Floods highlight
importance of food security
By Fan Shenggen |
China Daily | Updated: 2020-07-22 07:34
Sand bags are stacked at the Dongsheng South Embankment to
prevent water from overflowing in Xingang township of Jiujiang city, East
China's Jiangxi province, on July 18, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
The floods in the southern parts of China have
triggered fresh concerns about whether the country will face a food shortage
and nutrition crisis. Although China's food (especially cereal) stock and
supply are adequate, concerted efforts are needed to ensure food and nutrition
security for all citizens, particularly those in the flood-affected areas.
The measures taken to prevent and control the
spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak disrupted food production, processing,
transportation, marketing and trade in February and March, posing a threat to
food security. Fortunately, the novel coronavirus has been largely controlled
in the country, and the economy, including the agricultural and food sector,
has mostly recovered. And various government policies including green channels
for transportation of fresh foods and workers in the food sector have helped
minimize the impact of the shocks.
In addition, financial support and tax
concessions to farmers and agricultural enterprises, and online delivery
platforms have played a critical role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the
entire food supply chain.
China has enough food stock, particularly that
of cereals (rice, wheat and corn), as it had a bumper harvest in 2019 and reaps
another good summer harvest (an increase of 0.9 percent) this year. According
to government sources, there are enough cereals in stock to feed the population
for the whole year－one of the reasons why cereal prices have been stable. But
prices of meat and vegetables increased in June, which means concerted efforts
are needed to prevent any shortage of these foods in the future.
On July 8, the Ministry of Finance and the
Ministry of Emergency Management allocated 615 million yuan ($88 million) for disaster
relief in flood-hit regions, mainly to Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei and Guizhou
provinces, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Chongqing. Of the total
sum, 430 million yuan is to be used for flood control, and the rest for rescue
and relief operations in disaster-affected areas.
However, more support should be provided for
the affected areas and farmers so they can recover from the floods－for instance, seeds
for crops and feed for livestock must be supplied to prevent a shortage of food
in the fall, and more attention should be paid to vegetables and livestock,
which help improve consumers' nutrition and health.
Also, since China has vowed to eliminate
absolute poverty by the end of 2020, special efforts are needed to ensure poor
farmers emerge out of poverty despite the floods, while measures should be
taken to prevent rural residents from slipping back into poverty under the
impact of the floods. As such, social protection programs including cash
transfer should be strengthened in impoverished regions and counties, as well
as in areas that have suffered a double blow from the epidemic and the floods.
Securing nutritious and healthy foods for children, women, the elderly and
other vulnerable groups will be critical to the post-pandemic and post-floods recovery.
The pandemic, more frequent extreme weather
events, and the rising threats of pests and diseases to crops and livestock are
a wake up call for the world and China to make their agriculture and food
systems more resilient to shocks.
China has invested heavily in flood control
for centuries, especially after the devastating 1998 floods. But with climate
change intensifying, the government needs to increase investments in flood
control management and irrigation－for example, by combining flood control measures
with ecological conservation, tree planting and wetland preservation.
It should also develop agricultural
technologies to build resilience against floods and droughts, similar to the
development of climate change-resistant rice varieties by Chinese researchers
and foreign scientists from the International Rice Research Institute. Some of
the rice cultivars are more resistant to droughts, floods, extremely high
temperatures, unusual cold waves, and saline soil than the normal varieties.
Similarly, Chinese and foreign scientists from the International Maize and
Wheat Improvement Center have developed drought-and high temperature-tolerant
corn varieties.
There is a need to establish a national flood
insurance system, too, because the post-disaster government aid－the main channel for
disaster relief－is less efficient than insurance. Many developed countries such
as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have active
flood insurance programs, which help reduce the losses caused by floods through
market-based means (in partnership with private insurance companies) and
facilitate the construction of disaster prevention and alleviation
infrastructure. And innovative methods (including the application of internet
or mobile phone-based technology and dynamic flooding risk map) are needed to
help farmers increase their agricultural insurance uptakes, which will better
protect them against increasing climate change shocks.
Moreover, China needs to reinforce the social
protection system, by using information and communications technology and
increasing government capacity at all levels. Efficient, timely and targeted
aid through a well-established social protection system is essential for
protecting the poor and vulnerable when natural disasters like floods wreak
havoc in the country.
The author is chair professor at China
Agricultural University and former director general of International Food
Policy Research Institute based in Washington DC.
The views don't necessarily reflect those of
China Daily.
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202007/22/WS5f177b96a31083481725b215.html
Ghana
Commodity Exchange adds local rice to listed items
7h ago | Source:
Citi Business News
The
Ghana Commodity Exchange, which serves as a link between agricultural and
commodity producers and buyers, has added locally produced rice to its listed
items.
This
comes after the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
This
brings to five the number of items the Exchange trades in including maize,
sorghum, soy bean, and sesame.
Rice
is considered the second most important grain food in Ghana, next to maize, and
accounts for 58 percent of the country’s cereal imports.
With
its consumption in 2017 and 2018 estimated at 1 million megatonnes, the
government expects that the annual per capita consumption will reach 40
kilogrammes this year.
But
dependency on foreign rice is a phenomenon that is a source of worry for many
in Ghana.
This
phenomenon started increasing steadily in the 1980s, but now accounts for more
than 70% of local consumption.
According
to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana spends almost over a billion
dollars on rice importation annually since 2015.
For
many years, rice farmers in the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region
and other parts of the country have lamented the lack of ready market for their
produce.
Despite
assurances from the Ghana Buffer Stock, some have been forced to keep their
produce for many months without buyers, a situation that is worsened by
inadequate warehouses.
Before
December 2019, a campaign started by Citi FM and Citi TV for the consumption of
local rice, received widespread support, leading to an increase in demand for local
rice during the festive season.
Government
also responded by getting the Ghana Buffer Stock Company to buy some of the
rice, while discussions have been ongoing to get banks to provide credit to
players in the local rice value chain to expand and meet local demand.
Government
further promised to end rice importation by 2022.
With
this intervention by the Ghana Commodity Exchange, rice farmers and millers can
be sure of ready market with competitive prices once they meet the expected
quality standard.
Chief
Executive Officer of the Ghana Commodity Exchange, Dr.
Kadri
Alfah made this known to Citi Business News.
“We’ve
just had an approval from our regulator, the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
They’ve
given us the go-ahead to trade rice, so this is good news to the Exchange, the
farmers and the general Ghanaian public.
So,
you would see that we will be listing rice contracts on the Exchange and then
trade in them in the coming months” he said.
Dr.
Alfah
believes local rice farmers have the capacity to produce enough to meet the
country’s demand.
“To
be honest with you, we haven’t really done a lot on rice, we are still
importing a lot of rice, but we don’t need to import rice, we should actually
be exporting rice because we have the climate, we have the resources.
There’s
been a lot of support also from the government through the Planting for Food
and Jobs initiative.
Rice
farmers have been largely supported.
The
Exchange has also been set up to ensure that we are able to provide market
linkages and get the farmers to get better market,” he added.
The
Exchange as part of preparations for its new addition has secured warehouses to
store enough rice in the next few months.
“Usually,
we would bring in new products at the harvest season so we a targeting the next
quarter or so.
We’ve
actually even started because when we are starting with a new product, we start
with the feasibility studies, we look at the buyers and sellers and some of the
dynamics, the price trends and we just make sure that the market understands
what we are doing.
We
also consult with the industry.
We’ve
also gotten two warehouses that we want to commit to the trading of rice and
we’re looking for more warehouses.
We
have a warehouse in partnership with Juaben Food Market and we also have a
warehouse in Bolgatanga where we are working with institutions.
”
Meanwhile, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Dr.
Alfah
says its buyers within the off-taking chain have reduced.
Already,
the Exchange says the amount of produce it receives for the five listed items
is now less also due to the pandemic.
“We’ve
also suffered from the off-taker side as well because those who were buying
from us were mainly processors of food.
They
were businesses that were processing.
They
buy raw material from us and process.
Most
of them have actually scaled down their operation and some of them have
actually shut down completely.
So
that it the reason why the off-taking side has gone down,” Dr.
Alfah
said.
.
Thai
rice exporters cut 2020 forecast to 6.5 million T, lowest in 20 years
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s rice exporters association has
slashed its forecast for 2020 exports to 6.5 million tonnes, the lowest volume
in two decades, owing to drought and a strong baht currency, its executives
said on Wednesday.
FILE PHOTO: Immigrant workers
unload sacks of rice from a barge to a cargo ship on the Chao Phraya River in
Bangkok August 27, 2014. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
The industry group’s latest forecast for Thailand, the world’s
second-largest rice exporter last year, is lower than its previous expectation
of a seven-year low of 7.5 million tonnes for 2020.
The association attributed that to a persistently strong baht
compared to other currencies and drought cutting Thai rice output by 5 million
tonnes this production season, making prices higher and uncompetitive.
“The new forecast of 6.5 million tonnes is the lowest volume in
20 years,” said Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice
Exporters Association, adding the previous low was 6.15 million tonnes in 2000.
“This year will be a struggle.”
From January to June, Thailand exported 3.14 million tonnes of
rice, about a third less than the same period last year, the association’s data
showed, less than India’s 4.53 million tonnes and the 4.04 million tonnes
shipped by Vietnam.
Thailand’s gains from India halting logistics during lockdown
and Vietnam temporarily banning new contracts to ensure domestic supply amid
the coronavirus crisis would be shortlived, and balanced out by flat demand,
Charoen Laothamatas, the association’s president.
“COVID-19 has made the market volatile, making importers buy
more than usual earlier to stock up, but now they won’t need to for a while,”
he said.
