Welch Foundation gives Rice $100M to establish Welch
Institute
Channing
Wang/Thresher
By Rynd Morgan 9/8/20
10:21pm
The Welch Foundation announced
that it will donate $100 million to establish the Welch
Institute for Advanced Materials at Rice University, the
largest single gift that Rice University has ever received and the largest in
the Welch Foundation’s 65-year history.
The Welch Foundation was founded in 1954
after the death of Houston oil, gas and minerals investor Robert A. Welch and
funds chemical research at institutions in Texas.
The Welch Institute for Advanced
Materials will support the foundational research responsible for discoveries in
material science, according to Adam Kuspa, president of the Welch Foundation.
“There’s lots of companies that
want to turn discoveries into useful products,” Kuspa said. “That’s sort of the
tail end of research. The whole point of the Welch Institute is the level of
investment in the other end of that pipeline, if you will, the very beginning,
the discovery aspect.”
Vice Provost for Research Yousif
Shamoo said that undergraduate and graduate students will have the opportunity
to perform research at the Welch Institute.
“The closest campus example might
be The Baker Institute,” Shamoo said in an email. “Other examples of elite
collaborative research institutes are the Salk Institute in San Diego and Broad
Institute in Boston.”
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The establishment of the Welch
Institute was announced on Sept. 2, and featured
speakers including President David Leebron and Materials Science and
Nanoengineering Department Chair P.M. Ajayan. Peter Dervan, chair of the Welch
Foundation scientific advisory board and Mayor Sylvester Turner also gave
comments remotely at the announcement.
The Welch Institute has a board
of directors and scientific advisory board with members from both Rice and the
Welch Foundation, according to Shamoo. The board of directors includes Shamoo,
Kuspa, Leebron and Provost Reginald DesRoches, according to the Welch
Institute’s website.
The Welch Foundation has made
gifts to Rice University in the past, including endowed chairs of the chemistry
department and research grants given to individual
researchers at Rice.
Kuspa said that in the previous
sixty years, the Welch Foundation has given almost exactly $100 million to
individual chemistry researchers at Rice, almost matching the single $100
million gift given last week.
Leebron said that the
establishment of the Welch Institute also marks an advancement in Rice’s
engagement with the city of Houston, following other recent Rice projects
involved with the city of Houston, including the Ion and the Innovation
District, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research and the Houston Education
Research Consortium.
“It will also be the foundation
for economic growth and the establishment of new technologies, new industries
and new companies,” Leebron said at the announcement last Wednesday. “Our
aspiration is for Houston to be a leader in bringing new materials to all of
these fields.”
The current level of investment
in foundational research in advanced materials does not measure up to the
opportunities to be found in the field, according to Kuspa.
“The opportunity ... seems
infinite now because it’s a brand new landscape,” Kuspa said. “We already know
they impact everyone’s life. Almost every minute of the day, we don’t think
about it.”
The Welch Institute does not have
projects at the outset because the faculty who will head the Welch Institute
have not been appointed yet, according to Shamoo.
Peter Dervan, chair of the
scientific advisory board of the Welch Foundation, said that the Welch
Institute will add to the research being done by universities and petrochemical
industries in the city of Houston.
“My hope is that major private
philanthropy and industry will join TWI to create a world destination research
laboratory, not unlike past great engines of innovation for America, like Bell
labs, DuPont Central Research, and most recently, the Broad Institute at
MIT-Harvard,” Dervan said at the announcement on Wednesday.
Kuspa said that Rice is ideally
suited to the Welch Foundation’s original goal of the institute, which was to
exploit computational science in discovering new advanced materials.
“You can’t dictate discovery,”
Kuspa said. “It just happens. So what you have to do, in supporting
foundational science, in basic science, is just give money to smart people, and
let them follow their imagination.”
Grain Company
Ruta Invasora fulfills current rice harvest
Vertientes, Camagüey, September 8.-
The Agro-industrial Company of Grains "Ruta Invasora" in the
municipality of Vertientes, closed the current rice harvest with more than
24,100 hectares (ha), which represents 96 percent of the agreed plan, of the
total, 18 thousand ha correspond to the spring stage that ended at the end of
August.
Michel Bayate, director of the
aforementioned Camagüey entity, specified that the slight breach in planting
will not affect the production commitment set at 17,500 quintals (q), to
achieve it, in the midst of the initiatives that force to take the dissimilar
limitations of the blockade economic, commercial and financial; a high percent
of the plantings were carried out in blocks.
With the aforementioned system, a
higher yield per hectare is achieved, use of machinery and savings in
conductive water, while at the same time contributing to the increase in
resources for cultural attention to rice plantations.
Bayate also reported that current
measures in the sector are still insufficient to stop the shipment of rice to
other destinations by some producers and demanded that they act as a country to
face the limitations, in correspondence with the request of the President of
the Republic from Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
He assured that local rice
farmers maintain the commitment to remain among the three most productive
companies in the country. (Alfredo Ferrer Abelarde / Radio Cadena
Agramonte) (Photo: File)
SoCot gets P6.9-M farm machinery, equipment from DA
By
Allen Estabillo September
8, 2020, 6:47 pm
(South Cotabato provincial capitol courtesy of
the provincial government)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The provincial
government of South Cotabato has received around PHP6.9 million worth of farm
machinery and equipment under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) farm
mechanization program.
Raul Teves, head of the South
Cotabato Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (Opag), said Tuesday the
machinery were part of the assistance package earlier committed by the agency
to the province to boost its food security initiatives amid the coronavirus
disease 2019 or Covid-19 pandemic.
He said these were formally turned
over by DA-12 officials on Monday in a gathering at the Provincial Scion Grove,
Nursery, and Demonstration Farm in Barangay Reyes, Banga town.
A report released by Opag said it
received some PHP6.39 million worth of machinery and equipment under the rice
program and PHP511,191 more under the high-value crops development program.
These comprise 10 units of hand
tractors worth PHP1.35 million; 10 rice threshers worth PHP1.285 million; 20
units of seed spreaders worth PHP1.436 million; six shallow tube wells worth
PHP619,864; 10 rice transplanters worth PHP1.9 million; 50 units of garden
tools worth PHP250,000; and 10 rolls of high-density polyethylene pipes worth
PHP61,000.
Teves said his office will put up a
motor pool at the demonstration farm in Banga for the farm machinery provided
by DA.
“Farmers can avail of these upon
request free of charge, including fuel,” he said in a report.
He said accredited farmers’
associations may avail of some of the machinery and equipment upon proper
validation as part of the program’s rollout.
Teves said DA-12, through its
regional executive director Arlan Mangelen, committed to providing additional
post-harvest facilities in the province, especially for the demonstration farm.
(PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1114793
New machine interseeds cover crops into standing row crops
EARLY SEEDING: Rice County farmer Todd Oden decided to add
grazing cover crops to his agricultural rotation this year. He is one of the
first producers in south-central Kansas to contract with Central Prairie Co-op
to interseed cereal rye into his standing corn fields.
The
Hagie Montag Interseeder rolls over tall corn to drop cover crop seed between
rows.
Rice County farmer Todd Oden is
getting a head start on getting his grazing cover crops planted ahead of
harvest this year, thanks to the arrival of a new piece of machinery at Central
Prairie Co-op in Sterling.
Oden, a co-op board member, is
one of the first producers to contract cover crop seeding with the new Hagie
Montag Interseeder that arrived at the co-op in July. He hopes that getting
cover crops seeded in August will mean that the rye mix he’s planting will be
tall enough for cattle to graze by the time he harvests the corn.
Oden has been a no-till farmer
for several years, but says this is his first venture into adding cover crops
and grazing — a decision that makes him part of a growing regenerative
agriculture movement that is catching on across the country, partly
because it’s being heavily supported by organized efforts and big companies
such as General Mills and partly because individual farmers are seeing their
neighbors become more profitable because of the change in farming methods.
Central Prairie Co-op manager
Brent Werth says his board voted to lease one of the eight new interseeders
that have become available in Kansas because they felt it would see good
utilization in the Little Ark River and Cheney Reservoir watersheds, where
there is strong interest in maintaining and improving the quality and quantity
of water in the river, the reservoir and the Equus Beds aquifer, all of which
supply both drinking water to the state’s largest city, Wichita. The Equus Beds
aquifer is also a major source of irrigation water in south-central Kansas.
He says the new interseeders are
a brand new piece of machinery on the market. They were built in a John Deere
factory in Iowa this spring and arrived in Kansas in July. Deere owns both
Hagie and Montag which enabled them to marry the technologies of each to
produce the new machine.
