15th June,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

How GMO, gene-edited crops can keep cancer-causing heavy metals out of staple foods

Dibakar Das | June 15, 2020

This article or excerpt is included in the GLP’s daily curated selection of ideologically diverse news, opinion and analysis of biotechnology innovation.

One of the most pressing issues in public health is the presence of toxic elements in food, which potentially risk the health of millions of people. The presence of toxic elements like arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury especially in rice and rice-based food products is a serious concern, which requires urgent public policy attention. 

Arsenic, a class I human carcinogen, is found in substantial amounts in rice grown in South East Asian countries like  India, Bangladesh, parts of China and The United States. A recent investigation of baby foods from major manufacturers in The United States found that 95% contained lead, 73% contained arsenic, 75% contained cadmium and 32% contained mercury. About 25% of food tested contained all four toxic elements, though at levels that are unlikely to pose a risk to human health. Nearly 75% of samples tested in Australia contained inorganic arsenic exceeding the EU maximum safe limit for infants and children. These figures are, however, very limited, if not entirely unavailable, for southeast  Asian countries, where exposure to heavy metals is thought to be worse and may justify calls for urgent regulations. 

While heavy metal-contaminated grains remain a serious global health concern, recent plant breeding advances, both in genetic engineering and gene editing, are allowing scientists to develop crop varieties that contain very low levels of potentially harmful heavy metals. Rice with low amounts of arsenic has already been produced, and other crops such as mustard could reduce consumer exposure to selenium, though strict regulation may keep these improved varieties off the market. The exposure to arsenic can negatively affect the developing brain and IQ in children. The accumulation of toxic elements like arsenic in the adult body can result in a variety of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, skin lesions and birth defects in newborns. The concentrations of inorganic arsenic in many Bengal (India) and Bangladeshi rice varieties may often exceed 0.2mg/kg, the safe limit proposed by the Codex Alimentarous Commission, and the total arsenic can be as high as 1.7 mg/kg in a few varieties.

Research suggests that the concentration of inorganic arsenic in rice varieties will increase two fold as climate change continues. Given the magnitude of this problem, it is surprising that no regulations to contain toxic elements, especially arsenic in rice and rice-based foods, exist in countries like India and Bangladesh. Although the US and EU have enacted regulations to control toxic elements in food, and most foods pose minimal risk in this regard, several studies have shown that arsenic and lead can be toxic at very low concentrations. Regulators therefore should ensure that safe limits are gradually brought down to further protect public health. 

So how do toxic elements like arsenic end up in our food? What options do we have to minimize them? 

It turns out that arsenic and other toxic elements are naturally present in soil and ground water. In some regions of the world, like those mentioned above, they occur in greater concentrations than in others. When crops grown in those soils are irrigated with contaminated ground water, plants end up absorbing these toxic elements from the soil and water. Plants then transport these elements from their roots to their grains, the edible parts. As rice cultivation requires huge volumes of water, it creates an essentially anaerobic environment in which arsenite, the most toxic form of arsenic, becomes more readily available for absorption.

For this reason rice is especially good at absorbing arsenic. Although most of the arsenic from rice grains can be removed by polishing, the growing preference for brown rice among consumers and the wide use of rice flour in baby food preparation mean we must find an alternative and effective solution to arsenic contamination. 

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

To minimize toxic elements in our food, we may not have to look beyond the plants which accumulate them. Since these elements are toxic to plants themselves, they have developed mechanisms to restrict and actually flush out toxic elements in vacuoles, the dumping grounds in plant cells. Some minute quantities can  escape and reach the grains, which are still toxic to humans.  But it turns out that different varieties of rice vary in the amounts of toxic elements they allow to reach the grains, and some varieties like Basmati and other scented rice varieties allow only very minute quantities to reach their grains, thanks to their genes. 

After arsenic and other toxic elements gain entry into the plant system through channels in plant membrane – a kind of pores which allows nutrients and other substances to pass across, they form complexes with a type of molecules called phytochelatins (PCs). These complexes are then dragged along and flushed out in vacuoles by some transporter genes- genes that help transport substances across biological membranes. 

Examples of such genes in rice and other plants include some ABC transporters, named so because they use energy from ATP hydrolysis to function and MATE (Multidrug And Toxic Compound Extrusion proteins) genes, the same class of genes which are sometimes responsible for antibiotic resistance in humans and dairy animals. 

One simple strategy to breed arsenic tolerant rice is to identify novel versions of these genes from available germplasms and transfer them to high-yielding rice varieties by artificial pollination and using DNA markers for selection. The advantage of this approach is that the varieties developed require only the same level of regulations applied to traditional varieties. 

A more radical approach is to genetically modify rice using genes from arsenic-resistant bacteria and other species. Some species of bacteria and fungi which dwell in arsenic-contaminated soils have developed resistance to arsenic. Scientists can splice out specific genes from those microorganisms and transfer them to food plants using the methods of genetic engineering. It is also possible to up regulate or down regulate specific genes such that their activity is either enhanced or suppressed, respectively. Scientists have, for example, observed markedly less accumulation of arsenic in rice by expressing genes from Ceratophylum demersum, an aquatic arsenic accumulating plant. However, high-yielding rice varieties with low arsenic accumulation- GM or conventional are hardly available for cultivation. Do you mean these rice varieties are not available yet?

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2020/06/15/how-gmo-gene-edited-crops-can-keep-cancer-causing-heavy-metals-out-of-staple-foods/

DA to release P3-B farm tools

Published June 14, 2020, 10:00 PM

By Madelaine B. Miraflor

The second batch of farm machinery funded under the Rice Tariffication Law’s (RTL) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) — which has a total cost of P3 billion — is out in two months, the government assured. This is despite the lockdowns and quarantines imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) Executive Director Dr. Baldwin Jallorina Jr.

Such distribution, he said, will be about 50 percent bigger than the first batch of machinery that was bought under RCEF.

To recall, one of the crucial components of RTL, which allowed unlimited rice importation in the country, is to make Filipino rice farmers competitive by giving them access to free seeds and modern farm equipment to be funded by the so-called RCEF.

RCEF is the collection of tariffs from rice imports. It is supposed to be injected with P10 billion annually from 2019 to 2024.

Of the P10 billion, P5 billion is allotted to mechanization, but due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, it took PhilMech more than a year to procure farm equipment and distribute it.

Over the weekend, Jallorina said the next batch of farm machines for bidding will be for another 1,068 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCA).

This is larger compared to the P2-billion worth of machines set to be distributed to 624 FCAs as part of the first batch of distribution.

PHilMech has already scheduled the start of the bidding process for the second batch of machines costing P3 billion at the latter part of this month, while the distribution under the first batch is scheduled in the next few weeks.

PhilMech Facility Management and Field Operations Division chief Joel Dator said they continue to validate FCAs in order to provide them with additional machines if needed.

