Reaping riches from rice research
Updated: October 5, 2019
12:54:37 AM
From
developing varieties that don’t need flooding of fields to enriching the
grain’s nutrient content, IRRI is making rice a wonder crop
When rice is grown under
aerobic conditions, like Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), a saving of about 12-35% of
irrigation water is reported, IRRI says.
I
remember my grandmother, a widowed smallholder farmer, sowing ‘Ayarate,’ a
newly-introduced rice variety that was the talk of her village. It was the late
1960s, or early 1970s. IR8 was a semi-dwarf, and high-yielding variety, which
the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) released in November 1966. The
following year, Nekkanti Subba Rao, a progressive Andhra farmer tested it in
his farm, and supervised a large-scale field demonstration at the behest of the
government. From those seeds came the Green Revolution in rice in India.
For
a rice-eater like me, visiting IRRI, near Manila, in the Philippines, was like
a pilgrimage. The scientists were engaged in producing more rice to feed a
rising global population, and new converts to rice from Africa. They are also
producing better rice that addressed micronutrient deficiencies—Vitamin A,
zinc, and iron—with conventional breeding, if possible, and genetic
engineering, if necessary. More and better quality rice had to be obtained from
plants that are resilient to climate stresses, and use fewer resources like
water.
“There
is a wrong perception that rice needs a lot of water,” IRRI says, defending a
crop that is indicted for groundwater depletion in north-western states like
Punjab, where it is grown mainly for consumption in other states. Punjab
contributes in excess of 80% of its rice production to the central public
distribution pool. It grows rice on three million hectares. That very much
coincides with the area irrigated by its tube wells—2.94 million hectares. The
pumping out of water in excess of the recharge rate has resulted in groundwater
depletion in 70% of central Punjab, the state’s Economic Survey says.
“The
conventional practice of rice production is bundled with the perception that
rice needs to be flooded for most of the time.” Rice can survive in anaerobic
conditions because a specific type of cells pass on oxygen to roots, IRRI said,
in response to emailed questions sent after recorded presentations of its
scientists, and interviews were accidentally lost. The visit to IRRI was part
of a week-long programme on the status of genetic engineering of crops in East
and South Asia, to which CropLife Asia, an industry body, had invited me at its
expense.
Should
groundwater use for cultivation of rice be discouraged? If the aquifers are
well-connected, and rechargeable, pumping of groundwater is one of the good
approaches to capturing water from rain and rivers, which otherwise ends up in
the sea. But, how much water can be pumped out? According to IRRI, that depends
on the type of aquifer, and the recharge capacity, which, in turn, depends on
the source of recharge, and the properties of the sink.
IRRI
says the use of groundwater allows rice farmers to make decisions about
sustainable water management; they lack such autonomy with, say, canal water
systems. So, instead of discouraging rice farmers from using groundwater, they
should be educated about the benefits of precise water management. Efficient
irrigation scheduling (like alternate wetting and drying) not only shrinks the
use of water but also the carbon footprint by reducing emissions of methane, a
greenhouse gas, from bunded fields or paddies. Incentivising farmers with
carbon credits can encourage them to use groundwater efficiently, IRRI says.
(In Punjab, where electricity is free, there is little incentive to conserve
groundwater).
When
rice is grown under aerobic conditions, like Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), a saving
of about 12-35% of irrigation water is reported, IRRI says. Direct sowing can
be done in dry or wet conditions by broadcasting the seeds on ploughed, but
dry, fields, planting them in rows, with seed drills, or using these methods to
plant germinated seed in wet fields (known as wet DSR).
According
to IRRI, DSR is widely practised in many south-east Asian countries, like
Malaysia (about 95% of total rice area), Cambodia (85-90%), Vietnam, Thailand
(about 70%) and the Philippines (42%). In South Asia, Sri Lanka leads with 95%
of rice area under DSR.
The
Punjab, and Haryana governments are promoting DSR to relieve groundwater
stress. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed a package of
practices for DSR, and has recommended the ideal rice varieties for it. PC
Sharma, Director of the Central Soil and Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI),
Karnal, says, in DSR, there is reduction in rice yield of 5-7%. But, this is
compensated by a savings in energy cost, and higher yields in the subsequent
wheat crop, if zero-till agriculture is practiced, and paddy stubble is left to
degrade in the fields. But, farmers, he says, are fixated on yield, and do not
look at total cost savings. Also, current rice varieties are designed for flood
irrigation; rice varieties suitable for direct sowing need to be developed.
IRRI
is working on more nutritious rice: High iron and zinc rice (HIZR), and Golden
Rice, with beta carotene to cure Vitamin A deficiency. While zinc and iron are
present in rice, the levels need to be increased to have an impact on health.
Conventional breeding helps, but genetic engineering ensures a significant
increase. It also allows stacking of multiple traits in a single variety.
Together
with Chinese scientists, IRRI has identified the genetic make-up of over 3,000
rice varieties. The 3,000 Rice Genome Project is being used to map the genetic
regions influencing the glycaemic index, and texture of rice. The results of
the study, it says, will be critical to develop low-glycaemic-index rice
varieties, which offers a healthier option to rice-eaters wary of diabetes.
Golden
Rice is currently undergoing regulatory review in Bangladesh, and the
Philippines. It has received positive food safety assessments from Food
Standards Australia (FSANZ), Health Canada, and the Food and Drug
Administration of the United States. IRRI has engaged in the regulatory
approval process. It says it reaches out to farmers, community groups, and
NGOs, but avoids those who cannot be convinced with facts and evidence.
The discovery of a submergence tolerance gene by an IRRI breeder, and its incorporation in popular rice varieties has come as a relief to farmers in flood-prone areas, where productivity is low, and unstable. The Sub1 gene was discovered in a traditional Odisha rice variety grown in Balasore, where flash floods are common. It was incorporated in the Swarna mega variety, grown on five million hectares in eastern India, and released in 2009. With the gene, the plant can remain completely submerged in muddy water for 7-10 days, and in clear water for up to 14 days, says S R Das, rice breeder and Honorary Professor at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology.
The discovery of a submergence tolerance gene by an IRRI breeder, and its incorporation in popular rice varieties has come as a relief to farmers in flood-prone areas, where productivity is low, and unstable. The Sub1 gene was discovered in a traditional Odisha rice variety grown in Balasore, where flash floods are common. It was incorporated in the Swarna mega variety, grown on five million hectares in eastern India, and released in 2009. With the gene, the plant can remain completely submerged in muddy water for 7-10 days, and in clear water for up to 14 days, says S R Das, rice breeder and Honorary Professor at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology.
While
under water, the plant remains dormant. When the floods recede, it uses
conserved carbohydrates to regenerate. Swarna and Swarna Sub1 are alike in all
respects, except that the latter can survive flash floods. IRRI says the
average yield of scuba, or Sub1, rice varieties is 4.5-6.5 tonnes per hectare,
and the yield advantage is 1-3 tonnes per hectare over those that don’t have
the Sub1 gene. Seven varieties with the gene have been released in Asia.
Another interesting gene isolated from the Pokhali rice variety, grown in coastal Kerala, is the Saltol gene, which makes rice salt-tolerant. Rice productivity in salt-affected areas is about 1.5 tonnes per hectare. IRRI says it has developed about 100 salinity tolerant elite lines, which have traits like high-yield, good grain quality, and resistance to pests and diseases. They are ready for testing in farmers’ fields. It has released 34 salt-tolerant varieties across Asia.
Another interesting gene isolated from the Pokhali rice variety, grown in coastal Kerala, is the Saltol gene, which makes rice salt-tolerant. Rice productivity in salt-affected areas is about 1.5 tonnes per hectare. IRRI says it has developed about 100 salinity tolerant elite lines, which have traits like high-yield, good grain quality, and resistance to pests and diseases. They are ready for testing in farmers’ fields. It has released 34 salt-tolerant varieties across Asia.
The author blogs at smartindianagriculture.com Views are personal
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Scientists research solution to stink bug
infestations
by: Grace Hayba
Posted: Oct 4, 2019 / 06:11 PM
GMT-0500 / Updated: Oct 4, 2019 / 06:11 PM GMT-0500
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)– The brown marmorated
stink bug originated in Asia but migrated to the United States in the 1990s.
Now, they’re found all around the nation and they’re growing uncontrollably.
“They will lay their eggs on the underneath
side of leaves, about twenty to thirty, and they look like little pieces of
rice. Then when they hatch, they go through five molting stages in the course
of one year, get to three quarters of an inch, and then they start looking for
warm places to hibernate during the winter time,” said garden expert Charlie
Stocker.
“Naturally they’re hanging out in corn fields
and soybean fields and as those get harvested, they’ve found out that we have
built a nice little structure for them to live in throughout the winter, so
they start moving inside,” said Brian Ranes with Mahon Exterminating.
Ranes said the cooler it gets, the more likely you are to find the bugs in your homes.
Ranes said the cooler it gets, the more likely you are to find the bugs in your homes.
Usually an attic or a wall void or a chimney or
something like that, where it’s very difficult to find them and eliminate them
from those locations,” said Ranes.
But Ranes said even if you don’t see them, that doesn’t mean they’re not there. “These insects can actually be frozen to some point and then survive,” said Ranes.
It’s a process called diapause. The insect enters a motionless, dormant stage which blocks developmental growth in anticipation of a harsh seasonal change. There are several species of stink bugs native to the United States, but their predators won’t kill this particular pest. Therefore, scientists say we have to look overseas for the solution.
But Ranes said even if you don’t see them, that doesn’t mean they’re not there. “These insects can actually be frozen to some point and then survive,” said Ranes.
It’s a process called diapause. The insect enters a motionless, dormant stage which blocks developmental growth in anticipation of a harsh seasonal change. There are several species of stink bugs native to the United States, but their predators won’t kill this particular pest. Therefore, scientists say we have to look overseas for the solution.
“Trissolcus Japonicus. We’ve been studying this
in the laboratory for some years to determine if specific enough to brown
marmorated stink bug to introduce,” said Dr. Kim Hoelmer, USDA Research
Entomologist
Hoelmer said the wasp should help reduce numbers, but stink bugs are here to stay.
Hoelmer said the wasp should help reduce numbers, but stink bugs are here to stay.
Samurai Wasp ( Trissolcus Japonicus )
Courtesy: E. Talamas, USDA
Courtesy: E. Talamas, USDA
“It may take some time because it may take some
years for the population to grow to the point where they occur everywhere the
stink bugs occurs,” said Hoelmer.
Other than a foul odor, experts say the stink
bugs are relatively harmless. Some tips for keeping them out of your homes
include: making sure your doors and windows are securely shut, keeping your
lights off when they’re not in use and caulking any crevices.
Copyright 2019 Nexstar
Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Mumbai
Crime: Crooks who pulled off a 'scientific' con arrested
Updated: Oct 05, 2019, 07:56 IST | Faizan Khan
Gang
would convince people to invest in testing a device that they claimed would be
sold to agencies such as ISRO, NASA and DRDO
The documents, posters etc seized
from the accused
Unit
11 of the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested a gang of five recently that duped
people to invest in testing a device that they claimed would be sold to
agencies such as ISRO, NASA and DRDO. According to the police, the fraudsters
even dressed up to appear as scientists and met investors in five-star hotels.