Sales of Thai premium-grade jasmine rice have risen by 63% this
year, benefiting from panic-buying in wealthier markets like Singapore, Hong
Kong, the United States and Canada.
Meanwhile, lower purchasing power globally has seen Thai white
rice lose out to cheaper grades offered by Vietnam in key Asian markets like
the Philippines.
China, once a Thai rice importer, was also beating Thailand in
key African markets with cheaper prices.
Reporting by Patpicha
Tanakasempipat; Editing by Ed Davies and Martin Petty
Our Standards:The Thomson
Reuters Trust Principles.
2020 Organic Pioneer Award Recipients Announced by Rodale Institute
Lundberg Family
Farms, Dr. Tyrone Hayes, and Katherine DiMatteo recognized for outstanding
contributions to the organic movement
News
and research before you hear about it on CNBC and others. Claim your 1-week
free trial to StreetInsider Premium here.
Kutztown, PA, July 21, 2020 (GLOBE
NEWSWIRE) -- Rodale Institute, the global leader in regenerative organic
agriculture, will recognize three leaders of the organic movement during
Organic Pioneer Month throughout September. Organic rice producer Lundberg Family Farms, groundbreaking biologist Dr. Tyrone
Hayes, and former Organic Trade Association Executive Director Katherine
DiMatteo will be honored for their work in advancing the organic
movement.
|
|||||
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s
celebration of the Organic Pioneer Award recipients and annual fundraiser will
be held virtually throughout the month of September, designated as “Organic
Pioneer Month.” Each week, Rodale Institute will feature unique content from
the award winners, including videos, letters from the honorees, and more.
Organic Pioneer Month will culminate in a live,
virtual panel with the honorees on September 21 at 2 PM EST. Anyone who donates
to Rodale Institute during the Organic Pioneer Month campaign will be
registered for the event, moderated by Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Moyer. The
conversation will discuss the past, present and future of the organic movement.
Learn more about Organic Pioneer Month at RodaleInstitute.org/OrganicPioneerAwards.
Traditionally hosted as a farm-to-table
fundraising dinner at the Rodale Institute headquarters, the shift in the
Organic Pioneer Awards format provides an opportunity to dive even deeper into
the groundbreaking work of the Lundberg Family, Dr. Tyrone Hayes, and Katherine
DiMatteo.
“This year’s Organic Pioneer Award winners
can be summed up in one word: legacy,” said Jeff Moyer, Rodale Institute CEO.
“Whether it is their significant impact on food labels, the National Organic
Program standards, or paradigm-shifting pesticide research, the legacy of
Lundberg Family Farms, Dr. Tyrone Hayes, and Katherine DiMatteo within the
organic movement is incredible. We are honored to present them with our highest
honor this year.”
Learn more about the 2020 award winners:
Grant Lundberg, accepting the
award on behalf of Lundberg Family Farms: Lundberg Family Farms has produced rice products on
their family-owned farm since 1937, today becoming one of the leaders in the
organic and eco-farmed rice market. Lundberg Family Farms leads with a longer
view of family, food, and organic farming. Albert, Frances, and their four
sons—Eldon, Wendell, Harlan, and Homer—saw how the Dust Bowl stripped the land
of its topsoil in the 1930s. When they moved to California, they decided to
work in partnership with nature, becoming pioneers of organic farming. Since
1937, the Lundbergs have been growing healthy, great-tasting rice while tending
to soil, air, water, and wildlife as carefully as their crops. In addition to
farming organically, Lundberg Family Farms offsets its operations with 100%
renewable energy, is ENERGY STAR certified, and maintains TRUE Zero Waste
certification. The Organic Pioneer award will be accepted by Grant Lundberg,
current CEO of Lundberg Family Farms and third generation of the family. A
passionate advocate of GMO food labeling, Lundberg was a founding director of
the Non-GMO Project.
“My
family and I are honored to receive the Rodale Institute’s Organic Pioneer
Award,” said Lundberg. “Our parents and grandparents were pioneers in every
sense of the word. My cousins and I feel a profound responsibility to uphold
their legacy of treating the land like a member of the family. We are grateful
to the Rodale Institute for advancing the organic movement so we can keep
growing together for generations to come.”
Tyrone B. Hayes, Ph.D. is
a Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of
California, Berkeley. He received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University
in 1989 and his doctorate from the Department of Integrative Biology at UC
Berkeley in 1993. Hayes’ career has focused on the role of endocrine-disrupting
contaminants, particularly pesticides, and their impact on global amphibian
declines and public health. This research resulted in a widely known study
connecting the herbicide atrazine to the feminization of male frogs. Hayes also
studies environmental justice issues associated with targeted exposure of
racial and ethnic minorities to chemicals and the role that exposure plays in
health care disparities.
"I am proud to be a scientist on the
side of something positive,” said Hayes. “Reducing the use of synthetic
chemicals and fertilizers in food and agriculture will be key in maintaining
healthy environments and food for future generations. I am honored to be
recognized in this movement."
Katherine DiMatteo provides
organizational management, and policy and regulatory consulting services to the
organic sector. The executive director of the Organic Trade Association from
1990 to 2006, DiMatteo was instrumental in shaping the outcome of the U.S.
National Organic Program standards and the U.N. Codex Guidelines for
organically produced foods. She currently serves on the Fairtrade America Board
of Directors and the Advisory Board of Protect Our Breasts. DiMatteo was a
founding member of the Climate Collaborative and now serves on its management
board. Previously, she served as the president of IFOAM-Organics International
Board of Directors and was a founding member of The Organic Center’s Board of
Directors.
“It is
such a privilege for me to receive the Rodale Institute Organic Pioneer Award,”
said DiMatteo. “I am most grateful to work with the community that has formed
around organic agriculture, its principles and products. Through collaborations
and creative tensions, together we have advanced organic locally and globally.”
Previous recipients of the Organic Pioneer Award include
Dr. Jennifer Taylor (Lola’s Organic Farm/FAMU), Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia),
David Bronner (Dr. Bronner’s), Alice Watters (Chez Panisse), and Governor Tom
Wolf (Pennsylvania).
To participate in Organic Pioneer Month,
sign up for Rodale Institute’s email newsletters and follow the Institute on
Facebook and Instagram. Information on the winners, live panel registration,
and more can be found at RodaleInstitute.org/OrganicPioneerAwards.
About Rodale Institute: Rodale
Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to pioneering organic farming
through research and outreach. For seventy years, the Institute has been
researching the best practices of organic agriculture and sharing findings with
farmers and scientists throughout the world, advocating for policies that
support farmers, and educating consumers about how going organic is the
healthiest option for people and the planet. Learn more at RodaleInstitute.org
Attachment
Margaret WilsonRodale Institute610-597-5650margaret.wilson@rodaleinstitute.org
Source:
Rodale Institute
Super
funds returns likely to be lower for longer
By John Collett
July
21, 2020 — 10.00pm
Add
to shortlist
Super
fund members need to lower their expectations of any repeat of the strong
growth seen in their retirement savings over the past decade, industry analysis
shows.
Actuaries Rice Warner
has warned members to expect average annual compound returns of just 5 per
cent over the next decade, rather than the 7 per cent to 8 per cent
to which they have become accustomed.
The
outsized returns of super since the GFC could well be over.CREDIT:ISTOCK
However,
that forecast was made before the COVID-19 pandemic struck and now even that
revised lower return is looking over-optimistic.
Super fund members are
long accustomed to bumper returns, with some funds doing even better than
returning 7 per cent to 8 per cent a year.
Figures from industry watcher SuperRatings show not-for-profit
funds dominate the long-term performance league tables.
The top-10 balanced investment options over 10 years to June 30
were all not-for-profit funds that produced returns of at least 8 per cent.
AustralianSuper's balanced option was number one over that period, with an
average annual return of 8.8 per cent.
Balanced options have about half of their members' retirement
savings invested in Australian and global shares. A sizeable slice of the good
performances has come from a staggering recovery on global sharemarkets after
the setbacks experienced during the Global Financial Crisis.
Not-for-profit funds also have significant allocations to
unlisted assets, such as infrastructure, that pay good income, which helps
smooth out long-term returns.
As sharemarkets around the world peaked last year, Rice Warner
said funds should review their long-term "target" returns with a view
to slashing estimates.
Rice Warner chief executive Andrew Boal and Rice Warner consultant
Richard Dunn are now urging even more caution as the
coronavirus pandemic plunges global economies into the worst downturn since the
1930s Great Depression.
Funds provide "target" returns for their options over
the longer term, which is expressed as the likely return above the inflation
rate.
10-year bonds now yield 1.1 per cent and equity markets usually
have dismal performance during recessions, so where will these high returns be
made?
Andrew Boal, chief executive of Rice Warner
The Rice Warner researchers say the typical return target of
"MySuper" investment options – the balanced-style where most members
have invested their retirement savings – is an average annual compound return
of about 3.6 percentage points above inflation. However, there is a big
variation in fund targets and some appear "very optimistic", Boal and
Dunn say.
As underlying inflation is less than 2 per cent a year, the
targets imply that funds will need to earn 5 per cent to 6 per cent a year to
achieve some of their targets.
"While that seems plausible, these figures are likely to be
disconnected from the realised returns over much of the next decade," the
researchers say.
"For example, 10-year bonds now yield 1.1 per cent and
equity markets usually have dismal performance during recessions, so where will
these high returns be made?" they say.
Gross returns are only one side of the equation for super fund
members, as it is returns net of fees that matter most. The expected lower
investment returns could be cushioned by lower fees.
Most funds contract external fund managers to invest members'
money. However, a spate of super fund mergers to provide more scale and spread
fixed costs across a greater number of members is expected to be of major
benefit.
