Nagpur Foodgrain
Prices Open- Aug 05
wed Aug 5, 2015 3:02pm IST
Nagpur, Aug 5 Gram prices suffered heavily in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) here on lack of demand from local millers amid poor quality arrival.
Weak trend in Madhya Pradesh pulses and release of stock from stockists also pulled down prices
prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.
TUAR
* Tuar black reported down in open market on poor demand from local traders amid good
supply from producing regions.
* Moong Chamki recovered strongly in open market here on renewed demand from local
traders amid weak arrival from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar - 7,300-7,500, Tuar dal - 10,400-10,600, Udid at 9,500-9,900,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 11,000-11,400, Moong - 7,000-8,000, Moong Mogar
(clean) 9,700-10,000, Gram - 4,200-4,400, Gram Super best bold - 5,800-6,000
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in thin trading activity because of heavy rains, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 3,600-4,270 3,600-4,340
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 6,700-7,400
Moong Auction n.a. 6,000-6,400
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 5,500-5,700 5,400-5,700
Desi gram Raw 4,650-4,750 4,650-4,750
Gram Filter new 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Kabuli 6,000-7,300 6,000-7,300
Gram Pink 6,700-6,900 6,700-6,900
Tuar Fataka Best 10,800-11,000 10,800-11,000
Tuar Fataka Medium 10,300-10,600 10,300-10,600
Tuar Dal Best Phod 9,900-10,100 9,900-10,100
Tuar Dal Medium phod 9,400-9,700 9,400-9,700
Tuar Gavarani New 7,900-8,000 7,900-8,000
Tuar Karnataka 8,300-8,500 8,300-8,500
Tuar Black 11,000-11,200 11,000-11,300
Masoor dal best 7,900-8,400 7,900-8,400
Masoor dal medium 7,600-8,000 7,600-8,000
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 9,600-10,400 9,600-10,400
Moong Mogar Medium best 8,500-9,000 8,500-9,000
Moong dal Chilka 8,600-9,000 8,600-9,000
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 9,700-10,000 9,600-9,900
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 11,200-11,800 11,200-11,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,600-11,000 10,600-11,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 9,200-9,600 9,200-9,600
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000 4,500-5,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,250-3,400 3,250-3,400
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,350 3,100-3,350
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,200 3,100-3,200
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,900 3,300-3,900
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,550-1,700 1,550-1,700
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,700 3,200-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,550-2,850 2,550-2,850
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG) 2,750-3,000 2,750-3,000
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,300 3,000-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,600-1,700
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,450 2,200-2,450
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,750 3,200-3,750
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,700 4,500-4,800
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,400 5,100-5,500
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 24.0 degree Celsius (75.2 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
21.0 degree Celsius (69.8 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : 78.2 mm
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 25 and 22 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/08/05/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N10G3DM20150805
Published on Wednesday, 05 August 2015 01:33
The report divides the market on the basis of
application, region, and product type. Furthermore, the global Basmati Rice
market in terms of market volume and market value has been evaluated in the
report.
The report on the global Basmati Rice market aims to update the
reader about the market opportunities. In addition to this, the report will
help understand and assess the overall global Basmati Rice market.The market
drivers that will fuel the growth of the global Basmati Rice market during the
forecast period have been listed in the report. The key challenges the global
Basmati Rice market is facing are also available in the report.The report
features recommendations on how to overcome these challenges.Browse Complete
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http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-basmati-rice-industry-2015-market-research-report.htm
Each market segment has been evaluated in detail in the
report.Furthermore, the dominating sectors in the global Basmati Rice market
and the factors driving these sectors are mentioned in the report.Moreover, the
size and share of these sectors is presented in the report.
To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @
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The report divides the global Basmati Rice market into several
regions. The key trends shaping the growth of each regional market are
presented in the report.
The regulations governing these regional markets along with the top
regulators and Acts that are influencing the market dynamics of these regions
are explained in the report.
Lastly, the report offers a detailed competitive landscape analysis
of the global Basmati Rice market. The key companies operating in the global
Basmati Rice market are listed in the research study.
The companies with, their latest developments, product innovations,
mergers and acquisitions, have been analyzed in the report. Additionally, the
factors that the key companies are competing on are discussed in the report.
Global Basmati Rice Market 2015 Size, Share, Trends, Global Price,
Segmentation, Growth, Outlook, Company Profiles, Demand, Insights, Analysis,
Research and Forecast 2015-2020.
Table of Contents
Chapter One Basmati Rice Industry Overview
1.1 Basmati Rice Definition
1.2 Basmati Rice Classification and Application
1.3 Basmati Rice Industry Chain Structure
1.4 Basmati Rice Industry Overview
Chapter Two Basmati Rice International and China Market Analysis
2.1 Basmati Rice Industry International Market Analysis
2.1.1 Basmati Rice International Market Development History
2.1.2 Basmati Rice Product and Technology Developments
2.1.3 Basmati Rice Competitive Landscape Analysis
2.1.4 Basmati Rice International Key Countries Development Status
2.1.5 Basmati Rice International Market Development Trend
2.1.6 Global And China Basmati Rice New Project and Project Plan
2.2 Basmati Rice Industry China Market Analysis
2.2.1 Basmati Rice China Market Development History
2.2.2 Basmati Rice Product and Technology Developments
2.2.3 Basmati Rice Competitive Landscape Analysis
2.2.4 Basmati Rice China Key Regions Development Status
2.2.5 Basmati Rice China Market Development Trend
2.2.6 China Basmati Rice New Project and Project Plan
2.3 Basmati Rice International and China Market Comparison Analysis
Chapter Three Basmati Rice Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants
Analysis
3.1 2015 Global And China Key Manufacturers Basmati Rice Capacity
and Manufacturing Plants Distribution
3.2 2015 Global And China Key Manufacturers Basmati Rice R&D
Status and Technology Source
3.3 2015 Global And China Key Manufacturers Basmati Rice Raw
Materials Sources Analysis
Chapter Four Basmati Rice Production by Regions by Technology by
Applications
4.1 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Production by Regions (such as Russia
Ukraine and China)
4.2 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Production by Applications
4.3 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Price by key Manufacturers
4.4 2009-2015 Russia Basmati Rice Capacity Production Price Cost
Production Value Analysis
4.5 2009-2015 Ukraine Basmati Rice Capacity Production Price Cost
Production Value Analysis
4.6 2009-2015 China Basmati Rice Capacity Production Price Cost
Production Value Analysis
Chapter Five Basmati Rice Manufacturing Process and Cost Structure
5.1 Basmati Rice Product Specifications
5.2 Basmati Rice Manufacturing Process Analysis
5.3 Basmati Rice Cost Structure Analysis
5.4 Basmati Rice Price Cost Gross Analysis
Chapter Six 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Productions Supply Sales Demand
Market Status and Forecast
6.1 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Capacity Production Overview
6.2 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Production Market Share Analysis
6.3 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Demand Overview
6.4 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Supply Demand and Shortage
6.5 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Import Export Consumption
6.6 2009-2015 Basmati Rice Cost Price Production Value Gross Margin
http://www.whatech.com/market-research/food-beverage/80804-global-basmati-rice-market-2015-industry-analysis-research-growth-trends-share-and-forecast-published-by-leading-research-firm
Scientists in Bangladesh develop new zinc-rich rice
12:00
AM, August 05, 2015 / LAST MODIFIED: 02:59 AM, August 05, 2015
Reaz
Ahmad
This
second variety more productive, to be cultivated next year
Bangladesh
Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed a second breed of zinc-rich rice
which grows faster, gives better yield and is of better nutritional values than
its predecessor.Named BRRI dhan72, the second hi-zinc Aman variety was
developed two years into the release of the world's first biologically
fortified (biofortified) high-yielding variety zinc rice -- BRRI dhan62 -- in
August 2013.
