PHL may import more rice this year
0 122
By Cai U.
Ordinario & Mary Grace Padin
THE Philippines
could buy an additional 500,000 metric tons (MT) of imported rice this year as
El Niño continues to wreak havoc on rice-growing areas, the National Food
Authority (NFA) said on Tuesday.
NFA
Administrator Renan B. Dalisay said his agency has already been granted a
standby authority to import an additional 500,000 MT for this year.
“The
Philippines is still not self-sufficient in rice, so I cannot say that we will
no longer import this year. The country has been importing 1.5 million to 1.7
million metric tons [MMT] of rice annually,” Dalisay told reporters on the
sidelines of a news briefing held in Pasig City on Tuesday.
He
said the government wants to ensure that the arrival of imports will not cause
farm-gate prices of paddy rice to decline drastically and cause farmers to
incur losses.
Dalisay
added that the NFA council may come up with a decision on rice importation as
early as this month or as late as next semester.
Using
the standby authority of the NFA to import 500,000 MT would be the fastest way
to ensure ample rice supply and stable prices, especially during the lean
months, he said.
The
government imported additional rice to prepare for the ill effects of El Niño.
The El Niño Task Force recommended the importation of an additional 500,000 MT
of rice in 2015, and 800,000 MT in the first semester of 2016.
However,
due to the rains and early planting interventions in the last quarter of 2015,
the government has held off on its decision to import more rice.
The
NFA purchased the 500,000 MT of imported rice intended for 2016 in September
last year via the government-to-government scheme. Vietnam and Thailand bagged
the contract to supply imported rice to the Philippines.
The
government has also allowed the private sector to import 505,627.90 MT of rice
under the minimum-access volume scheme of the World Trade Organization.
El Niño
caused paddy-rice output last year to decline by 4.31 percent to 18.15 MMT,
from 18.97 MMT posted in 2014, according to data from the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA).
The
PSA also said unmilled rice production in the first half of 2016 could go down
by 1.48 percent to 8.20 MMT, from 8.32 MMT posted in the same period last year.
Philippines can import extra 500,000 T rice: grains official
April 5, 2016
By Enrico dela Cruz, Reuters
MANILA,
April 5 (Reuters) – The Philippines can import another 500,000 tonnes of rice
to boost state reserve stocks, a grains agency official said on Tuesday, as the
government sought to mitigate the impact of an El Nino-linked drought on food
supply.
Fresh
demand from the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice buyers, could underpin
export prices in neighboring Vietnam and Thailand, traditionally Manila’s main
suppliers. President Benigno Aquino has given the state grains procurement
agency, National Food Authority (NFA), a “standby authority” to import up to
half a million tonnes for this year’s requirements, NFA Administrator Renan
Dalisay said.
Logo
photo courtesy of pntr.gov.ph
With
Aquino’s approval, the NFA can buy rice under a “government-to-government”
deal, Dalisay said. Under such an arrangement, the agency can negotiate deals
only with Vietnam, Thailand, or Cambodia. The new allowance would be on top of
the 750,000 tonnes bought by the NFA and shipped within the past six months
from Vietnam and Thailand. Dalisay said the timing of the additional purchases
will still have to be decided by the NFA Council, a government panel composed
of the country’s economic managers.
Rice
trade in the top Asian producers – Vietnam and Thailand – was slim in recent
days as high prices kept buyers at bay. Both countries have also been hit by
severe droughts, putting more pressure on their limited supply. “The NFA
Council is monitoring the supply and consumption on a month to month basis,”
Dalisay said. “We will make sure that whatever we ship in will not arrive
during the local harvest.” Crop losses in the Philippines due to El Nino, which
since last year has caused droughts in several provinces, have ballooned to 6.5
billion pesos ($141 million), the Department of Agriculture said. Dalisay said
the Philippines’ annual rice imports in recent years ranged from 1.5 million
tonnes to 1.7 million tonnes. Purchases for this year’s requirement have so far
reached 500,000 tonnes
http://www.mb.com.ph/philippines-can-import-extra-500000-t-rice-grains-official/Myanmar-Indonesia rice trade disrupted by pest infestation
Myanmar
rice merchants exporting rice to Indonesia are struggling to receive payment
for their shipments due to discoveries of pests in the rice, according to the
Myanmar Rice Federation.
Myanmar’s commerce ministry and the Indonesian trade ministry signed a
bilateral agreement requiring Indonesia to buy 20,000 tonnes of rice from
Myanmar by the end of March.
Myanmar exported 13,775 tonnes of rice to Indonesian’s Surabaya port in five
separate shipments. However, Indonesian authorities have prevented the rice
from being unloaded, and Myanmar exporters have not received payment for the
shipments.
