Make America truthful again
Posted: Wednesday,
January 15, 2020 11:52 am
To the Editor:
Re: the letter to the editor “We
are better off with Trump.” Our current president’s supporters must be blinded
by his white supremacist aura. I will respect our president when he respects
fellow humans. His actions indicate massive failure in his neurological
circuits.
That author mentions rescinding
federal regulations to grow jobs. Most of those regulations were designed to
protect human health. “Scientific American” (2017) compiled cause of death data
from sources such as hospital records. A minimum of 7,500 people die each year
as a direct result of burning coal for electrical generation.
The president’s dismissal of new
regulations to clean up coal pollution will guarantee that by the end of his
fourth year in office more than 30,000 people with die due to such pollution.
This is equal to or more than the number of people employed in that industry.
We sacrifice human life to the gods of coal. This is morally unacceptable.
The president restricted the labor
department from listing workplace death data. He promoted energy industry
advocate Cheryl LaFleur to chair the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and
forced out Norman Bay, a consumer advocate. This commission has regulatory
powers over the electric and natural gas rates. I doubt that such rates are
going to decrease given LaFleur’s history.
Republicans declared war on science
long ago. Thousands of government scientists resigned due to the president
determining policy via ideology, rather than actual results. Since 2005 ocean
probes have revealed the earth is gaining “energy” (heat) equivalent to the
energy in 500,000 Hiroshima type bombs every day. Republican propagandists spin
eloquent global warming falsehoods which sound logical to the untrained ear.
The first line of NASA’s mission
statement used to read: “to understand and protect our home planet.” This
mission statement had been crafted by NASA scientists and researchers. In 2006,
it was gone along with 20% of the earth science research budget. If you can’t
silence truth, starve it.
Lewis Ziska is a climate scientist
who recently resigned when the USDA refused to publish his peer-reviewed paper
on the negative effects of global warming on rice. He stated that research
seems to be published only if it agrees with conservative ideology.
We are back in the Soviet communist
era of Lysenkoism where forced adherence to flawed policy killed over 30
million people.
Make America truthful again.
Marvin Schott
Bowling Green
NEW TYPES OF RICE
WILL ELIMINATE MALNUTRITION, THESE STATES HAVE YIELD
15/01/2020
Agricultural scientists will work
towards increasing the nutrient content in foods to ensure that health
deficiency is overcome. Indian rice studies have created newer and more
effective kinds of rice having health content as much as double the amount as
various other kinds of rice.
The advantage of building these
brand-new types are why these brand-new types can conquer the issue of
malnutrition among individuals. The analysis institute is rolling out seven
kinds of rice to fulfill health inadequacies. The unique thing of the types is
consuming rice of the types will pull zinc deficiency in the human body.
According to Dr. Neerja, the main
scientist of this Indian Rice Research Institute, rice is prepared generally in
most locations in the nation. <! –
->
In such a scenario, the institute is rolling out some kinds of rice, that may meet up with the zinc deficiency in the nation. Talking about brand-new types, all of those other rice types where zinc amounts to 2 ppm, whilst the brand-new types have actually zinc of 25 ppm. That is, the total amount of zinc is much more than double.
In such a scenario, the institute is rolling out some kinds of rice, that may meet up with the zinc deficiency in the nation. Talking about brand-new types, all of those other rice types where zinc amounts to 2 ppm, whilst the brand-new types have actually zinc of 25 ppm. That is, the total amount of zinc is much more than double.
Let us inform you that rice is
created exclusively in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Punjab in the nation.
Agricultural scientists say that metal and metal are really very important to
your body. Thousands of individuals all around the globe are influenced by its
deficiency. Talking about India, about 30 per cent folks are impacted by zinc
deficiency right here. It also incorporates many kiddies below 5 years and
expectant mothers.
Zinc is very important when it
comes to human body
The person gets as much as 58 % zinc
quantity through brand-new kinds of rice. Zinc is a vital mineral for the human
body that will be extremely needed for our health. Zinc is vital for expectant
mothers. Zinc is situated in our physique cells. Zinc is vital for the human
body to operate precisely and also for the immune system.
These new kinds of rice
Let us inform you that the 3 brand-new kinds of rice produced by
the Indian Rice Research Institute, Hyderabad tend to be known as DRR Paddy 45,
DRR Paddy 49, Central Rice Research in Orissa, CR Paddy 310, CR Paddy 311 and
Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Indira Gandhi Agricultural University has continued to
develop Zinc O Rice and CGZR 2 types. In which zinc are in great volume.
JEREMY
SPIROGIS
Jeremy is an engineer and journalist, he loves his entertainment
gossip. He has a keen interest in Bollywood and loves how Hollywood, Tollywood
and other genres of entertainment from around the world merge in India to
create a beautiful fusion. Jeremy currently works for four other news agencies
and contributes content related to entertainment, politics, sports, weather,
business, finance, technology and blockchain.
USA Rice Chair On-Hand for Signing of China Trade Deal, Phase
One
WASHINGTON,
DC -- After nearly two years of feuding, beginning with U.S. duties placed on
Chinese washing machines in February 2018, President Trump signed a historic
"Phase One" pact here this morning with China's Vice Premier Liu He.
The agreement in principle was reached by negotiators in December and the 86-page text has since been drafted to outline the majority, but not all, of the elements of the bilateral accord.
According to a summary of the agreement provided by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), China will purchase and import on average at least $40 billion of U.S. food, agricultural, and seafood products annually for a total of at least $80 billion over the next two years. In the same summary, USTR references a USDA estimate that rice exports alone could be valued at $300 million annually.
