World Rice
Conference: Vietnam looks to a “better year” in 2017
Following this year’s drought
which compromised its crop and subsequent exports; the Vietnamese rice industry
looks forward to a more positive 2017.
Published: 18 November 2016 04:19 PM
This season’s exports look set to
reach only 5 milliontonnes, below average for the major player in the market,
indicated a speakerat the World Rice Conference in Thailand.
“It’s not been a good year,”
admitted Dieu Pham Quang ofAgromonitor Vietnam.
...
https://www.agra-net.com/agra/public-ledger/commodities/grains/rice/world-rice-conference-vietnam-looks-to-a-better-year-in-2017--1.htm
World Rice
Conference: India to keep export crown in 2017
Indian is expected to remain the
world’s largest rice exporter next year, although recent currency issues may
hamper the country reaching its full potential.
Published: 18 November 2016 12:45 PM
Rice shipments out of India are likely to stay at similarlevels
to this current season, enabling it to still retain its position as theworld’s
largest exporter. Its closest rival Thailand is potentially set toexport around
Importation threatens
government’s agriculture policy
By Joke Falaju, Abuja |
20 November 2016 | 1:10 am
Rice farm SOURCE:tungamadiang.com
The big players in the agric sector whose
businesses thrive on importation now constitute a big threat to the Nigerian
Agricultural Promotion Policy, and unless the Federal Government takes a
decisive step to rescue the sector, the so-called economic diversification
agenda may not materialise.From rice millers, dairy processors to tomato
processing, it is the same story of threatened businesses due to increased smuggling
and importation. Farmers are now at the mercy of government to take the
bold step to call the bluff of multi nationals, so as to increase local
production.
The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) at a recent media briefing in Abuja, raised alarm over massive smuggling of finished parboiled rice from the Republic of Benin, Niger and Cameroon. Of concern to them is that Nigeria is the only country on the West African Coastline that consume parboiled rice, however, they were frightened that 1million metric tonnes of finished parboiled rice now berth at the Republic of Benin, and if the rice is pushed into the Nigerian market, it would not only affect local investment, it will kill whatever intervention the Federal Government is making through programmes, to empower over 25million rice farmers.
RIPAN urged the Federal Government to engage governments of the neighbouring countries on joint anti-smuggling initiatives to tackle smuggling of rice into the country, stressing the need for the countries to increase their tariffs on rice.
They also advised that the Federal Government could threaten the countries with strong economic sanctions for aiding and abetting smuggling of rice into the country, saying it would go a long way in reducing the economic sabotage against Nigeria.
RIPAN stressed the need for Nigerian Customs Service to collaborate with the Directorate of State Security Service and other relevant security agencies to design strategies to track local collaborators and bring them to book.
They said the customs service need to investigate the roles played by some conglomerates based in Nigeria, who are at the forefront of importing and diverting rice cargoes to neighbouring countries, saying RIPAN would stand by to provide the Customs Service with necessary information at their disposal.
Indeed Dangote Tomato Processing Plants also had to shut down three months after opening their factory because of increased smuggling of Tomato paste into the country, despite ban by government.
The Vice Chairman of Dangote Group, Sani Dangote, while speaking to journalists alleged that some importers currently import the product from China and in the bid to avoid the payment of, they established large warehouse in Ghana in the free zone under the disguise of ECOWAS, where the importers warehouse the product, package it and push the commodity as retail packs into the Nigerian market.
The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) at a recent media briefing in Abuja, raised alarm over massive smuggling of finished parboiled rice from the Republic of Benin, Niger and Cameroon. Of concern to them is that Nigeria is the only country on the West African Coastline that consume parboiled rice, however, they were frightened that 1million metric tonnes of finished parboiled rice now berth at the Republic of Benin, and if the rice is pushed into the Nigerian market, it would not only affect local investment, it will kill whatever intervention the Federal Government is making through programmes, to empower over 25million rice farmers.
RIPAN urged the Federal Government to engage governments of the neighbouring countries on joint anti-smuggling initiatives to tackle smuggling of rice into the country, stressing the need for the countries to increase their tariffs on rice.
They also advised that the Federal Government could threaten the countries with strong economic sanctions for aiding and abetting smuggling of rice into the country, saying it would go a long way in reducing the economic sabotage against Nigeria.
RIPAN stressed the need for Nigerian Customs Service to collaborate with the Directorate of State Security Service and other relevant security agencies to design strategies to track local collaborators and bring them to book.
They said the customs service need to investigate the roles played by some conglomerates based in Nigeria, who are at the forefront of importing and diverting rice cargoes to neighbouring countries, saying RIPAN would stand by to provide the Customs Service with necessary information at their disposal.
Indeed Dangote Tomato Processing Plants also had to shut down three months after opening their factory because of increased smuggling of Tomato paste into the country, despite ban by government.
The Vice Chairman of Dangote Group, Sani Dangote, while speaking to journalists alleged that some importers currently import the product from China and in the bid to avoid the payment of, they established large warehouse in Ghana in the free zone under the disguise of ECOWAS, where the importers warehouse the product, package it and push the commodity as retail packs into the Nigerian market.
He said:
“Maybe we were not as smart as the importers; we shouldn’t have opened a
factory, we should have just been importing and making our profit.”
He said if they continue to produce, they might continue to run at loss, adding that they have reported the matter to government, but are yet to get any result.
He explained that the Chinese government had reduced the price of the commodity by 50 per cent so that they would continue to benefit from the large Nigerian market given the increasing foreign exchange shortfall.
He lamented that government has been talking for the last one year and up till this very moment, there is no clear policy on where they are heading. He noted that the minister of industry, trade and investment has been talking about bringing the importers to the table with local producers, so as to fashion out a common ground, unfortunately, there is no way they can find a common ground when somebody’s business is about import and the other is producing locally.
He said if they continue to produce, they might continue to run at loss, adding that they have reported the matter to government, but are yet to get any result.
He explained that the Chinese government had reduced the price of the commodity by 50 per cent so that they would continue to benefit from the large Nigerian market given the increasing foreign exchange shortfall.
He lamented that government has been talking for the last one year and up till this very moment, there is no clear policy on where they are heading. He noted that the minister of industry, trade and investment has been talking about bringing the importers to the table with local producers, so as to fashion out a common ground, unfortunately, there is no way they can find a common ground when somebody’s business is about import and the other is producing locally.
