Wednesday, August 28, 2019

28th August,2019 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter








Stress on use of water-saving technology in farming Hans News Service   |  
28 Aug 2019 2:58

 AM IST HIGHLIGHTS Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy said that the State government is striving hard to increase the income of the farmers by adopting best agricultural practices and utilising best technologies available across the globe. Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy said that the State government is striving hard to increase the income of the farmers by adopting best agricultural practices and utilising best technologies available across the globe. Addressing at an interaction meeting with a team of scientists of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines on a project proposal held at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University(PJTSAU) here on Tuesday, he said stress must be given on use of water-saving and time-saving technologies in the rice crop in the State.
Advertise With Us The Minister said that India has set the goal to double the farmers' income by 2022. For this, States should also set goals and strategies to contribute to the same, he added. He said the State spent more than Rs 20,000 crore on the agriculture sector to make agriculture profitable to farmers. He said the proposed project prepared by the IRRI will definitely be helpful to the farmers and also improve the water-saving and time-saving in the cultivation of paddy crop. Advertise With Us He expressed the confidant that the project proposal will definitely be agreed by the Chief Minister for extending new technologies to the farmers. Earlier, the Deputy Director-General, Research, IRRI Dr Jacquelin Hughes gave a power point presentation on "Improving farmers' income and nutrition security in rice – based agri-food system in Telangana".
Advertise With Us According to DDG IRRI, the proposed project would ensure doubling of farmer's income, sustainable water management in agriculture, developing of stress-tolerant rice varieties for sustainable farming and developing of low glycemic index varieties etc. He further added that the project would also provide mechanisation and post-harvest business models, capacity development and knowledge exchange to the scholars, staff, and farmers. By implementing the project there would be an increase in income, also increased rice yield, additional yield in pulses and other crops could be achieved. PJTSAU, Vice-Chancellor Dr V Praveen Rao said the main objective of the proposed project is to provide the world-class infrastructure, capacity development of the staff and develop the strategies required for the State. It also provides international exposure to the scientists of the university. Director, IRRI Varanasi Center Dr Aravind Kumar, IRRI scientists, director of Research Dr R Jagadeeshwar, university officers attended the interaction meeting.

https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/stress-on-use-of-water-saving-technology-in-farming-558907

Paddy farming: Telangana, IRRI may join hands

The IRRI proposed project will result in water and time saving technologies being implemented in paddy cultivation - S Niranjan Reddy, Agriculture Minister

By AuthorTelanganaToday  |  Published: 27th Aug 2019  7:57 pmUpdated: 28th Aug 2019  12:20 am
Description: IRRIAgriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy felicitating Dr Jacquelin Hughes, Deputy Director General, Research, IRRI, at PJTSAU on Tuesday.
Hyderabad: The State government will explore joining hands with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to implement methods for improving profitability of paddy farmers in Telangana. The proposed programme also seeks to increase nutritional security through rice-based agri food system in the State.
Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy on Tuesday said he would place the proposals mooted by IRRI before Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. The IRRI proposed project would be helpful to farmers and result in water and time saving technologies being implemented in paddy cultivation, he said.
The Minister was speaking at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University on Tuesday at an interaction with IRRI scientists led by Deputy Director General, Research, IRRI, Dr Jacquelin Hughes. The State government was spending more than Rs 20,000 crore on the agriculture sector to make farming a profitable activity in Telangana in addition to implementing several programmes for welfare of the farming community, he said.
Dr Hughes said the proposed project would ensure doubling of farmers’ income, sustainable water management in agriculture, developing of stress tolerant rice varieties for sustainable farming and developing of low glycemic index varieties of rice which are particularly suitable for consumption by diabetic patients.
IRRI, she said, was ready to provide, through the project, mechanisation and post-harvest business models, capacity development and knowledge exchange to scholars, staff, and farmers. It will also be possible to implement these methods to increase yields of other crops such as pulses, she said.
University Vice-Chancellor Dr V Praveen Rao said the programme would be a good opportunity for the university scientists to gain international exposure. Director, IRRI Varanasi Centre, Dr Aravind Kumar, several IRRI scientists, Director of Research Dr R Jagadeeshwar, scientists from PJTSAU and university officers attended the meeting.
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New high-yielding hybrid basmati rice coming soon

Description: riceAmid the growing needs of food in country, the Guard Agriculture Research and Services is all set to introduce new hybrid ‘basmati rice’ in Pakistan.
This new hybrid rice has been developed focusing on the looming water scarcity and climate changes threats which are posing serious threat to the national food security. With the invention of this new type of rice, it will help in increasing an average yield up to 80 maunds per acre while an average grain length of 8mm.
This was briefed by Guard Agri Chief Executive Shahzad Malik to the members Agricultural Journalists Association here in Lahore during a discussion held on role of hybrid rice varieties in ensuring food security.
SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik, LCCI President Syed Almas Hyder, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan’s nominated chairman for next year Shahjahan Malik were also present on this occasion.
Shahzad Malik informed that they were very near to achieve the targets after a hard work of five to six years and their scientists in collaboration with the Chinese partners have developed 13 CMS lines out of which one variety is giving 75 maund per acres and average grain length of 7 mm, slightly short of the target of 80 maund per acre. He said that scientists have been given the task that the variety they develop should be heat & drought tolerant and salinity resistant.
“Guard commercialized Super Basmati in 1991, which was eventually approved by Government in 1997 for commercial cultivation after 40 per cent of Punjab area came under its cultivation. The Company so far has developed 08 different rice hybrids for general cultivation in Pakistan with first Seed Company developing such a big number of hybrids and starting local hybrid seed production,” Malik stated.
Malik stressed that need to bring new hybrid rice is that yield of existing rice varieties is low and stagnant. “The low rice yields do not match with the increasing cost of inputs and because of increasing cost, Pakistan is becoming uncompetitive in the international market. Declining land resources and water shortage are other reasons which can only be solved by the adoption of hybrid rice.”
He further added that since the introduction of hybrid rice in Sindh, the income of rice farmers has doubled due to the double yield of hybrid rice as compared to IRRI varieties. Due to early maturing hybrid rice crop, timely sowing of Rabi crops is ensured. Timely sown Rabi crops give positive and significantly increase in per-unit production / per acre yield which consequently increases farmer income. Due to shorter maturity period, hybrid rice crop can be planted in late season.
To a question, he said to encash upon the opportunities exist in Iran, which is the second biggest market of Basmati rice after Saudi Arabia, Pakistan needs to protect the rice exporters. He said as we do not have any cash swap treaty with Iran, exporters have proposed barter trade with Iran. He hoped that soon Pakistan will have a barter agreement with Iran of importing LPG against Pakistani rice.
He said there is a need of more production and supply to explore new markets and achieve the target of US 5 billion dollars export in the next five years and hybrid seeds can give this more yield. He said that he personally is opposed to the idea of introducing GMOs in food crops.

