DA, Germany sign agreement on
palay, abaca
March 18, 2015
8:24 pm
The Philippines and Germany have
signed agreements to boost income of abaca farmers by giving them access to
markets here and abroad and to provide education and training to rice producers
on specific farming techniques and use of modern technology, a top official
said.Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the following agreements were
signed: Abaca Sustainability Initiative (ASI), which will be implemented in Madalag
and Libacao in Aklan, Janiuay and Maasin in Iloilo; and Better Rice Initiative
Asia-Fostering Agriculture and Rice Marketing by Improved Education and Rural
Advisory Services (BRIA-FARMERS) in Aurora, Iloilo and Southern Leyte.
The Philippine Fiber Industry
Development Authority will implement the ASI in 2015 and 2016 and it aimed to
increase the certified production areas to 500 hectares, Alcala said.He said
about 300 farms, with an average landholding of 1.5 hectares per farmer, will
take part in the project under the Rainforest Alliance, a certifying body
recognized by the Sustainable Agriculture Network.“With their farms certified,
the farmers will be assured of better market access in the coming years, hence,
increasing their annual income,” Alcala said.He said the project, which has a
P19 million budget, would require putting up nurseries for replanting and
rehabilitation of areas affected by abaca plant diseases and fiber extraction
and drying processes will be introduced.
The project areas were expected
to supply the demand for certified products such as teabag manufacturers and
the program will be replicated in other abaca areas in the country to benefit
more farmers, Alcala said.Alcala said at least 8,000 farmers would be
beneficiaries of the BRIA-FARMERS project, which will be implemented by the
Agricultural Training Institute and the Philippine Rice Research Institute
starting this year until 2017.He said the project, which has a P90 million
budget, will involve training farmers on value chain analysis, basic
agriculture, use of technology-based nutrient management, post-harvest handling
and mechanization.
“Another fresh feature of the
project is improving the farmers’ marketing and enterprise skills through
participation in farm business schools,” Alcala said.“We have been deliberately
incorporating entrepreneurship in our programs as we want to produce not only
good farmers but also successful agri-entrepreneurs,” he said.
Agriculture
key part of plan to improve watershed health
Ryan Urban
Chronotype staff
Improving
agricultural practices is a central part of a new plan to improve the health of
the Red Cedar Watershed, according to presenters at the annual Red Cedar Watershed
Conference held last Thursday in Menomonie.Daniel Zerr, a UW-Extension natural
resource educator, presented a plan by Red Cedar Water Quality Partnership
focused on reducing phosphorus in Tainter Lake at the lower part of watershed
by 40% within 10 years. Phosphorus in soil, fertilizer and animal waste fuels
blue-green algae blooms seen in local lakes."It's an ambitious plan,"
said Zerr. "We need to decrease phosphorus by a lot if we're going to make
a difference.
"More
than 40 lakes and streams in the Red Cedar Watershed-covering most of Barron
and Dunn counties-are classified as Impaired by the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources, including Rice Lake and much of the Red Cedar
River.The10-year implementation plan seeks reduce phosphorus by 186,000 pounds
annually with several measures. The strategies with the most potential impact
are increasing no-till farming (64,000 pounds), responsible manure storage
(34,000) and farmers' use of nutrient management plans (31,000) and cover crops
(18,000).Other strategies focus on treating milkhouse waste, traditional
conservation practices,urban stormwater control and stream buffers, among
others.
Case
for conservation
Several
presenters made a case that keeping fertilizer on fields of no-till soil
benefits farming yields as much as the health of the streams and
lakes."Soil erosion is a tragedy," said Rod Olson, conference
co-chair from Rice Lake. "It is far more of a tragedy to the farmer. That
is his very best soil washed down the river."Andy Bensend, a Dallas area
farmer, presented the challenges and benefits in his 25 years of using limited
field tillage.
Bensend
said after going bankrupt from stagnant milk prices in his first attempt at
farming, he started over in the late 1980s doing no-till agriculture on
depleted farmland."The first thing that happened was our yields were
less," said Bensend, adding that having fewer equipment expenses helped
him withstand lower profits.Patience paid off in 5 years. "Our crops
didn't demand as much fertility. But we put on the same amount of fertilizer
and our yields went up," he said.
To
demonstrate the benefits of no-till fields and cover crops, United States
Department of Agriculture soil health specialist Ray Archuleta presented two
experiments with chunks of tilled soil and non-tilled soil. The live
demonstrations showed that water infiltrates non-tilled soil at a significantly
faster rate while retaining its structure better than tilled soil."When
the water rushes in, we don't want the soil to fall apart," said Archuleta.Soil
that breaks apart is more easily washed into waterways.
Archuleta
said natural no-till soil is also more fertile because organic matter breaks
down more slowly when not disturbed. "Tillage is an intrusive tool. It is
destructive to the soil ecosystem. Nature does not till," he
said.Archuleta said while there are reactive ways to keep phosphorus-carrying
sediment out of the water-such as buffer zones that catch sediment-the best
thing for both land and water is to be proactive to stop runoff at the source.
