Friday, December 11, 2015

11th December,2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Cambodia Misses One Million Ton Rice Export Target Due to Inadequate Infrastructure, Says Prime Minister

Dec 10, 2015

Cambodia failed to achieve the self-imposed target of exporting one million tons of rice by 2015 due to inadequate milling and storage facilities as well as access to finance, the Xinhua News Agency quoted the country's Prime Minister as saying at a national conference.
"So far this year, we had exported only half a million tons of milled rice, or about 50 percent of the target, so we cannot achieve the target of exporting 1 million tons of milled rice by 2015," he was quoted. "Tough competition with other rice exporters such as Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and India was also a contributing factor to the failure," he added.
The government set the target in 2010.
The Ministry of Agriculture is estimating the 2015 paddy rice output to exceed 9.2 million tons, including about 2.1 million tons from the dry season crop and about 7.1 million tons from the main season crop. It is expecting around 3 million tons of milled rice available for exports in 2016.
China, France, Poland, Malaysia, and the Netherlands are the major destinations for Cambodia's milled rice.
Cambodia has exported around 369,105 tons of milled rice in the first nine months of 2015, up about 37% from around 269,370 tons exported during the same period last year. The Southeast Asian nation exported around 370,000 tons of rice in 2014.
USDA estimates Cambodia to export 1.1 million tons of rice (including official and unofficial exports to Vietnam and Thailand through borders) in 2015, up about 10% from an estimated 1 million tons in 2014.

Brunei Urges Rice Farmers to Adopt IPM Technique to Avoid Pest-Related Yield Losses

Dec 10, 2015

Brunei's Department of Agriculture and Agrifood (DAA) is promoting the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to avoid pest-related yield losses in the country, according to Brunei Times.
An official from the DAA told reporters that pests such as stem borers, brown plant hoppers, green leafhoppers and rice leaf folders have been impacting reducing the effectiveness of rice production in the countries. He noted that these needed to be taken seriously to boost paddy yields.
"Most of these pests only affect the plant at a certain growth stage. But some of them also feed on the planting until ripening stage,” he was quoted. He added that the pests feed on the roots, stems, leaves and grains of paddy, and they impact production depending on the incidence and severity. Therefore checking the pest population is important, he said.
He noted that: "IPM is a comprehensive approach to pest control that combines the use of physical, cultural, biological and chemical control to reduce the incidence of pests to a tolerable level while maintaining a quality environment.”  He stated that chemical control should be used as a last resort as chemicals are hazardous to human health and will allow pests to develop immunity to the pesticides.
The official noted that though the DAA is offering to sell pesticides to farmers at a reduced price to help them contain production costs, it is discouraging the reliance of farmers on chemical control.
Brunei produces only 2% of the nation's domestic annual rice consumption of around 40,000 tons. Brunei’s rice production has remained at around 1,000 tons since 2002. Brunei imports 95% of its rice requirement from Thailand. Brunei imported about 20,948 tons of rice from Thailand in the first ten months of 2015, and it imported a total of 42,207 tons of rice in 2014, according to data from the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA).
The USDA estimates Brunei to produce 1,000 tons of milled rice and import around 40,000 tons in 2015, to meet a consumption demand of around 41,000 tons.

Philippines to Import 300,000 - 400,000 Tons of Rice in Second Quarter of 2016 to Ensure Adequate Stocks

Dec 10, 2015

The government of the Philippines will buy an additional 300,000 - 400,000 tons of rice in the second quarter of 2016 to ensure adequate stocks amid concerns of extending dry conditions because of the El Nino weather phenomenon, according to Reuters. The National Food Authority (NFA) Council and the Cabinet Task Force on El Nino have agreed for the additional imports, according to the Presidential Communications Secretary.
"Preparations are in place to deal with the worst possible El Nino scenario," the official told reporters. "The full effect of the current El Nino phenomenon will be felt in February and March 2016 when the entire country is projected to get only 20 to 30 percent of normal rainfall," he added.
The volume of new imports is above the already approved 500,000 tons of rice by the NFA Council. The rice is purchased from Thailand and Vietnam, and is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2016. The new imports by the Philippines are expected to push up rice export prices in Asia.
Last month, the government indicated a need to purchase an additional 1.3 million tons of rice in the second quarter, but the Economic Planning Secretary recently noted that the additional requirement could be lower than expected because of better than expected paddy output in the coming months.
The Philippines imported a total of 1.8 million tons of rice this year due to reduced output from the El Nino linked dry weather conditions as well as other natural calamities like floods and storms.

Indonesia Signs Four-Year G2G Rice Import MoU with Pakistan

Dec 10, 2015

The government of Indonesia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to import around one million tons of white rice with Pakistan between 2016-19, local sources quoted a message from the Pakistan Embassy.
The Indonesian Trade Minister and the Ambassador of Pakistan have signed the MoU in Islamabad on December 9, 2015. The MoU is understood to help Indonesia to replenish its rice stocks amid concerns of falling production due to extending drought conditions.
The value of the four-year rice import contract is reportedly around $400 million. The Indonesian state logistics agency Bulog and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) will reportedly implement the contract.
The Indonesian government has similar rice import MoUs with other ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. However, this is the first time it has signed a MoU with a non-ASEAN country.
Trade between Pakistan and Indonesia increased significantly following the conclusion of a Preferential Trade Agreement in 2013.
Export quotes of Pakistan 5% and 25% broken rice varieties increased to $335 per ton and $305 per ton in response to the MoU news.

South Korea Buys 55,555 Tons of Non-Glutinous Brown Rice in Tender

Dec 10, 2015

South Korea's state run Agro Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (KAFTC) has purchased 55,555 tons of non-glutinous brown rice of China and U.S. origins for delivery between March 31, 2015 and April 30, 2015 in tenders that closed on December 9, 2105, according to a statement on its website.
The details of the bidding are as follows:
Global Rice Quotes
December 10th, 2015
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade          355-365           ↓
Vietnam 5% broken    370-380           ↔
India 5% broken         345-355           ↔
Pakistan 5% broken    330-340           ↑
Myanmar 5% broken   410-420           ↑
Cambodia 5% broken             415-425           ↔
U.S. 4% broken           485-495           ↔
Uruguay 5% broken    515-525           ↔
Argentina 5% broken 530-540           ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken 335-345           ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 355-365           ↔
Pakistan 25% broken 300-310           ↑
Cambodia 25% broken           400-410           ↔
India 25% broken       320-330           ↔
U.S. 15% broken         515-525           ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd            345-355           ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd    405-415           ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd         340-350           ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken       590-610           ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken    545-555           ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken            NQ      ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92%          690-700           ↓
Vietnam Jasmine         440-450           ↔
India basmati 2% broken        NQ      ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken   NQ      ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails             830-840           ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super      325-335           ↔
Vietnam 100% broken            330-340           ↔
Pakistan 100% broken stxd    285-295           ↔
Cambodia A1 Super   355-365           ↔
India 100% broken stxd         280-290           ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ      ↔
U.S. pet food 330-340           ↔
Brazil half grain          NQ      ↔


All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com

India Rice Stocks in Central Pool Stand at 11.315 Million Tons as of December 1, 2015; Down 48% from Last Year

Dec 10, 2015
India’s rice stocks in the central pool as of December 1, 2015 stood at around 11.315 million tons (including a milled equivalent of about 2.041 million tons of paddy), down about 48% from around 21.57 million tons recorded during the same period last year, according to data from the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Month-over-month, India's rice stocks in the central pool are down about 8% from around 12.27 million tons recorded on November 1, 2015. The current rice stocks are about one million tons more than the required strategic reserve norms of around 10.25 million tons for this time of the year, according to the FCI.
Total food grain stocks (including rice and wheat) in the central pool stand at around 38.278 million tons as of December 1, 2015, down about 22% from last year's stock of around 49.381 million tons and down about 9% from last month's stock of around 42.26 million tons. Wheat stocks stand at around 26.88 million tons, down about 2.5% from last year's stock of around 27.569 million tons and down about 10% from last month's stock of around 26.88 million tons.


