Scientists Highlight Improved Green Chemistries for Weed Management
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The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) says that U.S. EPA's Reduced Risk Pesticide Program has led to more than three dozen reduced-risk herbicide registrations.
“Green chemistry is about continuous improvements aimed at reducing risks to human health and the environment,” says Lee Van Wychen, WSSA’s executive director of science policy.
WESTMINSTER, COLO. (PRWEB) JULY 14, 2020
Experts from the Weed Science Society of America say reduced-risk herbicides and greener chemistries are making an important contribution both to weed management and to the protection of human health and the environment.
Since the 1996 launch of its Reduced Risk Pesticide Program, the U.S. EPA has offered a fast-track review and registration of chemistries that offer lower-risk alternatives to other registered products. The initiative has led to more than three dozen reduced-risk herbicide registrations, including new active ingredients and new uses of already registered weed management tools.
“Green chemistry is about continuous improvements aimed at reducing risks to human health and the environment,” says Lee Van Wychen, WSSA’s executive director of science policy. “There is an ongoing, industry-wide focus on chemistries that not only improve weed control, but also exhibit a better overall risk profile.”
Herbicides registered under the Reduced Risk Pesticide Program typically exhibit one or more of the following advantages:
- Lower impact on human health and nontarget organisms
- Lower potential for groundwater contamination
- Lower amounts of active ingredient required for effective control
- Compatibility with integrated pest management strategies that reduce the likelihood of resistance
New products that are transforming weed control
Below are three examples of products registered under the reduced-risk program that are transforming weed control:
1. Florpyrauxifen-benyzl
Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a new active ingredient registered for the control of weeds in rice and aquatic sites. It is applied at very low rates – up to 153 times lower than other herbicides commonly used in rice crops. When used according to the label recommendations, it has been shown to pose minimal risk to farmers, applicators, animals and nontarget plants.
Florpyrauxifen-benzyl has low persistence in soil and water and low toxicity to birds, insects, fish and other organisms. It is an effective alternative for control of grass, broadleaf and sedge weeds in rice that are resistant to other classes of herbicides. It is also registered for selective aquatic weed control of several major invasive aquatic plants, including hydrilla and water hyacinth.
These favorable characteristics have resulted in florpyrauxifen-benzyl winning multiple awards, including the 2018 Green Chemistry Challenge Award, the 2018 Agrow Award for Best New Crop Protection Product, and an R&D 100 Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.
2. Imazamox
Imazamox is a reduced-risk herbicide used for postemergence control of several broadleaf and grassy weeds in soybeans, alfalfa, canola, dry beans and wheat. It also has been approved for aquatic applications. Like florpyrauxifen-benzyl, imazamox is applied at extremely low rates.
EPA granted imazamox reduced-risk status because of its safety profile. Toxicological studies show there is a reasonable certainty no harm will result from exposure to residues from the chemical, even if they were to appear in food or in drinking water.
3. Mesotrione
Mesotrione has been used for years to control weeds in corn, sugarcane, sorghum and other grass crops. Now, though, it has been granted reduced-risk status for use in small acreage crops like cranberries, asparagus, okra, rhubarb, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, which have few registered herbicides available for weed control. In many cases, mesotrione is used at a much lower rate than the product it is replacing.
Many of the mesotrione reduced-risk registrations were requested by the IR-4 Project (IR-4), which facilitates the registration of conventional pesticides and biopesticides used on specialty food crops and nonfood horticulture crops.
“There is no doubt that reduced-risk herbicides are making an impact,” says Jerry Baron, executive director of IR-4. “They are providing new and greener approaches for battling weeds, improving yields and reducing herbicide resistance.”
For more information:
More information on the green chemistry challenge and reduced-risk registrations can be found on the EPA website:
- https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/information-about-green-chemistry-challenge
- https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/conventional-reduced-risk-pesticide-program
About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Society promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit http://www.wssa.net.
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Society promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit http://www.wssa.net.
https://www.prweb.com/releases/scientists_highlight_improved_green_chemistries_for_weed_management/prweb17254773.htm’’’DBM called to release billions of ACEF funds to farmers
Published July 13, 2020, 10:00 PM
Billions of funds under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) are said to have been idling at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and farmers, the fund’s supposed beneficiaries, are looking for it.
In separate statements, the Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (ASAP) and Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) both called the Philippine government to release whatever is left of the ACEF funds to address the urgent needs of farmers for credit.
Based on FFF’s estimate, ACEF, tariff collections on imports of certain agricultural products, had a fund balance of P5.15 billion as of May 2018, of which the allocation for credit amounted to P4.12 billion.
Of that, DBM released P1.28 billion for Land Bank of the Philippines’ (LANDBANK) credit program in 2018 and remitted a second tranche of P1.44 billion early this year, leaving a balance of P1.4 billion.
The available fund balance could be significantly higher since additional tariff collections since May 2018 have not yet been taken into account, FFF noted.
Under the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996 or Republic Act (RA) 8178, ACEF is placed in a Special Account under the National Treasury and should be used to enhance the competitiveness of local producers affected by trade liberalization when the country joined the World Trade Organization in 1995.
RA 10848 provided that 80 percent of the ACEF fund balance would be allocated to LANDBANK for credit support to farmers and small and medium-scale agricultural enterprises, while the rest would be appropriated for technology commercialization and scholarships.
Nicanor Briones, president of ASAP and the vice president for Luzon Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, recently made a direct appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to address the over-importation of pork, poultry, vegetables, and fisheries products in the country.
He also called on the national government to make sure that the tariff collected under ACEF, not just Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), will be received by the farmers.
Right now, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is preoccupied with the distribution of RCEF, which is where all the tariff from rice imports should go and is supposed to be injected with ₱10 billion annually from 2019 to 2024.
FFF pointed out that farmers are now complaining that after DA and LANDBANK encouraged them to apply for loans, they were now told that no more funds are available and that DBM has yet to release the remaining ACEF funds despite repeated and urgent requests.
Raul Montemayor, FFF National Manager, argued that there should be no delay in the release since the funds have been in the Special Account since 2018.
“While we understand that DBM should release the ACEF in tranches based on actual demand and usage, it should not withhold funds when the releases have already been exhausted and there are still pending loan proposals,” Montemayor said.
“Based on our rough estimates, only half of the rightful amount, or only about P700 million, is being added to the ACEF every year. We do not know where the other half went,” Montemayor further said.
Montemayor noted that RA 10848 contained a key provision that stated that “fund releases shall not be subject to any ceiling by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).”
He also said that the National Treasury may be charged with fund diversion if it has used the ACEF for unauthorized purposes.
Affected farmers could also file a complaint against the DBM for unreasonably delaying the release of ACEF funds in violation of RA 10848.
The DA is now urged to exercise due diligence in ensuring that the proper tariff collections are fully credited to the ACEF Special Account and are made readily accessible to qualified beneficiaries.
Special Report: The State of the Nation: What’s wrong with being a net food importer?
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July 13, 2020 17:00 pm +08
This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on July 6, 2020 - July 12, 2020.
WHEN country borders were closed and exports restricted this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, food supply chains were disrupted, bringing up concerns about food security and being dependent on food imports.
Recent figures show that Malaysia’s food imports rose to RM54 billion in 2018 from RM43 billion in 2013. The figure is likely higher now.
It is a given that no country in the world is able to be 100% self-sufficient in all food crops.
As David Dawe, a senior economist and regional strategy and policy adviser at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), puts it: “All countries import some types of food and export other types. It is impossible for all countries to be net food exporters.”
However, it still begs the question: Is Malaysia doing herself a disservice by relying on food imports deemed as staples? Because, unlike neighbouring country Singapore that imports almost all of its food produce, Malaysia has been blessed with land.
Even Singapore is upping its game to ensure food security. It recently offered S$30 million (RM92 million) in grants for farms to speed up the production of commonly consumed food such as eggs, vegetables and fish. The city state aims to produce 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030, from less than 10% currently.
“While Malaysia has achieved self-sufficiency in a number of cases, agricultural productivity remains low and there is clearly scope for further gains in reducing dependency while also emphasising further diversification through export-oriented agriculture.
“The experience [gained during] the Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us of the risks of excessive dependency on imports. In a country like Malaysia, a food crisis can be very costly from a political point of view,” says Dr Niaz Asadullah, a professor at the faculty of economics and administration at Universiti Malaya.
It has to be highlighted that Malaysia has achieved self-sufficiency in several types of food.
In fact, Bank Negara Malaysia, in its bulletin for the third quarter of 2019, reported that of 33 commonly consumed agriculture products, 16 have a self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) of more than 100%. The report further adds that Malaysia is also a net exporter for half of these foods.
Looking at the situation from an import perspective, Bank Negara says the share of imported content in total food supply amounts to 24%.
FGV Holdings Bhd notes that the SSRs for some of the basic food items such as rice, dairy products and meat remain low. Beef is largely imported, while rice has an SSR of 70% and dairy products, 58%.
The agribusiness company says it has identified six metrics that affect the country’s readiness in achieving sufficient levels of food — the availability of suitable land; mechanisation; participation of the younger generation in farming; new high-yield crops; disease-resistant crop variety; and production of high-quality harvest throughout the supply chain.
To that end, it has undertaken several initiatives in its five-year integrated farming strategic blueprint.
“FGV has allocated a substantial area of the food production cluster in Perlis known as FGV Agro Food-Valley for cassava cultivation. Part of the 4,400ha land has been designated to produce 128,000 tonnes of raw cassava roots for halal starch production. The circular economic spillover from the availability of cassava biomass and pulp waste will be used to feed our dairy cattle within the cluster, while the organic waste from dairy cattle farming will be used to fertilise the cassava farming area — a true example of how we adopt sustainability in our projects.
“The fully mechanised production system from land preparation to harvest will create more skilled worker job opportunities for the locals and promote participation of our younger generation in farming,” it explains.
It should be noted that importing food is more practical in some cases. Where economies of scale cannot be achieved compared with other countries, importing might be a better way to obtain certain foods at a cheaper cost.