The
National Seed Board released the new rice breed on July 12 and the seeds will
be made available to farmers for cultivation in the Aman season (June-November)
next year.BRRI dhan72 has a yield of 5.7 tonnes per hectare against 4.5 tonnes
of BRRI dhan62. The latest breed is also nutritionally richer with 22.8
milligram zinc content a kilogramme, over 3mg higher than what BRRI dhan62
contains.Biofortification is the process of breeding crops to increase their
nutritional values. This can be done either through conventional selective
breeding or through genetic engineering.
And
it's the first method through which BRRI dhan72 has been developed.Zinc is one
of the three most vital micronutrients, deficiency of which adversely affects
children's natural growth and immune system. Proper zinc supplementation can
reduce the severity of morbidity from a number of common childhood diseases
including diarrhoea and pneumonia.Though fruits, vegetables and animal products
are rich in micronutrients, these are often not available for the poor in
Bangladesh as well as in many other Asian countries where the poor's daily diet
consists mostly of relatively much inexpensive low-zinc staple -- rice.
According
to the World Health Organisation, nearly half a million children die each year
globally due to zinc deficiency. Seventeen percent of the global population is
at risk of inadequate zinc intake. The regional estimated prevalence of
inadequate zinc intake ranges from 7.5 percent in high-income regions to 30 percent
in South Asia.Among the three rice seasons -- Aus, Aman and Boro -- in
Bangladesh, Aman contributes a big part of the country's total paddy output.It
requires less irrigation and inputs to grow rice during the rain-fed Aman
season than what it takes during the dry Boro season.
Of all the varieties developed by
the BRRI, BR11 (Mukta) has so far been the most popular among Aman rice growers
since the breed's release in 1980."With the release of BRRI dhan72, we
hopefully will be able to replace BR11 gradually in many parts of the
country," BRRI Director General Jiban K Biswas told The Daily Star.While
BR11 grows in 145 days, it takes 125 days to harvest BRRI dhan72 from the day
of sowing the seeds, he said.Partha S Biswas, the lead breeder of the second zinc-rice
variety, said, "We need different varieties of Aman rice for different
cropping patterns in different agro-ecological systems. This variety is
developed for the areas where Robi crops [mainly wheat and winter vegetables]
are cultivated besides Boro and Aman crops."
Md
Khairul Bashar, country manager of HarvestPlus that funded the research, said,
"This variety is developed for those farmers who want better yield of rice
with higher zinc content."After seed multiplication, HarvestPlus will
start dissemination of this zinc-rich rice variety in 2016 Aman season,"
he added.HarvestPlus is a non-profit global biofortification mission launched
in 2004 by the Washington-based global agro-science coordinating body --
Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
It
is the first recipient of grants from the biofortification research fund of the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.Jointly coordinated by the International
Center for Tropical Agriculture and the International Food Policy Research
Institute, the HarvestPlus programme provides assistance to both Bangladesh and
India for pursuing advanced research for developing zinc-rice breeds.
http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/new-zinc-rice-arrives-121960
Excessive
Use Of Rice May Causes Cancer
LONDON – Many nations around the world are fond of eating rice,
but research reveals that it’s excessive use may cause cancer.
In rice amount of the highly poisonous metal arsenic could be
much higher than normal.
http://www.pakistantribe.com/story/42802/excessive-use-of-rice-may-causes-cancer/
The
chemical gets into the rice as a result of industrial contaminants and
pesticides that were used in the past and can remain in the flooded paddy
fields where the rice is grown for decades.British researchers have found the
contaminant in rice and rice products sold in this country at levels that could
pose a health risk to children.The Queens University of Belfast revealed in its
research that, “a poisonous metal arsenic is found much more than normal in
rice”.By eating the rice frequently having arsenic increases the risk of
cardiology, diabetes, central nervous system, including the weakness of lungs
and cancer of urinary bladder.
British
expert Andy myharg says that, rice contains the amount of arsenic 10 time more
than other foods. Because the only rice is the crop which is cultivated in the
fields having excessive water. Its mean, rice crop absorbs the inorganic
arsenic from the ground.Experts say that we can decreased the amount of arsenic
in rice if we change the traditional method of cooking the rice. We cannot
remove the arsenic by boiling the rice in an open pan.We can decrease the
amount of arsenic in rice by boiling the rice in a covered pan or in coffee
filtration machine.