The government of India had revised the buffer norms for food grains, including rice, in the Central Pool in January this year. According to the new norms, buffer stocks for food grains to be maintained with the FCI at this part of the year is 30.77 million tons.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

9th December 2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

Today Rice News Headlines...
·         World Rice Production 2015/2016
·         Hassad makes strides in Qatar's food security  
·         Rice import duty doubled Syed Samiul Basher Anik
·         IISc scientist wins Third World Academy award
·         Home among the heirlooms
·         Historian’s cut: IRRI’s introverted “mad” scientist (full interview)
·         PH conditions dampen global rice output CROPS DAMAGED BY ‘LANDO,’ EL NIÑO
·         It’s the wow season at W Bangkok
·         Scientist does IISc proud, bags international award
·         Scamming Indian Agriculture Through Cronyism, Corruption
·         Hybrid rice plantings could expand significantly in coming years
·         Farmers worried about low paddy purchase target
·         And now, CAG finds Rs40,564-cr lapses in PDS paddy procurement news 
·         Brown Basmati and Chana Dal Khichri
·         USA Rice daily news
·         APEDA Rice Commodity News
·         Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

News Detail...

World Rice Production 2015/2016

December 2015

This month the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that the World Rice Production 2015/2016 will be 469.32 million metric tons, around 4.18 million tons less than the previous month's projection.
Rice Production last year (*) was 478.18 million tons. This year's 469.32 estimated million tons could represent a decrease of 8.87 million tons or a 1.85% in rice production around the globe.

Rice Production by Country

(Values in Metric Tons)

China: 145,500,000
India: 100,000,000
Others: 40,034,000
Indonesia: 36,300,000
Bangladesh: 34,600,000
Vietnam: 28,200,000
Thailand: 16,400,000
Burma: 12,200,000
Philippines: 11,250,000
Brazil: 8,000,000
Japan: 7,900,000
Pakistan: 6,900,000
United States: 6,057,000
Cambodia: 4,350,000
Korea, South: 4,327,000
Egypt: 4,000,000
Sri Lanka: 3,300,000
Next Update will be January 12, 2016.
https://www.worldriceproduction.com/?Referer=Newsletter
Hassad makes strides in Qatar's food security  
 08/12/2015
 (MENAFN - Gulf Times) Hassad Food has announced the company's latest achievements in the fields of livestock, grains, rice, poultry, flowers, dates and olive oil in addition to agricultural technology.The Doha-headquartered company is a leading investor in the food and agri-business sectors.Hassad Food has launched four "high-quality" rice brands in the local market. Hassad Food chairman and managing director Nasser Mohamed al-Hajri said: "In line with our strategy of investing in global markets to secure high-quality food resources for Qatar, we are proud to introduce a wide range of the finest Basmati rice variants to the local market, all best suited for the discerning local consumer's requirements."
From the plains of India, Hassad Food has brought Danat for its connoisseur consumers in Qatar, offering "premium-quality, extra-long" Indian Basmati rice while Nathry is a "high-quality" long grain Basmati rice variant reaped from the Punjab region of Pakistan. Nathry Mezzah is a "high-quality long grain parboiled (Sella) Basmati rice variant" and the fourth brand, Thameen, is made especially for the hospitality sector.
Meanwhile, the total amount of Australian sheep supplied by Hassad Australia will exceed 330,000 heads of sheep by the end of December. This represents more than 50% of the local market demand for Australian sheep, all supplied according to specifications set by Widam, a Hassad statement explains.Over the course of this year, Hassad Australia - Hassad Food's first international investment - supported the local market demand by supplying three batches of Australian sheep (chilled carcasses). The first batch had more than 50,000 chilled carcasses, supplied between January and February, followed by a bigger batch of more than 100,000 carcasses, supplied in June and July, to cover the peak season (Ramadan).
Finally, they supplied the local market with more than 175,000 for the third batch, which arrived in August and would continue to be distributed until end of the year. Hassad Austral has also carried out a programme of breeding the Syrian Awassi sheep on its Australian farms to support the ongoing local market demand. In terms of grains production, Hassad Australia has planted more than 73,000 hectares of commercial crops in 2015, including wheat, barley, canola and others. The 2015 harvest commenced in October and would last until January 2016.Over the past years, Hassad Qatar has become the largest supplier of fodder products in the local market, the statement notes. Hassad Qatar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hassad Food.
Spanning over 650 hectares, Hassad Qatar's commercial operations cover four farms: Al Riffa, Al Sailiya, Irkiyyah and Um Selal, with a production capacity of 8,000 tonnes. There are plans to expand the commercial operations of these farms in addition to Um Barraka farm in north Qatar, to reach 950 hectares by 2018.
With a yearly production capacity of 10,000 tonnes of rice, Senwan Pakistan - another wholly owned subsidiary of Hassad Food - has started exporting "high-quality" rice products to Qatar in line with Hassad Food's strategy of investing in global viable markets to secure food resources for Qatar.This year, Hassad Food has become the major shareholder in A'Saffa Foods, the largest integrated poultry project in Oman, with 33% of the shares. A'Saffa plans to expand its annual poultry production capacity from 20,000 tonnes to 60,000 tonnes over the next three years.
The new generation of hydroponic greenhouses tops the achievements of Zulal Oasis, launched through a partnership between Hassad Food and Oasis Agrotechnology to develop and promote cost-effective hydroponic technology to support the local farming mechanism.The statement notes that Qatar-based Roza Hassad currently produces over 3mn "high-quality" flowers annually in the local and regional markets. Additionally, it has launched a pilot project to produce chemical free vegetables and bedding plants.Mahaseel is Hassad Food's marketing arm, responsible for delivering Hassad's investment to the end user.

MENAFN - Gulf Times

 

Rice import duty doubled 

Syed Samiul Basher Anik

Despite self-sufficiency in production, rice import by private sector continues  

Photo- DHAKA TRIBUNE



The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has doubled the regulatory duty on rice import to 20% from the existing 10% to ensure fair price for local farmers.The customs wing of the NBR on Monday issued a statutory regulatory order (SRO) signed by NBR Chairman Nojibur Rahman to the effect of the duty hike.According to the decision, 20% duty will be imposed on husked (brown) rice, fortified rice kernels, broken rice, and on semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed during import stage.Nojibur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that the duty was hiked to ensure that farmers in Bangladesh get the fair price for the rice they produce.  

The revenue authority issued the SRO within two weeks after Food Minister Quamrul Islam in November announced that the government was going to increase the import duty on rice to 20% from existing 10% to ensure fair prices for local growers.Inn May this year, the government imposed 10% duty on import of above-mentioned rice patterns, except the fortified rice kernels with the same view.The duty was imposed in line with recommendations from the Food Ministry to protect local farmers from fall of rice prices because of excessive import of the item and of increased domestic production.

Although Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in rice cultivation, the private sector has long been importing rice from other countries, mostly from neighboring India due to its cheap price.According to the ministry data, the private sector has imported 2.03 lakh tonnes of rice from July to December 6 of ongoing fiscal year. The figure was 14.9 lakh tonnes in fiscal year 2014-15, the highest quantity since the financial year 2010-11.Farmers have long been urging the government to increase duty on rice import as they were reportedly unable to recover cultivation costs because of imports from India at cheaper rates. Many millers have given up rice milling due to its excessive imports from India.Millers, however, feared that the duty hike may not have that much impact if rice price falls in India.Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mill Owners Association general secretary KM Layek Ali told the Dhaka Tribune local millers were avoiding milling paddy fearing tough competition in the wake of rice import from India.“Usually, rice price decreases in India whenever any such move is taken in Bangladesh. If the rice price does not fall in India, the duty hike will surely help local growers get proper price required for them to be in the market,” he hoped.In India, non-basmati rices were selling at Tk29 per kg against Tk35 last year in the wholesale market, as reported in November. On the other hand, the wholesale price of premium basmati rice was sold at between Tk53 and Tk54 a kg down from Tk73-Tk75 last year. However, according to a study by Associated Chambers of Commerce of India, rice prices may shoot up and reach a boiling point in coming months creating trouble for consumers if timely adequate safeguards are not taken.

http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2015/dec/09/rice-import-duty-doubled#sthash.cm8Wsq64.dpuf

IISc scientist wins Third World Academy award


  
BENGALURU: Professor U Ramamurty of the Indian Institute of Science has bagged the 2015 Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) prize, which carries a cash prize of $15,000, in the engineering category. Prof CNR Rao, who was a former president of TWAS, told TOI: "This is a prestigious award because you are competing with some of the best scientists from China, Korea, Brazil and other countries. Prof Ramamurty deserves the recognition. I hope this will encourage more people in the country to do research.

