Saturday, June 27, 2020

27th June,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

Efforts Underway To Modernize Agriculture; Boost Per Acre Yield

18 hours ago Sat 27th June 2020 | 12:01 AM

Description: Efforts underway to modernize agriculture; boost per acre yield

Description: APP - Associated Press Of Pakistan

FPCCI holds session on food security

By News desk

June 26, 2020

Staff Reporter
Karachi
Almost 37 percent of our population is food insecure despite the fact that Pakistan is self-sufficient in major staples at present and the main problem is access and affordability to food, this was stated by Shaikh Sultan Rehman Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in an interactive seminar on Food Security in Pakistan held at Federation House Karachi, Regional Office Lahore and Capital Office Islamabad via zoom video link.
While welcoming the participants, Shaikh Sultan Rehman Vice President FPCCI emphasized on the food security in Pakistan which has high linkage with human capital and strong economic implications. While highlighting the facts and figure of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, he added that high rate of malnutrition can cost to an economy around 3-4 percent of GDP which mainly affects our young generation mainly due to rising of death rate, malnutrition, low future productivity.
Moreover, rising of population and climate changes are other challenges which may risk food security in future. He informed that globally Pakistan ranked 8th in production of wheat, tenth in rice, 5th in sugarcane and 4th in milk production, despite this Pakistan faces occasionally shortage of these products which affects their prices.
He added that hoarding and smuggling are other issues also create food shortage in Pakistan. He underscored the need for implementation of National Food Security Policy announced in 2018.

https://pakobserver.net/fpcci-holds-session-on-food-security/

Merle Anders Honored as a Field to Market Trusted Advisor

By Lydia Holmes

MEMPHIS, TN -- Dr. Merle Anders was honored this week as part of Field to Market's 2020 Trusted Adviser Spotlight Series, recognizing his outstanding leadership in implementing innovative approaches to scale sustainable agriculture. Through his role with the USA Rice/Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership and his work as an independent crop consultant, Anders supports rice farmers across Arkansas in scaling their adoption of sustainable practices to improve sustainability outcomes.
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His early research in rice irrigation, fertility management, rotation, and tillage have been pivotal in developing recent advances in sustainable rice production practices, particularly Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and fertility management. Anders couches all his research in economic analyses, which provides a net-profit component, ensuring rice producers have accurate cost versus benefit analyses when implementing new practices.

"The legacy I want to leave behind is a number of farmers that are utilizing sustainable practices and are going to continue to build on those practices," he said.

USA Rice and the Rice Stewardship Partnership are dedicated to connecting farmers with trusted advisers to advance continuous improvements in sustainable outcomes. Anders's expertise in irrigation management and his way of communicating is invaluable to rice farmers in the Mid-South. $Description: C:\Users\abc\Downloads\unnamedd.jpg$

"Dr. Anders not only has the knowledge of an amazing scientist, but also has a way of taking scientific information and presenting it in a way that is understandable and relates to the everyday farmer," said Arkansas farmer Mike Sullivan.

USA Rice congratulates Dr. Anders on being recognized for his accomplishments in delivering sustainable outcomes for the U.S. rice industry

Govt to achieve tax target of Rs4.96tr, Hammad assures NA

Javaid-ur-Rahman

June 26, 2020

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar, concluding debate on budget 2020-21, in Thursday’s national assembly said that PTI’s government was fully optimistic to achieve the FBR tax collection of Rs4.96 trillion set for the fiscal budget 2020-21.

Minister shared with the house the tax collection was increasing at a rate of 17 percent compared to last year due to the Corona crisis.

The minister pointed out that the present government inherited a weak economy but due to its concerted efforts, the government succeeded in stabilizing the economy.”All the international financial institutions are praising Pakistan government performance on economic front prior to outbreak of the pandemic,” he said , mentioning that the COVID-19 had affected the whole world and the world economy was projected to be slowed down causing loss of US$12 trillion.

Israeli jets hit target in Gaza Strip

Minister said normally tax collection during last quarter of the financial year remained highest as compared to the first three quarters but unfortunately outbreak of the pandemic dented the overall economy and revised tax target of Rs 4.8 trillion could not be achieved.

The minister said that incumbent government reduced the current account deficit by 73 percent, trade deficit 31 percent and fiscal deficit by 3.8 percent in the first nine months of current fiscal year. He said Foreign Direct Investment also doubled from $1 billion to $2 billion and refunds of Rs 250 billion were also made to the businesses.

The minister said that Rs75 billion were allocated for bulk purchases of personal protective equipment’.

Sharing the main points of the budget, the minister said that no new tax had been imposed rather several taxes had been waived off.

The minister categorically stated that the federal government had not withheld the amounts of the provinces under the National Finance Commission and an additional amount of Rs.88 billion had been given to Balochistan.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi assured that all resources would be utilized to cope with the challenge posed by locusts.

He said a comprehensive plan in this regard has also been prepared. He said a coordinated effort is required to deal with the issue. He said we are thankful to the Armed Forces of Pakistan for extending cooperation in the fight against locusts.

Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam expressed the commitment to develop the agriculture sector on scientific lines in order to enhance yield of major crops including wheat, cotton and rice.

Fakhar Imam said Pakistan would not require loans from IMF and Asian Development Bank if the cotton production was doubled in the country. PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal said a national effort was required to revive the economy as no single party can tackle the current challenges.

Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Nausheen Hamid lauded the government for giving importance to the health sector in the budget. She said there were currently 129 laboratories across the country where the testing capacity for Coronavirus had significantly been enhanced.

https://nation.com.pk/26-Jun-2020/govt-to-achieve-tax-target-of-rs4-96tr-hammad-assures-na

Business community welcomes 100bps cut in policy rate

Businessmen laud govt’s economic policies, seek further reduction in policy rate to spur growth

By Hassan Naqvi

June 25, 2020

Description: https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/47-696x463.jpg

LAHORE: Leading businessmen and industrialists have welcomed the State Bank of Pakistan’s decision to reduce the country’s policy rate by 100 basis points to 7pc.
Talking to Profit on Thursday, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Patron-in-Chief Gohar Ejaz lauded the prime minister and his economic team for bringing down the rate of inflation in the country, which helped reduce the interest rate from 13.25pc to 7pc in the last 90 days.
“The biggest beneficiary is the government with 75pc of the money or Rs15 trillion in the banking sector being invested in government securities. The domestic commerce and production industry, which has borrowed Rs4 trillion, would be next, followed by exports with Rs1 trillion borrowing,” Ejaz said.
He, however, stressed the need for Pakistan to become regionally competitive in all aspects to exports.
Ejaz maintained that controlled energy prices, interest rates and the reimposition of the zero-rating regime for export sectors were necessary steps to ensure exports’ enhancement. “Regional interest rate [on average] is 4pc and we have to bring it down to the same levels by next quarter.”
Meanwhile, Chainstore Association of Pakistan (CAP) Vice Chairman Wasif Butt said that continuous reduction in policy rate over the past few months was a “positive and necessary step” taken by the SBP to facilitate businesses suffering from the Covid-led crisis.
“With the demand-led inflation a memory of the distant past and retail sales plunging across all sectors except for essential goods, inflation will fall further in the coming days, which will provide more room for the SBP to reduce the policy rate to below 5pc.”
He claimed that SBP was the only government entity that was providing support to businesses during the Covid-19 crisis.
“However, as 90pc of the retail sector does not have any access to formal financing, the entire sector is looking towards the government for support through fiscal, taxation and policy measures, which have all been grossly lacking,” he stated. “Unless there is equally aggressive progress on these fronts in the near future, the retail sector, which has already started facing defaults and bankruptcies, may collapse completely.”
Butt stated that although the retail sector was the second-largest employer in the country after agriculture, it has very little access to formal financing. “The sector sees SBP’s rate cut decision as positive, but it is insufficient for the retail sector’s revival,” he remarked.
Among other business leaders, Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) Secretary General Syed Wajid Iqbal Bukhari said that the move was in the right direction “but ideally it should have been reduced to 5pc”.
Shahjahan Malik, Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), said that the policy cut was expected as the GDP growth was negative. “The central bank’s decision to cut the policy rate by 1pc is good for everyone (all sectors) as it reduces the cost of doing business. It will also encourage businessmen to take risks and initiate new projects,” he added.
Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sayeed Tariq Saigol said the industry “greatly welcomes this timely reduction in the interest rate”, adding that it was a much-needed initiative to spur demand and give businesses some breathing space in the wake of Covid-19.
“I’m personally impressed by the data-driven approach of the central bank and I am optimistic that they will continue to take prudent measures in the face of the current economic challenges,” Saigol said.
Moreover, Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited (PSMCL) spokesperson Shafiq Ahmed Shaikh said the decision would help the country’s economy and businesses to sustain the virus-led slowdown. “It would have been better if they (govt) had locked the interest rate at 4pc for at least the next 12 months.”

