Bulog fails to reach target to absorb
farmers' rice
The Jakarta Post
Palembang / Mon, March 25, 2019 / 09:19 am
A rice field in Plaosan village, Klaten regency, Central Java.
(JP/Maksum Nur Fauzan)
The South Sumatra chapter of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) is
facing difficulties in reaching its rice absorption target of 70,000 tons this
year despite harvest season.
The agency had only been able to
absorb 180 tons of rice as of early March due to the rising price of rice at
the farmers’ level, also known as the “farm gate price”, said the chapter head,
M. Yusuf Salahuddin, in Palembang, South Sumatra, recently.
Raw rice, which is not qualified
yet as medium or premiumquality rice, is sold at above Rp 8,300 (58 US cents)
per kilogram on average.
“The low absorption is because
farmers sell their rice at a higher price than the regulated farm gate price of
Rp 7,300, with the flexibility reaching Rp 8,030 at maximum [lower than the
actual farm gate price of Rp 8,300],” he said.
He said Bulog had purchased the 180
tons of rice based on the commercial price as it had to follow regulations on
rice prices.
Bulog has earmarked Rp 10 trillion
for rice purchases nationwide this year.
In terms of logistics, Yusuf
ensured that Bulog’s warehouse in South Sumatra would be able to store more
rice, saying that currently it housed 27,500 tons of rice, including the stock
from last year. Aside from local rice absorption, some of the stock also came
from East Java, he said.
The existing stock is expected to
fulfill people’s needs for the next seven months.
The stock will also be distributed
through several programs, such as the social assistance fund (Bansos), rice
assistance (Rastra) and direct market operations through traditional markets.
“We have distributed 4,000 tons of
rice through the Bansos and Rastra programs in 2019 so far. We will continue to
distribute our stock,” Yusuf said. (bbn)
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/03/25/bulog-fails-to-reach-target-to-absorb-farmers-rice.html
Oshiomhole Tells APC Elected
Lawmakers To Support Buhari’s Economic Policies
Channels Television
Updated March 25, 2019
Updated March 25, 2019
35
National Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole, addressing elected APC House of
Representatives members in Abuja.
The National Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has called on elected members of
the House of Representatives under the party, to use the ‘overwhelming’
numerical strength to support the economic agendas of President Muhammadu
Buhari.
Oshiomhole made the charge during
a meeting between the party leadership and the elected, re-elected lawmakers at
the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Monday.
According to Oshiomhole,
President Buhari would need strong support from the National Assembly to
rebuild Nigeria’s economy.
“The APC agenda and manifesto
during the campaign, our re-elected President, Buhari, reminded us that the
three critical issues on the basis of which he has canvassed for votes in 2015
are still valid in 2019; to turn the economy around and work towards an
all-inclusive growth.
“We must work hard to rebuild the economy,
strengthen the private sector, create jobs, and make Nigeria more
investment-friendly both local and foreign. If Nigeria produces what we
consume, our economy will grow in double digit and that growth will reflect in
the quality of lives of our people.”
Oshiomhole who made references to
rice and tyre imports in Nigeria stressed that the drive to change things will
need legislative interventions.
“Nigeria has spent billions
importing rice over the years we were over-dependent on imported rice. Today,
we are proud to say that if a Nigerian is eating rice today. We would need to
deepen, sustain these commitments by producing enough to export.
“I am sure some aspect of it
would require legislative intervention; we would need to reinvent the
manufacturing sector. I would like to have all our garments produced locally if
we have sensible policies in place, with appropriate legislative backing to
give people the confidence of policy stability because they are backed up by
law”, he added.
He stated that a working synergy
between the Presidency and National Assembly is apt, considering the time spent
during the campaign period.
“All of these would require a
collaborative and imaginative National Assembly; we will need to pursue
sensible policies. This time around, we would ensure that we have a leader of
the National Assembly that shares the vision of the executive; although we
speak about separation of powers; but there is only one government. Unless the
various arms pursue the same agenda, it will be difficult for the executive to
fulfill its promise without legislative backing.
New Plan To Foster Cash Crops,
Says Allan
The Ministry And Department Of Agriculture And
Livestock And Agricultural Commodity Boards And Agencies Are Working To
Develop, Expand, Promote And Support A Wide Range Of Crops And Livestock.
March 26, 2019
The Ministry and Department of
Agriculture and Livestock and agricultural commodity boards and agencies are
working to develop, expand, promote and support a wide range of crops and
livestock.
These crops include coffee, cocoa, copra, oil palm, rubber, spice crops and fresh produce.
The Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Benny Allan (pictured) said the National Agriculture Sector Plan is aimed at strengthening the current efforts by the lead agency and agricultural sectoral boards and agencies in developing the sector with emphasis on producing quality products, especially in coffee, cocoa and coconuts.
“PNG’s coffee and cocoa are recognised internationally and its top quality must be maintained as well as to promote the products to consumers worldwide,’’ Mr Allan said.
PNG coffee has attracted consumers worldwide whilst cocoa is gaining popularity in the European markets.
“The sector plan should continue to address issues and challenges affecting production especially improvement of quality, and there is need to conduct more awareness and marketing.”
He said the NASP should address one common problem faced by fresh fruit and vegetable farmers in the region which was the transportation of fresh produce, cool room storage facilities, and marketing facilities.
He hoped the department, Fresh Produce Development Agency and private sector can work together to make some improvements in this subsector.
Mr Allan said rice is a staple diet for most people and every effort must be made to promote smallholder and commercial rice production in the rural areas.
“The focus of the plan will be to encourage more local production to reduce rice imports which is about K600 million,’’ he said.
“We have good climate, soil, weather and hard working people, we must grow our own rice to replace imports.”
He said the government is partnering with companies like Trukai Industries Ltd to invest in rice projects in Markham Valley and Baiyer in Western Highlands so more of these arrangements must continue.
Mr Allan said more effort is needed to revive the livestock industry and the plan will address the decline and look at strategies to improve the raising of cattle and grazing systems, poultry, pigs, apiculture, aquaculture, small animals and others.
He said land must be made available to enable smallholder farmers to raise cattle and supply to others to boost cattle breeding and distribution throughout the country.
These crops include coffee, cocoa, copra, oil palm, rubber, spice crops and fresh produce.
The Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Benny Allan (pictured) said the National Agriculture Sector Plan is aimed at strengthening the current efforts by the lead agency and agricultural sectoral boards and agencies in developing the sector with emphasis on producing quality products, especially in coffee, cocoa and coconuts.
“PNG’s coffee and cocoa are recognised internationally and its top quality must be maintained as well as to promote the products to consumers worldwide,’’ Mr Allan said.
PNG coffee has attracted consumers worldwide whilst cocoa is gaining popularity in the European markets.
“The sector plan should continue to address issues and challenges affecting production especially improvement of quality, and there is need to conduct more awareness and marketing.”
He said the NASP should address one common problem faced by fresh fruit and vegetable farmers in the region which was the transportation of fresh produce, cool room storage facilities, and marketing facilities.
He hoped the department, Fresh Produce Development Agency and private sector can work together to make some improvements in this subsector.
Mr Allan said rice is a staple diet for most people and every effort must be made to promote smallholder and commercial rice production in the rural areas.
“The focus of the plan will be to encourage more local production to reduce rice imports which is about K600 million,’’ he said.
“We have good climate, soil, weather and hard working people, we must grow our own rice to replace imports.”
He said the government is partnering with companies like Trukai Industries Ltd to invest in rice projects in Markham Valley and Baiyer in Western Highlands so more of these arrangements must continue.
Mr Allan said more effort is needed to revive the livestock industry and the plan will address the decline and look at strategies to improve the raising of cattle and grazing systems, poultry, pigs, apiculture, aquaculture, small animals and others.
He said land must be made available to enable smallholder farmers to raise cattle and supply to others to boost cattle breeding and distribution throughout the country.
Study Focuses on Link Between
Child Feeding and Health Among Marshallese
March 26, 2019
New Plan To
Foster Cash Crops, Says Allan
Photos by University Relations
l-r: Kelly Vowell Johnson,
Allison Scott and Marilou Shreve
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A recent study of child-feeding habits
among Marshallese in Arkansas found high compliance with medical standards for
breastfeeding infants, but also reliance on rice and processed foods. The study
is a first step toward lowering rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease,
which affect Marshallese immigrants at higher rates than the U.S. population in
general.