There was other good news for rice in the agreement. Following two losses in the World Trade Organization (WTO) courts on how they administer their tariff rate quotas (TRQ) and for exceeding subsidy limits, China has agreed to come to the table with changes to their commodity procurement and excess subsidies. China has openly shared that they will come into compliance with WTO requirements through the fulfillment of targeted purchase quantities, beginning in 2020.
Additionally, USTR fulfilled a longtime USA Rice ask related to Chinese National Standards for rice. USTR's summary states that China adjusted their internal standards to re-classify U.S. medium grain rice from long grain to short/medium grain to allow for fair competition in the comparable Chinese markets.
Some purchase logistics are still unknown but more details will likely be shared by U.S. and Chinese governments in the coming days.
"USA Rice was thrilled to be invited to today's signing of Phase One of the new trade agreement with China," said USA Rice Chair Charley Mathews, Jr. "China has long been on our radar and we believe their growing population and dietary preferences present a great opportunity for our farmers."
Mathews was one of approximately 30
agriculture representatives who participated with President Trump and Vice
Premier He at today's signing ceremony.
"We appreciate the Administration's help in seeking a level playing field for U.S. rice with China through both historic market access and compliance with WTO requirements. We will continue to work on behalf of the U.S. rice industry to maximize the full potential of this market," said Mathews.
The agreement in principle was reached by negotiators in December and the 86-page text has since been drafted to outline the majority, but not all, of the elements of the bilateral accord.
According to a summary of the agreement provided by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), China will purchase and import on average at least $40 billion of U.S. food, agricultural, and seafood products annually for a total of at least $80 billion over the next two years. In the same summary, USTR references a USDA estimate that rice exports alone could be valued at $300 million annually.
There was other good news for rice in the agreement. Following two losses in the World Trade Organization (WTO) courts on how they administer their tariff rate quotas (TRQ) and for exceeding subsidy limits, China has agreed to come to the table with changes to their commodity procurement and excess subsidies. China has openly shared that they will come into compliance with WTO requirements through the fulfillment of targeted purchase quantities, beginning in 2020.
Additionally, USTR fulfilled a longtime USA Rice ask related to Chinese National Standards for rice. USTR's summary states that China adjusted their internal standards to re-classify U.S. medium grain rice from long grain to short/medium grain to allow for fair competition in the comparable Chinese markets.
Some purchase logistics are still unknown but more details will likely be shared by U.S. and Chinese governments in the coming days.
"USA Rice was thrilled to be invited to today's signing of Phase One of the new trade agreement with China," said USA Rice Chair Charley Mathews, Jr. "China has long been on our radar and we believe their growing population and dietary preferences present a great opportunity for our farmers."
Mathews was one of approximately 30
agriculture representatives who participated with President Trump and Vice
Premier He at today's signing ceremony."We appreciate the Administration's help in seeking a level playing field for U.S. rice with China through both historic market access and compliance with WTO requirements. We will continue to work on behalf of the U.S. rice industry to maximize the full potential of this market," said Mathews.
New gene database established to promote rice
breeding
2020-01-16
14:19:27XinhuaEditor : Cheng Zizhuo
Chinese researchers have developed
a database on rice epigenomic information to facilitate rice breeding,
according to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).
With the development of genome
sequencing technology, a large amount of rice epigenomic information has been
gathered. It is necessary to integrate multiple epigenomic data of rice and
construct a data platform.
Researchers from the Biotechnology
Research Institute of the CAAS created a database named eRice, to integrate
epigenomic annotations for both japonica and indica rice, two main cultivars in
Asia.
The database combines artificial
intelligence technology to conduct deep mining of the data. It will be updated
to provide a broader understanding of the epigenetic regulation of complex
biological processes in rice as well as a guide for future molecular design
efforts.
The research was published in Plant
Biotechnology Journal.
CSU, CU
Anschutz team up to fund inter-institutional health innovation projects
15Jan, 2020
Story by
Tori Fosheim
The Colorado
School of Public Health has launched a new grant program to
fund research projects that cross the boundaries of its three institutions:
Colorado State University, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
and the University of Northern Colorado.
And CSU
researchers are involved in the first projects chosen for funding.
Jon Samet,
dean of ColoradoSPH, and Alan Rudolph, vice president for research at CSU, each
contributed matching funds to establish a one-year program for research
projects that involve one principal investigator from two of the three
universities. The pilot grants provide each selected team with $30,000 to fund
seed projects that have the potential for larger, long-term research.
Jonathan Samet
For Cathy Bradley, ColoradoSPH’s associate
dean for research, the grants reflect general trends in the field of public
health toward team science.
“We understand
that a research problem involves so much — the social determinants of
health, exposures, the environment, all of these things — and no one
researcher has all of the skills, all those areas of expertise,” she said. “In
the past, our model for research was very much a single RO1 [a major National
Institute for Health grant] investigator thinking about they wanted to do, then
trying really hard to sell that idea.”
Beyond lab science
Katie
Dickinson, one of the funded investigators in the Department of Environmental
and Occupational Health at CU Anschutz, sees institutionally based grants as
providing flexibility to address these cultural shifts in a way federal funding
can’t yet.
“I think
there’s a lot of recognition that if you talk about public health, just funding
lab science is not going to solve things,” she said. “There’s a lot of lip
service [about funding interdisciplinary and public engagement projects], but
the structures of [NIH grant review] study sections haven’t necessarily caught
up to it.”
Calls for
NIH grant proposals still tend to be focused on very specific areas of
research, principal investigators who individually demonstrate all of the
skills required to complete the project, and lab-based or intervention research
with specific hypotheses.
