Thursday, May 03, 2018

3rd May,2018 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter

Global Hybrid Rice Seeds Market Growth by 2023: Bayer CropScience, Dupont Pioneer, Nath and Syngenta

The in-depth study on the global Hybrid Rice Seeds market report adheres the significant facts of the industry. It covers Hybrid Rice Seeds market proportions, recent developments, growth factors, major challenges, opportunities, and various market categories. The Hybrid Rice Seeds analysis is based on the past data as well the current market requirements. The Hybrid Rice Seeds market involves several methodologies implemented by the market players. Through this, it supports the growth of the Hybrid Rice Seeds market and has its uniqueness in the growing industry. The Hybrid Rice Seeds market report shows a significant growth in the CAGR during the forecast period 2018 to 2023. The report segregates the overall Hybrid Rice Seeds market report on the basis of product type, applications, top players and geographical regions.
The deep study includes the key Hybrid Rice Seeds market outline, guidelines, rules and market policies. It focuses on the valuations of Hybrid Rice Seeds market stake, market dynamics, and key players. Moving ahead, it specifies the Hybrid Rice Seeds current and future major plans, market dignity, growth rate and market consumption. The Hybrid Rice Seeds report also considers the global market strength, their pricing, and cost of the raw materials. In addition, the Hybrid Rice Seeds market unveils the ups and downs analysis, and thorough investigation of Hybrid Rice Seeds import and export strategies.
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The global Hybrid Rice Seeds market report is mainly classified on the basis of:
Prominent market players consisting of:  Zhongnongfa Seed, RiceTec, Nath, Bayer CropScience, Hefei Fengle Seed, Longping High-tech, Hainan Shennong Gene, China National Seed Group, Syngenta, WIN-ALL HI-TECH SEED, Advanta, SL Agritech, Dupont Pioneer and Nirmal Seeds
Product types consisting of: 3-line Breeding Systems and 2-line Breeding Systems
Applications consisting of: Application 1 and Application 2
The report focuses on the division of regional and worldwide Hybrid Rice Seeds market. The regional exploration of the Hybrid Rice Seeds market consists of  Latin America, United Kingdom, Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America and Middle East respectively. Along with, in-depth research on the market of several traders and sellers. The Hybrid Rice Seeds market describes the Hybrid Rice Seeds market structure, economical landscaping and a thorough breakdown of pricing. Simultaneously, the report studies the Hybrid Rice Seeds market dimensions surveyed along with the forecast period and circumstances.
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 It summarizes the company plans, upstream and downstream, of the Hybrid Rice Seeds market segments, scrutinizes the cost structure, recent updates on technological development, market synopsis, the scope of the Hybrid Rice Seeds product, and driving factors.
 It includes the geographical regions, Hybrid Rice Seeds economic factors as well political facts.
 Global Hybrid Rice Seeds market explains its segmentation that includes product, and applications.
 Top market players along with their establishment year, business profile, Hybrid Rice Seeds key segment, acquisitions, and mergers, recent developments, financials related to Hybrid Rice Seeds sales and gross, contact information’s and so on.
 Competitive Hybrid Rice Seeds market, their analysis on various aspects of marketing stats, region wise trade record associated with the market sale.
 Demand and supply forecast for global Hybrid Rice Seeds market, region wise contribution, and market summary.
 Various sales network that involves sellers, Hybrid Rice Seeds distributors, buyers, and others sources.
 Hybrid Rice Seeds market report encompasses research findings, evidence connected to market data, and appendix.
The global Hybrid Rice Seeds market report imports an inspiring output, influencing factors, in-depth cost analysis. Hybrid Rice Seeds market report explains the major factors including market restraints, opportunities, trends, and driving elements. It evaluates the historical and current data of the Hybrid Rice Seeds market scenario to encounter the future market plans and obstacles. Also, the report submits the current Hybrid Rice Seeds market players along with the upcoming players.
Browse more category related reports here:http://peopleexclusive.com/category/industry-news/

IRRI partners with Korea on improving rice sector

03.05.2018

IRRI is working closely with the government of South Korea through its Rural Development Administration (RDA) in advancing rice research to help more rice-growing countries.The IRRI-RDA collaboration goal is to maximize research opportunities and go beyond challenges to create a strong impact in helping resource-poor farmers. IRRI works with RDA in the delivery of tailored solutions to the country’s local needs.

“Our 50-year partnership with the Republic of Korea has led to the development of premium quality varieties — Gopumbyeo and Unkwangbyeo — as well as high-quality and high-yielding temperate japonica rice varieties that also benefit the Philippines,” said Arvind Kumar, senior scientist with the IRRI. “It has also launched the Rice Technology Transfer System Workshops, which has benefited around 130 practitioners from over 17 countries in Asia.”In the 1960s, the government of the Republic of Korea through RDA started working with the IRRI to improve rice production and build the country’s national capacity. This partnership brought the Green Revolution to South Korea and helped transform the country from a rice importer to a self-sufficient producer and exporter of rice.


“Through our partnership with IRRI, Korea has revolutionized rice production and RDA came to have world-class rice breeding technology,” said Jeom-Ho Lee, director of the RDA. “We hope that through this meeting, we will be able to evaluate our current projects and plan future initiatives on delivering impactful rice research, which is crucial for both organizations.”South Korea supported more than 50 research projects with IRRI and is looking forward to more research collaborations. In 2010, RDA committed $2.09 million for cooperation, training, and support to INGER and other ongoing projects. Among the priority areas of research in the new agreement are the development of abiotic stresses and disease tolerance in temperate japonica, and the development of rice cultivars with tolerance to high temperature.
RDA officials led by Lee met with IRRI scientists to evaluate current projects and other opportunities for collaboration last April 25 at IRRI headquarters.

Arkansas Rice Leaders, Ag Industry Meet with USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey 
By Lauren Waldrip Ward

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services Bill Northey met with Arkansas government and agriculture leaders here yesterday and then traveled to Stuttgart to meet with producers and rice industry representatives. 
Sworn in on March 6, Northey now oversees the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA) mission areas.  He was accompanied by Cynthia Edwards, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Arkansas Agriculture Department; David Curtis, State Executive Director, Arkansas FSA; and Mike Sullivan, State Conservationist, Arkansas NRCS.
"Farmers are the salt of the earth and it's a pleasure to be able to work alongside our growers," said Northey.  "We are committed to customer service and will become irrelevant if we aren't in touch with the specific needs of each of our states.""We greatly appreciate Under Secretary Northey's time in Arkansas learning about our state's largest industry and his efforts to gain a better understanding of our growers' needs," said Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward.  "I have witnessed and appreciated Secretary Northey's work first-hand through his previous post as Iowa Agriculture Secretary and know he will continue to advance our industry in his new capacity."
                              During the rice specific meeting, growers highlighted current industry priorities including the significance of working lands conservation programs like RCPP, CSP, and EQIP, as well as the importance of irrigation infrastructure projects.  Arkansas rice farmers have consistently led efforts to improve conservation and stewardship of Arkansas lands and waterways.