Researchers Kelly Vowell Johnson, Allison Scott and Marilou
Shreve, all assistant professors of nursing at the University of Arkansas,
along with colleagues from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences,
worked with Marshallese community leaders to identify child-feeding practices
as a high-priority issue in efforts to address obesity. They used focus-group
interviews and surveys with 27 mothers with infants less than three years old,
and with family caregivers who helped in child rearing. The study was published
in the journal Nutrition and Metabolic Insights.
“This was an exploratory study on the community’s habits,
practices and beliefs,” Scott said. “We can’t create an intervention without
first knowing what they are doing and why they do it.”
“There is nothing out there that looks at this,” Vowell Johnson
said.
Researchers found that while all mothers in the study reported
breast feeding their infants, 80 percent also said they used milk supplements.
While the study did not address the question of exclusive breastfeeding, the
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the practice until six months of age.
Focusing on family feeding customs, researchers learned that
rice is staple food for many Marshallese families and it is often served three
times a day. Mothers and caregivers understood the health benefits of
incorporating fruits and vegetables into their diet; however, there are
economic and cultural influences to take into consideration, said Scott.
“Their views are very healthy, but there are so many barriers.
The emphasis is on processed foods and rice. Foods they would eat on the
islands are often very expensive or unavailable here. We need to ask what foods
we do have easily available here that can make good substitutes.”
Insight gained from the study will help health care providers
serve the Marshallese population, Scott said, and shape future research. “It
serves as a baseline to know what we can do, how we can help them eat more
fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.”
About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally
competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200
academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic
development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also
providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie
Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 2.7 percent
of universities in America that have the highest level of research
activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks
the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities.
Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools
and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention
and close mentoring.
CONTACTS
Allison Scott, Assistant Professor, Eleanor Mann School of
Nursing
College of Education and Health Professions
479-575-3761, als002@uark.edu
College of Education and Health Professions
479-575-3761, als002@uark.edu
Bob Whitby, feature writer
University Relations
479-575-4737, whitby@uark.edu
University Relations
479-575-4737, whitby@uark.edu
Inclusion of a crop model in a climate model to promote climate
modeling
Crop models are parameterization
schemes that simulate the processes of crop development and production. Their
inclusion in climate models can promote the simulation ability of climate
models, according to Dr. Jing ZOU at the Institute of Oceanographic
Instrumentation, Qilu University of Technology.
Dr. Jing ZOU and his
co-researchers from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of
Sciences/Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research,
Chinese Academy of Sciences/Zhejiang Institute of Meteorological Sciences,
developed a new crop-climate coupled model and published their results on its
evaluation in Advances of Atmospheric Sciences.
"Most previous studies
coupled a single crop model into a climate model," explains Dr. ZOU,
"but we considered three crop types with different farming systems in this
study. We chose rice, wheat and maize, which cover 81% of the cereal-crop
planting area in China. We further distinguished these crops in terms of
different farming systems to provide more detailed descriptions about the
actual crop planting. For example, winter wheat and spring wheat are different
in our model," he adds.
According to their findings, the
new crop-climate model has an excellent ability in simulating crop phenology,
and offers a slight correction of the bias in the original climate model in
some typical areas.
"Our new model provides a
good tool to investigate the relationship between crop development and climate
change for global change studies," says Dr. ZOU. "The expectation is
that the model can be applied in food production or agricultural research, if
further promotion of the model's accuracy and parameter optimization is
achieved in future work," he adds.
###
Rice may be cheap, but production comes at a cost
Sustainable Rice Platform transforming
rice sector for climate, income benefits
Walk into pretty much any corner
shop, market or supermarket in the world, and there is one product you are
guaranteed to find: rice.
Inexpensive, filling and
versatile, rice is a daily staple for around half of the world’s population,
accounting for 19 per cent of dietary energy globally.
But, cheap as rice is, there is a
higher price to pay.
A single kilo of rice needs an
average 2,500 litres of water to produce; in fact, rice production uses over a
third of the world’s irrigation water. Moreover, rice contributes to climate
change, with methane emitted by flooded paddy fields responsible for 10 per
cent of total global methane emissions.
And yet, with rice production
contributing to climate drive, the impacts of climate change are expected to
reduce yields and nutritional value of rice as temperatures rise, hitting
farmers particularly hard in regions such as Southeast Asia.
With rice production needing to
grow by 25 per cent over the next 25 years to meet projected future demand, it
is clear something has to change in how we grow rice in order to limit climate
change, conserve water and the environment, while at the same time providing
farmers with improved, sustainable incomes.
This is where the Sustainable
Rice Platform, co-founded by UN Environment in partnership with the
International Rice Research Institute and German development
agency—Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)—comes in.
Transforming rice production for everybody’s benefit
The Sustainable Rice Platform was
set up in 2011 to connect governments, development partners, businesses,
farmers and non-governmental organizations around the world to develop and
implement proven solutions that benefit rice producers, consumers and the environment.
The Platform’s Standard for
Sustainable Rice Cultivation was launched in 2015, together with a set of
performance indicators that monitor progress and impact of adoption of
climate-smart, sustainable best practice by small farmers.
“The idea for the Sustainable
Rice Platform came from the need to focus on food commodities primarily
produced in developing countries and consumed by food insecure people. Unlike
coffee or cocoa, over 90 per cent of all rice is produced and consumed in
the same country—predominantly in Asia. In addition, given the environmental
footprint of the rice sector, it seemed appropriate for UN Environment to take
up this challenge,” commented James Lomax, Programme Management Officer for
food systems and agriculture at UN Environment.
The Standard promotes
climate-smart practices such as direct seeding, which cuts down on water use
and labour by directly planting rice in fields, rather than following the
traditional method of first growing seedlings in a nursery.
The participation of private
sector actors will be crucial to success, as shifting to climate-smart and
sustainable rice farming practices requires cooperation between public and
private sectors. An increasing number of private sector actors, such as Mars
Food (Uncle Ben’s), Olam International, and Ebro have already committed to
achieving sustainable sourcing within their global rice supply chains.
Both farmers and planet feel the benefits
This cooperation is already
showing promising results.
The International Rice Research
Institute evaluated pilot field implementation of the Sustainable Rice Platform
Standard in 2016–2017 and found real benefits to rice farmers as well as the
environment. These included water savings of up to 20 per cent, 50 per cent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and at least 10 per cent increase in
farmers’ income.
“I used to grow my rice crop in a
conventional way that was very laborious and time- and water-consuming,” said
Ashgar Mujahid, a farmer from Pakistan, who took part in the Water Productivity
Project, run by platform partners Rice Partners Limited, Mars Food and Helvetas
Swiss Intercooperation.
When Mujahid received training on
how to use the direct seeding method, the situation changed.
“I spared one acre of land to
test the technique and my crop yield increased by 15 per cent, along with 20
per cent water saving and 50 per cent labour saving. The lower cost of
production in terms of labour and water saving, and the higher yield created a
positive impact on my income.”
Similar benefits are being seen
in other countries, with additional positive impacts on other issues of
concern, such as pollution.
“By complying with the
Sustainable Rice Platform Standard, and with the support of Farmer Friends from
Loc Troi Group, I learned how to control pests closely, and I was able to
reduce my use of chemicals,” said Nguyen Van Nhat, a farmer from Vietnam.
“By reducing my cost of
production, I was able to save more. More importantly, my health and the
environment’s health are better protected.”
With such positive early results
and massive potential for further transformation, it is little wonder that
major players in the rice sector see the Standard as the best way to ensure a
bright future for rice farmers and the planet.
Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder and
Group Chief Executive Officer of Olam, one of the world’s largest rice traders
and a leading member of the Sustainable Rice Platform, used the Fifth
International Rice Congress in Singapore to urge governments, financial
institutions, researchers as well as value chain actors to work together to
drive wide-scale adoption of the Standard. For Verghese, there is no other
option.
