Saturday, June 22, 2019

22nd June,2019 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

Farmers, buyers celebrate Kaleshwaram inauguration

HYDERABAD, JUNE 22, 2019 00:16 IST
UPDATED: JUNE 22, 2019 07:35 IST

Description: Folk artists join the celebrations to mark the inauguration of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project at Gun Park in Hyderabad on Friday.Kharif output expected to go up thanks to the irrigation project, say Civil Supplies officials

Farmers in various districts across the State celebrated the inauguration of Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project by bursting fire crackers and distributing sweets near godowns and ration shops decorated by the employees of Civil Supplies Department and ration shop dealers in respective districts.
The IKP women worshipped Paddy weighing machines and played ‘Bathukamma’ and took out ‘Bonalu’ in market yards and purchase centres on Friday. They also performed milk ‘Abhishekam’ to the portraits of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at every godown.
With the inauguration of Kaleswaram project, Agriculture Department would become important followed by the Civil Supplies Department. With increase in ayacut and yield of food grains under the Kaleswaram project, the responsibility of Civil Supplies too would increase. The Department is estimating that the yield in kharif would be double than that of last kharif. This would benefit farmers, organisers of purchase centres, rice millers, hamalis and others.
The rice millers who will be benefited under the Kaleswaram project celebrated the occasion and offered prayers at Kanyaka Parameswari temples in many areas. In the last two years, about 200 to 300 new rice mills were set up and with the inauguration of Kaleswaram more rice mills might be opened and it would give employment opportunities to many Telangana people, said Rice Millers Association president Gampa Nagender, general secretary Mohan Reddy and treasurer Chandrapal.
Meanwhile Civil Supplies Corporation Commissioner Akun Sabarwal said that the Kaleswaram project would become a model to the country. In the coming days, area of cultivation and food grains yield would increase. This year a target was set to purchase 200 % more paddy than that of last year and they were preparing plans for this. Thanks to the project, employment opportunities would increase for several sections of people particularly rice millers, IKP women and Hamalis.

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Southern States Share Ag Strategies   

FORT WORTH, TX -- USA Rice was a sponsor of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA) conference hosted by the Texas Department of Agriculture here last week.  SASDA is comprised of the Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Agriculture from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Virgin Islands. 

Keynote speakers at the conference included the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach, and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Mary Walker, acting regional administrator for EPA Region 4.  

Another guest speaker, Li Qiangmin, consul general for the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Houston, talked about the ongoing friction between the U.S. and China and the effect it is having on trade between the two countries.  

SASDA members also broke up into small groups to discuss issues that matter most to their respective state's agriculture industries, and then came together to figure out ways the separate regions can work together to have a greater impact on ag policy. 

"This SASDA conference is an invaluable opportunity for regional sharing of ideas to better the agriculture industry through relationships with other states and partners, such as USA Rice," said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.  "We appreciate the warm welcome in Texas and look forward to returning the hospitality when the conference comes to Arkansas in 2021." 

In addition to the business meetings, attendees toured the Fort Worth stockyards, the Whiskey Ranch Distillery, AT&T Stadium, and Eden Green Technologies, and were entertained by local recording artist and TV personality Red Steagall, and Austin Wayne and Tim Self, the father-son professional stock car racing driver and owner duo. 

"We had fruitful conversations with ag commissioners from all the rice-producing states represented, but we also got to talk to the folks from South Carolina and Florida, where rice is a growing component of their states' ag industries," said Kane Webb, USA Rice director of field services in Louisiana.

High pesticide content a drag on rice exports
Exporters’ association launches campaign from Karnal to educate farmers about right use of pesticides
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Description: https://images.tribuneindia.com/cms/gall_content/2019/6/2019_6$largeimg22_Saturday_2019_084729626.jpg
Workers pack rice for export at a mill in Karnal. Tribune photo: Sayeed Ahmed
Parveen Arora
Even though rice exports from India have been rising year after year, a high content of pesticides in the grain is still a major challenge for exporters. The haphazard use of pesticides in basmati leads to rejection of the product in the international market as well as extra burden on farmers, as several countries have strict norms regarding the permissible amount of pesticides in rice. The All India Rice Exporters’ Association, which has big exporters of Karnal district as members, has decided to continue with its campaign to make farmers aware about the right use of pesticides this season also. It started the campaign from Karnal last week and held two meetings with farmers. 
Vijay Setia, president, All India Rice Exporters' Association and a Karnal-based rice exporter, says that they started the campaign from Karnal three years ago following the rejection of several basmati consignments in the international market. They again started the campaign in Karnal last week.In coming days, they will educate farmers in basmati growing districts of Haryana and also in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. With the help of experts from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and state agriculture departments, they will inform farmers about the proper use of pesticides.
This paddy season, the exporters have set a target to educate around 10 lakh farmers in the rice belt states. They will also approach one lakh farmers in Haryana. The exporters will hold seminars and distribute literature to make farmers aware about the judicious use of pesticides in their fields. 
Last season, they had made aware around one lakh farmers in the rice belt states of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
“Basmati is one of the major cash crops of Punjab and Haryana. They account for around 75 per cent of the basmati exports of the country, while other major basmati growing states such as Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi account for around 25 per cent exports. Despite this, the farmers of these states are still not much aware about the judicious use of pesticides, leading to rejection of Indian rice consignments in various countries. We will make one lakh farmers of Haryana and nine lakh farmers of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and other states aware about the issue to promote rice exports as well as the health of citizens,” says Setia.
Besides, the exporters will also adopt a bonus scheme for farmers to promote a judicious use of pesticides. “We will give a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal to farmers for producing good quality rice with a judicious use of pesticides. It will motivate them also,” adds Setia.
“This season our main motive is healthy seeds and a healthy nursery. For a healthy nursery, we are requesting farmers to leave little space for walking after every 16 feet in their fields, which will help in disease control,” he says.
“We will also distribute literature, which has been compiled by the experts of the exporters’ association, among farmers during the campaign,” says Ajay Sharma, MD, Lama Rice, one of the big exporters of the country. He says that the association is developing an app, which will have the mobile phone numbers of basmati farmers, to keep them updated about new initiatives. “We will also organise farmers’ interaction programmes with scientists,” Sharma adds.
“The export of basmati is increasing and for the last five years India has been at the top position. Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Yamen Arab Republic, USA, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan are among the top buyers of our rice. In the last financial year, India exported 14,62,234.74 metric tonnes (MT) of basmati to Iran; 902,996.69 MT to Saudi Arabia; 441,713.50 MT to UAE; 315,797.23 MT to Iraq; 206,953.83 MT to Yemen; 139,006.34 MT to the USA, 82,389.68 MT to Oman, 68,052.30 MT to Qatar and 49,486.94 MT to Jordan,” says Sharma.
About the Haryana Government’s new initiative of crop diversification to promote maize and ‘arhar’ instead of paddy, Setia and Sharma say that it will not have a big impact on the basmati crop that is cultivated in June end and the monsoons contribute a lot to its production.
Aditya Dabas, Deputy Director Agriculture, says Haryana cultivates paddy in around 13.5 lakh hectares and produces around 50 lakh quintals of it. Paddy is cultivated in around 1.70 lakh hectares in Karnal and around 9 lakh quintals of rice is produced. Basmati accounts for around 50 per cent of the total rice production in the state while in Karnal it accounts for 40 per cent of the rice production. Karnal has around one lakh landholding farmers. 
Dabas says that residual pesticides and chemical fertilisers are entering the food-chain due to the cultivation of wheat and paddy without any gap.

