Thursday, February 02, 2017

2nd February,2017 daily global,regional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

USA rice market research focuses on El Salvador

Wednesday

 
"We learned that regardless of the source, statistics and consumption figures show that there is a stagnation in rice consumption in El Salvador, or at best, very timid growth," Jose Alfonso Lainez of Praxis, the firm that conducted the research, said.
 
USA Rice, El Salvador Association of Rice Millers (ASALBAR) and USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service representatives in San Salvador met earlier this month to discuss the results of USA Rice market research into consumer behavior and preferences in El Salvador.
"We learned that regardless of the source, statistics and consumption figures show that there is a stagnation in rice consumption in El Salvador, or at best, very timid growth," Jose Alfonso Lainez of Praxis, the firm that conducted the research, said. "Consumers see rice as a complement to the main dish, making it easy to replace with items such as potatoes, vegetables, salad, and about 20 other options they name. However, one of the changes in consumer behavior we noted was a migration from purchases at traditional 'tiendas' and 'pulperías', (small shops), to establishments that offer better conditions of safety and cleanliness."
This shift actually makes it easier to reach consumers through in store demonstrations - something USA Rice began last year.
Although rice is rich in vitamins and minerals, and is an excellent source of energy, the research confirms not many consumers are aware of its health benefits. Several means of communicating these important facts, in an effort to increase rice consumption here, were discussed, including a public relations campaign targeting health professionals, paid media with nutrition and lifestyle journals and popular newspapers, and educational outreach at local health clinics. Additionally, a large scale cooking lesson for professional chefs will be held in a renowned culinary school later this year.
USA Rice will use the results of this study to fine tune promotional activities in this important and growing market. From January through November 2016, U.S. rice exports to El Salvador were 265,000 tons - up 636 percent over the same period in 2015
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/20170201/usa-rice-market-research-focuses-on-el-salvador
February 01, 2017

LAHORE
Deputy Commissioner Sumair Ahmed Syed reviewed old prices of edibles and fixed new rates with the consultation of traders, consumers and other district officials concerned. 
A minor enhancement in prices of three edible items has been done which include Rice Basmati Super (New) 5, Rice Basmati Super (Old) 5 and Sugar 3 Rupees while the prices of Milk, Yogurt, Mutton, Beef, Roti and Nan were maintained as per previously notified rates whose rates have already mentioned above. 
The decision was made in a meeting of District Price Committee on Tuesday, which was participated by additional deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, representatives of traders and consumers.
DC Sumair Ahmed Syed stressed the traders to sell standardised essential commodities and directed them not to do overcharging of essential commodities.
He directed the price control magistrates to visit markets to implement the new notified rates of essential commodities.
The new rates of the edibles are notified as under: Rice Basmati Super (New) Rs 95, Rice Basmati Super (Old) Rs 105, Rice Basmati 386 (New) 32,Gram Daal (Bareek) Rs 115, Garm Daal (Special) Rs 124, Masoor Daal (Moti) Rs 95, Masoor Daal (Bareek) Rs 140, Mash Daal (Washed Imported) Rs 165, Mash Daal (Unwashed Imported) Rs 145, Moong Daal (Washed) Rs 95, Moong Daal (Unwashed) Rs 105, Black Chana (Mota) Rs 105, Black Chana (Bareek) Rs 105, White Chana (Mota) Rs 146, Red chilli Rs 195, Basin Rs 125, Sugar White Rs 65, milk Rs 70, Yogurt Rs 85, Mutton Rs 700, beef Rs 325 and Rs 6 of Roti. Moreover, Deputy Commissioner Sumair Ahmed Syed has also issued notification of new prices of essential commodities.
As per notification issued on January 31, 2017 and notification issued on December 27 2016, a notification difference can be observed in the reduction of prices of twelve essential commodities, which include Gram Daal 40 Rupees, Daal Special 38, Masoor Daal (Moti) 20, Mash Daal Washed 20, Mash Daal Unwashed 15, Black Chana Mota 45, Black Chana Bareek Local 35, White Cahna 6, Basin 35 and Red Chilli 15 Rupees



Behold, Tahdig: How Iranians Make Rice The Best Part Of Every Meal

“It’s the ultimate in crunchy golden goodness — somewhere between fried chicken and popcorn.”