Senegal’s rice imports down

Published on 27.08.2019 at 13h21 by APA News
Description: https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/15669084736946-780x440.jpg
Senegal’s rice imports in June 2019 decreased by 4.877 billion CFA francs,(about $8.290 million), compared to May 2019, according to a note from the National Agency for Statistics and Population (ANSD) copied to APA on Tuesday.These imports amounted to 15.468 billion CFA francs, against 20.345 billion CFA francs in June 2019 representing a 24-percent decrease in relative value (1 CFA equals $0.0017).
Compared to May 2019 when they amounted to 16.979 billion CFA francs, rice imports in the country are down 8.9 percent on a month to month basis.

Villlar hits misconceptions on Rice Tariffication Law



SENATOR Cynthia Villar (right) along with Baldwin Jallorina, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization director, and Sailila Addula, acting executive director of PhilRice, observes the operation of a harvester tractor during a training session on modernized production of high quality inbred rice seeds in Bacoor City, Cavite. The senator has stressed that the Rice Tariffication Law can help farmers improve their livelihood by providing them funds to mechanize through the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). (Ali Vicoy)
Senator Cynthia Villar has clarified misconceptions on the Rice Tariffication Law, saying it was passed due to the Philippines’ failure to meet with its obligations with the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Villar, one of the senators who pushed for the law, said this amid concerns that the law has dealt a big blow on the farmers affected by the influx of cheaper rice imports.
The law, which removes the quantitative restrictions on rice and imposing a 35 percent tariff on imports from neighboring Southeast Asian nations, was actually a result of the country’s failure to meet its obligations under a 1995 agreement with the WTO to make the country’s rice farmers more competitive.
“We (lawmakers) did not decide on the importation of rice. We signed an agreement in 1995 with WTO, they will allow us to control the importation of rice for 22 years to prepare our farmers to become competitive to the imported rice and this expired in 2017,” Villar said.
“Of course, this is an agreement with the WTO. Our President can’t do anything but conform to the agreement, that’s why he sent a rice tariffication bill to Congress that he certified as urgent because he doesn’t want to import rice without tariff so that our small rice farmers will not be affected,” she pointed out.
Had the government succeeded at making Filipino farmers competitive while the WTO agreement was in effect, there would have been no need for the government to impose the liberalization of rice.
“We should have, since 1995, have helped our rice farmers to compete with those imported rice. There are mechanisms for them to be competitive with imported rice,” she said.
“We cannot do anything about it because that is part of our agreement with the WTO. We can’t disregard it. We had our shortcomings, so now we are trying to correct our mistakes,” she added.
But she said the Rice Tariffication Law can help farmers improve their livelihood by providing them funds to mechanize through the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
As such, Villar reiterated that the price of palay would not go down to as low as P7 per kilo due to the effects of the Rice Tariffication law.
“How can that drop to P7, when in Vietnam, it’s P6? Then you add tariff, that would be P9. So how can that drop so low?,” she pointed out.
“If rice from Vietnam enters into the market that would be P20 per kilo of rice, so how will it go down to P7? That’s already false information,” she stressed. (Hannah L. Torregoza)

Slow RCEF distribution seen hindering farmers

Description: https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cynthia-villar-philstar.jpgSENATOR Cynthia A. Villar — PHILSTAR
SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar on Tuesday warned against the slow disbursement of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), a component of the Rice Tariffication Law that seeks to upgrade farmers’ competitiveness.
“If we do not give RCEF a chance to be fully implemented and deliver on its promise to improve the competitiveness of our agriculture sector, I don’t think we can ever make it,’’ Ms. Villar said in a statement.
“In this age of liberalization, our farmers will continue to fear competition because they were not given the chance to improve their ways.”
The committee on agriculture and food with the committees on finance, trade, commerce and entrepreneurship on Wednesday will continue its inquiry on the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, or Republic Act No. 11203.
The law calls for RCEF to receive P10 billion a year for the next six years from tariffs collected on liberalized rice imports. The funds will be used to expand farm mechanization and increase farmers’ access to financing, inputs and technical know-how
Ms. Villar said of the first P5 billion released for RCEF, only P1 billion has been credited to farmers.



“Now that Philippine authorities can no longer limit the entry of imported rice, we impose tariffs and collect the amount to spend for programs that will help improve our farmers’ productivity and profitability under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF),” Ms. Villar said.
Ms. Villar also pointed out the Rice Tariffication Law helps meet the Philippines’ 1995 commitment to the World Trade Organization, to do away with quantitative restrictions on rice imports.
“We were under a QR system for 22 years. To my mind, we were given more than enough time to improve but we did not improve. Our farmers and fisherfolk continue to suffer in poverty while smugglers and cartels continue to enrich themselves,” Ms. Villar said. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

https://www.bworldonline.com/slow-rcef-distribution-seen-hindering-farmers/

 

Palay price continues to drop in mid-August

AUGUST 28, 2019
PALAY PRICE CONTINUES TO DROP IN MID-AUGUST
The average farmgate price of palay (unmilled rice) continued to fall as of the second week of August, reaching P17.62 per kilo, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
In its weekly update on palay, rice and corn prices, PSA said the latest average quotation of palay was 20.9 percent lower than the P22.28 per kilo in the same period last year.
Month-on-month, it dropped by 0.6 percent from P17.72 per kilo.
The steep drop in locally produced palay was blamed on the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, which allowed the unlimited entry of cheap rice imported from other countries.
The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) earlier urged the government to start increasing the tariff on rice imports to help plummeting prices of palay to recover. The new rice regime has so far stripped P95 billion in losses for farmers, according to PCAFI president Danny Fausto.
In the same report, PSA said prices of well-milled and regular milled rice posted significant decreases at wholesale and retail trades.
The average wholesale price of well-milled rice slightly increased by 0.2 percent to P39.10 per kilo week-on-week. It fell by 10.2 percent from P43.54 per kilo a year ago.
At retail trade, the average price went up by 0.3 percent to P42.71 per kilo from a week ago, but fell by 7.3 percent from P46.06 per kilo a year earlier.
For regular milled rice, the average wholesale price sligthly dropped to P35.09 per kilo week-on-week. Likewise, it dropped by 12.7 percent from last year’s P40.20 per kilo. Its retail price, meanwhile, remained at P38.38 per kilo week-on-week, but was down by 9.8 percent from P42.57 per kilo in the same period in 2018.

