Rice exports may fall by 20 per
cent this fiscal
Rice
exports from India is set to fall 18-20 per cent this fiscal because of weak
demand from West Asian countries. Geopolitical issues and financial sanctions
on Iran are restricting exports. This apart, tighter trade norms and higher MSP
(minimum support price) offered by the government encouraged farmers to tap the
domestic market more, rather than focusing on the daunting export markets.
Export potential
Rice
contributes over two per cent of the overall exports from India. The sector had
reported a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 14 per cent between FY '10
and FY '19. However, rice exports this year have seen a decline across the
globe with a major dip coming from the West Asian countries amid heightened
geopolitical tensions. It resulted in a sharp fall in prices and lower
realisation for exporters, said a research report on India’s rice export,
including that of basmati, by the US-based trade finance company Drip Capital.
Being a kharif crop (August - November), rice shows a clear seasonal pattern in
exports as well. The four months post-harvest (December - March) see over 40
per cent of annual exports. The current year’s (FY19-20) rice export figures
have also been trending much below the previous years’ performance. Pushkar
Mukewar, co-founder and co-CEO, Drip Capital, said exports so far this fiscal
are looking bleak with Iran, the biggest export market, seeing a 22 per cent
fall in shipments. Exports to other countries have fallen, including the UAE
(33 per cent), Nepal (23 per cent), Yemen (2 per cent), Senegal (90 per cent)
and Bangladesh (94 per cent), he said. On the other hand, exports to some
countries such as Saudi Arabia (4 per cent), Iraq (10 per cent), Benin (8 per
cent) and the USA (4 per cent) have increased.
Global market share
India
is the world’s largest rice exporter with over 25 per cent share in global
markets. Haryana, the top basmati rice exporting State, with a CAGR of 3 per
cent between FY16-19, shipped rice worth $2.41 billion in FY19 alone. Gujarat
is second with shipments of $1.10 billion in FY19. However, Gujarat has posted
an impressive CAGR of 47 per cent over FY16-19. Other major contributing states
are Delhi, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
Vietnam - Drought
and Saltwater Intrusion Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) DREF operation n°
MDRVN019
REPORT
Published on 05 Feb 2020
A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
The Mekong River Delta is home to 13 provinces and cities: Long
An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, An Giang,
Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau and Can Tho city. Mekong delta has a
total population of 19 million people accounting for 21 per cent of country’s
population. The Delta is located amid a dynamic and developed economic region,
adjacent to the Southern key economic region and next to Southeast Asian
countries. Mekong Delta is the largest agricultural, fishery and fruit
production hub in Vietnam.
Rice production of the region accounts
for 50 per cent of the entire country. The region produces over 90 per cent of
the country’s exported rice and more than 60 per cent of the country’s seafood
production. Fruit trees hold an important position in the region in particular
and in Vietnam in general.
GDP of the Mekong Delta as of June 2019 was 7.8 per cent (the highest in most recent four years).
GDP of the Mekong Delta as of June 2019 was 7.8 per cent (the highest in most recent four years).
Under the context of climate
change and sea level rise, extreme climatic events occurred and caused adverse
impacts of socioeconomic developments to Mekong upstream countries.
Particularly, drought and saline intrusion phenomena have manifested. As
forecasted (earlier forecast was shared on 20 December 2019), the Mekong Delta
is entering its dry season 2019-2020, saltwater is intruding deeper and earlier
than that of 2015-2016.
Specifically:
• Small upstream flow volume
compared to recent years and annual average; Saline intrusion occurred in
complicated manner (earlier, deeper intruding, and ranging), especially in
combination with the sophisticated tidal flooding situation;
• Areas 30 - 40km away from the
sea: From December 2019, salinity exceeds 4 g/l; from January 2020 onwards,
these regions will be unable to get freshwater from estuaries and this will
result in the shortage of water supply for domestic uses and production
activities;
• Areas 45 - 65 km away from the
sea: during January 2019 – April-May 2020; high salinity (> 4g/l) is likely
to happen. If rain comes late, saline intrusion may last until June 2020. In
this period, during high tide, saline intrusion will advance deeply into
inland; when the tide recedes to a low level, freshwater is likely to happen
(in one day, the tidal peak contains high salinity, yet at low level of tidal
range has low salinity and freshwater can be taken);
• Areas 70-75 km away from the
sea, the salinity of 4g/l is not likely to happen; however, cautions to high
tides are necessary as this area is still prone to 4g/l salinity where
production and domestic activities can be affected.
Given the early onset of saline
intrusion which is expected to intrude further inland and last for a longer
time, agriculture production in some areas can be affected such as
Winter-Spring rice 2019-2020 which is greatly affected by the irrigation water
shortage, especially in coastal areas from Jan 2020 onwards; Summer- Autumn
rice 2020 shall be seriously affected by saline intrusion if early rains does
not come. As a result, (i) production costs increase due to the use of
connection pumps (2 to 3 levels) to take advantage of low water level in
on-farm canals to control the drought; (ii) in some areas where freshwater
supply is unavailable, aquaculture production can be reduced or damaged due to
high salinity levels (An Minh, An Bien - Kien Giang province, South National
Highway 1A-Bac Lieu province, Thanh Phu and Ba Tri-Ben Tre province); (iii)
there is a possibility of freshwater shortage supply for people living in
coastal areas, especially in estuary areas (Tan Phu Dong - Tien Giang province,
Hoa Minh - Tra Vinh province, Cu Lao Dung - Soc Trang, coastal districts in Ben
Tre province.