 01/31/2017 02:57 pm ET

Julie R. ThomsonSenior Editor, Taste, The Huffington Post
In response to the Muslim ban, one way for us to navigate these times is to educate ourselves ― to learn what we can about the cultures of the nations that are affected. We’re starting small, with a simple dish from Iran that everyone can make at home. After all, food is the distillation of community and culture to its most basic form. We hope you’ll cook along with us in support. 
Description: http://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/scalefit_630_noupscale/588f96cb17000030001d1318.jpeg
JAMES RANSOM/FOOD52
A perfect, crispy disk of tahdig that you won’t be able to stop eating. Check out Food52’s version of the recipe and step-by-step photos.Some of the best dishes are the simplest, and that couldn’t be more true when talking about tahdig, Iran’s famous rice dish. If you love the crunchy, well-cooked edge of a lasagna, you’ll adore tahdig. 
Tahdig, which literally translates to “bottom of the pot,” is a pan-fried layer of crunchy, crispy white basmati rice. It can be served whole, maintaining the circular shape of the vessel it was cooked in, or broken into pieces of irresistible crunchy rice. It’s usually cooked in clarified butter (ghee) or oil, but to form a better crust, you can add yogurt, or lavash, or sometimes ―- for a really special treatment ― potatoes are used to line the bottom of the pan.
While tahdig refers to the burnt crust of the rice, the preparation and serving of it also includes rice that is perfectly steamed on top of this crisp layer, as you’ll find in the recipe below. It’s pure and simple genius. It’s also an absolutely soul satisfying way to eat rice. 
Anyone who has anything to say about tahdig will say this: when the dish is served at a feast, it is always guaranteed to be finished. Everyone loves it. Louisa Shafia, author of The New Persian Kitchen, says it best when she suggests that we “think of tahdig as Persian ‘soul food.’ It’s the ultimate in crunchy golden goodness ― somewhere between fried chicken and popcorn ― and making it is a skill worth perfecting.”
While tahdig is almost always part of a feast, it isn’t reserved for special occasions. In Iran, it is eaten whenever rice is part of a meal, which is often. Once you try it, you’ll see why. We have a recipe for you. If you have rice, you can easily make this dish happen tonight.
Here it is.
Reprinted with permission from The New Persian Kitchen, by Louisa Shafia (Ten Speed Press, 2013).

Basic Tahdig

makes 5-1/2 cups rice plus one 10-inch disk of tahdig
·        2 cups white basmati rice
·        3 tablespoons refined coconut oil, ghee, or grapeseed oil
·        1/4 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for salting the water
Step 1: Parcook the rice
Soak the rice in cold water for 30 minutes. Swish the rice around a few times, then drain and rinse the rice in cold water until the rinse water runs clear. In a stockpot, combine 8 cups water and 2 heaping tablespoons salt and bring to a boil. Add the rice and return to a boil, uncovered, as it can easily boil over. After 5 minutes, test a grain of the rice by breaking it in half. The rice is ready when it’s soft but the center is still opaque and not fully cooked. Drain and rinse the rice under cold water to stop the cooking. Measure out 2 cups rice and set aside.
Step 2: Make the tahdig layer
Heat a deep 10-inch cast-iron skillet or enamel paella pan over low heat for a few minutes. Add the oil (if your skillet is bigger than 10 inches, add an additional 2 tablespoons oil), followed by the 2 cups reserved rice. Spread the rice evenly over the bottom of the pan, and pack it down tightly with an offset spatula or large wooden spoon. Sprinkle the sea salt over the rice.
Step 3: Shape the rice into a pyramid and cook
Add the rest of the rice to the pan and shape it into a pyramid. Poke several holes in the rice with a chopstick to let steam escape. Cover and turn the heat up to medium-high. Cook the rice for 10 minutes, then turn down the heat to very low and place a clean dish towel under the lid to catch condensation, and cover the pan tightly. If you have a flame tamer, put it between the burner and the bottom of the skillet to disperse the cooking heat. Cook for 50 minutes.
Step 4: Separate the rice from the tahdig and serve
Lift the lid from the pan. There will be condensation trapped under the lid, so avoid tilting it over the rice and inadvertently pouring the steam water back in. Gently scoop the rice onto a serving platter, making sure not to disturb the tahdig at the bottom. Loosen the sides of the tahdig with a butter knife and flip it onto a plate, or remove it from the pan with an offset spatula. Serve whole or broken in pieces.


Description: Over 100 new dams to be completed next year
The National Assembly was informed Wednesday (today) that a number of dams are under construction across the country which will be completed next year.
This was stated by the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Chaudhary Jaffar Iqbal while speaking during the question session.
He said the under construction dams included 100 delay action dam in Balochistan, 20 small dams in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, small storage dams and delay action dams in Sindh.
“Pakistan is importing 74 MW of electricity from Iran. He said a contact has also been signed with Iran for import of 100 MW electricity for Gwadar,” he added.
To a question, he said eight percent decrease in export of Basmati Rice has been registered due to non-competitiveness in prices. He said the exports have not been decreased due to rice quality.
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/02/01/over-100-new-dams-to-be-completed-next-year/
REAP fetes Commerce Minister
By Webmaster -February 1, 2017
Lahore
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) hosted a reception in honor of Engr. Khurram Dastigar Khan, Federal Minister of Commerce which was participated by a large number of REAP members.
Mr. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi, Chairman REAP said that rice export sector is the 2nd largest export commodity, but despite earning of about $2 billion valuable foreign exchange annually, rice exporters are not given the benefits like textile, leather, carpets, sports goods and surgical instruments exporters.
Chairman REAP said that we have already written letters to honorable Finance Minister as well as to your esteemed office to include Rice Export Sector in Zero Rated exporting sectors and exempt Rice Exporters from Sales Tax and Income Tax on utilities for their rice export.
Mr. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi said that rice export from Pakistan are generally affected due to improper branding, poor packing and non compliance to SPS measures. He requested the Ministry of Commerce to encourage establishment of Brand and give subsidy to those exporters who are exporting rice under their brand name

