5 great family-friendly holiday attractions on Chinese tropical island of Hainan
5 great family-friendly holiday attractions on Chinese tropical island of Hainan
China’s tropical island resort of Hainan is the perfect place for families – offering a wide array of attractions and luxury resorts that will please both parents and children.
November 15, 2019
By Maggie Hiufu Wong
By Maggie Hiufu Wong
Choices range from a trip to a vast, cinema-themed town, a dinosaur-focused study park, an ecologically protected rainforest – or a stay at one of the stunning hotel resorts with offerings tailored specially to your needs.
Check out 5 holiday attractions that should suit the needs of any family.
Check out 5 holiday attractions that should suit the needs of any family.
Explore the great outdoors and rainforests
Yanoda Rainforest, which means “hello” in Hainanese, is an ecologically protected jungle offering both rainforest hikes and action-packed trekking adventures for those who love nature. Photo: Shutterstock
With more than 60 per cent of Hainan covered in green forest, the island resort is never short of adventurous outdoor holiday pursuits that will appeal to budding Tarzans and Indiana Jones.
If you have time to visit only one of the many rainforests in Hainan, then you must visit Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County.
If you have time to visit only one of the many rainforests in Hainan, then you must visit Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County.
Love Gate, located along the hiking trail in the picturesque Yanoda Rainforest, features a wooden pendant bridge with an arch that symbolises love. Photo: Valery Bocman / Shutterstock
Yanoda – spanning 45 square km (17 square miles), and surrounded by another ecologically protected area covering 123 square km – is literally translated as “one, two, three”, which means “hello” in the local dialect. It comprises two main areas – Rainforest Valley and Dream Valley. Rainforest Valley features easier rainforest hikes, routes and family-friendly activities, while Dream Valley offers a two-hour action-packed guided trekking adventure for the physically fit.
“Hainan has great natural scenery and clean air, so we think it is a good destination for families to visit,” says Angie Qi from Wuhan, who travelled to Yanoda with her husband, their two-year-old son and her husband’s parents.
“Yanoda is great for older children, but Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park also has easier scenic trails if you’re travelling with toddlers and elderly people,” Qi, who visited both parks during her trip, says.
Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park became widely known in China after being featured in the hit Chinese film, If You Are The One 2, starring Ge You and Shu Qi.
“Hainan has great natural scenery and clean air, so we think it is a good destination for families to visit,” says Angie Qi from Wuhan, who travelled to Yanoda with her husband, their two-year-old son and her husband’s parents.
“Yanoda is great for older children, but Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park also has easier scenic trails if you’re travelling with toddlers and elderly people,” Qi, who visited both parks during her trip, says.
Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park became widely known in China after being featured in the hit Chinese film, If You Are The One 2, starring Ge You and Shu Qi.
Yalong Bay, in Sanya, which rose to national prominence after being featured in a hit feature film, offers stunning views along the coast of Hainan. Photo: Shutterstock
Some of the park’s attractions include a suspension rope bridge and a pagoda, offering panoramic views of Sanya’s sea shore. Attractions that were featured in the film include a hillside chapel and the Yalong Bay Earthly Paradise Bird’s Nest Resort.
For families staying in the north of the island, Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark is only 15km (9 miles) from Haikou, the island’s capital.
For families staying in the north of the island, Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark is only 15km (9 miles) from Haikou, the island’s capital.
Qiong Bei, a dormant volcano located only 30 minutes away from Hainan’s capital, Haikou, is recognised by Unesco as a Global Geopark for its unique rock formations and geological landscape.
Listed by Unesco as a Global Geological Park in 2006, its main tourist attraction is its dormant volcano, Qiong Bei – believed to have last erupted 13,000 years ago. But the park also offers a further 36 volcano craters, a geological-themed museum, a 200-year-old temple and the Volcano Restaurant, which serves rustic local offerings, such as mountain goat meat.
Let’s head to the Jurassic world!
China Dinosaur Park, located outside Sanya, features more than 300 life-size dinosaur models of species that once roamed China. Photo: Tropicalhainan.com
Driving along the road outside the Yuan Longping R&D Center, you would never guess that it is a world-renowned scientific research centre.
The Yuan Longping R&D Center is carrying out important research into new sustainable and productive rice crops to feed China’s growing population. Photo: Tropicalhainan.com
Named after Chinese agronomist Yuan Longping, the “father of hybrid rice”, scientists at the park are working on developing sustainable, high-yield and disease-resistant strains of Asia’s staple food, which can feed larger populations while taking up less land.
Outside the R&D centre is a China Dinosaur Park with more than 300 life-sized dinosaur models (of species once excavated from China), a vast flower-viewing park and a restaurant.
Outside the R&D centre is a China Dinosaur Park with more than 300 life-sized dinosaur models (of species once excavated from China), a vast flower-viewing park and a restaurant.
Some of China Dinosaur Park’s life-size dinosaur models are up to 38 metres tall, providing a vivid introduction to the giant reptiles that once lived on Earth. Photo: Tropicalhainan.com
Guests at Sanya’s five-star Mangrove Tree Resort World Sanya Bay – comprising more than 3,000 rooms and 71 restaurants and outdoor attractions including the Amazon Jungle Water Park and Adventure Zone – can also enjoy some great indoor activities, away from the hot summer sun.
Mangrove Tree Resort World Sanya Bay, a luxury child-friendly hotel, features both an outdoor water park and an adventure zone. Photo: Zhudifeng / Getty Images
Today X Bookstore, inside the resort, has been dubbed Hainan’s most beautiful bookstore. The 4,800-square-metre premises offer many more facilities than most other bookshops, including a spacious children’s playroom with a treehouse-like reading room.
Bookstores may not always be an ideal tourist destination, but the X Bookstore, at Mangrove Tree Resort World Sanya Bay, includes a spacious area that features a treehouse-like reading room. Photo: Alex Chan@zennotgraphy
Staff also host educational activities for youngsters, while parents can also sign up their children for local handicraft workshops.
The bookshop also has a café, painting area, hi-fi zone and “Zen area” for those visitors who want to zone out.
The bookshop also has a café, painting area, hi-fi zone and “Zen area” for those visitors who want to zone out.
Round the clock cinematic magic
Feng Xiaogang Movie Town, named after a renowned Chinese film director, offers movie-themed attractions where guests can immerse themselves in an interactive cinematic experience. Photo: Tropicalhainan.com
Hainan has its fair share of unusual theme parks that are sure to attract families. Feng Xiaogang Movie Town, in Haikou, is built on a 1,500-acre (607-hectare) site and features specially designed period streets and buildings – all created for use as film and television production locations by nearby studios – where visitors are free to walk and relive scenes from cinematic history.
Haikou’s Feng Xiaogang Movie Town, which opened in 2013, comprises many period buildings and streets for use in film and television productions, including buildings that resemble those from scenes in some of director Feng Xiaogang’s most famous films. Photo: Tropicalhainan.com
“The worlds in films seem to be out of reach for most people, [but] we’re trying to bring the movie characters and scenes [to life] here so people can be a part of those worlds,” Zhang Daobao, the park’s performance manager and director, says.
The park is named after Feng Xiaogang, a renowned Chinese film director, whose work includes If You are the One and its sequel, If You are the One 2, Back to 1942 and I Am Not Madam Bovary. It features recreated buildings from a number of Feng’s atmospheric films. Feng’s favourite art director, Shi Haiying, was the mastermind behind the design of the town, Zhang says.
“Shi has influenced everything in the town, even the typefaces for all the shop signs in the towns.”
The park is named after Feng Xiaogang, a renowned Chinese film director, whose work includes If You are the One and its sequel, If You are the One 2, Back to 1942 and I Am Not Madam Bovary. It features recreated buildings from a number of Feng’s atmospheric films. Feng’s favourite art director, Shi Haiying, was the mastermind behind the design of the town, Zhang says.
“Shi has influenced everything in the town, even the typefaces for all the shop signs in the towns.”
Haikou’s Feng Xiaogang Movie Town features regular performances of short martial arts dramas. Photo: Tropicalhainan.com
There are six main attractions where guests can enjoy an immersive cinematic experience. Nanyang town, featuring architecture resembling Haikou’s qilou (old shophouses with influences from Southeast Asia), is the most photogenic attraction and 1942, which comprises mostly retro wooden architecture, offers visitors the chance to take part in martial arts scenes. There is also a street displaying the autographs of dozens of Chinese and international stars.
Short dramas are performed regularly around the different towns, but Zhang says the theme park plans to expand the performances in the near future.
Short dramas are performed regularly around the different towns, but Zhang says the theme park plans to expand the performances in the near future.
Sanya Haichang Fantasy Town – China’s first theme park that never sleeps – offers a variety of rides and shows 24 hours a day. Photo: Tropicalhainan.com
For families who still have energy to spare after sunset, hahha – China’s first 24-hour theme park – offers 13 major day-and-night attractions in a variety of different zones, including various exciting rides, theatre shows, an aquarium, observatory wheel, a multi-sensory cinema, themed restaurants, shops – and even a beer bay.
... if Mum and Dad need a break
Hainan’s city of Sanya is home to many luxurious family-friendly resorts. Photo: Shutterstock
As a family-friendly resort island, Hainan’s luxury hotels have been designed to allow parents to enjoy their holidays with their children without having to leave the properties. Most of the hotels offer customised family services.
Crowne Plaza Sanya Haitang Bay Resort – which resembles a gigantic cruise ship sailing into Haitang Bay – has its own private beach area, four outdoor pools and an indoor rooftop pool.
Special features for youngsters including a well-equipped playroom, cooking classes and a restaurant dedicated to children, which serves inventive, colourful and nutritious meals. Guests can opt to book sea-viewing family suites, which have interiors designed for the needs of both parents and children.
The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay runs special family activities at its resort each day. A noticeboard in the family corner provides up-to-date details.
Activities include poolside film screenings and a professional photoshoot at the beach with a tag-along photographer.
Crowne Plaza Sanya Haitang Bay Resort – which resembles a gigantic cruise ship sailing into Haitang Bay – has its own private beach area, four outdoor pools and an indoor rooftop pool.
Special features for youngsters including a well-equipped playroom, cooking classes and a restaurant dedicated to children, which serves inventive, colourful and nutritious meals. Guests can opt to book sea-viewing family suites, which have interiors designed for the needs of both parents and children.
The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay runs special family activities at its resort each day. A noticeboard in the family corner provides up-to-date details.
Activities include poolside film screenings and a professional photoshoot at the beach with a tag-along photographer.
The Atlantis Sanya Resort, which cost US$2 billion to build, provides a panoramic view of Haitang Bay and comes with an open-air aquarium for guests to do scuba-diving. Photo: DreamArchitect / Shutterstock.com
Costing US$2 billion and four years to build, Atlantis Sanya, Haitang Bay, Sanya, has taken the city of Sanya’s luxury family resorts to another level.