According to the Viet Nam
Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA) under the Ministry of Agricultural and
Rural Development (MARD) that 10 of the 13 provinces with 74/137 districts, in
Mekong River Delta are affected by drought and saltwater intrusion. More than
685,000 people across the Mekong Delta have their access to livelihoods and
basic services disrupted. The drought and saltwater intrusion and its impacts
affect agricultural production, with an estimated loss of production from about
460,000 hectares, limited access to safe water for 200,000 households, who do
not have regular and sufficient access to water for drinking and other domestic
use.
The conditions have resulted in a water shortage and significant damage to crops, threatening agricultural production, livelihoods, and access to safe water by local people. The situation is worsened, as these provinces are the country’s main rice growing regions.
The conditions have resulted in a water shortage and significant damage to crops, threatening agricultural production, livelihoods, and access to safe water by local people. The situation is worsened, as these provinces are the country’s main rice growing regions.
Ongoing
Rice Prices
as on : 05-02-2020 03:55:19 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in
Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Bangalore(Kar)
|
1693.00
|
22.77
|
76358.00
|
4450
|
4350
|
3.49
|
|
Sultanpur(UP)
|
400.00
|
-33.33
|
4570.00
|
2365
|
2380
|
-0.84
|
|
Manjeri(Ker)
|
290.00
|
NC
|
5800.00
|
3500
|
3500
|
NC
|
|
Kanpur(Grain)(UP)
|
200.00
|
11.11
|
3235.00
|
2180
|
2340
|
3.07
|
|
Barhaj(UP)
|
160.00
|
14.29
|
5755.00
|
2380
|
2400
|
5.78
|
|
Gondal(UP)
|
152.50
|
-2.87
|
3444.50
|
2450
|
2450
|
-3.16
|
|
Azamgarh(UP)
|
120.00
|
-7.69
|
1879.00
|
2490
|
2490
|
10.67
|
|
Mainpuri(UP)
|
108.00
|
-3.57
|
2927.50
|
2550
|
2560
|
-3.77
|
|
Agra(UP)
|
105.00
|
29.63
|
2343.00
|
2560
|
2550
|
0.79
|
|
Lucknow(UP)
|
100.00
|
-5.66
|
2653.00
|
2500
|
2550
|
6.38
|
|
Bindki(UP)
|
100.00
|
-16.67
|
4039.00
|
2430
|
2400
|
7.52
|
|
Kalipur(WB)
|
88.00
|
7.32
|
1736.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
2.13
|
|
Kasimbazar(WB)
|
82.50
|
1.85
|
776.50
|
2700
|
2700
|
-0.92
|
|
Madhoganj(UP)
|
82.00
|
26.15
|
2392.00
|
2350
|
2350
|
15.76
|
|
Pilibhit(UP)
|
80.00
|
77.78
|
46336.00
|
2575
|
2540
|
8.65
|
|
Mathura(UP)
|
80.00
|
33.33
|
1770.00
|
2550
|
2570
|
-5.56
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
75.00
|
NC
|
2290.00
|
2540
|
2550
|
0.79
|
|
Thodupuzha(Ker)
|
70.00
|
NC
|
1610.00
|
2900
|
2900
|
-3.33
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
68.50
|
24.55
|
1329.60
|
2380
|
2380
|
4.85
|
|
Chintamani(Kar)
|
67.00
|
63.41
|
991.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
15.79
|
|
Jangipur(WB)
|
66.50
|
-
|
132.00
|
2965
|
-
|
-
|
|
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
|
65.00
|
8.33
|
3238.00
|
2690
|
2730
|
-0.37
|
|
Bankura Sadar(WB)
|
54.00
|
20
|
1250.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
-
|
|
Kayamganj(UP)
|
45.00
|
NC
|
1322.00
|
2560
|
2560
|
-1.92
|
|
Atarra(UP)
|
40.00
|
5.26
|
517.00
|
2350
|
2300
|
11.90
|
|
Etawah(UP)
|
40.00
|
14.29
|
2074.50
|
2700
|
2710
|
16.88
|
|
Faizabad(UP)
|
40.00
|
-6.98
|
495.50
|
2475
|
2450
|
11.24
|
|
Ghaziabad(UP)
|
40.00
|
185.71
|
551.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
3.70
|
|
Khalilabad(UP)
|
40.00
|
-20
|
755.00
|
2525
|
2525
|
17.44
|
|
Pandua(WB)
|
40.00
|
-4.76
|
1290.00
|
3400
|
3250
|
17.24
|
|