Crime
Branch officials said the scam has been fooling people across the globe. In the
name of a device called a 'rice puller' (a metal device that can pull rice
grains), fraudsters cheat people saying agencies like ISRO and DRDO were
willing to purchase it from Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore, if its
genuineness was proved after testing
A
conspiracy to destroy planet Earth?
JAIME J. YAMBAO
DONALD Trump, if he is not
forgotten like a bad nightmare, will probably be remembered as the President
Who Kept His Deadly Campaign Promises. Not that politicians are normally liars.
Once in office, a political leader finds himself no longer just the leader of
his political party but the leader of the whole country. In the case of the US,
the President of the United States is leader of the so-called free world;
anyway, a leader of the whole world.
It is thus simply weird that President Trump should adopt as the
theme and policy of his administration America First. It is as though America
were just a former colony of itself, or just like the Philippines. Don’t you
remember a Philippine president who once had a similar policy? The Carlos P.
Garcia administration’s policy was “Filipino First,” but unlike Trump’s,
Garcia’s slogan did not have an overarching application. Garcia called on the
private sector to substitute imported goods with Philippine-made ones, and for
the public to patronize the latter. That was about all. It would take Garcia’s
successor, Diosdado Macapagal, to change the country’s National Day from July 4
to June 12. It would take Macapagal’s successor, Ferdinand Marcos, to assert
the country’s sovereignty over the American military installations in the
Philippines and considerably reduce the territory occupied by them. And it
would take a volcanic eruption of global magnitude for the US to remove its
military installations from the country willingly.
A fight fit for a superpower
The US during its last presidential election campaign was yet the only superpower in the world. It therefore surprised everybody when President Trump made good on his campaign promise to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The struggle to save the planet from annihilation and humanity from extinction is obviously and surely a fight fit for a superpower. How can Trump be in denial of the conclusion of all the world’s scientists worthy of being called scientists that the dangers of climate change have been bought about by human activity, but that timely action by the peoples, governments and nations of the world can save the planet from annihilation and humanity from extinction? No, President Trump is not stupid. I fear that one cannot exculpate Trump from being possibly the one whom Nostradamus prophesied as the anti-Christ, the Devil himself, as shown by his rendering Mr. Muller incapable of clear and courageous English; his turning of the US Senate and the Attorney General into his obsequious lapdogs; mesmerizing the pious denizens of the Bible Belt to turn blind to his serial immoralities, and spellbind others with the hocus-pocus he makes on his tax returns, and forgetful that because all Americans are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, except for the American Indians, Trump’s immigration policies lack heart and reason.
The US during its last presidential election campaign was yet the only superpower in the world. It therefore surprised everybody when President Trump made good on his campaign promise to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The struggle to save the planet from annihilation and humanity from extinction is obviously and surely a fight fit for a superpower. How can Trump be in denial of the conclusion of all the world’s scientists worthy of being called scientists that the dangers of climate change have been bought about by human activity, but that timely action by the peoples, governments and nations of the world can save the planet from annihilation and humanity from extinction? No, President Trump is not stupid. I fear that one cannot exculpate Trump from being possibly the one whom Nostradamus prophesied as the anti-Christ, the Devil himself, as shown by his rendering Mr. Muller incapable of clear and courageous English; his turning of the US Senate and the Attorney General into his obsequious lapdogs; mesmerizing the pious denizens of the Bible Belt to turn blind to his serial immoralities, and spellbind others with the hocus-pocus he makes on his tax returns, and forgetful that because all Americans are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, except for the American Indians, Trump’s immigration policies lack heart and reason.
Edicts of Mammon
Trump has not simply withdrawn from the Paris Agreement. He has championed the Edicts of Mammon as drawn up by publicists of the fossil fuel companies. He has even appointed representatives of those companies to the helm of the US Environment Policy Administration, mandating them to reverse the initiatives put in place by the previous administration in fulfillment of US commitments under the Climate Change Agreement. The Trump administration is now also penalizing state governments setting tail pipe and other standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It has actively prevented international conferences from including climate change in their agenda and output statements.
Trump has not simply withdrawn from the Paris Agreement. He has championed the Edicts of Mammon as drawn up by publicists of the fossil fuel companies. He has even appointed representatives of those companies to the helm of the US Environment Policy Administration, mandating them to reverse the initiatives put in place by the previous administration in fulfillment of US commitments under the Climate Change Agreement. The Trump administration is now also penalizing state governments setting tail pipe and other standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It has actively prevented international conferences from including climate change in their agenda and output statements.
There is no end, it appears, to what Trump will do to prevent
anything from being in the way of the US becoming not only self-sufficient in
fossil fuel resources but also the No.1 producer of oil in the world. Never
mind if the US maintains its position as one the biggest sources of greenhouse
gas emissions in the world. Paradoxically, Trump’s position springs from his
faith that the technology will be invented to save the planet from climate
change. Unfortunately, scientists and engineers doubt that an effective
technology can be developed in time before the earth’s path to destruction
becomes irreversible.
There has been recent evidence that the Trump position on
climate change does not only come from a pigheaded denial of science, but from
a desire to take advantage of the misfortunes of others. Consider Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo’s starting speech at this year’s Arctic Council meeting,
where members were concerned about the effects of the rapidly shrinking levels
of sea ice in the polar region and its inhabitants, except the US delegate:
“The Arctic is at the forefront of opportunity and abundance. It
houses 13 percent of the world’s undiscovered oil, 30 percent of undiscovered
gas, an abundance of uranium, rare earth, gold, diamonds and millions of square
miles of untapped resources, fisheries galore…. Steady reductions in sea ice
are opening new passageways and opportunities for trade. This could potentially
slash the time it takes to travel between Asia and the West by 20 days. Arctic
sea lanes could become the 21st century Suez and Panama canals.” Pompeo focused
his speech on the threats of possible competition from Russia and China in the
use of these waterways.
Even more startling has been the news of the offer of President
Trump to buy Greenland as the future site of a Trump Tower and resorts. He
called the Prime Minister of Denmark “nasty” when she told him Greenland was
not for sale. Why, pray, would Denmark leave it to the US to exploit the rich
natural resources of their territory if they indeed existed?
Catastrophic effects
Absent in all these was concern that the disappearance of the sea ice due to global warming and climate change is causing the extinction of thousands of species and the means of livelihood of indigenous communities. It has also been feared that the melting of the ice caps could release the germs of the bubonic plague and other ancient epidemics that have been buried under the ice.
Absent in all these was concern that the disappearance of the sea ice due to global warming and climate change is causing the extinction of thousands of species and the means of livelihood of indigenous communities. It has also been feared that the melting of the ice caps could release the germs of the bubonic plague and other ancient epidemics that have been buried under the ice.
There is even less concern that the reduction of the sea ice in
the polar regions would have catastrophic effects on sea levels and the weather
worldwide. Rising sea levels have submerged more and more of neighboring Tuvalu
and other islands of the Pacific. In Southeast Asia, including the Philippines,
seawater has seeped into rice fields, killing the rice; and rice farmers have
switched to growing hay instead. The International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) is faced with the challenge of developing rice varieties that can
withstand saline water.
The catastrophic effects of climate change have already visited
all around the world in the form of extremely hot summers and cold winters, in
more frequent and destructive storms, and in record heavy rainfall and
flooding. Super Typhoon “Yolanda” that hit Leyte, it seems, was not the worst
yet that could befall the Philippines, judging by the hurricane that recently
flattened the Bahamas. Thousands have lost their lives, their homes and
properties. With governments increasingly unable to cope with the scale of the
damage left by these climate change catastrophes, lawyers should be ready to
file suits on behalf of victims, holding Mr. Trump and the fossil fuel
companies responsible for the sufferings the latter have caused them.
The teenage activist Greta Thunberg, who has inspired a global
movement involving young and old calling for action on climate change, hit the
target right on center when she criticized in her recent speech at the United
Nations leaders and policy-makers “who cared more about money and fairy tales
of economic growth than collapsing ecosystems, mass extinctions, and people
suffering due to climate change.” How can this not be directed at Trump when
the US is now the only country outside of the Paris Agreement?
And no leader is more combative and contemptuous about climate
defenders than Trump. He mocks Greta in his tweet. Unable to distinguish
between climate and weather, he mocked climate scientists in the middle of the
last, very cold winter. “What global warming are they taking about?” His
attitude reminds one of Nero, singing and playing the lyre while Rome burns, in
the 1951 movie “Quo Vadis.” The actor who played Nero, Peter Ustinov, had an
uncanny resemblance to Trump.
I think it would be a miracle if Trump changes his attitude
towards climate change. Ergo, we can only invoke divine justice. Maybe he could
be struck by lightning while he gives another of his arrogant, rambling press
conferences in the lawn of the White House, dishing out lies, answering
criticisms with argumentum ad hominem (personal attacks) and argumentum ad baculum
(fear of force).
How can one rely on the US electorate to dismiss him from office
when they elected him the last time despite the better qualifications and the
smaller shortcomings of his rival? How can one trust their wisdom when they
keep an Electoral College that picks the loser rather than the winner of the
popular vote, and when they keep a Second Amendment to their Constitution
protecting the owners or holders of weapons of war attacking innocent people in
schools, houses of worship and shopping malls?
UMPI receives
largest grant in its history
UMPI Grant
Posted: Fri 10:56 AM, Oct 04, 2019
PRESQUE ISLE—The University of
Maine at Presque Isle will receive the largest grant in its history this month
following the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that the University
was selected for a 2019 Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant
worth nearly $2.25 million over a five-year cycle. The grant will allow UMPI to
expand access to two new career pathways—in Computer Science and Health
Administration—and develop stronger career readiness and experiential learning
offerings for students. UMPI is one of only 64 institutions across the nation
to receive this award.
“This is the first time UMPI has
been selected for this highly competitive grant, and we couldn’t be more
pleased that this particular project—focused on providing greater access to
high demand degree programs and ensuring that all of our students are career
ready and get work experiences before they graduate—will be able to take shape
over the next five years,” UMPI President Ray Rice said. “Establishing Computer
Science and Health Administration bachelor’s degree programs here will help us
to better meet the workforce needs of our region and state while providing our
students with new avenues for prosperous careers. And having the ability to
simultaneously work on career readiness and experiential learning strategies
will allow us to even better prepare our students for their future careers.”
The project, titled Expanding
Access, Increasing Success, and Improving Career Readiness, includes $449,962
for the first year with the anticipation that the grant will be for 5 years, a
total of $2,249,710. Title III grants help colleges to expand their capacity to
serve low-income students. At UMPI, nearly 88% of students are recipients of some
form of federal financial aid and almost two-thirds are low-income and receive
Pell grants. The work involved in the grant project allows the University to
better serve this student population and meet several goals established as part
of its 2020 Strategic Plan, as well as University of Maine System strategic
priorities.