Basmati has long reputation for pleasing foodie palates
By Ruth Taber / Special to the times
POSTED: 08/05/2015 12:00:00 AM MDT
International relationship issues, a Texas company owned by a
European prince, the U.S. patent office gives a patent and then retracts it,
and, for extras, product adulteration and fears about arsenic! This is not the
script for a long-running TV series — just ongoing chapters in the delicious
basmati rice story.A few grains of rice facts are helpful in understanding
basmati:
Short-grain rice has a short, plump, almost round kernel; the
grain is almost as wide as it is long. It has more starch than medium grains
and cooks up moist and very sticky. This is the rice enjoyed in
sushi.Medium-grain rice has a shorter, wider kernel — the grain is less than
two times as long as it is wide. This cooks up moist but is not as sticky as
short-grain. Much of the Italian-grown rice is medium-grain; most popular
medium grains are arborio and carnaroli enjoyed in risotto dishes.Long-grain
rice kernels are slender and three to four times as long as they are wide. The
cooked grains are drier and fluff up nicely; most popular choice in this
category is the aromatic basmati rice.
For centuries, basmati rice has been cultivated in the foothills
of the Himalayas in northern India and Pakistan; emperors favored it and poets
have sung its praises. The name is said to be derived from the Sanskrit word
vasmati, meaning fragrant — or the Hindi language where bas means
"aroma" and mati means "full of." Other translations refer
to basmati as the "queen of fragrance" or the "perfumed
one." The unique aroma is from 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) a chemical
compound found in the rice.
Grilled salmon with baby squash and basmati rice.
(Photos by Ruth Taber — Special to the Times)
Basmati has much more of this 2-AP than other rice
types. (When I cook basmati rice, my kitchen gives off an intense nutty,
buttery popcorn-like aroma — a prelude to the soon-to-be served fabulous
dinner!) Another big plus for basmati: Its low glycemic index (slow-releasing
carbs) compared with other types of rice makes it a better choice for people
with diabetes.This flavor-filled rice moved beyond Indian/Pakistani culinary
specialties to Persian (Iranian), Arabic and other Middle Eastern cuisines
centuries ago and was accorded star billing on their menus. Vir Sanghvi, a food
writer for an Indian newspaper, wrote a column in praise of basmati last year
saying that this rice has often been taken for granted in India.
He wrote about
attending lavish banquets in Iran in the 1960s where, after caviar "and a
variety of meat dishes were served, a special delicacy would be a bowl of
steamed (but still dry) basmati rice that was so aromatic that the smell
entered your clothes. The Iranians would add a dollop of butter and serve it on
its own without any gravy."Get the picture? Basmati rice is special — so
it was not too surprising when a Texas rice company, RiceTec, attempted to
patent their version of basmati rice in 1997. RiceTec is active in
technology-based breeding techniques and production of hybrid rice seed
products along with marketing specialty rice for consumer markets.
The company, owned by the Prince Hans-Adam of
Liechtenstein Foundation, faced international outrage over allegations of
"biopiracy" when the U.S. granted them a patent.Demonstrations in
India and other parts of the world claimed that RiceTec was stealing a nation's
indigenous products. India protested RiceTec's claim to the term basmati and
insisted that the name should be reserved for rice grown in a specific region
in India. (Like limiting Parma ham to Parma, Champagne to France or Scotch
whiskey to Scotland.)
India urged the United States Patent and Trade Office to
re-examine certain RiceTec claims; after review decisions were issued in 2001,
RiceTec lost (or withdrew) most of their original patent claims — especially
the right to call their rice lines "basmati." They were granted a
limited "varietal patent" dealing with three strains of the rice bred
by the company.Compared with other rice types, basmati is a low-yielding crop;
increased demand by foodies all over the world has led to higher prices. This,
in turn, has led to some vendors offering adulterated products. DNA testing is
one of the methods used to authenticate the real stuff. (In 2003, a study in
the U.K. found that almost half of basmati-labeled rice packages on market
shelves contained non-basmati rice mixed in.)
These rice cakes were made with leftover cooked
basmati rice — mix rice with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, chopped onions and
beaten eggs and bake in a silicone mold.
How do you know you're getting pure basmati when you purchase a
bag of rice? Buying a trusted brand should help. At this summer's Fancy Food
Show in New York City, I chatted with a representative of Amira Nature Foods, a
leading global provider of packaged Indian specialty rice. Amira buys its
basmati from thousands of small farmers in India's Himalayan foothill areas.
The rice is aged for at least a year after harvest to enhance its aromatic
flavor. (The older the rice, the lower its moisture content; it cooks up better
and the flavor is even more enhanced.) On each package, Amira emphasizes its
commitment to offer high quality, pure products. Authentic basmati rice
packages — no matter what brand — usually state their source as India or
Pakistan. (Amira's natural basmati rice can be purchased at amazon.com or some
western Costco stores — not El Paso.)
The arsenic part of the rice story made headlines a few years
ago. Consumer Reports released a report in 2012 that found "measurable
levels (of arsenic) in almost all of the 60 rice varieties and rice
products" they tested. The good news: Basmati rice from India and Pakistan
had the lowest levels of arsenic. The greatest concentration of arsenic was
found in rice grown on land formerly used for growing cotton in Arkansas,
Louisiana, Missouri and Texas. (Rice isn't the only food affected by arsenic.
In previous reports, high levels of arsenic were found in apple and grape
juices and a 2009-2010 EPA study noted the arsenic contamination in fresh
veggies.)
The Food and Drug Administration has been monitoring arsenic
levels in food for decades, most recently reporting "arsenic levels in
rice do not present an immediate or short-term health risk." The agency
and other scientists are studying the problem with an emphasis on long-term
exposure. Consumers can minimize risks from all types of contaminants by eating
a varied, well balanced diet.
Basmati has a long shelf life. Because of its low moisture, the
rice won't lose its quality for three or more years. Store in a tightly closed
container; a dry, dark, cool place is best.Cooking basmati is easy. Here's a
good rule of thumb for portion estimates: As a side, one-quarter cup uncooked
rice per person; for a main/entrée course, one-half cup uncooked rice per
person.
Enjoy my "Keep it Simple" Basmati Rice:
Using two parts liquid to one part basmati, rinse the rice
before cooking — 4 or 5 times — until the water is clear. Rinsing washes off
excess starch — yielding fluffier rice — and possibly any dust collected while
rice was aging.Place rice and liquid in pot, bring to a boil, cover, lower heat
and simmer for 15 minutes. As the water level drops, trapped steam in the pot
finishes the cooking. Important — don't peek before cooking time is up! Lifting
the lid will cut down on the moisture/steam in the pot. When the fifteen
minutes are up, check to see if water has been absorbed. If necessary, cover
and cook a few minutes more. Remove from cooktop, let the pot stand for about
five minutes. Fluff up the delicious basmati and serve.