"We have to take care of the raindrop where it lands," he said.
Increasing
cooperation
Implementing the Red Cedar River Water Quality Partnership plan
will depend on getting organizations and the public more involved. Ways to do
so include collaboration between groups and agencies, educational events,
equipment sharing and farmer-led councils, said Zerr.
He said the plan will have ongoing evaluations and adjustments and
continue accordingly beyond the first 10 years.The Red Cedar River Water Quality
Partnership is a coalition of several government agencies, municipalities,
organizations, universities and businesses.
Focus on Poverty: Improving nutrition isn’t just about science
·
A ‘green revolution’ is more of a
challenge for Africa than it was for Asia
·
Improved crop varieties must fit
into complex agricultural and economic systems
·
Better jobs are also needed to
cut poverty and improve diets more widely
“As Africa prospers, will diets improve?” The media has been
pondering this question lately. [1] On the one hand, veteran environmentalist
Lester Brown warns that huge dustbowls could leave regions of northern Africa
in serious agricultural trouble. [2] On the other, SciDev.Net reports encouraging progress on sweet potato production in Africa. So what do we need to know to make an assessment? Two
recent academic studies are useful. In
his book Food
security and scarcity, Harvard academic and Center for Global
Development fellow Peter Timmer says global hunger eradication is so hard
“because governments and markets need to work together around an agenda of
pro-poor growth, agricultural development, and stable food economies”.
[3] (See below for a video of Timmer discussing how agriculture meshes with
broader structural economic changes in the developing world.)
Per Pinstrup-Andersen, an economist at Cornell
University in the United States, has edited a complementary volume, Food price policy in an era of market
instability. [4] This is written in the context of the food price
volatility seen worldwide since 2007. The book is mainly based on 14 case
studies from developing countries. It shows how government responses either
amplify or address the issue. Both
books draw out several interesting policy lessons and make clear that scientific research is only
one element among many needed to improve people’s diets. Let’s take the Pinstrup-Andersen book.
He writes, among other things, of the need to
strengthen the “policy-relevant evidence base”, to reduce the “fiscal costs of
short-term interventions” such as subsidising food and fertilisers, and
investing in “improved rural infrastructure”. (Pinstrup-Anderson summarises
these and other issues in a handy policy brief.) [5]
Returning to Africa: this should not be that surprising, since
its agricultural practices are different from those in Asia, where nutritional improvements have been comparatively easy to achieve. The
high and reliable yields of the rice varieties championed by the International
Rice Research Institute over its 50-year history ensured that Asian countries
increased supply dramatically. Noting this, Timmer contrasts his visits to Karawang
in West Java, Indonesia, and the Machakos region of Kenya. While Karawang has
extensive and well irrigated rice fields, Machakos has poor roads, a dependence
on rainfall and small farms that grow multiple crops next to each other. There
are maize, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams, groundnuts, cowpeas and many other
crops. For such reasons, a Green
Revolution for Africa is much more challenging. It is not only a question of
developing new and better varieties of crops, but also of ensuring that these
fit into a highly complex agricultural and economic system.
So it is hard to say in general whether Africa’s diet will
improve soon. You only need to check the country-by-country studies released
this month by the Global Nutrition Report to see how complex the situation is.
[6]
Too much of Africa’s growth depends on exporting minerals, oil
and natural gas. Many countries certainly need a more productive agricultural
sector, where agricultural research and food policy both play a role. Without
generating a surplus or costly food imports, the cities cannot be fed. But it
is not just a question of increasing agricultural productivity. Other factors,
such as better employment for those in the informal sector, are needed to
provide the inclusive growth and poverty eradication that will improve diets
more widely.
Image credit: Brian Sokol / Panos
Roger Williamson is an independent consultant and visiting fellow with both UNU-WIDER and the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Previous positions include organising nearly 80 international policy conferences for the UK Foreign Office and being head of policy and campaigns at Christian Aid
German finance agency eyes P109-M PHL
agricultural projects
Abaca drying/Photo by John Washington (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)
or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia
Commons
![Description: Abaca drying/Photo by John Washington (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abaca.jpg)
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), or better known
as the German Development Cooperation, on Wednesday signed two memoranda of
agreement for two agricultural projects worth about P109 million that will
cater primarily to Filipino rice and abaca farmers.Agriculture Secretary Prospero Alcala and GIZ country
director Andreas Kalk led the signing ceremonies that officially kicked off the
Better Rice Initiative Asia – Fostering Agriculture and Rice Marketing by
Improved Education and Rural Advisory Services (BRIA-FARMERS) and the Abaca Sustainability
Initiative that are aimed at further ensuring sustainability of the
government’s current programs on improving rice and abaca production.
The funds for the twin projects will be provided by GIZ and would
be implemented by DA attached agencies.BRIA-FARMERS seeks to contribute in
achieving the goals under the Philippine Development Plan in strengthening the
agriculture sector through the development of a sustainable strategy across the
public and private sectors to enhance food security and economic development.