Khazanah Research Institute research associate Ahmad Ashraf Ahmad Shaharudin says aiming for 100% self-sufficiency is not only impractical but also does not guarantee food security.
“Food security means food is accessible to all at an affordable price. If self-sufficiency means the cost of food is higher, and hence economically inaccessible to a certain segment of the population, it actually jeopardises food security,” he points out.
Ashraf says a better strategy is to diversify the import sources so that Malaysia is not dependent on only one source country for a particular food, especially when it comes to essential foods.
According to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, mutton and fresh milk consumed locally are imported from Australia, beef from India and chilli and mango from Thailand.
On the other hand, net food importer Singapore boasts a diversified import source as a way to enhance its food security. In 2019, it imported food from 170 countries.
Ashraf suggests that instead of asking whether the country can be self-sufficient, the more pertinent question is whether Malaysia is optimising its resources for current and future food production.
Rice to be grown over 2,957 thousand hectares
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Islamabad: July 14, 2020 (TNS): Rice crop cultivation targets for Kharif season 2020-21 was fixed at 2,957 thousand hectares in order to produce about 7.999 million tons to fulfill the domestic requirements as well as for export.
Ministry of National Food Security and Research official said that Rice is among major crops of the country which is use as staple food, where as it also contributes in national exports significantly.
He said that rice cultivation target for Punjab Province during current season was set at 1,900 thousand hectares for producing about 4.200 million tons of the commodity.
He said that average per- hectare crop out put in the country was fixed at 2,702 kg, adding that in order to set marks, the government would ensure availability of all inputs including high yielding certified seeds, pesticides and equipping the growers with best management practices.
It may be recalled that local rice production was more then domestic requirements as Pakistan was exporting the surplus rice to different countries of the world and fetched billions of dollars foreign exchange.
During the period from July-May, 2019-20 country earned $2.024 billion by exporting over 3.893 million tons of rice.
Witch doctors and crooks
BY EDITOR'S MAIL , (LAST UPDATED 2 DAYS AGO)
Yesterday, my friend told me a strange incident . He told me that his mother went to a lady for black magic removal. The friend further tell me that his mother went to that lady and ask lady to remove black magic on her . The lady firstly asked information about my friend’s mother and then tell a little common things about her . After this The lady demanded 5k for the removal of magic and also gave a list of grocery and also told her that he further take 30k for this process. The lady used the name of our beloved Imam Hussain . The lady gave a list of grocery which includes fruits , meat , chicken, wheat , rice , biscuits etc which are not essential for the removal of magic. That lady was a fraud . And think it was totally wrong. Through this letter I want to draw the attention of our society to beware of this and please don’t waste your money in frauds like this .
Harum
Karachi
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5@5: Food companies fund organic research | Chipotle tests cauliflower rice
Each day at 5 p.m. we collect the five top food and supplement headlines of the day, making it easy for you to catch up on today's most important natural products industry news.
Jul 13, 2020
Companies like Clif Bar, Organic Valley and King Arthur are increasingly financing open-source, university research into organic seeds and plant varieties with the end goal of scaling up organic agriculture. Conventional agribusiness currently has an outsize impact on what is studied at agricultural universities, which has stifled the expansion of organic production historically in the U.S. Read more at Civil Eats…
Chipotle plans to begin testing cauliflower rice in 55 of its restaurants across Denver and Wisconsin this week. While Chipotle has historically been opposed to meat substitutes from the likes of Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, it is exploring a variety of plant-based menu options that meet its standards and aims to debut one or two new menu items each year. Read more at Bloomberg…
Emerging research from Oxfam warns that the hunger crisis, which has been significantly worsened by the pandemic, could potentially end up killing more people each day than COVID-19. Widespread loss of incomes, lack of social support and disruptions to the supply chain top the list in terms of affecting factors. And to top it all off, food and beverage industry giants such as Coca-Cola and General Mills are continuing to make large profits. Read more at CNN…
The rise in online grocery shopping due to COVID-19 is squeezing profits from grocers, and many are rethinking the online grocery model to make it more sustainable in the long term. A new report from Bain & Co. details how the pandemic essentially pressed "the fast-forward button on the industry by several years" and recommends that grocers embrace automation and retire their fear of fees. Read more at CNBC…
Residents of Vermont are now required to compost any unfinished food that they would otherwise have thrown into their trash cans. However, even before the new Food Scrap Ban went into effect, 72% of the state's residents were either composting at home or feeding leftover food to livestock. The state has invested in composting infrastructure to make it easier for residents to comply. Read more at Fast Company…
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With 34% rise in direct sowing of rice this year, Punjab farmers save Rs 600 cr, 30% ground water
While bringing record 20 per cent of the total targeted rice area (27 lakh hectares) in the state under DSR, Punjab has increased its DSR area by 34 per cent compared to the cumulative area under the technique over the last decade -- 2010 to 2019.
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Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | Published: July 11, 2020 11:06:38 pm
The increase in DSR sowing area this year translates into 30 per cent saving of the state’s ground water, and a saving about Rs 500 to 600 crore in input costs to Punjab’s farmers collectively. (Representational)
The pandemic has pushed Punjab’s paddy producing farmers to embrace ‘Direct Seeding of Rice’ (DSR) technique like never before.
While bringing record 20 per cent of the total targeted rice area (27 lakh hectares) in the state under DSR, Punjab has increased its DSR area by 34 per cent compared to the cumulative area under the technique over the last decade — 2010 to 2019.
The increase in DSR sowing area this year translates into 30 per cent saving of the state’s ground water, and a saving about Rs 500 to 600 crore in input costs to Punjab’s farmers collectively.
Data sourced from the Punjab Agriculture department revealed that till July 6, 5,19,300 hectares (12.82 lakh acres) area has been sown through DSR technique in Punjab in this Kharif season, while from 2010 to 2019 only around 3,87,000 hectares (9.55 lakh acres) could be brought under DSR. This year’s area is more than 34 per cent higher as compared to the cumulative area of a decade.
2020 vs last 10 years
DSR was recommended in the state in 2010 and in the first two years — 2010 and 2011 — only a couple of 100 hectares in each year could be sown through this by progressive farmers and by the Department of Agriculture. Farmers started taking up this technique seriously in 2012 when for the first time 8,922 hectares area was brought under it. Then next three years were very good for the technique when 38,900 hectares, 1.15 lakh hectares, and 1.65 lakh hectares were brought under it in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively.
But then the popularity of DSR started decreasing among the farmers because proper technical know-how was not available to them. In the years 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 the area under DSR reduced to 19,660 hectares, 9,440 hectares, 6,200, and 23,300 hectares, respectively.
With this in the past one decade, only 3.87 lakh hectares could be brought under it while this year alone over 5.19 lakh hectares have been dedicated under DSR till July 6, which is 1.32 lakh hectares more than the cumulative data of all these years.
The shortage of migrant labourers across the state led farmers to go for this technique. Even Secretary, Agriculture Punjab, K S Pannu got 4,000 DSR machines sanctioned this year to help farmers.
Major savings for farmeres
Experts said that if the farmers of Punjab had opted for transplanting paddy seedlings on area now under DSR this year, then at least 1.25 lakh labourers would have been required to cover this area in over a month’s time. This year the labour charges had also increased from Rs 3000-Rs 3,600 last year to Rs 5,000-6,000 per acre. Apart from this around Rs 1,000 to 1,500 per acre are required for preparing paddy nursery, puddling of the field. However, the cost of sowing with DSR machine does not exceed Rs 2,000 to 2,500 per acre which includes DSR machine rent, seed, and herbicides spray and preparation of the field.
By these calculations with DSR sowing farmers managed to save around Rs 4000 to 5000 per acre, which adds up to roughly a saving between Rs 500 to 600 crores.
Also, there is around 30 per cent water saving on 5.19 lakh hectares paddy area.
Along with 4,000 new DSR machines, total 6,000 DSR machines were available in Punjab this year. One such machine covers 7-8 acres area in a day. So in 30 days, such machines could cover around 6 lakh hectares.
DSR is recommended in medium to heavy textured soil, like sandy loam, clay loam, silt loam, and loam, and Punjab has 87 per cent such soil type.
Bathinda tops DSR area list
In DSR sowing till date, Bathinda tops the list with 55,000 hectares followed by Mukatsar Sahib where 41,200 hectares area has been dedicated under DSR. Amritsar is at third place with 33,000 hectares, Faridkot has sown 30,000 hectares using DSR, while Kapurthala, Barnala, Ferozepur have sown 27,000 hectares each with DSR technique. Fazilka (26,600 hectares), Tarn Taran (24,000 hectares), Mansa (23,000 hectares), and Sangrur (21,000 hectares) too have high area under DSR. Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib have 16,000 hectares and 14000 hectares, respectively. There are only four districts in Punjab where less than 10,000 hectares were sown through DSR this year. But still they have increased from negligible area under DSR last year to a considerable area this year.
Ropar, Pathankot, Mohali, and Nawanshahr districts recorded 4,100 hectares, 4,400 hectares, 8,000 hectares, and 9,000 hectares under DSR, respectively.
Meanwhile, normal transplanting has taken place on 17.53 lakh acres till July 6. And total, paddy sowing has come to 22.73 lakh hectares, including 5.19 lakh hectares with DSR which is 11 per cent less than the last year’s sowing area, which was 25.55 lakh hectares on the same corresponding date.
Every year in Punjab, 27 to 30 lakh hectares area is dedicated under paddy crop including Basmati for which around 6 to 6.5 lakh migrant labourers are required to transplant paddy nursery. But this year only around 10 per cent of the total migrant labour required was available to the farmers and around 15,000 to 20,000 more came to Punjab through special buses/vehicles arranged by the farmers and through special trains, which were started from June 1, in past one month. So, the DSR technique and local farm labourers of Punjab worked tirelessly this year.
