Halal food
sector has potential to boost exports
By Webmaster - Salim Ahmed
December 2, 2016
Lahore—Federal Secretary,
Ministry of National Food Security & Research Muhammad Abid Javed has said
that special attention is being given to the Halal food sector it has the
ability to give a quantum jump to the national exports.He was speaking here at
the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Thursday. The LCCI President
Abdul Basit and former President Shahzad Ali Malik also spoke on the occasion
while former Vice Presidents Aftab Ahmed Vohra, Abuzar Shad, Mian Zahid Javed,
Muhammad Arshad Chaudhry, Ali Hussam Asghar, Tehmina Saeed Chaudhry, former
Executive Committee Members Rehmatullah Javed, Naseeb Ahmed Saifee, Khawaja
Imtiaz Ahmed and Ghulam Sarwar Malik were present in the meeting.
Federal Secretary said that Rice Research Institute is
continuously working in to introduce new varieties and recently two new
varieties have been introduced that would help enhance rice exports. He said
that there is a high demand for Pakistani basmati rice in the global market. He
said that import of tomato from India has been stopped as country has enough
production to meet the domestic demand.The LCCI President Abdul Basit said that
Pakistan is an agrarian economy could not be able to draw the potential
benefits of this sector. It is a matter of concern concern that during fiscal
year of 2015-2016, the performance of agriculture sector as a whole remained
dismal.
He said that unlike other sectors of economy, the agriculture
sector witnessed a negative growth of 0.19% against 2.53% growth during the
same period last year. The growth of crops also declined by 6.25%, while the
other sub component of agriculture sector like livestock, forestry and fishing
posted positive growth of 3.63%, 8.84% and 3.25%, respectively.“It is really
unfortunate that we lag terribly behind in producing the desired results. It is
high time that our farmers and local entrepreneurs related to food and its associated
sectors must be motivated to modernize their processes. For that matter, the
Ministry of National Food Security can play pivotal role”, Abdul Basit added.
He said that since there are number of research institutions
working under the control of the ministry, so, it is suggested that they should
take this responsibility to highlight the benefits of adopting new ways and
technologies to increase the existing low level of agri yield.
We believe that there can be better results if the cost factor
of availing such facilities is as minimized as possible.
Former LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik said that the total size of Halal market in global trade is around 3 trillion dollars and Pakistan has insignificant share in it. We have a natural base for producing Halal products and this unique characteristic should be aggressively marketed to earn appropriate share.He said that in addition to 5 exports oriented sectors which have been declared zero-rated, the food sector should also be awarded the same status. This step will encourage the exports of agri-produce and eventually our farmers will be able to fetch better prices.
Former LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik said that the total size of Halal market in global trade is around 3 trillion dollars and Pakistan has insignificant share in it. We have a natural base for producing Halal products and this unique characteristic should be aggressively marketed to earn appropriate share.He said that in addition to 5 exports oriented sectors which have been declared zero-rated, the food sector should also be awarded the same status. This step will encourage the exports of agri-produce and eventually our farmers will be able to fetch better prices.
Shahzad Ali Malik said that it is the age of hybrid technology
and every sector of economy is focusing on it. For agriculture sector, the hybrid
seeds are mostly imported from other countries. We are of the view that maximum
facilities and incentives should be given to local hybrid seed producers so
that they could be able to contribute more. Likewise, the government should
encourage them to expand their production capacity to be able to export hybrid
seeds. These efforts will also play important role in giving boost to
agri-produce and job creation.
He said that all seed materials are tested by federal agency
throughout Pakistan. We demand that the same institution should be made
responsible for issuance of legal documents which will make it easy to market
these seeds all across the country. Our members have experienced great hurdles
by the provincial agriculture regulatory bodies in this connection.
http://pakobserver.net/halal-food-sector-has-potential-to-boost-exports/
Basmati rice:
BGA for tapping potential of Chinese market
December 03, 2016
Basmati Growers Association (BGA) of Pakistan Chairman Chaudhry
Hamid Malhi has urged the government and the Rice Exporters Association of
Pakistan (REAP) to tap the potential of huge Chinese market for exporting
basmati rice from Pakistan. Talking to Business
Recorder on Friday, Malhi
said that the Chinese market was emerging as a big importer of rice and their
government, departments concerned and exporters should tap it by studying the
dimensions of this market, its requirement and conditions set for making a
place in that important neighbouring market.
Referring to a news item appeared in Indian press that the Chinese had agreed to import Basmati rice from 14 Indian companies, the BGA Chairman raised the question on performance of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and the Ministry of Commerce Pakistan. Chaudhry Hamid Malhi, who is also Director of the Farmers Associates of Pakistan (FAP), said it was astonishing that the quarters concerned with increasing exports of different commodities could not en-cash the opportunity and India took the lead.
"We have an estimated production of 2.3-2.4 million tons of Basmati rice this year out of which domestically we may consume only one million tons. The rest of 1.3-1.4 million tons is available for export and earning the precious foreign exchange. But it seemed that the rice exporters and the departments concerned are not even in the knowledge of such a big market in their neighbourhood," Malhi alleged.
