Thursday, November 23, 2017

23rd November,2017 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine



Basmati Rice Industry – International Sales Channel Research 2017

Global Basmati Rice Market Report covers analysis of Manufacturers, Type, Application, Marketing Strategy, Distributors/Traders, Effect Factors, Trends 2017 & Forecasts 2022


(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 22, 2017 ) Latest Market Research Study on “Global Basmati Rice Market Report 2017” is published by ReportsWeb in its database

Scope of the Report:
This report focuses on the Basmati Rice in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.

"Basmati is a variety of long, slender-grained aromatic rice which is traditionally from the Indian subcontinent.
Basmati rice has a typical pandan-like (Pandanus amaryllifolius leaf) flavour caused by the aroma compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. Basmati grains contain about 0.09 ppm of this aromatic chemical compound naturally, a level that is about 12 times more than non-basmati rice varieties, giving basmati its distinctive spicy fragrance and flavour. This natural aroma is also found in cheese, fruits and other cereals. It is a flavoring agent approved in the United States and Europe, and is used in bakery products for aroma."

Request a Sample at http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011143115/sample

Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers
LT Foods
Amira Nature Foods
Best Foods
KRBL Limited
Kohinoor Rice
Aeroplane Rice
Tilda Basmati Rice
Amar Singh Chawal Wala
Hanuman Rice Mills
Adani Wilmar
Galaxy Rice Mill
Dunar Foods
Sungold

Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers
North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)
Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)
Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)
South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)
Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

Market Segment by Type, covers
Indian Basmati Rice
Pakistani Basmati Rice

Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into
Direct Edible
Deep Processing

Browse Complete Report at http://www.reportsweb.com/global-basmati-rice-market-forecast-to-2022

Key Point from Table of Contents:

There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Basmati Rice market.

Chapter 1, to describe Basmati Rice Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;

Chapter 2, to analyze the top Vendors of Basmati Rice, with revenue, and gross margin of Basmati Rice, in 2016 and 2017;

Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top Vendors, with revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;

Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with revenue and market share of Basmati Rice, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;

Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;

Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with revenue market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;

Chapter 12, Basmati Rice market forecast, by regions, type and application, with revenue, from 2017 to 2022;

Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Basmati Rice sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.

Purchase Complete Report at http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011143115/buy/3480

Contact Information:
ReportsWeb.com
Rajat Sahni
Tel: +1-646-491-9876
Email us
http://www.emailwire.com/release/531154-Basmati-Rice-Industry-International-Sales-Channel-Research-2017.html

Iran temporarily removes ban on rice import

22.11.2017

Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade has issued a decree for removing the ban on rice import from Nov.
According to the decree, rice import will be free for 7 months.All rice importers must provide needed obligations for clearance of the imported rice before July 22, 2018.The Iranian government bans rice import annually with only a few months of break to support domestic products.The Iranian government implements 26 percent customs duty for rice import.The annual consumption of rice in Iran is three million tons and each Iranian averagely consumes about 38 kilograms of rice per year.


It appears that the high output of rice this year has caused confusion among the importers as about 1.8 million tons of rice was imported into the country. This is while the country's total imports of rice over the last two years stood at 1.5 million tons.According to Iran's Customs Administration, the country imported $995 million worth of rice over the first half of the current year, indicating a surge of 109 percent in value terms.


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- November 23, 2017

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-November 23

Nagpur, Nov 23 (Reuters) – Gram prices moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing

Committee (APMC) on poor buying support from local millers amid increased supply from producingregions. Easy condition in Madhya Pradesh gram prices also affected sentiment, according tosources. 

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES

   GRAM

   * Desi gram firmed up again in open market here on renewed demand from local traders.

      TUAR

         * Tuar gavarani quoted weak in open market here in absence of buyers amid ample stock

     in ready position.

   * Moong Chamki reported higher in open market on good buying support from local

     traders.

                                                            

   * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,000-4,100, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,700-5,800, Udid Mogar (clean)

    – 8,000-8,500, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,000-7,300, Gram – 4,500-4,650, Gram Super best

    – 7,300-7,500

   * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in

     scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity.

        Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

         FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close  

     Gram Auction                  3,750-4,530         3,750-4,600

     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600

     Tuar Auction                n.a.                3,600-4,000

     Moong Auction                n.a.                3,900-4,200

     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500

     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800

     Wheat Mill quality Auction        1,600-1,708        1,600-1,698

     Gram Super Best Bold            7,000-8,000        7,000-8,000

     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.

     Gram Medium Best            6,500-7,000        6,500-7,000

     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a

     Gram Mill Quality            4,650-4,750        4,600-4,700

     Desi gram Raw                4,950-5,050         4,900-5,000

     Gram Kabuli                12,400-13,000        12,400-13,000

     Tuar Fataka Best-New             6,100-6,300        6,100-6,300

     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        5,800-6,000        5,800-6,000

     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        5,700-5,900        5,700-5,900

     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        5,000-5,500        5,000-5,500

     Tuar Gavarani New             4,100-4,200        4,150-4,250

     Tuar Karnataka             4,550-4,850        4,550-4,850

     Masoor dal best            5,000-5,200        5,000-5,200

     Masoor dal medium            4,600-4,800        4,600-4,800

     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Mogar bold (New)        7,100-7,500         7,100-7,500

     Moong Mogar Medium            6,300-6,700        6,300-6,700

     Moong dal Chilka            5,200-6,000        5,200-6,000

     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Chamki best            7,100-7,500        7,000-7,500

     Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,500-9,500       8,500-9,500

     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,800-7,000        5,800-7,000   

     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        5,300-6,400        5,300-6,400    

     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        5,100-5,500        5,100-5,500

     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          2,800-2,900         2,800-2,900

     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            2,900-3,000        2,900-3,000

     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,400-3,800        3,400-3,800  

     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,000        1,900-2,000

     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,850-1,950        1,850-1,950  

     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         2,100-2,300           2,100-2,300        

     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,450        2,200-2,400   

     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   1,900-2,150        1,900-2,100

     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.

     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,100-3,600        3,100-3,600   

     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,300-2,700        2,300-2,700          

     Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,500        3,000-3,500   

     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,800-2,900        2,800-2,900   

     Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)         2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400     

     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,500-2,600        2,500-2,600  

     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      2,300-2,400        2,300-2,400  

     Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)        3,600-4,000        3,600-4,000    

     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,250-3,600        3,250-3,600   

     Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)      4,800-5,100        4,800-5,100

     Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)    4,400-4,600        4,400-4,600  

     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    10,000-14,000        10,000-14,000    

     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,000-7,500        5,000-7,500   

     Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)    5,000-5,500        5,000-5,500   

     Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)    4,700-5,000        4,700-5,000  

     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,000-2,200        2,000-2,100   

     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,800-2,000        1,700-2,000

 

WEATHER (NAGPUR) 

Maximum temp. 31.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 17.4 degree Celsius

Rainfall : Nil

FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 32 and 19

degree Celsius respectively.

 

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices)

https://in.reuters.com/article/cricket-ashes-aus-eng/cricket-australia-rally-late-to-restrict-england-idINKBN1DN0B

 

Govt to import 100,000 tons of parboiled rice

·         Asif Showkat Kallol
·         Published at 10:33 PM November 22, 2017

Each ton will cost $442 to $462

The government has decided to import 100,000 tons of parboiled rice to replenish rice stocks and rein in prices of the staple.During a meeting on Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase gave its consent to importing the rice through an open tender. Emerging from the meeting, Additional Secretary to Cabinet Division Mostafizur Rahman told reporters that six local traders would import 100,000 tons of rice at a cost of Tk427.27 crore according to terms stipulated by the Ministry of Food.
Each ton will cost $442 to $462, he said, adding that the consignment of rice is expected to reach Chittagong and Mongla ports within two months.The six local rice traders are Mahabub Brothers Pvt Ltd, Aynul Haque Traders, Pubali Traders Ltd, M/S Sumon Flour Mills, M/S Shely Traders, and Biswas Trading and Construction.
The country is currently facing a shortfall of 1.5 million tons of rice as massive amounts of crops were washed away during the recent flooding in different districts.To refill the stocks and ease the upward pricing pressure, the Food Ministry had taken steps to import 900,000 tonnes of rice, said Food Secretary Md Kaikobad Hossain.The ministry’s data shows that the country’s rice stock hit a five-year low at 193,000 tons in June.
The stock on November 14, however, rose to 411,000 tons.12:00 AM, November 23, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 03:11 AM, November 23, 2017