Scale also makes available more opportunities to bring some of
the funds management in-house in order to save on investment management fees.
https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/7744424141239132414
Study finds pigs fed leftover Japanese liquor produce
tastier pork
Pigs
fed shochu remnants from age 3 to 6 months also had higher amounts of
antibodies called IgA in their saliva, indicating shochu remnants kept pigs
healthier.
A
team of Japanese professional brewers and academic farmers say pigs fed
the nutrients in leftover fermented barley from the Japanese liquor
shochu, may have less stress, resulting in better tasting pork sirloin and
fillets.
"Kyushu,
in Western Japan is well-known historically for making shochu and for its many
pig farms. We hope collaborative research projects like ours can directly
benefit the local community and global environment," says Yasuhisa
Ano, the first author of the research paper published in Food Chemistry. Ano is
affiliated with the Kirin Central Research Institute at Kirin Holdings Co.,
Ltd.
Currently, the
mash of leftovers that remains after distilling out the alcohol is considered
industrial waste and is often disposed of in ways that create more
climate-changing carbon dioxide. Feeding distillation leftovers to farm animals
can improve the animals' quality of life, lower farmers' and brewers' costs,
appeal to discerning foodies, and benefit the environment by reducing food
waste.
Japanese
shochu can be made from barley, potatoes, rice or other starches first
decomposed with mold, then fermented with yeast, and finally distilled to an
alcohol content usually greater than 20%. Incidentally, Japanese sake is a
fermented drink always made from rice with an alcohol content typically around
15%.
Researchers
at the University of Tokyo fed six pigs a standard diet supplemented with
shochu distillation remnants, the dried mixture of barley, mold and yeast left
over after distilling out the shochu. Pigs fed shochu remnants from age 3 to 6
months had higher amounts of antibodies called IgA in their saliva, indicating
that shochu remnants kept the pigs healthier than the standard diet.
Additionally, pigs fed shochu remnants had lower stress levels than pigs fed
the normal diet supplemented with fresh barley, as measured by the amount of
cortisol, a common stress hormone, in their saliva.
Other
studies have linked healthier responses to stress to two protein building
blocks called leucine and histidine peptides, which barley shochu contains in
abundance.
The
UTokyo research team performed additional tests in mice to study the effect of
barley shochu distillation remnants on stress. Mice that ate the distillation
remnants just once directly before a stressful event returned to normal
behavior faster than other mice. The mice who ate the shochu remnants also had
normal levels of dopamine in their brains after the stressful event, indicating
a better response to stress.
Researchers
suspected that the lower stress and better health throughout the pigs' lives
created higher quality meat, but they asked flavor experts from Kirin for a
blind taste test.
According
to the experts' palates, both sirloin and fillet cuts of pork from the shochu
remnant-fed pigs were higher quality than meat from pigs that ate the standard
diet: better umami, tenderness, juiciness and flavor.
"We
saw no difference in the pigs' weight gain between the two diets and the pigs
were slaughtered at the standard six months of age, meaning any difference in
the quality of meat was not because of a difference in quantity of fat,"
says Junyou Li, an associate professor from the University of Tokyo and
a co-author of the research publication.
That
higher quality taste was likely due to chemical differences in the meat. Fat
from the higher-quality meat melted at lower temperatures, which creates the
delicious melt-in-your-mouth texture. That fat was also made up of a higher
percentage of oleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid linked by other studies to
improved levels of "healthy" LDL cholesterol.
"We
hope that identifying these benefits for the animals and creating a premium
tasting product for consumers will increase farmers' motivation to try a new
diet for their pigs," says Masayoshi Kuwahara, director of the
University of Tokyo Animal Resource Science Center and last author of the
research publication.
Source:
University of Tokyo, which is solely responsible for the information provided,
and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its
subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this
information asset.
TAGS: NUTRITION ANIMAL HEALTH
Federation Makes the
Case for Rice in 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines
WASHINGTON, DC -- Last week, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory
Committee (DGAC) Scientific Report was released by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS). The basis for the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for
Americans, the report is intended for policy makers and health
professionals as an outline of how Americans can improve their overall eating
patterns for a healthier lifestyle.
"USA Rice made sure the industry's voice
was heard by thoroughly demonstrating the nutritional value of rice, and we're
pleased with the overall report and its implications for rice," said
Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice director of domestic promotion. "We made
the case on a number of fronts for the DGAC to advise HHS and USDA that
U.S.-grown rice, in all forms, be an integral part of a healthy diet for
Americans of all ages."
Throughout the report's multi-year review
process, USA Rice played an active advisory role attending all DGAC public
meetings, working alongside industry coalitions to provide the DGAC with
cutting edge research, and orchestrating the written submission of comments to
the DGAC by nutrition experts on behalf of rice.
"The current DGAC report provides nutrition
recommendations that are largely positive for rice, including increasing whole
grain consumption to prevent certain chronic diseases," said Jacobs.
"The report also recommends Americans increase their intake of dietary
fiber, and that breastfed infants ages 6-12 months receive foods rich in iron,
including fortified cereals."
The report does recommend limiting refined
grains which is unchanged from previous guidelines and recommendations.
And, despite a strong push by groups advocating for low-carbohydrate diets, the
DGAC said research limitations and lack of a standard definition for a low-carbohydrate
diet precluded a formal decision on this eating pattern.
The next phase of the review includes a 30-day
public written comment period that closes August 13, as well as an oral comment
opportunity. Should USA Rice be selected to provide oral comments, nutrition
expert Julie Miller Jones is scheduled to testify on the organization's behalf
on August 11 as the DGAC completes its final review.
Publication of the final 2020-2025
Dietary Guidelines for Americans is expected later this year or in
early 2021.
https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/DGAC-vs-DGA.pdf
usa Rice
daily
‘GI law to help
SMEs go global’
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser Razak Dawood on Monday said
the Geographical Indications (GI) Law would provide legal protection to
indigenous products and help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) fetch premium
prices for things like Peshawari chappals, Multani pottery, and Hunza apricots
etc.
He said this during a briefing following the meeting of the Senate
Standing Committee on Commerce at the Ministry of Commerce. Talking about the
objectives of the GI Law, Dawood underlined that the policy of the government
was to get premium prices for indigenous products in the international market,
as a lot of companies sold the items without any branding about the product’s
origin.
Dawood said that the Standing Committee also appreciated the
coordination between the Parliament and Ministry of Commerce for the enactment
of GI Act. Pakistan enacted Geographical Indications (Registration and
Protection) Act in March, 2020.
It was a landmark achievement on the part of the Parliament and
the government. This would lead to the protection of Pakistani brands and
ensure premium price for Pakistani products originating from different areas.
GI Law was pending for over 14 years and a number of companies
were using these products under their name tag, without attributing them to
their origins.
After the GI Act, indigenous products of Pakistan would get
premium price in the international market. Under this Act, a wide range of
products, including Basmati rice, Hunza apricot, Sargodha kinnow, Multan mango,
Sindhi ajrak and Peshawari chappal etc will be introduced in the international
market as national brands of Pakistan.
The GI Act, 2020 provides legal protection to local products,
which would encourage SMEs to expand their business worldwide. The protection
of geographical indications would boost exports and help support rural
development in the country, enhancing the livelihood of agriculture producers
and skilled craftsmen.
In addition, the marketing of GI products would enhance the
secondary economic activities in the GI region, which would boost the regional
economic development.
This promotion of indigenous products could also support growth in
the tourism industry, as the people from around the world would be encouraged
to access the special products, which only originate from one particular region
and form a part of their cultural heritage.
At the end of the debriefing session, the adviser directed the
ministry officials to continuously follow up on the implementation of the GI
Act and resolve any issues on priority so that the intended objectives were
achieved with maximum benefits to the SMEs and local communities around the
country.
Exclusive: China plans wheat, rice sales
to tame surging corn prices - sources
21 July 2020
BEIJING (Reuters) -
China plans to sell rice and wheat from state reserves to animal feed producers
who are struggling with high corn prices, which have soared more than 20% in
some areas this year amid tightening supplies, three sources familiar with the
matter said.
Workers pack wheat at a foodstuff storage site in Xiangfan, in
central China's Hubei province October 11, 2007. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
Beijing may offload about 10 million tonnes of
rice in the first batch of sales, according to one of the sources who was
briefed on the plan.
“The government is doing this to check corn
prices,” said the source.
The plan to sell stocks from reserves comes as
Chinese corn prices hit five-year highs and inventories dwindle following years
of government efforts to whittle down a previously massive corn stockpile.
Extensive floods and cool weather across
growing belts have also supported prices.
Physical corn prices in Harbin - China’s top
corn province - hit 2,110 yuan ($301.69) per tonne on Monday, up 23% this year,
and highest since September 2015.
Spiking prices have pushed Chinese importers
to buy record volumes of U.S. corn, which could also help the government fulfil
a pledge under the Phase 1 trade deal with United States.
Under the proposed plan, the first batch of
rice would be sold at about 1,000 yuan a tonne, according to two of the sources
- well below half the current market price of the grain.
This rice would be sold through state firms
directly to feed makers, unlike the rice sold from reserves in regular auctions
to the broader market. The state firms are required to hull and shatter it
first to make sure it does not enter the food market, according to the sources.
“It is totally fine to use (rice in feed.) The
only problem is it might not last as long as corn after it is hulled,” said a
source with a major feed producer, also briefed on the plan.
“But as long as the cost is low, feed
producers would be OK to use it,” the source said.
There could be additional sales of rice and
wheat, depending on the corn market situation, the sources said.
The sources declined to be identified due to
the sensitivity of the matter. China’s National Development and Reform
Commission, the leading decision maker behind the plan, did not respond to a
fax seeking comment.
