Traders want govt to clearly define hoarding, stock
The Newspaper's Staff ReporterUpdated May 06, 2020
REAP, SAP express reservations over anti-hoarding
law. — AFP/File
LAHORE: Rice traders and seed and poultry
associations fear that the recently promulgated anti-hoarding law will be
misused to hurt their and the country’s interests.
Representatives of Rice Exporters Association of
Pakistan (REAP), Seed Association of Pakistan (SAP), Asia-Pacific Seed
Association (APSA), Poultry Association of Pakistan and other large-scale
sectors held a meeting at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on
Tuesday with LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh in the chair.
They expressed their reservations regarding the
anti-hoarding ordinance and demanded clarifying parameters for implementation
of the law so that it may not be misused against genuine stocks of eatables,
particularly wheat and rice stocks meant for seed and export purposes.
They demanded that the government ensure that the law
is not used against the trading community as an arm-twisting measure and sought
a clear definition of hoarding and the essential stocks.
They argued that industries, wholesale dealers and
retailers have to maintain a reasonable stock of merchandise to ensure smooth
supplies throughout the year. Likewise, seed companies have to store seed for
use in the next season but, they alleged, they are not being allowed to procure
basic and certified wheat seed by officials of food departments of Punjab and
Sindh along with the district administration notwithstanding instructions by
the Punjab food minister in this respect.
Rather, they alleged, farmers are being threatened
with action under the anti-hoarding law if they retain wheat crop for seed
purposes, while no law mentions need for any permit for such stocks.
They regretted that no government has ever
differentiated between illegal hoarding and lawful stocks and if the
discretionary powers in the new law are misused, they warned, the trade sector
will further plunge into crisis creating unrest in the society.
Those who attended the meeting included LCCI SVP Ali
Hussam Asghar, VP Mian Zahid Javed, REAP President Shahjahan Malik, SAP chief
Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed and Rana Salman, APSA’s Tahir Saleemi and poultry
association’s Chaudhry Furqan, Pir Syed Nazim Shah, Chaudhry Nusrat, Suhail
Malik, Haris Ateeq, Arshad Khan and others.
Published in Dawn, May 6th,
2020
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (3)
PopularNewestOldest
DR. Rob
a day ago
It's TRUE It should be defined
Tawaqi
a day ago
What can you expect from a govt which considers
hoarding even if you have 100 packets of wheat flour as stock.
Mansur Ul Haque
about 21 hours ago
Who will define it. No body know what/ how to define
it. It is statement that must have been given on someaspacts. Now everyone is
started relaying it without knowing it's affects/ impacts.
'There wasn’t even an opportunity to say goodbye. The passing of
Rishi and Irrfan leaves me devastated'
Why is India spending money showering petals on hospitals but
making workers pay for train tickets?
New Zakat system based on ‘ground realities’ suggested
Maths teacher-turned-top Kashmiri fighter killed by Indian troops
'The nightmare is almost over': Pakistani students in Wuhan adjust
to life as lockdown eases
Gilead Sciences in talks with pharma companies in Pakistan, India
to start remdesivir production
105 passengers repatriated from UAE to Pakistan test positive for
Covid-19
I would’ve crossed 400-run mark in 2002 Lahore Test: Inzamam
Most mosques violating coronavirus precautions during Taraweeh:
report
How does one compare these two quantities — lives and
money — with each other?
The Modi regime looks to be pushing its final
solution.
Better minds have cautioned against such coercive
largesse.
NFA expects to deliver sixth batch of 29,000 bags of rice
Published May 6, 2020, 5:20 PM
By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The sixth batch of around 29,000
bags of rice were expected to be delivered to the National Food Authority (NFA)
warehouses in Metro Manila on Wednesday, May 6.
This is to sustain the
requirements of local government units (LGUs) and relief agencies providing
food packs for affected families during the enhanced community quarantine
(ECQ).
“This is already the sixth wave
of our NFA rice caravan to NCR since the implementation of ECQ in Luzon on
March 16,” NFA Administrator Judy Carol Dansal said.