The €1.8 million (about P90 million) project will be implemented
by the DA’s Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) and the Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice) from 2015 to 2017 and will cover the
municipalities of Dipaculao, Maria Aurora and Baler in Aurora province;
Leganes, Oton, Pototan, Zarraga and Sta. Barbara in Iloilo, and Hinunangan,
Silago, Saint Bernard and Sogod in Souther Leyte.Under the project,
agricultural technicians, lead farmers and private service providers will be
trained on value chain analyses, basic agriculture rice-specific farming
techniques, the use of technology-based nutrient management, post-harvest
handling, farm mechanization and market access.
Alcala said that one of the projects feature is the enhancement of
farmers’ marketing and enterprise skills through participation in farm business
schools.“We have been deliberately incorporating entrepreneurship in our
programs as we want to produce not only good farmers but also successful
agri-entrepreneurs,” he said.On the other hand, the Abaca Sustainability
Initiative aims to secure the ecological sustainability of abaca fiber
production and to enhance the income of abaca farmers through improved access
to markets and extension services.
With a budget of €386,000 (about P19 million), the project
specifically aims to increase the certified production areas in the provinces
of Aklan and Iloilo to a minimum of 500 hectares and would directly benefit
some 300 abaca farmers with an estimated average landholding of 1.5 hectares.It
will be implemented by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority from
2015 to 2016 in the towns of Libacao and Madalag in Aklan and in Januiay and
Maasin in Iloilo.The farms covered under the project will undergo certification
from the Rainforest Alliance, a certifying body recognized by the Sustainable
Agriculture Network.
Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/german-finance-agency-eyes-p109-m-phl-agricultural-projects/#WDVXa1cAZp9m1xqI.99
Aman output strikes all-time high
3/19/2015
The Financial Express (Bangladesh)
The Financial Express (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh, March
19 -- Aman rice output hit an all-time high of 13.19 million tonnes in Aman
rice season as farmer bounced back from last year's savage flood, the
government has said.The rice yield in Aman season showed 1.3 per cent growth in
the current financial year over a year earlier, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
(BBS) said.Sector insiders said higher production in the first two rice
seasons---Aus and Aman-has ground for restricting riceimport to safeguard the local rice industry.Considering
the financial year or the Bangla calendar year, Aus is the first rice cropping
season in Bangladesh followed by Aman, contributing 38 per cent, and Boro,
contributing 55 per cent, to overall output, according to the agriculture
ministry.
BBS latest data
revealed that the production of Aman was a record13.190 million tonnes at 5.53
million hectares of land in FY'15, which was 13.02 million tonnes in FY'14.Deputy
director (agriculture wing) of BBS Bidhan Boral said that cultivable land
remained almost static at 5.53 million hectares but per hectare yield has
increased notably this FY which helped rise the production.He said Aus
production increased minimally by 2,000 tonnes in the current financial year
and the two cropping seasons jointly gifted 15.518 million tonnes so far, which
was 15.346 million tonnes in FY'14-or 1.12 per cent growth.The BBS data showed
that the country got a record 33.465 million tonnes of rice in the last
financial year against 33.1 million tonnes of demand estimated by the Director
General of Food (DGoF).
The government has
now a good stock of 1.097 million tonnes of cereal including 0.814 million
tonnes of rice and 0.099 million tonnes of wheat.The food stock size was 1.084
million tonnes in the corresponding period of the last fiscal, the food
ministry data showed.According to the Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mills
Owners Association, the biggest platform of the country's rice millers, more
than 20,000 millers and 0.35 million of traders have above 3.5 million tonnes
of rice stock for every two month.Despite bumper production in almost all
cropping seasons, rice import (through the private channel)
witnessed a record in the current financial year, according to the ministry of
food.
The food ministry
data showed that importers brought a record 1.057 million tonnes
of rice in July-March'15 period of the current financial year when overall import was 0.374 million tonnes in FY'14.The
uncontrolled imports coupled with the two and a half
month-long political turmoil have dealt a severe blow to the local rice
industry, said the traders.Rice millers said more than 60 per cent of the mills
across the country were forced to close their operation this year following
uneven competition with the Indian rice and the political upheaval continuing
since January this year.
Rice prices, which
increased significantly in January-February period, went down to the level of
pre-blockade period from March, according to Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking
Mills Owners Association (BAMHMOA).BAMHMOA secretary KM Layek Ali told the FE
that in the absence of any import duty, imported rice has flooded the market.He said
the government fixed minimum Aman rice price at Tk32 per kg when importers are bringing it at below Tk23-26 per
kg.He said: "Our milling cost is above Tk29-29.5 per kg for swarna
variety.""This uneven competition forced 60 per cent of millers in
the rice growing hubs to stop their operation", he said.He said: "Import is logical if the domestic supply is
lower and price is volatile, but the country has been getting bumper production
for the last few years.