“UMPI’s commitment to serving
students and preparing work-ready graduates for careers in high-demand fields
is bringing new resources and opportunities to Maine,” Dannel P. Malloy, Chancellor
of the University of Maine System, said. “Student-focused innovation attracts
investment and is one of the reasons why Maine’s public universities deliver
unmatched quality and affordability."
UMPI's Strengthening Institutions
Program grant will provide for a wide range of activities over the next five
years. The University will hire new faculty to create the two new bachelor’s
degree programs, with two concentration areas in each program: Software
Development and Information & Data Management within Computer Science, and
Community Health and Health Informatics within Health Administration.
According to WayUp, Computer
Science entry-level jobs are one of the fastest-growing fields in Maine, with
computer and information scientists earning an average salary of $100,660 per
year. Salaries for software developers in Maine average $90,530, and such
positions are expected to grow by 30% in the state by 2020.
In the area of Health
Administration, 65% of health administration positions in Maine require a bachelor’s
degree, with a median salary of nearly $69,000. The State of Maine anticipates
12% job growth over the next decade for health information managers, with a
median income of $62,060.
In addition to new faculty
positions in these high-demand, high wage career fields, the grant will fund a
new computer lab, complete with Smart Classroom technologies and ergonomic
student workstations, for each of the two new academic programs.
Grant funding will also allow for
the implementation of University Experience courses that include life, career,
and financial literacy modules and the hiring of a University
Experience/Experiential Learning Coordinator. This coordinator will develop the
University Experience courses and provide faculty training on how to incorporate
NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) career readiness
competencies into the curriculum throughout the college student life cycle. The
coordinator will also work with faculty on incorporating experiential learning
activities, such as internships and service learning, into humanities courses.
Additionally, the grant will
allow for an increase in the number of online courses provided by UMPI, to
include the YourPace competency-based education degree programs. These online
courses allow adult students to complete degrees at their pace with six start
dates throughout the year.
Finally, the grant will fund
professional development for faculty and staff to travel to conferences related
to Title III activities as well as campus workshops focused on best practices
in designing experiential learning opportunities and ensuring career readiness
for students as they prepare to graduate and enter the workforce.
“The Title III grant will be
truly transformative for UMPI and our students,” Dr. Debbie Roark, UMPI
Executive Director for University Advancement and External Affairs, who will
also serve as the Title III Project Director, said. “We have an opportunity
over these next five years to build and solidify UMPI’s reputation with respect
to the student experience. These funds are dedicated to increasing access,
improving the student experience, and providing our students with the tools
they need to successfully transition from the campus to their careers upon
graduation.”
About the Title III Program
The Title III Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and began as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as an effort by the U.S. Congress to assist colleges to expand their capacity to serve large proportions of low-income students. An important objective of the Title III Program is to help participating institutions improve and strengthen their academic programs and management, and strengthen their capacity to serve students.
The Title III Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and began as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as an effort by the U.S. Congress to assist colleges to expand their capacity to serve large proportions of low-income students. An important objective of the Title III Program is to help participating institutions improve and strengthen their academic programs and management, and strengthen their capacity to serve students.
Waning demand prompts Indian, Thai exporters to lower prices
Rice export rates in Asian hubs fell this week as weak demand
and currency fluctuations prompted sellers in India and Thailand to cut prices,
while expectations of lower interest from the Philippines weighed on the
Vietnamese market.
Thailand’s benchmark 5% broken rice prices were quoted slightly
lower at $396-$417 a tonne versus last week’s $400-$420.
“Exporters have to lower prices to lure buyers,” a Bangkok-based
rice trader said adding: “I’ve not been able to sell any rice for two months
now.”
Thai exporters have struggled since the start of the year as the
baht, which has been Asia’s best performing currency this year, has kept Thai
prices higher than those of competitors India and Vietnam.
“There could be a possible deal for parboiled rice from African
markets ahead of Christmas, and perhaps some demand from China and other Asian
markets for jasmine rice towards the end of the year,” another Bangkok-based
trader said
“But as of now there is simply no major demand due to our high
prices.”
Prices of top exporter India’s 5% broken parboiled variety also
extended losses, dipping to around $369-$373 per tonne from $371-$375 a week
ago on a weak rupee and subdued demand.
“Demand is weak. Traders are waiting for the new season crop,”
said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Indian rice exports in April-July plunged 26.5% from a year ago
to 3.14 million tonnes, a government body said last month, on subdued demand
for non-basmati rice from Africa.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice were quoted at $330-$340 a
tonne, free on board, compared with $335 a week earlier. Prices had plunged to
a near 12-year low of about $325 in the week to Sept. 19.
“We are concerned that exports to Philippines will decline as it
is seeking to limit rice imports to protect local farmers,” a trader based in
Ho Chi Minh City said.
Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice importers, may
consider imposing a safeguard duty on rice to ease the pain of local farmers
hurting from a surge in imports.
Vietnam’s rice shipments in the first nine months of 2019 likely
rose 4.5% to 5.1 million tonnes, but export revenue was expected to drop 9.7%
in the same period.
Elsewhere, a heavy spell of retreating monsoon rains has
submerged vast swathe of farmland in low-lying Bangladesh, still recovering
from previous floods. Floods in July washed away crops that would have yielded
nearly 400,000 tonnes of rice, agriculture ministry estimates showed.
“If the water recedes soon, it won’t have much impact on paddy
crops,” an agriculture ministry official said.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; editing by Arpan Varghese and David Evans)
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; editing by Arpan Varghese and David Evans)
Vietnam exports more rice, but receives less income
Hanoi, Oct 4 (Prensa Latina) Vietnam exported more rice
in the first nine months of 2019 than in the same period of 2018, but its
revenues were much lower given the plunge in rice prices on the international
market.
As reported this Friday by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development, Vietnam exported 5.2 million tons of rice through the
end of September, a year-on-year increase of 5.9%, although its income dropped
9.8% to total $2.24 billion.
The Philippines was the largest buyer, but according to market experts, this nation is envisaging implementing a tariff on rice imports to defend domestic rice producers and marketers, which would be a big blow to Vietnam.
International rice prices, one of the mainstays of the Vietnamese economy, averaged $435 per ton in 2019, 13.8% less than in 2018.
Vietnam exports rice to about 150 nations and covers 15% of the global rice market, making it the world's third largest exporter after India and Thailand. Its main customers are China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
The Philippines was the largest buyer, but according to market experts, this nation is envisaging implementing a tariff on rice imports to defend domestic rice producers and marketers, which would be a big blow to Vietnam.
International rice prices, one of the mainstays of the Vietnamese economy, averaged $435 per ton in 2019, 13.8% less than in 2018.
Vietnam exports rice to about 150 nations and covers 15% of the global rice market, making it the world's third largest exporter after India and Thailand. Its main customers are China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
Border Closure Hitting The Price of
Rice
Friday, October 04, 2019 / 11:04 AM / CSL Research / Header
Image Credit: Yahoo
Since Nigeria
closed its land borders, the price of rice, a major staple in the country has
been on the rise. According to a report by Business Day Newspaper, the price of
a 50kg bag of imported rice, which was selling at N14,500 before the closure of
the border, now sells for N27,000. Locally produced rice has not been left out
of the party as the price of Lake rice (a product of an alliance between Lagos
State and Kebbi State) has increased 22% to N16,500 from N13,500 before the
closure of the border.
According to data from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) for August 2019, Nigeria, with average local
demand of 7.3 million metric tonnes (MT) per annum - versus average local
production of 4.9 million MT, is the world's third largest rice importer behind
China and the Philippines. Since 2011, the government has made substantial
efforts to encourage the domestic cultivation of rice and eliminate imports
using incentives such as subsidised loans, cheap fertilizer, free farm lands,
and tax rebates. The central bank has also initiated lending schemes such as
the Anchors Borrowers Programme (ABP) and Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme
(CACS) to stimulate the planting and cultivation of local crops.
Though production has improved and
locally-grown rice is now available in many markets, supply still dwarfs local
demand. The decision to close the land borders has worsened the supply
situation, resulting in a steep increase in price as seen in the past few
weeks. Adding to the pressure of low supply, many dealers are said to be
hoarding the commodity with the intention of selling at increased prices during
the Christmas festivities.
Whilst hurting consumers, the
closure of the borders has been positive for local rice producers such as Olam
and indigenous companies such as Flour mills who produce spaghetti. Our chat
with a few consumers and retailers suggests that spaghetti is gradually becoming
an acceptable substitute for rice as a pack of sphaghetti that can feed four
average consumers sells for N220 while a derica (the local measurement) of
imported rice that feeds about 5 average consumers now sells for N400.
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RIPAN Warns Local Rice Distributors Over Price
Hike By Economic Confidential
October
4, 2019 RIPAN Warns Local Rice Distributors Over Price Hike
Following
the shutdown of the country’s land borders since August, and increase in the
price of local rice at several markets, the Rice Processors Association of
Nigeria (RIPAN) has convened a stakeholders meeting involving officials of the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Small and Medium Scale Millers Association (SMSMA), Rice Millers
Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) and some commercial farmers. At the meeting,
RIPAN and the other stakeholders cautioned rice distributors, wholesalers and
retailers against engaging in the exploitative act of jerking up the prices of
their local rice. An Executive Member of RIPAN, Mr. Abba Dantata told PRNigeria
that the sharp increase in the price of bags of local rice across several
markets in country is the handiwork of some wholesalers, other distributors and
retailers of the staple food commodity. He revealed that they summoned the
meeting not because of the brouhaha generated by the border closure, but
because some rice traders have been exploiting the general public, through
hiking the price of their commodities. Dantata, maintained that none of their
members and other rice processors sell a bag of rice to wholesalers above their
fixed price of N14, 000, saying: “It will surprise you to know that some RIPAN
members even sell a bag of their locally-processed rice for N13, 500. There are
those who choose to sell for N13, 800. Others sell bag of their local rice for
N13, 900. But none of our members sell above N14, 000.” He however, added that
the some retailers, wholesalers and distributors, who have since cashed in on
the shutdown of the country’s land borders, are the ones who sell a bag of rice
for between N17, 000 to N18, 000 to their customers and other Nigerians. “Those
buying from us are the ones engaging in needless and exploitative profiteering.
They are the ones taking advantage of the system to hike their price,” Dantata
added. While pointing out that without adequate supply and with higher demand
there must be a price hike, the RIPAN official, said “it is normal that there
will be an initial hike in the price of the commodity. But it will soon fall.
The prices will crash by the time the volume of local rice supply increases at
markets.” He dismissed a media report, which claimed that the price of local
rice will exceed N30, 000 (the minimum wage amount) during the forthcoming
yuletide, saying the story is only aimed at causing panic among consumers and
buyers. Asked if RIPAN has evolved measures to check the over-exploitation of
rice buyers by wholesalers, Dantata, said only government and other relevant
law enforcement bodies can formulate, monitor and then enforce adherence to the
stipulated price for selling the commodity.
