefit
from each other's experiences regarding modern training.
A number of diplomats from African countries have already got
training from Pakistan's Foreign Service Academy.
The two foreign ministers described the signing of MoU as an
important step towards further promotion of bilateral ties.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Foreign
Minister of Kenya Ambassador Ray Chellea Omamo also had a bilateral meeting in
Nairobi during which they discussed bilateral ties, promotion of political and
economic cooperation as well as other matters of mutual interest.
Foreign Minister Qureshi congratulated Ambassador Ray Chellea
Omamo on the assumption of the office of Foreign Minister of Kenya.
He said Pakistan valued its relations with African countries
including Kenya, which was the gateway to eastern Africa.
The Foreign Minister briefed his Kenyan counterpart about the
salient features of Pakistan's "Engage Africa" vision.
He said that after China, Kenya was the biggest market for
Pakistani products, adding, Pakistan's white rice was liked in Kenya while tea
imported from Kenya was very famous in Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister said that the holding of Trade Conference in
Nairobi was reflective of Kenya's importance for Pakistan in particular and
that of Africa in general.
He told the Kenya Foreign Minister said that Speaker National
Assembly of Pakistan was intending to visit Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in March
2020.
Himalayan glacier melt and future agriculture
Pakistan’s agriculture sector plays a central role in the economy
which relies on seasonal rainfall and melt water from glaciers.
Summer heat waves in last ten
years have induced glaciers melting at a higher rate than in the same period
before which is big threat to agriculture sector of country. About 200 million
people of this densely populated region depend on melt water and snow from the
Himalayan glaciers for their crop production and livelihoods. Dependence is
largest in the Indus basin, where the agricultural areas see little
precipitation and therefore rely on other water sources.
In the dry season up to 60% of the total irrigation withdrawals
originate from mountain snow and glacier melt. In particular for a crop like
sugarcane and rice and other crops of high water demand, it is impossible to
grow under water stress condition. The Indus basin has complex irrigation system
consisting of canals to transport water to the agricultural fields, sometimes
over hundreds of kilometers.
Climate Change and Food Security in Pakistan
Climate change is likely to be
problematic for the food security of farmers in Pakistan. Global warming will
make persistent extreme weather more likely – including longer heatwaves,
droughts and shorter rainy periods that will ultimately affect crop production.
Overall the number of days it rains is less than in the past, but when it does
rain, the volumes are greater with violent downpours and hail can destroy
crops. The weather is just not as predictable as it was before. Melt water
provides our farms sufficient water to irrigate our land under drought period
of minimal rainfall. Timely availability of glacier melt
water is most crucial for rice and cotton production (major summer crops).
Keeping in mind the increasing uncertainty of monsoon and
accelerated melting process, farmers will need to adapt their practices to
these changing circumstances with appropriate adaptation strategies and
potential solutions for an emerging water crisis.
Farmers might need to adjust their sowing dates or change to
crops that require less water. Rice is a water-demanding crop that is sown
during the driest months of the year. It might be better to grow rice and
sugarcane in areas with more water available.
The effectiveness of adaptation strategies is crucial for
reducing the costs of climate change. Institutional and informational
constraints that inhibit farmers from improving their farming practices needs
to be rectified. Policy makers should focus efforts on treating adaptation as
part of agricultural development policy.
Addressing the constraints in agriculture and better targeting
interventions to facilitate adaptation could improve short-term food security
and also better prepare farmers in our region for future challenges brought by
a changing climate.
The Author is associated with Aberystwyth University, United
Kingdom as Environment Scientist and has vast experience of working on Pakistan
Agriculture and Food Security. Email: mna@aber.ac.uk