The FCAs who did not qualify in 2019 can apply for 2020 as long as requirements set by PHilMech are met, he said.

RCEF covers 957 municipalities in the country and for rice farmers to benefit from the program, they should be part of the DA’s outdated Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

As for RCEF’s mechanization program alone, only rice farmers who are members of an FCA can benefit from it.

In the selection of beneficiaries, PhilMech has adopted the farm clustering and consolidation strategy to “achieve economies of scale that will pave the way to cost-efficient operations, higher crop productivity and bigger farmers’ incomes,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

PhilMech has estimated farm mechanization can lower the cost of producing palay (unmilled rice) by P1 to P2 per kilo.

At present, the cost of producing a kilo of palay in the Philippines is P12.72 per kilo while it is P6.62 in Vietnam and P8.86 in Thailand, making imported rice cheaper than locally produced palay.

A total of 34,000 information, education and communication (IEC) materials have already been produced and distributed by PhilMech to farmers and stakeholders nationwide over the past year as part of this program.

“These IECs are also critical in helping the officers and members of the targeted FCAs appreciate the benefits of mechanization and for them to rapidly adapt to farm mechanization,” PhilMech Applied Communication Division Chief Aldrin Badua.

https://business.mb.com.ph/2020/06/14/da-to-release-p3-b-farm-tools/

Myanmar, Thai firms bag contracts for PH rice imports

By: Karl R. Ocampo - Reporter / @kocampoINQ

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:05 AM June 15, 2020

State-owned Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) last week started awarding contract bids for the importation of 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice as part of the government’s contingency plan to ensure food security.
However, only 105,000 MT of rice were awarded as some bidders either failed to meet PITC’s requirements or did not participate in some lots.

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The bidding was divided into five lots, but only three lots were successfully bid out.
In all, four participated in the government-to-government scheme last week, which included Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade, Vietnam’s Vinafood I, Myanmar Rice Federation and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.The first lot was given to Myanmar Rice Federation with a bid price of $489.25 a MT. The contract indicated the delivery of 10,000 MT of rice not later than July 14 and 23,000 MT of rice not later than Aug. 14—both to be delivered via the port of Manila.
For the second lot, two batches of 21,000 MT of rice are set to be delivered not later than July 14 and Aug. 14, respectively, through the Cebu port. This was bid out to Myanmar Rice Federation for $494.25 a MT.The bidding for the third and fourth lots were unsuccessful, which was supposed to be coursed through Tacloban and Zamboanga. The governments of Thailand and Myanmar did not participate in the bidding while Vietnam and India failed to meet PITC’s requirements.The last lot was awarded to Vinafood I with a bid price of $497.30 a MT. Two tranches of 15,000 MT of rice are expected to arrive not later than July 14 and Aug. 14 via the port of Davao.The remaining 195,000 MT of rice will have to be rebid, although the National Food Authority has yet to decide when.
Total amount for the bidding was at P2.02 billion, or 27 percent of the P7.45-billion allocated for the government contract. INQ

https://business.inquirer.net/299922/myanmar-thai-firms-bag-contracts-for-ph-rice-imports#ixzz6PQV9HiTj

Meeting presided over by N K Sharma demands sector be allowed to retain State share of GST for six months

S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) , 14 Jun 2020

The Industry and Beopar wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded that the Congress government come out with a financial package for small and medium scale industries by paying their salary bills, allowing the industrial and trade sector to retain the State share of GST for a six month period, honouring its promise to waive off fixed power charges for the industrial sector, waiving off power and property tax for shop keepers and bringing down State share in GST on petrol.These demands were raised at the first meeting of the State Industry and Beopar wing which was presided over by the newly appointed President N K Sharma. The Wing congratulated Mr N K Sharma on his appointment and pledged to work for the welfare of industry and traders of the State.Participating in the discussion, senior party leader Sarup Chand Singla said forget giving any financial package on the pattern of that done by the Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh governments, the Punjab government had even reneged on the promises made to industrialists including waiving off fixed power charges for a two month period. He said the MSMEs were in a critical condition and that the Punjab government should give salaries of workers in order to get them back on their feet. He said a financial package should be announced for the same.
Participating in the discussion, senior leader Gurmeet Singh Kular from Ludhiana said the labour wanted to come back to Punjab but fear of quarantine was coming in the way of their return. He said the sewing and cycle industry, which was labour intensive was most hit and that the government should give a financial relief to them. He also raised the issue that one lakh PPE kits were being manufactured in Ludhiana but that the order given to small industry had been cancelled recently creating a fresh crisis.Senior leader Mr Rajinder Singh Marwaha from Amritsar said the Congress government should waive off power and water bills as well as Property tax of shop keepers for the entire lockdown period. He said shop keepers were being asked to pay average bill based on last year’s consumption which was unjustified. He said the municipal authorities should be directed to waive off rent on its shops.Senior leader Madan Lal Bagga from Ludhiana pointed out that the price of petrol was among the highest in the country in Punjab and that the Punjab government should give a relief to the people from its share in GST on petrol. He said VAT dues of Rs 80 crore were pending to Ludhiana industrialists and they should be released immediately.Speaking about the demands of rice millers Jalalabad based leader Ashok Aneja said pending levy security as well as as bardana bills should be cleared and space should be made available for rice delivery of coming year. Others who attended the meeting included Rajinder Deepa from Sunam who demanded that power bills of the industrial sector should be deferred for three months. EOM

Tags: NK SHARMA

https://www.5dariyanews.com/news/297621-SAD-Industry-and-Beopar-Wing-demands-financial-package-for-MSMEs