We launched the campaign from Karnal three years ago following the rejection of several basmati consignments in the international market. We again started the campaign in Karnal last week. In coming days, we will educate farmers in basmati growing districts of Haryana and also in Punjab, Himachal, J&K, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. With the help of experts from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and state agriculture departments, we will inform farmers about the proper use of pesticides.  —Vijay Setia, President, All India Rice Exporters’ Association 
We will also distribute literature, which has been compiled by the experts of the exporters’ association, among farmers during the campaign. The association is developing an app, which will have the mobile phone numbers of basmati farmers, to keep them updated about new initiatives. We will also organise farmers’ interactions with scientists. —Ajay Sharma, MD, Lama Rice


PHL is top destination for wheat, soybean
June 21, 2019 | 7:04 pm
Description: wheat cereal
THE PHILIPPINES is one of the top destinations for exported wheat, soybean cake and meal for market year (MY) 2019/2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a report.
In its export sales report for the week ending June 13, the USDA noted that exported wheat to the Philippines for the next MY will be at 65,900 metric tons (MT). The country is second to Indonesia with 84,500 MT.
As for soybean cake and meal, the country is the top destination with 55,300 MT, followed by Mexico with 21,900 MT.
In a separate report, the agency said the importation of agricultural commodities like wheat, corn, and rice has helped ease inflation.
“Philippine inflation continued to decline in 2019, mainly because of considerable food and feed grain imports. Although inflation slightly increased to 3.2 percent in May 2019 due to food price adjustments brought about by a mild El Niño, Philippine government planners expect full year inflation to settle within the 2-4 percent target for 2019,” it said.
After peaking at 6.7% in September to October in 2018, inflation eased to 6% in November and 5.1% in December with the arrival of food and feed grain imports.



It further declined to 4.4% in January, 3.8% in February, 3.3% in March, and 3% in April before inching up to 3.2% in May.
The Philippine Statistics Authority said wheat imports in the first quarter grew 21.6% to $543.58 million; corn imports declined 45.7% to $43.09 million; and rice imports increased 165.3% to $473.47 million.
The government has implemented the Rice Tariffication law to help the rice industry by removing quantitative restrictions to imported rice and replacing it with tariffs, which will be used to improve rice production.
The USDA recently noted that the Southeast Asia is expected to be the top wheat importing region in 2018/2019 driven by demand from Philippines, due to typhoons, and Indonesia due to higher food and feed demand. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Agriculture trade deficit widens in Q1
June 21, 2019 | 7:04 pm
Description: okra farmerPHILSTAR/JOVEN CAGANDE
By Carmina Angelica V. OlanoResearcher
THE trade deficit in agriculture commodities widened in the first quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
Data from the PSA released Friday showed outbound shipments of agricultural goods totalled $1.5 billion in the first quarter, up 0.57% year-on-year.
Meanwhile, around $3.56-billion worth of farm products were shipped into the country during the period, up 14.35% from a year earlier.
As a result, the first-quarter deficit in agriculture trade was $2.06 billion, up 26.95% from the $1.63-billion gap a year earlier.
Total agricultural trade, which is the sum of imports and exports, was valued at $5.06 billion in the first quarter, up 9.9% from $4.6 billion in the same period of 2018.



Agriculture accounted for 11.5% or $5.06 billion of total trade, which was $44.05 billion in the first quarter.
The Philippine incurred its biggest agriculture deficit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at $1.03 billion followed by the United States ($489.81 million), Australia ($177.18 million), and the European Union ($165.25 million).
On the other hand, trade in farm goods with Japan was in surplus by $230.59 million.
Edible fruit and nuts were the country’s top agricultural export at $611.57 million, or 40.89% of the value worth of total goods shipped.
Other top farm goods exports include animal or vegetable fats and oils ($231.75 million); tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes ($107.09 million); preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates ($103.34 million); fish and crustaceans ($90.81 million); and preparations of cereals, flour, starch, or milk ($75.66 million).
Meanwhile, the country’s top imports were cereals at $969.14 million, followed by miscellaneous edible preparations ($402.31 million); residues and waste from the food industries ($393.24 million); dairy produce ($320.57 million); and meat and edible meat offal ($296.51 million).
UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. chief economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said although a trade deficit in agriculture is expected, it still implies weakness in the sector.
“Having more agriculture commodity imports than exports describe a rather weak productivity of the agriculture sector. It is not new, however, that Philippine agriculture has been a laggard contributor to general economic growth of the country,” he said in an e-mail.
Mr. Asuncion also noted that agriculture trade was driven by imports amid increasing local demand for food.
“With increasing economic growth is increasing demand for food and other agriculture products. Aside from higher demand, changes and easing in domestic policy particularly relating to agriculture commodity imports can be another reason for the growth in agriculture growth,” he said.
Michael L. Ricafort, head of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.’s (RCBC) economics research division, had a similar assessment.
“The faster growth in the imports of agricultural products also partly reflect the increased requirements of the local economy, which remains to be among the fastest growing in ASEAN,” he said in a separate e-mail.
Mr. Ricafort also noted that the increased importation of agricultural products may be attributed to the impact of the government’s efforts to manage inflation last year.
“The wider agricultural trade deficit in the first quarter may reflect the increased importation of rice/food, fish, sugar, and other agricultural products…to increase the local supply…to lower their prices and better manage overall inflation,” he said.
Headline inflation slowed to 3.8% in the first quarter compared to 5.9% in the fourth quarter of 2018 according to PSA data. The slowdown was mostly broad-based with much of the downtrend seen in the heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index at 4.6% in the first quarter versus the 8% in the fourth quarter last year. Food alone averaged 4.1% in the first three months of the year against the 7.7% average in the preceding quarter.
Mr. Ricafort said the flat growth in the country’s agriculture exports may be attributed to the global economic slowdown largely due to ongoing trade tensions between the US and China since July of last year.
“Economic growth in China, which is the world’s second biggest economy and the biggest importer/buyer of various agricultural commodities, has been among the slowest in nearly 30 years,” he said.
TRADE SEEN PICKING UP
Both economists expect agriculture trade to pick up in the coming months.
“At the end of this year, robust growth is expected because of the policy changes in agriculture commodities importation,” UnionBank’s Mr. Asuncion said, adding that risks to this outlook “usually come from perennial weather disturbances.”
RCBC’s Mr. Ricafort had the same view: “Agricultural imports could continue to increase in the coming months in view of the full implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, which removes the volume limits on rice imports in able to increase local supply of rice (to address any risk of shortage in the supply of cheaper rice just like what happened earlier in 2018), as well as increased imports of fish, corn, sugar and other food/agriculture items to increase local supply and lower local prices of these agricultural commodities in the local market…,” he said.
Mr. Ricafort likewise noted “improved trade and diplomatic relations” with major markets for the country’s agriculture exports, particularly in huge markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea.