Malhi urged the Commerce Ministry to seriously ponder over the reasons that why China had to approach Indians for buying Basmati rice. He said that still big room of exporting their aromatic rice variety to China exists as India alone could not meet requirement of that huge population. He said that their companies should study different conditions set by the Chinese government to have an access to that huge market.
http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/109565/
China
lifts restrictions on imports of non-basmati rice from India
In September, a team consisting of 19 Indian rice millers
visited China to address their concerns with the relevant Chinese authorities,
following which China announced in a recent communication to the Indian
government that it has okayed for 14 rice exporting companies out of the 19 to
ship non-basmati rice into the Chinese market.
Several officials from China’s Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine paid their visits to these mills,
located in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to inspect the
quality of rice and the methods adopted by these millers in making the
commodity safe and secured.
The rice exporters have to be registered with India’s National
Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) if they plan to ship their commodities to
China. China had restricted imports of non-basmati rice citing concerns over
the presence of khapra beetle in India’s crop. The decision comes at a time
when India’s commodity exports, including rice have been witnessing a sharp
decline.
However, India continues to be a major exporter of basmati rice
to China, even though exports have been declining over the past few years.
India’s exports of basmati rice to China in 2015-16 stood at $3.86 billion
against $4.78 billion in 2014-15 and $5.03 billion in 2013-14.
The International Grains Council (IGC) estimated China to import
about 4.1 million tonnes of rice in 2016-17, slightly down from 4.2 million
tonnes a year earlier, while India’s rice exports during the same period will
grow marginally to 10.5 million tonnes from 10.4 million tonnes a year ago.
India’s rice exports fell considerably to $5.79 billion in
2015-16 as against $7.84 billion in 2014-15, but rice exports still accounted
for 18% of country’s total farm exports last year.
Earlier this year, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister met
Chinese ambassador-designate to India and expressed her concerns about the
delay in issuing clearances. India has been seeking greater market access for
its farm and commodity products, especially since India’s trade deficit with
China has continued to rise over the years. India’s trade deficit with China
mounted to almost $53 billion in 2015-16 from $48.48 billion in the previous
fiscal. This year, its trade deficit with China has already reached $25.22
billion during the April-September period of 2016-17
https://www.thedollarbusiness.com/news/china-lifts-restrictions-on-imports-of-nonbasmati-rice-from-india/48768
Health effects
of arsenic in Pakistan
By Webmaster - Maham
Khalid
Exposure to various chemicals in everyday objects poses a hidden
health threat. Although low levels of most of these toxicants may be of little
significance, continuous exposures lead to increased dose and therefore
significant damage to our body. Arsenic is a highly toxic element that is
naturally present in nature, and in man-made products, including some
pesticides.
In Pakistan arsenic contamination is prevalent mainly in Punjab and Sindh provinces and the hazard in drinking water drawn from wells is well known. Mainly arsenic is found in 5 foods that shouldn’t be a part of our regular diet: 1- Brussels sprouts 2- Dark meet fish 3- Rice 4- Chicken and poultry 5- Beer and wine. Arsenic poisoning is a medical condition that occurs due to elevated levels of arsenic in the body. If exposure occurs over a brief period of time symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain and watery diarrhoea that contains blood.
Long term exposure can result in thickening of the skin, darker skin, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, heart disease, numbness, and cancer. Arsenic exposure affects virtually all organ systems including the cardiovascular, dermatology, nervous, hepatobiliary, renal, gastro-intestinal, and respiratory systems. Therefore, people who have been exposed to high concentrations of arsenic display diabetes, hearing loss, portal fibrosis, haematology disorders. Exposure to arsenic in the workplace by inhalation can also cause lung cancer. The likelihood of cancer is related to the level and duration of exposure.
So we should monitor the level of arsenic that is being discharged from industries and other human activities to avoid damage to human health. There are a number of options to reduce levels of arsenic in drinking-water and in food. Test all groundwater sources of drinking water for arsenic. If you’re preparing rice, rinse it thoroughly. Boil brown rice in a lot of water. Instead of rice cereal as the first solid food for babies, try orange vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and squash, bananas, and avocados.
Islamabad
In Pakistan arsenic contamination is prevalent mainly in Punjab and Sindh provinces and the hazard in drinking water drawn from wells is well known. Mainly arsenic is found in 5 foods that shouldn’t be a part of our regular diet: 1- Brussels sprouts 2- Dark meet fish 3- Rice 4- Chicken and poultry 5- Beer and wine. Arsenic poisoning is a medical condition that occurs due to elevated levels of arsenic in the body. If exposure occurs over a brief period of time symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain and watery diarrhoea that contains blood.
Long term exposure can result in thickening of the skin, darker skin, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, heart disease, numbness, and cancer. Arsenic exposure affects virtually all organ systems including the cardiovascular, dermatology, nervous, hepatobiliary, renal, gastro-intestinal, and respiratory systems. Therefore, people who have been exposed to high concentrations of arsenic display diabetes, hearing loss, portal fibrosis, haematology disorders. Exposure to arsenic in the workplace by inhalation can also cause lung cancer. The likelihood of cancer is related to the level and duration of exposure.