IIT-M researchers develop microwave process to make biofuel oils

IIT-M researchers develop microwave process to make biofuel oils

Chennai, June 15 (IANS) The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) on Monday said its researchers have developed a simple microwave process to produce biofuel oils.
In a statement issued here the IITM said the biofuel oils with high energy values were produced from two waste products -- agricultural waste such as rice straw and bagasse and discarded plastics.
The project was funded by GAIL (India) Ltd.
The urgency in search of renewable fuels is driven by the environmental impact of extracting fossil fuel and volatility in oil prices and the associated political unrest across the world.
Biofuel oils generated from renewable biological sources are considered a practical and pragmatic replacement for petroleum and petrochemicals, IITM said.
The research team led by Dr. R. Vinu, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and the other members were Dr. Dadi Suriapparao and Banupriya Boruah.
"Biomass is the only renewable source of carbon on the earth with immense potential for the production of energy, chemicals and materials with zero carbon footprint on the environment. Agricultural waste products such as rice straw, sugarcane bagasse and wood chips, among others, can potentially serve as bio-oil producing biomass," Vinu was quoted as saying the statement.
One of the common methods to produce bio-oil from biomass is ''pyrolysis'' or heat-induced breakdown of the biomass components into fuel components.
However, bio-oil produced by the pyrolysis of biomass contains large amounts of oxygenated groups or ''oxygenates'', far greater than in fossil fuels. These ''oxygenates'' result in lower heating value of bio-oils, compared to fossil fuels, and in addition, increase their acidity and corrosiveness.
"In order to make bio-oils competitive with fossil fuels, their oxygenate content must be reduced and hydrogen content increased. Mixing biomass with hydrogen-rich materials during pyrolysis can conceivably make biomass derived bio-oil comparable to fossil-derived fuels in calorific value and chemical/physical properties," explained Vinu.
Plastics that are rich in hydrogen, can serve as the hydrogen supplier to biomass in its conversion to low-oxygenate bio-oils.
The use of plastics as a supporting material in the pyrolysis of biomass would ultimately serve two purposes -- it would produce bio-oils with better properties and also help in repurposing used plastic.
The co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastics, in addition to increasing the calorific value of the fuel, also reduces char formation, thereby increasing efficiency of the process and yield of fuel.
The bio-oils produced by co-pyrolysing the biomasses with the plastics had higher energy yields than those of bio-oils produced by pyrolysis of pure biomass, without the plastics.
The IITM researchers took the idea one step further and used microwave to co-pyrolyse biomass and plastics. Microwave heats materials quickly and uniformly and is a selective and energy-saving technology.
They used a microwave oven to co-pyrolyse a variety of biomass, including rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, groundnut shell, wood sawdust and wood from the tree called ''Seemai Karuvelam'' in Tamil (''Angaraji Babul'' in Hindi, scientific name Prosopis juliflora) with two synthetic plastics, polypropylene and polystyrene.
In the case of rice straw and bagasse, the team also used a zeolite catalyst to upgrade the quality of the bio-oil to light fuel oil (LFO) and heavy fuel oil (HFO).

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/iitm-researchers-develop-microwave-process-to-make-biofuel-oils/1866427

India’s Largest Rice Brand Steps Forward To Serve Millions

13 June 2020

KRBL Ltd. - World’s largest rice millers & owners of Brand India Gate, along with Michelin star Chef Vikas Khanna recently organized world’s largest food drive “Barkat” with more than 2 million meals being distributed to help vulnerable marginalized communities.
KRBL has been supporting Vikas’s noble effort of feeding millions of migrant workers, daily wagers, poor and under privileged people throughout the Covid-19 lockdown period across the country.
In order to lift the spirits of people and help them during these tough times, Chef Vikas Khanna started this movement to #FeedIndia. Barkat, an event under this initiative, hosted by Chef Vikas Khanna along with India Gate saw huge success as more than 10,000 bags containing dry rations were distributed across different parts of Delhi-NCR serving 2 Million meals to those in need.
Speaking regarding the campaign, CMD KRBL-India Gate Basmati Rice- Mr Anil Mittal Said “At India Gate, we deeply associate ourselves with the old Indian values of sharing, helping the needy and underprivileged within our society. During this pandemic, we joined hands with Chef Vikas Khanna to provide meals to lakhs of migrant workers, poor families, slum dwellers and daily wagers who were struggling for basic necessities every day. Vikas’s #feedindia campaign is a big step towards bringing happiness into thousands of marginalized communities and families who were left out from any help till now. We wish Vikas best of luck for his astounding endeavours and pledge our support for many more such initiatives in the future as well”
Chef Vikas Khanna, said, “Some partnerships are beyond commerce, it becomes a part of your being … this for me is one such collaboration. I am extremely proud of the work we have been able to do and ensure food for millions of people together. India Gate truly epitomised giving back to the community and we surely see this as a long term commitment to ensure food on every plate. I take immense pride in thanking India Gate for their constant support during the pandemic. This initiative would not have been possible without their support. We hope to work together on more such initiatives and serve meals to those in need.”
KRBL Ltd. has been extending support to feed lakhs of people since the start of lockdown and has provided more than 20 lakh meals under their campaign #UmeedhainHum. It is an initiative to get food to old- age homes, orphanages & leprosy centres and millions of other families in India who are not only fighting against Corona, but also against hunger.

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sponsored-indias-largest-rice-brand-steps-forward-to-serve-millions/354690

Reality Zone: Ghana can grow apples, good tidings

Source: Vicky Wireko  

  13 June 2020 5:43pm

The saying, “Never say die until the bones are rotten” reverberated well when I read the news about Ghana’s potential to grow apples. 

For as long as I have lived, that possibility has always been dismissed with the emphatic assertion that our climate does not favour the cultivation of the fruit. Apples have continued to be imported into the country and despite the price, the fruit gets well patronised with a market for it even on the streets because of its dietary benefits. 

Discovery of the year

Excited with the news, I am prompted to propose a discovery of the year award for the Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSRI) for successful experimentation on the potential production of apple in the country. Alongside that, the star of the discovery goes to the proponent of the initiative, Edward Akwasi Fosu, said to be a technical Assistant with a private firm in Antwerpen, Belgium. According to a news report that made the rounds a couple of weeks ago, the experiment on the edible apple, “Malus domestica” had been on-going in the last two years at Atmatim-Taaboum in the Kwabre-East District of the Ashanti Region. The plant apparently started fruiting two years after planting.

Though a progressive piece of news that should have been given all the limelight to generate wider discussion by interest groups, it did not. The story seems to have got buried under the depressing news of coronavirus and the politics of the December general election, not to mention the growing incidence of invoking curses. It is regrettable that such progressive news items do not often get their place of pride.

Super fruit

So everything is possible on our Ghana soil. We turn to be cynical and easily dismiss attempts that could open doors even when we have scientific proof. Hopefully this new discovery would not be shelved in view of its pride of place for the country as a super fruit and the possibility of creating jobs locally rather than importing from elsewhere.

The importation of rice and sugar for example, are most of the time cited when we talk about unnecessary or reduced food imports. We have arable lands to cultivate healthy and tasty rice yet we prefer to import the product from elsewhere. For years, we have spent billions of dollars to bring in rice from other parts of the world, mostly from the East and thus supporting their economies.

As per available statistics, since 2015, Ghana has imported over $1,162 billion worth of rice into the country while local rice farmers struggle for funding to perfect their produce.  What these scarce resources could have done for our economy is anybody’s guess.

Now that the potential to grow apples here in Ghana has been established, we should begin to avail our minds to identifying areas around the country where the discovery could be piloted on large scale. We have cooler weather conditions all year round in places like Aburi and the Kwahu range that may support large scale production of apples.

Planting for food and jobs

On pilot basis, we could begin to experiment the growing of not only apples but also some of those food items that require cooler weather conditions and which we have readily dismissed in the past as impossible. That should be a challenge to be taken up as part of our planting for food and jobs agenda.

Currently, the country imports apples from Europe and South Africa. The country’s importation of foreign fruits like apples and pears has been estimated at about $7.27m, according to a 2018 UN database on international trade. Thus being a market for apples is not in dispute and that is why we should not allow this potential to whittle away.