Revival of basmati brand: Rice exporters seek government’s help to develop
Revival of basmati brand: Rice exporters seek government’s help to develop Kalar Belt Rice exporters sought the government's assistance to develop Kalar Belt to produce more of the crop to help the country grow the commodity export to $5 billion annually, as Federal Economic Adviser, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, has affirmed his support to the sector. A meeting on Thursday with Hafeez Shaikh, convener FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice, Rafique Suleman sought a certain help from the government to develop Kalar Belt in a bid to revive the basmati brand. Rafiq Suleman, who is also the former Chairman of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap), said that the basmati has the potential to fetch alone $2 billion, as its existing export stands at $750 million. He told the adviser that the export of rice is over $2 billion a year, which makes it second largest sector following hosiery sector's export, saying that it, however, showed restrained while reacting on fiscal budget 2019-20. Advising to the exporting sectors, he said that business community should act responsibly and shun escalating the negativity on the country's already ailing economy. "While we have our reservations the rice export sector represented by Reap continues to work on possible solutions which should come out as a win-win solution for rice sector and the government," the convener of the FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice said, showing a full trust and faith in the PTI's government and its Mincom Team and Finance Team. He hoped the government's endeavor will help it succeed against all the economic challenges. Showing satisfaction, Rafiq Suleman said that the Mincom and Hafiz Shaikh with his team are making headways to stabilize the economy through multiple PTAs and FTAs with different nations. "PTAs and FTAs with Indonesia and China have immediately starting bearing results," he said, adding that in the long-run, the efforts of Mincom will start yielding results in a span of three years. However, he asked the Mincom to set up a stage for fair-play for all private sectors through correct policy decisions in consultation with the Federal Finance Ministry. He also demanded of the government to set up technical institutes on a full time basis to equip manpower with skills through professionals. He said that the private sectors should remain only as consultative bodies to extend their feedback and advisories to the government in this connection. The former Reap head also highlighted the energy crisis in the meeting that the rice producing sector is faced with, saying that "this remains the most neglected area by all governments including the incumbent PTI one". He said that from a small rice miller in Gujranwala to those endeavoring in Shadadkot and Larkana are faced with extremely poor supplies of utilities and this continues to grip the entire agriculture value chain of the country. He said that the agriculture value chain continues to face the pre-and-post harvest losses between 3 times and 10 times. He demanded of the government to step up working on a war footing to revive the basmati heritage, saying that the development of Kalar Belt is expected to grow the country's export of this variety of rice to $2 billion from $750 million at present. "We are glad both Federal and Provincial Departments have given positive response and implementation has already started," he added. Showing disappointment, he said that the 80 percent of the KPT and PQA infrastructure is focused on import oriented as the exports suffer from lack of a priority. He said that the Ports and Shipping Ministry needs to work close with the Mincom to ensure the priority for exports in every planning that it undertakes. He said that all the country's container terminals operating with the world class infrastructure has brought excessive costs to trade in general and exports in particular. The Federal Finance Ministry, Mincom and Ports and Shipping should review all the existing agreements with the container terminals since the exorbitant tariffs they charge to have been hurting trade and the economy, Rafique Suleman said. He also recommended to Hafeez Shaikh to have the federal government to work with the provincial governments to promote agri-clusters to ensure developing plug and play facility for the stakeholders. He also pleaded to the associations protesting against the budget announcements, saying that such an act is self-destructive to the businesses and exports besides to the country's economy. "I request all our business association brothers to please stop publicly issuing statements against the government or budget 2019-20 as it only causes more uncertainties and damage the market, which brings more loss to the business and economy as well," Rafique Suleman added.
Lifestyle with Sakwaba: Yes, rice water can do magic to your hair
Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | E: faustine.akwa@myjoyonline.com
Date: 21-06-2019 Time: 01:06:33:pm
Description: http://photos.myjoyonline.com/photos/news/201906/928526697318_1974630403228.jpg
Raquel has been chronicling her rice water journey
Rice. Yes Rice – it can do such wonders for your hair.
Beyond being a staple for millions around the world, beyond feeding families, its fibre can be fabulous for your hair.
The benefit is irrespective of hair type, colour or texture, research has found. Rice is one of the greatest beautifying aids for women.
A secret Asian women have found as they have used rice water to enhance their face, body and hair – for centuries.
Female rice farmers in China, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries bathed and washed with water used to clean rice.
Women from the Yao ethnic group in China authenticate this tradition. With an average hair length of 6 feet, these women made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as having the “world’s longest hair village”.
And guess what, they do not grey until their 80s.
Description: Rice water hair

Photo: Raquel has a channel on Youtube where she shares her rice water hair care journey. This image was culled from her very first video before using the rice water treatment
The Yao women believe that the fermented rice water, which they use to cleanse their hair, is what helps to keep their hair long, dark and clean. Rice water enables these women to de-tangle and manage their long hair, which they wrap around their heads in an elaborate high bun that is often described with names such as ‘gazing god’s bun’ or the ‘cloud bun’.
Here is why you should use rice water on your hair
Rice water is the starchy water left over after rice is cooked or left to soak. It is thought to make the hair smooth and shiny, as well as help it grow faster. Aside from its 75-80 percent starch content, rice water also contains many vitamins and minerals: amino acids, vitamin B, E and antioxidants.
Video: Raquel provides a detailed account of her rice water treatment journey  
Advocates for the rice water treatment believe it detangles the hair, makes hair smoother, increases shine, strengthens and helps in long hair growth.
However, because this sounds unbelievable yet, the trend is increasing in popularity, some researchers looked into it. According to a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Chemists, when you apply rice water to your hair, it can reduce friction between the hair strands as well as improve hair elasticity. It means combing and detangling will be so much easier, and hair breakage a thing of the past.
Description: Rice water hair
Photo: After some weeks, Raquel posted another video, from which this image was taken
Another amazing thing about rice water is that it has inositol, a carbohydrate, which repairs damaged hair. Specialised imaging technique shows that inositol stays inside the hair even after rinsing, offering continuing hair protection. 
This sounds amazing…I mean, just amazing!
Video: Raquel makes another video after a couple of months showing off her amazing transformation 
How to prepare your rice water
It is easy. All you need is rice – brown, white, basmati, long grain, short grain, jasmine, Thai – as long as it is rice and a spray bottle. Any quantity of your choosing works.
To make rice water, first, rinse the rice with about a cup of water to remove any dirt or impurities.
Description: Rice water hair
Photo: Raquel’s hair after a couple of months, also shared in a video on her channel
Then, place the rice in a bowl and cover with water. Let the rice soak for 15 to 30 minutes. Swirl it around or lightly knead it until the water turns cloudy. This will help the vitamins and minerals seep into the water, creating a nourishing rinse for your hair and skin.
Now strain out the rice water into a clean bowl. Your rice water is ready to use. This is a quick method to make rice water.
For effectiveness, however, it is advised to keep the rice in the water overnight. At least 24 hours.
Description: Rice water
How to apply rice water in your hair
§  wash hair with shampoo
§  rinse thoroughly with water
§  part hair and apply rice water from the roots to the tips
§  massage the rice water into the hair and scalp
§  leave on for up to 20 minutes
§  rinse hair thoroughly using warm water
§  deep condition
§  rinse off as you normally would and then voilà, you’re good to go
The video below provides more information on how this should be done so that in case you’re like me and cannot wash your hair at home, your hair stylist will appreciate some directions on how to go about in case they are unaware.

