Holds
Cleared for Senate Vote on Chief Agricultural Negotiator at USTR
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WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) lifted
his hold yesterday on the nomination of Gregory Doud, the Trump
administration's pick for chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the
U.S. Trade Representative, after receiving assurances that his concerns over
a proposal involving U.S. import protections on seasonal produce in the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would be addressed.
"Given the importance of U.S. agriculture and what's at stake for them
in the NAFTA negotiations, I am pleased that this nomination can move
forward," Flake said.
USA Rice joined nearly 80 other agricultural groups in a letter to each U.S.
Senator earlier this week urging confirmation of Doud and other nominees to
the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. "There is a full
trade agenda facing U.S. agriculture, and Ambassador Lighthizer needs a full
team at USTR," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings.
Doud is president of the Commodity Markets Council, and was nominated last
June for the position at USTR. The Senate Finance panel cleared Doud
unanimously in October, but his nomination has been held up since Flake placed
his hold last November. It is uncertain when the Senate will vote on
his nomination, but it is expected to go smoothly, as Doud is a widely
supported choice and the position has remained empty for months.
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TPP
Moves On Without the U.S.; Rice Negatively Impacted
TOKYO, JAPAN -- Eleven countries will sign a new
version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in Chile next month, after
successful negotiations concluded here last week. The new deal, known
as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
(CP-TPP or TPP-11), will not include the United States.
President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the original TPP deal
in one of his first acts as President.
Pulling out of TPP was opposed by most of U.S. agriculture, however USA Rice
ultimately took no position due to the deficient market access package for
rice.
But in or out of the deal, the U.S. rice industry concerns remain.
As part of CP-TPP, Mexico will eliminate the current 20 percent tariff on
rice imports from Viet Nam, a move that could negatively affect U.S. market
share in the number one U.S. market. Although Mexican consumers largely
prefer U.S.-grown rice for its quality and cooking characteristics, and
importers appreciate the U.S.'s reliability and logistical advantages, U.S.
rice is vulnerable to cheap competition from Asia. The elimination of
the tariff will be a gradual transition, though the exact schedule has not
yet been announced. Mexico recently renewed a 150,000 metric ton TRQ
for rice that could benefit Vietnamese rice immediately. (see USA Rice Daily, January 16, 2018).
A stumbling block for the U.S. rice industry on the original TPP concerned
quality and quantity of access to the Japanese market and the threat of
Vietnamese imports into Mexico at zero tariff. The Trump Administration
is pursuing a bilateral trade agreement with Japan and President Trump
recently expressed a willingness to rejoin "a substantially better"
TPP.
"USA Rice supports the Administration's discussions with Japan and will
press for an improvement of rice market access under any enhanced TPP
agreement," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings.
The 11 member countries - Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam,
Chile, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, and Viet Nam - will sign the
new CP-TPP March 8, 2018, at a ceremony in Chile.
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Fish
in the Fields May Reduce Methane Emissions
The Resource
Renewal Institute (RRI) is moving into the second phase of its
Fish in the Fields control study evaluating the introduction of fish in rice
fields with a goal of reducing methane emissions from rice production.
The institute has been working on strategies to address environmental issues
for over 30 years.
Six years of research have shown
that fallow rice fields allow for the rapid growth of small, freshwater forage
fish. Initial results indicate that modernizing the longstanding and
simple practice of raising fish in rice fields can result in significant
benefits on a global scale. Along with reducing overall methane
emissions, the practice would also support more sustainable and profitable
agricultural practices, along with providing another source of protein for an
expanding population. On February 1, a group of scientists from the University
of Montana and UC Davis introduced Golden Shiner minnows into trial rice field
ponds near Marysville. The team will be measuring what kind of effect the
small fish have on nutrient levels as well as methane emissions in the
fields. Samples that were taken from flooded rice fields over the past
two months verify an abundance of zooplankton, a significant source of protein
for fish.
The Fish in the Fields research
could prove to be extremely valuable as California continues to focus on and
regulate methane emissions. RRI believes that adopting the methods being
tested could potentially reduce methane emissions from rice by 90
percent. For California growers, employing the program could provide a
secondary crop and income with minor costs for implementation.
Rice is a staple in the diet of
over half of the global population, which continues to grow. According to
RRI, methane emissions from rice cultivation around the world is responsible
for nearly two percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers with RRI
are hopeful that the Fish in the Fields production methods will be adopted on a
global scale.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
More rice, please: 13 rice
genomes reveal ways to keep up with ever-growing population
COLD
SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
IMAGE: TOP: GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF 13 RICE VARIETIES COMPARED IN
THE NEW STUDY BY WARE AND COLLEAGUES. DASHED RED LIN SHOWS LIMITS OF RICE
CULTIVATION. BOTTOM: A TREE SHOWING THE... view more
CREDIT: WARE LAB, CSHL
Cold Spring Harbor, NY -- Billions of people around the world
rely on rice as a mainstay of their diet. The grain provides about 20 percent
of the calories consumed by humans worldwide. Rice production is critical for
global food security, and demand will only grow as the world's population
expands by an estimated 2-3 billion by 2050. To keep up, farmers will need new
strains of rice that can be grown both efficiently and sustainably, in new
environments and in a changing climate.
A vast new genetic resource created by a team led by Doreen
Ware, Ph.D., of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, will accelerate efforts to develop new rice varieties, guiding
breeders to the genes plants use to resist pests, thrive in inhospitable
environments, and produce abundant amounts of grain.
In research led by Dr. Rod Wing, a plant scientist at the University
of Arizona, and Dr. Joshua Stein, manager of scientific informatics at CSHL, an
international consortium of scientists sequenced the genomes of seven wild
species of rice and two domesticated cultivars: a drought-tolerant variety
called Nagina 22, and IR8, so-called "miracle rice," a high-yield
variety developed in 1967 and pivotal in the Green Revolution that helped
relieve famine in Asia.
Comparing these nine new rice genome sequences to four
previously available wild rice genomes, the team has generated a telling new
view into the plant's 15-million-year evolutionary history.
Because the newly created genetic resource is so broad,
representing distantly related rice species that have evolved in habitats
throughout Asia, Africa, South America, and Australia, it enables researchers
to zero-in on valuable sequences that have been preserved as the plants adapted
to different growing conditions. "We're able to look at these wild
species, which have been exposed to different diseases or other challenges. In
some cases, these plants have been able to adapt to those challenges and we can
see footprints of that in the genome," explains Ware, a CSHL Adjunct
Associate Professor.
In a report published January 22, 2018 as part of a cover story
in Nature
Genetics, the team highlights one set of valuable tools uncovered
in their analysis: thousands of genes that appear to encode disease resistance.
Harnessing these genes to develop crops that are better equipped to resist
infection by fungi, bacteria, and other pathogens could reduce the need for
pesticides and help ensure more reliable rice harvests around the world.
Stein says the information embedded in the newly available
genomes will accelerate the development of improved rice strains through
traditional breeding practices as well as with the aid of new genetic
technologies. The team's comparative analysis also offers scientists new clues
into the molecular mechanisms that drive the evolution of new traits, of
potential value to breeders.
###
Funding: US National Science Foundation; Bud Antle Endowed Chair of
Excellence in Agriculture and Life Sciences; Alexander von Humboldt Research
Award; AXA Chair in Genome Biology and Evolutionary Genomics; University of
Perpignan BQR grant; Senior Chair, Institut Universitaire de France; CNPq
grant.