Central Prairie Co-op has set per
acre cost at $8 per acre application fee for producers who purchase their seed
at Central Prairie and $13 per acre flat fee for producers who already have
their seed or prefer to purchase it elsewhere.
That compares to about $20 per
acre to maintain and use an air seeder to drill the cover crop after harvest.
Using the interseeder also gives
the cover crop about 45 to 60 days head start on growing. Werth says the goal
is to have the cover crop 8 to 12 inches tall at the time of dry corn harvest.
The Montag fortifier can be
removed, and a traditional liquid tank mounted to convert the machine into a
conventional sprayer for herbicide or fertilizer as well.
Profitability is strong motive
Oden says his he is glad that a
cleaner water supply is a side effect of the regenerative ag movement, but it
is the hope of building more organic matter in his soil and keeping precious
rainfall in the soil profile instead of in the road ditches is what led him to
give it a try. He says he also likes the idea of making a little extra money
from leasing some grazing acres while also saving money on winter feed for his
own cattle, both of which he thinks will help his farm be more profitable.
The increase in organic matter
also promises an increase in cash crop yields, he says. Having the manure and
urine deposits across grazed acres enables him to save money on chemical
fertilizers.
“It’s a little about making more
on cash crops with higher yields and saving money on inputs,” Werth says. “It’s
the bottom line that matters.”
Howard Miller, outreach
coordinator with the Cheney Watershed conservation group, says he is excited
about having the machine available and he hopes it will see good utilization in
the area above Cheney Reservoir, which has been the focus of two decades worth
of conservation efforts aimed at extending the life of the reservoir and
improving the quality of the water that enters it.
OVER THE TOP: The Hagie Montag
Interseeder mounts a Montag fortifier on top of a standard Hagie spray rig to
allow the machine go move over the top of standing irrigated corn and drop
cover crop seed from the dangling tubes that move through the canopy of the
field.
“We have 24 farmers in our group
that are part of the General Mills regenerative ag pilot
program,” Miller says. “Having the ability to interseed fall cover
crops will be a big help to them as that project progresses over the next three
years.”
General Mills is working with the
regenerative consulting firm, Understanding Ag, to provide agronomic coaching
to the producers engaged in the project. Understanding Ag is also providing
software to help producers keep records of the data collected during the project.
Another partner is the Ecosystems Services Market Consortium to establish a
voluntary market that incentivizes farmers for the benefits of regenerative ag,
which includes reduced water use, carbon sequestration, improved water quality
and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
General Mills is operating pilot
projects in other areas of the country as well. The company chose south-central
Kansas because it wanted to work the wheat farmers who provide much of the hard
red winter wheat for its mills.
Water quality effort funding
source
The importance of cover crops as
a component of a regenerative agriculture program and the role cover crops play
in water quality are important to the arrival of the new interseeder technology
in Kansas because the funding mechanism for their purchase came though the
Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Clean Water State Revolving Loan,
one of the sources of funds for municipalities to build and upgrade wastewater
treatment plants.
A northeast Kansas non-profit,
Glacial Hills Resources Conservation and Development, purchased eight
interseeders. One is being used around the state as a demonstration machine;
six have been leased to co-ops in northeast Kansas, where sedimentation of
reservoirs is a major issue; and one came to south-central Kansas.
Andrew Lyon with KDHE says that
extensive research has shown that widespread adoption of cover crops in the
source water area means cleaner water arriving at the treatment plant, which
reduces costs for the municipalities and their customers.
DANGLING SEED TUBES: The tubes
that dangle from the boom of the Interseeder move easily through the corn crop
canopy without damaging the plants or knocking off ears. Interseeding into the
standing fall crop gives the cover crop extra weeks of time to germinate and
grow before the cash crop is harvested.
Lyon says that conservation
programs of the past have leaned heavily on taking land out of production,
which causes economic harm to both farmers and rural communities, while a
movement toward regenerative agriculture is a way to not only keep land in
production but increase its profitability while building healthier soils,
sequestering carbon and improving water quality.
“It also provides opportunity for younger farmers to benefit
from the opportunity to get into raising cattle or increasing the size of their
herd without having to buy more land,” he says. “If they can lease cover crop
acres for grazing, it’s far more economical than trying to own the land. And
the landowner gets the benefits to his land and water and cash crops and makes
some money from the lease.”
https://www.farmprogress.com/equipment/new-machine-interseeds-cover-crops-standing-row-crops
Kitui farmer grows rice despite harsh climate
He realised it
was not as difficult as he thought, as he had believed rice needed to be grown
in a flooded area.
In Summary
• Started with two varieties of rice; an uplands variety known
as Nerica and Basmati 370, commonly known as Pishori.
• Water is pumped from a shallow well dug at the bed of the
seasonal river Nzeeu and lifted using a motorised water pump onto the farms.
AGAINST THE GRAIN: Rice farmer Richard
Musyoka in Kitui.
LINAH MUSANGI
A farmer in Kunguluni village
along River Nzeeu has ventured into rice farming on his one acre in
Kitui.
Richard Musyoka will have his
first harvest in the next month.
In this pilot project, Musyoka
and Water engineer Martin Kasina started with two varieties of rice, an uplands
variety known as Nerica and Basmati 370, commonly known as Pishori.
Ninety days after sowing, the
crop is doing well.
Kasina, who has 10 years of
experience as a senior researcher with the National Irrigation Authority based
in Mwea irrigation scheme, has played a fundamental role in the success of the
project.
“At first, I was hesitant to
venture into rice farming but the encouragement from the expert pushed me to
give it a trial,” Musyoka said
He soon realised it was not as
difficult as he thought, as he had believed rice needed to be grown in a
flooded area.
Musyoka says in the past he used
to grow vegetables, most of which would go to waste when the supply in the
market exceeded the demand.
Kasina said after years of
research in Mwea and with new technologies such as water-saving rice culture
borrowed from Japan and Thailand, studies had shown that rice can also be
successfully grown with reduced amounts of water.
“This knowledge will change the
local farmers' perspective from traditional cereal crops such as maize to
high-value cereal crops such as rice,” Kasina said.
Since they lacked the requisite
farm machinery such as tractors to till the land, the farmer and his technical
assistant engaged manual labour to prepare the farm into sizeable plots which
were then levelled to allow holding of water.
The rice was first planted in a
nursery bed and then transplanted to the plots at 21 days.
Water is pumped from a shallow
well dug at the bed of the seasonal River Nzeeu and lifted using a motorised
water pump onto the farms.
The farmer would then move from a
plot to the next and flood it with water every two days.
Kasina said rice needs DAP
fertiliser to allow for vegetative growth, adding that at day 70 when it starts
flowering, Sulphate Ammonia is applied to boost the formation of seeds.
But with the rice farming being a
new venture in the county, some chemicals and even fertilisers are not locally
available and have to be procured from Embu town.
Weeding is done by plucking the
weeds after wetting the plots.
Scarecrows have also been erected
to ward off birds that have a huge appetite for Pishori grains.
“Kitui soils are fertile and with
the use of seasonal rivers, rice farming can be the next commercial frontier for
local farmers,” Kasina said.
The duo said with the
encouragement from other local farmers who have shown willingness to venture
into commercial rice farming, their future plan is to upscale the project and
add more acreage under rice irrigation.
He says part of their plans is to
invest in a mill to be able to produce and package the white rice, thus giving
the local farmers all the benefits
Musyoka says getting local
production of rice will be his ultimate pride.
Edited by R.Wamochie
KITUI RICE FARMING Musyoka on his rice plantation in Kitui
LINAH MUSANGI
KITUI RICE PLANTATION Rice plantation in
Kitui
https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/7744424141239132414
Government Looking to Strengthen Agriculture
Marketing Through e-NAM
To
strengthen agricultural marketing opportunities, the government
opened e-NAMs in 18 states and union territories. Furthermore, they have
successfully encouraged one crore farmers and 1 lakh traders to register.
Thousands
of Mandis Added to the Platform in the Past Few Months
Recently,
the central government completed the integration of 1000 wholesale mandis with
electronic- National Agriculture Market (e-NAM). The said integration occurred
in two phases. The first phase included 585 mandis while the second phase
comprised 415 e- NAM integrations. The agricultural minister reports that the
38 mandis integrated recently in Madhya Pradesh and Telangana brings the tally to 415.
Following that, Rajasthan also added 119 more mandis to the e-NAM platform to
help farmers. Subsequently, they registered 2,205 farmers and 2,989 traders and
engaged in the trade of 2,885.3 tonnes.