“Climate change mitigation cannot
be a trade-off that hurts the farmers and communities who depend on rice for
income and sustenance,” he said. “We must reimagine the whole supply chain if
the world is to become carbon neutral by 2050.”
Nigeria’s
Largest Rural Minigrid to Electrify 600 Households in Ogun
March 26, 2019 4:08 am
Solar Nigeria for the People
Limited (Solar Nigeria FTP), the Nigerian subsidiary of Solar Philippines has
signed a Community Agreement with Ode Omi Community to invest about half a
million dollars to build Nigeria’s largest rural minigrid.
Signing the agreement, the
Country Director of Solar Nigeria FTP, Dr. Tobi A. Oluwatola said the project
when completed will electrify 634 households, seven schools, three hospitals,
eight religious organizations, and more than 90 businesses in the community.
The project which is due to be
inaugurated in September 2019, will supply a peak load of 99kW to the community
in its first phase, and up to 500kW in its second phase.
Giving highlights of the benefits
of the project to the community, Dr. Oluwatola explained that the company plans
to train and employ more than 50 youth from Ode Omi Community in the construction
phase and also employ security personnel from the village as well as empower
existing recharge card vendors to make additional revenue from selling prepaid
meter credits for the minigrid in the operations phase.
“Other benefits to the community
will include free street lighting and better health and education outcomes as
hospitals can have necessary cooling, heating and lighting solutions and
children will have light to study at night. Women also would not have to travel
long distances to fetch water and wood as electric stoves and water pumps will
replace firewood and stream water,” Dr Oluwatola explained.
Oluwatola noted that the Ode Omi
project is the first out of hundreds to be constructed by his company, just as
he assured of his firm’s commitment to work with Distribution Companies
(Discos) to build interconnected mini-grids that will supply many areas in
urban centres.
“This is the first of many. Our
goal is to build 100 minigrids in our first year and to also work with Discos
to build interconnected mini-grids that will supply previously underserved
urban areas. We think that with solar today being cheaper than diesel (and gas
in some countries), it is unconscionable that Nigerians continue to endure
power cuts when we can aggressively deploy solar to solve the problem at scale.
Our aim is to end energy poverty everywhere it exists,” he said.
Speaking for the community, His
Royal Highness, Oba Adenuga Beyioku Okuniyi (Ojafoyewa II) thanked the company
for building its pilot mini-grid in Ode Omi community. He stressed the
importance of the community and its rich history going back to Oduduwa, the
ancestral father of the Yoruba people, one of whose direct descendants
reportedly founded the Ode Omi dynasty.
The signing of the community
solar agreement was witnessed by the Chairman of the Ogun Waterside Local
Government, Honorable Abajo Musa Olabode; the Chairman of the Ode Omi Community
Solar Power Committee, Apostle Ahmed Surakatu; and Solar Philippines officials,
Mr. Terence Dy Echo and Mr. Carlos Fernandez.
Some of the members of the
community interviewed were excited about the prospects of 24 hours
uninterrupted power in the community. Mr. Babatunde Ajose, a local entrepreneur
said the project will make his business be more productive and profitable.
According to him, he would not
have to travel four miles, and spend N1000 on transportation to Folu village to
buy fuel for his generator on a weekly basis. He was also pleased to know that
the tariff, would ensure that he spends less than he currently spends on fuel
to get reliable and clean power.
Like Mr. Ajose, five rice
millers, and several fishermen interviewed also echoed similar sentiment,
saying that constant electricity will enable them to save costs and also
preserve their products better with affordable cold storage options.
In only five years of its
founding, the company is already the largest vertically integrated solar
developer-manufacturer-EPC-IPP in South East Asia, with 800 MW manufacturing
capacity, 500 MW projects operating and under construction and multiple GW in
development in seven countries.
USA Rice Keeps Pressure on Iraq
By Frank
Leach
ARLINGTON, VA --
Last week Iraq announced a global tender for 30,000 MT of rice. Rice
industry champions in Congress are currently reaching out to the U.S. Embassy
in Iraq and the Iraqi Ambassador on behalf of the industry to encourage the
purchase of U.S.-grown rice.
Last fall USA Rice, along with support from Members of Congress and the U.S. State Department, saw Iraq fulfill a global tender for 30,000 MT with U.S.-grown rice -- a great win for the U.S. rice industry.
Last fall USA Rice, along with support from Members of Congress and the U.S. State Department, saw Iraq fulfill a global tender for 30,000 MT with U.S.-grown rice -- a great win for the U.S. rice industry.
"Iraq is a
top-ten market for U.S. grown rice," said USA Rice President & CEO
Betsy Ward. "With per capita rice consumption exceeding 90 pounds
per year, it holds great potential as an expanding market."
In 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the U.S. and Iraq for them to make regular purchases of competitively priced, high-quality rice from U.S. suppliers. The MOU has resulted in purchases of more than 210,000 MT of rice through the end of 2018.
In 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the U.S. and Iraq for them to make regular purchases of competitively priced, high-quality rice from U.S. suppliers. The MOU has resulted in purchases of more than 210,000 MT of rice through the end of 2018.
USA Rice Daily
Rice may be
cheap, but production comes at a cost
Sustainable Rice
Platform transforming rice sector for climate, income benefits
26 MAR 2019 STORY
CLIMATE CHANGE
Walk into pretty
much any corner shop, market or supermarket in the world, and there is one product
you are guaranteed to find: rice.
Inexpensive,
filling and versatile, rice is a daily staple for around half of the world’s
population, accounting for 19 per cent of dietary energy globally.
But, cheap as rice
is, there is a higher price to pay.
A single kilo of
rice needs an average 2,500 litres of water to produce; in fact, rice
production uses over a third of the world’s irrigation water. Moreover, rice
contributes to climate change, with methane emitted by flooded paddy fields
responsible for 10 per cent of total global methane emissions.
And yet, with rice
production contributing to climate drive, the impacts of climate change are
expected to reduce yields and nutritional value of rice as temperatures rise,
hitting farmers particularly hard in regions such as Southeast Asia.
With rice
production needing to grow by 25 per cent over the next 25 years to meet
projected future demand, it is clear something has to change in how we grow
rice in order to limit climate change, conserve water and the environment,
while at the same time providing farmers with improved, sustainable incomes.
This is where the
Sustainable Rice Platform, co-founded by UN Environment in partnership with the
International Rice Research Institute and German development agency—Gesellschaft
für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)—comes in.
Transforming rice
production for everybody’s benefit
The Sustainable
Rice Platform was set up in 2011 to connect governments, development partners,
businesses, farmers and non-governmental organizations around the world to
develop and implement proven solutions that benefit rice producers, consumers
and the environment.
The Platform’s
Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation was launched in 2015, together with a
set of performance indicators that monitor progress and impact of adoption of
climate-smart, sustainable best practice by small farmers.
“The idea for the
Sustainable Rice Platform came from the need to focus on food commodities
primarily produced in developing countries and consumed by food insecure
people. Unlike coffee or cocoa, over 90 per cent of all rice is produced and
consumed in the same country—predominantly in Asia. In addition, given the
environmental footprint of the rice sector, it seemed appropriate for UN
Environment to take up this challenge,” commented James Lomax, Programme
Management Officer for food systems and agriculture at UN Environment.
The Standard
promotes climate-smart practices such as direct seeding, which cuts down on
water use and labour by directly planting rice in fields, rather than following
the traditional method of first growing seedlings in a nursery.
The participation
of private sector actors will be crucial to success, as shifting to
climate-smart and sustainable rice farming practices requires cooperation
between public and private sectors. An increasing number of private sector
actors, such as Mars Food (Uncle Ben’s), Olam International, and Ebro have
already committed to achieving sustainable sourcing within their global rice
supply chains.
Both farmers and
planet feel the benefits
This cooperation
is already showing promising results.
The International
Rice Research Institute evaluated pilot field implementation of the Sustainable
Rice Platform Standard in 2016–2017 and found real benefits to rice farmers as
well as the environment. These included water savings of up to 20 per cent, 50
per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and at least 10 per cent
increase in farmers’ income.
“I used to grow my
rice crop in a conventional way that was very laborious and time- and
water-consuming,” said Ashgar Mujahid, a farmer from Pakistan, who took part in
the Water Productivity Project, run by platform partners Rice Partners Limited,
Mars Food and Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.
