Pakistan all
set to become major rice producer
Cultivation
of hybrid rice in Punjab can increase production to double digit
Iftikhar
Alam
Pakistan is likely to witness a revolution in paddy production in next couple of years because of Chinese cooperation with the governmentand private sector in the field.
While the modern hybrid rice varieties are already being sown over
1.5 million acres of land in Sindh, the seed is all set to be commercially
launched in different districts of central and southern Punjab in upcoming
season. Since the hybrid rice average yield is more than 100
maund per acre, the cultivation if adopted in Punjab could increase the annual
rice production of the country to double digit.
The country is 11th largest rice producer in the world with per year production of around 6 million tons.
A world leading Chinese company, Yuan Longping High-tech
Agriculture, and Guard Agriculture Research & Services Limited are actively
involved in bringing revolution in the country’s rice production. The government has also entered into an agreement
with China and 12 hybrid rice scientists arrived here to train
local scientist and farmers on hybrid rice cultivation technologies to
improve per acre crop productivity.
“Farmers in large part of Sindh are already getting average 100 maund
per acre yield of hybrid rice but the traditional IRRI variety
being sown in Punjab gives maximum 50 to 60 maund per acre yield,” said Shah
Rukh Malik, a senior executive of the Guard Company. Since the crop could be
sown over four million acres in Punjab, the company with Chinese cooperation aims to introduce varieties in the province. “We are focusing
in Okara and Sahiwal districts in first stage. We believe farmers of the area
will get a bumper crop on planting hydrid seed,” he added.
China is world’s major consumer of rice in the
world and it imports 30 percent to 40 percent of its demand from Pakistan. The country’s rice export to neighbour
country could become double if its farmers adopt modern method of agriculture. “We have the
potential to become major seed exporter of this region to increase our per acre
yield of rice. No one could stop Pakistan to become major rice exporter of the
region if seed revolution reaches in Punjab,” said Shah
Rukh.
Making Pakistan a hub of rice production is part of agriculture policy
under CPEC. Private sector and Chinese experts are largely contributing to
achieve this target. Different areas in Sindh have witnessed a revolution in paddy yield during last couple of year due to hybrid rice cultivation.
He cited the example of Sindh’s Golarchi area of Badin district where according
to him hybrid rice is being sown on 450,000 acre,
almost 80 percent of cultivation land. The per acre yield is around 120 maund
and in some cases to over 140 maund in the area, he said. The bumper crops have
brought a pleasant change in the lifestyle of the local community in last couple of years. The company executive
and Chinese experts committed to develop every
rice cultivation area of the country like that of Golarchi
emedy in sight to end straw burning
in northern India?
A joint effort
is under way by Indian and US scientists to end the harmful practice of rice
and wheat straw burning in Punjab and convert the crop residue into a product
of value to benefit the farmers.
About 35 million tonnes of rice straw are burned in Punjab and
Haryana each season, with Punjab contributing 55 per cent. (Source: IE)
A joint effort is under way by
Indian and US scientists to end the harmful practice of rice and wheat straw
burning in Punjab and convert the crop residue into a product of value to
benefit the farmers. Ever since machines replaced manual harvesting in the late
1980s, rice farmers in Punjab and Haryana have been burning the left-over
stalks to quickly ready the fields for the next planting. About 35 million tonnes
of rice straw are burned in Punjab and Haryana each season, with Punjab
contributing 55 per cent. This extensive crop residue burning — lasting for
more than three weeks every year during October and November — has been
contributing to atmospheric pollution over the entire Indo-Gangetic plains with
implications for global warming and the health of people in the adjacent
National Capital Region. Punjab’s farmers, already burdened with burgeoning
debts, are now threatened with fines and possibly prison sentences for rice
straw burning. The Indo-US team expects to simultaneously address the farmers’
agony and environmentalists’ concern by introducing a century-old
thermo-chemical process called “torrefaction.”This is a low-cost process that
turns organic waste into “biochar”, a kind of charcoal from biomass. The
process requires no external energy and consumes all the smoke-causing
emissions from the agricultural residue.
MIT scientists Ahmed Ghoniem,
Alexander Slocum, and Kevin Kung have successfully built and validated a
laboratory-scale torrefaction reactor and are currently working on scaling it
up to a pre-commercial prototype capable of processing 20 kg of biowaste per
hour. Once the prototype is validated at MIT, it will be tested in India using
locally available feedstock such as rice straw, Chandra Prakash, a
biotechnologist and one of the Indian promoters of this project, told this
correspondent in an email. The joint project, which is supported by the TataTrusts and the MIT Tata Center for
Technology and Design, seeks to specifically design the technology to be
deployable in the Indian context. “This technology therefore has the potential
to reduce the contribution of rice straw burning to smog formation in cities,
at the same time turning the agricultural waste valuable as a solid fuel (as a
charcoal or coal substitute) that can increase farmers’ income,” Prakash said,
adding that the technology would eventually be deployed in Haryana too and
would also be employed to check the scourge of farmers in the two states
burning the residue of the wheat crop.
The Punjab-based institutions
involved in the joint venture are the Centre of Innovative & Applied
Bioprocessing (CIAB) — under the central government’s Department of
Biotechnology (DBT); Sangha Innovation Centre (SIC), a start-up of the Sangha
group of companies that grow rice, potatoes and maize in 5,500 acres in the
Jalandhar area and will soon have its research centre in CIAB’s Mohali
premises; and the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). While MIT will conduct
the research, design and prototype implementation, local support and expertise
will come — besides Prakash — from Jaswant Raj Mathur, an agronomist at SIC;
Sudesh Kumar, a biochemist and biotechnologist at CIAB; and Mahesh Kumar, an
agriculture engineer at PAU. Existing technologies to convert agricultural
residue into useful products through incinerators, gasifiers, and anaerobic
digesters are big-sized, centralised and complex to operate. The MIT prototype,
being portable, can be effectively deployed in rural areas where a centralised
processing unit is difficult and capital-intensive.
“A mobile torrefaction reactor,
similar to a harvester combine, can go from farm to farm rather than farmers
carrying their straw to a centralised location,” Prakash said. He said that
ideally, multiple low-cost locally-made torrefaction units could be deployed in
a decentralised manner and the biochar aggregated for marketing to run the
operation in a profitable and sustainable mode without government subsidies.
When this solution is widely scaled, it is expected to contribute to a
reduction in urban smog by lowering emission sources in the rural agricultural
areas. “In addition, this process is expected to mitigate greenhouse gas
emissions and so help India meet its low-carbon goals.” Among the beneficiaries
are Punjab farmers who can potentially get Rs 6,000 ($92) additional income per
acre through selling the straw.If all goes as planned, adoption of MIT’s
innovation in torrefaction to prevent paddy straw residue burning in Punjab
will become a reality “hopefully by the next crop season”, Prakash said. For
the reccord, the Haryana government announced on Thursday it will spend Rs 12
crore for the management of the paddy and wheat crop residue in the state to
prevent farmers from burning the stubble
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/remedy-in-sight-to-end-straw-burning-in-northern-india/893113/
Zimbabwe: Rice Imports Stabilise On
RBZ Intervention
By Ndakaziva Majaka
Ayan Trading Limited (Ayan), the
Mutare-based importer of Mariana rice, says it is set to receive US$10 million
worth of letters of credit (LCs) from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)
to guarantee payments to international suppliers.
Ayan -- which supplies over a
quarter of Zimbabwe's
200 000 tonne annual rice demand -- sent its workforce on unpaid leave in
August following acute foreign currency challenges which resulted in suppliers
refusing to deliver rice to the firm. The company currently has a US$6 million
foreign payments backlog.
Finance director, Ntokozo Moyo, on
Monday told The Financial Gazette that the company had now recalled all its
workers following clearance of a portion of its foreign payments backlog.
"We had sent our workers home
on unpaid leave because we had stopped receiving supplies as a result of
failing to pay foreign suppliers. However, to date we have managed to pay about
$1,5 million to suppliers with the assistance of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe" Moyo
said.
"In fact, we are also
expecting to receive LCs worth $10 million around next week from the $600
million Afreximbank (African
Export and Import Bank) facility."
The firm
has been receiving US$300 000 weekly which only covers 20 percent of its US$6
million monthly requirements -- under an allocation system put in place by the
central bank to manage the allocation of foreign currency to the industrial
sector and other critical areas of the economy for
imports.
"We
have since moved from this position thanks to the Afreximbank facility. In
fact, we anticipate rice prices to go down in the coming months. Prices were
being pushed by the inability to pay suppliers. As it stands we expect supplies
to start coming in by the 15th (of October) which essentially means we will go
back into production," he said.
The firm
has been failing to meet this demand on the back of payment challenges.
The Grain
Millers Association of Zimbabwe says
demand for rice has surged 300 percent from 50 000 tonnes per year in 2007 to
200 000 tonnes per year in 2016.
Moyo said
the hard currency shortages had "dealt a heavy blow to us as a
manufacturer and even affected market share".
"However,
we are optimistic that by December we will have gained lost ground," said
Moyo.
During a
closed door meeting with RBZ governor John Manguya last month, retailers
informed the central bank that local firms risked mass closure if foreign
suppliers were not paid.