It is often said that an apple a day, keeps the doctor away and there is a reason for that.  Apples are said to be rich in potassium, fiber, vitamin C, B-6 and magnesium. It is said to be good for the heart and for overall wellness. The opportunity to make this super fruit readily available is here. A further opportunity is to create jobs for those who want to go into its cultivation and possibly processing.

One looks forward to the CRI and the Ministry of Agriculture working actively on the discovery and pushing it ahead on the Planting for Food and Jobs agenda.

Writer’s email: vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com

https://www.myjoyonline.com/opinion/reality-zone-ghana-can-grow-apples-good-tidings/

Navin directs for farmer friendly machinery on subsidy

Pic: J&K Information Department

The Agriculture department today conducted a field demonstration on Laser Land Leveler at Village Dhateryal, Marh in presence of Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Navin Choudhary.
Pertinently, for efficient implementation of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) in the field in view of present labour shortage scenario a uniform leveled land is pre-requisite which helps in improving crop yields and input-use efficiency including water and nutrients.
Principal Secretary asked them to ensure availability of such farmer friendly machinery to the farmers on subsidy. He said that the purpose of the demonstration is to sensitize the farmers as well as field officers of the department regarding importance and functioning of Laser guided land leveling machine which ultimately helps in efficient use of farm resources and further enhancing the crop production.
Navin directed the officers to fix the targets to conduct more field demonstrations on new and innovative farm machinery available with the department to popularize the new technological interventions among the framers.

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/business/navin-directs-for-farmer-friendly-machinery-on-subsidy/

UN FAO prospects positive rice harvest this season

June 14, 2020

Rice farmers harvesting paddy at a field. KT/Chor Sokunthea

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations says Cambodia’s rice production is forecast to rise 1.5 percent to 6.6 million tonnes this year given a positive prospects for the Kingdom.

“Given the swift repeal of export restrictions officially put in place earlier this year, expectations that their documented shipments will continue to grow remain unscathed,” the FAO said.
The export outlook is less positive on heightened border controls and reduced demand from China and Laos. This could keep overall Cambodian shipments around 1.5 million tonnes.
Cambodia banned exports of paddy and non-fragrant milled rice from April 5 to ensure domestic supplies as COVID-19 spread which was repealed from May 20.
Export restrictions by several countries contributed to steady price increases with the FAO rice price index rising 12.7 percent in the first five months of this year. But prices declined sharply as restrictions will be either eased or repealed.
Among other agricultural policy developments in Cambodia, the FAO highlighted the announcement of $50 million in credit to rice millers to help them buy 300,000 tonnes of paddy from last year’s season.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance would also monitor market developments and release funds to rice processors to help them buy supplies for storage. /AKP

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50733582/un-fao-prospects-positive-rice-harvest-this-season/

A crusader for revival of Jammu Basmati

By Daily Excelsior

14/06/2020

Sharda Lal

The name of Choudhary Dev Raj of village Baspur Bangla of tehsil Ranbir Singh Pura (R.S. Pura), stands out as a doyen amongst the progressive farmers of Jammu and Kashmir. Till his last breath, Choudhury Dev Raj championed the cause of his professional fraternity – the farmers and remained stuck to the roots in knowledge based farming. His ever-indomitable spirit for active living to improve the self, the people and the country reflected the other aspect of the cherished values of awakened persons to lay down their lives for honour and integrity of the country.

The speeches of Ch. Dev Raj commanded respect amongst listeners always as these were always stoked with anecdotes from rural culture of Jammu. The authorities would never ignore his unique personality and ever-smiling face. He remained draped in characteristically white attire graced with white short turban which captivated and impressed all. Even when annoyed, Ch. Dev Raj would make his point with dignity, grace and conviction.

Choudhary Dev Raj, the founder President of R.S. Pura Basmati Rice Growers Association (RBGA), was a bitter critique of the agricultural policies of earlier state governments. Up to the year 2004 there was a ban on the export of ‘traditional Basmati rice of R.S.Pura’. He was convinced that the ban had adversely impacted economic prosperity of farmers of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, particularly of those living in R.S. Pura area and along the international border with Pakistan. Basmati rice, the main source of livelihood didn’t fetch these farmers the genuine returns because of restrictions in marketing. “In fact, the profitability and survival of the profession, which dealt with the prized crop of Jammu, was at stake” he had confessed once.

The ban was lifted in the year 2004 by the State government after a long struggle by the farmers, but soon it was re-imposed in the year 2006 on the plea of controlling its price in the State. Ch. Dev Raj therefore sensed a nexus which had put Basmati growers of Jammu at the mercy of the traders and rice-mill owners. Their upper hand in deciding the procurement price of Basmati rice was disadvantageous to the growers and therefore, the RBGA intensified its struggle to break this alleged nexus.

Meanwhile, Ch. Dev Raj had developed the ability to rightly feel the pulse of local farmers as well as the government. He never failed to remind that Basmati rice was cultivated by more than seventy thousand to one lakh farming families in three districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua and it was more because of the characteristic quality (aroma) and sentiments of farmers attached with the traditional rice variety ‘Basmati – 370′ rather than the remunerations to growers. He would never fail to make a mention of the difficult conditions under which the Basmati growers work. He would press the point that more than 90 per cent of the Basmati growers had land along the 198-km long International Border which traversed through Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts and remained vulnerable to the enemy’s fire.

Quite recently he had explained that total area under Basmati rice had increased consistently from around 18.50 thousand hectares in the year 1997-98 to about 31.99 thousand hectares in 2007-08 with corresponding production level increase from 37.25 thousand tons to around 86.79 thousand metric tons, but according to Ch. Dev Raj it was to boost the economy of scale and quantum of trade. The latest estimated area under different basmati varieties like Basmati – 370, Sugandha, Sanwal, Ranbir basmati, RR-564, Pusa no.1 and Pusa basmati 1121 was somewhere between 50,000 to 62000 hectares and for this increase he shared credit with the extension efforts of SKUAST-J and Agriculture Directorate Jammu too.

Ch. Dev Raj never forgot to appreciate the efforts of Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and All India Rice Exporters’ Association (AIREA) who had made the Basmati rice growers and related stake-holders aware about the quality standards for exportable Basmati rice as well as about its production and post harvest technology in collaboration with the RBGA, SKUAST Jammu, and the State Agriculture Department.

Credit goes to Ch. Dev Raj, RBGA and other prominent farmers of the times who had played a catalytic role in the chain of events preceding approval to the exportability of Basmati – 370 variety of Jammu rice outside the country by Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India during the year 2010-11. On their request the then State government had proposed to relax the norms regarding permissible length of uncooked Basmati rice to 6.61 mm against the 7 mm that was specified earlier.