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/06/25/business-community-welcomes-100bps-cut-in-policy-rate/

37% of Pakistan's population faces food insecurity

By Our Correspondent

Published: June 26, 2020

PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: At least one in three people is affected by food insecurity, even though the country has abundant staple food crops but their inadequate distribution complicates the situation.
“Almost 37% of Pakistan’s population is food insecure, even though Pakistan is self-sufficient in major staples, and the main problem is access and affordability of food,” remarked Shaikh Sultan Rehman, Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), in an interactive seminar on food security.
Per capita consumption of food products that had a high nutritional value like beef, chicken, fish, milk, vegetables and fruits was almost 6 to 10 times lower than that in developed countries, which affected labour productivity and young population, said Asma Khalid, Senior Economist at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Pakistan is ranked 106th among 119 countries in the Global Hunger Index and has been characterised as facing a “serious” level of hunger due to malnourishment, micronutrient (iron, calcium and Vitamin A) deficiencies and deficit of safe drinking water.
Under-five malnutrition costs around $7.5 billion every year, which is equivalent to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) and the cost comprises loss of future labour force, high under-five mortality rate, low labour productivity emanating from stunting, anaemia or iodine deficiencies in childhood, and prevalence of chronic weakness and fatigue, etc, she said.
The senior economist emphasised the need for introducing support price for all crops and providing agricultural insurance to support the farmers. “Growing population and climate change will create food security challenges for Pakistan,” she said.
“Food security in Pakistan is linked with human capital and strong economic implications,” Rehman said.
Referring to statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, he added that a high rate of malnutrition could cost the economy around 3-4% of GDP, which affected the young generation mainly due to increase in death rate, malnutrition and low future productivity.
Moreover, the growing population and climate change were other challenges, which may pose risk to food security in future, he said.
Globally, Pakistan is ranked eighth in the production of wheat, 10th in rice, fifth in sugarcane and fourth in milk. Despite this, it faces a shortage of these products which affects their prices.
“Hoarding and smuggling are the issues that create food shortage in Pakistan,” he said. “We need implementation of the National Food Security Policy announced in 2018.”
Agriculture Policy Institute Director-General Dr Rafique Ahmed Chandio underlined the need for strong coordination between the federal and provincial governments and the private sector, adding that Covid-19 increased poverty and unemployment and may create food insecurity in Pakistan. Moreover, global economic policies of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), an unfair trade regime and tariff rationalisation are hurting agricultural investment in Pakistan.
Crop Protection Association of Pakistan Chairman Jamshed Iqbal Cheema stressed that there was high food insecurity in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, followed by Sindh, due to rising poverty, unemployment and low income of people.
He called for changing eating habits towards those crops that had a high potential like potato, maize, cow milk, etc and had better nutrition compared to traditional food, which would help to reduce malnutrition and improve labour productivity.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2020.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2250438/2-37-pakistans-population-faces-food-insecurity/

Photos: Chinese farmers create stunning art in paddy fields

Murals created by planting rice of various types and colours

Published: June 25, 2020 14:39 Gulf News report

This aerial photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows an image of US iconic actress Marilyn Monroe created using different varieties of rice in a paddy in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. Image Credit: AFP

This aerial photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows an image of actor Rowan Atkinson as character Mr. Bean created using different varieties of rice in a paddy in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. Image Credit: AFP

Description: WEB-200625-PADDY-ART-CHINA2

This aerial photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows an image from the animated movie "Ne Zha" created using different varieties of rice in a paddy in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. Image Credit: AFP

This aerial photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows an image of a train created using different varieties of rice in a paddy in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. Image Credit: AFP

Description: WEB-200625-PADDY-ART-CHINA3

Description: WEB-200625-PADDY-ART-CHINA4

This aerial photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows an image with the words "Love You 10,000 years" created using different varieties of rice in a paddy in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. Image Credit: AFP

Description: WEB-200625-PADDY-ART-CHINA-5

This aerial photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows an image of a train created using different varieties of rice in a paddy in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. Image Credit: AFP

Photos: Taiwan's dragon boat races among few to be held this year

Although the race went ahead in Taipei, supporters were not allowed to attend

Published: June 27, 2020 12:44 AP and Compiled by Balaram Menon, Digital Content Editor

Teams compete during the Dragon Boat Festival in Taipei. Taiwan became one of the few places to hold a boat race, thanks to no local transmissions of the coronavirus being reported on the island in over two months. Image Credit: REUTERS

https://gulfnews.com/photos/entertainment/photos-chinese-farmers-create-stunning-art-in-paddy-fields-1.1593082684835?slide=2

Can a rice cooker disinfect an N95 mask?

By Susan Miller
Jun 26, 2020

Description: https://gcn.com/articles/2020/06/26/-/media/GIG/EDIT_SHARED/Public-Safety/n95masks.jpg

With the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases likely triggering a demand surge for even more personal protective equipment, scientists have devised some creative ways to safely decontaminate used masks so they can be reused. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, vaporous hydrogen peroxide and moist heat as the decontamination methods that have shown the most promise, but there are some DIY options.

One of the most widespread methods comes from Battelle, which offers a free vaporous hydrogen peroxide decontamination service for N95 masks worn by health care workers. Hospitals and health facilities collect, label and ship the used PPE to a decontamination center – now set up in approximately 50 cities -- using a commercial carrier such as Cardinal Health and FedEx, which provide free end-to-end logistics support to organizations enrolled in Battelle’s program.

Once the shipment arrives at the center, the masks are logged in and barcoded so Battelle can ensure a chain of custody and monitor the number of times each mask has been decontaminated. The masks are loaded into a decontamination chamber, where up 5,000 can be processed, and the chamber is flooded with an Environmental Protection Agency-registered sterilant. On completion, Battelle verifies masks are free of the virus and packages them for return.

The program is funded by a contract from the Defense Logistics Agency on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Sandia National Laboratories, meanwhile, is researching how to safely decontaminate and reuse respirators or masks to address shortages in critical personal protective equipment.

One study examines the impact of repeated decontamination cycles on N95 masks’ filtration, fit and mechanical integrity. Another investigates the use of supercritical carbon dioxide -- an eco-friendly solvent for dry-cleaning -- to sterilize N95 masks and other critical medical supplies for reuse. If found to be appropriate and effective, the sterilization process could be rapidly deployed at hospitals nationwide because it is already used in commercial dry cleaning, lab officials said.

A researcher at George Washington University is working on a "plasma brush" that could help decontaminate protective masks, gloves and other necessary gear for reuse.

Plasmas typically exist at extremely high temperatures, but a "cold" atmospheric plasma method, devised by medical engineering professor Michael Keidar, requires only the gas's electrons to be at an elevated temperature, making this form of plasma safe for use on and near humans. Additionally, atmospheric cold plasma differs doesn't use a liquid agent, making it safe for use on damage-prone surfaces, university officials said. The proposed "brush" system is expected to be "very fast -- you can just scan the surface one time and that's it," Keidar said.