" Ramamurty said there are plenty of opportunities for science in India and there needs to be more encouragement for those pursuing excellence. Stressing the need to increase research funding in the country, he said: "I left the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and came to India because I knew there is potential here. There must be more encouragement and funding. More Indians getting these kinds of awards will make our future generations confident of carrying out research here." The administration and financial operation of TWAS is undertaken by Unesco.
Every year, TWAS awards eight prizes of $15,000 each in the fields of agricultural sciences, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering sciences, mathematics, medical sciences and physics. Candidates for a TWAS Prize must be scientists who have been working and living in a developing country for at least 10 years immediately prior to their nomination. The other Indians who got the award this year are Jagdish Ladha from the International Rice Research Institute-?International Rice Research Institute, New Delhi, in the agricultural sciences category and Sandip Trivedi of the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Mumbai, in the physics category.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IISc-scientist-wins-Third-World-Academy-award/articleshow/50100563.cms

Home among the heirlooms

 Text by Alaric Francis Santiaguel | Photos by Jec Narciso   |  Dec 9, 2015
| 
Neneng Wadingan once left her home town to seek greener pastures abroad, a dream shared by many Filipinos. But she found her true calling and economic success when she returned to tend her ancestors’ land and heirloom rice.
Neneng Wadingan (in green) reaps the rewards of her hard work and perseverance.Finding work outside their country has become the economic Holy Grail for multitudes of Filipinos. It is a dream they dream despite the stiff price that comes with it: particularly the painful distance that wedges itself between them and their family. Accounts of how, for some, the ticket out of poverty turned out to be a one-way ticket to tragedy are often ignored. Even the sensational crash-and-burn stories that set off media firestorms and national uproars eventually fade and fail to dissuade many Filipinos from pursuing that hope of improving the lives of their loved ones.Saturnina “Neneng” Wadingan from Bauko, Mountain Province in the Philippine Cordillera Region, held the Holy Grail in her hand not once but twice.

By local standards, Neneng has got it made. She was living the dream of the masses. But she had to let it go when her parents, who were becoming too old to tend their family rice farm, asked her to come home and take over.Neneng, as most Filipinos are wont to do, returned to her hometown out of respect for her elders.I met Neneng when I joined a team from the Heirloom Rice Project, a collaborative activity of the Department of Agriculture and the International Rice Research Institute, to interview some heirloom rice farmers in the region. The team was interviewing rice farmers in the region, documenting their experiences and seeking their opinion on how the project can further help them.Like millions of Filipinos, Neneng wanted to seek greener pastures abroad.
Reluctant farmer

“We’ve had this farm for 200 years since the time of our ancestors,” Neneng said. “My grandmother inherited it from her mother and my mother inherited it from my grandfather.”
Yet she started out as a reluctant farmer. Because all her siblings have relocated elsewhere, the responsibility of running their family farm fell on her shoulders. At the time, Neneng was based in Baguio, a thriving metropolis in the neighboring province of Benguet, where she sold vegetables and real estate.

“I didn’t do any full-time farming before,” she recalled when she returned to Bauko to help her parents with the farm. “At first I wanted to cry. I asked myself ‘what is this work’? I couldn’t accept it. But I helped in planting our field with rice.”In 2008, after planting a crop of rice, Neneng left her hometown to work in Macau on the southern coast of the People’s Republic of China. But she couldn’t take her mind off their farm. “I returned after a month and half because my father said the rice crop I planted was growing very well. Just looking at the rice plants filled me with joy.”After harvesting that crop, she planted rice again—and then she left to work, this time in Shanghai. Six months later she returned when her father died.

“Before my father died, my parents would ask me about what would happen to our farm if no one took care of it,” she said. “They were hoping I would stay since I was the only one in the family who seemed interested.”The following year, her mother passed away. Neneng knew she had to continue their legacy. Like her parents before her, She became her generation’s family farmer, taking care of the land that she and her siblings inherited.

Land, seed, and wisdom

Land was not the only thing her parents left her. “They always stored the seeds of several rice varieties they have been planting all these years. They carefully kept them inside plastic drums and labeled them properly.”These include rice varieties with exotic names such as Balatinaw, Gilgilan, Lad-ukan, Intan-dolimas, Oskil, Apolog, Gudalakan, Balahangoy, Buyaw, and Pat-ungay. The lineages of these varieties are so old they have been lost even to Neneng. All she knows is they were the rice her ancestors planted on their farm. “All municipalities and provinces have their own varieties,” Neneng said. “The seeds come with the land.”

In her element

The Neneng I met was not the same disheartened farmer on the verge of tears. This version of Neneng was confident and totally in her element working in their farm. She took us to their rice field that, together with the farm lands of others, formed the famed rice terraces. Her expertise was very apparent. She was an authority on the profuse assortment of traditional rice varieties and the right time for sowing a particular variety. She was an expert at selecting the seeds for the succeeding planting season, the right time for harvesting, and the proper drying of the grains. She holds a body of knowledge that, like her land and seeds, is a form of birthright.From a hesitant farmer, Neneng has become confident community leader and totally in her element working in their farm.

From a hesitant farmer, Neneng has become confident community leader and totally in her element working in their farm.“I finally focused on farming in 2009 after I met Vicky Garcia,” she said. Ms. Garcia established Philippines nonprofit RICE, Inc. to preserve heirloom rice grown in the Cordillera region as well as the culture of the rice-based community. Ms. Garcia helped create an export market for the heirloom rice through Mary Hensley, founder of Eighth Wonder Inc., which sells the rice in the U.S. “Vicky told us that we were planting heirloom rice. We didn’t know that. To us they are rice that we plant and eat. I was inspired by what Vicky said about our rice being more nutritious and aromatic.”

Tradition and innovation

Neneng stayed faithful to the traditional organic farming methods of her parents such as using the sunflower plants that grow ubiquitously in the area as fertilizers. “My parents never used chemical fertilizers. They used natural farming,” she said. Before the planting season, they would place the cut stems and leaves of the sunflowers as well as weeds into their flooded field until they disintegrate and become part of the cycle of life.

However, she is not afraid to try new things. “I like to test things see what works and what not to do.” Neneng recalls how farmers were once encouraged to plant modern high-yielding varieties instead of their heirloom rice. “They said our rice produced only a few tillers. So I did some experimenting on my own. If an heirloom rice variety produced only 2 tillers I would plant 2 seedlings so together they would produce more tillers. I also found that applying compost at the right time will make a single heirloom rice plant produce up to 4 tillers.”

Even golden apple snails do not faze Neneng. The invasive species was introduced into the Philippines in the 1980s. The plan was to raise the snails for export to the European market. When that didn’t pan out, the goldmine turned into biological debacle. The snails—which escaped or were discarded—reached the perfect environment for breeding and feeding: rice fields. With their rapid reproduction, they can reach population levels that can decimate entire rice crops. Today, golden snails have become a dreaded, serious pest in many rice areas in Asia. Neneng turned the golden snails into nutritious lemonade—for her crop, that is.

“When we see a lot of golden snails, we put a net trap in the middle of the field and use sweet potato leaves as bait,” she said. “When all the snails have flocked to eat the bait, we just pull up the net and harvest them. Then we ferment and spray them on our rice plants 3 months after transplanting.” The snail’s high protein content makes them cheap but effective nourishment for the rice seedlings.While it may make other rice farmers wince, Neneng would actually put golden snails in her field! “Snails can be useful, too,” she said. “When there are no more golden snails in the field we put a some of them back when our transplanted rice is too big for the snails to eat. The snails help us clear the field of weeds.”

Born to lead

Although she started out as hesitant farmer, Neneng eventually assumed a leadership role in her community.The export market demand for the purple-colored Balatinaw, the heirloom rice that she and other farmers sell to Eight Wonder, brought significant economic benefits. Every year she is able to supply around 100 kilos of processed Balatinaw for export valued at about USD 170.00, which is twice the price of “non-fancy” varieties. The rest she sells in Baguio. “I can save money for my family’s needs, especially for my children’s education. My son was able to finish school because of heirloom rice.”
Neneng now sees heirloom rice farming as her ticket to a better future.“I noticed the lives of rice farmers started to improve as more people started buying heirloom rice,” she said. “I realized that our heirloom rice was important to our community. We need to keep planting them because some varieties are starting to disappear. We need to share them with other farmers and consumers who want to buy them.”Thanks to heirloom rice Neneng is able to save money her family’s needs and her children’s education.

Neneng not only shared some of her inherited seeds, she shared her know-how and even organized the farmers who were willing to plant heirloom rice. The informal group became Blooming Hills Rice Terraces Farmers’ Cooperative which is officially recognized by the Philippine government. It currently has 56 farmer members. “I wish more farmers will join us. That would make me very happy.”