Dr Sutrantra Airi, Director, Punjab Agriculture Department, said that only Basmati sowing is left as paddy sowing is almost complete thanks to the huge area under DSR. The sowing of Basmati always starts at least three weeks later than the paddy.
In normal transplanting farmers prepare nurseries where the paddy seeds are first sown and raised into young plants. These seedlings are then uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the main “puddled” field by 3-4 labourers. In the first 3-4 weeks after transplanting, the plants have to be irrigated almost daily (if there are no rains) to ensure water depth of 4-5 cm. Even for the next 4-5 weeks, when the crop is in the tillering (stem development) stage, farmers continue to irrigate every 2-3 days. Water prevents the growth of weeds by denying them oxygen in the submerged stage. Water, in other words, acts as an herbicide for paddy.
In DSR, there is no nursery preparation or transplantation. Paddy seeds are, instead, directly drilled into the field by a tractor-powered machine. In DSR, water is replaced by real chemical herbicides and it does not need flood irrigation, and the first irrigation is done 21 days after sowing, leading to huge water saving.
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Wednesday, July 15th 2020
Friday Fakeaway: Chicken jalfrezi with fragrant basmati rice
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In our weekly series looking at how you can make the best takeaway food, Brian Stormont looks to India to bring you a tasty chicken jalfrezi with fragrant basmati rice.
It’s Friday, work is finished for the week and you want to recreate that amazing takeaway dish in the comfort of your own home, so you cook up a Friday Fakeaway.
Move over chicken tikka masala, the jalfrezi is now the nation’s favourite curry! Not convinced? Wait until you try this version, served with fragrant basmati rice.
Jalfrezi is a tomato and green pepper stir-fry based curry with a little kick to it! This version from recipe box makers Gousto is loaded with succulent pulled chicken, and you’ll serve it with buttery, nigella seed rice.
Senior recipe developer at Gousto Jordan Moore’s top tip is: “To make your rice really flavourful, try adding some store cupboard spices to the water. Try a cinnamon stick, a few cardamom pods and a strip of lemon zest for a hassle-free way to add extra flavour.”
Chicken jalfrezi with fragrant basmatic rice
Ingredients
(Serves 2)
· 1 onion
· 1 green pepper
· 1 tomato
· 1 clove of garlic
· 15g fresh root ginger
· 320g chicken thighs
· 1 tsp nigella seeds
· ½ tsp dried chilli flakes
· 1 tbsp curry powder
· 130g basmati rice
· 1 chicken stock cube
· 1 tbsp tomato paste
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/ 200°C (fan)/ 425°F/ Gas 7.
2. Heat a large, wide-based pan (preferably non-stick with a matching lid), with a drizzle of vegetable oil over a medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken thighs and cook for five minutes until golden on both sides, then transfer them to a baking tray (reserve the pan) and put them in the oven for 10-12 mins or until cooked through (no pink meat).
3. Peel and finely slice the brown onion.
4. Once the chicken is in the oven, return the pan to a medium heat. Once hot, add the sliced onion with a big pinch of salt and two teaspoons of sugar and cook for five to eight minutes or until softened and starting to caramelise.
5. While the onion softens, boil a kettle.
6. Heat a pot (with a matching lid) with a drizzle of vegetable oil and a large knob of butter over a medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the nigella seeds and basmati rice and stir to fully coat the grains in oil
7. Add 350ml boiled water to the rice, increase the heat to high and bring back to the boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to very low and cook, covered, for 10-15 minutes or until all the water has absorbed and the rice is cooked. Once cooked, remove from the heat and keep covered until serving – this is your fragrant basmati rice.
1. Meanwhile, boil your kettle again.
2. De-seed the green pepper (scrape the seeds and pith out with a teaspoon) and cut into thin strips. Add the sliced pepper to the softened onion and cook for a further five to eight minutes or until starting to brown.
3. Dissolve the chicken stock cube in 300ml boiled water.
4. Peel (scrape the skin off with a teaspoon) and finely chop (or grate) the ginger, peel and finely chop (or grate) the garlic and cut the tomatoes into wedges. Add the chopped ginger, chopped garlic, chilli flakes (can’t handle the heat? Go easy!) and curry powder to the pan and stir until everything is coated in spice. Stir the tomato paste into the pan, then add the tomato wedges and stock
5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, covered for five to 10 minutes or until the tomatoes have broken down and the sauce has reduced.
6. Once the chicken is cooked, transfer to a clean board and shred it apart, using two forks – this technique is known as “pulling”. Add the shredded chicken to the sauce and give everything a good mix up.
7. Fluff the fragrant basmati rice with a fork and stir in a knob of butter.
8. Taste for seasoning (add some pepper if you like it hot!) and serve the chicken jalfrezi with the fragrant basmati rice on the side.
More in this series:
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With 34% rise in direct sowing of rice this year, Punjab farmers save Rs 600 cr, 30% ground water
While bringing record 20 per cent of the total targeted rice area (27 lakh hectares) in the state under DSR, Punjab has increased its DSR area by 34 per cent compared to the cumulative area under the technique over the last decade -- 2010 to 2019.
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·
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Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | Published: July 11, 2020 11:06:38 pm
The increase in DSR sowing area this year translates into 30 per cent saving of the state’s ground water, and a saving about Rs 500 to 600 crore in input costs to Punjab’s farmers collectively. (Representational)
The pandemic has pushed Punjab’s paddy producing farmers to embrace ‘Direct Seeding of Rice’ (DSR) technique like never before.
While bringing record 20 per cent of the total targeted rice area (27 lakh hectares) in the state under DSR, Punjab has increased its DSR area by 34 per cent compared to the cumulative area under the technique over the last decade — 2010 to 2019.
The increase in DSR sowing area this year translates into 30 per cent saving of the state’s ground water, and a saving about Rs 500 to 600 crore in input costs to Punjab’s farmers collectively.
Data sourced from the Punjab Agriculture department revealed that till July 6, 5,19,300 hectares (12.82 lakh acres) area has been sown through DSR technique in Punjab in this Kharif season, while from 2010 to 2019 only around 3,87,000 hectares (9.55 lakh acres) could be brought under DSR. This year’s area is more than 34 per cent higher as compared to the cumulative area of a decade.
2020 vs last 10 years
DSR was recommended in the state in 2010 and in the first two years — 2010 and 2011 — only a couple of 100 hectares in each year could be sown through this by progressive farmers and by the Department of Agriculture. Farmers started taking up this technique seriously in 2012 when for the first time 8,922 hectares area was brought under it. Then next three years were very good for the technique when 38,900 hectares, 1.15 lakh hectares, and 1.65 lakh hectares were brought under it in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively.
But then the popularity of DSR started decreasing among the farmers because proper technical know-how was not available to them. In the years 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 the area under DSR reduced to 19,660 hectares, 9,440 hectares, 6,200, and 23,300 hectares, respectively.
With this in the past one decade, only 3.87 lakh hectares could be brought under it while this year alone over 5.19 lakh hectares have been dedicated under DSR till July 6, which is 1.32 lakh hectares more than the cumulative data of all these years.
The shortage of migrant labourers across the state led farmers to go for this technique. Even Secretary, Agriculture Punjab, K S Pannu got 4,000 DSR machines sanctioned this year to help farmers.
Major savings for farmeres
Experts said that if the farmers of Punjab had opted for transplanting paddy seedlings on area now under DSR this year, then at least 1.25 lakh labourers would have been required to cover this area in over a month’s time. This year the labour charges had also increased from Rs 3000-Rs 3,600 last year to Rs 5,000-6,000 per acre. Apart from this around Rs 1,000 to 1,500 per acre are required for preparing paddy nursery, puddling of the field. However, the cost of sowing with DSR machine does not exceed Rs 2,000 to 2,500 per acre which includes DSR machine rent, seed, and herbicides spray and preparation of the field.
By these calculations with DSR sowing farmers managed to save around Rs 4000 to 5000 per acre, which adds up to roughly a saving between Rs 500 to 600 crores.
Also, there is around 30 per cent water saving on 5.19 lakh hectares paddy area.
Along with 4,000 new DSR machines, total 6,000 DSR machines were available in Punjab this year. One such machine covers 7-8 acres area in a day. So in 30 days, such machines could cover around 6 lakh hectares.
DSR is recommended in medium to heavy textured soil, like sandy loam, clay loam, silt loam, and loam, and Punjab has 87 per cent such soil type.
Bathinda tops DSR area list
In DSR sowing till date, Bathinda tops the list with 55,000 hectares followed by Mukatsar Sahib where 41,200 hectares area has been dedicated under DSR. Amritsar is at third place with 33,000 hectares, Faridkot has sown 30,000 hectares using DSR, while Kapurthala, Barnala, Ferozepur have sown 27,000 hectares each with DSR technique. Fazilka (26,600 hectares), Tarn Taran (24,000 hectares), Mansa (23,000 hectares), and Sangrur (21,000 hectares) too have high area under DSR. Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib have 16,000 hectares and 14000 hectares, respectively. There are only four districts in Punjab where less than 10,000 hectares were sown through DSR this year. But still they have increased from negligible area under DSR last year to a considerable area this year.
Ropar, Pathankot, Mohali, and Nawanshahr districts recorded 4,100 hectares, 4,400 hectares, 8,000 hectares, and 9,000 hectares under DSR, respectively.
Meanwhile, normal transplanting has taken place on 17.53 lakh acres till July 6. And total, paddy sowing has come to 22.73 lakh hectares, including 5.19 lakh hectares with DSR which is 11 per cent less than the last year’s sowing area, which was 25.55 lakh hectares on the same corresponding date.
Every year in Punjab, 27 to 30 lakh hectares area is dedicated under paddy crop including Basmati for which around 6 to 6.5 lakh migrant labourers are required to transplant paddy nursery. But this year only around 10 per cent of the total migrant labour required was available to the farmers and around 15,000 to 20,000 more came to Punjab through special buses/vehicles arranged by the farmers and through special trains, which were started from June 1, in past one month. So, the DSR technique and local farm labourers of Punjab worked tirelessly this year.