When Mujahid
received training on how to use the direct seeding method, the situation
changed.
“I spared one acre
of land to test the technique and my crop yield increased by 15 per cent, along
with 20 per cent water saving and 50 per cent labour saving. The lower cost of
production in terms of labour and water saving, and the higher yield created a
positive impact on my income.”
Similar benefits
are being seen in other countries, with additional positive impacts on other
issues of concern, such as pollution.
“By complying with
the Sustainable Rice Platform Standard, and with the support of Farmer Friends
from Loc Troi Group, I learned how to control pests closely, and I was able to
reduce my use of chemicals,” said Nguyen Van Nhat, a farmer from Vietnam.
“By reducing my
cost of production, I was able to save more. More importantly, my health and
the environment’s health are better protected.”
With such positive
early results and massive potential for further transformation, it is little
wonder that major players in the rice sector see the Standard as the best way
to ensure a bright future for rice farmers and the planet.
Sunny Verghese,
Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Olam, one of the world’s
largest rice traders and a leading member of the Sustainable Rice Platform,
used the Fifth International Rice Congress in Singapore to urge governments,
financial institutions, researchers as well as value chain actors to work
together to drive wide-scale adoption of the Standard. For Verghese, there is
no other option.
“Climate change
mitigation cannot be a trade-off that hurts the farmers and communities who
depend on rice for income and sustenance,” he said. “We must reimagine the
whole supply chain if the world is to become carbon neutral by 2050.”
IRRI DG: Work underway for a dramatic rise in rice yield
Published at 10:11 pm March 25th, 2019
IRRI DG Dr
Mathew Morell Courtesy
Bangladeshi
scientists join forces to change rice plant architecture. Bangladesh and the
Philippines advance Golden Rice to pre-release stage, Dr Matthew Morell, tells the Dhaka Tribune's Reaz Ahmad
Work is well
underway to engineer a rice plant in a way that global production of the
grain gets a dramatic boost. The idea is to convert rice into a
photosynthesis-efficient plant, which will produce up to 50% higher yields using
sunlight.
In an exclusive
interview with Dhaka Tribune, Director General of the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI), Dr Matthew Morell, said two Bangladeshi scientists
are working at IRRI headquarters in the Philippines on this ‘C4 Rice Project’,
often dubbed a "grand challenge" of the 21st century.
Rice uses the
C3 photosynthetic pathway, which in hot and dry environments, is much less
efficient than the C4 pathway, used by some other plants such as maize,
sugarcane, and sorghum. Scientists thought that if rice could
"switch" to using C4 photosynthesis, productivity would increase by
50%.
Dr Matthew
Morell, who was on a visit to Bangladesh last week, told this correspondent
last Thursday, “It’ll take more time but the prize is very big here.”
Successful
implementation of engineering rice into a C4 plant has been seen as a
"game-changer" ever since the 1960s, when scientists first developed
semi-dwarf rice varieties, heralding the famous "Green Revolution."
The IRRI DG,
expressed optimism about the way Bangladeshi rice scientists are working on
research, breeding, and innovation. “In future, Bangladesh will
contribute big time in enhancing global understanding of rice science.”
He sat with the
Dhaka Tribute correspondent at a city hotel for this interview. On the same day
he had an audience with Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, at her
office. The IRRI DG said the prime minister had appreciated the partnership
between IRRI and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in boosting rice production
and ensuring future food security.
Dr Matthew
Morell said both Bangladesh and the Philippines have taken the vitamin-A
enriched ‘Golden Rice’ varietal development to an advanced stage now. Once the
last steps of the bio-safety regulatory process are completed, he hoped
vitamin-A enriched rice would hit the market and address to a large extent, the
acute problem of vitamin-A deficiency (VAD).
He assured that
no health risk is associated with the Golden Rice, which is as good as regular
rice, yet enriched with vitamin-A.
In recent
years, IRRI and Chinese scientists have succeeded in identifying the genetic
makeup of over 3,000 rice varieties. Dr Matthew Morell, who has a PhD
in agricultural chemistry from the University of Sydney, said they are now
working on the genome mapping of 10,000 varieties of rice. He hoped that
understanding of each gene's functions would help rice breeders tweak special
traits. Rice breeders can use these varieties as building blocks, using
the sequence data to identify genes that represent favorable traits that can be
transferred to other varieties.
“Over the
years, we’ve developed different stress tolerant rice varieties, some of which
can withstand drought, some submergence, and others, salinity. Now we’re trying
to combine traits to develop a rice variety that will be able to withstand
multiple stresses,” said the IRRI DG.
He appreciated
Bangladesh’s economic progress, but added that still too many people are
deficient in micronutrients and many children have stunted growth. “That’s why
our focus here is to increase rice yield and develop varieties rich with
micronutrients (zinc, vitamin-A, iron etc). Pest and disease patterns are also
changing with the climate change phenomenon. Through our South Asia Centre in
India, we’re bringing IRRI closer to home with more research focused on grain
quality and nutrition.”
IRRI’s
bio-fortification and healthier rice initiatives, involve linking agriculture
to nutrition, bridging nutrition and micronutrient gaps, stewardship of new
rice varieties to meet international standards and national needs, and
improving health in vulnerable populations.
He said, IRRI
and Bangladesh embarked on a five-year work plan (2018-2023) last year, with
overarching goals of promoting food nutrition security, agricultural diversity,
increasing farmer income, reducing stunting in children, and enhancing climate
resilience.
The population
of Bangladesh, is projected to reach 202 million by 2050, while the economy is
projected to continue to grow at a rate of 7 to 8 per cent per year, said
Dr Matthew Morell, adding that: “This robust emerging economy in
South Asia will fuel a rise in the demand for rice. Rising food costs amid
increasing demand with limited production will put 40 million people, around a
quarter of the country’s population, at risk of suffering from starvation and
malnutrition.”
Rice accounts
for about 70% of dietary calories, and 56% of the total protein intake of
consumers in Bangladesh. The rice sector accounts for 50% of the country’s
agricultural gross domestic product, and provides 50% of rural
employment.
The
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s premier research
organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science,
improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers, and protecting
the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent,
nonprofit, research, and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and
Rockefeller Foundations, with support from the Philippines government. The
institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17
rice-growing countries of Asia and Africa.
Prior to
assuming the role of director general, Dr. Matthew was the deputy director
general for research, providing strategic leadership to IRRI’s research and
outreach programs across various dimensions of rice science, including climate
change-ready rice, healthier rice varieties, environmentally sustainable crop
farming systems, farmer-friendly crop management and value chain practices,
timely and accurate provision of rice information, capacity building, and
building the next generation of rice scientists.
Prior to his
senior management roles at IRRI, Dr. Matthew was the team leader for 17 years
at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Dr. Matthew also has extensive experience in identifying, protecting, and
managing intellectual property, as well as establishing a means for strong
compliance with the requirements of gene technology regulations, genetic
modification stewardship, and occupational health and safety legislation.
Red yeast rice supplement 'has the potential to cause' liver damage,
doctors warn
It is commonly used to lower
cholesterol levels as an alternative to statins
Red yeast rice supplement has the
potential to cause liver damage, warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case
Reports, after a 64-year old woman developed acute liver injury
after six weeks of taking the supplement.
Red yeast rice is a supplement
made by fermenting steamed rice with food fungus, and is often used to lower
high cholesterol as an alternative to statin medication.
But it contains monacolin K, the
same active chemical found in the cholesterol lowering drug lovastatin, and
therefore carries the same risk of liver damage, say the authors.
In this particular case, a
64-year old woman was admitted to hospital with symptoms of hepatotoxicity
(liver damage) six weeks after starting a 1200 mg per day of red yeast rice supplement
to lower her cholesterol, due to being hesitant about taking statins.
For two weeks, the woman had been
experiencing fatigue, bloating and feeling full sooner than usual. And her
urine was darker, her stools were lighter, and she had recently developed
jaundice.
She did not report any liver
disease, blood transfusion, contact with anyone ill or recent travel. And apart
from B12 injections for anaemia, she did not take any medication.