Although the ban on export of basmati rice was finally lifted during the year 2009-10, but the septuagenarian Dev Raj Choudhary wasn’t fully satisfied with the efforts of successive governments to promote Basmati – 370 as a national and international brand. He wanted immediate formulation and implementation of an appropriate market intervention scheme to prevent exploitation of Basmati cultivators at the hands of monopolistic millers. His argument was that an estimated 30,000 metric tones of Basmati rice was procured by outside buyers, but in the absence of government intervention, these traders continued to exercise their sole competence to decide the price of the ‘prized produce of Jammu farmers’. Toeing the line of Ch. Dev Raj, many other prominent farmers have joined the clamour for market intervention by the government on the pattern announced for apples of Kashmir during the year 2019.

Choudhary Dev Raj as President of the RBGA played a very active role during the year 2014-15 when heavy rains and flash floods had extensively damaged wheat as well as rice crops. He complemented the voice of affected farmers of Pargwal, Marh, Suchetgarh, R.S. Pura, Arnia, Vijaypur and Hiranagar blocks at various forums and demanded compensation since Basmati crop had suffered an estimated 30% to 75% loss due to flash floods. He had vigorously raised the issue of loss to human and animal life including damage to about 75% tube wells. Simultaneously, he had brought to the attention of the State and Central governments the inability of farmers to look after their crops along the international border due to floods and heavy Pakistani shelling.

The continued persuasion by RBGA headed by Mr Choudhary led to the formulation and implementation of Suchetgarh Basmati Rice Cluster Project (Organic) and RS Pura Basmati Rice Cluster Project by Department of Agriculture Jammu in 2014 in consultation with SKUAST-J. Under these Projects, assistance is being provided to respective farmers for purchase and establishment of mini-rice shellers, improved seeds, latest machinery, bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides and vermi-composting units etc. Formation of farmer producer organizations (FPO), brand popularization and proper marketing of the organic produce of traditional Basmati are the main aims of the Projects to enable higher returns to farmers with reduced chain of middlemen.

A recent publication by SKUAST Jammu has duly acknowledged the contribution of Choudhary Dev Raj in agriculture by noting, “due to the farmer organizations, competency could see among the farmers. RBGA, Sarpanch Association Block R.S Pura and Baba Deep Singh Kissan Bhalai Kendra, R.S. Pura had taken up the farmers ‘ issues and problems to the higher authorities, scientists and the related officials to find out immediate solutions.”

Choudhary Dev Raj’s latest wish was for enforcement of a complete ban on conversion of agricultural land for commercial and construction purposes to save Basmati growing areas. On 17th of May, 2020, Ch. Dev Raj while expressing his concern regarding relief package for farmers announced by the Union Government to mitigate the impact of Covid – 19, had told to a newspaper of eminence, “There is no mention of basmati growers of J&K in this package. This is quite unfortunate. Farmers were hoping some drastic measures to take them out of the prevailing losses”.

Though only in his early seventies, Mr Choudhary was having an ailing kidney compounded with a fracture in the leg he passed away on June the 1st 2020, leaving a big void in the farming sector.

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/a-crusader-for-revival-of-jammu-basmati/

Project Launched To Make Residual Of Paddy Crop Usefull

Fri 12th June 2020 | 06:16 PM

Punjab government has launched a project to make the residual of paddy crop useful through the latest machinery. Earlier, farmers burnt residual of paddy crop which caused smog and environment pollution, said agriculture department spokesperson here on Friday

FAISALABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2020 ) :Punjab government has launched a project to make the residual of paddy crop useful through the latest machinery. Earlier, farmers burnt residual of paddy crop which caused smog and environment pollution, said agriculture department spokesperson here on Friday.
In this regard, Punjab Agriculture Department has started receiving application forms for providing Pak Seeder/Happy Seeder & Rice Straw Chopper and Shredder machines to farmers on 80 percent discount rates. The machines will be given to farmers in the following districts--- Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Hafizabad, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Bahawalnagr and Okara, he said.
The farmer owner of a 65 horse power tractor can apply for the machinery.
He said that farmers would be bound to provide machinery to other farmers on rent for four years.
The farmers will attach a copy of CNIC, registration book, transfer letter, ownership of agri land, and a copy of 'Gardawary' along with stamp paper of Rs 100.The application forms are available at the offices of Agri Engineer (field) and Agriculture Officer (extension) of respective districts. The forms can also be downloaded from website www.agripunjab.gov.pk or www.field.agri.punjab.gov.pkApplication can be submitted by June 30. For further information, farmers can call at landline number 042-9920005,spokesman added.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/project-launched-to-make-residual-of-paddy-cr-945175.htmlWAM Feature: Expat For 50 Years Says Basmati Rice Gift From Abu Dhabi To India Tells Everything About 1970s

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) 2 days ago Sat 13th June 2020 | 02:00 PM

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 13th Jun, 2020) On 14th March 1970, a taxi driver dropped him in front of a small building in Abu Dhabi just after 1 pm, but he was shocked to find that his prospective workplace was closed.
Godfrey D’Costa, a 22-year-old Indian university graduate, found out from a nearby tailoring shop called Freddy Tailors that most offices and shops would close for midday break between 1 pm and 4 pm, "which was strange."
"When I realised I would be working in a shop in a small building besides an unpaved road in a vast desert area, I sat on my steel trunk and cried. I had only one thought–how to escape from that desert town," says D’costa who’s 72 now, while sharing his half-century long life experiences with Emirates news Agency, WAM.
"I lived with that thought for the first two weeks; fortunately it was not easy to go back immediately. Otherwise, I would have missed a wonderful opportunity to witness the transformation of that desert land into a modern state in the next 50 years," he adds.
D’Costa was frustrated at his first glimpse of the desert town as he was born and brought up in Bombay (now Mumbai), which was already a huge metropolitan city.
"One of the prestigious golf courses [established in 1927] in India was near my home in Chembur. I used to see Bollywood stars, as there were film studios in the vicinity," D’Costa, a holder of Bachelor of Arts in History and Psychology from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, reminisces.
"I remember, once helping Prithviraj Kapoor [patriarch of the Kapoor family of Hindi films, with two generations still active in Bollywood] along with my friends in the neighbourhood, to jumpstart his car that had a breakdown.
"That’s why I thought why I should live in a desert town that did not have even basic amenities. I never imagined in my wildest dreams I would continue living here for so long."
UAE and India’s economic prosperity He vividly remembers the items he had packed in his baggage when he went back home on his first vacation in 1972, which indicated "everything about the situation in 1970s."
He took five kilograms of basmati rice and two kilograms of sugar, as there was severe shortage of food in India those days.
"I bought it from a small supermarket in Abu Dhabi; there was only one or two small supermarkets those days. Can you count the number of supermarkets and hypermarkets that opened in Abu Dhabi later?" D’Costa wonders.
He witnessed all the world-class facilities from his Bombay neighbourhood, such as golf courses and film studios, coming up in Abu Dhabi in later years, and big Bollywood stars flying to shoot their blockbuster movies here.
"I have immense respect for Abu Dhabi’s wise leadership for this wonderful transformation," he says. "Likewise, India also prospered. Nobody has taken basic food items to India from here in later years."
India as a young country, just after attaining independence from the British in 1947, had its own major challenges during the first few decades and food was rationed those days, he recalls.
As a child, he used to wake up early in the morning to collect the ration for the family. "Still my father never deprived us [children] of anything. He used to say that he would give us all the necessities but not luxuries," he says.
Those experiences taught him good lessons in life. "I never allowed my children to waste food.