Researchers at the University of Michigan are developing tiny wireless sensors that could verify, in real time, whether masks are being exposed to proper decontamination conditions.

While several studies have demonstrated that certain combinations of temperature and humidity can effectively decontaminate N95 masks without damaging their performance or fit, cold or dry spots in the ovens could create too much or too little intensity and make a mask unsafe for repeated use.

The batteryless sensors are designed to provide more accurate and less cumbersome monitoring during the decontamination process. To ensure the accuracy of temperature and humidity, ovens currently use many wired sensors, creating a coils of cables that are so unwieldy that they’re often removed after the unit has been initially calibrated.

This project proposes replacing this set up with small, wireless, energy-harvesting chips that can be sprinkled in each cubby hole of the decontamination units and monitored with an adjacent device. The chips can remain in place to allow ongoing monitoring of the oven’s calibration and allow for potential future features such as real-time feedback on the oven’s temperature.

For individuals looking to contaminate their own N95 masks, there are some DIY options.

Researchers studying moist heat decontamination used rice cookers or other kitchen steamers. Although they did not examine the efficacy of the mask performance after decontamination, they found “that a short cycle of steam treatment applied via a commonly used kitchen rice cooker-steamer can be very effective for decontamination of face masks and N95 respirators.” Dry heat was less effective than moist heat or microwave-generated steam for deactivating viruses. They also found “the short cycle of steam treatment was substantially more effective than ultraviolet light treatment for N95 decontamination and nearly as effective as aerosolized peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide.”

In a similar vein, the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate has posted instructions for DIY decontamination by using moist heat from a programmable multicooker, such as an Instant Pot or pressure cooker.

“Given the significance of this outbreak and importance of respiratory protection for first responders and medical professionals, we’re investigating simple, low-cost means to sanitize potentially contaminated N95 respirators,” said Dr. Lloyd Hough, lead for S&T’s Hazard Awareness and Characterization Technology Center. “We hope front line personnel who need to use them can take advantage of this approach to extend the life of their limited supply of this critical piece of PPE.”

“S&T is thinking creatively during this nationwide crisis,” said William N. Bryan, dhs senior official performing the duties of the under secretary for Science & Technology. “We understand that PPE is not always readily available and are working tirelessly to provide Americans with simple methods to extend the life of this important equipment.”

About the Author

Susan Miller is executive editor at GCN.

Over a career spent in tech media, Miller has worked in editorial, print production and online, starting on the copy desk at IDG’s ComputerWorld, moving to print production for Federal Computer Week and later helping launch websites and email newsletter delivery for FCW. After a turn at Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology, where she worked to promote technology-based economic development, she rejoined what was to become 1105 Media in 2004, eventually managing content and production for all the company's government-focused websites. Miller shifted back to editorial in 2012, when she began working with GCN.

Miller has a BA and MA from West Chester University and did Ph.D. work in English at the University of Delaware.

Connect with Susan at smiller@gcn.com or @sjaymiller.

https://gcn.com/articles/2020/06/26/mask-decontamination.aspx

Researchers genetically modified rice to replace blood pressure drugs

Brittany A. Roston - Jun 24, 2020, 2:08 pm CDT

Imagine eating food that is not only nutritious and filling, but also carefully engineered to address certain health issues. That’s the reality detailed in a recent study from the American Chemical Society, which details a type of genetically-modified rice that can potentially be used to lower one’s blood pressure. In an effort to bring around this reality, researchers have engineered a type of transgenic rice with blood-pressure-lowering peptides. The study was recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Before you get too excited, know this: the rice isn’t yet something you can purchase and the study involved rats, not humans. The research paves the way for a future with foods that are engineered to feature specific health-promoting benefits, however.
High blood pressure remains a big public health concern; if left untreated, it can cause a large number of health problems ranging from vision problems to heart disease, kidney disease, and more. The common treatment for this condition is a type of medication called ACE inhibitors — synthetic inhibitors are used in medications, but natural varieties are found in certain foods, too.
Because the natural version of these inhibitors may have fewer side effects than their synthetic counterparts, researchers engineered a type of rice that features nine ACE inhibitor peptides and peptides that relax blood vessels. The plants were found to produce high levels of these compounds.
The study involved feeding lab rats flour made from this rice for five weeks, during which time the rats experienced a drop in blood pressure with no obvious unwanted side effects. The equivalent dose of this rice in a 150lbs human would be only half a teaspoon, according to the study.

https://www.slashgear.com/researchers-genetically-modified-rice-to-replace-blood-pressure-drugs-24626262/

Criteria for academic promotion in medicine

BMJ 2020; 369 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2253 (Published 25 June 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;369:m2253

Correspondence to H C Sox hsox@comcast.net

Can and should good citizenship in the research community be a criterion for promotion?

Job promotion in academia is meant to reflect the quality of previous work and an expectation of continued success. With promotion come prestige, institutional responsibilities, and, in some schools, the promise of continued employment. In academic medicine, the journey from instructor to full professor and beyond affords the opportunity to educate generations of physicians and biomedical scientists. Rewards tend to influence behaviors. Given that, Rice and colleagues describe in a linked study (doi:10.1136/bmj.l5214) the promotion criteria used by medical schools and recommend broadening the criteria to encourage behaviors they believe will enhance the quality of science.1

Although accomplishment in research has long been the principal standard for promotion, medical schools have recently developed promotion criteria to reward excellence in medical education,2 clinical innovation,3 and other areas.4 We will focus on the promotion of faculty whose primary activity is research, although most also have responsibilities for teaching, clinical care if a clinician, and other academic service.

Rice and colleagues investigated criteria for promotion in an international sample of 170 institutions; 146 had faculties of biomedical sciences, with 92 having accessible criteria. They created two categories of criteria: “traditional” (importance of research as measured by number of publications, journal impact factors, place in …

https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2253

Intensify research on immunity boosting crops: Governor

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, June 25, 2020 19:59 IST

Updated: June 26, 2020 10:26 IST

Description: Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan interacted with the functionaries of Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University through a video-conference on Thursday.

Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan interacted with the functionaries of Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University through a video-conference on Thursday.

Tamilisai interacts with agriculture varsity scientists

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has exhorted the agricultural scientists to intensify research on immunity-boosting crops.

The Governor recalled how the older generations ate rice and lived longer and said younger generation is however distancing itself from rice consumption claiming it to be diabetic-prone food. Scientists need to come up with new varieties of rice that are low on sugar and maintain our traditions in south India associated with rice.

Dr. Soundararajan made these comments during an interaction with the functionaries of Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University through a video-conference on Thursday. She stressed the need for research on improvised fine quality rice varieties like Telangana Sona, considered to be a low sugar variety crop.

Palm trees

The scientists at the same time should carry out more intensive research on palm trees (thadi chettu) as every part of the tree is useful, she said adding the palm tree was made official tree of Tamil Nadu, given its traditional importance

She said efforts should be made to protect palm trees from diseases and they should be grown in large numbers to enable processing of different parts of the tree that is known for its medicinal and nutritional value. Neera, the tender palm water, is one such product that is highly nutritious and there is need to come up with technology enabling preservation of Neera for longer periods and for its packaged selling.