I often add a chicken bouillon cube (you could use chicken or
veggie broth for the liquid) and some olive oil to prevent rice from sticking
to the bottom of the pot. In some parts of the world, crusty rice (slightly
burnt) stuck to the bottom is considered a delicacy! If you cooked more rice
than you needed — just think of the great fried rice and veggie dish or rice
cakes you can make the next day!
Other cooking options: After rinsing the rice, sauté (toast)
grains in olive oil, chopped onion, garlic or other spices in fry pan for two to
three minutes. Then continue with original recipe — two parts liquid to one
part rice. Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano on cooked rice and/or add fresh herbs
for more compliments on your cooking!
Ruth Taber is a member of the International Association of
Culinary Professionals. She may be reached at taber.ruth@gmail.com
http://www.elpasotimes.com/living/ci_28584987/basmati
EU-Vietnam deal paves way for major trade boost
Hanoi: Western exporters and
investors are impressed by Vietnam's economic growth
The EU and Vietnam have reached a free trade agreement - the
second such EU deal with a South-East Asian nation.
The deal will remove nearly all
tariffs on goods traded between the EU and Vietnam. Their annual trade is worth
about €28bn (£20bn; $30bn).Communist-run Vietnam exported €22bn of goods to the
EU in 2014, including consumer electronics and textiles.The deal is expected to
take effect in late 2017 or early 2018. The EU has a similar free trade deal
with Singapore.The European Commission says Vietnam's major exports to the EU include telephones, electronic
goods, footwear, clothing, coffee, rice, seafood and furniture.EU exports to
Vietnam are dominated by electrical machinery, aircraft, vehicles and
pharmaceuticals.Vietnam agreed to liberalise 65% of import duties on EU exports
from the day the deal takes effect, and gradually eliminate the rest over a
10-year period.
Textile worker in Hanoi: The EU
is applying strict country of origin rules for imported garments
Market transition period
EU duties will be eliminated over a seven-year period. Some EU
foods and beverages will only enter the Vietnamese market tariff-free after
seven years.The transition period to allow Vietnam to adapt to market
liberalisation "breaks new ground compared to other EU agreements with
developing countries", the Commission said.EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said the deal also contained clauses to protect workers' rights and
ensure sustainable management of natural resources.
The deal includes strict rules of
origin for garments, requiring the use of fabrics made in Vietnam, to prevent
the deal becoming a back door for Chinese products to flood the EU
market."Over 31 million jobs in Europe depend on exports, so having easier
access to a growing and fast developing market like Vietnam, with its 90
million consumers, is great news," Ms Malmstroem said."And Vietnam's
exporters will now get much easier access to the EU for their products, giving
an important boost to the Vietnamese economy."Elsewhere in Asia, the EU
has a free trade deal with South Korea and is negotiating similar deals with
Japan and Malaysia.Vietnam is the second country after Singapore in the
Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) to reach such a deal with the
EU.
Recent drought to trim
Thai rice planting areas to lowest in 30 years
Recent drought to trim rice
planting areas to lowest in 30 years
BANGKOK: — The decade-worst
drought hitting Thai farmers recently is expected to trim Thailand’s rice
production and reduce farm areas for the next rice cultivation.
The Seventh Regional Office of Agricultural Economics in Chainat
province reported that recent drought has affecting large tracts of the main
rice producing areas in nine provinces of central Thailand. In 2015, rice acreage was
reportedly decreased 6% from last year to about 3.8 million rai.Average yield
per acre is about 1,300 kilograms (637 kilogram per rai), down 2% percent
year-on-year as drought has taken its toll on water level in the four major
irrigation dams leaving them to have less than 10 percent of water left for
agriculture.The 2014/2015 rice outputs may be reduced due to smaller
agricultural areas projected at 3.38 million rai, down 11%, the lowest in 30
years.
Drought affected rice field would cut rice output down by 20%
compared to the last harvest season.Meanwhile the Department of Foreign Trade
is set to open the 5th bidding for its rice stockpile.Up to 668,000 tons of
rice, under the rice pledging scheme of the previous government, will be put up
for auction.The bidders are required to submit tenders on August 10.Name of
qualified bidders will be announced on August 11.
Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/recent-drought-to-trim-rice-planting-areas-to-lowest-in-30-years
Published: August 5, 2015
The monsoon rains would boost
production of sugarcane, rice and maize crops which require more moisture
content for enhancing productivity. PHOTO: APP
FAISALABAD: Agriculture
output in central parts of Punjab is expected to increase this year, as recent
monsoon rains are likely to enhance production of three major crops. This would
also keep prices of sugarcane and rice constant due to better supplies.
The monsoon
rains would boost production of sugarcane, rice and maize crops which require
more moisture content for enhancing productivity, according to agriculture
experts. They say this will also reduce expenditures on diesel and electricity
required for running tube wells to irrigate the crops.
The timely
monsoon rains has facilitated the growers to plant their field in time, said
Asif Ali, an agriculture expert, while talking to The Express Tribune.He added that cotton crop was under severe
stress due to pest attack, especially white fly and cotton leaf curl virus,
which increased the threat to crop growth.Out of four major crops of Pakistan,
three crops, sugarcane, rice and cotton, are sown in Kharif season. Sugarcane
and rice need access to water at the time of sowing and timely monsoon rains
fulfilled this requirement.
It has also
decreased the cost of production because the growers largely rely on tube wells
to irrigate their crops, said Hameed Chaudhry, Executive District Officer of
Punjab Agriculture Department.On the other hand, the third major crop, cotton,
may be affected by the monsoon rains, as this may become a reason for spread of
virus diseases for the cotton plants.