Dr Sutrantra Airi, Director, Punjab Agriculture Department, said that only Basmati sowing is left as paddy sowing is almost complete thanks to the huge area under DSR. The sowing of Basmati always starts at least three weeks later than the paddy.
In normal transplanting farmers prepare nurseries where the paddy seeds are first sown and raised into young plants. These seedlings are then uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the main “puddled” field by 3-4 labourers. In the first 3-4 weeks after transplanting, the plants have to be irrigated almost daily (if there are no rains) to ensure water depth of 4-5 cm. Even for the next 4-5 weeks, when the crop is in the tillering (stem development) stage, farmers continue to irrigate every 2-3 days. Water prevents the growth of weeds by denying them oxygen in the submerged stage. Water, in other words, acts as an herbicide for paddy.
In DSR, there is no nursery preparation or transplantation. Paddy seeds are, instead, directly drilled into the field by a tractor-powered machine. In DSR, water is replaced by real chemical herbicides and it does not need flood irrigation, and the first irrigation is done 21 days after sowing, leading to huge water saving.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/rise-in-direct-sowing-of-rice-this-year-punjab-farmers-save-ground-water-6501223/
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EDITORS' PICK|2,104 views|Jul 13, 2020,08:05am EDT
Chipotle Tests Cauliflower Rice As It Gets Back To Menu Innovation
I cover quick-service, fast casual and pizza restaurants.
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WANTAGH, NEW YORK - MARCH 16: An image of the sign for Chipotle as photographed on March 16, 2020 ... [+]
GETTY IMAGES
Cauliflower is having quite a moment.
Once left largely untouched on vegetable trays at office parties, the versatile, flavor-absorbing cauliflower has made a new name for itself in a variety of applications, from pizza crusts to rice substitutes.
That versatility is a big deal considering carbs have fallen out of favor for many Americans. The low-carb keto diet is a testament to that, jumping from a $10.8 billion global market in 2018 to an expected $17.8 billion market by 2026.
As such, Nielsen research shows cauliflower sales have increased by nearly 40% since 2016.
Chipotle is striking while the iron is hot, today announcing a cilantro-lime cauliflower rice test at 55 restaurants in Denver and throughout Wisconsin starting July 15. The product features grilled cauliflower seasoned with cilantro, lime juice and salt and costs $2 more than the brand’s traditional rice.
Most Popular In: Food & Drink
The test, as those above statistics support, is the result of consumer demand.
“One out of every three customer requests is for cauliflower rice. Sometimes it’s not rocket science and we should just give customers what they’re asking for,” said Chris Brandt, Chipotle’s chief marketing officer.
If the performance of Chipotle’s Lifestyle Bowls (introduced in early 2019 to appeal to consumers following paleo, keto, Whole 30-type diets) is any indication, this product should do just fine.
The higher cost isn’t expected to deter customers, either. They’re used to spending more for cauliflower substitutes, Brandt said, adding, “this test is designed to see their willingness to pay up.”
Chipotle will also gauge any operational complexities that may arise from adding a new ingredient. However, unlike many chains that have trimmed their menus during the pandemic to ease additional burdens, Brandt said this isn’t as much of an issue for Chipotle.
“We only have 53 ingredients on our menu. It’s not a complex menu and this is just another ingredient in the line,” Brandt said. “It provides diversity for the consumer, but it’s not as hard for us operationally because we’re not burdened with a bloated menu. That’s part of the beauty of our operating model. It allows us to introduce one or two new items without affecting overall throughput.”
One potential challenge is gauging valuable metrics as many state restrictions on dine-in linger.
“We will look at incidents–what percentage of orders have this item on it–and compare that, which is more apples to apples,” Brandt said. “The number of people in store will be lower, but we think our digital business can counteract some of that.”
Indeed, Chipotle’s digital business has been on fire during the COVID-19 crisis, which has helped position the brand better than most. However, that doesn’t take away from the idea that some consumers just might not be ready, or enthusiastic, about a new product launch right now. In fact, menu innovation across the industry has been largely stagnant and the supply chain remains somewhat unpredictable.
But Chipotle is ready to fire up its engines. It has been ready for quite some time.
“Menu innovation is starting to come back for us. I’m not sure if it is in general, but it is for us. We’ve been doing consumer sensory testing where customers would pick up food at the restaurant, eat it in their cars and then call a number where we would walk them through the responses,” Brandt said. “It was scrappy, but we didn’t want things to slow down. After a few months, we started to figure more out. This [crisis] could drag on for a bit longer and we want to make sure we don’t get lost. We want to be relevant. We’re getting things lined up so when customers are ready, we are too.”
For this test, Chipotle is leaning into the “plant-based” attribute of cauliflower. This naturally brings up the question as to whether or not the chain will turn to plant-based meat next, or at least eventually. The chain currently offers “sofritas,” a meat alternative made from organic tofu. Otherwise, CEO Brian Niccol has been vocal about some alternative meat players on the market, calling them “too processed” to fit Chipotle’s “food with integrity” mission.
However, as Brandt mentioned, the company strives to give customers what they’re asking for and, right now, a lot of consumers seem to want plant-based meat. Nielsen reports that grocery store sales of these products have increased by 264% during the pandemic. It’s hard to believe Chipotle won’t try to strike that hot iron as well.
“We are always actively looking to take advantage of trends and we know this idea of meatless meat is more mainstream than it was,” he said. “We’ve looked at external suppliers and development on our own. Nothing has come to the fore yet. We’re testing a lot of things that meet our sourcing guidelines.”
I have covered the restaurant industry since 2010 when I was named editor of QSRweb. I later added fast casual and pizza beats to my portfolio as editorial director of
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Eyes in the sky: How real-time data will revolutionize rice farming
Sydney-led consortium wins $3M Google Earth licence for Paddy Watch
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
IMAGE: RICE FIELDS IN INDONESIA view more
CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Google Earth, the Group on Earth Observations and the University of Sydney will develop the world's first real-time monitoring platform for rice fields globally. The ambitious project will help realise the Zero Hunger target of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.
Rice is the staple crop for more than half the world's population and 10 percent of all arable land is dedicated to rice farming, but there are currently no accurate maps outlining rice yields and land use using consistent methodology.
"Accurate and up-to-date information on how much rice has been planted and how much harvest can be achieved is crucial to achieving global food and water security," said project leader Professor Budiman Minasny from the Sydney Institute of Agriculture at the University of Sydney.
"Working with our partners in Asia, we will use the Google Earth Engine to build the first real-time mobile application that will allow farmers, agricultural scientists, non-government organisations and government planners to manage land use to ensure food security in the world's rice bowls."
The real-time land-use data generated using Google Earth will be verified by field operators in India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. This will allow the agricultural scientists to calibrate monitoring to ensure its accuracy worldwide.
These five partner countries make up more than 40 percent of the world's population. India, China and Indonesia are the world's three-largest producers of rice and together account about 60 percent of total world production.
Jointly developed with the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, the mobile monitoring app - Paddy Watch - will allow farmers, scientists and agricultural economists to:
- determine the extent of arable land under rice cropping in near real-time;
- estimate potential yields;
- manage water use and water security;
- account for greenhouse gas emissions (paddy rice releases methane);
- develop policies for education, economic growth, gender equity and reducing social inequality.
The Paddy Watch app will build on work already undertaken in Malaysia and Indonesia by Professor Minasny and colleagues at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. Using the Google Earth Engine and cloud computing technology the project will improve on that work using the latest deep learning techniques to forecast crop yields and water consumption.
Professor Alex McBratney is Director of the Sydney Institute for Agriculture and Professor of Digital Agriculture and Soil Science. He said this project "is digital agriculture writ large on a global canvas".
"Digital agriculture is post-industrial agriculture," he said. "This type of technology means we can have confidence in our ability to feed the world's population in a sustainable way."
The project announced today is one of 32 projects supported by the GEO-Google Earth Engine partnership, which incorporates more than 100 national governments working with the search engine company and its mapping agency. The consortium will have access to a Google Earth licence for two, valued by Google at $US3 million ($4.3 million), plus technical support valued at $US1 million.
Led by Professor Minasny at the University of Sydney, Paddy Watch is being developed in partnership with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu; the Indonesian Centre for Agricultural Land Resources Research and Development in the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture; IADA Ketara, Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia; the Institute of Soil Science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Indian Agricultural Research Institute; and RIICE remote sensing, Vietnam.
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BACKGROUND
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and Google Earth Engine (GEE) are unveiling 32 projects from 22 countries that will be awarded $US3 million towards production licenses and $US1 million in technical support from EO Data Science to tackle some of the world's greatest challenges using open Earth data. The GEO-GEE Programme is also supporting projects with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) to use the Earth Engine to support climate change and disaster monitoring activities over the next two years.
GEO is an Intergovernmental Partnership of 111 countries and coordinates more than 60 global activities in the GEO Work Programme. GEO's mission is to inform decision making and enable better policies through open Earth observation data, information and knowledge. The GEO network will ensure that the beneficiaries receive support as they deliver data, insights and key findings to reach critical decision makers across the globe.
DOWNLOAD satellite images and photos at this link.
INTERVIEWS
Professor Budiman Minasny
budiman.minasny@sydney.edu.au
Sydney Institute of Agriculture | School of Life and Environmental Sciences
The University of Sydney
budiman.minasny@sydney.edu.au
Sydney Institute of Agriculture | School of Life and Environmental Sciences
The University of Sydney
Professor Alex McBratney
alex.mcbratney@sydney.edu.au
Director, Sydney Institute of Agriculture
The University of Sydney
alex.mcbratney@sydney.edu.au
Director, Sydney Institute of Agriculture
The University of Sydney
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Marcus Strom
marcus.strom@sydney.edu.au
+61 423 982 485
Sydney Theadora Mills | tmills@geosec.org | Geneva
marcus.strom@sydney.edu.au
+61 423 982 485
Sydney Theadora Mills | tmills@geosec.org | Geneva
DECLARATION
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/uos-eit071020.php
Rice importers try to force prices down, Vietnam needs long-term export plan
13/07/2020 08:01 GMT+7
Earlier this month, when Mekong Delta’s farmers were harvesting the 2020 summer-autumn crop, rains and storms affected rice quality and caused the market price to fluctuate.