Bulog allocates Rp 37 trillion to buy commodities from farmers

Stefani Ribka
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Wed, February 1, 2017 | 11:03 am
Description: Bulog allocates Rp 37 trillion to buy commodities from farmersFarmers carry paddy stalks to be milled at a factory in Ngawi, East Java. (Antara/Ari Bowo Sucipto)
The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has allocated Rp 37 trillion (US$2.7 billion) from bank loans to buy several commodities, including rice, soybeans, corn and sugar, from local farmers and other countries in an effort to stabilize prices.“As of today, we’ve got commitments from banks for a total of Rp 37 trillion to buy several commodities,” Bulog chairman Djarot Kusumayakti told a press conference on Tuesday.
The state enterprise aims to increase local rice purchases to 3.7 million tons this year from 2.9 million tons last year. Of the 3.7 million tons, 3.2 million tons will be provided for free to 14 million low-income households, while the remaining 500,000 tons will go to the commercial market.
Djarot said with subsidized rice and sufficient rice supplies last year, the rice price remained stable at around Rp 8,000 per kilogram.
The agency hopes to repeat its success to also stabilize prices for sugar, soybeans and meat. However, it needs improved cooperation with private stakeholders that agree to sell the commodities at the prices set by Bulog.
“Today we have good cooperation with private stakeholders to buy meat and corn. We want to have better cooperation. Only with good cooperation can we create stable prices,” Djarot added.
Bulog has also allocated Rp 2.3 trillion to invest in post-harvest infrastructure, from rice storage to mills and corn dryers, to ensure that the agency can buy more commodities from local harvests at better quality. (bbn

Rice basmati weakens on muted demand

New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) In restricted activity, rice basmati prices dropped by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on tepid demand.

By PTI Feeds | Published: February 1, 2017 2:52 PM IST
Wed, 1 Feb 2017-02:53pm , PTI
In restricted activity, rice basmati prices dropped by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on tepid demand.
However, other grains held steady in thin trade.
Traders said fall in demand at prevailing levels mainly led to decline in rice basmati prices.
In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety eased to Rs 7,200-7,400 and Rs 5,900-7,200 against last close of Rs 7,300-7,400 and Rs 6,000-7,200 per quintal, respectively.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,850-3,150, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 2,090-2,100, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 2,110-2,140, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 285, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 285, Roller flour mill Rs 1,140-1,150 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,200-1,210 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,270-1,275 (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 7,200-7,400, Rice Pusa (1,121) Rs 5,900-7,200, Permal raw Rs 2,200-2,250, Permal wand Rs 2,300-2,400, Sela Rs 3,000-3,100 and Rice IR-8 Rs 2,000-2,025, Bajra Rs 1,460-1,500, Jowar yellow Rs 1750-1800, white Rs 3,500-3,700, Maize Rs 1,610-1,620, Barley Rs 1,800-1,820.
(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.
http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-rice-basmati-weakens-on-muted-demand-2305772

Government to procure 4 lakh tonnes of paddy this year
PTI | Updated: Feb 1, 2017, 08.27 AM IST
Description: (Representative image)RANCHI: State consumer affairs minister Saryu Roy on Tuesday said the government has set a target of procuring four lakh tonnes of paddy this kharif year.

He said two lakh tonnes of paddy has already been purchased. "The state has saved Rs 700 crore in different schemes and programmes of the department," he added.

Roy, also the state's food and public distribution system minister, was replying on the discussion of demands for grants for his ministries at the assembly. "A total of 66,000 farmers have been registered and out of that 44,000 got SMSes for the sale of their produce," Roy said, adding, "So far only 5,500 farmers have approached the sale centres."

He said technical difficulties had come during the purchase of paddy and efforts were on to ease them.Roy said an estimated Rs 700 crore had been saved by following transparency in different schemes of the department in the last two years.

Later, the House rejected the cut motion moved by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha(Prajatantrik) MLA Pradip Yadav and through voice vote passed demands for Rs 1391.18 crore.
\

REAP fetes Commerce Minister

By Webmaster -
Staff Reporte
Lahore

Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) hosted a reception in honor of Engr. Khurram Dastigar Khan, Federal Minister of Commerce which was participated by a large number of REAP members.r. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi, Chairman REAP said that rice export sector is the 2nd largest export commodity, but despite earning of about $2 billion valuable foreign exchange annually, rice exporters are not given the benefits like textile, leather, carpets, sports goods and surgical instruments exporters.

