Pain and despair as Rohingya families in India and Pakistan
watch from afar
In a dilapidated shelter in south
India, surrounded by squalor, Alakamma Bibi dials her home in Myanmar every few
hours. All she gets is a beeping tone.
In the two weeks since she first
heard of the upsurge in violence in Myanmar, she has spent countless hours
trying to reach her parents and siblings, desperate to hear their voices.
“I can’t sleep anymore,” she said,
hunched over a pot of bubbling rice. “My parents may be dead, you know. They
stayed back because it was home. Now suddenly there is no place to call home.”
Bibi is one of hundreds of
thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled from Rakhine state in
Buddhist-majority Myanmar since 2012 to other countries, including Malaysia,
Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
In the last fortnight alone, more
than 300,000 Rohingya have fled across the border to Bangladesh, fleeing an
explosion of violence.
Myanmar’s government regards the
approximately 1 million Rohingya as illegal migrants from neighbouring
Bangladesh and denies them citizenship, even though many Rohingya families have
lived there for generations.
In retaliation for attacks by
Rohingya insurgents on police posts and an army base, the Myanmar army and
Buddhist vigilantes have mounted a campaign of arson aimed at driving out the
minority group, human rights monitors and fleeing Rohingya say, a charge the
Myanmar government denies.
Pockets of Rohingya communities are
dotted around South Asia, with exiles anxious for news of their relatives back
in Myanmar.
In an alleyway in the
garbage-strewn Hundred Quarters in Karachi, Hamida, who was born in the
Pakistani city but speaks fluent Burmese and only a smattering of Urdu, has
been reading verses from the Quran, praying for an end to the persecution of
her Muslim relatives in Myanmar.
“My cousins fleeing from their
village have told us many of our relatives have been butchered, even small
babies,” said Hamida, aged in her 40s, adding many had asked for help.
“We know they desperately need
money, but we ourselves live hand to mouth,” said the mother of seven whose
fisherman husband Majid is often out of work.
Houses torched
The United Nations’ top human
rights official on Monday slammed Myanmar for conducting a “cruel military
operation” against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, branding it “a textbook
example of ethnic cleansing”.
In southern India, Bibi’s mobile
phone is full of video clips and Whatsapp messages describing the unfolding horror.
“We hear some are hiding in forests, their houses burnt down, their children
killed,” Bibi told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
“We had farms, a proper home,
livestock. Look at where I live now - in dirt, with no savings, no hope and no
future if this continues,” said Bibi.
In the run-down cyclone shelter in
Kelambakkam that now serves as a refugee centre, Rohingya families are
constantly on their phones, desperately dialing in to Myanmar, hoping someone
will pick up at the other end.
Mohammad Yusuf, 30, managed to get
a call through to his ageing father last week. “My mother and sister are
missing,” said Yusuf, just back from work as a daily labourer. “My father said
he was alone and dying. There is destruction everywhere, he told me. The few
men left in the village are just about surviving, eating once every three
days.”
‘Tenfold more brutal’
On a Karachi backstreet, Hamida’s
father-in-law, Saeed Islam, relives the terror of his own getaway from Myanmar
40 years ago every time he sees video clips of the current violence on his
son’s mobile phone.
The older members of Karachi’s
Rohingya community fled Myanmar, formerly Burma, when the military seized power
in a 1962 coup, escaping on foot or by boat to Bangladesh, which was then East
Pakistan. Eventually, they made their way to Karachi.
“We were told we should go to a
Muslim country - like Pakistan - as there was no place for us in Myanmar. But
what is happening now is tenfold more brutal,” he said, in broken Urdu.
“They will wade through rice
paddies, and uneven and rocky mountainous terrain; some will come in boats over
the river,” said Islam, who took the same path himself decades ago.
“We were 200 people, all related,
but 15 of them were my immediate family including my wife Aisha and Majid, then
aged just five,” he said pointing to his wife and son sitting by his side.
From Bangladesh they crossed
northern India and reached the port of Karachi after a three-month trek. “We
travelled with just the clothes on our back, begged for food on the way and slept
along the wayside. We crossed borders illegally during the night,” said Islam.
“The elderly and the sick died on the way.”
Uncertain future
The Rohingya in Karachi largely
work on fishing boats, or clean the catch brought by fishermen who set sail
from the nearby Korangi Creek.