The 1,314-room hotel, which overlooks Haitang Bay, features its own full-sized Aquaventure Waterpark, and an enormous open-air aquarium where guests can go scuba diving.
Parents can relax in the resort’s Ahava Spa, while their children immerse themselves in the numerous state-of-the-art attractions offered at Club Rush, where the emphasis is on adventure, fun and exploration.
The 1,314-room hotel, which overlooks Haitang Bay, features its own full-sized Aquaventure Waterpark, and an enormous open-air aquarium where guests can go scuba diving.
Parents can relax in the resort’s Ahava Spa, while their children immerse themselves in the numerous state-of-the-art attractions offered at Club Rush, where the emphasis is on adventure, fun and exploration.
Coming soon … Hello Kitty and Legoland
New theme parks are on the way - a new Hello Kitty-themed resort is expected to hit Hainan by 2024. Photo: ARTYOORAN / Shutterstock.com
In the future, Sanya plans to open China’s second Legoland Park (Shanghai will be the first). The new Sanya Legoland Park will be water-themed and is expected to combine elements of existing Legoland Parks and Hainan’s tropical features.Untimely rains hit India's summer
crops, delay rural economy recovery
Gov’t on alert on rice smuggling, hoarding
Rice Prices
as on :
15-11-2019 03:00:01 PM
China’s rice imports from Kingdom
on the rise
Read more at https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/11/15/1968804/dof-sees-no-need-amend-rice-tariff-law#wRrgi8kmPpC16Dl0.99
DA issues
tougher rice import guidelines
This
file photo shows different varieties of rice being sold at a local market in
Manila.
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Imee Marcos says DTI plan to import rice for fast food chains is
‘insensitive’
Agriculture Secretary William Dar
Senator Imee Marcos
Brazilian rice exports fall,
imports climb
Rio Grande do
Sul crop hampered by rains, price rises
Rice exports from Brazil
decreased in October as imports rose, leaving a balanced market. Meanwhile,
heavy rain is impacting planting in the country’s leading producing-state, Rio
Grande do Sul.
For Third Consecutive Month in October, Exports Dip 1.11%; Major
Drop in Tea, Rice, Carpet Shipments
Imports too declined by 16.31 per
cent to USD 37.39 billion in October, narrowing the trade deficit to USD 11
billion, according to the government data.
For Representation
Anil Ambani Resigns as Director of Reliance Communications
According to the filing, Ambani
along with Chhaya Virani, Ryna Karani, Manjari Kacker, Suresh Rangachar have
resigned as directors of RCom.
File photo of Anil Ambani.
(Reuters)
Weekly Stocks Update: Top Gainers and Losers for the Week Ended
November 15
For the week ended on November
15, the S&P BSE Sensex inched up by just 33 points, or 0.08%, to settle at
40,356.69, while the Nifty slipped marginally by 13 points, or 0.1%, to end at
11,895.30.
Govt Not Releasing Consumer Expenditure Survey 2017-18 Due to
'Data Quality Issues'
The ministry also mentioned that
an expert panel has recommended that 2017-18 would not be an appropriate fiscal
to be used as a base year for new GDP series.
Rice genetics specialist honored as role
model
NRRI Organizes ‘Rice Walk: Walk
with Rice, Know Your Rice’ Programme
The participants visited the Institute’s Research Farm of about 200 acres with full grown crops of newly developed high yielding rice varieties. They were also exposed to the development of rice varieties, rice varietal cafeteria and other agro-technologies related to rice production, plant protection, biofortification (high protein rice) and climate-smart rice with tolerance to drought & submergence, etc.
The participants also visited the Institute’s Rice Museum, Rice Gene Bank with collection of over 35,000 rice germplasm.
Around 1,500 students & teachers (from 15 schools in and around Cuttack and Bhubaneswar), farmers, scientists from ICAR Institutes & Centres and State Government Officials participated in the event.
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
Rajendra Jadhav
KALAMB, India, Nov 15 (Reuters) -
Heavy rains in October and November have brought more misery to India’s
farmers, after summer-sown crops such as soybean, cotton, rice and vegetables
suffered rain and flood damage during the wettest June-September monsoon season
in 25 years.
“We couldn’t harvest soybeans last
month due to continuous rainfall,” said Shantabai Chikhale, 65, while
harvesting with her son on a one acre plot central Maharashtra, India’s second
largest soybean production state.
Chikhale had been expecting a bumper
crop, but now estimates that two-thirds of the soybean pods on her farm in
Kalamb village were knocked off by the rains, while much of the remaining crop
has been damaged.
The recent wet spell is also forcing
farmers, like Chikhale, to delay sowing winter crops, placing a further drag on
the rural economy at a time when India’s economic growth has slumped to a
six-year low.
After the ample monsoon rains, The
Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) had expected India soybean harvest to be
more than 10 million tonnes, just a little down on 2018’s 10.3 million tonnes.
But heavy recent rains damaged the
crop in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which account for more than 85% of
India’s output, and forced the trade body to cut that estimate to below 9
million tonnes, said B.V. Mehta, executive director of the SEA.
As a result local soybean prices
have risen to their highest in 3-1/2 years, making exports of soymeal
uncompetitive, traders said.
Lower soybean production could force
India, the world’s biggest importer of edible oils, to import more in 2019/20
marketing year that started on Oct.1, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global
trading firm.
OTHER CROPS HIT
The deluge also hit cotton in the
world’s biggest producer.Cotton bolls were damaged by late rains in the western
states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, which account for over half of the country’s
output, said Arun Sekhsaria, managing director of exporter D.D. Cotton.
Until a few weeks ago, industry
officials such as Pradeep Jain, president of Khandesh Ginning and Pressing
Factory Owners and Traders Association, were expecting a 20% jump in cotton
production in 2019 from a year ago.
But now Jain says the production
could rise by 10 to 12%.Cyclone Bulbul also soaked the eastern states of Odisha
and West Bengal last week, damaging rice crops in these key producing states,
said Nitin Gupta, vice president for Olam India’s rice business.
“Supplies from the new season crop
for exports have been delayed by around two weeks,” Gupta said.Sugar mills in
Maharashtra, the No. 2 sugar state, were forced to delay the start of the new
crushing season by a few weeks due to wet fields, said Prakash Naiknavare, head
of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd.
The heavy downpours also elevated
prices of vegetables such onions and tomatoes and lifted food inflation to
7.89% in October from a year earlier.
That in turn pushed inflation above
the central bank’s medium-term target of 4% in October for the first time in 15
months.
The untimely rains also delayed
winter sowing of wheat, chickpeas, vegetables and other crops.
“I need to harvest soybean before
planting sugarcane. But soybean harvesting has already been delayed,” says
Chikhale. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Euan Rocha & Simon
Cameron-Moore)
Gov’t on alert on rice smuggling, hoarding
With rice imports surging, the government is shoring up tariff
collections while also looking into possible hoarding and smuggling amid
falling retail prices, according to the head of the Duterte administration’s
economic team.
In a speech at the 14th World Rice Conference on Wednesday,
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said revenues from import tariffs
slapped on rice already amounted to P11.4 billion at end-October.
Under Republic Act No. 11203, or the rice tariffication law
implemented since March, the following tariff rates apply: 35 percent if rice
was imported from Asean; 40 percent if within the minimum access volume (MAV)
of 350,000 metric tons, from countries outside Asean; and 180 percent if above
the MAV and coming from a non-Asean country.
Since collections this year already exceeded the annual P10
billion to be automatically allocated to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement
Fund, Dominguez said the government had “ample means to do even more to make
our agricultural production more efficient.”
Dominguez said the government would extend help to farmers
especially affected by the drop in palay prices.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the
finance chief said prices had declined to its current average of P15.71 per
kilo from its “normal” price of P17.23 during the 2015 to 2017 period.
He said this meant an average loss of P1.52 per kilo. He noted,
however, farmers in some provinces even lost P5.63 while others saw a
P3.75-increase.
“The government is constantly monitoring location-specific
prices so that interventions may be deployed on an evidence-based and tightly
targeted manner,” Dominguez said.
Asia
Rice-Indian rice falls on weak demand; cyclone damages fields in Bangladesh
NOVEMBER 14, 2019 /
Karthika Suresh Namboothiri
* Cyclone Bulbul damages 23,000 hectares of paddy in Bangladesh
* Thailand braces for dry spell amid low water levels
* Vietnam October rice exports down 5.9% from September
By Karthika Suresh Namboothiri
BENGALURU, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Indian rice export prices extended
losses for a second week as the rupee weakened and demand from Africa remained
low, while a cyclone damaged paddy fields in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Top exporter India’s 5% broken parboiled variety RI-INBKN5-P1 was
quoted around $363-$368 per tonne, down from $365-$370 last week.
“In dollar terms, export prices are down due to the weak rupee.
Local paddy rice prices are firm,” an exporter based at Kakinada in the
southern state of Andhra Pradesh said.
The Indian rupee fell to a two-month low on Wednesday, increasing
exporters’ margins.
Tepid demand from African countries for non-basmati rice has also
played a role in dampening exports, which were down 29% year-on-year in August
at 644,249 tonnes.
Many rice-growing states received rainfall earlier this month,
which delayed harvesting and damaged paddy crops ready for harvesting,
exporters said.
Last week, cyclone Bulbul ripped through coastal areas of
Bangladesh and eastern India, damaging 23,000 hectares (56,834.24 acres) of
paddy fields, as per a preliminary assessment by Dhaka’s agriculture ministry.
“We will get a clear picture of the extent of the damage by next
week,” said Mizanur Rahman, a senior official of Department of Agriculture
Extension.
This could be a major blow to the country at a time when farmers
have been unable to secure benchmark prices for produce, with no fresh overseas
deals in sight.
Elsewhere, Thailand’s benchmark 5% broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 edged
up to $395-$409 a tonne from last week’s $390-$408.
Demand for Thai rice has remained relatively flat despite some
optimism over a recent rice deal with Iraq, traders said
However strength in the baht - Asia’s best-performing currency this
year - continued to dent demand for Thai rice, making it more expensive than
grain from competitors such as Vietnam and India.
“Right now, domestic prices are too low for farmers,” a Bangkok-based
trader said. “Prices could go up as supply may shrink, or the government could
step in to buy rice at a high price.”
“But the current prices are already higher than our overseas
competitors, so it is tough to export.”
The Thai government has asked farmers in 22 rice-growing provinces
not to grow off-season crops as the country braces for a dry spell amid low
water levels in main reservoirs.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 stayed flat at
$345-$350 a tonne. The market was dull, with trading done only on previously
signed contracts, a trader said. “I think the market will stay this quiet until
the end of next year.”