So we should monitor the level of arsenic that is being discharged from industries and other human activities to avoid damage to human health. There are a number of options to reduce levels of arsenic in drinking-water and in food. Test all groundwater sources of drinking water for arsenic. If you’re preparing rice, rinse it thoroughly. Boil brown rice in a lot of water. Instead of rice cereal as the first solid food for babies, try orange vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and squash, bananas, and avocados.
Islamabad
http://pakobserver.net/health-effects-of-arsenic-in-pakistan/
Rice mills in
Larkana shut as workers go on strike
LARKANA: A large number of rice factories workers, after their
unproductive talks with rice millers on enhancing wage, took to the streets of
the city on Saturday after announcing an indefinite strike at 42 mills.
Led by Rice Factories Labour Union president Qadir Bakhsh Kurd
and Rice Mills Workers chairman Abdul Aziz Abbasi, the participants marched
from Labour Colony to Jiannahbagh gate, where they held a demonstration.Speaking
to them, Mr Kurd said that currently around 4,000 workers were serving in 42
rice mills functioning in Larkana and on its outskirts alone.
“Normally they get different percentages on loading, unloading,
stocking, milling and weighing processes at the mills. In 2014, mill-owners and
rice factories labour union had agreed to enhance 40 per cent in the present
wage.“This year, the agreement has expired and the labour union had in August
given the notices to the rice millers to sign a new agreement with certain
enhancement and revisions in the earlier wages. But they are running away from
talks which has resulted in mounting unrest among workers,” he said.
Workers were demanding an overall 20 per cent rise, Mr Kurd
said, but the millers were not ready to accept their demand.On Friday night,
talks between millers’ representative, Ramesh Lal, and labour leaders in the
presence of labour department official Nagina Memon were held but the session
remained fruitless, which compelled workers to go for a strike, said Aziz
Abbasi.
The workers did not to turn up to their assignments on Saturday
which led to closure of mills. The labour union had announced continuing the
strike till the acceptance of their demands.An official word and mill owners’
statement about the strike and inconclusive negotiations between the two sides
were yet to be made public.
Published in Dawn December 4th,
2016
December 04, 2016
LAHORE: Rice output in Punjab is likely to fall nearly six
percent to 3.3 million tons during the current crop year of 2016/17 as the
sowing area in the province touched decade-low levels, government projected on
Saturday. In the last crop season, rice output was recorded at 3.5 million
tons in the province, accounting for more than half of the country’s total
outputs.Official figures showed that area under rice cultivation plummeted to
1.70 million hectares in the current agriculture year, which was the lowest
sowing area in the past 10 years. In 2007/08, the acreage was recorded at 1.72
million hectares.
In 2015/16, paddy was planted on around 1.78 million hectares.
Overall, rice acreage fell 4.7 percent in the current season over the previous
year.Rice was planted on 1.78 million hectares in 2015/16 as against 1.87
million hectares in 2014/15, showing a 5.2 percent decline.Pakistan’s Federal
Committee on Agriculture (FCA) has set 2016-17 (July – June) rice production
(milled basis) target at around 6.83 million tons from around 2.8 million
hectares.An expected crop shortage has already ignited a price hike at the
local markets.Wholesale price of new milled rice rose to Rs80-85/kilogramme
from Rs55-60/kg last year.
Usually, milled rice wholesale prices came down to Rs50-60/kg
with the advent of paddy harvesting. “This time around, soaring prices
have baffled traders,” a trader said. “Low output forecast further aggravated
the situation.”During the last decade, rice sowing area in the province ranges
between 1.70 million and 1.97 million hectares. Acreage shrinkage was observed
in the last couple of years. Over the past two-year alone, sowing area
shrank approximately 10 percent.In 2014-15, paddy output stood at 3.64 million
tons, down four percent over the previous year.
An official said farmers are getting low returns owing to a huge
carryover stocks. Besides, better profits on fodder and other competitive crops
encouraged farmers to switch to those crops. “Erratic monsoon rainfalls
were also one of the reasons of a relatively low output,” he added.Rice, being
one of the staple foods, is cash crop of Pakistan. Fed on the western rivers,
Punjab is blessed with the biggest rice producing belt of the country,
occupying a major chunk of total national cropped area.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in a report
released in July, raised Pakistan’s exports forecast for 2016/17 by 0.1 million
tons to 4.5 million tons on a stronger pace of trade only if the country
achieves rice production of seven million tons.The United States Department of
Agriculture projected around 20 percent more purchases by Saudi Arabia and
Azerbaijan from Pakistan. The country exported 3.946 million tons
of rice during the July-May period of 2015/16
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/169528-Rice-output-likely-to-fall-6pc-in-Punjab-during-201617
Philippines
plans rice import deal
Submitted
by Eleven on Sun, 12/04/2016 - 15:23
Writer: Nilar
The Philippines has offered to make a government-to-government
treaty to buy rice from Myanmar, according to the Ministry of Commerce.“The
Philippines has offered to buy rice. More detailed discussions are needed [for
the treaty]. Currently it imports rice mainly from Vietnam. Its market makes
enormous demands on rice,” said Khin Maung Lwin, a senior official from the
ministry.The Philippines would become an excellent market for rice when the
deal was made, the civil servants said.