He
thereafter called on rice distributors to be responsible and humane, while also
appealing to them to stop jerking up price of their commodities beyond
consumers’. According to the RIPAN member, shutting down the borders has not
only curbed the illicit activities of smuggling, but also helped to reduce
unemployment and boosted the country’s economy.
While
urging the Federal Government not to review the policy, Alh. Dantata, said
“when the borders were porous, activities of rice smuggling was rife in the
country. Then, most of our rice millers had to close down their factories. But
with the recent closure, most of them are now back in business, and doing very
well. The last thing RIPAN and other local millers want to hear is that
government will soon re-open the borders.”
Basmati
faked as PR variety to bag MSP
Karnal
arhtiya-miller-official nexus ‘siphoning’ govt fundsArhtiyas in cahoots with officials buy 1509
Basmati and pass it off as PR paddy
Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 4
Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 4
With paddy
procurement picking up in the rice bowl of Haryana, certain officials of the
State Agriculture Marketing Board in connivance with procurement agencies,
arhtiyas and rice millers are allegedly siphoning off money from the state
exchequer by issuing fake gate passes for PR variety instead of PUSA 1509
Basmati.
PR variety is
procured by the government for custom milling of rice (CMR), while it doesn’t
procure Basmati varieties, which are purchased solely by private dealers. By
passing off Basmati as PR variety, arhtiyas collect Rs 1,835 per quintal MSP
from the government though no crop is actually being purchased against fake
gate passes.
Though farmers get their money — Rs 2,400 to Rs
2,600 as per the rate of the day for PUSA 1509 — arhtiyas and millers together
earn huge profits by allegedly supplying cheaper PDS (public distribution system)
rice brought from
UP, Bihar and other eastern states in the name of CMR. The PDS rice is apparently being adjusted to justify the purchase.
UP, Bihar and other eastern states in the name of CMR. The PDS rice is apparently being adjusted to justify the purchase.
Sources say
board officials as well as procurement agencies are allegedly getting a cut for
conniving with unscrupulous businessmen.
Data suggests the arrival of PR variety this
year has more than doubled in the Karnal grain market, and gone up manifold in
the district as compared to last year. The arrival of 1509 variety has
decreased as a corollary.
The arrival of
1509 variety stood at 1,39,625 quintal till October 3, while during the
corresponding period last year, it was 1,99,180 quintal. On the contrary, the
arrival of PR variety was 4,02,416 quintal till October 3, while it was
1,95,940 quintal in the Karnal grain market.
In the district,
the arrival of PR variety was 18,23,181 quintal against 8,33,050 quintal last
year.
“The 1509
variety is being shown on paper as PR variety, which falls in the procurement
category, to get the payment from the government,” sources say.
Some of them
will later return PDS rice from UP and Bihar to adjust the purchased paddy,
they claim. Last year, huge quantities of PDS rice were recovered from across
Haryana, particularly Karnal.
Deputy
Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said it was a serious issue and would ask the
District Revenue Officer to look into the allegations and file a report.
Yashveer Singh,
a farmer, said gate pass was issued of PR variety even though he was there to
sell 1509 paddy. “My crop was procured at Rs 2,400 per quintal, but was told
that Rs 1,835 would be given by the government, and the remaining by the
buyer,” he said.
An arhtiya
claimed illegal purchase was going on unabated since the start of procurement.
Rice millers and
Board officials, however, denied the charge. “There is no such malpractice in
the grain market,” said Hakikat Kadiyan, secretary, Market Committee, Karnal.
Rice
Price Hike: Producers Blame Traders
By
Sanya Adejokun - Abuja On Oct 4, 2019
Rice
Producers Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) has blamed distributors and retailers
for the current high prices of rice following the closure of land borders.
At a
meeting with officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development, Small and Medium Scale Millers
Association (SMSMA), RIPAN and Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN)
insisted they continued to sell 50kg bag at a maximum of N14,000.
They,
therefore, cautioned rice distributors, wholesalers and retailers against
engaging in the exploitative act of jerking up the prices of their local rice.
An
Executive Member of RIPAN, Mr Abba Dantata revealed that they summoned the
meeting, not because of the brouhaha generated by the border closure, but
because some rice traders have been exploiting the general public, through
hiking the price of their commodities.
Dantata
maintained that none of their members and other rice processors sells a bag of
rice to wholesalers above their fixed price of N14, 000, saying: “It will
surprise you to know that some RIPAN members even sell a bag of their
locally-processed rice for N13, 500.
There
are those who choose to sell for N13, 800. Others sell a bag of their local rice
for N13, 900. But none of our members sells above N14, 000.”
He, however, added that some
retailers, wholesalers and distributors, who have since cashed in on the
shutdown of the country’s land borders, are the ones who sell a bag of rice for
between N17, 000 to N18, 000 to their customers and other Nigerians.
A
paradigm shift for conflict-affected rice producers in rural Borno
REPORT
The Jere Bowl is an irrigated
land mass formed by the flow of the Ngadda River in Jere local government area
(LGA), Borno State, in Nigeria. Susceptibility to flooding,
resulting in a perennially moist soil even during dry season, makes the area
favourable to rice cultivation.
In communities like Zabarmari and
Gongulong located in the Jere Bowl, farmers plant rice on very large scales
twice a year – during both rainy and dry seasons. While rice cultivation
thrives, villagers, especially women, earned a living along the rice production
value chain, working as parboilers, millers and marketers. However, the
competitive advantage of rural actors in the value chain is attenuated by
challenges, such as the absence of mechanization, poor knowledge of modern rice
processing and packaging methods, and limited access to markets. The situation
was further worsened by a decade-long regional armed conflict, which has
dislodged farmers from their communities and worsened food security conditions.
“Even before the crisis, most people who come to buy rice paddy did not let us
parboil for them. The crisis has made business harder and patronage poor”, said
50-year-old Falmata Mustapha, a rice processor from Gongulong.
Old but not gold
“Wufatu is the only method of
processing rice that we know”, she said. An age-long local technique of
processing rice paddy before milling, wufatu is a common practice among rural
rice processors in Jere. Rice paddy is boiled for
24 hours, sun-dried for three days and milled to remove the bran layer and
husk.
Wufatu is a cumbersome and
resource-consuming process. Falmata shared that she uses at least 200 litres of
water and about NGN 1 000 (USD 3) worth of firewood to process 50 kg of rice,
making the process environmentally unsustainable and expensive. Wufatu also
subjects women to health hazards as they constantly monitor the boiling paddy,
exposing them to firewood smoke. “If I process a lot of rice, I usually have to
treat cough”, she explains, stating she does not know if she has health issues
as a result of over-exposure to smoke and the absence of functional health
centres where she can be examined.
Rice processed in this way is
considered substandard in markets, particularly outside Jere, where consumers
have other options. The rice paddy is not washed before boiling and residue
from pesticides and stones can remain. Boiling the paddy for 24 hours also
makes the end product less nutritious, tasteless and with an unpleasant smell.
A sustainable rice parboiling method
“The new method is very
different. I am amazed because it makes rice parboiling easy”, Falmata said. In
the method shared by FAO during a training for 80 women and
20 men from Gongulong and Zabarmari in May 2019, rice paddy is washed three
times after harvest, soaked in lukewarm water for 18 hours under room
temperature and steamed for 30 minutes.
The technique, which is locally
adaptable in rural areas, requires less resources, time and it is prepared
using locally available iron pots with false bottoms. It also keeps the rice
naturally tasty and preserves the nutrients. To process 50 kg of rice, the new
method helps beneficiaries save up to 72 hours of manpower, about 90 percent
savings in cost of firewood and 95 percent in water usage (10 litres). This
makes the method more environmentally sustainable than the local method.
“I will attract customers with
low prices now that cost of production is lower.” Falmata is convinced that the
new method will increase her profit margin. She and other members of her
cooperative group plan to ‘dominate’ the market with the new rice they produce
by initially selling at a lower price point. FAO also provided the
beneficiaries with the required kits to practice the new method.
Strengthening the value chain
Usually, Falmata and her
colleagues could only mill their rice in Zabarmari, where milling is done using
old machines with limited capacity. Rice produced by these machines, reports
say, is not entirely whole, often broken and still containing stones and other
particles. To further strengthen rice production value chain in the area, FAO
provided a 300 kg per hour capacity rice miller and a power generator to each
of Gongulong and Zabarmari communities. The machines are modern – they mill,
destone and polish the rice.
Another two groups of five youths
were selected in an own-operate approach to run the milling
machines in each community. They will provide the services
at a cost to rice parboilers like Falmata. FAO’s support to value chains in
Borno will be extended to other LGAs, considering historically valued crops in
each LGA. To promote community ownership and asset protection, all
beneficiaries were selected in collaboration with community leaders.
Building resilience
“Efficient agriculture
value chains system – enabling rural dwellers to be actors
beyond farms – is a catalyst for resilience building in rural areas”, said
Suffyan Koroma, FAO Representative in Nigeria. In Borno, the capacity
of conflict-affected populations to restart their
livelihoods and withstand future shocks is enhanced if they are empowered to
play profitable roles in agriculture value chains. As the efforts of the
Government of Nigeria to restore calm across the region goes on, FAO’s
objective is to support vulnerable smallholders for self-reliance. FAO is
implementing this assistance as part of a European Union Trust Fund (EUTF) support targeting
smallholders and agro-preneurs in Borno with capacity development programmes,
start-up kits and access to finance opportunities.
Rice millers resent govt’s custom milling policy
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Oct 5, 2019, 7:51 AM; last updated: Oct 5, 2019, 7:51 AM
(IST)
Tribune News
Service
Patiala, October 4
Patiala, October 4
Rice millers
today expressed resentment over the state government’s agreement of storage and
custom milling of paddy as per the custom milling policy formulated for the
kharif marketing season (KMS).
They said
the state government was pressurising them to execute agreement for storage and
custom milling of paddy. Their pending demands, including settlement of milling
bills, refund of levy security and user charges and payment at Rs 7.32 per bag
had not been settled, they added.
Tarsem Saini, president, Punjab Rice Millers Association,
said their association had repeatedly cautioned the government to initiate
steps to create space for the rice acceptance during KMS 2019-20.
They had
demanded that otherwise, the government should make changes in the policy and
agreement inorder to execute it over such quantity of paddy for which the FCI
would be able to provide space, he added.
“It becomes difficult for millers to deliver custom milled
rice in the second week of April due to start of the rabi season as the FCI
staff is involved in the procurement and movement of wheat stocks. Therefore,
the state government should take up the matter with the Centre Government to
sort it out,” he said.
“The association
will also hold a convention of all millers of the state at Windsor Garden,
Ferozepur Road, Moga, on October 7,” he added.
Group raises money to send rice, furikake to Hawaii troops in
Afghanistan
Alumni group sending
‘aloha packages’ to Hawaii soldiers in Afghanistan
By Jim Mendoza |
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow)
- Within the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade, the 487th
Artillery Battalion is known as the Hiki No Battalion.
Hundreds of those Hawaii soldiers
are deployed in Afghanistan, protecting military bases from rocket and mortar
attacks.
"We understand what it felt
like when we deployed and the support that we got from Hawaii and it's our turn
to give back," retired Brig. Gen. Keith Tamashiro said.