"He said:
"The government should impose a minimum 20 per cent import duty on rice import to protect the local rice
industry."Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) additional research director Dr
Khondaker Golam Moazzem said domestic supply, demand and market prices should
be considered before importers to import.He
said the local producers and its market players should get the first priority
for the country's food security.He also said that the government should also
look into the matter why local output cost is not competitive compared with
that of other exporting countries.He said the devaluation of
Indian rupee against the US Dollar is on the rise parallel to it strong BDT
against the greenback is giving the Indian exporters room for sending rice to Bangladesh.
Published by HT
Syndication with permission from The Financial Express. For any query with
respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor
athtsyndication@hindustantimes.com
IBEC to launch Isabela biomass plant next month
March 19, 2015 10:01:00 PM
A 20-MEGAWATT
(MW) biomass project in the province of Isabela will start operations next month,
an Energy department official said on Wednesday.
Energy Undersecretary Zenaida Y. Monsada said Isabela
Biomass Energy Corp. (IBEC) has completed major works on the P2-billion power
facility.“It will start around end of April. It was a little delayed because it
was affected by the port congestion,” Ms. Monsada said in Makati City.The
project -- which will serve as IBEC’s maiden venture -- was originally due to
be operational early this year.The 20-MW project is being built in Barangay
Burgos in the municipality of Alicia.
Asked if IBEC expressed interest to expand the plant,
Ms. Monsada said: “They can still do it but they want to see how the first one
will work first.”IBEC was established by a group of six rice millers in
Isabela. The feedstock that will be used for the power plant will come from
their milling by-product.Ms. Monsada said the project, once completed, will
enter the feed-in tariff (FIT) program.Under the FIT, renewable energy
developers will dispatch the capacity of their projects to the grid at a fixed
rate for a period of 20 years.The Energy Regulatory Commission approved, in
July 2012, FIT rates for run-of-river hydro (P5.90 per kilowatt-hour); biomass
(P6.63/kWh); wind (P8.53); and solar (P9.68/kWh).The rates are based on the
assigned installation ceilings per technology, which total 750-MW. Run-of-river
hydro and biomass projects are allocated 250 MW each, wind power 200 MW, and
solar power 50 MW.
Earlier this month, a 12-MW biomass plant owned by
San Jose City I Power Corp. (SJC IPower) in Nueva Ecija also started commercial
operations.The P2-billion biomass project is located in a five-hectare complex
in Barangay Tulat, San Jose City.It represents the first phase of the 24-MW
planned biomass project in the area. The second plant will start operations
next year.SJC IPower is 66%-owned by Lucio L. Co’s Union Energy Corp. The
remaining interest is held by 21 rice milling firms in Nueva Ecija. -- Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano
Chinese
lead world in genetic rice research but government limits success
Mandy Zuo | March 19, 2015 | South
China Morning Post
Angel
or demon, transgenic crops have become one of the “frontier technologies” that
China is determined to embrace.In contrast to China’s usual modesty in academic
matters, mainland scientists claim that genetically modified organisms,
utilising recombinant DNA technology, is among the few fields in which China
can claim to be globally competitive.Genetically modified rice, in particular,
is the achievement that China should be most proud of, they say. But they fear
the government’s persistent hesitation to commercialise their successes could
make China’s GM quest lose momentum.
A
quarter of the world’s top research papers on rice have been written by Chinese
researchers, said Yan Jianbing, a corn genomics researcher at Huazhong
Agricultural University in Wuhan .With vast funding and a big team, China was
ready to bring to market an insect-resistant transgenic rice it developed on
its own a decade ago, said Zhu Zhen, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of
Sciences’ Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology.
But
the government has chosen so far not to commercialise its GMO expertise as the
technology remains controversial around the world and has triggered fierce
debate at home.“Public opinion remains unfavourable for the technology, and
even now, the prospect for commercialisation is unclear,” Zhu said.But in the
government’s first policy directive this year, issued earlier this month,
authorities called for improvements in safety management and public education
on GM crops.
Read full original article: Genetically
modified food in China: time to reap what
scientists sow?
Pangasinan
among top rice producers in 2014
March 19, 2015
By April M. Montes
DAGUPAN
CITY, March 19 (PIA) – Pangasinan bagged its third Agri-Pinoy Rice Achiever
Award from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as one of the country’s top
rice-producing provinces in 2014.The annual contest recognizes the country’s
rice farmers and their respective provincial and municipal officials and farm
workers for their continuing efforts and contributions to increased rice
production.Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Nestor Batalla said that
Pangasinan and other top rice-producing provinces, municipalities and cities,
farmers and irrigators’ associations, and agricultural workers will be honored
in appropriate ceremonies in Metro Manila on March 25.
“We
have been notified that the province is one of the country’s top three rice
producers last year,” Batalla said.The province will receive a trophy and check
worth P4 million for rice-related projects during the awarding ceremonies, he
added.“In gunning for the award, the provincial government has banked its claim
on a rice productivity enhancement program launched in 2012 when the provincial
government decided to plow in funds, extend outreach technology services and
provide support infrastructure to rice farmers in the province” the Provincial
Information Office reported.