Fast-spreading farm viruses, fast-engulfing farm misery


AUGUST 28, 2019
FAST-SPREADING FARM VIRUSES, FAST-ENGULFING FARM MISERY
MARLEN V. RONQUILLO
A FEW months back, the Department of Agriculture (DA), knowing the perils that come with our porous borders and the greed of meat importers and smugglers, came out with a plea. The appeal was this: Cases of the lethal African swine fever, the dreaded ASF, had been reported in eight countries (China, Russia, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar). Please have a sense of country and stop getting pork from these countries. Description: Fast-spreading farm viruses, fast-engulfing farm misery 1
The appeal, that the survival of the P250-billion hog industry was at stake, meant little to the profiteers. The lust for profit in this sad country of ours does not have an accompanying sense of country.
Today, a still unidentified disease has been wiping out hog farms in Bulacan and Rizal. In the Central Visayas, Bohol has reported swine deaths. Cullings and quarantines, the most terrifying nightmare for the hog industry, have been imposed. The hog industry is in a state of panic. A precipitous drop in the farmgate prices of abattoir-ready hogs, from an average of P130 to P105 per kilogram, has taken place and a further drop is expected. At the public markets in Pampanga, where the pork stalls are usually the busiest, the current condition can be summed up with this apt Tagalog description — matumal.
Batangas province, the base of many industrial-scale hog farms and the modern hog farms that supply both pricey boars, sows and hog genetics, has imposed a mandatory quarantine. Pampanga, also host to big hog farms, is likewise on the edge and preparing for emergencies.
The Bulacan/Pampanga/Tarlac areas in Central Luzon and Batangas/Rizal in the Calabarzon supply more than 70 percent of Luzon’s pork requirements. Should a swine epidemic strike these provinces, the results are predictable: the crippling of Luzon pork supply, soaring pork prices, tens of thousands of farm workers dislocated and a banking system holding on to worthless mortgage collaterals.
The industrial-size farms, with an average population of 500 sows (total population at this sow size is around 5,000), you see, have been regular borrowers from the banking mainstream. The backyard farms, mostly 10- to 20-sow levels, are mostly owned by OFW families and these are self-financed.
The city-based people uncurious about farm life, or who get their information about “successful lives of farmers” through the farcical, cherry-picked articles in the glossy agricultural magazines, will not even notice that such virus attacks have international implications. Pork from the Philippines and exports based on Philippine pork will now be banned from entering other markets. Even the pork imports that countries should buy from the Philippines under international trading rules, and whose volume is governed by the MAV, or minimum access volume, will be waived.
A pork pariah, literally.
Taiwan is now checking the luggage of travelers originating from the Philippines for possible ASF virus, though some in government claim that hog cholera, less lethal than the ASF, has been the source of the hog deaths. Taiwan is one of the most progressive in the area of agricultural production and it will protect its hog sector at all costs.
As if the presence of the mysterious deaths in Luzon’s hog farms was not enough, there are reports that isolated cases of NCD (Newcastle disease) had been noted in some egg-producing farms of Central Luzon. The talks of NCD’s presence has been the sad topic that has been circulating in the broiler and egg-producing circles of the region since a month ago. At least one egg farm of 8,000 layers was shut down after the entire stock was wiped out, according to the talks. Then, another bigger farm was also wiped out by NCD.
I have ceased operating my traditional poultry farm (I actually dismantled the buildings and sold the wood and GI sheets to scrap dealers) but I am still in touch with some of the players. My routine question on why egg prices are rising was answered with a curt reply — NCD. During my time raising broilers, NCD was referred to in the past tense because of improved animal health hygiene and the meticulous/laborious NCD-prevention process adopted by the poultry farms. Now, there are reports that it is back and this is another layer of depressing news.
ASF/Cholera for hogs and NCD for poultry? There can be no news more devastating for these two important agri sub-sectors.
Of course, the biggest concern in the farming areas remains the falling palay prices. The decision of Congress to end the quantitative restrictions on rice imports for a regime of reckless rice importation was the equivalent of a death sentence on 3 million small rice farmers. In an act equivalent to rubbing salt on the open wounds of the small rice farmers, smugglers and importers have been reportedly undervaluing their rice imports, depressing the money pool to be raised from the rice tariffs, which Congress said would be used for an amelioration program for rice farmers.
Everywhere, the agriculture sector is witness to a reign of greed mostly from importers, food processors and smugglers.
Even the most passionate appeal for sense of country is set aside for immediate gain. Misery in the farming areas is fast-spreading, with human and animal lives as major preys.

Africa Rice Center launches new project to improve food security

Description: https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Rice-300x216.jpgAn African research center has launched a new rice project that targets to benefit 300,000 households in Kenya, Uganda and Madagascar.
The project which is expected to enhance income and food security will adopt appropriate rice technologies and innovations to address emerging rice value chain constraints, Africa Rice Center said on Monday.
The project will run for three years, said Paul Kiepe, head of research planning and coordination with the Africa Rice Center.
He added that the project is expected to improve productivity and competitiveness of domestic rice.
“The project is aimed at contributing to the development of the rice value chain in East Africa with focus to women and youths,” Kiepe said during the launch in Nairobi.
He added that the project will involve multi stakeholders’ innovation platforms in strengthening functional linkages among rice value chain actors and to improve capacity of farmers.
Kiepe observed that since Kenya has risen to be the newest middle-income country in the region, the country must seriously act to increasing its production and reduce the huge import dependency.
“The project will generate ample cross country learning cases, and indicate forms of collaboration that will effectively and sustainably contribute to each country’s growth and the rice development in the region,” he added.
The researcher said that the private sector will be involved in the production and dissemination of new varieties to be widely adopted by the farming community. The project that is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development is meant at improving the local supply of rice since the East African region imports the commodity amounting to $500 million.
“The project will help Kenya achieve 100 per cent food and nutrition security of populations, create employment and wealth to many stakeholders,” Mwangi Kiunjuri, cabinet secretary for agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
Kiunjuri noted that it is expected that the project will help Kenya meet the deficit that stands at 400,000 metric tons annually since farmers locally produce 70,000-80,000 metric tons annually.
He noted that Kenya has the potential and capacity if harnessed to not only be self- sufficient in rice but to also be an exporter.
Source: GNA

