Thursday, January 04, 2018

4th January ,2017 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

USA Rice Foodservice Cookbooks Emphasize Holiday Menu 

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Just in time for the holiday season here, USA Rice unveiled two new cookbooks full of exciting rice recipes:  a student chefs' magazine, "Futuros Chefs Cocinando con Arroz" (Future Chefs Cooking with Rice, Volume 2), and "Lo Mejor del Arroz por Los Mejores Chefs de México" (The Best of Rice by The Best Chefs in Mexico), featuring gourmet holiday dishes created by some of the most renowned professional chefs in Mexico.

Sixty guests attended the cookbook launch party on December 18, including several chefs included in the holiday magazine, chef instructors from various institutions where USA Rice conducts activities, publishers of the magazine, student chefs, and media.  The guests participated in a roundtable discussion about their experiences cooking with U.S.-grown rice, the importance of rice in foodservice, and the impact of USA Rice activities on their industry.

The professional chefs said USA Rice events such as the chefs' competitions, foodservice seminars and contests, trade shows, gourmet TV Shows, social media content, and particularly the arrozgourmet.com.mx website have significantly increased their use of U.S.-grown rice in their restaurants, hotels, and businesses.  They are incorporating U.S. rice more frequently in their menus because of its versatility, ease of preparation, and superior quality.

Chef instructors echoed the sentiment that USA Rice activities at their schools have positively impacted their students, and are effective in influencing the prospective chefs to use U.S. rice in their future jobs.

"We target culinary students because they will be in key decision-making roles in the future," said Sarah Moran, USA Rice vice president international promotion.  "Students said USA Rice tutorial activities awaken their creativity and help them think about preparing rice in more varied ways."

The roundtable discussion also included feedback on how to continue promoting U.S. rice and reaching a larger audience in 2018.

"USA Rice cookbooks sell out fast because consumers want to learn how to make gourmet main dishes and desserts for Christmas and New Year's that can be replicated at home for holiday meals," said Rocio Navarro, Editorial Mango magazine editor.

In the first ten months of 2017, the U.S. exported more than 750,000 MT ($234 million) of rice to Mexico, 12 percent more than the same time period in 2016.  USA Rice's varied promotional activities have helped play a part in this increase in exports that benefit the entire industry.


12:00 AM, January 04, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:17 AM, January 04, 2018

Rice imports hit two-decade high

Soaring imports fail to rein in prices

Rice imports scaled a two-decade high in the first half of the fiscal year as private importers rushed to make profit from higher prices resulting from huge crop losses amid three episodes of floods.
Imports of the staple stood at 22.59 lakh tonnes in July-December of fiscal 2017-18, the highest since 1998-99 when a record 30.67 lakh tonnes of rice were bought from external sources in the full fiscal year, according to food ministry data.
The government imported 5.08 lakh tonnes of rice in July-December.
Analysts said imports soared in the face of speculation of a decline in yield of current aman and low stocks of previous boro rice at private mills. A slash in import duty to 2 percent from 10 percent in August gave a boost to imports.
Analysts said higher imports will increase supply, thus helping to stabilise the market and benefit consumers. But the government should be watchful so that higher imports do not hurt farmers by creating a glut in the market, they added.
“Imports will continue as prices are higher in Bangladesh compared to India,” said Citta Majumder, managing director of Majumder Group of Industries.
Food ministry data showed letters of credits to import 32 lakh tonnes of rice were opened until December 23 last year.
The buoyancy in imports continues at a time when farmers have harvested most of the aman crop, which accounts for 38 percent of the country's annual rice production.
The soaring imports and the harvest of aman crop have increased the availability of rice. However, prices of the staple still remain high.
In Dhaka, retail prices of the coarse and medium quality rice, consumed by the majority of the population, were Tk 44 to Tk 56 a kg yesterday, according to data from the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Yesterday's prices of coarse and medium quality grain were 6 percent and 4 percent higher from a month ago, show TCB data.
Majumder said there is high speculation that aman output declined in 2017 from a year ago.
The government decision to buy rice at Tk 39 per kg and millers' rush to buy aman paddy contributed to the higher prices, he said.    
Majumder said the number of buyers is high this year. Many millers don't have any stock of previous boro paddy and entered the market to buy aman paddy to keep their mills running.
A US Department of Agriculture report in November forecasted a drop in aman production to 1.3 crore tonnes in the fiscal year. The agency also said overall output will decline.  
In December, the Food and Agriculture Organization said total paddy production would fall in 2017 by 3 percent to 5.08 crore tonnes, a five-year low. It estimated paddy output at 5.21 crore tonnes in 2016.
“In Bangladesh, three episodes of severe floods during 2017 affected large areas of the country, particularly northern districts, causing losses to the two main boro and aman crops, which together account for more than 90 percent of total annual output,” said the FAO.
Rezaul Karim Talukder, poverty and social protection policy adviser of the FAO Bangladesh, said the floods and a disease infestation in aman crop might have caused a loss of 15-20 lakh tonnes of rice.
He said imports are rising as there is demand from the private and public sectors.
Talukder expected the prices of rice to become stable for increased imports and the harvest of aman.
Quazi Shahabuddin, a former director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said the private sector is importing because of the price gaps between domestic and international markets.
He stressed ensuring a bumper boro harvest in the coming season to bring down prices of rice.

http://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/rice-imports-hit-two-decade-high-1514755

 

 