As a
result of the program, about 150,000 rice farmers in Pangasinan harvested 1.099
metric tons of rice last year which was 34,166 tons higher than total harvests
the previous year, data collected by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics had
shown.As part of the rice program, the provincial government extended partly
subsidized and interest-free loans in the form of fertilizer and certified
seeds to 2,130 farmers in 14 rice producing towns.It also put on the ground
P275 million in support infrastructure projects that included small irrigation
systems, farm-to-market roads, multi-purpose pavements used for sun drying, and
bridges.
And
in tandem with DA and a non-government organization, the province expanded its
seed production and distribution project that resulted in 75 percent of the
province’s rice farmers shifting to the full use of certified and hybrid palay
seeds.These resulted in higher harvest for each farmer that redounded to an
over-all growth in total harvests by about four percent, much higher than the
national average of less than two percent.Good farm gate prices of palay also
resulted in higher earnings for each of the individual rice farmers last year.
(MCA/AMM/PIA-1, Pangasinan)
NLA to Hear G2G Rice Distribution Scheme Case on April 2
NLA to Hear G2G Rice
Distribution Scheme Case on April 2
BANGKOK, 19 March 2015 (NNT) –
The President of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has announced that the
legislative body will begin hearing the impeachment case of the former
officials in the Commerce Ministry associated with the rice pledging scheme on
April 2.
NLA President Ponpetch Wichitcholchai yesterday announced that the
assembly was slated to open the impeachment cases of former Commerce Minister
Boonsong Teriyapirom, former Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol and former
Director General Department of Foreign Trade Manas Soiploy on April 2.The NLA
has received the case files from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
which has accused the defendants of power abuse and dereliction of duty which
led to financial damages in the government-to-government (G2G) rice distribution
scheme.In a similar case, the NLA voted on January 23 to impeach former Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her failure to halt or rectify the costly and
corrupt rice-pledging scheme, effectively banning her from political activity
for 5 years. The case was also submitted by the NACC.
Thai court says ex-premier to stand trial over rice program
By THANYARAT DOKSONE
·
·
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's Supreme Court announced Thursday that
former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will stand trial for her role in
overseeing a rice subsidy program spearheaded by her ousted government that
lost billions of dollars, a move likely to deepen the long-running political
crisis in the military-ruled nation.Yingluck faces 10 years in prison if found
guilty in the case, seen by her allies as part of an attempt by an elite
minority to crush her family's political machine, which has repeatedly won
power through democratic elections over the last decade.
In a post on her Facebook page, Yingluck insisted she was innocent
and called on the judiciary to give her a fair trial — unlike past cases she
said were "politically intended to destroy me."Yingluck was ousted
from her post as prime minister by a court decision that came two 
weeks before the military staged a
coup last May. Earlier this year, she was impeached by the military-appointed
legislature, which banned her from politics for five years.
weeks before the military staged a
coup last May. Earlier this year, she was impeached by the military-appointed
legislature, which banned her from politics for five years.
On Thursday, Supreme Court Judge Weerapol Tangsuwan said that a
nine-member judicial panel had studied documents submitted by prosecutors from
the Attorney General's Office and accepted the case since it fell within the
court's jurisdiction. He set the trial for May 19.Yingluck, who was not present
in court, is being charged with dereliction in overseeing the controversial
rice subsidy program, which temporarily cost Thailand its crown as the world's
top exporter.
In
this Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 photo, Thailand's former Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra, leaves …
The program was a flagship policy
that helped Yingluck's Pheu Thai Party win elections in 2011, and Yingluck has
argued it was aimed at helping poor farmers who were paid about 50 percent
above what they would get on the world market. The program, however, racked up
losses of at least $4.46 billion as the Thai government stockpiled mass
quantities of rice. Prosecutors say Yingluck ignored multiple warnings from
several state agencies about possible corruption — none of which has yet been
proven in court.
Earlier this year, the National Anti-Corruption Commission
recommended the Finance Ministry sue her personally for at least 600 billion
baht ($18.4 billion).Thailand has been plagued by political turmoil that boiled
over after the army ousted Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, in a 2006
coup. The putsch was part of a societal schism that in broad terms pits the
majority rural poor, who back the Shinawatras, against an urban-based elite
establishment supported by the army and staunch royalists who see Yingluck's
family as a corrupt threat to the traditional structures of power.
Yingluck's opponents argue the Shinawatras have used their
electoral majority to impose their will and subvert democracy.The day
Yingluck's trial begins has significance in Bangkok. It marks the fifth
anniversary of a bloody army crackdown against demonstrators backing the
Shinawatras who had occupied downtown Bangkok for two months. More than 90
people were killed in the protests, which ended with parts of the city shrouded
in black smoke from burning buildings.