“The NCR has recorded the highest
number of COVID-19 cases and the biggest number of affected families since the
start of the ECQ, that’s why NFA has to ensure that there will always be
sufficient government rice buffer stock in the area,” she pointed out
The first NFA rice caravan was
rolled out on March 26, composed of 30 trucks loaded with 30,000 bags of rice.
This was followed on April 7 with
17 trucks carrying 17,000 bags; April 13 to 14 trucks with 14,000 bags; April
23 to 32 trucks with 32,000 bags; and April 29 to 26 trucks with 26,000 bags.
The rice stocks came from Ilocos
Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon providing the biggest volume of rice
transfer.
“With the weekly transfer of
supplies from rice-producing regions to NCR (National Capital Region), we are
able to continuously replenish our NFA rice stocks, to sustain the requirements
of local government units (LGUs) and relief agencies providing food packs for
affected families during the ECQ period,” Dansal said.
The rice-loaded trucks will
converge at the NFA Malolos City Office compound where they will be met by
Dansal and NFA field officials before proceeding to various NFA warehouses in
NCR for unloading and immediate turnaround.
Due to the increased demand for
NFA rice for relief operations, Dansal has ordered full-blast milling of the
NFA’s palay stocks and continuous transfer of additional rice stocks not only
to NCR but also other rice-deficit regions under lockdown
GIEWS Country Brief: Guinea-Bissau 06-May-2020
Source:FAO
Posted:6 May 2020
Originally
published:6 May 2020
Origin:View original
Attachments
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
· Timely start of 2020 cropping season
· Above‑average cereal production harvested in 2019
· Increasing cereal import requirements in 2019/20 marketing year
(November/October)
· Food assistance needed for vulnerable households
Timely start of th 2020 cropping season
Following a timely onset of the seasonal rains in late April, planting
operations for maize, millet and sorghum are ongoing and the harvests are
expected to start in September 2020. Since the start of the season, adequate
rainfall amounts supported soil moisture content for crop development. In most
areas, crops are at sprouting and seedling stages, and weeding activities are
regularly underway. Planting of rice, the major cereal crop produced in the
country, is expected to start in June.
In late April 2020, the Forum of the Agro‑Hydro‑Climatic Seasonal Forecast
in Sudano‑Sahelian Africa (PRESASS) released its forecast for the whole rainy
season (June/October) across the Sahel and Soudanian zones. The forecast points
to above‑average rainfall amounts which will continue until October. If this
forecast materializes, it will contribute to favourable agricultural production
and availability of pasture and water as well as good pastoral conditions.
The conditions of natural pasture coverage are satisfactory and rains are
benefiting the development of newly germinated pasture. Due to the abundance
and diversification of biomass, the animal body condition is satisfactory. The
health situation remains overall good and stable.
Mexico
Drops Pest-Related Ban on Uruguayan Imports
By Sarah Moran
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- In September 2019, Mexico
banned imports of Uruguayan milled rice after finding khapra beetle in a
shipment (see USA Rice Daily, September 24, 2019). The embargo on Uruguayan rice came to an end
late last month when Mexico granted temporary entry for the next 90 days to
ensure adequate rice supply while the country weathers the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We understand Mexico wanting to bring in more rice due to this crisis, and we trust that Mexico's National Health Service, Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA) will continue to safeguard Mexico's imports," said Todd Burich, chair of the USA Rice Latin America Trade Policy Committee.
Although Uruguay exports both rough and milled rice, the majority of what they ship to Mexico is milled. Similar to the U.S., Uruguay does not pay tariffs on rice sold to Mexico.
While U.S milled rice exports to Mexico stayed fairly constant during the last seven months when Uruguayan rice was out of the market, exports of U.S. rough rice increased by seven percent to an average of 23,000 tons per month.
Mexican milled rice importers are using U.S. rough rice milled in Mexico to meet growing demand. Mexican consumers, like their counterparts in the U.S., have been influenced by the global pandemic and are purchasing larger amounts of rice from retail than is typical. And, like in the U.S., many stores in Mexico are now limiting the amount of rice that can be purchased per customer.