Raid on rice millers over paddy bungling

By Express News Service  |   Published: 04th January 2018 02:02 AM  |  
Last Updated: 04th January 2018 07:21 AM  |   
Civil supply officials verify paddy bags at a godown in Malkangiri | Express
MALKANGIRI:The civil supply officials on Wednesday raided several godowns of 11 rice mills across the district and seized huge quantities of paddy bags stocked illegally. It was found that the millers had stocked crops in excess of targeted procurement.
Earlier, farmers had alleged before the district administration that the millers engaged at the mandis used to cut down up to 1  kg of paddy per quintal for fair average quality (FAQ) testing while buying the produce from them during the procurement. Acting on the allegations, Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy had formed a squad to conduct raids on the rice mills across the district. Recently, the team also conducted raids on 21 rice mills across the district.
Farmers’ leaders alleged that the paddy growers in the district have incurred losses due to the nexus between unscrupulous officials of the civil supplies department and millers. Most of the millers have stored excess paddy procured illegally from the mandis. But the team could not unearth it as the millers were informed about the raid by some civil supply officials, they said.When contacted, District Civil Supply Officer Abhimanyu Mohanty said the team is yet to submit the report of seizure.
The exact amount of excess paddy seized from the millers will be known after the report is submitted. These 11 millers are not in a position to maintain the stock register, while the LAMPS, which purchased paddy and handed it over to millers, have not submitted acceptance note. An additional procurement target of 2,58,000 quintals has been fixed after achieving the initial target of 5,52,000 quintals of paddy. So far, 5,97,000 quintals have already been procured, he added.
Meanwhile, locals and some farmers’ organisations have urged the Collector to reconstitute the squad alleging that some officials of civil supply department are having nexus with the millers.  They demanded surprise raids on the rice mills.
India Express

Asia rice-markets slow into year-end; Bangladesh awaits India shipments

THU, DEC 28, 2017 - 9:52 PM
[BENGALURU] Rice markets in major Asian centres remained muted this week, with trades few and far between due to the holiday season and the approaching year-end, while Bangladesh awaited shipments from India as part of a previously announced deal.
Bangladesh, which has emerged as a major importer this year after floods damaged its crops, has signed a deal, announced earlier this month, to import 150,000 tonnes of rice from India at US$440 a tonne, Badrul Hasan, head of Dhaka's state grains buyer, told Reuters on Thursday.
Another deal with Thailand to import 150,000 tonnes of parboiled rice at US$465 a tonne could be signed next week, he added.
"We have already purchased or finalised deals to fulfil our target," said Hasan, adding that the state grains buyer aims to import 1.5 million tonnes in the year to June 2018.
The cost of rice imports has increased in recent weeks due to weakening of the local currency against the dollar, amid an appreciation in the Indian rupee, a Dhaka-based trader said.
In August, Bangladesh cut a duty on imports of the grain for the second time in two months to boost stocks and combat high domestic rates, prompting purchases by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with neighbouring India.
In top exporter India, the 5 per cent broken parboiled rice prices were unchanged from last week's US$418-US$421 per tonne level.
"Due to Christmas and New Year holidays, trading volume is down significantly. Traders are in vacation mood," said an exporter based in Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
The Indian rupee was trading near its highest level in three months, slashing exporters' returns from overseas sales.
"The appreciating rupee is keeping prices firm for overseas buyers. In the last few days, demand from Bangladesh has been weak," said another exporter in Kakinada.
In Thailand, the benchmark 5 percent broken rice ticked up to US$398-US$400, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from US$390-US$398 last week, even as the market remained subdued, traders said.
Trade was quiet as the end of the year approaches and foreign buyers are not placing orders, a Bangkok-based trader.
Meanwhile, the Thai Rice Exporters Association forecast rice exports to exceed 11 million tonnes in 2017, a record high.
"Some of that is old rice in state warehouses, as announced by the commerce ministry," the trader said.
The market for the staple grain remained quiet in Vietnam as well, with traders quoting the benchmark 5 per cent broken rice at US$390-395 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon, the same as last week.
Rice exports from Vietnam in December were forecast higher than last month at 400,000 tonnes, a government report said, with traders attributing the increase to shipment of previously signed deals.

Paddy farmers to get Rs 500 cr solution for stubble burning hazard
The National Capital could breathe easier next winter, as paddy farmers in Punjab and Haryana might receive help from Niti Aayog and National Green Tribunal to tackle paddy stubbles on their fields for readying them for planting potato or wheat.
"The PMO is looking into this problem and they have now fixed a Rs 500 crore budget (earlier pegged at Rs 700 cr) for Punjab and Haryana to tackle this problem and improve air quality in Delhi," said Lakshmi Raghupathy, a former deputy director of the ministry of environment and forest, and now an environment services expert. "This subsidy should go to farmers on purchase of machinery like harvesters and zero tillers. And a part of it would be used to subsidize industries who would use these refuse as fuel as subsidy on its transport cost," said Raghupathy. Raghupathy, who was recently engaged with the National Green Tribunal as an adviser on the committee investigating the cause of stubble burning, said: "The NGT recommends penalizing farmers. But disgruntled debt-stressed farmers refuse to pay them." She said that the Niti Aayog has been tasked with finding the correct use of the central subsidy to the two states. "NTPC have said that they will use 10 per cent of stubble based pellets in their fuel mix for power plants." NTPC has already floated tenders for receiving such Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for their power plants from Punjab and Haryana. The tenders are likely to be opened on January 10. Haryana government had extended a plan to the Niti Aayog to use these crop stubbles for board making, as a supplement to wood, for furniture.  A number of cement plants have also started to use crop stubbles as fuel supplement. In Punjab, about 27 cement plants had conducted pilots of using crop stubble in their fuel mix and all plants have subsequently started to use them, the state government informed the NGT panel. Meanwhile, industries, too, have sought to pitch in with their bit in the effort to stop the menace of stubble burning n Delhi's struggle for clean breathable air. On behalf of the industries, CII's Sustainability Centre is also looking at ways to subsidize farmers for use of crop stubble as a bio-fuel or for other alternative means to reduce stubble burning in the open. "In south India farmers plough the stubbles and burn them inside mud silos. This is not practical in north India where farmers have many acres of land than when compared to in south India," said Raghupathy. According to her, the Niti Aayog is likely to finalise the policy to tackle the issue of crop stubble burning shortly. In the next few months the Aayog would also frame a policy for implementation on the ground, way ahead of the next paddy harvesting season in north India's rice belt.
Rice basmati, wheat edge up on increased offtake
New Delhi, Jan 3 () Prices of rice basmati and wheat firmed up by upto Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to increased offtake. Traders said pick up in demand from retailers mainly led to rise in rice basmati prices. Increased offtake by flour mills amid pause in arrivals from producing belts helped wheat prices to trade a tad higher, they said. In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety went up by Rs 100 each to Rs 7,600-7,700 and Rs 6,300-6,400 per quintal respectively. Wheat dara (for mills) also edged up by Rs 10 to Rs 1,780-1,795 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded higher by a similar margin to Rs 1,790-1,795 per 90 kg. Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,080-2,280, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,780-1,795, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,790-1,795, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 960-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,050-1,060 (50 kg). Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,600-7,700, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,300-6,400, Permal raw Rs 2,300-2350, Permal wand Rs 2,350-2,400, Sela Rs 2,700-2,900 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,925-1,975, Bajra Rs 1,225-1,230, Jowar yellow Rs 1,375-1,425, white Rs 2,750-2,850, Maize Rs 1,340- 1,345, Barley Rs 1,480-1,490. KPS ADI BAL