Citation: Stein JC et al, "Genomes of 13 domesticated and wild
rice relatives highlight genetic conservation, turnover and innovation across
the genus OryzaI" was published online January 22, 2018 in Nature
Genetics.
About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped
contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer,
neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize
winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,100 people including
600 scientists, students and technicians. The Meetings & Courses Program
annually hosts more than 12,000 scientists. The Laboratory's education arm also
includes an academic publishing house, a graduate school and the DNA Learning
Center with programs for middle and high school students and teachers. For more
information, visit http://www.cshl.edu
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy
of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the
use of any information through the EurekAlert system.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/cshl-mrp020118.php
Customs Seizes 375 Bags Of Rice, 600 Bags Of
Fertilizer
February 1, 2018
The Oyo/Osun Command of the
Nigeria Customs Services on Thursday revealed that it had seized a total of 375
bags of rice, 600 bags of fertilizer, two trucks and six used cars from
smugglers in the first one month of 2018.
The new Comptroller of the
Command, Christopher O. Odibu, revealed this at a press conference Thursday
Odibu bemoaned the incessant
activities of smugglers at borders within the area.
Other smuggled items seized by
the Oyo/Osun command of the NCS during the period include 271 bales of second
hand clothes, 60 kegs of vegetable oil, and 43 sacks of used shoes.
Odibu revealed that the total
Duty Paid Value of all the seized items was N77, 753, 492. 8K, saying that the
command would not relent in intensifying efforts to curb the menace.
He lamented that it was
“unfortunate and disturbing that despite the wide awareness on the dire
consequences of smuggling activities on the economic growth and development of
Nigeria, some citizens still find joy in perpetrating the evil act for their
personal gains.”
The Customs boss, however, vowed
that the command, under his watch, would continue to deal decisively with the
economic saboteurs, and work for the security of wellbeing of Nigerians.
Odibu commended the dedication
and cooperation of the officers of the command, as well as officers of other
units such as the Headquarters Compliance Team, Federal Operation Unit and
Customs Intelligence Unit, in the actualisation of the achievements.
https://independent.ng/customs-seizes-375-bags-rice-600-bags-fertilizer/
Anglophone crisis
Liberian newspapers
awash with President Weah meeting with rice importers
02.02.2018 Ã 13h21 by APA News
President George Weah meeting
with rice importers to reduce the price of the commodity and LACC rejecting
Justice Minister’s claims of non-productivity dominate the headlines of
Liberian newspapers on Friday.President Weah on Thursday met with rice
importers in the country to convince them to reduce the price of the country’s
staple rice to make it affordable to ordinary Liberians.
The Liberian Chief Executive said
his government is fully prepared to work with the rice importers in every way
possible to reduce the price of rice, which is also referred to as a political
commodity.
The Inquirer and FrontPage
newspapers published this story as their front page banner headlines under the
respective captions: “Rice Price To Be Reduced…As President Weah, Importers
Discuss” and WEAH’S RICE GAMBLE.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission
(LACC) has sharply reacted to Justice Minister-designate Counselor Charles
Gibson’s claims that the commission is not performing its duties. Clr. Gibson
alleged that LACC has not been able to prosecute a single individual since its
establishment in 2008.
In his reaction at a press
conference on Thursday, the Chairman of LACC, Counselor James Verdier, termed
the Justice Minister-designate’s claims as “misinterpretation and misguided
impression by Gibson.”
The Daily Observer newspaper
published this story as its front page banner headline under the title: “Cllr.
Gibson’s Allegation Backfires-Gets drilled in LACC’s achievements”, while the
Inquirer published it on its front page under the caption: LACC Rejects Justice
Minister-Designate Claims Before Senate Committee…Says Information Was Faulty,
Other headlines include: Local
NGOs to Strengthen Advocacy For Equitable Distribution of Oil Palm Wealth
(Daily Observer); Salvation Army General Predicts Brighter Future For Liberia
(Women Voices); LEGISPOL Protests Journalists’ Flogging (Women Voices); Gender
Ministry Condemns Child Abuse In Maryland (Women Voices); PUL Condemns
Hostilities Against Journalists…Regrets Death of Journalist J. Varney Kamara
(Inquirer).
Rice production in Ukraine
will increase
01.02.2018
According to the Kherson regional administration, rice plantings
and yields in the region increase from year to year. This may shortly result in
full self-sufficiency of Ukraine with this cereal crop.
A drastic improvement of the rice sector is expected in the
region, but it will improve in line with up-to-date practices for growing this
cereal, reports UkrAgroConsult.
Rice planted areas totaled 7.5 Th ha in 2016 and 7.8 Th ha in
2017. The yields equaled 5.4 MT/ha in 2016 and 5.7 MT/ha in 2017.
Import substitution is now one of the main tasks for the region.
Kherson region is Ukraine’s top grower of rice.
Noteworthy is that Ukraine annually imports some 50-80 KMT of
rice, mostly from Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Vietnam.
http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/rice-production-in-ukraine-will-increase
Innovative
Microbial Sensor for Investigating Soil Dynamics
February
2, 2018 at 10:58 AM
Written by AZoSensorsFeb 2 2018
A gene created by researchers at Rice
University offers scientists valuable data related to microbes
through discharge of gas from the soil. The most recent version is a powerful
two-stage microbial sensor that will assist geobiologists, bioengineers and
other scientists to monitor gene expression as well as the bioavailability of
nutrients in laboratory reproduction of environments such as sediments and soil
without perturbing them.
A robust two-stage microbial sensor developed
at Rice University will help researchers observe gene expression and the
bioavailability of nutrients in environments like soil and sediments without
disturbing them. Rather than fluoresce, like current biosensors, these release
gas to report on their host microbes’ presence and activity. (Image credit:
Illustration by Ilenne Del Valle)
The gas is generated by using microbes
genetically engineered to give an account of their environment as well as
activity and combined into soil samples in restrained laboratory experiments. A
gas that oozes out informs scientists about the number of target microbes that
exist, and another gas informs the activities of the microbes. Ultimately, the
Rice researchers will expect the programmed microbes to disclose whether and
how they communicate with one another.
The sensor has been described in the ACS
Synthetic Biology journal published by the American Chemical
Society.
The study in progress started in 2015 with the
help of a grant of $1 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation and has been headed
by Jonathan Silberg, a Rice synthetic biologist; Caroline Masiello, a
biogeochemist; and Hsiao-Ying (Shelly) Cheng, a graduate student and lead
author of the study. Their aim is to evaluate bioactivity in opaque
environments, specifically those in which modifying the environment will change
the outcomes.
According to Silberg, the new gas-emitting
microbes function on the same principle that governs those that include two
fluorescent proteins; for instance, a green-fluorescing protein will tag all
the cells in a dish, and a red protein will get illuminated when triggered by
microbial activity, such as proximity of a specific molecule or protein
expression.
“In those systems, you can check the ratio of
green to red and know, on average, what the cells are doing,” he
stated. “But that
doesn’t work in soils.”
At present, scientists evaluate microbial
activity in soil by crushing samples and adopting processes such as
high-performance liquid chromatography to quantify their constituents. This
removes the chances of analyzing the same sample over time, and also restricts
the scope of the data.