Faculty of the three universities each have
different areas of strength, making them the perfect complements for holistic,
interdisciplinary public health research . Bradley says that CSU faculty are
known for their work in environmental science, fitness and nutrition and
agricultural health, while CU Anschutz faculty shine in core public health
methodology, chronic disease and social determinants of health. UNC faculty
bring strength in community health and community-engaged research. The new
inter-institutional grant program is designed to capitalize on each
university’s strengths in ways that investigators might not consider without an
explicit funding mechanism.
Focus on pilot projects
Another
important component of the new inter-institutional grant program is that it is
designed explicitly for pilot projects. Most NIH research funding requires
applicants to provide data that explain why they think their proposed project
will work, but those data are nearly impossible to acquire without funding — a catch-22.
By funding a pilot grant program, ColoradoSPH and CSU are providing
investigators with the opportunity to develop the questions, cultivate
relationships and get the preliminary data necessary to be able to apply for
NIH grants.
“This is
such a critical phase, and we really wouldn’t be able to do this kind of work
without a funding source that recognizes the need for it,” Dickinson said. For
the school and university partners, the ideal goal is a return on investment in
the form of grants that bring outside money into the universities.
Bradley says
that she would love for the investigators to use the outcomes of the grant to
receive NIH RO1 funding in the future, but “if that doesn’t happen this first
round, if people just got together and did collaborative research and we were
able to show ourselves as a consortium school of public health working together
in research, then were successful.”
Elizabeth Ryan
‘Bran’ new way to combat malnutrition
The first
collaborative study seeks to determine whether rice bran, a byproduct of the
rice milling process, can be used as a nutritional supplement for chronically
malnourished mothers and infants in the rural Trifinio region of Guatemala.
Co-PI
Elizabeth Ryan, a CSU associate professor in the Department
of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, has previously
studied rice bran as a dietary supplement in Mali and Nicaragua. Co-PI Molly
Lamb of the Department of Epidemiology at CU Anschutz has extensive experience
conducting public health research studies and interventions in the Trifinio
region, has built a relationship with the community and has connections with
field site staff. Their proof-of-concept study will find local sources of rice
bran, assess whether the preparation of rice bran-enhanced foods is feasible,
and determine whether mothers and infants find the enhanced foods palatable.
The initial findings will set the stage for a larger study looking at the
effects of 6-12 months of daily rice bran consumption on child growth outcomes.
“The timing
is right,” said Ryan. “The rice bran work that I have been doing in other
countries is practical to translate to Guatemala given the current status and
existing infrastructure at the Trifinio site with other public health [CU
Anschutz] faculty.”
Vaping and flu
The second
inter-institutional study will investigate whether e-cigarette use by Colorado
youth increases risk for flu infection by altering the function of macrophage
immune cells.
Sheryl Magzamen
Co-PI Sheryl
Magzamen, a CSU associate professor in the Department
of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, specializes in
air pollution epidemiology and community-based studies of environmental
pollutants. Co-PI Alison Bauer of the Department of Environmental and
Occupational Health at CU Anschutz has a background in basic toxicology and
pharmacology research. The collaboration will allow this project to look at the
effects of e-cig liquid on viruses both in people and in cells.
In people,
the project will study changes in the population of viruses and bacteria in the
upper respiratory tract of e-cig users during flu season. In cells, it will
look at whether exposure to the byproducts of e-cig liquid have an effect on
virus-infected immune cells in an artificial environment. Magzamen and Bauer
hope to be able to use these data to apply for larger grants to study
additional viruses and products of e-cig liquid.
Public health in public housing
The third
study in the ColoradoSPH at CU-CSU pilot grant program will look at health
outcomes of physical and social exposures in mixed-income public housing
developments as part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s
Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI). Co-PI Ellison Carter, an assistant
professor in CSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
has a research background in indoor air quality and interventions in low-income
housing and their relationship to energy, housing and transportation policy.
Dickinson studies the role of social behaviors and social networks in risk
behavior.
Their
project aims to establish a multi-institutional, transdisciplinary community
research lab that will investigate the long-term impacts of Denver’s CNI-funded
public housing redevelopment on multiple health determinants and endpoints.
“This
redevelopment is trying to rethink the way we do public housing from the
understanding that housing is so fundamental to health,” Dickinson said. “Is
there a better way to provide public housing assistance to folks in a way that
can be health-promoting and improve health outcomes for those that rely on
these services?” Dickinson and Ellison hope to use the next year to establish
relationships with community partners that will identify comparison public
housing communities and the structure of a long-term health outcomes study.
ColoradoSPH at CU Anschutz and CSU plan to
co-host a research showcase next fall, where the results of the grants will be
presented to Samet, Rudolph and the ColoradoSPH faculty research committee.
Paddy dealers want FG
to work on Adesina’s model on rice mill By Idowu Isamotu
| Published Date Jan 16,
2020 4:13 AM
Paddy rice Paddy Dealers Association
of Nigeria, Farmers’ Cooperative, Rice millers and other private investors have
charged the federal government to take seriously, Paddy Aggregation Centres
(PACs) model introduced by the ex-agric minister, Akinwumi Adesina, to boost
rice production in the country. The model, according to the stakeholders, which
was first launched in 2013 by Adesina in collaboration with the USAID Markets
II, has not received desired attention by the present administration.
Daily Trust reports that the model
when re-launched in 2019 in Abuja by the Commodity Development Initiative (CDI)
– an agricultural development and agribusiness investment facilitation
organisation based in FCT, was chronicled Nigeria Paddy Aggregation Centres
Strengthening (NPACS) Project. The stakeholders, in a statement signed by
Muhammad Auwal, the association’s president, recalled that the NIRSAL was also
involved in the study leading to the establishment of the ‘noble’ centres,
which he said if given proper attention would save the country $2 billion
annually.