One of the criteria for Myanmar exporters is for rice pest management to be
done at labs approved by Indonesian authorities.
Vietnamese merchants faced similar issues in the past when they exported to
Indonesia.
Myanmar authorities are now in talks with the Indonesian logistics company
Perum Bulog about extending the shipping period until the end of this
April. They are also discussing strategies for pest management. However,
the Indonesian company said its licence is expired and that it must get its
licence extended by the Indonesian trade ministry in order to comply with
Myanmar’s requests.
About two weeks ago, Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation (MAPCO) and Perum
Bulog sent request letters various government departments in Indonesia to help
solve the case, but they have received no response yet, according to merchants.
http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/myanmar-indonesia-rice-trade-disrupted-pest-infestationEgypt to Ban Rice Exports as of April 4
Egyptian minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Tarek Qabil on
Friday said the North African nation will ban rice exports as of April 4 in
order to preserve stocks for the local market and price stability.
Rice
exports were banned on Sept. 1 to satisfy domestic consumption. The agriculture
ministry said at the time it expected white rice production to reach 2.7
million tons in the 2015-2016 season, less than the estimated annual
consumption of 3.6 million tons.
But the
banning decision was later cast in doubt after the agriculture minister
resigned and was subsequently arrested on corruption charges.
Qabil
said the new ban aims to meet the needs of the domestic market, which is
growing significantly.
The
ministry is coordinating with all the ministries and concerned entities to
tighten controls at customs and borders to prevent rice smuggling out, Qabil
said, adding that deterrent measures will be taken against violators.
The
decision will positively contribute to rice prices stability, he said.
Egypt
first imposed a ban on exports in 2008 saying it wanted to save rice for local
consumption and also to discourage rice farmers from growing the crop to save
water.
According
to Bloomberg, food shortages and price jumps carry a political risk for
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as millions of Egyptians depend on
state subsidies to eat.
Posted by Hafid El Fassy on
April 3, 2016. Filed underFinance, Zoom. You
can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is
currently not allowed.
·
http://medafricatimes.com/8827-egypt-to-ban-rice-exports-as-of-april-4.htmlDelta
farmers assessing storm damage; Phillips County expected back in fields soon
·
Row crop farmers in the
Arkansas Delta were assessing the damage after a Wednesday evening interrupted
by tornado warnings. Thursday was no better, with a second round of
thunderstorms with high winds and large hail blowing through parts of the
Arkansas River Valley and the Delta.
COMMENT
0
0
·
·
·
·
By Mary Hightower/ U of A
System Division of Agriculture
Posted Apr. 4, 2016 at 2:43 PM
Row crop farmers in the Arkansas Delta were assessing the damage
after a Wednesday evening interrupted by tornado warnings. Thursday was no
better, with a second round of thunderstorms with high winds and large hail
blowing through parts of the Arkansas River Valley and the Delta.
“Probably over 10 percent of Arkansas’ rice acreage has been
planted to date,” said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “The areas where most of
that has been planted received between 4 and 7 inches of rain over the past 24
hours.
“The biggest concern for those fields will be the potential for
destruction of new levees that wouldn’t withstand the intense flooding brought
on by the heavy rains,” he said. “The rice seed itself, as long as not exposed
by erosion from moving water, will likely be fine and emerge normally for this
time of year once the water recedes and warm temperatures set in.
“However, levees seeded with rice that are destroyed and have to
be re-pulled will need to be re-seeded and that rice could potentially be out
of sync with the rest of the rice in the field creating management and harvest
issues,” Hardke said.
Rain hit a corn verification field hard in Lincoln County, said
Kevin Lawson, extension area agronomist for corn and sorghum for the University
of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“We had 5 inches of rain and lost about a half-inch of soil on
the beds,” he said Thursday afternoon.
In Phillips County, County Extension Agent Robert Goodson said
that after 3-4 inches of rain, “there was some water on fields, but most drain
fairly quickly.”
He anticipated Phillips County farmers being back in the field
on Monday or Tuesday
Philippines can import extra 500,000 T rice: grains
official
April 5, 2016
By Enrico dela Cruz, Reuters
MANILA,
April 5 (Reuters) – The Philippines can import another 500,000 tonnes of rice
to boost state reserve stocks, a grains agency official said on Tuesday, as the
government sought to mitigate the impact of an El Nino-linked drought on food
supply.
Fresh
demand from the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice buyers, could underpin
export prices in neighboring Vietnam and Thailand, traditionally Manila’s main
suppliers. President Benigno Aquino has given the state grains procurement
agency, National Food Authority (NFA), a “standby authority” to import up to
half a million tonnes for this year’s requirements, NFA Administrator Renan
Dalisay said.