Many
Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees are engaging in digital bidding
through e-NAM. Under the current COVID-19 situation, the addition of more
mandis is a boon to farmers. Further, e-NAM creates a common online platform,
“One Nation, One Market” for all agricultural commodities. Therefore, it
is a step in the right direction.
Fast
Tracking Integration
To
provide end to end connectivity to farmers, the government is fast-tracking the
integration of e-NAMS to FPOs and warehouses. Subsequently, the FPOs and
warehouses will connect to “Kisan Rath”, a transport aggregator mobile app. A
senior agricultural minister said that this would promote barrier-free
interstate and intrastate trade outside the mandi premises. Further, he said
that 10,000 FPOs would be integrated with
e-NAM in the next five years. Additionally, the farmers will be able to access
market data and therefore can sell their product at better prices, he said.
Is
the Platform Going to Benefit Farmers?
Though
the idea sounds good on paper, many questions arise regarding the viability of
the scheme. Firstly, the e- NAM platform would serve as an online market place,
just like Amazon or Flipkart. Further, it is mandatory for both the buyer and
seller to register. Moreover, the farmers had to take their produce to
assessors, who then determined the quality of produce. Subsequently, the
government understood the hassles involved. And, they said that farmers could
get the products graded at the nearby warehouses. However, the government is
yet to offer complete clarity regarding the solutions.
Unfortunately,
many farmers are facing difficulties with the process. Even though there is
immense pressure from the government to use the e-trading platform, many prefer
physical trading.
In
conclusion, only 14% of farmers have access to online trading.
Therefore, the government should make the (e- NAM) scheme more accessible to
benefit the farmers of the nation.
Tags: agriculture, agriculture commodities, agriculture loan, agriculture marketing, agriculture ministry, agriculture sector, agriculture technology, amazon, e nams, e- trading, electronic National Agriculture Market, farmers, flipkart, FPO, Madhya Pradesh, mobile apps, one nation one market, online trading, physical trading, telangana, warehouses
https://www.grainmart.in/news/government-looking-to-strengthen-agriculture-marketing-through-e-nam/
“We Won’t Pay
4.25% Taxes While the Other States Pay Zero” Basmati Rice millers in Punjab
Warn Government of Not Buying Crop
As
harvest time of basmati nears, exporters show reluctance to buy from Punjab.
“We Won’t Pay 4.25% taxes while other states pay zero” basmati rice millers in
Punjab warn the government of not buying crop.
Exporters
Will Buy Only Levy-Free Basmati
Exporters
have warned the state government that it won’t buy basmati from Punjab this
year owing to the high fees charged. They argued paying 4.25% taxes whereas
they need not pay any tax while buying from Haryana, Delhi,
Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Punjab levies 2% as Market Fee, 2% as Rural
Development Fund, and 0.25% as Cancer Cess. Exporters paid Rs 97.73 crore last year
and Rs 102.68 crore in 2018.
Other
States Levy No Tax
Punjab
Rice Millers Export Association director Ashok Sethi stated that rice export is
a price-sensitive and competitive business. Buying basmati from Punjab
increases the cost as compared to other states. Basmati output is to reach a
record high this year. PUSA 1509 will start arriving in markets from the
second week of September.
Earlier
the rice exporters association asked the Punjab government to clarify its
stance on the Centre’s ordinance of Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce
(Promotion and Facilitation). They had asked the government to take an
immediate decision as all other states have accepted the Centre’s ordinance.
Sethi added that the exporters would like to buy levy-free basmati either
from farmers or from other states. The
Centre’s regulation allows the farmers to sell their crops directly to
exporters.
Basmati Rice Exporters Refuse to
buy Crops Due to Excess Tax in Punjab
Exporters
Educated Farmers for Minimal Pesticide Use
The
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
reports that Punjab exported rice worth Rs 14,000 crore from the country’s
total basmati export of Rs 34,000 crore. The association also mentioned its
role in educating farmers for using minimal pesticides for increasing worldwide
acceptability of Indian basmati.
In
all, exporters have expressed their dissent on high taxes levied by the Punjab
government on basmati.
USD/ INR: Rupee Edges Lower Against the US Dollar
USD/INR-
Indian Rupee was at 73.79 as of 7:58 PM IST on 8th September. One of the
leading cause for this downfall is the dollar index that strengthened by 0.43%
to reach 93.11. Further, the rupee ranged between the highest of 73.37
and lowest at 73.64.
USD/
INR: Oil Prices
The
WTI futures fell by 1.6% and was at USD 39.13 a barrel by 02:21 GMT. On the
other hand, Brent futures for November rose by 0.6%
and was at USD 42.07 per barrel. The oil prices witnessed mixed results yesterday.
The increasing number of coronavirus cases in Britain, the US
and India also put a considerable strain on
prices. Along with this, the questions regarding the strength of the current
demand recovery also negatively impacted oil prices.
USD/
INR- Gold Prices
Gold
prices fell for the fourth time on Tuesday. The October gold futures fell by
0.5% to Rs. 50,803 per 10 grams on the multi-commodity exchange. Likewise,
Silver futures fell by 0.6% to 67,850 per kg. In the international market, spot
gold traded at $1,925.68 per ounce, indicating a decline of 0.2%.
The
increase in the value of the dollar index negatively impacted gold prices as it
made gold expensive for holders of other currencies. But, the increasing number
of coronavirus cases and the US-China tensions did slightly
affect the gold prices.
USD/
INR- Sensex Today
The Sensex ended in red on Tuesday after
starting the week on a good note. That is, it was down by 0.14% and saw a 51.88
point decrease. Accordingly, it ended at 38,365.35 at 3:40 PM IST on 8th
September. Similarly, the NIFTY saw a fall of 37.70 points or 0.33% and
finalised at 11,317.35. Though the markets witnessed positive trends in the
first half, they were impacted by the rising tensions between India and China at the LAC.
Tags: brent futures, China and India, coronavirus, crude futures, crude oil, demand, domestic equities, equity market, global equity market, india, india and china, indian economy, indian equity market, INDIAN RUPEE, multi commodity exchange, nifty50, ntpc, october gold futures, pandemic, Rupee, sensex index, silver, the us and china, US and China, US dollar, US dollar index, US inventories, usd inr, USD-INR, wti crude
https://www.grainmart.in/news/usd-inr-rupee-edges-lower-against-the-us-dollar/
Ministry urges enterprises
to complete procedures to export fragrant rice to EU
Wednesday, September 09, 2020 11:29
The EU has raised the quota of rice imports from Vietnam from
50,000 tons to 80,000 tons per year. Of which, the additional 30,000 tons of
rice is fragrant rice from the Mekong Delta, which will receive a tariff wild
card, and according to the schedule, its import tariff will be at zero percent
within the next 3-5 years.
Rice harvesting in the Mekong
Delta. (Photo: SGGP)
At a press conference on September 8 in Hanoi, Director of the
Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development (MARD) Nguyen Nhu Cuong informed that after the EU-Vietnam Free
Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect, the EU has expanded its quota of rice
imported from Vietnam to 80,000 tons per year.
In 2019, Vietnam exported 50,000 tons of rice to the EU market under quotas,
with a value of 28.5 million euros. Compared to other countries in the ASEAN,
Vietnam's rice exports to Europe were only one-sixth of those of Thailand,
one-tenth of those of Myanmar, and a quarter of those of Cambodia. However, since
this year, Vietnam will have an additional 30,000 tons of fragrant rice grown
in the Mekong Delta, which receives the wild card to enjoy preferential tariff
treatment to this market.
According to the Director of the Department of Crop Production, the cultivation
area of fragrant rice in the Mekong Delta annually reaches about 25 percent of
the total cultivation area, equivalent to about 1 million hectares. The
production of fragrant rice is estimated at 5.5 million tons of paddy,
equivalent to about 3.5 million tons of fragrant rice.
If the country follows well the EU regulations, and an additional 30,000 tons
of fragrant rice can be exported under quotas with low tax rates and high
selling prices, since this year, it will improve the efficiency of Vietnam's
rice production and also affirm the brand of Vietnamese rice in a fastidious
market like the EU in particular, and the world in general. This initial
success is also the basis for further negotiations on the expansion of fragrant
rice export quotas to the EU market in the coming time.
Mr. Nguyen Nhu Cuong said that the Department of Crop Production has sent a
document to enterprises and the Vietnam Food Association to suggest adding some
fragrant rice varieties to the list of fragrant rice exported to the EU.