In October, Vietnam exported around 450,000 tonnes of rice, down
5.9% against September, customs data showed. (Reporting by Phuong Nguyen in
Hanoi, Patpicha Tanakasempipat in Bangkok, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Rajendra
Jadhav in Mumbai; Editing by Arpan Varghese and Jan Harvey)
Rice Prices
as on :
15-11-2019 03:00:01 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in
Rs/quintal in domestic market.
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Arrivals
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Price
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|||||
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Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Gadarpur(Utr)
|
3612.00
|
-16.37
|
87117.00
|
2368
|
2312
|
-
|
|
Pilibhit(UP)
|
3000.00
|
-25
|
59212.50
|
2555
|
2545
|
11.57
|
|
Sultanpur(UP)
|
350.00
|
NC
|
5340.00
|
2385
|
2350
|
0.42
|
|
Hardoi(UP)
|
200.00
|
11.11
|
6300.00
|
2440
|
2480
|
-1.61
|
|
Barhaj(UP)
|
200.00
|
NC
|
8843.00
|
2390
|
2390
|
6.22
|
|
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
|
160.00
|
-11.11
|
3500.00
|
2675
|
2695
|
1.71
|
|
Gondal(UP)
|
144.00
|
-0.69
|
7066.50
|
2460
|
2460
|
-1.20
|
|
Dhing(ASM)
|
130.00
|
NC
|
3008.00
|
2750
|
2750
|
4.96
|
|
Lucknow(UP)
|
124.00
|
24
|
3159.50
|
2600
|
2675
|
15.56
|
|
Auraiya(UP)
|
107.00
|
13275
|
425.60
|
2550
|
2600
|
15.91
|
|
Madhoganj(UP)
|
105.00
|
200
|
2442.50
|
2320
|
2350
|
4.04
|
|
Naugarh(UP)
|
85.00
|
9.68
|
3391.50
|
2525
|
2490
|
11.73
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
80.00
|
14.29
|
3735.00
|
2540
|
2550
|
1.60
|
|
Kalipur(WB)
|
72.00
|
24.14
|
2326.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
-
|
|
Azamgarh(UP)
|
65.00
|
5.69
|
3102.50
|
2470
|
2480
|
9.29
|
|
Mathura(UP)
|
65.00
|
-7.14
|
1425.50
|
2570
|
2570
|
-1.15
|
|
Saharanpur(UP)
|
62.00
|
-7.46
|
1542.50
|
2600
|
2620
|
-0.38
|
|
Ballia(UP)
|
60.00
|
-14.29
|
2605.00
|
2435
|
2430
|
1.04
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
50.00
|
-7.41
|
2201.50
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Dadri(UP)
|
50.00
|
25
|
1123.00
|
2860
|
2850
|
4.00
|
|
Kayamganj(UP)
|
45.00
|
-10
|
1479.00
|
2700
|
2690
|
14.41
|
|
Karimpur(WB)
|
45.00
|
NC
|
1190.00
|
3390
|
3260
|
-4.51
|
|
Pandua(WB)
|
43.00
|
19.44
|
2010.00
|
3050
|
3050
|
1.67
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
3260.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
NC
|
|
Allahabad(UP)
|
40.00
|
-11.11
|
1545.50
|
2600
|
2600
|
13.04
|
|
Sahiyapur(UP)
|
40.00
|
33.33
|
1281.50
|
2470
|
2470
|
9.78
|
|
Beldanga(WB)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
1865.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
3.85
|
|
Vasai(Mah)
|
38.00
|
2.7
|
1403.00
|
3410
|
3425
|
7.91
|
|
Ghaziabad(UP)
|
30.00
|
20
|
2280.00
|
2920
|
2915
|
6.18
|
|
Mohamadabad(UP)
|
30.00
|
-
|
60.00
|
2730
|
-
|
-
|
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
30.00
|
-25
|
1985.00
|
2400
|
2360
|
7.62
|
|
Bankura Sadar(WB)
|
30.00
|
-6.25
|
587.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-3.85
|
|
Islampur(WB)
|
30.00
|
7.14
|
436.00
|
3800
|
3750
|
-
|
|
Muradabad(UP)
|
28.00
|
-6.67
|
658.40
|
2560
|
2560
|
6.67
|
|
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP)
|
28.00
|
7.69
|
461.50
|
2750
|
2700
|
19.57
|
|
Partaval(UP)
|
26.50
|
17.78
|
468.50
|
2390
|
2400
|
11.68
|
|
Howly(ASM)
|
26.00
|
NC
|
635.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
6.38
|
|
Lalitpur(UP)
|
26.00
|
-31.58
|
1344.00
|
2365
|
2345
|
-9.04
|
|
Chorichora(UP)
|
26.00
|
36.84
|
378.00
|
2485
|
2510
|
11.19
|
|
Raiganj(WB)
|
25.00
|
4.17
|
392.00
|
3700
|
3650
|
-
|
|
Ulhasnagar(Mah)
|
24.00
|
-4
|
588.00
|
4000
|
4300
|
33.33
|
|
Puranpur(UP)
|
23.50
|
-88.25
|
3857.00
|
2650
|
2560
|
13.25
|
|
Nalbari(ASM)
|
23.00
|
9.52
|
605.90
|
2500
|
2500
|
NC
|
|
Rampur(UP)
|
23.00
|
4.55
|
502.50
|
2560
|
2700
|
4.92
|
|
Sitapur(UP)
|
23.00
|
NC
|
837.00
|
2420
|
2410
|
6.00
|
|
Wansi(UP)
|
23.00
|
15
|
888.00
|
2110
|
2110
|
NC
|
|
Pukhrayan(UP)
|
21.00
|
-4.55
|
560.00
|
2340
|
2360
|
5.88
|
|
Naanpara(UP)
|
20.80
|
-22.96
|
842.20
|
2220
|
2280
|
-3.48
|
|
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
|
20.00
|
33.33
|
1791.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
NC
|
|
Choubepur(UP)
|
19.40
|
-2.02
|
1565.60
|
2480
|
2635
|
5.53
|
|
Bhivandi(Mah)
|
18.00
|
50
|
927.00
|
2500
|
2300
|
7.76
|
|
Banda(UP)
|
18.00
|
350
|
204.50
|
2350
|
2350
|
6.33
|
|
Farukhabad(UP)
|
18.00
|
12.5
|
742.50
|
2760
|
2740
|
17.95
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
17.20
|
4.24
|
960.30
|
2365
|
2370
|
9.49
|
|
Jayas(UP)
|
15.00
|
36.36
|
1050.40
|
2050
|
2050
|
6.49
|
|
Maharajganj(UP)
|
15.00
|
-40
|
312.00
|
2000
|
2300
|
-
|
|
Champadanga(WB)
|
14.00
|
-6.67
|
521.00
|
3150
|
3150
|
1.61
|
|
Akbarpur(UP)
|
12.80
|
-24.71
|
885.20
|
2400
|
2430
|
7.14
|
|
Ghatal(WB)
|
12.50
|
-21.88
|
417.50
|
2650
|
2650
|
6.00
|
|
Nawabganj(UP)
|
12.00
|
20
|
423.25
|
2460
|
2470
|
13.89
|
|
Kannauj(UP)
|
12.00
|
20
|
419.50
|
2725
|
2750
|
18.48
|
|
Vilthararoad(UP)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
821.00
|
2150
|
2150
|
NC
|
|
Sehjanwa(UP)
|
10.00
|
66.67
|
284.00
|
2460
|
2480
|
13.89
|
|
Kaliaganj(WB)
|
10.00
|
-16.67
|
178.00
|
3650
|
3650
|
-
|
|
Mahoba(UP)
|
9.50
|
-12.04
|
228.90
|
2310
|
2280
|
-
|
|
Hamirpur(UP)
|
8.50
|
-43.33
|
32.00
|
2400
|
1900
|
-
|
|
Puwaha(UP)
|
8.00
|
14.29
|
377.20
|
2500
|
2500
|
-0.79
|
|
Nadia(WB)
|
8.00
|
-11.11
|
458.00
|
3800
|
3800
|
-5.00
|
|
Badayoun(UP)
|
7.00
|
-22.22
|
650.50
|
2675
|
2650
|
20.22
|
|
Etah(UP)
|
7.00
|
16.67
|
276.50
|
2560
|
2570
|
0.79
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
7.00
|
NC
|
339.50
|
2410
|
2425
|
6.87
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
6.70
|
17.54
|
396.40
|
3100
|
3100
|
6.16
|
|
Khurja(UP)
|
6.50
|
-7.14
|
440.30
|
2575
|
2575
|
-1.72
|
|
Tamkuhi Road(UP)
|
6.50
|
-18.75
|
584.40
|
2250
|
2250
|
4.65
|
|
Amroha(UP)
|
6.00
|
200
|
67.80
|
2640
|
2600
|
1.54
|
|
Achalda(UP)
|
6.00
|
50
|
43.30
|
2500
|
2500
|
31.58
|
|
Kasganj(UP)
|
5.00
|
NC
|
230.00
|
2580
|
2610
|
1.98
|
|
Shikohabad(UP)
|
5.00
|
150
|
111.50
|
2750
|
3000
|
-8.33
|
|
Kosikalan(UP)
|
4.80
|
-4
|
213.70
|
2530
|
2550
|
1.20
|
|
Tundla(UP)
|
4.50
|
-10
|
219.70
|
2565
|
2545
|
4.27
|
|
Buland Shahr(UP)
|
4.00
|
33.33
|
150.80
|
2645
|
2670
|
NC
|
|
Badda(UP)
|
4.00
|
11.11
|
141.10
|
2500
|
2500
|
-
|
|
Muskara(UP)
|
3.90
|
NC
|
43.00
|
2300
|
2240
|
1.77
|
|
Kalyani(WB)
|
3.50
|
NC
|
170.00
|
3450
|
3450
|
1.47
|
|
Ranaghat(WB)
|
3.20
|
NC
|
81.60
|
3700
|
3700
|
1.37
|
|
Anandnagar(UP)
|
2.60
|
-48
|
222.80
|
2445
|
2445
|
11.14
|
|
Khatra(WB)
|
2.50
|
-7.41
|
581.80
|
2650
|
2650
|
NC
|
|
Mangaon(Mah)
|
2.00
|
-33.33
|
80.00
|
3200
|
2800
|
-8.57
|
|
Melaghar(Tri)
|
2.00
|
-33.33
|
44.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
3.70
|
|
Baberu(UP)
|
1.90
|
11.76
|
55.30
|
2350
|
2350
|
-
|
|
Kalimpong(WB)
|
1.20
|
-40
|
37.90
|
2800
|
2800
|
-39.13
|
|
Nandyal(AP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
44.00
|
4250
|
4250
|
-
|
|
Jambusar(Kaavi)(Guj)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
99.00
|
3000
|
3200
|
11.11
|
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
112.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
-16.00
|
|
Murud(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
113.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
5.00
|
|
Charra(UP)
|
1.00
|
-33.33
|
51.80
|
2550
|
2550
|
2.00
|
|
Maudaha(UP)
|
1.00
|
-16.67
|
117.00
|
2375
|
2365
|
6.74
|
|
Bharuasumerpur(UP)
|
0.80
|
-46.67
|
15.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
25.00
|
|
Khair(UP)
|
0.80
|
-20
|
45.70
|
2570
|
2580
|
4.90
|
|
Ujhani(UP)
|
0.80
|
33.33
|
19.20
|
2570
|
2650
|
12.23
|
|
Tikonia(UP)
|
0.80
|
-60
|
133.90
|
2400
|
2340
|
-4.00
|
|
Achnera(UP)
|
0.70
|
NC
|
35.10
|
2550
|
2550
|
-0.39
|
|
Bangarmau(UP)
|
0.60
|
-80
|
226.30
|
2425
|
2475
|
6.59
|
Published on November 15, 2019
China’s rice imports from Kingdom
on the rise
November 15, 2019
Chhut Bunthoeun / Khmer Times
China
imported 40 percent more rice from Cambodia from January to October this year
over the same period last year, according to government data.