Govt Trashes Reports on Sale of
Fake Rice
By
Published: 19th March 2015 06:05 AM
Last Updated: 19th March 2015 06:05 AM
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State
Government has trashed reports which said that fake rice, allegedly containing
plastic, was being sold in the state.Scientific examination of rice samples
have proved the reports wrong, Health Minister V S Sivakumar said here on
Wednesday after a joint meeting on food adulteration convened by him, Food Minister
Anoop Jacob and Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan. Food Safety officials have
tested 25 samples and plastic was not detected in any of them, Sivakumar
said.The tests were conducted after reports emerged last week that fake
‘plastic rice’, reportedly originating in China, was being sold in the
state.The Minister said that the sticky membrane-like substance formed of
starch in the rice would burn once it is dry.
The rice variety Oryza glutinosa
is stickier than Oryza sativa variety and the film of starch is thicker. For
more clarity on the issue, the public can also get rice samples tested at the
analytical laboratories of the Health Department in Ernakulam,
Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, Sivakumar said.Nearly 2,000 samples were
examined following reports which said that coconut oil laced with toxic mineral
oil was being sold in the state, but the examinations have proved these reports
wrong, Sivakumar said.
These samples were collected at
checkposts and manufacturing units. Examination of 300 other samples collected
from various parts of the state revealed the presence of palm oil and palm
kernel oil, he said.Wednesday’s meeting decided to strengthen vigil against
food adulteration in rice, coconut oil, vegetables and fruits sold in the
state. So far, two criminal cases have been charged against distributors and
vendors for artificially ripening fruits using calcium carbide.Agriculture
secretary Rajan Khobragade, Food Safety Commissioner T V Anupama, Civil
Supplies Commissioner Shyam Jagannathan, Health Department director Dr P K
Jameela, Agriculture director R Ajith Kumar, Horticulture Mission director K
Prathapan, Horticorp Managing Director M Suresh Kumar, Kerafed Managing
Director Ashok Kumar and other officials attended the meeting.
White Rice, Brown Rice Or Red
Rice: Which One is the Healthiest?
NDTV Food, Modified: March 19, 2015
17:23 IST
Would you not like some rice along
with chicken curry? Instead you settle for tawa
rotis or probably try
to pacify your taste buds with just a few spoons of the humble staple. Why has
eating rice been such a problem for those who are trying to lose weight or are
on a strict calorie restricting diet? Putting it across, in straight and much
simpler words - rice is not an enemy of the weight related goals that you are
trying to achieve - inadequate knowledge about this food item is.White rice
Let's unravel what makes this traditional variety such a huge topic of debate in the health and fitness circle. White rice is the highly refined version of raw rice, which is hulled and milled. What makes this variety a not-so-healthy one despite it being widely consumed throughout the world is the fact that processing and milling takes away significant parts of the grain - bran and germ. Bran and germ are rich in dietary fibre as well as nutrients that are beneficial for human health.
According to a Delhi based weight management expert, Dr. Gargi Sharma, "If white rice undergoes further process of polishing then its aleurone layer gets removed leading to loss of nutrients. This layer is rich in B vitamins, other nutrients and essential fats."
White rice is primarily starch. Due to processing, it falls short on some essential nutrients like thiamine, also known as B1 as well other B Vitamins. Consuming un-enriched white rice can lead to a condition called beriberi, which occurs due to thiamine deficiency. White rice is also treated with additives that can - in certain cases - harm human body and trigger metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity and so on.
According to Dr. Ritika Samaddar, Max Healthcare Saket, New
Delhi, "The milling and polishing destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of
the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the
phosphorus, 60% of the iron, all of the dietary fibre as well the essential
fatty acids present in the raw variety." As alarming as these facts may
seem, doing away with white rice completely may be a tough choice for most
people. This is where healthier alternatives like coloured rice step in.
The healthier alternatives: Brown, red and black
Both brown and red rice have similar nutritional profiles including harvesting process. These are either un-hulled or partially hulled types of rice, which means you get to chew on the bran and germ that are known to have various beneficial properties. Brown rice is easily available across the globe whereas the red one is specifically typical to Himalayan Mountains, southern Tibet, Bhutan, as well as southern India.
According to Dr. Gargi Sharma, "Brown rice and red rice are quite similar when we talk about them on the nutritional front. Both are great sources of fibre, B vitamins, calcium, zinc and iron, manganese, selenium, magnesium and other nutrients. One thing that sets the red variety apart from its brown counterpart is it being enriched with antioxidants that can help fight damaging free radicals in our body."
Why brown and red rice?
The red variety gets its rich colour from an antioxidant called
anthocyanins, which are also found in deep purple or reddish fruits and
vegetables. The compound is believed to have properties that can reduce
inflammation, allergy, prevent risks of cancer and help in weight management.
The manganese present in both varieties helps in strengthening metabolism,
while magnesium helps in migraine, lowers blood pressure as well as risks of
heart attacks. Along with calcium, magnesium helps in maintaining healthy bones
and teeth, and prevents risks of arthritis and osteoporosis. Selenium on the
other hand protects the body against infections.
Moreover, since they are high in fibre content, the digestion process is slow, which leads to a strengthened digestive system. Fibre also aids in slowing down the rate at which carbs are converted into blood sugar; therefore fibrous foods are low on the glycemic load.