The Philippines also offered to
buy rice from Myanmar in early 2016 but failed to make a deal. As there was a
price gap between Myanmar and Vietnam, the latter apparently won the tender for
a rice deal.Myanmar exported more than 80 per cent of rice to China through the
Muse border centre. When Muse was attacked by rebels in late November, rice
traders said they were preparing to export more rice by sea. Myanmar exports
rice to 33 countries and more exports went to the African market this year.The
country produced 13.5 million baskets of rice during the last fiscal year and
exported nearly 1.5 million tonnes in the year.The government said it was
working with experts, exporters and farmers to export more rice in the coming
years.
Translated by TTW
Ebonyi and
foreign rice ban
Apparently buoyed by emerging
support for its ban on the sale and consumption of foreign rice, the Ebonyi
State government has to set up a task force to ensure full compliance.Minister
of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh had commended the state
government for the decision to ban the sale and consumption of foreign rice
during his assessment tour of some rice projects in the state. Ogbeh who was
accompanied by the chairman, Presidential Committee on Rice Production,
Abubakar Bagudu and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele commended Governor Dave Umahi
for ensuring massive rice production in the state. He said “I heard you banned
the sale of foreign rice in your state, God bless you for it”.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Abdullahi Adamu had in a different forum, endorsed the ban thus:
“I support the ban on sale of foreign rice in Ebonyi. We have to start
somewhere. What we know is that local production is not enough but we should
consume it and that is not an excuse for importing rice”.
Umahi directed the taskforce to
“confiscate foreign rice found in our markets, the person should give us the
certificate of the quality of the rice and has to provide the import duties
paid for it, where he bought it from and give us Standard of Organization of
Nigeria certificate to prove that the rice is not poisonous”. He sought to
justify these measures on the grounds that some foreign rice were poisonous
having been stored for over 20 years abroad before they were smuggled into the
country.
On the face value, it would seem
all is well with the decision of the Ebonyi State government to ban the sale
and consumption of foreign rice. This is especially so as the seeming overall
objective is to discourage the consumption of imported rice and boost the consumption
and production of local variant. This thinking is further supported given that
Ebonyi has great potentials for the production of local rice which is said to
be of better nutritive value than the imported variety. There is also a lot of
economy of scale that will follow if our people are made to consume the rice we
produce. It will create jobs, enhance income per capita and catalyze a positive
leap in the general well-being of our people. These benefits are not in doubt. There is also the compelling imperative to discourage the
seeming insatiable appetite of our people for what is foreign. Thus, the inward
looking approach for solutions to our developmental problems cannot be faulted.
These may have been some of the
considerations that compelled Umahi to ban the sale of foreign rice –a product
the state has elastic capacity to produce. Through the ban, it is seeking to
encourage the consumption of locally produced rice which will in turn lead to
increased production, job creation and improvement in the general well-being of
the people. Conceived along this line, the ban would seem a step worth its
while.
But its success would depend on a
number of extenuating variables some of which are beyond the control of the
state government. The first presumption of the policy is that Ebonyi has
available, enough local rice to meet domestic demand. The veracity of this
claim is clearly in doubt. For a start, it is doubtful if the state government
has accurate statistics on the quantity of rice consumed in the state yearly.
It is unlikely to have one since it has no way of monitoring the quantity of
foreign rice that hitherto came into the state.
Even if it is privy to the quantum
of local rice produced in the state, the unavailability of reliable data on
consumption could in effect, render the policy nugatory. There could be
scarcity of the product which in turn, will lead to price increase. It is also
doubtful Ebonyi can produce sufficient rice to feed its people when the
commodity is sold and consumed beyond the shores of the state.
If Umahi discovers that the rice
produced in his state cannot go round as it is sold in other states, will he
then turn around and ban its sale outside the boundaries of the state? This
poser is at the heart of the contradiction brought to the fore by the sole
action of that state in banning the sale of foreign rice contrary to extant
policy of the federal government. The same contradictions were at play when
Umahi directed the taskforce to extract from foreign rice sellers such
information as certificate of quality, duties paid on the commodity and
certificate from SON that the rice is not poisonous.
These issues are beyond the mandate
of the state government as we have a surfeit of regulatory agencies for such
assignments. Moreover, Ebonyi State is a land locked state. It neither has a
seaport or airport nor does it share borders with any foreign country. What
then is the propriety in going into the markets to inundate retailers with all
these details that ordinarily should be supplied by importers at the ports of
entry? Why hold the poor retailers responsible for issues they know little or
nothing about?
How many of our rice importers have
their head offices in Ebonyi and how many of them are from that state if any?
These posers have been raised to underscore the incongruity in some of the
demands the task force has been assigned to confront foreign rice seller with.
They also reinforce the problems we run into when we roll out an isolated
policy that ignores extant position of the federal government on the matter.
Ebonyi State went beyond its
mandate to have unilaterally banned the sale and consumption of foreign rice in
the state. The action is loaded with more problems than whatever benefits it is
bound to achieve. Apart from the fact
that it cannot guarantee sufficient supply of local rice, it will amount to an
undue harassment of foreign rice sellers, most of whom are middlemen and
retailers.