The Middle Kingdom is the biggest
buyer of the crop. Cambodia sent 457,940 tonnes of milled rice to foreign markets,
a 5 percent hike over the corresponding period last year. Of that, Cambodia
shipped 184,844 tonnes of milled rice to China, according to the Secretariat of
One Window Service for Rice Export Formality (SOWS-REF).
The Kingdom’s rice exports to
China during the first months of this year is considered as a positive move
toward achieving its goal after the Chinese government allowed Cambodia to
export 300,000 tonnes to its market.
“We are confident that we could
reach the target this year with the quota that the Chinese government allowed,”
said Lun Yeng, secretary-general of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF).
Last year, the Kingdom was unable
to meet its rice export quota in the Chinese market, shipping only 170,000
tonnes out of the 300,000 allowed.
“This year, however, things will
be different because we are aiming to increase exports and reach 300,000
tonnes,” he noted, adding that after reaching 300,000 tonnes in exports, the
CRF will begin working towards the new target for next year: 400,000 tonnes.
During a meeting with Cambodian
Prime Minister Hun Sen in Beijing earlier this year, Chinese president Xi
Jinping pledged to increase the rice quota by purchasing 400,000 tonnes of rice
from the Kingdom. The move is part of boosting bilateral trade between the
countries.
CRF president Song Saran told the Khmer
Times recently that the federation is now focusing on
expanding exports to China and other countries in the region to reduce reliance
on the European Union.
With his optimism about the
Kingdom’s rice exports, Mr Saran believes that Cambodian rice will gain more
and more popularity in the Chinese market.
According to the figure from
SOWS-REF, the European Union is the second-biggest buyer of Cambodian rice,
purchasing a total of 155,950 tonnes of milled rice from January to October –
an increase of 34 percent when compared with the same period last year.
The report showed that 83
companies exported Cambodian rice to the international market, including
Baitang (Kampuchea) Plc, the biggest rice exporter, who shipped 60,358 tonnes.
Amru Rice (Cambodia), the next biggest exporter, shipped 41,068 tonnes.
DOF sees no need to amend rice tariff law
Mary Grace
Padin (The Philippine Star) - November 15,
2019 - 12:00am
While emphasizing the
benefits of Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Act, Finance
Secretary Carlos Dominguez also acknowledged that the law has brought some
“short-term transition challenges,” particularly the drop in farmgate price of
palay in some areas.
MANILA, Philippines — The
government will not repeal nor suspend the implementation of the Rice
Tariffication Law, as measures are already being implemented to address the
challenges posed by the law to rice farmers, according to the Department of
Finance (DOF).
While emphasizing the benefits of
Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Act, Finance Secretary Carlos
Dominguez also acknowledged that the law has brought some “short-term
transition challenges,” particularly the drop in farmgate price of palay in
some areas.
Nevertheless, Dominguez expressed
confidence that these issues are only “temporary,” especially with the
government already starting to take action to provide relief to rice farmers.
As such, he said the government is
not considering any moves to repeal, amend, nor suspend the measure.
“We are confident that these
transition challenges are temporary. Nevertheless, the government is responding
to them with decisiveness. There is no inclination to repeal, revise or suspend
the Rice Tariffication Law,” Dominguez said in his speech during the 11th World
Rice Conference in Makati City.
To cushion the negative impact of
the law, Dominguez said the government is constantly monitoring prices so that
interventions may be deployed to areas that are in need.
He said some agencies are also
working with Congress to provide unconditional cash transfers to affected rice
farmers and distributing rice as part of a subsidy program for disadvantaged
families.
The finance chief said the
Department of Agriculture is also working on the implementation of the Survival
and Recovery or SURE-aid program – a P15,000 interest-free loan payable over
eight years.
“Complementary programs include the
procurement of paddy rice above production costs by local governments, and the
provision of loan programs to enable local governments to buy this season’s
harvest from domestic producers,” he said.
The finance chief said the
government is also closely monitoring possible distortions in the market,
particularly the widening gap between farmgate prices for paddy rice and rice
retail prices in specific provinces.
He said the Bureau of Internal
Revenue and the Bureau of Customs have formed strike teams to look into
possible smuggling and hoarding activities, as well as tax evasion.
Over the next months, Dominguez
said the government’s anti-smuggling and anti-hoarding efforts would also
intensify as the DA and the Philippine Competition Commission investigate
possible collusion to undermine the market. He said President Duterte has also
issued instructions to investigate and prosecute those involved in economic
sabotage.
“We will never return to the old
regime of unstable rice supplies, high retail prices, profiteering, and low
productivity. This is not the future of our agriculture. We should let the Rice
Tariffication Law do its work and give the economy time to adjust for further
easing of rice prices for all Filipinos and for support programs to lower
production costs of our farmers,” Dominguez said.
Meanwhile, the finance chief said
additional government revenues from the implementation of the Rice
Tariffication Law has reached P11.4 billion from March 5 to Oct. 31.
He said this has already exceeded
the P10 billion needed for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF),
giving the government more resources to support rice farmers and improve their
productivity and competitiveness.
“Tariff revenues in excess of P10
billion will be earmarked for financial assistance, titling of agricultural
lands, expanded crop insurance programs, and crop diversification initiatives,”
he said.
Republic Act 11203 or the Rice
Liberalization Act opened up the importation of rice imports in the country by
imposing tariffs in lieu of quantitative restrictions.
The law also provides for the
creation of the RCEF, which is set at P10 billion annually for six years, for
programs to boost productivity and global competitiveness of Filipino rice
farmers.
Specifically, the fund will be used
for the provision of post-harvest equipment to farmers, the development and
distribution of seeds, the provision of credit, and for the training of farmers
Read more at https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/11/15/1968804/dof-sees-no-need-amend-rice-tariff-law#wRrgi8kmPpC16Dl0.99
DA issues
tougher rice import guidelines
November 15, 2019
This
file photo shows different varieties of rice being sold at a local market in
Manila.
The Department of Agriculture
(DA) has issued a memorandum order (MO) requiring traders to ensure that their
rice consignments will arrive within a prescribed period of time.
The DA issued MO 28 dated
November 11, which provided supplementary provisions for rice imports to ensure
that these are safe for consumption and free from pests.
The MO strengthened the current
registration procedures for importers of rice and also prescribed a validity
period for sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) issued to
eligible traders.
It effectively amended pertinent
orders and guidelines issued by the DA related to the importation of rice.
“There is a need to strengthen
registration procedure for importers planting materials and plant products, and
specify the validity of the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance, to
safeguard from entry, establishment and spread of exotic plant pests and comply
with food safety requirements,” the DA said in the MO, which was released to
the media on Wednesday.
The MO clarified certain
provisions of Republic Act 11203, or the rice trade liberalization law,
pertaining to the deadline on the arrival of imported rice in the country.
“The actual product/consignment
must be shipped out from the country of origin within the prescribed date in
the approved SPS-IC and must arrive not later than 60 days from the ‘must ship
out date,’” the order read.
The MO outlined the requirements
needed for first time registration and renewal of rice importers. It also
stipulated the requirements to prove that importers can store imported rice.
Importers are required to submit
notarized application form with picture of the owner, mayors’ permit or
business permit, proof of business establishment, proof of existence and
authority to use storage or warehouse, updated and current registration with
the Bureau of Customs, annual income-tax return with audited financial
statement of the importer for the last three years.
The DA issued the guidelines
eight months after RA 11203, which eased the restrictions on importing rice,
took effect.
According to government data,
some 2.99 million metric tons (MMT) of imported rice have arrived in the
Philippines in October. The DA said imports could exceed this volume as there
are still a number of SPS-ICs issued by the government that have not been used.
The United States Department of
Agriculture has earlier projected that the Philippines’s rice imports this year
will reach 3 MMT. The anticipated volume is bigger than the 2.5 MMT projected
for China this year.
Planters have been urging the
government to roll out safeguard measures that will cushion the impact of the
surge in imports, which has pulled down the farm-gate price of the staple in
recent months.
However, the DA was forced to
abandon the plan after the National Economic and Development Authority warned
that slapping safeguard duties on rice would increase the price of the staple
and accelerate inflation.
The country’s economic managers
have attributed the slowdown in inflation in recent months to the rice trade
liberalization law, saying this helped cut the retail price of the staple.
‘Golden Rice’ Review: Against the Grain
An estimated one million people—mostly children—die annually from
vitamin-A deficiency. Golden rice could reverse that.
By
Hugo
Restall
Nov. 13, 2019 6:25 pm ET
Why has it taken more than two
decades to develop “golden rice,” the genetically modified crop that promises
to save millions of lives? The many delays have been costly. Every year an
estimated one million people, mostly children, die, and another half a million
more lose their eyesight, from vitamin-A deficiency. Golden rice—with its
yellow grains rich in beta carotene, which the human body turns into vitamin
A—could virtually eliminate this problem in countries where rice is the staple
food.
After scientists developed the...
TO READ THE FULL STORY
Japan to help Nepal in agri
research
Published On: November
14, 2019 09:41 AM NPT By: Republica
KATHMANDU, Nov 14: Japan has
showed interest to Nepal to conduct research in plant breeding, seed production
and gerplasm.
Nepal Agriculture Research
Council (NARC) and Japan International Research Center for Agricultural
Sciences (JIRCAS) signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Kathmandu on
Wednesday to collaborate in the research. Japan has also agreed to help in
Nepal in agriculture, trade and investment through its research.
Tek Bahadur Gurung, acting
executive director of NARC and Masaru Iwanaga, president of JIRCAS, signed the
MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.