Chairman REAP said that we have already written letters to honorable Finance Minister as well as to your esteemed office to include Rice Export Sector in Zero Rated exporting sectors and exempt Rice Exporters from Sales Tax and Income Tax on utilities for their rice export.

Mr. Mahmood Baqi Moulvi said that rice export from Pakistan are generally affected due to improper branding, poor packing and non compliance to SPS measures. He requested the Ministry of Commerce to encourage establishment of Brand and give subsidy to those exporters who are exporting rice under their brand name.


31,000 rice farmers to benefit from Fed. Govt’s GES in Bauchi
FEBRUARY 1ST, 2017  KAY UGWUEDE 
The  Bauchi State Director , Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Yusuf, said on Wednesday that 31,000 dry season rice farmers in the state are to receive fertlizer and other inputs at subsidized rate under the Federal Government’s  Growth Enhancement Scheme(GES) .Yusuf told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi that beneficiaries had already received notifications of their allocation through text messages (E-wallet). Description: 31,000 rice farmers to benefit from Fed. Govt’s GES in Bauchi
According to him, distribution will commence on Monday, Feb. 6, adding that the exercise had to be stopped as a result of some communication gap with beneficiaries.
Yusuf said that the rescheduling of the distribution was a result of the refusal by some of the beneficiaries to accept liquid fertiliser.“The distribution was to have started earlier than now but some of the beneficiaries refused to accept the available product because the text messages sent to them indicated Granular Urea  fertilizer.“The one we received from the Federal Government was liquid urea, and so they rejected it.
“Some were willing to collect the liquid while some rejected and even allegedly said that we diverted the granular fertilizer,” he said.
He said that as a result of the hitch, distribution had been suspended and that a ceremony would be held to invite Government officials to brief beneficiaries on the fertilizer.He said that the liquid fertilizer was recommended by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Farmers may lose 84,000 rai of off-season crops

Off-season rice in Ayutthaya is dying due to a lack of water. More than 84,000 rai of second rice crops in Ayutthaya and Saraburi are at risk during the dry season. (Photo by Sunthon Pongpao)
Farmers in two central provinces are facing the loss of more than 80,000 rai of off-season rice after irrigation authorities announced there would not be enough water for their farms during the dry season.
More than 500 representatives of affected farmers from Pachi and Nakhon Luang districts in Ayutthaya and Nong Khae district in Saraburi on Wednesday thronged Pachi district hall to hear explanations from irrigation officials about water shortages during the dry season.
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) had recently announced there might not be enough water for agricultural purposes during the dry season, starting this month to May.
Irrigation officials, local officials and soldiers held a meeting to explain the water situation and listen to the farmers' problems.
Sumon Khongsamrit, 63, a representative of farmers who use water from Rapheepat canal, said farmers in the two provinces grew first-round off-season crops after the RID told them that there would be enough water for farming from November last year to April 30 this year. The rice was now one to two months old.
But farmers were shocked after learning that there would not be enough water for off-season rice farming during the dry season, said Mr Sumon.More than 84,000 rai of off-season crops in three districts of the two provinces were facing shortages of water as the Rapheepat canal and other water sources run dry.
About 50% of paddy fields would die if water was not supplied to the canal in 1-2 weeks, said the farmers’ representative.Thong-in Srinuan, 75, another farmer in Pachi district, expressed concern that if there was no water to feed his paddy field this week, his 20-rai of off-season crops would die.
Prasert Lekrungruangkit, director of the Pasak Tai water supply and maintenance project, said water in the Pasak River was not enough to supply the Rapheepat canal.
If the river supplied water to the canal as requested by the farmers, doing so would be against the RID’s water management committee’s resolution, he explained.
To tackle the pressing problem, his agency would propose the committee increase water supply to the canal to every two weeks, Mr Prasert said. After hearing the explanations for over five hours, most farmers returned home in desperation. They said they would have to pin their hopes on summer storms to bring water to their farms.
Representatives of off-season rice farmers in Ayutthaya and Saraburi listen to explanations from irrigation officials about water shortages during a meeting in Pachi district, Ayutthaya on Wednesday. (Photo by Sunthon Pongpao)

The Bangkok Post






http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1190861/farmers-may-lose-84-000-rai-of-off-season-crops

USA rice market research focuses on El Salvador

Wednesday


"We learned that regardless of the source, statistics and consumption figures show that there is a stagnation in rice consumption in El Salvador, or at best, very timid growth," Jose Alfonso Lainez of Praxis, the firm that conducted the research, said.
 