India prices up as rupee gains; Thai rates climb on low supply

BENGALURU: Rice prices climbed this week in India due to an appreciation in the local currency and healthy demand, while rates in Thailand rose on lower supplies. India’s 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices <RI-INBKN5-P1> rose by $3 to $402-$405 per tonne. “The rupee has appreciated significantly in the last few days. We have to adjust prices accordingly,” said an exporter based in Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
 “Demand is good from Asian countries. African buying is still less than usual.” The rupee has risen more than 4 percent so far in 2017, reducing exporters’ returns. Paddy rice supply from the new season crop has started in southern states of India, the world’s biggest exporter, and is expected to rise in the coming weeks, dealers said. In Thailand, benchmark 5 percent broken rice rose to $385-$398 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $380-$387 last week. “Supply has been quite low as there were crop losses due to floods.
Thai rice prices are now really high and we can’t compete with other countries,” said a Bangkok-based trader. Floods earlier this year affected seven of 77 provinces in Thailand, and over 480,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) of agricultural land were hit. The supply situation has been exacerbated by a recent government move to extend a deadline, from the end of this year to an unspecified date next year, to offload 2 million tonnes of rice from state stockpiles, traders said. “As currently supply is low and prices high, the government should have released all rice stocks as per the usual deadline rather than extending it,” the trader said. Meanwhile, floods in Bangladesh, traditionally the world’s fourth biggest rice producer, have caused domestic output to drop by 920,000 tonnes in the year to June from a year earlier, the latest government data shows. Despite deals with several rice exporting countries such as Vietnam,
 Bangladesh is still struggling to build its reserves, with its deal with Cambodia for 250,000 tonnes being scrapped last week over a delay in shipments. In Vietnam, traders quoted benchmark 5 percent broken rice at $400 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon, little changed from the $400-$405 levels last week. The high prices have made it difficult to secure new deals, a trader in Ho Chi Minh City said. Low supply prevailed after the recent autumn-winter season wrapped up, but produce has mostly gone to serve domestic needs. However, sowing has started for winter-spring crops, one of Vietnam’s two major rice seasons. The domestic market would stay quiet until the new crop is harvested in March, traders said.

Pakistan's Punjab CM writes to Amarinder Singh to tackle smog

PTI
Published : Nov 22, 2017, 10:42 am IST
Updated : Nov 22, 2017, 10:58 am IST
Shehbaz said people of both Pakistani and Indian Punjabs have been facing the problem of smog during the months of October and November.
 Many cities in both sides of Punjab have been blanketed by thick smog in recent weeks, with pollution affecting normal life. (Photo:File)
Lahore/Chandigarh: Pakistan's Punjab province Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited his Indian counterpart Amarinder Singh to strike a "regional cooperation agreement" to tackle smog and pollution that has affected people on both sides of the border.In a letter written to Singh, Shehbaz said the people of both Pakistani and Indian Punjabs have been facing the problem of smog during the months of October and November."It goes without saying that the smog has an adverse impact on health, especially on the old and the children; on agriculture in the form of delayed sowing of wheat and damage to potato and other crops and causes traffic accidents," said Shehbaz in the letter dated November 19.
Shehbaz, 66, the younger brother of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, explained some of the causes of smog, including rice stubble burning.He also noted that the problem now affects Lahore, New Delhi and regions beyond the two cities in both countries."I would like to invite you for entering into a regional cooperation arrangement to tackle the issue of smog as well as environmental pollution. Let us join hands for securing a prosperous future for the people of our two provinces," Shehbaz said, amidst the chill in India-Pakistan ties after a series of terror attacks launched from Pakistani soil.
"You will agree with me that is essentially scientific and economic and cannot be tackled through other means," he said in the letter - a copy of which was posted on the official Twitter account of the Government of Punjab, Pakistan. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Singh were tagged in the tweet.Shehbaz said it is in the interest of people from both Punjabs that a collective effort be made towards identifying technologies and business methods that may eliminate the need to burn rice-stubble and help control smog formation.
In reply, Singh's media advisor Raveen Thukral tweeted "@Capt_amarinder is extremely concerned about the issue and is actively pursuing it with the Indian government. He expects early resolution of the matter. He is, however, yet to receive the letter from @CM Shehbaz @GovtOfPunjab and will reply to it at suitable time."
Recently, Kejriwal and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had confabulations to tackle the problem of smog. Many cities in both sides of Punjab have been blanketed by thick smog in recent weeks, with pollution affecting normal life. Many flights have been cancelled or delayed in Lahore. A number of serious road accidents in Pakistan have been blamed on poor visibility due to smog.Smog, also known as ground-level ozone, is a thick yellowish black fog which suspends in the air.

http://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/221117/pakistans-punjab-cm-writes-to-amarinder-singh-to-tackle-smog.html

Govt to buy rice from pvt importers

Okays open tender for 1 lakh tonnes

Staff Correspondent

Desperate to boost the stock, the government is going to import rice through local traders after an initiative to bring in the staple from Cambodia through state-to-state arrangement has failed recently. The cabinet committee on purchase yesterday approved a proposal for importing 1 lakh tonnes of rice through open tender for Tk 42,250 to Tk 43,725 per tonne.

According to food ministry documents, local traders will import the rice from India, Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam and deliver it to 46 government silos across the country in several lots.
There would be 1,000 to 3,000 tonnes of rice in each lot.
Last month, the same committee had approved another proposal for importing 1 lakh tonnes of the staple which would reach 38 government silos by traders. The price was set at Tk 43,440 to Tk 44,330 per tonne.
Import of another 1 lakh tonnes of rice is in the pipeline and the government has already opened tenders in this regard, show the ministry website.
In August this year, an initiative was taken for the import of 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice from Cambodia. A Reuters report on November 14, however, said Bangladesh cancelled the deal over a delay in shipments.
"We had to terminate the deal as they failed to supply the rice on time," Badrul Hasan, the head of Bangladesh's state grain buyer, told Reuters.
The government is desperately trying to replenish its depleted stock through imports after production was hit by flash floods and fungal attacks.
Despite deals with several rice exporting countries, including Vietnam, India, Thailand and Myanmar, Bangladesh is still battling to increase its reserves, with rice imports set to hit their highest levels in a decade.
The import of rice at both government and private levels have picked up lately. From July 1 to November 14, a total of 17.24 lakh tonnes of rice was imported. Of the quantity, 4.05 lakh tonnes was brought in by the government.
It did not have to import any rice last fiscal year. However, 13.32 lakh tonnes of the staple came through the private sector.
Till now, the cabinet committee has approved proposals for import of around 12 lakh tonnes of rice through state-to-state arrangement and international bidder via open tender.
The government has also decided to import 20 lakh tonnes of food grains -- 15 lakh tonnes of rice and 5 lakh tonnes of wheat -- this fiscal year. This is 11 lakh tonnes more than the government's earlier projected food import volume.
As the rice production was hampered by the floods and fungal attack, prices skyrocketed and went beyond Tk 50 per kg for coarse rice. The prices, however, have fallen slightly in recent times.
As per a food ministry report, coarse rice was sold at Tk 42 to Tk 44 per kg last week. It was below Tk 35 one year back.

NO MAJOR SHORTFALL OF FOODGRAIN: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday in parliament ruled out any possibility of major shortfall of foodgrain production in the country despite floods causing damage to crops to some extent.
"We're always active to achieve the target of food production," she said reading out a scripted answer.
She said 3.88 crore tonnes of granular foodgrains (rice, wheat and maize) were produced in fiscal 2016-17.
The PM said the government has taken various programmes for the assistance of the affected farmers. She said a Tk 117 crore special agriculture rehabilitation programme has been undertaken for the farmers of the six districts of haor region, who were hit hard by floods, excessive rains and onrush of hilly water.
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics data, the country's rice production last fiscal year was 9 lakh tonnes less than that of the previous year and on November 14 this year, the total food stock stood at 6.8 lakh metric tonnes, including 4.11 lakh metric tonnes of rice. On the same date last year, the stock was 8 lakh metric tonnes, including five lakh metric tonnes of rice.


GI Tag Battle: Sweet Success
The legal row between Odisha and West Bengal over the origin of the rosogolla has ended in the latter’s favour. For many, it’s a sniff of nostalgia and history but getting the GI tag is a bigger story ~By Sujit Bhar What everybody, especially every single Bengali, knew for almost forever, is now an official truth. The revered and luscious rosogolla is theirs. The claim by Odisha to own this delicacy has ended and on November 14 the Geographical Indications (GI) Registry announced that “rosogolla” indeed resonates with Bengali identity and that is where it originated, not in Odisha which formally laid claim to the name.
Rosogolla was “discovered”, if you like, by confectioner Nobin Chandra Das in the 19th century (1868, to be precise) and his grandson, KC Das, has made a fortune out of selling this sweet. There is no patent on the product, but history has recorded this for posterity. Rosogolla adds to India’s many such GI tags including, of course, the world famous Darjeeling brand of teas. This has a world GI indicator and is as good as Champagne, which can only be branded in Champagne in France. Elsewhere, it is just sparkling wine.
 Hence, no tea grown beyond the district of Darjeeling can be called Darjeeling tea. It was something to celebrate, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a big and sweet issue out of it. The GI announcement came months after the Odisha government formed a panel to formally lay claim to “rosogolla”. West Bengal formed a counter-committee and the war began. Odisha was always going to lose, but there was no harm in trying, they thought. Interestingly, many of Bengal’s delicacies did not originate in the state. Sandesh, for example, made out of superbly pasted cottage cheese, is actually of Turkish origin. Bengalis would not claim it as theirs.
Another Indian produce that has been awarded the world GI tag is Basmati. No single state in India can claim the right to this, but India as a whole has the ability to control produce elsewhere in the world. Technically, a number of states of India have been allowed to claim this, as per the directive of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) to the assistant registrar of the GI Registry, Chennai. The states are Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
 India holds 85 percent of the share in the global Basmati trade. A GI tag can be issued for agricultural, natural or manufactured goods that have a given quality, reputation or other characteristics attributable to their geographical origin. Of the around 316 GI items in India, West Bengal has a pretty long list, which includes the Santipur sari, Darjeeling tea, nakshi kantha, Santiniketan leather goods, Himsagar mango, Laxman Bhog mango, Fazli mango (from Malda), Baluchari sari, Dhaniakhali sari, the Joynagar moa, Bardhaman Sitabhog and Mihidana and the Gobindabhog rice variety. Rosogolla is the latest addition.
USDA lowers 2017-18 global rice supply forecast
India Infoline News Service | Mumbai | November 22, 2017 13:05 IST
USDA estimates India rice production for 2017/18 at 10.75 Cr metric tons (milled), down about 2% from last year’s record crop. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lowered its estimate for global Rice supplies for the year 2017-18 to 61.93 Cr tons, primarily on a smaller crop projected for India.USDA estimates India rice production for 2017/18 at 10.75 Cr metric tons (milled), down about 2% from last year’s record crop.The decrease was mainly due to a drop in harvested area. Harvested area is estimated at 4.27 Cr hectares, down 4% from last month but up 1% from last year. Rough yield is estimated at 3.78 kilograms per hectare, down 1% from the previous year.