"As it
stands at the moment, we may end up retrenching because we are not producing.
Our employees are home on unpaid leave and suppliers won't deliver to us, so
the situation is dire... Prices will obviously go up," Moyo had said in
the meeting.
However,
Mangudya had assured them the situation was likely to improve as the country
had started drawing down on a US$600 million nostro stabilisation facility.
The RBZ has
been working on a number of initiatives to meet forex requirements for
productive foreign payments. The US$600 million Afreximbank facility is
complemented by a US$150 million letters of credit facility to support
importation of critical raw materials and products such as fertilisers and
feedstock for the manufacturing of cooking oil
http://allafrica.com/stories/201710130546.html
Illegal paddy exports putting rice mills out of business
13 OCT 2017
A worker at a rice mill in Egypt.
Illegal exports by Chinese traders are putting rice mills in Mandalay out of
business. Photo: EPA
In Mandalay Region, which is one of the main paddy producers of
Myanmar, almost every rice mill has shuttered due to illegal direct paddy
exports, according to the regional Rice Millers Association.In Myanmar, direct
paddy exports are not permitted. However, Chinese traders have been exporting
paddy directly to China after buying the crops from farmers at good prices. As
a result, local rice millers have had trouble obtaining sufficient paddy for
processing. That has resulted in losses and forced them to halt operations, the
association’s chair, U Ngwe Aung, said on October 11.
Livestock owners are also feeling
the squeeze. As Chinese traders snap large volumes of paddy, there is less
available to be processed into animal feed.
“The Chinese traders export paddy
directly to their country. As a result, our mills have been forced out of
business. As far as we know, direct paddy export is never allowed in
Myanmar. But Chinese traders are now ferrying the crop to their country by the
truckload. Everyone knows about it but no action has been taken,” said U Ngwe
Aung.
He said the association has
already informed the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce Department, to no
avail.
“If this situation continues, the
public will also be affected as this will result in a loss of tax revenue for
the government. We can’t know how many tonnes of paddy were taken out from the
country. They bought paddy from all the farms last year. This year, I think
things may worsen,” said U Ngwe Aung.
While the rice mills have
suffered from the illegal exports, farmers, on the other hand, are gaining from
the rising demand. U Myint Aung, a paddy farmer from Patheingyi township said
paddy prices were good during the previous year’s rainy harvest season and
prices are still good even before harvest season this year.
“We got good paddy prices last
year. Prices are also good even before harvest season this year. So it is good
for farmers. Now paddy price is about K550,000 for 100 baskets. When it comes
to harvest season, paddy brokers come to paddy fields and offer good prices,”
he said.
Still, despite good prices for
farmers, if such illegal paddy exports continue, the risk is paddy shortages in
the domestic market and an accompanying surge in price, said Mandalay Region
Rice and Paddy Traders Association’s general secretary U Sai Kyaw.
If the government wants to allow
direct paddy exports, it should make it official with strict supervision, he
added.
“Illegal paddy export to China
has risen the most in Mandalay Region. Like last year, if it continues happen
this year, both livestock farms and millers will have difficulties. Rice
traders associated with them may also be affected. This is akin to smuggling as
the country also can’t earn tax revenue. The government should manage properly
if it is necessary. We want the authorities to do so in this year’s harvest
season,” said U Sai Kyaw.
Currently, rainy season paddies
have started harvesting in Singaing township and rainy paddies will be
harvesting in Ayeyarwady, Sagaing and Bago regions in coming November and
December.
“In years when we had good cash
flows we used to stockpile as much paddy as we could buy. But we can’t buy this
year because paddy prices are too high. Now rice mills have stopped so mill
workers are now jobless,” said a rice mill owner Ko Bo Bo from Patheingyi
township
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/illegal-paddy-exports-putting-rice-mills-out-business.html
U'khand farmers block highway, throw paddy on
road
Aakash Ahuja| TNN | Oct 13, 2017,
22:34 IST
RUDRAPUR: Hundreds of agitated farmers disrupted traffic on
national highway-87 in Udham Singh Nagar district, regarded as the food bowl of
Uttarakhand, for several hours on Friday in protest against government centres
not giving them the due price for their cultivated paddy crop and the decision
of rice mill owners to stop purchase of paddy due to what they termed 'flawed
government policies regarding rice mills.'
The farmers also blocked the entrance of the grain mandi in Rudrapur town using their tractors and emptied gunny bags containing the paddy produce on the road. Similar protests were held by farmers in Sitarganj and Kashipur towns of the district as well. The farmers alleged that since the last 20 days, they were not able to sell their produce despite heavy arrival of crop in the mandis. As a result, nearly 70,000 tonnes of paddy grown in the district was lying in the fields and could end up getting spoilt, they claimed.
Jail Singh, one of the agitating farmers told TOI, “This year the harvest has been better compared to the previous five years. However, it has not benefited us as the produce has not been sold and our crop has already started to decay.”
The farmers also blocked the entrance of the grain mandi in Rudrapur town using their tractors and emptied gunny bags containing the paddy produce on the road. Similar protests were held by farmers in Sitarganj and Kashipur towns of the district as well. The farmers alleged that since the last 20 days, they were not able to sell their produce despite heavy arrival of crop in the mandis. As a result, nearly 70,000 tonnes of paddy grown in the district was lying in the fields and could end up getting spoilt, they claimed.
Jail Singh, one of the agitating farmers told TOI, “This year the harvest has been better compared to the previous five years. However, it has not benefited us as the produce has not been sold and our crop has already started to decay.”
The district has 98,565 hectares of land under paddy cultivation and on an average 31.46 quintals of paddy is cultivated per hectare. Farmers in the area have long complained about the 'tardy rates offered by the government' for their produce as well as lack of facilities at government procurement centres. Bharat Chawla, a farmer from village Maharajpur, said, "Even though the central government promised to pay 1.5 times of the cost incurred on our crops, it has just proved to be a political stunt and there has been no increase in the price that we are offered."
Lack of facilities at procurement centres as well as bribes to be paid at every step have also incensed the farmers. "Purchase centres have become white elephants as they lack facilities like adequate gunny bags, drying machines and unloading space. Then there is the issue of delayed payment. Even after one year, I have not received my previous payment from the government,” said Tejender Singh Virk, a farmer from village Fazalpur Mehraula
Adding to the farmers' woes, around 570 rice mills in the district have stopped purchasing paddy from the state agencies from Friday citing the “flawed policies of the government regarding rice mills.” Shyam Agrawal, secretary of the Rudrapur rice millers' association, said that they have a six-point list of demands from the government which included an increase in the moisture limit of the crop that came to them as well as revision in transportation charges. "Till these demands are met, our mills will not pick paddy," he said.
Farmers said that with no sale happening and their crop piling up, they were moving towards a desperate situation. "How am I going to repay my loan, if no one buys my crop? The whole produce will soon get spoiled and I will be left staring at a huge loss," said Kulwinder Singh, who had come to the grain mandi in Rudrapur on Friday with 16 tonnes of paddy.
Meanwhile, Lalit Mohan Rayal, regional food controller (RFC), said that "the situation will be resolved soon." "The procurement target will be achieved within the coming days. We are also in talks with the rice mill owners and will soon resolve the issue of them not accepting paddy from the government agencies. The farmers will not suffer,” Rayal said
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/ukhand-farmers-block-highway-throw-paddy-on-road/articleshow/61073037.cmsSat
Oct 14, 2017 Hyderabad, India
Civil Supplies Dept launches
WhatsApp Centre
THE
HANS INDIA | Oct 13,2017 , 07:09 PM
IST
Civil
Supplies Dept launches WhatsApp Centre
Hyderabad: IT Department Principal Secretary Jayesh
Ranjan inaugurated the WhatsApp Centre at Civil Supplies Bhavan here on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, Jayesh Ranjan said,
“With the help of Civil Supplies Department WhatsApp No. 7330774444 people can
send short messages, images, audio, video clippings to Civil Supplies WhatsApp
Control Room. Ten to fifteen Telangana government departments are using
technology to great effect and getting best results. Civil Supplies Department
is one of them”.
The Telangana Civil Supplies Department has
also decided to use WhatsApp to receive complaints from public about the
various services undertaken by the Department and its stakeholders like
farmers, rice millers, Godown owners, Transporters and Fair Price Shop Dealers.
With the help of Civil Supplies Department
WhatsApp No. 7330774444 people can send short messages, images, audio, video
clippings to Civil Supplies WhatsApp Control Room. The complaint will be
forwarded to the concerned officer on WhatsApp, get their immediate response
and inform the complainant about action taken. The general public can complain
on corrupt practices of department officers, unduly closed F.P. Shops, shortage
of ration, diversion of essential commodities, injustice to farmers, about epos
machines etc.,
WhatsApp will be very useful for beneficiary
make notice to the higher officials in solving problems pertaining in Ration
cards, information about goods supplied on ration cards, corrupt practices of
the officers immediately.
A control room has been set up in the Civil
Supplies Bhavan which will be monitored by three members on the complaints
being received on a 24x7 basis.
For the past 10 months, 15 Groups of WhatsApp
for officers have played a vital role in ensuring timely action, coordination
and solution of problems throughout the State.