Meanwhile, the Philippines recently stated it has cancelled the plan to import 300,000 tons of rice under the G2G (government to government) mode that it opened for bidding on June 8, in which Vietnam won the bid of providing 60,000 tons.
According to AgroMonitor’s July 1 updates, merchants are collecting rice but sales have been going slowly. There are few buyers and transactions in the market as the rice price is on the decrease.
Filipino businessmen are reported as seeking to buy summer-autumn 5 percent broken rice OM 5451, but they are offer ing low prices. Therefore, Vietnam’s exporters still cannot close the deals.
While merchants hesitate to collect rice for fear that the price will continue decreasing, farmers are resolved not to sell rice at low prices. Rice prices of different kinds are stable.
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Earlier this month, when Mekong Delta’s farmers were harvesting the 2020 summer-autumn crop, rains and storms affected rice quality and caused the market price to fluctuate.
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AgroMonitor reported that Vietnamese exporters offered rice at $420 per ton, but Filipino businesses only accepted a price of $410-412 per ton.
A rice exporter in HCM City affirmed that demand still exists, especially from Filipino businesses, but they still are trying to force the prices down.
Five percent broken rice OM 5451 has cost price of $430 per ton, but importers want to buy at $405 per ton. Therefore, large exporters including Quoc Te Gia, Intimex, Kigimex, Thuan Minh and Hieu Nhan, have not signed new contracts, but are gathering strength to fulfill contracts they signed before.
Analysts cited two reasons causing the rice prices to go down.
The first relates to the Philippines’ decision to stop pursuing the plan to import 300,000 tons of rice under G2G mode.
Second, buyers know that Vietnamese are harvesting the summer-autumn crop, so they are not making purchases and are listening to the news. Once the supply is plentiful, the prices will go down.
The problem is that many farmers sell fresh rice at their fields, so they have to sell rice at any price and cannot wait for prices to increase.
The structure of Vietnam’s rice exports has changed a lot recently. In the past, low-quality rice accounted for 40-50 percent of total exports, but the proportion of high-quality rice has increased in the last two years.
https://vietnamnet.vn/en/business/rice-importers-try-to-force-prices-down-vietnam-needs-long-term-export-plan-656498.html
Bangladesh: Monsoon Floods - Information Bulletin
Source
Posted
13 Jul 2020
Originally published
13 Jul 2020
Origin
Attachments
The situation
Huge onrush of water from the upstream and monsoon rain freshly flooded northern and north-eastern districts of Bangladesh. Earlier, during the last week of June 2020, BDRCS based on the forecast, has activated its Early Action Protocol (EAP) to support 3,800 households in three districts which have more than 25 per cent of household assets damaged. After showing a slight improvement last week, the flood situation has deteriorated again as major rivers in the country are flowing above the danger level. According to the current forecast, this flood has 50 per cent chances to cross 1 in 10 years on 21 July. Thousands of people in low-lying areas are witnessing the second phase of floods this season due to rise of water levels of major rivers in the country.
Flood situation may further worsen in north-eastern districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona; northern districts of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha; north-western district of Natore and north central districts of Bogura and Jamalpur by 13 July 2020. Many of these districts were affected when the first monsoon flood hit on 26 June and the situation there improved after several days. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) mentioned in a briefing that the northern Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Nilphamari and Gaibandha, northwestern Natore, Naogaon, Bogura, Sirajganj and Rajshahi, northcentral Jamalpur and Tangail and central Manikganj districts in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna basin, central districts of Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Munshiganj and southeastern Chandpur in the Ganges-Padma basin and northeastern Netrokona, Sylhet and Sunamganj and central district of Kishoreganj in the Meghna basin may witness a fresh wave of flood.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) bulletin on 12 July 2020, water levels of all major rivers in upper Meghna basin, Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Gages basins are in rising trend till 12 July morning and it may continue in the next 72 hours due to onrush of upstream water coupled with heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Major rivers in the Meghna basin such as Surma River, Jamuna River and Gur River are all reportedly experiencing rising water levels above their danger marks.
The FFWC is predicting that heavy rainfall is likely to occur in the country’s south-eastern hill regions and it may cause rapid rise of water levels in Sangu, Halda Muhuri and Matamuhuri rivers in that region on 13 July 2020.
Of the 101 river gauging stations, the FFWC observed swelling at 66 points within the 24 hours on 11 July 2020.
The FFWC reported that the precipitation level was at 523 millimeters at Cherapunji during the same time and Assam and Meghalaya and West Bengal also received heavy rain. For Bangladesh, the country’s highest rainfall of 252 millimeters in the 24 hours until 9:00 am local time on 11 July 2020 was recorded at Lourergarh in Sunamganj. Extremely heavy rains were observed at many places at Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and Mymensingh.
The FFWC reported that the precipitation level was at 523 millimeters at Cherapunji during the same time and Assam and Meghalaya and West Bengal also received heavy rain. For Bangladesh, the country’s highest rainfall of 252 millimeters in the 24 hours until 9:00 am local time on 11 July 2020 was recorded at Lourergarh in Sunamganj. Extremely heavy rains were observed at many places at Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and Mymensingh.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department predicted light to moderate rains in most places in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattoram and Sylhet divisions and in many places in Barishal, Dhaka and Khulna divisions until Sunday morning. Indian Meteorological Department predicted extremely heavy rainfall to continue in places upstream through 12 July. According to Water Development Board, a lot of water was flowing from upstream until 12 July night. The water level at Teesta barrage point in Lalmonirhat rose to 55 centimeters above the danger mark while water at Dharla River at Kulaghat point was flowing above the danger level of 60 centimeters. The Water Development Board mentioned that the water is increasing gradually and issued a red alert in the Teesta basin as the flood situation continued to deteriorate.
Over a million people were marooned in dozens of villages from 10 to 11 July 2020 as roaring rivers swept away embankments in the districts where some of the embankments were already under water since 26 June.
Thousands of people are expected to leave their homes throughout the beginning of this week to seek shelter in higher grounds as the Water Development Board warned that the onrush of water from upstream would further intensify.
Thousands of people are expected to leave their homes throughout the beginning of this week to seek shelter in higher grounds as the Water Development Board warned that the onrush of water from upstream would further intensify.
As low-lying areas in 23 districts are predicted to experience a month-long fresh flooding in the next week with the rise of water levels in major rivers, the Government of Bangladesh is on standby with all-out measures to face the flood situation. The State Minister of MoDMR said in a briefing that the government has taken all-out preparations to protect the lives and livelihoods of people from the approaching flood as the deluge may continue for prolonged period. Directives have been given to ensure preparedness of shelter centers in 23 districts. The Government of Bangladesh has allocated total 8,210 metric tons of rice, BDT 22,250,000 (approximately CHF 242,235) of cash, 48,000 packets of dry foods, BDT 4,800,000 (approximately CHF 52,258) worth of fodders (animal foods) and BDT 4,800,000 (approximately CHF 52,258) worth of child foods to 23 districts from 28 June to 9 July.
Each district will receive 200 metric tons of rice, BDT 500,000 cash (approximately CHF 5,443), BDT 200,000 (approximately CHF 2,177) worth of child food, BDT 200,000 (approximately CHF 2,177) worth of fodder and 2,000 packets of dry foods to ensure timely distribution and local administrations are available to immediately support the affected people. The State Minister of MoDMR said, more allocation will be provided based on the evolving needs of the affected people. The District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) and Bangladesh Water Development Board offices are continuously coordinating and constantly monitoring the flood situation since June to ensure efficient response during monsoon season.
https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/bangladesh-monsoon-floods-information-bulletin-0
12:00 AM, July 12, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 04:30 AM, July 12, 2020
Rice imports drop to four-decade low
Analysts point to challenges to sustain increased production
Total import was 4,180 tonnes in the last fiscal year, marking a 98 per cent slump over the previous fiscal year, resulting from high import tariffs and adequate domestic production, food ministry data showed.
Agricultural analysts attributed the gain to rising production amid farmers' gradual shift to improved varieties and replacement of older varieties by the newer ones. And these were supported by favourable weather, better crop management and subsidies aimed at keeping the prices of fertilizers affordable for growers.
Annual rice output, which was less than 3 crore tonnes until the fiscal year 2007-08, crossed the mark in the subsequent year. Since then, upward trajectory continued except for the fiscal year 2016-17 when floods in the northeastern haor region damaged crops.
Production recovered a year later but encouraged by low import duty, private importers brought in 38.90 lakh tonnes of the cereal in FY2017-18, the highest in nearly three decades.
Total yearly rice production stood at 3.64 crore tonnes in FY2018-19, posting a marginal increase over the previous year. The production estimate for the last fiscal year is yet to be made available by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
However, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, in a report in May, said the country was expected to have produced 3.87 crore tonnes of rice in FY2019-20. Bangladesh consumes 3.2 crore tonnes of rice and 55 lakh tonnes of wheat annually, said the UN agency in the report.
"No doubt, Bangladesh has made tremendous progress in rice production and food security," said Humnath Bhandari, the representative for Bangladesh at the International Rice Research Institute, in an email reply recently.
"Rice production this year has been excellent mainly due to favourable weather conditions in boro and hoping good aman production (if no natural calamities) as a result of a good price of rice and government efforts to increase rice production."
Farmers have been producing a higher amount of rice than the country's annual requirement for the last several years.
"As a result, the country sees carryover stock every year," said Md Shahjahan Kabir, director-general of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.
Rice production has grown by 600,000 tonnes annually since 2009 and the amount was higher than the annual increase in demand for rice by 3 lakh to 3.5 lakh tonnes owing to population growth.