There is also need for research on the part of the agriculture and horticultural scientists to come out with special crops that would give healthy oil as several health issues emanate out of the excessive use of unhealthy oils, said an official release.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/intensify-research-on-immunity-boosting-crops-governor/article31916611.ece

Accelerating adoption of climate risk management strategies by Odisha Farmers

June 26, 2020

Description: https://i0.wp.com/orissadiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/crop.jpg?resize=420%2C315&ssl=1

Bhubaneswar: Agriculture is the core occupation for more than two-thirds of the population in Odisha. Majority of the cultivated area in the State is vulnerable to various types of climatic and other risks such as floods, drought, pests and diseases, hailstorms, etc. The state has been severely affected by several floods in the last 15 years,with eight being severe in magnitude including the devastating Fani cyclone in 2019. Thisclimatic risk discourages agricultural investments and reduces crop productivity in the state. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), Government of Odisha, aimed to support smallholder farmers through developing and making available cutting edge science and technologies under the project “Increasing Productivity of Rice-based Cropping Systems and Farmer’s Income” to enhance their resilience in the light of climate change. One of the objectives of the project is to develop socially acceptable crop insurance as one of the social safety net interventions to mitigate risks in rice production. Crop insurance helps secure and stabilize farm incomes by protecting against crop losses due to climatic risks. Providing financial safety net through insuring against crop loss is expected to spur farm investment, innovations, and adoption of technologies such as improved seeds, use of chemical fertilizers, machinery, etc.
A survey by IRRI in 2018 found that several farmers in Odisha resorted to seasonal migration, selling assets, and acquiring credit as strategies to cope with agricultural risks. Although the Indian government has been implementing a mega crop insurance program called “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana (PMFBY)” since 2016 which offers up to 60-70% of subsidy on premium, only 30% of the farmers had heard of PMFBY. Among the farmers who were aware, only 9% have registered in PMFBY. Odisha government data indicates that only 8-9% of the total farmers in Odisha have registered in PMFBY. This highlights the low awareness among Odisha farmers to adopt crop insurance as a risk mitigation strategy.
Dr. PrakashanChellattanVeettil, Agricultural Economist at IRRI says “Farmers feel that the crop insurance information is complex. Comprehensive understanding of such information plays a vital role in their adoption decision”.Given the structure of current crop insurance which covers yield loss at GramaPanchayath level, Dr. Veettilbelieves that there are two key things the farmers must understand with respect to crop insurance. First, cost of insurance in the form of premium has to be bornewhethereclimatic risk is certain or not. Second, the occurrence of climatic shocks, as well as benefits from crop insurance in the form of claims, are uncertainin nature. Therefore, crop insurance might not be beneficial to all farmers in all circumstances. This makes it difficult to craft a thumb rule of advice for farmers during the crop insurance information campaign. Effective and innovative extension messages and informationthatenhancesfarmers’insurance literacy is the need of the hour to scale up the adoption of PMFBY.
IRRI scientists have designed and testedinnovative educational training on holistic agricultural risk management in Odisha. The training program includes information about crop insurance (PMFBY) and stress-tolerant rice varieties (STRVs) which are tolerant to low-medium intensity flood and drought conditions.
Educational training includesthree forms i) Classroom training, where farmers are trained for a day by a professional on crop insurance and STRVs; ii) Video Edutainment, a theatre-based video consisting crop insurance and STRV information is shown to farmers and, iii) Crop simulations app, which provides a virtual decision-making experience to farmers about alternative risk management options. Along with training, the experiences of farmers who have adoptedcrop insurance or STRV was shared to boost farmer motivation andpeer-assistedlearning.
Preliminary results of the impact of educational training haveshown an increase of 30% in farmers’ insurance awareness and literacy. About 60% of the farmers who have attended the training have registered in PMFBY during Kharif 2019. Dr. Veettil adds, “Effective communication is a keyinstrument in scaling up micro insurance in agriculture. Evidence from our intervention is encouraging. We are still waiting for more data to ascertain the long run and livelihood impact of training and the adoption of insurance. The government and insurance companiesshould leverage these innovative training methods which target to improve farmers’insurance literacy, sofarmers can make a conscious decision about the adoption of insurance”.
Authors by: Dr. Yashoda: Senior Specialist-Behavioral Economics, IRRI, Ms. Deepti Saksena: Specialist- Communications, IRRI, Dr. Ranjitha Puskur: Research Leader-Livelihoods, Gender and Nutrition, IRRI-

https://orissadiary.com/accelerating-adoption-of-climate-risk-management-strategies-by-odisha-farmers/

Cameroon estimates 2020 rice deficit at 436,239 tons

- Friday, 26 June 2020 15:06

(Business in Cameroon) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) recently provided data on rice production and demand in Cameroon for the 2020 financial year. The data shows that domestic demand is estimated at 576,949 tons of rice for an average national production estimated at 140,710 tons, i.e. a deficit of 436,239 tons.

To make up the deficit, the Minader offers technical and financial support to cooperatives and agro-industries for the production of quality seeds, the vulgarization of modern rice production technics and the improvement of harvesting and post-harvest techniques through various projects.

The ministry informs that it is also implementing a program aimed at developing an additional 35,700 hectares of the hydro-agricultural perimeter. Thanks to this programme, at least 350,000 tons of milled rice can be marketed by 2023. The deficit will then be reduced to 86,239 tonnes of rice if demand does not increase. Between 2015 and 2018, Cameroon's rice imports amounted to CFAF 652.6 billion, representing an average of CFAF163 billion per year.

PITC scraps plan to import 300,000 MT of rice

By CNN Philippines Staff

Published Jun 26, 2020 10:36:01 PM

Description: https://cnnphilippines.com/.imaging/mte/demo-cnn-new/750x450/dam/cnn/2018/11/8/rice-import.png/jcr:content/rice%20import.png

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 26) — The Philippine International Trading Corporation has decided to scrap plan to import 300,000 metric tons of rice, which was initially targeted to arrive during the country’s lean months.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a statement on Friday that this was based on Vietnam’s decision to lift its rice export ban, thus we can expect “more comfortable buffer stock levels moving forward.”
PITC is an attached corporation of the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Agriculture department added that their recent projections also showed that the country will have enough supply of the staple grain.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said that since the private sector import rice under the Rice Tariffication Law, this would mean more tariff revenues to fund the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.
In May, Vietnam assured long-term supply of rice to the Philippines amid challenges caused by the pandemic, ensuring stable supply of rice in the country. Vietnam, one of the world's largest rice exporter, imposed a ban on rice exportation last March to ensure its food supply amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DA noted that Vietnam accounts for over 90% of the Philippines’ imports, making it the country's top importer.
Earlier reports showed that the country has imported about 1.086 million MT of rice from January to May, with more than 968,000 coming from Vietnam.
The DTI through the PITC planned the importation of 300,000 MT of rice through a government-to-government importation plan. It has reached out to Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and India regarding the matter.
These were initially expected to arrive July and August, the country’s lean months.
The Rice Tariffication Law permits G2G importation as an emergency measure to ensure enough supply of rice during a national emergency.

https://cnnphilippines.com/business/2020/6/26/PITC-scraps-rice-import-plan.html

UCO Bank eyes non-oil imports from Iran to sustain rupee-rial trade

Lender posts turnaround in Q4, awaits PCA exit

Namrata Acharya | Kolkata Last Updated at June 27, 2020 02:20 IST

Description: A K Goel, MD and CEO of UCO Bank

A K Goel, MD and CEO of UCO Bank, said the lender hopes to exit PCA soon

With India no longer importing oil from Iran, UCO Bank is looking at other avenues to keep the rupee payment mechanism with Iran alive.

According to A K Goel, MD and CEO of UCO Bank, the lender is in talks with importers to use the mechanism for other imports. “In the last few months, there has been no fresh inflow into the payments account. We are exploring the opportunity to import other commodities, such as fresh fruits, under the mechanism. Our role here is not only settlement, but also to facilitate trade between India and Iran,” said Goel.

In the wake of US sanctions on Iran, India cannot engage in dollar-denominated trade with Iran. Hence, a special rupee-rial trade mechanism has been put in place. Under this, oil refineries from India deposit funds into designated banks to import oil from Iran. These rupee funds are then used to clear dues of traders that export from India to Iran. UCO Bank and IDBI Bank are the two banks that support this payment mechanism, and such deposits make up for a bulk of low-cost deposits for the lenders.

However, even as oil imports have dried up, exports have not fallen as much.

According to government data, imports from Iran stood at nearly $13 billion in 2018-19, which came down to nearly $1.35 billion between April and January in 2019-20. In contrast, the fall in exports was much less. Exports to Iran stood at $3.5 billion in 2018-19, which fell to $2.80 billion between April and January of this financial year.