The woman was a non-smoker, drank
two glasses of red wine every night, and had an active lifestyle.
A liver biopsy showed findings
consistent with acute drug induced liver injury (DILI). While alcohol intake
was considered and may have contributed to her disease, the nature and timeline
of it suggests DILI was the cause, write the authors.
The woman was treated with
steroids and her liver function was monitored weekly after she was discharged.
She was advised not to use the supplement again.
This report refers to just one
case, and more research is needed to establish any possible association and
mechanism of toxicity. But several cases of red yeast hepatotoxicity have been
previously documented, write the authors, and these have shown that recovery
may take months after discontinuing.
"As this case demonstrates,
red yeast rice supplement has the potential to cause severe adverse effects,
such as acute liver injury," say the authors. And they warn that these
effects "are difficult to pre-empt, in part because the concentration of
monacolin K in red yeast rice is not regulated." As such, they call for
more regulation of supplements to prevent harmful side effects.
"Supplements are not
necessarily safer than prescription medications, and physicians and patients
should research their adverse effect profile before using them or approving
their use," they conclude.
###
Peer-reviewed? Yes
Type of evidence: Case Report
Subjects: People
Type of evidence: Case Report
Subjects: People
IMF new mission chief Rigo due today
The International Monetary Fund
(IMF) new mission chief Ernesto Ramírez Rigo is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday
(today) for courtesy and introductory meetings with Pakistani authorities.
Teresa Daban Sanchez IMF Resident Representative while responding to Business Recorder query categorically
stated that the mission will not be arriving tomorrow however the new mission
chief will make a brief visit to Pakistan for courtesy and introductory
meetings.
Gerry Rice, Director Communication Department IMF stated on Friday 22 March that there will be a mission to Pakistan shortly, though the exact date is not fixed. Rice in response to a question on the amount of IMF financial assistance to Pakistan said, "The number is not there", adding "That is something that will be discussed in the context of the consultations with the authorities".
Finance Minister Asad Umar had stated on 15 March 2019 that the mission chief would be arriving on the 26 March which subsequently led to intense speculation that the visit would be the start of negotiations on a new bail out package.
Gerry Rice, Director Communication Department IMF stated on Friday 22 March that there will be a mission to Pakistan shortly, though the exact date is not fixed. Rice in response to a question on the amount of IMF financial assistance to Pakistan said, "The number is not there", adding "That is something that will be discussed in the context of the consultations with the authorities".
Finance Minister Asad Umar had stated on 15 March 2019 that the mission chief would be arriving on the 26 March which subsequently led to intense speculation that the visit would be the start of negotiations on a new bail out package.
NEDA: March
inflation estimate is ‘same or lower’ compared with February’s 3.8%
March 25, 2019 | 10:30 pm
According to the Department of
Agriculture’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center, damage
inflicted by El Niño on farms totaled P1.33 billion as of March 19 -- PHILIPPINE
STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS
THE National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA) said it expects inflation in March to be lower or level with
February’s.
“We’re expecting it (to be)
either the same or lower,” Assistant Secretary for NEDA’s Regional Development
Office Mercedita A. Sombilla said in a news conference on Monday when asked for
the agency’s estimate for inflation this month.
In February, inflation was 3.8%,
unchanged from a year earlier and down from 4.4% in January.
NEDA’s March projection hinges on
the continued of oil prices and rice, according to Ms. Sombilla.
She said the estimates also
factor in the effects of the El Niño, which the economic planners assume will
have “a very minimal” effect, particularly on rice production.
According to the Department of
Agriculture’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center, damage
inflicted by El Niño on farms totaled P1.33 billion as of March 19, covering
78,348 metric tons (MT) of output.
Losses to the rice crop totaled
41,003 MT, worth P814.40 million.
Ms. Sombilla also said traders
may soon import rice to further shore up domestic supply if the El Niño threat
intensifies, with the Rice Tariffication Law’s implementing rules and
regulations up for signing within the week.
In addition, rice stocks built up
before the Rice Tariffication Law kicked in are still available to keep supply
stable, Ms. Sombilla said.
According to the National Food
Authority, the inventory of rice, including approved orders from Dec. 20, 2018
to March 5, totaled 357,816.45 metric tons.
Despite prices of the staple
grain being steady, NEDA said it “remains vigilant” on other commodities such
as corn which has also been “slightly” affected by El Niño.
The government forecasts
inflation in 2019 to average within the 2 to 4% range. — Janina C. Lim
Napa Farmers Market
· Cara Mae Wooledge
· Mar 25, 2019 Updated 10 hrs ago
Last month, I had the opportunity
to attend the California Small Farms Conference in Davis in part because of a
scholarship awarded to me by the California Alliance of Farmers Markets.
The California Small Farm
Conference, which welcomed about 500 participants, is a partnership between the
Community Alliance with Family Farmers and the Farmers Guild. The two-day event
brought together family farmers and the farmers markets that promote their
products in a venue encouraging innovation and mutual inspiration.
I’ve been with the Napa Farmers
Market for just over a year now, and this conference was my first opportunity
to network and learn together with my peers from across the state. On the first
day, I attended the Certified California Farmers Market Manager training. One
of the most surprising things to me was that many managers consider a market of
Napa’s size to be big.
I learned there are many ways
communities manage farmers markets: from the nonprofit Pacific Coast Farmers
Market Association, which manages 60 farmers markets in the Bay Area, to the
Santa Monica Farmers Markets, which are managed by the city government. My most
important takeaway from the training is to stay connected to my colleagues so
we can pool resources, support each other with lessons learned and celebrate
success.
Before the conference, I did a
little recon and checked out the Davis Farmers Market. Although I was envious
of their permanent market structure, I didn’t get the same vibe as I do every
market day in Napa. The missing element was my connection to the community.
Some Napa locals are still
annoyed that the Napa Farmers Market is no longer downtown. My opinion is that
location is less important than who comes out to support the market and fills
the space. The farmers, vendors, nonprofit partners and customers who come
together every week give the Napa Farmers Market its unique community feel.
I learned from the conference how
important it is to promote seasonality through educational materials like
produce guides, recipes and guided produce sampling. Other farmers market
managers shared that all their customers, from experienced foodies to eager
newbies, consider the opportunity to purchase the freshest seasonal fruit and
vegetables the most attractive feature of a farmers market.
Going forward, the Napa Farmers
Market will select one fruit and one vegetable as its Harvest of the Month. I
am excited to announce that the April Harvest of the Month is strawberries and
asparagus. Join us in celebrating these locally grown crops beginning with the
return of the Tuesday market on April 2.
Kids Activities at the Napa
Farmers Market: Bring your youngsters to the market’s Education Station on
Saturday, March 30, for Story Time at 10:30 a.m.
On the KVYN Music Stage: Fred
McCarty will perform at the Napa Farmers Market on Saturday, March 30
Asparagus Risotto with Goat
Cheese, Fresh English Peas and Meyer Lemon
This recipe is from the Culinary
Institute of America.
1 bunch asparagus (about 1
pound), tough ends trimmed
1 pound fresh English peas,
shelled
3 cups chicken or vegetable
stock, or more as needed
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup minced onion
1 cup arborio rice
1⁄4 teaspoon salt, or as needed
1⁄2 cup dry white wine
3 ounces fresh goat cheese,
broken up into small pieces
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
cheese
1 teaspoon minced lemon zest
(preferably Meyer lemon)
1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper,
or as needed
Grated goat cheese, for serving
Bring a medium pot of salted
water to a boil over high heat. Prepare 2 large bowls of ice water. Add the
asparagus to the boiling water and blanch until bright green and just tender,
about 3 minutes. Lift the asparagus out with tongs and immediately place in ice
water to stop the cooking. Drain again and cut the stalks in half crosswise.
Using the same pot of boiling
water, add the peas and blanch until they are bright green, 1 to 2 minutes.
Drain and place in ice water until cold. Drain again.
In a blender or food processor,
blend the bottom halves of the asparagus with ¼ cup of water to make a thick
purée, about 1 minute. Pass the purée through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the
stringy parts. You should have about ¾ cup purée. Cut the remaining asparagus
into ½-inch pieces.
In a medium saucepan, bring the
stock to a simmer.