Earlier, there used to be a gap between the Head office and the
Districts with very little communication between them, except for official
communications and meetings. Also, there
used to be communication gap between the Civil Supplies Department and the
Civil Supplies Corporation officers.
These 15 groups have bridged all these gaps and broken the walls.
With a
view to prevent diversion of PDS rice which is going on for decades together, a
Command Control Centre with the latest technology has been designed to watch
every movement of vehicles involved in stage-I i.e., stocks moved from Buffer
godowns to MLS points and Stage – II transportation of PDS rice and other
commodities moved from MLS Points till the commodities reach the Fair Price
Shops. Meanwhile, the Civil Supplies Department has decided to install 1715 HD
cameras in 171 MLS Points/Godowns in the State wide. It came to an agreement
with Telangana State Technology Services (TSTS).
The Civil Supplies Department has taken steps
to plug loopholes in the existing system of PDS and strengthen the system to
avoid diversion of PDS rice and other essential commodities by utilizing the
latest technology available. With the success of implementation of CCTV Cameras
in Nine godowns in Greater Hyderabad zone, department decided to install at all
godowns state wide. The facility of seeing the operations on video wall will
also be extended to all the Joint Collectors in the State offices in the near
future.
The implementation of CCTV Cameras in 171 MLS
Points will be taken up in a 4 Phases. Phase – 1 will cover 43 godowns in
Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy districs; Phase – 2 will cover 54 godowns in Medak,
Nalgonda, Karimnagar; Phase-3 will cover 34 godowns in Warangal, Khammam and
Phase-4 will cover 40 godowns in Nizamabad, Adilabad districts. About Rs. 50
crore are expected to be spent on installation of these CCTV Cameras in first
phase
Prevent problems in paddy
purchase: Collector
FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedInWhatsAppMore
By Author | Published: 13th Oct 2017 10:20 pm
Collector Dr. Satyanarayana Speaking in Paddy
Purchasing Meeting held at Kamareddy
Nizamabad: Speaking at a review meeting organised by the Kamareddy district
administration here on Friday on paddy procurement at Ayyappa Function Hall,
Kamareddy Collector Satyanarayana said that the district administration should
take strict action to prevent problems for farmers from purchasing paddy to
rice milling during the Kharif and Rabi seasons. Other officials like DCCB
chairman Patwari Gangadhar, District Civil Supply Officer Ramesh, Civil Supply
Corporation DM Gangadhar and Kamareddy, Yellareddy and Banswada RDOs
participated in the meeting.
Satyanarayana said that the
district administration should be aware of the problems in paddy procurement
during the kharif season and prevent problems for the farmers. He said that
rice millers should pay the amount for procuring paddy to the farmers within 48
hours, provide two trucks to each sector for loading and unloading and that the
cooperative, marketing, revenue and civil supplies departments must ensure
success in paddy procurement.
The Collector said that 195 paddy
purchase centres are being established in Kamareddy district and nine soya bean
purchasing centres are being established at Madnoor, Jukkal, Pitlam, Gandhari,
Kamareddy, SS Nagar, Tadwai and Banswada, five cotton purchase centres are
being established, four at Madnoor mandal and one at Kamareddy mandal
https://telanganatoday.com/prevent-problems-paddy-purchase-collector
Rice millers association of US Nagar to close
shop from today
Aakash Ahuja| TNN | Oct 12, 2017,
22:30 IST
RUDRAPUR: Around 570 rice mill owners in Udham Singh Nagar have
decided to halt operations from October 13 and not accept paddy from government
procurement agencies. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Rice millers
association of the district on Thursday. The association took the decision
citing the “flawed policies of the government regarding rice mills.”
Devi Shankar Agrawal, president of the Rudrapur Rice Millers Association said that “the processing capacity of rice mills is higher than the daily purchase targets of the government procurement agencies as a result of which the amount of paddy being sent to mills for processing is falling short and inflating cost of processing leading to loss for mills.” “The government has introduced a new policy of buying paddy on its own and then sending it to mills for processing. This is impractical, as conditions attached with it are unacceptable,” he added.
The association also plans to approach mill owners from other parts of the state and persuade them to join the protest. A mill owner PD Agrawal alleged that untimely payments from the government agencies are also affecting their business. “Around Rs 50 crore is yet to be paid to us from the last year’s kharif season.”
The owners also want revision in moisture limit and transportation charges. Shyam Agrawal, secretary of the association, said that the association had issued a six-point list in this regard
Talking to TOI, Niraj Kherwal, district magistrate, Udham Singh Nagar said he will be take up the issue faced by the mill owners with the regional food controller (RFC) when he is back to Rudrapur on Friday. Meanwhile, RFC Lalit Mohan Tayal could not be contacted despite several attempts.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/rice-millers-association-of-us-nagar-to-close-shop-from-today/articleshow/61057458.cms
Bengaluru. Low
supplies boosted rice prices in Vietnam this week amid
prospects of fresh purchase interest from the Philippines, while deals with Bangladesh
remained the sole bright spot for the otherwise subdued demand in top Asian
exporters.Traders in Vietnam quoted the benchmark 5-percent broken rice at
$390-395 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon, up from the $385-$390 last week.
"Supply is low after the summer-autumn
crop was completely harvested, bringing prices up. Some sellers held back grains
in an attempt to make larger profits," a trader in Ho Chi Minh city said."As
for trading, Philippines will import rice from Vietnam, Thailand and other
countries under the MAV (Minimum Access Volume) 2017. I think they'll buy
around 290,000 tonnes from Vietnam, same as last year."
However, another trader said no deals have been
finalized.The Philippines opened the rice import scheme, Minimum Access
Volume 2017, in August to private traders in Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and
India, the National Food Authority (NFA) said on its website.As of late
September, importers in the Philippines have applied to buy over 2.2
million tonnes, mostly from Thailand and Vietnam, according to the NFA
document.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh, which has emerged as a
major importer this year after floods damaged its crops and sent domestic rates
soaring, has finalized deals to import 250,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from
Thailand and India.
Bangladesh has also approved the purchase of
100,000 tonnes from Myanmar, setting aside a rift over an ongoing Rohingya
refugee crisis. In India, the 5 percent broken parboiled
rice prices eased by $2 per tonne to the $400-$403 level on
expectations of a rise in supply.
"From the end of this month, supplies from
the new season crop will rise," said an exporter in Kakinada in the
southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Thailand's benchmark 5-percent
broken rice prices dropped to $380-$388 a tonne, FOB Bangkok, from
the $385-$390 range last week, traders said."With the exception of
Bangladesh, there hasn't been much demand from other countries. We expect
Bangladesh to demand more rice until the end of the year," said a
Bangkok-based trader.Thai prices are likely to remain stable, traders
said, even as the market takes stock of the impact of recent floods
in the country.
"It is still too soon to tell whether
there will be damage to crops because most of the rice has already been
harvested," said Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters
Association
http://jakartaglobe.id/international/asia-rice-vietnams-prices-low-supply-market-eyes-philippine-imports/
Central Sulawesi has surplus
production of rice commodity
Palu (ANTARA News) - Central Sulawesi Governor
Longki Djanggola stated that the food security condition, especially with
regard to the production of rice commodity in the province, has recorded a
surplus in the last five years.
"We have 1,103,168 tons of unhulled paddy,
and when converted, it will produce 597,210 tons of rice for the total
population of 2,950,189 people," the governor remarked here on Friday.
According to Djanggola, if the per capita
consumption need of the population is some 139.15 kilograms per year, then
Central Sulawesi needs some 410,519 tons of rice, and there is still a surplus
of some 86,691 tons.
He noted that Central Sulawesis surplus rice is
mostly traded with other regions and islands, such as Gorontalo Province, North
Maluku, East Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan.
The governor also expressed support for one of
the programs that is currently being intensively implemented for achieving food
self-sufficiency to realize national food sovereignty and make Indonesia a
global food barn by 2045.
Central Sulawesi is one of the 34 provinces
that is expected to support and contribute to the food security program,
Djanggola added.(*)
Farmers Rice Milling Company Celebrates 100th
Anniversary
By Kane Webb
LAKE CHARLES, LA -- The 100th anniversary
celebration for Farmers Rice Milling Company was held Wednesday at the newly
expanded packaging and distribution facility here. More than 450 people attended the event
including employees, partners, producers, customers, and local dignitaries.
A ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate the
newly completed 55,000-square-foot expansion at the facility kicked off the
celebration. Next, Nanette Noland,
Farmers Rice Milling Company president, welcomed guests and presented the
company history before recognizing long-time employees with 20+ years of
service. "This 100 years has been
possible because of all of your hard work, sacrifices, and dedication to not
only your own families, but to ours as well," said Noland.
The company's $13.4-million expansion began
back in 2013 to modernize the rice mill and boost processing speed and volume,
allowing the mill to be more competitive and tap into new markets throughout
the world.
"Farmers Rice Milling Company has a long
history of buying rice from Louisiana farmers, which is the heart and soul of
our business," said Ann Stone, CEO of Farmers Rice Mill. "We are looking forward to continuing
our tradition of innovation, quality, and excellence for the next 100
years."