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
|
40.00
|
33.33
|
831.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
1.82
|
|
Lalitpur(UP)
|
38.00
|
5.56
|
975.00
|
2470
|
2480
|
-6.26
|
|
Bareilly(UP)
|
37.50
|
-21.88
|
1170.50
|
2625
|
2585
|
9.83
|
|
Egra/contai(WB)
|
36.50
|
-
|
219.00
|
2500
|
-
|
4.17
|
|
Jhargram(WB)
|
36.00
|
NC
|
525.00
|
3000
|
2900
|
3.45
|
|
Basti(UP)
|
31.50
|
36.96
|
779.50
|
2500
|
2475
|
10.13
|
|
Jaunpur(UP)
|
30.00
|
3.45
|
644.20
|
2400
|
2385
|
3.23
|
|
Muradabad(UP)
|
30.00
|
NC
|
691.00
|
2610
|
2610
|
9.66
|
|
Puranpur(UP)
|
30.00
|
20
|
1476.00
|
2545
|
2540
|
6.04
|
|
Bidar(Kar)
|
28.00
|
3.7
|
55.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-
|
|
Nawabganj(UP)
|
28.00
|
16.67
|
319.00
|
2450
|
2445
|
42.44
|
|
Asansol(WB)
|
26.00
|
NC
|
533.09
|
2800
|
2800
|
-6.67
|
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
25.00
|
-10.71
|
1065.00
|
2480
|
2480
|
6.90
|
|
Ulhasnagar(Mah)
|
24.00
|
4.35
|
325.00
|
3500
|
4000
|
NC
|
|
Sahiyapur(UP)
|
24.00
|
-71.76
|
1512.00
|
2490
|
2475
|
9.45
|
|
Balrampur(UP)
|
23.00
|
15
|
286.00
|
2140
|
2150
|
-10.08
|
|
Firozabad(UP)
|
21.50
|
-14
|
388.60
|
2825
|
2810
|
-
|
|
Durgapur(WB)
|
21.00
|
10.53
|
476.25
|
2700
|
2700
|
-
|
|
Naanpara(UP)
|
20.40
|
33.33
|
484.40
|
2290
|
2275
|
-2.55
|
|
Badayoun(UP)
|
20.00
|
-25.93
|
776.50
|
2620
|
2600
|
8.04
|
|
Sitapur(UP)
|
20.00
|
-16.67
|
620.50
|
2470
|
2487
|
8.57
|
|
Devariya(UP)
|
20.00
|
-6.98
|
481.50
|
2455
|
2550
|
4.69
|
|
Falakata(WB)
|
20.00
|
NC
|
420.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
NC
|
|
Alipurduar(WB)
|
20.00
|
NC
|
380.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
NC
|
|
Pratapgarh(UP)
|
19.00
|
11.76
|
256.00
|
2435
|
2450
|
9.19
|
|
Shamli(UP)
|
19.00
|
-5
|
354.50
|
2725
|
2730
|
-
|
|
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP)
|
19.00
|
-26.92
|
460.00
|
2560
|
2600
|
14.80
|
|
Kolar(Kar)
|
18.00
|
-30.77
|
271.00
|
5116
|
5193
|
-
|
|
Paliakala(UP)
|
18.00
|
44
|
200.50
|
2380
|
2365
|
5.08
|
|
Sirsaganj(UP)
|
17.00
|
17.24
|
366.00
|
2640
|
2650
|
-4.00
|
|
Ghatal(WB)
|
16.00
|
23.08
|
243.00
|
2750
|
2750
|
5.77
|
|
Champadanga(WB)
|
16.00
|
NC
|
396.00
|
3400
|
3300
|
7.94
|
|
Jhansi(UP)
|
15.00
|
66.67
|
112.00
|
2360
|
2365
|
-0.21
|
|
Farukhabad(UP)
|
13.00
|
-7.14
|
549.00
|
2550
|
2550
|
-3.77
|
|
Palghar(Mah)
|
12.00
|
-
|
47.00
|
3700
|
-
|
-
|
|
Etah(UP)
|
12.00
|
140
|
195.50
|
2560
|
2580
|
1.19
|
|
Utraula(UP)
|
12.00
|
-17.24
|
49.50
|
2140
|
2150
|
-
|
|
Kannauj(UP)
|
12.00
|
9.09
|
324.20
|
2610
|
2550
|
0.38
|
|
Mahoba(UP)
|
11.50
|
-14.81
|
229.60
|
2340
|
2285
|
7.09
|
|
Tamkuhi Road(UP)
|
11.50
|
53.33
|
308.30
|
2150
|
2150
|
NC
|
|
Karvi(UP)
|
11.50
|
-39.47
|
319.00
|
2320
|
2310
|
3.57
|
|
Akbarpur(UP)
|
11.00
|
4.76
|
303.30
|
2455
|
2460
|
10.09
|
|
Choubepur(UP)
|
10.25
|
-0.49
|
978.70
|
2300
|
2400
|
-11.20
|
|
T. Narasipura(Kar)
|
10.00
|
-
|
10.00
|
1550
|
-
|
-
|
|
Bangarmau(UP)
|
10.00
|
-9.09
|
150.10
|
2530
|
2550
|
11.21
|
|
Jhijhank(UP)
|
10.00
|
100
|
89.00
|
2220
|
2250
|
-
|
|
Vilthararoad(UP)
|
9.00
|
12.5
|
25.00
|
2100
|
2000
|
-
|
|
Ajuha(UP)
|
8.00
|
NC
|
101.00
|
2565
|
2560
|
11.52
|
|
Bharwari(UP)
|
7.50
|
15.38
|
20.60
|
2510
|
2530
|
-
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
7.00
|
-6.67
|
139.50
|
2485
|
2490
|
9.96
|
|
Lalganj(UP)
|
6.50
|
-7.14
|
192.00
|
2015
|
2015
|
-
|
|
Auraiya(UP)
|
6.00
|
20
|
179.30
|
2690
|
2700
|
25.12
|
|
Vishalpur(UP)
|
6.00
|
114.29
|
255.20
|
2540
|
2480
|
5.83
|
|