While Deputy Minister of the MARD Le Quoc Doanh informed that on September 4
this year, the Government issued Decree No.103/2020/ND-CP on the certification
of fragrant rice varieties exported to the EU. Right after this decree was
issued, on September 7, the MARD quickly issued a Decision to guide enterprises
on the procedures for certification of fragrant rice varieties exported to the
EU.
Currently, three enterprises have submitted their application to the MARD to
register to export fragrant rice to the EU. The certification is completed
within five days.
Other enterprises can send registration documents through the public
administrative service portal of the MARD or by post. The certification for
enterprises will be done completely free of charge.
‘The Decree takes effect from the date of signing, the MARD has requested that
enterprises that have fragrant rice and export orders of fragrant rice to the
EU should urgently send documents to the Department of Crop Production for the
ministry to quickly complete procedures for them to soon export rice to the
EU,’ Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh informed.
Thus, the EU has raised the quota of rice imports from Vietnam
from 50,000 tons to 80,000 tons per year. Of which, the additional 30,000 tons
of rice is fragrant rice from the Mekong Delta, which will receive a tariff
wild card; and according to the schedule, its import tariff will be at zero
percent within the next 3-5 years.
From now to the end of this year, there are only four months left. Enterprises
need to speed up the registration process to enjoy maximum incentives for
30,000 tons of fragrant rice this year.
Thailand’s
grain output mixed
09.08.2020
BANGKOK, THAILAND — Thailand’s
grain output for 2020-21 will vary as rice is impacted by limited water supply
but other crops like corn will be buoyed by good weather and increased acreage,
according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the
US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Thailand’s market year 2020-21 rice
production forecast slips to 18.6 million tonnes as limited water supplies
cause production to fall. Despite the anticipated decrease, the USDA production
forecast is still 5% higher than 2019-20 market year production. Rice exports
are expected to decrease 6.5 million tonnes, or 14%, in the 2020-21 market year
compared to the previous year.
Unlike rice, Thailand’s corn
production for market year 2020-21 is anticipated to total 5.6 million tonnes,
up 24% compared to the previous year. The USDA equates the uptick in production
to favorable weather and increased acreage.
“Domestic corn prices are under
downward pressure due to record imports of duty-free corn in 2020,” the report
said. “In addition, a growing import demand for alternative feed grains and
ingredients magnifying the downward pressure on domestic corn prices.”
The USDA expects Thailand’s wheat
imports for market year 2020-21 to decrease to 3 million tonnes, down 14% as
demand for wheat products wanes on declining tourist traffic.
Less demand in the hotel and
restaurant sector pulls the country’s milling wheat imports to 1.2 million
tonnes, a 9% drop compared to the previous year.
The USDA does not expect an
increase of wheat imports as flour mills in Thailand are still holding large
inventories imported in market year 2019-20 following the uncertainties in the
government’s import regulations on chemical residues on imported ag products.
https://www.world-grain.com/articles/14196-thailands-grain-output-mixed
Where we are No. 1, it is a global
embarrassment
September 9, 2020
POLICYMAKING in the agriculture
sector is littered with quick fixes and quack economics, phrased in grandiose
terms and lofty promises. When setting policy for a sector as critical as
agriculture toggles between quickies and quacks, you have an idea of how these
policies would end — badly or disastrously.
There is a vast graveyard for the
serial blunders of the country’s agricultural policymakers. And, in our recent
history, from the mid-20th century up to the present, not a single agricultural
program has breached the threshold of mediocrity. No lesson has been learned.
No remorse has been expressed. Every disastrous outcome, every policy fallout
it seems, emboldens the quacks to carry out more quick fixes.
In the 20th century, the most
calamitous decision was the country’s accession to the World Trade Organization
(WTO) in December 1994. The economic quacks of the Ramos administration rolled
out the accession, which the then Senate giddily ratified as a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lift agriculture from its middling state into
a brave, new world of surging agricultural exports, millions of new agriculture
jobs, the unprecedented rise in the agriculture sector’s gross value added
(GVA), and a modern, ultra-competitive sector.
Critics from the peasantry and
the small farming groups that asked the Senate to vote down the ratification
were called “traitors” who wanted agriculture and the small farmers stuck in
their historic stasis. The punditry, dazzled and awed by the graphs and charts
presented by the quacks of the Ramos administration, abetted the muzzling of
the critics.
A medium-term analysis
post-accession proved the fears of the muzzled critics. Millions of
agricultural jobs had been lost. There was a sharp drop in the agriculture
sector’s GVA. Exports plunged. Instead of a vigorous export market, the
Philippines became the dumping ground of the excess produce of neighboring
countries, an import mania which is the staple policy of today’s food supply
chain.
The brutal wages of accession
undid even the gains of the small sub-sectors that were still competitive
pre-accession. Simply put, the accession to the WTO was a total disaster.
In March of 2019, another policy
of great folly, the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), was again rolled out on the
same extravagantly promising note. Tariffs will replace the quantitative
restrictions on rice imports. Rice farmers will see price drops on a temporary
basis due to the liberal rice import policy. But a money pool from the rice
imports tariff collection will ameliorate the temporarily dislocated rice
farmers until the desired equilibrium — stable rice prices and a vigorous rice
farming sector funded by the money pool — shall have taken place.
The proposition, great on paper
as the pre-accession propaganda, was again supported by the same economic
quacks that supported the WTO accession decades earlier. The same echo chamber
that wrote glowingly on the agricultural miracle that would take place after
the accession again wrote glowingly on the great equilibrium that would take
place after the implementation of the RTL. It would rein in inflation. It would
stabilize rice prices and supply. Rice farming, which was untenable even with
official support, would get more support. That last part was a total lie
because Filipino rice farmers have been the most neglected in the entire Asean
region.
A year and a few months later,
what is taking shape is not stable rice prices and supply and a massive
amelioration fund that will reinvigorate rice farming, the broader society
gaining from the literal culling (state-sponsored culling) of the rice farmers.
On the contrary, the liberalization of the rice trade, according to the farm
group Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) actually “liberated” the rice traders
who found the RTL as the perfect vehicle for the pursuit of unshackled greed.
From March 2019 to April 2020, the first year of the law’s implementation, the
FFF said the rice traders ran away with P57.5 billion in profits.
The total loss to the Filipino
rice farmers was at least P40 billion.
Let this fact and figure sink in.
Rice farmers, the public face of poverty, and engaged in one of the most
marginal activities known to Filipinos, lost P40 billion. Rice traders, many of
them part of the top 1 percent, gained P57.5 billion from a side activity.
The quack economists, who enabled
the passage of the RTL on the ground that it would bring down rice prices and
benefit the consumers, were again debunked by the FFF study.
The FFF studied two scenarios.
First it computed gains to consumers using the average prices of rice that
included those periods when rice retail prices were abnormally high. Then it
made another computation on consumer gains using the reference period of March
2017 to February 2018, when rice prices were relatively stable. The first
scenario yielded a gain of P2 per day for every Filipino rice consumer; the
second showed a P1 daily gain for every rice consumer.
The impact of the RTL on the rice
farmers, meanwhile, was one unfathomable misery, the kind that brings to mind
the Case- Deaton study. That was the 2020 study on the impact of the loss of
decent-paying jobs in white, rural America. The study highlighted the “deaths
of despair” that roiled rural America that was rooted in the loss of
decent-paying jobs. The RTL so depressed the Filipino farmer, I wrote in a
previous column, that he is “a dead man walking.”
The reckless and unalloyed greed
of the rice traders, of course, catapulted the Philippines to the rank of No. 1
rice importer in 2019 and again the top rice importer for the current year. We
import more rice than China, an industrial powerhouse with more than 1.3
billion people.
What happened to the supposed
“enhanced” rice production program funded by the money pooled from the tariff?”
Enhanced “rice production, in theory, would get us off the embarrassing list as
the top importer of rice. Small rice farmers have this sinking feeling that sad
Philippines would again be the top rice importer in 2021, in 2022 and beyond.
A feckless Department of
Agriculture, a posse of quacks doing quick policy fixes, and a policy establishment
with only disdain and loathing for small farmers form the nexus of the ills
that seek to obliterate Philippine agriculture and the small farmers.
Where we are No. 1 — the top
importer of rice despite a long and glorious rice farming tradition — is a
source of global embarrassment.
Vietnam seeks to bolster rice
exports to Africa
Rice exports of Vietnam to
African nations have been on the rise and the upward trend may continue in the
next year.
Wednesday, September 09, 2020 14:20
Vietnam's rice exports to African nations have
been on the rise (Illustrative photo: congthuong.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Rice exports of Vietnam to African nations have been on the
rise and the upward trend may continue in the next year.