Earlier in January, researchers
from Japan had come to Nepal for their research. The visit was a stepping stone
for signing of MoU between the two institutions.
“JIRCAS and NARC are
collaborating with each other for research in Nepal. Japanese food scientists
have already done research on gerplasm and field derivation in Kathmandu
Valley. Findings of the study will help to enhance phosphate nutrients in soil
which will help to increase rice production," Iwanaga said at the signing
ceremony. "Both Nepal and Japan have common culture in fermented food. A
study of this tradition could be a promising research area,” he added.
At the program, Japanese
government officials assured their Nepali counterparts that they would explore
the probability of research in various fields. They also said Japan could
accept foreign workers in agriculture sector in the near future.
Similarly, Gurung of NARC said that
the collaboration with JIRCAS will help agriculture sector of Nepal. "We
will hold discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Development to finalize priority of the government and conduct research
accordingly," Gurung said, adding: "Plant breeding could be one of
the areas in collaborative research work. Promotion of underutilized crop,
which can withstand impacts of climate change, will benefit us in the future.”
It is the umbrella agreement
between NARC and JIRCAS. According to officials of NARC, Japan is interested to
help Nepal in increasing production of rice. The researchers are focusing on
hybrid rice which gives high yields.
Japan is also interested to
conduct research on buckwheat farming. According to the MoU, Japanese scientists
will come to Nepal to conduct research on different crops.
Plant growth promoter
effective vs tungro virus, leaf blight
November 14, 2019
VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon -- Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) Director
Marlita Carlos said that the recently commercialized plant growth promoter of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is effective in helping rice
crops resist tungro disease and leaf blight.
Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter (PGP), which the DOST had been promoting for farming applications after it was proven to be compatible with different cropping systems, helps develop rice resistance against rice tungro virus and bacterial leaf blight.
Rice tungro disease is caused by the combination of two viruses, which are transmitted by leafhoppers. It causes leaf discoloration, stunted growth, reduced tiller numbers and sterile or partly filled grains.
Tungro infects cultivated rice, some wild rice relatives and other grassy weeds commonly found in rice paddies. Meanwhile, bacterial blight is caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. It causes wilting of seedlings and yellowing and drying of leaves.
Carlos said that the plant growth promoter had been shown to improve rice resistance to tungro virus and bacterial leaf blight based on several field tests of cultivated rice in different regions.
Carrageenan also helps in strengthening the rice crops' extensive root systems, which can better withstand the effects of lodging during typhoons.
The PGP also had the effect of driving away harmful pests without harming insects and arthropods which are naturally beneficial to crops. Not only does the PGP increase the number of cavans, but it also made each cavan heavier and fully-laden with rice. With the PGP, farmers could earn up to an additional P16,000, an increase in income by over 19 percent.
Red seaweed extract carrageenan, which is widely used in the food industry as an additive, has now been successfully processed for agricultural use as a foliar fertilizer that is expected to boost rice production and pest resistance.
The DOST had in fact made the technology available to the private sector in Central Luzon recently.
Aside from the recent launching in Central Luzon, the product is currently being launched nationwide by various technology adopters, distributing it through various dealers, cooperatives and other possible arrangements.
The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) had even certified the carrageenan PGP for commercialization in rice, with plans to widen its coverage to include other crops in the near future. For an optimal amount of nine liters per hectare, farmers could use the PGP along with conventional fertilizers.
Carrageenan is extracted from seaweeds and is mostly used as a food additive for its gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties.
The technology developed by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PNRI), led by Dr. Lucille V. Abad, has been able to unlock the other beneficial applications of carrageenan through irradiation technology.
Scientists from DOST-PNRI developed the PGP from carrageenan, a natural polymer extracted from red seaweed. Using the fabricated liquid handling system at PNRI's Electron Beam Irradiation Facility, the carrageenan solution is processed using electron beams into a foliar fertilizer sprayed at certain stages in the plant's life.
The PGP was funded by the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development and tested in cooperation with the University of the Philippines-Los Baños National Crop Protection Center.
Through radiation processing, carrageenan was modified into an effective plant promoter. The growth promoter had been proven to contain essential micro and macro nutrients that help in the growth of crops like palay, pechay peanut and mungbeans.
Dr. Abad said the technology had been a product of almost 10 years of testing in seven regions that included several verification trials. Pilot tests for the positive effects of the carrageenan were initially carried out in Pulilan town in Bulacan. This later expanded to 5,000 hectares in seven regions for verification trials.
The formula was set for field trials by the Department of Agriculture (DA) from 2015 to 2019 to cover several provinces in Luzon, Panay Island, Zamboanga and Davao, for a total of around 35,000 hectares of farmland.
Farmers can maximize the potential yield of their crops when using PGP in conjunction with more efficient farming methods and proper timing.
Other food crops such as mungbean, peanut, leafy vegetables, corn, sugarcane, and banana are also being subjected to PGP field tests, where results showed an increase in yield by around 35 percent for mungbean and around 40 percent for peanut.
According to Dr. Abad, the formula has been proven to increase rice yields by as much as 30 percent versus the yield from average farmer practices.
She said the growth promoter fits well in the smarter rice production model, which promotes the use of mechanical rice transplanting, hybrid seeds and the use of plant growth promoter.
Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter (PGP), which the DOST had been promoting for farming applications after it was proven to be compatible with different cropping systems, helps develop rice resistance against rice tungro virus and bacterial leaf blight.
Rice tungro disease is caused by the combination of two viruses, which are transmitted by leafhoppers. It causes leaf discoloration, stunted growth, reduced tiller numbers and sterile or partly filled grains.
Tungro infects cultivated rice, some wild rice relatives and other grassy weeds commonly found in rice paddies. Meanwhile, bacterial blight is caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. It causes wilting of seedlings and yellowing and drying of leaves.
Carlos said that the plant growth promoter had been shown to improve rice resistance to tungro virus and bacterial leaf blight based on several field tests of cultivated rice in different regions.
Carrageenan also helps in strengthening the rice crops' extensive root systems, which can better withstand the effects of lodging during typhoons.
The PGP also had the effect of driving away harmful pests without harming insects and arthropods which are naturally beneficial to crops. Not only does the PGP increase the number of cavans, but it also made each cavan heavier and fully-laden with rice. With the PGP, farmers could earn up to an additional P16,000, an increase in income by over 19 percent.
Red seaweed extract carrageenan, which is widely used in the food industry as an additive, has now been successfully processed for agricultural use as a foliar fertilizer that is expected to boost rice production and pest resistance.
The DOST had in fact made the technology available to the private sector in Central Luzon recently.
Aside from the recent launching in Central Luzon, the product is currently being launched nationwide by various technology adopters, distributing it through various dealers, cooperatives and other possible arrangements.
The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) had even certified the carrageenan PGP for commercialization in rice, with plans to widen its coverage to include other crops in the near future. For an optimal amount of nine liters per hectare, farmers could use the PGP along with conventional fertilizers.
Carrageenan is extracted from seaweeds and is mostly used as a food additive for its gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties.
The technology developed by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PNRI), led by Dr. Lucille V. Abad, has been able to unlock the other beneficial applications of carrageenan through irradiation technology.
Scientists from DOST-PNRI developed the PGP from carrageenan, a natural polymer extracted from red seaweed. Using the fabricated liquid handling system at PNRI's Electron Beam Irradiation Facility, the carrageenan solution is processed using electron beams into a foliar fertilizer sprayed at certain stages in the plant's life.
The PGP was funded by the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development and tested in cooperation with the University of the Philippines-Los Baños National Crop Protection Center.
Through radiation processing, carrageenan was modified into an effective plant promoter. The growth promoter had been proven to contain essential micro and macro nutrients that help in the growth of crops like palay, pechay peanut and mungbeans.
Dr. Abad said the technology had been a product of almost 10 years of testing in seven regions that included several verification trials. Pilot tests for the positive effects of the carrageenan were initially carried out in Pulilan town in Bulacan. This later expanded to 5,000 hectares in seven regions for verification trials.
The formula was set for field trials by the Department of Agriculture (DA) from 2015 to 2019 to cover several provinces in Luzon, Panay Island, Zamboanga and Davao, for a total of around 35,000 hectares of farmland.
Farmers can maximize the potential yield of their crops when using PGP in conjunction with more efficient farming methods and proper timing.
Other food crops such as mungbean, peanut, leafy vegetables, corn, sugarcane, and banana are also being subjected to PGP field tests, where results showed an increase in yield by around 35 percent for mungbean and around 40 percent for peanut.
According to Dr. Abad, the formula has been proven to increase rice yields by as much as 30 percent versus the yield from average farmer practices.
She said the growth promoter fits well in the smarter rice production model, which promotes the use of mechanical rice transplanting, hybrid seeds and the use of plant growth promoter.
Rice Road
Warriors Part Two: Unprecedented
Efforts
By Deborah Willenborg
MILLSBORO, DE & SHEPHERDSTOWN,
WV -- This year, the Think Rice Road Trip has been traveling around the
Mid-Atlantic, conducting consumer events to educate the public about U.S.-grown
rice and handing out samples and Aroma rice cookers. The team took some major risks to pull off
two of the most unique events for this year's trip, but both have paid huge
dividends for the team and the industry they are representing.
First, at the Fifth Annual Southern
Delaware Wine, Food, and Music Festival, the team joined dozens of area
restaurants to compete for the attention of the more than 600 attendees. But the food and wine samples were no match
for the free household appliance and the USA Rice booth was "The Hot
Spot" of the festival with the team going through more than 300 cookers
and collecting consumer information from more 400 attendees who were happy to
sign up for the Think Rice Newsletter even after the cooker supply had run
out. The event also nicely dovetailed
with USA Rice's foodservice outreach program.
Rice at the ready during Wine &
Food Fest cooking competition
2019 Foodservice Farm & Mill
Tour participant Chef Hari Cameron was the director of culinary competition for
the event and he saw to it that U.S.-grown rice was the secret ingredient for
the competition. He also made a delicious
horchata for the Road Trip team to hand out along with all those cookers that
kept bringing people back to the booth.
"This was definitely a very
affluent crowd and we weren't sure how we would be received," said Cameron
Jacobs, USA Rice director of domestic promotion who had negotiated a prime
location for the USA Rice booth and claimed a prominent spot for the Rice
Truck. "It was really nice to see
how positively they reacted to us and how grateful they were to learn U.S. rice
farmers were out there working hard to feed them."
The "All Things U.S. Rice
Pop-Up Shop" was the talk of historic Shepherdstown, West Virginia, with
the team taking possession of the storefront at 106 W. German Street on a
Friday and working into the night to create a U.S. rice consumer experience
like no other.