Anandnagar(UP)
|
5.50
|
120
|
118.60
|
2555
|
2540
|
13.56
|
|
Mawana(UP)
|
5.00
|
-16.67
|
55.50
|
2730
|
2740
|
-
|
|
Achalda(UP)
|
5.00
|
25
|
104.10
|
2650
|
2550
|
19.91
|
|
Risia(UP)
|
5.00
|
NC
|
44.40
|
2450
|
2450
|
-
|
|
Tundla(UP)
|
5.00
|
100
|
119.50
|
2550
|
2560
|
-0.20
|
|
Dahod(Guj)
|
4.80
|
-52
|
409.30
|
4000
|
4000
|
-4.76
|
|
Sonamura(Tri)
|
4.10
|
156.25
|
32.60
|
2700
|
2700
|
-
|
|
Gadaura(UP)
|
4.00
|
166.67
|
163.30
|
2300
|
2300
|
21.05
|
|
Jahangirabad(UP)
|
4.00
|
NC
|
108.00
|
2625
|
2600
|
-1.32
|
|
Puwaha(UP)
|
4.00
|
-50
|
151.70
|
2550
|
2600
|
10.87
|
|
Kosikalan(UP)
|
3.80
|
2.7
|
123.30
|
2545
|
2560
|
-2.12
|
|
Charra(UP)
|
3.50
|
6.06
|
55.80
|
2530
|
2550
|
NC
|
|
Holenarsipura(Kar)
|
3.00
|
-
|
3.00
|
3000
|
-
|
-
|
|
Buland Shahr(UP)
|
3.00
|
20
|
105.50
|
2650
|
2630
|
-0.38
|
|
Hardoi(UP)
|
2.80
|
-99.39
|
5682.80
|
2500
|
2460
|
4.17
|
|
Ranaghat(WB)
|
2.80
|
NC
|
51.20
|
3900
|
3900
|
8.33
|
|
Khurja(UP)
|
2.50
|
25
|
171.20
|
2640
|
2640
|
0.38
|
|
Fatehabad(UP)
|
2.20
|
NC
|
137.70
|
2320
|
2320
|
3.11
|
|
Tulsipur(UP)
|
2.00
|
-55.56
|
15.20
|
2430
|
2400
|
-
|
|
Safdarganj(UP)
|
2.00
|
-33.33
|
355.00
|
2470
|
2465
|
7.39
|
|
Muskara(UP)
|
1.90
|
18.75
|
33.40
|
2360
|
2250
|
4.42
|
|
Maudaha(UP)
|
1.50
|
-25
|
14.60
|
2300
|
2280
|
6.48
|
|
Wazirganj(UP)
|
1.20
|
20
|
22.30
|
2570
|
2570
|
-
|
|
Boxonagar(Tri)
|
1.10
|
37.5
|
5.50
|
2700
|
2700
|
-
|
|
Penugonda(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
18.00
|
4090
|
4090
|
0.25
|
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
52.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
-41.67
|
|
Murud(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
52.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
-41.67
|
|
Jasra(UP)
|
1.00
|
-16.67
|
2.20
|
2650
|
2650
|
10.42
|
|
Dasda(Tri)
|
0.80
|
NC
|
2.90
|
2500
|
2500
|
-
|
|
Achnera(UP)
|
0.80
|
NC
|
16.40
|
2550
|
2550
|
NC
|
Published on February 05, 2020
‘Use quality seeds’
TIRUCHI, FEBRUARY
05, 2020 20:46 IST
Seed Day was observed by
agricultural institutions here on Tuesday to raise awareness among farmers on
the importance of using quality seeds.
More than 50 seed producers from
various parts of the district participated and interacted with scientists at an
event hosted by the Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research
Institute (ADAC&RI). They visited seed production fields.
S.Sundareswaran, Director
(Seeds), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, explained how farmers
can become entrepreneurs by producing seeds so as to double their income.
K.Sivasubramaniyam, Dean, Agricultural College and Research Institute,
Kudimiyanmalai, said maintaining quality parameters in seed production will
result in higher yield.
P.Masilamani, Dean, ADAC&RI,
spoke.
The Sugarcane Research Station,
Sirugamani. observed Seed Day in association with TNAU. Mr. Sundareswaran
presided over the event held at Sirugamani and urged farmers to use quality
seeds to get assured yield. S. Sundaralingam, Professor (seeds), elaborated the
procedure to be followed in seed processing. V. Ramakrishnan, Seed
Certification Officer, spoke on seed registration and inspection fees for seed
production among farmers.
More than 70 farmers witnessed an
exhibition hosted by Sugarcane Research Station and private companies. V.
Ambethgar, Director, Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, L. Chithra,
Professor and Head, Sugarcane Research Station, and R. Nageswari, Assistant
Professor (Agronomy), participated.