The Asia-African Market Department at
the Ministry of Industry and Trade has joined hands with trade offices to
arrange webinars introducing potential of the African and Middle East markets,
which drew hundreds of Vietnamese firms.
African countries, especially
those in the western region, have high demand for rice because local production
cannot meet demand, especially during years with natural hazards, crop failure,
political instability and diseases.
Algeria, in particular, relies
entirely on rice imports, according to the Vietnam Trade Office in the country.
The surge in its rice consumption
is attributed to the increase of Asian migrants in the country, particularly
Chinese workers. Algeria purchased about 100,000 tonnes of rice per year,
equivalent to 1 percent of the country’s food consumption.
Vietnam shipped in excess of
16,390 tonnes of rice to the African country in 2019, fetching 6.28 million
USD, a leap of 20.8 percent in value from the previous year. The figure hit
14.58 million USD in the first six months of 2020, accounting for 58 percent of
Vietnam’s total export value to Algeria.
Similarly, Senegal imports up to
800,000 tonnes of rice a year, primarily broken rice.
Vietnam’s rice exports to
Senegal witnessed a sharp increase to 96,665 tonnes in 2019, earning 32.62
million USD, rising 13.1-fold in volume and 10.2-fold in value.
The country shipped rice worth
26.47 million USD in the first seven months of 2020, a year-on-year surge of
77.2 percent.
This year, Senegal is projected
to import 1.25 million tonnes of the grain.
In both markets, Vietnamese rice faces
tough competition from products of India, Thailand, Pakistan, Uruguay and
China, among others.
The Vietnam Trade Office is
keeping a close eye on adjustments in trade policies and rice import demand in
the region, as well as import and payment regulations, especially in the
context of COVID-19, to promptly
inform businesses./.
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-seeks-to-bolster-rice-exports-to-africa/182693.vnp
The
Unique Biodiversity of Rice Fields on The Rice Stuff Podcast
ARLINGTON, VA -- There is no crop that provides
the wildlife habitat rice fields do -- from birds and waterfowl to
invertebrates and even now fish -- more than 220 species call rice fields
home. The great opportunities for the planet and the challenges for
growers associated with this impressive fact is the topic for the new episode
of The Rice Stuff podcast.
California rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice
Conservation Committee Leo LaGrande and Ducks Unlimited's Director of
Conservation Programs Dr. Scott Manley join hosts Lydia Holmes and Steve Linscombe
to talk biodiversity of rice fields and why that makes U.S. rice so special.
"We're looking for the win-win-win
situation and rice represents one of those where you have food that is produced
to feed the world, you have a crop that is environmentally friendly and
provides wildlife habitat for a myriad of species, and also at the end of the
day generates a wonderful economy for rural areas," explained Manley. 
Linscombe shared some of the dozens of bird
species he has encountered in rice fields over his lifetime and LaGrande talked
about the unique new salmon project going on in California fields.
"Rice has such a great environmental story
to tell, and this is just one aspect of it, but it's so important to get this
information out there," said Holmes. "I was glad we could
dedicate an episode to this but even so, we just scratched the surface and will
return to it for sure."
New episodes of The Rice Stuff are
published on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month and can be found on
Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
All episodes and additional information can be
found on the podcast's dedicated website at thericestuffpodcast.com. The site includes a "Podcast
101" section on the "About" page for people new to the medium
and a means to reach out to the show hosts and guests via the "Talk to
Us" button.
ARTICLE: Rice has special...
Updated 08 Sep 2020
ARTICLE: Rice has special
significance in Asia, where about 90% of the rice is produced and consumed as
staple food. Though in Pakistan it is the second most favorite food after
wheat, even then increasing mouths to feed in the country and decreasing land
and water resources available for rice cultivation needs serious and concrete
efforts through research & development to come up with such rice
technologies that will result in higher yields.
Pakistan's total population is
slightly over 220 million and at current growth rate of over 2.1 percent it is
expected to become the 4th most populous country of the world in 2050.
Involvement of seed companies from
private sector is crucial to meet the increased demand for hybrid seed.
Realizing the importance of private
seed research, Guard Agricultural Research & Services (GUARD) established
in 1989 launched research to develop new hybrid seed in collaboration with
Hunan Rice Research Institute (HRRI) Hunan, China in 1999. Later on for
commercialization of hybrid rice we made joint venture with Yuan LongPing
High-Tech Agriculture Co., Ltd, China which is off shoot of HRRI, having share
holding of eminent scientist and breeder, Professor Yuan LongPing who is
inventor of hybrid rice technology and is also known as "father of hybrid
rice", with special focus on looming water scarcity and climate change
threats which are posing serious threat to national food security.
So far, Guard alone has introduced
10 new hybrid varieties for general cultivation all over Pakistan. These all
are coarse varieties generally sown in Sindh and South Punjab having tolerance
against heat and water scarcity. The company is also on the way to introduce a
basmati hybrid having an average yield up to 80 mounds per acre with an average
grain length of 8 mm. We are very near to achieving this target after hard work
of five to six years; our scientists in collaboration with our Chinese partners
have developed basmati hybrids out of which one variety is giving 75 mounds per
acres and average grain length of 7.4 mm, slightly short of the target of 80
mounds per acre. Our scientists have been tasked to develop heat, drought
tolerant and salinity resistant varieties.
Guard commercialized Super Basmati
in 1991, which was eventually approved by Government in 1997 for commercial
cultivation after 40 percent of Punjab area came under its cultivation. The
Company after introduction of coarse hybrid has also started local production
of hybrid rice seed. We are the leading company by developing such a large
number of hybrids and starting local commercial hybrid rice seed production.
The need to bring new hybrids of
rice is because the yield of rice varieties is low and stagnant. Low rice
yields do not match with increasing cost of inputs; due to increase in cost of
production Pakistan is becoming un-competitive in international market. Land
resources are declining, water shortage is becoming a problem, solution is
adoption of hybrid rice.
Since the introduction of hybrid
rice in Sindh, income of rice farmers has doubled due to double yield of hybrid
rice as compared to IRRI varieties, doubled income of farmers, resulted in
poverty alleviation, socio-economic changes in rural areas of Sindh and South
Punjab. Due to early maturing hybrid rice crop, timely sowing of Rabi crops is ensured.
Timely sown Rabi crops give positive and significant increase in per unit
production / per acre yield which consequently increase farmer income. Due to
shorter maturity period, hybrid rice crop can be planted in late season.
Further to shorter maturity period, hybrid rice crop consumes less irrigation
as compared to traditional rice varieties. Hybrid rice crop can be successfully
grown in stress areas like saline, drought and water logged as compared to
inbred.
Success in getting more per acre
yield has paved the way for producing more non-basmati rice and increasing its
exports thus fetching more revenue for the cash strapped country. There is also
a need of more production and supply to explore new markets and achieve the
target of US 5 billion dollars export in the next five years, hybrid seeds can
make this possible.
High yielding hybrid rice area is
going to cross 50 percent in three years from present 25 to 30 percent paddy
coverage, yielding additional two million tons output.
All efforts of introducing hybrid
rice seed in Pakistan is being commanded by national seed companies mainly in
collaboration of Chinese leadership in research & development with 'Guard
Agri' having the lion's share. Several multinational seed companies did try to
introduce hybrid rice seed but could not outperform national seed companies.
Their varieties were less rewarding for farmers due to lack of jump in
production while seed cost was also high when compared to what local seed
companies were offering.
Being founding chairman of Seed
Association of Pakistan (SAP) and Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP)
and former President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), I
believe with untiring efforts of local scientists, the role of private sector
in seed research and development is increasing day by day, as I have closely
worked with Government and Private researchers.
With doubling of hybrid rice seed
coverage from present 25-30 percent to over 50 percent in next three years,
national rice production is potentially expected to be increased by hefty two
million tons. At present yield is 6.9 million ton from 2.79 million hectares.
By doubling the area from 25 percent to 50 percent, the expected increase in
yield will be around 2 million tons and total yield will be around 9 million
tons.
In total rice hybridization, around
90 percent area of long-grain paddy is in Sindh province while 10 percent in
South Punjab. As aromatic basmati rice is first choice for farmers in Punjab,
coarse varieties area is still low. However, with production of hybrid rice
seed in central Punjab, paddy area in Punjab is likely to increase
significantly in coming years, he observed.
The major factor behind success of
national seed companies in large-scale acceptance of rice hybrid seed has been
development of heat-resistance and drought tolerant varieties. Multinational
seed companies had varieties that could not perform well in harsh summer
weather of Sindh and Southern Punjab. Long grain hybrid rice that substituted
IRRI-6 in the coastal belt and central Sindh is a major success as its export
market is rapidly evolving in the favor of farmers and exporters.