“The purpose of this
information is to acquaint the agric ministry with not only the activities of
the association but to approach you about the establishment of model Paddy
Aggregation Centres (PACs) in Nigeria. “The overall goal of the centres is to
aggregate paddy/grains in standardized measurement, right quality and good
price for integrated millers/processors and promote the domestic supply of
milled rice to meet local demands in required quality and competitive price and
thus curtail expenditure on rice imports,” the statement partly read. Auwal also
explained that the PACs model would lead to significant impact on direct and
indirect job creation. He said, “At least 2,000 farmers will be actively
involved in the production of paddy for each PAC, using the out-grower model
while each PAC will directly engage 10 people, making a total of 2,010 jobs
that will be created for each PAC.”
Related AgNet discuses rice, as NPACS project launches scheme on
aggregation FG set to establish grains aggregation centres Millers pledge
support for rice self-sufficiency … Lament surge in rice smuggling
ADVERTISEMENT Surulere man reveals New Herbal Solution That Reverses Weak
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Rice Millers Cry For Financial Support
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PH should anticipate effects of Indochina
drought on rice supply
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:02 AM January 16,
2020
News of
extreme drought coming out of Indochina should be a major concern for our
country given the impact of the rice tariffication law (RTL) on rice
production, supply and prices. According to reports, Thailand — one of the
world’s biggest exporters of rice — is forecasting an even worse drought and
dry season until May this year; it has asked its farmers to switch crops or
delay planting season in the meantime.
RTL
apparently anchors food security on the assumption that there will always be
cheap rice available in the international market.
“We see the
rice tariffication law continuing to help pull down overall inflation in the
near term as it continues to help improve the rice stock inventory of the
country. This access to cheaper rice is good for Filipino consumers,”
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia had said.
The problem
is that the severe to extreme drought conditions in Indochina portend a
possible repeat of the 2008 rice crisis when the international price of rice
went up to US$800-$1,000 per metric ton, on both a shortfall in production in
the region due to climate change and an upsurge in demand from the Philippines.
The National Food Authority (NFA) incurred huge losses to address that crisis.
The NFA no
longer has the authority to import rice and regulate the rice industry under
the RTL. Government officials are not inclined to amend the law, with Pernia
saying that it should be given a period of at least two years to work.
As such, if
the private sector deems it unprofitable to import rice, how do we address the
problem? Agriculture Secretary William Dar was previously quoted saying that
rice production in 2019 was only at 85 percent of the country’s requirements.
In a meeting
of the committee on international trade of the Philippine Council for
Agriculture and Fisheries last December, rice importers manifested that while
they earned income from their initial importations, they have suffered heavy
losses in their subsequent efforts, noting a glut in the market because of
over-importation.
The market
could only absorb one million MT but, unfortunately, three million MT was
brought in. Thus, we have a situation where the RTL has had a negative impact
on both producers and importers.
Important
questions need to be asked soonest so that plans can be drawn up to provide
answers and avoid or mitigate a possible crisis. What is the projected total
dry season production? What is the target importation? If the private sector is
wary of importing, what can the government do in the event of an emergency?
What would be the required emergency appropriation?
In short,
yesterday was the time to prepare.
ATTY. ELIAS
JOSE M. INCIONG
President — United Broiler Raisers Association
Vice-President — Alyansa AgrikulturaCo-Convenor—Samahan ng Industriya sa Agrikultura
Corporate Secretary — Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc.
AA Representative — Agri-Fisheries Alliance
President — United Broiler Raisers Association
Vice-President — Alyansa AgrikulturaCo-Convenor—Samahan ng Industriya sa Agrikultura
Corporate Secretary — Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc.
AA Representative — Agri-Fisheries Alliance
Rice millers cry for financial support
Date: Jan 15 , 2020 , 10:09
BY: Severious Kale-Dery
Rice millers in the country were unable to meet the demand for
milled local rice during the Christmas and New Year festivities due to
financial constraints.
According to them, they had the
capacity to mill but they lacked the funds to buy adequate quantities of the
paddy rice for milling.
Some of the rice millers the Daily
Graphic interviewed noted that until recently, people did not believe in the
local rice and for that matter, those in the value chain did not get any
financial support.
Financial resources
The Chief Executive Officer of Digo
Farms at New Longoro in the Bono East Region, Mr Yaw Adu Poku, explained that
the rush for the local rice came at a short notice and local millers could not
measure up because “we did not have the financial muscles to meet the demand”.
“Some of us worked 24/7 during the
period and as we milled, people who placed orders were standing by to take
delivery.
“To tell you the truth, the
ministry has made enemies for us because friends and families were made to
understand that they would get their local rice at their doorstep during the
festivities and when we were not able to meet the demands, people got angry
with us that we denied them of local rice,” he told the Daily Graphic.
Mr Poku said the demand was
overwhelming, but stressed that it was not that the rice millers were not up to
the task, but that the millers were not adequately prepared for the season.
17 booked for extortion, Fazilka truck
operators stage protestPosted: Jan 16, 2020 07:10 AM (IST)
·
Updated : 9 hours ago
Block Samiti vice-chairman Baldev
Singh argues with a police official outside the SSP office in Fazilka. TRIBUNE
PHOTO
Our Correspondent
Fazilka, January 15
Block Samiti vice-chairman Baldev
Singh, who is also the patron of the Truck Operators Welfare Society, Fazilka,
society president Niranjan Singh and 15 other persons have been booked on the
allegation of extortion and threat.