"The new administration has been very intentional about providing the best service possible to us as producers," said Arkansas Rice Federation Chairman Jeff Rutledge.  "The time he took to meet with us and listen to our concerns today only confirm that further."


Premier welcomes climate-resilient rice

Sum Manet / Khmer Times  Share:    
The Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has developed a rice variety better adapted to withstand the drastic changes in weather patterns seen in Cambodia in recent years.Prime Minister Hun Sen broke the news yesterday during the closing ceremony of the Ministry of Agriculture’s annual conference.
Baptised ‘Mey Tey’, the new rice is a premium fragrant variety that can reportedly survive severe draughts and floods, which have become more common in the kingdom in recent years, Mr Hun Sen said.
“We haven’t tasted it yet, but I believe it will be a success,” he said.“It can withstand extreme changes in temperature,” he said, explaining that some of the rice varieties Cambodian farmers are using struggle to survive in the hot weather of recent weeks.
Hun Lak, vice president of Cambodia Rice Federation, said the work of CARDI in developing new rice varieties is now more important than ever due to climate change.
“It is essential to work on new rice varieties given how drastically the weather is changing. All our neighbours are also working on this type of research,” Mr Lak said.
“We need new rice varieties that can help us increase yields and keep up the price of the commodity. If we don’t undertake this type of research, we run the risk of not being able to produce enough rice to meet market demand.”
Cambodia’s exports of milled rice fell by 3.4 percent during the first three months of 2018, dropping to 161,115 tonnes.

Indian Scientists Find New Way To Recycle Organic Waste – Earthworm Guts!

by Guest ContributorMay 2, 2018, 2:31 pm
Earthworms are considered best friends of farmers, acting as engineers in soils. They are helpful in decomposition of waste, producing biofertilizers.
Indian scientists have investigated the gut of earthworms to get an insight into why they are so efficient in helping decomposition. They have found that the gut of earthworms provides an ideal environment for nurturing a variety of cellulose-degrading bacteria because of which they are able to convert organic waste from plant sources into fertilizer or compost.
A team of scientists led by Dr. Narayan C. Talukdar at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology in Guwahati, studied two types of earthworms—those which are found on the surface of soil (Perionyx excavatus or composting earthworms) and those found under the soil (Glyphidrilus spelaeotes or semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms). Bacteria drawn from the gut of earthworms were cultured and separated on the basis of their rate of growth and general structure.
According to results published in the journal Current Science, the use of a technique called ‘16S rRNA gene-based taxonomic analysis’ revealed distinct composition of cellulose-degrading bacteria specific to each type of earthworm.
The rate at which cellulose was broken down by an enzyme (cellulase) found in these gut bacteria was much higher than that found in Cellulomonas cellulans, a bacteria whose distinguishing feature is breaking down of cellulose and was used as a reference for the study.
This was clear from higher amounts of carbon generated from earthworms vis-à-vis Cellulomonas cellulans after 20 days of decomposition of rice straw in its natural environment.
Source: Flickr
Further analysis also revealed that the growth rate of cellulose-degrading bacteria in semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms was much faster than composting earthworms thus, making them more efficient decomposers of rice straw.
The earthworm gut hosts many microorganisms. Earthworms eat plants, which contain cellulose (a complex sugar) as an important part of a plant cell wall. Cellulose-degrading bacteria in the gut of earthworms break it down into carbon, hydrogen and oxygen which make up most of the soil organic matter.
“Knowledge on occurrence and screening of efficient cellulose-degrading bacteria within the gut wall of earthworms may help in efficient cycling of organic residues either in field conditions or in the compost-making process,” pointed out Dr. Talukdar.
In rice growing tropical and sub-tropical regions, cellulose-containing rice straw remains in the field after harvesting and needs to be decomposed quickly for efficient release of nutrients. In the summer to winter rice-cropping system prevalent in North East India, summer rice straw needs to be recycled 20 to 30 days prior to transplanting of winter rice.
It has however, been reported in previous studies that the freshwater earthworm in submerged rice fields can decompose rice straw under the favourable temperatures of July–August but, the cycling of winter rice straw in field condition is slowed down due to low temperature in winter months.
The other members of the research team were Kishore K. Dey and Fenella M. W. Nongkhlaw (Central Agricultural University, Umiam, Meghalaya). This research was funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
Article Courtesy: India Science Wire

Pasta diet could bring on menopause faster, say researchers

 
BY BRINKWIRE ON MAY 2, 2018US
A study shows those who go through the menopause early are prone to heart disease, while those who do later are prone to cancer.

Eating oily fish, peas and beans could delay the menopause, while eating more rice and pasta could bring it on faster, a study has found.According to researchers at the University of Leeds, an additional portion of refined white pasta or rice a day could lead to women reaching the menopause about one-and-a-half-years earlier.
It comes after the study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, took data from about 14,000 women in Britain and followed up with a survey four years later. They found more than 900 participants between the ages of 40 and 65 experienced a natural start to the menopause during that time, at an average age of 51-years-old.
1:09
But scientists found diets could determine its timing and that it could have “serious health implications for some women”.Refined carbohydrates were found to increase the risk of insulin resistance which could interfere with sex hormones and boost oestrogen levels, increasing the possibility for an earlier menopause.The study showed those who go through the menopause earlier were more prone to developing osteoporosis and heart disease, while those who do so later than usual were more likely to develop ovarian, womb and breast cancers.
Image:
Those who ate oily fish like mackerel tended to have a delayed menopause

Co-author of the study Janet Cade said: “A clear understanding of how diet affects the start of natural menopause will be very beneficial to those who may already be at risk or have a family history of certain complications related to menopause.”An extra daily serving of oily fish – such as mackerel, sardines and salmon – was linked to a menopause delay of more than three years. Omega 3 fatty acids found in the fish are thought to stimulate antioxidant capacity in the body.
Diets high in fresh legumes such as peas and beans – which contain antioxidants – saw women reach the menopause about a year later on average.
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The researchers said a higher intake of zinc and vitamin B6 also appeared to slow down the onset of the menopause.