ICRISAT
unearths State’s agriculture heritage
HYDERABAD, FEBRUARY
06, 2020 00:27 IST
·
·
Researchers are trying to understand the impact of soil scooped
from tank beds and used as topsoil in fields as part of Mission Kakatiya.
Prior to the Kakatiyas, tanks were built by elites and kings:
Cambridge University researcher
Archaeologists from Cambridge
University and scientists from the International Crops Research Institute for
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have teamed up to discover the archaeological
heritage of agriculture in Telangana and Punjab.
The study is part of a larger
project (TIGR2ESS) Transforming India’s Green Revolution by Research and
Empowerment for Sustainable Food Supplies. “We are looking at the
archaeological and historical evidence over a 5000-year period to understand
water use in the region and diversity of crops and cropping patterns,” informs
Cameron A. Petrie of Cambridge University.
“We have discovered that the tank
irrigation system predates the Kakatiya rule. Prior to the Kakatiyas, tanks
were built by elites and kings in the region. The Kakatiyas just scaled up the
enterprise,” says Adam Green, another researcher for the project, who uses
historical cartography and GIS information for the research.
The study is an important facet
of food security as mono-cropping of water intensive crops like wheat and rice
are being blamed for extreme water depletion in most parts of India. “The
research will help us understand aspects of the archaeological and agronomy
evidence over the historical period to a more modern period. Wheat, barley,
millets and pulses were cultivated earlier but now there is a reduction in crop
diversity,” says Mr. Petrie.
The researchers discovered that
the control and management of tanks was left to the community though the water
bodies were commissioned by the rulers. “We have noticed a huge reduction in
the number of tanks and water bodies over the past 100 years. We are trying to
find maps and archaeological evidence to find out the location of those water
bodies. Late 19th century maps have information about including maximum tank
size and minimum tank size,” says Mr. Green. “We are trying to create a
systematic map of all the tanks, different types, sizes, chronology and
locations. We want to put a number to how many tanks might have been lost. We
want to understand the scope of rejuvenation of these tanks which is the goal
of Mission Kakatiya,” he adds.
The researchers are also trying
to understand impact of soil scooped from the tank beds and used as topsoil in
agricultural fields as part of Mission Kakatiya. “Though we are getting reports
about positive impact on agricultural output, we are carrying out soil or silt
analysis to find a scientific explanation for rise in productivity,” say the
researchers at ICRISAT.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/icrisat-unearths-states-agriculture-heritage/article30745819.ece
‘Why
our rice is poorly processed’ By Idowu Isamatu |
Published
Date Feb 6, 2020 4:50 AM TwitterFacebookWhatsAppTelegram Dr Abiso Kabir is the
CEO/MD, Wal-Wanne Group, a leading agro-allied company in Borno State, with its
head office in Lagos. In this interview with Daily Trust in Abuja, he said the
company collaborates with government to diversify the country’s economy from
total reliance on oil. You operate in Borno State despite the
insurgency…cuts in? We cultivate vast hectares of farmland across seven local
government areas in the state; Jere, Mafa, Biu, Chibok, Konduga, Ganbuwa and
Monguno. Of course, the success of the federal government’s Anchor Borrower
Programme cannot be told without the measure of expertise injected into it in
order to have better harvest. ADVERTISEMENT HOW OVER 5000 NIGERIA MEN
HAVE PERMANENTLY OVERCOME TERRIBLE BEDROOM PERFORMANCE DUE TO THIS RECENT
DISCOVERY BY MEDICAL CONSULTANTS What’s your farm capacity and how many
hectares are you cultivating? ADVERTISEMENT SURULERE MAN REVEALS NEW HERBAL
SOLUTION THAT REVERSES WEAK ERECTION AND HELPS LAST UPTO 48 MINUTES IN BED WITH
NO SIDE EFFECTS The farm has capacity to accommodate over 13,000 farmers which
means, a farmer is allocated to one hectare. Currently, about 705 farm owners
are listed to participate in the Anchor Borrowers Programme on the platform of
Wal-Wanne and Sons Limited regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
How do you source your rice seeds and how many tons of rice do you
produce? We source our rice seeds from accredited and certified input suppliers
by the Bank of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria respectively. Our
expected yield per season is about 7,800 tons. However, due to natural
disasters and other unforeseen circumstances, we perform far below expectations
actually. Do you source additional paddy from other farms? Yes, we
do. This is another alternative we use to complement our failure (due to
natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances). We also empower other
farmers that became stranded with their goods in the competitive local rice
market.
As a rice miller, what would you say about
the poorly processed local rice we have in the markets? Most of the poorly
processed local rice you see in the market today are as a result of low budget
by rice processing mills and lack of technical knowhow as well. In this regard,
there is need for the federal government to come in. Rice millers need serious
support from government to improve their companies and enhance their production
as well. Since government banned the importation of most agricultural products
which we produced here at home, it should make more effort in supporting agric
investors to cope with the situation and to meet up with need for processed
product. As an exporter, what challenges do you face? The major limitation associated with
exporting products from Nigeria is lack of government support in the whole
process. Therefore, we want government to come up with policy strategies to
enhance exportation, especially in the area of agricultural products.