For such a ban to have meaning, the
initiative should come from the federal government. But it cannot do so because
of the mismatch between domestic production and consumption. Besides, Nigeria
is signatory to many treaties on trade liberalization that frown at trade
restrictions or outright ban on the importation of commodities. So where does
the Ebonyi case fit within this matrix and of what value will it be in the overall
national calculations to increase the consumption and production of local rice?
The federal government said it has
initiated measures in several fronts to boost domestic rice production. These
should be pursued with greater vigour. Audu Ogbeh has promised government’s
rehabilitation of the Ettem Amagu Ikwo Dam, supply of rice harvesters,
threshers and parboiling drums to the state. These are the issues to be
vigorously pursued by the Ebonyi State government to ensure it gets its fair
share of them.
The overall objective now should be
to substantially increase domestic production of rice that can fairly compete
with the imported ones. Once this has been achieved, the lure of force as a
veritable tool to secure local consumption compliance will fizzle out
unilaterally. Then, Ebonyi will have no need for a task force that will
confiscate imported rice within its shores.
More importantly, with the
phenomenal high price of imported rice, the availability of cheaper local
variant should be a soothing relief to the people of the state. By simple
economic laws, this will result in a shift of patronage to the cheaper
alternative. If we still depend on force to get our people to consume our local
rice despite its cheaper price, it should instruct we are yet to get our acts
right.
These are the issue to worry about.
The right approach is to get more rice produced, refined in such a way that
will command local patronage. Then, there would be no need to worry about
foreign rice influx and use of taskforces to harass sellers of the commodity.
For now, the approach of the Ebonyi State government to the matter is a verity
of putting the cart before the horse; an exercise in shadow chasing
http://thenationonlineng.net/ebonyi-foreign-rice-ban/
RDB Loans
Prevent Middlemen From Cheating Farmers
In a bid to stabilize falling
prices, the Cambodian government in late September gave the green light to the
Rural Development Bank (RDB) to disburse loans totaling $27 million to millers
to buy paddy rice from farmers at 840 riel ($0.21) per kilogram.
Khmer Times’ Chea Vannak spoke with Kao Thach, RDB’s president, on the bank’s efforts to revive the country’s beleaguered rice sector.
Khmer Times’ Chea Vannak spoke with Kao Thach, RDB’s president, on the bank’s efforts to revive the country’s beleaguered rice sector.
KT: Can you tell us the progress
of the disbursement of the government’s special loan to the rice sector?
Mr. Thach: The RDB has disbursed about $1.5 million, since the government
approved $20 million to be given out as special loans to rice millers – with
another $7 million coming from the RDB. The loans have been made out to a few
rice millers in Battambang and Pursat provinces. Only five rice millers applied
for the loans. Two of them, however, withdrew their applications.
KT: What is the reason for the
poor response from rice millers?
Mr. Thach: In RDB’s loan policy, rice millers have to buy paddy rice from farmers at the price set by the bank. But many of the millers refuse to adhere to that policy and want to purchase farmer’s paddy rice at a lower price. That defeats the whole purpose of the special loans. Rice millers were supposed to pass on the benefits to farmers, and not the other way around. The loans were also meant to help farmers from being shortchanged by middlemen.
Also, rice millers are wary of storing large quantities of paddy
rice in the warehouses due to fluctuations in the international commodity
markets.It’s due to these reasons that the number of loan
applications have been low.
KT: Does the RDB have plans to
reduce the interest rate of the special loan?
Mr. Thach: I think a seven percent interest rate is reasonable within the
context of current interest rates offered by banks, especially for the
agriculture sector. The RDB interest rate is on par with business loans.
The current interest rates set by commercial banks and microfinance institutions for loans in the agriculture sector range from 10 to 24 percent, due to the risk factor. So, RDB’s interest rate is still reasonable.
The current interest rates set by commercial banks and microfinance institutions for loans in the agriculture sector range from 10 to 24 percent, due to the risk factor. So, RDB’s interest rate is still reasonable.
KT: The government has also
approved $15 million in loans, to be disbursed by RDB, to rice millers for the
building of warehouses and rice silos. What is the difference between this new
loan and the special loan?
Mr. Thach: The $15 million has just been approved by the government and
the disbursement has not been made yet by the RDB. The $20 million special loan
is a short-term intervention that is supposed to provide working capital for
rice millers during this year’s harvest period, and is repayable next May.
The new $15 million loan is more long term. It focuses on helping rice millers build warehouses and silos with good storage facilities, so that the quality of rice does not fall if it is kept for a long time.
KT: The current price of rice is
low on the commodity markets. Does RDB have a plan to help rice farmers during
this period?
Mr. Thach: What we can do to help rice farmers is to provide them with
loans to improve their cultivation methods and use better quality seeds. During
this period when rice prices are low, RDB encourages farmers to go into
contract farming. Contract farming may be considered as an effective risk
management system for small farmers, enhancing their accessibility to farm
inputs and ensuring more stable prices for their harvests.
So, RDB will work with farmers to help them understand the
advantages of contract farming. We will also, at the same time, work with rice
millers to help them buy paddy rice from contract farmers. In those areas where
contract rice farming is practiced, RDB will offer loans to farmers. They don’t
have to seek high-interest loans from commercial banks or microfinance
institutions.
KT: Besides the rice sector, what
other sectors does the RDB deal with?