China keeps a years-old minimum purchase price
programme for wheat and rice, and has built up mammoth stockpiles of the grains
- more than an entire year’s consumption in the country, a top government
official said in April.
Reporting by Hallie Gu
and Dominique Patton; Editing by Gavin Maguire and Robert Birsel
Our Standards:The Thomson
Reuters Trust Principles.
DSWD thanks South Korean
gov’t for P10-million rice donation
Published July
21, 2020, 8:46 AM
The
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has thanked the government
of the Republic of Korea for its P10 million-rice donation which is expected to
benefit more than 33,000 poor households in the country.
Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines / MANILA
BULLETIN
“We are
grateful for your utmost consideration for our people and we hope that this
partnership will continue to prosper in the years to come,” DSWD Secretary
Rolando Bautista said during a recent turnover ceremony at the DSWD National
Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City.
“During
these trying times, we emerge stronger because of our robust partnership and
unwavering engagement,” he added.
Korean
Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man turned over the 200 metric tons of
locally-produced and well-milled rice, valued at US$200,000 or almost PhP10
million, to Bautista last July 17.
“Korea
will continuously expand bilateral aid projects in the public health and social
development sectors to contribute to the effort of the Philippine government in
overcoming the COVID-19 crisis,” Han said.
The DSWD
said the rice donation was made possible through the Emergency Rice Support
Project of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the grant aid
agency of the Korean Government.
“An
estimated 33,334 households or 166,670 individuals are expected to be the
recipients of the donation,” it said.
It said
the rice donation was locally-sourced and benefited Filipino farmer groups from
Western Visayas, including the San Miguel Farmers Agriculture Cooperative
(SMFAC); Iloilo Rice Processing Complex in Pototan, Iloilo; and other local
farmers’ cooperatives.
According
to the DSWD National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB), the
first batch of 100 metric tons of rice from Iloilo was received last July 8 and
the second shipment of 100 metric tons arrived on July 11 and 12.
“The
rice donation will be repacked by DSWD and will form part of the Department’s
Family Food Packs which are being provided as resource augmentation support to
local government units to help them respond to the food needs of their
constituents,” the DSWD said.
https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/21/dswd-thanks-south-korean-govt-for-p10-million-rice-donation/
Rice exports
primed for decade-low
PUBLISHED : 21 JUL 2020 AT 08:35
NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS
WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS
Thailand's
rice exports are likely to plunge to 6.5 million tonnes this year, the lowest
in a decade, from an earlier projection of 7.5 million tonnes because of a
spate of negative factors, says the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
Chookiat
Ophaswongse, the association's honorary president, said after a discussion with
Commerce Ministry officials including Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, the
group offered dim export prospects for the second half, and downgraded its rice
forecast to only 6.5 million tonnes this year.
"Thailand's
rice exports are hampered by a host of negative factors, be it the coronavirus
crisis that weakened global demand, a strong baht that makes Thai rice more
expensive, or continued drought cutting into production," said Mr
Chookiat.
Thailand's
benchmark 5% broken rice price is now quoted at US$520 per tonne, while rice
from Vietnam and India stands at $440-450 and $360 per tonne, respectively.
"Thailand's
relatively more expensive prices have led buyers to opt for grains from our
competitors," he said.
In the
first five months, Thailand shipped 2.57 million tonnes of rice, down 31.9%
from the same period last year, with an export value of 54.2 billion baht, down
13.2% for the same period.
The top
five rice importers from Thailand for the period were the US (338,769 tonnes,
up 41.2% year-on-year), South Africa (231,412, down 12.6%), Angola (195,438,
down 1.5%), China (120,207, down 41.6%) and Japan (116,338, up 7.9%).
Mr
Chookiat said for the second half of the year, Thailand is estimated to ship
about 3.5 million tonnes.
For the
first half, he predicted 3 million tonnes shipped, while India and Vietnam are
expected to ship 5.5 million tonnes and 3.4 million tonnes, respectively.
Thailand shipped 7.58 million tonnes of rice worth 131 billion baht in 2019,
down 32% and 25% from the previous year.
Demand
slumps for Thai rice due to drought, pandemic
Thailand
is the world’s second-largest exporter of rice but is likely to drop down the
list this year.
by Wayne Hay
21 Jul
2020
Thailand has been relatively
successful at handling the coronavirus pandemic so far, with 3,000 confirmed
cases.
But its economy is taking a
battering, and is expected to be the worst-affected in Asia because of its
reliance on international tourism and exports.
The agriculture sector, mainly
rice, is facing a particularly tough time.
Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay reports from
Bangkok, Thailand.
Water reserves at 4 dams fall
to 'critical'
PUBLISHED : 21 JUL 2020 AT 07:00
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS
WRITER: APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
·
92
·
·
An
Asian openbill is seen in drought-stricken rice fields in Ang Thong province.
Many areas in the central region have experienced drought this year. (Photo:
Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
Authorities might not be able to supply water to farmers in the
Central Plains again next year, as water levels at four major dams in the region
have dropped to critical levels, the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR)
said on Monday.
"We won't be able to supply farmers in the dry season next
year if there isn't enough water," ONWR secretary-general Somkiat
Prajamwong said at a press briefing about the water shortage on Monday.
"We are doing our best to preserve what water we have left
in our dams and underground, so we can use it in cases of emergency."
Water reserves at four major dams in Central Plains, namely
Bhumibol, Sirikit, Pasak Jolasid and Kwae Noi Bamrung Daen dams, have hit
critical levels. Bhumibol Dam in Tak -- the country's largest -- currently has
only 3.9 billion cubic metres of water (m³), or just enough to meet its minimum
reserve requirements.
The shortage is a pressing concern as these dams irrigate the
country's largest rice cultivation area, said Mr Somkiat.
·
Shorter monsoon causing 'water
stress'
·
Masterplan to protect Phuket water
Without rain to replenish reserves, Bhumibol Dam could only
release 115 million m³ of water, Sirikit Dam would be able to release 417
million m³, while the Kwae Noi Bamrung Daen and Pasak Jolasid dams would
discharge about 99 million m³ and 89 million m³ of water downstream,
respectively.
The discharges -- totalling just over 700 million m³ -- will not
be able to meet the demands from households and agricultural operations in the
region, which are estimated to be about 12 billion m³ between November and May
next year.
Water levels across the four dams are less than half of what
they were last year. As such, Mr Somkiat said, the government may not be able
to supply water for irrigation purposes next year.
If water reserves remain low next year, farmers along the Chao
Phraya River basin won't be able to use water from the dams' irrigation systems
for a second consecutive year, the secretary-general said.
As farmers along the Central Plains have become accustomed to
planting two to three rice crops per year, the water shortage will have an
impact on farmers' livelihoods in the area.
Authorities are now pinning their hopes on monsoon rains --
which are expected to peak in about two months' time -- to replenish depleted
dams and reservoirs across the country.
Palay Harvest In Antique Seen To
Hit 250K MT
July 21, 2020
The
Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) is optimistic that palay harvest
in the province could reach the target of 250,000 metric tons (MT) this year.
OPA
chief Nicolasito Calawag said farmers in Antique received various assistance
from the Department of Agriculture (DA) that enabled them to plant early during
this time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“Before
the planting season for the first cropping, there had already been planting
materials that had been pre-positioned by the DA for distribution to farmers,”
he said in an interview Monday.
The
first cropping in Antique, which covers 43,000 hectares of rice land including
the 20,000 hectares irrigated rice area, starts from May to August.
He
said the DA regional office in Western Visayas has allocated and delivered for
farmers in Antique under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)
inbred seed component of 36,425 bags and 17,582 bags of fertilizer components.
“Of
the total 36,425 bags of seeds, we are only able to distribute as of today
32,332 bags of seeds to farmers,” he added.
Calawag
said they still have 4,093 bags for distribution to farmers until the end of
August.
They
were also able to distribute 11,043 bags of fertilizers.
Under
the Rice Resiliency Project for expanded hybrids, the province of Antique was
allocated with 9,675 bags, of which 7,331 bags were actually delivered to the
province.
“OPA
had distributed 1,475 bags of seeds,” he said.
Calawag
said there was other rice support given by the DA that allowed farmers to plant
for the first cropping, which are now mostly on the vegetative stage, despite
the Covid-19 lockdown.
“The
DA support to farmers has really been increased as compared with those given in
the previous years when the province only received a few bags of seeds and
fertilizers which could be enough for about 4,000 hectares of irrigated lands,”
he said.
For
first cropping this year, Calawag said 80 to 90 percent of the 20,000 hectares
irrigated rice lands had been subsidized or received seeds and fertilizer
assistance from the DA. (PNA)
:https://pageone.ph/palay-harvest-in-antique-seen-to-hit-250k-mt/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
More rains seen as clouds mass up over East,
North-East
Vinson Kurian Thiruvananthapuram |
Updated on July 21, 2020 Published
on July 21, 2020
Heavy showers predicted for Bihar and Assam
Satellite pictures on Tuesday evening showed that intense
clouding over the North-Eastern States and adjoining Bangladesh as well as
parts of East India has extended to Central and adjoining East India from
Sagar, Jabajpur, Raipur and Kamakhyanagar and growing menacingly over Balasore,
Kaharagpur, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Gaya, Patna, Bhagalpur, Malda, Meherpur and
Kolkata.