Farmers Rice Milling processes and mills rough
rice at the Lake Charles facility, and then packages and distributes clean rice
to customers from the site. The mill
sells rice to national and international customers as far away as Latin
America, Africa, and the Middle East, and has the capacity to process more than
800 million pounds of rice per year.
"A hundred years in business is
significant and means Farmers Rice Milling Company has established a reputation
for quality and fairness for Louisiana rice farmers," said local producer
Jackie Loewer, who attended the celebration.
"They are a vital part of the rice industry in this area."
Rice farmer Leo LaGrande (far left) leads a
master class
Leadership Class Heads West to California Rice
Country
By Chuck Wilson
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Late last month, the 2016/18
Rice Leadership Development Class completed Session Three of the program, a
comprehensive tour of California's Central Valley rice country, including an
overview of rice marketing and production practices, crop diversity,
conservation and environmental issues, as well as a close look at rice harvest.
"As a California producer, it's my
privilege to show my fellow class members around our region," said Imran
Khan who hails from Chico. "Touring
the unique growing regions here lets everyone see first-hand both the rewards
and difficulties of farming in California.
The week-long program consisted of farm and
mill visits, observation of water systems here, and meetings with
representatives of the California Rice Commission, California Rice Research
Station, and Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, as well as other activities.
"Having an opportunity to view the water
districts in California's rice country was very interesting," said
Arkansas producer Allen McLain.
"While their recent drought is over, their delivery infrastructure
ensures that when water is available it can be moved to where it is
needed."
"The complexity of issues the local rice
industry out here faces is daunting," said Sidney Robnett, a farmer from
Arkansas. "From water and air
quality issues, to wildlife preservation, to water availability, and increased
cost of production for producers, it appears to be a delicate political and
regulatory balance."
Class members also got to experience rice
harvesting at Montna Farms after traveling to Lundberg Family Farms to observe
their operation in Richvale. Sun Valley
Rice Company in Arbuckle hosted a tour of their mill where they process brown
sprouted rice, and the class also toured PGP International in Woodland to see
the many ways rice is used as an ingredient.
"The diversity of crops that are planted
so close to each other out here is amazing to me," said class member Sunny
Bottoms, a technical service rep with Horizon Ag.
Members of this class are producers Michael
Bosworth, Olivehurst, CA; Imran Khan, Chico, CA; Allen McLain, Abbeville, LA;
Sidney Robnett, Stuttgart, AR; Brandon Truax, Gillett, AR; and industry-related
members Sunny Bottoms, Dumas, AR, with Horizon Ag; and Kris Riggs, Jonesboro,
AR, with Anheuser Busch.
The program is sponsored by John Deere Company,
RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company through The Rice Foundation and
managed by the USA Rice Federation.
Polyculture project
launched in Myanmar
Rob Fletcher
13 October 2017, at 9:00am
A new project that aims to improve the
productivity, profitability and development outcomes of systems that combine
the culture of fish and rice in Mayanmar has been launched by WorldFish today. The ACIAR-funded
project, ‘Development of rice fish systems in the Ayeyarwady Delta’, will
involve input from WorldFish and the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI), as well as the Myanmar Ministry of
Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation. By bringing the skills and knowledge of
rice and fish scientists together it seeks to encourage a more integrated
approach to improving the benefits for farmers and fishers from the rice-fish
system as a whole.
Rice-fish
systems are diverse, spanning capture fisheries and aquaculture, with fish and
rice growing concurrently in rice fields and canals or, alternatively, fish
raised between rice crops. The systems are common in many South and Southeast
Asian countries, as well as in some areas of Africa.
WorldFish
has developed several approaches to increasing fish production and productivity
in rice-fish systems. In northwest Bangladesh, culturing carp species and mola
in homestead ponds connected to rice fields led to a 3.5-fold increase in total
fish production compared to stand-alone ponds, as well as a higher nutritional
quality of the production. In Cambodia, improved governance and management of
community fish refuges have led to increased fish production and fish species
diversity in the surrounding flooded rice fields, resulting in increased fish
consumption in the communities.
A
fish pond in the Ayeyarwady Delta
“This new strategic alliance, cemented today
with the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) will aim to align
management of rice and fish systems, which in Myanmar, have been previously
been managed independently,” said Michael Phillips, Director of Science and
Aquaculture at WorldFish. “The work will play an important role in developing
global learning on rice-fish systems under the CGIAR Research Programs of FISH and RICE.”
“This joint
research initiative will support the Ministry’s goals by providing an
evidence-base for informed decision-making and policy development and building
local farming and scientific capacity,” said Grant Singleton, IRRI Principal
Scientist and Program Leader of the ACIAR-funded MYRice project.
“Further, it is a demonstration of IRRI’s commitment to deliver tailor-made, efficient
solutions that address the specific needs of the partners and countries we work
with.”
Since 1965,
IRRI has been working with the Myanmar government to improve the country’s rice
sector by developing modern rice varieties and best rice production practices.
Recent surveys of IRRI’s MYRice farmer beneficiaries have
shown an increase of 20% in yield and 30% in income.
IRRI has
on-going initiatives in the major rice-producing areas in Myanmar: providing
small farmers with better access to rice varieties that can cope with the
effects of climate change; building the capacity of farmers and agricultural
researchers and extension staff to become sustainable, self-sufficient and
resilient; and, enhancing grain quality and farm productivity.
Mostly
focused on the Ayeyarwady delta, the rice-fish project will benefit small-scale
rice farming households, and fishers, through diversification of production,
enhanced resilience and delivering increased farmer incomes, improved food and
nutrition security and enhanced gender equity
https://thefishsite.com/articles/polyculture-project-launched-in-myanmar
Canada seeks more bilateral
trade with Pakistan
October 13, 2017
SIALKOT: High Commissioner of Canada in Pakistan, Perry John
Calderwood, on Thursday stressed the need for boosting bilateral trade and
investment between the two countries.Addressing a meeting of exporters held at
the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), he urged Pakistani
exporters to explore the trade markets of Canada. “There is a huge potential
for bilateral trade between the two countries,” he added.
Mr Calderwood said Canada intends to increase its mutual trade
volume with Pakistan from $1 billion to at least $3bn, for which both countries
must take necessary measures.
“Several Canadian multinationals have already invested billions of
dollars in various sectors in Pakistan, including solar energy and information
technology,” the high commissioner said.
He assured Pakistani exporters that they will get easy access to
Canadian markets.
Welcoming the Canadian envoy, SCCI Acting President, Abdul Waheed,
in his speech said, “The balance of trade is in favour of Canada at the moment.
Canada’s expertise in industrial and economic sectors and its human welfare
index is one of the best in the world and we wish to benefit from its
capabilities and skills in our capacity building for exports, manufacturing
sectors and transfer of technology and knowledge base to the SMEs.”
Mr Waheed added that Canada should encourage mutual exchange of
trade delegations and single country exhibitions of Pakistani products in
Canada.The Canadian envoy assured local businessmen of Canada’s will for
investment and joint ventures in the value-added industries of Sialkot which
would be beneficial for both sides.“We firmly believe that with Canadian
technology and Pakistani craftsmanship, we could do wonders in the
international markets”, said SCCI Vice President, Abid Ahmed Khawaja.
On the occasion, Sialkot’s business community urged for
establishing strong business-to-business and people-to-people linkages between
Pakistan and Canada. They further called for technology transfers and knowledge
sharing for improving the small- and medium-enterprise sector in Pakistan.
Bilateral trade between the countries amounted to $856 million in
2015-16 and $911.6m in 2016/17. Pakistan’s major exports to Canada include
rice, textiles, cotton yarn, carpets, synthetic fabrics, medical/surgical
instruments, sports goods, jewellery, iron, steel and chemicals.
Earlier in the day, Mr Calderwood visited leading industrial units
manufacturing sports goods and surgical instruments.
Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2017
https://www.dawn.com/news/1363404
Pakistan gross financing need for 2017-18 is
$18b rather than $31b: Finance Ministry
51
Muhammad Arshad
Islamabad
Finance Ministry, Wednesday,
rejected report of an international financial institution about economy of Pakistan, saying
that Pakistan’s gross financing need for 2017-18 was about $18 billion (5.3% of GDP) rather than
$31 billion (9% of GDP).An international financial institution
in recently released report pointed out that the increased vulnerability of
external account and risk to macroeconomic stability given the widening current
account deficit. The report projected gross external financing needs of
Pakistan at 9% of GDP i.e. $31 billion for the fiscal year
2018. The gross financing requirements have been worked out by taking into
account the portfolio investment of 4% of GDP i.e $13.8 billion. The
report has further projected deterioration of the external sector in
current fiscal.
However, a spokesman to Finance Ministry stated that that the report was based on misinterpretation of standard definition of the gross financing needs of the country. The report was also a misstatement of performance of external account for the two months of current fiscal year. As per the international reporting standards, portfolio investment is not included while calculating the gross financing needs of a country.
As per international standards, a country’s gross financing need is an aggregate of current account deficit plus debt servicing of the year. Based on this standard, Pakistan’s gross financing need for 2017-18 is about $18 billion (5.3% of GDP) rather than $31 billion (9% of GDP) as mentioned in the said report. As of Sept.2017, the total portfolio investment is $6.6 billion. i.e. 1.94% of GDP rather than $13.8 billion (4% of GDP). Again it is a misstatement of facts.