As many traditional consumer facing promotional activities are on hold given Mexico's nationwide restrictions on non-essential economic activities through the end of the month, USA Rice has focused on revamping our social media presence, developing materials for trade shows later in the year, and commencing research into the physiological benefits of rice that would resonate with Mexican consumers.
"We understand Mexico wanting to bring in more rice due to this crisis, and we trust that Mexico's National Health Service, Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA) will continue to safeguard Mexico's imports," said Todd Burich, chair of the USA Rice Latin America Trade Policy Committee.
Although Uruguay exports both rough and milled rice, the majority of what they ship to Mexico is milled. Similar to the U.S., Uruguay does not pay tariffs on rice sold to Mexico.
While U.S milled rice exports to Mexico stayed fairly constant during the last seven months when Uruguayan rice was out of the market, exports of U.S. rough rice increased by seven percent to an average of 23,000 tons per month.
Mexican milled rice importers are using U.S. rough rice milled in Mexico to meet growing demand. Mexican consumers, like their counterparts in the U.S., have been influenced by the global pandemic and are purchasing larger amounts of rice from retail than is typical. And, like in the U.S., many stores in Mexico are now limiting the amount of rice that can be purchased per customer.
As many traditional consumer facing promotional activities are on hold given Mexico's nationwide restrictions on non-essential economic activities through the end of the month, USA Rice has focused on revamping our social media presence, developing materials for trade shows later in the year, and commencing research into the physiological benefits of rice that would resonate with Mexican consumers.
NJ’s Best Takeout and Delivery Meal Options for Mother’s Day
This year, take care of mom while staying socially distant.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user torbakhopper via Creative Commons.
A lot of plans have been canceled thanks to the
coronavirus. But Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day is never, ever cancelled.
And not
just because mom is going especially above and beyond this year. The holiday is
historically one of the busiest days in the restaurant and hospitality world.
Typically at
least a third of households try to dine out on Mother’s Day.
Covid-19 changes that, but restaurants are still finding a way to prepare
special menus for Mother’s Day.
Here are just a handful of examples of New
Jersey restaurants doing special Mother’s Day menus this year. Check out your
local spots, too, and feel free to opt for extras like dessert, bubbly, or (see
below) lobster, because mothering in the age of coronvirus is just so. Much.
More.
*Hours of operation, ordering deadlines, and
curbside pick-up/takeout rules vary from location to location. Most places
require a couple days’ advance notice, but check with your restaurant to see
when they’ll need your order.
—Australian-twanged Frankie in Jersey City has
been going strong with an eclectic
take away menu, so it’s no surprise their Mother’s Day menu is a mix
of fun and proper foodie delights. The “Breakfast
in Bed” for four is $120, which buys you a pastry
box (with assorted scones and doughnuts; $40 alone) plus a
small dainty feast, even a pét-nat and
some strawberries. Order here, as well as a four- or six-pack “Mom’s Stash” of
wine. Order starting Wednesday for pick-up Saturday or Sunday.
—Acacia in Lawrenceville is
another savvy spot doing both Mother’s Day dinner and brunch. One reason to
lean toward the $100 three-course brunch-for-four is
it comes with banana bread and honey butter. The rest of the brunch is as
stick-to-your-ribs homey, with entrees like shrimp and grits, Greek egg
frittata, and chicken and waffles with gravy and maple syrup. Dinner is $115
for four and includes dessert options. Extras include
Bloody Mary mix and truffle mac n’ cheese, which. Order by phone (609-895-9885)
by Thursday, May 7. Pick up times vary depending, so check before you drive on
down.
—The
ChopHouse in Gibbsboro is ready to serve
up a steakhouse-style Mother’s Day.
The prix fixe is $42.50 per person, with full-throttle steakhouse style options
like lobster bisque, 28-day dry-aged strip steak and New York cheesecake.
What’s nice here is you can order all the way up to noon on Saturday, May 9.
And extra $20 gets you a bottle of bubbly, chardonnay, or cabernet.
—Iron Hill
Brewery & Restaurant in Voorhees and Maple Shade is
doing Mother’s
Day dinner and brunch.