Unfortunately,
the high cost of factors of production has made the prices of locally produced
goods high. Olam rice mill producers of Mama Pride rice said that electricity
generation alone amounts to 90 percent of the production cost as the farm had
to be run on generating sets, adding that if the government of Nassarawa State
can be kind enough to provide them with electricity they may be able to slash
the price of rice by half.
Chairman of dairy processor, L-AND-Z integrated farms, Mohammadu Abubakar said the plan by the Federal Government to increase milk production is not the best way to go as already, milk production is higher than the demand, but what is lacking is for government to enhance use of local milk.
He said: The best way to go is the enforcement of tariff to compel big players to use local milk. Nigeria produces 12million litres of milk daily, the total consumption is 10million, so we have an excess of 2million liters. People who say Nigeria does not have enough milk are liars, what is lacking is the collection of the milk and channeling it to the processing plant. The problem is not production but collection.”
Chairman of dairy processor, L-AND-Z integrated farms, Mohammadu Abubakar said the plan by the Federal Government to increase milk production is not the best way to go as already, milk production is higher than the demand, but what is lacking is for government to enhance use of local milk.
He said: The best way to go is the enforcement of tariff to compel big players to use local milk. Nigeria produces 12million litres of milk daily, the total consumption is 10million, so we have an excess of 2million liters. People who say Nigeria does not have enough milk are liars, what is lacking is the collection of the milk and channeling it to the processing plant. The problem is not production but collection.”
Abubakar warned government to desist from relying on multinational companies to develop the dairy industry, rather, the ministry must take a bold step to compel companies to source their raw materials from the local market and imposing high tariff on imported milk to ensure that they comply.
He said processing plants of the multi national companies are fed with milk produced by farmers in their home countries and for most of the companies it is cheaper to import milk than buy from the local producers.
He said: “people think that placing ban on powdered milk may lead to poor nutrition and starvation, but that is not true, because most of imported milk are not good milk because they contain lot of fats, which is not good for consumption, so there is the need for the regulatory agencies to be more proactive.”
http://guardian.ng/features/agro-care/importation-threatens-governments-agriculture-policy/
Cameroon: government proposes cancelling VAT (19.25%) on rice
from 2017
Saturday, 19 November 2016 09:00
Indeed, in the 2017 Finance bill,
which will be reviewed by Parliament in the coming days, the government
proposes that rice be exempted from the payment of added value tax (VAT). If
this proposal is approved by parliamentarians, the price per kilogram of rice
on the Cameroonian market (FCfa 300) could drop by 19.25%, which is the
equivalent of the VAT rate applicable in the country.
A small rice producer with about
100,000 tons on average per year, Cameroon is a big consumer of imported rice.
For example, for 2015 only, the statistics of the National Payment Balance
Technical Committee reveal that 707,200 tons of rice were imported in Cameroon,
for a financial value of FCfa 181 billion.
Double-cropping
hybrid rice sets new yield world record
Source:Global Times- Xinhua Published:
2016/11/20 16:00:42
Yuan Longping, known as the father of hybrid
Chinese rice, has set a new world record by achieving an annual yield of
1,537.78 kilograms of rice per mu (0.067 hectare) in pilot field in Xingning,
South China's Guangdong Province, the local authorities announced on Saturday.
The yield of the second crop of rice was 705.68 kilograms of rice per mu, and
together with the 832.1 kilograms per mu from the first crop in July, the
double-cropping super rice has set a record-high annual output of 1,537.78
kilograms per mu, reported the Guangdong-based Nanfang Daily on Sunday.
The project was jointly launched in 2015 by the
China National Hybrid Rice R&D Centre in Central China’s Hunan Province,
directed by Yuan; the Guangdong provincial agriculture department; South China
Agricultural University; and the Xingning city agricultural bureau, the Nanfang
Daily said.The project aimed achieve the goal of an annual output of 1500
kilograms of rice per mu in the three years from 2015, said the Nanfang
report.
The record-high yield in Xingning is the only
key scientific project focused on double-cropping rice, among Yuan’s 38
demonstration super rice fields across the country, according to the Nanfang
Daily.The annual yield of double-cropping rice is equal to that produced over
three seasons in the past, marking a big breakthrough, Luo Xiwen, an
academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, was quoted as saying by the
Xinhua News Agency,
"This is the fifth generation of hybrid
rice technology," Yuan told Xinhua. "The quality of the rice is as
good as Japan's renowned Koshihikari rice."Additionally, Yuan, 86, also
head of the sea-rice research and development center, delivered a speech at the
World Life Science Conference in Beijing on November 1, saying that a newly
founded research center in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, planned to
expand the yield of sea-rice to 200 kilograms per mu within three years, Xinhua
previously reported .
The Qingdao research center will use gene
sequencing to cultivate new, high-yield strains of sea-rice that can grow in
saline water, but the technology is a challenge, Yuan said.He noted that China
has more than 1 billion mu of saline-alkali land that has not been cultivated
so far, together with some 10 million mu land in intertidal zones. "The
cultivation of sea-rice is very promising."The target yield of sea-rice is
300 kilograms per mu, he revealed.
Global Times- Xinhua
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1019038.shtml
Customs seizes bank’s
bullion van with smuggled rice
By Gistmaster
On November 19, 2016 In Latest Tagged Latest News
By Udeme Clement
The Oyo/Osun Command of Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS) has seized a bullion van belonging to a commercial bank in Nigeria, but
used in smuggling rice into the country through the land border. The bullion van meant for conveyance of bank
currency was intercepted by operatives of Oyo/Osun Customs loaded with smuggled
rice through a tip off.The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Compt.
Ogunkua Tope, who disclosed this, displayed the vehicle at the Command’s office
in Ibadan , loaded with 50kg bags of rice. According to him, “The interception
of a bullion van meant for carrying cash, but used in concealing smuggled
imported foreign rice into the country illegally should send a serious signal
to recalcitrant saboteurs of the Nigerian economy that there is no hiding place
for them, especially as the juletide approahes”.The Bullion Van loaded with
50kg bags of rice
He went on, “We are determined to beat all
their concealment patterns with our superior intelligence network, because the
Service has equipped us with necessary work tools and adequate training to curb
the menace of smuggling in the region.It is worrisome to see that some
Nigerians still remain unrepentant, even as they continue to lose. Not even the
Federal Government’s visible efforts in transforming the agricultural sector,
especially in the area of rice production as well as increase prevalence of
expired imported rice with its hazardous health implications have touched their
conscience to avoid rice smuggling.However, our resolve to deal with them
remains unshakened, more so now that the present management has directed
thorough investigation with a view to prosecuting all those found connected to
this illegal act. I am using this opportunity to appeal to well-meaning members
of the public who want to engage in legitimate business to come forward for clarification
or visit the Command headquarters for trade facilitation and enquiries.”