According to experts, the two varieties are also highly recommended for diabetics - because of their low glycemic index - and heart patients. These are considered whole grains, which can help in reducing the arterial plaque, prevent risks of cardiovascular diseases, tame high cholesterol and regulate blood sugar. According to recent studies, consuming one cup of brown rice on a daily basis can significantly cut short the risks of developing diabetes by up to 60%.
We stumbled upon a few studies that talked about a certain component in brown rice that can cause harm to human health - phytic acid. Dr. Gargi Sharma explains, "Phytic acid can hinder iron and calcium absorption. It can happen in cases where you consume brown rice along with food that are rich in calcium or iron. Only those on a high calcium or iron diet would need to be a little careful with the consumption of brown rice."
Moreover, since they are high in fibre content, the digestion process is slow, which leads to a strengthened digestive system. Fibre also aids in slowing down the rate at which carbs are converted into blood sugar; therefore fibrous foods are low on the glycemic load.
According to experts, the two varieties are also highly recommended for diabetics - because of their low glycemic index - and heart patients. These are considered whole grains, which can help in reducing the arterial plaque, prevent risks of cardiovascular diseases, tame high cholesterol and regulate blood sugar. According to recent studies, consuming one cup of brown rice on a daily basis can significantly cut short the risks of developing diabetes by up to 60%.
We stumbled upon a few studies that talked about a certain component in brown rice that can cause harm to human health - phytic acid. Dr. Gargi Sharma explains, "Phytic acid can hinder iron and calcium absorption. It can happen in cases where you consume brown rice along with food that are rich in calcium or iron. Only those on a high calcium or iron diet would need to be a little careful with the consumption of brown rice."
The forbidden rice
Once known as a food served only to the royals in ancient China, the consumption of black rice was forbidden by the masses. The surge in food trends revolving around healthier options like brown rice, quinoa or sunflower seeds has finally given way to unravel this superfood. Shiny black grains of rice when cooked turn purple that not only is a treat to eyes but also to the taste buds.
This variety beats the nutritional benefits of brown and red rice combined. Rich in fibre, it comes loaded with antioxidants, phytonutrients, phytochemicals, Vitamin E, protein, iron, and other nutrients. It is believed to be beneficial for the liver, kidney and stomach. It has high content of anthocyanins, which help in preventing risks of cancer. Its low sugar and glycemic content makes it an extremely desirable dietary option for heart patients, diabetics as well as for those with high blood pressure.
"A spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanins antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar, more fibre, vitamins and antioxidants," noted Zhimin Zu, associate professor, Louisiana and State University, America.
With over 40,000 different varieties of rice cultivated and consumed all across the globe, depriving yourself of the simple pleasure of digging into a bowl is unfair. A healthy lifestyle is all about striking a balance between good food and nutrition. Identifying what's nutritious for your health and giving it an interesting, flavourful spin is the remedy.
Other Links:
Govt
allocates Rs 4bn for paddy purchasing
Mar 19, 2015 Melanie Santiago
The government has allocated four billion rupees in order to
purchase paddy. Minister of Food Security Gamini Jayawickrama Perera says
that these funds will be distributed amongst the district secretaries after
consulting the Prime Minister in this regard.He added that they have
informed the divisional secretaries to give the ministry two days notice
if there is shortfall in the funds provided, as there could be a delay in the
process.The Minister also added that the allocated funds will be remitted to
the relevant divisional secretariats once they are provided with the money by
the treasury.
Arkansas
Governor Calls for End to U.S. Cuba Embargo
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Yesterday, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson
signed House Joint Resolution 1006, calling on the U.S. government to lift its
trade embargo on Cuba and open the market to American rice and other
commodities.Senator Eddie Jo Williams (R-AR-29) and Representative David
Hillman (D-AR-13) sponsored the bipartisan resolution that supports the message
Arkansas Rice members had delivered to their Congressional delegation during
last month's USA Rice Government Affairs Conference.
"We thank the General Assembly and Governor Hutchinson for
supporting our effort to open the emerging Cuban marketplace to Arkansas
agriculture," said USA Rice Chairman and Arkansas rice grower Dow
Brantley. "Rice is one of many
commodities that could see significant gains for our farmers and Arkansas's
economy if the federal government eases its decades-old trade embargo on
Cuba."
Re-opening the Cuban market is a priority for USA Rice; most
believe the first step is establishing normal, two-way commercial trade."Normal
trade will get the Cuban economy moving to create capital that can be used to
purchase the products they need -- rice foremost among them," said USA
Rice's Marvin Lehrer, who recently returned from a trade trip to Cuba.
Standing from left to right: Rep. David Hillman,
Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, Bill Reed, Eric Vaught, Jerry Hoskyn, and Ben Noble
with Governor Asa Hutchinson at the signing of the Cuba Rice Trade Resolution.