Not yet time to restrict forex for food importation


Sir: Currently, Nigeria spends about US$22 billion on food imports annually. Rice, imported from Thailand and India, accounts for about US$1.65 billion which could make Nigeria the world’s second largest importer of rice after China in 2019. Commodities like wheat, fish, milk, processed foods and palm oil are also topping the list of imported items, contributing to the depletion of the foreign exchange reserve and making the country food import dependent. Meanwhile the country has the capacity to produce many of these imported commodities and may have no business importing food with the right conditions.
Thus, as one of the ways to conserve foreign exchange, promote import substitution and encourage domestic food production and market, President Muhammadu Buhari recently gave directives to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to restrict granting foreign exchange (forex) to food importers. Here, I highlight some of the possible consequences of forex restriction given our current realities.
Firstly, let us recall that the policy already affects more thah 25 items ranging from food to pharmaceutical and automobile, yet, these are circumvented by smuggling and by official granting of licenses to import, with huge profits likely for those who are selling the banned imports at the inflated domestic prices. Secondly, it is important to note that restriction of forex for food importers does not mean ban on the importation of food items. It simply means that the CBN rate of 305/dollar is no longer available for food importers through the official means, so importers are still free to import food items that are not on the list of prohibited items.
The agricultural policy of the current administration is focused on import substitution and reviving the domestic food industries.  Unfortunately, domestic production of many food items in Nigeria has never been able to meet the demand, leading to considerable imports. Nigeria domestic rice demand is in excess of six million metric tonnes but domestic production is just about four million MT leaving a huge gap of over two million. Although there are indications that the domestic production of rice has significantly increased, the validity of such claim is still in question as a huge chunk of rice comes in through the land borders.
According to the 2019 Food Business Africa report, the country spent $1.1 billion to import 5.5 million tonnes of wheat (99% of wheat consumed) in 2018 as domestic production remained static at 60,000 tonnes. National dairy output per annum is 700,000 metric tons while the national demand is put at 1.3 million metric tons annually, leaving a gap of 600,000 MT (FMARD 2016).  For palm oil, Nigeria has a demand-supply gap of 800,000 MT in the palm oil market. Similarly, there is huge demand gap for fish, sugar, beef, tomatoes and many other food items. With these current realities, Nigeria is not on course in meeting domestic demand gap for many essential food items.
Since these food products are not banned and the domestic gap still exist which creates a huge demand, what is likely to happen is that importers will source for their dollars from the black market and still import food at high cost and pass the cost to the consumer. Therefore, if this directive is implemented, Nigerian should expect an upward surge in food prices in the next coming weeks. Secondly, arising from the huge demands on dollar from the parallel market, there is going to be an upward surge in the black market dollar exchange rate, which will further affect the strength of the local currency.
It is important to mention that food import is not the major source of depletion of the country’s foreign exchange reserve. Nigeria imports industrial supplies (27%), capital goods (23%), food and beverage (17%), fuel and lubricants (14%), transport equipment and parts (12%) and consumer goods (7%). About 43% of total imports come from Asia; 34% from Europe; 15% from America and 7% from Africa. Food importation represents only 17% of foreign exchange depletion and therefore all categories of imported commodities bear the brunt of foreign exchange conservation
I would recommend a targeted gradual restriction as against a blanket directive to the CBN. By this, I mean setting a timeline and taking the implementation in phase in tandem with our current realities and comparative advantage. While we are taking it in phases, we are also building the domestic food industries by providing the critical infrastructure for the industries to thrive. Nigeria must consciously support domestic food industries with favorable policies, access to electricity, bank credit, security and access to export market for the country not to plunge into an era of food crisis.
§  Godswill Aguiyi,
godswill.aguiyi@gmail.com

Study identifies gene responsible for early-maturing, high-yielding rice

Source: Xinhua| 2019-08-27 20:47:34|Editor: Li Xia
BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have identified a gene that enables hybrid rice varieties to have a higher yield and shortens maturity duration by seven to 20 days.
Early-maturing rice cultivars usually have a low-yield. Although Chinese researchers have developed some early-maturing and high-yielding hybrid rice cultivars, the molecular mechanism underlying remains unclear.
Researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Development Biology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as Sichuan Agriculture University found that among hybrid rice varieties with a gene named Ef-cd, the nitrogen utilization was facilitated and photosynthesis rate was improved.
Reporting online in the U.S. journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers said Ef-cd could be a vital contributor of elite early maturing hybrid rice varieties in balancing grain yield with maturity duration.
They said the study provides breeders with a valuable genetic resource that is useful for balancing grain yield with maturity duration for further elevating food production.

Commerce ministry orders rice millers, traders to report sticky rice stocks
 
Description: f04ec04e89ed5c64d3192c9250ae7cb1_small.jpg
   
Deputy Prime Minister/Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit has ordered the Department of Internal Trade to have rice millers, traders and relevant parties report rice stocks in their possession in order to prevent the hoarding of sticky rice, which is a controled commodity nationwide.
 
The deputy premier/commerce minister ordered rice millers, traders and relevant parties to report their sticky rice stocks in the face of last week’s reported price rise to 40-50 baht a kilogram as the volume of production has dropped during the late part of the season which has been adversely affected by drought.
  Internal Trade Department Director General Wichai Phochanakit said today that major traders and rice millers in areas where the volume of sticky rice production is normally high should also buy more sticky rice to supply areas where the volume may be low. Though transportation costs may increase, the authorities will act as coordinators in the matter. Meanwhile, department stores nationwide are being asked to help distribute sticky rice.
  Provincial offices of the Department of Internal Trade, and inspection units of the Ministry of Commerce are closely following the situation in order to prevent undue profiteering or hoarding. Those found to have broken the law pertaining to excessive profiteering or hoarding of goods will be subject to a maximum of seven years in prison, or a maximum fine of 140,000 baht or both. Members of the public who suspect such malpractice can call Hotline 1569 to report the situation.