The spokesman added it is pertinent to mention here that the report itself has pointed out that “improving the external balance hinges upon the revival of exports, slowdown in imports and stable remittance flows”. This is precisely what has been achieved in the first two months of current financial year, i.e. exports and remittances have improved and imports have slowed down.
Exports during July-August 2017-18 stood at $3.93 billion as against $3.34 billion the same period of last year showing a growth of 17.7%. The items showing increase in exports during July-August, 2017 are rice 20%, textile group 7% and other manufacturers 21%. Much of this growth is coming from value added sectors.
The spokesman went on to say imports during July-August, 2017-18 stood at $8.996 billion as against $9.738 billion over the preceding year (May-June 2016-17). Thus growth in imports has shown deceleration of 7.6% over the preceding two months.
Workers’ remittances during July- August, 2017-18 stood at $3.50 billion as against $3.09 billion during the same period of last financial year, showing an impressive increase of 13.2%. Growth in remittances is coming from USA, UK, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Foreign Direct Investment during July-August, 2017-18 stood at $457 million as against $179 million in the same period of last year, showing a massive increase of 154.9%.
As a result of improvement in these key economic indicators, the current account deficit during July-August, 2017 stood at $2.60 billion as compared to $3.10 billion in May-June, 2017 showing a substantial improvement of 16.2%. With these positive trends strengthening in coming months, current account deficit would improve significantly which will also improve FX reserves of the country.
The spokesman said that while external account has shown strong performance in the first two months of current fiscal year, misinterpreting data to deliberately paint negative picture is uncalled for.
However, a spokesman to Finance Ministry stated that that the report was based on misinterpretation of standard definition of the gross financing needs of the country. The report was also a misstatement of performance of external account for the two months of current fiscal year. As per the international reporting standards, portfolio investment is not included while calculating the gross financing needs of a country.
As per international standards, a country’s gross financing need is an aggregate of current account deficit plus debt servicing of the year. Based on this standard, Pakistan’s gross financing need for 2017-18 is about $18 billion (5.3% of GDP) rather than $31 billion (9% of GDP) as mentioned in the said report. As of Sept.2017, the total portfolio investment is $6.6 billion. i.e. 1.94% of GDP rather than $13.8 billion (4% of GDP). Again it is a misstatement of facts.
The spokesman added it is pertinent to mention here that the report itself has pointed out that “improving the external balance hinges upon the revival of exports, slowdown in imports and stable remittance flows”. This is precisely what has been achieved in the first two months of current financial year, i.e. exports and remittances have improved and imports have slowed down.
Exports during July-August 2017-18 stood at $3.93 billion as against $3.34 billion the same period of last year showing a growth of 17.7%. The items showing increase in exports during July-August, 2017 are rice 20%, textile group 7% and other manufacturers 21%. Much of this growth is coming from value added sectors.
The spokesman went on to say imports during July-August, 2017-18 stood at $8.996 billion as against $9.738 billion over the preceding year (May-June 2016-17). Thus growth in imports has shown deceleration of 7.6% over the preceding two months.
Workers’ remittances during July- August, 2017-18 stood at $3.50 billion as against $3.09 billion during the same period of last financial year, showing an impressive increase of 13.2%. Growth in remittances is coming from USA, UK, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Foreign Direct Investment during July-August, 2017-18 stood at $457 million as against $179 million in the same period of last year, showing a massive increase of 154.9%.
As a result of improvement in these key economic indicators, the current account deficit during July-August, 2017 stood at $2.60 billion as compared to $3.10 billion in May-June, 2017 showing a substantial improvement of 16.2%. With these positive trends strengthening in coming months, current account deficit would improve significantly which will also improve FX reserves of the country.
The spokesman said that while external account has shown strong performance in the first two months of current fiscal year, misinterpreting data to deliberately paint negative picture is uncalled for.
https://pakobserver.net/pakistan-gross-financing-need-2017-18-18b-rather-31b-finance-ministry/
Arkansas Rice Festival set for
Saturday
Thursday, October 12th 2017, 8:14 pm PKTFriday, October 13th 2017,
4:49 pm PKT
WEINER, AR (KAIT) -
A full li 
ne-u 
p is planned for a town
festival in Poinsett County.
The 41st Annual Arkansas Rice Festival is
Saturday, Oct. 14, in Weiner.According to the festival website, the event
observes the rich heritage of rice farming in Arkansas and celebrates the
harvest season.Everything kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. with the opening
ceremony and then the parade at 11 a.m.There will be a duck calling clinic,
duck calling contest, and rice cook-off.
At 1 p.m., the wiener dog race and show will take place at the
contest stage.A number of musical performances are also planned to include
Sobriety Check Band, Znydall Wayne Raney Band with Doug Greeno, and the street
dance headliner is the Tony Spinner Band.The Arkansas Rice Festival Pageant
is on the main stage from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Art and photo exhibits will be in the commercial building and
there will be a car show at the Weiner Baptist Church.
Restoring Livelihoods in Villages
After Floods
BY ON 14/10/2017 • LEAVE A COMMENT
Involving the weaker sections in finding farming methods
that work in conditions of floods and water-logging goes a long way in
renewing livelihoods.
The flood water does not drain
quickly and leaves harmful sandy rubble, instead of fertile silt, in many
areas. Credit: GEAG
As soon
as flood waters recede in any place, the topic of vanishes almost entirely from
media discussions. However, for those affected by the flood, the real challenge
is renewing their livelihood after the waters recede.
As the
flood-affected people return to their villages, many find their houses
collapsed and fields water-logged. The rubble deposited in the fields makes
cultivation difficult. Instances of land erosion due of floods have
increased in recent years. All this leaves farmers with no resources to
arrange for seeds and other inputs for the next cropping season. However, it is
very important to plant the crops in time or food shortages can extend for
several months.
Some of
these problems can be reduced to an extent by timely relief and compensation,
but even those remain far from adequate. Voluntary efforts to provide relief
have also declined in recent years.
Repairing
the collapsed houses before winter sets in is important or the cold may have a
heavy toll. A few years ago, I visited the flood-affected areas of Bihar
three months after the water had receded and saw that many victims were still
struggling to survive under polythene sheets in the cold weather. Lack of proper guidelines on how to deal with post-flood
challenges accentuate problems in villages.
The role of outside help in ensuring
that the next crop is cultivated in a satisfactory way after flood waters
recede has become more important. Credit: GEAG
For
several centuries, the deposition of silt by floodwaters on farmlands has
helped in increasing its fertility and productivity, making conditions
conducive for a good yield in the next cropping season. This is still true to
some extent but other factors have intervened to make the situation more
complicated. The floodwater does not drain quickly and leaves harmful sandy
rubble instead of fertile silt in many areas. With the decreasing self-reliance
of farming systems and increasing dependence on outside inputs – including
seeds – it becomes more difficult to find the resources for cultivating the
next crop following the serious damage caused by floods.
Hence,
the role of outside help in ensuring that the next crop is cultivated in a
satisfactory way has become more important. The timely supply of seeds will go
a long way in mitigating farmers’ losses.
Whenever
careful and sustained efforts were made with the involvement of the weaker
sections to find farming methods that work in conditions of floods and
water-logging, encouraging results were achieved. Good yields were obtained
even in very difficult conditions. In this context, the sustained work of the Gorakhpur
Environmental Action Group (GEAG) in villages of eastern Uttar
Pradesh has been particularly helpful as it has emphasised working with women
farmers and the weaker sections.
Voluntary efforts to provide flood
relief have declined in recent years. Credit: GEAG
One of
the efforts by the GEAG was adopting loft farming in which farmers develop
lofts or stilts using wooden sticks on which climber crops like bitter gourds
and bottle gourds take support for growing. The produce does not go bad even
if the fields being waterlogged. Another option has been to adopt mixed
farming organic systems that cut down heavily on the costs of agri-chemicals.
The less suitable farming plots in flood and water-logged areas remain
uncultivated when costs are high, but once the costs come down, people find it
viable to cultivate these less productive fields as well. Another option has
been to integrate fish and poultry farming in such a way that the wastes and
by-products of one sub-system become the inputs of another system. This ensures
that scarce resources get utilised in the best possible way.
R.H.
Richaria, former director of the Central Rice Research Institute in Cuttack,
had pioneered the technology of clonal propagation of rice in the specific
context of India. By using this technology, seeds can be available very quickly
after floods. Such technologies need to be used to ensure that the
flood-affected people get adequate help in renewing their life and livelihood.
Bharat Dogra is
a freelance journalist who has been involved with several social movements and
initiatives.
https://thewire.in/187156/restoring-livelihoods-villages-floods/
Global Rice
Transplanter Machines Market 2017- Yanmar, Iseki, Kubota,
TYM, Jiangsu World
Agriculture Machinery
October 13, 2017
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Remembering King Bhumibol: The
father of the land 
Throughout his 70 years on
the throne, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej devoted himself to the development
of Thailand in many areas. The sight of King Bhumibol in the countryside, with
a camera around his neck and holding a map, was familiar to all Thais.