Like the Rohingya in southern
India, they live in uncertainty, on the margins of society. Most of them are
stateless as they cannot obtain Pakistani identity cards, essential for opening
bank accounts, enrolling into school, using public hospitals, and even getting
a job.
In India’s Kelambakkam, the
Rohingya work as ragpickers and casual labourers. As well as the violence in
Myanmar, they are also following the Indian government’s talks on deporting
them with concern.
“We are from Myanmar, but have no
documents that recognise that fact,” said Yusuf, taking out papers carefully
preserved in a plastic folder. “All we can do now is pray for the safety of
those back home and hope the Indian government does not deport us.”
Recalling his own flight from
Myanmar in 2012, Yusuf said it had taken a year to re-establish contact with
his family after he crossed over to Bangladesh and then made his way to India.
“My son Abu was born here, in this Kelambakkam refugee shelter. I had hoped to
take him home one day, show him the house I grew up in, the streets I played
in, the mosque I went to pray in.
Now, he may never know where he is
from and what can be worse than that,” Yusuf said, sitting on the steps to his
cluttered and cramped room. On the door behind him, scrawled in chalk is ‘Allah
Hu’. “It’s all about keeping the faith now,” said Bibi, the woman stirring a
pot of rice. “And so we pray for peace back home.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/229560-Pain-and-despair-as-Rohingya-families-in-India-and-Pakistan-watch-from-afar
Thailand:
Commerce Ministry pushes forward upgrade of Thai rice quality
14.09.2017
The Ministry of Commerce continues to strive to raise the
quality of Thai rice while promising to take action against sellers of
substandard grains.Ms Suthatsanee Rajruangrabin, Deputy Director-General of the
Department of Internal Trade, chaired the launch of a project to promote public
awareness of the praying hands logo, which is used to certify Thai jasmine
rice. When displayed on the package of rice sold domestically, the logo
guarantees that the product's quality is on par with that of exports.To date,
the praying hands logo has been issued to 216 brands of rice belonging to 142
companies. Among them, six brands under two companies have received special
certification for exceptional production hygiene in accordance with GMP and
HACCP or ISO standards.
Random inspections of rice products are being carried out by the Commerce Ministry on a monthly basis. Should substandard grains be found, the responsible company will receive a warning letter. If two discoveries are made within one year, the company will have its permit suspended for three months and be required to take the inferior grains off the shelves in 15 days. The permit will be revoked if three offenses turn up within two years.
http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/thailand-commerce-ministry-pushes-forward-upgrade-of-thai-rice-quality
Tofail:
India’s ban on rice export will not have any impact
14.09.2017
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has said prices of rice will not
increase even though the Indian government decided to stop exporting rice to
Bangladesh from September 15 to November 30.He said this to reporters on
Wednesday after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement in
Cabinet Division Auditorium in Dhaka.In a letter to Bangladesh on Tuesday, the
Indian authorities concerned informed their decision that they would keep
exports of rice to Bangladesh halted during the period so that the recent
floods cannot cause a food crisis in India.
Asked about the temporary ban, Tofail said he phoned the Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh but could not discuss the matter as the high commissioner was on the way back to Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar, where he went to visit Rohingya refugee camps with other diplomats stationed in Dhaka.Fungicides grew in rice as unscrupulous traders tried to manipulate rice price by storing up it a long period and thus creating an artificial crisis in markets, he said, adding that actions would be taken against such traders.
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Septmember 14, 2017
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 / 12:38
PM / A DAY AGO
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-September 14
Nagpur, Sept 14 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in
Nagpur Agriculture Produce
and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on good buying support from
local millers amid weak supply
from producing regions. Fresh rise on NCDEX, upward trend in Madhya
Pradesh pulses and enquiries
from South-based millers also jacked up prices.
About 500 of gram and 150 bags of tuar were available for auctions,
according to sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram recovered in
open market on goo seasonal demand from local traders.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled
steady in open market here matching the demand and supply
position.