ALSO READ: Govt savings bonds to offer higher rate of interest than small savings

Rice, tea, sugar and pharmaceutical products are key items India exports to Iran, with rice accounting for the largest share.

Awaits PCA exit

The Kolkata-headquartered bank on Friday reported a standalone pre-tax profit of Rs 16.78 crore in the March quarter, on the back of good treasury income and recoveries. It had posted a pre-tax loss of Rs 1,552.02 crore in the corresponding period a year ago.

The bank’s net profit stood at Rs 6.78 crore, against a net loss of Rs 1,552.02 crore in the year-ago period.

Goel said the bank has complied with all key parameters required to come out of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework — by bringing down its net NPA to 5.45 per cent, maintaining a capital adequacy ratio of 11.70 per cent, having a leverage ratio of 3.57 per cent and posting a positive return on asset in Q4.

“It (exiting PCA) is a call the regulator has to take but we may discuss or even write to the RBI on it,” Goel told the media in an e-interaction.

ALSO READ: HC queries Centre, RBI on treatment to PMC Bank depositors from YES Bank

The bank hopes its overseas branches — one each in Hong Kong and Singapore — will also come out of restrictions imposed by the regulators in the two countries.

The bank made a treasury profit of Rs 244 crore in Q4 compared to Rs 67 crore in the corresponding period last year. The recovery from written-off accounts during the quarter was Rs 237 crore, against Rs 85 crore.

The bank is expecting 8-10 per cent growth in credit this financial year, primarily backed by demand coming in from agriculture, MSME and retail sectors.

https://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/uco-bank-eyes-non-oil-imports-from-iran-to-sustain-rupee-rial-trade-120062601455_1.html

Planned gov’t-to-gov’t rice importation shelved

By: Roy Stephen C. Canivel - Reporter / @roycanivel_inq

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:34 AM June 27, 2020

The country has dropped its plan to import 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice through a government-to-government (G2G) deal, after the Philippines’ top source of imported rice lifted its export ban, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In a statement, the DTI yesterday said that its attached agency, the Philippine International Trading Center (PITC), would no longer proceed with the planned G2G importation, which was supposed to arrive in July and August.

PITC was supposed to import 300,000 MT of rice under a G2G arrangement when earlier computations showed that the country’s rice buffer might be at risk because Vietnam had imposed an export ban on rice.
“It will be recalled that the G2G importation plan was a result of the potential threat to maintaining a good buffer stock of rice for the country,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
“Earlier computations from [the Department of Agriculture] showed a threat to the targeted level of buffer stock following the imposed ban of rice exportation of Vietnam,” he added.
Vietnam, the world’s third largest rice exporter and the largest source of Philippine rice imports, banned rice exports in March and only made limited shipments in April to make sure the country has sufficient food during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Reuters report.
Later, however, Vietnam Industry and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh had informed Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III in a letter that rice exports to the Philippines and other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations would resume on May 1.
Historically, Vietnam accounted for over 90 percent of the Philippines’ rice imports. The country imports about 7 to 14 percent of its total rice requirement, the DTI said.
“With the lifting of the rice export ban of Vietnam, we can expect more comfortable buffer stock levels moving forward,” Lopez said

https://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/uco-bank-eyes-non-oil-imports-from-iran-to-sustain-rupee-rial-trade-120062601455_1.html

Fertilizer scam, pandemic edition

Jun. 25, 2020 Rae Rival

Farming in the Philippines has been synonymous to landlessness, debt and drought. Government has always placed agriculture at the bottom of the country’s priorities. But the pandemic showed that in order to survive a lockdown, accessing and securing food is essential. It is ironic then, how a country relying on its farmers for survival neglects its food security frontliners.

This lockdown has exposed the government’s capitalist agenda. Its resistance to mass testing, despite the billions of loans from Asian Development Bank and World Bank, the thousands of “violators” arrested and discriminatory guidelines for Social Amelioration Program, have left Filipinos imprisoned, jobless and hungry. The funds and loans for COVID-19 response, according to the president, has been depleted. The number of COVID-19 cases, however, continue to rise.

As if this is not enough, the Department of Agriculture used the emergency funds for COVID-19 response to procure 1.811 million bags of overpriced urea fertilizers, which could have been purchased at a much lower, wholesale price.

According to farmer groups, these fertilizers may be bought for P850 per bag. Since they are engaging in wholesale purchase, clearly a much lower price could be negotiated? As a government employee myself, the policy has always been to prioritize the lowest bidder. Of course, there are cases when this rule may be altered but if the farmers can produce receipts from three different stores proving that the said fertilizers can be indeed bought at P850, shouldn’t we be alarmed?

Peasant organizations and rice watch groups are right to call this move a scam. It is under the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra COVID-19. If anything, the fertilizers must be distributed for free to assist farmers who suffered from the restrictions implemented by the local government units.

Despite the Inter-Agency Task Force’s food resiliency protocol, millions of farmers were still prohibited from farming, harvesting and transporting their produce to the market because of transportation suspension and other restrictions. The difference of P150 per bag amounts to P517 million in kickbacks, which could have been used to assist millions of agricultural workers in the country.

Before the pandemic, farmers have suffered the repercussions of RA 11203 or Rice Liberalization Law. It amended existing restrictions against importation, streamlining the process of acquiring import permits and removing the regulatory functions of the National Food Authority. This only benefits big businesses that ships cheap imported rice in massive amount. Because of this, we were hailed as the biggest rice importer of the year, thereby securing the death of the local rice industry. The price of palay plummeted to P7 to P12 per kilo.

As we have barely recovered from the lockdown, and the devastation brought upon by typhoon Ambo in Eastern Samar, this centralized corruption mocks our ailing farmers. Instead of heeding the call for cash assistance and production subsidy for farmers, the Department of Agriculture procures overpriced urea fertilizer. Using the said fertilizer during the wet season could also weaken the palay. Promoting chemical-based fertilizer instead of organic farming, is also not beneficial to farmers in the long run as it acidifies the soil.

The pandemic has exposed what the government is capable of. It is capable of mass arrest and corruption, in a time when urban and rural poor families are in dire need of socio-economic support. It is capable of a Voltes V-themed party complete with catering, while relief volunteers are being arrested for distributing food packs and organizing community kitchens.

Its ability to dismiss the demands for mass testing in order for community quarantine to work sends a clear message: We are on our own. The health workers and frontliners risking their lives every day despite the lack of personal protective equipment will never be fairly compensated; the stranded Filipinos outside the airports and near bus terminals will never be assisted if not for the viral death of one mother. Millions of public school students who will not be able to enroll this school year because the four modalities being offered by the Deparment of Education dismiss the democratic and comprehensive demands of teachers for a safe, quality and accessible education.

We have been on our own for the past months, collectively feeding communities, resisting and demanding for better, medical solutions. This fertilizer scam is a repeat of countless agricultural fund scams. The people will collectively rise against these blatant neglect and betrayal. We know better. (davaotoday.com)

Rae Rival writes and does volunteer work for Gantala Press and Rural Women Advocates. She is a teacher and a mother. Her stories, poems and essays have appeared in CNN Philippines, Rappler, Voice and Verse Poetry Magazine (Hong Kong), Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, university presses and do-it-yourself zines.

http://davaotoday.com/main/todays-views/fertilizer-scam-pandemic-edition/

Time to develop agriculture Description: https://i0.wp.com/www.blueprint.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FB_IMG_1591637926197.jpg?resize=275%2C183&ssl=1

Description: https://i0.wp.com/www.blueprint.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FB_IMG_1591637926197.jpg?resize=275%2C183&ssl=1

June 25, 2020 Editorial IV Letters

Agriculture is one of the promising sectors in Nigeria which can diversify the Nigerian economy and provide job opportunities for the unemployed youths of the nation.The sector which was neglected had since 2016 become an option for diversification owing to its vast potential to drive a more sustainable economic growth in Africa’s most populous nation in terms of job creation and revenue generation. Nigeria was one of the most promising agricultural producers in the world before the coming of oil. But that is history with the majority of our youths and graduates blinded by the promise of a white-collar job and abandoning the endless opportunities in agriculture.