“Our system answers the right question,”
stated Masiello. “Do microbes know these compounds are present,
and what are they doing in response to them?”
In the ratio-metric system developed at Rice
lab, gases discharged from modified Escherichia coli or other
microbes can assist researchers in evaluating soil development. The term
ratio-metric indicates that the gas output is directly proportional to the
input, which is the level of activity sensed by the microbe here.
In one of the tests, E. coli was
transformed to expel enzymes that produce bromomethane and ethylene. The
microbe continuously produced ethylene, thereby enabling the researchers to
observe the microbe population size; however, it produced only bromomethane
when triggered by, here, bioavailability of acylhomoserine lactones (AHL),
molecules enabling signaling between bacteria.
Once Cheng placed the E. coli in
agricultural soil and fixed the temperature to increase gas signals, she
discovered that the addition of short- and long-chain AHL did not have an
impact on ethylene output but drastically impacted bromomethane. The highest
concentration of short-chain AHL elevated the bromomethane signal by over an
order of magnitude, and that of long-chain AHL elevated it by nearly two orders
of magnitude.
Investigations with a different bacterium,
Shewanella, with sediment as a native habitat, revealed similarly robust
outcomes.
“The dynamic range for sensing chemicals with
what Shelly’s built is very good,” stated Silberg. “It will
vary with the organism, but synthetic biology is really about tuning all of
that.”
The particularly useful aspect of this work is
the potential to distinguish between what’s chemically extractable in a marine
or soil environment and what a microbe perceives is there. Just because we
can grind up a soil and measure something doesn’t mean that plants or microbes
know what’s there. These tools are what we need to be able to, for the first
time, measure microbial perception of their environment.
Caroline Masiello, Biogeochemist
The transformed microbes are meant to be
applied for lab investigation, as opposite to in the open. But tests would be
much faster than current processes and allow labs to monitor a sample
continuously over time. The researchers anticipate applications not only in
synthetic biology and environmental science but also for tracking the environmental
fate of gut bacteria being developed for diagnostics and therapeutics.
In the future, the Rice lab aims to focus its
attempts on the conditional output portion of the sensor.
As we’ve been building this, people like (Rice
bioscientist) Jeff Tabor and others are standardizing the sensing
modules. We’re building new output modules that you could then couple to
the great diversity of sensors they are building.
Shelly’s really led the way to prove that we
can do gas reporting, and she was the first to do it in soils. She then
showed we could do it with horizontal gene transfer as part of our proof of
concept, and now this. The tools are just getting there, and I think
applications will be next.
Jonathan Silberg, Rice Synthetic Biologist
Graduate student Ilenne Del Valle in the
Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology graduate program, research scientist
Xiaodong Gao, and George Bennett, the E. Dell Butcher Professor of Biochemistry
and Cell Biology, all from Rice University, are the co-authors of the paper.
Silberg is an associate professor of biochemistry and cell biology. Masiello is
a professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences.
The W.M. Keck Foundation, Rice University, a
Taiwan Ministry of Education Scholarship, the National Science Foundation
Long-term Ecological Research Program, Michigan State University AgBioResearch,
and the Department of Energy, Offices of Science and Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy supported the study.
https://www.azosensors.com/news.aspx?newsID=12337
Flouting Promise:
Local Importers Marginalized - Pres. Weah Forges Partnership With Foreign Rice
Importers
Monrovia – President George Manneh Weah has begun a dangerous game
with the country’s most political commodity – rice.
Rice and its demand have left
indelible marks on the Liberian body politic. Some political scientists say
events of the past may come back hunting the future if similar missteps occur.
In 1979, then President William
R. Tolbert increased the price of a bag of rice from $22 to $30 triggering a
riot in which hundreds of demonstrators were killed.
The following year, Tolbert was
executed in a coup led by Master Sergeant Samuel Kanyon Doe.
Today, Liberians still pine for
the days of warlord-turned President Charles Taylor, when a 50kg bag of rice
sold for US$22 a bag - about half the price it sells today (though double its
value on the world market).
Fast track to 2018, President
George Manneh Weah’s administration now faces a compounded task of reducing the
price of rice in an economy massively dominated by foreigners.
On Thursday, February 1st, Mr.
Weah met with the association of rice importers, also dominated by foreign
investors.
The purpose of the meeting,
according to an Executive Mansion release, was to step up efforts to ensure the
price of the nation’s staple food is substantially reduced and made affordable
for ordinary Liberians.
President Weah, according to the
Executive Mansion release, said his government was fully prepared to work with
rice importers in every way possible to reduce the price of rice.
President Weah said it was
intolerable that in the midst of acute hardship and mass unemployment the price
of nation’s staple continues to increase.
“I am ready to work with you and
resolve all the issues that underpin the galloping price of rice so that our
people will afford to buy.”
“If government-imposed tax is an
issue, you can rest assure that my government is more than ready to grant
reasonable adjustments in the tax regime to make the reduction of rice price
possible,” the President said.
But the President’s move is not
all about ensuring affordability of rice, as FrontPageAfrica has gathered that
the move is also part of a payback plan to some major importers including
George Nehme, CEO of Supplying West Africa Trader Inc. (SWAT) and the Harbel
Supermarket Corporation.
Multiple sources have confirmed
to FrontPageAfrica that the businessman was a key financier of President Weah’s
election campaign that led to his massive victory.
Political pundits and some local
importers wanting anonymity are querying the President’s meeting with the giant
importers when they had expected him to be considering empowering Liberians to
match up the foreigners in the import of major commodities.
This, in their view, runs
contrary to his pledge in his inaugural address where he said he would ensure
that Liberians would no longer be spectators in their own economy.
Pres. Weah said in the inaugural
speech: “We will do all that is within our power to provide an environment that
will be conducive for the conduct of honest and transparent business. We will
remove unnecessary regulatory constraints that tend to impede the establishment
and operation of business in a profitable and predictable manner.”
“As we open our doors to
all foreign direct investments, we will not permit Liberian-owned businesses to
be marginalized. We cannot remain spectators in our own economy. My government
will prioritize the interests of Liberian-owned businesses and offer programs
to help them become more competitive and offer services that international
investors seek as partners.”
But the honest and transparent
business spoken of by the President is not what is currently being witnessed in
the rice import sector.
For example, the quality of rice
supplied by Mr. Nehme’s SWAT company supplies is 50% rice and 5% kernel.
The company has stood several
allegations of importing very low grade.
Last year, SWAT faced several
allegations ranging from importing a consignment of contaminated Bella Luna
parboiled long grain rice. Another brand of the rice imported by SWAT – BB Rice
– was widely believed by the public to be synthetic rice (plastic rice).
However, a test conducted by the
National Standards Laboratory proved that BB Rice is indeed real rice, but very
poor in quality.
Currently, there are four companies
licensed to import rice by the vessel load.
They account for about 95% of all
rice imports (SWAT and UCI each bring in over 100,000 metric tons (MT) per year
and the third company, Fouta Corporation, does about 70,000 MT.
K&K is the fourth licensed
importer and does only about two vessels (40,000 MT) per year. Small traders,
who import rice in 20- foot ocean containers, apparently have different
licensing requirements.