* Jowar varieties reported
weak in open market on lack of demand from local traders
amid good supply from
producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar New –
4,100-4,300, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,100-6,300, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 8,300-9,000, Moong
Mogar (clean) 6,800-7,100, Gram – 5,700-5,900, Gram Super best
– 8,300-8,700
* 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 5,000-5,765 4,800-5,765
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 3,600-4,120 3,500-4,100
Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality
Auction 1,600-1,682 1,572-1,614
Gram Super Best
Bold 8,500-9,000 8,500-9,000
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 7,600-8,000 7,600-8,000
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 5,900-6,000 5,900-6,000
Desi gram Raw 6,050-6,200 6,000-6,150
Gram Kabuli 12,000-13,000 12,000-13,000
Tuar Fataka
Best-New 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800
Tuar Fataka
Medium-New 6,100-6,400 6,100-6,400
Tuar Dal Best
Phod-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium
phod-New 5,400-5,700 5,400-5,700
Tuar Gavarani New 4,350-4,450 4,350-4,450
Tuar Karnataka 4,700-4,900 4,800-5,000
Masoor dal best 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500
Masoor dal medium 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
(New) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Moong Mogar Medium 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800
Moong dal Chilka 5,500-6,200 5,500-6,200
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 7,000-8,000 7,000-8,000
Udid Mogar best (100
INR/KG) (New) 8,500-9,500
8,500-9,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100
INR/KG) 6,500-7,500 6,500-7,500
Udid Dal Black (100
INR/KG) 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000
Batri dal (100
INR/KG) 5,100-5,600 5,100-5,600
Lakhodi dal (100
INR/kg) 2,900-3,100 3,000-3,200
Watana Dal (100
INR/KG) 2,900-3,100 2,900-3,100
Watana Green Best (100
INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400
Wheat 308 (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
Wheat Mill quality (100
INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850
Wheat Filter (100
INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Wheat Lokwan best (100
INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100
INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100
INR/KG) 3,300-3,800 3,300-3,800
MP Sharbati Medium (100
INR/KG) 2,200-2,800 2,200-2,800
Rice BPT best (100
INR/KG) 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400
Rice BPT medium (100
INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200
Rice Luchai (100
INR/KG) 2,600-2,900 2,600-2,900
Rice Swarna best (100
INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Rice Swarna medium (100
INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT best (100
INR/KG) 3,800-4,000 3,800-4,000
Rice HMT medium (100
INR/KG) 3,500-3,800 3,500-3,800
Rice Shriram best(100
INR/KG) 4,800-5,200 4,800-5,200
Rice Shriram med (100
INR/KG) 4,500-4,700 4,500-4,700
Rice Basmati best (100
INR/KG) 9,500-13,500 9,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100
INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor best 100
INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Rice Chinnor medium (100
INR/KG) 4,300-4,500 4,300-4,500
Jowar Gavarani (100
INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,200
Jowar CH-5 (100
INR/KG) 1,700-2,000 1,800-2,000
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 31.7 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.5 degree
Celsius
Rainfall : 5.2 mm
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rains or
thunder-showers. Maximum and
minimum temperature would be around and 31 and 23 degree Celsius
respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices,
but
included in market prices)
https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-septmember-14-2017-idINL4N1LV32I
The Cranberry Marketing Committee
and USA Rice Announce the Next Great Cranberry-Rice School Foodservice Recipe
Leadership is an overused word,
and is often misused. We like this definition.
Director of Nutrition for Jackson County, GA Wins $500 National
Recipe Concept Contest
Wareham, MA (PRWEB) September 13, 2017
The
Cranberry Marketing Committee (CMC) and USA Rice collaborated
at the 2017 School Nutrition Association Annual Nutrition Conference in Atlanta
to seek out the next great cranberry-rice foodservice recipe. After receiving
numerous unique and trendy recipe ideas, the CMC and USA Rice are excited to
announce that Debra Morris, director of nutrition of Jackson County Schools in
Jefferson, GA, has won the $500 recipe contest grand prize for her black bean,
cranberry and rice shaker salad recipe.
Representing two American food
staples, the CMC and USA Rice challenged foodservice professionals at the
conference to think outside the box and share their most creative recipe
concepts combining these two versatile ingredients.
“We were thrilled to see the
diverse and imaginative entries we received this year,” said CMC Executive
Director Michelle Hogan. “Cranberries are America’s Original Superfruit® and
are a healthful addition to school menus year-round. With cranberries and rice
being on the USDA’s Foods Available List, both are easily accessible by
foodservice professionals to incorporate in their school menus.”