Consequently, our long grain rice
is gaining grounds globally with much ease by competing major producers and
exporting countries of the world like Vietnam and Thailand.
Our company has emerged as a leader
in demand driven research in agriculture, challenging the monopoly of public
sector institutions and multinationals.
With great passion to increase
productivity of farming sector, we are actively striving to achieve food
security in an untiring effort spanning over past 30 years. We successfully
pioneered the introduction of hybrid rice seed in Pakistan with collaboration
of Chinese scientists for which Government of Pakistan honoured me
Sitara-e-Imtiaz for contribution in revolution of rice production which doubled
the income of farmers, resulting in changing socio-economic conditions and
poverty alleviation in rural Sindh. The surplus rice production resulted in
increased rice (non-basmati) exports bringing in valuable foreign exchange.
Shahzad Malik (SI) Chief Executive,
Guard Agriculture Research & Services (Pvt.) Ltd
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40017079
Signs your cooked rice has gone bad
BY CLARA OLSHANSKY/SEPT. 8,
2020 11:12 AM EDT
Uncooked rice is one of those
long-lasting pantry staples that you can count on when you're all out of fresh
groceries. Cooked rice? Not so much. According to Still Tasty, cooked rice
lasts about 4 to 6 days in the fridge when it's in a covered airtight container
or a resealable plastic bag. But even uncooked rice won't last forever, and
it's not always obvious when rice is past its prime. Does It Go
Bad helpfully notes that bugs, mold, and changes in color are signs that
you should not eat your uncooked rice. If your cooked rice smells weird or
feels slimy, that also belongs in the trash and not in your mouth.
The Kitchn identifies another cue
that your rice might be spoiled: it's become hard and dry. The longer cooked
rice sits in the fridge, the drier it gets. If it sits for more than a few
days, it may even become really crunchy, meaning it's reached the end of its
shelf life.
What happens when you eat spoiled
rice?
Shutterstock
If you ignore the signs and eat that
week-old rice anyway, you could be risking food poisoning. The United
Kingdom's National Health Service warns that reheating rice can cause food
poisoning. Rice can contain spores of bacteria that could cause diarrhea and
vomiting. "The longer cooked rice is left at room temperature,"
NHS advises, "the more likely it is that the bacteria or toxins could make
the rice unsafe to eat."
NHS also suggests that you serve
rice immediately after cooking it, that you refrigerate it within an hour of
cooking, that you make sure your rice is "steaming hot all the way
through" after reheating, and that you never reheat rice more than
once. One study even found that eating 5-day-old rice, in extreme cases,
could potentially be deadly (via ScienceAlert). That doesn't mean that eating
rice that's more than a few days old is definitely going to kill you, but it
does mean that you should exercise caution, pay attention to the signs, and be
sure to store and heat your rice properly.
https://www.mashed.com/244224/signs-your-cooked-rice-has-gone-bad/?utm_campaign=clip
New Recipes for the New Year
Sep 8, 2020 | by Elizabeth
Kurtz
Sweet
and delicious menu ideas for Yom Tov and for all year around.
It’s
a wonderful time of year to include the sweet flavors of Rosh Hashanah.
Apples, honey, fruits, and cinnamon are aromas and tastes that are warm and
perfect for the fall in addition to Rosh Hashanah. These are just a few of
the menu
additions I’m including at my table. The ribs freeze well, the
aroma from the rice smells like it’s going to be a sweet New Year, and the
dessert is both adult and kid friendly and definitely more fun than any apple
cake. The honey cookies are the best I’ve had and they make a very large amount
so they are perfect to send over to a friend too.
Serves
5
It’s
best to braise short ribs a day (or at least several hours) ahead of serving.
First, this allows you to chill the sauce so it can be defatted thoroughly.
Also, the flavors only get better with time. To reheat, arrange the meat snugly
in a baking dish with sauce, cover with foil, and warm in the oven.
- 4-1/2 to 5
lb. short ribs
- 3
tablespoons vegetable oil or coconut oil, divided
- 2
teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon
ground black pepper
- 1 cup
diced carrots
- 1 cup
diced onions
- 1 cup
coarsely chopped dried figs
- 1
tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
- 1
tablespoon chopped fresh garlic
- 2 whole
star anise
- 2 whole
cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup dry
red wine
- 1 cup
canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup
chicken broth
- 1/4 cup
lower-sodium soy sauce
- 2
tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2
tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 3
tablespoons pomegranate seeds, optional
Position
a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 325°F. In an 8-quart
Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Season the ribs
with salt and pepper and add half of the ribs to the pot (or as many as will
fit without overlap), and cook, until nicely browned on all sides, 3 to 4
minutes per side. Transfer the ribs to a platter and repeat with the remaining
ribs.
Pour
off all but a thin layer of fat from the pan. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon
oil and heat until simmering. Add carrots and onions to the pan. Cook, stirring
and scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan, until soft and
lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the figs, ginger, garlic, star anise, and
cinnamon sticks, and stir until fully coated. Cook for a minute or two, then
add 1/2 cup of the red wine into the pot and cook, stirring to scrape up any
browned bits on the bottom of the pot, then bring to a boil and reduce until
the liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons, about 1 minute.
Transfer
all the ribs (and any juices that have accumulated) back into the pot. Pour the
tomatoes, chicken broth, soy sauce, remaining 1/2 cup of red wine, and 1 cup
water over the ribs, arrange the ribs as evenly as possible.
Bring
the liquid to a simmer, cover, and put the pot in the oven. Cook, turning the
ribs with tongs about every 40 minutes, until they are fork tender, about 2 ½
hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper if needed.
Serve
the ribs with the sauce spooned over. Sprinkle with parsley, mint, and
pomegranate seeds.
Serves
8
This
is a wonderful Yom Tov fish because it incorporates some of the traditional
flavors of the holiday, including pomegranate and honey. Although this makes
for a nice first course, its showstopper appearance and great taste make it a
main course in my home. It can be made a day ahead of time and rewarmed or
served at room temperature. Do not freeze prepared fish, as the defrosting
process changes the taste and texture. Frozen fish can be used, just defrost in
the refrigerator, rinse, and pat dry before cooking.
- 5
tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 medium
leeks, dark green tops removed and discarded, white part halved, and
thinly sliced
- 1 ½
teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- ¾ teaspoon
black pepper, divided
- ½ cup
balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup red
wine
- 3
tablespoons pomegranate juice
- 3
teaspoons honey
- 8
(4-ounce) cod fillets
- 1 teaspoon
onion powder
- 1 teaspoon
paprika
- ½ teaspoon
kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon
fresh ground black pepper
- ¼ cup
pomegranate seeds
Preheat
the oven to 400°F.
In
a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add leeks, ½ teaspoon
salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper and brown for 12 minutes, until lightly
golden. Add balsamic vinegar, red wine, pomegranate juice and honey and bring
to a boil and cook until syrupy and thickened, about 12 minutes. Remove from
heat.
In
a separate cast iron skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Sprinkle cod
with onion powder, paprika, remaining 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black
pepper. Sear cod, top side down, for 3 minutes, until slightly browned. Gently
flip fish over, add ½ of leek mixture to the skillet and place in the oven to
finish cooking, about 6-8 minutes.
To
serve, transfer fish and onion mixture onto a platter. Top with remaining leek
mixture and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.
Alternatively,
cod can be cooked in a 400°F oven for 12-14 minutes. Make the balsamic
pomegranate jam as instructed and serve over fish with a sprinkle of
pomegranate seeds.
Photo by Healthy Fitness Meals
Serves
5
There
is something about roasting vegetables that brings out the natural sweet
caramel flavor. For Rosh Hashanah I often sprinkle them with pomegranate seeds
and sometimes even roast dates with them too.
- 12
carrots, peeled, and sliced in spears (or colorful carrots or heirloom
carrots)
- 3
tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3
tablespoons honey
- A few
sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1/2
teaspoon salt
- 1/4
teaspoon black pepper
- 1
tablespoon chopped parsley, optional
- 2
tablespoons pomegranate seeds
Preheat
the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Slice
carrots, at an angle, into 2 to 3 inch pieces. Transfer cut carrots to a large
mixing bowl.
Drizzle
with oil and honey over carrots and add fresh thyme then season with salt and
pepper. Toss to coat and spread out in an even layer on the prepared baking
sheet.
Roast
for about 20 minutes, or until carrots are caramelized and tender. Garnish with
parsley and pomegranate seeds.