USA Rice, El Salvador Association of Rice Millers (ASALBAR) and USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service representatives in San Salvador met earlier this month to discuss the results of USA Rice market research into consumer behavior and preferences in El Salvador.
"We learned that regardless of the source, statistics and consumption figures show that there is a stagnation in rice consumption in El Salvador, or at best, very timid growth," Jose Alfonso Lainez of Praxis, the firm that conducted the research, said. "Consumers see rice as a complement to the main dish, making it easy to replace with items such as potatoes, vegetables, salad, and about 20 other options they name. However, one of the changes in consumer behavior we noted was a migration from purchases at traditional 'tiendas' and 'pulperías', (small shops), to establishments that offer better conditions of safety and cleanliness."
This shift actually makes it easier to reach consumers through in store demonstrations - something USA Rice began last year.
Although rice is rich in vitamins and minerals, and is an excellent source of energy, the research confirms not many consumers are aware of its health benefits. Several means of communicating these important facts, in an effort to increase rice consumption here, were discussed, including a public relations campaign targeting health professionals, paid media with nutrition and lifestyle journals and popular newspapers, and educational outreach at local health clinics. Additionally, a large scale cooking lesson for professional chefs will be held in a renowned culinary school later this year.
USA Rice will use the results of this study to fine tune promotional activities in this important and growing market. From January through November 2016, U.S. rice exports to El Salvador were 265,000 tons - up 636 percent over the same period in 2015
Rice Growers Step Up Production, As Local Demand Increases


By Chika Izuora
Feb 2, 2017 2:54 am | Leave a comment
If there were still doubts about the fact that there has been a significant increase in the volume of rice produced in the country in recent years, the  impressive number of bags of Made-in-Nigeria rice that were in the market during the festive season would certainly have dispelled them.
Indeed, during the yuletide, a lot of corporate bodies, especially banks, gave out Made-in-Nigeria rice as gifts instead of the usual imported varieties.Findings show that the rising volume of local rice production is due to increased demand for the commodity by Nigerians.  The demand is said to be fuelled by growing awareness among Nigerians that locally-produced rice is much more nutritious than the imported variety especially given that many of the country’s leading rice millers now process Paddy rice as proficiently as their foreign counterparts.
Analysts have said that another factor driving local demand of locally-made rice is the campaign by the federal government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as well as the state governments, to encourage local production in the face of dwindling oil revenue.
For instance, the minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, was so impressed during a visit to a rice farm in the eastern part of the country that he predicted that Nigeria could end rice importation in the next one year thereby drastically reducing its annual food importation bill which currently stands at between $2 and $3 billion.
However, analysts point out that the surge in Nigeria’s local rice production has been primarily due to the massive investment in the production of the staple food   by leading agri-business firm, Olam Nigeria Limited.
According to analysts, although there are several companies now involved in rice production in the country, there is no doubt that Olam’s pioneering role in this aspect of the agric sector is responsible for the impressive volume of rice currently produced in Nigeria.
Specifically, the company set up a multi-million dollar integrated rice mill in Nasarawa State, North-central Nigeria, fitted with the capacity to produce 65,000 metric tonnes of milled rice per annum.
Speaking during the commissioning of the facility in 2013 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Olam’s managing director for Africa and Middle East, VenkataramaniSrivathsan, said 3,000 hectares of land was already under cultivation on the 6,000 hectares of mechanised paddy farm where the rice mill is located.
Srivathsan said Olam planned to increase acreage in Nasarawa to 10,000 hectares. “This will bring Olam’s total investment in the integrated farm and milling facility to over $111 million,” he said.
He also noted that the mill demonstrates how large-scale commercial farms can work hand in hand with smallholders to boost Nigeria’s agric sector, generating rural prosperity through local processing.
Also in his remarks, Olam Nigeria country head, Mukul Mathur expressed the company’s pride to have been part of Nigeria’s development of its export chains, noting that the Singapore-headquartered firm was the first to export sesame from Nigeria.
“We hope that the success of our rice model will kick-start domestic production in a similar manner, unlocking the opportunity for businesses and smallholders alike, and reducing Nigeria’s need to import 1.9 million tonnes of rice each year,” said Mathur.
Olam, which in the last 10 years has been the largest non-oil exporter in the country- a feat that has won it several awards both locally and internationally- started in Nigeria 27 years ago and employs more than 2,500 direct workers and over 6,000 workers on contract.
The company which was one of the few big global players that saw the promise of the Nigerian rice market developed an innovative approach to rice production. Its model combines a commercial farm with a programme that works with nearby farmers, called out-growers, allowing Olam greater control over its product while still leaving room to foster and train local small-scale farmers in rice production.
With the use of aircraft to plant rice, apply fertiliser, insecticides, herbicides and bird control, together with nine giant tractors for land preparation and eleven(11)combined harvesters for harvesting and threshing rice, the company is currently  developing a 10,000-hectare, fully-mechanised and irrigated paddy farm at Rukubi, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The farm is expected to yield 10 metric tonnes per hectare (average yield of local farmers is 2 – 4MT) in two annual crop cycles, based on four varieties of high-yield rice tested with the West African Rice Development Association, which are FARO 44, FARO 52, L34 and L19, all developed and released by Africa Rice. 4,400 hectares are already under cultivation, with a further 2,000 hectares on target for 2018, recording, for now, six tonnes per hectare. Up to 1,000 workers are employed on the farm depending on the season.
Significantly, at the heart of the rice farm is a 105,000MT-capacity rice milling facility which incorporates Satake milling technology and Italian par boiling technology. This is expected to provide 105,000 metric tonnes (MT) of milled rice per annum to the domestic market. Almost 1,000 workers are employed at the mill during peak seasons.
According to the plant manager, MrJayane Jagtap, the mill is designed to process paddies into finest rice comparable with best brands around the world.  Speaking to a team of journalists who visited the facility, he explained that paddies are fed through the feeder (intake unit of the mill), conveyed into the cleaner where paddies are cleaned and de-stoned, conveyed into a dryer where moisture content is reduced from 22 per cent to about 12 per cent, and to another cleaner, from where paddies are conveyed into parboiling tanks, where paddies are watered and parboiled at 60 degree centigrade.  The paddies are  then conveyed from parboiling tanks into coolers and into the drying tanks, from where they are transferred to the larger silos, which feed the mills where husks are separated from rice.
After further polishing and grading, the rice is packaged into five, 25 and 50KG bags and moved unto the store, all within the farm.
The company’s ‘nucleus’ model combines the quality control of a large scale commercial farm with the cost and scalability benefits of smallholder ‘out-grower’ networks. Over 3,000 surrounding rice-growing farmers are supported by Olam with training, pre-finance and inputs in order to improve their own paddy yields. The 3,000 farmers, who produce about 4,000 metric tonnes of paddies per annum, are currently engaged in the programme, with a target of 16,000 by 2018, ultimately moving up to 20,000 and supplying 30-40 per cent of the mill’s capacity.
Interestingly, the company attributes its success to its commitment to developing Nigeria’s agric sector as well as delivering value to farmers and customers. As it put it in a statement, “Success has been based on delivering value to both customers and farmers through first class operational capabilities and a long term commitment to develop Nigeria’s agricultural supply chains.“With offices and operational units across all geopolitical zones of the Nigerian Federation, Olam Nigeria has a wide and growing network of farmers, suppliers, wholesalers, Local Buying Agents (LBAs), customers and service providers. Today, these networks encompass approximately 500,000 farmers and have created tens of thousands of jobs in direct employment.https://leadership.ng/features/569678/rice-growers-step-up-production-as-local-demand-increases