While farmers like her are reaping the rewards of the growing popularity of their heirloom rice, Neneng knows there is much room for improvement.“We need financial help from the government,” she said. “Yes, we have rice and land but we don’t have enough money for farming. We need money to purchase water buffalos for plowing, not tractors because they are not suited for our terraced farms.”In recent years, they have started to experience water shortage. Neneng recommends an irrigation system so that all farmers can have access to this important resource.
“Our association could also use a portable thresher with blower that we can bring closer to our rice fields so our farmers can minimize their postharvest losses. Collapsible drying canvass will be very helpful so that we can protect our harvested grains if it suddenly rains.”

Home at last

At one point, Neneng found herself thousands of kilometers from her hometown pursuing a dream out of necessity. Upon her return, she realized that her heart and her soul have never really strayed far from the rice fields of her ancestors. Neneng, the heirloom rice farmer, is now where she wants to be. She is where she is needed. She is finally home.
http://ricetoday.irri.org/home-among-the-heirlooms/

Historian’s cut: IRRI’s introverted “mad” scientist (full interview)


Interviewer’s note: In observing IRRI Director General Robert S. Zeigler’s last week at the Institute (6-12 December 2015) before retirement, Rice Today publishes the full 4-hour interview that he granted on 28 August 2015. Excerpts from this interview were previously published in the October-December 2015 issue of Rice Today.

Bob Zeigler, an internationally respected plant pathologist with more than 30 years of experience in agricultural research in the developing world, has been the director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for the last 10+ years—the second longest tenure for an IRRI DG, after only the Institute’s founding DG, Robert F. Chandler, Jr. (1960-72). As DG, Bob set the Institute’s strategic direction and has also been a passionate spokesperson on a wide range of issues that affect rice growers and consumers worldwide. He retires in mid-December 2015.

Proclaiming himself an introvert, he gave this IRRI pioneer interview with his customary wit and candor. In addition to his early years, he covers his professional life, which has spanned time spent in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the United States.Bob has had a productive research career on diseases of rice that focused on host-plant resistance, pathogen and vector population genetics, and their interactions to develop durable resistance and sustainable disease management practices. As Bob’s career moved increasingly towards research management, his interests expanded to include broader crop management issues, the social forces shaping the agricultural environment, and finally the economic and political arena that frames food security and poverty issues. He has published more than 100 scientific works in these areas and often serves as an expert resource on rice security in the regional and global media.

Agricultural beginnings on Pennsylvania dairy farms

When I was a kid growing up, both my parents came from farming families—they were dairy farmers. My father’s farm was in southeastern Pennsylvania; my mother’s in southwestern Pennsylvania. I was probably mostly influenced by my mother’s side of the family. They were pretty much very small dairy farmers, scraping to get by. I didn’t realize it at that time that they were very poor; I thought that’s what everybody was. The men worked in the bituminous coal mines of Cambria County. They got up at 4 o’clock in the morning, milked the cows, did a full shift in the coal mines, came back to milk the cows, raised their families. That was the way things were and I thought that was normal.

I just had the greatest admiration for those people. On weekends and during the summertime, I worked with them on the farms. I remember my jacket—I would have a lightweight jacket in the spring and in the fall and it took on the smell of the dairy barn. Then, I would wear that to school the following week with great pride that I smelled like a barn. I never understood why the girls would say, “Ewww, you smell like a barn!” I would say, “Yeah, that’s great; I smell like a barn, ain’t that the greatest perfume.” That probably explains a lot about my great history of dating as time went by.And so, those were my formative years, which instilled in me a very deep admiration for farming and the pride people take in their farms. That somehow rubbed off on me and that’s something I’ve never lost.

A fourth grader’s wish: to be a mad scientist

Science always grabbed my attention as a kid. I was probably just wired that way. I loved plants. My earliest memories are of me working with my mother. She always had a vegetable garden and I just loved it when the plants came up, especially the first flowers in the spring. It just gave me a sense of indescribable joy and a love of nature, life, plants, and gardens that I have to this day.

That led to a curiosity that transferred into science. I liked the 1950s’ science fiction movies, The Killer Shrews and The Bride of Frankenstein. Then, there were all the comic book superheroes such as the Flash, Atom, Green Lantern,Superman, and Batman. They had in them the good and the evil of science all wrapped throughout. I took the good and thought it was exciting. This was pretty instrumental in shaping how I view the world, I think, in retrospect. The mad scientist role was a career model! I could be a mad scientist.I hadchemistry sets back in the 1950s and ’60s. You could buy unbelievable sets that were toxic and explosive. My favorite pastime was to see if I could blow things up—a natural child’s pastime. I had very early on had an orientation towards science, plants, and discovery. The mad scientist role, I think, was that one could do things with science that were not normal.

Biology was mind-blowing

We had moved from State College, Pennsylvania, the home of Penn State University where my father was employed, to Urbana, where my father took a new job at the University of Illinois. My mother was a very devout Roman Catholic. She agreed to move from Pennsylvania to Illinois only if I could go to a Catholic school. So, I did; it was great. Before that, I was a terrible student—and I mean terrible! I was probably in the lowest quarter of students in terms of performance—barely passing. When we moved to Illinois, I had a fresh start. And in this Catholic school [St. Mary’s in Champaign, Illinois], I went into the 8th grade where there was only one classroom for 25 of us. It was a pretty ordinary level of education and I did extremely well. I got my feet on the ground. I did extremely well at the Catholic school. I made friends that I have to this day. I was the worst student in terms of religion. We antagonized the mother superior in that class to the extent that, a few years later, she quit being a nun. I’d like to think that, to some extent, we had some responsibility for that.

When I rejoined the regular public school system in 9th grade [Urbana High School], I was put in the dumb track—a track for the kids who were not very well prepared. That meant, in 9th grade, instead of taking biology, I had to take general science. All the smart kids took biology in 9th grade and in 10th grade they went on to other things. But, the dumb kids took general science in 9th grade and biology in 10th grade, which turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. The general science curriculum in 9th grade, even though it was for dumb kids, was actually very broad and quite rigorous—and I loved it.

I got the broad general science, physics, and chemistry; I did not touch biology. And I excelled. I was by far away the brightest kid in the class since most of the others were juvenile delinquents. Then, in 10th grade, I took biology and again the biology that was offered in the 10th grade, even though it was for the dumb kids—to use that politically incorrect term—the curriculum was actually much more rigorous. I was exposed to biology in a way that was just mind-blowing and I loved it. By being tracked with the dummies, I ended up actually being exposed to a much more rigorous curriculum, and I thought this is fantastic.

I really got turned on by science. Photo by Gene Hettel, IRRI (16).I really got turned on by science in a way that was academic as opposed to the mad-scientist comic book/science fiction movies. I thought, “Hey this stuff is really deeply neat.” It just helped change the way I saw things in the world.I could have gone with the hoodlums or with the kids who were really smart. It was going to be one extreme or the other. Eventually, I fell in with the really smart kids because they were sort of social outcasts and so was I.

When I was in high school with these really smart kids, we were part of a boy scout explorer course. One of our great activities was to go backpacking. We would take summer trips out to the Rocky Mountains and to glacier parks and spend two weeks hiking through these mountains, and that, to me, was mind-blowing and eye opening. Oddly enough, once I got turned on by biology and general science, my whole attitude towards learning changed, and I thought all this stuff were pretty cool. Somehow, I made the switch and got my brain so I could function within a normal school environment.
http://ricetoday.irri.org/zeigler-full-interview/

PH conditions dampen global rice output CROPS DAMAGED BY ‘LANDO,’ EL NIÑO

By: Ronnel W. Domingo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

03:43 AM December 10th, 2015


The decline in Philippine rice output due to Typhoon Lando (international name: Koppu) continues to weigh down on the global production outlook, with the volume for 2015 remaining one percent lower at 491 million tons.According to the latest monthly Market Monitor report of the Agricultural Market Information System (Amis) administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the situation in the Philippines was a major driver of decline along with those in India and Thailand.The outlook also remained in the shadow of the strong El Niño, which is expected to peak at the end of December.“Rice conditions remain mixed in part due to the El Niño event affecting large parts of Asia,” the Amis said.

“In the Philippines, conditions are poor in large parts of the northern and central regions due to widespread damage caused by Typhoon (Lando),” the organization said. “In the rest of the country, conditions are generally favorable, however there is some concern in the south over dryness.”Amis said conditions are drier than average in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.Last Tuesday, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Abom) said the El Niño phenomenon was nearing its peak. However, it could fall short of being the worst on record as temperatures were already going down.“While sea surface temperatures remain close to record-high values, some El Niño indicators are now showing signs of easing,” the Abom said in its latest fortnightly update.