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“This study is the first to investigate the links between individual nutrients and a wide variety of food groups and age at natural menopause in a large cohort of British women,” said lead researcher Yashvee Dunneram.
“But further studies are needed to improve understanding on how this may impact health and wellbeing.”
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2018

Egypt allows cultivation of more 100k feddans of rice

 Egyptian farmers sowing rice seeds in a paddy field in Qalyub in Al-Qalubia governorate - REUTERS                                                                                                                                    
Wed, May. 2, 2018
CAIRO – 2 May 2018: Egyptian government agreed to increase the area allocated for rice cultivation by 100,000 feddans only this season, bringing the total area of rice cultivation to 820,000 feddans, Abdel Latif Khaled, head of irritation sector in the ministry of irritation and water resources. Khaled said that the new areas will be cultivated as experimental fields using high productivity seeds, noting that they will be irrigated by agricultural drainage water. It comes following a recent ministerial decision to reduce the area cultivated by rice from 1.1 million feddans last year to only 724,200 feddans.

In April, Egypt's parliament passed a law banning the cultivation of some crops that require a large amount of water, amid fears that building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) would cut the country's share of the Nile. The Parliament also approved the government request to amend some provisions in Agriculture Law No. 53 of 1966.

Article 1 in the Agriculture Law refers that the minister of agriculture shall determine the areas to cultivate certain crops, and shall ban other crops in certain areas. Hence, the draft law to amend Article 1 of the Agriculture Law stipulates that the minister of agriculture in coordination with the minister of irrigation shall issue a ministerial decree to ban the cultivation of some crops in certain areas that have low amounts of water, in order to rationalize water usage.

Egypt annually needs at least 105 billion cubic meters of water to cover the needs of more than 90 million citizens. However, it currently has only 60 billion cubic meters, of which 55.5 billion cubic meters comes from the Nile and just less than five billion cubic meters comes from non-renewable subterranean water in the desert. The remaining 80 billion cubic meters are covered by the reuse of wastewater.

In 2011, Ethiopia started the construction of the 6,000-megawatt Renaissance Dam over the Blue Nile River, one of the major sources of water that forms the Nile River downstream. Concerns have risen in Cairo and Khartoum over the negative impact the Ethiopian dam will have on their historic Nile water shares.

Rice Imports to Cool Philippine Inflation, Economic Planner Says

By Claire Jiao and Clarissa Batino
May 2, 2018, 2:00 AM GMT+5
Philippine inflation will ease from a five-year high once lawmakers approve a measure that will allow more rice imports, giving authorities scope to delay an interest rate increase, according to a senior economic planner.Inflation that climbed to 4.3 percent in March will cool by at least 1 percentage point once a law limiting overseas purchases of the nation’s staple grain is amended by Congress by the end of the first half of the year, Economic Planning Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said in an April 27 interview in her office in Metro Manila.
Rosemarie Edillon
Photographer: Leody P. Barcelon/NEDA
Some economists are of the view the central bank should refrain from raising interest rates to see if lawmakers can pass the law on rice by June, Edillon said, citing discussions at the April 24 meeting of the Development Budget Coordination Committee. President Rodrigo Duterte last week backed the removal of import limits on the grain to boost stockpiles that were depleted.
“A 25-basis-point hike could stall growth,” said the 53-year-old economist who gave up a job in Australia to join the government in 2012. Edillon, who’s not involved with the monetary policy making, stressed that while the central bank supports growth, it is independent and may have other factors to consider. The economy likely expanded close to 7 percent in the first quarter, she said.
Cost of rice, the second-biggest component in the Philippine consumer basket, is at a three-year high as supply dwindled, adding to price pressures from a tax reform that boosted costs of fuel and sugary drinks. Central bank Governor Nestor Espenilla, who’s kept the benchmark rate steady, prompting some to observe that he was behind the curve on inflation, said on April 24 that the economy can withstand any tightening, signaling he’s ready to raise if necessary.
Edillon believes that inflation related to the tax reform has peaked in March and any pressures are likely to come from oil, rice and other items. Data due May 4 will show consumer prices probably accelerated to 4.5 percent in April from a year earlier, according to the median estimate of 12 economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

Price of Protectionism

Import quotas make rice prices in the Philippines much higher than world prices
Sources: World Bank, Philippine Statistics Authority
Philippines currently limits rice imports to a volume identified by the National Food Authority, which prioritizes buying from local farmers. The arrangement, which the World Trade Organization had been pushing to end, not only limits rice supply but also boosted domestic prices to twice the world prices.
Enabling a market-driven importation slapped with at least 35 percent in tariff will boost the supply of the grain and cut retail prices by as much as 7 pesos per kilogram from 44 pesos a kilogram, Edillon said.
To retain the rice restrictions, introduced in 1996, the Philippines had allowed the entry of more meats and other items to pacify trading partners, Edillon said. If the government fails to pass rice reform by June, Edillon said trading partners such as Australia, Canada and the U.S. could push for even more concessions in other agricultural products.
The state-run food agency subsidizes rice farmers by buying their output at high prices and selling them low to poor consumers.
“Assuming that you have 2.1 million families depending on rice farming, we are 22 million households in all in the Philippines that have to pay the high prices,” Edillon said. “It’s too lopsided.”

Rice basmati falls on muted demand

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi Last Updated at May 2, 2018 14:55 IST

In restricted activity, rice basmati prices drifted down by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on subdued demand against adequate stocks position.However, other grains remained flat in thin trade.Traders said sluggish demand against ample stocks positions, mainly led to decline in rice basmati prices.In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety fell by Rs 100 each to Rs 7,200-7,300 and Rs 6,500-6600 per quintal respectively.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):

Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,060-2,260, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,720-1,725 Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,725-1,730, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 230-260, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 930-940 (50 kg), Maida Rs 960-970 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,040-1,050 (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 7,200-7,300, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,500-6,600, Permal raw Rs 2,375-2400, Permal wand Rs 2,475-2,525, Sela Rs 3,050-3,150 and Rice IR-8 Rs 2,025-2,075, Bajra Rs 1,260-1,265, Jowar yellow Rs 1,600-1,650, white Rs 2,850-2,950, Maize Rs 1,450-1,455, Barley Rs 1,460-1,470.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Industry status for rice sector can lift export by 30pc