What is your take on the current border closure? Closing border is the
right decision taken by the government. One can now see clearly how the border
closure has boosted agricultural productivity and encouraged construction of
industries related to processing local rice and other agricultural produce to
substitute what we used to import. What’s your target in the next
five years? Our target in the next five years is to be one of the leading
exporters in Nigeria and indeed in West Africa. We are targeting Asian, Middle
East, some European countries and America. In fact, within five years, we want
to reach the whole world with our goods from Nigeria.: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-our-rice-is-poorly-processed.html
Coronavirus – will
it penetrate Pakistan’s economy?
FEBRUARY 6, 2020
China is the epicenter of a deadly virus that has already spread
to more than 20 countries and continues to grab people in its fatal arms. The
death toll has reached 362 in the capital of Hubei province, Wuhan. Hubei
province serves as a base for crucial economic zones, with Wuhan being the
heart of the Chinese industry. It is no myth that recent changes in foreign
policies of Pakistan have strengthened relations with China, paired with the
constant influx of Chinese engineers and experts in Pakistan to facilitate
industrial projects undertaken with the collaboration of both states.
Courtesy of the free trade agreement, many products found in local Pakistani markets bear the “made in China” tag. China has continued to invest in economic, technological, hydropower, and infrastructural projects within Pakistan. Over the years, China’s involvement in Pakistan’s affairs has become significantly important; China’s “belt and road initiative” has transformed Gwadar from a deserted land to an industrial area supported by advanced infrastructure, blooming with trade opportunities. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), inaugurated by President Xi Jinping, has been a significant development in strengthening economic ties between the two countries, providing opportunities and immunities to both sides. CPEC also focuses on agricultural development; China provides promising technology that will help improve agricultural production. Consequentially, production levels will rise and also increase exports in products, including cotton and rice. The Chinese government also issues long term visas to Pakistani exporters, assisting them in exploring the Chinese market and then producing goods with a higher demand to boost profit. For example, there is a market for sugar imports abroad, Pakistan is rich in raw materials required for sugar production. China imports relevant equipment and technology to Pakistan to improve the sugar produced. Such joint ventures with Chinese partners help Pakistan improve its international competitiveness.
CPEC has benefited a large number of unemployed youth by
creating jobs and opportunities for acquiring skills. According to the United
Nations Comtrade database on international trade, Pakistan imports from China
were US$14.54 Billion during 2018, and the number has continued to increase in
recent years. Pakistan mainly imports electrical equipment, iron, steel, and organic
chemicals, etcetera. As stated in The Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute, Pakistan is China’s biggest arms buyer, making up nearly 47% of
Chinese arms exports. Duties and taxes on imported items are also waived off.
Moreover, since 2010 China has focused on strengthening its soft
power, especially in the education sector. Many students have been inclined to
learning Mandarin in order to seek jobs and degrees. China has devised policies
to attract students from all over the world, including Pakistan, there are
nearly 30’000 Pakistanis in China at the moment, and a massive chunk of these
are students. Prime Minister has announced an evacuation program, and some of
these students have arrived in Islamabad from China via Bangkok. These students
will be kept under observation for 14 days to screen for the virus, and their
luggage will be examined for any remnants of the virus it may contain. The
outbreak of coronavirus is likely to discourage Pakistanis from traveling to
China in search of degrees and opportunities in the future. With limitations on
Chinese flying in and out, the development projects have more chances of coming
to a halt.
Since the lunar new year and the outbreak of the virus, the
Chinese economy has gone in a supposed “hibernation.” Corporate offices,
factories, outlets have faced staff disruptions and closures throughout this
period as the epidemic continues to get worst. International companies are
devising plans to evacuate their workforce from China, which has become difficult
due to border restrictions and airline companies refusing to operate within
China. It is uncertain whether normal life will resume due to the virus’s
aggressively contagious nature. World Health Organization has strongly
recommended wearing a mask and avoiding contact with patients. Looking at the
situation from Pakistan’s lens, there are essential things to consider, like
the treatment of evacuated Pakistanis from China. However, it is also evident
that the economy will suffer a huge blow. The border restrictions paired with
increased caution will hamper developmental projects, causing losses to both
states.
The writer is a junior year law student at LUMS. She enjoys
books, coffee and cocomo
https://dailytimes.com.pk/553325/coronavirus-will-it-penetrate-pakistans-economy/
Pakistan may receive higher orders
for rice export
Published: February 6, 2020
Pakistan’s rice exports increased
over 27% in volumetric term to 20.02 million ton and over 26% in
dollar-denomination to $1.03 billion in the first half of the current fiscal
year ended December 31, 2019. PHOTO: APP
KARACHI: Pakistan is anticipating receiving higher
rice export orders as the two leading global consumers and exporters of the
grain; China and Thailand, are stuck in different crises these days.
China is currently battling against an
outbreak of the coronavirus for around a month now. The Chinese virus, which
has spread to over two dozen counties, has taken around 450 lives and affected
another 17,000 people around the world. “The virus is feared to impact Chinese
rice crop as well,” Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) former
chairman Rafique Suleman told The Express Tribune.
Thailand, which used to be the single
largest exporter of rice, is facing the worst drought of the decade. “The
situation is expected to impact Thailand’s rice crop as well,” he said.