The agricultural sector has the potential to make our youths and graduates self-employed and make them billionaires in the future. The president of the Africa Development Bank, Mr Adewumi Adesina, said “Future millionaires and billionaires of Africa will not come from oil and gas but from agriculture. Adesina also stressed that the size of agribusiness in the continent would be worth $1 trillion by 2030. This is a testament to the opportunities in agriculture in Nigeria and Africa. Nigeria closed its borders in August 2019 with a main objective of curbing smuggling of goods such as rice, tomatoes and poultry to bolster agricultural sector. This move has immensely contributed to improving the agricultural sector and attracting investors. The move has also boosted the confidence in local farmers. Also, it made farmers and millers ramp up production especially for rice and poultry to meet the ever-growing demand for food in the country.

The beauty of the agricultural sector is that it has various stages in which graduates can venture into it. This includes rice and poultry farming, processing such as rice milling, distribution and marketing of processed product. Others include; warehousing, packaging, plantation management, equipment leasing, equipment sales and servicing.

Agribusiness is good business. But most people, especially young people, jump into agriculture without the right knowledge, mentality and attitude, thereby losing their capital.Agriculture is a long term investment. Apart from being a source of employment, Investing in agriculture is also a hidden gold mine as there are many untapped segments. Identifying a niche agricultural segment would make a lot of people millionaires before others realise it’s already happening. Also, the Nigerian government needs youths to invest in agriculture to improve food security and provide jobs for others.

Investing in agriculture is clearly a wise idea but it also comes with its challenges. Lack of land access, insufficient capital, poor access to finance, limited market access are major reasons why youths don’t want to go into agriculture. High cost of inputs and equipment, infrastructural deficit, climate change and environmental challenges, limited support from the government are other reasons. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari deserves applause for its various initiatives in the sector. They include; Anchor Borrowers Programme, Youth Farm Lab, Fertilizer Initiative, among others. These initiatives are proving that the administration remains greatly committed to improving agriculture. lf the government of Nigeria and our youths remain committed to improving and investing in agriculture. It will be one of the most effective tools of fighting poverty, food shortage, hunger and unemployment.

Abubakar Idris,

Bayero University,Kano

https://www.blueprint.ng/time-to-develop-agriculture/

Asia Rice-Quality concerns hit Vietnam rates; India's demand improves

6/25/2020

* Vietnamese prices may fall further in coming weeks-traders
* Thai rates firm on supply crunch, stronger baht
* Indian rates at $373-$378/tonne vs last week's $366-$372
By Eileen Soreng
BENGALURU, June 25 (Reuters) - Vietnamese rice export prices eased this week, hurt by falling purchases and quality concerns as the harvest progresses, while India rates rose from an over two-month low hit last week as demand picked up from Africa.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice <RI-VNBKN5-P1> slipped to a range of $405-$450 per tonne on Thursday from $450 per tonne a week earlier.
The winter-spring rice is offered at $450 per tonne, while the ongoing summer-autumn harvest is being offered at $405-$410 per tonne, traders said.
"The quality of the summer-autumn rice is low due to heavy rains during the harvest," a trader based in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang said, adding the harvest is expected to last till end-July.
Adding further pressure on the rates was weak demand from foreign buyers and cheaper Indian rice, traders said, adding prices may fall further over the coming weeks.
Top exporter India's 5 percent broken parboiled variety <RI-INBKN5-P1> was quoted $373-$378 per tonne this week, up from last week's $366-$372.
Rising cases of coronavirus have prompted some buyers in Africa to raise purchases, an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh said.
Thailand's benchmark 5-percent broken rice <RI-THBKN5-P1> prices were quoted at $514-$520 on Thursday, versus last week's $505-$525.
Thai export rates have been high mainly due to drought-induced low supply and a stronger Thai baht, while demand has been muted, traders said.
"Concerns over supply persist in the market which is likely to continue until August, when new crops are expected," a Bangkok-based trader said.
In Bangladesh domestic rice prices gained this week, which market insiders blamed on stockpiling by traders and millers. Medium quality rice was being sold at around 50 taka ($0.5896) a kilogram.
Panic buying driven by the coronavirus outbreak had boosted domestic rice prices to a two-year high in April. ($1 = 84.8000 taka) (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/asia-rice-quality-concerns-hit-vietnam-rates-indias-demand-improves

Cameroonian Prosper Sugewe creates Ewatch Africa Investment Analytica, the first rating agency in Central Africa

London-based economic and financial consulting firm HPS International Consulting, founded in London by Cameroonian Prosper H. Sugewe (photo) and...

Road maintenance: the road fund used only 10.62% of its yearly budget in H1-2020

For the 2020 financial year, the Cameroonian road fund allocated a budget of CFAF39 billion for road maintenance. Nevertheless, despite the rise in its...

Covid-19 is an opportunity to review trade strategy, Minister Magloire Mbarga Atangana says

Cameroon’s overall trade volume dropped by 16% during the first half of 2020, because of the coronavirus pandemic. This was revealed by Minister of...

Cameroon estimates 2020 rice deficit at 436,239 tons

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) recently provided data on rice production and demand in Cameroon for the 2020 financial year....

https://www.businessincameroon.com/agriculture/2606-10466-cameroon-estimates-2020-rice-deficit-at-436-239-tons

Kharif sowing jumps by more than 100% to 316 lakh hectares

Our Bureau New Delhi | Updated on June 26, 2020 Published on June 26, 2020

Description: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/pydfml/article29410380.ece/alternates/WIDE_615/kharif

There was a nearly 2 per cent drop in rice transplanting. File Photo - The Hindu

As the South-West monsoon covers the entire country 12 days prior to normal date, farmers planted a whopping 315.63 lakh hectares (lh), more than double of the 154.53 lh covered in the corresponding week last year, according to kharif sowing data released by the Agriculture Ministry on Friday.

Highest increase was recorded in oilseeds and pulses planting. While the area under oilseeds increased to 83.31 lh, more than five times than 13.32 lh covered in the same week in the previous season, the pulses acreage more than tripled to 19.40 lh in the same period. Among oilseeds, at 63.26 lh, soyabean registered a 23-fold increase in area against 2.66 lh planted in the corresponding week last year. And the area under arhar is 9.87 lh, which is five times more than the acreage reported in the same period. Even the area under groundnut, too, almost doubled to 18.45 lh as compared the same week last year. While much of the increase in oilseeds area was from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra accounted for most of the increase in pulses cultivation.

Description: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/gh172a/article31926693.ece/alternates/FREE_615/bl27JuneKhariftblecol

Similarly, there is a substantial increase in cotton planting as well. As compared to 27 lh planted in the corresponding week last year, the area under the fibre went up by 165 per cent to 71.69 lh till end of the current week.

Triple digit growth in both maize and bajra area helped increase the coarse cereals acreage to 47.96 lh (24.48 lh). Both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are responsible for the increase.

The area under rice planting went up by nearly 10 lh to 37.71 lh in the current week.

Published on June 26, 2020

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/kharif-sowing-jumps-by-more-than-100-to-316-lakh-hectares/article31926606.ece

Rice Prices

as on : 26-06-2020 11:00:15 AM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Naugarh(UP)	23.00	27.78	3606.00	2570	2565	7.08
Bharwari(UP)	10.00	NC	90.50	1950	2030	-
Achalda(UP)	3.80	26.67	293.90	2600	2600	17.65
Safdarganj(UP)	3.00	NC	44.00	2450	2450	-
Mawana(UP)	2.00	NC	135.20	2730	2660	-
Alibagh(Mah)	1.00	NC	78.00	4200	4200	NC
Murud(Mah)	1.00	NC	77.00	4200	4200	NC
Achnera(UP)	0.80	NC	31.80	2550	2050	0.39

Published on June 26, 2020

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article31921136.ece

Coarse rice continues uptrend

YASIR WARDAD | Published: June 26, 2020 09:42:16 | Updated: June 26, 2020 21:05:14

Coarse rice prices have continued to trend higher even during this harvest season, adding to the woes of the low-income group amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Coarse rice varieties such as swarna, BR-11 and hybrid were selling at Tk 42-48 a kg at the retail level on Thursday, up from Tk 38-45 a kg seven days ago.