You need hardships to open your eyes."

Hands-on experience on first job He was happy with his first job where he took care of the sales of an Emirati-owned business selling hardware, building materials and auto parts in Abu Dhabi.
"I was happy with the initial salary of 55 Bahraini dinars [Abu Dhabi had used Bahraini Dinar as Currency between 1966 and 1973]," he says.
"But a fellow Indian expat with a better job boasted that BD55 [equal to around AED550 then] was not enough even for his breakfast expenses for a month! "I was so frugal and saved BD30 a month."
D’Costa got an increment of BD20 within two weeks. "It was all due to hard work. One day, I told my boss the warehouse was in a miserable condition. I myself bought two gallons of paint and painted the entire warehouse."
He was able to carry out the basic works of an electrician, plumber, carpenter and painter. "My dad taught me to do everything by myself. I used to paint my home. We were hands-on people!"
Vibrant social life After two years with the first job, he got a better job with salary almost doubled. He continued working with that Emirati-owned firm selling paints and coating for 21 years until he started his own business in 1993 – a firm supplying specialised construction materials.
In 1970s and 1980s, although a small laidback city, Abu Dhabi had a wonderful social life, he says. He was a member of The Club [popularly known as British Club] that later offered him an honorary membership for being a continuous member for 30 years.
As a member of the British Business Group as well, he had enough opportunities for networking in business circles. "There was a St. Joseph Club at St. Joseph Church in Abu Dhabi in 1970s, where we used to celebrate Christmas, Easter and other festivities."
He used to play football and hockey in Mumbai, which he was able to continue in Abu Dhabi. "We had a hockey team until the British, who ran the defence forces, left after the formation of the UAE. I was also part of the British team and trained some of the players. We continued playing hockey until late 1980s."
Commemorating UAE Formation The UAE’s formation on 2nd December 1971 is a living memory for him. His Emirati boss gifted him a commemorative gold coin on the Federation’s second anniversary on 2nd December 1973.
"I have been keeping that coin as a treasure and recently handed it over to my son. He will pass it on to the next generation as our family’s tribute to this great country," he says.
D’Costa lives with his wife Jescy Philomena D’Costa in Abu Dhabi as a happy and contended man. His business is doing very well; his three children got good education and settled well in life.
The son is a director at a government organisation, while his daughter is a vice president at an investment-banking company in London and another daughter is doing her second Master's Degree in Medical Economics in Norway.
Hope for future The fifty years’ experiences make him confident that the UAE would overcome the challenge posed by the current health situation very soon.
"The current situation is something beyond man’s control anywhere in the world. However, the UAE with its oil wealth and sovereign funds will come out of this situation soon in flying colours," he says confidently.
"I have seen this country overcoming many formidable challenges during the past 50 years. We shall overcome this, too."

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/middle-east/wam-feature-expat-for-50-years-says-basmati-945945.html

Soil scientist Rattan Lal wins World Food Prize 2020

The announcement was made by World Food Prize Foundation president Barbara Stinson in an online ceremony from Washington on June 11. 

By: Express News Service | Ludhiana | Updated: June 13, 2020 12:44:43 pm

Rattan Lal

An alumnus of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and a renowned agricultural soil scientist from Ohio State University (OSU), Dr Rattan Lal (76), has been declared the winner of the World Food Prize 2020.
The announcement was made by World Food Prize Foundation president Barbara Stinson in an online ceremony from Washington on June 11.
PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr B S Dhillon, in a statement, said PAU may be the only institution in the world to have two alumni as World Food Laureates. The honour was earlier won by PAU alumnus Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, a plant breeder and pioneer in rice genetics. He had won this award in 1996 for his excellence in developing new rice varieties and ushering green revolution in rice farming.
Responding to the congratulatory message from PAU V-C, the winning scientist Dr Rattan Lal remarked, “To be a graduate from PAU is a great honour in itself. I want to thank you, the faculty staff and students of PAU for their support and good wishes. I look forward to visiting the university which has been long overdue.”
Lal, referring to Khush, said he was “a big inspiration and a unique role model to follow”.
Dr Lal did his graduation (B.Sc in agriculture) from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in 1963, M.Sc (soils) in 1965 from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and PhD (soils) in 1968 from Ohio State University.
A professor of Soil Science at Ohio State University, he is also the founding director of the university’s Carbon Management and Sequestration Center.
Stinson, while announcing him as the winner, termed Dr Lal as “trailblazer in soil science with a prodigious passion for research that improves soil health, enhances agricultural production, improves the nutritional quality of food, restores the environment and mitigates climate change”.
Dr Lal’s research in the 1990s revealed that restoring degraded soils through increasing soil carbon and organic matter not only improved soil health, but helped combat rising carbon dioxide levels in the air by sequestering atmospheric carbon. He provided leadership to a range of soil restoration projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America, integrating no-till farming and use of cover crops, mulching and agro-forestry to protect soil, conserve water and return back nutrients, carbon and organic matter in the soil. Additionally, Dr Lal’s research seeks wider use of soil conservation measures focused on soil health in developed countries.
Dr Lal was born in Karyal in erstwhile Punjab (now in Pakistan). He was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Science by PAU in 2001.
The World Food Prize was created by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug in 1986 to recognise scientists and others who have improved the quality and availability of food. The foundation that awards the $250,000 prize is based in Des Moines. This award is considered to be the Nobel Prize in Agriculture.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/soil-scientist-rattan-lal-wins-world-food-prize-2020-6456269/

Highlights of Economic Survey of Pakistan 2019-20

June 11, 2020

ISLAMABAD, Jun 11 (APP):Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Thursday launched Economic Survey of Pakistan 2019-20.
Following are the highlights of survey:
** Provisional GDP growth estimated negative 0.38%
** Agriculture sector grew by 2.67%
** Cotton production reduced 6.9%
** wheat production grew by 2.5%
** Rice production increased by 2.9%