Dinner options are springy and affordable: $32 for four. There’s also a $20
lobster tail add-on. Orders should be placed by Thursday and picked up on
Saturday.
—For
moms who like their Italian cuisine chic and a little modern, Bottagra in Hawthorne is
doing a $90 four-course prix fixe for
four. The menu is nicely curated, though there’s still a lot of room
to plan the meal per mom’s tastes. The overall vibe is luscious and yet somehow
light: Prince Edward Island mussels fra diavolo with chili flakes, wild
mushroom bowtie pasta with fruffle cream, salmon provenciale with capers,
tomato and lemon white wine sauce. They’ve also got beer and wine available for pick-up. Place your
orders—by phone only—by Friday, May 8.
—It
looks like The Peacock Inn in Princeton is
actually making a triumphant return on Mother’s Day, which is all the more
reason to give their $115
three-course prix fixe for four a shot. The menu is thoughtful
and modestly indulgent, with entrees that include short ribs with garlic mashed
potatoes, crab cakes with sweet corn and remoulade, and a vegan and gluten-free
black truffle spinach and mushroom risotto. Then, should you so choose, crème
brulée for dessert. They’re also doing beer,
wine, and spirits to go. Place your order by Friday, May 8.
—40 North Restaurant Group is doing a $99 Mother’s
Day dinner for four at all of its restaurants (Café Villa in Chatham, Piattino in Mendham and Summit), The Office Tavern and Grill in Summit and
Morristown and Blackhorse Pub in Mendham).
The set-up is nicely standard and easy-going, with appetizers and sides
included (e.g. spring Greek salad and truffle cauliflower with pine nuts and
parmesan), with a choice of two out of three entrees (slow-braised lamb pot
pie, roasted free range chicken and Atlantic salmon). Participating restaurants
might also be offering beer and wine for sale, if mom is so inclined, ahem.
Place your order by Wednesday, May 6. Delivery is $10. Flowers and last-minute
Hallmark cards not included.
—Osteria
Morini in Bernardsville is offering
several kits. Choose from the Pancake Party Package ($75 plus tax and
gratuity); Bagel Brunch Package ($75 plus tax and gratuity); or Mother’s Day
Dinner Package ($150 plus tax and gratuity). All options serve four and include
a bud vase with flowers. Place your orders by Thursday, May 7 at 5 pm, and pick
up at Nicoletta entrance, 107 Morristown Road, Bernardsville, 908-221-0040.
—Skip
the crowded stores and let Jockey Hollow
Bar & Kitchen in Morristown cook for
your family. Executive chef AJ Capella will prepare a Mother’s Day feast with a
la carte selections of food, wine and desserts by The Artist Baker, plus flowers from Fairview Farm.
Orders must be received by Wednesday for Saturday 2-5 pm curbside pickup.
—For its
first Mother’s Day since opening its Wyckoff location, Benares Indian Restaurant is
offering two Mother’s Day dinner menus. Choose from a three-course dinner for
two ($49 plus tax and gratuity) and a three-course family dinner that serves
six ($149 plus tax and gratuity). In addition to your choice of appetizers,
entrees and dessert, meals come with basmati rice, naan bread, raita (yogurt)
and mango chutney. Available for curbside pickup or delivery.
—Samba Montclair chef/owner
Ilson Goncalves learned to cook watching his mother, making his Mother’s Day
offerings all the more special. Main courses off Samba’s menu will be available
to-go in trays that serve six. Choose from classic Feijoada (slow cooked for 24
hours) to Brazilian beef stroganoff with mushrooms and fresh cream. All entrées
come with rice, beans and house salad. Each tray costs $100. Place your order
by Friday, May 8.
Cabinet approves
rice export, reconstitution of minorities commission
BY STAFF
REPORT ,
–Shibli Faraz accuses PML-N and
PPP of playing politics over coronavirus situation
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the reconstitution
of the National Commission for Minorities and allowed the export of rice and
locally manufactured hand sanitisers, as Federal Minister for Information and
Broadcasting Shibli Faraz criticised the opposition Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for playing politics
over the coronavirus situation.