Photo by Rookie Cookie
Serves
6
- 3
tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium
yellow onion, diced
- 1 Granny
Smith apple cored and diced
- 1½ cup
basmati rice
- 2½ cups
chicken stock or water
- ½ cup
golden raisins
- ⅓ cup
chopped dried figs
- 1½
teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon
ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon
ground cinnamon
- 1 cinnamon
stick
- ½ teaspoon
dried thyme
Heat
oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add diced onion and
apple; sauté until onion is translucent and apple and onion are tender, 5-6
minutes. Add rice and stir often until lightly browned and toasty about, 6-8
minutes. Add chicken stock, raisins, figs, kosher salt, allspice, cinnamon, and
cinnamon stick, and stir. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about
15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Serve warm.
Photo by Brown Eyed Baker
Serves
6
This
is a fun and versatile dessert that is great for a Yom Tov meal. I use vanilla
soy creamy ice cream. The apple sauce is great in crepes, on its own and
covered in this yummy chocolate. The magic chocolate sauce hardens when it is
poured onto cold ice cream.
- 2 pints
pareve vanilla ice cream
Apple
Cinnamon Sauce
- ½ cup
margarine
- 1 cup dry
white wine
- 4 cups
sliced apples (I mix varieties, as long as they are cooking ones, for
effect)
- 1 teaspoon
ground cinnamon
- 1 cup
sugar
- 2
tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 1⁄2
teaspoons vanilla extract
In
a heavy saucepan, melt the margarine over medium heat. Add wine and bring to a
boil. Cook until wine has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. Add apples,
cinnamon, and sugar. Stir to coat.
Continue
cooking for about 10 minutes, then stir in the lemon juice and vanilla.
Lower
the heat to a simmer and cover; continue cooking for 20 - 40 minutes, stirring
occasionally until the apples break up and sauce is chunky.
Magic
Chocolate Sauce
Serves
5
- 8 ounces
chocolate, finely chopped
- 3
tablespoons coconut oil
Pinch
of kosher salt
In
a small saucepan, combine the chocolate and oil. Melt over low heat, stirring
while melting, until smooth and uniformly liquid. Stir in the salt.
Store
at room temperature.
To
serve: Spoon apple cinnamon sauce into dishes. Scoop ice cream on top, and pour
chocolate sauce over to harden. Serve immediately.
Photo by Key Ingredient.com
Makes
4 - 5 dozen
Classic
and good! For real, these are good and moist and easy to make.
- 4 eggs
- ½ teaspoon
vanilla extract
- ¾ cup
honey
- ¾ cup
sugar
- ¾ cup oil
- 1 teaspoon
baking powder
- 1 teaspoon
baking soda
- 1 teaspoon
cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon
orange zest
- 4 cups
flour
In
the bowl of a mixer, beat eggs, vanilla, honey, sugar and oil, until well
combined, about 2 minutes. Add baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, orange
zest and flour and beat gently until combined. Refrigerate dough for at least
30 minutes.
Preheat
oven to 350ºF. Roll cookies into balls and place on lined baking sheets about 2
inches apart. Bake for 13 - 15 minutes or until lightly browned but soft in the
center.
Elizabeth Kurtz
Elizabeth Kurtz
is the creator of gourmetkoshercooking.com and
columnist for the Jerusalem Post, Aish.com, and other
national magazines. She is a featured chef on videos for Recipe Box TV on
aol.com and yahoo.com. She is passionate about food and entertaining and loves
teaching cooking classes. Her first cookbook titled, CELEBRATE, food, family,
shabbos is in stores now, on Amazon.com and
"celebrates", 200 original recipes easy enough for everyday and
special enough for Shabbos or any holiday. She can be reached at ekurtz@gourmetkoshercooking.com
https://www.aish.com/f/r/New-Recipes-for-the-New-Year.html
Korea
to start purchasing rice for emergency reserves
Posted : 2020-09-08 11:30
Updated : 2020-09-08 11:31
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The government said Tuesday it will start the annual purchase of rice for
emergency reserves next week in line with efforts to stabilize the market price
and brace for potential natural disasters.
Under the plan, the country will purchase 340,000 tons of rice for the reserves
by the end of this year, along with 10,000 tons for overseas aid, according to
the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The emergency reserve system is designed to store staple grains as a
contingency against natural disasters or other food supply crises.
The government normally purchases around 17 to 18 percent of the annual
consumption amount, about two months worth, as a backup.
The government plans to provide an advance payment of 30,000 won (US$25.2) per
40-kilogram sack of rice and cover the remaining amount by the end of this
year.
The country has not yet set this year's price. It came to 65,750 won per sack
in 2019.
The country also purchases sacks for overseas aid under the ASEAN+3 Emergency
Rice Reserve project, which is aimed at safeguarding the region's food security
i
Why India's Agricultural Exports Are Increasing Sharply This
Year
Snapshot
·
With coronavirus proving to be a
problem for exports in some countries — a huge backlog has built up in Brazil
for example — India has gained this year.
If it can impress buyers with
quality and competitive prices, it could sustain the current trend in the long
run as well.
India’s agricultural exports
surged 23 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal, mainly in view
of higher rice and sugar exports.
The higher shipments come despite
the country being under lockdown due to the spread of novel coronavirus
(Covid-19).
https://swarajyamag.com/economy/why-indias-agricultural-exports-are-increasing-sharply-this-year
Crysbro strengthens Sri Lanka’s
food security agenda with seed paddy production
Posted on September 8, 2020 | Agriculture, In Pictures
Cementing its continued
commitment to bolstering the country’s food security agenda, leading poultry
producer Crysbro recently initiated operations on seed paddy production in a
bid to elevate the local rice production capacity. Spread across a 1000-acre
stretch of land in Kantale’s Suriyapura Village, Crysbro’s operations are supported
by a state-of-the-art laboratory and technical facility set on the company’s
farm in Kantale.
At present, Crysbro produces
BG352, BG358, BG366, BW367 and BG300 varieties of seed With prime focus on soil
and water conservation, this mega project is operated in a strictly
eco-friendly fashion.
“At the time of Crysbro’s massive
investment in Kantale’s Suriyapura village, most of its residents did not have
a permanent source of income and crop cultivation was limited to just one
season of cultivation during the availability of rain water. However, Crysbro
brought the village to life with the introduction of seed paddy production
which brought employment opportunities and a steady source of income for most
of the village’s residents, stated Crysbro Senior Marketing Manager Amores
Sellar.
Although Sri Lanka is
self-sufficient in rice, the high cost of seed paddy is currently forcing
numbers of farmers to move away from paddy cultivation to other, more viable
crops. It was this realisation that inspired Crysbro to produce and provide
seed paddy to these farming communities at concessionary prices, in a bid to
strengthen the country’s rice production and thereby its food security.
“Among the numerous other effects
of the COVID-19′ epidemic, was its hit on the food supply chain in the country.
With the deep shortage of imported food items, people were forced to rely
solely on local produce. This unforeseen crisis has inadvertently shed light on
a looming problem of food security and has presented us with an opportunity to
enforce Crysbro’s deep commitment to this cause by focusing our efforts on
securing local rice production through seed paddy production.” he went on to
comment.
Crysbro is currently cultivating
rice and maize on a large scale, benefiting more than 10,000 farming families
in the Mahiyanganaya, Moneragala and Anuradhapura districts. Suriyapura, a
village inhabited by people directly and deeply affected by the 30-year long
civil war, has made great strides economically and socially with Crysbro’s many
initiatives and investment in this region.
Established in 1972 with just 100
chicks and a deep desire to be a market leader in quality and innovation,
Crysbro has emerged as Sri Lanka’s first and most sophisticated, fully
vertically-integrated poultry producer. Its operations span grandparent and
parent farms, hatcheries, broiler farms and feed mills. This thriving
‘Farm-to-Fork’ concept has formed the core of its success. In turn, it has
yielded unprecedented benefit for numerous stakeholders including direct and
indirect employees, outgrowers, domestic maize farmers and ultimately Sri
Lankan consumers.
(Media Release)
Kebbi lacks capacity to
tackle flood disasters — Reps
·
Share
·
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As lawmakers beg FG to intervene
By Tordue Salem – Abuja
The Kebbi State
Caucus of the House of Representatives has declared their State government as
incapable of handling the devastating floods in the state, without the
assistance of the federal government.
Devastating
floods have swept off huge swathes of rice farms and wrecked buildings,
amounting to billions of losses in farms and structures.