World Rice consumption is estimated to down fractionally to 48.04 Cr tons in 2017-18.
Global 2017-18 trade is raised to 4.49 Cr tons on higher exports by Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and China more than offsetting reductions for India, Pakistan, and the United States.Trade is still below the 2016-17 record of 4.53 Cr tons, USDA said.

World ending stocks are lowered this month to 13.89 Cr tons for 2017-18, still higher than last year and at the highest level since 2000-01.

https://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news-top-story/usda-lowers-2017-18-global-rice-supply-forecast-117112200341_1.html

 

Kohinoor Foods Ltd introduces organic products range ‘Green Grown’

Kohinoor Foods Ltd has recently introduced ‘Green Grown’ range of 100 per cent certified organic products to cater to the ever increasing demand of organic food worldwide.
The Green Grown range will lay emphasis on creating ‘Satvik’ food, abundant in ‘Prana’ – the universal life force energy required for healthy living
The Green Grown range lays emphasis on creating ‘Satvik’ food, abundant in ‘Prana’ – the universal life force energy required for healthy living.
“The Green Grown range of organic products is a unique initiative where ‘Satvik’ food is nurtured with natural manure and nutrient compounds with farm crop rotation at regular intervals. Our produce aims to be whole food and full of life force as they are in their natural fresh state,” said VP – Marketing, Kohinoor Foods Ltd.Puneet Mahajan.
In 1989, Kohinoor Foods Ltd embarked upon its journey in food manufacturing. Over time, Kohinoor’s basmati rice, ready-to-eat curries, meals, simmer sauces, cooking pastes, spices, seasonings and frozen foods have become an intrinsic part of millions of kitchens across the world in over 65 countries.

Temporary Ban on Rice Imports Removed

 Wednesday, November 22, 2017
The temporary ban on rice imports has been lifted from Nov. 22 up until July 22, 2018, as per a directive by the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade issued on Tuesday.
Every year and during the rice harvest season, the government bans rice imports in support of local farmers and production. Import tariffs have increased from 22% four years ago to 40% at present for the same reason.  
Iranians consume 3 million tons of rice a year while domestic production stands at 2.2 million tons. Therefore, there is need for around 800,000 tons of imports every year.
“We need imports, but imports that are limited and controlled,” Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.
More than 1.05 million tons of semi- and wholly-milled rice worth close to $996 million were imported into Iran during the first half of the current Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22), registering an 84.4% and 108.4% surge in weight and value respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Rice imports accounted for 6% and 4.2% of the volume and value of Iran’s overall imports respectively during the six-month period.
Rice importers bypass the ban during the harvest season by receiving the import permit before the ban period.
Imports are made mainly from the UAE, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and Iraq.
The southern Vietnamese city of Can Tho expects to export its first batch of rice to Iran in the last quarter of 2017, deputy director of the city’s Department of Industry and Trade said last month.
Huynh Trung Tru also said a company in Iran in August directly dealt with a rice firm in Can Tho to finalize a contract to export to Iran 100,000 tons of rice from now until the end of the year.
According to Tru, if rice shipment to Iran meets favorable conditions, the city hopes that the partner will sign a longer term contract next year.
Iran’s state grains buyer Government Trading Corporation has issued an international tender earlier this month to buy 30,000 tons of rice to be sourced from India. The tender closes on Dec. 12. The rice is sought in three consignments of 10,000 tons for shipment in early 2018.
The Agriculture Ministry expects domestic rice production to increase by 10-15% in the current Iranian year (started March 21), because of favorable weather condition and timely distribution of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery and equipment among local farmers.
According to the Central and West Asia Rice Center, with around 54% of Central and West Asia’s paddy fields located in Iran, the country accounts for 61% of the regions’ combined rice production.
The two northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran are home to a majority of Iran’s paddy fields.
A total of 81% and 70% of rice harvest in the two provinces respectively were mechanized in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2017).

Contrary to perception, foreigners find Pakistan safe

Published: November 22, 2017
KARACHI: Azerbaijan Ambassador Ali Alizada has underscored the need for highlighting the positive image of Pakistan as it is a common perception in Azerbaijan and other countries that Pakistan is not a safe country.
“This perception proves wrong when foreigners visit Pakistan and find it safe and beautiful,” he remarked while exchanging views with office-bearers of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
According to a statement, the ambassador called Pakistan a very attractive market where almost everything could be supplied due to its huge population of 210 million.
He pointed out that his embassy was trying hard to promote trade and investment ties between the two countries.
He invited the business and industrial community of Karachi to set up their industries, particularly the pharmaceutical units, in Azerbaijan’s Free Trade Zone in Baku where they could enjoy numerous facilities in a business-friendly atmosphere.
“Pakistani pharmaceutical products can not only be supplied to the Azerbaijan market, but these can also be sent to other Central Asian Republics as there is a huge demand for pharma products in the region,” he added.
He sought KCCI’s assistance in finding a suitable and credible partner who could supply rice and textiles to the Azerbaijan market where businessmen were keen to import these products from Pakistan. In return, they would sell strawberries, grapes and pomegranates to the Pakistan market.
Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Alizada said Azerbaijan and Iran were also working together on a railway project to connect Asia with Europe. “This rail link is important as it will significantly facilitate and expedite exchange of goods and trade in the region.”
Pakistan’s exports to Azerbaijan stood at $17 million and imports totalled $0.04 million. “Business communities of the two brotherly countries have to work together to lift the negligible trade through more exchanges of trade delegations, constant interaction and other trade promotional activities,” suggested KCCI President Muffasar Atta Malik.
He was of the opinion that both countries needed to take effective measures to enhance bilateral trade by increasing communication links and eliminating travel restrictions.
The two countries also had a potential of joint ventures in construction, pharmaceutical, agricultural and manufacturing sectors, he added.
Appreciating military and defence cooperation between the two countries, Malik emphasised that trade opportunities should be explored in different sectors including agriculture, information technology, industrial equipment, mines and mineral.
Saying the business and industrial community of Karachi was keen to enhance trade with Azerbaijan, he suggested that the KCCI could collaborate with the embassy of Azerbaijan to assist in matchmaking, besides seeking ways and means how Pakistani exporters could effectively penetrate the Azerbaijan market.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2017.



Iranian government ends seasonal rice import ban -IRNA

Reuters News
Rice imports will be permitted until July 22, 2018, IRNA said, citing the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade.
Iran's government on Wednesday ended its seasonal import ban on rice which was imposed to support local prices during the harvest season, state news agency IRNA reported.

Rice imports will be permitted until July 22, 2018, IRNA said, citing the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade.

Since March 21 Iran has imported more than one million tonnes of rice but this will only get customs clearance when the harvest time is over, IRNA said, quoting the Customs Administration.

"The decision will be welcomed by rice exporters in Pakistan, India and Thailand as rising supplies need as many outlets as possible," one European rice trader said. "There is often concern the seasonal ban might be extended."