"It's a small town, and people
had been watching us all evening moving about 500 cookers and 1,000 pounds of
rice inside and setting everything up," said Sean Mullen, USA Rice
accounting manager who volunteered to give up his weekend for the cause. "They were talking about us all night
and there was a line out front when we opened the next morning at 10. People couldn't wait to get inside!"
The buzz on the street is U.S.-grown
rice
And when they did, they were
rewarded, wandering past giant towers of Aroma rice cookers, to displays of
rice from all six major rice producing states, each variety with a story that
the USA Rice staff was happy to share.
"We had long grain brown and
white, sprouted brown, Calrose, jasmine, purple, and red rice," explained
Lesley Dixon, USA Rice staff writer who helped staff the store. "People had loads of questions and were
really interested to hear what we had to tell them about each variety. They always had trouble choosing, but that
was the deal - one bag per person!"
"One of the hallmarks of the
Road Trip is how efficiently we are able to visit with the consumers we
interact with - we could generally get them to complete our survey, pitch the
U.S.-grown message, and answer their questions in five minutes or less,"
said Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of domestic promotion. "But the pop-up store was
different. People spent a lot of time
with us. They came in and really
browsed, comparing varieties, and asking us all kinds of questions - including
which was our favorite kind of rice."
Klein said the answer was always the
same: "any rice grown in the U.S.!"
It's been almost two weeks since the
All Things U.S. Rice store captured the collective culinary imagination of the
community, but USA Rice is still reaping benefits.
Sales pitch in the pop-up
"Thank you so much for bringing
awareness (and rice cookers) to our grateful town!" one civic leader wrote
to USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward this week. "I recently visited your USA rice pop-up
shop here in Shepherdstown and came away very impressed with your marketing
work to get the word out on U.S.-grown rice."
The team has just a handful of
events and a few hundred cookers left in this year's tour, which means about
the only thing left to give away is the Think Rice Road Trip truck itself. As was done last year, the team is selling
raffle tickets to win the truck. A
maximum of 2,000 tickets will be sold and the winner will be drawn at the USA
Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 10. (You don't need to be present to win, and you
can even take the wrap off, though why would you?)
To read more about this year's Road
Trip, see Part One of this story here.
And to purchase raffle tickets for the truck, go here.If you're thinking
about winning this truck, click on it to buy a raffle ticket
Bilawal
rejects Rs50 per maund increase in support price of wheat
BY STAFF
REPORT , (LAST UPDATED 2 DAYS AGO)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal
Bhutto-Zardari has rejected the increase of Rs 50 per maund (40 kg) in wheat
support price.
In a statement here on Thursday,
Bilawal Bhutto said that after five years, increasing the wheat support price
by a mere 50 rupees is a joke with the farmers. After the last PPP tenure, all
successive governments have ignored the plight of the farmers. During the last
PPP government the wheat support price was increased from Rs 450 to Rs 1200.
This increase resulted as an incentive for the farmers and we were able to
shift from a wheat importing country to a wheat exporting one.
“Wheat support price should at
least be increased to Rs 1,600 per maund,” he said.
The PPP chairman said that the
world over, currently wheat price stands at Rs 1,575 while our farmers are only
to get Rs 1,350.
“Governments across the world
protect and support the rights and interests of their farmers and agricultural
communities but in Pakistan, the exact opposite is happening. Our government is
anti-farmers.”
Bilawal pointed out that the
prices of inputs for farming community like urea, DAP and energy have
skyrocketed and the meagre increase in support price is not in line with
production costs and inflation.
“This government’s
anti-agriculture policies have destroyed our farming communities and as a
result agricultural produce has declined. This policy will lead to food
shortages.”
The PPP leader said that all
major crops have seen reductions in output like cotton wheat and rice. This
year decline in cotton production stands at almost seven million bales.
Government has left farmers at the mercy of market forces, leading to chaos.
“After destroying our industrial
sector, the PTI government is now destroying agriculture. If our farmers stop
tilling their land, our country will not have enough food to survive.
Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan. He urged the government to immediately
bring forward a well thought out farmer friendly agricultural policy and place
it before the Parliament for approval.”
International Rice Tech Expo launched in Kakinada Hans News Service |
15 Nov 2019 11:40 PM IST HIGHLIGHTS
The international exhibition and conference on rice processing technology 'Rice
Tech Expo' commenced at the Ananda Bharati grounds here on Friday. Important
updates in your mailbox Subscribe Kakinada: The
international exhibition and conference on rice processing technology 'Rice
Tech Expo' commenced at the Ananda Bharati grounds here on Friday. Inaugurating
the Expo, Andhra Pradesh Rice Millers Association president Dwarampudi Bhaskara
Reddy explained the process of preparing value added products with rice. Reddy
said that many of rice millers have suggested that rice be exported with modern
technology from the East and West Godavari districts. ADVERTISEMENT He informed
that leading multinational companies had displayed their products at the Expo.
He suggested some valuable tips for the preparation of boiled rice and steam
rice with latest technologies. He suggested the millers to use the latest
equipment to get good results in rice processing. A huge number of rice millers
from the district attended the programme. Kakinada Rice Millers Association
president Rama Reddy, exhibition convener SK Baji and others were present.
https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/international-rice-tech-expo-launched-in-kakinada-581544
Genetic advances in barley
overcome climate impacts, TropAg hears
Sally Cripps@sallyQCL15 Nov
2019, 11:30 a.m.
Carlsberg Research Laboratory vice president Birgitte
Skadhauge explains the brewing dilemma and how science is tackling it. Picture
- Sally Cripps.
There has been plenty in the news
about the impact of climate change on the way we live our lives - battling
temperature extremes, more cyclones and storm surges, and subsequent impacts on
health - but an international study has found it could lead to a beer shortage.
Speaking at the TropAg 2019
conference in Brisbane this week, Carlsberg Research Laboratory vice president
Birgitte Skadhauge shared results of an international study that showed barley
yields could decrease by, at best 3 per cent and at worst up to 17pc, as barley
growing locations became hotter and drier.
"This is quite depressing news
- it would mean less money for farmers and the quality of beer could be
affected," Ms Skadhauge, who had flown in from Denmark for the conference,
said.
"What we see when we have
droughts or extreme heat is that barley has lower yields, smaller kernels and a
lower starch quality.
"Poorer starch quality leads
to less tasty beer."
Thankfully though, the work of her
institute and other plant scientists across the globe who have been exploring
the cereal's genomes for new brewing traits, means this crisis may be averted.
A major milestone was reached in 2017 when scientists sequenced barley's genome. Given that it's roughly twice the size of the human
genome and took a team of 77 international scientists 10 years to complete,
this was no mean feat.
It means they now know which genes
control various traits so that varieties can be developed that will be more
tolerant of drought and heat.
Developing more resilient varieties
is also work that the University of Queensland's Centre for Crop Science is
undertaking and senior research fellow Lee Hickey said gene editing, a breeding
method that involves making small changes to a plant's genetic code, was
particularly promising.
"We're able to make varieties
that are drought-resistant more efficiently than ever before," he said,
news that beer lovers worldwide will be toasting.
Meanwhile, Ms Skadhauge told TropAg
that work was also being done on identifying mutant breeding lines to eliminate
traits that gave beer an "off" flavour after it had been stored for a
week at 30 degrees.
Together with other work on a trait
that gives out a cooked cabbage taste in the malting process, all these
innovations are being 'stacked' into the latest barley grains.
A screening process is also being
applied for barley varieties that are more drought and heat tolerant, which has
found ones grown in Russia, Portugal and Spain are giving good yields.
For the pale ale fans, the
Carlsberg laboratory is also looking at climate resistant rice, taking core
samples from Chinese paddies that are up to 8000 years old.
"It might be a long shot but
we hope to find traits that have been lost in modern rice that we can
reintroduce, using modern breeding techniques, thus helping face the challenges
of today," Ms Skadhauge said.
Covering all its bases, Carlsberg
is also working to reduce its water and carbon footprints in the environmental
sphere, while on the social side, has zero irresponsible drinking and zero
accidents caused by alcohol by 2030 written into its charter.
Savings to date include 20pc carbon
reduction and 9pc water efficiency, including a 50pc reduction in water usage
at its breweries, which is equivalent to 8112 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Environmentally beneficial
packaging has been developed whereby cans are glued together with a carry
handle, which has already saved 1200 tonnes of plastic.
EPFL creates a solar cooker with
solid potential in Switzerland
The solar cooker and authors of
the study on the roof of their lab. © Alain Herzog / EPFL
EPFL scientists have developed a
glass-paneled solar cooker that delivers exceptional performance. Their
patented design can operate an average of 155 days a year in Switzerland’s cloudiest
regions and up to 240 days in its sunniest.
Solar cookers – or solar-powered
ovens – can be used to cook foods at low temperatures (60-120°C) for anywhere
from 30 minutes up to four hours. This makes them perfect for a range of
dishes, such as potatoes, vegetables, rice, stews and even cupcakes. EPFL
scientists have been working on an enhanced version of the conventional solar
cooker since 2018. In research that appeared in Solar Energy, the scientists
show how their design can operate in Switzerland’s sunniest areas, such as
Valais Canton, for 240 days per year – or two thirds of the year. And in the
country’s cloudiest areas (such as Zurich), it can operate for 155 days per
year, a figure that surprised even the researchers.
The scientists in question work
at EPFL’s Solar Energy and Building Physics Laboratory (LESO-PB). But how did
building experts come to be interested in cookers? “It all started with a
chocolate cake – and it’ll all end with a chocolate cake,” says Andreas
Schüler, a research associate at LESO-PB. One day, Olivia Bouvard – a scientist
at the lab – arrived at work with a cake she’d baked in a solar cooker. That
got her colleagues interested in how these devices work. They ordered one from
Solemyo, an association based in Geneva, and began to reverse-engineer its
design.
Like a miniature building
“A solar cooker is actually like
a tiny building with glazed facades,” says Schüler. Which is right up his
alley, since he has been working on advanced window-glazing technology for the
past few years. Schüler and his colleagues at LESO-PB made improvements to the
size of the cooker they’d ordered and added more glazing – using, of course,
their innovative type of glass. That boosted the amount of sunlight entering
the cooker, but it did not increase the amount of heat loss, thanks to their
glass’s superior insulating properties. The scientists worked with the Swiss
Design Center to create a prototype of their model, and they filed for a patent
in 2018. Then, using an EPFL Enable grant and an ENAC InnoSeed grant awarded
the same year, they teamed up with TZ Menuiserie SA – a carpentry firm based in
Valais – to manufacture ten prototypes.
The EPFL model is designed
specifically for Switzerland. In addition to glass, it uses pine wood and is
surrounded with aluminum to reflect and guide the sun’s rays. The cooker’s
shape and glazing are engineered to create a “sunlight trap” so that it doesn’t
have to be moved during cooking to follow the sun’s rays. With dimensions of 33
cm x 33 cm, it is large enough to hold a standard casserole dish. “We also
looked into the idea of creating a collapsible, portable cooker, along with a
fold-up casserole dish, that people could use when they go hiking or to the
beach,” says Schüler, who himself is a proud owner of one of the prototypes.