Salman Abduhu

May 02, 2018
          LAHORE - The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has asked the government to declare the rice sector as an industry and provide it all incentives in line with other five zero rated export sectors. The step to declare rice sector an industry would benefit with 30 percent higher exports (additional $500 million) by saving post-harvest losses (20 percent) and increasing exports to high-valued destinations by 30 percent.
REAP chairman Samee Ullah Naeem said that government's support and investment in holding foreign exhibitions should be made a policy to brand Pakistani basmati rice the world over.
“The second largest export-oriented sector of rice, with its more than $2 billion annual export, is still striving for its recognition as an industry. The fragmentation in supply chain partners, including farmers, millers and exporters poses a bigger challenge. The issue at farm levels poses threat for export destinations while the local millers that handle 70 percent of paddy, are ignorant of good milling and storage practices which deteriorates the grain quality, resulting in lower export,” he said.
REAP chairman observed that the competing countries, including Thailand, India, USA, Brazil, had recognised their rice sector as an industry that benefitted with the formulation of policies to increase yields at farm levels and improvement the quality for exports.
He said that the current fragmentation of sector is a barrier to development. He said that declaration of rice sector as an industry would help in the formation of consolidated policy that will help in the integration of all supply chain stakeholders into one chain.
Industry is the production of goods and services within an economy, which is divided into three categories, including prime (extractive), secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (services). In developed economies, the agriculture falls into primary (extractive) form of industry where agriculture inputs and mechanics are engaged for achieving high yielding agricultural outputs.
“The rice sector has all parameters to fall into “food industry” wherein the purpose is to raise crop yields through mechanised farming and to improve sanitary and phytosanitary standards for its marketing into developed high revenue economies,” he added.
He said that the process of finished rice starts from paddy procurement. The paddy is procured and dried and then kept under silos for effective storages. The paddy is then cleaned, husked, polished, graded and then packed for exports. The value-addition of rice ranges from 100% to 140%. The paddy of basmati is procured at $450/ metric ton while it is exported at around $1000 PMT. The long grain paddy is procured at $200 PMT and is exported at $400 PMT. Some of the rice like parboiling and steaming are exported at around $1200 PMT.
He said that Pakistan's share in overall basmati export has gradually decreased compared to India, mainly due to the bigger crop size in the neighboring country, and government support to farmers to keep growing the variety while focusing on crop yield with subsidized inputs.
Samee Ullah said that India is more organised, while in Pakistan individual millers try but remain inconsistent either due to lower international prices, product quality and lack of support from the government to establish brand image.
He believed that a diverse product range, including the export of rice, would help Pakistan tap international markets and increase its foreign exchange earnings. He said that Pakistani rice has been exported to more than 100 countries of the world, expressing the hope that this trend will continue with the same zeal in future.

Rice exports soar to $1.5bn   

May 02, 2018
ISLAMABAD: Rice exports from the country during the first nine months of 2017-18 increased by 27.67 per cent as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
From July-March 2017-18, about 3,132,997 tonnes of rice worth $1.494 billion were exported versus 2,681,253 tonnes valuing $1.17bn in the same period last year.
According the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, basmati rice exports from the country also grew by 19.13pc as 332,179 tonnes of basmati rice costing $348.558 million exported during the last nine months as against exports of 302,339 tonnes at $290.897m in the corresponding period of FY17.
During the period under review, about 2,800,818 tonnes of rice others then basmati were exported and earned $1.148bn as compared the exports of 2,378,914 tonnes valuing $897.804m of same period last year, showing an increase of 30.49pc.
Meanwhile, the country earned $315.497m by exporting about 130,148 tonnes of fish and fish preparations, which was recorded at 105,039 tons at $275.807m in same period of 2016-17, the data show.
During these nine months, food group exports from the country grew by 28.06pc as different food commodities worth $3.431bn were exported versus $2.679bn in the corresponding period of last year.
On a monthly basis, food group exports also registered a growth of 70.73pc during the month of March as compared to exports in the same month of 2016-17. In March food commodities worth $589.122m were exported as against $345.051m in the corresponding period of last year.
Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2018

NFA rice import rebid set Friday

May 03, 2018
The National Food Authority (NFA) will reopen  this Friday offers from the governments of Vietnam and Thailand for the government-to-government  importation of  250,000 metric tons (MT)  of rice.“We would have wanted to do this earlier but representatives of the two supplier-countries asked for time to prepare the necessary documentation and consultation with their respective authorities. April 30 and May 1 are holidays in Vietnam, hence they asked for at least two days to handle their documentation and coordination requirements,” said  Jason Aquino, NFA administrator.

NFA’s bidding last week for the said rice imports failed as offers from Vietnam and Thailand  were higher than the agency’s reference price of $483.63 per MT for the 50,000 MT of 15 percent broken rice and $474.18 per MT for the 200,000 MT of 25 percent broken grains. NFA said  the new reference price   will be based on the prevailing world market price the day before the opening of price offers. The price will also take into  consideration the prevailing peso-dollar exchange rate during the same period.Arrival schedule  of the imports will also be adjusted to give the supplier-countries enough time to comply.

For the new tender, the arrival of 100,000 MT 25 percent broken rice will be set not later than May 31; another 100,000 MT 25 percent broken rice will have to arrive not later than June 15; and the 50,000 MT 15 percent broken rice must arrive in the country not later than June 30.“We are optimistic  we will succeed in the second round of offers for the 250,000 MT NFA rice imports,” Aquino said.

As it builds up the buffer stock for the lean months this year, the NFA  is  preparing for the procurement of another 250,000 MT of rice but this will be under an  open tender. Supply could come from any country, either  private or government sector.

 During the lean months of July to September,  rice is  minimal or zero as it is also the season when strong typhoons hit the country.

 The total volume for the said importation will be divided into 9 lots to be delivered in 14 designated discharge ports across the country including Poro Point, La Union; Batangas; Subic; Tabaco; Iloilo; Bacolod; Cebu; Tacloban; Zamboanga; Cagayan de Oro; Surigao; General  Santos City; Davao City and Manila. Interested suppliers may acquire bid documents at the NFA’s special bids and awards committee secretariat in its central office in Quezon City until May 21, 2018 for a payment of P75,000 as bidding documents fee.

 As part of its disaster preparedness program, the NFA stockpiles rice and prepositions stocks in its 15 regional and 89 provincial offices, stored in more than 300 warehouses, to be able to quickly respond to any rice requirement for relief operations by government relief agencies, local government units and even non-government units wanting to help ease the plight of calamity victims.