“However, the current El Niño is likely to persist well into 2016,” the agency added. “El Niño indicators, notably sea surface and sub-surface temperatures, westerly wind anomalies in the central Pacific, and cloudiness near the (international) date line, remain well above El Niño thresholds.”The bureau said while the current El Niño is likely among the three strongest occurrences of the phenomenon in the past 50 years, it has yet to surpass temperatures recorded in 1997-1998 and in 1982-1983.These include readings below the Pacific Ocean’s surface, which showed more than 12 degrees Celsius above average in 1982-1983 but has so far peaked at around 8 degrees Celsius above average this year.

It’s the wow season at W Bangkok

 

 Wednesday, December 09, 2015
There's always a WOW reason to keep coming back to W Bangkok. (Contributed photo)

HEADING to Bangkok? Now’s a good time as December is Bangkok’s high season in many ways. The great weather and festive atmosphere make for events and parties galore. Here are three wow reasons why you should find your way at W Bangkok.First, after a long flight it’s always good to relax and recharge before hitting the exhilarating Bangkok cultural, shopping, dining and party scenes. That’s a lot on the list and you need to be fully charged, invigorated and ready for action to get through the entire list. It’s always a good idea to look and feel your best.W Bangkok’s AWAY Spa is where you will experience a unique W styled metamorphosis, a place that promises a spa experience like no other, a place to get away from it all and get ready to be highly charged for the exploration of the Big Mango.

At AWAY Spa, one walks through four chic zones to achieve full metamorphosis: the Welcome and Decompression Zone (the reception and consultation lounge); the Delight Zone (where treatment rooms have unique glowing beds which the color can be changed into 4 colors to suit the moods: Green – calm and peacefull; Red – increasing body energy; Purple – happiness and Pink – romantic and sensuality); the Detox Zone (the wet facilities); and the Refuel Zone (an outdoor chill-out area for after treatment mind reactivation).With the spa’s current Escape & Recharge promotions running throughout December, it’s the perfect time to go.The treatments have been designed to provide thorough revitalization and beautification.

The “Golden Retreat” (THB 3,999++ / 120 minutes) was brought back by popular demand. It promises to let you shine like never before with 24K gold treatments that will leave your skin glowing.Two hours of bliss comprising 30-minute Gold Body Scrub, 60-minute Golden Body Oil application and 30-minute Mini Facial with 24K Gold Facial Mask.“Take It Easy” (THB 2,999++/ 90 minutes) is designed to detoxify your body from the weighed exhaustion from work with 90 minutes of pure relaxation. Choose from Abhyanga Massage, an Ayurvedic therapy for healing and detoxifying where warm aromatic oils are applied along the body’s energy channels to restore flow of vital energy, or the Foot Reflexology Massage, a technique that involves targeted application of pressure to the feet as well as hands to effect physical change in other areas of the body.

Having traveled for almost half a day (including prep and waiting time) from Davao to Bangkok, I opted for “The Jetsetter” (THB 2,599++/ 75 minutes) in the Green room. It’s AWAY’s perfect solution to get rid of the exhaustion (or the jet lag for those who took a longer journey). The 75-minute massage is designed to stimulate and tone the body triggered by soothing long strokes.
Emerge transformed, like I did.Second, head to the Kitchen Table and revolutionize your dining experience. W Bangkok’s dining space upturns culinary traditions and infused it with visionary tastes, presented by dynamic chefs who are redefining gastronomy.

The Kitchen Table is W Bangkok’s all-day dining restaurant, a favorite haunt among jet-setters with adventurous palate who adore quality.Bangkok’s finest creations are served here including fresh seafood, succulent steaks and signature dish from international kitchen.I was in luck, they have a new menu and I got to try some of the dishes prepared by Chef de Cuisine Manoj Kottarathil. Of course, it had to be according to my dietary preference- no pork or beef, and to my surprise he filled the table with the house specialties (marked with the vivid fuchsia W on the menu) of seafood and poultry. Who am I to complain?

From the starters to dessert, it was wow all the way.Three appetizers were set to the table right away and Chef Manoj took time to present the dishes to us (I had to bring two food lovers with me or my food tasting would end after one dish).The Lab Pla Salmon and Tuna (THB 420++), Fresh Salmon and Tuna, Salmon Roe, Chili, Lime and Aromatic Herbs, was the take on the ceviche. “The tray of condiments is for you to flavor your dish according to your taste,” said the chef.The fresh tasting Tomato Peas and Quinoa Salad (THB 360++), served with Halloumi Cheese and Mint and Lemon Dressing, made a perfect accompaniment to the Miang Goong Yum Ka Ton (THB 520++), a dish of grilled Tiger prawns with a surprising twist—a delightful, sweet and sour dressing using Santol as the main ingredient.

It was mixed with cashew nuts, betel leaf and sweet chili palm.For the main course, the chef brought out three of the most tasting dishes from the kitchen starting with the Gaeng BeuaPuu Cha Plu (THB 740++), a hot and spicy Southern Style yellow curry with coconut milk, crab meat and Betel leaf served with Jasmine rice, which reminded of Isan cuisine I first had in Phuket. It is rich in flavor, spicy and delicious.The Indian dish of Butter Chicken (THB 580++), Tandoori Chicken Curry served with Naan Bread, Basmati Rice, Cucumber Raita, Pickle and Pappadam, showcased the chef’s native cuisine. The chicken must have been stewed long enough for the flavors to penetrate deep into the white meat making every of the chicken delectable.An Italian dish completed the trio of dishes, the Arborio Risotto with Lobster Medallion ad Foie Gras (THB 780++) with fennel and green pea. Who wouldn’t fall in love with a rich, buttery rice dish with two of the best toppings to go with it—lobster and foiegras?

I made sure I had enough space for the most important part of the meal. To conclude the feast, Chef Manoj brought in two of the bestsellers created by the pastry chef- the Crystal Ball (THB 330++), Valrhona 36% Chocolate Caramel flavored mousse on Choco Rice Crisps. With a preference to “not to sweet” desserts, this one made it to the list. The ingenuous presentation made it even more fun to eat.The surprise of the evening would be the Compressed Watermelon (THB 290 ++) served with Parmesan Ice Cream and Italian Basil and green Apple Sorbet.

The watermelon was a refreshing way to end a meal, sort of a tongue cleanser like the sorbet on the dish. The scoops’ flavors provided an exciting interplay of flavors to the taste buds—the sorbet’s mixed flavors of fresh, tangy and minty and the intense cheesy flavor and gritty textured ice cream. I will have a go at these scoops on mt next visit to Bangkok.Third, have a drink at the fully restored The House on Sathorn, the former residence of the royalty the avenue was named after.With the original fixtures still intact, the 19th century mansion is now home to multi-themed rooms comprised of a restaurant, cocktail bar, private rooms and a large courtyard for al fresco sips and bites.It’s chic and I want to go back to explore and experience its offering soon.
***
www.sunstar.com

Scientist does IISc proud, bags international award


 •          NYOOOZ
 •          Bengaluru
 •          Wed,09 Dec 2015
Summary: The other Indians who got the award this year are Jagdish Ladha from the International Rice Research Institute-International Rice Research Institute, New Delhi, in agricultural sciences category and Sandip Trivedi of the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Mumbai, in the Physics category . Every year, TWAS gives eight prizes of $15,000 each in the fields of agricultural sciences, biology, chemistry , earth sciences, engineering sciences, mathematics, medical sciences and physics. BENGALURU: Professor U Ramamurty of the Indian Institute of Science has bagged the 2015 Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) prize, which carries a cash prize of $15,000, in the engineering category .
" Ramamurty said there are plenty of opportunities for science in India and there needs to be more encouragement for those pursuing excellence. Prof CNR Rao, former president of TWAS, told TOI: "This is a prestigious award because you are competing with some of the best scientists from China, Korea, Brazil and other countries.BENGALURU: Professor U Ramamurty of the Indian Institute of Science has bagged the 2015 Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) prize, which carries a cash prize of $15,000, in the engineering category .
Prof CNR Rao, former president of TWAS, told TOI: "This is a prestigious award because you are competing with some of the best scientists from China, Korea, Brazil and other countries. I hope this will encourage more people in the country to do research." Ramamurty said there are plenty of opportunities for science in India and there needs to be more encouragement for those pursuing excellence. Stressing on the need to increase research funding in the country , he said: "I left the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and came to India because I knew there is potential here.
There must be more encouragement and funding. More Indians getting such awards will make our future generation confident of doing research from here." The administration and financial operation of TWAS is undertaken by Unesco. Every year, TWAS gives eight prizes of $15,000 each in the fields of agricultural sciences, biology, chemistry , earth sciences, engineering sciences, mathematics, medical sciences and physics. The other Indians who got the award this year are Jagdish Ladha from the International Rice Research Institute-International Rice Research Institute, New Delhi, in agricultural sciences category and Sandip Trivedi of the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Mumbai, in the Physics category ..