Rice: Thailand, India to lose $8m daily

…as Nigeria bans imports Thailand and India, the biggest exporters of rice to Nigeria, may lose over $8 million per day, following the country’s plan to stop importation of rice this year, New Telegraph has learnt. President Muhammadu Buhari hadm in his New Year message, last Monday, said that Nigeria will stop rice importation this year.
A report obtained by our correspondent put the exports to Nigeria by the pair at $8 million per day. Besides, statistics from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) revealed that government was already pruning rice importation quota to importers in order to pave the way for massive local production. The report stated that this was already causing panic in the two countries’ economies. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, was quoted as saying in the report that the plan to stop rice importation was also sending jitters into the international market, especially major countries benefitting from Nigeria’s rice importation. Ogbeh said Nigeria’s annual food import bill of around $20 billion could not be sustained under the current economic atmosphere, adding that backward integration programme was the solution to attaining industrialisation.
 He said that Nigeria was the largest rice producer in Africa and also the continent’s biggest importer of the grain. The report revealed that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote’s announcement last year that he was making a $1 billion investment in Nigeria’s rice production seemed to vindicate government’s approach. It stated that Dangote Group planned to produce one million tons of parboiled milled rice over the next five years, equivalent to 16 per cent of domestic demand. Other big players in the production chain include Lagos-based conglomerate, TGI, which opened a rice mill in August with a capacity of 120,000 tons and Olam Nigeria, part of Singapore-based Olam International, which plans to boost its existing rice output.
Also, it stated that Dangote’s rice initiative planned to provide inputs such as seeds and fertiliser, as well as training for nearly 50,000 medium and smallholder farmers, who will then provide their land and labour. The report added that some of the government initiatives were in place to promote small-scale agriculture. They include the CBN’s $300 million Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, introduced in 2015 to provide cheap loans and input subsidies for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers.
 In addition, the World Bank is also supporting government’s agricultural transformation strategy with a $200 million loan to support small-to mid-scale rice production. Government’s grow-your-own push seems to be working, according to the report. However, in his response to the country’s bid to end rice importation this year, the Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, Mahmoud Daneji, said that government may have a laudable programme on the table on rice self-sufficiency, but many of the smallholder farmers, who produce over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s food face an uphill battle to maintain that supply. “You may have a very laudable programme, but in as much as there is no input from the potential beneficiaries, it will definitely fail,” he revealed. Daneji listed the problems farmers face to include lack of access to quality seeds, fertiliser, effective agricultural extension systems and access to credit for those who need it.
 He explained that despite the raft of initiatives aimed at boosting output, farmers still typically worked with their bare hands in fields lacking irrigation, live in areas with poor roads that limit their access to markets and are facing a growing threat of climate change without advice on how to adapt. “In a survey last year, farmers cited the lack of fertiliser as their biggest problem by far, despite a long-running government input programme.
Nearly three-quarter of respondents said they were unaware of any government interventions aimed at helping them,” he said. Also, the Kano State chair of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Abdulrashid Magaji, said the bulk of government programmes rarely reached their intended target. “They go instead to political favourites and close associates of politicians,” he alleged.



Firms, groups seek government OK to import rice

In Photo: In this file photo, a worker arranges sacks of rice at a National Food Authority warehouse. The government allows the private sector to import rice under the minimum access volume scheme to boost local supply.
The National Food Authority (NFA) said 297 companies and farmers’ organizations have applied for permits to import more than 2 million metric tons (MMT) of rice under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme.
The NFA, the private firms and farmers’ organizations would purchase some 2.2 MMT of imported rice, nearly triple the 850,200 metric tons (MT) of the country’s MAV for 2017. Imports within MAV are usually slapped a lower tariff.
“The NFA was able to generate P14.8 million from the nonrefundable application fee of P50,000 from each MAV applicant, while P2.4 billion was remitted to the national treasury as advance payment of customs duties made by 156 applicants as of December 15,” the NFA said in a recent statement.
Under Memorandum Circular AO-2017-08-002, which detailed the guidelines for the MAV 2017 importation, rice traders will be allowed to source from countries with a specific quota and from omnibus origin, or other rice-producing countries.
Of the total applicants, 266 private firms and farmers’ organizations want to import 2.028 MMT of rice from Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and India. The remaining 31 rice traders will buy 171,971 MT from other rice-producing countries.
However, rice traders and farmers’ groups can only import 293,100 MT of rice from Thailand and Vietnam. They can also import 50,000 MT of rice from China, India and Pakistan; 15,000 MT from Australia; and 4,000 MT from El Salvador.
Under the importation guidelines, if the total applied volume under the MAV exceeds the quota, then the NFA will distribute the import allocation on a pro rata basis among the qualified applicants.
Well-milled rice imported under the 2017 MAV program will be slapped a 35-percent tariff, according to the importation guidelines. The quality should also not lower be than 25-percent brokens and/or any special rice variety.
The importation guidelines also indicated that after all importers have filed their letter of intent, the NFA MAV prequalification team will conduct the validation and authentication of all the requirements submitted by the applicants.
The NFA Council, the highest policy-making body of the NFA, has divided the arrival of rice
imports under the 2017 MAV into two phases: from December 20, 2017, until February 28; and June 1 until August 31.
The NFA said the council did this to ensure that the arrival of rice imports will not coincide with the harvest season.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/firms-groups-seek-government-ok-to-import-rice/ Rice basmati, wheat edge up on increased offtake