(Reporting By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; additional reporting by Michael Hogan in Hamburg; writing by Maha El Dahan; editing by Jason Neely) ((Maha.Dahan@thomsonreuters.com; + 9712 4082101; Reuters Messaging: maha.dahan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 

Big tech, small farm: IoT rice analyser is a 'game-changer' for small processors, says Bühler

By Niamh Michail 
22-Nov-2017 - Last updated on 23-Nov-2017 at 09:07 GMT
The internet of things (IoT) is making advanced technology more accessible than ever, according to Bühler. Its cloud-connected digital rice analyser can be used by multinationals or start-ups, and is a "a game changer" for small rice farmers across the world, it says.
The tool, TotalSense, can help rice processors to cut costs, improve yield and speed up the quality control process, said the Swiss agri-food processor.It works by taking a photograph of rice to identify visual defects and then uploading this image to a cloud-based system. The photograph is then analysed for quality parameters such as broken grains, irregular dimensions such as length and width and colour defects.
“The actual analysis and classification of the grains is then done by an algorithm in the Bühler​ cloud, which extracts the information from the photograph and converts it into a quality report,"​ product design engineer Sara Larsen told us.
The internet of things is described as the networking capability that allows information to be exchanged on objects and devices (such as fixtures and kitchen appliances) using the Internet.Manufacturers can use TotalSense on a subscription basis for a monthly fee of 180 CHF (€155), which allows for an unlimited number of analyses per customer.
This relatively low price and monthly subscription set-up means small rice processors can ensure their batches meet the same quality standards as bigger
players that have their own quality control labs:
The aim is to give rice producers across the world the opportunity to improve their quality and their processes. In fact, this is a game changer for smaller rice processors,” ​said Larsen.
It’s still early days for the launch and Bühler hasn’t yet quantified the savings that processors could make but in terms of speeding up quality analysis and optimising output, the potential savings are “huge​”.
In the traditional process, samples are taken from several points in the production line, then transferred to the quality lab where the analysis happens,” ​said Larsen. “This processes can take up to several hours and if an error is discovered this means that tonnes of flawed product will have passed through the mill.”
TotalSense cuts the sampling-to-results time to around five minutes, meaning customers can react much more quickly, preventing entire batches from being contaminated, the firm said.

Connected tools, connected companies

The tool was developed by Bühler’s internal R&D scientists but Bashford said the company is keenly aware of the benefits of partnering up with external players, big and small alike, especially for tech-based products.
The Switzerland-headquartered firm was one of the founding partners of start-up accelerator, MassChallenge, while it also worked with Bosch in developing an ‘Internet of Things’ sensor using Microelectromechanical (MEMs) technology to measure three axes of vibration and temperature across a roll. “This allows us to optimise the production process​,” said global head of digital Stuart Bashford.
Bashford said the company is looking into investing in blockchain technologies for some applications but TotalSense relies on industry-standard security measures to ensure data is secure.
Last year Bühler launched AnywarePro, a remote monitoring system for rice that analyses, filters, and transmits critical data on machine performance, tolerance levels, and sorting criteria in real time.
By combining food safety databases and early warning systems under one cloud-based system, Bühler said it can help companies reduce the reputational risk from food fraud and recalls.
AnywarePro is currently available for the Sortex S optical rice sorting machine and will be extended to other machines next year
https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2017/11/22/Big-tech-small-farm-IoT-rice-analyser-is-a-game-changer-for-small-processors-says-Buehler

To Tackle Smog, Pakistan's Punjab Chief Minister Writes To Amarinder Singh

In the letter, Mr Sharif said that since last year, the people of both the Pakistani and Indian Punjabs were facing the problem of smog during the months of October and November.

All India | Press Trust of India | Updated: November 22, 2017 00:42 IST
Sponsored
This year the problem has become more aggravated and widespread, Mr Sharif said (File)
CHANDIGARH:  Pakistan's Punjab province chief minister Shehbaz Sharif has suggested to his Indian Punjab counterpart a regional cooperation arrangement to tackle the issue of smog as well as pollution.

"The intensity of the smog issue that has wide implications for human health calls for concerted efforts to take on this challenge," Mr Sharif said.He posted a copy of the letter on Twitter, also tagging Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

In reply, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's media advisor Raveen Thukral tweeted "@Capt_amarinder is extremely concerned about the issue and is actively pursuing it with the Indian government. He expects early resolution of the matter. He is, however, yet to receive the letter from @CM Shehbaz @GovtOfPunjab and will reply to it at suitable time."In the letter, Mr Sharif said that since last year, the people of both the Pakistani and Indian Punjabs were facing the problem of smog during the months of October and November.This year the problem has become more aggravated and widespread, he said.

He wrote that smog has an adverse impact on public health, especially on the elderly and children, on agriculture in the form of delayed sowing of wheat, damage to potato and other crops and also causes traffic accidents.

"The main causes of smog range from vehicular and industrial emissions to rice stubble burning," he wrote.The phenomenon has now assumed regional proportions and it engulfs the areas from New Delhi to Lahore and beyond, he said.He wrote that the problem is essentially scientific and economic and can not be tackled through other means. "I firmly believe that it is in the interest of people of both Punjabs to make a collective efforts towards identifying technologies and business methods that may
eliminate the need to burn rice stubble and help control smog formation," he said.I will like to invite you for entering into a regional cooperation arrangement to tackle the issue of smog as well as environmental pollution, he wrote.Recently, Mr Kejriwal and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had confabulations to tackle the problem of smog.

Provide A.P. workable farm techniques, CM tells scientists

VIJAYAWADA, NOVEMBER 23, 2017 00:40 IST

UPDATED: NOVEMBER 23, 2017 07:34 IST

Provide A.P. workable farm techniques, CM tells scientists

Sharing ideas: N. Chandrababu Naidu takes a look at a paddy variety at the rice conclave on Wednesday.   | Photo Credit: CH_VIJAYA BHASKAR

Sharing ideas: N. Chandrababu Naidu takes a look at a paddy variety at the rice conclave on Wednesday.   | Photo Credit: CH_VIJAYA BHASKAR
‘Aim should be to reduce investment and increase yield’
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has urged agricultural scientists to innovate new farm techniques that would benefit farmers of Andhra Pradesh.Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day India Rice Conclave 2017 here on Wednesday, Mr. Naidu said: “Give me workable low-cost high-yield farming ideas for implementation so that farmers can reap the benefits.” Stating that agriculture was close to his heart, he said: “Even I was a farmer. I know their pain and suffering. That’s why my focus is on leveraging technology to benefit the community.”
Constraints
He said rice production in the country was passing through serious constraints such as yield, water scarcity, drought, irregular monsoon, increasing soil mineral stress, flash floods, water logging, high cost of cultivation, labour shortage, inadequate storage facilities, invasive pests and diseases, lack of policy innovations and inadequate institutional dynamics. “We need to focus on proper utilisation of resources by providing quality seed, developing high yield varieties/ hybrid rice, cost-effective mechanisation and by promoting agricultural stewardship.”
Reminding that Andhra Pradesh was one of the leading producers of paddy in the country, he said nearly one-third of the total area (23 lakh hectares) was under paddy cultivation, which contributed to 66% of the total food grain production in the State.“A.P. is second only to Punjab in terms of productivity in the country,” he pointed out.
Agri zones
The Chief Minister said the State was developing five crop agri zones and paddy was one of them.“The paddy crop zone is sub-divided into four zones and the aim is increase the farm income by adopting appropriate cropping sequence, suitable varieties, high production, and low-cost techniques,” he said.Mr. Naidu said the focus of the conclave should be on regulating the paddy market, modernising and upgrading rice mills, facilitating appropriate internal and external market linkage for farm produce, starting up new enterprise focussed on various rice products and by-products and exploring opportunities of value addition from other by-products like rice husk, rice bran, brewed rice, puffed rice, rice flakes etc.
He said new strategies should be developed to keep pace with the changing food habits.Speaking about the vast range of new technology tools available, he said their effective use could bring the desired change.“If we can stabilise the agriculture sector, we can achieve a stable economy, where the farmer will feel empowered,” he said.
Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Nani, Vice-Chancellors of Viswa-Bharati University and Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University Swapan Kumar Dutta and V. Damodara Naidu respectively, and Rajeev Singh, Director-General, Indian Chamber of Commerce, were present. ‘Aim should be to reduce investment and increase yield’
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has urged agricultural scientists to innovate new farm techniques that would benefit farmers of Andhra Pradesh.Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day India Rice Conclave 2017 here on Wednesday, Mr. Naidu said: “Give me workable low-cost high-yield farming ideas for implementation so that farmers can reap the benefits.” Stating that agriculture was close to his heart, he said: “Even I was a farmer. I know their pain and suffering. That’s why my focus is on leveraging technology to benefit the community.”
Constraints
He said rice production in the country was passing through serious constraints such as yield, water scarcity, drought, irregular monsoon, increasing soil mineral stress, flash floods, water logging, high cost of cultivation, labour shortage, inadequate storage facilities, invasive pests and diseases, lack of policy innovations and inadequate institutional dynamics. “We need to focus on proper utilisation of resources by providing quality seed, developing high yield varieties/ hybrid rice, cost-effective mechanisation and by promoting agricultural stewardship.”Reminding that Andhra Pradesh was one of the leading producers of paddy in the country, he said nearly one-third of the total area (23 lakh hectares) was under paddy cultivation, which contributed to 66% of the total food grain production in the State.
“A.P. is second only to Punjab in terms of productivity in the country,” he pointed out.
Agri zones
The Chief Minister said the State was developing five crop agri zones and paddy was one of them.“The paddy crop zone is sub-divided into four zones and the aim is increase the farm income by adopting appropriate cropping sequence, suitable varieties, high production, and low-cost techniques,” he said.
Mr. Naidu said the focus of the conclave should be on regulating the paddy market, modernising and upgrading rice mills, facilitating appropriate internal and external market linkage for farm produce, starting up new enterprise focussed on various rice products and by-products and exploring opportunities of value addition from other by-products like rice husk, rice bran, brewed rice, puffed rice, rice flakes etc.
He said new strategies should be developed to keep pace with the changing food habits.Speaking about the vast range of new technology tools available, he said their effective use could bring the desired change.“If we can stabilise the agriculture sector, we can achieve a stable economy, where the farmer will feel empowered,” he said.
Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Nani, Vice-Chancellors of Viswa-Bharati University and Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University Swapan Kumar Dutta and V. Damodara Naidu respectively, and Rajeev Singh, Director-General, Indian Chamber of Commerce, were present.
Paddy production rice  import