"There is no need to think of import. We are producing more food than required," Kabir said.
Aromatic rice used for festivals and at hotels and restaurants is mainly imported now.
Nearly 39 lakh tonnes of rice were imported in FY2018-19. There would have been no problem had there been no import of the staple grain, said Agriculture Secretary Md Nasiruzzaman.
"Figures show that we are not only self-sufficient, but we also produced a large surplus in FY2019-20," said Subash Dasgupta, a former senior technical officer of the FAO.
"The major burning issue in this production is making the system sustainable. As of late, the current rice production system has become more unstable," he said in an email reply.
Earlier, he said, the major concern of production instability was associated with the unpredictability of monsoon.
"However, in 2017, we witnessed production vulnerabilities in all three rice growing seasons -- aus, aman and boro -- which pose alarming consequences," he said.
"A very important point to note is that the growth rate in rice production has been decelerating."
For example, Dasgupta said, rice productivity rose by 2.3 per cent per annum in the first decade of the new millennium and slowed down to 0.87 per cent in the past decade from 2011 to 2019.
A rice self-sufficient country should have continuously increasing growth in rice productivity, alongside a competitive and stable production system, Dasgupta said.
Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, a significant percentage of the population will fall below the poverty line, resulting in increased rice consumption among them.
According to IRRI Representative Bhandari, there are challenges in future rice production such as flood, drought, salinity, cold and heat.
Agriculture Secretary Nasiruzzaman said the government has prepared a rice vision to produce enough to meet the national requirement by 2050.
The government targets to produce 5 crore tonnes of rice under the vision.
The vision lays out ways how the country will increase production in line with the population growth against the backdrop of a decline in farmland. "One of the ways would be to improve yield by variety replacement," the secretary said.
The Rice Vision prepared by the BRRI in 2015 said the population of Bangladesh will reach 21.54 crore in 2050 when 4.46 crore tonnes of rice will be required.
The vision paper said several hurdles, such as increasing population, decreasing resources and rising climate vulnerability, can stand in the way of achieving the target.
Three major interventions -- accelerating genetic gain, minimising yield gap and curtailing adoption lag -- are proposed to break the barriers to achieve the target.
Major challenges facing the implementation of the interventions include shrinking net cropped area, scarcity of water for irrigation and increasing pressure on soil fertility, the paper said.
BRRI DG Kabir said various improved varieties of rice have been released in recent years. In-bred varieties capable of withstanding stresses such as drought, flood and salinity have also been released. "We have several draught-, flood- and salinity-tolerant rice seeds already in the field. We have replacement varieties of mega varieties," he said, adding that the target has been set to attain 25-30 lakh tonnes of surplus rice.
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: Market Monitor (June 2020)
Source
Posted
12 Jul 2020
Originally published
30 Jun 2020
Origin
Attachments
Key Messages
• Mixed price trends observed across the markets. Price of rice, red lentils, chicken peas, vegetable oil and onions remained stable and/or declined, while chicken and egg prices has considerably increased.
• The current market stability can be attributed to increased market surveillance and reduced clearance time for imported food commodities at the port.
• Rice traders are however expressing concerns on potential supply disruptions, due to the current heavy rains and flooding in northern parts of the country, a major rice supply hub for many traders.
• Compared to May, egg prices have increased by up to 20 percent following recovery of the poultry market, after COVID-19 transmission rumours affected it at the early stages of the crisis.
• While food availability in the markets remains stable, economic access by households is the major concern. Purchasing power dropped by 42 percent in June compared to pre-crisis period.
• As household incomes continue to fall, or unavailable altogether for some, a shift in dietary patterns is evident with many households favouring less preferred or cheaper foods, with low nutritional value. A compromise on healthy diets makes the population more vulnerable to the current pandemic.
• Livestock trade has also experienced substantial disruptions, with demand for livestock products being atypically low. Farmers and traders stand to lose more, with the Eid al-Adha festivals coming up, typically the peak season for livestock business in Bangladesh.
• Camp markets have seen a sudden increase in demand for fresh foods, amidst typical supply levels, exerting an upward pressure on fresh food prices in those markets, and exposing refugees to very unfavourable terms-of-trade.
• Overall, most markets continue operating at atypically low levels- dampened demand from households being the main reason, but also due to substantial reduction in demand for relief efforts.
• Movement restrictions threatens to disrupt agricultural activities, through labour shortages and high input costs, which could lead to acreage contractions and low yields in future, exacerbating vulnerabilities.
• Mixed price trends observed across the markets. Price of rice, red lentils, chicken peas, vegetable oil and onions remained stable and/or declined, while chicken and egg prices has considerably increased.
• The current market stability can be attributed to increased market surveillance and reduced clearance time for imported food commodities at the port.
• Rice traders are however expressing concerns on potential supply disruptions, due to the current heavy rains and flooding in northern parts of the country, a major rice supply hub for many traders.
• Compared to May, egg prices have increased by up to 20 percent following recovery of the poultry market, after COVID-19 transmission rumours affected it at the early stages of the crisis.
• While food availability in the markets remains stable, economic access by households is the major concern. Purchasing power dropped by 42 percent in June compared to pre-crisis period.
• As household incomes continue to fall, or unavailable altogether for some, a shift in dietary patterns is evident with many households favouring less preferred or cheaper foods, with low nutritional value. A compromise on healthy diets makes the population more vulnerable to the current pandemic.
• Livestock trade has also experienced substantial disruptions, with demand for livestock products being atypically low. Farmers and traders stand to lose more, with the Eid al-Adha festivals coming up, typically the peak season for livestock business in Bangladesh.
• Camp markets have seen a sudden increase in demand for fresh foods, amidst typical supply levels, exerting an upward pressure on fresh food prices in those markets, and exposing refugees to very unfavourable terms-of-trade.
• Overall, most markets continue operating at atypically low levels- dampened demand from households being the main reason, but also due to substantial reduction in demand for relief efforts.
• Movement restrictions threatens to disrupt agricultural activities, through labour shortages and high input costs, which could lead to acreage contractions and low yields in future, exacerbating vulnerabilities.
https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/cox-s-bazar-bangladesh-market-monitor-june-2020
JULY 11, 2020 / 1:36 PM / 4 DAYS AGO
After vigorous monsoon rains, crop planting gathers pace in India
2 MIN READ
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NEW DELHI, July 11 (Reuters) - Indian farmers have planted 12 million hectares with summer-sown rice, preliminary farm ministry data for this year showed, up 25% from last year as robust monsoon rains encouraged the expansion of acreage.
Buoyed by the plentiful rains, rice farmers are likely to harvest a record crop and step up overseas sales from the world’s biggest exporter of the grain.
Farmers start planting rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane and peanuts among other crops from June 1, when monsoon rains reach India. Nearly half of India’s farmland lacks irrigation and planting usually lasts through July.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare issued preliminary figures for planting from June 1-July 10, which are subject to revision as it gathers more information from state governments.
The area planted with cotton was at 10.5 million hectares, up from 7.8 million hectares at the same time last year.
Sowing of oilseeds was at 13.9 million hectares, compared with 7.5 million hectares at the same time in 2019.
Planting of pulses touched 6.4 million hectares, sharply higher than 2.4 million hectares in the previous year.
India has received 14% higher than average rain since the monsoon season began on June 1.
India’s weather office defines average, or normal, rainfall as between 96% and 104% of a 50-year average of 88 cm for the entire four-month season. (Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
https://www.reuters.com/article/india-crops/after-vigorous-monsoon-rains-crop-planting-gathers-pace-in-india-idUSL3N2EI02C#:~:text=After%20vigorous%20monsoon%20rains%2C%20crop%20planting%20gathers%20pace%20in%20India,-2%20Min%20Read&text=Planting%20of%20pulses%20touched%206.4,season%20began%20on%20June%201.
Vigorous Monsoon Rains Lead To 25% Rise In Planting Of Summer-Sown Rice In India
Buoyed by the plentiful rains, rice farmers are likely to harvest a record crop and step up overseas sales from the world's biggest exporter of the grain.
Nearly half of the country's farmland lacks irrigation and planting usually lasts through July
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare issued preliminary figures for planting from June 1 to July 10, which are subject to revision as it gathers more information from state governments.
The area planted with cotton was at 10.5 million hectares, up from 7.8 million hectares at the same time last year.
Sowing of oil seeds was at 13.9 million hectares, compared with 7.5 million hectares at the same time in 2019.
Rice to be grown over 2,957 thousand hectares
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP):Rice crop cultivation targets for Kharif season 2020-21 was fixed at 2, 957 thousand hectares in order to produce about 7.999 million tons to fulfill the domestic requirements as well as for exporting.
Rice is among major crops of the country which is use as staple food, where as it also contributes in national exports significantly, said an official in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
Talking to APP here on Monday, he said that rice cultivation target for Punjab Province during current season was set at 1,900 thousand hectares for producing about 4.200 million tons of the commodity.
He said that average per- hectare crop out put in the country was fixed at 2,702 kg, adding that in order to set marks, the government would ensure availability of all inputs including high yielding certified seeds, pesticides and equipping the growers with best management practices.
Meanwhile, rice crop cultivation targets for Sindh were set at 800 thousands hectares with production of 3.00 million tons, he added.
The average per- hectare rice output in Sindh was fixed at 3,750 kg, he said adding that in Punjab it was fixed at 2,211 kg per-hectare.
During Kharif season 2020-21, about 67 thousand hectares would be put under rice cultivation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to get about 0.190 thousand tons of rice, he added.
Per-hectare output during the season under review in the province of fixed at 2,836 kg, he added.
In order to exploit the agriculture potential of Baluchistan Province as well as enhancing the farm income of small scale growers, rice crop would be grown over 67 thousand hectares in order to produce about 0. 600 million tons of the commodity, he added.
It may be recalled that local rice production was more then domestic requirements as Pakistan was exporting the surplus rice to different countries of the world and fetched billions of dollars foreign exchange.