 

Scamming Indian Agriculture Through Cronyism, Corruption


The CAG report reveals how tens of thousands of crores of rupees continue to be looted in the name of the poor
09December, 2015by Sutanu Guru
CAG reports sometimes lead to the unearthing of explosive scandals. The CAG reports on the allocation of spectrum to "telecom" companies and allocation of coal blocks to "infrastructure" companies resulted in the unraveling of the notorious 2G and coal block scams. Another CAG report on the Delhi airport privatization was no less damning and damaging. But the beneficiary of this alleged "scam", the GMR group seems to have escaped sustained scrutiny. And then, the CAG report on the Krishna Godavari gas basins involving Reliance Industries Ltd continues to raise questions. But not all CAG reports, no matter how damning, lead to sustained media scrutiny and hysterical debates on prime time TV.
One such report that looks destined to be buried is a CAG report on how an at least Rs 40,000 crore scam in the procurement and milling of paddy for the public distribution system that seems to be going on since the last five years. Congress leaders were busy screaming "vendetta politics" when this report was tabled in the Parliament on December 8, 2015. So it has gone largely unnoticed. This author could not see any detailed news report or any debate over the scam in any channel yesterday. Fortunately, most newspapers have carried prominent stories today about the report. But make no mistake, the disruption of Parliament, the fate of the benighted GST Bill, the public swagger of the Gandhis and Indo-Pak cricket will so dominate headlines that nothing further would be heard about this particular CAG report.
Yet, this report provides a crystal clear example of how cronyism, ad hocism and corruption continue to flourish in the socialist paradise that is India. It also reveals how tens of thousands of crores continue to be looted in the name of the poor. Here are some facts. Between 2009-10 and 2013-14, Rs 17,985.49 crores was paid in the form of minimum support prices to farmers who were in all probability fictitious. According to the CAG report, these payments were made to farmers without proof of land holdings, without proof of bank accounts and without procurement certificates. In simple language, these were "ghost" farmers and Rs 18,000 crores was looted in their name in this time period. That's not all. The CAG report says it computes the figure of Rs 18,000 crores after looking into the procurement process in the states of Andhra Pradesh (now Andhra and Telangana), Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. How much bigger would be the extent of this "ghost" payment scam if the CAG conducts a rigorous scrutiny of procurement practices in all states?
The CAG report also highlights how rice millers were delivered a bonanza by the procurement process. It examined the operations of a cross section of the millers in the four states of Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Telengana and Uttar Pradesh. What did it discover? Millers in these four states benefited from "excess net realization" of Rs 3,743 crores. The sample scrutinized by the CAG represents merely 15% of the total in the country. If we assume that other millers too benefited from the same levels of "excess net realization", the money siphoned away by rice mills amounts to more than Rs 40,000 crores.
Even more interesting, the CAG report talks about exorbitant transport charges and details how the number plates of trucks that allegedly transported the paddy belonged to scooters and motorcycles. What's more, another "sample survey" conducted by the CAG in selected districts of Bihar, Odisha, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana revealed that rice valued at Rs 7570.78 crores was never delivered back by rice mills to the Food Corporation of India and other state agencies responsible for public distribution of subsidized rice. No action was taken against them. Once again, if a nationwide wide survey is conducted, the amount of the loot would be significantly higher.
Tens of thousands of farmers have been committing suicide every year in the meanwhile. In 2015, there has been a significant spike in suicides of sugarcane farmers, particularly in Karnataka which lags far behind Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra in sugarcane production. And yet, according to available data, sugar mills have not paid dues worth Rs 22,000 crores to sugarcane farmers as of 2015. Meanwhile, the government t is luring thousands of crores into the coffers of sugar mills to help them clear their dues to farmers. This author wonders what a future CAG audit of this would reveal.The CAG report reveals how tens of thousands of crores of rupees continue to be looted in the name of the poor
09December, 2015by Sutanu Guru
CAG reports sometimes lead to the unearthing of explosive scandals. The CAG reports on the allocation of spectrum to "telecom" companies and allocation of coal blocks to "infrastructure" companies resulted in the unraveling of the notorious 2G and coal block scams. Another CAG report on the Delhi airport privatization was no less damning and damaging. But the beneficiary of this alleged "scam", the GMR group seems to have escaped sustained scrutiny. And then, the CAG report on the Krishna Godavari gas basins involving Reliance Industries Ltd continues to raise questions. But not all CAG reports, no matter how damning, lead to sustained media scrutiny and hysterical debates on prime time TV.
One such report that looks destined to be buried is a CAG report on how an at least Rs 40,000 crore scam in the procurement and milling of paddy for the public distribution system that seems to be going on since the last five years. Congress leaders were busy screaming "vendetta politics" when this report was tabled in the Parliament on December 8, 2015. So it has gone largely unnoticed. This author could not see any detailed news report or any debate over the scam in any channel yesterday. Fortunately, most newspapers have carried prominent stories today about the report. But make no mistake, the disruption of Parliament, the fate of the benighted GST Bill, the public swagger of the Gandhis and Indo-Pak cricket will so dominate headlines that nothing further would be heard about this particular CAG report.
Yet, this report provides a crystal clear example of how cronyism, ad hocism and corruption continue to flourish in the socialist paradise that is India. It also reveals how tens of thousands of crores continue to be looted in the name of the poor. Here are some facts. Between 2009-10 and 2013-14, Rs 17,985.49 crores was paid in the form of minimum support prices to farmers who were in all probability fictitious. According to the CAG report, these payments were made to farmers without proof of land holdings, without proof of bank accounts and without procurement certificates. In simple language, these were "ghost" farmers and Rs 18,000 crores was looted in their name in this time period. That's not all. The CAG report says it computes the figure of Rs 18,000 crores after looking into the procurement process in the states of Andhra Pradesh (now Andhra and Telangana), Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. How much bigger would be the extent of this "ghost" payment scam if the CAG conducts a rigorous scrutiny of procurement practices in all states?
The CAG report also highlights how rice millers were delivered a bonanza by the procurement process. It examined the operations of a cross section of the millers in the four states of Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Telengana and Uttar Pradesh. What did it discover? Millers in these four states benefited from "excess net realization" of Rs 3,743 crores. The sample scrutinized by the CAG represents merely 15% of the total in the country. If we assume that other millers too benefited from the same levels of "excess net realization", the money siphoned away by rice mills amounts to more than Rs 40,000 crores.
 Even more interesting, the CAG report talks about exorbitant transport charges and details how the number plates of trucks that allegedly transported the paddy belonged to scooters and motorcycles. What's more, another "sample survey" conducted by the CAG in selected districts of Bihar, Odisha, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana revealed that rice valued at Rs 7570.78 crores was never delivered back by rice mills to the Food Corporation of India and other state agencies responsible for public distribution of subsidized rice. No action was taken against them. Once again, if a nationwide wide survey is conducted, the amount of the loot would be significantly higher.
Tens of thousands of farmers have been committing suicide every year in the meanwhile. In 2015, there has been a significant spike in suicides of sugarcane farmers, particularly in Karnataka which lags far behind Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra in sugarcane production. And yet, according to available data, sugar mills have not paid dues worth Rs 22,000 crores to sugarcane farmers as of 2015. Meanwhile, the government t is luring thousands of crores into the coffers of sugar mills to help them clear their dues to farmers. This author wonders what a future CAG audit of this would reveal.
Hybrid rice plantings could expand significantly in coming years
  Farmers in the United States and China now plant about 50 percent of their acres to hybrid rice, according to Michael Gumina, global CEO for RiceTec Ag, a seed company that focuses primarily on the relatively new type of rice.If the world population continues to grow at the present rate and the world economy doesn’t falter too badly, growers in both the U.S. and China could be planting 75 to 80 percent of their rice in hybrids in the next 20 years, he says.