Morris has been working in
foodservice for five years and loves the joy that comes from knowing that she
played a pivotal role in promoting lifelong healthy eating habits for children
and their families. “Rice and cranberries have always been a staple in our
household and both add delicious taste and texture,” said Morris. “The tangy,
yet sweet taste of cranberries is a perfect complement for rice.”
Morris will also serve as a
consultant in developing her concept into a tested, creditable school foodservice
recipe.
“We were excited to partner with
the Cranberry Marketing Committee because cranberries and rice make a perfect
combination that isn’t always top-of-mind,” said USA Rice Director of Domestic
Promotion Katie Maher. “From savory pilafs to sweet rice puddings, the
possibilities of combining rice and cranberries are endless and who better to
hear from than those on the front lines of planning and preparing school
lunches.”
Morris said shaker salads are a
way to appeal to children and stay up with current food trends. “Shaker salads
are very popular in the retail food circuit and on the home front with the
popularity of mason jars,” she said. “In school nutrition, we are constantly
looking for ways to offer trendy and familiar items on school menus.”
Hogan added, “We couldn’t be more
excited to work with foodservice professionals directly and are excited to add
this new delicious recipe to our dedicated foodservice website for schools
across the nation to use on their menus.”
The full creditable recipe will
be available on CranberryFoodserviceUSA.com later this year.
About the Cranberry Marketing Committee (CMC)
The CMC was established as a Federal Marketing Order in 1962 to ensure a stable, orderly supply of good quality product. Authority for its actions are provided under Chapter IX, Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, referred to as the Federal Cranberry Marketing Order, which is part of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended. This Act specifies cranberries as a commodity that may be covered, regulations that may be issued, guidelines for administering the programs, and privileges and limitations granted by Congress. For more information about the CMC, visit http://www.uscranberries.com. Follow @USCranberries on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
The CMC was established as a Federal Marketing Order in 1962 to ensure a stable, orderly supply of good quality product. Authority for its actions are provided under Chapter IX, Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, referred to as the Federal Cranberry Marketing Order, which is part of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended. This Act specifies cranberries as a commodity that may be covered, regulations that may be issued, guidelines for administering the programs, and privileges and limitations granted by Congress. For more information about the CMC, visit http://www.uscranberries.com. Follow @USCranberries on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
About USA Rice
As the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry, USA Rice’s mission is to ensure the health and vitality of a unified U.S. rice industry by advocating on behalf of farmers, millers, merchants, and allied businesses. USA Rice conducts programs here and around the world to educate lawmakers, policymakers, consumers, and foodservice professionals about sustainably-grown U.S. rice. Each year, U.S. rice farmers produce approximately 18 billion pounds of short, medium, and long grain rice, as well as organic and specialty varieties including jasmine, basmati, and Arborio among others.
As the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry, USA Rice’s mission is to ensure the health and vitality of a unified U.S. rice industry by advocating on behalf of farmers, millers, merchants, and allied businesses. USA Rice conducts programs here and around the world to educate lawmakers, policymakers, consumers, and foodservice professionals about sustainably-grown U.S. rice. Each year, U.S. rice farmers produce approximately 18 billion pounds of short, medium, and long grain rice, as well as organic and specialty varieties including jasmine, basmati, and Arborio among others.
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/SNAContest/2017/prweb14687969.htm
http://www.ssuchronicle.com/2017/09/13/the-cranberry-marketing-committee-and-usa-rice-announce-the-next-great-cranberry-rice-school-foodservice-recipe/
FDA Provides Clarification on Rice in Areas Affected by
Hurricane Harvey
By Ben
Mosely
WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) released a statement this afternoon to provide much needed guidance to
rice farmers whose crops are in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey and Irma.
Under the original statement issued by FDA last week, it was unclear whether
any crops in those areas would be accepted for use in human or animal food.
This new guidance from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb clarifies
that rice that was not exposed to floodwaters can be sold. "I want to make
it clear that the FDA has not issued a ban on rice or any other food crops.
Rice grown in normal conditions and rice that has not been exposed to
contaminated floodwaters from the recent hurricanes may enter commerce. Also,
rice and other crops that were harvested and stored safely before storms hit
should not be considered impacted by these events."
Commissioner Gottlieb went on to say that, "In many
cases, it is challenging to determine what contaminants are in crops that were
submerged by floodwaters. Both human and animal food must meet well-established
safety requirements. FDA has experts that are working closely with state
regulators and directly with producers to address questions and concerns."