The two developments have pushed up rice
export price. “We are exporting rice (irri-6 which is widely consumed in the
world) at over $370 per ton these days compared to around $350 per ton in
December 2019,” he said.
Pakistan is the fifth largest exporter of
rice in the world. It exports the grain to around 100 countries around the
globe.
Pakistan’s rice exports increased over 27%
in volumetric terms to 20.02 million ton and over 26% in dollar-denomination to
$1.03 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year ended December 31,
2019 compared to what it exported in the same period of last year, according to
the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). “The trend shows a notable growth in
rice exports in the second half of the ongoing fiscal year as well,” said
Suleman.
He said that rice remained a staple crop for
China which is the single largest consumer of the grain. It may resort to
importing of rice to meet the local requirement as the virus is feared to
impact its crop since Beijing has extended the period of ongoing annual
holidays to protect people from the virus, Suleman added.
Besides, buyers of Chinese rice in world
markets may also consider importing rice from Pakistan as Pakistani rice is
known for high quality and the best aroma, he said.
He said that Pakistan is expected to make
higher export of rice to Kenya, which is also a big consumer of the grain,
after a Pakistani delegation consisting of high officials and rice exporters
from private sector met Kenyan government representative about a week ago.
“We are expected to export around
500,000-ton rice to Kenya this year (FY20) compared to around 380,000 tons last
year,” he said.
“Approximately 25% of total Pakistani rice
exports go to African countries and Kenya is the single largest buyer of
Pakistani rice in the region, whereas other 75% exports go to the rest of the
world.”
Pakistan is the tenth largest rice producing
country in the world. Its annual rice crop stands in the range of 7-7.5 million
ton. “Pakistan is the homeland of world’s best basmati & non-basmati rice,”
said Suleman. Currently, rates of rice are increasing in international markets,
while Pakistani rice remains a preferred grain in many countries around the
globe.
Published in The Express
Tribune, February 6th, 2020.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in
the conversation.
Basmati Rice Genome Assemblies
Generated Using Nanopore Sequencing
Feb 05, 2020
NEW YORK – A new basmati rice
genome assembly using nanopore sequencing reads gives insight into the crop's
origins.
Oryza sativa is a key agricultural crop that provides about 20 percent
of people's caloric intake, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations. While O. sativa is typically split
into two major varieties — japonica and indica — two other genetically distinct
variety groups — aus/circum-aus and aromatic/circum-basmati — have recently
been recognized.
Researchers from New York
University used nanopore sequencing to generate the genomes of two basmati rice
landraces, the drought-tolerant Basmati 334 from Pakistan and the expensive Dom
Sufid from Iran. By analyzing these genomes, the researchers identified
variants not found in japonica rice, found evidence of admixture between the
circum-basmati and circum-aus varieties, and uncovered three geographic groups
among the basmati varieties, as they reported Wednesday in Genome Biology.
The assemblies could further help develop rice with desired traits such as
drought or disease resistance.
"Rice is one of the most
important staple crops worldwide, and the varieties in the basmati group are
some of the most iconic and prized rice varieties," first author Jae Young
Choi, a postdoc at New York University, said in a statement.
The researchers sequenced the two
basmati rice varieties using Oxford Nanopore Technologies' long-read sequencing
platform to about 62X coverage for the Basmati 334 genome and about 51X
coverage for the Dom Sufid genome. After polishing the genome assemblies using
nanopore and short Illumina sequencing reads, the researchers generated a 386.5
Mb assembly across 188 contigs for Basmati 334 and 383.6 Mb across 116 contigs
for Dom Sufid.
Aligning these draft genome
assemblies to the japonica reference genome — a rice from East Asia — uncovered
a high level of macrosynteny among the three rice varieties, with the exception
of an inversion on chromosome six among the basmati varieties. However, they
also found single nucleotide changes, insertions and deletions, and repeat
expansions that varied among the rice. For instance, the Dom Sufid variety
carried an eight-base-pair deletion affecting the BADH2 sequence region, an
alteration associated with fragrance among rice varieties. Basmati 334 and the
japonica reference, both non-fragrant varieties, did not have this deletion.
By comparing the rice genomes,
the researchers traced the origins of the basmati variety. Through their
modeling, the researchers found that the origins of circum-basmati rice was
primarily rooted to japonica rice, but with gene flow from circum-aus rice, a
rice from Bangladesh. In particular, their analysis suggests there was a period
of time during which the circum-aus, circum-basmati, and japonica rice
varieties were isolated, but then with gene flow occurring after the
split.
They noted, though, that the
history of chromosome 10 differed. In basmati rice, this chromosome appears to
have had higher levels of circum-aus introgression, but it is unclear why this
occurred, the researchers noted.
Within basmati rice, the analysis
indicated there were three genetic sub-groups that largely aligned with
geography: Bhutan/Nepal, Iran/Pakistan, and India/Bangladesh/Myanmar. Both the
Bhutan/Nepal and Iran/Pakistan groups had genetic signature indicative of an
admixed population, but the India/Bangladesh/Myanmar group was more distinct
and may have experienced more gene flow from circum-aus rice, the researchers
noted.