During the period from July-May, 2019-20 country earned $2.024 billion by exporting over 3.893 million tons of rice, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
During 11 months of last financial year about 3.873 million tons of rice valuing $1.927 billion exported, it added.
Meanwhile, exports of Basmati rice during the period under review also registered about 27.62 percent growth as about 852,117 metric tons of Basmati rice worth $724.511 million exported as compared 597,639 metric tons valuing $581.814 million of same period of last year.
During the period under review, country fetched $1.281 billion by exporting about 3.01 million tons of rice other then basmati as against the exports of 3.242 million tons valuing $1.281 billion of same period of last year.
Rice is among major crops of the country which is use as staple food, where as it also contributes in national exports significantly, said an official in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
Talking to APP here on Monday, he said that rice cultivation target for Punjab Province during current season was set at 1,900 thousand hectares for producing about 4.200 million tons of the commodity.
He said that average per- hectare crop out put in the country was fixed at 2,702 kg, adding that in order to set marks, the government would ensure availability of all inputs including high yielding certified seeds, pesticides and equipping the growers with best management practices.
Meanwhile, rice crop cultivation targets for Sindh were set at 800 thousands hectares with production of 3.00 million tons, he added.
The average per- hectare rice output in Sindh was fixed at 3,750 kg, he said adding that in Punjab it was fixed at 2,211 kg per-hectare.
During Kharif season 2020-21, about 67 thousand hectares would be put under rice cultivation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to get about 0.190 thousand tons of rice, he added.
Per-hectare output during the season under review in the province of fixed at 2,836 kg, he added.
In order to exploit the agriculture potential of Baluchistan Province as well as enhancing the farm income of small scale growers, rice crop would be grown over 67 thousand hectares in order to produce about 0. 600 million tons of the commodity, he added.
It may be recalled that local rice production was more then domestic requirements as Pakistan was exporting the surplus rice to different countries of the world and fetched billions of dollars foreign exchange.
During the period from July-May, 2019-20 country earned $2.024 billion by exporting over 3.893 million tons of rice, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
During 11 months of last financial year about 3.873 million tons of rice valuing $1.927 billion exported, it added.
Meanwhile, exports of Basmati rice during the period under review also registered about 27.62 percent growth as about 852,117 metric tons of Basmati rice worth $724.511 million exported as compared 597,639 metric tons valuing $581.814 million of same period of last year.
During the period under review, country fetched $1.281 billion by exporting about 3.01 million tons of rice other then basmati as against the exports of 3.242 million tons valuing $1.281 billion of same period of last year.
https://www.app.com.pk/business/business/rice-to-be-grown-over-2957-thousand-hectares/
India gave China new rice variety 2000 years ago: Research study
Syed Akbar | TNN | Jul 13, 2020, 20:25 IST
According to a multidisciplinary research study involving international scientists, a major change in climate some four millennia ago had led to the diversification of Japanese variety of rice into tropical and temperate varieties. Tropical japonica rice reached Southeast Asian islands around 2,500 years ago, while those of subspecies indica were grown in India and migrated into China around 2,000 years ago.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are pioneers in rice cultivation in south India and the Krishna and the Godavari delta together are considered the rice bowl of India. The research study by scientists from New York University point out that a global cooling event 4,200 years ago may have caused the evolution of rice. While the present rice varieties grown in India including Telugu states are of “grainy” or non-sticky, those cultivated in Japan and China are sticky rice.
The scientists arrived at the decision, that a diversified variety of rice had come to India two millennia ago from Japan and then went to China, by adopting a multidisciplinary research approach combining genome sequencing, geographic information, and climate studies with archaeology. The study indicated that the global cooling may have created new varieties of rice and driven the subsequent spread across Asia of this global staple. The study was published in Nature Plants.
The international group of researchers reconstructed the evolutionary history of rice and its migration throughout Asia. While rice is now ubiquitous in global diets, its development, which began 9,000 years ago in China’s Yangtze Valley, is not well understood. By understanding rice’s development, new varieties can be developed which meet environmental challenges, helping secure global food supplies.
“The study indicates that the japonica subspecies of rice diversified into temperate and tropical varieties because of a major climate cooling about 4,200 years ago, which brought civilization collapse in regions including Mesopotamia, China, and the Arabian Peninsula. The researchers reconstructed the development of rice across Asia using whole-genome sequences of over 1,400 varieties in the two main subspecies of rice, japonica and indica, as well as geographic, archaeological, and historic climate data,” said lead scientist Michael Purugganan, who is also a professor of biology at New York University.
Tropical varieties of japonica continued evolving after the cooling event - likely supported by trade and travel networks – and the study finds tropical japonica reached Southeast Asian islands 2,500 years ago. However, the evolution of indica was more recent, migrating into China approximately 2,000 years ago, having originated in India’s lower Ganges Valley around 4,000 years ago
Trade with Bangladesh opens doors for India's non-basmati rice exports
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Trade with Bangladesh opens doors for India's non-basmati rice exports
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“Bangladesh largely buys non-basmati rice. We have come to know that Bangladesh will import rice from India this year,” said Vinod Kaul, executive director, All India Rice Exporters’ Association. “We are getting in touch with the Indian embassy in Bangladesh and Bangladesh embassy in New Delhi to get a clearer picture on this issue.”
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KOLKATA: The resumption of trade with Bangladesh through the West Bengal border has raised hopes among India’s non-basmati rice traders of getting fresh orders from the neighbouring country. Trucks carrying rice are currently going through the Petrapole-Benapole border, fulfilling orders which were placed prior to the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Bangladesh largely buys non-basmati rice. We have come to know that Bangladesh will import rice from India this year,” said Vinod Kaul, executive director, All India Rice Exporters’ Association. “We are getting in touch with the Indian embassy in Bangladesh and Bangladesh embassy in New Delhi to get a clearer picture on this issue.”
India had exported 7,599,552.15 metric tonnes of non-basmati rice worth Rs 21,184.85 crore in 2018-19.
Traders said rice millers in Bangladesh were demanding high prices for rice that they would provide to the government warehouses. “Rice consumption has increased in Bangladesh as people are staying indoors due to the coronavirus outbreak. Eating out has stopped. This is increasing the demand for rice in the country. We are now fulfilling our old orders which are being sent to Bangladesh now,” said Suraj Agarwal, CEO, Tirupati Agri Trade.
Agarwal said a decision from the Bangladesh government on import of rice from India is expected by the end of July. Bangladesh has imposed an import duty of 55% on rice, but traders said the government is likely to bring down import duty on rice shortly.
Rice millers in Bangladesh are not providing rice to the government warehouses at a fixed rate, said traders. The food directorate of Bangladesh procured 0.34 million tonnes of the staple till July 5 and the target is to procure 19.5 million tonnes by August 31, they said.
“Bangladesh largely buys non-basmati rice. We have come to know that Bangladesh will import rice from India this year,” said Vinod Kaul, executive director, All India Rice Exporters’ Association. “We are getting in touch with the Indian embassy in Bangladesh and Bangladesh embassy in New Delhi to get a clearer picture on this issue.”
India had exported 7,599,552.15 metric tonnes of non-basmati rice worth Rs 21,184.85 crore in 2018-19.
Traders said rice millers in Bangladesh were demanding high prices for rice that they would provide to the government warehouses. “Rice consumption has increased in Bangladesh as people are staying indoors due to the coronavirus outbreak. Eating out has stopped. This is increasing the demand for rice in the country. We are now fulfilling our old orders which are being sent to Bangladesh now,” said Suraj Agarwal, CEO, Tirupati Agri Trade.
Agarwal said a decision from the Bangladesh government on import of rice from India is expected by the end of July. Bangladesh has imposed an import duty of 55% on rice, but traders said the government is likely to bring down import duty on rice shortly.
Rice millers in Bangladesh are not providing rice to the government warehouses at a fixed rate, said traders. The food directorate of Bangladesh procured 0.34 million tonnes of the staple till July 5 and the target is to procure 19.5 million tonnes by August 31, they said.
If Bangladesh imports from India, it will help the Indian rice trade as prices have fallen in the country since the outbreak of Covid-19. Subrata Mondol, a rice miller from West Bengal said, “Since all the state governments in the country are providing free rice to their people, prices have fallen.”
Exports to Bangladesh will help rice millers recover their costs, said Mondol .
Besides Bangladesh, India’s non-basmati rice exporters have a chance to export to Thailand and Vietnam, where non-basmati paddy crop has failed.
“All countries are trying to create a buffer stock of rice to deal with the uncertainty created by the pandemic,” said Agarwal.
India gave China new rice variety 2000 years ago: Research study
Syed Akbar | TNN | Jul 13, 2020, 20:25 IST
According to a multidisciplinary research study involving international scientists, a major change in climate some four millennia ago had led to the diversification of Japanese variety of rice into tropical and temperate varieties. Tropical japonica rice reached Southeast Asian islands around 2,500 years ago, while those of subspecies indica were grown in India and migrated into China around 2,000 years ago.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are pioneers in rice cultivation in south India and the Krishna and the Godavari delta together are considered the rice bowl of India. The research study by scientists from New York University point out that a global cooling event 4,200 years ago may have caused the evolution of rice. While the present rice varieties grown in India including Telugu states are of “grainy” or non-sticky, those cultivated in Japan and China are sticky rice.
The scientists arrived at the decision, that a diversified variety of rice had come to India two millennia ago from Japan and then went to China, by adopting a multidisciplinary research approach combining genome sequencing, geographic information, and climate studies with archaeology. The study indicated that the global cooling may have created new varieties of rice and driven the subsequent spread across Asia of this global staple. The study was published in Nature Plants.
The international group of researchers reconstructed the evolutionary history of rice and its migration throughout Asia. While rice is now ubiquitous in global diets, its development, which began 9,000 years ago in China’s Yangtze Valley, is not well understood. By understanding rice’s development, new varieties can be developed which meet environmental challenges, helping secure global food supplies.