  
Lifestyle with Sakwaba: Yes, rice water can do magic to your hair
Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | E: faustine.akwa@myjoyonline.com
Date: 21-06-2019 Time: 01:06:33:pm
Description: http://photos.myjoyonline.com/photos/news/201906/928526697318_1974630403228.jpg
Raquel has been chronicling her rice water journey
Rice. Yes Rice – it can do such wonders for your hair.
Beyond being a staple for millions around the world, beyond feeding families, its fibre can be fabulous for your hair.
The benefit is irrespective of hair type, colour or texture, research has found. Rice is one of the greatest beautifying aids for women.
A secret Asian women have found as they have used rice water to enhance their face, body and hair – for centuries.
Female rice farmers in China, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries bathed and washed with water used to clean rice.
Women from the Yao ethnic group in China authenticate this tradition. With an average hair length of 6 feet, these women made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as having the “world’s longest hair village”.
And guess what, they do not grey until their 80s.
Description: Rice water hair

Photo: Raquel has a channel on Youtube where she shares her rice water hair care journey. This image was culled from her very first video before using the rice water treatment
The Yao women believe that the fermented rice water, which they use to cleanse their hair, is what helps to keep their hair long, dark and clean. Rice water enables these women to de-tangle and manage their long hair, which they wrap around their heads in an elaborate high bun that is often described with names such as ‘gazing god’s bun’ or the ‘cloud bun’.
Here is why you should use rice water on your hair
Rice water is the starchy water left over after rice is cooked or left to soak. It is thought to make the hair smooth and shiny, as well as help it grow faster. Aside from its 75-80 percent starch content, rice water also contains many vitamins and minerals: amino acids, vitamin B, E and antioxidants.
Video: Raquel provides a detailed account of her rice water treatment journey  
Advocates for the rice water treatment believe it detangles the hair, makes hair smoother, increases shine, strengthens and helps in long hair growth.
However, because this sounds unbelievable yet, the trend is increasing in popularity, some researchers looked into it. According to a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Chemists, when you apply rice water to your hair, it can reduce friction between the hair strands as well as improve hair elasticity. It means combing and detangling will be so much easier, and hair breakage a thing of the past.
Description: Rice water hair
Photo: After some weeks, Raquel posted another video, from which this image was taken
Another amazing thing about rice water is that it has inositol, a carbohydrate, which repairs damaged hair. Specialised imaging technique shows that inositol stays inside the hair even after rinsing, offering continuing hair protection. 
This sounds amazing…I mean, just amazing!
Video: Raquel makes another video after a couple of months showing off her amazing transformation 
How to prepare your rice water
It is easy. All you need is rice – brown, white, basmati, long grain, short grain, jasmine, Thai – as long as it is rice and a spray bottle. Any quantity of your choosing works.
To make rice water, first, rinse the rice with about a cup of water to remove any dirt or impurities.
Description: Rice water hair
Photo: Raquel’s hair after a couple of months, also shared in a video on her channel
Then, place the rice in a bowl and cover with water. Let the rice soak for 15 to 30 minutes. Swirl it around or lightly knead it until the water turns cloudy. This will help the vitamins and minerals seep into the water, creating a nourishing rinse for your hair and skin.
Now strain out the rice water into a clean bowl. Your rice water is ready to use. This is a quick method to make rice water.
For effectiveness, however, it is advised to keep the rice in the water overnight. At least 24 hours.
Description: Rice water
How to apply rice water in your hair
§  wash hair with shampoo
§  rinse thoroughly with water
§  part hair and apply rice water from the roots to the tips
§  massage the rice water into the hair and scalp
§  leave on for up to 20 minutes
§  rinse hair thoroughly using warm water
§  deep condition
§  rinse off as you normally would and then voilà, you’re good to go
The video below provides more information on how this should be done so that in case you’re like me and cannot wash your hair at home, your hair stylist will appreciate some directions on how to go about in case they are unaware.



CRI develops new rice varieties

Date: Jun 21 , 2019 , 09:52
BY: Joshua Bediako Koomson
Dr Kofi Ayirebi Dartey briefing the media on the new varieties of rice

The Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed three new varieties of rice to help boost the production of the cereal in the country.

The new varieties — AG-CRI-UPL-1-2, AG-CRI-UPL-4-13 and AG-CRI-UPL-1-18 — have long, slender, white, aromatic grains which take between 90 and 100 days to mature.

At a press briefing at the CSIR Head Office in Accra last Wednesday, a rice breeder at the CRI, Dr Kofi Ayirebi Dartey, said over the years, rice production had been a major challenge to farmers due to the difficulties they faced in acquiring suitable land and the number of days rice took to mature.

He said the challenges had caused many farmers to frown on rice production, with the accompanying negative consequences for the nation.

Dr Dartey said the development had contributed to the high importation of rice into the country.

Addressing challenges

He stated that Ghana could not afford to continue to spend huge amounts of money to import rice when the opportunity existed to maximise production locally.

It was in that context that the institute went the extra mile to develop the rice varieties, he explained.

Dr Dartey said the development of the varieties was sponsored by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), while the Korean Africa Food and Agricultural Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) sponsored the testing of the varieties.

Method

Giving further explanation on the new rice varieties, Dr Dartey said some of the best varieties of rice across the world were selected and inter-bred to achieve the positive results.

 He said the new varieties were very resistant to diseases and could be cultivated on highlands.

“Unlike the ordinary varieties of rice which can only flourish at lowland areas, especially where the land has enough water, these new varieties grow in highland areas and, therefore, people can even cultivate them in their gardens and at any ordinary place where maize or cowpea can grow,” he declared.

“These types of rice will relieve farmers of the stress they usually go through during rice production.

 They take a few weeks to mature and since they grow on highlands, it will be easier for farmers to use tractors to cultivate without fear of the tractors getting stuck,” he added.

Dr Dartey announced that with sponsorship from the Korea Programme for International Agriculture (KOPIA), the CRI would cultivate 2,000 hectares with the new varieties within the next three years.

Appeal

He appealed to farmers to adopt the new varieties and promote them to help improve rice production for local consumption and also for export.

“This country spends millions of dollars to import rice each year, so if farmers adopt these new varieties which mature very fast and start cultivating them, within a short period the country will produce a lot of rice and that will enable us to reduce the high importation.

“We are aiming to reduce rice importation by 50 per cent this year and this should be the best solution,” Dr Dartey added.

Last year, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, disclosed that Ghana had been spending over a billion dollars on rice imports into the country annually since 2015.

Describing the situation as “a disaster and worrying”, the minister said statistics indicated that from 2007 to 2015, the importation of rice, a leading import commodity in the country, rose from about $151 million to $1,162 million.