Nepal | November 23, 2017
Kathmandu, November 22
At a time when the government has been rejoicing over the increasing production of paddy in recent years, surging production of the crop has not been able to bring down the import of rice accordingly.
The country’s recent macroeconomic report, unveiled by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), reveals that the import of rice has gone up by more than 40 per cent in the first trimester of fiscal year 2017-18.
As per the NRB report, Nepal imported rice worth Rs 5.37 billion in the first three months of this fiscal against Rs 3.8 billion worth of rice imported in the same period of fiscal 2016-17. The country had imported rice worth Rs 3.24 billion in the first trimester of 2015-16.
As the government plans to become self-sustained in rice in the near future with increased domestic production, the increasing import of rice has surely made a mockery of this plan of the government. With increased production figure of paddy in the last fiscal year, the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) has set record-high paddy production target of 5.4 million tonnes for the current fiscal.
Previously, paddy production had reached an all-time high of 5.23 million metric tonnes in 2016-17.
MoAD officials have cited the increasing rice import to surging consumption of the cereal crop in the country and consumers becoming more brand-conscious. “Rice consumption in the country is increasing every year while domestic production has not gone up accordingly,” said Yogendra Karki, spokesperson for MoAD.
Similarly, Karki also said that domestic consumers have started preferring branded foreign rice over local brands thereby increasing imports. “I believe a major portion of imported rice consists of branded rice.”
However, MoAD officials are optimistic that rice import will come down gradually in the future.
“Paddy productivity and its plantation area have been increasing in Nepal. This will certainly boost paddy production and bring down the import of rice,” opined Karki.
MoAD has estimated per hectare productivity of paddy in the country to increase to 3.5 tonnes in 2017-18 against 3.37 tonnes per hectare productivity recorded in the previous fiscal. However, paddy productivity in Nepal is comparatively low. While China has been producing almost eight metric tonnes of paddy per hectare, Thailand and India have paddy productivity of seven metric tonnes per hectare and four metric tonnes per hectare, respectively.
MoAD officials also said that domestic rice should be made more competitive in terms of price and packaging to bring down rice import.



A version of this article appears in print on November 23, 2017 of The Himalayan Times.

The Same Old BS Protectionist Measures

Two proposals do not please industrialists and Conarroz initiated the preparation of a third plan. In Costa Rica the price of rice is fixed by decree (executive order).
By Rico
In Costa Rica, a bill is being analyzed that would oblige industrialists to contribute to the Corporación Arrocera Nacional  (Conarroz) – National Rice Corporation – 5% of the value of the grain that is purchased under import schemes due to shortages.
Tons of Costa Rican Rice. From Theveggiegal.com
Although the aim of the two bills that are being discussed in the Legislative Assembly is to comply with a resolution of from the Sala IV (Constitutional Court) which ordered consumers to be incorporated into the board of directors of Conarroz, it was also used to modify in the Ley de Conarroz (law) texts other aspects to which industrialists are opposed.
Nacion.com reports that “…Those that provoked the most shock are related to financing of the Corporation, which receives, currently, 1.5% of the value of the rice delivered to the industry. The projects propose increasing this contribution to 2.5% shared between the agribusiness and the producers and one of them establishes a “compensation contribution” of 5% on the value of the imports made because of a declaration of a shortage.”
“… The number of members of the Conarroz board of directors is also reduced and aspects have been modified such as the rice industries themselves being the entities to carry out quality tests on the rice that they buy from the producers. Given this scenario, Eduardo Rojas, representative of the industrialists on the board of directors of Conarroz, believes that neither of the two projects are satisfactory and, therefore, the Corporation is working on another proposal, which they hope to have ready in about three weeks. He added that he hopes there will be consensus on the project.”

Costa Rica – Agriculture – Rice

The majority of rice imported by Costa Rica is rough rice, but there is also a CAFTA-DR tariff rate quota for milled rice.
Rice imports from the United States reached 84,376 metric tons valued at US$30.5 million in 2016. Total imports increased in 2015 because of adverse weather conditions in the main growing region of Guanacaste.
The government imposed a higher duty through a safeguard measure on milled rice imports in order to limit imports from South America, which had grown in the past few years. The safeguard measure is being phased out and will be removed in 2019.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) has decreed a special safeguard for imports of brown rice, effective from 6 September to 31 December 2107. Imports from the US, Chile, Mexico and Central America were exempted from the measure. The measure involves raising the tariff to 46.67%.
The reality of the rice market in Costa Rica is that 68% of rice sales are managed by 3 large companies, and 12% of the profits generated by the premiums are concentrated in a single company.
A study in May of this year by the Chamber of Commerce concluded that the fixing of the price of rice by decree not only did not result in improvements in productivity, but also revealed the way in which the amount of area sown is distributed as well as the profits of rice trading companies in the local market.
Key findings of the study:
·         4% of producers own 44% of the area sown and 68% of the market’s sales are managed by 3 companies.
·         11.8% of the profits generated by the premiums are concentrated in a single company.
·         Price fixing for rice, far from contributing to increased productivity and improving access conditions for consumers, actually results in industrialists and large producers being those who receive the most profits.
See summary of the study by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica (in spanish).

Cost of living in Costa Rica

According to figures by Numbeo.com (updated November 2017), the retail cost of one kg of white rice is ¢1,777 colones (¢1,150 in the San Jose greater metropolitan area).
Numbeo.com data, based on 2,988 entries in the past 18 months from 267 different contributors, updated November 2017, the cost of living in Costa Rica is 23.18% lower than in United States (aggregate data for all cities, rent is not taken into account). Rent in Costa Rica is 54.56% lower than in United States (average data for all cities).
Cost of living in Costa Rica:
·         Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment ¢41,080 (US$73.35)
·         Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) ¢28,965 (US$51.07)
·         Rent per month: Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre ¢292,406 (US$515.55)
·         Rent per month: Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre ¢211,665 (US$373.20 )
·         Rent per month: Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre ¢511,457 (US$901.77)
·         Rent per month: Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre ¢396,854 (US$699.71)
·         Buy Apartment Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre ¢868,500 (US$1,531.29)
·         Buy Apartment Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre ¢628,728 (US$1,108.54)
·         Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) ¢473,283 (US$834.47)
·         Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, Fixed-Rate: 10.22%
Summary about the cost of living in San Jose:
·         Four-person family monthly costs: ¢1,420,451 colones (US$2.536) without rent (using our estimator).
·         A single person monthly costs: ¢387,277 colones (US$691) without rent.
·         Cost of living rank 312th out of 524 cities in the world.
·         San Jose has a cost of living index of 59.40
Editor’s note: the above numbers are subjective. The dollar price is based on convertion at today’s exchange rate. Please use the comment section below or post to our official Facebookpage your numbers

FG: Nigeria’s rice importation drops to 21,000 MT

The Federal Government yesterday disclosed that Nigeria had moved closer to self- sufficiency in rice production as importation of the commodity had dropped from 644,131 metric tonnes to about 21,000 metric tonnes in the last two years.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the disclosure at a news conference in Abuja, said the Federal Government had set a target of seven million (7m) metric tonnes of locally produced rice by 2018.
He disclosed that already, some investors from Thailand have shown interest in establishing rice milling plants in Nigeria to further boost rice production in the country.
Mohammed said that this would not have been possible a few years ago since Nigeria was not considered a top rice producing country.
According to him, Nigeria is currently one of the largest producers of rice. He explained that the huge improvement in rice production across the country did not happen by accident but due to deliberate policies of the current administration geared towards encouraging local rice farmers to expand their production of the staple food.