Kebbi @28: Gov Bagudu seeks supporting of all for development

.....Gen. Bamaiyi seeks fair treatment for Emirates

Description: Kebbi @28: Gov Bagudu seeks supporting of all for development
 Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin-Kebbi
  Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state has sought for the total support and collaboration of people of the state irrespective of their political affiliations, Emirates and tribes to develop the state.
   Bagudu stated this on Tuesday during the 28 anniversary celebration of Kebbi state held at Presidential lodge, Birnin-Kebbi which was attended by the Emirs of the four Emirates in the state,  former State Administrators,retired Judges, opposition leaders,Universities Scholars and former Chief of Staff to former Head of state, Gen Ishai Bamaiyi among others.
  Speaking at the event, Governor Bagudu disclosed that his administration is doing everything possible to improve on infrastructure facilities across the 21 LGAs in the state as well set aside about N1.8 billion to mobilize Almajiri children off the streets to former schools.
   To develop the state, Governor noted that all hands must be on desk to rapidly improved infrastructure facilities, stressed that all stakeholders must unite irrespective of their political affiliations for the betterment of the state.
  Governor Bagudu while responding to few comments from other stakeholders, noted that his administration is currently rehabilitated some roads outside the state capital which were stronghold of opposition stressed that the projects were undergoing execution because they are important to the state economy.
 In his remarks,Senator Adamu Aleiro ,representing Kebbi Central Senatorial district at the Senates, sought for the closure of porous borders in Nigeria to enable local farmers, rice millers to maximize their potential and profits.
  “We cannot continue to be using hoes and cutlasses for farming and that is why we are poor. Smugglers are coming through our porous borders. These borders should be closed for six months so that our farmers will get better patronages”,.
  The former Chief of Staff to late General Sani Abacha, Gen. Ishai Bamaiyi who is also a leader in one opposition party in the state, noted that people of other Emirates were not fairly treated, stressed that all elected Governors were from one particular Emirate in the state.
   He also wants farmers in the state to be treated well as well as rapid development of Birnin-Kebbi, the State capital.
   The Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Illiasu Bashar, who is also Chairman of Council of Chiefs in the state, , urged people to continue praying for the peace and progress in the state.
  He said: “We should know that the peace we enjoy in the state is due to the daily prayers we have been doing for peace and unity to rein in our state; we should not relent in that,” he enjoined.
Earlier, the President of Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Muhammad Kiruwa,said the current relative peace in Zamfara was a result of the 3rd May,2019 dialogue between the association and Federal Government delegation in the state.
“We have been hearing accolades and phrases to Zamfara Government for their in improving the security of the state. But we should not be unmindful that the peace enjoyed in Zamfara in as a result of the close-door  interaction session the federal government had with our leaders.
 “Those responsible for banditry converged in Kebbi state and had dialogue with the federal government. The federal government listened to their agitations and yearnings and provided solutions to them; henceforth ,the Zamfara relative peace is the outcome of that meeting,” he said.

India Grain: Spot wheat, maize prices down on weak purchases

Tuesday, Aug 27

By Sampad Nandy

NEW DELHI – Prices of mill-quality wheat fell today due to a decline in demand from flour millers and stockists, traders said. A gradual decline in arrivals, however, limited the fall in spot prices. 

"Bulk demand remained weak today as most purchasers avoided picking up stocks due to high spot prices," Indore-based trader N.K. Agarwal said.

Wheat futures on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange also fell in line with the spot markets. The most-active September contract closed at 2,070 rupees per 100 kg, down 0.6%. 

Demand is likely to remain weak in the coming days as stocks in open markets have declined sharply and most bulk buyers are seen picking up stocks from government auctions, Kota-based trader Aniket Mehta said. 

Price of maize also fell in spot markets as demand from bulk buyers softened, traders said. A gradual decline in arrivals, however, limited the downside. 

"Demand fell today as most bulk buyers remained away from spot markets as they have piled up enough stocks," said Nizamabad-based trader Amrutlal Kataria. 

Maize futures on NCDEX also ended lower on spot cues. The most-active September contract ended 1.1% lower at 2,180 rupees per 100 kg.

In the case of basmati paddy, prices of the Pusa 1121 variety fell due to fall in demand from rice millers and exporters, traders said.   

Pusa 1121 basmati paddy futures on the Indian Commodity Exchange, however, ended steady as traders anticipate a rise in demand from millers during the festive season in October. The September contract closed at 3,520 rupees per 100 kg, largely unchanged from the previous close.

Following are today's prices for wheat, maize, and paddy, in rupees per 100 kg, in key wholesale markets, and the change from the previous day:

Commodity
Market
Price
Change
Wheat
Kota
2,010-2,030
(-)10-15
Wheat
Indore
2,010-2,040
(-)10-15
Maize
Nizamabad
2,430-2,450
(-)10-15
Maize
Purnea
2,360-2,370
(-)10-15
Pusa 1121 basmati
Amritsar
3,800-3,840
(-)10-20

End

Edited by Subham Mitra

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Rice Industry Awaiting Details on Partial Ag Deal with Japan  

ARLINGTON, VA -- This past weekend, reports emerged regarding a Japan-U.S. trade deal covering agriculture, automobiles, and digital trade.  Initial reports indicate that rice was left out of this deal.
 
"While we are certainly disappointed to hear that rice wasn't included in last week's discussions, we remain committed to working with the U.S. government to realize improved rice trade," said Charley Mathews, Jr., chair of USA Rice.  "At this point, we're faced with a 700 percent tariff on U.S. rice going into Japan which translates to a lack of consumer access."
 
Japan is the third largest export market for U.S. rice and for decades, USA Rice has pushed for an improvement in the quality and quantity of access for U.S. rice in Japan.  While Japan imports more than $200 million of U.S. rice, much of that rice does not reach the Japanese consumer due to Japan's import policies and anticompetitive practices. 
 