Logo
photo courtesy of pntr.gov.ph
With
Aquino’s approval, the NFA can buy rice under a “government-to-government”
deal, Dalisay said. Under such an arrangement, the agency can negotiate deals
only with Vietnam, Thailand, or Cambodia. The new allowance would be on top of
the 750,000 tonnes bought by the NFA and shipped within the past six months
from Vietnam and Thailand. Dalisay said the timing of the additional purchases
will still have to be decided by the NFA Council, a government panel composed
of the country’s economic managers.
Rice
trade in the top Asian producers – Vietnam and Thailand – was slim in recent
days as high prices kept buyers at bay. Both countries have also been hit by
severe droughts, putting more pressure on their limited supply. “The NFA
Council is monitoring the supply and consumption on a month to month basis,”
Dalisay said. “We will make sure that whatever we ship in will not arrive
during the local harvest.” Crop losses in the Philippines due to El Nino, which
since last year has caused droughts in several provinces, have ballooned to 6.5
billion pesos ($141 million), the Department of Agriculture said. Dalisay said
the Philippines’ annual rice imports in recent years ranged from 1.5 million
tonnes to 1.7 million tonnes. Purchases for this year’s requirement have so far
reached 500,000 tonnes
Singapore scientists see future in ‘functional food’ for
those with chronic diseases - See more at:
A team of food scientists from the National University of
Singapore (NUS) has successfully formulated a recipe for making healthier,
diabetic-friendly bread by adding a natural plant pigment, called anthocyanin,
extracted from black rice. — Picture by National University of Singapore via
TODAYSINGAPORE, April 6 — From diabetic-friendly bread to cake
suitable for kidney patients on haemodialysis, new food products have been
developed by scientists here in recent years to make it easier for the
health-conscious and those with chronic diseases to boost their nutrition.
While the products are
no substitute for regular balanced meals and do not cure health problems, they
offer more choices to help individuals with various health conditions meet
their nutritional needs.
There is significant
potential for innovation in functional food as Singaporeans are now more aware
and concerned about their health and are taking a more pro-active approach to
eating well, said Lau Kum Yee, Singapore Polytechnic’s course chair for its
Diploma in Food Science and Technology. Functional food refers to food that has
added ingredients that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
Food scientists from
the National University of Singapore (NUS) recently developed a recipe for
diabetic-friendly bread by adding an antioxidant-rich plant pigment called
anthocyanin, which is extracted from black rice. The scientists took an
alternative approach to producing functional bread that is digested more
slowly, said Dr Sui Xiaonan, a recent PhD graduate from the Food Science
Technology Programme at NUS, who was part of the study. Instead of adding whole
grains and fibres in bread, their study was the first to use anthocyanin to
fortify a bread product to reduce its digestion rate, thereby improving blood
glucose control.
The bread can also
help reduce over-eating and therefore obesity, said Professor Zhou Weibiao,
director of the Food Science and Technology Programme at NUS’ Faculty of
Science.
“Our results
demonstrate that it is indeed feasible to create functional food products
through anthocyanin fortification, using bread as an example. We hope to
conduct further studies to incorporate anthocyanins into other food items, such
as biscuits.
“Our team is also keen
to explore opportunities to work with industry partners to introduce the
anthocyanin-fortified bread to the market,” said Prof Zhou.
The NUS programme has
developed a variety of food ingredients with anti-diabetes, anti-ageing and
other health-promoting properties in recent years.
Over at Singapore
Polytechnic’s School of Chemical and Life Sciences, at least eight functional
food products suitable for people with various health conditions have been
developed in the past decade. They include a low-glycaemic index (GI) banana
chocolate cupcake and a low-GI brownie, which are currently available at The
Diabetic Shop, which has a retail outlet at Square 2 in Novena.
Dr Loke Wai Mun, a
lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Chemical and Life Sciences, expects
functional food to be the focus of the “next level of food production”,
especially in Asia, due in part to the wide variety of food options and
ingredients available in the region.
Fuelled by an ageing
population and an increasing incidence of chronic diseases, functional food is
already a multi-billion-dollar market in the Asia-Pacific, reportedly worth
some US$70 billion (RM280 billion) in 2014.
According to market
research firm Euromonitor International, global sales of functional food and
health and wellness food products are estimated to hit US$1 trillion by next
year.
Some products that can
be found on supermarket shelves include low-GI bread and cereals with added
fibre and omega-3s or omega-6s, eggs with added vitamins and dairy products
with added probiotics and calcium. Low-GI food is generally more suitable for
diabetic patients as it is digested more slowly, keeping blood sugar levels in
control.