PTI | Jan 3, 2018, 14:22 IST
New Delhi, Jan 3 () Prices of rice basmati and wheat firmed up by upto Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to increased offtake.
Traders said pick up in demand from retailers mainly led to rise in rice basmati prices.
Increased offtake by flour mills amid pause in arrivals from producing belts helped wheat prices to trade a tad higher, they said.
In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety went up by Rs 100 each to Rs 7,600-7,700 and Rs 6,300-6,400 per quintal respectively.
Wheat dara (for mills) also edged up by Rs 10 to Rs 1,780-1,795 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded higher by a similar margin to Rs 1,790-1,795 per 90 kg.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,080-2,280, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,780-1,795, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,790-1,795, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 960-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,050-1,060 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,600-7,700, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,300-6,400, Permal raw Rs 2,300-2350, Permal wand Rs 2,350-2,400, Sela Rs 2,700-2,900 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,925-1,975, Bajra Rs 1,225-1,230, Jowar yellow Rs 1,375-1,425, white Rs 2,750-2,850, Maize Rs 1,340- 1,345, Barley Rs 1,480-1,490. KPS ADI BAL


Rice imports hit two-decade high

Soaring imports fail to rein in prices

12:00 AM, January 04, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 11:04 AM, January 04, 2018

Rice imports scaled a two-decade high in the first half of the fiscal year as private importers rushed to make profit from higher prices resulting from huge crop losses amid three episodes of floods.

Imports of the staple stood at 22.59 lakh tonnes in July-December of fiscal 2017-18, the highest since 1998-99 when a record 30.67 lakh tonnes of rice were bought from external sources in the full fiscal year, according to food ministry data.
The government imported 5.08 lakh tonnes of rice in July-December.
Analysts said imports soared in the face of speculation of a decline in yield of current aman and low stocks of previous boro rice at private mills. A slash in import duty to 2 percent from 10 percent in August gave a boost to imports.
Analysts said higher imports will increase supply, thus helping to stabilise the market and benefit consumers. But the government should be watchful so that higher imports do not hurt farmers by creating a glut in the market, they added.
“Imports will continue as prices are higher in Bangladesh compared to India,” said Citta Majumder, managing director of Majumder Group of Industries.
Food ministry data showed letters of credits to import 32 lakh tonnes of rice were opened until December 23 last year.
The buoyancy in imports continues at a time when farmers have harvested most of the aman crop, which accounts for 38 percent of the country's annual rice production.
The soaring imports and the harvest of aman crop have increased the availability of rice. However, prices of the staple still remain high.
In Dhaka, retail prices of the coarse and medium quality rice, consumed by the majority of the population, were Tk 44 to Tk 56 a kg yesterday, according to data from the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Yesterday's prices of coarse and medium quality grain were 6 percent and 4 percent higher from a month ago, show TCB data.
Majumder said there is high speculation that aman output declined in 2017 from a year ago.
The government decision to buy rice at Tk 39 per kg and millers' rush to buy aman paddy contributed to the higher prices, he said.    
Majumder said the number of buyers is high this year. Many millers don't have any stock of previous boro paddy and entered the market to buy aman paddy to keep their mills running.
A US Department of Agriculture report in November forecasted a drop in aman production to 1.3 crore tonnes in the fiscal year. The agency also said overall output will decline.  
In December, the Food and Agriculture Organization said total paddy production would fall in 2017 by 3 percent to 5.08 crore tonnes, a five-year low. It estimated paddy output at 5.21 crore tonnes in 2016.
“In Bangladesh, three episodes of severe floods during 2017 affected large areas of the country, particularly northern districts, causing losses to the two main boro and aman crops, which together account for more than 90 percent of total annual output,” said the FAO.
Rezaul Karim Talukder, poverty and social protection policy adviser of the FAO Bangladesh, said the floods and a disease infestation in aman crop might have caused a loss of 15-20 lakh tonnes of rice.
He said imports are rising as there is demand from the private and public sectors.
Talukder expected the prices of rice to become stable for increased imports and the harvest of aman.
Quazi Shahabuddin, a former director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said the private sector is importing because of the price gaps between domestic and international markets.
He stressed ensuring a bumper boro harvest in the coming season to bring down prices of rice.

http://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/bangladesh-rice-imports-hit-two-decade-high-in-2017-18-fiscal-year-1514755

 Firms, groups seek government OK to import rice

In Photo: In this file photo, a worker arranges sacks of rice at a National Food Authority warehouse. The government allows the private sector to import rice under the minimum access volume scheme to boost local supply.
The National Food Authority (NFA) said 297 companies and farmers’ organizations have applied for permits to import more than 2 million metric tons (MMT) of rice under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme.
The NFA, the private firms and farmers’ organizations would purchase some 2.2 MMT of imported rice, nearly triple the 850,200 metric tons (MT) of the country’s MAV for 2017. Imports within MAV are usually slapped a lower tariff.
“The NFA was able to generate P14.8 million from the nonrefundable application fee of P50,000 from each MAV applicant, while P2.4 billion was remitted to the national treasury as advance payment of customs duties made by 156 applicants as of December 15,” the NFA said in a recent statement.
Under Memorandum Circular AO-2017-08-002, which detailed the guidelines for the MAV 2017 importation, rice traders will be allowed to source from countries with a specific quota and from omnibus origin, or other rice-producing countries.
Of the total applicants, 266 private firms and farmers’ organizations want to import 2.028 MMT of rice from Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and India. The remaining 31 rice traders will buy 171,971 MT from other rice-producing countries.
However, rice traders and farmers’ groups can only import 293,100 MT of rice from Thailand and Vietnam. They can also import 50,000 MT of rice from China, India and Pakistan; 15,000 MT from Australia; and 4,000 MT from El Salvador.
Under the importation guidelines, if the total applied volume under the MAV exceeds the quota, then the NFA will distribute the import allocation on a pro rata basis among the qualified applicants.
Well-milled rice imported under the 2017 MAV program will be slapped a 35-percent tariff, according to the importation guidelines. The quality should also not lower be than 25-percent brokens and/or any special rice variety.
The importation guidelines also indicated that after all importers have filed their letter of intent, the NFA MAV prequalification team will conduct the validation and authentication of all the requirements submitted by the applicants.
The NFA Council, the highest policy-making body of the NFA, has divided the arrival of rice
imports under the 2017 MAV into two phases: from December 20, 2017, until February 28; and June 1 until August 31.
The NFA said the council did this to ensure that the arrival of rice imports will not coincide with the harvest season.