“The recalcitrant ones who still insist on
engaging in the illicit business of smuggling should be well advised that they
would not escape the long arm of the law, especially as the yuletide
approaches.You will recall that we had reiterated our resolve to increase the
revenue profile of the Command and to tirelessly reduce the incidence of
smuggling. In keeping to this promise, the Command initiated new anti-smuggling
strategies, which led to remarkable exploits seen in the seizures that
include one bullion van loaded with
rice, a fairly used Rover, one fairly used Toyota Highlander, two fairly
used Toyota Camry, two fairly used
Volkwagon, two fairly used Mecedes Truck loaded with rice, two fairly used
Nissan Land Rover, one fairly used Man
diesel truck, two fairly used Nissan Urvan loaded with rice, five fairly used
Toyota Hiace loaded with rice, one
fairly used Nissan Vannet loaded with smuggled imported rice, two fairly used
Toyota Land Cruiser, one fairly used
Mazda 626, one fairly used Honda Accord Saloon,
one fairly used Toyota Duet,one fairly used Lexus GX470, one fairly used Daihatsu Atrai, one fairly
used lite Ace bus, two brand new Land Rover Discovery truck carrying smuggled brand new Honda
Accord, made at different locations within the Command’s area of coverage”.The
post Customs seizes bank’s bullion van with smuggled rice appeared first on
Vanguard News
https://www.niyitabiti.net/2016/11/customs-seizes-banks-bullion-van-with-smuggled-rice/
Can I Eat
Rice If I Have Diabetes?
Written by Caroline LeopoldReviewed by Peggy Pletcher, MS, RD, LD, CDE
Last reviewed: Sun 20 November 2016
Diet plays an important role in staying healthy, especially for
people with diabetes. Many people wonder whether high-carbohydrate foods such
as rice are healthy to eat.
This article will explain how to count carbohydrates,
how to incorporate rice into the diet, and what the healthy alternatives to
rice are.
Diabetes basics
Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases where
the body does not adequately produce insulin, use
insulin properly, or both. Insulin plays a crucial role in allowing blood sugar
into the cells to be used for energy. There are two main types: type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Staying healthy by exercising and eating well is recommended for people with diabetes.
People with diabetes have abnormally high levels of blood sugar.
This can damage many organs in the body if left untreated. The National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommend the following steps to
manage diabetes:
§ Make healthy choices in eating
§ Engage in regular physical
activity or exercise
§ Take medications, if required.
Healthy eating is important in keeping blood sugar levels at a healthy level.
The healthy range is 80 to 130 mg/dL before meals or below 180 mg/dL after
meals, according to the American Diabetes Association.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin. Various insulin
delivery systems and protocols are used to manage blood sugar both between and
at meal times.
People with type 2 diabetes often
manage their condition with diet and exercise, and with medications as needed
to keep blood sugar within the target range. These medications vary in how they
work.
People with diabetes will have
different treatment plans, and they will respond to food, exercise, and
medication differently.
It is important to consult with a
doctor to get individualized recommendations on target blood sugar levels,
medications, diet, and exercise.
How do carbohydrates affect diabetes?
Carbohydrates are an important
source of energy for the body. Carbohydrates are found in foods that have
starches and natural or added sugars. Examples are grains, vegetables and
legumes, fruit, dairy products, and sweets.
Carbohydrates are broken down by
the digestive system into sugar. When the digested sugar enters the blood, the
body produces a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps the sugar enter cells.
Once the cells absorb the sugar, blood sugar levels fall.
People with diabetes have an
impaired ability to produce insulin, use insulin, or both.
People with type 1 diabetes
cannot produce insulin, so they take insulin to make sure the cells can get the
sugar they need for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes are often insulin resistant. They also often have difficulty
producing enough insulin to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Counting
carbohydrates
Carbohydrate counting is a way of
keeping track of the carbohydrates in the daily diet. A person with diabetes
who uses carbohydrate counting to manage their diet sets an amount of
carbohydrate to eat for meals and snacks.
Bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes are all sources of carbohydrates.
The American Diabetes Association suggest a target of about 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate per meal. This
recommendation may vary depending on other factors such as gender, weight
goals, and blood sugar target goals.
The three different types of
carbohydrates are starch, sugar, and fiber.
Starches are complex
carbohydrates found in starchy vegetables such as peas, potatoes, and corn.
Beans and whole grains are also complex carbohydrates.
Fiber comes from plants and
cannot be digested. Fiber is found in foods such as vegetables, fruit, whole
grains, legumes, and nuts.
Unlike other carbohydrates, fiber does not raise blood sugar,
and it can help to slow the digestion of meals. This helps to minimize spikes
in blood sugar. It is recommended to eat between 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day.
Sugar is a carbohydrate. It is
generally absorbed into the body more quickly. There are natural sugars found
in milk and fruit. There may also be added sugars in canned fruits, baked
goods, and processed foods.
There are also carbohydrates in non-starchy vegetables such as
lettuce, peppers, cucumber, mushrooms, and many others. There are fewer
carbohydrates in these foods because they have a high water content. For
example, a half cup of cucumber has around 2 grams of carbohydrate.
The type and amount of
carbohydrate will affect post-meal blood sugar levels.
Foods that digest more slowly,
such as those with a lot of fiber, and those eaten as a mixed meal, digest more
slowly. They can help to prevent post-meal spikes in blood sugar. Large amounts
of carbohydrates eaten at one time will raise blood sugar more than smaller
amounts.
Is eating rice healthy with diabetes?
High-carbohydrate foods like grains, cereals, pasta, rice, and
starchy vegetables are not forbidden, but they should be eaten in moderation.
Rice is a high-carbohydrate
grain, but it can be incorporated into meals in appropriate amounts.