Baldev Singh, a resident of
Bakhushah village of Fazilka district, is also considered a close aide of
Fazilka Congress MLA Davinder Singh Ghubaya and his father former MP Sher Singh
Ghubaya.
A large number of truck operators
staged a protest outside the SSP office here against the registration of case
against them claiming it to be false.
Arun Dhuria, president,
Fazilka-Ladhuka Rice Millers Association, alleged that after disbanding truck
unions in the state, Niranjan Singh and others had allegedly constituted truck
operators welfare society and started demanding exorbitant fare for
transporting rice of the millers to other states.
He said when the millers started
seeking trucks from nearby towns at competitive prices, the society members
allegedly started demanding additional amount of Rs 3,000 per truck from
operators from outside and threatened them. The complainant has alleged that on
January 12, Niranjan Singh, Baldev Singh along with their 15 aides allegedly
snatched the documents of two trucks belonging to Ashoka Transport Company,
Abohar, and demanded Rs 3,000 per truck.
The accused have been booked
under Sections 384, 506, 148, 149 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.
A large number of truck operators
staged a protest near the SSP office and blocked the Fazilka-Abohar National
Highway against the registration of “false” case.
However, Baldev Singh and
Niranjan Singh brushed aside the allegations. They claimed that they had been
implicated in false case at the behest of a senior Congress office-bearer who
tried to gag the voice of the truck operators.
They said the truck operators had
already been facing starvation-like situation, thus seeking trucks from outside
was uncalled for. They also demanded cancellation of the FIR.
Fazilka SSP Bhupinder Singh said,
“The action has been taken as per the law”. He said the Deputy Commissioner
would decide the future course of action.
'Pakistan's demand for palm oil rising 4.5% each year'
Published: January 15, 2020
A Reuters file photo.
KARACHI: Demand for palm oil in Pakistan’s has been
increasing at a rate of 4.5% every year for the past seven years, said
Malaysian Minister for Primary Industries Teresa Kok Suh Sim.
Speaking at the Fifth Pakistan Edible Oil
Conference, she said that demand of the commodity was growing in Pakistan on
back of rising population, higher incomes and increased consumer spending.
“Palm oil has the potential for even higher
uptake in the Pakistani market because the country’s local production of oils
and fats covers only around 20% of its total consumption needs,” she said.
“Thus, Pakistan depends heavily on import of the product to meet growing
domestic demand.”
Highlighting the importance of Pakistan as
an end user of Malaysian palm oil, Sim termed the country one of the most
regular and dependable buyers of the product.
The minister pointed out that Pakistan was
among the first export destinations where Malaysia had major investments in
areas of bulking installations and refineries besides having liquid cargo jetty
dedicated for handling of palm oil.
Malaysian companies such as FGV Holdings
Berhad, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad and IOI Group have made significant
investment in Pakistan via joint ventures with the Westbury Group since 1993.
Palm oil is widely used by the industry for
manufacturing vanaspati (ghee). On the other hand, it is also used by the food
industry in Pakistan for frying.
She was pleased to learn that Prime Minister
Imran Khan would be visiting Malaysia soon.
The minister was joined at the event by
Adviser to Prime Minister for Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood.
The two leaders took the opportunity of the
bilateral dialogue to explore various issues of common interest for both
countries. Reiterating the excellent cordial bilateral relations, the two sides
emphasised the need to further enhance the two-way trade.
Minister Teresa Kok raised the issue that
medium density fibreboards (MDF) imported in Pakistan from Sri Lanka enjoyed
lower duties whereas Malaysia’s higher quality MDFs were subjected to higher
import tariffs.
On the other hand, Dawood said Pakistan
exported rice, fruits and other products which were required by Malaysia and
encouraged the minister to consider establishing trading practices that could
allow smoother passage of these products to Kuala Lumpur.
LSU AgCenter experts offer rice
farmers tips on upcoming season
by: John Walton
Posted: Jan
15, 2020 / 11:12 AM CST Updated: Jan 15, 2020 / 11:12 AM CST
WELSH, La. (LSU AgCenter) – Rice
farmers preparing for the 2020 crop heard recently from LSU AgCenter experts
about what they should be considering before they get into the fields.
The meetings were held in Welsh,
Vidrine and Crowley, and more are scheduled.
Don Groth, resident coordinator of
the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station, said the medium-grain
variety Titan has been accepted by the Kellogg Co. for its products. Groth said
acreage of that variety probably will increase.
Groth said he also expects to see
an acreage increase for furrow-irrigated rice, also called row rice, because
the practice can now be covered by crop insurance. The practice uses
polypropylene pipe to irrigate fields before they dry. “Sometimes it saves you
water, sometimes it doesn’t,” he said.
Wet weather last year encouraged
disease development. “It was a bad disease year, but we’ve had worse,” he said.
Smut disease in south Louisiana was
particularly bad, and Groth anticipates it will be a problem again this year.
Click here for more.
Chinese scientists create new genome editing method for rice
Chinese
scientists have invented a new method of genetically altering rice
by applying the ScCas9 protein, which could help develop new gene functions,
molecular breeding and genetic improvement. The innovation was made by a
research team from the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences. The method would enhance the CRISPR/Cas system, which
has rapidly become the preferred tool for genome engineering due to its high
efficiency, specificity, simplicity and versatility. CRISPR/Cas-mediated base
editing, a novel genome editing strategy, is widely used for generating
gain-of-function germplasms in functional genomics research and genetic crop
improvement, said researcher Zhou Huanbin. However, the lack of recognition of
a specific protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) - a DNA sequence next to the target
sequence - for Cas protein restricts the targeting range of these tools and
limits the application of the CRISPR system in genome editing, Zhou said. A
promising candidate, the ScCas9 protein, has been identified and characterized.