In Texas, the Texas Office of the State Chemist is
offering testing services to producers of cereal grains and oil seeds
(including tests for mycotoxin, heavy metals, and microbiology) at no cost. If
you have questions or would like to submit samples for testing, please contact
the Office of the Texas State Chemist at (979) 845-1121.
"The original guidance created a bit of confusion and
growers have been waiting for some clarifications," said Lydia Holmes,
manager of regulatory affairs for USA Rice. "We've been working tirelessly
with USDA, FDA, and the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas A&M, and other
state agencies as well as the Texas Congressional delegation. Our great
working relationships with all of the stakeholders have helped navigate
problems and find solutions in the wake of the storm's devastation. Our
members are hurting and there is still a lot that has to be done but I know
they really appreciate the work of FDA to provide this guidance for rice
farmers affected by Hurricane Harvey."
Full text of the statement can be found here.
USA Rice News
The 48th Annual Texas Rice
Festival October 4th, 2017
Posted: Wednesday, September
13, 2017 4:46 pm | Updated: 5:00 pm, Wed Sep 13, 2017.
Posted on Sep 13, 2017
by Grant Foster
BBQ Weekend, sponsored by
Whataburger, starts off the festivities with a Fajita Jackpot and BBQ Cook-off,
Horseshoe Pitching & Washer Tournaments. The finale of the cook-off weekend
will be the Gospel Jubilee on Sunday afternoon. Wright's Amusement
Carnival (with a one-price bracelet
available each day) will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday of BBQ Weekend.
The festival begins with FREE admission for all on Wednesday, October 4th,
2017.
Activities include Wright's
Amusement Carnival, vendor booths and Rice Education Exhibits. The
entertainment is non- stop along with lots of GREAT FOOD, including rice balls,
gumbo, ettouffe, pistolletes, blooming onions, crab balls, boudain balls,
pork-ka-bobs and many other delicious delicacies! The event is renowned for its
outstanding cuisine.
Wednesday, Oct 4th, is opening
night and is FREE admission. The featured entertainers are Get Right Ramblers,
Drugstore Gypsies and William Clark Green. The first 1000 adults receive a
special designed T-shirt on Wednesday night sponsored by Orange County Building
Materials. Thursday, October 5th will begin with Geno Delafose, Travis Matte
and end with Wayne Toups. Friday, October 6th, is Youth Day, sponsored by
Whataburger. The park opens at 9am and is free admission for kids 18 and under
until 5pm. Youth Day Activities include a 4-H & FFA Livestock Show, Diaper
Derby, Baby Costume Contest, Little Rice King and Miss La Petite Contests,
Little Rice Sweetheart Pageant, Junior Queen Pageant, Characters in the park,
Face Painting, Poster, Youth Parade, Photography & ArtContests and an Ice
Cream Eating Contest. Night Performances by Honky Tonk Jones, Red Shahan and
Pat Green. Saturday, October 7th, is a full day of family fun! It is a harvest
celebration featuring non-stop entertainment beginning with the Grand Parade
followed by Opening Ceremonies. Saturday’s entertainers will begin with the
American Cancer Auction, a Rice Cooking Contest, Craft Show featuring booths,
Photography and Art Exhibits and Antique Car Show. Starting at 4:30pm on stage
will be Flatland Cavalry, Joe Diffie,
Reckless Kelly and ending with Bag
of Donuts. The performance by Bag of Donuts will conclude the 2017 festival. So
come on out and enjoy the great food and entertainment offered by the Texas
Rice Festival.
For more information on ticket
prices please visit the Texas Rice Festival website
Winnie is located just off IH-10,
Exit 829, between Houston and Beaumont, with
lodging and RV facilities
available. For information call Chris Street at 718-0205
or check out our web site at texasricefestival.com
The Texas Rice Festival is
sponsored by Budweiser, Winnie Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram,
H&E Equipment Services,
Riceland Healthcare, Philpott Motors, Market Basket,
Chambers County, Swat Construction,
Whataburger, Elissa’s Playhouse, WOWCO Equipment
Co, Neches Federal Credit Union and
Coors Light.