P4.6-M smuggled rice intercepted at Davao port

 November 22, 2017, 5:26 PM
A vessel carrying 250 tons of smuggled rice was intercepted while in transit at the Port of Davao last Sunday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported Tuesday afternoon.The smuggled rice worth P4.6 million was believed to have come from Malaysia.
(Port of Davao / MANILA BULLETIN)
Customs agents at the Port of Davao discovered 5,000 bags of rice loaded in a cargo ship manned by 12 crew members who claimed that they are Filipinos.  However, their seafarer’s identification and record books revealed they are from Malaysia.The seized cargo ship was also found to be not registered as a carrier vessel by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in Region XI.  All boats and ships, especially those that transport goods are required to register with the MARINA.
A warrant of seizure and detention against the vessel has been issued on November 20, lawyer Erastus Sandino Austria, district collector of the said port, said. The cargo vessel was apprehended for violation of Sections 1113 (a) (g) (k) and (l-5) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to NFA Letter Circular No. AO-2013-04-002.“This is the largest rice smuggling activity apprehended in the Collection District XII this year,” Austria said.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena said the shipment is now in the custody of Philippine Navy in Panacan, Davao City and will be turned over to BOC-Davao for inventory and disposal.The 12 crew members, on the other hand, are subject to verification at the Bureau of Immigration.Lapena attributed the apprehension to the intensified anti-smuggling efforts by the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao Command (NAVFOREM), MARINA, PNP Maritime Group, and the BOC.
“The holidays are coming and so are unscrupulous traders. The increase in the consumption of goods during the Christmas season prompts illegal traders to smuggle in more agricultural products,” Lapena said.After the incident, the Customs chief directed all ports to strengthen their port operation against smuggled goods. (Betheena Kae Unite)


Cashless payment has ryots worried

Shishir Arya| TNN | Nov 23, 2017, 03:29 IST
Nagpur: Government's drive to push cashless transactions has left farmers of the region a harried lot. Cash crunch, which followed note ban last year, is no longer there, but rice millers buying paddy are still handing out cheques against farmers' produce.This is to avoid complications on the income tax front. Their financial advisers are asking them to not withdraw more than Rs2 lakh cash in one go. From April this year, cash transactions over Rs2 lakh have been made subject to penalty. Even as this relates to a single transaction made to a single person, millers are avoiding cash dealings fearing the action. The limit is also not applicable on bank withdrawals.

In paddy season, large amount of cash is needed to pay the farmers. Millers are still paying the amount in cheque. Farmers, on the other hand, are wary of accepting cheques."Cheques don't make a favourable proposition for many farmers, especially this year when crop is low. Farmers don't want a cheque because many would strighyaway lose the amount soon after it is deposited in the bank. A number of farmers have overdue loans. Bankers would simply adjust the amount deposited through the cheque against the loan. It would leave hardly anything in farmers' hands. This is the major reason why cheques are not being accepted," say millers.

Millers or their agents are only sparing small amounts in cash paying rest in cheque

The paddy growers are facing an unprecedented crisis as pest attack has taken a major toll on the crop. Farmers claim that not more than 35% of the crop could be salvaged."As much as 90% of our dealings have traditionally been in cash but since last two years cheques are being used. Chartered accountants have advised us against drawing more than Rs2 lakh in cash. The amount runs into tens of lakhs during paddy purchase season," said Sharad Urade, a rice mill owner at Brahmpuri Taluka of Chandrapur district."The operations have shrunk to a quarter of the normal level this year as pests have destroyed a large amount of the crop," he said.
"Farmers especially the older generation are reluctant to accept cheques. If they have a loan default the amount is adjusted against the dues. To avoid deductions many are asking cheques in the name of their children. Even in that case there are fears that their children may not share the amount," said Naresh Urade also a rice miller at Bhandara.
Dinesh Bhoyar a farmer from Karachkheda village in Bhandara says he had been insisting that millser should pay in cash, even if the payment is done in piecemeal. "Cheques have their own hassles, the money takes 15 days or so to reach the account," said Bhoyar.
Deepak Hazare who sold paddy for Rs75,000 said even he was given a cheque too. "Maybe it was because the amount is higher. But I have heard even others are being paid only in cheque," said Hazare. Although he does not have any overdue loan to be adjusted again.
"Banks do adjust such desposists against overdues, but instructions can be issued against it, as the government would soon clear the dues through loan waiver scheme," said Kishore Tiwari, chairman of Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavalamban Mission (VNSSM), a state government agency.






Workshop To Help Leadership Concept

Staff of Fiji Rice Limited and staff of Copra Millers of Fiji Limited with Pure Magic International Business Solutions facilitator Caryn Walsh (sitting second from right) in Savusavu at the workshop at Copra Millers of Fiji..
November 22
10:002017
 by SHRATIKA SINGH, LABASA
A top International trainer has been in Savusavu helping two northern companies focus on modern leadership skills and development.Three management staff of Fiji Rice Limited and seven from Copra Millers Fiji Limited attended the workshop by Pure Magic International Business Solutions facilitator Caryn Walsh.Copra Millers of Fiji Limited acting general manager John Deo thanked Ms Walsh for conveying to them her wealth of knowledge and experience on leadership.
“The workshop helped us understand the key leadership concept better, understanding of what constitute a highly performing team and how to create one, driving our team to high performance, having a code of conduct for the team and the benefits of working together as a team,” Mr Deo said.
“For our company, the major focus has been on achieving tasks and little attention was given on building relationship with teams.
“The workshop helped us understand the importance of having a balance between tasks and relationship with the team at work,” he said.
“It is our employees who will implement the strategy and an investment in human capital is worthwhile.Fiji Rice Limited mill manager Ashrit Pratap said it was the right time to up skill the senior management staff leading their respective teams as recently the company name has been changed.“We are focused on relationship building and staff needs to be strengthened with the relevant skills and knowledge as the world of business is changing,” Mr Pratap said.
“We have set up our new mill and dryers recently which had led to increase in efficiency of the mill.“Thus with the additional new skills and knowledge we are confident to increase the production of rice next year.”
Feedback: 




Timely procurement of paddy demanded

By Express News Service  |   Published: 23rd November 2017 04:49 AM  |  
Last Updated: 23rd November 2017 07:25 AM  
Farmers staging road blockade on NH-26 at Motor Chowk in Bhawanipatna on Wednesday | Express
BALANGIR: Members of Zilla Krushak Mahasangh have demanded timely procurement of paddy in the district on Wednesday.At a meeting, farmers criticised the district administration for delay in opening mandis under the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS). Though farmers have already harvested their crops and administration had earlier decided to start procurement from November 6, the mandis are yet to be made operational, they alleged.
President of the forum Sudhir Paricha said further delay in opening the mandis will allow unscrupulous traders to procure the paddy from the rural areas and farmers will be forced to make distress sale. Similarly, the administration is yet to implement the P-Pass system for online registration farmers, he said and threatened to intensify the agitation.
Sources said during the district-level paddy purchase committee meeting, the administration had decided to open 158 mandis across Balangir to procure paddy from November 6. It was decided to procure from 750 to 1,000 quintals of paddy per day per centre. However, the strike by PACS officials over pay fixation has delayed the procurement plan.Civil Supply Officer (CSO) in-charge B S Kar said the agitation launched by PACS employees was called off on Wednesday and paddy procurement will begin in the district soon.
Farmers block NH
Bhawanipatna: Hundreds of farmers of Kalahandi, led by district president of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) Debendra Pattjoshi, staged a road blockade on National Highway (NH)-26 at Motor Chowk on Wednesday protesting the paddy procurement policy of the State Government.
The agitators alleged that PACS officials are allowing only fair average quality (FAQ) paddy for procurement at the purchase centres and farmers, who have suffered crop damage due to the recent untimely rain, are being harassed. Similarly, rice millers engaged at the centres
are deducting 5 to 10 kg from the paddy bags of farmers on the plea of quality testing. Instead of FAQ norms, the PACS officials should purchase paddy as per the ‘Under Relaxed Specifications (URS)’ of the procurement policy, they said.
As farmers of the district have suffered heavy loss due to pest attack and unseasonal rains, they demanded that the State Government should provide bonus for them.Sources said due to strike, vehicular traffic on the NH was paralysed for more than four hours disrupting communication between Kalahandi and Nabarangpur/Koraput. Later, Dharmagarh SDPO Y Vijaya rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators.
When contacted, District Civil Supply Officer Sibaprasad Dora said as per the decision of the Government, PACS officials have been asked to purchase FAQ paddy from farmers.
Stay up to date on all the latest Odisha news with The New Indian Express App.Download now