Flavours with a local
spin
The demand for variety
and palatability of functional food has spurred companies and researchers to
tailor products to suit local taste preferences.
A Singapore
Polytechnic team of students and lecturers recently developed a range of local
snacks including a layered jam cake and kueh bahulu (traditional
mini sponge cakes) in various flavours for patients on haemodialysis. The
products are undergoing licensing.
“Haemodialysis
patients need to restrict their water, sodium, potassium and phosphorus intake.
After their dialysis sessions, they are given a snack that is high in protein.
Both the kueh bahulu and layered cake fit the requirements.
With a wider variety of snacks available, these patients now have more choices
to meet their nutritional needs,” said Lau.
Other healthier
versions of local fare developed by Singapore Polytechnic include kaya (egg
jam) with reduced sugar, fat and cholesterol, and which has a lower GI.
Besides developing
health-enhancing food products, some tertiary education institutions, such as
the Centre for Functional Food and Human Nutrition at Nanyang Polytechnic, work
with commercial enterprises in the area of functional food research.
Established in 2013,
the centre recently collaborated with food enterprise Defu Foodstuff to examine
the potential of using black garlic to maintain overall health. Dr Loke led the
study to compare the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of black
garlic and white garlic supplements. Results showed while both helped to lower
inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, black garlic had a higher
antioxidant content.
Such research projects
provide scientific evidence to validate health claims of functional food
products, which would help consumers differentiate among the vast choices
available in the market, said Dr Loke.
But while functional
food products and ingredients may help enhance one’s health in certain ways,
NUS’ Prof Zhou said they are not drugs and do not cure health problems.
“Without getting the
foundations of eating well right, functional food may not provide additional
benefits,” said senior dietician Fahma Sunarja of Parkway Cancer Centre at
Gleneagles Hospital.
“For instance, a
low-GI rice or bread is insufficient to regulate blood sugar levels if a person
with diabetes does not take regular balanced meals, while plant sterols
(cholesterol-lowering substances occurring in small amounts in many grains,
fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds) are unlikely to benefit a person
with high cholesterol if he continues to eat a lot of high-fat meats,” she
said. — TODAY
- See
more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/singapore-scientists-see-future-in-functional-food-for-those-with-chronic-d#sthash.11Ere6l3.dpuf
Arkansas
Rice Depot and Arkansas Foodbank Merge
By Chuck Wilson
Arkansas Foodbank CEO Rhonda Sanders
and Senator Boozman
LITTLE ROCK, AR - Last week, board members,
volunteers, donors, and guests gathered here at an event held to recognize the
momentous partnership between the Arkansas Rice Depot and Arkansas Foodbank.
The two organizations celebrated their merger and debuted a new logo and
mission statement: "United to Fight Hunger."
U.S. Senator John Boozman attended the event
and called the merger a "tremendous" bipartisan effort to "work
together for the greater good." Boozman added, "Arkansas is a leader
in agriculture, but our citizens continue to suffer from hunger. As Arkansans
we need to make sure our neighbors are getting the food they need and are
eating healthy. Our state is rightfully proud of the proactive efforts of the
Arkansas Foodbank and Arkansas Rice Depot to fight hunger in our state."
The combined organization will use the former
Rice Depot building as the primary point for volunteer activities, food sorting
and the Food For Kids backpack program. The Foodbank location will serve as the
food distribution center to all its partner agencies.
Last year, the Arkansas Rice Depot and Arkansas
Foodbank distributed about 25 million pounds of food to agencies that help feed
the hungry.
04/05/2016 Farm Bureau Market ReportRice
|
High
|
Low
|
|
Long
Grain Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
Long
Grain New Crop
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
|
|
Futures:
|
|
|
ROUGH RICE
|
|
|
High
|
Low
|
Last
|
Change
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May '16
|
983.5
|
967.0
|
979.0
|
-1.0
|
|
Jul '16
|
1006.0
|
995.0
|
1005.0
|
-1.5
|
|
Sep '16
|
|
|
1024.5
|
+1.0
|
|
Nov '16
|
1040.5
|
1040.0
|
1042.5
|
+2.5
|
|
Jan '17
|
|
|
1061.0
|
+2.5
|
|
Mar '17
|
|
|
1079.0
|
+2.5
|
|
May '17
|
|
|
1079.0
|
+2.5
|
|
|
Rice Comment
Rice futures ended mixed after trading in a
narrow range. The market charted a huge bearish reversalon
Thursday in reaction to
USDA's planting intentions report. Rice acres are expected to be up 17% from
2015 at 3.064 million acres. All of that gain and then some will be in long
grain rice, while medium grain acreage will actually be down 17% across the
country. Arkansas is expected to plant 1.581 million acres of rice consisting
of 1.43 million acres of long grain and 150,000 acres of medium grain. The crop
progress report showed 16% of the rice in the ground nationwide, with Arkansas
coming in at 11% planted. Technically, the first level of support for May is Thursday's low of $9.42 1/2. A close below that
level could send the market headed for a retest of support at $9.22 on the
continuation chart
Commodity Report-April 5
Published April
5, 2016
Today’s commodity report: National Weekly Rice Summary, California F.O.B. Price
for Extra Grade and Grade A Nonfat Dry Milk, California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg
Report, Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market and other commodity end of the
day market numbers.