http://www.kjas.com/community/civic_events/article_133ceba2-98cd-11e7-ab30-7babe4f33e06.html
Aranmula puncha
getting ready for rice cultivation
Government to launch cultivation in
1,000 acres of land
The
Agriculture Department is getting ready to break its earlier record in paddy
production in the Aranmula puncha. As part of the Haritha Keralam Mission of
the government, cultivation in the Aranmula puncha a year ago provided an
unexpected bumper crop, strengthening the confidence of the farming community
in this agrarian heritage village. The puncha had been lying fallow for the
past several years. Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunilkumar has already stated
that the government is planning to extend paddy cultivation to 1,000 acres in
the Aranmula puncha and surrounding fields this year. The Special Officer of
the Mission Green Aranmula project appointed by the government, J. Sajeev, told
The Hindu that the department could launch cultivation in 250 acres in the
puncha last year to produce rice worth ₹1.18 crore.
Paddy cultivation was held in 250 acres of
land in the Aranmula puncha against the original target of 56 ha, that too, at
a far lower cost of ₹81
lakh against the original estimate of ₹154 lakh. ‘Bonus’ crop The government would provide financial
relief worth ₹30,000 a
hectare to the farmers’ groups (Padashekhara Samiti) and the Uma variety of
paddy would be sown in the puncha, Mr. Sajeev said. Interestingly, the paddy
seeds that had dropped in the fields during the harvest had sprouted and
flourished well, without any fertilizers, to provide the peasants a ‘bonus’,
amply indicating the natural soil fertility, said Ananthakumar, a Padashekhara
Samiti leader.
The Padashekhara Samiti has successfully
launched cultivation in 14 acres of land that was previously included in the
site marked for the controversial Aranmula airport project. Restoration of
stream Farmers feel that the restoration of the Karimaramthode natural stream
and the Aranmula-chaal, a major water reservoir, to their original condition
was a must for the successful and smooth conduct of paddy farming in Aranmula
Puncha. The district administration completed almost 90% of the stream
restoration work a few months ago. Delay in carrying out the final leg of work
has left the natural stream stagnant. Mr. Sajeev said that cultivation would
begin in October itself.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/aranmula-puncha-getting-ready-for-cultivation/article19685346.ece
Tofail: Media
reports on India rice import ban fabricated
Commerce
Minister Tofail Ahmed has confirmed that the government has taken necessary
steps to keep the supply of rice smooth and prices stable
Several
supply chains are trying to create an artificial rice crisis by spreading
falsehoods, circulating a forged circular with no signature from Indian
government officials
“Our
production of crops suffered a shortage because of floods in Haor basins and
other parts of the country. However, we are ready to meet the demand by
importing rice,” the minister said. “We have no rice shortage. The existing
reserves are enough to meet the demand, and its supply in the market is
adequate,” he said. On India’s reported ban on the rice exports, Tofail said:
“Several supply chains are trying to create an artificial rice crisis by
spreading falsehoods. They circulated a forged circular, which does not have
any signature from Indian government officials, which said that the country has
halted rice exports to Bangladesh.”
“I
have contacted the acting High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Adarsh
Swaika and also spoke to our High Commissioner in Delhi regarding the matter.
They have confirmed that India neither stopped rice export to Bangladesh nor
did the country take any decision regarding it,” he said. The minister added:
“Vested quarters are spreading such propaganda in an attempt to destabilise the
rice market. It is entirely fabricated news.” Requesting the media to be more
responsible for the sake of public interest, Tofail further said: “Journalists
are our friends, and we have no enmity towards them.” He also confirmed that
the government has taken necessary steps to keep the supply of rice smooth and
the prices stable.
Low basmati prices worry farmers
The PUSA 1509 variety of basmati has started arriving at the Bhagatanwala
grain market here. At present, buyers are offering Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,300 per
quintal.For the best quality rice, the maximum price offered so far is Rs 2,300
quintal. Though the price offered this year is better than the past some years,
farmers feel that a cartel of private buyers and arhtiyas is offering low
prices.Last year, farmers had to sell their produce below the minimum support
price (MSP). The lowest price offered last year was Rs 1,200 per
quintal.Another farmer, Harjinder Singh from Meera Chak village, said, “ Two
days ago, the price was Rs 2,500 per quintal. Now, as farmers have started
bringing the yield, traders have decreased the price. The government has failed
to regulate it.” — TNS
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/low-basmati-prices-worry-farmers/467522.html