Christmas Dinner With A Difference
 22/11/2017 12:02 GMT
Richard Brownlie-MarshallRenowned British designer and creative
So you’ve seen the John Lewis advert, taken a bite of your first Pret Christmas sandwich and you might have even already given up hope of getting whatever is being tipped as this years “must-have” gift. Next step is to start planning your Christmas dinner. Now I’m quite a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas cuisine, there was one year that no pigs in blankets appeared at our festive feast and it certainly didn’t go unnoticed. But with that being said, I’m not normally the one in the kitchen, so perhaps it’s better I bite my tongue on that one. Something about the variety of dishes, the many eager eyes waiting around the table and, of course, the dreaded timings that make the thought of preparing a Christmas dinner quite a daunting experience. But this year I wanted to face my fear of going in the kitchen, so thought a little cookery course first might be a good first destination on my journey.
RICHARD BROWNLIE-MARSHALL
I was intrigued by the Cookery School on Little Portland Street in London, as it was a door I must have walked by a hundred times – being just off Oxford Circus. So I ventured down the narrow staircase to find out what lay behind. With a tagline of “sustainable learning”, it offers courses featuring sustainable and organic ingredients, and being so central I could easily pop out to finish off my Christmas shopping afterwards.
They have a menu that you prepare, cook and eat within a 4-hour period – and there was not a pig in blanket in sight. It was described to me as an alternative Christmas party, and it certainly lived up to that. The starter was a twice-baked Stilton soufflé served with a chicory and pear salad. For the main we prepared a Rhug organic roast chicken with herbed basmati rice and mulled wine red cabbage. Now I know what you’re thinking – rice for Christmas dinner! Well I was thinking the exact same thing, I remember at one Christmas we were served samosas as an appetizer and I’m still talking about it today (and even writing about it on HuffPost UK). Rounding off with a sticky toffee pudding and custard, we ended in more familiar territory, but still questioning over the disappearance of the classic Christmas cake. Although I suppose we would have had to take the course three months prior to produce that well matured dessert.
RICHARD BROWNLIE-MARSHALL
The course began with some nibbles and we were split into teams to prep for each of the dishes for the evening. My team were assigned the roast chicken and sides - we learned how to prepare the bird and got to work on the fragrant mulled wine cabbage. It all seemed like a very easy process and no doubt gave me a false sense of comfort. I’m sure if I was to prepare this at home, the fire alarm would have long gone off and I’d be furiously fanning it with a tea towel around now.
RICHARD BROWNLIE-MARSHALL
As if by magic, all the teams managed to finish around the same moment. We had just enough time to gather round to watch the soufflés be dished out for their second round of baking. When completed, the once kitchen converted into a dining room and we sat down to eat. It all tasted great and you could feel each person’s sense of pride as you approached the course in which they prepared. It felt like an episode of Come Dine With Me, where you felt a duty to finish your entire plate in fear of causing offense to the team behind it.
The whole course was a really fun experience and certainly didn’t feel like it was a daunting experience for even a very amateur cook like myself. I don’t know if it quite convinced me to shelf the Brussels sprouts this year, but I definitely found it an enjoyable evening, leaving me with more confidence in the kitchen. And the early Christmas present came at the end of the meal, when we didn’t have to do the washing up!
This post has been published on HuffPost’s blogging platform. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and should not be taken as those of HuffPost. HuffPost does not allow bloggers to acquire products, access or accommodation for review in the site’s name.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/christmas-dinner-with

 

Rice Bran Wax Market Forecast 2023 Strahl & Pitsch, Koster Keunen

Nov 23, 2017:

ress release from: Rice Bran Wax Market
Rice Bran Wax Market
Rice Bran Wax Market Research 2017

A market study ” Global Rice Bran Wax Market ” examines the performance of the Rice Bran Wax market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Rice Bran Wax market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Rice Bran Wax market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Rice Bran Wax Market 2017 report includes Rice Bran Wax market Revenue, market Share, Rice Bran Wax industry volume, market Trends, Rice Bran Wax Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Rice Bran Wax Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.

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Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Rice Bran Wax Market 2017 :

• Strahl & Pitsch
• Koster Keunen
• Frank B. Ross
• Starlight Products
• Poth Hille
• Modi Naturals
• Huzhou Shuanglin Shengtao Vegetable Fat Factory
• Likang Weiye
• Shengtao Biotech
• Qinghe Youzhi

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Global Plant-based Protein Powders Market 2017 Trends, Research, Types ( Soy Protein,Rice Protein,Pea Protein), Analysis & Review Forecast 2022

Industry Overview
This Report presents before you a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the Food and Beverage Market.
The geographical coverage of this Report is split into mainly into North America, China, Europe,Southeast Asia, Japan and India. It is based on the parameters of production, price, revenue and the market share and the import and export. It traces the growth from 2012 to 2016 and decides the forecast for the year up till 2022.
The top Manufacturers are Makers Nutrition, AMCO Proteins, Axiom Foods, Carbery Group, Optimum Nutrition, Amway, By-Health, Transparent Labs, Muscletech, GymMax, Nature Power, Dymatize and Conba Group
We have also done the Product categorization of the same on the basis of production, price, revenue, market share and the growth rate of each type.
They can be split into the following Soy Protein, Rice Protein, Pea Protein
and Other
By Application, the market can be split into Adults, Children and Aged

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Short Grain Rice Market Research Growth by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast Analysis to 2022
The “Short Grain Rice Market” Report offers a comprehensive and basic leadership diagram, including definitions, arrangements and its applications. The Short Grain Rice showcase is foreseen to mirror a positive development slant in anticipated years. The fundamental main thrusts behind the development and notoriety of Short Grain Rice advertise is broke down itemized in this report.
The “Short Grain Rice Market Report” further describes detailed information about tactics and strategies used by leading key companies in the Short Grain Rice industry. It also gives an extensive study about different market segments and regions.
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FARMERS VOICE CONCERNS DURING LISTENING TOUR

Wed, 11/22/2017 - 2:33pm Shaun Hearen
 Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, at left, answers a question at the Richard and Neal Fontenot Farm in Evangeline Parish. At right is Gov. John Bel Edwards. Strain and Edwards made six stops across the state Nov. 14-17.

VIDRINE — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain wrapped up an agriculture and forestry listening tour at Richard and Neal Fontenot’s R&N Farms in the Evangeline Parish community of Vidrine on Nov. 17.Farmers expressed their concerns about infrastructure needs, red tape involved with obtaining foreign labor, sales taxes on farm supplies and equipment, high electricity rates and funding for LSU AgCenter research facilities.
At the gathering, Strain said Iraq will be buying a large amount of American rice. The purchase is for 90,000 tons, most of which will come from south Louisiana, said Jackie Loewer, an Acadia Parish rice farmer and chairman of the Louisiana Rice Producers’ Group.

“It’s a big deal for the rice industry,” Loewer said.Edwards said the state must invest in infrastructure, especially ports, to help farmers sell their crops.Farmer John Owen, of Rayville, said facilities at the Port of Lake Charles are only able to load bulk rough, or unmilled, rice onto ships. Standards for shipping milled rice are higher to prevent contamination from any other material, he said, adding that a facility for handling bulk milled rice would increase opportunities for producers.
Owen also said farmers would benefit if Louisiana ports stayed open continuously, even in periods of low water.Edwards said he is aware of the Lake Charles port situation.“We’re looking at that right now and talking to various people in the rice industry,” he said.Alan Lawson, a farmer in Crowley, said the current guest labor program is cumbersome and inflexible.
Strain said the program is crucial for Louisiana farmers because they often cannot find local workers. He said Louisiana uses more H2A and H2B workers than any other state per capita.
But dealing with the program’s rules and regulations is a “pain in the neck,” the commissioner said.
Edwards said the labor issue has been a frequent source of complaints. “This is something we’ve heard about at every stop — about labor,” he said.Farmer Donald Berken, of Iowa, asked about tax exemptions on farm equipment. The governor said sales tax exemptions for agricultural inputs such as seed, fertilizer, chemicals and farm equipment are a priority.“We’re going to maintain those exemptions for agriculture,” Edwards said.Loewer also raised the issue of funding for AgCenter research.Strain described the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station in Crowley as the pre-eminent rice research facility in the world.

Edwards said the AgCenter cannot draw from tuition funds because it has no students. He said funding has to be secured for the AgCenter “if our research centers are going to be what we want them to be.”Strain said talks are underway to resume a beef check-off program to fund beef cattle research.Indian Bayou farmer Christian Richard said the agriculture industry is hit with high electricity bills because of demand charges based on the highest daily electricity usage. He said neighboring states have laws that curb the amount of demand charges.Richard Fontenot said farmers in Arkansas, unlike those in Louisiana, don’t pay taxes on utilities used in agricultural production.
Edwards said his office will explore legislative options to address that problem. Fontenot said a group of farmers is talking with the state Public Service Commission about demand charges, and AgCenter economist Michael Deliberto is preparing information for the talks.Strain also told the gathering that $150,000 has been allocated for rice promotion. The funds will come from proceeds of slot machines at racetracks.Edwards and Strain held the series of listening sessions with farmers across the state starting Nov. 14. After the visit to R&N Farms, Edwards met other agricultural producers for lunch at the Joey Olivier farm near Arnaudville. Earlier tour stops included Mooringsport, Bastrop, Ferriday and Slaughter