February 01, 2017
Description: Commerce minister says geographical indication bill to be passed soon

LAHORE: Ministry of commerce is aggressively working to get the draft geographical bill passed in order to protect local brands and fetch fair prices of products in the international market, a minister said on Tuesday. 
Commerce minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, at a meeting of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap), said the ministry is working on geographical indication law, “and it will soon be implemented.”
Khan acknowledged the problems related to brand recognition raised by the Reap office bearers. “Half of the subsidy is available for those rice exporters who are exporting their rice under their brand names.”
State-owned Intellectual Property Organisation Pakistan drafted Geographical Indication Bill 2016 to protect the products, originating from a specific area, whose quality or reputation is attributable to its place of origin. Currently, geographical indications are being protected under collective mark system of Trademark Ordinance, 2001.
Industry experts said an effective local law is imperative to protect the GI interests of indigenous products. They said India has managed to place GI logos on its more than 200 products, which mean that they belong to the country and which also entail good prices in the international market. 
“Unfortunately, not a single product in Pakistan has a GI logo despite the country boasts of Sindhi Ajrak, Multani Halwa and a variety of mangoes,” an expert said.  Ironically, the most popular rice variety is cultivated on fields in India and Pakistan in a very close proximity.
Pakistani basmati growers have been strenuously fighting at an Indian court in order to protect their geographical indication against infringements in aromatic rice since 2004.  GI tag protects the legal rights of agricultural, manufactured and natural goods in a specific geographical territory, according to the World Trade Organization. That means the rice produced in areas other than the specified cannot be called Basmati.
Mahmood Baqi Moulvi, chairman of Reap said rice is the second biggest exportable commodity in Pakistan. “Despite earning around two billion dollars in valuable foreign exchange annually, rice exporters are not given the benefits, which are available for textile, leather, carpet, sports goods and surgical instruments sectors,” Moulvi said. ”We have already written letters to Finance Minister as well as to your esteemed office to include rice export sector in zero-rated exporting sectors and exempt rice exports from sales and income tax on utilities.”
Reap chairman said rice exporters have been facing unprecedented challenges for years and, “consequently, their capacity has severely been impaired.”   “For the international marketing of rice and to get high price of the commodity, it is necessary for rice exporters to establish their own brands,” he added. “Rice export from Pakistan is generally affected due to improper branding, poor packing and non-compliance to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.” The State Bank of Pakistan granted relaxation in payback time by three months to rice exporters owing to decline in exports. 
“We request to the ministry of commerce to extend the relaxation payback period for another three months and withhold imposing more penalties on rice exporters,” Moulvi said. Rice exports fell 18 percent to $713 million in the first half of the current fiscal year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/183047-Commerce-minister-says-geographical-indication-bill-to-be-passed-soon