The prices rose for the second time in the last two and a half weeks, according to sources.

The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded a 4.0 per cent hike on an average in a week while the figure was 10-14 per cent for the last two weeks.

The current price of coarse rice during this Boro harvesting season is 20 per cent higher than in the last year, according to the TCB.

Boro harvest is a major harvest season which provides 20 million tonnes of rice or 57 per cent of total rice output, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data.

The rice prices have been increasing at a time when harvest and primary trading of Boro paddy and rice have been going on across the country, said agriculture economist Prof Golam Hafeez Kennedy.

This is not a good sign during these times of pandemic, as people's income has dropped drastically, he added.

The sudden hike in coarse rice prices means it would further hurt the poor who have already been going through financial hardships caused by the pandemic, he explained.

Prof Golam Hafeez suggested that the government should procure at least 5.0 million tonnes of rice and paddy this year to build a strategic food stock in order to prevent any possible food shortage.

He also pointed out that local governments such as Union Parishads have totally failed to ensure proper distribution of food aid among the people.

So, the civil administration should be given the responsibilities for food aid distribution during this critical period, he said.

Contacted, Chairman of Agrarian Research Foundation, Bangladesh (ARF) Prof Abdul Hamid said many importers-cum-millers are keen to import rice from the international market and that a lobby is active to make import easier so as to reap windfall profits.

If rice output totals 19-20 million tonnes during this Boro season, there is no need to reduce the existing high duties on rice import, he said.

The government agencies concerned should provide most authentic data about the food production within this month so that policymakers could take necessary action immediately based on their reports, he added.

And if they could figure out that there is any possibility of rice shortage, the government might rethink of import, he said.

Presently, there is a total of 57 per cent duties on rice import.

The government eyes 20.04 million tonnes of rice output from 4.75 million hectares of land this Boro season.

The rice production hit an all-time high at 20.03 million tonnes in the last Boro season when the paddy was cultivated on 4.9 million hectares of land, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

High prices of coarse rice in the mainstream market, however, affected the public food procurement.

The government purchased 0.23 million tonnes of paddy and rice in the last two months against its target of 1.95 million tonnes.

Presently, public food warehouses have 0.88 million tonnes of rice, which was 13.5 million tonnes two months ago, according to the Directorate General of Food.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/coarse-rice-continues-uptrend-1593142936

Rice prices on rise despite bumper boro harvest

Staff Correspondent | Published: 23:41, Jun 25,2020

Rice prices on rise despite bumper boro harvest

Staff Correspondent | Published: 23:41, Jun 25,2020

The prices of rice continued to rise in the city though there was a bumper production of the Boro paddy recently in the country.

Despite a surplus production of the crop against the government target of 2.04 crore tonnes, the increase in the prices has pushed fixed-income people into difficulties amid loss of work and income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Experts termed the price hike of the staple food ‘unusual’ at this time as the crop was harvested just a month ago, saying that a dishonest quarter was involved in the manipulation.

Food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder accepted that a quarter was trying to manipulate the rice market, adding that the government remained vigilant in this regard.

He also said that high prices of the boro paddy might also be a reason for the increase in the rice prices.

The prices have gone up by Tk 3–5 a kilogram in last 10 days on the city market.

Retailers said that the prices of all varieties of rice rose by Tk 100–200 per bag of 50 kg on the wholesale market.

Wholesalers, in turn, said that the prices were raised at the mill gate.

The prices of the coarse varieties of the staple grain, consumed by the poor classes of people, increased most — Tk 5 per kg — and the item was selling for Tk 40–48 a kg in the city on Friday.

The standard variety of BR-28 rice was selling for Tk 48–50 a kg and the fine variety for Tk 50-54 a kg in the capital on the day.

The fine variety of Miniket rice was selling for Tk 56–65 a kg while Najirshail, another fine variety, was retailing at Tk 60–65 a kg.

‘The rice price hike at this time is completely unacceptable as the crop was harvested just a month ago in the country,’ former president of Bangladesh Consumers Association Ghulam Rahman told New Age on Thursday.

He viewed that it was an organised manipulation and the government should identify the quarter involved in the wrongdoing.

The food minister said that the prices of rice increased a bit on the market as this year farmers received fair prices for their produce.

‘Moreover, a quarter has remained active in the market who are trying to manipulate the prices to make extra money as the market monitoring is being hampered due to the COVID- 19 calamity,’ the minister said.

If necessary the government will start a drive in the markets to keep the staple prices stable, he said.

Md Abul Khayer, the proprietor of Sonar Tori Rice Agency at Mohammadpur Krishi Bazar in the capital, told New Age that the prices of rice increased at the mills.

He said that the mill owners increased the prices by Tk 50–100 in last 10 days.

Md. Mahmud Hasan Raju, advisor to Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mill Owners Association, said that high paddy prices were one of the reasons for the high prices of rice on the market.

He said that some government decisions were also responsible for the price hike as a number of policies created obstacles for hundreds of husking mill owners to continue their business while a few businesses captured the rice market.

Mahmud Hasan is the owner of National Rice Mills in Thakurgaon.

https://www.newagebd.net/article/109448/rice-prices-on-rise-despite-bumper-boro-harvest

Agricultural practices in Thailand maximise rice production and cultivation

June 26, 2020

Open Access Government explores Thailand’s Department of Agriculture, and how it is a centre of excellence particularly regarding its research and development of rice cultivation

The Thailand Department of Agriculture (DOA) was established on October 1st 1972 and comprises of 15 pioneering units including the Office of the Secretary, Finance Division, Personnel Division, Planning Division, Rice Division, Field Crops Division, Horticulture Division, Sericulture Division, Rubber Division, Agricultural Engineering Division, Plant Pathology Division, Entomology and Zoology Division, and Agricultural Chemistry Division. A total of 95 research centres, stations and plant quarantine stations have since been established throughout the country, with offices and centres in 56 provinces.

It is self-described as a “center of excellence in the field of crops research and development and farm mechanisation, in harmony with international standards and in adherence to the principles of natural resources conservation and environment protection.” (1)

The five current mandates of the DOA are as follows:

· Conduct research and development studies on various agricultural disciplines concerning crops and farm mechanisation.

· Provide services on the analysis, inspection, quality certification and advice on soil, water, fertiliser, crops, agricultural inputs production and products.

· Enforcement of the six Regulatory Acts under the Department’s jurisdiction; including the Quarantine Act B.E. 2551 (2008), and Plant Variety Protection Act B.E. 2542 (2009).

· Transfer of agricultural technology to concerned government officials, farmers, and the private sector.

· Implementation of urgent programs assigned to the Department of Agriculture by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Rice Division

The Department of Agriculture itself was originally formed by merging the former Department of Agriculture and the Rice Department, to facilitate coordination of departments and streamline mandate implementation. However, in 2006, the former Rice Research Institute was re-established and upgraded as Rice Department and was no longer under the Department of Agriculture.

This new department is the main organisation in charge of improving rice production in Thailand, including yield and quality, genetic conservation and protection of rice varieties, seed production and distribution, as well as the promotion of cultural and local wisdom related to rice, among others.

Thailand has approximately 10 million hectares of rice plantations and had 3.7 million farmer households. More than 30 million tonnes of paddy from wet season and dry season can be produced annually. The Rice Department is aware of the importance of high-quality seed, acceptable for both farmers and those associated with farming. Therefore, the Department has produced and distributed this good-quality seed for farmers by implementing the following; the development and improvement of the Community Rice Centre, the Seed Bank Project, Seed Producing Villages, building networks of seed producers and distributors and encouraging them to maintain the same standards set under the Plant Variety Act, so that there are sufficient high-quality seeds for the annual seed demand of farmers.