National Weekly Rice Summary
In
California, medium grain milled rice prices steady to 1.00 lower on white and
steady to 2.00 lower on brown. Second heads and Brewers steady to weak. Rice
by-products: Rice Bran prices steady. Rice hulls spot trade not well tested.
March 31th Prospective Plantings was as follows: MG 103% and SG 83% of pervious
year. Federal officials say farmers in Northern California can expect to
receive all of their requested water deliveries this year, while those to the
south of the Delta will likely receive a fraction.
CME
Rough Rice settlements for Friday 1st, May 16 closed .065 higher at 9.755; Jul
16 closed .06 higher at 10.025; Sep 16 closed .04 higher at 10.19. US dollar
index on Thursday settled at 94.61.
California F.O.B. Price for Extra Grade and Grade A Nonfat Dry
Milk
|
Week Ending
|
Avg. Price($/lb.)
|
Total Sales (lb.)
|
|
April 1, 2016
|
$0.7634
|
7,682,719
|
|
March 25, 2016
|
$0.7511
|
13,183,836
|
California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report
Prices
are unchanged. The undertone is steady. Offerings and supplies are moderate.
Retail and warehouse demand is moderate to fairly good as lower prices create
feature opportunities in many locations. Food service movement is mostly
moderate. Market activity is moderate. Monday’s shell egg inventories declined
8.1% in the Southwest and increased 6.6% in the Northwest.
Shell
egg marketer’s benchmark price for negotiated egg sales of USDA Grade AA and
Grade AA in cartons, cents per dozen. This price does not reflect discounts or
other contract terms.
|
RANGE
|
|
JUMBO
|
130
|
|
EXTRA
LARGE
|
121
|
|
LARGE
|
115
|
|
MEDIUM
|
99
|
Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market
Prices
in New York, California and the regions are steady. The bundertone is steady to
barely steady. Demand is light to moderate in the Northeast and South Central
regions, while in the remaining areas demand ranges light to instances good and
best where feature activity provides the best movement. Offerings are moderate
to heavy in the Midwest and South Central, generally moderate elsewhere.
Supplies are mostly moderate to heavy for trading purposes. When compared to
the previous week, the total shell egg inventory is 3.9 percent higher. Market
activity is slow to moderate. Breaking stock supplies are moderate to heavy;
breaking schedules are full-time to extended. Light type fowl offerings are at
least adequate for the light to moderate demand.
Tuesday’s Commodity Market ending market numbers:
Corn
May Corn ended at $3.55 3/4 increasing 2 1/4 cents, July ended at $3.60 gaining
2 1/4 cents.
Soybeans
May Soybeans ended at 9.04 3/4 down 8 3/4 cents, July ended at 9.12 3/4
decreasing 8 3/4 cents.
Wheat
May Wheat ended at $4.74, losing 3/4 cent, July Wheat ended at $4.80 3/4 down
1/2 cent.
Rough Rice
May Rough Rice ended at 9.79 down 0.01, July ended at 10.05 decreasing 0.015.
Live Cattle
April Live Cattle ended at $130.20 decreasing $3.00 and June ended at $120.675
down $3.00 and August ended at $116.70 losing $2.90.
Feeder Cattle
April Feeder Cattle ended at $152.425 dropping $4.25 and May ended at $150.20
losing $4.50 and August ended at $150.60 down $4.50.
Lean Hogs
April Lean Hogs ended at $67.40 decreasing $0.275, May ended at $75.10 up $0.10
Class III Milk
April Class III Milk ended at $13.73 down $0.02, May ended at $13.74 decreasing
$0.06 and June ended at $13.84 gaining $0.01.
#2 Cotton
May #2 Cotton ending at 58.90 losing 0.06, July ended at 58.62 down 0.03.
Sugar #11
May sugar #11 ended at 14.64 unchanged and July ended at 14.79 decreasing
$0.03.