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Fine rice through PDS from September 1 Hans News Service   |
  22 Jun 2019 3:31 AM HIGHLIGHTS Cabinet sub-committee, which discussed essentials distributed under Public Distribution System, observes that poor quality of rice currently being distributed to the beneficiaries is not being consumed by them The distribution of fine quality rice is estimated to impose an additional burden of Rs 1,000 cr on State exchequer Amaravati: Come September 1, beneficiaries of Public Distribution System (PDS) will get fine rice through ration shops. Civil supplies minister Kodali Venkateswara Rao alias Nani made this announcement after a meeting of Cabinet sub-committee at the Secretariat on Friday. The brands like Kurnool Sona Masoori and others are under consideration for purchase to be distributed to people under the PDS. The officials estimated that at least 6 lakh metric tonnes of rice is required to supply under the PDS. This is expected to cost an extra Rs 1000 crore on public exchequer, said the minister. Advertise With Us The quality of rice being distributed under PDS became a major cause for concern, observed the sub-committee comprising minister for civil supplies Nani, agriculture minister Kannababu and housing minister Sriranganatha Raju, which discussed the issues pertaining to civil supplies. The ministers also opined that some of the rice being supplied under the PDS was not consumable and hence the people were selling it away to traders for recycling. They also opined that the rice thus recycled is again being supplied to the people through PDS. Advertise With Us "The government has been purchasing the rice and supplying to the public. Then the people are not consuming it. They have been purchasing at Rs 1 per kg and reselling the same rice to millers or middlemen at Rs 7 or Rs 8. Then the same rice is being processed in the mills. Again the government is buying the processed rice and supplying it to people through PDS. This system of recycling of the rice is visible everywhere in the state. This illegal practice is going on because of poor quality of the rice,'' said the ministers. On the other hand, the ministers also found that about 25 per cent of the rice being supplied by the Central government to the state under the PDS was not of good quality.



No action against defaulting rice millers

Post New Network

Description: No action against defaulting rice millers

Jajpur: As the Assembly’s monsoon session is starting June 25, the public here is eager to know whether issues like the distress sale of paddy and the recycling of rice in Jajpur will be raised by legislators this time.
MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati and MLA Bhupinder Singh have readied their questions on paddy procurement and rice recycling.
Earlier, legislators had not asked questions regarding the quantity of paddy procured and the rice to be supplied by millers and whether action was taken against the defaulting millers or not.
There were rumours that during elections the millers had helped politicians, and this is the reason why the leaders were protecting the millers by not asking questions.
Reports said in the 2018-19 paddy procurement season, 26,295.564 tonnes of rice will have to be delivered by 12 millers in Jajpur amid allegations of rampant rice recycling.
Eastern Foods Pvt Ltd (Rangidaspur) has not delivered 4916.505 tonnes of rice to the Civil Supplies Department. Similarly, 2791.327 tonnes of rice is pending with Sahantuuka Foods (Barchana), 7193.229 tonnes with Krupalu Rice Mills (Patharpada), 3075.966 tonnes of rice with Mahabali Modern Rice Mills and 6489.837 tonnes with Ashirbad Rice Mills (Panikoili).
There are suspicions that these millers are waiting to buy the rice being supplied for MDM, BPL and Antyodaya schemes from racketeers who get it diverted.
Racketeers grab the rice supplied under these programmes and sell them in the black market. Some millers buy it and deliver it to the government without milling paddy.
The Civil Supplies Corporation has been insisting on checking the stock position of millers. But this is not being done.
The district has five godowns with adequate space for stocking rice, but it is surprising why the 12 millers have not delivered their rice. It has become a cause of concern for the civil supplies department.
The district civil supplies officer had provided details of paddy procurement at various mandis (procurement centres).
By June 15, the government had purchased 11,45,778 quintals of paddy from the district’s farmers. Fifteen cooperative societies were told to procure rabi paddy.
Now the question is why the legislators did not want to know which millers have defaulted, and why the civil supplies department has not taken action against them.
District civil supplies officer Surendra Kumar Hota has denied irregularities in paddy procurement. He said action will be taken against defaulting millers

JUNE 21, 2019 / 1:09 PM / A DAY AGO
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JUNE 21, 2019
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-June 21, 2018 Nagpur, June 21 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) on good seasonal demand from local millers amid tight supply from producing regions. Reports about delay in monsoon arrival in the regions, fresh hike on NCDEX and good recovery in Madhya Pradesh pulses also helped to push up prices. About 800 bags of gram and 250 bags of tuar reported for auction, according to sources.
GRAM
* Desi gram reported higher in open market on good buying support from local traders.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.
* Wheat mill quality reported down in open market on lack of demand from local
traders amid good supply from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 5,900-6,100, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,400-8,600, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 6,700-7,600, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,700-8,400, Gram – 4,500-4,600, Gram Super best
– 6,200-6,400 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 4,000-4,215 3,900-4,180
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 5,000-5,585 5,000-5,550
Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500
Wheat Lokwan Auction 1,850-1,948 1,800-1,895
Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000
Gram Super Best Bold 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,300-4,400 4,300-4,400
Desi gram Raw 4,450-4,550 4,400-4,500
Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000
Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,700-8,800 8,700-8,800
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 8,300-8,500 8,300-8,500
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800
Tuar Gavarani New 5,750-5,950 5,750-5,950
Tuar Karnataka 6,050-6,250 6,100-6,300
Masoor dal best 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,300 5,200-5,300
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,800-8,500 7,800-8,500
Moong Mogar Medium 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200
Moong dal Chilka New 6,500-7,600 6,500-7,600
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,000-9,000 8,100-9,000
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,000-7,800 7,000-7,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,500 5,600-6,500
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400
Mot (100 INR/KG) 5,100-6,600 5,100-6,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 6,700-6,900 6,700-6,900
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,100-2,200
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900 2,700-2,900
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,500 3,100-3,500
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,900 2,500-3,000
Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,600 4,100-4,600
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,600-3,900 3,600-3,900
Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000
Rice Shriram New (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,000 5,000-7,000
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Rice Chinnor New (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 40.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 26.1 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. One or two spells of rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 40 degree Celsius and 26 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)

The shortfall in rains is the worst in South India and it will affect rice and oilseeds production as well as tractor sales
SRIRAM IYERJUN 21, 2019, 10:31 IST
Description: https://www.businessinsider.in/thumb/msid-69884145,width-600,resizemode-4/The-shortfall-in-rains-is-the-worst-in-South-India-and-it-will-affect-rice-and-oilseeds-production-as-well-as-tractor-sales.jpg?76225
§  The total rain from south west monsoon has been 40% less than the average.
§  The deficit is as high as 56% in south India and farmers have been asked to avoid sowing for crops like rice that need a lot of water.
§  Central India comes a close second with a rain deficit of 41% until June 19.
§  The crisis in rural India may become a significant factor in the upcoming budget.

India is already suffering from a severe water shortage in many parts of the country and the rain Gods have not been merciful yet. That would put pressure on the Narendra Modi government, particularly on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ahead of the upcoming budget to ensure the rural distress in the country does not worsen any further.

The total rain from south west monsoon has been 40% less than the average. The deficit is as high as 56% in the southern peninsula --Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Goa. The central parts of the country, states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhatisgarh, come a close second with a rain deficit of 41% until June 19. 
Description: Flourish logoA Flourish data visualisation

The shortage is therefore the worst in the rice growing areas and therefore the farmers have either delayed or reduced the sowing of crops like rice, sugarcane and cotton, all of which need a lot of water, according to government data. This is part of the government's contingency plan in the 648 worst-hit districts of the country.

What's worse, farmers have to pay up to 10% more for fertilisers this sowing season, than what they paid last winter, thanks to a rise in global prices for potash due to stronger demand, the key raw material, and a weaker rupee.