One-third of a cup of rice has 15 grams of carbohydrate.
That accounts for one-fourth to one-third of the amount of carbohydrate
recommended for a single meal, if the target is 45-60 grams of carbohydrate per
meal.
Meals that also include healthy
proteins and fats can help to slow the impact of the rice on blood sugar
levels.
Are some
types of rice healthier than others?
Some grains are better than
others for managing diabetes.
A scale called the "glycemic index" measures how
quickly food is digested into sugar and absorbed in the blood. High glycemic
foods raise blood sugar faster and should be eaten in limited portions,
or eaten with lower glycemic index foods.
White rice is more processed and
it has a higher glycemic index than brown rice, although the index of brown
rice can vary with type and brand.
Different varieties of rice have different glycemic indexes. Some
long grain rice varieties, converted rice, and basmati rice varieties are lower on the GI scale than white rice.
Puffed rice cereal and rice cakes
are sometimes thought of as diet foods, but they have a high glycemic index and
they are not ideal for healthy meals.
Foods that are high in fiber offer many health benefits. They
help with blood sugar control, they promote bowel health, and they may lower cholesterol.
Whole grains have more fiber than
other grains. It is important to check the label to check the fiber content.
Tips for
preparing rice
Some brown rice varieties are
unprocessed and have more fiber. They can be part of a balanced meal when eaten
in proper portions. Mixing brown rice with other foods can help to balance
blood sugar levels. Examples include legumes, such as red beans, or protein and
healthy fats.
Brown rice may have a lower glycemic index than white rice.
Brown rice takes longer to cook
than white rice, but the cooking process is simple. People can cook brown rice
in a pot or rice cooker at a ratio of 1.5 cups of water per 1 cup of rice.
The instructions are as follows:
§ Bring rice and water to a boil in
an uncovered pot
§ Cover the pot and simmer for
about 20 minutes
§ Turn off heat and let the covered
pot sit for at least 10 minutes.
Rice can be mixed with
seasonings, herbs, vegetables, and nuts such as slivered almonds.
Brown rice can be stored in a
refrigerator and used for leftovers. People can reheat brown rice on the stove
or microwave and serve with beans and salsa for a quick meal.
Care must be taken with storage, because cooked rice left at
room temperature can develop toxins that lead to food poisoning.
Nutritious and delicious alternatives to
rice
Because rice is high in
carbohydrates, it should be accompanied by other foods.
Vegetables are high in fiber, vitamins,
and other nutrients. Vegetables are made of carbohydrates, but at a much lower
level than grains.
Eating foods that are lower in carbohydrates and higher in fiber
can make meals more satisfying. For example, one-half cup of rice has 22 grams of carbohydrate.
In contrast, one cup of squash only has 8 grams of carbohydrate.
Many foods can serve as
substitutes for rice.
Examples include cauliflower, mushrooms, and eggplant. Quinoa contains the same amount of
carbohydrates as rice, but it has more protein, and some types have more fiber.
Scientist is a mechanized rice
farmer
Published November
18, 2016, 10:00 PM
by Zac B. Sarian
Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia, a scientist, is the new director of
the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization. But more
than a director of PhilMech and scientist, he is foremost a mechanized rice
farmer.He and his wife operate a 30-hectare rice farm in Quezon, Nueva Ecija,
that is mechanized from land preparation, transplanting up to harvesting.
LATEST RICE TRANSPLANTER MODEL – Photo shows
the latest rice transplanter model showcased at the KIEMSTA 2016, the biggest
agricultural mechanization trade show in Korea. This could transplant very
fast, making big savings in planting rice. Even with the improvised model that
Dr. Dionisio Alvindia made for his own farm is effective in reducing
transplanting cost to the tune of R6,500 per hectare in savings. Dr. Alvindia
is the new director of PhilMech based in Nueva Ecija.We met Dr. Alvindia at the
recent agricultural mechanization trade show in Cheonan City in Korea, and
together we witnessed the many agricultural machinery for practically every
farming purpose.
And he said that mechanization can really cut
the cost of producing rice. As per his personal experience, he can save as much
as P6,500 from transplanting cost per hectare with the use of the transplanting
machine.Unknown to many, including those from the Department of Agriculture, he
is about the first, or one of the first, to adopt the use of a mechanical
transplanter. A scientist that he is, he did not have to buy a brand new rice
transplanter. He improvised his own transplanter by rehabilitating a second
hand tractor he bough for P120,000 and also fabricated metal trays for growing
his seedlings.How is he able to save P6,500 by mechanizing his transplanting?
Here’s how. When the seedlings are transplanted manually, it takes 20 people to
do the job on one hectare in one day. On the other hand, it takes only three
workers to transplant by machine on one hectare using his improvised 4-row
transplanter.
The daily wage of the 20 transplanters,
including snacks and lunch, amounts to P7,000. Add to that P1,000 as cost of
growing the seedlings; P2,000 for pulling, and P500 for hauling the seedlings
to the field. That amount to P10,500.In the case of transplanting by machine, the
workers are allotted P1,500 including their food. Add P1,500 for fuel, and
P1,000 for growing the seedlings. There is no cost for pulling and hauling
because the seedlings are in metal trays which are brought to the field by the
tractor.
That’s a total of P4,000, which means a saving
of P6,500.With 30 hectares, Dr. Alvindia could save a total P195,000 on
transplanting per cropping. If he plants two times a year, that would amount to
P390,000.Dr. Alvindia admits that in the beginning, he encountered some
problems. There were some missing hills but eventually the problem was solved.
The workers are now very efficient in doing their transplanting job.COMBINE
HARVESTER – Harvesting with a combine also results in big savings. According to
Dr. Alvindia, the harvesters get a share of 7.5 cavans per 100 cavans
harvested. Then the cost of threshing is also 7.5 cavans per hundred cavans.
That 15 cavans per 100 cavans. If the selling price of freshly threshed palay
is R16 per kilo, one bag will be P800. Thus the 15 cavans are worth P12,000.