The research team found that ScCas9 can be used in multiplex genome editing and
base editing in rice plants. ScCas9 nuclease and its derived editing tools
expand the CRISPR toolbox for targeted genome editing in plants, said Zhou. The
research was published in Plant Biotechnology Journal.
Report Highlights Busy Year for California
Rice in 2019
A new report points to an eventful year for the California rice
industry in 2019, with several ongoing conservation programs and significant
developments occurring in various trade markets. The 2019 Annual Report from the California Rice
Commission (CRC) that was recently released highlights some of the progress
made in industry initiatives and points of emphasis moving forward.
“I would categorize 2019 as another busy year for our industry
and for the rice commission, it seems every year gets a little busier but we’re
happy to help our industry,” said Jim Morris, Communications Manager for the
CRC. “We do work at the commission in four primary areas: conservation,
regulation, legislation, and public education and there’s never a lack of
projects to work on.”
There were several significant trade opportunities that emerged
in 2019. The easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China,
combined with the progress made on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement will each
benefit the rice industry. Increasing export opportunities also emerged
through trade negotiations with Japan and South Korea. “It was largely a
positive year for trade and it’s an area that we need to remain diligent in
because there’s a lot of moving pieces,” Morris noted.
Similar to other California crops, the rice industry is also
working on multiple avenues to help address water-related issues. The
rice industry has been especially attentive to water quality concerns, through
the Rice Pesticide Program to monitor water discharge in rice fields. CRC
looks to continue engaging the industry on a variety of water concerns moving
forward.
“This area is always challenging in California; we’re regulated
at the state and federal levels. We’ve been active for example in the
CV-SALTS program for a long time,” said Morris. “We expect that there
will be a ten-year study in the near future that will understand the best ways
to reduce impacts and address removing salt from the system.”
The CRC has also been closely involved with cooperating agencies
in various conservation efforts, working with UC Davis and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, on projects such as the Regional Conservation
Partnership Program and the Ricelands Salmon Habitat Project. CRC also
worked to better engage the public on the value of the industry through
refining the outreach approach and expanding audiences.
Laos: Rice festival steeped in tradition
Vientiane Times
A huge rice stack dominates the
festival in Somsavanh village, Phieng district, Xayaboury Province.
6:17 pm, January 15, 2020
By Visith Teppalath / Vientiane
Times via Asia News NetworkVisitors to Laos should not miss
the annual Boun Kongkhao festivities — the rice stack festival — which are
currently taking place to celebrate the rice harvest.
This is the perfect time to
experience this festival and Lao people always enjoy this celebration of their
traditional way of life.
Boun Kongkhao dates back to
ancient times and has been passed down from one generation to the next to mark
the all-important rice harvest.
Usually the festivities are
organised towards the end of December or at the beginning of January as this is
when rice harvesting is at its peak. This is, therefore, also a good time for
farmers to relax and enjoy the fruits of their hard labour.
Some villages hold this event at
a temple but often it takes place on open ground at the heart of the community.
The festival spans two days and a night or more depending on the way the
villagers want to celebrate.
The hallmark of the festival is
that rice is donated by villagers which is then stacked in huge piles. Before
the festival kicks off, the local administration of the district, village or
community runs a campaign to collect rice. The amount of rice donated is
determined by the organising committee and can be unlimited.
After the festival, the rice is
sold and the money collected is added to the village fund or donated to the
local temple.
The festival serves to preserve
local culture as well as being a tourist draw.
Last year, the biggest event was
the Great Rice Stack Festival — Boun Kongkhao Yai — held in Phieng district,
Xayaboury Province. The festival attracted thousands of people, including
foreigners.
This year the event is taking
place in the district’s Somsavanh village.
The celebrations started on Jan.
7 and the official opening ceremony took place on Jan. 9. The event continued
till Jan. 12. The locals gave visitors a warm welcome and the authorities made
sure there was enough accommodation and other facilities. There were a range of
activities on offer to showcase the traditional way of life.
Events included performances by
various ethnic groups, as well as exhibitions and demonstrations of the
lifestyle of the Tongleuang people. This apart, there was a demonstration of
tamkhao — a foot-operated rice threshing machine — and fartkhao — rice husking.
A street fair featured products
made by local ethnic groups and a cooking contest also kept visitors
entertained. A beauty contest, a singing contest and sports competitions were
also held.
The Deputy Governor of Xayaboury
Province, Mrs. Bounphak Inthapanya, said “Boun Kongkhao Yai is organised
annually in Phieng because the district is famed for its rice.”
“It is also a big visitor draw.
Each year nine rice stacks are built with one being a lot bigger than the others.
This stack indicates the unity and solidarity of the whole community and the
eight smaller ones represent the eight ethnic groups to be found in Phieng
district.”
Mr. Bountien, a local resident,
said the festival was organised as a way to preserve longstanding cultural
traditions.
“A committee organises the
festival to preserve local traditions. They hope that it will encourage young
people in particular to be proud of their traditional way of life and want to
perpetuate our customs,” he said.
“This isn’t the first time our
district has organised this festival. This year, the event is bigger as we want
to attract more people.”
“The festival indicates that there is an abundance of rice in
our district. We get good yields and there is sufficient rice for local
consumption this year as well as for sale. So it’s a good time to unite and
celebrate this success.”Speech
Big win for rice, banana farmers
Dennis Onyango 15th Jan 2020
10:45:00 GMT +0300
This came as a huge relief to farmers who have
been stuck with the produce after harvesting.
Rice,
potato and banana farmers are among major beneficiaries of President Uhuru
Kenyatta's plan to revamp the agriculture sector.