Tractor sales

Expectations of a poor monsoon also affect the purchase of farm equipment like tractors. The impact has been visible already in the 15% fall in tractor sales in May compared to the same time last year. That's bad news for Mahindra and Mahindra, which makes nearly 31% of its revenue from tractors alone and things have been far from rosy for a while now. 


The gloomy expectations have been evident in the share price too, which has lost over 31% in the last one year. 
All eyes are now on the budget, and both the country's millions of farmers as well as companies like M&M hope for some sort of relief package that soften nature's blow on the rural economy. 

There are some encouraging signs with the President Ram Nath Kovind announcing a
25 trillion fund to protect the rural economy. The income guarantee scheme of 6,000 a year has been extended to the country's 145 million farmers. India has also appealed to China to lower tariffs on agricultural exports from India.

Rural consumption has already slumped sharply and a poor monsoon may only worsen it. The government will have to think of other measures to support the economic recovery.

Bühler Group plans to up rice processing in Kingdom

Chhut Bunthoeun / Khmer Times Share:    

Switzerland-based Bühler Group, a tech company providing solutions to food, mobility and communication needs, is seeking to invest into rice processing facilities in Cambodia.
For in depth analysis of Cambodian Business, visit Capital Cambodia
.
According to a Commerce Ministry press release, the plan was announced on Wednesday during a meeting between Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak and Bühler Asia president David Wang.
It said the company plans to invest ten rice drying facilities within ten provinces across the Kingdom.
. .
The press release did not mention which provinces the company is interested in, but it said the company aims to store up to one million tonnes of rice, with the target to dry about 13,000 tonnes per day.
It noted that the finish product would be further processed before it is exported to international markets.
“The facilities will be equipped with a high-end technology […], with the promise of increasing the value of the rice value chain and diversify finished goods for global market export,” Mr David said, according to the ministry press release.
It noted that Bühler’s presence in the Kingdom will primarily focus on using cutting edge technology in order to process agricultural products and strengthening sustainable production in Cambodia
Mr Sorasak said in the press release that he supports the move, noting that the investment plan is in line with the Kingdom’s industrial development policy and the government’s rectangular strategy phase IV.
. .
“Once facilities are ready for operations, they will help strengthen to stabilise the prices of domestic agriculture products,” he said. “It will also help to curb the flow of paddy rice exported to neighbouring countries.”
It noted that according to an Agriculture Ministry report last year, Cambodia produced 7.4 million tonnes of paddy rice, a 3.5 percent hike when compared to 2017’s 3.07 tonnes of rice.

Paddy procured 12pc but rice 42pc, JS told

Staff Correspondent | Published: 00:48, Jun 21,2019 | Updated: 01:20, Jun 21,2019
      

The government has procured 12 per cent of the paddy in two months targeted for the current boro season as the collection will end in August while the boiled rice collection is 42 per cent of the target during the same period.
Responding to a question from treasury bench lawmaker Abul Kalam Md Ahasanul Hoque Chowdhury, food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder disclosed the information in the Jatiya Sangsad, saying that the government started the procurement in April.
He said that the government had primarily decided to purchase 1.5 lakh tonnes of paddy in this boro season but later revised the target to be 2.5 lakh tonnes more.
Considering the bumper production of the crop, he said, the government has a plan to collect paddy directly from the farmers in future, though it has no such plan for rice.
Replaying to a starred question placed by Jatiya Party lawmaker Salma Islam, the food minister also said that the construction of 162 warehouses having the capacity of 1.05 lakh tonnes of food grains is underway as part of increasing the storage capacity of food grains.
He further said that the construction of eight steel silos with the capacity of 5.18 tonnes, too, continued under a modern food grain storage project.
Besides, he said, the government has planned to take a new project to build 200 silos with the capacity of 5,000 tonnes each across the country to store paddy collected from marginal farmers in helping them to get fair price for the crop.
In response to a question from ruling party lawmaker Nasimul Alam Chowdhury, state minister for disaster management and relief Md Enamur Rahman told parliament that the government had planned to construct 152 new cyclone shelters in the country’s coastal and cyclone-prone areas.
‘On April 24, 2008, the planning commission instructed the disaster management and relief ministry to build 1,072 cyclone shelters in the country,’ he said.
Enamur further said that the government had already constructed 100 multipurpose cyclone shelters in the coastal and cyclone-prone areas in the first phase.
He informed the House that 220 more such shelters were being built in the second phase.
His ministry has also a plan to build 752 more multipurpose cyclone shelters in the next phases, Enamur added.



Cambodia awards Chinese firm to build rice warehouses, drying machines in 11 provinces

Source: Xinhua| 2019-06-20 22:39:33|Editor: yan
PHNOM PENH, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Thursday awarded China's state-owned CITIC Construction, to build rice warehouses and drying machines in 11 provinces, according to a statement from the country's Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract was inked here between Cambodian Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak and CITIC Construction's Chairman Chen Xiaojia, the statement said.
The project is made possible under the concessional loan from the Chinese government, it said.
Under the contract, the Chinse firm would construct 12 rice storage facilities with a total capacity of 827,000 tons and 10 rice drying machines with a total capacity of 13,000 tons per day in 11 Cambodian provinces, the statement said.
Those provinces include Pursat, Battambang, Takeo, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Kandal, Kampong Speu, and Preah Sihanouk, it said.
"With this project, the government hopes that Cambodia will have enough capacity to increase its rice export to the international markets and to enhance Cambodian rice's reputation," the statement said.
It added that the construction of rice warehouses and drying machines would help Cambodia to achieve its target of exporting at least one million tons of milled rice a year in the future.
Cambodia exported a total of 250,172 tons of milled rice in the first five months of 2019, in which 109,234 tons, or 43.6 percent, were shipped to China, according to Cambodian government data.
The Southeast Asian country produced 10.8 million tons of paddy rice last year, up 3.3 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

REAP Ex-chairman Advises Business Community To Cooperate With Govt

  
Description: REAP ex-chairman advises business community to cooperate with Govt

Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Thursday advised the business community to react responsibly and abstain from issuing statements criticizing the federal budget or the government as it creates unnecessary uncertainty in the market

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - APP - 20th Jun, 2019 ) :Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Thursday advised the business community to react responsibly and abstain from issuing statements criticizing the Federal budget or the government as it creates unnecessary uncertainty in the market.
" As I believe the business community needs to act responsibly and not accelerate the already difficult economic conditions country is facing," former chairman Rafiq Suleman said in a statement issued here.
He urged the business community to bring confidence into the markets.
He said rice is the only sector which earns over Dollar two billion through exports per annum and after hosiery's exports of $ 2.6 billion. But, he added, it has not protested or gone for any public statements.
"We have certain reservations on the budget, the rice export sector represented by REAP continued to work on possible solutions that should come out as a win-win solution for rice sector and the Government.
" We have full trust and confidence in the government and its Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Finance teams," he said.