Rice: Thailand, India to lose $8m daily


…as Nigeria bans imports
 Thailand and India, the biggest exporters of rice to Nigeria, may lose over $8 million per day, following the country’s plan to stop importation of rice this year, New Telegraph has learnt.
President Muhammadu Buhari hadm in his New Year message, last Monday, said that Nigeria will stop rice importation this year.
A report obtained by our correspondent put the exports to Nigeria by the pair at $8 million per day.
Besides, statistics from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) revealed that government was already pruning rice importation quota to importers in order to pave the way for massive local production.
The report stated that this was already causing panic in the two countries’ economies.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, was quoted as saying in the report that the plan to stop rice importation was also sending jitters into the international market, especially major countries benefitting from Nigeria’s rice importation.
Ogbeh said Nigeria’s annual food import bill of around $20 billion could not be sustained under the current economic atmosphere, adding that backward integration programme was the solution to attaining industrialisation.
He said that Nigeria was the largest rice producer in Africa and also the continent’s biggest importer of the grain.
The report revealed that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote’s announcement last year that he was making a $1 billion investment in Nigeria’s rice production seemed to vindicate government’s approach.
It stated that Dangote Group planned to produce one million tons of parboiled milled rice over the next five years, equivalent to 16 per cent of domestic demand.
Other big players in the production chain include Lagos-based conglomerate, TGI, which opened a rice mill in August with a capacity of 120,000 tons and Olam Nigeria, part of Singapore-based Olam International, which plans to boost its existing rice output.
Also, it stated that Dangote’s rice initiative planned to provide inputs such as seeds and fertiliser, as well as training for nearly 50,000 medium and smallholder farmers, who will then provide their land and labour.
The report added that some of the government initiatives were in place to promote small-scale agriculture.
They include the CBN’s $300 million Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, introduced in 2015 to provide cheap loans and input subsidies for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers.
In addition, the World Bank is also supporting government’s agricultural transformation strategy with a $200 million loan to support small-to mid-scale rice production. Government’s grow-your-own push seems to be working, according to the report.
However, in his response to the country’s bid to end rice importation this year, the Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, Mahmoud Daneji, said that government may have a laudable programme on the table on rice self-sufficiency, but many of the smallholder farmers, who produce over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s food face an uphill battle to maintain that supply.
“You may have a very laudable programme, but in as much as there is no input from the potential beneficiaries, it will definitely fail,” he revealed.
Daneji listed the problems farmers face to include lack of access to quality seeds, fertiliser, effective agricultural extension systems and access to credit for those who need it.
He explained that despite the raft of initiatives aimed at boosting output, farmers still typically worked with their bare hands in fields lacking irrigation, live in areas with poor roads that limit their access to markets and are facing a growing threat of climate change without advice on how to adapt.
“In a survey last year, farmers cited the lack of fertiliser as their biggest problem by far, despite a long-running government input programme. Nearly three-quarter of respondents said they were unaware of any government interventions aimed at helping them,” he said.
Also, the Kano State chair of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Abdulrashid Magaji, said the bulk of government programmes rarely reached their intended target.
“They go instead to political favourites and close associates of politicians,” he alleged

One reason Nigeria's dream of ending rice importation in 2018 is not achievable

·       Published: 03.01.2018
·       Shakirudeen Taiwo
Activities of rice smugglers in various border towns and communities across the country show the dream is far from being achieved.
Rice
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President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria would end the importation of rice from 2018, but this dream seems to be a mirage due to porous borders across the country.

The president stated this in his address to the nation on Monday, January 1, 2018, to mark the beginning of a new year. According to him, a lot of people responded positively to his appeal of returning back to the farm in 2015. Hence, the increase in local capacity production of rice and other agricultural products.
“I am highly gratified that agriculture has picked up, contributing to the government’s effort to restructure the economy,” he said.
“Rice imports will stop this year. Local rice, fresher and more nutritious rice will be on our dishes from now on.”
However, activities of rice smugglers in various border towns and communities across the country show the dream is far from been achieved. These border towns are major smuggling routes parboiled rice from Thailand gets into the country illegally.
According to statistics by the Thailand Association of Rice Exportation, the total export of rice to Nigeria reduced by -59% between 2016 and 2017 (56,790 MT in 2016 and 23,192 MT in 2017). This is -96.4% when compared with the country’s import in 2015 (644,131 MT). Within the same period, the number of rice export to the Benin Republic went up by 19.9% (8,736,630 MT in 2016 and 10,474,084 MT in 2017). 
And over 90% of these rice imports are planned for shipment into Nigeria. This is because the population of Benin Republic never increased as such to absorb this level of rice importation.
Without smuggling activities in Nigeria, it will be impossible to end the importation of rice. An occurrence of little supply shortage would prompt illegal in flocks of these products.
Hereby, creating a market imbalance that would push up the price of rice in the local market.