The Chairman of
the Caucus, Rep. Muhammad Umar Jega, at a press briefing, said an emergency
response to the disaster from the government of President Muhammadu
Buhari is required.
Confronted by
VANGUARD with the fact that environmental issues are on the residual list of
the 1999 Constitution and should therefore be solely handled by State
governments, the Caucus responded that “Yes you are right, but the magnitude of
the disaster, is too much for the state to handle”.
The Caucus
lamented that the floods were a thorough set back for the economy of the state.
“The flood is a
serious setback toward addressing food security in the country, the government,
therefore, needs to address the shortfall of the food supply chain to reduce
the hardship and cost of food items in the market and also address the severe
environmental degradation, caused by the flood. This may include adequate and
early preparation for dry-season farming and reconstruction of major
infrastructure affected in the state”.
The Caucus lamented that “The estimated cost of
the disaster is over ten billion Naira (N10,000,0000.00) across the state,
early preparation for dry season farming, should commence in earnest with the
provision of seedlings, fertilizer and other inputs to be made available to the
farmers in good time”.
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/09/kebbi-lacks-capacity-to-tackle-flood-disasters-reps/
12:00
AM, September 08, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 02:20 AM, September 08, 2020
Rice theft video goes viral
Our Correspondent, Patuakhali
It is a way of stealing that many
of you probably have never heard of. The whole process is quite simple --
insert a plastic pipe into a sack of rice and wait until a certain amount leaks
out through it.
Using this method, a group of
perpetrators led by Rabindranath Biswas, officer-in-charge of four food
warehouses in Barguna's Amtali upazila, had allegedly been stealing rice from
the government warehouses for a long time.
They used to steal three to four
kilograms of rice from every 50kg sacks.
Nobody suspected anything in this
regard until a video of stealing rice went viral on social media on Thursday
night.
Sarwar Mahmud, director-general of
the food department, came across the video and paid a surprise visit to one of
the food warehouses in Amtali on Friday and formed a three-member committee,
headed by Patuakhali District Food Controller Liaquat Hossain, to investigate
the incident.
Four food warehouses in Amtali have
been sealed to carry out a fair probe. The probe report will be submitted
within this week.
Contacted, Rabindranath Biswas
claimed that the video that went viral was not recorded in his warehouse.
He claimed that a vested quarter
was trying to frame him in a conspiracy.
Sarwar said if the investigation
proves the theft of rice, lawful action will be taken against those involved.
https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/rice-theft-video-goes-viral-1957821
Maize-Soybean Intercropping To Increase Soybean
Yield In Pakistan
September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 increase, intercropping, Maize-soybean, Pakistan, Soybean, yield
Maize being the highest yielding
cereal crop in the world. It has significant importance for countries like
Pakistan, where rapidly increasing population has already out stripped the
available food supplies. Maize ranks third most grown crop in the world.
By : Binish Ali, Ibrar Hussain, Syed Zeeshan Haider and Fayaz
Hussain
Introduction
Maize:
It is grown an area of more than 118 million hectares with an
annual production of about 600 million metric tons in the world. In Pakistan,
maize is the fourth largest grown crop after wheat, cotton and rice. The
area under maize here is over one million hectares and production 3.5 million
metric tons. Punjab, KPK, Sindh and Baluchistan contributes 39%, 56%, 5% and 3%
of the total area under maize respectively.
At present, maize is grown on an area of about 1.3 million hectares in
Pakistan. In this way, the nation’s maize yield can be confirmed and greatly
increased. More importantly, Pakistani farmers can harvest considerable soybean
meanwhile. That will definitely produce considerable economic benefit for
Pakistani people.
Soybean:
Soybean (Glycine max L.) belongs to Leguminosae family. It is
originated from china. It is a summer crop. It ranks first among the oilseed
crops in world. Brazil’s 2019/20 soybean production is estimated at a record
125 million metric tons (mmt) and the area under its cultivation is about 36.9
million hectares (mha),. Total estimated yield is about 3.39 tons per hectare.
This year Brazil is also expected to overtake the United States as the world’s
leading soybean producer. US is producing 96.615 million metric tons(mmt)
, Argentina 53.000 million metric tons(mmt) and China 17.100 million
metric tons(mmt).
During the marketing year (MY) 2018/19 Pakistan purchases of
imported soybeans were estimated to reach at 2.0 million metric tons (MMT).
Soybean imports during MY 2019/20 are projected at 2.5 (MMT).
It is an very important crop due to high content of protein and oil. It has
high nutritional value. Soybean products are directly used for human
consumption including soymilk, soya sauce, protein extracts and concentrates.
It is a biggest source for production of vegetable oil and oilseed meal for
animal feeding. It contains 36-40 proteins, 26% carbohydrates, 18-24% fat and
18% micro and macro elements in seed.
In Pakistan, soybean is a negligible crop because badly affected by soil and
environmental conditions that’s why yield is low. Its yield potential is very
high but its actual yield is very low than rest of the world. There are many
factors limiting soybean production at farmers farm such as improper planting
time, climatic factors, low germination percentage poor quality seed and
irrigation shortage problems. Exploring the soybean varietal and agronomic
flaws can help us to bridge this gap. Quick germination and even crop stands
are essential for obtaining higher yield levels
Maize and Soybean Intercropping:
China has introduced an intercropping technology that can enhance
the yield of maize and soybean in Pakistan. This technology uses maize-soybean
strips and is set to be implemented all over Pakistan and in other countries
Africa and Europe such as Ghana and Sweden. The increased maize yields and
supplemental harvest of soybean will not only reduce the need to import it for
domestic use, but also improve Pakistan’s food security.
At the first time there were some doubts about the technology’s performance
because many local farmers had not seen this kind of farming model before. “As
long as they follow our technical instructions to plant the two crops, this
technology is sure to work out,” Yang said with confidence. “Actually many
countries are researching into intercropping. But across the globe our maize-soybean
strip intercropping may be the only mature intercropping system that is
well-equipped with all-around technologies of field configuration,
fertilization, pest control, etc. and promoted on such a massive scale.”
Furthermore, this technology has realized mechanization from sowing seeds, crop
management to harvest. It should be noted that after 18 years’ research and
development, in February, 2020, Yang Wenyu’s maize-soybean strip intercropping
technology was included in China’s “No. 1 Central Document” of top-priority by
CPC Central Committee and the State Council of the People’s Republic of China
to be promoted vigorously and widely in more regions of China.
Intercropping:
Professor Yang Wenyu, of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu
developed the intercropping technology in which both crops maize and soybean
will protect each other by planting them in the same field. When intercropping
is used with these two crops, they enhance each other’s growth and yield good
quality. Maize gives shade to soybean and minimizes the effect of high
temperature while the soybean’s nitrogen fixation stimulate growth in the maize
crops.
Implementation in Pakistan:
In Pakistan, four demonstrations have been arranged distinctly in
Bahawalpur, Chakwal, Islamabad and Layyah. Yang Wenyu’s team is collaborating
with Pakistan’s National Agriculture Research Center and PMAS-Arid Agriculture
University to make high-yield demonstrations. “High-yield demonstrations in
different regions will prove the technology’s value and receive local people
and government’s recognition,” said Yang. They are also working on technical
parameters especially for Pakistan. As agriculture is among the six key
socio-economic fields under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) cooperation, they believe the completion
of maize-soybean strip intercropping technology will carry more benefits to
Pakistani and Chinese people in the future.
interesting reading: Pakistan Intends
To Export N95 Masks Besides Fulfilling Local Demand
Pakistan’s Crop Yields:
According to Wenyu, Pakistan can increase its yield by using
maize-soybean strip inter-cropping technology, the yield of maize can reach
upto 10,500 kg per hectare with an additional increase in soybean production
from 1,350 to 1,650 kg/ha in Pakistan’s irrigated areas. In rain-fed areas, the
yield of maize and soybean can reach upto 6,000 kg/ha and 4,500 to 1,500 kg/ha
respectively.
Benefits to Agriculture:
These advancements would ideally happen in the 1.3 million acres
of land currently used to plant maize crops only. At present Pakistan is the
sixth most populous country in the world and the highest population rate.
Therefore, limited area of land that can be used for agriculture. This is why
planting two crops in the same field can increase production along with other
benefits. The country’s agricultural areas are also opulent with sunlight which
encourages the growth of soybean crops. This increase in domestic production
would result in a considerable economic advantage for the farmers of Pakistan
Authors:
Binish Ali, Ibrar Hussain, Syed Zeeshan Haider and Fayaz Hussain supervised by Dr. Haroon Zaman Khan Department of Agronomy University of Agriculture Faisalabad