THE AGA KHAN’S FAVOURITE FOOD

published by asingh on Tue, 05/01/2018 - 18:48
Agha Khan’s Favorite  Food

Any Ismaili gathering is never complete without a Briyani dish. Growing up in Nairobi, the Aga Khan is known to be partial to the Ismaili version of the Chicken Briyani. Vancouver restauranteur Nash Mawani and his executive chef Nitish Saluja of Jambo Grill on Kingsway, Vancouver share their recipe for one of the Aga Khan’s favourite dishes – Ismaili Chicken Briyani
  Ingredients
3 cups Basmati rice
One chicken (1Kg)
Three large onions sliced lengthwise
One onion chopped
6 to 7 small potatoes, peeled and quartered
One tin peeled tomatoes chopped
3 tablespoons tomato purée
One and a half teaspoon garlic paste
2 teaspoons ginger paste
Green chilies to taste
¾ cup oil
½ teaspoon saffron
2 cups yoghurt
2 teaspoons Garam Masala powder
3 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt to taste
Pinch of yellow food coloring
Whole Garam Masala
8 sticks cinnamon
8 cloves
8 pods cardamom

Marinating time minimum three hours
Preparation and cooking time approximately 2 1/2 hours

Method
Cut chicken into large chunks wash and drain.
Mix yoghurt, garlic, ginger, some Saffron, a little yellow colouring, salt, green chillies, chopped onions, tomatoes, tomato purée and half the quantity of whole garam masala.
Marinate the chicken in this mixture for 3-4 hours.
Transferred to saucepan and cook until chicken is tender.
Fry the 3 large onions until they are crisp and attain a rich brown in color, leave aside
In the same oil fry the potatoes and leave aside
Add fried onions (leaving some aside) and potatoes to the chicken mixture
Add garam masala powder and lemon juice mix well

Rice
Wash Par boil rice in salt water and drain
Heat two tablespoon oils with the remaining half of the whole masala until they splutter
Pour this over the rice
Mix the remaining food coloring and saffron over the rice; simmer over very low heat for about 15 minutes
Serve the chicken masala on a bed of the rice


IRRI, PhilRice ink deal for robust rice variety

By
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THE International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said it has partnered with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to push for higher adoption rate of climate change-resilient rice varieties among farmers in Region 4A to improve their productivity and cut weather-related losses.
In a news statement on Wednesday, Irri said they are currently working with PhilRice Los Baños Station “in accelerating the adoption of next-generation varities for smallholder farmers in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces.”
The partnership between the two agencies is through the NextGen project spearheaded by the Los Baños-based IRRI, which seeks to promote new rice varieties to Filipino farmers.
“We have good-quality varieties, which, coupled with mechanization and good farming practices and technologies, will boost rice production and improve the lives of farmers in the region,” PhilRice Los Baños Branch Director Rhemilyn Relado was quoted as saying in the statement.
The NextGen project was able to distribute 100 bags of NSIC Rc302 to farmers who attended PhilRice Los Baños Station’s Lakbay Palay held recently, according to IRRI.
NSIC Rc302, commonly known as Tubigan 25, is an IRRI-bred variety intended for irrigated lowlands. The rice variety is “characterized with extra-long and slender grains, fair brown rice and milling recovery, and improved eating quality,” according to IRRI.
“We hope that through this activity with PhilRice LB, NextGen will be able to spread IRRI-bred varieties further and realize our goal of making high-yielding and climate change-resilient varieties more available to our farmers,” IRRI assistant scientist Lorraine Cappleman said.
Lakbay Palay is a regular activity organized by PhilRice, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, which seeks to introduce farmers to better varieties and improved farming practices in the field, according to IRRI. https://businessmirror.com.ph/irri-philrice-ink-deal-for-robust-rice-variety/

UC Davis Medal being awarded

COURTESY John and Lois Crowe 
By Amy Quinton, UC Davis News Service
POSTED:  | 
COURTESY Michael Chapman 
UC Davis is honoring four people with its UCD Medal, the highest honor the university bestows on individuals.
Michael W. Chapman, UC Davis alumnus and chairman emeritus of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UC Davis Medical Center; John and Lois Crowe, pioneering scientists and philanthropists; and Gurdev Khush, professor emeritus of plant sciences, will all be recognized for their extraordinary personal achievements and contributions to the ideals of higher education on which UC Davis was founded.
First presented in 2002, the UC Davis Medal recognizes individuals of rare accomplishment “to be heralded today and in perpetuity” as special members of the UC Davis community. Past honorees include such well-known individuals as former President Bill Clinton, artist Wayne Thiebaud, and Robert and Margrit Mondavi.
Chapman, considered one of the founders of modern trauma surgery, is the first medical doctor to be honored with the UC Davis Medal. Chapman’s groundbreaking work earned the UC Davis Medical Center’s trauma service an international reputation. The Michael W. Chapman Emergency and Trauma Center, which includes the region’s only Level I trauma center for adults and children, is named in his honor.
Chapman is an alumnus of American River College and UCD. He received his medical doctor’s degree from UC San Francisco. His research career focused on the treatment of trauma and the use of bone-graft substitutes for bone loss. He holds eight U.S. patents, and has authored 169 publications including the four-volume Chapman’s Orthopaedic Surgery, considered a definitive text on orthopaedic surgery.
Michael Chapman is the first medical doctor to be honored with the UCD Medal.
While chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCD and a leader on the trauma team, he improved recovery times and outcomes for thousands of patients with severe fractures.
Since retiring in 2000, Chapman has been a strong philanthropic leader for UCD and has served as chairman of the UCD Foundation. Despite having won numerous national awards in his field, Chapman said being honored with the UCD Medal is especially significant.
“UC Davis is dear to my heart,” said Chapman. “This award is very special to me, in that it recognizes work outside of my professional field. That kind of peer recognition from people who are not surgeons is especially meaningful.”
John and Lois Crowe worked as a research team and were instrumental in helping UCD become one of the top rated biological science programs in the nation.
John is professor emeritus of molecular and cellular biology in the College of Biological Sciences. He earned his doctorate from UC Riverside. Lois received her doctorate from UCD and was a biophysicist in the Departments of Zoology and Molecular and Cellular Biology before retiring.
The two are known for their pioneering work toward understanding how some organisms survive extreme drying. Their discoveries about how these organisms use a simple sugar called trehalose to preserve their integrity in the dry state led to inventions that are in widespread use in pharmacy, medicine and agriculture. For example, their work has enabled the drying of fragile drugs, human cells, foods and plants. Human platelets can be stored dry, improving their storage life from just five days to at least two years.
“They are a faculty member and an alumna of UC Davis whose accomplishments in research have brought international acclaim to the university and whose inventions have had a major impact on society,” said Mark Winey, dean of the College of Biological Sciences.
The Crowes have also made substantial volunteer and philanthropic contributions to UCD. Both are founding members of the Davis Chancellor’s Club and the Mondavi Center Volunteer Advisory Board. Lois was also a UCD Foundation trustee from 2009 to 2015.
Khush is perhaps best known for his work with the International Rice Research Institute, where he spearheaded the program for developing high-yielding and disease- and insect-resistant varieties of rice.
Khush graduated from Punjab Agricultural University in India and earned his doctorate from UC Davis. During his 35-year career at IRRI, he helped develop more than 300 innovative rice strains, including IR36. That strain, released in 1976, became the most widely planted food crop the world has known.
Khush, considered one of the heroes of the Green Revolution, will receive the UCD Medal.
Owing in large part to Khush’s contribution, world rice production increased from 257 million tons in 1966 to 718 million tons in 2011. Khush is considered one of the heroes of the Green Revolution. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the 1996 World Food Prize.
Khush has been honored with virtually all of the top international agricultural prizes, but he said receiving the UC Davis Medal means a great deal.
“It means so much,” said Khush. “I could not have accomplished what I have without the training I received at UC Davis.”
UCD Chancellor Gary May will present the UC Davis Medal to recipients during a gala on June 8 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel Sacramento.
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/article/NI/20180501/NEWS/180509981