In a
speech delivered yesterday at State House, Mombasa, Uhuru directed the National
Treasury to release money to help local farmers who often incur huge losses due
to lack of market and storage facilities.
“Our
potato, banana and rice farmers have been blessed with bumper harvests. And
because their products are perishable in nature, they suffer immense losses
when they cannot sell them on time,” Uhuru said, clearly capturing the pain
local farmers go through as they seek market for their produce.
Based
on Uhuru’s directive, rice farmers from Ahero and West Kano irrigation schemes
in Kisumu County will no longer suffer from lack of market after a bumper
harvest, with the president directing the Treasury to release money to purchase
all the rice from Kano Plains.
This
came as a huge relief to farmers who have been stuck with the produce after
harvesting, besides incurring losses occasioned by erratic weather patterns.
“I
have directed that the National Treasury releases Sh660 million to the Kenya
National Trading Corporation to purchase all excess rice from Kano Plains and
Mwea for onward selling to our disciplined forces, prisons services as well as
our boarding schools,” Uhuru said.
Huge losses
Having
incurred losses approximated at Sh64 million due to the recent floods that
destroyed their crop, rice farmers who spoke to The
Standard yesterday, expressed optimism the new directive would give
them a new lifeline.
“Many of us have rice in our stores because we
have nowhere to take it. Many of us were even contemplating venturing into
other crops,” said David Dhine, a director at West Kano rice mill.
Away
from the lakeside, banana farmers from Gusii region were also hopeful.
Kisii
is one of the three counties that will benefit from the government initiative
to build cold storage and processing facilities to save farmers of the
perishable commodity from incurring losses.
“I
have directed that the National Treasury to release Sh300 million to the Micro
and Small Enterprises Authority for the construction of cold storage and
processing facilities in Nyandarua, Meru and Kisii,” Uhuru said. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001356534/big-win-for-rice-banana-farmers
Rice
Production Declines As Consumption Increases
on
January 14, 2020
Abdoulai G. Dibba
Rice production is in gradual and
general decline, when the national rice requirement for Gambians as their
staple food, continues to increase.
According to a pre-harvest
assessment report for the 2019/2020 cropping season from the Agriculture
Ministry and other Development partners, crop production was negatively
impacted due to some delay and the erratic rainfall pattern in most parts of
the country, coupled with pest’s infestation of some crops such as maize by the
‘‘fall’’ army worm. The report further indicates that crop production levels in
all regions have declined by fifteen percent as compared to fifty-three percent
in 2018.
According to the report, when the
national rice requirement was 341,567 metric tons in 2014, Gambia produced only
46,672 metric tons; that in 2015, the country produced 69,794 metric tons while
the national rice requirement was 352,541 metric tons; that in 2016, Gambia
produced 48,778 metric tons while the national rice requirement was 363,675
metric tons and in 2017, Gambia produced 29,967 metric tons while the national
rice requirement was 375,017 metric tons. The assessment report further
disclosed that in 2018, Gambia produced 26,413 metric tons while the national
rice requirement was 386,582 metric tons; that in 2019, Gambia produced 22,706
metric tons while the national rice requirement was 398,364 metric tons.
According to the assessment
report, the national rice requirement for 2.2 million Gambians in 2020 is
estimated at 398,364 metric tons for rice showing a deficit of about 375,658
metric tons for the year. To close this production gap, the assessment report
will require the development of a joint response plan by the Government of the
Gambia and international development partners such as FAO, WFP, AAH, AATG,
etc., for relief
Rice Prices
as on : 14-01-2020 06:12:44 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in
Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Bangalore(Kar)
|
3224.00
|
44.19
|
69519.00
|
4350
|
4350
|
1.16
|
|
Siliguri(WB)
|
265.00
|
NC
|
3462.00
|
3800
|
3800
|
-
|
|
Barhaj(UP)
|
170.00
|
13.33
|
4970.00
|
2400
|
2420
|
5.26
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
105.50
|
43.54
|
1119.60
|
2390
|
2385
|
5.75
|
|
Madhoganj(UP)
|
105.00
|
-25
|
2128.00
|
2330
|
2320
|
14.78
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
70.00
|
NC
|
1910.00
|
2550
|
2550
|
2.00
|
|
Pilibhit(UP)
|
65.00
|
-23.53
|
46058.00
|
2575
|
2585
|
9.81
|
|
Kalna(WB)
|
52.00
|
-12.61
|
845.50
|
2980
|
2980
|
-0.67
|
|
Srirangapattana(Kar)
|
51.00
|
-
|
51.00
|
2250
|
-
|
-
|
|
Bahraich(UP)
|
49.80
|
-7.78
|
501.40
|
2450
|
2450
|
2.94
|
|
Bankura Sadar(WB)
|
45.00
|
12.5
|
1112.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
-
|
|
Kandi(WB)
|
45.00
|
NC
|
617.50
|
2600
|
2600
|
6.12
|
|
Vasai(Mah)
|
35.00
|
-20.45
|
817.00
|
3460
|
3580
|
-0.72
|
|
Basti(UP)
|
35.00
|
-12.5
|
642.50
|