"Rice remains one of the most manipulated and protected commodities around the world, and Japan is no exception," said Bobby Hanks, chair of the USA Rice International Trade Policy Committee.  "A comprehensive trade deal is the avenue in which to see improved commercial access to this vital market that has demonstrated an interest in U.S. rice."
 
As Japan and the U.S. continue trade discussions, USA Rice will support the U.S. government in adequately advocating for U.S. rice farmers and the $34 billion rice industry that they represent.

usa rice daily

Weather deals blow to Louisiana rice harvest

The 2019 Louisiana rice crop has been plagued by low yields due to adverse weather conditions.
Bruce Schultz | Aug 26, 2019
Louisiana rice farmers probably would like to forget the 2019 rice crop, which has been plagued by low yields.
Bad weather from the start of the growing season through harvest is being blamed.
“Growing conditions have been less than ideal,” said LSU AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell. “We didn’t have good conditions at any one point.”
Harrell estimated yields are off by 15 percent to 20 percent from the average harvest.
Yields range from the mid-20 barrel to the mid 60-barrel range, but much of it is between 35 and 43 barrels. “Most of it is below 45,” he said.
The second crop isn’t providing much hope.
“The second crop hasn’t come back as quickly as we thought,” Harrell said. “We’re getting off to a bad start.”
Cloudy days have interfered with sunshine new growth needs.

Started wet

The crop year started with wet, cool soil conditions, and wet soil complicated applications of herbicides and fertilizer. “Getting fertilizer applied in time and on dry ground is critical to maximize yields,” Harrell said.
Andrew Granger, AgCenter agent in Vermilion Parish, said wet conditions also interfered with herbicide applications.
Low rice prices, currently about $18 a barrel, are also a problem for farmers. “If rice was $25 a barrel, they would be OK,” Granger said.
Hurricane Barry hit in early July, the same time that most rice plants were flowering for pollination. Winds beat up the young plants and caused many of the panicles to have empty hulls. But at least the forecasts of more than 20 inches of rain never developed, Harrell said.
Farmer Christian Richard of Indian Bayou, La., said the first part of the harvest was bad with low yields, but yields improved in later-planted fields. “Then the weather quit cooperating, and it started raining every day,” he said.
Richard estimates his yields are down by 15 to 20 percent from his average.
Richard said he had a truckload of rice rejected by a buyer because of smut, adding that false smut and kernel smut are widespread in his fields. “Our combines are black or yellow, depending on what kind of smut you’ve got,” he said.

Quality problems

Richard said grain quality has been a problem with his crop. “The quality was never good from the beginning. The milling yields are just horrendous,” he said.
Richard was about 70 percent finished in late August, but he was trying to locate a set of tracks for a combine to harvest 500 acres of rice in a muddy field that he couldn’t prepare properly earlier this year because the ground never got dry enough to work.
Regrowth on his second-crop fields has been slow, he said.
Rains have continued into harvest, complicating the process. “The harvest has been stop-and-go every day,” Harrell said.
Some rice in Vermilion Parish was a total loss due to flooding after Barry, Granger said, and Vince Deshotel, AgCenter agent in St. Landry Parish, said some rice acreage was ruined by high water.
Excessive heat during night and day in June, combined with continuous rain, especially at flowering, reduced yields by about 10 percent, Deshotel said.
Later, steady rains kept fields wet and humid. AgCenter plant pathologist Don Groth said the field conditions created the perfect environment for disease.
Fields that normally yield 45 to 55 barrels are only producing in the low 30-barrel range.

Smut not isolated

Groth said Richard’s problem with smut is not isolated. Smuts and other diseases are being reported throughout the area. Panicle blight and blast disease also have been problems, he said.
Smut spores have produced visible brownish-yellow clouds. “I’ve gotten reports from Texas that they’re having the same problem,” Groth said.
He estimated the harvest throughout south Louisiana was about 70 percent complete in late August.
Jeremy Hebert, AgCenter agent in Acadia Parish, said many farmers are disappointed this year. “Yields are down more than expected. There have been some disasters,” he said.
Farmers were facing an uphill struggle from the beginning of the growing season.
Some later-planted rice appears to have more potential, and some of rice grown for a second crop looks good, Hebert said.
Jimmy Meaux, AgCenter agent in Jefferson Davis, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, said about 70 percent of the fields there have been harvested.
Yields are down by 10 to 15 percent. “It’s not great. They’re probably in the low 40s or the high 30s,” he said.
Daily rains during harvest are a problem for farmers. “I don’t know if they ever get a full day of cutting,” Meaux said.

Harvest finished

Farmer Mike Fruge of Eunice, La., said he wrapped up his harvest on Aug. 19. He said his yields were off consistently. Some fields were down from his average by as much as 20 percent while some were down by only a few percentage points. “It wasn’t as bad as some others I’ve heard,” he said.
He also had a smut problem in the last 400 acres he harvested. But weather complicated harvest. “Our last 200 acres took us double the time it should have taken,” Fruge said.
Rice harvest in northeast Louisiana is about to get started, and Harrell said that crop looks better. “It looks good in northeast Louisiana,” he said. “They don’t seem to have all the issues we had here.”
Keith Collins, AgCenter agent in Richland Parish, said fields are being drained in northeast Louisiana and harvest should be in full swing within two weeks.


Jagat Basmati Rice owner arrested for cheating

 

Gaurav Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Outer-North district, said Aggrawal was arrested on Monday on a case of cheating was registered against him at the Narela police station on August 8. 

Description: IANSIANS
New DelhiPublished on: August 27, 2019 16:06 IST
Jagat Basmati Rice owner arrested for cheating
 The Delhi police has arrested the owner of the famous 'Jagat' Basmati rice brand, Santlal Aggrawal, on charges of cheating and fraud.
Gaurav Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Outer-North district, said Aggrawal was arrested on Monday on a case of cheating was registered against him at the Narela police station on August 8. 
"Vikas Gupta, a Narela Mandi trader registered the case alleging that Aggrawal cheated him of Rs 1.9 crore," Sharma told IANS: 
In his complaint, Gupta said Aggrawal had taken rice worth Rs 1.90 crore from him long ago. He later gave him a cheque of Rs 40 lakh, but it bounced. 
According to the police complaint, "Instead of returning the money to the complainant, Aggrawal declared his company bankrupt." 
Sharma said the police is also investigating how many other cases of cheating and fraud are registered against Aggrawal and in which police stations in Delhi. 