“We believe our cooker could help
reduce the load on Switzerland’s power grid during the peak lunch and evening
hours. Cooking is the third-biggest use of household power in Switzerland,
behind heating systems and water boilers. With our cooker, you could put all
the ingredients in before going to work, for example, and have a meal ready for
you when you get home – without using gas or electricity,” says Schüler.
Designs for other countries, too
The method for calculating how
many days a year the solar cooker could work was developed by Dasaraden Mauree,
an LESO-PB scientist specialized in modelling techniques. “We combined climatic
data for Switzerland with our cooker’s operating data to develop a mathematical
model that can subsequently be used for any other region in the world,” says
Mauree. The scientists tested their model by collecting data from their cooker
over one month, on the roof of their lab, and comparing the data with the
model’s predictions. In addition to validating the model, these tests showed
that their solar cooker, when equipped with aluminum reflectors, can deliver
55% more cooking days per year than the same cooker without reflectors.
Today the scientists are working
on further increasing their cooker’s efficiency and on making it a “smart
cooker” by incorporating an app that would let users monitor the oven when
they’re not at home and that would send an alert when a meal is ready. They are
also thinking about adjusting their design so it can be used in other countries
through a technology-transfer approach. “We’ve had Master’s students work with
us on this project, and their ideas and enthusiasm really helped us move it
forward. We owe them a lot!” says Schüler. Now they can apply the lessons
learned while developing the cooker to their research on making buildings
tighter. So after shifting their focus from buildings to cookers, the
researchers can now apply what they learned on cookers to buildings.
Kafer: Reducing the threat of
food insecurity here and abroad
A decade ago, on Colorado’s
windswept eastern frontier, I met a scientist working with farmers to conserve
water, improve the soil and increase harvests. I was amazed that Colorado State
University’s reach extended that far from Fort Collins.
Little did I know that for well
over 100 years the university has been improving lives and livelihoods in the
state’s 64 counties through education, training and on-the-ground
problem-solving. These extension programs are the bridge between CSU’s formidable
research laboratories and the field. From an urban garden in Denver to a cattle
ranch in South Park; from a 4-H youth development program in Pueblo to a
sustainable energy project on the eastern plains, CSU’s field spans the entire
state.
The university’s field of vision,
however, exceeds the horizon. Through partnerships with research institutions
and foundations, CSU scientists are involved in bettering the lives of people
around the world through teaching, research and application. I just got back from
Saint Louis — not Missouri — Senegal, West Africa. I participated in an
advanced crop improvement course conducted by CSU, partner universities,
AfricaRice and other research institutions with support from the Griffin
Foundation and the National Science Foundation.
In the rice paddy, the lab, the
mill, and the lecture hall, class participants — mostly masters and PhD
students, and post-doctoral researchers from the U.S., France, and several
African nations — saw firsthand advancements in crop breeding, genetic science,
farmer training, food processing, finance, and access to tractors and combines.
These ongoing efforts are increasing harvests for poor farmers, creating
healthier plants, lowering the use of pesticides, and creating more affordable
food for everyone.
From a position of plenty, it’s
hard for most of us to envision not having enough food or income to meet basic
needs. Imagine looking at a disease-ravaged field and knowing your kids won’t
be getting new shoes this year, and there will be no money for school fees.
Most rice farmers in Senegal eke
out a living farming a few acres of rice and cash crops like onions and okra.
The profit margin for rice is small and a good year doesn’t bring much. Every
season, the specter of disease, pests, bad soil, or drought haunts the fields.
Throughout Africa and Asia, rice farmers face these challenges. Since rice is
the staple food for four billion people around the world, poor harvests impact
whole communities.
Although the stakes are higher for
those living on the margin, farmers, fruit growers, and ranchers around the
world including the U.S. face significant challenges from disease, pests, and
extreme weather events. Whether it’s waterlogged Midwest soils, tenacious
drought in southern Colorado, funguses and bacteria infecting Florida’s citrus
groves, the daily threat to food production is everywhere. We need solutions.
Most of us aren’t farmers. All of us are eaters.
Fortunately, CSU, other Colorado
universities and research institutions, foundations, and businesses are playing
a pivotal role in meeting these challenges through research, dissemination, and
training the next generation of scientists and agriculturalists. These efforts,
however, rarely make headlines. Unlike college sports, controversial speakers,
or student protests, the daily work of these institutions to improve the lives
of people here and around the world often goes unnoticed.
Krista Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on
Twitter: https://www.denverpost.com/2019/11/15/kafer-reducing-the-threat-of-food-insecurity-here-and-abroad/
Imee Marcos says DTI plan to import rice for fast food chains is
‘insensitive’
Published November 15, 2019 12:22pm
The government’s plan to import
rice on behalf of fast food chains, grocery stores, and small supermarkets,
instead of buying local, is insensitive, Senator Imee Marcos said Friday.
Marcos is seriously disappointed
that a government-owned corporation under the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) would prioritize imports over local produce at a time when rice farmers
nationwide have been selling their harvest at depressed prices or even at a
loss.
“The announcement of Secretary
Lopez is insensitive and ill-timed. Cheaper imported rice is not worth the
breakdown in the livelihood of Filipino rice farmers,” she said.
The DTI chief announced the plan
on the sidelines of an international rice conference in Makati City, noting
that up to 300 containers could be shipped into the country in the next few
months.
“Where is our conscience and what
got into the heads of these businessmen who choose foreign goods over our very
own at a time of crisis?” Marcos said.
“Have pity on our rice farmers
who could hardly make a living. Just drop it!” she added. —VDS,
GMA News
October rice import volume down sharply
Rice
imports have declined significantly after the government imposed more stringent
sanitary measures.Agriculture Secretary William Dar said rice importation
volume dropped to 85,000 metric tons in October from a monthly average of
254,000 MT in the first nine months of the year.
“We
will continue to be strict and continue to elevate [food safety] measures
before the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC),”
Dar said.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar
He
stressed the department would continue to implement the measures, especially
during harvest season, to protect local palay farmers from the further influx
of cheaper imported rice.
The
government has informed Vietnam and Thailand, the main sources of Manila’s rice
imports, on the tighter measures.
“We
are not afraid because we are after food safety,” Dar said.
Manila
to date has imported 2.9 million MT.
Dar
said the review of the Rice Tariffication Law was premature amid calls by
lawmakers and farmers, noting that the surge in volume of imported rice was a
natural market reaction as a result of trade liberalization of the staple.
“In
fact, a surge in imports is natural for any commodity being traded in a newly
liberalized market. Give the law a chance. We want RTL to work for both farmers
and consumers. At the end of the day, this is a reform that has been long
wanting and should be implemented now,” he said.
The
government started imposing tariff on imported rice in March in lieu of import
quotas to ease inflation.
The
measure, however, significantly depressed the buying of palay at the farm gate
level.
The
Agriculture Department said the situation was just temporary and that the
market would correct itself soon.
Imee slams PITC plan to import more rice
posted November
15, 2019 at 11:20 pm
Senator
Imee Marcos has denounced the plan of the Philippine International Trading
Corpo. to import rice in behalf of local fastfood chains, grocery stores, and
small supermarkets.
Marcos
expressed dismay that a government-owned corporation under the Department of
Trade and Industry would prioritize imports over local produce when rice
farmers nationwide have been selling their harvest at depressed prices or even
at a loss.
“The
announcement of Secretary [Ramon] Lopez is insensitive and ill-timed,” Marcos
said.
Senator Imee Marcos
She
said cheaper imported rice is not worth a breakdown in the livelihood of
Filipino rice farmers.
The
DTI chief announced the plan to import rice for select businesses at an
international rice conference in Makati earlier this week and also said that as
many as 300 containers could be shipped to the country in the next few months.
“Where
is our conscience and what got into the heads of these businessmen who choose
foreign goods over our very own at a time of crisis?” Marcos asked.
“Have
pity on our rice farmers who could hardly make a living. Just drop it!” Marcos
fumed.
Meanwhile,
Senator Francis Pangilinan said Filipinos should all be deeply worried by news
that the Philippines has surpassed China as the world’s biggest importer of
rice.
He
said this means that the country has become perilously dependent on other
nations for its everyday food, (“sa ating araw-araw na sinaing.”)
“We
are set to reach a record-high three million metric tons of rice imports this
year while China is only importing 2.5 million metric tons,” Pangilinan said.
“What
will happen to if other countries would not sell rice to us?” he asked.
He
said this food insecurity is aggravated by the impact of rice imports on the
farmers.
Brazilian rice exports fall,
imports climb
Rio Grande do
Sul crop hampered by rains, price rises
·
15
Nov 2019
For Third Consecutive Month in October, Exports Dip 1.11%; Major
Drop in Tea, Rice, Carpet Shipments
Imports too declined by 16.31 per
cent to USD 37.39 billion in October, narrowing the trade deficit to USD 11
billion, according to the government data.
Updated:November 15, 2019, 9:03 PM IST
For Representation
New Delhi: India's exports contracted for the third month in a row in
October by 1.11 per cent to USD 26.38 billion mainly on account of a
significant dip in shipments of petroleum, carpet, leather products, rice and
tea.
Imports too declined by 16.31 per cent to USD 37.39 billion in
October, narrowing the trade deficit to USD 11 billion, according to the
government data released on Friday.
Gold imports increased by about 5 per cent to USD 1.84 billion
in the month.
The trade deficit stood at USD 18 billion in October 2018.
Out of the 30 key sectors, as many as 18 segments showed
negative growth in exports during the month under review.
Shipments of petroleum goods, carpet, leather products, rice and
tea contracted by 14.6 per cent, 17 per cent, 7.6 per cent, 29.5 per cent and
6.16 per cent respectively.
The country's outbound shipments have remained subdued so far this
year. It may have a bearing on the overall economic growth, which fell to over
six-year low of 5 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal.
Industrial output declined by 4.3 per cent in September due to poor performance
by manufacturing, power generation and mining sectors.
The outbound shipments contracted by 6 per cent in August and
6.57 per cent in September.
In October, oil imports declined by 31.74 per cent to USD 9.63
billion, and non-oil imports fell by 9.19 per cent to USD 27.76 billion.
Cumulatively, during April-October 2019, exports were down 2.21
per cent to USD 185.95 billion while imports contracted by 8.37 per cent to USD
280.67 billion.
Trade deficit during the period narrowed to USD 94.72 billion as
against USD 116.15 billion in April-October 2018-19.
Meanwhile, an RBI release showed that services export for
October 2019 stood at USD 17.22 billion while imports were at USD 10.92
billion.