Contact: Ben Noble (501)
375-1100
Weekly Rice Sales,
Exports Reported
WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 76,500 MT for 2014/2015 were
down 7 percent from the previous week and 11 percent from the prior four-week
average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report. Increases were reported for Japan (36,200
MT), South Korea (22,000 MT), Saudi Arabia (9,000 MT), unknown destinations
(2,100 MT), and Colombia (2,000 MT).
Exports of 41,800 MT were down 21 percent from the previous week and 15
percent from the prior four -week average.
The primary destinations were Mexico (17,000 MT), Japan (13,100 MT),
Saudi Arabia (3,600 MT), Canada (2,400 MT), and Jordan (2,300 MT). This summary is based on reports from
exporters from the period March 6-12.
CME
Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
|
March 19 Rice outlook and farm
bill Q&A webinar
Mar 18, 2015 Delta
Farm Press
Editor’s note: Bobby Coats is a professor in the University of
Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Rice outlook
In its March report, USDA raised the U.S. long-grain
season-average rough rice price 30 cents on both ends, to $12.20-$12.80 per
cwt.
UDSA made no supply side revisions in their March report.
• Total U.S. supplies of rice in 2014/15 remain projected at
275.9 million cwt, 11 percent higher than a year earlier.
• Total U.S. exports were revised up 1.0 million cwt to 104.0
million cwt. Long-grain milled rice accounted for all of the increase.
2014/15 global rice production is forecast at 474.9 million tons
(milled basis)
• Up 0.3 million tons from last month’s forecast. Global rice production
is still 2.2 million tons below the 2013/14 record.The global 2014/15
consumption forecast at a record 483.7 million tons.2014/15 global rice ending
stocks are forecast to 97.6 million tons, the lowest since 2009/10.The 2015
global rice trade forecast is 42.6 million tons, the second highest on record.
• USDA revised their 2015 import forecasts upward for China,
Saudi Arabia, and the European Union.
Rice outlook and farm bill webinar March 19, 2015:
Tony Franco, Chief, Farm Programs Division, Arkansas State FSA
Office, and Anita Wilson, Agricultural Program Specialist, Farm Programs
Division, Arkansas State FSA Office, and I will continue our series of Farm
Bill and Outlook webinars.On March 19, 2015, Nathan Childs, Agricultural
Economist, USDA Economic Research Service, will be the primary presenter
discussing the U.S. and Global Rice Outlook.Tony Franco, Anita Wilson and I
will be fielding farm bill and Decision Aid questions. If you have farm
bill-related questions, feel free to log-on at 8:30 a.m. and we can have a farm
bill question and answer session before the primary presentation begins at 9
a.m.
Registration LINK for March 19:https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/01b9f7ff2362cdf47c24e00bf0acd2b8
Nathan Child’s previous webinar was Feb. 13 on U.S. and Global
Rice Outlook. Links to his presentation and video follow: Power Point PDF and Presentation Video.
Thai Court to Try Ex-Leader Yingluck
Former prime minister will face criminal trial over botched plan to
steer global rice prices higher
By JAMES HOOKWAY
Updated March 19, 2015 2:08 a.m. ET
BANGKOK—Thailand’s former leader Yingluck Shinawatra will face a
criminal trial for her role in a botched plan to steer global rice prices
higher, costing the country billions of dollars in paper losses.The Supreme
Court on Thursday said it would accept the case after state prosecutors charged
Ms. Yingluck with dereliction of duty in February, nine months after Thailand’s
military seized power in a coup d’état.The case...
Make Rice Pudding
Without a Recipe
BY Food52 and Kyle Orosz | Mar. 18, 2015 | 1:58
Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs
of Food52 show you how to make three variations of rice pudding, all without a
recipe.
Watch Video:http://www.nytimes.com/video/dining/100000003550911/make-rice-pudding-without-a-recipe.html?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email
UK: Tesco To Stock Indo-Chinese Products
Tesco is set to become the first UK supermarket to
stock fusion Indo-Chinese food products, aiming to tap into the growing
popularity of the cuisine. Indo-Chinese cuisines blends meat and
vegetarian dishes with spices and seasonings commonly used in both food
cultures such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, hot chilli, ginger, garlic. The
cuisine was introduced to India by the Hakka migrants in Kolkata (formerly
Calcutta) more than 200 years ago, and further deveoped by the Ghurkhas, who
then took it to places like Gujarat, Mumbai, northern India and abroad.
Popular items include Chicken Manchurian - chicken
dumplings in a savoury soya and ginger sauce, with mixed vegetable fried
basmati rice. Tesco noted: “Indian and Chinese are Britain’s two favourite
cuisines so diners get the best of both worlds with this delicious fusion.
Indo-Chinese food is a gourmet’s dream and offers a mouth-watering explosion of
flavours. We believe it could be the next big food trend to hit the high
street. We’ve selected the most popular Indo-Chinese prepared dishes including
Chicken Manchurian plus soups, seasonings and sauces to introduce the cuisine
to our customers.”
NamNews
- Thursday 19th March 2015
Download/View On-Line the above News
in pdf format,just click the following link