Orange Juice
May Orange Juice ended at 143.25 losing $0.45, July ending at 143.25 down
$1.00.
http://agnetwest.com/2016/04/05/commodity-report-april-5/
as on : 05-04-2016 02:35:49 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|
Current
|
%
change
|
Season
cumulative
|
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal
|
Prev.Yr
%change
|
|
Rice
|
|
Gadarpur(Utr)
|
2305.00
|
-23.29
|
99292.00
|
2237
|
1945
|
11.02
|
|
Siliguri(WB)
|
675.00
|
-0.74
|
3897.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
-
|
|
Sainthia(WB)
|
177.00
|
1.14
|
1199.20
|
1765
|
1770
|
-
|
|
Bazpur(Utr)
|
163.80
|
48.91
|
38387.21
|
1480
|
1900
|
-20.00
|
|
Birbhum(WB)
|
151.00
|
0.67
|
2180.00
|
1770
|
1780
|
-10.15
|
|
Memari(WB)
|
148.00
|
0.68
|
2746.00
|
1700
|
1700
|
-4.49
|
|
Mathabhanga(WB)
|
130.00
|
30
|
3350.00
|
1950
|
1950
|
NC
|
|
Gondal(UP)
|
75.00
|
-38.02
|
11272.10
|
2050
|
2050
|
1.99
|
|
Goalpara(ASM)
|
55.60
|
-4.47
|
559.70
|
1800
|
1800
|
-
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
55.00
|
-8.33
|
250.50
|
2145
|
2150
|
-1.38
|
|
Pandua(WB)
|
46.00
|
-11.54
|
1521.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-7.41
|
|
Kasimbazar(WB)
|
43.50
|
NC
|
1495.50
|
2280
|
2280
|
-8.80
|
|
Tanakpur(Utr)
|
30.00
|
200
|
211.10
|
1950
|
2100
|
-7.14
|
|
Jorhat(ASM)
|
27.00
|
-22.86
|
1292.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
-3.57
|
|
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
|
24.50
|
NC
|
975.80
|
2300
|
2300
|
-11.54
|
|
Purulia(WB)
|
24.00
|
-20
|
1651.00
|
2120
|
2120
|
-10.17
|
|
Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB)
|
22.00
|
NC
|
765.00
|
2750
|
2750
|
1.85
|
|
Robertsganj(UP)
|
21.50
|
-
|
21.50
|
1860
|
-
|
NC
|
|
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
20.20
|
129.55
|
1226.30
|
1900
|
1900
|
-
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
20.00
|
-33.33
|
1430.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
NC
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
18.00
|
-5.26
|
982.30
|
2400
|
2400
|
-
|
|
Jeypore(Ori)
|
14.50
|
-6.45
|
53.90
|
3250
|
3250
|
-12.16
|
|
Kasganj(UP)
|
10.00
|
66.67
|
518.00
|
1940
|
1950
|
-4.90
|
|
Deogarh(Ori)
|
9.00
|
NC
|
333.50
|
2500
|
2500
|
NC
|
|
Bolangir(Ori)
|
8.00
|
14.29
|
186.00
|
2200
|
2300
|
-8.33
|
|
Nilagiri(Ori)
|
8.00
|
NC
|
350.00
|
2300
|
2400
|
NC
|
|
Chengannur(Ker)
|
7.50
|
7.14
|
447.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
-4.00
|
|
Tusura(Ori)
|
7.00
|
7.69
|
181.50
|
2200
|
2200
|
-8.33
|
|
Ramanagara(Kar)
|
6.00
|
-57.14
|
20.00
|
5000
|
5300
|
7.99
|
|
Karanjia(Ori)
|
6.00
|
9.09
|
212.80
|
2600
|
2600
|
4.00
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
6.00
|
-14.29
|
1195.00
|
1945
|
1945
|
-1.02
|
|
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)
|
5.00
|
-9.09
|
82.50
|
2600
|
2600
|
-
|
|
Tileibani(Ori)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
16.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
NC
|
|
Melaghar(Tri)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
101.80
|
2100
|
2250
|
-10.64
|
|
Islampur(WB)
|
3.00
|
-11.76
|
241.30
|
2150
|
2150
|
-
|
|
Siyana(UP)
|
1.50
|
-25
|
65.50
|
2050
|
2060
|
NC
|
|
Punalur(Ker)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
14.50
|
1600
|
1600
|
-
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8437292.ece
IRRI MULLS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME WITH IGAU
Tuesday, 05 April 2016 | Sumedha Chaudhury | Raipur | in Raipur
1
2
3
4
5
0
Staff and students of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University
(IGAU), Raipur may soon get a chance to visit International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) in Manila, Philippines.