In another saucepan, melt the
butter over medium heat and add the onion. Sauté, stirring frequently, until
the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and sauté until it is
hot, about 3 minutes. Add ¼ teaspoon salt and the wine and cook, stirring
frequently, until almost all of the wine is absorbed, about 3 minutes.
Add ½ cup of hot stock to the
rice and cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid is almost completely
absorbed. Repeat until you have used all of the stock.
Add the asparagus purée and cook
until it is almost absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes. Test the rice for doneness. It
should be firm but cooked through. If necessary, add another ¼ cup of stock and
continue cooking.
Stir in the cheeses and the
reserved asparagus. Reduce the heat to low and cook about 2 minutes to heat the
asparagus. Add the lemon zest and reserved peas and stir gently to heat
through. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and serve with a sprinkle of
grated goat cheese.
Serves 2 to 3 as a main dish, 4
to 6 as a side dish
Cara Mae Wooledge is the Manager
of the Napa Farmers Market. She is a passionate community advocate and thinks
healthy options should be easy and fun.
https://napavalleyregister.com/napa-farmers-market/article_2ef5b822-c93d-5f96-a1c3-4542a8dd7b53.html
Liberia to Reduce Rice Imports by
7%
-
(Flash back) Liberian
women farmers harvesting rice..
To improve rice production as one means of promoting food
security in Liberia remains a major concern by every successive government
since the end of the civil war (1989-2003). Rice, the country’s staple
food and a commodity of political proportion, has been imported on a massive
scale for many decades. Statistics from the Ministry of Finance and Development
Planning shows that Liberia spends close to US$200 million annually to import
the commodity to ensure food security for the citizens.
However, the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Mogana S. Flomo
believes that, with small steps, the country can embark on a path to
self-sufficiency in rice. In a recent engagement with partners, the Minister
disclosed that Liberia is expected to reduce rice imports by seven percent this
year.
Flomo made the disclosure to stakeholders at a recent one-day
meeting hosted in Monrovia with the aim to brainstorm on how to improve
agricultural policy for resource allocation. He said the Government of
President George Weah is targeting a five-year plan to significantly increase
food production.
In the event of meeting the five-year plan, Dr. Flomo said
government will give priority to “Communal Farming” to enhance food production
across the country, but from a different approach.
Communal farming is a farming strategy where community members
are encouraged to participate in a particular agricultural project for the
common good of the community people. In Liberia, the practice is being
implemented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry
of Agriculture. However, such farming strategy has not yielded the desire
results over the years due to lack of funding, the Daily
Observer has learnt.
Although Minister Flomo
acknowledged challenges associated with the communal farming system, he assured
the public of his ministry’s preparedness to address those challenges with a
different approach.“With assistance from international partners, we will
mobilize farming communities to engage into variety of crops production as the
surest way to promote Communal Farming activities,” he said.
“This implies that we will have to work harder to increase rice
production,” he added.
According to Flomo, the government is committed to make Liberia
food secure as evidenced by the President Weah’s willingness to support the
agricultural sector.
“The President has promised the World that his Government will
improve the agriculture sector, because this is what majority of the citizens
depend on for their livelihoods,” he said.
The Minister also stressed the need for rural communities to get
fully involved as international partners are willing to support the country
improves food production.
Vietnam sees rice export opportunity in Egypt
Vietnam sees chance to export 20,000 tonnes of rice to Egypt
(Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese enterprises see a chance to export 20,000 tonnes of rice to Egypt, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Import-Export Department.
The department said that it had a received a tender notice from the Egyptian Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade.
Under the tender notice, the type of rice required is short- and medium-grain white rice, which was harvested in the last crop of 2018 and meets Egypt’s requirements.
The volume of rice will be shipped to Egypt in two phases, from June 1-15 and from June 16-30.
The Import-Export Department said that this is a big opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to boost rice export to this potential market.
The department advised the businesses to pay attention to the quality of rice so that to secure long-term customers.
In late 2018, Egypt agreed to import 1 million tonnes of white rice from Vietnam in the next three to four months after it reduced some the area for the cultivation of the grain due to a lack of water.-VNA
In post-coup
election, Thai rice, rubber farmers rethink old political divide
March 25, 2019 | 12:01 am
KHON KAEN/SONGKHLA, THAILAND — In
the rice-growing heartland of Thailand’s northeast, Kamol Suanpanya, 80, meets
in the off season with fellow farmers at a community center, where they discuss
Sunday’s election, the first after nearly five years of military rule.
Like most in the area, Kamol will
vote for Thailand’s largest party, Pheu Thai, whose government was overthrown
in 2014. He is loyal because of policies like subsidies and low-cost health
care pioneered by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
“I can tell you I will vote for
Pheu Thai again,” said Kamol. “I haven’t changed my mind and I never will.”
Some 1,400 km (870 miles) to the
south, a longtime stronghold of the anti-Thaksin Democrat party, rubber farmer
Gorneena Pae-arlee isn’t so sure about her vote.
She has voted for the Democrats
in the past, but says she will not do so again. Nor does she want junta leader
Prayuth Chan-O-Cha to remain prime minister, as the new pro-military Palang
Pracharat party is campaigning for.
“I want to vote for change,” said
Gorneena, 52, who owns a big rubber plantation in Songkhla province.
Sunday’s general election has
been cast as a struggle between democracy and military rule, with Thaksin’s
Pheu Thai leading the charge for a “democratic front” against Palang Pracharat,
the party backing Prayuth.
The pro-establishment Democrats
are seen as a possible kingmaker.
But from north to south, farmers
complain about hard times and growing mountains of debt since the military took
over.
Many look to the election as a
way out for what they say is an economy that seems to be growing but leaving
them behind.
NORTH AND SOUTH
Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rubber and second-largest of rice. Farming accounts for 30 percent of the work force, though only about 10 percent of the economy.
Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rubber and second-largest of rice. Farming accounts for 30 percent of the work force, though only about 10 percent of the economy.
The rice-growing northeast and
rubber-tapping south reflect the deep divide in Thailand’s polarized politics
of the last 15 years.
Thaksin’s “red-shirt” supporters
are mostly from the rice-growing northeast and north, whereas southern rubber
farmers have come up to Bangkok at different times over the years to join
anti-Thaksin “yellow-shirt” protests of middle-class voters who support the
military and royalist establishment.
The unrest has led to bloodshed
and two military coups, the first toppling former telecoms tycoon Thaksin in
2006, and the last one overthrowing a government that had been led by his
sister, Yingluck.
The siblings live in self-exile
to avoid convictions — corruption for Thaksin and negligence for Yingluck —
handed down after they were ousted. They denied wrongdoing and said the charges
were politically motivated.
After almost five years under a
junta led by former army chief Prayuth, the rice-and-rubber divide still
exists.
But while the north and northeast
remain as pro-Thaksin as ever, some southerners said their support for the
Democrat Party may be wavering.
LOW CROP PRICES
With new political parties on the scene and the price of rubber languishing, some farmers, like Gorneena, are considering the options.
With new political parties on the scene and the price of rubber languishing, some farmers, like Gorneena, are considering the options.
“Rubber prices have suffered a
lot, and nothing has improved under the military. I really want the new
government to help fix this,” Gorneena said.
Thai benchmark rubber smoked
sheets were trading at around 56.60 baht per kilogram this week, a far cry from
a record 198.55 baht in 2011, according to Refinitiv data.
While the south’s rubber farmers
are generally better off than their rice-growing counterparts, monthly income
in the south declined by 2 percent to 26,913 baht ($850) per household from
pre-coup 2013 to 2017.
That contrasts with average
national income that grew roughly 7 percent, government data showed.
While several other rubber
farmers interviewed said they would stick by the Democrats, a poll by Prince of
Songkla University published last week signaled a weakening of their grip.
The poll showed 27 percent
preferring the new, progressive Future Forward Party, compared with 24 percent
for the Democrat Party, with Pheu Thai coming in at 19 percent and Palang
Pracharat at 12 percent. It provided no margin of error.
HIGH DEBT
The plight of farmers from north to south comes as a stark contrast with Thailand’s top 1 percent, who own 66.9 percent of the country’s wealth, according to Credit Suisse’s 2018 Global Wealth Databook.