The Phuket News
Saturday 14 October 2017,
02:00PM
The sight of King Bhumibol
in the countryside, with a camera around his neck and holding a map, is
familiar to all Thais.
King Bhumibol was deeply
involved in the development of Thailand’s agricultural industry, energy
industry and water management systems as a means of improving the people’s
living conditions. Here we will look at just some of the many aspects of the
late King’s tireless dedication to improving the lives of his subjects.
Invention
The late King Bhumibol
Adulyadej invented many devices with appropriate technology to improve the
people’s living conditions and the environment. He became the world’s first
monarch to apply for, and be granted, a patent for his own invention.
The Cabinet on November 21,
2006, approved a proposal by the National Research Council of Thailand to
present King Bhumibol with the title “Father of Thai Invention”. The decision
was meant to honour King Bhumibol and encourage Thai people to follow in his
footsteps. It was also intended to urge young people to create social capital
in terms of inventions and to promote cooperation among inventors.
The late King’s first patent
was granted on February 2, 1993, for his invention, which is referred to as
“Chaipattana Aerator, Model RX-2”. The Chaipattana Aerator is a paddle-wheel
machine in the form of a floating buoy that helps add oxygen to water. It was
awarded first prize by the National Research Council of Thailand in July 1993.
Eight years later, in 2001,
a second patent was presented to him in 2001 for another aerator, referred to
as “Chaipattana Aerator, Model RX 5C”. This invention is a prototype of a
mechanical oxidation device for use in water treatment. King Bhumibol’s
inventions helped save the country’s foreign currency in imports of wastewater
treatment equipment as well.
Energy
The Department of
Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency has adopted the vision of the
late King Bhumibol as a guideline for working out Thailand’s Alternative Energy
Development Plan.
Director-General of the
Department Praphon Wongtharua said that the Alternative Energy Development
Plan, 2015-2036, focuses on encouraging the maximum use of alternative energy
in order to reduce oil imports. Power generation from biomass is part of the
plan, and it has been carried out in all parts of the country.
King Bhumibol’s Royal
Initiative on alternative energy development dates back more than three
decades. At that time, crude oil prices increased sharply, causing many
countries to turn to alternative fuels as a solution.
In 1979 King Bhumibol
instructed the Royal Chitralada Project to embark on experimentation with
biogas production from dairy cow manure and dead plants, which were fermented
for a period of time. The process created a mixture of gases, which were usable
as fuel, and represented not only a viable utilisation of surplus materials,
but also an alternative to fossil fuels.
After his observation of the
biogas production experiment, King Bhumibol in 1985 entrusted officials with
undertaking a study on ethyl alcohol or ethanol production from sugarcane to
cope with possible oil shortages in the future. The study showed that the
transformation of sugarcane into ethanol as an alternative energy source was
viable. Then King Bhumibol offered a fund for the construction of facilities
and equipment for further research into ethanol production from sugarcane.
King Bhumibol found that
palm oil could be used as an alternative to diesel and his formula was tested
and introduced. His initiative led the public and private sectors to further
develop biofuel into commercially viable products, especially ethanol and
biodiesel.
Recognised as the “Father of
Energy Development in Thailand”, King Bhumibol not only proposed ideas but also
put them into practice. He made use of leftover materials as well. For
instance, rice husks from rice mills were turned into charcoal as a form of
fuel. Cow dung from his cattle pens at Chitralada Villa was used to produce
biogas to generate power for factories there.
King Bhumibols innovation on
biodiesel from the extraction of palm oil won the Gold Medal with mention from
Brussels Eureka 2001 in Belgium. Inspired by King Bhumibol’s initiative to
develop alternative fuels to replace imported fossil fuels the Government has
encouraged various communities to produce biodiesel for their own use to reduce
energy costs.
Water
Literally meaning “monkey
cheek,” kaem ling is a well-known flood-control project initiated by the late
King Bhumibol, who observed that most monkeys, when they obtain bananas,
usually store them in their cheeks. They would chew and swallow them later as needed.
King Bhumibol modelled the
concept for water retention after the way monkeys eat bananas by temporarily
storing excess water during heavy rains and afterwards gradually draining it.
This technique helps alleviate the flood problem effectively. It also helps
store water to ease drought problems.
King Bhumibol believed that
reservoirs built on both sides of the Chao Phraya River, which flows through
Bangkok to the sea, could hold excess floodwater in the monsoon and release
them into the sea at low tide. He suggested that the Royal Irrigation
Department construct large water retention reservoirs near the coast to store
water.
New water gates were also
constructed to release water into the sea during low tide and closed during
high tide to prevent seawater from flooding reservoirs and the surrounding
areas. The kaem ling project proved its ability to hold excess water to help
alleviate drought.
King Bhumibol, who was
honoured as the Father of Water Resource Management, was long involved in water
resource development and management. Since his accession to the throne in 1946,
he worked to improve the standards of living of the Thai people, particularly
farmers, whose lives depend greatly on having adequate supplies of water for
their farming.
King Bhumibol initiated many
projects to develop water resources for agricultural and other purposes. The
water issue forms part of Thailand’s national agenda, and the royal holistic
approach is emphasised in the country’s integrated water resource management
for sustainability.
Agriculture
The late King Bhumibol
Adulyadej has been honoured as the “Father of Thai Rice Research and
Development” for his great contribution to research and development, which led
to food security and economic, social, and cultural stability.
The Cabinet, during its
meeting in October 2016, approved the proposal submitted by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperatives to honour two kings of the Royal House of Chakri:
King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).
According to the proposal,
King Chulalongkorn, who was the grandfather of King Bhumibol, has been honoured
with the title “Father of Thai Rice Reform”. He initiated the reform of rice
production and development, which greatly benefited rice cultivation and trade
in Thailand.
During his reign from 1868
to 1910, King Chulalongkorn introduced comprehensive and progressive reforms.
He established the Ministry of Agriculture to support rice production and
improve the quality of rice and rice trade. The King laid the foundation for a
modern irrigation system and introduced the use of rice farming machines on a
trial basis.
His abolishment of slavery
resulted in an increase in a workforce for rice production. The King
established an agriculture school to produce personnel for various divisions of
the Ministry of Agriculture. He also provided scholarships to enable students
to study overseas in various agricultural fields.
As for King Bhumibol, he
initiated rice research and development in various royally initiated projects.
He suggested the re-introduction of the annual Royal Cultivating Ceremony and
the Royal Ploughing Ceremony to boost the morale of Thai farmers.
The late King Bhumibol
devised the “new theory” approach to advance agricultural practices, making the
management of small agricultural areas become more efficient. He used
appropriate technology to introduce rainmaking to ease drought and solve
various soil problems to help in cultivation, especially rice farming.
Rice was one of the first
agricultural crops studied at Chitralada Villa to find the best cultivation
methods to recommend to farm communities. King Bhumibol requested that
different strains of seed be gathered from all over Thailand for testing. He
gave support to the Thai Rice Foundation and the International Rice Research
Institute and also offered a fund to the Department of Rice each year for rice
research.
King Bhumibol travelled to
all corners of the country to visit farmers and provide them with assistance.
The royal policy was to sustain the occupation of rice farming as Thailand’s
cultural heritage and its wisdom and as the foundation of the country’s
sustainable development.
Rice Transplanter Machine
Market – Growth & Forecast to 2021 with CAGR 9.35% With Market trends,
Market Driver and Key Players
13 OCTOBER
2017
HTF Announces the Publication of its Research
Report – Global Rice Transplanter Machine Market 2017-2021
HTF recognizes the following companies as the
key players in the global rice transplanter machine market: Kubota, Iseki, and
Yanmar
Other Prominent Vendors in the market are: TYM,
Jiangsu World Agriculture Machinery, CLAAS, Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural
Machinery, Changfa Agricultural Equipment, Shandong Fuerwo Agricultural
Equipment, and Dongfeng Agricultural Machinery.
Commenting on the report, an analyst from HTF’s
team said: “The latest trend gaining momentum in the market is Product
innovation. Manufacturers are increasingly coming up with more varied products.
For instance, Kubota launched a new rice-seedling transplanter that enables
unskilled drivers to move it straight along with the machine. In an agreement
with telecommunications giant Nippon Telegraph and Telephone group, Kubota is
also developing auto-driving farm machines that use GPS. The company aims to
roll out unmanned tractors around 2018.”
Request a sample report @
https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/742143-global-rice-transplanter-machine-market
“The analysts forecast the global rice
transplanter machine market to grow at a CAGR of 9.35% during the period
2017-2021.”
According to the report, one of the major
drivers for this market is Shift toward mechanization. Mechanization, which
involves mechanically transferring saplings from trays to the soil, is set to
revolutionize the production of rice. This technique enhances productivity by
20%-30%, reduces the overall cultivation cost, and increases the profitability
for farmers by doing away with the extensive manual labor associated with rice
cultivation. It will change the scenario of rice production on a mass scale by
reducing the drudgery associated with preparing the field, transplanting,
cutting crops, and threshing paddy.