“What we had expected of
the President isn’t to continue strengthening these powerful importers. What we
expected from him is to bring all the local importers together and find out our
challenges in maximizing our imports. Foreigners must not feed our people, we
must,” said one local importer.
The Lebanese national, Nehme,
almost has monopoly over the rice market in Liberia and has been solidifying
ties with President Weah in an effort to expand his businesses in Liberia, this
paper has gathered.
https://frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/6809-flouting-promise-local-importers-marginalized-pres-weah-forges-partnership-with-foreign-rice-importers
Rice farmers
in Boko Haram liberated community want modern mills
Rice farmers during harvest in Nigeria
By Rabiu Sani
Maiduguri, Feb. 2, 2018 (NAN) Rice farmers at Zabarmari
community in Jere Local Government Area of Borno have called on the state
government to provide them with modern mills to accelerate paddy rice
production.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zabarmari is one
of the farming communities liberated by the military from the Boko Haram
insurgents.
About 5,000 farmers cultivated thousands of hectares of
farmlands producing over a million tonnes of grains like rice, maize and
sorghum through rain-fed and irrigation activities.
A cross section of the farmers said that provision of modern
mills would boost food production in the liberated areas and improve their
economic status.
Alhaji Adawa Wakil said that they currently rely on local
millers to process their produce.
Wakil said that the introduction of modern processing
technologies would allow for better use of the bumper harvest this season.
Most of the farmers returned to the farms and we are happy over
the high yields recorded this season.
“Application of modern processing technologies will add value to
the produce and encourage production,” he said.
Wakil added that such technologies would also cut cost of
production and lead to reduce prices.
Another farmer, Bashir Usman, explained that there were over 200
local mill operators in the area, who used metal pots and grinding machines for
rice processing.
Usman said that the high cost of processing was causing a heavy
drain in their pockets and push prices up.
A mill operator, Musa Muhammad, said that he run a local mill
with a 10 tonnes daily production capacity.
Muhammad described the trade as lucrative, explaining that he
charges between N200 and N250 per 50-kilogramme bag for processing.
Malam Hassan Muhammad, the Chairman, Rice Processors and Sellers
Association, disclosed that the farmers need access road to open the area and
ease movement of produce to the market.
“It is difficult to move the produce to the market due to lack
of road. We relied on ox-cart for transportation. This also affected
patronage,” he said.
http://www.nan.ng/news/rice-farmers-boko-haram-liberated-community-want-modern-mills/
|
Myanmar
to hold rice trade forum
|
|
|
Source:
Xinhua 2018-02-03 13:24:49
|
YANGON,
Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) will hold a multi-stake
holder forum for sustainable development of rice industry this month, the
official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Saturday.
Under
the title "Rice Trade Development Forum," the event aims to maintain
the status of the country's rice sector and exchange views for the sectoral
development.
The
forum will also host panel discussions on controlling the rice price, farmers'
problems, gaining appropriate profits for rice millers, rice merchants and
exporters and providing assistance to small and medium enterprises.
Official
figures show the country earned about 700 million U.S. dollars from 2.6 million
tons of rice exports which is a major agricultural product as of Jan. 19 in the
current 2017-18 fiscal year.
During
the period, the country's agriculture products export hit 2.4 billion U.S.
dollars, accounting for 25 percent of the total exports
Challenging
with erratic weather, capacity and technical know-how to yield value-added
products and dependence on foreign market demand, Myanmar is making efforts to
promote agricultural production, while addressing the issue of high
transportation cost.
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globe are considered for this market analysis, the result of which is utilized
to estimate the performance of the International market over the period from
2017 to forecasted year.
Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @
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Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions,
with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth
rate of Rice Flour in these regions, from 2017 to 2022 (forecast), covering:
USA, Europe, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia, South America, South Africa,
Others.
Rice Flour Market in World, presents critical information and
factual data about Rice Flour Industry, with an overall statistical study of
this market based on market drivers, market limitations, and its future
prospects. The widespread trends and opportunities are also taken into
consideration in Rice Flour Market study.
Along with this, analysis of depreciation cost, manufacturing cost
structure and SWOT analysis are also carried out. Price, cost, and gross
analysis of the market is also included in this section.
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The product range of the Rice Flour industry is examined based on
their production chain, pricing of products and the profit generated by them.
Various regional markets are analysed in Rice Flour market research report and
the production volume and efficacy for Rice Flour market across the world is
also discussed.
http://www.satprnews.com/2018/02/02/rice-flour-market-production-consumption-export-and-import-revenue-price-trend-by-type-analysis-by-2022/
Fortified Rice Market: Opportunities in Key
Application Sectors
February 2, 2018
Transparency Market Research, in
its new report on the global fortified rice market, has identified key
participants contributing to the market expansion, which include Wilmar
International Ltd., General Mills, Inc., BASF SE, Bühler AG, Bunge Limited, and
Cargill Incorporated.
According to the report, the
global fortified rice market will reflect an impressive growth over the
forecast period (2017-2026). Fortified rice sales across the globe are
estimated to exceed US$ 25,000 Mn in revenues by 2026-end.
Growing Need to Cater Global
Demand for Nutrition to Influence Adoption of Fortified Rice
Micronutrient deficiencies have
threatened the productivity, development & health of millions among the
global population. For example, roughly half of India’s child population
suffers from vitamins & mineral deficiencies and chronic malnutrition. In
addition to micronutrients supplementation & diversification in diets,
enriching the food consumed regularly, such as rice, with minerals and vitamins
is seen as an effective remedy for alleviating the issue. These factors have
resulted into fortification of rice that is emerging as sustainable and a
cost-effective measure to deliver nutrition to people globally. Since the
recent past, many initiatives have been undertaken by the rice industry along
with development partners to offer fortified rice via safety net programs as
well as the open market. A great example for this is the government of India,
which in coordination with WFP and PATH, has distributed fortified rice via
several welfare schemes, particularly the Mid-Day Meal across few of its
states. Similarly, the U.S. food assistance agencies are seeking
diversification of their portfolio apropos to value-added nutritional foods
made by commodities within the region’s origin for global nutritional &
food aid. The fortified rice has prevailed as a key component of these programs
carried out by the U.S. food assistance agencies.
APEJ will Remain Most
Remunerative for Growth of the Market
Asia-Pacific excluding Japan
(APEJ) will continue to be the most remunerative region for growth of the
fortified rice market, with sales projected to hold nearly half revenue share
of the market by 2026-end. Sales of fortified rice in APEJ will record the
highest CAGR through 2026, followed by the market in Middle East & Africa
(MEA). Between North America and Latin America, the latter is projected to
register a comparatively faster expansion through 2026. However, the market in
North America will continue to account for a relatively larger revenues than that
in Latin America.
Vitamins and Minerals will
prevail as the preferred micronutrients in the global fortified rice market.
Revenues from global sales of vitamins and minerals will collectively account
for over three-fourth share of the market by 2026-end. Revenues from sales of
minerals will increase comparatively faster than those from vitamins through
2026.
Drying to Remain Sought-after
Among Technologies for Fortified Rice
Drying is slated to remain
sought-after among technologies for producing fortified rice. Revenues from
this technology are estimated to surpass US$ 13,000 Mn by 2026-end. In
addition, revenues from coating and encapsulation technology for production of
fortified rice are poised to record a relatively faster expansion through 2026.