Following their sequencing of
these two basmati rice strains, the researchers plan to work with breeders and
others to identify key genes and molecular markers to aid in the development of
new rice varieties.
"By having the sequence of rice varieties like Basmati 334,
which can withstand drought conditions and resist bacterial blight, we can
start to identify genes that give rise to these valuable traits," senior
author Michael Purugganan, a biology professor at NYU, said in a statement. "Drought
tolerance is something we are particularly interested in, given the challenges
we face due to climate change and the implications for food security
worldwide."
NYU Scientists
Sequence the Genome of Basmati Rice
Feb 5, 2020
Feb 5, 2020
New
York City
Reading the Basmati Genome Provides Clues for Growing
Drought-Tolerant and Bacteria-Resistant Rice
©
Getty Images
Using an innovative genome sequencing technology, researchers
assembled the complete genetic blueprint of two basmati rice varieties,
including one that is drought-tolerant and resistant to bacterial disease. The
findings, published in Genome
Biology, also show that basmati rice is a hybrid of two other
rice groups.
Basmati—derived from the Hindi word for “fragrant”—is a type of
aromatic long-grain rice grown in southern Asia. Despite the economic and
cultural importance of basmati and related aromatic rice varieties, their
evolutionary history is not fully understood.
“Rice is one of the most important staple crops worldwide, and
the varieties in the basmati group are some of the most iconic and prized rice
varieties. However, until recently, a high-quality reference genome for basmati
rice did not exist,” said Jae Young Choi, a postdoctoral scholar at NYU and
the Genome Biology study’s lead author.
Whole-genome sequencing—which determines an organism’s complete
DNA sequence—is an important tool for studying plants and improving crop
varieties. Prior research assembled the genome for basmati rice using short-read
sequencing—in which DNA is broken into tiny fragments and then reassembled—but
there were missing sequences and gaps in the data.
The researchers in NYU’s Center for Genomics and Systems Biology
sequenced the genome of two members of the basmati rice group using nanopore
sequencing technology. Developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, a
collaborator on this project, nanopore sequencing is a third-generation
sequencing technology that allows long single molecules of DNA to be sequenced
quickly, improving on the completeness and efficiency of earlier genome
sequencing.
The researchers focused on two basmati rice varieties: Basmati
334 from Pakistan, known to be drought tolerant and resistant to rice-killing
bacterial blight, and Dom Sufid from Iran, an aromatic long-grain rice that is
one of the most expensive on the market. Using long reads from nanopore
sequencing, the researchers assembled high-quality, complete genomes of the two
basmati rice varieties that were a significant improvement over earlier genome
sequences assembled using short reads.
The sequencing also confirmed that basmati rice is a hybrid of
two other rice groups. Most genetic material in basmati comes from japonica (a
rice group found in East Asia), followed by the rice group aus (found in
Bangladesh).
Now that the genome sequences of basmati rice have been
established, the researchers aim to work with the scientific and rice breeding
communities to identify important genes, see what makes the basmati group
unique, and even develop molecular markers to help breed new varieties.
“By having the sequence of rice varieties like Basmati 334,
which can withstand drought conditions and resist bacterial blight, we can
start to identify genes that give rise to these valuable traits,” said Michael
Purugganan, the Silver Professor of Biology at NYU and the study’s senior
author. “Drought tolerance is something we are particularly interested in,
given the challenges we face due to climate change and the implications for
food security worldwide.”
In addition to Choi and Purugganan, the study authors are Zoe N.
Lye and Simon C. Groen of NYU’s Center for Genomics and Systems Biology;
Xiaoguang Dai, Priyesh Rughani, Eoghan D. Harrington, and Sissel Juul of Oxford
Nanopore Technologies, and Sophie Zaaijer of the New York Genome Center. The
work was supported by grants from the Zegar Family Foundation (A16-0051),
National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program (IOS-1546218), Gordon
and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF2550.06), and NYU Abu Dhabi Research Institute.
Indonesia, Pakistan aim to increase bilateral
trade and cooperation
Web Desk
Indonesia and Pakistan are strengthening mutual
relations in order to potentially deal in different sectors of the economy and
the bilateral trade is also growing on a annual basis, said Consul General of
Indonesia Totok Prianamto. “Being an official representative of Indonesia,
one of the tasks given to me is to further strengthen the economic, trade and
investment relations between the two countries,” he said. “Karachi is a very
important port for Indonesia especially for trade and investment sectors.”
Addressing a group of journalists, he said that
major import items of his country from Pakistan included rice, chemical, raw
cotton, wheat, paper, fruits, garments, leather, plastic materials, cotton
yarn, cloth, other textile products, sports and surgical goods.
He emphasised the potential that since Karachi
was the largest city operating two large sea port, it serves as the main entry
point for Indonesian products to potentially access the Pakistani
market. “Several trade associations, chambers and businessmen from
Pakistan participate in various exhibitions and trade shows in Indonesia,” he
added.
The Indonesian Consul General said that the
business community of Karachi metropolitan were actively trading and consulting
meetings with the Indonesian counterparts to boost bilateral trade and economic
cooperation as well as to establishing strong people-to-people
contacts.
https://nation.com.pk/05-Feb-2020/indonesia-pakistan-aim-to-increase-bilateral-trade-and-cooperation