** Sugarcane production reduced by 0.4%
** Industrial sector grew by 2.64%
** LSM sector growth decreased by 5.4%
** Fertilizers production grew by 5.81%
** Leather products increased 4.96%
** Rubber products increased by 4.31%
** Auto mobile production decreased by 36.50%
** Wood products decreased by 22.11%
** Coke and petroleum products decreased by 17.46%
** Mining and quarry sector decreased by 8.82%
** Fiscal deficit increased to 9.1%
** Total Expenditures increased by 15.8%
** Total revenues increased by 30.9%
** Current expenditure increased by 16.9%
** Development expenditure increased by 14.2%
** Non-Tax revenues increased 159.9%
** Direct tax collection increased by 14.1%
** Provisional government revenues increased by 12.2%
** SBP reduced policy rate by cumulative 525 bps
** NFA of banking sector increased by Rs 893.7 billion
** NDA of banking registered expansion of Rs587.6 billion
** Net govt borrowing increased Rs911.7 billion
** Govt borrowing for budgetary support increased by Rs1023.9 billion
** KSE-100 index registered modest growth of 0.61%
** Headlines inflation (CPI) averaged at 10.9% during Jul-May
** Urban food inflation recorded at 13.6%
** Rural food inflation recorded at 16.0%
** Whole Sale Price Index recorded increased by 11.1%
** Sensitive Price Index recorded an increase of 14.0 %
** Exports decreased by 3.9% in Jul-April
** Imports reduced by 16.2% in Jul-April
** Trade deficit contracted by 29.5%
** Remittances increased by 5.5%
** Net FDI increased by 126.8%
** Foreign exchange reserves till end April 2020 stood at $18.7 billion
** Average exchange rate remained Rs157.1 to a Dollar
** Eduction enrollment increased by 7.1%
** Number of teachers increased to 1.83 million
** Estimated population growth and fertility rate is 1.94 per annum
and 3.3 children per women
** Rs456 million disbursed under Kamyab Jawan Scheme

https://www.app.com.pk/highlights-of-economic-survey-of-pakistan-2019-20/

Bengali khichdi

By Chetna Makan

Published: 00:02 BST, 14 June 2020 | Updated: 00:02 BST, 14 June 2020

I enjoyed this at the home of Ranjana, who runs a takeaway business in Delhi called Bhaat. I love that it’s such a simple, one-pot meal – incredibly comforting – yet the flavours are truly amazing. All it needs is a side of raita.

+1

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I love that it’s such a simple, one-pot meal – incredibly comforting – yet the flavours are truly amazing. All it needs is a side of raita

SERVES 4

130g moong dal (split mung beans, available from Sainsbury’s)

130g basmati rice

500ml water

1 tbsp ghee

1 cinnamon stick

4 green cardamom pods

6 cloves

2cm fresh ginger, grated

1 tsp salt

½ tsp sugar

1 tsp ground turmeric

½ tsp chilli powder

2 tomatoes, roughly chopped 650ml boiling water

For the tadka

1 tbsp ghee

2 green chillies, thinly sliced

20g fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped

• Toast the moong dal in a dry pan over a low heat for 4-5 minutes, until it starts to change colour. Put it into a pan with the rice and wash them together two or three times. Drain, then soak the dal and rice in the fresh water for an hour.
• Heat a large pan and melt the ghee. Add the cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves and fresh ginger then cook for a minute on low heat. Add the salt, sugar, turmeric and chilli powder and cook for a few seconds, then stir in the tomatoes.
• Drain the dal and rice and add them to the pan. Cook, stirring, on a high heat for 2 minutes. Pour in the boiling water, then cover and cook on a low heat for 15 minutes, until the dal and rice are soft and squishy.
• To make the tadka, heat a small pan and melt the ghee. Add the green chillies and, after a few seconds of sizzling, add the coriander. Pour the mixture over the khichdi and serve warm.
• This can be stored in an airtight box in the fridge for 4-5 days. Heat thoroughly before serving.

https://agriculture.einnews.com/article_detail/519396743/DYl5fql-BGygIjlU?n=2&code=VuZLay2YinrVF2-0&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Basmati+Rice+News&utm_content=article

Govt procures 520 specialised rice tractors to boost production

Ghana’s quest to reduce the importation of rice by increasing local production has received a major boost, following the purchase of 520 specialised rice tractors by government for onward distribution to rice farmers in the country.

The tractors, comprising 220 Cabrio Compat tractors and 300 Global Multipurpose mini tractors, were made in the Czech Republic and procured by government with a €10million interest-free facility from the Czech Export Bank, arranged by Knights A.S. of the Czech Republic for the government of Ghana.

An agreement to that effect was signed in April 2018, when a delegation from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture led by Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Akoto Afriyie, visited the Czech Republic.

The Cabrio Compact Tractor and Global Multipurpose Mini Tractor are designed and conditioned to help triple rice production by allowing rice farmers to harvest and thresh their ripened rice on the field. They also adapt to wet and muddy areas of rice fields.

Throwing more light on the tractors, he said: “Most of tractors are of higher horsepower, expensive and useful only for large-scale farmers. The farmers from these developing countries, however, are of small or medium scale and cannot afford such large-energy tractors.

“There was therefore a need to solve this problem by importing into these countries Cabrio Compact Tractors and Global Mini Tractors, which are simple, effective and affordable – and can help alleviate ordeals small or medium scale farmers go through in their daily farming activities/operations,” Mr. Deyang said.

He added that village infrastructure projects and agricultural mechanisation can only succeed in developing countries “when peasant farmers are introduced to smaller machinery rather than nurtured to handle bigger machinery”.

“With these tractors, which are easier to maintain and service, a gradual transformation and nurturing of machine maintenance culture will be created as an introductory stage for larger machinery and extensive agricultural mechanization,” Mr. Deyang said.

Capabilities of the tractor

Explaining the tractor’s effectiveness, the Chief Executive Officer of Knights A.S, Dr. Karl Laryea, said two types of the tractor – CABRIO and GLOBAL – are highly multipurpose with a very wide range of active and passive accessories. With the CABRIO Compact Tractor, he said, it is intended for medium-scale farmers or small-scale farmer associations/cooperatives with a cultivated area of about 20 hectares.

“The GLOBAL Multipurpose Mini Tractor is a simple technology, and the first step to agricultural mechanisation for small scale farmers with a cultivated area of 2 to 3 hectares,” Dr. Laryea added.

According to Dr. Laryea, a market survey conducted in sub-Saharan African countries revealed there was a great demand for the Compact and Mini Tractors, and “this is attributed to the fact that there are only few companies in the region engaged in solving existing problems of the small and medium scale farming industry”.

Major milestones

In terms of achievements made so far, Dr. Laryea informed that Knights, A.S. of the Czech Republic can boast of the excellent results from test trials of the technology in many sub-Saharan African countries apart from Ghana. He mentioned Oyo State of Nigeria; Taraba State of Nigeria; Guinea Conakry; Liberia; Republic of Benin; Burkina Faso; Uganda; Angola; D.R. Congo; Zambia and many more. Most importantly, the Republics of Ghana, Benin and Liberia have ordered over €35 million worth of the technology from the year 2005 to date. The technologies are mainly widely used also in Central and Eastern European countries, but have been modified and conditioned to meet the challenges of Africa’s hard terrain.