The plight of farmers from north to south comes as a stark contrast with Thailand’s top 1 percent, who own 66.9 percent of the country’s wealth, according to Credit Suisse’s 2018 Global Wealth Databook.
That makes Thailand the most
unequal country in the world.
Southeast Asia’s second-largest
economy expanded 4.1 percent in 2018, the fastest in six years. This year, the
state planning agency predicts growth of 3.5-4.5 percent.
At the same time, household debt
soared to a record 12.56 trillion-baht in the third quarter of 2018, or 77.8
percent of gross domestic product, central bank data showed.
For many Pheu Thai supporters,
hard times have led to borrowing and left them pining for the party’s populist
policies.
In the northeastern city of Khon
Kaen, June Kit-Udom, who at 61 is the sole provider for her family of three,
said she quit rice farming a few years ago because prices plunged following the
2014 coup.
She now works seven days a week
at a recycling factory for 325 baht ($10.26) a day, but she says the tough work
has resulted in spiking hospital bills.
“Life was better under Yingluck’s
government. She helped us a lot with cash subsidy. This government gave us
nothing,” June said.
Some 3.6 million households in
the northeast are in debt, accounting for more than a third of the total,
according to data by the National Statistics Office.
The northeast has the highest
average debt per household of 179,923 baht ($5,680), and the lowest average
income per capita at 6,656 baht ($210) per month.
Addressing inequality should be
high on the agenda of the next government, said Thomas Parks, country
representative of the Asia Foundation, a non-profit group focusing on
development.
“Inequality and regional
disparities are one of Thailand’s most fundamental challenges,” he said.
“We expect that any government,
regardless of the election outcome, will make this a serious priority.” — Reuters
Rice Prices
as on :
26-03-2019 01:07:17 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in
Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Gadarpur(Utr)
|
766.00
|
-75.9
|
24042.00
|
2348
|
4243
|
-
|
|
Siliguri(WB)
|
180.00
|
2.86
|
2191.00
|
3700
|
3700
|
-
|
|
Gondal(UP)
|
163.00
|
7.24
|
4623.00
|
2450
|
2450
|
13.95
|
|
Azamgarh(UP)
|
150.00
|
7.14
|
8816.00
|
2385
|
2380
|
-
|
|
Roorkee(Utr)
|
150.00
|
552.17
|
489.00
|
2300
|
2100
|
-
|
|
Agra(UP)
|
105.00
|
-13.93
|
2320.00
|
2510
|
2500
|
-1.18
|
|
Pilibhit(UP)
|
100.00
|
13.64
|
10365.50
|
2470
|
2470
|
10.51
|
|
Madhoganj(UP)
|
93.00
|
1.09
|
2931.50
|
2150
|
2130
|
-
|
|
Puranpur(UP)
|
80.00
|
NC
|
5639.00
|
2450
|
2450
|
8.17
|
|
Barhaj(UP)
|
60.00
|
-14.29
|
4708.00
|
2280
|
2250
|
-
|
|
Vasai(Mah)
|
52.00
|
33.33
|
857.00
|
3165
|
3380
|
7.65
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
50.00
|
NC
|
845.00
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Hapur(UP)
|
50.00
|
-16.67
|
1540.00
|
2700
|
2680
|
-0.74
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
47.00
|
4.44
|
825.60
|
2275
|
2270
|
-0.66
|
|
Khalilabad(UP)
|
45.00
|
NC
|
745.00
|
2260
|
2260
|
5.85
|
|
Karimpur(WB)
|
45.00
|
NC
|
1015.00
|
2900
|
3100
|
-21.41
|
|
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
|
45.00
|
-10
|
1942.00
|
2750
|
2750
|
-1.79
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
2261.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
NC
|
|
Holenarsipura(Kar)
|
40.00
|
233.33
|
52.00
|
1787
|
1200
|
-
|
|
Chintamani(Kar)
|
38.00
|
15.15
|
855.00
|
1900
|
1900
|
-
|
|
Egra/contai(WB)
|
36.50
|
2.82
|
145.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
-4.00
|
|
Allahabad(UP)
|
35.00
|
-22.22
|
847.50
|
2320
|
2260
|
-
|
|
Sahiyapur(UP)
|
28.00
|
-34.88
|
952.50
|
2360
|
2390
|
9.77
|
|
Mathura(UP)
|
28.00
|
12
|
665.50
|
2700
|
2700
|
6.30
|
|
Rampur(UP)
|
25.00
|
NC
|
436.50
|
2490
|
2475
|
5.96
|
|
Kayamganj(UP)
|
25.00
|
25
|
599.00
|
2630
|
2620
|
16.37
|
|
Basti(UP)
|
24.00
|
71.43
|
1083.50
|
2365
|
2360
|
10.00
|
|
Jayas(UP)
|
21.00
|
-16
|
716.70
|
2050
|
2050
|
-0.97
|
|
Karimganj(ASM)
|
20.00
|
-66.67
|
1110.00
|
2450
|
2400
|
4.26
|
|
Tulsipur(UP)
|
20.00
|
5.26
|
39.00
|
1850
|
1850
|
-
|
|
Honnali(Kar)
|
19.00
|
-69.35
|
213.00
|
1850
|
1779
|
1.65
|
|
Bangarmau(UP)
|
18.00
|
NC
|
75.90
|
2275
|
2250
|
8.33
|
|
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)
|
17.60
|
6.67
|
454.90
|
3000
|
3000
|
NC
|
|
Bhivandi(Mah)
|
17.00
|
-32
|
340.00
|
2350
|
3550
|
-16.07
|
|
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
|
16.00
|
-15.79
|
339.50
|
2400
|
2400
|
4.35
|
|
Farukhabad(UP)
|
15.00
|
7.14
|
429.00
|
2640
|
2660
|
14.04
|
|
Kishunpur(UP)
|
14.00
|
75
|
130.00
|
1900
|
1900
|
5.56
|
|
Jafarganj(UP)
|
14.00
|
-33.33
|
965.00
|
1930
|
2080
|
-
|
|
Balrampur(UP)
|
12.00
|
9.09
|
362.00
|
2325
|
2325
|
-
|
|
Vilthararoad(UP)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
541.00
|
2150
|
2150
|
2.87
|
|
Sirsaganj(UP)
|
9.00
|
-10
|
297.00
|
2770
|
2750
|
8.20
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
8.50
|
25
|
155.30
|
2550
|
2550
|
6.25
|
|
Nalbari(ASM)
|
8.50
|
-12.37
|
129.10
|
2550
|
2550
|
4.08
|
|
Tamkuhi Road(UP)
|
8.00
|
-5.88
|
391.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
3.29
|
|
Dadri(UP)
|
8.00
|
-60
|
478.00
|
2750
|
2720
|
4.56
|
|
Panchpedwa(UP)
|
7.00
|
-53.33
|
625.00
|
1920
|
1870
|
-
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
6.00
|
20
|
358.50
|
2320
|
2330
|
8.16
|
|
Badayoun(UP)
|
5.00
|
NC
|
410.00
|
2470
|
2460
|
2.92
|
|
Chitwadagaon(UP)
|
5.00
|
-37.5
|
328.00
|
2100
|
2100
|
5.00
|
|
Tundla(UP)
|
4.50
|
18.42
|
166.70
|
2520
|
3520
|
-3.82
|
|
Melaghar(Tri)
|
3.50
|
40
|
16.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
-8.47
|
|
Jahangirabad(UP)
|
3.00
|
-25
|
97.00
|
2625
|
2640
|
1.74
|
|
Sehjanwa(UP)
|
3.00
|
-25
|
189.10
|
2160
|
2160
|
-
|
|
Jagnair(UP)
|
1.50
|
NC
|
51.60
|
2550
|
2540
|
2.00
|
|
Paliakala(UP)
|
1.30
|
-87
|
393.80
|
2260
|
2270
|
4.39
|
|
Jambusar(Kaavi)(Guj)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
34.00
|
3400
|
3200
|
-
|
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
69.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
-16.00
|
|
Murud(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
69.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
5.00
|
|
Achnera(UP)
|
0.70
|
-12.5
|
26.40
|
2540
|
2540
|
0.79
|
|
Khairagarh(UP)
|
0.70
|
-12.5
|
53.80
|
2510
|
2510
|
0.40
|
Published on March
26, 2019
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- March 26, 2019
· MARCH 26, 2019 / 1:28 PM
·
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – Open
Market-March 26, 2018 Nagpur, Mar 26 (Reuters) – Major wheat varieties reported
down in open market here on lack of demand from local traders amid good supply
from producing regions. Fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh wheat prices and release
of stock from stockists also pushed down prices in limited deals, according to
sources.