Mr. Thach: RDB also focuses on the pepper, cassava, rubber and animal
husbandry sectors. We consider Kampot pepper as a strategic crop due to its
geographic indication status given by the European Union. RDB loans will
therefore improve the livelihoods of farmers growing Kampot pepper.
RDB is also encouraging farmers to diversify into animal husbandry – so that they will have an income through the year, rather than just depending on seasonal harvests of crops. The rice sector is still important for RDB. Close to 60 percent of our loans go to the sector.
KT: What is your outlook for 2017?
Mr. Thach: The RDB is a state-run institution and so we work according to
government policy. We are working to support the government’s aim to export one
million tons of rice a year.Next year, we plan to change our name
from the Rural Development Bank to the Agriculture Bank. We hope to better
serve our clients by offering them other services, currently only available in
private banks
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32731/rdb-loans-prevent-middlemen-from-cheating-farmers/
Father of ‘miracle rice’ to
receive presidential award
Dr. Peter Randolph Jennings is
credited for the discovery of the IR-8 rice variety
Published December
3, 2016, 1:33 PM
By MB Online
The American scientist credited
as the father of the so-called “miracle rice” is set to be honored by
President Rodrigo Duterte this month.Peter Randolph Jennings, Ph.D. will
receive a presidential award for breeding and developing the IR-8 variety 50
years ago, agriculture secretary Manny Piñol confirmed Saturday, December 3.Piñol
said Duterte “immediately endorsed” the bestowing of the award to Jennings upon
the department’s recommendation, noting the contributions of scientists like
Jennings in efforts “to address hunger in the world.”
Dr. Peter Randolph Jennings | IRRI.org | Manila Bulletin
Jennings, now 90, discovered the
IR-8 variety—a product of breeding Chinese dwarf rice with an Indian tall
variety—in November 1966 during his time at the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI).Piñol extolled that the discovery “led to
the development of the IR series of rice varieties which posted very high
yields and contributed to the increase of rice production all over the world.”
He added the so-called miracle
rice contributed to addressing hunger and, for a time, helped the Philippines
become a rice-exporting country when then president Ferdinand Marcos introduced
the variety to Filipino farmers.Piñol also said the department will
request House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, as endorsed by former
secretaries Domingo Panganiban and Leonardo Montemayor, to confer Jennings
with a congressional award.
On Tuesday, November 29,
IRRI marked the 50th anniversary of the “discovery” of the miracle rice with
ceremonies in the IRRI compound in Los Baños, Laguna. Jennings spoke at the
event.
http://newsbits.mb.com.ph/2016/12/03/father-of-miracle-rice-to-receive-presidential-award/
Nigerians prefer lawmakers that give them bags
of rice, Reps member laments
ON DECEMBER 3, 201610:00 AMIN
..as Dogara tasks NASS on transparency By
Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA – Deputy Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives, Hon Chukwuka Onyema, on Friday, said it was unfortunate that
Nigerians prefer bags of rice to quality legislations. Onyema who spoke at a
roundtable conference organised by the House Committee on Civil Societies and
Development Partners, decried that people are more concerned about material
things they stand to gain from their Representatives, than the quality of Bills
being passed by the National Assembly. He represented the Speaker of the House
of Reps, Hon. Yakubu Dogara at the conference which had the theme, ‘Bridging
the Gap Between The Elected Representatives and Their Constituents’.
According to him, “Nigerians want you to go and
steal all the money in the world and come and give them, then you have done
well. But even if you pass over 100 legislative Bills, to them you have not
done well. “That is very wrong. We have to get it right. For instance, if you
go to your constituency and tell them I did this and that at the parliament,
they will just be looking at you, like what is this one saying. “But if you
tell them I gave this and that scholarship, or there are bags of rice outside
to be shared, they will applaud you that you have done well. “This is totally
wrong and must be corrected. That is not our work. I think it is high time we
started realising some of these things. This is why I think this kind of forum
is very very important”.
Meantime, in a paper he presented at the event,
a former Minority Whip at the House of Reps, Hon. Samson Osagie, insisted that
the National Assembly is the most vilified, misunderstood and unappreciated
among the three organs of government. “This is why the Legislature and its
committees should do everything possible to reinvent itself”, he added. He
said: “The ever growing expectations of the constituents from their
representatives necessitates that the latter must evolve strategies to meet
with those or at least some of those expectations. “Of course, the nature of our
economy does not make the job of a representative an easy one. With the high
rate of inflation and huge unemployment, the Legislator is in a very difficult
position on how to meet not just the social needs of the communities he
represents but the basic individual needs of his constituents.
“Regrettably is the gross misunderstanding of
this herculean task that the Lawmaker has to face. As earlier stated, the
members of the National Assembly are the most hated, vilified and unappreciated
by many Nigerians on account of the alleged salaries and allowances that they
earn, yet they are confronted with huge responsibilities to discharge.
“Therefore, it is imperative that a Lawmaker must device some strategies to
constantly carry along his constituents”. He further decried the influence of
money on politics in Nigeria, saying it was the major reason behind the
do-or-die attitude of politicians. “At the end of the day you are judged by how
much million you are ready to give to people.