Legislators vote to nullify wild rice sulfate standard

If signed into law, faces likely lawsuit

Posted May 2, 2018 5:35 pm
Marshall Helmberger
REGIONAL— The fate of Minnesota’s longstanding wild rice standard for sulfate discharges has taken another step closer to potential litigation. Both the Minnesota House and Senate have now approved legislation that would nullify the existing standard of 10 milligrams per liter and prohibit the state’s Pollution Control Agency from implementing a new equation-based standard that had been in the rulemaking process.
MPCA Commissioner John Linc Stine announced late last week that his agency was withdrawing its proposed new standard and that his staff would work with the Legislature on a path forward. An administrative law judge had earlier disallowed the proposed new standard, citing a laundry list of problems with it.
Representatives of the mining industry and some municipal wastewater treatment operators, particularly on the Iron Range, have strongly opposed enforcement of the existing wild rice standard for years, and have fought the adoption of the new equation-based standard as well, mostly over the cost of compliance.
But state-funded research has bolstered the claim that wild rice is sensitive to sulfate levels in water, and that research could pose a hurdle to the Legislature’s desire to scrap the bill. Paula Maccabee, attorney for Duluth-based Water Legacy, said any move by the Legislature to scrap the wild rice standard without a scientifically valid proposal to replace it would likely be rejected by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. If not, Maccabee says her group would almost certainly take the issue to federal court. She said under the Clean Water Act, states can’t arbitrarily weaken pollution standards that have been proven to be scientifically justified and have been previously approved by the EPA.
The issue has been a thorny one for more than a decade. While the wild rice standard dates back to the 1970s, it was rarely enforced until tribal governments and environmentalists began pushing the MPCA to act. As the agency slowly began the process of enforcing the longstanding rule, the MPCA faced political pushback from the mining industry and Iron Range legislators who argued that enforcement could make taconite producers uncompetitive in the global market.
Iron Range legislators backed the latest push to nullify the wild rice standard. Senators Tom Bakk, of Cook, and David Tomasonni, of Chisholm, were among a handful of DFLers who voted this week in favor of the Senate’s version of the repeal, which passed 38-28. Representatives Rob Ecklund, of I-Falls, and Jason Metsa, of Virginia, voted for the House bill earlier in April.
A spokesman for Mark Dayton said the governor is still reviewing the legislation.

Premier welcomes climate-resilient rice

Sum Manet / Khmer Times  


The Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has developed a rice variety better adapted to withstand the drastic changes in weather patterns seen in Cambodia in recent years.
Prime Minister Hun Sen broke the news yesterday during the closing ceremony of the Ministry of Agriculture’s annual conference.
Baptised ‘Mey Tey’, the new rice is a premium fragrant variety that can reportedly survive severe draughts and floods, which have become more common in the kingdom in recent years, Mr Hun Sen said.“We haven’t tasted it yet, but I believe it will be a success,” he said.
“It can withstand extreme changes in temperature,” he said, explaining that some of the rice varieties Cambodian farmers are using struggle to survive in the hot weather of recent weeks.
Hun Lak, vice president of Cambodia Rice Federation, said the work of CARDI in developing new rice varieties is now more important than ever due to climate change.
“It is essential to work on new rice varieties given how drastically the weather is changing. All our neighbours are also working on this type of research,” Mr Lak said.
“We need new rice varieties that can help us increase yields and keep up the price of the commodity. If we don’t undertake this type of research, we run the risk of not being able to produce enough rice to meet market demand.”
Cambodia’s exports of milled rice fell by 3.4 percent during the first three months of 2018, dropping to 161,115 tonnes.

Earthworm gut may offer new ways of efficient recycling of organic waste

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Wednesday 02 May 2018
Earthworm gut provides an ideal environment to nurture a variety of cellulose-degrading bacteria because of which they are able to convert organic waste from plant sources into fertliser


 john glover/flickr
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Earthworms are considered best friends of farmers, acting as engineers in soils. They are helpful in decomposition of waste, producing biofertilisers.
Indian scientists have investigated the gut of earthworms to get an insight into why they are so efficient in helping decomposition. They have found that the gut of earthworms provides an ideal environment for nurturing a variety of cellulose-degrading bacteria because of which they are able to convert organic waste from plant sources into fertilizer or compost.
A team of scientists led by Narayan C. Talukdar at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology in Guwahati, studied two types of earthworms—those which are found on the surface of soil (Perionyx excavatus or composting earthworms) and those found under the soil (Glyphidrilus spelaeotes or semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms). Bacteria drawn from the gut of earthworms were cultured and separated on the basis of their rate of growth and general structure.
 According to results published in the journal Current Science, the use of a technique called ‘16S rRNA gene-based taxonomic analysis’ revealed distinct composition of cellulose-degrading bacteria specific to each type of earthworm.
The rate at which cellulose was b roken down by an enzyme (cellulase) found in these gut bacteria was much higher than that found in Cellulomonas cellulans, a bacteria whose distinguishing feature is breaking down of cellulose and was used as a reference for the study.
This was clear from higher amounts of carbon generated from earthworms vis-à-vis Cellulomonas cellulans after 20 days of decomposition of rice straw in its natural environment.
Further analysis also revealed that the growth rate of cellulose-degrading bacteria in semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms was much faster than composting earthworms thus, making them more efficient decomposers of rice straw.
The earthworm gut hosts many microorganisms. Earthworms eat plants, which contain cellulose (a complex sugar) as an important part of a plant cell wall. Cellulose-degrading bacteria in the gut of earthworms break it down into carbon, hydrogen and oxygen which make up most of the soil organic matter.
“Knowledge on occurrence and screening of efficient cellulose-degrading bacteria within the gut wall of earthworms may help in efficient cycling of organic residues either in field conditions or in the compost-making process,” pointed out Talukdar.
In rice growing tropical and sub-tropical regions, cellulose-containing rice straw remains in the field after harvesting and needs to be decomposed quickly for efficient release of nutrients. In the summer to winter rice-cropping system prevalent in North East India, summer rice straw needs to be recycled 20 to 30 days prior to transplanting of winter rice. It has however, been reported in previous studies that the freshwater earthworm in submerged rice fields can decompose rice straw under the favourable temperatures of July–August but, the cycling of winter rice straw in field condition is slowed down due to low temperature in winter months.
The other members of the research team were Kishore K Dey (University of Hawaii);  Dwipendra Thakuria  and Fenella M W.Nongkhlaw (Central Agricultural University, Umiam, Meghalaya). This research was funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. (India Science Wire)