He is part of the Hiki No
Artillery Association.The group is mobilizing money to assemble aloha packages
for the soldiers.
“Obviously, sashimi or poke
wouldn’t have made it. So in the end what we finally decided on was the
ready-made package microwaveable rice and the furikake,” association member
Peter Hirai said.
The goal is to raise funds to buy
enough rice and Japanese seasoning for all the soldiers ― then ship it
overseas.
Right now, 330 Hawaii Army
National Guard troops are stationed at seven bases in Afghanistan.
The brigade's combat commander is
Col. Roy Macaraeg. During his recent deployment to Kosovo he received similar
care packages from his family.
“I took the rice and furikake and
got slices of SPAM. That was my SPAM musubi,” he said. “It makes a whole lot of
difference.”
“Rice means a lot to local guys,”
said Jim Reis, who was a command sergeant major with Hiki No Battalion during
the Vietnam War.
The Hiki No Artillery Association
set up a GoFundMe account to raise $2,100 to
purchase and ship the goods so they reach the soldiers by the holidays.
"In the remote forward
operating bases it can take about a month to get the supplies to them,"
Hirai said.
He was a member of the battalion
from 1984 to 1995.
The troops are in the middle of a
one-year deployment. To help the Aloha Packages effort, click here.
Copyright 2019 Hawaii News Now.
All rights reserved.
High rice supply
slows down inflation to 0.9%
October
4, 2019, 6:41 PM
By Chino Leyco
The rate of increase in consumer
prices settled at its slowest pace in more than three-years last month as
sustained inflows of imported rice continued to pull down the retail cost of
the Filipino staple food.
(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) reported Friday that headline inflation clocked in at 0.9
percent in September, slower compared with 1.7 percent in August and way below
the 6.7 percent registered in the same month last year.
The latest inflation figure
brought the first nine-month average to 2.8 percent, well within the
government’s full year target of 2.0 percent to 4.0 percent.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary
Ernesto M. Pernia said the further easing of inflation was due to higher supply
of rice in the country following the implementation of the rice tariffication
law.
Based on the PSA report, rice
remained at a deflation rate of 8.9 percent in September, its fifth consecutive
month of decline. It also slowed further from the previous month’s -5.2
percent.
Rice stock inventory, likewise,
increased by 40.3 percent due to higher importation of rice.
“We see the rice tariffication
law continuing to help pull down overall inflation in the near term as it
continues to help improve rice stock inventory of the country. This access to
cheaper rice is good for Filipino consumers,” Pernia said in a statement.
Pernia also noted that prices of
retail and wholesale rice already fell by 6.0 to 8.0 percent or about P3 per
kilo since the law’s enactment in March this year.
While the rice tariffication
measure benefited the bulk of Filipino consumers, Pernia admitted it also
resulted in falling palay prices that adversely affect local farmers.
“The government must fast-track
and prioritize programs and projects under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement
Fund to boost production and improve profitability of the Filipino farmers,”
said Pernia, the government’s chief economist.
A joint resolution, which directs
several government agencies and local government units to buy rice from local
producers, is now pending in Congress that once implemented, should help
protect the farmers from falling palay prices.
Aside from rice, prices of corn
and vegetables also decreased year-on-year in September by 4.1 percent and 4.7
percent, respectively. Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery also saw
a 4.1 percent drop in prices.
Meat prices, however jumped 2.4
percent last month despite concerns over the African swine fever (ASF) along
with fish that rose by 1.4 percent.
The drop in prices of major food
items like rice contributed to the annual rate of decrease in the index of the
heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages, which also settled at 0.9
percent.
Transport cost index likewise declined
further by 0.9 percent.
Slower price increases were also
posted in clothing and footwear (2.7 percent), housing, water, electricity,
gas, and other fuels (0.8 percent), communication (0.2 percent), recreation and
culture (1.4 recent), as well as restaurant and miscellaneous goods and
services (3.0 percent).
On the other hand, inflation of
alcoholic beverages and tobacco index moved up further by 14.3 percent in
September.
How regions fared
In Metro Manila, inflation also
eased further to 0.9 percent from 1.4 percent the previous month and 6.3
percent a year before. Transport cost in the capital fell 2.2 percent, while
slower annual hike was seen in food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.5 percent).
Inflation in areas outside Metro
Manila, meanwhile, slowed down further to 0.9 percent last month from 1.8
percent in August and 6.8 percent in the same month last year.
In the provinces, Zamboanga
Peninsula registered a deflation of 1.3 percent, while the highest region of
Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan has the highest inflation in the
country at 2.2 percent.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages
posted deflation at 0.9 percent while non-food inflation moderated to 1.6
percent.
“We are also on the lookout for
upside risks to inflation that may emanate from the reported cases of African
Swine Fever in the country and volatility in international oil prices poses,”
Pernia said.
Under Secretary McKinney Visits USA
Rice In-Store Promotion in Costco Japan
By Jim Guinn
KAWASAKI, JAPAN -- USA Rice is
conducting taste-testing demonstrations at all 26 Costco stores in Japan, introducing
a U.S.-owned brand of rice milled and packaged in the U.S. and ready for
purchase by consumers. Costco also has
two items in the deli section of the Japanese stores that feature U.S. Calrose
rice as the key ingredient.
One of the first customers to stop
by a recent USA Rice in-store promotion was USDA Under Secretary Ted McKinney
who was traveling with members of the USDA Agricultural Affairs and
Agricultural Trade offices here in late September. This promotion is funded by the Foreign
Market Development (FMD) Program, although USA Rice has requested the use of
Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) funds for future promotions.
Ready to eat thanks to U.S. rice
According to Costco's General
Merchandize Manager Masahiko Chonan, the response to the USA Rice promotion has
been very positive, with purchases of U.S. rice being six times the sales
volume prior to the promotion.
"With the Japanese foodservice
industry clamoring for access to more U.S. rice, we are hopeful that the
ongoing bilateral trade negotiations will be successful in providing addition
quantity and quality of access for U.S. rice to the Japanese market," said
Sarah Moran, USA Rice vice president international.
Chefs Compete for Top
Honors at USA Rice Cooking Contest
By Sarah Moran
TOKYO, JAPAN -- "Sushi Salad Style" was the theme
of the 7th annual Chef's Contest, hosted by USA Rice and showcasing ten chef
finalists who competed here at the final cook-off. The ten professional
chefs were selected from 116 applicants; eight of the finalists represented
restaurants, while two were from deli operations.
Yuki Sasaki, executive chef with Kyushu Airlines, won first prize with his "Sushi Rolls in Hot Spring Paprika with Borscht-Style Cold Soup Salad." His company, Kyushu Airlines, no longer operates as an airline but is principally in the photography business, and also hosts weddings and special events.
According to Kuniaki Aoshima, a well-known recipe consultant and veteran judge at the contest, the quality and creativity of this year's dishes were the best, from top to bottom, that he has witnessed to date. Aoshima said this made the judging very difficult for him and the other four judges.
In addition, there were three winners in the student chef division, chosen from 262 entrants.
"We host these contests to demonstrate the quality and versatility of U.S. medium grain rice in the foodservice industry," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice director of Asia promotion programs, who handed out the awards at the contest. "It generates a lot of positive publicity in food trade publications, and interest in culinary training institutions. Plus many past contestants return to their establishments and continue to prepare and feature their competition dishes on their restaurant menus."
Yuki Sasaki, executive chef with Kyushu Airlines, won first prize with his "Sushi Rolls in Hot Spring Paprika with Borscht-Style Cold Soup Salad." His company, Kyushu Airlines, no longer operates as an airline but is principally in the photography business, and also hosts weddings and special events.
According to Kuniaki Aoshima, a well-known recipe consultant and veteran judge at the contest, the quality and creativity of this year's dishes were the best, from top to bottom, that he has witnessed to date. Aoshima said this made the judging very difficult for him and the other four judges.
In addition, there were three winners in the student chef division, chosen from 262 entrants.
"We host these contests to demonstrate the quality and versatility of U.S. medium grain rice in the foodservice industry," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice director of Asia promotion programs, who handed out the awards at the contest. "It generates a lot of positive publicity in food trade publications, and interest in culinary training institutions. Plus many past contestants return to their establishments and continue to prepare and feature their competition dishes on their restaurant menus."
UMPI receives largest grant in its history
Grant
Fri 10:56 AM, Oct 04, 2019
PRESQUE ISLE—The University of
Maine at Presque Isle will receive the largest grant in its history this month
following the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that the University
was selected for a 2019 Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant
worth nearly $2.25 million over a five-year cycle. The grant will allow UMPI to
expand access to two new career pathways—in Computer Science and Health
Administration—and develop stronger career readiness and experiential learning
offerings for students. UMPI is one of only 64 institutions across the nation
to receive this award.
“This is the first time UMPI has
been selected for this highly competitive grant, and we couldn’t be more
pleased that this particular project—focused on providing greater access to
high demand degree programs and ensuring that all of our students are career
ready and get work experiences before they graduate—will be able to take shape
over the next five years,” UMPI President Ray Rice said. “Establishing Computer
Science and Health Administration bachelor’s degree programs here will help us
to better meet the workforce needs of our region and state while providing our
students with new avenues for prosperous careers. And having the ability to
simultaneously work on career readiness and experiential learning strategies
will allow us to even better prepare our students for their future careers.”
The project, titled Expanding
Access, Increasing Success, and Improving Career Readiness, includes $449,962
for the first year with the anticipation that the grant will be for 5 years, a
total of $2,249,710. Title III grants help colleges to expand their capacity to
serve low-income students. At UMPI, nearly 88% of students are recipients of
some form of federal financial aid and almost two-thirds are low-income and
receive Pell grants. The work involved in the grant project allows the
University to better serve this student population and meet several goals
established as part of its 2020 Strategic Plan, as well as University of Maine
System strategic priorities.
“UMPI’s commitment to serving
students and preparing work-ready graduates for careers in high-demand fields
is bringing new resources and opportunities to Maine,” Dannel P. Malloy,
Chancellor of the University of Maine System, said. “Student-focused innovation
attracts investment and is one of the reasons why Maine’s public universities deliver
unmatched quality and affordability."
UMPI's Strengthening Institutions
Program grant will provide for a wide range of activities over the next five
years. The University will hire new faculty to create the two new bachelor’s
degree programs, with two concentration areas in each program: Software
Development and Information & Data Management within Computer Science, and
Community Health and Health Informatics within Health Administration.
According to WayUp, Computer
Science entry-level jobs are one of the fastest-growing fields in Maine, with
computer and information scientists earning an average salary of $100,660 per
year. Salaries for software developers in Maine average $90,530, and such
positions are expected to grow by 30% in the state by 2020.
In the area of Health
Administration, 65% of health administration positions in Maine require a
bachelor’s degree, with a median salary of nearly $69,000. The State of Maine
anticipates 12% job growth over the next decade for health information
managers, with a median income of $62,060.