Bangladesh December inflation eases to 5.83 pct y/y

By Reuters

DHAKA, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Bangladesh's annual inflation rate in December eased to 5.83 percent from 5.91 percent the previous month, the statistics bureau said on Wednesday, as prices of non-food items rose at a slower pace.
Annual inflation in October climbed to a 2-year high of 6.04 percent on the back of surging food prices.
Food prices in December were 7.13 percent higher than a year earlier, and higher than November's 7.09 percent.
In contrast, non-food inflation moderated to 3.85 percent in December from 4.10 percent the previous month.
Food inflation has accelerated mainly due to a surge in the price of rice, the staple for the population of 160 million. Higher prices of meat, pulses, milk and other items also contributed.
The government has started bulk rice imports for the first time since 2011 to combat record prices after floods hit domestic output amid dwindling state reserves.
In August, Bangladesh cut a duty on rice imports for the second time in two months. But domestic prices hardly moved, posing a problem for the government, which faces a general election this year.
The central bank left key interest rates unchanged in July, saying it was trying to balance economic growth and inflation risks.
Inflation eased to 5.44 percent in the financial year that ended in June, as non-food prices rose at a slower pace but food prices climbed to a two-year high. (Reporting by Ruma Paul)

Bulog to adopt new approach for better absorption of farmers' rice

Jakarta | Thu, January 4, 2018 | 11:54 am
Farmers carry bushels of harvested rice to a mill on Oct. 13, 2017 in Ngawi, East Java. (Antara/Ari Bowo Sucipto)
The National Logistics Agency (Bulog) has said on Wednesday that it will change its approach in purchasing rice to enable it to absorb more unhusked rice from farmers, according to a  kompas.com report.
Bulog purchased 2.1 million tons of unhusked rice from farmers last year, or a mere 57 percent of its 2017 target of 3.7 million tons.
Bulog procurement director Andrianto Wahyu Adi said on Wednesday at the Agriculture Ministry that the agency could not optimally purchase rice from farmers  as part of the government’s mechanism to control the prices of unhusked rice from farmers, as it had to wait for the farmers to sell their rice.
In terms of the agency's change in approach, he said Bulog would no longer use the public service obligation (PSO) mechanism, with prices determined by the government, to purchase unhusked rice from farmers this year. Instead, the agency would buy the commodity at commercial prices.
“If we use commercial prices, we can buy rice according to market prices. We hope that the prices will [thus] be more competitive,” Andrianto said.
He said Bulog planned to buy 2.7 million tons of unhusked rice in 2018, after taking into account last year's absorption rate, which fell well below target.
He said the agency was no longer tasked with distributing subsidized rice to low-income households, following the government's decision to distribute assistance through a cashless mechanism. (bbn) 
Following the free fall in global nickel prices, more smelter companies in Indonesia have begun halting operations.
The number of smelters ceasing nickel processing activities increased to 17 in the first days of July, compared to 13 smelters that halted operations in June, said Processing and Smelting Companies Association (AP3I) deputy chairman Jonathan Handojo on Sunday.
“All of the smelters that halted operations were granted operational permits from the Investment Coordinating Board [BKPM],” Jonathan said as quoted by kontan.co.id, adding that BKPM chairman Thomas Lembong planned to meet with AP3I representatives to discuss the issue.
He blamed the situation on the government for allowing an overflow of raw mineral exports.
The government recently granted Indonesian company PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama (CNI) permission to export 2.3 million tons of nickel ore after the company promised to develop a smelter in Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi.
As a result, the price of benchmark nickel for three-month delivery on the London Metals Exchange (LME) fell by nearly 3 percent to US$9,130 per ton on July 6, compared to $9,410 on July 3. (dea).



Bags of rice and essential commodities scattered after the accident near Aspari in Kurnool district on Wednesday.   | Photo Credit: U. SUBRAMANYAM

They were returning home after working in Nalgonda district

Seven agricultural labourers were killed and 22 others sustained grievous injuries when a tipper overturned after its rear tyre burst, near the railway gate at Chinnahothur, near Aspari in Kurnool district, on Wednesday.
Several migrant labourers belonging to Kothapet village in Holagunda mandal in the district had gone to Nalgonda in Telangana about two months ago to work in cotton fields there. On completion of work, they purchased rice and essential commodities enough for about six months and engaged a tipper to return to their native place, according to Boya Hanumanthu, whose brother died in the accident.
Tragedy struck the agricultural workers who were happy to have earned money to fend their families for a few months, when the tipper overturned and essential commodities packed in several gunny bags fell on them and got scattered on the road. Alur Circle Inspector Ghouse and Aspari sub-inspector Sankaraiah rushed to the accident spot and shifted the injured to hospital.
Shaikamma (45), Narasamma (46), Govindamma (55), and Hanumanthamma (16) died instantly, while Sravanthi and Veeramma succumbed to injuries on way to the Government hospital at Adoni, according to the police. Ten severely injured persons were admitted to hospital at Adoni. A dozen other critically wounded workers were rushed to Kurnool General Hospital, but Boya Narayana (55) succumbed to injuries on the way.
Boya Durgamma (40), Boya Neelamma (35), Balaraju (16), Lakshmi (16), Boya Sunkanna, Hanumanthu and Sravanthi (8), are undergoing treatment in Kurnool. Chief Medical Officer S. Manjula of casualty ward in Kurnool General Hospital said of the 12 injured persons admitted in the casualty ward, the condition of four is critical.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/7-farm-workers-killed-as-tipper-overturns/article22364690.ece ws

Commodity Prices Soar Due to Bad Weather
TEMPO.COJakarta - Data from the Trade Ministry show that commodity prices soared on January 2-3. The commodities are rice, wheat, soybean, meat, eggs, onion, instant noodles and beans.Director General of Trade for the Trade Ministry Tjahya Widayanti said that the price increase was caused by bad weather that has occurred since the end of last year.
Bank Indonesia has reported commodity prices increase, including chili peppers, green bird’s eye chili, red bird’s eye chili, cooking oil and premium sugar.
“Plants are prone to rain showers. It’s the law of supply-demand; it happens [due to rising demand],” Tjahya Widayanti said today.
According to Tjahya, the government has issued Agriculture Minister’s Regulation No. 27/2017 on  benchmark staple food prices for farmers and consumers that applies since May 16, 2017.
The staple foods are rice, corn, soybean, sugar, cooking oil, red onion, frozen meat, chicken and eggs

https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2018/01/04/056914548/

 

Commodity-Prices-Soar-Due-to-Bad-Weather NFA to standardize terms of contracted services

By Jed Macapagal
January 04, 2018
The National Food Authority (NFA) said it will fully implement standard terms of reference (TOR) for its contracted services such as security, trucking, hauling and warehouse handling, among others, starting this month.

“The standardization of TORs for service contracts will realize a true, transparent and competitive bidding in NFA services. It is one of my priority reform measures since I assumed stewardship of the agency,” NFA administrator Jason Aquino said in a statement.