Published in The Express
Tribune, August 5th, 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/932331/harvest-monsoon-rains-to-help-crop-production/
Thailand Expects
Strong Interest For Rice Auction
BANGKOK, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- The Thai government is
confident of attracting strong interest from rice traders to its fifth rice
auction for this year involving 668,228 tonnes.Bangjongjit Angsusingh, Deputy
Director-General, Foreign Trade Department, said demand was strong now for
white and jasmine rice during the harvest season.The department stated that the
average export price for Thai white rice was US$363 per tonne while jasmine
rice retailed for US$860 a tonne.Bangjongjit said rainfall had eased the
drought problem in paddy planting areas and that could reduce prices
slightly."Prices will not drop significantly as there is high demand and
neighbouring countries are also facing floods," she added.The government
now has about 15.11 million tonnes of rice in its stockpile.—BERNAMA
http://bernama.com/bernama/v8/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=1158771
Asia Rice-Thai prices
ease amid stock selloff push, Vietnam steady
Wed Aug 5, 2015 2:36pm IST
Thai 5 pct broken rice down at $380-$385/T
* Thai traders selling at break-even prices
* Vietnamese prices steady but sales slim
* Quality of Vietnam's grain seen low
By My Pham
HANOI, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Thai rice prices eased this week as
sellers struggling to break even tried to shift stockpiles left over from the
previous government's troubled rice pledging scheme, while Vietnamese prices
stood unchanged amid thin buying demand.Benchmark 5 percent broken rice of
Thailand RI-THBKN5-P1, the second-biggest exporter of the grain after India,
edged down to $380-$385 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $380-$390 a
week ago.
The intervention scheme, which paid farmers well above market
rates for their produce, has incurred significant losses and large debts for a
country already caught in an economic mire. Thailand currently holds 14.5
million tonnes of unsold inventory and has reduced prices."This has been
the worst situation we have seen recently," a Thai trader said, stating
that exporters have received no orders in three weeks.
Exporters are willing to sell rice at break-even cost to keep rice
trading activity going rather than keep stocks in warehouses, said an exporter
in Thailand.In Vietnam, the world's third-biggest rice exporter, demand for
rice was thin due to prices and grain quality that were uncompetitive compared
with those of Thailand and India.Vietnam's 5-percent broken summer-autumn rice
prices remained flat at $340-$345 a tonne, FOB basis, while the 25 percent
broken rice prices widened to $322-$340 a tonne from $322.5-$332.5 last month
RI-VNBKN25-P1.
"Many people called to check on prices but no orders were
placed," said a trader in Ho Chi Minh City, adding buyers may be waiting
for Vietnamese prices to drop further before making purchases.Vietnam is
estimated to have exported 3.7 million tonnes of rice in the first seven months
of 2015, down 3.5 percent from a year earlier, government data showed.
(Additional reporting by Pairat Temphairojana in Bangkok; Editing by Biju
Dwarakanath)
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/08/05/asia-rice-idINL3N10G21N20150805
Rice exports suspended as 500,000 acres flood
By Su Phyo Win,Htin Linn Aung
| Wednesday, 05 August 2015
The Myanmar Rice Federation has agreed with traders to suspend
rice exports until September as more than 500,000 acres of paddy fields are
flooded nationwide, leading to a sharp rise in prices over the past few days.
The Myanmar Rice
Federation says over 500,000 acres of paddy fields are underwater, leading to a
temporary halt on rice exports. Photo: Kaung Htet / The Myanmar Times
To help contain the problem, rice exports will be suspended until
September 15, U Nay Lin Zin, associate secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation
(MRF) told The Myanmar Times.As floods have spread throughout the country,
around 100,000 acres of paddy have been destroyed and over 500,000 acres of rice
fields are underwater, according to August 2 statistics from the MRF.
Rehabilitation efforts are critical and urgent, added U Nay Lin Zin on August
3.
Following heavy monsoon rains, the
death toll from flooding reached 46 on August 3 with more than 217,000 people
affected, according to state media. President U Thein Sein has declared natural
disaster zones in four areas – Chin and Rakhine states and Sagaing and Magway
regions.Since the flooding began, the price of a bag of high-quality rice has
roughly doubled, from between K40,000 and K50,000 to as high as K100,000.
Prices are likely to stabilise if exports are temporarily stopped, said U Soe
Tun, vice chair of the MRF on his social network page.Myanmar’s average yield
from two paddy-growing seasons – the monsoon paddy and the summer paddy – is
normally over 12 million tonnes, according to the MRF. Over 2 million tonnes
are for export while more than 10 million are consumed locally. If this year’s
yield is lower than 10 million, it will be inadequate to supply local
consumers, said rice traders.Rice exporter U Wei Lin said that if exports are
suspended until mid-September, traders will be able to redirect up to 25,000
tonnes of rice to the local market. “Over this period, if the weather is fine
we can expect average exports of between 5000 and 20,000 tonnes of rice – equal
to 500,000 bags of 50kg rice,” he said.This stock will have been harvested
during the previous crop. Some of the rice in storage may be waterlogged, but
is unlikely to have been destroyed, he said. To help alleviate the problem, the
MRF plans to offer paddy seed to farmers as well as financial support,
according to U Nay Lin Zin.
“We estimate it will cost around K20 billion to supply the paddy
seed and agricultural aid. To address the problem of rising rice prices, we
plan to suspend both cross-border and overseas exports,” he said.A major
concern is that water in Ayeyarwady Region continues to rise to a dangerous
level, he said. This area, in the southwest of the country, is where much of
Myanmar’s rice is produced. Until it becomes clear how much further the water
will rise, it is hard to tell how much damage will be caused and the likely
cost of rehabilitation efforts, he said.The best time for growing the monsoon
paddy in most regions is traditionally before the end of August, so farmers
urgently need to cultivate their crop, said U Myo Myint, a member of the
farmers union in Sagaing Region. As flooding continues, the time for replanting
is running out.
With the exception of Tanintharyi Region, all of Myanmar’s regions
and states have suffered as a result of flash floods.In total, more than
970,000 acres of farmland and plantations have been flooded, according to an
announcement by the Department of Agricultural Planning and Statistics. Of
these, around 200,000 acres have been damaged and over 46,000 acres have been
destroyed.
“People from various sectors have forecast that economic losses
from the flooding are likely to be worse than from Cyclone Nargis,” said U Nay
Lin Zin. “If the cost includes not only replanting but also community
rehabilitation, it could reach around K100 billion. But we can’t yet measure
how badly the rice sector will be hurt.”Nothing can be done until water levels
fall, U Ye Min Aung, general secretary of the MRF, told The Myanmar Times. “We
will view the damage after the water subsides and will rebuild after that,” he
said.