In addition to new faculty
positions in these high-demand, high wage career fields, the grant will fund a
new computer lab, complete with Smart Classroom technologies and ergonomic
student workstations, for each of the two new academic programs.
Grant funding will also allow for
the implementation of University Experience courses that include life, career,
and financial literacy modules and the hiring of a University
Experience/Experiential Learning Coordinator. This coordinator will develop the
University Experience courses and provide faculty training on how to
incorporate NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) career
readiness competencies into the curriculum throughout the college student life
cycle. The coordinator will also work with faculty on incorporating
experiential learning activities, such as internships and service learning,
into humanities courses.
Additionally, the grant will
allow for an increase in the number of online courses provided by UMPI, to
include the YourPace competency-based education degree programs. These online
courses allow adult students to complete degrees at their pace with six start
dates throughout the year.
Finally, the grant will fund
professional development for faculty and staff to travel to conferences related
to Title III activities as well as campus workshops focused on best practices
in designing experiential learning opportunities and ensuring career readiness
for students as they prepare to graduate and enter the workforce.
“The Title III grant will be
truly transformative for UMPI and our students,” Dr. Debbie Roark, UMPI
Executive Director for University Advancement and External Affairs, who will
also serve as the Title III Project Director, said. “We have an opportunity
over these next five years to build and solidify UMPI’s reputation with respect
to the student experience. These funds are dedicated to increasing access,
improving the student experience, and providing our students with the tools
they need to successfully transition from the campus to their careers upon
graduation.”
About the Title III Program
The Title III Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and began as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as an effort by the U.S. Congress to assist colleges to expand their capacity to serve large proportions of low-income students. An important objective of the Title III Program is to help participating institutions improve and strengthen their academic programs and management, and strengthen their capacity to serve students.
The Title III Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and began as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as an effort by the U.S. Congress to assist colleges to expand their capacity to serve large proportions of low-income students. An important objective of the Title III Program is to help participating institutions improve and strengthen their academic programs and management, and strengthen their capacity to serve students.
Crime Branch busts ‘rice puller’ racket in Malad; five held
MUMBAI , OCTOBER
05, 2019 02:02 IST
Items seized from the accused by the Mumbai Crime Branch.
People invested crores in machines that tested copper iridium,
which can attract grains from far away
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has busted a ‘rice puller’
racket, wherein people were being convinced to ‘invest in machines that test
the quality of copper iridium’, a metal so strongly magnetic that it can
attract grains of rice from several inches away. The five arrested accused are
alleged to have cheated at least 12 people to the tune of nearly ₹2 crore till date.
The Crime Branch
Unit XI busted the racket after they received a tip-off about a group of people
staying in a bungalow in Evershine Nagar, Malad, being involved in some
suspicious activities. A Unit XI team subsequently raided the bungalow and
found five men who were allegedly in possession of items like electronic
equipment, anti-radiation suits, and forged documents in the name of several
government agencies. The accused were taken into custody for questioning.
“The accused revealed to us that
they were running a rice puller racket, where one of them would pose as a buyer
of copper iridium and another would pose as a supplier. They would seek out
businessmen with the ability to invest crores of rupees in business ventures
and ‘introduce’ them to the buyer and seller, telling them that copper iridium
objects are worth crores and used in top secret projects by government research
agencies,” a Crime Branch officer said.
The officer said the accused
would also invite their victims to watch a demonstration of the copper iridium
objects to sell their lie. “The accused would mix iron particles with grains of
rice used for the supposed demonstration while a pot with a magnet hidden
inside it would be placed near it so that the rice particles would be pulled
towards it. The accused would then tell the victims that a single object could
be sold for as high as ₹6,000 crore if it attracted rice grains from one inch away and ₹35,000 crore if it did the same
from five inches away. The lack of knowledge that most people have about copper
iridium would help convince them,” the officer said.
The police also
found forged documents in the name of the Defence Research and Development
Organisation, supposedly certifying their company as authorised to deal in
copper iridium.
The accused have allegedly
confessed to have cheated one person from Navi Mumbai to the tune of ₹1.35 crore and 11 others across
the State to the tune of ₹65 lakh so far. The police said they have been remanded in
police custody till October 14 and that more such cases are expected to come to
light in the days to come.
The racket is said to be predominant in South Indian states and
objects made of copper iridium are also believed to bring good fortune to those
who own them, adding to their value. Several web pages on the internet mention
that copper iridium objects are used in the manufacture of satellites and
rockets, as also “to pull off scams in the Indian subcontinent.”
35K Bulacan farmers to benefit from DA program
October 4, 2019, 9:02 pm
AID FOR FARMERS. Veronica Concepcion V.
Esguerra (back facing the camera), center director of the Agricultural Training
Institute in Central Luzon, explains to Bulacan farmers the benefits of the
Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), during the Agricultural Extension
Workers’ Summit held at the Hiyas ng Bulacan on Wednesday (Oct. 2, 2019).
Esguerra said to avail of the benefits, farmers have to be members of a
registered cooperative or association. (File photo courtesy of Provincial Agriculture
Office-Bulacan)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – At least 35,000 farmers in this province are seen to
benefit from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
Veronica Concepcion V. Esguerra,
center director of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) of the Department
of Agriculture (DA) 3 (Central Luzon), said on Friday that an agriculture extension
workers’ summit, which was jointly organized by the DA and the Provincial
Agriculture Office, was held Wednesday to explain to the farmers and other
stakeholders how the RCEF would benefit them.
She said that RCEF funding was
ready.
“These (are for the) distribution
of farm machinery and crops, distribution of inbred seeds, broader credit, and
agricultural extensions, such as training,” Esguerra said.
To avail of additional machinery,
she said it is necessary for farmers to be members of a registered cooperative
and association.
According to Esguerra, PHP5 billion
has been allocated from the RCEF for the Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) to carry out the machinery program.
On the other hand, she said the
free inbred seeds will be distributed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice) starting in the summer of 2020.
For broader loans, she said that
PHP500 million has been allocated to the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) from the RCEF.
“This is to cover up to 90 percent
of the total cost of planting the palay,” Esguerra said.
Agricultural extension focuses on
various training and empowerment for farmers, she said.
Of the PHP1 billion allocated from
the RCEF for agricultural extension, she said that PHP700 million is for the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), PhilMech,
PhilRice, and ATI.
“ATI has PHP100 million (for)
training courses,” she added.
Provincial agriculturist Gloria Carillo
said the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), and city and municipal
agriculture offices will play a major role to hasten the availment of benefits
by the farmers from RCEF.
“This is to ensure that every
farmer beneficiary is enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in
Agriculture (RSBSA). It is a requirement to benefit from the programs provided
to palay farmers from the RCEF,” Carillo said.
Under Republic Act 11203 or the
Rice Tariffication Law, eligible RCEF beneficiaries include farmers, farmworkers,
and their dependents who are listed in the RSBSA -- an electronic database
containing basic information of farmers and fisherfolk, and members of
DA-accredited farmers' groups, such as multipurpose cooperatives, irrigators’
associations, and people’s organizations.
Farmers who are already enlisted in
the DA-updated RSBSA will be prioritized.
“The program does not only aim to
reduce the cost of production and increase farmers’ yields, but it also intends
to strengthen FOs (farmers’ organizations) through agro-enterprise and
collective activities,” she added.
Created through Republic Act 11203,
the RCEF is a new government program that aims to help farmers through a
PHP10-billion fund covering the seed, machine, credit, and extension support to
improve the competitiveness of the Filipino rice farmers. (PNA)
Crop Monitor
for Early Warning | October 2019
REPORT
Overview:
In East Africa, main season
cereals are in maturing to harvest stages across the north of the region and
conditions are generally favourable. In West Africa, harvest of main season
cereals is underway across the Sahel and conditions are favourable except in
parts of Gambia, Mauritania and Senegal. In the Middle East and North Africa,
early planting of winter wheat crops has started in Iran and conditions are
favourable. In Southern Africa, harvest will start in October for winter wheat
crops and concern remains in Zimbabwe and parts of Zambia and South Africa due
to dry conditions. In Central and South Asia, harvest will finish in October
for spring-planted cereal crops, which account for the majority of regional
cereal production, and production prospects are favourable except for
Kazakhstan. In Southeast Asia, wet-season rice is in final growing stages and
there is concern across much of the region due to impacts from early season
drought, followed by heavy rains and flooding in August from tropical cyclones.
In Central America and the Caribbean, the Primera season harvest is complete
and final yields were severely reduced along much of Central America’s dry
corridor, especially among subsistence farmers. Sowing of secondary season
crops has been delayed due to expected rain deficits.
Crop Conditions at a Glance based on best available information
as of September 28th
EAST AFRICA: Main season cereals
are in maturing to harvest stages across the north of the region and conditions
are generally favourable. Planting of second season crops has started across
parts of the south of the region and conditions are generally favourable at the
start of the season with good rains expected (See Regional Outlook pg 5).
WEST AFRICA: Sowing of second
season cereals has start across the south of the region under favourable
conditions. Across the Sahel region, harvesting of main season sorghum and
millet crops has started and there is increasing concern in Gambia, Senegal and
Mauritania where dry conditions have affected crops.
MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA:
In the Middle East, crops are mainly out of season except in Iran where
planting has begun for the 2020 winter wheat season under favourable conditions.
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Harvest will
start in October for winter wheat crops and there is concern in Zimbabwe and
parts of Zambia due to power cuts affecting irrigation activities and South
Africa due to dry conditions.
CENTRAL & SOUTH ASIA: Harvest
will finish in October for spring-planted cereal crops, which account for the
majority of regional cereal production, and production prospects are favourable
except in northern Kazakhstan due to reduced plantings and dry conditions.
Planting has begun for 2019-2020 winter-planted wheat.
SOUTHEAST ASIA: There is concern
for wet-season rice crops, which will likely be affected by extended periods of
drought across parts of Laos, Viet Nam, northern Thailand and Cambodia,
followed by heavy rains in August from tropical cyclones which caused
widespread flooding. In Indonesia, planting of dryseason rice has ended and
conditions are favourable.
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN:
Primera season harvest is complete and while production was generally average
due to an increase in planted area, significant yield reductions resulted
across central and east Guatemala, south Honduras, east El Salvador and south
Nicaragua with many areas incurring losses of up to 50 to 75 percent with the
worst losses experienced by subsistence farmers. Dry conditions have delayed
secondary season sowing by two to three weeks.
Bag of rice price rises by 86% as food market reacts to border
closure
Jerrywright Ukwu
The price of Nigeria's
major staple food, rice, have gone up since the Nigerian government closed the
border - The government had a few weeks ago closed its land borders, a decision
which generated mixed reactions - Before now, foreign rice have been flooding
the Nigerian market and they come through the land borders A report by Business
Day indicates that Nigerians may buy a 50kg bag of rice for as high as N50,000
in December 2019 if the land borders remain shut by the federal government. The
Nigerian government has closed its land borders for more than a month, a
decision that made the price of rice by 86% to an all-time high of N27,000 per
50kg from N14,500. Experts say this is an indication that local rice farmers do
not currently have the capacity to meet local demand in Africa's most populated
country. According to the report, sellers of rice in Lagos are currently
hoarding the commodity in anticipation of selling at a higher price during the
festive period when demand for the product is usually higher. Xenophobia:
Another 400 Nigerians ready to return home as Buhari arrives South Africa Lagos
is Nigeria's number one commercial city. “We believe that the price will go as
high as N50,000 per bag if the borders remain closed,” a trader who gave her
name as Adegoke said. Interestingly, the price of local rice hs gone up. A 50kg
bag of Lake Rice, a local product, has also increased by 22% from N13,500 to N16,500.