Rice Prices
as on : 21-07-2020 05:22:30 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in
domestic market.
|
Arrivals |
Price |
|||||
|
Current |
% |
Season |
Modal |
Prev. |
Prev.Yr |
|
|
Rice |
||||||
|
Bangalore(Kar) |
1801.00 |
-54.16 |
119402.00 |
4200 |
4200 |
-7.69 |
|
Mandya(Kar) |
349.00 |
-54.32 |
17879.00 |
1530 |
2080 |
- |
|
Siliguri(WB) |
269.00 |
1.51 |
6165.00 |
3600 |
3600 |
- |
|
Bangarpet(Kar) |
266.00 |
-44.93 |
7809.00 |
2300 |
2200 |
- |
|
Sultanpur(UP) |
200.00 |
NC |
6907.00 |
2350 |
2400 |
-14.55 |
|
Bindki(UP) |
120.00 |
20 |
5560.00 |
2530 |
2500 |
11.95 |
|
Gondal(UP) |
112.00 |
-5.08 |
7488.50 |
2420 |
2420 |
-1.22 |
|
Dadri(UP) |
100.00 |
-9.09 |
1445.00 |
5950 |
5950 |
- |
|
Lohardaga(Jha) |
88.00 |
-2.22 |
1064.00 |
2550 |
2550 |
- |
|
Barabanki(UP) |
85.00 |
14.86 |
919.00 |
2470 |
2465 |
1.65 |
|
Choubepur(UP) |
81.00 |
15.71 |
2066.35 |
2600 |
2550 |
-2.80 |
|
Ballia(UP) |
70.00 |
16.67 |
2903.00 |
2550 |
2560 |
6.25 |
|
Kandi(WB) |
65.00 |
30 |
1510.50 |
2650 |
2700 |
3.92 |
|
Gorakhpur(UP) |
52.50 |
41.89 |
902.20 |
2540 |
2545 |
- |
|
Barhaj(UP) |
50.00 |
525 |
9846.00 |
2590 |
2590 |
8.37 |
|
Agra(UP) |
49.00 |
96 |
3365.50 |
2540 |
2570 |
-0.78 |
|
Mainpuri(UP) |
48.00 |
6.67 |
3814.50 |
2570 |
2576 |
-2.28 |
|
Saharanpur(UP) |
41.50 |
12.16 |
2444.50 |
2725 |
2730 |
-6.36 |
|
Kopaganj(UP) |
41.00 |
-10.87 |
1546.00 |
2585 |
2590 |
5.73 |
|
Aligarh(UP) |
40.00 |
-11.11 |
4152.00 |
2540 |
2550 |
NC |
|
Azamgarh(UP) |
40.00 |
-11.11 |
5206.70 |
2580 |
2575 |
5.31 |
|
Raibareilly(UP) |
39.50 |
618.18 |
1549.50 |
2465 |
2460 |
12.56 |
|
Allahabad(UP) |
35.50 |
-21.11 |
2392.50 |
2450 |
2525 |
NC |
|
Muradabad(UP) |
35.00 |
NC |
1457.00 |
2620 |
2630 |
0.77 |
|
Meerut(UP) |
35.00 |
9.38 |
724.50 |
2780 |
2785 |
-6.40 |
|
Lakhimpur(UP) |
35.00 |
-12.5 |
2641.00 |
2460 |
2450 |
5.58 |
|
Hardoi(UP) |
35.00 |
-12.5 |
8317.80 |
2450 |
2470 |
-4.30 |
|
Bankura
Sadar(WB) |
32.00 |
-8.57 |
2166.00 |
2600 |
2600 |
8.33 |
|
Faizabad(UP) |
30.00 |
-14.29 |
1436.00 |
2455 |
2455 |
3.37 |
|
Hapur(UP) |
30.00 |
20 |
1062.00 |
2700 |
2700 |
-9.40 |
|
Muzzafarnagar(UP) |
30.00 |
-9.09 |
4388.00 |
2780 |
2780 |
-5.76 |
|
Sahiyapur(UP) |
30.00 |
-14.29 |
2443.00 |
2560 |
2580 |
6.67 |
|
Jhijhank(UP) |
30.00 |
50 |
346.50 |
2500 |
2480 |
- |
|
Lalitpur(UP) |
28.00 |
-20 |
1600.50 |
2485 |
2485 |
-11.88 |
|
Mathura(UP) |
28.00 |
12 |
2897.50 |
2550 |
2560 |
-0.78 |
|
Balrampur(UP) |
26.00 |
36.84 |
1031.00 |
2430 |
2450 |
5.65 |
|
Shamli(UP) |
26.00 |
-13.33 |
1098.40 |
2780 |
2780 |
0.72 |
|
Basti(UP) |
25.50 |
41.67 |
1617.00 |
2550 |
2550 |
5.37 |
|
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB) |
25.20 |
6.78 |
723.80 |
5000 |
5000 |
47.06 |
|
Madhoganj(UP) |
25.00 |
-21.88 |
3529.50 |
2450 |
2450 |
7.46 |
|
Durgapur(WB) |
23.00 |
-4.17 |
1134.75 |
2780 |
2780 |
5.70 |
|
Asansol(WB) |
22.56 |
-1.91 |
1176.45 |
3100 |
3100 |
9.15 |
|
Bareilly(UP) |
20.00 |
233.33 |
1962.00 |
2570 |
2575 |
3.84 |
|
Kayamganj(UP) |
20.00 |
33.33 |
1921.00 |
2510 |
2510 |
-4.92 |
|
Utraula(UP) |
19.00 |
NC |
425.70 |
2420 |
2420 |
- |
|
Sirsaganj(UP) |
19.00 |
-2.56 |
1068.50 |
2520 |
2510 |
-5.97 |
|
Chorichora(UP) |
18.00 |
20 |
1411.00 |
2540 |
2545 |
6.50 |
|
Bharthna(UP) |
17.00 |
13.33 |
2258.00 |
2550 |
2540 |
-3.04 |
|
Shahganj(UP) |
16.00 |
45.45 |
126.00 |
2650 |
2600 |
13.25 |
|
Kanpur(Grain)(UP) |
15.00 |
-70 |
5690.00 |
1300 |
2300 |
-46.94 |
|
Naugarh(UP) |
15.00 |
114.29 |
3686.00 |
2585 |
2580 |
6.60 |
|
Raiganj(WB) |
15.00 |
50 |
551.50 |
2900 |
2800 |
-17.14 |
|
Gazipur(UP) |
14.50 |
20.83 |
2104.50 |
3240 |
3240 |
0.93 |
|
Farukhabad(UP) |
14.00 |
7.69 |
1086.50 |
2480 |
2500 |
-8.15 |
|
Jafarganj(UP) |
14.00 |
16.67 |
1070.00 |
2450 |
2450 |
4.26 |
|
Islampur(WB) |
14.00 |
NC |
648.80 |
3000 |
2850 |
-16.67 |
|
Rampur(UP) |
13.00 |
-13.33 |
601.50 |
2630 |
2630 |
3.14 |
|
Robertsganj(UP) |
12.50 |
38.89 |
288.60 |
2450 |
2460 |
3.81 |
|
Mawana(UP) |
12.00 |
20 |
218.20 |
2770 |
2775 |
- |
|
Rasda(UP) |
12.00 |
20 |
484.00 |
2525 |
2550 |
1047.73 |
|
Paliakala(UP) |
12.00 |
9.09 |
573.50 |
2450 |
2440 |
6.06 |
|
Jangipura(UP) |
12.00 |
NC |
631.00 |
2600 |
2580 |
11.11 |
|
Kolar(Kar) |
11.00 |
-38.89 |
387.00 |
5116 |
5038 |
- |
|
Atarra(UP) |
10.00 |
25 |
816.50 |
2450 |
2425 |
4.26 |
|
Jaunpur(UP) |
10.00 |
-50 |
1441.50 |
2050 |
2540 |
-13.14 |
|
Devariya(UP) |
10.00 |
-13.04 |
1013.00 |
2580 |
2570 |
8.63 |
|
Chintamani(Kar) |
9.00 |
-65.38 |
530.00 |
2500 |
2500 |
11.11 |
|
Shimoga(Kar) |
9.00 |
-10 |
120.00 |
2125 |
2050 |
- |
|
Etah(UP) |
9.00 |
-25 |
399.00 |
2560 |
2550 |
NC |
|
Ajuha(UP) |
9.00 |
12.5 |
350.00 |
2500 |
2500 |
4.17 |
|
Karvi(UP) |
9.00 |
-10 |
587.00 |
2425 |
2415 |
2.11 |
|
Bahraich(UP) |
8.50 |
-39.29 |
1080.20 |
2460 |
2460 |
1.44 |
|
Banda(UP) |
8.00 |
-33.33 |
335.50 |
2425 |
2430 |
2.75 |
|
Pukhrayan(UP) |
8.00 |
-46.67 |
549.00 |
2560 |
2520 |
15.84 |
|
Mohamadabad(UP) |
8.00 |
-11.11 |
819.80 |
2500 |
2480 |
- |
|
Raath(UP) |
8.00 |
-11.11 |
202.40 |
2350 |
2350 |
- |
|
Indus(Bankura
Sadar)(WB) |
8.00 |
-20 |
1156.00 |
2800 |
2800 |
1.82 |
|
Unnao(UP) |
7.50 |
50 |
196.80 |
2460 |
2475 |
-0.61 |
|
Soharatgarh(UP) |
7.00 |
16.67 |
1507.70 |
2580 |
2565 |
7.05 |
|
Kannauj(UP) |
6.50 |
8.33 |
450.60 |
2550 |
2500 |
-3.77 |
|
Bijnaur(UP) |
6.00 |
-33.33 |
267.50 |
2600 |
2600 |
9.70 |
|
Kasganj(UP) |
6.00 |
20 |
460.50 |
2570 |
2560 |
0.78 |
|
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB) |
5.30 |
-56.2 |
121.40 |
3400 |
3400 |
13.33 |
|
Mahoba(UP) |
5.00 |
13.64 |
441.60 |
2430 |
2420 |
7.28 |
|
Mirzapur(UP) |
5.00 |
25 |
279.00 |
2645 |
2650 |
9.52 |
|
Auraiya(UP) |
4.00 |
33.33 |
246.10 |
2500 |
2530 |
-1.96 |
|
Jahangirabad(UP) |
4.00 |
-11.11 |
228.50 |
2640 |
2640 |
-1.31 |
|
Nadia(WB) |
4.00 |
-20 |
255.00 |
3700 |
3700 |
NC |
|
Lucknow(UP) |
3.80 |
5.56 |
4956.40 |
2490 |
6700 |
-9.45 |
|
Fatehpur(UP) |
3.60 |
-59.09 |
2260.30 |
2500 |
2510 |
6.84 |
|
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP) |
3.50 |
-2.78 |
590.40 |
2500 |
2500 |
NC |
|
Tundla(UP) |
3.50 |
NC |
260.00 |
2560 |
2570 |
-0.78 |
|
Naanpara(UP) |
3.20 |
-27.27 |
651.90 |
2450 |
2440 |
10.36 |
|
Kosikalan(UP) |
3.10 |
10.71 |
232.20 |
2545 |
2550 |
-0.97 |
|
Achalda(UP) |
3.00 |
NC |
330.90 |
2500 |
2500 |
13.12 |
|
Chitwadagaon(UP) |
3.00 |
20 |
460.60 |
2540 |
2550 |
20.95 |
|
Fatehpur
Sikri(UP) |
2.80 |
-12.5 |
129.50 |
2575 |
2555 |
0.19 |
|
Akbarpur(UP) |
2.10 |
5 |
385.20 |
2440 |
2440 |
3.39 |
|
Charra(UP) |
2.00 |
25 |
110.60 |
2560 |
2550 |
1.39 |
|
Safdarganj(UP) |
2.00 |
NC |
77.50 |
2440 |
1630 |
- |
|
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB) |
2.00 |
-33.33 |
196.40 |
2600 |
2650 |
NC |
|
Bishalgarh(Tri) |
1.80 |
5.88 |
2729.50 |
3600 |
3600 |
- |
|
Baberu(UP) |
1.80 |
20 |
79.60 |
2420 |
2420 |
8.76 |
|
Tanda
Urmur(UP) |
1.60 |
-20 |
8.70 |
2450 |
2400 |
- |
|
Melaghar(Tri) |
1.50 |
NC |
61.20 |
2700 |
2800 |
NC |
|
Mugrabaadshahpur(UP) |
1.50 |
-50 |
62.60 |
2510 |
2510 |
12.05 |
|
Bangarmau(UP) |
1.40 |
NC |
209.60 |
2460 |
2460 |
6.96 |
|
Muskara(UP) |
1.40 |
-12.5 |