Services exports in September 2019 were USD 17.54 billion (Rs
1,25,090.78 crore) registering a positive growth of 7.05 per cent in dollar
terms, vis--vis September 2018.
Services imports in September 2019 were USD 11.10 billion (Rs
79,151.87 crore) registering a positive growth of 11.56 per cent in dollar
terms, vis--vis September 2018.
Ludhiana-based exporter S C Ralhan called for the immediate
release of foreign trade policy by the government to arrest the downfall.
"Government should immediately announce foreign trade
policy. If it will be delayed, the government would not be able to control the
damage," Ralhan said.
Trade Promotion Council of India Chairman Mohit Singla said that
the figures reflect global slowdown which has led to the slackening of demand,
which is also seen in fall of imports especially in the raw material used for
either production or manufacturing.
"I am sure in the next few months efforts taken by the
government will show positive results and exports incentives announced by the
government will have a positive rub on India's exports," Singla said.
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President
Sharad Kumar Saraf said that trade tensions and rising protectionism has led to
this marginal decrease in exports during the month.
"Sluggishness in the economies across the globe coupled
with the trade war between US-China, Brexit and developments in Iran, Turkey,
Iraq other gulf countries has continuously unsettled the slowing world economy
which has further escalated the problem," he said.
He added that the downside risks remain and the projections for
the near future depends on a return to more normal trade relations among
countries.
Anil Ambani Resigns as Director of Reliance Communications
According to the filing, Ambani
along with Chhaya Virani, Ryna Karani, Manjari Kacker, Suresh Rangachar have
resigned as directors of RCom.
Updated: November 16, 2019, 4:15 PM IST
File photo of Anil Ambani.
(Reuters)
New Delhi: Anil Ambani has resigned as director of Reliance
Communications, the debt-ridden company said in a filing on Saturday.
According to the filing, Ambani
along with Chhaya Virani, Ryna Karani, Manjari Kacker, Suresh Rangachar have
resigned as directors of RCom.
"Your good office may also
note that Shri Manikantan V., has also tendered his resignation as a director
and Chief Financial Officer of the Company earlier. The aforementioned resignations
shall be put up to the committee of creditors of the Company for their
consideration," the filing added.
RCom, which is currently going
through insolvency process, has posted a consolidated loss of Rs 30,142 crore
for July-September 2019 due to provisioning for liabilities after the Supreme
Court ruling on statutory dues.
Weekly Stocks Update: Top Gainers and Losers for the Week Ended
November 15
For the week ended on November
15, the S&P BSE Sensex inched up by just 33 points, or 0.08%, to settle at
40,356.69, while the Nifty slipped marginally by 13 points, or 0.1%, to end at
11,895.30.
Updated: November 16, 2019, 9:34 AM IST
Indian stocks closed flat on a
weekly basis for a second consecutive time as macro data raised some concerns
for growth outlook of the economy. For the week ended on November 15, the
S&P BSE Sensex inched up by just 33 points, or 0.08%, to s
ettle at 40,356.69, while the Nifty slipped marginally by 13
points, or 0.1%, to end at 11,895.30. Here is a look at the top five gainers
and losers for the week:
ettle at 40,356.69, while the Nifty slipped marginally by 13
points, or 0.1%, to end at 11,895.30. Here is a look at the top five gainers
and losers for the week:
TOP 5 GAINERS
Bharti Airtel: Bharti Airtel Ltd shares gained 6% this week after the firm
posted a solid operating performance in the September quarter, but yet posted a
net loss due to AGR liabilities.
ICICI Bank: ICICI Bank Ltd shares jumped 4.2% during the week as the
Supreme Court delivered its verdict in Essar Steel case, saying the ultimate
discretion on distribution of funds is with the Committee of Creditors (CoC)
which mainly favours banks. ICICI Bank has an exposure of over Rs 2,500 crore
in Essar Steel.
Yes Bank: Yes Bank Ltd was up 3.7% for the week after ratings agency
ICRA said the bank has adequate liquidity for now. The rating agency maintained
most of the ratings on YES Bank’s bonds.
Bajaj Finserv: Bajaj Finserv Ltd shares rose 2.5% this week to settle at Rs
9,057.90 apiece.
Zee Entertainment: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd gained 2.5% this week after
a media report said that promoter Essel Group is likely to sell the company’s
shares to institutional investors soon via block trades.
TOP 5 LOSERS
Indiabulls Housing Finance: Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd shares dived 11.8% this week on
reports that he government is confident of wrapping up the on-going probe
against the company before 29 November, which is also the next date of hearing
for the case in the Delhi High Court.
Vedanta: Vedanta Ltd shares cracked 11.7% during the week after the
mining company reported a 44% year-on-year rise in consolidated profit at Rs
2,730 crore for the September quarter mainly due to a one-time deferred tax
benefit of Rs 1,891 crore.
Hindalco: Hindalco Industries Ltd declined 8.5% this week after the
company reported 33% year-on-year fall in its consolidated net profit for the
September quarter on the back of global slowdown and lower commodity prices.
UPL: UPL Ltd shares dropped 8.2% during the week after the company’s
quarterly profit missed estimates because of a one-time expense. Net profit was
Rs 89 crore in the September quarter compared with a profit of Rs 270 crore a
year ago.
Adani Ports: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) shares were
down 6.2% for the week even as the company reported a 72% surge in its net
profit in the September quarter to Rs 1,059.20 crore, boosted by a deferred tax
write-back of Rs 290 crore.
Govt Not Releasing Consumer Expenditure Survey 2017-18 Due to
'Data Quality Issues'
The ministry also mentioned that
an expert panel has recommended that 2017-18 would not be an appropriate fiscal
to be used as a base year for new GDP series.
Updated: November 15, 2019, 11:38 PM ISTPhoto for representation. (Image: Reuters)
New Delhi: The Statistics and Programme Implementation Ministry
(MOSPI) on Friday said it has decided not to release the Consumer Expenditure
Survey results of 2017-18 due to data quality issues.
The MOSPI also mentioned that an expert panel has recommended
that 2017-18 would not be an appropriate fiscal to be used as a base year for
new GDP series.
On the consumer expenditure survey, the ministry stated that it
is separately examining the feasibility of conducting the next Consumer
Expenditure Survey in 2020-2021 and 2021-22 after incorporating all data
quality refinements.
The statement came against the backdrop of the Congress
attacking the Modi government over the National Statistical Office (NSO) survey
which reportedly points to a fall in consumer spending for the first time in
four decades in 2017-18.
A media report has claimed the survey was approved to be
released on June 19 this year but was withheld by the government agency owing
to its "adverse" findings.
"Modinomics stinks so bad, the government has to hide its
own reports," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet, tagging the news report.
The MOSPI said that it has seen media reports regarding consumer
expenditure survey by the NSS stating that consumer spending is falling and the
report has been withheld due to its 'adverse' findings.
"We would like to emphatically state that there is a
rigorous procedure for vetting of data and reports which are produced through
surveys. All such submissions which come to the ministry are draft in nature
and cannot be deemed to be the final report," it noted.
The National Statistical Office (NSO) of MOSPI carried out an
all-India survey on household consumption expenditure in the 75th round during
the period July 2017 to June 2018.
"Further, the results of the survey were examined and it
was noted that there was a significant increase in the divergence in not only
the levels in the consumption pattern but also the direction of the change when
compared to the other administrative data sources like the actual production of
goods and services," the MOSPI said.
"Concerns were also raised about the ability/sensitivity of
the survey instrument to capture consumption of social services by households
especially on health and education. The matter was thus referred to a Committee
of experts which noted the discrepancies and came out with several
recommendations including a refinement in the survey methodology and improving
the data quality aspects on a concurrent basis. The recommendations of the Committee
are being examined for implementation in future surveys," it added.
The NSS Consumer Expenditure Survey generates estimates of
household Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE) and the distribution
of households and persons over the MPCE classes.
It is designed to collect information regarding expenditure on
consumption of goods and services (food and non-food) consumed by households.
The results, after release, are also used for rebasing of the GDP and other
macro-economic indicators.
The MOSPI also said that an expert panel on national accounts
has recommended that 2017-18 would not be an appropriate fiscal to be used as
base year for new series for measuring gross domestic product (GDP).
The ministry is in the process of finalising the base year for
new series of GDP to be unveiled shortly. At present, 2011-12 is the base year
for tabulating national accounts.
"The Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics has
also separately recommended that for rebasing of the GDP series, 2017-18 is not
an appropriate year to be used as the new base year," MOSPI said in a
statement.
Earlier this month, MOSPI Secretary Pravin Srivastava had said
that the MOSPI would decide on a new base year for the GDP series in a few
months.
He had also told that though the ministry is considering 2017-18
as the new base year, no decision was taken as the committees of experts are
awaiting some more data (Annual survey of industries, consumer expenditure
survey) before finalising their opinion.
Rice genetics specialist honored as role
model
Source:
Xinhua| 2019-11-15 23:30:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan
BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Publicity Department of the
Communist Party of China Central Committee on Friday conferred the title of
"role model of the times" on Lu Yonggen, an expert on rice genetics.
Lu, also the former president of the South China Agricultural
University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, passed away
in August due to illness.
He had devoted himself to research on rice genetics and breeding
and made great contributions to the country's agricultural development,
according to a decision of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central
Committee in granting the title.
He lived a simple and selfless life. He donated over 8.8 million
yuan (about 1.25 million U.S. dollars) to establish an educational foundation,
as well as his own body for medical research and education.
After being broadcasted by media outlets, Lu's story caused a
warm response throughout society as a whole.
NRRI Organizes ‘Rice Walk: Walk
with Rice, Know Your Rice’ Programme
15 November, 2019 8:38
PM IST By: Chander Mohan
The ICAR-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) in Cuttack had
organized “Rice Walk: Walk with Rice, Know Your Rice” Programme on 13th November
2019. Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director of the Institute inaugurated the event. He
highlighted the main purpose of the walk was to exhibit the NRRI technologies,
farm & laboratories to spread awareness about rice among students as well a
general public. He also released an extension bulletin entitled – ‘Know Your
Rice’ encompassing all important field & lab research activities and
achievements of the institute for distribution to all students & visitors.The participants visited the Institute’s Research Farm of about 200 acres with full grown crops of newly developed high yielding rice varieties. They were also exposed to the development of rice varieties, rice varietal cafeteria and other agro-technologies related to rice production, plant protection, biofortification (high protein rice) and climate-smart rice with tolerance to drought & submergence, etc.
The participants also visited the Institute’s Rice Museum, Rice Gene Bank with collection of over 35,000 rice germplasm.
Around 1,500 students & teachers (from 15 schools in and around Cuttack and Bhubaneswar), farmers, scientists from ICAR Institutes & Centres and State Government Officials participated in the event.