GRAM
* Desi gram raw moved down in
open market on poor demand from local traders. Easy
condition on NCDEX also affected
sentiment.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in
open market here on subdued demand from local
traders.
* In Akola, Tuar New –
4,650-5,100, Tuar dal (clean) – 7,900-8,200, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 6,500-7,500, Moong Mogar
(clean) 7,200-7,800, Gram – 4,150-4,250, Gram Super best
– 6,000-6,300 * Wheat, rice and
other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at
last levels in weak trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC
auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices
Previous close
Gram Auction n.a. 3,600-3,860
Gram Pink Auction n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 4,450-4,985
Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Lokwan Auction n.a.
1,850-1,940
Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a.
2,900-3,000
Gram Super Best Bold 5,600-5,800
5,800-6,000
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,300-5,500
5,600-5,800
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,200-4,300
4,250-4,350
Desi gram Raw 4,150-4,250
4,150-4,250
Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000
8,300-10,000
Tuar Fataka Best-New 7,900-8,100
8,000-8,200
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 7,200-7,400
7,300-7,500
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New
6,800-7,000 7,000-7,200
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New
6,600-6,900 6,800-7,100
Tuar Gavarani New 5,200-5,300
5,450-5,550
Tuar Karnataka 5,350-5,550
5,550-5,750
Masoor dal best 5,300-5,400
5,300-5,400
Masoor dal medium 5,000-5,100
5,000-5,100
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New)
7,500-8,500 7,500-8,500
Moong Mogar Medium 6,200-7,000
6,200-7,000
Moong dal Chilka New 6,500-7,500
6,500-7,500
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 7,600-8,700
7,600-8,700
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG)
(New) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)
5,200-6,500 5,200-6,500
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,000 3,700-3,900
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
5,800-5,900 5,800-5,900
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
4,600-4,900 4,600-4,900
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
5,300-5,500 5,300-5,500
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)
6,500-6,700 6,500-6,700
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,200 2,200-2,300
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)
2,050-2,000 2,100-2,150
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,600 2,600-2,700
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,400 2,300-2,500
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)
n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)
3,400-4,000 3,400-4,100
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)
2,800-3,200 2,800-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)
3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)
2,500-3,000 2,500-3,000
Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG)
2,900-3,200 2,900-3,200
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)
2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)
4,000-4,400 4,100-4,400
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)
3,500-3,900 3,500-3,900
Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG)
3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)
5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)
4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000
Rice Shriram New (100 INR/KG)
4,200-4,400 4,200-4,400
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)
9,000-13,500 9,000-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)
5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)
6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)
6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Rice Chinnor New (100 INR/KG)
4,700-5,000 4,700-5,000
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 39.1 degree Celsius,
minimum temp. 22.1 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky.
Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 39 degree Celsius and 22 degree
Celsius. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from
plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)
* * * * * * ATTN : Nagpur
soyabean mandi and wholesale good grain market of Nagpur APMC are officially
open but no auctions reported till 1.15 pm today because of payments failure
from traders. Traders are likely to pay by this afternoon, according to
sources.
Nigeria Is Not
Rice Self-Sufficient Yet, Says Africa Rice Centre
Tagged:
Photo: Pixabay
By Femi Ibirogba
The claim that Nigeria is now
self-sufficient in rice production is fallacious and deceitful, the Africa Rice
Centre (AfricaRice), Ibadan, Oyo State, has said.AfricaRice is one of the 15
research centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research (CGIAR), a global research partnership for a food secure future
dedicated to reduction of poverty, enhancement of food and nutrition security,
and improvement of natural resources, financed by international governmental
and non-governmental donors around the world.
Dr Francis Nwilene, the Regional
Coordinator of AfricaRice Centre, told The Guardian that though the Anchor
Borrowers' scheme, especially on rice production, had been helpful in boosting
the quantity of paddies produced in the country in the last few years, Nigeria
is not self-sufficient in rice production now.
He said: "My brother, it is
a big issue and I don't want to go into that. I was quoted to have said we are
self-sufficient at 4.0 million tonnes by OCP, a fertiliser group owned by the
King of Morocco, but how could I say that when I know well that we need 7.8
million metric tonnes to be self-sufficient and currently we produce about 6.8
million tonnes.
"So, there is a deficit of
at least one million tonnes of rice per annum. Reporters have been coming here
for interviews but I refer them to our head office. I don't want to get myself
involved in the controversial issue."
President of the All Farmers
Association of Nigeria, Ibrahim Kabir, confirmed that the country is not yet
producing enough rice to meet up with the home demand by telling The Guardian
in a text message that "Nigeria has made giant strides in this regard but
we need to do more to attain self-sufficiency."
By deduction from his statement,
Kabir admitted that though Nigeria had increased rice production, it had not
attained self-sufficiency, and would have to invest more in irrigation
facilities for dry season farming; supply more improved varieties of rice
seeds; rev up local blending of fertiliser and encourage farm mechanisation by
making tractor hiring services available at the doorsteps of farmers at
reasonable rates.
Sahabi Augie, chairman of the
Rice Farmers Association in Kebbi State, said last year, farmers harvested 1.1
million tonnes of rice, while 1.5 million tonnes are expected this year.
He too expressed that Nigeria
could do more annually until it produces more than annual consumption figures,
saying this would discourage smuggling and make the price of locally produced
brands of rice more affordable.
Smuggling of rice and way forward
Dr Nwilene said rice is a huge
business globally, and smuggling cabals in Nigeria do not want to let go of the
illegal trade.
He disclosed smugglers do re-bag
foreign rice at the border towns as local brands of rice to deceive the law
enforcement agents and Nigerian consumers.
It has been reported that in
Katsina State, smuggling of rice is one of the thriving illegal trades the majority
of the people living along the Nigeria-Niger borders live on.
At the Seme border, rice is
smuggled daily from the Republic of Benin into Badagry, Lagos State, and
eventually into Lagos and other parts of the country either by regular rice
dealers or car smugglers using the opportunity to smuggle the product as
additional means of illegal income.
Small-scale smugglers use
motorcycles, buses, canoes and cars to convey rice across the borders in
Katsina, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Kwara and other states flanking neighbouring
countries.
Sometimes, it was reported, the
trailers from Benin Republic convey rice to Hirji, a border village in Katsina,
to off-load, and from there youths are engaged to transport to Magama in Jibia,
with a bag of rice selling between N9,000 to N11,000 at Hirji, far below the
selling price of locally produced and processed brands of rice.
Three factors, the rice centre
boss said, are responsible for high rate of smuggling, and they are porous
nature of the borders; high average cost of locally produced rice due to low
productivity per hectare and grossly inadequate power supply to processors, and
unbridled taste for foreign goods of many Nigerians.
Nwilene recommended that the
Nigerian Custom Service should be more proactive and shun compromise; Nigerian
farmers should be more empowered with high-yielding varieties of rice seeds
developed by the centre, trained on new production techniques and agronomical
practices; and that Nigerians should reject foreign rice, as well as doing all
necessary investments to generate and distribute adequate and cheaper
electricity.
If nobody buys foreign rice,
smugglers will lose their jobs, he argued, because nobody sells what nobody
else buys.
He revealed to The Guardian that
Egypt, as a result of rice farm destruction by floods, had charged scientists
in the country to develop upland varieties of rice that could yield up to 10
tonnes per hectare, in the next three to four years.
The country currently cultivates
low-land varieties of rice which require waterlogged areas, exposing such farms
to flooding.
Upland varieties of rice are
cultivated on drain farmland like maize, cassava and other crops which flourish
with rainfalls.
https://allafrica.com/stories/201903250103.html
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