Rice R&D News-Old and new technologies support climate-smart agriculture


Old and new technologies support climate-smart agriculture

SILANG, Cavite—True to my calling as a journalist, I spent one afternoon digging dirt. Or at least my interviewee—renowned Indian agronomist Dr. Julian Gonsalves—was literally digging dirt to look for earthworms and explain to me how the presence of earthworms prove that the soil remains moist and fertile. Meanwhile, I was busy taking down notes and avoiding the big, fat earthworm that he has just dug up and dangled in my face.
“The organic matter is below the ground. This [garden bed] is full of earthworms. If you have no organic matter [in the soil], you won’t have earthworms.  That’s why the forest never has to be fertilized, it naturally regenerates,” he said.
We were at the demo farm of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), a 200-square meter plot at IIRR’s compound in Silang—just a 30-minute drive from Tagaytay. Gonsalves, who’s also IIRR’s senior adviser, was showing me that it was possible to have a “climate smart” farming system without sacrificing productivity, nutrition and farmers’ livelihood.
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) was coined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to refer to technology, policies, investments and practices that can help farmers adapt and be resilient to the extreme weather events brought by a warmer planet.  CSA is a buzzword these past few days as agricultural issues have finally been included in the annual United Nations climate talks held in Bonn, Germany, last week.
Agriculture has often been sidelined in UN climate negotiations, with discussions blocked by concerns over its potential impact on commodities export trade and if developing countries will be required to cut carbon emissions caused by farming. This, despite the fact that the agriculture sector is not only major carbon emitter but will also bear the brunt of climate change.  The FAO said that agriculture—which includes forestry, fisheries and livestock production—generates around 20 percent of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions.  On the other hand, farmers, most of whom are small-scale landholders whose livelihood depend on the vagaries of weather, are the ones who will suffer the most from heavy flooding, severe drought and stronger typhoons brought by a warmer planet.
But in the recently concluded 23rd Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate negotiators have agreed to have the Subsidiary Body for Science and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation review issues associated with agriculture. Participating countries are also required to work with these two technical bodies and have to submit by March 2018 their views on climate adaptation and mitigation issues, soil and water management, nutrition and food security. The FAO also said that around 90 percent of countries’ climate commitments, known as Nationally Determined Contributions, include the agricultural sectors.
These climate negotiations may be too technical for most of us, but I believe that CSA is now more relevant in an era marked by Instagram foodies, artisanal everything, farm-to-fork dining and health-food craze.  More than its price and flavor, we’re now concerned on who and how our food was made and how its production impacts the planet that we live in. Thankfully, there are existing and new technologies and approaches that can make CSA possible and enable us to enjoy a “low carbon” meal.
One such technology is bio-intensive gardening—the techniques of which are being applied in IIRR’s demo farm in Silang.  This agro-ecological farming method was developed in the United States in the 1970s and its key components include double dug-raise beds, composting, crop rotation and planting indigenous, nutrient-rich varieties. The aim is to make a small plot of land productive for a long time without exhausting water and energy resources. This is why IIRR’s bio-intensive garden have deep dug-beds that can conserve rainwater in times of flood and release them during the dry season.
Gonsalves showed me one of these garden beds has around 30 types of sweet potatoes —the seeds were collected from different parts of the country. He said having several varieties of one crop keeps away pests and reduces risk from potential crop failure.
Such biodiversity also allows the farmers to keep and continue growing these indigenous varieties—most of which are climate resilient. Remember those “Bahay Kubo” vegetables like sitawbataw and patani? These traditional legumes which we seldom eat nowadays can tolerate a long dry spell. Kakawate trees were planted around the garden to protect the crops from strong winds while their leaves can serve as green manure. There were plenty of amaranth (locally known as kulitis), as this fibrous plant is valued for being drought resistant and its leaves, when cooked, are rich in calcium, folate and vitamin C.  The garden doesn’t use pesticide or chemical fertilizer.
Bio-intensive farming is, of course, something that can’t be applied to large-scale, commercial farming. But since this was developed for a small plot land, urban and backyard gardeners can use this method to produce their own food with less carbon footprint. IIRR has, in fact partnered with Department of Education-Cavite, the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute and the Canada-based International Development Research Centre to promote bio-intensive gardening in Cavite’s public schools. I will be discussing how this school-garden project helped improved schoolchildren’s health and make them more appreciative of agriculture and environment in one of my succeeding columns.
Apart from bio-intensive gardening, there are other CSA technologies that are developed or being developed—in the Philippines and outside—which will not only cut agriculture’s carbon emissions but also protect farms from extreme weather conditions. The International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños has developed the alternate wetting and drying which can reduce water consumption and methane emission in rice production. It also developed and distributed rice varieties that can tolerate climate stresses like drought and high salinity level.  In Singapore scientists at the Nanyang Technological University developed a solar reflective-paint additive which, when applied on a roof of a greenhouse, can block out 90 percent of the heat but allow most of the light in which is essential in growing plants. In India a nonprofit farm tech start-up Kheyti is developing a low-cost modular greenhouse that can reduce heat stress and boost crop yield, while in West Africa the World Agroforestry Centre reported that climate-smart farming techniques like agroforestry and intercropping  have more than tripled yields of millet in Niger.
Clearly, there are many ways to practice climate-smart agriculture. But what I think the most important thing to consider here is not just to give farmers more options, but to make sure that these technologies are affordable and suitable to their needs. I also think that in creating new and/or modifying existing technologies, farmers will need to be involved to ensure that they can be widely adapted.https://businessmirror.com.ph/old-and-new-technologies-support-climate-smart-agriculture/

Rice R&D News-Big tech, small farm: IoT rice analyser is a 'game-changer' for small processors, says Bühler


Big tech, small farm: IoT rice analyser is a 'game-changer' for small processors, says Bühler

By Niamh Michail 
 - Last updated on  GMT
© GettyImages/Ekkasit919
© GettyImages/Ekkasit919
The internet of things (IoT) is making advanced technology more accessible than ever, according to Bühler. Its cloud-connected digital rice analyser can be used by multinationals or start-ups, and is a "a game changer" for small rice farmers across the world, it says.
The tool, TotalSense, can help rice processors to cut costs, improve yield and speed up the quality control process, said the Swiss agri-food processor.
It works by taking a photograph of rice to identify visual defects and then uploading this image to a cloud-based system. The photograph is then analysed for quality parameters such as broken grains, irregular dimensions such as length and width and colour defects.
“The actual analysis and classification of the grains is then done by an algorithm in the Bühler​ cloud, which extracts the information from the photograph and converts it into a quality report,"​ product design engineer Sara Larsen told us.

The internet of things is described as the networking capability that allows information to be exchanged on objects and devices (such as fixtures and kitchen appliances) using the Internet.
Manufacturers can use TotalSense on a subscription basis for a monthly fee of 180 CHF (€155), which allows for an unlimited number of analyses per customer.
This relatively low price and monthly subscription set-up means small rice processors can ensure their batches meet the same quality standards as bigger

totalsense
TotalSense © Buehler
players that have their own quality control labs:
The aim is to give rice producers across the world the opportunity to improve their quality and their processes. In fact, this is a game changer for smaller rice processors,” ​said Larsen.
It’s still early days for the launch and Bühler hasn’t yet quantified the savings that processors could make but in terms of speeding up quality analysis and optimising output, the potential savings are “huge​”.
In the traditional process, samples are taken from several points in the production line, then transferred to the quality lab where the analysis happens,” ​said Larsen. “This processes can take up to several hours and if an error is discovered this means that tonnes of flawed product will have passed through the mill.”
TotalSense cuts the sampling-to-results time to around five minutes, meaning customers can react much more quickly, preventing entire batches from being contaminated, the firm said.

Connected tools, connected companies

The tool was developed by Bühler’s internal R&D scientists but Bashford said the company is keenly aware of the benefits of partnering up with external players, big and small alike, especially for tech-based products.
The Switzerland-headquartered firm was one of the founding partners of start-up accelerator, MassChallenge, while it also worked with Bosch in developing an ‘Internet of Things’ sensor using Microelectromechanical (MEMs) technology to measure three axes of vibration and temperature across a roll. “This allows us to optimise the production process​,” said global head of digital Stuart Bashford.
Bashford said the company is looking into investing in blockchain technologies for some applications but TotalSense relies on industry-standard security measures to ensure data is secure.
Last year Bühler launched AnywarePro, a remote monitoring system for rice that analyses, filters, and transmits critical data on machine performance, tolerance levels, and sorting criteria in real time.
By combining food safety databases and early warning systems under one cloud-based system, Bühler said it can help companies reduce the reputational risk from food fraud and recalls.
AnywarePro is currently available for the Sortex S optical rice sorting machine and will be extended to other machines next year

Govt to import 100,000 tons of parboiled rice

Govt to import 100,000 tons of parboiled rice

Govt to import 100,000 tons of parboiled rice

Each ton will cost $442 to $462

The government has decided to import 100,000 tons of parboiled rice to replenish rice stocks and rein in prices of the staple.
During a meeting on Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase gave its consent to importing the rice through an open tender.
Emerging from the meeting, Additional Secretary to Cabinet Division Mostafizur Rahman told reporters that six local traders would import 100,000 tons of rice at a cost of Tk427.27 crore according to terms stipulated by the Ministry of Food.
Each ton will cost $442 to $462, he said, adding that the consignment of rice is expected to reach Chittagong and Mongla ports within two months.
The six local rice traders are Mahabub Brothers Pvt Ltd, Aynul Haque Traders, Pubali Traders Ltd, M/S Sumon Flour Mills, M/S Shely Traders, and Biswas Trading and Construction.
The country is currently facing a shortfall of 1.5 million tons of rice as massive amounts of crops were washed away during the recent flooding in different districts.
To refill the stocks and ease the upward pricing pressure, the Food Ministry had taken steps to import 900,000 tonnes of rice, said Food Secretary Md Kaikobad Hossain.
The ministry’s data shows that the country’s rice stock hit a five-year low at 193,000 tons in June.
The stock on November 14, however, rose to 411,000 tons.


http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/11/22/100000-ton-parboiled-rice/