That’s on top of gains in hybrid rice in other regions of the world where increasing food production will be a major goal over the next two decades, says Gumina, who was a presenter during one of the latest in the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture System’s Food and Agribusiness Webinar series.“When we look out in our crystal ball here over the next 20 years, this is what we are projecting for the market,” he says. “For the Mercosur (South America), we are at 4 percent today. We think that will jump up to 34 percent by 2035. India is at 7 percent today for hybrid rice, and we think that will move up to 28 percent. The rest of Southeast Asia will be at 35 percent in 20 years.”
Gumina, who has been involved in the seed industry for 35 years, says those forecasts will depend on whether his company has success in promoting hybrids in the marketplace. “If we do, if we can show the same kind of hybrid vigor kick, I think the world will certainly grow its percentage of hybrid rice.”

Farmers worried about low paddy purchase target

  
Kendrapada: The fate of large numbers of farmers in Kendrapada district is at stake at the start of the harvesting season as the authorities have decided to procure only three lakh quintals of paddy.Farmers are all set to harvest eight lakh quintals of paddy this year, said president of the District Krushak Sabha Umesh Chandra Singh.Farmers of Rajnagar, Rajkanika and Aul have already started harvesting paddy whereas farmers of Pattamundai, Derabishi, Garadapur, Marsaghai and Mahakalapada will harvest the crops within two weeks, said farmer leader Babaji Parida.Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd (OSCSC) has decided to procure only three lakh quintals of paddy in the first phase. "Later, we will take a decision on procuring more paddy from the farmers. We have entrusted 109 primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACSs) with procuring paddy from the farmers from January 1, 2016," said civil supplies officer Ramanath Sahoo.

After purchasing paddy from the farmers , the PACSs will hand over the paddy to 19 rice mills in the district. "The millers will provide rice to us. Four years back, we blacklisted two rice mills for not abiding by the rules," said Sahoo.ast year, 19 millers purchased 3.66 lakh quintals of paddy and provided OSCSC 2.42 lakh quintals of rice, added Sahoo.The authorities have fixed price of a quintal of fair average quality of paddy at 1,410, added the officer.After paddy procurement, large number of farmers are compelled to sell their stocked paddy to meet the daily expenses at throwaway prices, said the farmer leader.
During this time, mill owners hand in glove with the government officials and agents purchase paddy from the hapless farmers at a lower price. But the authorities do not take any steps to check the distress sale," alleged Bhagabat Rout, a farmer of Rajkanika."Some mill owners and businessmen have started purchasing paddy at Rs 1,000 per quintal from the farmers as the latter have already harvested crops. The farmers are incurring losses as the price is Rs 410 below the maximum retail price fixed by the government," said Singh.
And now, CAG finds Rs40,564-cr lapses in PDS paddy procurement news 
09 December 2015                
Irregularities in procurement and milling of paddy meant for distribution of rice to the poor through public distribution system (PDS) at subsidised rates have caused losses to the tune of Rs40,564 crore to the exchequer, says a report by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
The CAG report tabled in parliament on Tuesday points to undue benefits to the rice millers and discrepancies in payment of nearly Rs18,000 crore as support price to paddy farmers without authentication.CAG said Rs3,743 crore worth of benefit was passed on to millers by not including the value of by-products in the price they have to pay for milling paddy.

The government, however, refutes this saying the rate paid includes value of by-products like rice husks and rice bran.CAG listed as many as nine major cases of irregularities, all of which put together add up to Rs40,564.14 crore. There were also a number of smaller cases amounting to the irregularities of over Rs10,000 crore - taking the total amount to well above Rs50,000 crore."These deficiencies also contributed to avoidable increase in food subsidy expenditure of the government of India," CAG said about its audit conducted for the period between April 2009 and March 2014.The CAG also flagged concerns over the quality of paddy procured, saying, it was not clear as to how Chhatishgarh government ensured the minimum quality standards for paddy worth Rs21,115.13 crore procured without necessary checks.
CAG scrutinised records of the central government agency, the Food Corporation of India (FCI), as also that of state governments and their agencies in Chhattisgarh, UP, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana.The CAG has suggested revisiting the existing procurement and milling plans and suggested the government should transfer minimum support price to accounts of farmers directly.The government, meanwhile, said it has set up a traffic commission to study the milling cost and value of by-products and suggest a new rate by December, based on which the government will decide on revising the milling charges that have not been revised since 2005."Delay in revising the milling charges and poor control over custody of paddy/rice resulted in not only undue gains to the rice millers but also widespread and large scale non-delivery of paddy and rice by them," CAG said in the report titled 'Procurement and Milling of Paddy for the Central Pool'.
http://www.domain-b.com/economy/Govt/20151209_auditor.html#sthash.4G9HrBRY.dpuf

Brown Basmati and Chana Dal Khichri

9 December 2015
Brown Basmati and Chana Dal Khichri
Inspired by the regal Bengali Cholar Dal, this wholesome khichri is made with the added goodness of brown basmati. The nutty warmth of the rice and lentils are perfectly matched with the delicate sweetness of the coconut, ghee and caramelised sugar in this dish.
Preparation time: 10 minutes (plus 30 minutes soaking time for dry rice and lentils)
Cook time: 35 minutes for dry rice (or approx. 30 minutes for steamed rice)
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients:
  • 250 gm Tilda® Brown Basmati Rice
or
  • 3 packs of Tilda® Steamed Brown
  • Basmati Rice
  • 80 gm chana lentils (also known as yellow Bengal gram)
  • 1 large bay leaf
  • 4 green cardamom pods
  • 1 inch cinnamon stick
  • Half tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp grated/finely chopped ginger
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • Half tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp ghee
  • Handful of coconut chips to garnish
Method:
  1. If using dry rice, wash both the rice and the lentils thoroughly in a sieve until the water runs clear. Place both in a bowl, cover with fresh cold water and leave to soak for at least half an hour
  2. Put a large pot on medium heat, add the ghee and when hot, add in the bay leaf, cardamom pods, cinnamon and sugar. As the sugar caramelises, stir in the ginger
  3. Drain the rice and lentils and mix in with the ingredients in the large pot. Stir well, adding the turmeric, salt and four cups of cold water. Stir again to mix properly
  4. Bring the pot to the boil and then lower to a medium-low heat, letting the rice and lentils bubble away until cooked. This will take a good 30- 35 minutes, but if the rice begins to dry out you can stir in another cup of water
  5. To finish, mix in the garam masala and season with salt to taste
  6. Toast some coconut chips in ghee and sprinkle over the top to garnish
  7. If using a pouch of Tilda® Steamed Brown Basmati Rice, soak and cook the lentils as above with three cups of water. Cook the lentils for around 25 minutes, or until when the lentils are soft but still whole, then mix in the contents of the steamed pouch. Add the bay leaf, cardamom pods, cinnamon, sugar and ginger and stir well. Cook for 4 minutes and add a pinch of salt to taste, before topping with toasted coconut chips to serve.
Recipe created by Mallika Basu for Tilda.
For more recipe inspiration from Mallika Basu and Tilda Basmati, visit tilda.com

USA RICE DAILY NEW
In Memory:  Billy Glen Knowlton  
The U.S. rice industry is deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Glen Knowlton, 76, in West Columbia, Texas, on December 3.  Knowlton made his career in the rice industry, working for Riceland Foods, American Rice Inc., Farmers Grain Terminal, and Affiliated Rice Milling.Knowlton also served in the U.S. Air Force, where he was recognized as Outstanding Airman of the Year for his squadron in 1960."I knew Billy since 1969 when he got started in that grading lab," said Dick Ottis, president of Rice Belt Warehouse.  "He was a quiet person, but very knowledgeable, intelligent, and a good friend.  He was one of those quiet types - a man of few words, but when he talked, it was in your interest to listen, because he was probably going to teach you something.  We had lots of good conversations and times over the years, and I'm going to miss him a bunch."A celebration in honor of his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 13, at Columbia Lakes Country Club in West Columbia.USA Rice extends heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Billy Knowlton.
USARiceOutlook News in 140 Characters or Less    
Seth Fiack reporting live
NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Cue the Cajun music and pass the red beans and rice - the 2015 USA Rice Outlook Conference starts tonight! 
Whether you're already here or keeping tabs from the home front, stay connected with all the happenings with the 2015 #USARiceOutlook on Twitter.  Members are encouraged to use the official hashtag throughout the conference. Snap a picture of your favorite exhibit booth, or type out an interesting quote from one of the many engaging sessions and share your experience with your social media followers.USA Rice will also be live tweeting all the excitement as it unfolds so stay up-to-date on everything that's happening by tracking #USARiceOutlook.