The issue was part of the discussion between IRRI Director General
Matthew Morell, IGAU Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr SK Patil and Chief Minister Raman
Singh on Monday.
Later, talking to The Pioneer, Morell who was invited to the 51st
Annual Rice Research Group conference at the agricultural university said, “We
are looking forward for some staff and student exchange programme with IGAU.
Many of the Indian universities are carrying out such exchange
programmes with us. Also, we want to focus on the capacity building and
developing paddy production system of Chhattisgarh.”
Patil informed that IGAU would be the first in the State to step
for a close tie with IRRI. Asked on the reason of the bonding, Morell said
global support is required to promote the paddy scientists of India. “In
future, there would be a strong domain for rice scientists,” he said.
Earlier, IGAU had sent its staff to IRRI for training but it was
different from Exchange Programme.
Notably, a few days back, State Agriculture Minister Brijmohan
Agrawal had urged for reducing the paddy production of the State. Giving an
alternate solution to this reduction, Patil suggested of exporting the excess
paddy produced to other States. For instance, broken rice of Chhattisgarh
is purchased by Africa,” said IGAU VC Dr Patil.
Morell felt Chhattisgarh has high potential for paddy production
in future as well. “The number of highly scented indigenous paddy varieties can
help in value addition supporting the farmer’s livelihood and utilise the
genetic resources,” said the Director General
Re-igniting
the green revolution with wild crops
Our hungry world relies on a small army of
crop varieties that have been developed over the past few decades. They have
been bred to grow faster, sweeter and bigger, often at the expense of their
nutritional value. Looking into the history of these crops could provide a
solution.
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References
Davis, D. R., Epp, M. D. & Riordan, H. D. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 23, 669–682 (2004).
Mood, F. New
Engl. Quart. 10,
121–133 (1937).
·
·
·
·
The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has just released the
report For your own good!, which outlines the GMO industry’s expansion across Africa. The
report focusses on non-commercial traditional crops, such as cassava,
sorghum, sweet potato, pigeon pea, cowpea, banana and rice, which corporations
are attempting to genetically modify and roll out under the guise of
philanthropy.
The report reveals that a great deal of research and development
is currently underway into the genetic modification (GM) of these crops. Most
of the on-going trials concentrate on drought and salt
tolerance, nitrogen use efficiency, resistance to tropical pests and
diseases and nutritional enhancement (biofortification). The key countries that
have been targeted include Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi.
The genesis of GM research into these crops can be
found in royalty-free donations of various patented GM traits by
several transnational companies to experimental programmes undertaken by
African scientists employed by government ministries. These companies
include Monsanto, Dupont and Pioneer Hi-bred.
Mariam Mayet, Director of the ACB, says:
This indicates that the GM industry, under the veil of
technology donations and public financing, is effectively managing to make
further inroads into imposing GM on the African continent. By focusing
the research on traits meant to ‘benefit’ farmers and malnourished populations,
through inter alia, biofortification, the industry is intent on giving a
humanitarian face to the real involvement, vested interests and expanding
influence of these MNCs in African agriculture.
The main players involved include the African Agriculture
Technology Foundation (AATF), which is on the receiving end of many of the
technological property rights donations, the Agricultural Biotechnology Support
Program (ABSP) and the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS). The Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and USAID fund the latter organisations.
US-based research institutions such as the Donald Danforth Plant
Science Center (DDPSC) (for cassava) and universities (notably Michigan State University and Kansas State University) play a major role in this
‘philanthropic’ research.
The ACB report notes there is a dearth of literature that
critically addresses biosafety issues and socio-economic aspects relating to
the biofortification of indigenous crops through GM. According to the authors,
this is especially important given the need to move away from an over-emphasis
on food fortification strategies towards a permanent solution: diet
diversification through locally available foods, which was recognised as early
as 1992 by the UN International Conference on Nutrition.
As is the case with the controversial Golden
Rice research and development project, the report argues
these GM projects are diverting financial and human resources and
policies and practices away from implementing the real solutions that can be
found within the diversity of natural foods and farming.
Zakiyya Ismail, Consumer Campaigner with the ACB argues:
The real solutions to address vitamin and mineral deficiencies
can be found in ecological farming systems, and traditional kitchen and home
gardens, which can better contribute to healthy and diverse diets and empower
people to access and produce their own healthy and varied food.
ACB stresses that smallholder farmers must be given the
right to choose their means of production and survival. It adds even if
gene sequences and constructs are donated, the accompanying
requisite GM inputs will be expensive for farmers. GM crops
are highly likely to increase the costs of production for farmers and lead them
into indebtedness and dependency.