Further, the report states that one of the
major factors hindering the growth of this market is Lack of finances for small
farmers to replace old machinery. Agricultural machinery such as tractors, rice
transplanters, and harvesters are capital-intensive and a major investment for
most farmers. The quality and after-sales services of such machinery are
another concern, and most farmers belong to the low-income bracket. Also,
agriculture is largely carried out in rural areas, and there is still an
inadequacy of service-centers for proper maintenance.
The study was conducted using an objective
combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key
participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and
vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.
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https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=742143
PART 01: Executive summary
PART 02: Scope of the report
PART 03: Research Methodology
PART 04: Introduction
• Market
outline
• Global
agricultural machinery market
PART 05: Market landscape
• Market
overview
• Five
forces analysis
PART 06: Market segmentation by distribution channel
• Global
rice transplanter machine market by distribution channel…Continued
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https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/742143-global-rice-transplanter-machine-market
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get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North
America, Europe or Asia.
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"Father of Hybrid Rice" awards
certificates to foreign students
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-14 13:32:57|Editor: Yang Yi
CHANGSHA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-one foreign students have
received certificates after completing a 45-day training program on Green Super
Rice, according to Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center.
An award ceremony was held at the center on Friday. Yuan
Longping, China's "Father of Hybrid Rice" presented certificates to
the students from Thailand, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Panama, Pakistan and other countries.
The training was jointly run by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce
and Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co., Ltd. The students studied
breeding, seed production and high-yield cultivation of Green Super Rice, a mix
of varieties and hybrids adapted to difficult growing conditions. They also
worked with crops in experimental fields in Huaihua and Zhangjiajie, in central
China's Hunan Province.
"I learnt a lot from this training. I will teach farmers in
my hometown what I have learnt here," said Sousa Eduardo, a student from
Panama.
Over 6,000 students from developing countries have joined the
more than 100 similar training programs that have been run since 2000, said
Huang Dahui, associate dean of Longping High-Tech International Training
Institute.
"Our training programs have not only shared advanced
technology with developed countries, but also strengthened friendship between
China and other countries," Huang said.
Ofada rice with beef sauce
October 14, 2017
Ofada rice is a whole grain, unpolished rice
with a mild, nutty flavour with only the husk of the grain removed and it is
more nutritious than ordinary rice. The health benefits of brown rice, also
known as Ofada rice, make it also a medicine for preventing cancer and managing
diabetes. Ololade Alabi writes.
From the streets of Ikenne and Illisan in Ogun
State to Oke Ado area in Ibadan, to several parts of Lagos and other cities
across Southern Nigeria, a variety of rice that is served in leaves has
continued to make waves. There are even websites exclusively dedicated to its
sales. It is called Ofada rice, deriving its name from a village (Ofada) in
Ogun State, where it was first cultivated in Nigeria.
It is also grown in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. It
is often served with a “Ayamase” or “obe-ata-iru” (Pepper, locust beans stew).
These are specially prepared for Ofada rice consumption. Research has shown
that the starch in Ofada rice has medicinal benefits, which include prevention
and regulation of diabetes, colon cleansing, weight loss, calorie intake
regulation, protection against cancer due to the presence of trace selenium, prevention of candidia,
overgrowth lowering of blood pressure
and migraine treatment. Ofada rice is also called brown rice in some circles.
It is the local Nigerian unpolished rice and is affordable and easily
accessible.
Ingredients of Ofada rice and beef sauce
•4 cooking spoons of palm oil
•12 red scotch bonnet pepper {Ata rodo}
•1 green bell pepper
•2 heaped table spoon of locust beans {iru}
•500g assorted meat, 500g beef {red meat}
•Crayfish : 3 table spoon ground
•1 red onion
•2 knorr cubes
•500g Ofada rice, depending on consumption
•3 { red bell pepper also known as tatashey}
•Salt to taste
Preparation of Ofada rice and beef sauce
Rinse
the beef and assorted meat with clean water, and dice into small bits, place in
a medium sized pot. Add the seasoning cubes, salt to taste, diced onion and 2-3
cups of water. Leave to cook till tender for about 3 minutes. Set aside.
Remove
the seed from the red bell pepper. Wash all the red bell pepper thoroughly with
clean water including the red scotch bonnet { ata rodo} and place in a blender.
Blend partly rough.
Pour
the pepper puree in an empty pot and cook till all the liquid evaporates,
leaving the puree concentrated puree. Then set aside.
Before
cooking Ofada rice, remove the stones. Wash the sorted rice severally with
clean water and place in a small pot. Add some water just enough to cover the
rice. Parboil for 10 minutes and turn out into a clean bowl.
Wash
the parboiled rice with clean water and turn back into the pot. Add some salt
and clean water. Boil till the rice softens.
An
empty medium sized pot, heat the palm oil for about 10- 13 minutes. This
process is known as bleaching of the palm oil. Note that bleaching is best done
in a ventilated kitchen, for safety purposes.
Add
the pepper puree and locust beans {iru} and stir, fry for 5 minutes.
Add
the assorted meat stock including the assorted meat and beef, crayfish (whole
and grounded)
Taste
to see if you need some more salt, stir and cover the pot.
Turn
down the heat and leave to simmer for about 15 minutes.
Dish,
serve and enjoy your meal
Big boost for farmers, short duration basmati fetches higher
yield, market price
Since the introduction of 1121 variety in 2006, the country’s
Basmati rice exports have risen sharply.
This year, out of the estimated 2 million hectare of basmati rice
planted area, 1509 variety was sown in around 10% of areas. Pritam Singh, a
farmer from Urlana village in Panipat district of Haryana has reasons to smile
after getting higher yield for the short duration basmati rice variety — PUSA
1509 sown in this kharif season in his 12 acres of land. Singh is also
expecting a higher return for cultivating a new variety which was first
introduced four years back, as this basmati paddy variety is currently fetching
around `2,500-3,000 per quintal from around Rs 1,800-2,000 per quintal a year
back. “For the first time since we started cultivation of new basmati rice
variety, the yield has been in the range of 25-30 quintals per acres against an
average of around 18 quintals per acre in the last couple of years,” Singh told
FE.
Due to lesser time of around 120 days taken for maturing of PUSA
1509 basmati variety against more than 140 days variety of PUSA 1121, thousands
of farmers especially in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have taken
additional crop like pulses between harvesting of wheat and sowing of paddy.
According to A K Singh, principal scientist with Indian Agricultural Research
Institute (IARI) which has developed both the basmati rice varieties, 1509
variety also helps farmers to save additional cost of water or irrigation and
other inputs. This year, out of the estimated 2 million hectare of basmati rice
planted area, 1509 variety was sown in around 10% of areas. “In case of delayed
monsoon, 1509 variety could be planted by end of July or middle of August while
in case of 1121 variety, the sowing has to begin by end of June the usual time
for entry of south-west monsoon into northern India,” Singh said. Since the
introduction of 1121 variety in 2006, the country’s Basmati rice exports have
risen sharply. Exports of the aromatic long-grained rice rose from `2,792 crore
in 2006-07 to `21,604 crore in the last fiscal. Of the total around 4 million
tonne of basmati rice exports, the PUSA 1121 has more than 70% share. It’s
unfair for the farmers not to grow new Basmati variety till they get another
alternate crop, an official with the Punjab agriculture department said. In
Punjab and Haryana, groundwater has depleted to alarming levels because of
excessive usage in growing paddy and wheat. This has forced the two states to
ban usage of groundwater in the summer month of June for rice sowing, so that
the monsoon rains can be used in July.
Besides that, Punjab, which grows common paddy variety in 2.9
million hectare, is planning to shift at least a million hectare to alternate
crops in the next five years.
Date: 14-Oct-2017
Big boost for farmers, short duration basmati fetches higher
yield, market price
Since the introduction of 1121 variety in 2006, the country’s
Basmati rice exports have risen sharply.
This year, out of the estimated 2 million hectare of basmati rice
planted area, 1509 variety was sown in around 10% of areas. Pritam Singh, a
farmer from Urlana village in Panipat district of Haryana has reasons to smile
after getting higher yield for the short duration basmati rice variety — PUSA
1509 sown in this kharif season in his 12 acres of land. Singh is also
expecting a higher return for cultivating a new variety which was first
introduced four years back, as this basmati paddy variety is currently fetching
around `2,500-3,000 per quintal from around Rs 1,800-2,000 per quintal a year
back. “For the first time since we started cultivation of new basmati rice
variety, the yield has been in the range of 25-30 quintals per acres against an
average of around 18 quintals per acre in the last couple of years,” Singh told
FE. Due to lesser time of around 120 days taken for maturing of PUSA 1509
basmati variety against more than 140 days variety of PUSA 1121, thousands of
farmers especially in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have taken
additional crop like pulses between harvesting of wheat and sowing of paddy.