Let’s take the cost of combine harvesting. For
every 100 cavans the share of the combine harvester is 9 cavans worth worth
P7,200. The palay is already threshed with one passing of the combine. So
there’s a saving of P4,800 per 100 cavans harvested.According to Dr. Alvindia,
he normally harvests 170-180 cavans per hectare. That would be 5,100 to 5,400
cavans. And if the savings is P4,800 per hundred cavans, the savings would
amount to P244,800 to P259,200 from 30 hectares.CLSU ALUMNUS – Dr. Alvindia got
his bachelor’s degree in agriculture, major in pathology, from the Central
Luzon State University in 1985. Immediately after graduation he joined PhilMech
as a research aide. Then in 1997 to 2003, he studied at the Tokyo University of
Agriculture under a scholarship from Japan for his masters and PhD degrees.
In 2006-2008, he went back to Japan for his
post-doctoral studies. That’s when he started to develop biological crop
protection products.He has now patented two biological fungicides. One of them
was developed from fungus and bacteria from Cavendish banana. It has been found
to control banana diseases like Sigatoka and Fusarium wilt, crown rot in papaya
and anthracnose in mango.The other biological fungicide was derived from organisms
from banana and cacao. It is also good for controlling banana diseases,
vascular disease of cacao and pod rot. The two are under further field testing
prior to release for commercial use.AT PHILMECH – Meanwhile at PhilMech he will
be kept busy developing farm mechanization equipment needed by different
agriculture sectors.
For one, he would like to develop improved
stripping machines for abaca. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between
PhilMech and the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO) was
signed recently. Under the MOU the two parties will collaborate in promoting
agricultural mechanization in the country through the establishment of Farm Mechanization Center and in developing
appropriate machinery for the Philippines’
.http://newsbits.mb.com.ph/2016/11/18/scientist-is-a-mechanized-rice-farmer/
Jamdani registered as GI product: Lessons from
Champagne dispute
Published : 19 Nov 2016, 21:31:01
M. S. Siddiqui
The 1996 Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Properties Agreement (TRIPS) of 1996, of the world Trade
Organisation (WTO) provides the most comprehensive multilateral treaty to enact
and enforce intellectual property laws, including Geographical Indication Law.
Geographical indications (GI) give the producers of a region the exclusive
right to use the indication for their products originating from that region. It
also means that they have the right to prohibit any unauthorised use,
usurpation or imitation of the sign on a product that is not from the
designated area or which does not have the qualities guaranteed by the GI. The
GI right holders are also protected against any misuse, imitation or evocation,
even if the true origin of the product is indicated or if the protected name is
translated or accompanied by an expression such as 'style', 'type', 'method',
'as produced in', 'imitation', or 'similar'
The arguments in favour of protecting
geographical indications include: (1) protecting the city's or region's
reputation for quality; (2) preventing confusion of consumers; (3) encouraging
the development of quality products in association with the name or mark; (4)
protecting high quality and regional exports; (5) providing fair treatment; (6)
strengthening competitiveness; (7) protecting cultural heritage, traditional
methods of production, and natural resources; and (8) rewarding producers'
investments in quality.
TRIPS represents the minimum level of
protection that WTO member countries are required to enact domestically. It is
hailed as 'the most significant step in creating a uniform system for the
international protection of all Intellectual Property, especially GIs'.TRIPS is
the dominant international agreement dealing with intellectual property. It
requires that members' domestic laws protect geographical indications. But
legal and cultural clashes occur when international conventions dictate the
adoption of new legal constructs into domestic law.
GI product to be produced, processed or
prepared in the geographical area needs have only one particular quality,
rather than the majority of the good's characteristics, that is attributable
to, rather than exclusively due to, the geographical area'. The definition of a
GI mentioned in TRIPS Article 22 provides indications which identify a 'good' as
originating in the territory of a Member, or a region or locality in that
territory, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the
good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.
Indications of geographic origin fall into
three broad categories: (a) Indications of source (indications de provenance):
for example, "Made in Bangladesh". Such designations contain no
implication as to the quality of the product. They merely indicate its
geographical origin; (b) Appellations of origin (appellations d'origine): these
impute to the product a characteristic quality that relates to geographic
factors; and (c) Geographical Indications (indications géographique): sometimes
used as a broad term encompassing both indications of source and appellations
of origin. In the TRIPS Agreement
emphasis has been given on a more specific meaning, in between the other two
categories - more than a mere indication of source, but not necessarily meeting
the high quality standards of an appellation of origin.
The general standard focusing on protecting the
consumer public from misleading geographical labels is also found in Article
22. The legal means for interested parties to prevent: (a) the use of any means
in the designation or presentation of a good that indicates or suggests that
the good in question originates in a geographical area other than the true
place or origin in a manner which misleads the public as to the geographical
origin of the good. The legal methods and remedies for the enforcement of
Article 22 are implemented subjectively into members' legal systems. GI holders
may prosecute any other party liable to mislead the consumers as to the true
origin of the product.
The TRIPS agreement covers all products for
standard protection (Article 22) and wine and spirit for special and higher
level of protection (Article 23). There are exceptions also (Article 24). GI
does not have to be protected or the protection can be limited. Among the
exceptions that the agreement allows are: when a name has become the common (or
"generic") term (for example, "cheddar" now refers to a
particular type of cheese not necessarily made in Cheddar, in the UK), and when
a term has already been registered as a trademark.
INDIA VERSUS BANGLADESH: Indian Parliament passed
the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act in
1999 and registered Jamdani as UPADAYA Jamdani as their GI product.
Bangladesh was very late and passed GI act in
2012 and registered Jamdani in November 2016. There was a pressure from home
and abroad to register it as DHAKAI Jamdani but the present government has
correctly registered it as simply 'Jamdani'.
It has been proven from various historical accounts and folklores that a
fine quality of the fabric was available in Bengal as far back as the first
century AD. Jamdani has been weaved in Dhaka district for centuries, especially
on the bank of Shitalakkhya under a particular weather condition. The water of
Shitalakkhya was used for making colour in the fine clothes. The weavers have
developed the skill with experience of generations and designs developed by
them are unique for each piece of the fabrics.
Some Indian weavers, who might have moved there
from Bangladesh territories, weave Jamdani-like fabrics and market those as
'UPADAYA Jamdani'. They are selling those in the Indian market and are also
exporting to other countries as 'Jamdani'. After the registration of Jamdani
under Bangladesh law, the use of UPADAYA
Jamdani is no longer valid. But the matter may not be easy to address with
India.