“They follow you to the election and at the end
of the day they want you to make them millionaires. “I left office over a year
ago. Someone told me that the problem I had was that I did not make people
millionaires. “The syndrome of god-fatherism is another factor. When one man
decides who will be the representative of so many people. Now if you don’t have
money you don’t go into politics. That is what it has turned to. At the end of
the day, when you sale all your things and contest election, it becomes a
problem. “In conclusion, it is suggested that as a way forward, our electoral
system must be reviewed and implemented. “Political parties must also evolve
strategies to make elections particularly at the primary levels less expensive
and competitive. They must also ensure that government implement it’s
manifestos.
“Voter
education must be the collective responsibility of nothing government,
electoral umpire and political parties. This must be done regularly. Above all,
representatives must maintain very close and cordial relationship with their
constituents”. In his speech that was read by Hon. Onyema, Dogara, said the
conference was timely and apt. “It is also coming at a time in our nation when
there is a genuine misunderstanding of the duties, responsibilities and
activities of elected representatives and their desire to attract projects and
services back to their constituencies, by way of constituency intervention
projects. “There can be no effective representation if an atmosphere of
distrust and suspicion exists as to the intentions and rational for the actions
of elected persons.
“The desire of elected representatives to make
an impact in their constituencies is borne out of the need for service. No
elected person worth his salt would be satisfied if he is unable to point out
at the end of the day, what he has been able to accomplish within the period of
his mandate. “This Roundtable is particularly important because there is a
yawning gap between the activities of Representatives and the recipients of his
services. To bridge this gap, greater effort should be made in communicating
effectively the activities of elected Representatives. We should have regular
town hall meetings, regular consultative processes, and regular media
engagement, if this problem is to be solved “The legislature is often
misunderstood because its role is unappreciated.
The work of the legislature is mainly
intangible but the public hunger and measure of performance relates to tangible
things. If a legislator works on a bill and gets it passed, the constituent may
not take note, if a Legislator speaks ‘big grammar’ an makes meaningful
contributions in Plenary or Committee, it is hardly noticed by his constituent.
“Time has also come for democratic institution like the National Assembly to
communicate better, its processes and activities to the public. Time has come
for the National Assembly to publicly answer any questions relating to its
activities and funding.
“It
seems to us that over the years the legislature has adopted the policy of
non-response when its activities are called to question. Most often a simple
explanation is what is required. “But when none is forthcoming, mischief
makers, ignorant and misinformed pundits are left to fill the public space with
lies, falsehood and misinformation”, Dogara added. On his part, the Executive
Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, harped on the need fo
better collaboration between the National Assembly and Civil Society
Organisations
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/nigerians-prefer-lawmakers-give-bags-rice-reps-member-laments/
DA launches color-coded agri map
December
05, 2016
QUEZON CITY, Dec.5 - The Department of
Agriculture recently launched a color-coded national agricultural map derived
from combining factors affecting agri-fishery production such as soil
properties, water availability, climate topography and at the regional level,
economics and demography.This is one one of several interventions that
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol initiated in the last five months to
fulfill President Duterte’s promise of food sufficiency by the end of his term.
The launching of the map which analyzes
agricultural efficiency and land use was led by Piñol, DA officials and
Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) officials. AMIA
defines the agriculture department’s national framework in addressing climate
change in agriculture and serves as the umbrella program covering climate
change across all programs, functions and agencies at the DA.
Piñol, speaking at the 50th anniversary of the
breeding of IR8 or the Miracle Rice at the International Rice Research
Institute in Los Banos Laguna Tuesday, bared four other major interventions
since he took over the agriculture portfolio last July.
These include:
– The national food consumption quantification
survey, currently being undertaken, which will give accurate statistics on food
supply and consumption.
– Paradigm shift in irrigation wherein for the
first time in the history of rice farming in the country, irrigation water will
be provided free by the National Irrigation Administration starting next year.
The DA is also moving towards solar-powered and small irrigation projects.
– Corporate rice farming which will directly
link farmer producers with corporate buyers including the Social Welfare
department’s 4Ps rice ration program to free them from the manipulation of
traders and middlemen. It will also give farmers access to quality rice seeds
and fertilizers.
– Mechanization and post-harvest facilities,
one area where the DA will focus its resources on in the coming years of the
Duterte administration.
Piñol bared that the $6-billion being offered
by the Chinese government during the state visit of President Duterte may be
used in completing the mechanization and establishment of post-harvest
facilities.
Negotiations, he said, are also being initiated
with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a long term
equipment loan from the Japanese government.
“It has been a long and tiring five months for
me but it is a journey which I have to continue doing until the end of the term
of President Duterte,” he said.
Last October 10, during their visit to Lamitan
City in Basilan, Piñol said he hold the president that, “the strong foundations
of a sound agriculture program, including rice production, must be implemented
during his term.”
He pointed out that he is comfortable with the
thought that the President shares his vision of a sound agricultural program
that will provide “available and affordable food for the Filipino people. (DA)
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1141480854266/da-launches-color-coded-agri-map
Alternatives to rationalise
consumption
THE HANS INDIA |
Dec 05,2016 , 03:18 AM IST
Driven by conservation concerns about the huge
pressure on the water resources in the country, there is a growing debate in
India about the feasibility of cultivating paddy crops. Such apprehensions are
based on the premise that paddy consumes huge quantum of water and consequently
it is proving to be a drain on depleting water resources in India.On an
average, 2,500 liters of water is required for producing one kg of rice.