Translation by
Kyawt Darly Lin and Emoon
Pacific super typhoon
helps monsoon to rev up over central India
Vinson Kurian
Thiruvananthapuram, August 4:
As
expected, the monsoon has flared up another time over central India after a
well-marked low-pressure area (remnant of cyclone ‘Komen’) ramped up back to
being a depression over Madhya Pradesh. This happened with the initiation of
super typhoon Soudelor in the west Pacific which has caused the monsoon flows
to strengthen across the Arabian Sea. The super typhoon is expected to barrel
into the east China coast by Thursday/Friday and weaken.
Super
typhoon
Even before this, brakes would have been applied to Soudelor as it grazes the
northern tip of the Philippines.
This
would bring about a corresponding wind-down in intensity of the depression over
Madhya Pradesh. India Met Department sees it travelling to the west to west
Madhya Pradesh/Gujarat and petering out. Though early forecasts suggested this
phase could signal a lull in the monsoon, the European Centre for Medium-Range
Forecasts disagrees. It sees scope for yet another ‘low’ in the Bay of Bengal.
Here again, it will be another Pacific that typhoon that will initiate the
activity off the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts by the same day as the prevailing
system signs out of west Madhya Pradesh/Gujarat.
Fresh
bay ‘low’
This time, the typhoon would be located farther out to the west/central Pacific
and is forecast to wheel into the south-east Japanese coast. The US Joint
Typhoon Warning Centre too agrees with the prognosis. The ‘low’ in the Bay of
Bengal would have picked up required momentum to stand on its own and prosper
even after the typhoon blasts its way into the Japanese coast.
A US
Climate Prediction Centre outlook suggested that the ‘low’ would sustain the
rainfall over east and central India, east and southeast Rajasthan, and
northern Gujarat until August 15.
The west
coast and eastern parts of the peninsula, including coastal Andhra Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu, too are projected to slip under a wet spell during August 10-16,
the forecast said.
(This article was published on August 4, 2015)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/pacific-super-typhoon-helps-monsoon-to-rev-up-over-central-india/article7499633.ece
National Rice Month Promotional
Items Now Available
ARLINGTON,
VA -- With National Rice Month (NRM) quickly approaching, USA Rice has stocked
up on an assortment of exclusive promotional items. Items can be purchased
online or by filling out an order form and sending it to USA Rice. This year is the 25th anniversary of
National Rice Month, and USA Rice will debut several new specialty items to
commemorate the occasion.Items available for purchase include: t-shirts,
sunglasses holders, koozies, aprons, colored pencils, measuring cups, shopping
totes, and more. All of the NRM items will feature either the 25th National
Rice Month Anniversary logo or the Think Rice logo, which was recently unveiled
as the new face of USA Rice consumer marketing initiatives.
"These promotional items serve as a great platform to promote
U.S.-grown rice during National Rice Month," said Katie Maher, USA Rice's
manager of domestic promotion. "This branded merchandise generates public
awareness for the rice industry and keeps rice on people's minds, and
hopefully, on their plates.With strong support from rice producers and millers,
NRM has grown into an established national promotion educating consumers about
the benefits of U.S.-grown rice and boosting U.S. rice sales nationwide.
Contact: Colleen Klemczewski (703) 236-1446
Fisher
Family Visits USA Rice
Visit to USA Rice
From left to right: Pamela, Cannon, Campbell, and Kevin Fisher of
Wynne, AR, visited USA Rice headquarters today.
The Fishers farm 1,900 acres, including 500 acres of rice, in St.
Francis County, AR.
CCC Announces Prevailing World
Market Prices
|
WASHINGTON, DC --The
Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporationtoday announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled
and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the
resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates
applicable to the 2015 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Today's announced world prices
reflect changes in world prices, 2015-crop loan rates and milling yields, and
updated values for domestic byproduct prices, costs of milling, bagging, and
exporting milled rice.
|
|
World Price
|
MLG/LDP Rate
|
|
|
Milled Value ($/cwt)
|
Rough ($/cwt)
|
Rough ($/cwt)
|
|
Long Grain
|
14.92
|
9.42
|
0.00
|
|
Medium/Short Grain
|
14.43
|
9.68
|
0.00
|
|
Brokens
|
9.00
|
----
|
----
|
This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the
following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:
|
|
U.S. Milling Yields
Whole/Broken
(lbs/cwt)
|
Loan Rate
($/cwt)
|
|
Long Grain
|
55.01/13.46
|
6.50
|
|
Medium/Short Grain
|
61.81/8.43
|
6.50
|
The next program announcement is scheduled for August 12, 2015.
|
2015 Rice Expo set for Friday in Stuttgart
The 2015 Arkansas
Rice Expo will open the doors at 8 a.m. at the Grand Prairie Center, located at
2709 Highway 165 in Stuttgart. The keynote speaker for the event will be
Hutchinson, who says he has attended the event the last two years.
By Dawn Teer
dteer@stuttgartdailyleader.com
Posted Aug. 5, 2015 at 5:06 PM
STUTTGART —
Gov. Asa Hutchinson will be in Stuttgart to address
the audience of the 2015 Rice Expo on Friday.The 2015 Arkansas Rice Expo will
open the doors at 8 a.m. at the Grand Prairie Center, located at 2709 Highway
165 in Stuttgart. The keynote speaker for the event will be Hutchinson,
who says he has attended the event the last two years.According to the University
of Arkansas Cooperative Extension website, “There is no cost to attend and the
event ends with a catfish lunch. Field tours of research plots, food
demonstrations and family fun are all part of the expo, a salute by the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture to rice production in
Arkansas.”
“Arkansas is America’s No. 1 rice state, growing more
than half of the rice produced in the United States,” said Mark Cochran, head
of the UA System’s Division of Agriculture. “The Rice Expo is our opportunity
to celebrate the successes of the farmers who make agriculture the state’s
largest industry and share some of the exciting developments from our research
and extension programs.“We also see the rice expo as our open house — an
invitation for the community to meet our researchers and extension educators
and see their work first-hand,” he said. “We are very pleased that Gov.
Hutchinson will be our keynote speaker this year.”
Rice industry issues
This year’s event features breakout sessions that focus
on issues looming large in the rice industry, including the implications of
rice trade with Cuba, marketing rice and managing barnyardgrass.Expo-goers will
get an up close and personal look at the work being done for the rice industry
by division researchers, who will be leading field tours.Event attendees with
problems in the garden or landscape can take advantage of the plant disease
clinic by bringing samples for diagnosis.