THE CASE OF CHAMPAGNE: Champagne is a unique
example of GI and relevant to the Jamdani fabric. The word 'Champagne' is
derived from the Latin 'campania', meaning open country. The Latin term is also
the source of the English word 'campaign'.
The Champagne wine region is within the
administrative province of Champagne in the northeast of France. There is a
large region of southern Italy also known as Campania, of which Naples is the
capital. Wine was grown there by Greek settlers as early as the 7th century BC
and wine-making has undergone a modern resurgence in the area. The town of
Campania, in Tasmania Coal River Valley, Australia is a premier wine-producing
region. In the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, lies the tiny village of Champagne,
where a wine, still bearing that name, has been made since 1657. It is at the
centre of an on-going dispute with its more famous French namesake.
In 1933, Canada and France entered into a
treaty to protect GIs nominated by the respective countries. One of the terms
included by France was CHAMPAGNE. This posed a problem, as the term CANADIAN
CHAMPAGNE had been used on sparkling wine made in Canada since 1927. No action
was taken under the treaty to stop such use until the French Institut National
des Appellations d'Originedes Vins et Eaux-de-Vie ("INAO") launched a
court case in 1968. This ultimately led to an injunction from the Superior
Court of Quebec in 1976 preventing the use of the term 'CANADIAN CHAMPAGNE' on
sparkling wine not originating from the Champagne region of France. Despite all
these complexities and long history the issue has been settled. Champagne is GI of French producers in a
particular region.
There is no logical, legal, economic or
trade-related reason to protect only GIs of wines and spirits effectively and
to leave the rest of the world's products with a second-class protection. The TRIPS Agreement allows the misuse of
geographical indications- for example, "Roquefort-type cheese made in
Australia" or "American Basmati rice" - on all products except
for wines and spirits. The protection of
geographical indications at the international level could be improved by
extending the protection currently guaranteed only to wines and spirits to all
other products. The European Union (EU)
argues that the protection should be extended to other products.
The process of arbitration under TRIPS is very
complicated and difficult. Many countries resolved such issues through
bilateral negotiations and bilateral or regional trade agreements. Bangladesh
may consider negotiating the Jamdani dispute with India bilaterally and/or
regionally.
The writer is a Legal Economist.
Wheat
extends gains on rising demand
New Delhi: Wheat continued to
rise for the fifth day by gaining by Rs 50 per quintal at the wholesale grains
market today on persistent demand from flour mills. Rice basmati also strengthened on pick up in demand.Traders said
increased demand from flour mills against restricted supplies mainly kept wheat
prices higher.In the national capital, wheat MP (desi) and wheat dara (for
mills) gained Rs 50 each to Rs 2,800-3,335 and Rs 2,320-2,325 per quintal,
respectively.
Atta chakki delivery followed suit
and enquired higher by a similar margin to Rs 2,330-2,335 per 90 kg.Atta flour
mills, maida and sooji also settled higher at Rs 1,340-1,350, Rs 1,430-1,440
and Rs 1,480-1,490 from previous levels of Rs 1,260-1,270, Rs 1,340-1,360 and
Rs 1,350-1,370 per 50 kg, respectively in line with a wheat trend.
In the rice section, rice basmati
common and Pusa-1121 variety finished higher at Rs 5,800-5,900 and Rs
4,700-5,900 against last close of Rs 5,700-5,800 and Rs 4,500-5,700 per
quintal, respectively.
Following are today’s quotations
(in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,800-3,335,
Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 2,320-2,325, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 2,330-2,335,
Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 300, Roller flour mill Rs
1,340-1,350 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,430-1,440 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,480-1,490 (50
kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs
10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common
new Rs 5,800-5,900, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,700-5,900, Permal raw Rs 2,050-2,075,
Permal wand Rs 2,150-2,200, Sela Rs 2,800-2,900 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,850-1,860,
Bajra Rs 1,540-1,545, Jowar yellow Rs 1,850-1,900, white Rs 3,500-3,700, Maize
Rs 1,680-1,690, Barley Rs 1,810-1,820
In 9 days, Pilibhit power dept gets
Rs 5.75cr
Keshav Agrawal| TNN | Updated: Nov 20, 2016, 10.42 PM
IST
PILIBHIT: The electricity department has got a sudden windfall
thanks to demonetisation. Since the union government announced the scrapping of
Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, big consumers like rice millers and the nursing home
owners have made a beeline to collection centres to deposit advance payments
against their electricity consumption as one can pay using old currency notes
till November 24.
According to executive engineer of the department Ranjeet
Chaudhary, during the month of October, the department had received the total
electricity charges to the tune of Rs 10.80 crore while within nine days after
the demonetization was announced, the payment up by around 50% of the total
monthly collection. The revenue collected in the form of payments for
electricity charges between November 10 and November 18 was over Rs 5.75 crore
whereas in the normal course, about Rs 1.25 to a maximum of Rs 1.75 crore is
deposited in the corresponding period, he added.
Chaudhary said of the total 70 rice mills in the district, 10 used to pay around Rs 30 lakh in a month against their electricity charges during their operational season. Small rice processing units comsume electricity worth Rs 6 to 8 lakh in a month.As for the nursing homes, Chaudhary said the monthly electricity charges varied between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1 lakh depending upon the size of nursing home.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/In-9-days-Pilibhit-power-dept-gets-Rs-5-75cr/articleshow/55529919.cms?
Rumduol Rice
in Top 3 at World Conference
Cambodia’s Phka Rumduol rice failed to
recapture the title of World’s Best Rice for the second year in a row, with
Thailand taking top honors at the 8th World Rice Conference held in the
northern Thai city of Chiang Mai last week.The three-day conference, organized
by trade publication The Rice Trader, ended on Friday. Cambodia placed in the
top three – along with Thailand and the US (California) – of the 14 countries
joining the competition. Cambodia won from 2012 until 2014, but lost its crown
last year to rice grown in California.
Sok Puthyvuth, president of the Cambodia Rice
Federation (CRF), said during the conference that Cambodian Rumduol rice was as
good as Thailand’s Hom Mali rice due to similarities in the geographical area
for growing rice.
He added that to win next year’s competition,
CRF and the Cambodian government would solve the most pertinent issues in the
rice sector and develop the rice production chain to gain further recognition
in the international market.
“We will work and cooperate with farmers, rice
millers and rice exporters to adhere to international standards on growing,
processing and packaging and push famers to better select seeds with quality
and grow following international standards,” Mr. Puthyvuth said.