Keeping these pointers in perspective, there are views making the rounds that
perhaps rice cultivators should replace paddy with other crops. Considering the
heavy dependence on rice by a majority of consumers in India and also the
existent large scale cultivation of paddy crop across the length and breadth of
the country, a total and drastic shift towards alternate crops can disrupt the
economy apart from causing disorientation among the farmers.
So what is the solution to this heavy
consumption of water? Do we have to
choose between water and rice?
Agriculture scientists have developed methods
that offer scope for minimizing water usage in paddy cultivation. Maximum
quantity of water consumption occurs during the transplanting phase. The crop
is transplanted in 5 inches of water which through certain methods can be
avoided.
In fact, the water used during transplanting
serves only one purpose – it prevents accumulation of weeds. Explaining this practice to The Hans India,
Dr. Ravindra Babu, Director, Hyderabad based-Indian Institute of Rice Research
said that the farmers continue with the practice of submerging the crop in 5
inches of water because it helps them suppress the growth and proliferation of
weed. “This practice was practical at a point time when there was no constraint
on water resources.
But, now because of water scarcity there is no
need to continue this method in cropping.”
Two major problems crops up in the process of transplantation - emission
of hazardous greenhouse gases (GHS) from the submerged crops in addition to the
disadvantage of the roots not getting properly aerated because of the submergence. Dr. Ravindra Babu pointed out that contrary
to general impressions “Rice is not a water loving crop.” According to him maximum water is consumed
only during transplantation stage.
“In fact, the process of transplantation can be
totally done away with, and, replaced by direct seeding. This will not reduce
water usage for cultivation by 50%.” Dr Ravindra Babu informed that wetting and
drying methods are also being promoted among the farmers. Farmers can save
another40% water by adapting wetting and drying methods.” Moreover, by using
these methods, the yield would be higher than what the farmers use to get
through flooding or submergence.”
In addition to minimizing water usage, another
very significant advantage of direct seeding, wetting and drying is that these
methods enable reduction in the cost of manual labour. Already, these methods are being adapted by
farmers in east and west Godavari, Haryana, Punjab and various other states in
the country. Hopefully, once these alternate methods that rationalize water
consumption gains momentum in the country, then India can have both rice and
also the water.
By
Satyapal Menon
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Commoner/2016-12-05/Alternatives-to-rationalise-consumption/267127
How to sift real rice from the
fake
Reader Boey San Fei wrote in to ask about basmati rice: "If
we suspect the rice that we have bought is fake, where do we send it for
verification?" Food reporter Kenneth Goh finds out.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary
Authority (AVA) is the authority in Singapore which conducts food-safety
checks. If you suspect the rice is fake - that is, synthetic rice, as
purportedly has been found in countries like China and Vietnam - then the AVA
is the organisation to approach to verify that the rice is indeed real.
http://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/food/how-sift-real-rice-fake
THE MIRACLE RICE-‘IR8’
2
3
4
5
It saved many nations like India from famine
Many rice-growing farmers and seasonal cultivators took to IR8 for
this reason. Eventually, it did bring miraculous results as it helped various
nations address acute problems of food shortage. The story of IR8 and the
emergence of subsequent varieties during what came to be known as Green
Revolution, established the fact that concerted efforts in scientific
innovation can change life. India being a traditional rice- growing nation,
gained immensely from the success of IR8. Indian farmers and scientists were
widely consulted, while developing the world’s first high-yielding variety of
rice at the IRRI. India's top-notch agricultural scientists such as MS
Swaminathan, then Director General of the IRRI, literally brought the Green
Revolution home. The IRRI and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) had developed a long collaboration in the period before and after
the coming of IR8; this continues till date.
Celebrating the success of half a century of the miracle rice IR8,
Director General of the ICAR, Trilochan Mohapatra, remarked: “IR8 has been used
extensively in the development of subsequent rice varieties. We should take
what we have learned from our partnership with the IRRI, and use it for our
country to build the rice sector strategy so we can achieve more than what we
had previously.” Also, the ICAR has provided institutional support to sustain
the Green Revolution and subsequent developments in Indian agriculture. With
massive application of science and technology, the ICAR has enabled the country
to increase the production of food grains by five times since 1951 to 2014.
Apart from promoting higher education in agriculture, the ICAR has heralded a
visible impact on national food and nutritional security.
IR8 was first grown in India by a farmer named Nekkanti Subba Rao,
in Andhra Pradesh. He even made serious efforts to promote the rice variety,
which earned him the nickname, ‘Mr IR8'. Then gradually, IR8 moved towards
other southern States like Tamil Nadu and also to the rest of the country.
Today, to make rice-growing farmers more secure and productive, India needs a
full-fledged application of advanced scientific methods to be adopted in
agriculture — something Prime Minister Modi has been advocating. Time has come
to turn the Indian rice research community more participatory, involving more
farmers — and especially women — in the process. Meanwhile, the agricultural
sector itself needs a fresh dose of holistic reforms
http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/edit/the-miracle-rice-ir8.html