72.60 |
2400 |
2400 |
3.23 |
|
Panichowki(Kumarghat)(Tri) |
1.30 |
-13.33 |
49.50 |
2950 |
2970 |
- |
|
Khatra(WB) |
1.20 |
-60 |
103.50 |
2600 |
2650 |
NC |
|
Aroor(Ker) |
1.00 |
NC |
14.00 |
11200 |
11200 |
20.43 |
|
Khair(UP) |
1.00 |
NC |
74.50 |
2580 |
2580 |
-0.77 |
|
Lalganj(UP) |
1.00 |
NC |
268.80 |
2350 |
2350 |
- |
|
Balarampur(WB) |
1.00 |
-23.08 |
24.23 |
2800 |
2550 |
8.53 |
|
Anandnagar(UP) |
0.80 |
-11.11 |
209.90 |
2525 |
2535 |
12.22 |
|
Maudaha(UP) |
0.80 |
-11.11 |
30.50 |
2360 |
2360 |
-0.21 |
|
Achnera(UP) |
0.70 |
NC |
39.60 |
2560 |
2560 |
-1.92 |
Published on
July 21, 2020
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article32149436.ece
Top rice exporter gets more
hi-tech
Sok Chan / Khmer Times
Bloc2 enables
the source of food to be found by reading the QR on its container. Supplied
Amru Rice (Cambodia), one of the
country’s leading rice exporters, has scaled up its BlocRice technology project
to 500 households in two communities in Preah Vihear province.
BlocRice project phase I had 50
household farmers in one agricultural community in Preah Vihear province. The
project, a first in the Kingdom because of its usage of blockchain technology,
was launched in April 2018 as a pilot programme that ended in March 2019. Its
goal is to ensure farmers can sell their products at a higher price and it also
enables the source of food to be identified.
The BlocRice pilot involved
relevant actors in the rice supply chain with 50 farmers from the Reaksmei
cooperative, rice exporter AmruRice, rice-cake producer SanoRice and Oxam
Novib and Schullelaar & Partners.
After a successful pilot,
demonstrating the use case and providing farmers with a digital identity, the
partners decided to upscale the project to a commercially viable level,
involving more farmers and providing a direct link with consumers.
The first phase was also involved
in the research phase determining the living income benchmark and good
agriculture practices plus technological needs. The project also monitors the
progress of rice farmers towards a living income; improves farm income from
rice and from other sources as a result of technical assistance and extension
services; reduces operational costs through farmers’ cooperatives and gives
farmers a digital identity and voice in the supply chain as well as increasing
transparency in the supply chain. Retailers and consumers have real-time
insight in the rice supply chain for enhanced social auditing.
“Let’s talk about agri-tech and
how financial technology could be part of it. A lot of people are talking about
Blockchain, big data, the internet of things (IOT), the Industrial Revolution
4.0, Smart Agriculture etc. Here we make things work by utilising Blockchain
technology. It is called BlocRice phase II,” said Kann Kunthy, vice-president
of Amru Rice (Cambodia).
BlocRice mainly focuses on trust,
transparency and traceability. Kunthy added that in phase I, the team piloted
with one agricultural cooperative (AC) with 50 households and now it is scaling
up to two ACs with 500 households.
“Our goal is to utilise
Blockchain technology for millions of households not only in rice but all
agricultural crops. Local tech firms or individuals with block chain knowledge
and expertise would be part of the future (localisation),” Kunthy said, adding
that it is only possible if farmers and ACs are organised and integrated,
turning them from seasonal farmers to commercial and professional farmers who
are market-oriented.
“The digital infrastructure can
only perform given that the physical infrastructure can support [be it
logistics, transportation, post-harvest management, storage and delivery],”
Kunthy added. “The ultimate goal is to train and educate ACs to become
‘agri-preneurs’.”
Prime Minister Hun Sen told
farmers in Prey Kabbas district, Takeo province, yesterday that the agriculture
sector must be aligned with the Industrial Development Policy 2015-2025 is to
attract more foreign investment to work on processing in Cambodia.
He said that Cambodia has put a
strong effort into the building of silos, warehouses and rice milling
machinery. He added that Cambodia will take $400 million from China to build
warehouses for paddy across the country. He is also considering lowering the
electricity tariff for farmers and the agriculture sector in general and also
building more physical infrastructure to support farmers.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50747088/top-rice-exporter-gets-more-hi-tech/
Customs arrests 41 suspected
smugglers with cannabis, rice
JULY
21, 20206:52 PMIN NEWS Kindly
Nigeria Customs Service Ola Ajayi –
Ibadan Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command, has made seizure of some
contrabands worth N171,001,782. The smuggled items include Cannabis, bags if
fertilizers, Premium Motor Spirit, bales of used dresses, used tyres and
several bags of parboiled imported rice. This was disclosed by the Comptroller
of Customs, Oyo/Osun Area Command, Mrs Helen Ngozi. According to her, the
command was able to arrest 41 suspected smugglers. READ ALSO: Customs set
ablaze N12m worth of contraband, expired goods in Kwara She said, “The
cumulative DPV for January to July 20 is N483,191,238 representing 170 per cent
increase compared with the total value in 2019 which was put at
N178,698,340.39. “In comparison with N20,946,359,729.50
revenue collected between January and June 2019, the command made 65.4 per cent
increase with a total revenue collection of N32,020,103,911.90 from January to
June 2020, out of the N62,848,518,366.93 allotted to the Area Command for 2020
fiscal year.” Mrs Ngozi further noted that between May 1 and July, the Oyo/Osun
Area Command intercepted 500 drums of 100 litres each of PMS and 320 kegs of 25
litres each of PMS was seized within the period. “One truck-load containing 800
bags of NPK fertilizer with DPV of N18,702,000 without end-user certificate was
also seized. READ ALSO: Customs rakes in #19.5 million in Ogun in three months
“Other seizures made include 2,054 bags of 50 kilogrammes each of imported
parboiled rice with DPV of N82,776,200; a total of 85 bales of second-hand
clothing with DPV of N16,680,919; and 480 units of used tyres with DPV of
N10,428,048” “The items were conveyed with a Mazda 323 valued at N1,158,790; a
Volkswagen Passat with DPV of N724,238; Mitsubishi Lancer with DPV of
N1,838,017; three units of used Volkswagen Golf with DPV N3,259,068; and one
used Volvo car with DPV of N2,896,950. “Other items that were recovered are one
Ford Galaxy (N3,621,188); used Bedford Pick Up with DPV N1,303,628, and one
used DAF truck with DPV of N10,906,294.” Vanguard
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/07/customs-arrests-41-suspected-smugglers-with-cannabis-rice/
Nigeria: Customs Kwara Area
Command Destroys 927 Bags of Poisonous Rice, Other Items
22 JULY 2020
By Demola Akinyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara State Area Command Tuesday in
Ilorin destroyed seized food items said to be dangerous for human and animal
consumption.