“We will try our best for next year’s
competition which will be held in Cambodia.”Jeremy Zwinger, president of The
Rice Trader, said during the event that even though Cambodia did not win this
year’s top prize, it still beat countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, India and
Pakistan.“That was a tough decision for chefs not to hand the first prize to
Thailand’s premium rice,” he said.
Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice (Cambodia), told
Khmer Times that every country wanted to claim the World’s Best Rice award but
it was impossible with premium rice from all 14 countries in the competition.
He said Cambodian Rumduol rice was similar in
quality to Thailand’s premium Hom Mali rice, adding that Cambodia should
improve its quality of rice seeds and techniques and work on new innovations.
“We are proud that Cambodia was crowned champion
for three successive years at the World Rice Conference. We cannot win every
year if we don’t have the best quality rice to show the world,” Mr. Saran said.
“Our rice quality was similar to Thai premium
rice, but Thailand has modernized their rice growing with high technical
support, innovation and good seeds. We have to upgrade our seeds to win next
year’s competition.”
In the first 10 months of this year, Cambodian
rice exports grew by 3.3 percent to 421,000 tons compared with the same period
last year. China was the largest market at 89,946 tons, a 7.6 percent rise from
the previous year, while France imported 61,000 tons and Poland 56,000 .
tons.http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32153/rumduol-rice-in-top-3-at-world-conference/
Concern over
N720.2b yearly rice import
From left: Emefiele, Kebbi State
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and RIFAN chair in Kebbi Alhaji Abdullahi Sa’idu
Argungu at a rice farm in Kebbi State.
The Federal Government has invested
a lot in rice production, yet the nation has not attained self-sufficiency.
DANIEL ESSIET writes on what stakeholders say should be done to attain the
mark. To Sahabi Muhammed Augie, Chairman
of Kebbi State Rice Farmers’ Association, Nigeria has what it takes to become
Africa’s next rice granary. Ample, suitable land, water resources and a good
climate are needed to expand rice production in the country.
Augie believes that local farmers in the Northwest state have
capacity to take rice production to greater heights in terms of quantity and
quality. Rice is grown twice yearly —during the rainy season from January to
June and during the dry season, spanning August to December in some parts of
the country.But the access to improved varieties and capacity building remain a
major challenge as many farmers cannot explore new varieties. Only few of them
have the technological know-how on the application of improved agronomic
management practices and good seed systems for high-quality yield.Augie
believes that support in mechanisation would be an added advantage to abounding
national resources, adding that mechanisation would make up for labour shortage
for land preparation, weeding and harvesting.
Rice is a staple menu in most homes across
Nigeria. But imported rice accounts for over 60 per cent of its total
consumption.It costs the country a whopping $1.8 billion (about N720 billion)
to import about 3.2 million metric tons of rice to feed the population yearly.
Local production accounts for a small portion of rice production and
consumption.With the likelihood of the population hitting the 250 million
thresholds by 2020 and rice production short of demand, something must be done.
But experts say supply growth can no longer match population growth.
But farmers are worried that concerted efforts
are not being made increase rice production.
According to the Coordinator of Women Rice
Cooperative Union in Kogi State, Mrs.
Esther Audu, Nigeria can achieve its rice development vision with focus
on the entire value chain, from seedling to production, processing, and
marketing.
State of the sector
Since 1970, increased consumption in rice has
created a surge in imports, a development that the forced the Federal
Government to ban importation in 1985. The aim was to encourage local
production.However, 10 years after, the ban was lifted as local supplies failed
to meet rising demand.Despite last year February’s announcement that local
farmers would add about 2.9 million metric tons rice stock from the 2014
season, the country lost N1 billion daily to rice imports, translating to about
N360 billion annually.
According to the Federal Government, the
country lost more than N1.3 trillion to import waivers between 2011 and 2014.
To address the trend, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has reintroduced the
ban on rice imports through the land borders, again to boost local rice
production.With capacity to produce 3.2 million tons of paddy rice, or 2.0
million tons of milled rice, Nigeria is the highest rice producer in West
Africa.Although rice grows well in all the six geo-political zones of the
country, the demand for polished long grain, stone-free and odourless rice by
the urban dwellers has been fuelling the demand for imported rice.
The yearly demand for rice is put at about five
million metric tons (MT) out of which about 3.2 million MT is produced locally.
Rice importation accounts for a large chunk of the food import bill, estimated
in excess of N1.5 trillion. This is expected to reduce as local farmers expand
operations and improve on their farm yields.
The latest ban has pushed up price with a 50kg
bag, which hitherto sold for N10, 000, now selling for as high as N23, 000.
Rice, often imported smuggled into the country through illegal routes, has
contributed to the pressure on the naira.
Going by the 2016/17 estimate, rice consumption
is about 5.2 million tons, a four per cent decrease from the revised 2015/16
estimate of 5.4 million tons. The reduction has been attributed consumer’s
declining purchasing power and rising market prices, triggered by price
inflation and currency devaluation.Experts are pushing for transformation in
rice cultivation to meet future needs and food security.
Challenges
The adoption of adequate mechanisation in rice
cultivation of rice is low. It was
observed at meeting of stakeholders on rice production convened by the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Minna, the Niger State Capital, that lack of mechanisation undermines
production and competitiveness of rice. Held under UNDP’s Agribusiness Supplier
Development Programme’s (ASDP’s) Rice Supply Chain, the meeting was organised
by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, UNDP and Nigeria
Incentive-Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL). Participants at
the meeting spoke of the need to test small equipment, such as two-wheel
tractors, row seeders, mechanical threshers, small combine harvesters and small
mills and where possible, manufacture them locally.
The engineering Director at the National Center
for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Dr Yinka
Ademiluyi, said that
mechanisation will increase efficiency and that farmers will lose about 40 per
cent of the crops with manual harvest.“But with a combined harvester, loss will
be reduced to as low as 10 per cent. Furthermore, the time it takes to harvest
is also reduced considerably”, Ademiluyi said.Agriculturists have urged the
governments to engae research organisations when importing machinery to ensure
that effective and durable implements and the technology adaptable to local
operation are procured.
Many farmers and research institutes have
recommended the use of hybrid varieties and training of farmers on rice
technologies to boost productivity.