According to A K Singh, principal scientist with Indian Agricultural Research
Institute (IARI) which has developed both the basmati rice varieties, 1509
variety also helps farmers to save additional cost of water or irrigation and
other inputs. This year, out of the estimated 2 million hectare of basmati rice
planted area, 1509 variety was sown in around 10% of areas. “In case of delayed
monsoon, 1509 variety could be planted by end of July or middle of August while
in case of 1121 variety, the sowing has to begin by end of June the usual time
for entry of south-west monsoon into northern India,” Singh said. Since the
introduction of 1121 variety in 2006, the country’s Basmati rice exports have
risen sharply. Exports of the aromatic long-grained rice rose from `2,792 crore
in 2006-07 to `21,604 crore in the last fiscal. Of the total around 4 million
tonne of basmati rice exports, the PUSA 1121 has more than 70% share. It’s
unfair for the farmers not to grow new Basmati variety till they get another
alternate crop, an official with the Punjab agriculture department said. In
Punjab and Haryana, groundwater has depleted to alarming levels because of
excessive usage in growing paddy and wheat. This has forced the two states to
ban usage of groundwater in the summer month of June for rice sowing, so that
the monsoon rains can be used in July.Besides that, Punjab, which grows common
paddy variety in 2.9 million hectare, is planning to shift at least a million
hectare to alternate crops in the next five years.
Rice Production to Drop by 200,000 Tons from 2016
Write : 2017-10-13 15:14:35 Update :
2017-10-13 15:41:36
South Korea's rice production is expected to drop by some
200-thousand tons compared to last year.
The Korea Rural Economic Institute(KREI) on Friday forecast that the country’s farmers will produce a total of three-million-995-thousand tons of rice this year for an on-year drop of 202-thousand tons.
The institute cited unfavorable climate conditions, including daylight hours and average temperature, as major factors.
It said, however, 250-thousand tons of rice will be left unconsumed due to a gradual decline in demand
The Korea Rural Economic Institute(KREI) on Friday forecast that the country’s farmers will produce a total of three-million-995-thousand tons of rice this year for an on-year drop of 202-thousand tons.
The institute cited unfavorable climate conditions, including daylight hours and average temperature, as major factors.
It said, however, 250-thousand tons of rice will be left unconsumed due to a gradual decline in demand
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Ec_detail.htm?No=130806
Central Sulawesi has surplus production of rice commodity
Palu (ANTARA News) - Central
Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola stated that the food security condition,
especially with regard to the production of rice commodity in the province, has
recorded a surplus in the last five years.
"We have 1,103,168 tons of unhulled paddy, and when converted, it will produce 597,210 tons of rice for the total population of 2,950,189 people," the governor remarked here on Friday.
According to Djanggola, if the per capita consumption need of the population is some 139.15 kilograms per year, then Central Sulawesi needs some 410,519 tons of rice, and there is still a surplus of some 86,691 tons.
He noted that Central Sulawesis surplus rice is mostly traded with other regions and islands, such as Gorontalo Province, North Maluku, East Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan.
The governor also expressed support for one of the programs that is currently being intensively implemented for achieving food self-sufficiency to realize national food sovereignty and make Indonesia a global food barn by 2045.
Central Sulawesi is one of the 34 provinces that is expected to support and contribute to the food security program, Djanggola added.(*
"We have 1,103,168 tons of unhulled paddy, and when converted, it will produce 597,210 tons of rice for the total population of 2,950,189 people," the governor remarked here on Friday.
According to Djanggola, if the per capita consumption need of the population is some 139.15 kilograms per year, then Central Sulawesi needs some 410,519 tons of rice, and there is still a surplus of some 86,691 tons.
He noted that Central Sulawesis surplus rice is mostly traded with other regions and islands, such as Gorontalo Province, North Maluku, East Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan.
The governor also expressed support for one of the programs that is currently being intensively implemented for achieving food self-sufficiency to realize national food sovereignty and make Indonesia a global food barn by 2045.
Central Sulawesi is one of the 34 provinces that is expected to support and contribute to the food security program, Djanggola added.(*
Bill setting
high rice tariffs vice QR advances in House
-
The Philippines is inching closer to finally scrapping the quantitative
restriction (QR) on rice after a substitute bill mandating its abolition has
been approved by a technical working group (TWG) in the House of
Representatives.
The TWG created by the House Committee on Agriculture and Food
approved on Wednesday the substitute bill that would amend Republic Act (RA)
8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, the law which enabled the
government to impose the rice QR since 1996.
Under the substitute bill, a copy of which was obtained by the
BusinessMirror, the Philippines will impose a 400-percent bound tariff rate on
imported rice once the QR on the staple is abolished.
“In lieu of the QR on rice, the maximum bound rate shall be as
notified by the Philippines to the [World Trade Organization, or WTO],” the
substitute bill read.
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food will deliberate over
the substitute bill once Congress resumes session after its Halloween break.
Once the substitute bill is enacted into law, the country’s
minimum access volume (MAV) for rice shall revert to its 2012 level at 350,000
metric tons (MT), from the current 805,000 MT.
“Upon the effectivity of this act, the MAV will revert to its
2012 level at 350,000 MT, as indicated in the Philippines’s commitment to the
WTO,” the substitute bill read.
Under the bill, the Philippines will impose a bound tariff rate
of 35 percent for rice originating from the Asean region, regardless of its
volume. Manila would also impose a 40-percent bound tariff most-favored nation
(MFN) rate for in-quota rice imports from countries that do not belong to the
Asean.
A 400-percent bound tariff MFN rate shall apply for rice imports
outside the MAV of 350,000 MT sourced from non-Asean member-countries, according
to the bill.
Notably, the substitute bill indicates that the National Food
Authority (NFA) will be allowed to import rice without having to secure
certification from the NFA Council. However, the NFA shall only import rice for
the sole purpose of securing its buffer stock.
“The [NFA] shall only undertake the direct importation of rice
for the purpose of ensuring fod security and maintaining sufficient national
buffer stocks,” the bill read.
Furthermore, the substitute bill stipulated that the private
sector can import rice, provided that they would comply with the NFA’s rules
and regulations.
“For importation other than maintaining buffer stock, the [NFA]
shall allocate import quotas among certified and licensed importers,” it read.
The President is vested with the power to modify the tariff
rates imposed on the country’s rice imports, upon the recommendation of the
Department of Agriculture (DA) and the NFA Council. The President, through an
executive order, can adjust the applied tariff rates on rice only when Congress
is not in session.
Also, the President is allowed to immediately reduce rice
tariffs in times of “imminent or forecasted shortage”.
“In the event of any imminent or forecast shortage, or such
other situation requiring government intervention, the President is empowered
for a limited period of time and/or a specified volume, to allow the
importation of rice at a lower applied tariff rate, to address the situation,”
the bill read. “Such order shall take effect immediately, and can be issued even
when Congress is in session.”
The President is also empowered to restrict the entry of
imported rice to protect the local sector from sudden or extreme price
fluctuations due to unexpected surges of imports.
“The President may, following a recommendation from the DA and
the NFA Council, impose temporary regulations or restrictions on the volume of
imports of rice for a temporary period through the imposition of a rice
safeguard tariff sufficient in level to address the situation,” the bill read.
The bill stipulated that the DA and the NFA Council shall craft
the rules and regulations governing the special safeguard on rice.
House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chair Party-list Rep.
Jose T. Panganiban Jr. of Anac-IP earlier told the BusinessMirror that they
plan to approve the bill on third and final reading before the end of the year.
The authority to set bound tariffs is vested in Congress. But,
under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the President, upon the
recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority, has the
power to modify the tariffs applied on Philippine imports.
The Philippines is under pressure to convert its QR on rice into
ordinary customs duties after its waiver on the special treatment on rice
expired on June 30. The WTO General Council approved the waiver, which allowed
Manila to keep its rice QR until June 30, on the condition that the Philippines
will subject its rice imports to ordinary custom duties by July 1.
In March the Philippines informed WTO members that it is facing
delays in converting the QR because it has not amended RA 8178, which imposed
the import caps on rice indefinitely. As a sign of “goodwill” to its trading
partners, President Duterte signed Executive Order 23 in July to extend the
concessions made by the Philippines in securing the waiver in 2014
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- October 13, 2017
Reuters | Oct 13, 2017,
14:30 IST
Country keeps focus on
enhancing rice yield
By APP
Published: October 13, 2017
ISLAMABAD: The government is fully focused on enhancing
per acre yield of rice to boost exports of the commodity, said Minister for
National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan.
Speaking at a
training course on hybrid rice technology, he said new rice varieties would
help farmers to increase their yield, which would enable the country to export
more to other countries.
To improve
rice variety, it was necessary to have good quality seeds as they would
increase the crop’s yield, the minister added. “Pakistan will continue to
encourage the private sector to engage in agricultural research.”
Bosan said
rice was among major crops of the country and had a big share in exports,
hence, the government would continue to make all-out efforts to increase
production.
The training
course was initiated in mid-September by Pakistan and China to work together on
the awareness programme for introducing hybrid rice for productivity
enhancement, profitability and extra surplus for exports.
The hybrid
rice seed has been developed by Chinese researchers. Accordingly, seminars were
arranged by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc) and China Yuan
LongPing High-Tech Agriculture in all four ecological zones of the country.
The purpose
of the seminar was to understand exact hybrid seed requirements of Pakistan for
different regions and showcase the hybrid rice varieties. Speaking on the
occasion, Parc Chairman Dr Yusuf Zafar said cooperation between Pakistan and
China under CPEC had led to exports of hybrid rice for the first time.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th,
2017.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1529730/country-keeps-focus-enhancing-rice-yield/
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