“The study indicates that the japonica subspecies of rice diversified into temperate and tropical varieties because of a major climate cooling about 4,200 years ago, which brought civilization collapse in regions including Mesopotamia, China, and the Arabian Peninsula. The researchers reconstructed the development of rice across Asia using whole-genome sequences of over 1,400 varieties in the two main subspecies of rice, japonica and indica, as well as geographic, archaeological, and historic climate data,” said lead scientist Michael Purugganan, who is also a professor of biology at New York University.
Tropical varieties of japonica continued evolving after the cooling event - likely supported by trade and travel networks – and the study finds tropical japonica reached Southeast Asian islands 2,500 years ago. However, the evolution of indica was more recent, migrating into China approximately 2,000 years ago, having originated in India’s lower Ganges Valley around 4,000 years ago.
Jewar farmers bank on scientists’ tips to save shrinking rice bowl
Shalabh | TNN | Updated: Jul 13, 2020, 04:36 IST
GREATER NOIDA: Farmers in Jewar tehsil are banking on scientific techniques to maintain the yield of basmati rice this kharif season, at a time rapid urbanisation has eaten into agricultural land.
Scores of farmers from the region have been interacting with scientists from the Basmati Export Development Foundation in Meerut to figure out ways for proper preparation of fields.
“Jewar tehsil was once known as the ‘basmati’ rice bowl in the western plain area that comprises seven districts. Earlier, a major chunk of the agricultural land was lost due to the Yamuna Expressway. Transplantation (ropai) activity has begun in the district. We are talking to experts to ensure we are able to maintain the same yield as last year,” said district agricultural officer Amarnath Mishra.
Due to rapid strides in urbanisation, the scale of agricultural activity has gone down substantially in the district in the past decade. The latest round of surveys carried out across the district by the department shows that from 82,000 hectares of agricultural land that was tilled in 2011, the area has gone down to 55,000 hectares this year. Moreover, due to the acquisition of large land tracts for the upcoming Jewar airport, an additional 1,400 hectares of basmati cultivation would be impacted this year.
Navratan Singh from Thora gram panchayat under Jewar sub-division has been cultivating paddy for decades. “Agricultural scientists and experts from the district and the foundation in Meerut have given the commitment to guide us regarding genetically enriched seeds and a multiplication programme. Through scientific ways, a farmer can improve the yield by 8% to 10% annually,” said Singh.
Mishra added that the department would try to match up to the production figures of the last season by creating awareness about scientific techniques to be followed.
Meanwhile, villages that have been acquired for the Jewar project would skip farming activity this season. A resident of Rohi, Bhagwan Singh, who is among the largest farm owners to part with their land for the airport project, said: “Some villagers are aware of the fact that construction activity can begin any moment and they have been growing seasonal vegetables in their fields.”
Scores of farmers from the region have been interacting with scientists from the Basmati Export Development Foundation in Meerut to figure out ways for proper preparation of fields.
“Jewar tehsil was once known as the ‘basmati’ rice bowl in the western plain area that comprises seven districts. Earlier, a major chunk of the agricultural land was lost due to the Yamuna Expressway. Transplantation (ropai) activity has begun in the district. We are talking to experts to ensure we are able to maintain the same yield as last year,” said district agricultural officer Amarnath Mishra.
Due to rapid strides in urbanisation, the scale of agricultural activity has gone down substantially in the district in the past decade. The latest round of surveys carried out across the district by the department shows that from 82,000 hectares of agricultural land that was tilled in 2011, the area has gone down to 55,000 hectares this year. Moreover, due to the acquisition of large land tracts for the upcoming Jewar airport, an additional 1,400 hectares of basmati cultivation would be impacted this year.
Navratan Singh from Thora gram panchayat under Jewar sub-division has been cultivating paddy for decades. “Agricultural scientists and experts from the district and the foundation in Meerut have given the commitment to guide us regarding genetically enriched seeds and a multiplication programme. Through scientific ways, a farmer can improve the yield by 8% to 10% annually,” said Singh.
Mishra added that the department would try to match up to the production figures of the last season by creating awareness about scientific techniques to be followed.
Meanwhile, villages that have been acquired for the Jewar project would skip farming activity this season. A resident of Rohi, Bhagwan Singh, who is among the largest farm owners to part with their land for the airport project, said: “Some villagers are aware of the fact that construction activity can begin any moment and they have been growing seasonal vegetables in their fields.”
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Jewar farmers bank on scientists’ tips to save shrinking rice bowl
Shalabh | TNN | Updated: Jul 13, 2020, 04:36 IST
Scores of farmers from the region have been interacting with scientists from the Basmati Export Development Fo...Read More
GREATER NOIDA: Farmers in Jewar tehsil are banking on scientific techniques to maintain the yield of basmati rice this kharif season, at a time rapid urbanisation has eaten into agricultural land.
Scores of farmers from the region have been interacting with scientists from the Basmati Export Development Foundation in Meerut to figure out ways for proper preparation of fields.
“Jewar tehsil was once known as the ‘basmati’ rice bowl in the western plain area that comprises seven districts. Earlier, a major chunk of the agricultural land was lost due to the Yamuna Expressway. Transplantation (ropai) activity has begun in the district. We are talking to experts to ensure we are able to maintain the same yield as last year,” said district agricultural officer Amarnath Mishra.
Due to rapid strides in urbanisation, the scale of agricultural activity has gone down substantially in the district in the past decade. The latest round of surveys carried out across the district by the department shows that from 82,000 hectares of agricultural land that was tilled in 2011, the area has gone down to 55,000 hectares this year. Moreover, due to the acquisition of large land tracts for the upcoming Jewar airport, an additional 1,400 hectares of basmati cultivation would be impacted this year.
Navratan Singh from Thora gram panchayat under Jewar sub-division has been cultivating paddy for decades. “Agricultural scientists and experts from the district and the foundation in Meerut have given the commitment to guide us regarding genetically enriched seeds and a multiplication programme. Through scientific ways, a farmer can improve the yield by 8% to 10% annually,” said Singh.
Mishra added that the department would try to match up to the production figures of the last season by creating awareness about scientific techniques to be followed.
Meanwhile, villages that have been acquired for the Jewar project would skip farming activity this season. A resident of Rohi, Bhagwan Singh, who is among the largest farm owners to part with their land for the airport project, said: “Some villagers are aware of the fact that construction activity can begin any moment and they have been growing seasonal vegetables in their fields.”
Scores of farmers from the region have been interacting with scientists from the Basmati Export Development Foundation in Meerut to figure out ways for proper preparation of fields.
“Jewar tehsil was once known as the ‘basmati’ rice bowl in the western plain area that comprises seven districts. Earlier, a major chunk of the agricultural land was lost due to the Yamuna Expressway. Transplantation (ropai) activity has begun in the district. We are talking to experts to ensure we are able to maintain the same yield as last year,” said district agricultural officer Amarnath Mishra.
Due to rapid strides in urbanisation, the scale of agricultural activity has gone down substantially in the district in the past decade. The latest round of surveys carried out across the district by the department shows that from 82,000 hectares of agricultural land that was tilled in 2011, the area has gone down to 55,000 hectares this year. Moreover, due to the acquisition of large land tracts for the upcoming Jewar airport, an additional 1,400 hectares of basmati cultivation would be impacted this year.
Navratan Singh from Thora gram panchayat under Jewar sub-division has been cultivating paddy for decades. “Agricultural scientists and experts from the district and the foundation in Meerut have given the commitment to guide us regarding genetically enriched seeds and a multiplication programme. Through scientific ways, a farmer can improve the yield by 8% to 10% annually,” said Singh.
Mishra added that the department would try to match up to the production figures of the last season by creating awareness about scientific techniques to be followed.
Meanwhile, villages that have been acquired for the Jewar project would skip farming activity this season. A resident of Rohi, Bhagwan Singh, who is among the largest farm owners to part with their land for the airport project, said: “Some villagers are aware of the fact that construction activity can begin any moment and they have been growing seasonal vegetables in their fields.”
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Rice of $2.024b exported in 11 months
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Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Rice exports from the country during 11 months of fiscal year 2019-20 increased 5.05 percent as compared the exports of the corresponding period of last year.
During the period from July-May, 2019-20 country earned $2.024 billion by exporting over 3.893 million tons of rice, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
During 11 months of last financial year about 3.873 million tons of rice valuing $1.927 billion exported, it added.
Meanwhile, exports of Basmati rice during the period under review also registered about 27.62 percent growth as about 852,117 metric tons of Basmati rice worth $724.511 million exported as compared 597,639 metric tons valuing $581.814 million of same period of last year.
During the period under review, country fetched $1.281 billion by exporting about 3.01 million tons of rice other then Basmati as against the exports of 3.242 million tons valuing $1.281 billion of same period of last year.
It may be recalled here that food group exports from the country during 11 months of fiscal year ended on June 3, 2020 decreased by 5.02 percent as compared the exports of the corresponding period of last year.
Different food commodities worth 4.056 billion exported during 11 months of last year, which stood at $4.270 billion of same period of last year.
During the period from July-May, 2019-20 country earned $2.024 billion by exporting over 3.893 million tons of rice, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
During 11 months of last financial year about 3.873 million tons of rice valuing $1.927 billion exported, it added.
Meanwhile, exports of Basmati rice during the period under review also registered about 27.62 percent growth as about 852,117 metric tons of Basmati rice worth $724.511 million exported as compared 597,639 metric tons valuing $581.814 million of same period of last year.
During the period under review, country fetched $1.281 billion by exporting about 3.01 million tons of rice other then Basmati as against the exports of 3.242 million tons valuing $1.281 billion of same period of last year.
It may be recalled here that food group exports from the country during 11 months of fiscal year ended on June 3, 2020 decreased by 5.02 percent as compared the exports of the corresponding period of last year.
Different food commodities worth 4.056 billion exported during 11 months of last year, which stood at $4.270 billion of same period of last year.