“The government did not put in place adequate plans before shutting down the
border. The decision has only worsened the sufferings of Nigerians,” an expert
quoted in the report said. “We still do not grow enough rice to feed our
population and the government is yet to fix issues of insecurity and kidnapping
that have been a major threat to food security in the country,” he added. John
Okoli, a rice dealer in Anambra state, said many families are unhappy owing to
the increasing food prices that have caused untold hardship in the country.
Border closure: Customs boss Ali reveals how agency made N9.2bn in
just one day “It is
difficult for families as the high cost of food items in the markets is
seriously affecting their lives,” Okoli said. Meanwhile, the Ohaneze Youth
Council has accused officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) of
extorting Igbo traders. The group alleged that the NCS officials have been
carrying out, relentless extortion and exploitation of Igbo traders and
businessmen in the country, particularly Lagos state. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) ->
Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Customs Seize
N1bn Worth of Codeine: Importation of Fairly-Used Bags, Shoes Banned | Legit TV
Source: Legit Read more:
Cambodia's
rice export to China up 44 pct in 9 months
Source:
Xinhua| 2019-10-03 19:25:03|Editor: Xiang Bo
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had exported 157,793
tons of milled rice to China during the first nine months of 2019, up 44
percent over the same period last year, said an official report on Thursday.
China remained the top buyer of Cambodian rice during the
January-September period this year, said the report of the Secretariat of One
Window Service for Rice Export.
The export to China accounted for 39.6 percent of the country's
total rice export, it said.
Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian nation shipped 135,475 tons of
rice to the European market, down 30 percent, said the report, adding that the
European Union (EU)'s market share for Cambodian rice had declined to 34
percent from 49.7 percent.
The slump in the export to the European market came after the EU
imposed earlier this year duties for three years on rice importing from
Cambodia in a bid to curb a surge in rice imports from the country and to
protect European producers.
According to the report, Cambodia exported a total of 398,586
tons of rice to 53 countries and regions across the globe during the first nine
months of this year, up 2.3 percent over the same period last year.
Exports of milled rice increase slightly
Chea Vannak / Khmer Times
Cambodia’s exports of milled rice
increased moderately in the first nine months of the year, growing by 2.3
percent compared with the same period last year according to the Ministry of
Agriculture.
In a report released yesterday,
the ministry says China is the largest buyer of Cambodian milled rice,
importing 157,793 tonnes from January to September. This is equal to 40 percent
of Cambodia’s milled rice exports.
China is followed by France and
Gabon, with 53,723 tonnes and 21,682 tonnes respectively.
Although down as a result of
tariffs imposed earlier this year, exports to the European Union reached
135,475 tonnes, the equivalent of 34 percent of total milled rice exports,
according to the report.
Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam,
Thailand, Singapore, and Myanmar, all members of Asean, imported a combined
53,347 tonnes during the same period.
CRF’s secretary-general Lun Yeng
said last week that exports of long-grain white rice to the EU were down but
that shipments of fragrant rice were on the rise. Overall, however, rice
exports to the bloc were significantly lower than last year.
“Overall, exports to the EU are
down, but, fortunately, exports to other markets are increasing,” he said.
“By the end of the year, I
believe we will export the same amount of rice to foreign markets than last
year, or perhaps a bit more,” Mr Yeng said.
He said that, due to the rise in
shipments to China, the local rice sector continues to grow.
Grade A Cambodian fragrant rice
sells for $900 to $950 per tonne, while Grade B fetches $700 to $740.
Long-grain white rice sells for about $450 per tonne, CRF said.
Cambodia exported 626,225 tonnes
of rice to international markets in 2018, a drop of 1.5 percent compared to
2017.
Nagpur Foodgrain
Prices Open- October 04, 2019
OCTOBER 4, 2019 / 2:38 PM /
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-October 4, 2018 Nagpur,
Oct 4 (Reuters) – Gram prices reported strong in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) here good buying support from local millers amid
weak supply from producing belts. Notable rise on NCDEX in gram, good rise in
Madhya Pradesh gram prices and repeated enquiries from South-based millers also
jacked up prices. About 550 bags of gram reported for auction, according to
sources.
GRAM
* Desi gram recovered further in open market on renewed festival
season demand from
local traders.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here matching the
demand and supply
position.
* Rice HMT firmed up in open market here on good festival season
demand from local
traders amid thin supply from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 5,500-5,700, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,100-8,200,
Udid Mogar (clean)
– 7,600-8,500, Moong Mogar (clean) 8,200-8,900, Gram – 4,300-4,400,
Gram Super best
– 5,600-6,000 * Wheat, other varieties of rice and other foodgrain
items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading
activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100
kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 3,700-4,350 3,700-4,290
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 4,400-5,030
Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500
Wheat Lokwan Auction 1,950-2,070 2,000-2,030
Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000
Gram Super Best Bold 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,700-5,900 5,700-5,900
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,450-4,550 4,450-4,550
Desi gram Raw 4,500-4,550 4,400-4,500
Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000
Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,300-8,400 8,300-8,400
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 7,800-8,100 7,800-8,100
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 7,400-7,700 7,400-7,700
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 6,800-7,300 6,800-7,300
Tuar Gavarani New 5,650-5,750 5,650-5,750
Tuar Karnataka 5,950-6,050 5,950-6,050
Masoor dal best 5,400-5,700 5,400-5,700
Masoor dal medium 5,100-5,300 5,100-5,300
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 8,500-9,000 8,500-9,000
Moong Mogar Medium 7,000-7,800 7,000-7,800
Moong dal Chilka New 7,200-7,800 7,200-7,800
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,500-8,900 8,500-8,900
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,800-8,800 7,800-8,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,300 4,700-5,300
Mot (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,600-4,900 4,600-4,900
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 4,750-4,900 4,750-4,900
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 6,850-7,100 6,850-7,100
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,350 2,250-2,350
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,650-2,750 2,650-2,750
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,550-2,650 2,550-2,650
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450 2,300-2,450
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-4,000 3,200-4,000
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-3,100 2,600-3,100
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
Rice BPT best new (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,600 3,200-3,600
Rice BPT medium new(100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,100 2,700-3,100
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,100 3,000-3,100
Rice Swarna best new (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice Swarna medium new (100 INR/KG)2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT best new (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 3,800-4,000
Rice HMT medium new (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,700 3,300-3,500
Rice Shriram best new(100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000
Rice Shriram med new (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,200 5,000-7,200
Rice Chinnor best new 100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,500 5,400-5,500
Rice Chinnor medium new(100 INR/KG)5,000-5,200 5,000-5,200
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 33.8 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 22.2 degree Celsius Rainfall :
0.9 mm FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rains or
thunder-showers. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 33 degree
Celsius and 23 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils,
transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market
prices
Rice exports bring home 2.24 billion USD in nine months
Vietnam shipped abroad
586,000 tonnes of rice in September for 251 million USD, pushing the total rice
export volume and value in the first nine months of this year to 5.2 million
tonnes and 2.24 billion USD, respectively.
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam shipped abroad 586,000 tonnes of rice in September for 251 million USD, pushing the total rice export volume and value in the first nine months of this year to 5.2 million tonnes and 2.24 billion USD, respectively.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the figures represented a rise of 5.9 percent in volume and a drop of 9.8 percent in value compared to the same period in 2018.
The Philippines was the top market for Vietnamese rice in the first eight months of this year, consuming 1.76 million tonnes worth 720 million USD, 2.9 times higher in volume and 2.6 times in value over the same period last year.
Strong growth was also seen in other markets, including Australia (75 percent), Ivory Coast (nearly 35 percent), and Hong Kong (nearly 35 percent).
The average rice price in the first eight months of 2018 fell 13.8 percent year on year to 435 USD per tonne.
White rice led the way in the period, accounting for 47 percent of total revenue, followed by Jasmine rice with 39.8 percent.
According to the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority (AgroTrade) under the MARD, the Philippine Government plans to diversify non-tariff measures to adjust rice import activities.
At the same time, the Philippine Department of Agriculture has also proposed the application of a defence tariff on imported rice at between 30-65 percent, which may affect Vietnam’s rice exports to the market in the future.
However, positive signals were seen in the Japanese market, which is considering switching rice imports from the US to signature countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), including Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Singapore has also shown more interest in rice from Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam./.
High rice supply
slows down inflation to 0.9%
October 4, 2019, 6:41 PM
By Chino Leyco
The rate of increase in consumer
prices settled at its slowest pace in more than three-years last month as
sustained inflows of imported rice continued to pull down the retail cost of
the Filipino staple food.
(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) reported Friday that headline inflation clocked in at 0.9
percent in September, slower compared with 1.7 percent in August and way below
the 6.7 percent registered in the same month last year.
The latest inflation figure
brought the first nine-month average to 2.8 percent, well within the
government’s full year target of 2.0 percent to 4.0 percent.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary
Ernesto M. Pernia said the further easing of inflation was due to higher supply
of rice in the country following the implementation of the rice tariffication
law.
Based on the PSA report, rice
remained at a deflation rate of 8.9 percent in September, its fifth consecutive
month of decline. It also slowed further from the previous month’s -5.2
percent.
Rice stock inventory, likewise,
increased by 40.3 percent due to higher importation of rice.
“We see the rice tariffication
law continuing to help pull down overall inflation in the near term as it
continues to help improve rice stock inventory of the country. This access to
cheaper rice is good for Filipino consumers,” Pernia said in a statement.
Pernia also noted that prices of
retail and wholesale rice already fell by 6.0 to 8.0 percent or about P3 per
kilo since the law’s enactment in March this year.
While the rice tariffication
measure benefited the bulk of Filipino consumers, Pernia admitted it also
resulted in falling palay prices that adversely affect local farmers.
“The government must fast-track
and prioritize programs and projects under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement
Fund to boost production and improve profitability of the Filipino farmers,”
said Pernia, the government’s chief economist.
A joint resolution, which directs
several government agencies and local government units to buy rice from local
producers, is now pending in Congress that once implemented, should help
protect the farmers from falling palay prices.
Aside from rice, prices of corn
and vegetables also decreased year-on-year in September by 4.1 percent and 4.7
percent, respectively. Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery also saw
a 4.1 percent drop in prices.
Meat prices, however jumped 2.4
percent last month despite concerns over the African swine fever (ASF) along
with fish that rose by 1.4 percent.
The drop in prices of major food
items like rice contributed to the annual rate of decrease in the index of the
heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages, which also settled at 0.9
percent.
Transport cost index likewise
declined further by 0.9 percent.