Knights A.S. of the Czech Republic has technical experts who train local technicians on how to use and maintain the technologies, in both the Czech Republic and the country of delivery. Before delivery take place, the experts are dispatched to the delivery site to assist in transferring the know-how on the technologies; as well as setting up a network system to enable future supply, maintenance and supply of spare-parts for after-sales services.

Local Content

Knights A.S. is represented in Ghana by BIGA International Limited, located at Kaneshie Estates, Accra. BIGA International Limited is responsible for servicing and the supply of spare parts for after-sales services of the CABRIO and GLOBAL Multipurpose Tractors supplied from the Czech Republic. BIGA International Limited also has a Tractor Training School at Aburi, where they teach operators and farmers how best to use and maintain the tractors in order to achieve maximum life span as given by their manufacturers in the Czech Republic.

Disclaimer

GhanaWeb is not responsible for the reportage or opinions of contributors published on the website. Read our disclaimer.

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Gov-t-procures-520-specialised-rice-tractors-to-boost-production-980002

Equipment To Boost Farmers’ Efficiency And Productivity Arrives

14-Jun-2020

The Agricultural Engineering Services Directorate (AESD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has taken delivery of new farm equipment to support the operations of the small, medium, and large-scale farmers to enhance efficiency and boost yields.

The equipment includes custom-made and conditioned rice tractors and accessories. The Tractors, Cabrio Compact Tractor, and Global Multipurpose Mini Tractor have been designed and conditioned to help triple rice production by allowing rice farmers to harvest and thresh their produced rice on the fields.

The move forms part of the government’s quest to boost the production of local rice and reduce the rice import bill under the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.

At a day’s event to demonstrate the operation of the machinery in Awutu, in the Central Region, Mr Amatus .K.B Deyang, the Director of AESD said the tractors were made in the Czech Republic and procured by the government with a 10-million euro facility from the Czech Export Bank arranged by Knights, a.s. of the Czech Republic.

He said an agreement to that effect was signed in April 2018, when a delegation led by Dr Akoto Afriyie, the Minister of Food and Agriculture visited the Czech Republic.


Mr Deyang stated that a total of 220 Cabrio Compact Tractors and 300 Global Multipurpose Min Tractors had arrived in Ghana under the first phase of the project.

He said the machines were easy to use, simple, effective and efficient, affordable, and would transition farmers from cutlass and hole to mechanization while increasing productivity.

Mr Deyang added that village infrastructure projects and agricultural mechanisation could only succeed in developing countries when "peasant farmers are introduced to smaller machinery than nurtured to the handling of the bigger machinery"

"With these Tractors which are easier to maintain and service, a gradual transformation and nurturing of machine maintenance culture will be created, as an introductory stage for larger machinery and extensive agricultural mechanisation" said.


Dr Karl Laryea, the Chief Executive Officer of Knights a.s, noted that the machines were effective, efficient, durable, and offered a range of services as well as had reliable after-sales service should there be technical issues.

He stated that the Cabrio Compact Tractor, he been tailored to fit the needs of medium-scale farmers or small-scale farmer associations/cooperatives with the cultivated area about 20 hectares.

"Global Multipurpose Mini Tractor is a simple technology and the first step to agricultural mechanization for small scale farmers with a cultivated area of 2 to 3 hectares," Dr Laryea, who is represented in Ghana by BIGA International Limited said.

According to him, a market survey conducted in Sub-Saharan African countries revealed that there was a great demand for the Compact and Mini Tractors.

"This is attributed to the fact that there are only a few companies in the region engaged in solving the existing problem in the small and medium scale farming industry," he noted.

Dr Laryea said the company had an excellent result on the test trials of the technology in many Sub-Saharan African Countries apart from Ghana.

He mentioned the Oyo State of Nigeria, Taraba State of Nigeria, Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Angola, D.R. Congo, Zambia and many more.

Dr Laryea said the Republic of Ghana, Benin, and Liberia had ordered over 35-million Euro worth of the technology from the year 2005 to date.

https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/business/economy/202006/413760.php

DA to release P3-B farm tools

Published June 14, 2020, 10:00 PM

By Madelaine B. Miraflor
The second batch of farm machinery funded under the Rice Tariffication Law’s (RTL) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) — which has a total cost of P3 billion — is out in two months, the government assured. This is despite the lockdowns and quarantines imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) Executive Director Dr. Baldwin Jallorina Jr.
Such distribution, he said, will be about 50 percent bigger than the first batch of machinery that was bought under RCEF. To recall, one of the crucial components of RTL, which allowed unlimited rice importation in the country, is to make Filipino rice farmers competitive by giving them access to free seeds and modern farm equipment to be funded by the so-called RCEF.
RCEF is the collection of tariffs from rice imports. It is supposed to be injected with P10 billion annually from 2019 to 2024.
Of the P10 billion, P5 billion is allotted to mechanization, but due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, it took PhilMech more than a year to procure farm equipment and distribute it.
Over the weekend, Jallorina said the next batch of farm machines for bidding will be for another 1,068 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCA).
This is larger compared to the P2-billion worth of machines set to be distributed to 624 FCAs as part of the first batch of distribution.
PHilMech has already scheduled the start of the bidding process for the second batch of machines costing P3 billion at the latter part of this month, while the distribution under the first batch is scheduled in the next few weeks.
PhilMech Facility Management and Field Operations Division chief Joel Dator said they continue to validate FCAs in order to provide them with additional machines if needed.
The FCAs who did not qualify in 2019 can apply for 2020 as long as requirements set by PHilMech are met, he said.
RCEF covers 957 municipalities in the country and for rice farmers to benefit from the program, they should be part of the DA’s outdated Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
As for RCEF’s mechanization program alone, only rice farmers who are members of an FCA can benefit from it.
In the selection of beneficiaries, PhilMech has adopted the farm clustering and consolidation strategy to “achieve economies of scale that will pave the way to cost-efficient operations, higher crop productivity and bigger farmers’ incomes,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.
PhilMech has estimated farm mechanization can lower the cost of producing palay (unmilled rice) by P1 to P2 per kilo.
At present, the cost of producing a kilo of palay in the Philippines is P12.72 per kilo while it is P6.62 in Vietnam and P8.86 in Thailand, making imported rice cheaper than locally produced palay.
A total of 34,000 information, education and communication (IEC) materials have already been produced and distributed by PhilMech to farmers and stakeholders nationwide over the past year as part of this program.
“These IECs are also critical in helping the officers and members of the targeted FCAs appreciate the benefits of mechanization and for them to rapidly adapt to farm mechanization,” PhilMech Applied Communication Division Chief Aldrin Badua.

https://business.mb.com.ph/2020/06/14/da-to-release-p3-b-farm-tools/