Ready to Eat Rice Market Production Market Share by Indian Style, Chinese Style, Other Styles

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IRRI partners with Korea on improving rice sector

May 2, 2018 - by Holly Demaree-Saddler

LOS BAÑOS, THE PHILIPPINES — IRRI is working closely with the government of South Korea through its Rural Development Administration (RDA) in advancing rice research to help more rice-growing countries.
The IRRI-RDA collaboration goal is to maximize research opportunities and go beyond challenges to create a strong impact in helping resource-poor farmers. IRRI works with RDA in the delivery of tailored solutions to the country’s local needs.
Arvind Kumar, senior scientist with the IRRI
“Our 50-year partnership with the Republic of Korea has led to the development of premium quality varieties — Gopumbyeo and Unkwangbyeo — as well as high-quality and high-yielding temperate japonica rice varieties that also benefit the Philippines,” said Arvind Kumar, senior scientist with the IRRI. “It has also launched the Rice Technology Transfer System Workshops, which has benefited around 130 practitioners from over 17 countries in Asia.”
In the 1960s, the government of the Republic of Korea through RDA started working with the IRRI to improve rice production and build the country’s national capacity. This partnership brought the Green Revolution to South Korea and helped transform the country from a rice importer to a self-sufficient producer and exporter of rice.

“Through our partnership with IRRI, Korea has revolutionized rice production and RDA came to have world-class rice breeding technology,” said Jeom-Ho Lee, director of the RDA. “We hope that through this meeting, we will be able to evaluate our current projects and plan future initiatives on delivering impactful rice research, which is crucial for both organizations.” IRRI partners with Korea on improving rice sector

May 2, 2018 - by Holly Demaree-Saddler
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LOS BAÑOS, THE PHILIPPINES — IRRI is working closely with the government of South Korea through its Rural Development Administration (RDA) in advancing rice research to help more rice-growing countries.
The IRRI-RDA collaboration goal is to maximize research opportunities and go beyond challenges to create a strong impact in helping resource-poor farmers. IRRI works with RDA in the delivery of tailored solutions to the country’s local needs.
Arvind Kumar, senior scientist with the IRRI
“Our 50-year partnership with the Republic of Korea has led to the development of premium quality varieties — Gopumbyeo and Unkwangbyeo — as well as high-quality and high-yielding temperate japonica rice varieties that also benefit the Philippines,” said Arvind Kumar, senior scientist with the IRRI. “It has also launched the Rice Technology Transfer System Workshops, which has benefited around 130 practitioners from over 17 countries in Asia.”
In the 1960s, the government of the Republic of Korea through RDA started working with the IRRI to improve rice production and build the country’s national capacity. This partnership brought the Green Revolution to South Korea and helped transform the country from a rice importer to a self-sufficient producer and exporter of rice.
“Through our partnership with IRRI, Korea has revolutionized rice production and RDA came to have world-class rice breeding technology,” said Jeom-Ho Lee, director of the RDA. “We hope that through this meeting, we will be able to evaluate our current projects and plan future initiatives on delivering impactful rice research, which is crucial for both organizations.”
South Korea supported more than 50 research projects with IRRI and is looking forward to more research collaborations. In 2010, RDA committed $2.09 million for cooperation, training, and support to INGER and other ongoing projects. Among the priority areas of research in the new agreement are the development of abiotic stresses and disease tolerance in temperate japonica, and the development of rice cultivars with tolerance to high temperature.
RDA officials led by Lee met with IRRI scientists to evaluate current projects and other opportunities for collaboration last April 25 at IRRI headquarters. 
South Korea supported more than 50 research projects with IRRI and is looking forward to more research collaborations. In 2010, RDA committed $2.09 million for cooperation, training, and support to INGER and other ongoing projects. Among the priority areas of research in the new agreement are the development of abiotic stresses and disease tolerance in temperate japonica, and the development of rice cultivars with tolerance to high temperature.
RDA officials led by Lee met with IRRI scientists to evaluate current projects and other opportunities for collaboration last April 25 at IRRI headquarters. 

Rice R&D News:Indian Scientists Find New Way To Recycle Organic Waste – Earthworm Guts!

Indian Scientists Find New Way To Recycle Organic Waste – Earthworm Guts!

Earthworms are considered best friends of farmers, acting as engineers in soils. They are helpful in decomposition of waste, producing biofertilizers.
Indian scientists have investigated the gut of earthworms to get an insight into why they are so efficient in helping decomposition. They have found that the gut of earthworms provides an ideal environment for nurturing a variety of cellulose-degrading bacteria because of which they are able to convert organic waste from plant sources into fertilizer or compost.
A team of scientists led by Dr. Narayan C. Talukdar at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology in Guwahati, studied two types of earthworms—those which are found on the surface of soil (Perionyx excavatus or composting earthworms) and those found under the soil (Glyphidrilus spelaeotes or semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms). Bacteria drawn from the gut of earthworms were cultured and separated on the basis of their rate of growth and general structure.
According to results published in the journal Current Science, the use of a technique called ‘16S rRNA gene-based taxonomic analysis’ revealed distinct composition of cellulose-degrading bacteria specific to each type of earthworm.
The rate at which cellulose was broken down by an enzyme (cellulase) found in these gut bacteria was much higher than that found in Cellulomonas cellulans, a bacteria whose distinguishing feature is breaking down of cellulose and was used as a reference for the study.

This was clear from higher amounts of carbon generated from earthworms vis-à-vis Cellulomonas cellulans after 20 days of decomposition of rice straw in its natural environment.