Based on end-users, there will only be a slight difference between revenue
shares of the commercial and residential segments, with the latter being
comparative more lucrative during the forecast period.
Although, sales of fortified rice
in modern trade will record a relatively lower CAGR, this sales channel will
endure as the most remunerative in the market through 2017 to 2026. Sales of
fortified rice in convenience stores and departmental stores will register an
approximately similar CAGR through 2026.
https://cmfenews.com/fortified-rice-market-opportunities-key-application-sectors/ Navy arrests suspected smugglers, seizes bags of rice
Etim Ekpimah, Uyo
The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base,
Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has apprehended three
suspected smugglers and seized 759 bags of rice smuggled from Cameroon.
A wooden boat was also been confiscated in
the seizure.
The suspects, Yahaya Balaribe, 32, from
Borno State; Godwin Owoyemi, 23, and Michael Aderemi, both from Igbokoda area
of Ondo State, were said to have been apprehended on the high sea on Tuesday
around 3am following a tip-off as they made their way into Nigeria’s maritime
area.
The Commanding Officer, FOB, Navy Captain
Yusuf Idris, on Wednesday asked smugglers to stay away from Nigeria’s maritime
environment, noting that the current leadership of the Nigerian Navy would find
them wherever they might be.
He said, “On January 30, the men of the
Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, acting on a tip-off, intercepted and seized a
large wooden boat loaded with 759 bags of rice. We also arrested three
suspected smugglers along with the items.
“In line with the harmonised standard
operating procedures, the Nigerian Navy, today hands over the suspects and the
items to Nigeria Customs Service for investigation and further necessary
actions.
“The Nigerian Navy, FOB, warns the would-be
smugglers and other maritime offenders like sea pirates, oil thieves and their
like to keep away from Nigeria’s maritime environment as the current leadership
of the Navy will hunt them down wherever they may be.”
The commanding officer assured legitimate
users of the sea of navy protection and assistance to carry out their
legitimate businesses with a view to enhancing the economic prosperity of
Nigeria.
The Comptroller of Eastern Marine Command, Nigeria
Customs Service, Port Harcourt, Ajiya Masaya, who received the three smugglers
and the goods, described the fight against smuggling as a collective
responsibility of Nigerians.
According to him, smuggling is affecting the
Nigerian economy and any nation that allows smuggling to thrive will be unable
to grow its economy.
He thanked the Navy for collaborating with
the NCS to curtail the spread of smuggling within Nigeria’s maritime
environment.
He said, “Fighting smuggling cannot be left
only for the Nigeria Customs Service. Everybody has a duty to stop or reduce
the menace.
“As I said, fighting smugglers is not only
for Customs; everybody has a role to play. Please, as a member of the
community, rice is still a contraband item; 2018 fiscal policy that recognises
imported rice as a contraband good, is still in force.”
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights
reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be
reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in
part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
https://punchng.com/navy-arrests-suspected-smugglers-seizes-bags-of-rice/ Fortified Rice
Market is estimated to exceed US$ 25,000 Mn in revenues by 2026 Sales of
Fortified Rice in APEJ to Register Fastest Growth through 2026, states TMR
2/2/2018 9:27:22 AM
(MENAFN Editorial) Albany, New York, Feb. 02, 2018 (GLOBE
NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research, in its new report on the , has
identified key participants contributing to the market expansion, which include
Wilmar International Ltd., General Mills, Inc., BASF SE, Bühler AG, Bunge
Limited, and Cargill Incorporated.
According to the report, the global fortified rice market will
reflect an impressive growth over the forecast period (2017-2026). Fortified
rice sales across the globe are estimated to exceed US$ 25,000 Mn in revenues
by 2026-end.
Growing Need to Cater Global Demand for Nutrition to Influence
Adoption of Fortified Rice
Micronutrient deficiencies have threatened the productivity,
development & health of millions among the global population. For example,
roughly half of India's child population suffers from vitamins & mineral
deficiencies and chronic malnutrition. In addition to micronutrients
supplementation & diversification in diets, enriching the food consumed regularly,
such as rice, with minerals and vitamins is seen as an effective remedy for
alleviating the issue. These factors have resulted into fortification of rice
that is emerging as sustainable and a cost-effective measure to deliver
nutrition to people globally.
Get PDF Brochure for more Professional & Technical industry
insights:
Since the recent past, many initiatives have been undertaken by
the rice industry along with development partners to offer fortified rice via
safety net programs as well as the open market. A great example for this is the
government of India, which in coordination with WFP and PATH, has distributed
fortified rice via several welfare schemes, particularly the Mid-Day Meal
across few of its states. Similarly, the U.S. food assistance agencies are
seeking diversification of their portfolio apropos to value-added nutritional
foods made by commodities within the region's origin for global nutritional
& food aid. The fortified rice has prevailed as a key component of these
programs carried out by the U.S. food assistance agencies.
APEJ will Remain Most Remunerative for Growth of the Market
Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) will continue to be the most
remunerative region for growth of the fortified rice market, with sales
projected to hold nearly half revenue share of the market by 2026-end. Sales of
fortified rice in APEJ will record the highest CAGR through 2026, followed by
the market in Middle East & Africa (MEA). Between North America and Latin
America, the latter is projected to register a comparatively faster expansion
through 2026. However, the market in North America will continue to account for
a relatively larger revenues than that in Latin America.
Request For Custom Research
Vitamins and Minerals will prevail as the preferred micronutrients
in the global fortified rice market. Revenues from global sales of vitamins and
minerals will collectively account for over three-fourth share of the market by
2026-end. Revenues from sales of minerals will increase comparatively faster
than those from vitamins through 2026.
Drying to Remain Sought-after Among Technologies for Fortified
Rice
Drying is slated to remain sought-after among technologies for
producing fortified rice. Revenues from this technology are estimated to
surpass US$ 13,000 Mn by 2026-end. In addition, revenues from coating and
encapsulation technology for production of fortified rice are poised to record
a relatively faster expansion through 2026. Based on end-users, there will only
be a slight difference between revenue shares of the commercial and residential
segments, with the latter being comparative more lucrative during the forecast
period.
Purchase this Premium Research Report at
Although, sales of fortified rice in modern trade will record a
relatively lower CAGR, this sales channel will endure as the most remunerative
in the market through 2017 to 2026. Sales of fortified rice in convenience
stores and departmental stores will register an approximately similar CAGR
through 2026.
About Us
Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence
company, providing global business information reports and services. Our
exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides
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strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.
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MENAFN0202201800703653ID1096421702
QRs
It is sad testimony to how wrong
our agricultural policies have been that economists are now saying the
inflation rate will drop as soon as we abandon quantitative restrictions (QRs)
on rice.
With the lifting of QRs, rice can
be freely imported subject to tariffs our legislators might impose. It is
estimated that a 35 percent tariff on rice will be imposed when QRs are lifted.
Notwithstanding that stiff tariff,
the price of rice is expected to decrease. Cheaper rice will moderate the
inflation rate. It is estimated that the inflation rate for this first quarter
of the year could be close to 4 percent.
For years, we pleaded with our
trade partners for the extension of the QR regime on rice. In exchange we
offered other concessions that took a toll on other sectors of our economy.
After several extensions, we have
reached the end of the rope. No further extension, under free trade rules,
could be had.