FPCCI Brings Out Report On Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Trade Relations

  
Description: FPCCI brings out report on Pakistan-Saudi Arabia bilateral Trade Relations

The Research and Policy Division of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has prepared a report on the Economic and Trade Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

Karachi (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / Online - 20th June, 2019) The Research and Policy Division of the Federation of PakistanChambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has prepared a report on the Economic and Trade Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The report indicates that Saudi Arabia is an important country for Pakistan and both countries enjoying geographical proximity, historical relations and religious affinity. Bilateral trade between both nations is below potential and stands at US$ 3.5 billion.
Pakistan mainly imports petroleum products, plastic goods, organic chemical and fertilizer from Saudi Arabia and exports cereals, meat, textile, beverages, edible fruit and vegetable to Saudi Arabia, the report stated.The report further reveals that there are huge potential available for enhancement of bilateral trade and investment relations.
The enhancement of bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia is also the priority for the Government which reflects from the visits of Prime Ministerof Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Prince's visit to Pakistan and signing of various MoUs for enhancement of relations in trade, energy, commerce, investment and other fields.
The report indicates that Pakistan has potentials to enhance its exports to Saudi Arabia in textile, pharmaceutical, rice, sea food, meat, edible fruits and vegetable, dairy products, leather goods and information technology.The report also identifies trade barriers that create hindrance in exports to Saudi Arabia related to compliance of standards, lack of information, lack of commercial activities etc between both nations.
The report suggests that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should formulate a strategy for mutual recognition of standards for exports of surgical instrument, food items and pharmaceutical goods as there is a huge demand of these products in Saudi Arabia.
Both the nations should formulate a mechanism to reduce non-tariff measures which are faced by Pakistan in exporting agriculture products to Saudi Arabia. The report added that Pakistan may negotiate to initiate formal trade pack or agreement in terms of tariff concession for enhancement of trade.
The report suggests that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should sign bilateral investment treaty in view of removal of complex investment procedures and avoid of taxation complicationsIt has suggested activation of Joint Business Council of both countries and holding of businesspeople to people contact, formulation of trade delegations and participation in trade fairs.
The Trade Mission of both nations should also play their due role in enhancement of bilateral trade.
The report also suggests signing of an agreement with Saudi Arabia related to exchange of skilled workers and promotion of tourism as the process of economic development in Saudi Arabia is going on which indicates an increasing demand of skilled labor force in Saudi Arabia.Ends/OnlindeRT/TR============ICCI calls for removal of anomalies in Budget 2019-20Islamabad, June 20(Online): The IslamabadChamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said that Budget 2019-20 carried many anomalies related to steel sector that could be disastrous for steel industry and called upon the government to take urgent measures to remove such anomalies before passage of Finance Bill 2019-20 from the parliament in order to save the steel industry from further problems.President, ICCI , Ahmed Hassan Moughal said that wrong PCT Code of raw material was included in the 1st schedule of Customs Act as one of the three Primary raw materials for steel making, HMS Scrap under PCT Code 7204.4990 was left out of the 1st Schedule whereas the other two primary raw materials (PCT Code 7204.4100 and 7204.3000) were rightly included in the 1st Schedule.
They said that this anomaly was needed to be fixed so that all primary raw materials for steel manufacturing could attract zero rate of CD, ACD and RD.He said that it seemed that wrong PCT Code 7204.4910 (Re-RollableScrap) was mistakenly included in the 1st Schedule and emphasized that this PCT Code was required to be removed from the 1st Schedule because it was an intermediate good.
He said the highlighted anomaly could be disastrous for the local melting industry if an intermediate good attracted the same duties as the primary raw material. He said that double taxation (ST) on raw material and finished goods as on June 30, 2019also required to be removed since finished goods stock as on June 30, 2019 will have already accrued sales tax via electrical consumption as per Sales Tax Special Procedures.
He said the sale of such goods under FED regime should not attract further FED as it will be double taxation.ICCI President said that as per Sales Tax Special Procedures, companies will have valid adjustment certificates for advanced sales tax paid at port on import of scrap.
He said such adjustment certificates should be utilized as inputs to adjust the FED liability from July 1st, 2019 onwards. He further said that a price notification mechanism for FED liability for steel billets, bars, and angles should be developed to ensure uniformity of collection across the sector.
He stressed that government should develop a consensus formula for price mechanism in consultation with steel sector industrialists

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Thai Rice Nutrition Improves People's Health

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Jun 21, 2019, 07:18 ET
BANGKOK, June 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand has introduced a project called "Think RICE, Think THAILAND" to encourage international community to pay attention to consumer health and to raise awareness on the national crop by providing a wider range of knowledge, ranging from national agricultural history, standards and Thai rice quality.
Russell Reinke, Outcome Theme Leader - Improving Health through Safe and Nutritionally Enhanced Rice at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Nese Sreenivasulu, Outcome Theme Leader - Facilitating Rice Research through Enabling Technologies; Head of Grain Quality and Nutrition Center at the IRRI
Rice is central to the diets, communities and cultural identity of more than 1.6 people across the world - particularly in Asia. The Thai verb "to eat" (kin khao) literally means to "eat rice". "Rice is an incredibly important global crop. More than half of the world's population depends on rice as its primary source of calories," says Russell Reinke, Outcome Theme Leader - Improving Health through Safe and Nutritionally Enhanced Rice at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), an establishment that focuses on nutritional security and supports innovations that will improve health benefits of eating rice.
Speaking of health benefits, red, black and brown strains of rice may be less well known than their white counterparts, but they are extremely nutritious. "Red and black rice are immense sources of antioxidants. Red rice possesses flavonoids, as well as proanthocyanidin, which are good sources of antioxidants. Brown rice is also a good source of dietary fibre and is rich in rice bran oil," says Nese Sreenivasulu, Outcome Theme Leader - Facilitating Rice Research through Enabling Technologies; Head of Grain Quality and Nutrition Center at the IRRI. "Lately, Thailand has been looking into developing healthy rice, like red jasmine rice. Red jasmine rice is aromatic and offers antioxidant properties, which provide benefits like antidiabetic and anti-cancer properties." 
Thai's red, black and brown strains includes Red Hom Mali Rice, a much lower glycaemic index (GI) than other strains of rice,  is suitable for diabetics as it keeps blood sugar levels low.
Riceberry Rice is rich in antioxidants and fiber, which aids digestion and lessens the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Khao Hom Nil Rice contains antioxidants, anti-diabetic and anticancer properties, not to mention how it is also used to make shampoo - as it is claimed to help prevent premature grey hair and hair loss.
Think Rice, Think Thailand.
SOURCE Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand


Texas Rice Field Day set July 11 in Beaumont

Contact: Brandy Morace, 409-752-3045, bmorace@aesrg.tamu.edu
BEAUMONT – “Texas Rice – Embracing Innovation,” is the theme for the 72nd annual Texas Rice Field Day to be held July 11 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 1509 Aggie Drive in Beaumont.
The event is free and open to the public. Field tours begin at 8 a.m., followed by an indoor program at 10:45 a.m and a noon barbecue luncheon.
Morning field tours will showcase recent developments in hybrid rice breeding, plant physiology, and nutrient, disease and insect management.
Dr. Ted Wilson, center director, will open the indoor program with a brief overview of the center’s research, followed by three keynote speakers. The speakers and their topics will be:
–   Dr. Bruce Linquist, Cooperative Extension specialist, University of California-Davis – Narrowing the Yield Gap in Rice.
–   Dr. Jarrod Hardke, Extension rice agronomist, University of Arkansas – Furrow Irrigated Rice.
–   Dr. James Campbell, supervisory research entomologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Post-Harvest Grain Management.
Licensed private, commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators participating in this field day may obtain Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education credit for recertification.
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From plows to tractors, rice farms to be mechanized under tariffs law