NFA said a standard TOR for security services was recently finalized and will be implemented starting this month in all its offices nationwide.

According to Aquino, contracts, memoranda of agreement and memoranda of understanding entered into by NFA’s central and field offices varied in form and content even if they were compliant with pertinent provisions of the law.

For instance, he said, every contract is covered by TOR, but TORs for similar contracts varied in the various offices of the agency.

Last year, Aquino required all NFA central office department and regional managers to submit to the agency’s Legal Affairs Department all copies of contracts entered into in 2016 and earlier, and hold the signing and execution of new contracts and agreements in order to standardize all contracts across 15 regional and 89 provincial offices nationwide.

He also created a team to look into existing contracts and draft a uniform or standardized format and TOR for specific agreements such as services, supplies, and linkages with other government agencies, the private sector and local government units.

“As a matter of policy, I will allow partiality or bias only if it is in favor of the government,” Aquino said.

In line with the reforms, concerned NFA personnel were also required to attend seminars on the Government Procurement Law to ensure that all procurement procedures are complied.

Earlier, NFA also mentioned it will continue to build up its food security buffer stocks from domestic palay procurement and rice importation, if necessary, under a regime where quantitative restriction (QR) on rice has been lifted.

The agency made the statement following speculations that with the lifting of rice QR in favor of higher tariffs on rice imports, NFA may have to be reorganized to limit its functions to proprietary activities such as buffer stocking and local procurement.

“If the past few years are any indication, we have seen a trend where palay farmgate prices have been on the uptrend, higher than NFA’s support price of P17 per kilogram. This is the reason we have not been able to meet procurement targets, resorting to importation to fill in the buffer stock requirement for food security,” Aquino said recently.

NFA believes it will take a while before the domestic rice market would be able to adjust to the non-QR regime, but noted the government should continue to provide safety nets for farmers who may be most affected by the free entry of imported rice into the country.

NFA also said while performing buffer stock functions, it shall continue to issue import licenses and provide necessary guidelines to ensure food safety and quality standards.

QR allows the country to limit the volume of rice imports entering the Philippines with a tariff of 35 percent. Importing outside the volume restrictions will entail a higher import tariff.

The economic managers of the Duterte administration earlier decided to allow the expiration of the QR without applying for another extension before the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The WTO granted the Philippines an extension of its QR on rice importation until June 30, 2017 to give local farmers more time to prepare for free trade.

It first allowed the Philippines to impose a 10-year QR on rice imports in 1995.  It was extended in 2004 until 2012, and was renewed again in 2014.

Purchase of paddy may cross target: Odisha Food Supplies Minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has procured 14.32 lakh tonnes of paddy from over 2.32 lakh registered farmers in the current kharif marketing season (KMS). Notwithstanding crop loss due to due to scanty rainfall, pest attack and unseasonal rains, the State Government is expecting a bumper harvest of paddy.
Speaking to media persons, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister SN Patro said, “We hope that the paddy procurement will cross the target set by the Government for the current KMS. Paddy production is more than expectations in areas not affected calamities”.
The State Government has set a target to procure 53 lakh tonnes of paddy during khraif marketing season.
Replying to a question on alleged non-cooperation of rice millers in lifting paddy from mandis in time, the Minister said millers have been asked to speed up milling process and create additional storage space for stocking paddy.
The Minister said district official of the department have been instructed not to involve millers who have failed to return custom milled rice (CMR) of last KMS to Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC).
Procurement of paddy for the current kharif marketing season which started from November 1 will continue till March 31.
Nabard has provided a credit support of Rs 3,085 crore to OSCSC for paddy procurement during the current financial year.

Rice growers coming to EC Civic Center this month

Posted: Tuesday, January 2, 2018 12:30 am | Updated: 4:50 pm, Tue Jan 2, 2018.
Rice growers, farm bill experts and professional bug guys will be at the El Campo Civic Center soon for the annual Western Rice Belt Production Conference.
During the event, “the Rice Producers Association, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research will offer growers and others the opportunity to hear presentations from the top Extension and research scientists from Texas as well as respected individuals from the rice industry,” Wharton County Ag Extension Agent Corrie Bowen said.

New rice varieties from University of Arkansas

Diamond and Titan are new rice varieties from University of Arkansas

Two new varieties from the University of Arkansas Experiment Station should find traction in the marketplace in the coming year, says University or Arkansas Extension economist Bobby Coats.
Coats discussed the potential impact Diamond and Titan cold have on the domestic market during an interview at the USA Rice Outlook Conference held recently in San Antonio.

Rice R&D News-New rice varieties from University of Arkansas

New rice varieties from University of Arkansas

Diamond and Titan are new rice varieties from University of Arkansas
Two new varieties from the University of Arkansas Experiment Station should find traction in the marketplace in the coming year, says University or Arkansas Extension economist Bobby Coats.
Coats discussed the potential impact Diamond and Titan cold have on the domestic market during an interview at the USA Rice Outlook Conference held recently in San Antonio.http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/new-rice-varieties-university-arkansas

Wednesday, January 03, 2018

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/business/2018/01/03/farmer-leaders-join-agri-biotechnology-congress-582128