Nigeria has ability to plant rice thrice a year
due to the general availability of water, use of early maturing varieties,
direct seeding and synchronous planting.Addressing the forum, Agricultural Production Advisor,
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development
Programme (VCDP) Programme, Dr Unamma Victor Chyka, representing Country Programme Manager, IFAD
Country Office, Dr Atsuko Toda, noted that the
adoption of technologies should
be more of a bottom-up approach and that
there should be village-level demonstration trials to sensistise local farmers.
According to him, IFAD provided an integrated
platform to help farmers by creating, validating, disseminating and adopting
new rice technologies.Other participants said a lot factors change the pattern
of local rice production. They said that
weather-related quality eroded the high quality and integrity of Nigerian rice.The
forum appraised the effects of government policies and other factors on
production and consumption, the cost of fertiliser, energy, water and seedlings
to farmers.
The said the government must support production
Rice seed expert, Africa Rice, Dr. Abraham Attah Shaibu, said the country, with its vast water bodies for irrigation
purposes, could become one of the best rice producer in sub-Saharan Africa.Abraham
said farmers need to be educated on proper agricultural practices, especially
on the need to tackle pests and diseases.RIFAN Chairman in Kogi State, Mrs.
Peace Emaiku urged the government to empower farmers with capital to build
infrastructure such as ponds.She said her organisation was mobilising farmers
to engage in large-scale production.
Boosting production
President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that
his administration would make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production within
18 months.Speaking at a Ramadan breaking of fast with members of the business
community, the President said that 13 states have been identified for the
production of the crop.He said the Agriculture Minister, Audu Ogbeh, has
already been briefed on how best to achieve the target. Buhari decried how the
nation’s scarce resources were wasted on the importation of food items by his
predecessors.In a bid to reduce rice import bills, Ogbeh launched a roadmap to
promote rice revitalisation and import substitution programme to expand
domestic rice production.
A lot of farmers and groups have signified
interest to support the ministry’s initiative. Their motivating factors include: high demands for and better returns from
rice; availability of suitable land and better yields; stable prices compared
to traditional crops; better shelf life and declining demand for and returns
from traditional crops.
Ensuring food supply
The roadmap, known as “The Green Alternative”,
for the promotion of agriculture from 2016-2020, emphasises strategic approach
to food security, which aims to ensure the sustainability of food supply, food
accessibility and affordable food prices to the public. To ensure adequate rice
supply, the government said it is working on silos and buffer stocks of rice to
meet the food requirement.Besides improving stockpile for strategic management
and cost-effectiveness, the government also spoke of a plan to ensure
production yield by upgrading existing infrastructure and to improve
productivity in the granary and non-granary areas.Among the recommendations
are: transformation plan for research and development (R&D) on the green
revolution innovation in paddy and rice industry.
Improved technologies
Rice farming requires huge investment on the
acquisition and maintenance of tools, equipment, irrigation and drainage
systems as well as pest and disease management.Ademiluyi acknowledged the role
of the development of agricultural technologies for improving the grain
industry. He attributed the increase in grain production, to Sawah technology.According
to him, much progress has been recorded in perfecting the technology and in
developing a package of practices, citing many research programmes and projects
of NCAM in partnership with other organisations.
IFAD’s role
IFAD, as a specialised UN agency, designed to
eradicate poverty and hunger in developing countries, has been working in
remote and rural areas to assist in achieving the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs).
About 150 rice farmers in Niger State partook
in IFAD’s e N50 million worth of inputs to increase their yields. Programme
Coordinator, IFAD’ VCDP in the state, Dr
Mathew Ahmed, broke the news at the inauguration of support programme for small
holder farmers in Katcha Local Government Area.He said: “We have supported 150
rice farmers from six different cooperative groups with a grant of N25 million
to match the N25 million they contributed for this programme.“Fifty hectares of
land will be cultivated by the clusters of farmers, numbering 25 in each group.
http://thenationonlineng.net/concern-n720-2b-yearly-rice-import/
Jos gripped by concerns over
plastic rice
By Hir Joseph, Jos | Publish Date: Nov 20 2016
12:56PM
Some common brands of rice in Nigerian market
Concerns
grew at the weekend over reports alleging that China is shipping tones of what
is suspected as “plastic rice” into the country, although there were hardly any
news to substantiate that. The Plateau State
capital, Jos and environs was hit hard with the concerns by consumers of rice,
who raised queries with dealers, demanding proof that they were being offered
genuine rice for patronage at stores, Daily Trust can report. The concerns slowed down sales of the
commodity, dealers say. “We just want to
be sure we are not paying to carry plastic home to our families,” one customer
at a store located at Bukuru, a major commercial location of Jos, told this
reporter on inquiry. “We have read reports warning about this plastic rice in
the market. One has to be careful.”
The
unsubstantiated reports were carried on online media platforms especially by
bloggers who did not state the source of their information, as there were no
efforts to get official reactions. The reports, which were widely shared on the
social media within the last five days, also failed to state what locations of
the country the plastic packaged as rice, were in circulation. The reports warned consumers not to buy rice
in the market without first conducting a series of tests to ascertain the
genuiness of the commodity.
The 'news' went viral with residents of Jos and
environs spiking concerns which dealers confirmed are slowing down sales. The customer spoken to at Bukuru, who declined
to allow for her identity to be published said she learnt of the alert from
many neighbours and relatives, who informed her they had to carry out the tests
to confirm the commodity before they bought. She said she had to search for the
report herself, and to proceed to share same to alert unsuspecting consumers
who may be risking to buy plastic for meal. “I had to share the news too, to help others,”
she said, although acknowledging that “I never read anything about the source
of this information from all the reports I saw.” A major dealer of the
commodity around the same location confirmed to this newspaper that he spent
the last five days struggling to convince consumers to patronize him,
disclosing however, that the concerns overwhelmed his explanations.
“I have
old stock. I don’t know for sure if there is anything like plastic rice in
circulation. I don’t have such in my store,” Balarabe Adam said, just as he
insisted that dealers have no knowledge of this commodity.
He said
sales have dropped with the spread of the 'news'. “Customers are not taking
this news lightly. They are insisting on tests to ascertain the genuiness of
the commodity before they will buy. We are allowing for that because we want to
sell.
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/jos-gripped-by-concerns-over-plastic-rice/172475.html