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Description: https://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Farmer-696x392.jpg
A Filipino farmer is seen leading his carabao as they begin plowing a field at a farm in Nueva Ecija. AP
MANILA – Rice farmers will benefit from the Rice Tariffication Act by getting modern mechanized equipment that is expected to improve farm yields, an agency attached to the Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, or Philmech, said it has already identified an initial 1,200 major rice-producing municipalities in the Philippines that will receive farm machinery once funds from rice tariffs are collected.
Philmech is set to get P30 billion from 2019 to 2024 for distribution of mechanized farming equipment such as tractors, transplanters, harvesters, threshers, mechanical dryers and other machinery.
Depende sa needs noong mga farmers associations or organizations at ito yung basehan ng pagbibigay o pagdi-distribute ng mgamachinery,” said Dr. Rod Estigoy, chief science research specialist of Philmech.
Tariffs collected from imported rice are supposed to be channeled to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to help local farmers compete with cheaper imports.
Local farmers had opposed the rice tariffs law, fearing it would flood the market with cheaper rice from abroad, and kill the local rice industry.
Estigoy noted that a kilo of palay, or unmilled rice, costs just P6 per kilo in Vietnam, and P8 in Thailand.
While a kilo of palay in the Philippines currently costs around P12 per kilo, farm mechanization is expected to reduce this to at least P10 per kilo, Estigoy said.
He added that modern equipment will also minimize postharvest losses from inefficient drying and milling methods.
The Philmech official added that the machinery will be given for free to farmers’ associations, who will also be asked to maintain them.
Estigoy however, also said introducing modern farm equipment faced challenges in the Philippines because the country’s small landholdings needed to be “consolidated” to allow them to benefit from the efficiency of mechanization. (ABS-CBN News)


Rice production in India to shrink due to late monsoon

The world’s second-largest producer of the cereal has seen a harsh summer this year.

By
, ET Bureau|
Jun 21, 2019, 01.28 PM IST
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BCCL
Description: rice-BCClA further delay in rains would also curtail acreage in UP, the country’s largest producer of rice.
CHANDIGARH: India’s rice production is likely to shrink this kharif season due to delayed monsoon rains and farmers’ shift to alternative crops.

The world’s second-largest producer of the cereal has seen a harsh summer this year. Scanty summer rain and heatwave has forced farmers in large areas of the rice-growing states to defer transplantation of paddy.

To tackle the dry weather, these farmers are opting for early-maturing varieties of rice and most have delayed transplantation of paddy, according to experts. In Uttar Pradesh and Punjab—the major rice-growing states—transplantation has been carried out on less than half of the area covered last year.

Scanty rainfall has affected sowing of paddy in south India, where the season sets in early. The area of cultivation has come down by 5-7% in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh where sowing commences in April-May.

Normally, monsoon arrives by June 1 in India in Kerala, but this year it has been late by a week. Cyclonic storm ‘Vayu’ has further subdued the weather, restricting precipitation to less than half in most states.

“Farmers in Uttar Pradesh have delayed sowing of paddy in light of the forecast of delayed monsoon and many are opting for early maturing varieties,” said Soraaj Singh, director of agriculture in the Uttar Pradesh government. He said farmers could delay paddy transplantation by up to two weeks before deciding to cultivate alternative crops in the state.

Other experts said farmers are likely to turn to crops like pulses, oilseed, pearl millet and maize to cope with late arrival of rains, while a dry weather and fall in acreage is likely to shrink the output of rice in the current season.

Although India has a surplus buffer stock for food security following a record rice harvest of 115.6 million tonnes in 2018-19, a severe drought could spike prices and hurt exports from the country. Rice is one of the major export items.

“Rains have been below normal at the start of summer season and it reduced acreage of paddy by 7-8% in districts where sowing commences in April-May,” said a senior agriculture official of Tamil Nadu. Paddy is the key kharif crop in nine states—Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Assam.

Although Punjab, the largest contributor of the cereal for public distribution system, had advanced transplantation of paddy from the usual date of June 15, recommended under the Soil Water Conservation Act 2009, the prevailing dry weather has not allowed many farmers to expedite sowing. Farmers in Punjab are expected to bring down the area under regular rice to 28 lakh hectares, compared with 31.4 lakh hectares last year, opting mainly for cotton.

“We have urged farmers to delay sowing, wherever it is possible, as the monsoon forecast has indicated late arrival of rains,” Punjab agriculture director Swatantar Kumar Airy said.

Also diversification of crops drive is likely to reduce the acreage under normal rice cultivation in Punjab and Haryana. “We are running a pilot project to shift area from paddy to maize and other crops to check exploitation of underground water,” deputy director of agriculture Anil Sherawat said.

A further delay in rains would also curtail acreage in UP, the country’s largest producer of rice. “Even though most of the 60 lakh hectares usually covered under paddy is irrigated by canals and groundwater in Uttar Pradesh, the prevailing high temperature is not conducive for rice cultivation and increases the input cost for farmers,” said Ram Shabad Jaswara, deputy director to the Uttar Pradesh agriculture department. Lack of rain traditionally shrinks the area of paddy cultivation by 1 lakh hectares, he said.

Monsoon usually arrives by June 20 in UP—the second-largest producer of the commodity. “Rains cut cost of cultivation for farmers and also save water,” said Ramesh Yadav, a resident of Ambala who plans to sow paddy on 4 acres.
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From plows to tractors, rice farms to be mechanized under tariffs law

By
 -

Description: https://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Farmer-696x392.jpg
A Filipino farmer is seen leading his carabao as they begin plowing a field at a farm in Nueva Ecija. AP
MANILA – Rice farmers will benefit from the Rice Tariffication Act by getting modern mechanized equipment that is expected to improve farm yields, an agency attached to the Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, or Philmech, said it has already identified an initial 1,200 major rice-producing municipalities in the Philippines that will receive farm machinery once funds from rice tariffs are collected.
Philmech is set to get P30 billion from 2019 to 2024 for distribution of mechanized farming equipment such as tractors, transplanters, harvesters, threshers, mechanical dryers and other machinery.
Depende sa needs noong mga farmers associations or organizations at ito yung basehan ng pagbibigay o pagdi-distribute ng mga machinery,” said Dr. Rod Estigoy, chief science research specialist of Philmech.
Tariffs collected from imported rice are supposed to be channeled to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to help local farmers compete with cheaper imports.
Local farmers had opposed the rice tariffs law, fearing it would flood the market with cheaper rice from abroad, and kill the local rice industry.
Estigoy noted that a kilo of palay, or unmilled rice, costs just P6 per kilo in Vietnam, and P8 in Thailand.
While a kilo of palay in the Philippines currently costs around P12 per kilo, farm mechanization is expected to reduce this to at least P10 per kilo, Estigoy said.
He added that modern equipment will also minimize postharvest losses from inefficient drying and milling methods.
The Philmech official added that the machinery will be given for free to farmers’ associations, who will also be asked to maintain them.
Estigoy however, also said introducing modern farm equipment faced challenges in the Philippines because the country’s small landholdings needed to be “consolidated” to allow them to benefit from the efficiency of mechanization. (ABS-CBN News)