Farmer leaders join agri-biotechnology congress Tuesday, January 02, 2018 By LAUREN ALIMONDO Advancing biotechnology in the country, some 200 farmer leaders from different regions in the country convene for the National Agri-biotechnology Farmers Congress recently. The conference theme, "Share the bounty of Agri-biotechnology through mutual coexistence and Responsible Stewardship" highlighted sessions of the conference which include biotechnology updates, golden rice, science communication, Food Safety Act of 2013, and plant biotech. "We want to let all our farmers know that biotechnology is very useful. Magagamit natin sa pagsasaka dahil ngayon lumiliit na iyong sakahan kaunti lang ang aanihin natin. But the aim of the technology is, sa kaunting lupa, malaki ang aanihin kasi marami na tayong populasyon so kailangan nating magproduce ng maraming pagkain," Philippine Farmers Advisory Board President Edwin Paraluman said. The activity, with series of interactive lectures on biotechnology, seeks to help farmers' awareness of the challenges faced by agricultural biotechnology. It also aims to enhance farmers’ knowledge on the policy issues, based on the stakeholders' experiences with agricultural biotechnology, and gave farmer-level experiences with biotechnology crops. Asian Farmers Regional Network Philippines (ASFARNET) country president Reynaldo Cabanao said the conference is much relevant also to the Cordilleras, especially all major type of vegetables are from the highlands supplying Manila areas. Biotechnology involves any technique that uses whole or part of a living thing to make new products, improve or develop plants and animals. Potentials of biotechnology include fighting diseases, increasing yield, safer crops, nutritious food, safer crops, environmental friendly, and better industry. The event highlights include the declaration of support for the application of biotechnology in Agriculture. "After thorough discussion with the scientists, experts, and farmer resource persons on the various issues confronting Filipino farmers in food production, problems on hunger and poverty as well as the science, safety, and potential and actual benefits of modern biotechnology," stated in the declaration. "We believe that biotechnology will reduce dependence and indiscriminate heavy use of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals that are harmful to humans, animals and the environment." Conceived in 2003, ASFARNET-Philippines is composed of farmer-leaders and key stakeholders from 15 regions of the country. Most of the members of ASFARNET- Philippines are adoptors of biotech corn since 2003, and are actively involved in advocating the use of the technology. About 100,000 small-scale Filipino farmers planted biotech corn in more than 350,000 hectares in 2008.


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/business/2018/01/03/farmer-leaders-join-agri-biotechnology-congress-582128

R&D Rice News -Gold out of Industrial Waste? This Mumbai-Based Researcher Has the Answer!


Gold out of Industrial Waste? This Mumbai-Based Researcher Has the Answer!

The spark of inspiration ignited in Shubhi Sachan during her masters’ final project, ‘Traditional Futures’, which dealt with various agricultural waste and their secondary uses.


While plastic may take the crown for being the largest component of the global waste produced annually, many other contenders contribute significantly to the ever-growing waste burden of the planet.
Take, for instance, industrial waste. Have you ever wondered what happens to the many metric tons of chemical solvents, pigments, sludge, metals, ash, paints, sandpaper, paper products, and radioactive wastes produced by factories, industries, mills, and mines on a daily basis?
In fact, did you even consider the possibility of such materials being classified as waste?
The aforementioned things comprise just the tip of a large iceberg. In fact, every industry has its share of waste products and just like plastics, these find their way to landfills and incinerators, after being rendered useless.
What if, these ‘scraps’ could be put to better use instead of writing them off as waste once and for all?

One Mumbai-based designer-cum-researcher decided to work out how this could be achieved and forayed into the field with the prime focus of making waste materials come to life again.


Shubhi Sachan.

After studying Textile Design at New Delhi and followed by a Masters in Material Futures at Central Saint Martin’s in London, Shubhi Sachan formally began pursuing her research on waste materials and their sustainable repurposing in 2012.
The spark of inspiration ignited in the young woman during her masters’ final project, ‘Traditional Futures’, which dealt with various agricultural waste and their secondary uses and how every single outcome or indigenous use from a farmer’s crop could be made valuable.
Rice husk ash was the focus of the research, that took Shubhi all the way to Bihar and work on the field with a local company, Husk Power Systems.

What may be waste for one could be gold for another and Shubhi’s research only corroborated that! Who would have ever thought that materials such skin cleanser or ink could be fashioned out rice husk ash?

In 2015, she went on to conceive the ‘Punāh Project’, which was proposed to Godrej & Boyce, one of India’s major manufacturing conglomerates.
“The project intended to help such a big corporation shift their focus from a linear economy to a circular economy by considering their large-scale industrial waste as a valuable resource,” says Shubhi to The Better India.
Intrigued by the unique approach, which could pave the way for a more sustainable and profitable manufacturing practices, the conglomerate incubated the research at its Innovation & Design Centre.

For the next two years, Shubhi’s research took her across the country to study waste generation in 39 Godrej & Boyce manufacturing sites and develop alternative applications for non-hazardous industrial waste through material design and research.


A Chair made out of copper wire.
Graphite powder turned into conductive tiles.
Garments made out of industrial gloves.
A wallet and pair of shoes made out of vending machine offcuts.

“As many as 600 materials were part of my study, which I’d undertaken single handedly. Everything that was submitted as a product option under the study had been tried and tested by myself. Apart from a lot of travelling, the research also taught me something very important—about waste comprising materials of whose use hasn’t yet been deciphered.


“The proposed material findings or products aim to generate and sustain a dialogue about the latent value in industrial waste materials that can be harvested through traditional crafts. Designed using non-hazardous materials, it explores these materials through objects that resonate with various aspects of our day-to-day lives,” Shubhi mentions.
Basically, from furniture to lifestyle accessories, fashionable garments to technical and intricate surfaces, these materials can be used create handcrafted products from industrial waste. Such works offer indefinite possibilities to industries and organisations, letting them lucratively manage their waste without burdening the already over-mined planet.

Following her stint with Godrej & Boyce, she put together a fashion label – Jambudweep, which showcased its ‘Reincarnations’ collection at Lakmé India fashion week last year.


Shubhi(left) showcasing her collection, Reincarnations, under Jambudweep label at Lakmé India Fashion Week.

“The idea that waste can’t be developed to something usable has to evolve. If one does not know a dress or an accessory is made out of industrial waste, it would be quite hard for anyone to figure the underlying fact just by glancing at the finished product. From runway accessories crafted out of ceiling fan waste to costumes fashioned out of slaughterhouse waste, we have turned waste into fashion and thus giving life to materials that are cast away,” she explains.


Shubhi’s research has already garnered appreciation at various global platforms, besides mentoring at S.T.E.A.M school. She plans to extend it forward as an impact-centric approach.
“From here, what I have in mind is a three-fold route. While consultancy and making products are already underway, what could be even more impactful is to take it to academia. If the coming generations grow up with awareness about waste and how it could be repurposed with viable options, youngsters would consciously strive towards better concepts to tackle the same,” Shubhi adds.
To know more of Shubhi Sachan’s research, you can check her website. You can write to her at shubhi@shubhisachan.com.