The Rice Departments overarching vision is “to be a leader in rice research and development, to enhance productivity, to provide farmers with excellent services, and to sustainably empower farmers” (2) and they do this through their four core values:

· Responsibility.

· Integrity.

· Credibility.

· Excellence.

Each of these core values provides direction for future action in rice cultivation to achieve their vision. Among future plans, the DOA aims to enhance research and development on rice varieties and production technologies, breed high-yield rice varieties, aiming at 9.4 tons/hectare for photo insensitive varieties, promote modern technology and intensive rice production, and set up a system to link up producers, traders and consumers.

Finally, to continue empowering farmers in the future – one focus area taken very seriously – the Rice Department is building up local technology transfer centres and networks for rice production, promoting the development of local farmers’ centres, promoting production risk insurance, and researching the economic and social aspects of farmers’ needs to set up models for technology transfer.

https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/agricultural-practices-in-thailand-maximise-rice-production-and-cultivation/89275/

PITC cancels G2G rice importation

June 26, 2020 at 09:25 pm by Othel V. Campos

Philippine International Trading Corp. cancelled the planned government-to-government importation of 300,000 metric tons of rice which are supposed to arrive in the lean months of July and August.

PITC’s decision will enable the private sector to proceed with rice imports under the Rice Tariffication Law that liberalized the rice trade sector.

“Under the Rice Tariffication Law, PITC is the agency tasked to merely implement any directive from the Agriculture Department to import rice under a G2G arrangement. The provisions of the RTL basically open up rice importation to any private group,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. PITC is an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Lopez said the initial decision for the proposed G2G importation by PITC was due to the apparent insufficient local inventory in the rainy season. It also reflected the government’s reaction to Vietnam’s announcement to stop rice exports in April.

“It will be recalled that the initial decision for the G2G importation plan was a result of the potential threat to maintaining a good buffer supply of rice for the country. Earlier computations from DA showed a threat to the targeted level of buffer stock following the imposed ban of rice exportation of Vietnam in April,” Lopez said.

Vietnam is the top supplier of rice, accounting for over 90 percent of Philippines rice imports. The Philippines imports around 7 percent to 14 percent of its total rice requirement.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier asked the Vietnamese government through Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to lift its rice export ban. Vietnam then made a commitment that it would contribute to securing a stable supply of food for the Philippines.

“With the lifting of the rice export ban of Vietnam, we can expect more comfortable buffer stock levels moving forward,” Lopez said.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said with the rice imports handled by the private sector traders as stipulated by the RTL, their purchase of rice imports will mean generating greater tariff revenues for the government.

Under the RTL, tariff revenues from rice imports will be used to fund the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund which is designed to boost productivity and income of rice farmers.

https://manilastandard.net/business/csr-mining/327131/pitc-cancels-g2g-rice-importation.html

Gov’t plan to import 300,000 MT of rice abandoned

June 26, 2020 | 9:26 pm

Description: https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/rice-imports-filefoto.jpg

THE Philippine International Trading Center (PITC), an arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), has abandoned plans to import 300,000 metric tons of rice via government-to-government (G2G) deals, following talks with the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The import plan was budgeted for P7.45 billion and was intended to boost supply during the lean months of July and August.

In a statement Friday, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said that under Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), the PITC is tasked with carrying out any directive from the DA to import rice on a G2G basis.

Mr. Lopez said the government’s initial decision to import rice came after a negative assessment of available supply after Vietnam banned rice imports.

“Earlier computations from the DA showed a threat to the targeted level of buffer stock following the Vietnam ban on rice exports in April,” Mr. Lopez said.

However, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lifted the ban and made a commitment to assist the Philippines in securing its supply at the request of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Imports account for 7% to 14% of the Philippines’ total rice requirement, with Vietnam supplying over 90% of Philippine imports

“With the lifting of the rice export ban of Vietnam, we can expect more comfortable buffer stock levels moving forward,” Mr. Lopez said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

https://www.bworldonline.com/govt-plan-to-import-300000-mt-of-rice-abandoned/

Philippines is canceling gov’t-to-gov’t import of 300,000 MT rice from Vietnam -DTI chief

Published June 26, 2020 8:01pm

By TED CORDERO, GMA News

The Philippines is no longer proceeding with the planned government-to-government (G2G) importation of 300,000 metric ton (MT) of rice from Vietnam after the Southeast Asian country lifted its ban on rice exportation.

The move was announced by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Friday, citing official communication from Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

Following the notice from Dar, Lopez said the Department of Trade and Industry-attached agency Philippine International Trading Center (PITC) abandoned the rice importation plan, which was initially targeted to arrive during the lean months of July and August.

The PITC is the agency tasked to implement any directive from the Department of Agriculture to import rice under a G2G arrangement, pursuant to the Rice Tariffication Law.

“The provisions of the RTL basically opens up rice importation to any private group,” Lopez said.

Vietnam serves as a major import source of the Philippines, accounting for over 90% of our country’s rice imports.

The Philippines imports around 7% to 14% of its total rice requirement.

Vietnam has initially banned exporting rice to ensure food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lopez said that upon intervention of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Vietnamese government, through Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, agreed to lift its rice export ban policy making a commitment to that “Vietnam will contribute to securing a stable supply of food in the country.”

"With the lifting of the rice export ban of Vietnam, we can expect more comfortable buffer stock levels moving forward," the Trade chief said.

For his part, Dar said that with the rice imports handled by the private sector traders as stipulated by the Ric Tariffication Law, their purchase of rice imports will mean generating greater tariff revenues for the government which will be used to fund the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

“RCEF is meant to boost productivity and income of the country’s rice farmers,” the Agriculture chief said. -MDM, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/744378/phl-is-canceling-gov-t-to-gov-t-import-of-300-000-mt-rice-from-vietnam-dti-chief/story/

June 26, 2020

BY JANET KARI
Papua New Guinea Defence Force members of Comrade Trustee Services Limited are the second largest shareholders of Paradise Foods Limited.
The PNGDF own nine per cent of the shares.
Paradise Foods Limited chief executive officer James Rice said members of the defence force are the second largest shareholders and getting a chance to meet them and sharing the business successes is a unique opportunity for both parties.
Mr Rice was at the trustee fund’s conference with its members in Lae yesterday for an opportunity to talk to their shareholders, which is proving to be successful.
“We are making this for our shareholders and this is a chance to come out and tell them about the business, our products and what we are doing.
When they reach for these products they are not only supporting jobs in PNG but also supporting their retirement funds,” said Mr Rice
He said it was a unique opportunity to share the business success stories with the shareholders and tell them about the products.
CTSL statutory manager Sitiveni Weleilakeba said it was also a privilege for the fund and its members to be supported by the investor.
The meeting was the largest conducted this year with 200 members from Igam Barracks, the biggest unit holder in the fund.
CTSL chief executive officer Charlie Gilichibi said it was a first conference with its members in Lae to inform them of the fund progress over the years.
The conference provided the members the avenue to have their quires answered and issues taken on board by the team on the ground.
Paradise Foods also distributed some of its products during the conference and bags of goodies were also distributed to the defence at Igam Barracks.

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27th June,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

Efforts Underway To Modernize Agriculture; Boost Per Acre Yield

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/efforts-underway-to-modernize-agriculture-bo-958470.html

Efforts Underway To Modernize Agriculture; Boost Per Acre Yield

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/efforts-underway-to-modernize-agriculture-bo-958470.html

Efforts underway to modernize agriculture; boost yield per acre

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https://nation.com.pk/27-Jun-2020/efforts-underway-to-modernize-agriculture-boost-yield-per-acre

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Philippines is canceling gov’t-to-gov’t import of 300,000 MT rice from Vietnam -DTI chief

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