Briefing the media about the
decisions taken in the federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran
Khan, Faraz said that Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar gave a
comprehensive briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country.
“Umar informed the members that
Pakistan’s situation was far better than that of many developed countries,” he
added. On the occasion, the prime minister and all the cabinet members,
including ministers, ministers of state, advisers and special assistants,
decided to donate their one month salary to the Prime Minister’s COVID-19
Relief Fund 2020.
According to Faraz, the federal cabinet
also accorded approval to the export of rice and locally manufactured hand
sanitisers to earn foreign exchange. It was also decided to include 61 food and
non-food items in PSQCA’s quality control list, he added.
He said the cabinet also
deliberated on the issue of ban on import of goods from India, except
life-saving drugs. The prime minister directed to ensure that there is no
violation of the ban.
Faraz said the cabinet also
approved the reconstitution of the National Commission for Minorities on the
recommendation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
A Hindu community member from
Sindh, Chela Ram Kewlani has been named as chairman of the commission. Maulana
Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad and Mufti Gulzar Ahmed Naeemi will represent
the Muslim community in the commission.
Three members each have been
selected from Hindu and Christian community, while two members have been named
from Sikh community and one member each will represent Kelash and Parsi
communities in the commission. No Ahmadi has been included in the commission.
The chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology will be the commission’s
ex-officio member while the religious affairs secretary will also act as the
commission’s secretary.
The information minister said the
cabinet was informed that the Committee on Election Reforms had sent its report
to the Ministry of Law and Justice. The PM said that reforming the
electoral system was part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s agenda and it would
remain the topmost priority of its government, he added.
The prime minister also stressed
the need to reform the criminal justice system and directed the minister for
law and justice to finalise the reformation process within six months. He said
that modern technology should be introduced in police stations to change the
“Thana” culture. The meeting was updated on the conversion of police stations
to model police stations with the introduction of modern technology, Faraz
added.
On the PM’s directives, the
cabinet was informed that 76 illegal appointments were made on senior posts in
seven divisions during the previous government. The ministries concerned were
directed to present reports on those appointments in the next cabinet meeting,
Faraz said.
Briefing about the implementation
of decisions taken during 81 cabinet meetings, Faraz said that a total 1,630
decisions were made out of which 1,376 ( 86%) had been implemented whereas 114
decisions ( 7%) were in the implementation stage.
The minister said that SAPM on
Social Welfare Dr Sania Nishtar briefed the cabinet about the ongoing process
of financial help of vulnerable segments of the society through the Ehsaas
Emergency Cash Programme. It was informed that in addition to 400,000 families
as per the data of previous governments, almost 810,000 new ones had been
added.
The programme was being
implemented in a most transparent manner and on merit, Dr Sania Nishtar said.
‘PML-N, PPP HOODWINKING MASSES’:
Faraz also responded to Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb’s media talk from a
day earlier in which she had spoken out against the National Accountability
Bureau’s (NAB) summoning of Shehbaz Sharif.
She portrayed it to be a case “as
if a very virtuous, innocent and honest man has been humiliated”, said Faraz of
Aurangzeb’s briefing.
He said that if Shehbaz had been
summoned by NAB, then it was because NAB is an institution in pursuit of the
implementation of law in the land. “If you consider appearing before the law an
act which tarnishes your reputation then that means you have no regard for the
law,” he added.
Faraz said that both the
PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party PPP were trying to hoodwink the masses
with catchy slogans and critical statements at a time when the country is
passing through a crisis situation. “The government believes in serving the
masses but responding to criticism was its right,” he added.
The minister urged the opposition
to support the government’s efforts to deal with the virus and provide relief
to the vulnerable segments of society.
About PPP’s Sindh minister Saeed
Ghani’s news conference, he said the party, which used to rule the country, was
now confined to just one province because of its incompetent leadership.
KCR extends lockdown in Telangana
till 29 May; liquor shops to open today
. Updated: 06
May 2020, 12:52 AM IST
Those who purchase alcohol will have to wear masks compulsorily,
and will also have to shell out 16% more money on liquor, said CM KCR