Unfortunately, during the time the
QR regime was extended, we did not accomplish much in bringing down the cost of
domestic rice production. As a result, imported rice carrying a 35 percent
tariff will still be cheaper than domestically produced rice.
Under the QR regime, government set
the quantity of rice to be imported during the year. Once the quantity of
imports was determined, government issued import permits for traders to
undertake the importation. This system, because of the wide price disparities
between imported and domestic rice, invited corruption. The high price of rice
produced high food poverty in the country.
Under this regime, too, rice
aggregators abroad anticipated the volume of Philippine imports and drove up
rice prices in their home market as they collected rice supplies to export.
This has injured not only our consumers but consumers in the rice-exporting
countries as well.
Under the prospective tariff-based
regime, anyone can import rice as long as they paid the tariffs. Small-scale
importers will drive aggregators out of business since they do not purchase in
large quantities. We will end the regime of corruption surrounding government’s
monopoly of rice importation and remove incentives fro rice smuggling.
Of course, the flood of imported
rice could threaten our domestic rice producers. Because of sheer inefficiency,
our rice farmers make very little even as domestic rice prices are very high.
Rice cultivation has become a poverty trap.
This is a matter of urgent concern.
We will have to sort out this problem without resort to QRs that penalizes our
domestic consumers.
The problem is compounded by the
fact that the average age of our rice farmers is 57. Young people do not want
to go into rice cultivation because of poor economic returns and large swathes
of “reformed” farmland are now idle because the plots are too small to be
viable.
Shotgun
Several hearings conducted at the
Senate over the hazing death of Horacio ‘Atio’ Castillo in the hands of Aegis
Juris fraternity members did serve the purpose of keeping the incident in the
public eye and hastening investigation of the case. A crime was committed here
and all those culpable should be made to pay.
But the report emanating out of
those hearings puzzles many. It is as if the report fired a shotgun into a
large crowd, recommending charges against the dean of the UST faculty of civil
law, the faculty secretary and at least 13 trustees of the Aegis Foundation. As
a consequence, the search for the truly culpable could lose focus and, worse,
the justice we all want for Atio and his grieving family might not be fully
won.
Those present at the brutal
initiation rites were named. Charges for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law and
other related crimes should be filed against them. They all acted in concert.
Their collective act resulted in the death of a neophyte.
Those initiation rites were, it
should be emphasized, conducted without authorization from the university
authorities. The fraternity was suspended long before the initiation rites
began. The school could not possibly be expected to know all their students do
outside the campus.
In similar hazing cases resulting
in the deaths of neophytes, school authorities were at best admonished but not
included in the charges. That is because they had no direct hand in the rituals
that resulted in murder.
True, there was an attempt at
cover-up on the part of the Aegis Juris members, possibly including some of the
alumni. That attempted cover-up was frustrated by speedy police investigation
of the case. There is no evidence linking Dean Divina or members of his law
firm to any obstruction of justice.
Atio, according to accounts by
family and friends idolized his Dean. That might have been a factor encouraging
the young man to join the fraternity to which Divina belonged. Even if it was a
factor, the Dean could not be held criminally liable for that.
By issuing the report it did, the
Senate could stumble into becoming a party in the professional rivalries of
big-name lawyers. Divina’s law firm is a rising star in the profession. That
could attract jealousies of every sort.
It was lawyer Lorna Kapunan who
pushed for Divina’s inclusion among those the Senate recommended should be
charged. Earlier, she filed a complaint with the Supreme Court asking for the
disbarment of Divina and 20 lawyers in his firm. Now she has filed a case for
murder, hazing and obstruction against the dean.
This is grist for keeping the case
in the public eye. But it also causes us to lose focus on those directly
responsible for the brutality.
http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2018/02/03/1784000/qrs
The Science Behind the Scenes of
‘Basmati Blues’
UCR geneticist Norman Ellstrand
lent his scientific expertise to a musical romantic comedy centered around
genetically modified rice
Basmati Blues follows a young female scientist who is sent to
India to sell farmers the GMO rice her company created.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) – The film Basmati
Blues is a musical romantic comedy about two about people who
reach across cultures and find love. It also has a serious side: a U.S.
agriculture company selling its genetically modified rice to Indian farmers.
The film, which is directed by Danny Baron and produced by
Monique Caulfield and Jeffrey Soros, is being released in select U.S. theaters
and on Video on Demand starting Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. It received funding from
Sloan Science & Film, a branch of the Sloan Foundation that supports
filmmakers who create narratives about science and technology.
Basmati Blues follows the journey of a young female scientist, Dr. Linda
Watt (played by Academy Award winner Brie Larson), who is sent by her company’s
CEO (played by Donald Sutherland) to India to sell farmers the GMO rice created
by the company. As the story plays out, Linda navigates a new culture, a new
love interest, and the realization she has unknowingly become part of a
destructive plan against the farmers.
To ensure the science in Basmati Blues was portrayed
accurately, the Sloan Foundation turned to Norman Ellstrand,
a distinguished professor of genetics at UC Riverside and an expert on gene
flow between GMO and non-GMO plants. It was Ellstrand’s first opportunity to
serve as a scientific advisor in the movie industry.
“Reading an early version of the script and commenting on the
science was fun because the writers had done an excellent job with the science,
right down to the scientific name of the plants,” Ellstrand said. “I learned
later that the writers and the producer were science fans. In discussing the
script, we quickly got ‘into the weeds’ of agronomy, talking about plant
reproductive systems, molecular biology, and what role scientific nuance
should—or should not—play in a romantic musical comedy.”
Norman Ellstrand, a distinguished professor of genetics at UC
Riverside.
On screen, Linda’s relationship with a farmer called Rajit
(played by Utkarsh Ambudkar) takes a somber turn when he informs her that,
instead of helping local farmers, she is unwittingly hurting them. The GMO
seeds Linda has developed are sterile, meaning that plants grown from them have
lost the ability to reproduce and farmers have to buy new seeds for each
planting.
The plot is a fictional exploration of real-world issues
including globalization, innovation, personal responsibility, and food
security. Many of the world’s largest agrochemical firms hold patents on the
technology behind sterile seeds (which are also called suicide or terminator
seeds), but large-scale protests about their impact on farmers’
self-sufficiency have hindered their commercial development.
“Companies create new kinds of seed for farmers to grow and
harvest for people to eat, which can be a mutually beneficial relationship,”
Caulfield, the movie’s producer, said in an interview with The Sloan
Foundation. “However, if the only goal of a company is to maximize profit how
does that affect the more vulnerable farmers and populations? In between the
company CEO and the farmer is the scientist. We wanted to explore their role.”
The film was shot over the course of several years in India and
New York City, and features original songs by global artists Pearl Jam, Kristan
Bush (of Sugarland), Sid Khosla (of Goldspot), Dave Baerwald, and Sonu Nigam.
For more information on the film, including theater locations, visit the Basmati
Blues website.
EDIA CONTACT
Sarah Nightingale
Tel: (951) 827-4580
E-mail: sarah.nightingale@ucr.edu
Twitter: snightingale
https://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/51314
Bangladesh to scrap rice imports from Thailand
Bangladesh will scrap a plan to import 150,000 tonnes of rice from
Thailand, agreed at $465 a tonne in October, head of the state grains buyer
said on Thursday. “They have been taking too much time to finalise the deal.