There will also be a feral hog exhibit, food
preservation clinic, equipment display and an update on crop application
technologies.Staff from the Arkansas 4-H Youth Development program will be
there with activities for youngsters. Expo directors remind individuals to not
miss the cooking demonstrations and tastings, and see the finalists in the rice
recipe contest and the creativity on display in the rice tabletop centerpiece
competition.
Schedule of events
• 8 a.m. Registration/Exhibits Open Grand Hallway;
Rice Centerpiece Contest Begins; Outdoor Tent Rice Recipe Contestants Check-In
Salon B
• 8:15 a.m. Field Tours Begin
• 8:30 a.m. Food Preservation Demonstrations; Outdoor
Tent; Rice Recipe Contest Judging Salon B
• 9 a.m. Horticulture Seminars Begin Salon A, Stage 2
Rice Centerpiece Contest Judging Salon A
• 9:30 a.m. Rice Cooking Demonstrations Salon A,
Stage 1 Irrigation Demonstration outdoors
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20150805/NEWS/150809851
How rice farmers stand
ready to lead the fight against climate change
Matthew Baird is a program coordinator for The Climate Trust, which
is based in Portland.Working at a climate change-related organization, it is
rare to attend a social event where the topic of climate change is not raised.A
description of my work is often met with mixed reactions, but occasionally I am
rewarded with a stimulating exchange of ideas. During these discussions, I’m
frequently asked my opinion about solutions for halting climate change.I wish I
had a silver bullet to share, but humanity isn’t altering the earth’s climate
through any single action—thus there is no single action to stop it. The
solution will take a concerted effort from a multitude of approaches, including
embracing carbon markets and growing the number of carbon offset project
protocols in the market.
FEATURED JOBS
PORTLAND,
OR Benefit Consultant
BCI
Group
The approval of the California Rice
Cultivation Carbon Offset Protocol on June 25 is another powerful tool in the
toolbox for fighting climate change. Most people don’t associate agriculture
with climate change, much less rice cultivation, but the Environmental Protection
Agency estimates that agriculture contributed 9 percent to total U.S.
greenhouse gas emissions in 2013. herefore, there are great opportunities to
reduce global warming through agricultural practice changes.Environmental
Defense Fund’s Robert Parkhurst penned a guest post on the Climate Trust's blog
last year, describing how the rice protocol could be the first land-based
agricultural protocol approved by California’s Air Resource Board, setting a
precedent for future agriculture protocols.
The
importance of this precedent increases as California’s cap and trade carbon
market expanded to include Quebec in 2014, with pending expansions from Ontario
and Mexico soon to follow. As more buyers enter the market, the demand for
offsets will increase, making the rice protocol a critical stepping stone to
unlocking additional agricultural offsets.Standard rice cultivation practices
produce methane — a potent greenhouse gas — from anaerobic decomposition caused
by the flooding of fields containing organic matter. The organic matter
originates from soil amendments, plant residues and root discharges.
Using
this information as a baseline, the new rice cultivation protocol details three
ways a farmer may generate carbon offsets: dry seeding, early drainage and
alternate wet and dry activities.Rice growers in California and the Mississippi
River Valley may implement one or more of these practices on their land. The
difference between the methane emissions from standard rice cultivation, and
the methane emissions after the practice changes to rice cultivation under the
protocol, is what generates the carbon offsets.These offsets may then be sold
to businesses under California’s cap and trade system that must reduce their
emissions; generating additional revenue for the farmer.
The
additional practices will require more active management and carry added risks,
but the carbon revenues, water savings and other benefits can increase the
bottom line for farmers.California’s Air Resources Board worked with multiple
stakeholders to add flexibility to the protocol and provide various
co-benefits.For example, farmers may halt practices in the protocol during
drought periods. The practice changes will improve wildlife habitat habitat for
many bird species, as well as habitat for the threatened, giant garter snake in
California. Farms operating under these practice changes have also been shown
to be more resilient to severe weather.Now that the rice protocol has been
approved to generate carbon offsets, it is up to farmers, project developers,
offset buyers, verifiers and other stakeholders to utilize this new tool. As
with all new tools, we must first use it in order to discover its true value,
and inevitably find ways to make it better.
The
approval of the rice protocol is a great starting point for bringing additional
agriculture practices to the carbon market, and an exciting step in the right
direction for addressing climate change. However, there is still much to be
done. As Robert Parkhurst put it last year, “Let’s get to work.”Matthew Baird
is a program coordinator for The Climate Trust, which is based in Portland.
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/08/how-rice-farmers-stand-readyto-lead-the-fight.html?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+August+5%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email
Golden rice paper
retracted over ethical concerns, not quality of science
Golden rice. Photo by International Rice Research Institute under
a CC license
The GLP aggregated and
excerpted this blog/article from the Retraction Watch website:
“No questions were raised about the integrity of the study data, accuracy
of the research results or safety of the research subjects. The decision
to retract a paper is ultimately a matter between the journal and the authors,
and we must respect an academic journal’s editorial process and decisions…
There was no evidence found of falsification or fabrication of the
data that underlie the study’s primary findings. Those reviews did,
however, determine that the research had not been conducted in full compliance
with Tufts research policies and federal research regulations.'”
http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/08/05/golden-rice-paper-retracted-over-ethical-concerns-not-quality-of-science/
Wild Beauty: Winning
Ecology Photos Feature Sunbirds and Zebras
Elizabeth Palermo
August 5, 2015
Waterlilies offer an interesting contrast to Baobab trees in
Madagascar.
The winning
photos from a recent ecology photo contest prove that Mother Nature is always
ready for her close-up.In one photo, a small bird sucks nectar from an exotic flower. In another, a zebra munches vividly
colored grass. And yet another photo captures a tiny beetle displaying its impressively
shaped antennae. These are just a few of the snapshots taken by ecologists all
over the world and submitted to this year's BioMed Central (BMC) Ecology Image
Competition.The winners of the annual contest were recently announced online.
Only researchers affiliated with a university or other research institution
were eligible to submit photos, and the portraits had to fit into one of five
categories related to ecology, or the study of how living things interact with
one another and their environments.
This year,
the journal BMC Ecology invited a guest judge to select an overall winner for
the contest. Ana Porzecanski, director of the Center for Biodiversity and
Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, helped
decide which photo would nab a cash prize of $400 and land a spot on the BMC
Ecology website, as well as its print publications.