Indian Scientists use earthworm gut to decompose organic waste
Source: Flickr
Further analysis also revealed that the growth rate of cellulose-degrading bacteria in semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms was much faster than composting earthworms thus, making them more efficient decomposers of rice straw.
The earthworm gut hosts many microorganisms. Earthworms eat plants, which contain cellulose (a complex sugar) as an important part of a plant cell wall. Cellulose-degrading bacteria in the gut of earthworms break it down into carbon, hydrogen and oxygen which make up most of the soil organic matter.
“Knowledge on occurrence and screening of efficient cellulose-degrading bacteria within the gut wall of earthworms may help in efficient cycling of organic residues either in field conditions or in the compost-making process,” pointed out Dr. Talukdar.
In rice growing tropical and sub-tropical regions, cellulose-containing rice straw remains in the field after harvesting and needs to be decomposed quickly for efficient release of nutrients. In the summer to winter rice-cropping system prevalent in North East India, summer rice straw needs to be recycled 20 to 30 days prior to transplanting of winter rice.
It has however, been reported in previous studies that the freshwater earthworm in submerged rice fields can decompose rice straw under the favourable temperatures of July–August but, the cycling of winter rice straw in field condition is slowed down due to low temperature in winter months.
The other members of the research team were Kishore K. Dey and Fenella M. W. Nongkhlaw (Central Agricultural University, Umiam, Meghalaya). This research was funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
Article Courtesy: India Science Wirehttps://www.thebetterindia.com/139793/indian-scientists-find-way-recycle-waste-earthworm-guts/

Rice R&D News :Smarter agri techniques need to address ground-level problems: Researchers


Smarter agri techniques need to address ground-level problems: Researchers

DSR requires farmers to directly sow rice into rows in the field, using a machine

Ankur Paliwal  |  Karnal (Haryana) Last Updated at May 1, 2018 00:47 IST

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DSR is one of the methods promoted by the CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. They test and develop techniques to promote climate-smart agriculture

Three years earlier as explained in the first part of this series, Vinod Kumar, a farmer then 29 years old, decided to change the way he grew wheat and rice. He was encouraged by scientists who were experimenting on climate-smart techniques that help farmers grow more food, increase their income and also adapt to climate change. This was in a portion of farmers’ fields, including Kumar’s, at Anjanthali village, about 20 km away from here.
Kumar had already adopted a few of these technologies. Such as Happy Seeder, a contraption that deals with the crop residue that becomes a headache for farmers every winter; they invariably burn it, creating immense air pollution. It helped him increase wheat production and avoid burning of rice residue. However, there is a big cost problem, as explained in the earlier part of this series. And, the climate-smart Direct Seeding of Rice or DSR method, that Kumar tried, did not work for him.
So, he switched back to the traditional way that consumes 30 per cent more water. With millions doing likewise, Haryana’s groundwater table is receding by about a metre every year.
“The issue is more complicated than saying DSR doesn’t work,” said Sheetal Sharma, scientist at the South Asia office of the International Rice Research Institute. “The real problem lies somewhere else.”
DSR is one of the methods promoted by The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security or CCAFS, which is a global network of scientists studying agriculture and climate change. They test and develop techniques to promote climate-smart agriculture. Climate change could decrease overall crop yields by 30 per cent in South Asia by the mid-21st century.
In India, CCAFS started working in Haryana and Bihar, for these represent two different geographies of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, this country’s food bowl.
The issue
Traditionally, farmers first sprout rice seeds in a nursery for about 30 days and then flood the field with water standing up to five or six cm. In which they or hired labour then transplant sprouts.
DSR requires farmers to directly sow rice into rows in the field, using a machine. Studies show this technique leads to better seed germination, root development and uptake of nutrient. It also saves on the cost in hiring labour and tilling, and uses up to 30 per cent less water than the traditional method. DSR is one of the techniques the Haryana government will promote in the 250 villages where it plans to launch climate-smart agriculture in the next three years.
However, when Kumar and some other farmers in Haryana tried DSR, they had to deal with lots of weeds of various kinds. These grow because the field gets air, sunlight and moisture. The available herbicides are ineffective and expensive, Kumar and other farmers told this writer. They claim to have spent 1.5 times more on herbicide and fertiliser if they sow rice the DSR way. They also say the rice doesn’t germinate properly, affecting the yield, sometimes up to 30-50 per cent. “Yes, you save water but at the cost of farm income,” said Kumar. “So, most farmers are not going to care about water.”
“DSR is a 100 per cent flop in Haryana,” adds Pradeep Meel, deputy director at the state’s agriculture department in Karnal. Scientists launched it before it was perfect, he explains. Meel says rice was sown using DSR on 50-60,000 acres in the state over last five years but most farmers have switched back to the traditional way.

Sharma and other scientists say DSR requires more care in terms of proper irrigation and herbicide application at the right time but “farmers in Haryana won’t pay attention because water is almost free for them,” said Sharma. “The traditional alternative is just easy.” Given the way traditional rice harvesting is robbing Haryana and Punjab of ground water, farmers will have no option but to sow rice the DSR way, says Mangi Lal Jat of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Delhi. “DSR gives comparable yield if you do it right,” said Jat. Scientists agree that although more research is needed for better weed management, the Haryana government will have to price water if it wants farmers to grow rice in an environment-friendly way.
Alternatives
Another climate-smart way to solve the problem is to replace rice with crops that consume less water. One is maize — it requires only a tenth of the water needed in traditional rice cultivation. However, this too could fail if not supported by right policies. Kumar and other farmers can plant maize if the government assures that it will buy maize from them at a price comparable to rice. Currently, the minimum support price for a quintal of rice is Rs 1,550; for maize, it is Rs 1,425.
“Maize also has a moisture issue,” said Hanuman Sahay Jat, scientist with the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute here. He explains that at the time of harvest, maize still has about 25 percent moisture. If stored directly, this is prone to fungal attack. Farmers in Haryana are in the habit of taking the harvested crop directly to the market to sell, where there are no dryers, “which the government will have to install”, he observes.
CCAFS scientists have developed more technologies. Such as a software called Nutrient Expert that tells farmers how much of a particular nutrient the soil in his field requires. Farmers in Haryana and Punjab generally use too much of nitrogen and almost negligible amounts of potassium. However, unless technologies such as Nutrient Expert are available at the community level, even progressive farmers like Kumar will not adopt it.
“Scientists, governments and farmers will have to work together. Else, climate-smart agriculture won’t succeed,” said Arun Khatri-Chhetri, scientist with the Delhi chapter of CCAFS. “It requires effort and a shift in thinking.”
First Published: Tue, May 01 2018. 00:47 IST