Items that were set ablaze in the presence on newsmen included
927 bags of foreign rice, 123 bags of semolina of 10Kg each, 25 bags of
semolina of 5kg each and 35 cartons of mamador vegetable oil.
Earlier, the Head of Kwara Area of the Nigeria Customs Service,
Comptroller Hussaini Ahmed,
told journalists that the Area Command had between January and
June 2020 generated the sum of N2,343,952.86 into the coffers of the federal
government.
He said, "From January to June this year alone this zonal
command has remitted the sum of Two billion, three hundred and forty-three
million, nine hundred and fifty-two thousand, three hundred and twenty-two
Naira eighty-six kobo (₦2,343,952,322.86)into the Federal Government account as
revenue generated.
"It is no longer news that COVID- 19 has affected virtually
every aspect not only the nation's economy but world at large. In the month of
April 2020, the Command recorded zero revenue which is as a result of the
lockdown. In May 2020, we were able to bounce back and surpassed what we
generated in March 2020 with Two Hundred and Eighty-Seven Million Nine Thousand
Four Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Forty-Eight Kobo (₦287, 009,456.48)"
"Today, I make bold to say that since my assumption of
office in Kwara Area Command we have so far generated the sum of Four Billion
Seven Hundred and Forty-Eight Million Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand Three
Hundred and Sixty Five Naira Thirty Four Kobo (₦4, 748,270,365.34) and remit
same to Federation account".
He said the Command has made an unprecedented number of seizures
including 2,598 Bags of foreign rice, 34 kegs of vegetable oil of 25 liters
each, 41 units of various types of used vehicles, 372 jerry cans of PMS of 25
liters each and 3,742 kg of Cannabis Sativa popularly known as marijuana.
Ahmed, who decried the activities of smugglers despite the
closure of the nation's land borders warned them to steer clear of the Area
Command or meet their waterloo.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202007220168.html
UA names interim head of Stuttgart rice station
The University of Arkansas System
Division of Agriculture named Karen Moldenhauer, Ph.D, interim director of the
rice station at Stuttgart.
Moldenhauer had already announced
her June 30 retirement when Bob Scott, director of the Rice Research and
Extension, said he needed to visit with her.
A professor and rice breeder for
the Division of Agriculture since 1982, Moldenhauer knew what was coming. After
all, Scott had just accepted an offer to become director of Arkansas’ Cooperative
Extension Service.
By the time Scott said, ”‘I want
to talk to you about something,’ I’d already talked to my husband about it. I
was prepared,” she said.
“I am very thankful to Dr.
Moldenhauer for taking on this leadership role,” said Jean-Francois Meullenet,
director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research
component of the Division of Agriculture. “I know she will be an outstanding
director while we conduct a national search.”
“Karen has been at the station
for a long time and nobody is better positioned to assume this role,” Scott
said. “I also appreciate her dedication as she has delayed her retirement for a
few months while we search for a permanent replacement.”
NOT HER FIRST RODEO
After all, it wasn’t the first
time Moldenhauer was in this position, having served as interim director for
the center in 2001-2002.
Putting off retirement plans is
no small thing, but she was philosophical.
“It’ll give me a chance to finish
out my work this season,” she said. “I’m looking at what lines to advance to
the Arkansas Rice Performance Trials, lines we’d like to advance to the rest of
the program, working on Provisia crosses, Clearfield material — the whole
breeding program.”
Plus, the Moldenhauers were going
to retire to a place in her native state of Iowa.
“They’re still working on
renovations to the house,” she said.
Moldenhauer said her predecessor
has not only made her job as interim easier, but also for whomever is appointed
director.
“Bob has done a great job for
this station,” she said. “I think it’s in a lot better shape with many
infrastructure updates and improvements and administration has been very
supportive of the work we’re doing.”
DEEP EXPERIENCE
Moldenhauer received a bachelor’s
degree in biology from Iowa State, followed by a master’s in plant breeding and
cytogenetics from North Carolina State. She returned to Iowa State for a Ph.D.
in plant breeding.
During her 38-year tenure at the
Division of Agriculture, 38 rice cultivars have been released to producers
which have been grown on 21 million acres.
Moldenhauer’s primary research
focuses on improving grain yield, cooking quality characteristics and disease
resistance. Her releases Drew, Kaybonnet, and Katy were the first commercially
available cultivars with resistance to all of the common blast races in the
southern U.S. growing region. They have provided a source of rice blast
resistance to the rice breeding groups in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
Cultivars released under her
direction helped state average rice yields to increase from 95 bushels per acre
in 1982 to as high as 168 bushels per acre in 2013 and 2014. These varieties
have averaged between 50 and 60 percent of the rice acreage in any given year
from 1982 until 2009, when the hybrids became popular. Since then the Arkansas
varieties have averaged between 20 and 30 percent of the Arkansas acreage. Her
2016 release, Diamond, was grown on 20 percent of the state’s rice acreage in
2018.
In 2002, Moldenhauer was named
the first holder of the Rice Industry Chair for Variety Development in 2002, a
position she still holds.
“She has nearly 40 years of
experience and with that wealth of experience she brings to the table she’s a
welcome addition in that role,” said Nathan Slaton, assistant director of the
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.”
NATIONAL SEARCH
With the faculty and staff and
slate of improvements at the center, Scott said he expects “that the position
of director to be a very desirable job and I know our search will go well.”
The Division of Agriculture will
hold a national search for a new Rice Research and Extension Center director.
Details: https://division.uaex.edu/jobs/default.aspx or https://aaes.uark.edu/research-locations/rice-research-extension-center/.
The University of Arkansas System
Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and
services without discrimination.
To learn more about extension and
research programs in Arkansas, visit www.division.uaex.edu.
Follow the agency on Twitter at @AgInArk, @uaex_edu or @ArkAgResearch.
www.swtimes.com/news/20200721/u
Grocery prices are starting to rise
/
.
The inflation in prices of
groceries seems to be accelerating the world towards recession. Popular variety
of rices are seeing a price appreciation of about five rupees, per kilogram.
Steamed rice, one of the most popular varieties of rice in the State, which was
previously priced at Rs 38 per kg, is now costing close to Rs 45 per kg.
Similarly, raw rice has seen a price rise from Rs 54 to Rs 58, sugar from Rs 36
to Rs 39/40. Tur Dal, one of the key ingredients for sambar, has gone up from
Rs 94 to Rs 99 per kilo. Oil prices too have seen a revision, with sunflower
oil costing Rs 110, as opposed to Rs 95 per litre, groundnut oil going up from
Rs 95 to Rs 110 per litre. Most of the millets which used to be sold for Rs 75
have almost touched RS 90 per kilo.
Haris S, who runs a retail shop said, “Labour shortage has restricted the
movement of goods and is one of the key reasons for the price rise.” Sridhar S,
a wholesale dealer at the APMC yard said, “The prices of bullet rice has gone
up due to delay in paddy procurement. The bullet rice comes from Maharasthra
and Andhra Pradesh while the idli rice is supplied from Tamil Nadu, getting anything
from outside the State has become difficult.”
Karnataka State Millers’ Association has blamed the price revision due
to low supply. Vagish Swamy, one of the rice mill owners and part of this
association said, “The free rice scheme which has been launched by the
government after the lockdown has caused a scarcity of the product.
.
Additionally, a severe shortage of labourers has affected the harvest, leading
to low supply and eventually price rise.”
Among vegetables, tomato prices have plunged, with it being sold anywhere
between Rs 30 to Rs 50. Other vegetable prices have so far remained the same.
Kolar, which is considered Karnataka’s tomato basket is seeing a renewed
activity. Sources said that the tomatoes from Kolar have got a lot of demand
and are being supplied to northern states as well as being exported to
countries like Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The tomato traders say that the
prices of tomatoes are expected to remain high till August.
Pakistan wheat
production ticks up
07.22.2020
The current year’s wheat production forecast is 25.5 million
tonnes, a 1.2-million-tonne increase over the previous year. Pakistan procured
6.5 million tonnes of wheat from this year’s harvest, about 80% of its goal,
the USDA said. The country sought to increase it wheat reserve due to the
uncertainties of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In June, Pakistan lifted the 60% wheat import duty for the private
sector, and it will remain in place until further notice.
The country also is dealing with possible locust infestations on
top of COVID-19. According to the USDA, Pakistan has enough wheat stocks for
the current marketing year and may import around 600,000 tonnes to build
reserves.
No significant damage by the locusts to Pakistan’s rice crop have
been reported. It is the second wave of infestation in the country. The
government has been able to confine the swarms to desert areas and some
bordering districts.
The USDA anticipates another swarm to enter the country from East
Africa in July, which could damage Pakistan’s rice crop as it will be in the
flowing stages.
According to the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), wet or
rainy weather provides favorable conditions for locusts to breed.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts above-normal
rainfall for the 2020 monsoon season. The country is expected to receive 10%
more rain than normal. Pakistan’s monsoon season starts in July and ends in
September. The USDA projects Pakistan’s market year 2020-21 rice production to
total 7.4 million tonnes.
Pakistan’s rice exports increased after India applied lockdown
measures in response to COVID-19. Pakistani rice exports increased 59% to $420
million in April 2020, the report said. The USDA’s market year 2019-20 rice
exports for Pakistan remains unchanged at 4.4 million tonnes.
Follow our breaking news coverage
of the coronavirus/COVID-19 situation.
https://www.world-grain.com/articles/13988-pakistan-wheat-production-ticks-up
DSWD receives rice donation from South Korea for COVID-19 relief
The Department of Social and Welfare and Development (DSWD) has
received rice donation from the Government of the Republic of Korea for the
country’s response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista received the
donation from Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man in a simple
turnover ceremony on July 17.