2470
|
2480
|
11.51
|
|
Badayoun(UP)
|
30.00
|
NC
|
614.50
|
2600
|
2610
|
9.24
|
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
30.00
|
NC
|
921.00
|
2430
|
2420
|
5.65
|
|
Islampur(WB)
|
30.00
|
11.11
|
521.00
|
3500
|
3450
|
-
|
|
Raiganj(WB)
|
29.00
|
16
|
427.00
|
3400
|
3350
|
-
|
|
Bidar(Kar)
|
27.00
|
-
|
27.00
|
2500
|
-
|
-
|
|
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)
|
26.80
|
NC
|
365.80
|
4000
|
4000
|
33.33
|
|
Kolar(Kar)
|
26.00
|
420
|
253.00
|
5193
|
5324
|
-
|
|
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
|
26.00
|
4
|
711.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
1.82
|
|
Mangalore(Kar)
|
25.00
|
NC
|
193.00
|
3700
|
3700
|
-
|
|
Balrampur(UP)
|
25.00
|
-
|
243.00
|
2120
|
-
|
-8.82
|
|
Puranpur(UP)
|
24.00
|
-11.11
|
1397.00
|
2580
|
2560
|
38.71
|
|
Navapur(Mah)
|
23.00
|
-
|
23.00
|
2045
|
-
|
-
|
|
Asansol(WB)
|
20.50
|
-2.38
|
460.09
|
2830
|
2830
|
-5.67
|
|
Durgapur(WB)
|
19.50
|
2.63
|
397.25
|
2730
|
2720
|
-
|
|
Shikohabad(UP)
|
15.00
|
50
|
178.00
|
2250
|
2250
|
-11.76
|
|
Chintamani(Kar)
|
13.00
|
-75
|
832.00
|
2150
|
2100
|
-
|
|
Gulbarga(Kar)
|
13.00
|
-
|
13.00
|
2780
|
-
|
-
|
|
Soharatgarh(UP)
|
12.00
|
-42.86
|
1089.00
|
2530
|
2495
|
11.95
|
|
Ajuha(UP)
|
9.00
|
28.57
|
85.00
|
2525
|
2550
|
-
|
|
Tamkuhi Road(UP)
|
8.50
|
NC
|
271.80
|
2150
|
2150
|
NC
|
|
Unnao(UP)
|
7.50
|
15.38
|
44.30
|
2600
|
2625
|
16.85
|
|
Lalganj(UP)
|
7.00
|
-2.78
|
157.80
|
2050
|
2015
|
-
|
|
Jahangirabad(UP)
|
3.50
|
-12.5
|
93.00
|
2550
|
2500
|
-2.86
|
|
Kosikalan(UP)
|
3.10
|
-6.06
|
108.00
|
2585
|
2590
|
-2.08
|
|
Anandnagar(UP)
|
2.70
|
17.39
|
95.40
|
2560
|
2560
|
14.80
|
|
Melaghar(Tri)
|
2.50
|
66.67
|
24.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
NC
|
|
Khair(UP)
|
1.50
|
NC
|
28.90
|
2570
|
2560
|
1.98
|
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
44.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
-41.67
|
|
Murud(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
44.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
-41.67
|
|
Ujhani(UP)
|
0.80
|
-46.67
|
21.90
|
2600
|
2600
|
8.33
|
Published on January 14, 2020
Japan Beer, Quasi-Beer Sales Fall for 15th Year
Economy Jan 16, 2020
Tokyo, Jan. 16 (Jiji Press)--Beer
and quasi-beer sales in Japan in 2019 fell 1.4 pct from the previous year, down
for the 15th straight year, data from four major brewers showed Thursday.
The drop reflected a shift in
demand from beer to other alcoholic drinks, such as low-priced
"chuhai" spirits.
Overall sales totaled 384.58
million cases. Each case contains the equivalent of 20 633-milliliter bottles.
Sales of so-called third-segment
beer-like beverages, carrying lower prices than beer, performed well, making up
over 40 pct of all sales by volume for the first time.
Suntory Beer Ltd. and Kirin Brewery
Co. posted increases in sales from the previous year. Suntory saw 1.0 pct
growth, riding on the back of brisk sales of the newest addition to its
mainstay "Kinmugi" third-segment beer series, Kinmugi Gold Lager,
while Kirin saw sales rise 0.3 pct thanks to the popularity of its
"Honkirin" third-segment product.
Rice sown on thousands of hectares last year in Azerbaijan
15 January 2020 14:20 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
A regional meeting was held in Azerbaijan’s Agdash district on the
“The current state of rice growing and upcoming tasks” topic, Trend reports
referring to Azerbaijan’s Agriculture Ministry.
The meeting was attended by the
heads of the state agrarian development centers and specialists from
Azerbaijan’s Agdash, Ujar, Zardab, Agsu, Yevlakh, Goychay and Samukh districts.
It was noted at the meeting led by
Head of the ministry’s Department for Organization and Monitoring of Crop
Production Rafael Guliyev that the State Program for the Development of Rice
Growing in Azerbaijan for 2018-2025 was approved in accordance with the
Azerbaijani presidential order dated Feb. 9, 2018.
This was done in order to further
strengthen state support for one of the traditional areas in Azerbaijan - rice
growing, the effective use of the potential of this sphere, as well as to
achieve increase in interest in rice production.
It was announced that as a result
of the implementation of the state program in 2019, rice was sown on an area of
4,038 hectares, 12,152 tons of crops were harvested, and the average yield
was 30.1 centners per hectare.
“Rice is mainly sown on areas in
the Lankaran and Aran economic regions,” Guliyev said. “Expansion of sown
areas, cultivation of new and more productive rice varieties, organization of
seed growing, application of innovative cultivation methods are priority areas
for the implementation of the state program.”
During the meeting, with the
participation of the heads of the state agrarian development centers of the
respective districts, specialists of Azerbaijan's Agency for Agrarian Services,
Aqrolizinq OJSC, as well as rice growers, the issues of determining the need
for seeds, the current state in the provision of machinery, mineral fertilizers
and pesticides were discussed.
At the end of the event, an
inspection of the rice production workshop in the Agdash district was
conducted.