The report by ACB follows a Global Justice Now report that outlines the role of BMFG in spearheading a
drive into Africa on behalf of ‘corporate America’ to facilitate a GMO/green
revolution.
With assets of $43.5 billion, BMGF is the largest charitable
foundation in the world and distributes more aid for global health than any
government. Its strategy is intended to deepen the role of multinational
companies, even though these corporations are responsible for much of the
poverty and injustice that already plagues the Global South. The foundation’s
programmes have a specific ideological strategy that promotes neo-liberal
economic policies, corporate globalisation, GMOs and an outdated (colonialist)
view of role of aid in ‘helping’ the poor.
Global Justice Now shows that the senior staff of BMGF’s
programmes are overwhelmingly drawn from ‘corporate America’. As a result, the
question is: whose interests are being promoted – those of corporate America or
those of ordinary people who seek social and economic justice rather than
charity?
Hardly a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist, Peter Buffet is the son of
the billionaire investor Warren Buffet. He recently argued that philanthropy
only serves to end up perpetuating systems of oppression.
Writing in the NewYork Times, Buffett criticised
“philanthropic colonialism,” where rich people get involved with issues they
understand very little about. In the meantime, the wealthy get to feel good for
“solving” the problems that they or the system they benefitted from caused in
the first place.
Buffet wrote:
As more lives and communities are destroyed by the system that
creates vast amounts of wealth for the few, the more heroic it sounds to “give
back.” It’s what I would call “conscience laundering” — feeling better about
accumulating more than any one person could possibly need to live on by sprinkling
a little around as an act of charity.
He went on to say that this just keeps the existing structure of
inequality in place:
Nearly every time someone feels better by doing good, on the
other side of the world (or street), someone else is further locked into a
system that will not allow the true flourishing of his or her nature or the
opportunity to live a joyful and fulfilled life.
Conscience laundering may be all well and good for individuals,
but corporations are legally obliged to maximise profits for their
shareholders, and ‘philanthropy’ can be regarded as part of a long-term
strategy. Getting GMOs into Africa by any means makes hard-headed business
sense.
And as if to underline this, according to ACB, it is highly
likely that GM varieties will be subject to plant breeders’ rights
and GM certified seed will be sold to farmers by
local seed companies who will expect a profit or royalty payments
from farmers. This scenario is of vital importance because the traditional crops
in question are the common heritage of African farmers and often the last
defence against hunger in poor communities.
Mariam Mayet concludes:
There is no such thing as a free lunch for African farmers. And
to add insult to injury, these farmers will be precluded from saving any farm-saved
propagating material. In this way, they will be expected to give away their age
old farmers’ rights to freely reuse, exchange and sell seed and
propagating materials in their farming and seed systems.
The ‘philanthropy’ currently being dished out in Africa does not
empower local farmers but is aimed at getting GMOs (with all of the associated problems) into agriculture, sucking farmers into the prevailing power structures of US capitalism and marginalising credible,alternative approaches based on self-sufficiency, sustainability and sound
ecological practices
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/04/05/for-your-own-good-embedding-transnational-agribusiness-and-gmos-into-african-agriculture/ IRRI MULLS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME WITH
IGAU
Tuesday, 05 April 2016 | Sumedha Chaudhury | Raipur | in Raipur1
3
Staff and students of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University
(IGAU), Raipur may soon get a chance to visit International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) in Manila, Philippines.The issue was part of the discussion
between IRRI Director General Matthew Morell, IGAU Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr SK
Patil and Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday.Later, talking to The Pioneer,
Morell who was invited to the 51st Annual Rice Research Group conference at the
agricultural university said, “We are looking forward for some staff and
student exchange programme with IGAU.Many of the Indian universities are
carrying out such exchange programmes with us. Also, we want to focus on the
capacity building and developing paddy production system of Chhattisgarh.”Patil
informed that IGAU would be the first in the State to step for a close tie with
IRRI.
Asked on the reason of the bonding, Morell said global support is
required to promote the paddy scientists of India. “In future, there would be a
strong domain for rice scientists,” he said.Earlier, IGAU had sent its staff to
IRRI for training but it was different from Exchange Programme.Notably, a few
days back, State Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal had urged for reducing
the paddy production of the State. Giving an alternate solution to this
reduction, Patil suggested of exporting the excess paddy produced to
other States. For instance, broken rice of Chhattisgarh is purchased by
Africa,” said IGAU VC Dr Patil.Morell felt Chhattisgarh has high potential for
paddy production in future as well. “The number of highly scented indigenous
paddy varieties can help in value addition supporting the farmer’s livelihood
and utilise the genetic resources,” said the Director General.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/irri-mulls-exchange-programme-with-igau.html