Slower price increases were also
posted in clothing and footwear (2.7 percent), housing, water, electricity,
gas, and other fuels (0.8 percent), communication (0.2 percent), recreation and
culture (1.4 recent), as well as restaurant and miscellaneous goods and
services (3.0 percent).
On the other hand, inflation of
alcoholic beverages and tobacco index moved up further by 14.3 percent in
September.
How regions fared
In Metro Manila, inflation also
eased further to 0.9 percent from 1.4 percent the previous month and 6.3
percent a year before. Transport cost in the capital fell 2.2 percent, while
slower annual hike was seen in food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.5 percent).
Inflation in areas outside Metro
Manila, meanwhile, slowed down further to 0.9 percent last month from 1.8
percent in August and 6.8 percent in the same month last year.
In the provinces, Zamboanga
Peninsula registered a deflation of 1.3 percent, while the highest region of
Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan has the highest inflation in the
country at 2.2 percent.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages
posted deflation at 0.9 percent while non-food inflation moderated to 1.6
percent.
“We are also on the lookout for
upside risks to inflation that may emanate from the reported cases of African
Swine Fever in the country and volatility in international oil prices poses,”
Pernia said.
P29-billion CCT fund eyed for rice buying to aid farmers
October 4, 2019
A farmer in Buenavista in Santiago City, Isabela, checks his
rice crops soon ready for harvest.
A LEADER of the House of
Rep-resentatives has asked Congress to authorize the use of P29 billion
intended as rice subsidies to conditional cash transfer (CCT) beneficiaries of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the procurement of
palay from farmers this harvest season.
In House Joint
Resolution (HJR) 16, Deputy Speaker for Finance Luis Raymund Villafuerte
said the government can instead purchase unmilled rice from local farmers, and
convert them to rice for distribution to the 4Ps beneficiary-families rather
than give the subsidies as cash grants to target low-income households of
the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Under the resolution, Villafuerte
urged the Senate and the House of Representatives “voting separately, to
authorize the use of the rice subsidy as provided under the 4Ps in the General
Appropriations Act [GAA] for the purchase of palay from farmers, mandating for
the purpose the DSWD to buy palay from the local farmers and distribute rice
subsidy in the form of actual rice, instead of cash assistance, to the
qualified beneficiaries.”
Villafuerte, in a statement, said
this plan is crucial in raising farm-gate prices of palay this main harvest
season, especially after the National Food Authority (NFA) reported that its
warehouses are already full.
Citing the NFA, Villafuerte said
it has over 200,000 metric tons of imported rice in its custody, as of August
22, 2019, and was able to procure locally 360,657 bags of palay at 50 kilos per
bag or equivalent to 209,525 MT.
“The problem of oversupply is
expected to exacerbate during the period of September to October, which is the
peak palay harvest season,” Villafuerte said.
According to the lawmaker, on top
of the CCT grant of P300 per month received by the DSWD’s 4Ps beneficiaries,
they also get P600 a month in cash to be able to buy 20 kilos of rice.
Under the 2019 budget, the
allocation for rice subsidies amounts to P28.51 billion and is the same amount
proposed for the following fiscal year.
The rice subsidy in the form of
cash is given to beneficiaries through their existing Land Bank of the
Philippines (LandBank) account or cash cards, while those without cash
cards or automated teller machine (ATM) cards can get their money through
scheduled or coordinated payout through the DSWD, Villafuerte said.
“In order to help the local
farmers, the DSWD is in a position to distribute the rice subsidy under the 4Ps
program in the form of actual kilos of rice, instead of cash grant. The DSWD is
also in the position to help in the buying of palay from farmers, which it can
coordinate with the Department of Agriculture (DA). It shall then proceed
in distributing rice to the 4Ps beneficiaries who shall receive their rice
subsidy from DSWD-designated outlets,” said Villafuerte in his resolution.
He said local farmers are also in
need of additional buying stations where they could sell their projected
harvest of palay during this period, which could be resolved if the government
adopts his proposal.
“The distribution of rice subsidy
shall be in accordance with the procedure, guidelines, and distribution system
to be determined by the DSWD,” he said.
FARMING CAN BE FUN
· BusinessMirror
·
5 Oct 2019
· By
Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo |
INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISMSIRAO Flower Garden, Cebu’s “Mini Holland”
THERE’S
more to farm tourism than just bringing a bunch of tourists to any farm and
allowing the guests to participate in the harvesting of produce onsite.
In
a recent Farm Tourism Summit hosted by the Department of Tourism (DOT), Rajah
Tours President Jose C. Clemente III outlined ways for participants to promote
and market their farms. “Find out what makes your agri-tourism site unique,” he
advised. “This could be the crops you produce, the history or cultural
significance of your area (e.g., festivals), supporting activities, and
education opportunities.” For instance, lanzones farms in Camiguin can
capitalize on their province’s annual Lanzones Festival.
To
make farm tours work, however, proponents must have vital facilities and
services in place, he underscored, such as “knowledgeable guides/facilitators,
accommodations onsite or near the farm, dining/product sampling and other
non-farm activities, restrooms, and souvenirs.”
Clemente
added, the farm also needs to be accessible to potential guests. “Is it easy to
get to?” he asked. “Are their main areas or other farms nearby?” The farm
owners also need to determine how many visitors they can accommodate at any one
time, so the place doesn’t get too crowded that guests will have difficulty
moving around or hearing the explanations of the tour guides about the farm.
He
cited some examples like the Hijo Resort in Davao, which is within a banana
plantation, but has beachside accommodations onsite.
Clemente
said maintenance of the farm tourism site is important and the facilities need
to be clean and its service continuously upgraded.
Among
the many challenges for farm tourism is the marketing of the destination.
“Farms need to have their profiles raised to become viable,” Clemente, a
veteran of selling missions abroad, said. “This will create the image and the
demand for the farms and sites,” he added. “They need to get the word out to possible
visitors,” that the farms exist and ready for visits. He pointed to the Napa
Valley wine tours as an example of popular and profitable farm tours.
The
DOT has accredited 174 farm tourism sites across the country, 31 of which are
in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) area or Region
IV-A.
Tourism
Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat expects the number of accredited farms to
continue to increase as the demand for “low-impact tourism” rises with the
comple
The
PHL is seen reaping benefits from farm tourism, with the DOT accrediting 174
farm tourism sites across the country, as the demand for “low-impact tourism”
rises and the watchwords sustainable tourism and inclusive development become
more than just tokenisms.
tion
of the Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan (FTSAP) this year.
She
cited farm tourism as a catalyst for sustainable tourism and inclusive
development, now all the more strengthened with the release of the Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10816 titled “Farm Tourism
Development Act of 2016.”
In
her keynote address during the recent Farm Tourism Summit, the DOT chief
stressed the pivotal role of farm tourism, a priority under her administration.
“We at the DOT are looking forward for Farm Tourism to serve as a catalyst for
greater sustainability; we know that we can now pursue it properly, guided by
the IRR. Farm Tourism holds the promise of food sufficiency and additional
income for our tourism stakeholders, including farmers, farm workers and fisherfolk.
After all, gainful employment, enhanced productivity and sustainable
livelihoods are what tourism is really all about,” she said.
The
Farm Tourism Development Act, coauthored by Sen. Cynthia A. Villar and
AAMBIS-OWA Rep. Sharon S. Garin, provides the policy and enabling environment
for the encouragement, development and promotion of farm tourism in the
country. It also recognizes the importance of agriculture in making available
food and other products necessary to sustain and enhance human life, and in
providing livelihood to a major portion of the population.
“Farm
Tourism capitalizes on two of our competitive advantages: agriculture, as 41.7
percent of the total land area in the country is devoted to farming (as of 2016
according to the World Bank), employing 23.5 percent of the Filipino workforce
(as of July 2019), and the world-renowned Filipino brand of hospitality that
brought in 7.1 million foreign visitors to the country last year,” Romulo Puyat
stressed.
This
year, the Farm Tourism Development Board will be fully established with the
appointment of private-sector representatives. A National Farm Tourism
Association will likewise be organized to unify farm tourism establishment
efforts in addressing issues and to facilitate implementation of the FTSAP.
Farm
Tourism summits will also be held in the Visayas and Mindanao, the location of
majority of farm tourism sites.
RPT-Asia Rice-Waning demand prompts Indian,
Thai exporters to lower prices
Karthika Suresh Namboothiri
OCTOBER
4, 2019 / 6:33 AM
(Repeats with no changes)
* Thai rates more expensive than competitors
* India prices ease to $369-$373 per tonne from $371-$375
* Philippines mulls safeguard duty on rice imports
* Fresh floods submerge farmland in Bangladesh
By Karthika Suresh Namboothiri
BENGALURU, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Rice export rates in Asian hubs fell
this week as weak demand and currency fluctuations prompted sellers in India
and Thailand to cut prices, while expectations of lower interest from the Philippines
weighed on the Vietnamese market.
Thailand’s benchmark 5% broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 prices were quoted
slightly lower at $396-$417 a tonne versus last week’s $400-$420.
“Exporters have to lower prices to lure buyers,” a Bangkok-based
rice trader said adding: “I’ve not been able to sell any rice for two months
now.”
Thai exporters have struggled since the start of the year as the
baht, which has been Asia’s best performing currency this year, has kept Thai
prices higher than those of competitors India and Vietnam.
“There could be a possible deal for parboiled rice from African
markets ahead of Christmas, and perhaps some demand from China and other Asian
markets for jasmine rice towards the end of the year,” another Bangkok-based
trader said
“But as of now there is simply no major demand due to our high
prices.”
Prices of top exporter India’s 5% broken parboiled variety
RI-INBKN5-P1 also extended losses, dipping to around $369-$373 per tonne from
$371-$375 a week ago on a weak rupee and subdued demand.
“Demand is weak. Traders are waiting for the new season crop,” said
an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Indian rice exports in April-July plunged 26.5% from a year ago to
3.14 million tonnes, a government body said last month, on subdued demand for
non-basmati rice from Africa.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 were quoted at
$330-$340 a tonne, free on board, compared with $335 a week earlier. Prices had
plunged to a near 12-year low of about $325 in the week to Sept. 19.
“We are concerned that exports to Philippines will decline as it is
seeking to limit rice imports to protect local farmers,” a trader based in Ho
Chi Minh City said.
Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice importers, may
consider imposing a safeguard duty on rice to ease the pain of local farmers
hurting from a surge in imports.
Vietnam’s rice shipments in the first nine months of 2019 likely
rose 4.5% to 5.1 million tonnes, but export revenue was expected to drop 9.7%
in the same period.
Elsewhere, a heavy spell of retreating monsoon rains has submerged
vast swathe of farmland in low-lying Bangladesh, still recovering from previous
floods.
Floods in July washed away crops that would have yielded nearly
400,000 tonnes of rice, agriculture ministry estimates showed.
“If the water recedes soon, it won’t have much impact on paddy
crops,” an agriculture ministry official said. (Reporting by Khanh Vu in Hanoi,
Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai;
editing by Arpan Varghese and David Evans)https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL3N26O2HJ