There is no point to wait for them when we are getting supplies from other
sources, including India, at cheaper rates,” Badrul Hasan, the director general
of Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Food, told Reuters. Traditionally the
world’s fourth-biggest rice producer, Bangladesh emerged as a major importer of
the grain in 2017 after floods damaged crops and sent domestic prices to record
highs.
Author Name:
http://en.prothomalo.com/economy/news/170458/Bangladesh-to-scrap-rice-imports-from-Thailand
Debate on rice strategy continues
(Conclusion)
Contrary to the administration’s action
plan and recommendations from economists, industry group Samahang Industriya ng
Agrikultura (Sinag) wants the country to reach its decade-old dream of rice
self-sufficiency and stop relying on imports.
The group maintained that if the government
would subsidize rice farmers in the production to marketing stage, raise the
National Food Authority’s (NFA) farmgate support price for palay and
incentivize local rice millers to modernize operations, producing our own
staple would be more beneficial for the country in the long run.
It cited data from the latest report of the
United States Department of Agriculture where it noted that less than 10
percent of global rice production was tradeable, with 66 percent already
allotted to China.
“Shortage may happen with limited supply of
rice going around the market,” the group said. “The greatest tragedy of our
times is the destruction of our capacity to produce our own staples.”
Food security
But for former Economic Planning Secretary
Cielito Habito, food security does not equate to rice self-sufficiency.
“The most unfortunate irony of all is that
under current circumstances, the more we pursue 100-percent rice
self-sufficiency, the more we make most Filipinos food-insecure. Food security
and food self-sufficiency are two different things. Food security denotes
reliable access to adequate, affordable, safe and nutritious food. Our
self-sufficiency policy has had the perhaps unwitting effect of making rice
much more expensive to Filipino consumers than it needs to be, with the
Filipino poor suffering the most,” he said.
Habito emphasized the need for the present
administration to help farmers diversify their produce accordingly by choosing
crops that are more suitable to their lands, and stop chasing the elusive goal
of rice self-sufficiency, which, over the years, has been proven to be
unsuccessful despite numerous government interventions.
Historically, rice has taken the lion’s
share of the agriculture budget. For 2018, the agency will continue advocating
the use of hybrid rice seeds, and loan and insurance programs are expected to
cater mostly to rice crops.
“Our marginal rice farmers should be
assisted to shift to other more remunerative crops suitable for their lands. Meanwhile,
utmost productivity support must be given to our rice lands that are inherently
competitive in rice, including in Central Luzon and Western Visayas,” said
Habito.
Economist and Ateneo professor Leonardo
Lanzona Jr. agreed, emphasizing that the country must now move away from
prioritizing the production of the staple.
“It would be better to use funds that we
have for producing high-value crops or improving technology. Ever if we move
some of the rice producers to planting high-value crops, our growth would
continue to increase. But, of course, we need to have some agricultural
development program,” he said.
“Lifting the QR will benefit the public in
general, but there should be a social protection for farmers. Subsidize to a
limited extent, but what is more important is to give them incentives to look
for other options,” he added.
Lanzona said that the shift to other crops
from rice would not mean neglecting the agriculture sector. For him, the farm
sector must be developed toward a direction where the Philippines might have a
comparative advantage against other countries. “Right now, we don’t have a
comparative advantage on rice anymore.”
Both economists said they believed that
food security should be best pursued at the regional level, and this is where
Asean plays a crucial role.
“Asean as a region is not only
self-sufficient in rice, it produces a surplus and can continue doing so for a
time,” Habito said. “Food security can be achieved through a stronger regional
buffer stock where the rice-surplus countries can fill the deficits of the
rest. That way, rice could be cheaper for all, and Asean peoples, particularly
in the rice-deficit countries, would generally be much more food-secure. This
is what the Asean Economic Community should be about.”
At present, a food security scheme has been
established among members of Asean along with China, Japan and Korea in 2016,
creating an emergency rice reserve for the region called APTERR or Asean Plus
Three Emergency Rice Reserve.
The program provides an exclusive market
for the countries to buy rice from in case of natural calamities or
emergencies, without distorting the international rice market.
Currently, the total earmarked emergency
rice reserve pledged by APTERR member-countries is placed at 787,000 MT.
According to the NFA, the Philippines has been benefiting from APTERR since
2010. In the wake of Typhoons Ondoy and Juan and the occurrence of La Niña and
flash floods in the country, Thailand donated 520 MT of rice to the country
through APTERR.
“Since 2012, at least 7,200 MT of rice had
been donated through the program to the Philippines for the victims of Typhoons
Pablo, Yolanda and Nona,” the NFA said.
With the nearing influx of imported rice,
policymakers must make sure that the country’s rice requirement is met by all
means. At the same time, local farmers should be well-equipped to survive the
evolving market.
Right now, the challenge is to make sure
that rice farmers can compete at a price 35-percent higher than imported rice,
and give consumers the option to avail themselves of the staple at a more
affordable price.
Rice export surges 74.2 percent in January
February 02, 2018 | 19:03 (GMT+7)
An estimated
524,000 tons of rice was exported in January, bringing home USD 249 million,
reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The figures represented rises of
56.5 percent in volume and 74.2 percent in value as compared with the same
month in 2017.
A sudden rise in rice export price
from USD 390-395 per ton to USD 420-430 per ton was attributed to the growing
export value of rice in the month.
|
|
|
|
An
estimated 524,000 tons of rice was exported in January
|
Rice exporters said the price hike
is due to prospects of deals with the Philippines and Indonesia as the two
Southeast Asian countries, which are Vietnam’s traditional rice importers, have
plans to import a large volume of rice.
The Ministry of Trade of Indonesia
has recently approved the import of 500,000 tons of rice from Thailand and
Vietnam to fix the insufficient rice supply and price hike in the domestic market.
The Indonesia Logistics Bureau (BULOG) said that the country only had 950,000
tons in stockpile.
Earlier, the National Food
Authority of the Philippines also agreed to import 250,000 tons of rice and
planned to open rice purchase bidding right in January. The country’s rice
stock is enough for use in only three days while the minimum amount must
satisfy demand for 15 days.
The country shipped abroad about
5.89 million tons of rice worth USD 2.66 billion in 2017, a year-on-year
increases of 22.4 percent in quality and 23.2 percent in value, the ministry
said.
Vietnamese rice is now exported to
over 130 markets. However, experts are still calling for quality to be
improved, to enhance competitiveness.
In October, the Ministry of
Industry and Trade announced its rice export strategy for the 2017 to 2020
period, which aims to decrease export volume but increase value.
Accordingly, the country’s average
rice export volume was set at 4.5 to 5 million tons per year to 2020, at an
average value of USD 2.2 to 2.3 billion.
Between 2021 and 2030, Vietnam
plans to export 4 million tons per year on average, worth around USD 2.3 to 2.5
billion.
http://en.qdnd.vn/economy/news/rice-export-surges-74-2-percent-in-january-489512 When rice lets farmers down, what do they turn to?