The journal's
editors chose the contest winners in each of the five ecology-related entry
categories, which were: behavioral and physiological ecology; conservation
ecology and biodiversity research; community, population and macroecology;
landscape ecology and ecosystems; and theoretical ecology and models.The award
for best overall photo went to Mohamed Shebi, an ecologist in the Department of
Plant Protection at Suez Canal University in Egypt. His photo of a Palestinian
sunbird sucking nectar from a thistle plant impressed Porzecanski, who told BMC the image was "truly gorgeous" and
that it represented a part of the world (Saudi Arabia) that is
"underappreciated in terms of its biodiversity."It was hard for the judges to pick
just one runner-up for the overall best-picture category — so they picked two.
One of the
winning photos was taken at a garbage heap in Guwahati, India, the last refuge
for greater adjutant storks, the world's most endangered stork species. The
photo, taken by Dhritiman Das of the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and
the Environment in India, depicts humans and
storks foraging for resources right alongside one
another, amidst heaping piles of debris.The other runner-up was a photo taken
at Cipó National Park in southeast Brazil. The photograph shows a small
carpenter ant sucking nutrient-rich nectar from a Coccoloba cereifera, a rare shrub that is a favorite food of
leaf-loving animals.
The ant's
presence on the leaves of this shrub keeps hungry herbivores at bay,
demonstrating a unique, symbiotic relationship between insect and plant, said
the photographer, Daniel Wisbech Carstensen, a researcher in the Department of
Botany at I-UNSESP in Brazil.BMC's competition yielded many other stunning
images, as well. A beautiful beetle with magnificently arching antenna took
first prize in the behavioral and physiological ecology category. The insect's
impressive headgearhelps it
sniff out a mate, according to the man who took the photo, Bernardo Segura from
the Universidad de Chile.Other winning images included a tray full of different
varieties of rice. Pritesh S. Roy from the Central Rice Research Institute, in
India, took the photo to draw attention to the fact that many traditional
varieties of rice are being lost because of a lack of research attention.
The novel
traits and genes that some rice
varieties possess could help ecologists develop better
crop-improvement programs, Roy told BMC.Two adorable baboons also made the cut
in the "Editor's pick" category. The photo, taken by Catherine
Markham, an anthropologist at Stony Brook University in New York, shows one
juvenile baboon eating while a fellow baboon checks out the snack. A solitary
zebra won first prize in the community, population and macroecology category.
In that photo, the animal stands, munching grass, near the Cape of Good Hope in
South Africa. Taken by Julia Spaet of the Red Sea Research Center in Saudi
Arabia, the photo depicts the relationships among the zebra, the grass and the
climate.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/wild-beauty-winning-ecology-photos-feature-sunbirds-zebras-133434847.html
Kasargod
women win hearts of foodies in France
Deccan Chronicle | August 05, 2015, 06.08 am IST
Ambika and Rathi
Kozhikode: Ambika and Rathi, the members of
Kudumbashree at Edaneer in Kasargod, have won the hearts of the foodies
in France through the mouth-watering Kerala cuisine they prepared. The
chefs were invited to the UNESCO-sponsored International Folklore Festival of
Gannat, France, in early July.Recently, they were the main chefs at a folklore
programme held at Kanhangad. The duo's dishes had tickled the taste
buds of the guests there who recommended them to the organizers of Gannat
festival.“We were overjoyed to be there in France for 10 days and pleased
to hear the good words for our dishes,” said a beaming Ambika. The
folklore artistes from 32 countries participated in the festival.While
extending the invite, the sole demand put forward by the organizers was that
they should make authentic Kerala cuisine. “Our Basmati rice and sambar,
thoran, salad and local chicken curry were a hit with the crowd,” said
Rathi.
They
kept their best for the last. “We made payasam on the last day. The
guests emptied the vessel before it could cool down,” she said. The
culinary culture of France is very different. “They dislike spicy food.
They like their meat grilled,” Rathi said.They use butter, eat raw vegetables,
a variety of leaves, bread, fruits and different kinds of wine, she
added. Once in the festival, they wore the traditional Kerala saree and it was
greeted with applause. The two women are the members of ‘Sreelakshmi’
Kudumbashree unit in Edaneer.
Holy cow! India is the
world's largest beef exporter
A country
where cows are sacred is exporting a record amount of red meat.India was the
world's top beef exporter last year, according to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, widening its lead over other more established suppliers such as
Brazil and Australia.That's because India exports large
quantities of meat from water buffalo -- a member of the bovine family
classified as beef by the USDA.The buffalo trade has been growing rapidly and
now earns India more export dollars than basmati rice.
India's buffalo meat -- a chewier and cheaper alternative to beef
-- mostly ends up on plates in Asia and the Middle East, where rising wealth is
spurring demand among diners for animal protein.But
India's role in the global meat trade
sticks out in the largely Hindu country where vegetarianism is widespread.The
cow is revered in Hindu culture, the religion observed by roughly 80% of
India's 1.3
billion people, and restrictions on cattle slaughter apply in most
states.
Buffaloes largely fall outside those bans.Still, the $4.8 billion
annual export trade has almost developed by accident -- the animals are needed
to keep India's huge domestic dairy industry going, said Rabobank analyst Pawan
Kumar.This is unique among countries with large bovine exports, Kumar said. It
also means buffalo meat from India is cheaper. That helped the country generate
record export earnings from the beef last year, although growth is moderating
from the 30% annual rate seen between 2010 to 2013.
Here's where it all goes: Vietnam is
the top importer, with Malaysia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia other key markets.Then
there's China, which may actually be the largest consumer of the meat,
according to Rabobank's Kumar. Some 40% of Indian buffalo is sent to Vietnam,
before large quantities make their way across the Chinese border. That trade
doesn't show up in official statistics.A small amount is consumed in India.
Many locals, including some Hindus and others in the Christian and Muslim
populations, eat
meat and poultry, and consumption is rising.Data from market research firm Euromonitor
International shows sales of beef, lamb and chicken in India have all increased
steadily over the past six years.Rising wealth is a big reason for the growth.
Analyst Anastasia Alieva said India's disposable income has surged 95% since
2009, and meat consumption has nearly doubled over that time
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