Rice exporters: Commerce minister promises 50% subsidy for brand promotion

Published: February 1, 2017
LAHORE: Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir has stated that the government is willing to give a 50% subsidy to those rice exporters who are exporting rice under their own brand name.
Speaking at ceremony held by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), he said that the ministry is working on geographical indication law, which will be implemented soon.
Rice exporters should work on branding and marketing Pakistani rice in order to compete with Indian rice in international market,” said Dastgir.
REAP Chairman Mahmood Baqi in his speech demanded that the government include rice exporters in zero rated sales tax regime on utility bills and withholding tax on supply of electricity.
The chairman said that rice exporters have been facing unprecedented challenges for years and consequently, their capacity has been severely impaired. “Exports, both in quantity and value terms, could not pick up pace and have stood below targets. Withdrawal of the zero rating facility and imposition of sales tax would be detrimental to business activities.”
We request the government to declare rice exports as an industry and include it in the zero rated regimes, said Baqi.
Rice export sector is the second largest export commodity, but despite earnings of about $2 billion in foreign exchange annually, rice exporters are not given the benefits extended to textile, leather, carpets, sports goods and surgical instruments sectors, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2017.
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/1313170/rice-exporters-commerce-minister-promises-50-subsidy-brand-promotion/

Helping Indonesia keep its rice bowl full

 Grant Singleton and Reianne Quilloy   |  Feb 1, 2017
One of the biggest rice consumers in the world aims to develop a long-term strategy for rice self-sufficiency to meet the continuing increase in population.
Description: Pak Subarjo proudly shares his field, which harvested its third cropping in January 2017. (Photo by Budi Raharjo, AIAT, Indonesia)
Pak Subarjo proudly shares his field, which harvested its third cropping in January 2017. (Photo by Budi Raharjo, AIAT, Indonesia)
Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country and one of the largest rice consumers. To feed the country, its present rice production of 75 million tons must increase by 2.3% per year through 2019. As the demand to produce more grains increases, the country has always depended on Java—where nearly 60% of the total rice production comes from—to fill the country’s rice bowls. Although the yields in Java are relatively high compared with those of other areas of Indonesia, the rice productions areas on the island are under pressure from urban and industrial development.
Efforts to increase national production have led the government of Indonesia to craft a long-term strategy for rice self-sufficiency. A key pillar of this strategy is intensifying rice production on the outer islands, including South Sumatra. The government also developed a policy of GP-PTT (Gerakan Penerapan Pengelolaan Tanaman Terpadu or Implementation Action of Integrated Crop Management) to deploy best management practices in rice-farming communities. This created an opportunity in South Sumatra to forge collaboration between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Assessment Institute of Agricultural Technologies (AIAT) through the Closing rice yield gaps with reduced environmental footprints (CORIGAP), a project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). In the tidal deltas of South Sumatra, the two institutes are conducting validation of yield gaps to establish solutions that will help farmers sustainably intensify their rice production.
“CORIGAP is fully in line with Indonesia’s national program,” says Dr. Hasil Sembiring, director general of the Directorate of Food Crops in Indonesia. “Due to increasing population and demand for rice, innovation in CORIGAP is needed to increase rice productivity in Indonesia. Thus, we appreciate any innovation introduced to increase our rice production. This year, South Sumatra contributes about 1 million tons of rice.”
Expanding the rice granary to the outer islands
Of the 780,000 hectares of land in South Sumatra, 260,000 hectares situated in the coastal plain and deltas are seen as potential rice-growing areas. However, productivity in these areas is relatively low because most farmers plant rice only once a year.
“I used to harvest only 2–3 tons of rice per year, and was able to plant only during the wet season,” said Pak Subarjo, who has been farming for 35 years. Their rice productivity is impeded by expensive labor and severe pest problems during the dry season when weeds and rodents cause huge losses, he added.
In 2012, more than 250,000 hectares were planted for monsoon rice in the tidal deltas but dry-season rice was planted on only 30 hectares. In 2013, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) scientists and AIAT staff worked together through to develop and demonstrate best crop and pest management practices. This approach helped farmers in the tidal deltas increase their rice production in 2014 as double cropping expanded to 300 hectares.
Based on this strong evidence of progress, a large-scale rollout of crop management recommendations from the CORIGAP project was conducted in selected rice-farming villages in South Sumatra. A range of technical options was introduced to farmers that helped them close their rice yield gaps: water-saving techniques, legowo drum seeders to optimize labor productivity, ecologically based rodent and weed management, and improved postharvest management of rice. IRRI scientists and AIAT worked hand-in-hand with about 50 farmer groups to promote the adoption of these technologies.
“The AIAT staff and IRRI scientists conducted regular meetings with the farmers,” said Director Harmanto, former director of AIAT, who contributed significantly to the program. “We worked closely with the farmers. We regularly monitored the fields and the farmers and they could easily reach us if they encountered problems. Others, such as university staff members and army personnel, helped expand our reach.”
The hard work paid off. In 2015, the package of CORIGAP best practices was promoted in the villages of South Sumatra. This approach was instrumental in helping farmers implement crop and pest management for rice intensification. Using the CORIGAP approach, around 1,500 hectares of rice fields were planted in the project’s villages. Also, the total dry-season rice crop covered 17,000 hectares in South Sumatra.
Description: South Sumatra, which predominantly consists of marshlands and coastal areas, historically produced rice once a year. (Photo: IRRI)
South Sumatra, which predominantly consists of marshlands and coastal areas, historically produced rice once a year. (Photo: IRRI)
This includes Mr. Subarjo’s 2-hectare rice field. Mr. Subarjo said that the training on good rice cultivation practices conducted by AIAT enabled him to grow two crops in one year: producing more than 7 tons per hectare in the wet season and 4 tons per hectare in the dry season.
“Now that I’ve seen the benefits of the technologies introduced to me, I reduced the amount of pesticide in my field and used the correct herbicide,” said Pak Subarjo. “I also found the drum seeder very useful.
“After attending training activities from AIAT, I immediately shared my learnings with my son, who helps me tend our rice field,” he added. “I also share my learnings with my fellow farmers here in Sumber Mulyo Village. I also feel confident about planting rice thrice a year.”