·
Published
at 12:26 AM February 03, 2018
·
Last
updated at 01:48 AM February 03, 2018
The
anolmalies in rice and paddy prices are pushing farmers away from the staple
crop and towards more profitable ventures Bigstock
Harvest losses and lower profit margins are pushing farmers away
from cultivating paddy. The common coarse varieties are being abandoned in
favour of expensive finer varieties and profitable fruit orchards. The Dhaka Tribune’s Bilkis Irani travelled across
three northern districts – Naogaon, Dinajpur, and Panchagarh – to investigate
the price anomalies. This is the finale to a three-part series on the crisis in
rice prices
Farmers in many areas of Naogaon
district had to wait until the recession of flood waters during
August-September last year. A rice variety that can be harvested in less time
than is required for the widely cultivated Swarna was the answer to this
situation, and many farmers therefore chose to cultivate Chinigura, a fragrant
and non-boiled rice variety, in their fields.
Md Rabbani of Lolbol village
under Mohadebpurupazila was inspecting the quality of the sheaves of Chinigura
plants in his field on December 2. He said about half of the farmers in his
village had opted for the cultivation of Chinigura that season while 9 out of
10 farmers in the neighbouringBagdhana village had planted the variety.
“Generally, Swarna gives a yield
of about 18-20 maunds per bigha [one bigha equals 33 decimals], and the Pyjam
gives about 15-16 maunds. But this season, the flood had caused a yield loss of
about five maunds per bigha. Those who cultivated Chinigura immediately after
the recession of the flood water were fortunate enough to recuperate the loss,”
Rabbani said.
“The cultivation of this Atap
(non-boiled) rice costs less for the seeds and fertilizers. You can get a yield
of 19 maunds by planting only two kilograms of seeds in one bigha of land,” he
added.
Farmers in the area noted that
cultivation of the Chinigura variety enables the cultivation of three crops a
year instead of two crops. Although the yield is a bit less compared to the
conventional varieties, it earns about Tk 1,300-1,400 per mound.
Rice fields turn into mango orchards
As this correspondent travelled
across the villages in Sapaharupazila, she came across numerous mango orchards
on the roadside fields. The locals noted that most of the mango orchards had
been rice fields just three years ago.
The groundwater level in this
region has depleted to a great extent and most of the farmers cannot afford the
cost of the irrigation. The fact that mango plantations do not require much
irrigation is the driving factor behind the conversion.
MdMajumder, a mango orchard owner
at Sapahar Bazar, said: “There is no loss in mango plantation. We can make
profit from the orchards within just one-and-a-half-year of the establishment.
Rice cultivation will give you a profit of Tk 4,000-5,000 per bigha, whereas
you will make a profit of Tk 70,000-80,000 from a mango orchard of the same
size.”
Records kept at the Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE) show that the acreage of paddy during Boro season
in Naogaon has shrunk to 6,280 hectares in 2017 from 10,200 hectares five years
ago.
Monojit Kumar, deputy director of
Naogaon DAE, told the Dhaka Tribune that the farmers have gradually been
turning away from paddy cultivation as they are failing to make much profit
from it.
“The hybrid paddy gives them
higher yield, but the market price shrinks when the production is high. That is
why many farmers are looking for alternatives. Some of them are going for mango
plantations instead of paddy cultivation, while some are taking up vegetable
gardening. Many among the farmers have either given up agricultural activities,
or have ended up selling off their lands.”
Jakir Hossain of Baliagari
village in NaogaonSadarupazila used to be a full time farmer just a few years
ago. Subsequent losses with the paddy harvest forced him to look for an
alternative livelihood.
Now he runs a fertilizer shop in
the locality. “I faced losses with the paddy cultivation. Now I spend more time
and money in fertilizer business, though still continuing paddy cultivation to
a small extent.”
Additional reporting by Sazzadur
Rahman Sazzad, KhondakerMdAbdurRouf, and MdFaruk Hossain
Finance Minister Muhith backs commerce
minister’s view on rice prices
Published: 2018-02-02 18:10:10.0 BdST Updated: 2018-02-02
23:57:23.0 BdST
Rice prices started to hike when unseasonal floods in April last
year damaged crops in the northeastern backswamps or Haors, which was further
fulled as monsoon floods later in the year badly hit production. File photo
Finance Minister AMA Muhith has backed his
cabinet colleague Tofail Ahmed on not expecting rice prices below Tk 40 per kg.
“The commerce minister is
right, prices should be at Tk 40,” he said on Friday while addressing the
National Food Security Day organized by the food ministry.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Minister Tofail said it would
‘unrealistic’ to expect the rice prices to fall below Tk 40 if the farmers’
interests were to be protected.
“When prices dropped, the media said farmers were facing losses.
We must give importance to our farmers. We will be harming ourselves in the
long run if they lose interest to cultivate rice,” he said.
Rice prices started to hike when unseasonal floods in
April last year damaged crops in the northeastern backswamps or Haors.
A second round of floods during the monsoon hit rice production
badly with the government’s rice stocks depleting below 200,000 tonnes in mid
last year.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith (centre) is flanked by Food Minister
Qamrul Islam (right) and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury (left) on Friday.
The situation worsened with price-gouging by rogue traders,
which forced the government to open import initiatives and revise down the duty
twice, but the prices are yet to come down.
According to the government’s Trading Corporation of Bangladesh
or TCB data, coarse rice was sold between Tk 44 and 46 a kilogram on Friday.
Finance Minister Muhith said that he considers Tk 40 for a kg as
reasonable considering the production cost and purchasing power of the
consumers.
He, however, denied that the government was in a crisis of over
rice. “This is not a crisis, rather a temporary problem. And the food ministry
has moved to open imports to solve that."
https://bdnews24.com/business/2018/02/02/finance-minister-muhith-backs-commerce-ministers-view-on-rice-prices
Rice price will not drop below Tk 40 a kg
:Tofayel
The commerce minister has said it
will be ‘unrealistic’ to expect the rice prices to fall below Tk 40 per
kilogram if the farmers’ interests were to be protected, reports bdnews24.com
Fielding questions at a press briefing at the Secretariat
in Dhaka on Thursday, Tofail Ahmed said everyone should keep in mind that the
needs of rice growers also need to be taken care of.
“When rice prices dropped, journalists wrote that the farmers
were facing losses. We must give importance to our farmers. We will be harming
ourselves in the long run if they lose interest to cultivate rice,” the
minister said.
“My personal opinion is that the rice prices will never drop
below Tk 40 (a kg). And (rice price below Tk 40 per kg) is unrealistic.
“So the (minimum) price of rice will be around Tk 40 as it is
now,” he added.
According to Tofail, the
government and traders have imported over 2.5 million tonnes of the staple
until Jan 23 of the current fiscal year.The ministry called the presser to
brief the media about the Bangladesh Tea Expo 2018.
The Tea Board will organise the expo at International Convention
City Bashundhara from Feb 18 to 20.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to open the expo, Tofail
said.
Bangladesh to scrap rice imports from Thailand
Reuters . Dhaka | Update: 16:04,
Feb 02, 2018
Bangladesh
will scrap a plan to import 150,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand, agreed at
$465 a tonne in October, head of the state grains buyer said on Thursday.
“They have been taking too much time to
finalise the deal. There is no point to wait for them when we are getting
supplies from other sources, including India, at cheaper rates,” Badrul Hasan,
the director general of Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Food, told Reuters.
Traditionally the world’s fourth-biggest rice
producer, Bangladesh emerged as a major importer of the grain in 2017 after
floods damaged crops and sent domestic prices to record highs
http://en.prothomalo.com/economy/news/170458/Bangladesh-to-scrap-rice-imports-from-Thailand