Contact:  Colleen Klemczewski (703) 236-1446
Rice Leadership Class Member Wins Top Honor in Arkansas    
 Shannon & Derek Haigwood
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- In acknowledgement of the high caliber of people chosen to participate in the Rice Leadership Development program, another member has won a Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement Award:  Derek Haigwood in Arkansas.

Last week, Derek and his wife, Shannon, of Newport, Arkansas, took top honors at the Arkansas Farm Bureau's annual competition here.  The Haigwoods are a fourth generation row-crop farm family whose long-term goal is to leave a sustainable farming legacy for their son.
 Chuck Wilson, executive director of The Rice Foundation and manager of the Rice Leadership Development Program, said, "It's no coincidence that our Rice Leadership members are being recognized as leaders in the ag community.  Derek and his fellow classmates graduate next year but, as you can see, they are already having a tremendous impact on the industry.  These accolades and honors earned by our program graduates should be great incentive to anyone thinking about submitting an application."
 The Haigwoods earned an expense-paid trip in January to the American Farm Bureau Federation national conference in Orlando where they will compete for national awards against at least one other Rice Leadership Development alumnus - Timothy Gertson, who took Texas' honors last week as well.
Contact:  Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444
WASDE Report Released  
WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. 2015/16 rice supply and use is changed very little from a month ago. The all rice import forecast is lowered 1 million cwt to 24.5 million, all in long-grain, as the pace to date is slower than expected. No changes are made to 2015/16 use. All rice domestic and residual use and exports are forecast at 127 million cwt and 98 million, respectively. All rice ending stocks are lowered 1 million cwt to 38.8 million, all in long-grain. Long-grain ending stocks are forecast at 20.8 million cwt and medium- and short-grain stocks at 16.1 million.
 The 2015/16 long-grain season-average farm price range is projected at $11.50 to $12.50 per cwt, unchanged from last month. The medium- and short-grain farm price range is projected at $17.00 to $18.00 per cwt, down 60 cents per cwt on each end of the range. The California medium- and short-grain rice price, at a midpoint of $21.00 per cwt, is down 50 cents per cwt from last month. The Other States medium-and short-grain rice price, at a midpoint of $12.30 per cwt, is lowered 70 cents per cwt. The all rice season-average farm price is forecast at $13.10 to $14.10 per cwt, down 20 cents per cwt on each end of the range. Lower-than-expected prices published by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) for October along with price expectations for the remainder of the marketing year support the downward adjustment in rice prices from a month ago.
 Global 2015/16 rice supplies are lowered more than the decline in use resulting in a reduction in ending stocks. This is the third consecutive year that global consumption exceeds production leading to a drawdown in world ending stocks. Global production is lowered 4.2 million tons to 469.3 million tons, down about 8.9 million tons from the preceding year, and the smallest crop since 2011/12. Production forecasts are lowered for Australia, India, Madagascar, and the Philippines. The 2015/16 India crop is lowered 3.5 million tons to 100.0 million, the smallest crop since 2010/11. The reduction is due to a drop in expected Kharif rice production as early harvest reports indicate lower-than-expected yields across the northeastern rice growing region. Additionally, the slow pace of plantings of the Rabi rice crop due mostly to dryness is expected to lower expected yields and production. Rice production in Australia is lowered 254,000 tons as area is lowered 36,000 hectares to 30,000 hectares. This is the smallest area in production since 2008/09. Rice production in the Philippines is lowered 250,000 tons to 11.3 million due to cyclone damage. The rice crop in Madagascar is lowered 256,000 tons to 2.4 million because of lower yields.
 Global rice consumption for 2015/16 is lowered 1.6 million tons to 484.6 million tons, still a record. Consumption forecasts are lowered in India, Madagascar, Nigeria, Thailand, and Vietnam. Global exports are unchanged at 41.3 million as India is lowered and mostly offset by increases for Thailand and Vietnam. Imports are lowered for Nigeria and the United States. World 2015/16 ending stocks are lowered 2.6 million tons to 88.4 million, largely due to decreases for India, Nigeria, and Thailand. Stocks are down 15.3 million tons from the preceding year and the smallest since 2007/08. The 2015/16 stocks-to-use ratio is projected at 18.2 percent, down from 21.5 in 2014/15, and the smallest since 17.9 percent in 2006/07.
 The full report can be read here.
CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices 
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporationtoday announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2015 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET).  Prices are unchanged from the previous announcement.

World Price
MLG/LDP Rate

Milled Value ($/cwt)
Rough ($/cwt)
Rough ($/cwt)
Long Grain
15.10
9.53
0.00
Medium/Short Grain
14.60
9.79
0.00
Brokens
  9.11   
----
----

This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:

U.S. Milling Yields
Whole/Broken
(lbs/cwt)
Loan Rate
($/cwt)
Long Grain
55.01/13.46
6.50
Medium/Short Grain
61.81/8.43
6.50

The next program announcement is scheduled for
 December 16, 2015.    


CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for December 9 
Month
Price
Net Change

January 2016
$11.005
+ $0.035
March 2016
$11.275
+ $0.040
May 2016
$11.560
+ $0.035
July 2016
$11.820
+ $0.035
September 2016
$11.745
+ $0.035
November 2016
$11.760
+ $0.035
January 2017
$11.760
+ $0.035
APEDA Rice Commodity News
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 09-12-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Apricots
1
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4875
2
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4375
3
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
3625
Honey
1
Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2860
2
Argentine 50mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2970
3
Argentine 34mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3080
Peanuts
1
South Africa, HPS 70/80 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t)
1875
2
Argentinean 38/42 runners, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1200
3
Argentinean 40/50 runners, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1170
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 08-12-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Jowar(Sorgham)
1
Gulbarga (Karnataka)
Hybrid
1450
1750
2
Pune (Maharashtra)
Other
3200
3800
3
Palanpur (Gujarat)
Other 
3105
3905
Maize
1
Haveri (Karnataka)
Local
1290
1400
2
Dhing (Assam)
Other
1325
1400
3
Dahod (Gujarat)
Yellow
1525
1555
Mousambi
1
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
4000
4200
2
Batala (Punjab)
Other
2400
2800
3
Mechua (West  Bengal)
Other
2900
3400
Brinjal
1
Palayam (Kerala)
Other
2500
2800
2
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
1200
1500
3
Jatni (Orissa)
Other
1600
1800
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 09-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
415
2
Mysore
390
3
Nagapur
385
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 09-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Russet
15
15.25
2
Chicago
Idaho
Russet
9
11
3
Dallas
Washington
Russet
13
14
Cabbage
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Georgia
Round Green Type
9
10.50
2
Detroit
Canada
Round Green Type
11
12
3
Miami
Georgia
Round Green Type
12
14
Grapefruit
Package: 4/5 bushel cartons
1
Atlanta
Florida
Red
17
17
2
Chicago
Florida
Red
18
22
3
Miami
Florida
Red
25
26
Source:USDA
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High
Low
Last
Change
Jan '16
1102.0
1086.5
1100.5
+3.5
Mar '16
1128.0
1114.5
1127.5
+4.0
May '16
1156.0
+3.5
Jul '16
1170.5
1170.0
1182.0
+3.5
Sep '16
1179.0
1170.0
1174.5
+3.5
Nov '16
1182.0
1182.0
1176.0
+3.5
Jan '17
1176.0
+3.5
   

Rice Comment

Rice futures may be attempting to stabilize after the recent downturn which took over $1.50 off the market in a matter of a few short days. The domestic cash market is quiet and export demand is slow as well, which is typically the case around the holidays. The monthly supply/demand report showed little change, with only a 1 million cwt decrease in imports into the U.S. and use unchanged. Exports were pegged at 98 million cwt, and ending stocks were cut to 38.8 million cwt. The average on farm price for long grain remained $11.50 to $12.50. Global rice stocks are forecast to decrease for the third year in a row as consumption is expected to outpace production. Production was lowered to 469.3 million metric tons, down approximately 8.9 million tons from the preceding year. There is little support seen for January above the $10.50 level, while March is testing the $11 level.
Thank you for your interest in Daily Rice News! Our Researchers & Editorial Team  work hard to share their best News for analysis, please give them credit. Any reproduction of www.Ricepluss.com/www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com  content requires clear reference to ww.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com. Copyright © 2015
For Advertisement in daily two newsletters & On blog & Website contact for detail