Description: CORIGAP sitesCORIGAP sites
Building on this confidence, he participated in the third cropping of the rice-cropping program of three crops a year, locally called IP 300. His demonstration plot will soon be ready for harvesting. Mr. Subarjo is willing to talk to farmers, extension workers, researchers, and local government staff about his experience.“The rapid increase in planting area was a combination of innovative extension strategies of AIAT and the promotion of CORIGAP nationally and provincially under the banner of GP-PTT,” said Dr. Harmanto. According to Dr. Harmanto, the strong progress of the CORIGAP approach in South Sumatra can be traced from evidence drawn from the CORIGAP farmer-participatory field trials, its alignment with Indonesia’s national policy for food security, and the innovative approaches in disseminating the crop management recommendations. These encouraged more farmers to increase their cropping intensity, such that the planting area for rice in the dry season expanded impressively to 93,000 hectares in 2016.
The next step: CORIGAP-PRO

Based on the impressive progress of the project, the team aims to reach half a million farmers in six major rice-growing countries, including Indonesia. Through the ongoing support of SDC, IRRI scientists and its national partners in Asia (China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam) are gearing up for the next phase of the project, CORIGAP-PRO.
Building on the success of CORIGAP, CORIGAP-PRO will continue to chart the pathways to increase farmers’ profitability using best management practices for lowland rice production. In the next four years, CORIGAP-PRO will focus on the effective and widespread dissemination of best management practices, which in turn will increase the profitability of rice production and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
______________________________________
Dr. Singleton is a principal scientist and project leader of CORIGAP at IRRI. Ms. Quilloy is a communication and outreach specialist at IRRI.

http://ricetoday.irri.org/helping-indonesia-keep-its-rice-bowl-full/
Amidst Senate Drama, Trump EPA Designee Remains in Limbo 


WASHINGTON, DC - As decorum breaks down in the Capitol over President Trump's designees and nominees for cabinet, sub-cabinet posts, and now the Supreme Court, his pick for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, was once again, put on hold, by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee during a hearing that was boycotted by Democrat Members of the Committee.

Arkansas Senator John Boozman and Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker attended the hearing and spoke in support of AG Pruitt's nomination and decried the Democrat boycott of the hearing. Without a minimum of two Members of the minority party present, Committees are unable to achieve a quorum to advance nominees to the full Senate. (Earlier today, the Senate Finance Committee waived those rules to pass out of Committee the nominations of Congressman Tom Price for Secretary of Health and Human Services and Steve Mnuchin for Treasury Secretary.)

Two weeks ago, at a sometimes contentious hearing on his nomination, AG Pruitt was grilled by a bipartisan group of Senators on his views regarding climate change, ties to "Big Oil" and "Big Gas," ongoing lawsuits against the EPA, and what his agenda as Administrator would look like. 

Today, Committee Chairman Barrasso (R-WY) added that "Pruitt was required to answer more questions than any EPA Administrator nominee in recent history." In total, Pruitt responded to more than 1,200 questions during and after his hearing was initially held.

Frank Lucas (R-OK), the former chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, said, "Scott Pruitt is a terrific choice to restore common sense and rule of law to the Environmental Protection Agency.  [Pruitt] has stood up to Washington time after time to fight for the conservation of our country's natural resources while protecting the jobs and well-being of American families and workers.  I look forward to working with him on a number of issues to ensure science - not political agendas - guides our nation's environmental policy."

Last month, USA Rice, along with a number of other agriculture and commodity trade associations and companies, signed a letter of support for Pruitt's confirmation as the EPA Administrator.  He is expected to be approved for the job by the Environment and Public Works Committee and the full Senate, though no schedule for either vote has been announced.

USA Rice