The donation is a total of 200 metric tons of locally-produced
and well-milled rice with an estimate worth almost P10 million. The rice stocks
were sourced from Filipino farmers groups from Western Visayas and will be
distributed to an estimated 33,334 households or 166,670 individuals.
Bautista expressed his gratitude to the Government of the
Republic of Korea for the aid and emphasized that the donation represents the
goodwill and warm-heartedness of the South Korean people towards Filipinos.
“During these trying times, we emerge stronger because of our
robust partnership and unwavering engagement,” he said. AAC
Face-to-face classes sa low-risk areas, hindi mandatory –
DepEd
MANILA,
Philippines – Nilinaw ng Department of
Education na hindi mandatory at hindi maaaring pilitin ang mga estudyante o
magulang na papasukin ng pisikal sa eskwelahan ang kanilang mga anak.
Ginawa ng DepEd ang paglilinaw matapos magpahayag ng agam-agam
ang marami sa pagpasok sa mga paaralan sa gitna ng pandemya kasunod ng desisyon
ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na payagan ang pagsasagawa ng face-to-face classes
sa mga lugar na mababa ang kaso ng coronavirus disease.
Sa panayam sa UNTV program na Get It Straight with Daniel Razon,
binigyang-diin ni Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio na hindi
compulsory o sapilitan ang pagpapasok sa mga mag-aaral sa face-to-face classes
kung nangangamba sila para kanilang kalusugan.
Ani San Antonio, ang limited face-to-face classes ay bahagi
lamang ng mga paraan o sistema ng pag-aaral na maaaring pagpilian ng mga
magulang at estudyante para sa darating na pasukan.
“Yun pong pinapanindigan natin sa DepEd ay irerespeto po natin
yung desisyon ng mga pamilya so kahit po doon sa mga lugar na pinapayagan ang
limited face to face. Kung ang mga magulang po o bata mismo ay hindi
kumportable at nag-aagam agam na kapag sya ay pupunta sa paaralan ay mae-expose
po siya sa COVID-19 papayagan pa rin po sya na maipagpatuloy ang pagaaral
gagamitn ang distance learning modality,” sabi ng opisyal.
Muli ring iginiit ni San Antonio na papayagan lamang ang limited
face-to-face classes sa isang lugar kung hihilingin ito ng lokal na pamahalaan.
Dapat rin aniyang matiyak ang kahandaan ng mga paaralan sa pagpapatupad ng
mahigpit na health at safety protocols bago ito pahihintulutan.
Sa ngayon ay isinasapinal pa ang magiging protocol para sa
face-to-face classes.
Nilinaw rin ng DepEd na sa Enero 2021 pa ito ipatutupad at
dalawang beses lamang sa isang linggo kung gagawin.
Samantala, bagaman opisyal nang
natapos ang enrolment period ay patuloy pa ring tatanggap ng enrollees ang mga
pampublikong paaralan, ayon sa DepEd. – RRD (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Joan Nano)
https://www.untvweb.com/news/face-to-face-classes-sa-low-risk-areas-hindi-mandatory-deped/
Seasonal export(ers)
BR Research 22 Jul 2020
Food
group exports during FY20 have in no way disappointed. Over the last decade –
on the other hand – they disappointed thoroughly. According to Advance Releases
by PBS, food group exports saw earnings trimmed by the smallest margin compared
to other major commodity groups such as textile, petroleum, or surgical goods.
In a
year of pandemic led pandemonium, that’s good news. Even better news is that
excluding subsidy-based exports of wheat and sugar in past years, food group
exports in fact managed to grow by 1.1 percent despite lockdown and a secular
slowdown in global trade.
But
that’s where the good news ends. Quantum of exports also expanded (or at least
held its ground) in major segments such as basmati rice, fruits, and meat; that
much was expected. Past episodes of strong currency devaluation indicate that
commodity-based exports are usually the first to gain from sudden improvement
in price-competitiveness. Note that the extent of currency devaluation since
FY18 is the largest for at least the past two decades.
Yet,
unlike the last devaluation episode of FY09-FY10, growth in food
group/commodity exports during the past two fiscals has been puny, if not
dismal. While optimists may be quick to attribute stunted growth during FY20 to
Covid-19; were it not for the subsidies extended to surplus output of wheat and
sugar, food group commodity exports would have in fact declined during FY18
& FY19, when the precipitous decline in currency value began.
Understandably,
lack of improvement in exports is no reason to keep currency overvalued, for if
exports are stagnant, an overvalued currency will only further exacerbate the
trade deficit as witnessed during the last regime. However, the failure to
improve export earnings – especially that of bottom-of-the-pyramid primary
commodities – despite massive devaluation is a missed opportunity that raises
several questions.
Did weak
commodity prices play a role? Partly. Back in FY10-11, unit price of basmati
rice – Pakistan’s only high-value crop - averaged at close to $800 per ton,
which in FY20 came out at just $522 per ton. In fact, basmati prices are on a
decline for at least past three years, which does make the gain in volume
during the same period an achievement.
Curiously,
Pakistan has in fact lost volume on its largest food group exports – Other or
Irri & hybrid rice varieties. Recall that Other rice had become the largest
food group exporting product by a wide margin, contributing as much as
one-third of total category earnings. Yet, despite an annual 3 percent increase
in per ton prices fetched by Other rice over the past four years, volume
exported has been on a downward trajectory, falling short by 3.5 percent on
average every year.
And that
draws attention to the productivity and capacity challenge endemic to
Pakistan’s commodity-based exports. While a leading competitor in basmati,
Pakistan’s contribution to global Irri and hybrid rice trade is puny. Because
Irri/hybrid and basmati have vastly different target markets, there is also no
inverse relationship in global demand. The unfortunate trend, however, is
explained by Pakistan’s weak capacity to export, which fails to cater to demand
when the opportunity presents itself in the form of currency devaluation and
domestic producers suddenly discover a newfound price competitiveness.
The
story of “non-rice” other half of food group exports is no different. Meat
exports, for example, are back in competition in Middle Eastern markets based
on pricing. As Faisal
Hussain, CEO of The Organic Meat Company Limited explained in an interview to
BR Research, Pakistani players undercut both
each other and the competition by offering lower rates backed by better
currency terms. There is little effort to develop and penetrate the market on
durable basis, such as value-addition and supply chain development. Meat export
category, for example, would do well to seek both licenses and cold chains for
by-sea exports, yet exporters may be happier in making a quick buck.
Which
brings the story to the second, yet possibly a more menacing threat endemic to
all of Pakistan’s export-oriented industries. Business diversification by
Pakistani exporters – both medium and large-scale alike - over the past 15
years, has turned Pakistan’s exporting classes whether textile, rice, meat, or
surgical instruments, into seasonal exporters. While diversification as a
financial strategy is a valuable idea to maximize returns on portfolio
allocation, it has inadvertently cost country’s exports – both in terms of
earnings and business focus.
Over the
past decade, traditional exporting firms/groups have flocked to other
industries such as real estate, power and energy (IPPs), equities, hospitality,
domestic retail & shopping malls, etc in search of better returns. This
reallocation of finite investment capital has come at the cost of expansion in
export-oriented segments. While the outcome for Pakistan’s largest exporting
sector textile has been fairly obvious as it remains stuck in low value-added
products, food group commodities performance over the past two years must come
as a ruder shock.
That
over 50 percent devaluation of currency in two years has proven insufficient to
meaningfully improve the quantum of primary commodities whether rice, fish,
fruits, vegetables or meat, whilst still others such as wheat and sugar require
subsidies points towards the deep productivity challenges that have resisted
improvement in crop yields. Far from gaining on food group exports during a
future commodity price boom, the productivity challenge may soon turn Pakistan
into a food-insecure nation, chaotically subsidizing and banning food exports
from year to one another to deal with domestic shortfalls. If that sounds too
pessimistic, look no further than wheat and sugar.
Customs intercepts 58,000 litres of
PMS, 2,054 bags of rice, 800 bags of fertilizer
Published
By
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Oyo/Osun Area Command has said
it intercepted fifty-eight thousand litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also
known as petroleum during operations.
Customs Area Controller, Mrs. Helen Ngozi made this known while
addressing a press conference at the Command’s headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo
State capital.
Ngozi while showcasing the seizures made by the command in the
last three months, added that the command also seized two thousand and
fifty-four bags (2,054) bags of (50kg) foreign rice, 800 bags of fertilizer and
other items.
Ngozi while maintaining that the items were intercepted at
different locations within the Oyo and Osun states added that other items
seized include 340 compressed blocks of cannabis, 84 bales of second-hand
clothing, 480 units of used tyres and 10 units of means of conveyance.
Ngozi said that the total Duty Paid Valued (DVP) of the seizures
between May and July stands at N171,001,782.
She said that the total number of the seizures made is 48 and
while the number of detentions is 41.
Ngozi while speaking further, said that the command has generated
a total sum of N32,020,103,911 between January and June out of the
N62,848,518,366 allotted to it for 2020 fiscal year.
“Between 1st May and 20th July 2020, Oyo/ Osun Area Command has
made various categories of detentions and seizures as enumerated below. 500
drums of 100 liters of each PMS, 320 kegs of 25 liters each of PMS, 340
compressed blocks of Cannabis Sativa, one truck containing 800 bags of NPK
fertilizer.
“Other seizures include 2,054 bags of 50kg each of foreign
parboiled rice, 85 bales of second-hand clothing, 480 units of used tyres.
“The success has been made possible by the resilient and vigilant
officers of the command, their gallantry, effort and experience have been
really appreciated.
“Let me sound a not of warming to those that like to be on the
wrong side of the law with illicit activities, that the long arm of the law
will continue to catch up with them”.