Using waste from rice processing to generate energy

New rice drying technology will eliminate the problem of husk disposal and use this byproduct to generate electricity
august 27, 2019 10:08:11
Description: http://en.granma.cu/file/img/2019/08/medium/f0025389.jpg
Cuban experts, with advice from India, have set up a plant that will use rice husks to generate electricity. Photo: El Guerrillero newspaper Photo: Granma
PINAR DEL RÍO. – Cuban experts, with advice from India, have set up a plant that will allow the use of rice husks to generate electricity.
The work is being carried out at the Enrique Troncoso mill, the largest in the province, affiliated with the Los Palacios Agroindustrial Enterprise, where this new technology will make it possible to save more than 200 tons of diesel a year.
MSc Ariel Rodríguez, of the Cubaenergía company, explains that the enormous volume of rice husks that remains after each harvest, as a residue of the drying process, is one of the main pollution problems facing the municipality of Los Palacios.
On the other hand, he points out, this complex is among the largest energy consumers in the territory, using more than a ton of diesel a day to dry rice.Hence the idea of ​​seeking technology that would eliminate the problem of husk disposal and find a way to use this byproduct as a resource.
With the support of the Basal project (Environmental Bases for Local Food Sustainability), affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, and international collaboration, the machinery was acquired, and the plant erected, now in the start-up process.Broadly speaking, its operation consists of converting husks into a combustible gas, using this as fuel to dry rice.
Plus, up to 2.4 MWh of electricity can be generated to reduce the plant's consumption from the national grid, and contribute to the system when the plant is not operating.Engineer Yusniel Illas, director of the plant, stated that the goal is to eventually replace all the diesel that is needed in the drying process.

IRRI plan for Telangana farmers

Our Bureau  Hyderabad | Updated on August 27, 2019  Published on August 27, 2019
Description: https://bl.thgim.com/opinion/9y7js6/article25664703.ece/alternates/WIDE_435/BL05THINK2AGRI
A top executive of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has presented a project proposal to improve farmers’ income and ensure nutrition security in Telangana.
Addressing a gathering at the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University(PJTSAU) campus here on Tuesday, Jacqueline Hughes, Deputy Director-General (Research) of IRRI, said the proposed project would focus on ensuring nutrition security in rice-based agri–food system in the State.
Besides ensuring doubling of farmer’s income, the project would focus on sustainability in water management in agriculture, development of stress tolerant rice varieties and low Glycemic index varieties.
“The project will also provide mechanisation and post harvest business models and capacity development,” she said.
Telangana Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy said States should device their own strategies to achieve the Centre’s target of doubling farmers’ income by 2020.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 28, 2019
AUGUST 28, 2019 / 2:07 PM /
* * * * * *
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-August 28, 2019 Nagpur, Aug 28 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on good demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions. Fresh hike on NCDEX in gram, good recovery in Madhya Pradesh pulses and enquiries from South-based millers also pushed up prices. About 400 bags of gram and 150 bags of tuar reported for auction, according to sources.

GRAM
* Desi gram raw firmed up in open market on renewed demand from local traders.

TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local

traders.

* Major wheat varieties showed weak tendency in open market here on poor demand from

local traders.

* In Akola, Tuar New – 5,600-5,800, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,100-8,200, Udid Mogar (clean)

– 7,200-7,800, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,900-8,700, Gram – 4,000-4,200, Gram Super best

– 5,600-6,000 * Rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in

scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close

Gram Auction 3,710-4,140 3,700-4,080

Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600

Tuar Auction 5,200-5,700 5,200-5,600

Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200

Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500

Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500

Wheat Lokwan Auction 2,000-2,110 2,000-2,110

Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000

Gram Super Best Bold 6,000-6,300 6,000-6,300

Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800

Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a

Gram Mill Quality 4,350-4,450 4,350-4,450

Desi gram Raw 4,250-4,350 4,200-4,300

Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000

Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,400-8,500 8,400-8,500

Tuar Fataka Medium-New 8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200

Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 7,600-7,800 7,600-7,800

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500

Tuar Gavarani New 5,850-5,950 5,850-5,950

Tuar Karnataka 6,200-6,300 6,200-6,300

Masoor dal best 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700

Masoor dal medium 5,100-5,300 5,100-5,300

Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 8,200-8,800 8,200-8,800

Moong Mogar Medium 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500

Moong dal Chilka New 6,500-7,600 6,500-7,600

Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 8,500-8,900 8,500-8,900

Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,500-8,200 7,500-8,200

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,200 5,600-6,200

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,800 4,400-4,800

Mot (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,500 5,500-6,500

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000

Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300

Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,150-2,200

Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,700 2,600-2,700

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,450-2,600 2,500-2,650

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,350 2,300-2,400

Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-4,000

MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,000 2,700-3,100

Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300

Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800

Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200

Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000

Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,750 2,600-2,750

Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400

Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,400-2,600

Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400

Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600

Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000

Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800

Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800

Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG) 4,400-5,000 4,400-5,000

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500

Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500

Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200

Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400

Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,600 5,200-5,600

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. 28.5 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.1 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rains or thunder-showers. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 31 degree Celsius and 24 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

China early rice output down in 2019


*      Xinhua, August 27, 2019
China produced less rice in the first harvest period of 2019 due to decreases in sown areas and per unit yield, official data showed Monday.
The country produced 26.27 million tonnes of early rice, planted in spring and harvested in early summer, down 8.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Early rice planting area dropped 7.1 percent to 4.45 million hectares, and the yield per hectare edged down 1.1 percent to 5.9 tonnes.
NBS statistician Huang Bingxin attributed the planting area drop to an improved crop structure amid deepening agricultural supply-side structural reform, with less low-quality early rice and more high-quality and efficient single cropping rice and other cash crops.
Insufficient rural labor force and poor weather also led to the drop in sown areas, while the adverse weather this year also contributed to the fall in per unit output.
"The decline will have a very limited impact on the country's grain output as early rice accounts for only about 4 percent of the annual grain output," Huang said.
China's total grain output consists of three parts -- early rice, summer grain, and autumn production. Autumn grain crops, which include corn and middle- and late-season rice, account for the bulk of the total.

Study identifies gene responsible for early-maturing, high-yielding rice

Source: Xinhua| 2019-08-27 20:47:34|Editor: Li Xia
BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have identified a gene that enables hybrid rice varieties to have a higher yield and shortens maturity duration by seven to 20 days.
Early-maturing rice cultivars usually have a low-yield. Although Chinese researchers have developed some early-maturing and high-yielding hybrid rice cultivars, the molecular mechanism underlying remains unclear.
Researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Development Biology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as Sichuan Agriculture University found that among hybrid rice varieties with a gene named Ef-cd, the nitrogen utilization was facilitated and photosynthesis rate was improved.
Reporting online in the U.S. journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers said Ef-cd could be a vital contributor of elite early maturing hybrid rice varieties in balancing grain yield with maturity duration.
They said the study provides breeders with a valuable genetic resource that is useful for balancing grain yield with maturity duration for further elevating food production.

Rice fields salvaged after drought

Ly Livsier / Khmer Times 

Large swathes of rice fields in northwest Cambodia that were affected by recent droughts have now been salvaged, officials said yesterday.
Chan Youttha, Water Resource Ministry spokesman, said most affected rice fields in northwest Cambodia, including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Pursat, and Pailin provinces, have been salvaged after the Ministry of Water Resources diverted water from Bavel river to Kamping Puoy reservoir, which serves most of the provinces.
He added that many provinces have also received rain fall in the last four days, which has also helped to improve the situation.
“Effective intervention by relevant ministries in tackling the issue as well as an increase in water flow, including to irrigation canals, have improved the situation,” Mr Youttha said. “Most paddy fields have become greener.”
More than 20,000 hectares of rice fields in Battambang province have been salvaged from 60,000 hectares that were affected.
Mr Youttha noted that several factors contributed to the challenges farmers faced, including the recent reconstruction of Kamping Puoy reservoir, farmers not adhering to a crop calendar and climate change.
He said Kamping Puoy reservoir was under renovation last month and could not store water. He added that some farmers also did not follow a crop scheduling guidance, causing them to face difficulties such as water shortages due to mismatched seasons.
Pang Vannaseth, Banteay Meanchey agriculture department spokesman, yesterday said that 50,000 hectares across the provice were affected by drought and that 10,000 hectares of rice fields were damaged.
Mr Vannaseth noted rain has begun to fall in the last few days and some rice fields have become greener.
“In some areas, we are pumping in water to save the rice crops, while in others, we have been able to find new sources of water,” he said. “Some areas do not have nearby water sources and will have to wait for rain.”
Mr Vannaseth added that provincial Governor Oum Reatrey has donated 500 litres of diesel oil designated for water pump machines covering 100 hectares of rice field in Mongkul Borey district.
He added that around this time last year, the province simultaneously experienced floods and drought. However, he noted that this year the province is only battling drought.
Keo Vy, National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman, citing a recent report, said more than 150,000 hectares of rice paddy across the Kingdom have been affected by a series of droughts.

Rice traders blame strength of Thai baht for hurting exports


 

The president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, Charoen Laothamtas, is concerned that the strong Thai baht is having a negative impact on rice exports.
He notes that the baht has risen about 6% against the US dollar since January, whereas the Vietnam dong has held steady and the Indian rupee has even weakened.
“The stronger baht has largely made Thai rice more expensive than those of our competitors. Homali fragrant rice, for example, currently costs $1,200 per metric tonne, while Vietnam jasmine is only $520.”
He adds that total rice exports are expected to reach 9 million tonnes this year, down from 11.2 million in 2018. Water shortages are not helping matters, with so little water in reserve at dams.
Meanwhile, rice vendors are complaining about the rising cost of glutinous rice, but Charoen points out that glutinous rice is for domestic consumption rather than export, and its price is quite sensitive to local demand and supply.
Farmers in the northeast have given up growing it, as preferences shift to fragrant rice, resulting in a diminished supply.
SOURCE: The Nation

Senegal’s rice imports down

Published on 27.08.2019 at 13h21 by APA News

Description: https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/15669084736946-780x440.jpg
Senegal’s rice imports in June 2019 decreased by 4.877 billion CFA francs,(about $8.290 million), compared to May 2019, according to a note from the National Agency for Statistics and Population (ANSD) copied to APA on Tuesday.These imports amounted to 15.468 billion CFA francs, against 20.345 billion CFA francs in June 2019 representing a 24-percent decrease in relative value (1 CFA equals $0.0017).
Compared to May 2019 when they amounted to 16.979 billion CFA francs, rice imports in the country are down 8.9 percent on a month to month basis.

WFP Peru Country Brief, July 2019

REPORT
Published on 31 Jul 2019

In Numbers
USD 31 m Total requirements
Description: previewOperational Updates
Behavior Change Communication Strategy
WFP and partners have agreed on a roadmap for the implementation of the communication strategy for the pilot project “Semilla”, which promotes healthier eating habits in the efforts to reduce child malnutrition, in particular overweight and obesity among school-age children. The pilot project is a joint effort between WFP, FAO, PAHO and UNICEF and the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion.
Rice Fortification
Javier Sánchez, the RBP expert in rice fortification, visited Lambayeque with the WFP nutrition team to provide technical assistance and strengthen the strategy to promote the production of fortified rice. Lambayeque is a region located on the northern coast of Peru that has the most significant number of rice producers in the country.
Meetings were held with millers in order to identify opportunities and challenges for their sector.
New Partnership with Antamina
WFP signed a partnership agreement with Antamina to improve food security and reduce malnutrition in the region of Ancash. The initiative aims to enhance national policies and programs for children and pregnant women. Antamina is strongly committed to the sustainable development in Peru.
Disaster Risk Management
The project “WFP Technical Assistance to Strengthen Peru's Social Protection System to respond to emergencies more effectively and reach the most vulnerable population” was approved by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA/ USAID). This project seeks to extend social protection in different crises, giving priority to the most vulnerable population in the country.
The new National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) was inaugurated on July 18, allowing the Peruvian Government to improve its governance mechanisms during emergencies and strengthen national and sub-national institutions’ capacities to manage policies and programs. The new facility, funded by the Governments of China and Peru, includes state of the art communications for improved decision making and plans to establish a training center. WFP is providing technical support and guidance to COEN.